Books Like From Blood and Ash: 8 Picks With Sourced Heat

The best books like From Blood and Ash start with Jennifer L. Armentrout's own A Shadow in the Ember and Fall of Ruin and Wrath, then The Serpent and the Wings of Night, Gild and The Bridge Kingdom. Each pick on this list shares something the publisher's own description of From Blood and Ash names: a Maiden "chosen from birth", a guard she should not want, a kingdom of vampires and gods. Heat and series counts were checked October 12, 2026.

TL;DR: Stay in Armentrout's world with A Shadow in the Ember (a prequel series). For a vampire court with a publisher pitch aimed at you, The Serpent and the Wings of Night. For more heat, Gild (explicit, 18+ per its publisher). For a finished series, Kingdom of the Wicked.

Books like From Blood and Ash (quick answer)

Image: FaeShelf table from publisher pages, Goodreads and Publishers Weekly, checked October 12, 2026

"Not rated" means no Common Sense Media review, Publishers Weekly line or publisher content note gave us a heat level, and we don't guess one. The FaeShelf spice scale explains the numbers we use when a source does exist.

Key Takeaways

• Same world: A Shadow in the Ember starts Flesh and Fire, which Goodreads lists as a prequel spin-off of Blood and Ash.
• Pitched to you by the publisher: Macmillan sells The Serpent and the Wings of Night as "perfect for fans of From Blood and Ash", and Penguin UK sells the Plated Prisoner series to fans of Sarah J. Maas and Jennifer L. Armentrout.
• Most heat on the label: Gild, whose publisher description warns of "explicit content" and says it is not for readers under 18.
• Finished: only Kingdom of the Wicked is a closed trilogy.

Overview: how we matched books to From Blood and Ash

From Blood and Ash (Blood and Ash #1) was first published March 29, 2020, and had 4.21 from about 911,000 ratings on Goodreads on October 12, 2026. Its publisher description is built on three things. Poppy is a Maiden "chosen from birth to usher in a new era", "never to be touched". Hawke is "a golden-eyed guard honor bound to ensure her ascension" who "tempts her with the forbidden". And behind them, "a fallen kingdom is rising once more". The Blood and Ash series now has 7 primary works on Goodreads.

So each book here had to share at least one of those elements, in its own publisher description, not just in a fan tag. Armentrout's own books come first, because the most common ask after this series is more of the same world. One reader who had finished both series put it this way in a January 2025 thread: "I have a hard time transitioning from one world to another, so something with a similar concept behind it would be best."

Analysis: the 8 books like From Blood and Ash

1. A Shadow in the Ember by Jennifer L. Armentrout

The closest match is Armentrout's own. Goodreads lists Flesh and Fire as a prequel spin-off of Blood and Ash, and its combined Blood and Ash world reading order (11 primary works) notes that "the flesh and fire series is a companion prequel". The heroine mirrors Poppy: Sera is "chosen before birth" and must "offer herself to the Primal of Death as his consort", except she is secretly "an assassin with one mission".

• Published: first October 19, 2021; 4.45 from about 266,000 ratings on Goodreads (October 12, 2026).
• Spice: Not rated (no review or publisher note found).
• Series: Flesh and Fire has five primary works on Goodreads, starting with A Shadow in the Ember, A Light in the Flame, A Fire in the Flesh and Born of Blood and Ash.
• Best for: readers who want the gods and Primals behind Poppy's story.

2. Fall of Ruin and Wrath by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Fall of Ruin and Wrath is Armentrout's other adult romantasy, published by Bramble (432 pages, on sale September 12, 2023 in the US). The world has cities ruled by guardians, "royalty who feed on mortal pleasure", and Calista "lives hidden as a courtesan of the Baron of Archwood". Readers in the same thread recommend it as a direct follow-on; one wrote that "Fall of Ruin and Wrath by Jennifer L Armentrout is the same universe". We didn't find the publisher saying so, so take that as reader knowledge.

Cover image: Bramble, via Open Library

• Rating: 3.98 from about 95,000 ratings on Goodreads (October 12, 2026).
• Spice: Not rated.
• Series: Awakening book 1; Goodreads lists one primary work so far.
• Best for: readers who want Armentrout's voice in a smaller, newer story.

GODEEPER: If Poppy's long series is what you loved, our series guide shows which romantasy series are finished and which are still growing. Romantasy Series Reading Order Guide 2026 →

3. The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent

Macmillan is the only publisher here that names From Blood and Ash outright, calling it "perfect for fans of From Blood and Ash and A Court of Thorns and Roses", and the Bramble edition is "book 1 of the Nightborn Duet". Publishers Weekly describes "a divinely sponsored tournament to the death", a human heroine "raised and trained by the king of the Nightborn vampires", and "an addictive enemies-to-lovers romance", and files it under romance/erotica.

• Published: first August 16, 2022; 4.25 from about 826,000 ratings on Goodreads (October 12, 2026).
• Spice: Not rated on our scale; PW's genre label is romance/erotica.
• Series: Crowns of Nyaxia #1; the series has 5 primary works on Goodreads, the fifth The Lion & the Deathless Dark.
• Best for: the vampire side of From Blood and Ash.

4. Gild by Raven Kennedy

Penguin UK pitches the Plated Prisoner series as "perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas and Jennifer L. Armentrout", and lists 6 books in the series. The link to Poppy is the cage: Auren is kept by King Midas, and the description admits the bars are gold but "no matter how gilded, are still just a cage". It is also the darkest pick. The publisher description says "this book contains explicit content and darker elements" and "it is not intended for anyone under 18 years of age".

Cover image: Raven Kennedy, via Open Library

• Published: first October 16, 2020; 3.62 from about 430,000 ratings on Goodreads (October 12, 2026).
• Spice: 3/5 or higher on the FaeShelf scale, from the publisher's "explicit content" note.
• Series: The Plated Prisoner #1, six books.
• Best for: readers who wanted From Blood and Ash darker and hotter.

5. The Bridge Kingdom by Danielle L. Jensen

Del Rey calls it "a sweeping, sizzling fantasy romance". Lara is "a warrior princess trained in isolation", and "she's sent there as a bride under the guise of peace" to spy on the enemy king. The sheltered, trained heroine sent into an enemy's household is the From Blood and Ash parallel. The ebook first came out August 13, 2019; the Del Rey deluxe hardcover followed on November 4, 2025 (448 pages).

Cover image: Danielle L. Jensen, via Open Library

• Spice: Not rated; the publisher's word is "sizzling".
• Series: five books listed by Del Rey: The Bridge Kingdom, The Traitor Queen, The Inadequate Heir, The Endless War and The Twisted Throne.
• Best for: readers who liked the political betrayals more than the vampires.

6. A Touch of Darkness by Scarlett St. Clair

Scarlett St. Clair's series opener is a forbidden romance with a god. In the publisher description, "Persephone finds herself in a contract with the god of the dead", and as her "love for the god of the dead grows", the blurb adds: "it's forbidden". If the gods behind Poppy's world were what kept you reading, this is the mythology-first option.

Cover image: Bloom Books, via Open Library

• Published: first May 23, 2019; 3.79 from about 450,000 ratings on Goodreads (October 12, 2026).
• Spice: Not rated.
• Series: Hades x Persephone #1; 4 primary works on Goodreads, the latest A Touch of Chaos.
• Best for: Greek myth readers who want the forbidden-love beat.

7. Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco

Emilia is one of two "streghe - witches", and her deal is with "Wrath, one of the Wicked-princes of Hell". It was first published October 27, 2020, and had 3.86 from about 374,000 ratings on Goodreads on October 12, 2026. It is the one finished series here: Goodreads lists 3 primary works, and Hachette calls the last book, Kingdom of the Feared, "the steamy conclusion to Kingdom of the Wicked trilogy", "suggested for ages 16 and up".

• Spice: Not rated for book 1; book 3 is "steamy" per the publisher.
• Series: three books, finished.
• Best for: readers who want an ending without waiting.

8. Bride by Ali Hazelwood

Bride is the lighter vampyre pick: Publishers Weekly calls it a "funny and thoughtful urban fantasy romance" built on "a vampyre-werewolf alliance that must be sealed with a marriage", and describes "the sweet and spicy supernatural romance". It is contemporary in setting, so it fits readers who liked the vampires more than the castles. For more creature-led picks, see our monster romance fantasy books list.

• Spice: Not rated on our scale; PW's words are "sweet and spicy".
• Series: not listed in our sources.
• Best for: a short break between long series.

GODEEPER: Several of these overlap with the ACOTAR crowd. For fae courts and bargains with a spice level per book, see Books Like ACOTAR →

Honorable Mentions

Readers in the November 2024 r/fantasyromance thread "Books like From Blood and Ash & ACOTAR" also suggested the Kindred's Curse Saga and The Legends of Thezmarr. One commenter wrote: "I LOVED Absolutely LOVED FBAA", before recommending both. We left them out because we couldn't match their descriptions to a publisher page in this pass, not because they're a poor fit.

Our take

This take is based only on the publisher pages, Goodreads data, Publishers Weekly reviews and reader comments cited above. If you are not ready to leave Poppy's world, read A Shadow in the Ember next: it is the only pick with a publisher-listed link to Blood and Ash, and its heroine is set up the same way. If you want the vampires without Armentrout, The Serpent and the Wings of Night is the book its own publisher aims at you. Go to Gild only if you want more heat and darker content, and read its warning first. Readers are still treating the two Armentrout series as one story; in an April 2026 thread, one wrote: "I'm planning to reread the entire BAA / FAF series as soon as the final book is released."

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I read after From Blood and Ash?

If you want to stay with Jennifer L. Armentrout, read A Shadow in the Ember, the first Flesh and Fire book. Goodreads lists Flesh and Fire as a prequel spin-off of Blood and Ash, and its heroine is also chosen before birth. Outside Armentrout, Macmillan pitches The Serpent and the Wings of Night to From Blood and Ash fans.

Is there a book like From Blood and Ash with vampires?

The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent is the closest. Its heroine is a human raised by the king of the Nightborn vampires, Publishers Weekly calls it an addictive enemies-to-lovers romance, and Macmillan describes it as perfect for fans of From Blood and Ash. Bride by Ali Hazelwood is the lighter vampyre option.

Which books like From Blood and Ash are the spiciest?

Gild by Raven Kennedy carries the clearest warning: its publisher description says the book contains explicit content and is not intended for anyone under 18, which puts it at 3/5 or higher on the FaeShelf scale. The Serpent and the Wings of Night is filed under romance/erotica by Publishers Weekly.

Are there books like From Blood and Ash that are finished?

Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco is a finished trilogy: Goodreads lists three primary works, and Hachette calls Kingdom of the Feared the steamy conclusion, suggested for ages 16 and up. Most of the other picks are still growing, including the Plated Prisoner series, which Penguin UK lists at six books.

Is Fall of Ruin and Wrath connected to From Blood and Ash?

Readers say so. One commenter on r/fantasyromance wrote that it is the same universe, but we did not find the publisher saying it, so treat the link as reader knowledge. Goodreads lists Fall of Ruin and Wrath as Awakening book 1, with one primary work so far, published September 12, 2023.

Is A Shadow in the Ember a prequel to From Blood and Ash?

Yes. Goodreads lists the Flesh and Fire series as a prequel spin-off of Blood and Ash, and its combined reading order calls Flesh and Fire a companion prequel. A Shadow in the Ember is book 1, first published October 19, 2021, and Goodreads counts five primary works in that series.

Related Reading

• Romantasy books like guide: every FaeShelf "books like" list in one place.
• Books like The Cruel Prince: faerie politics and enemies to lovers.
• Completed romantasy series: series you can finish without waiting.
• Romantasy tropes guide: forbidden love, enemies to lovers and the rest, explained.

References

• Goodreads: From Blood and Ash and Blood and Ash series
• Goodreads: Flesh and Fire series and Blood and Ash world reading order
• Goodreads: A Shadow in the Ember
• Macmillan: Fall of Ruin and Wrath and Goodreads: Fall of Ruin and Wrath
• Macmillan: The Serpent and the Wings of Night and Publishers Weekly review
• Penguin UK: Plated Prisoner series and Goodreads: Gild
• Penguin Random House: The Bridge Kingdom (Deluxe Edition)
• Goodreads: A Touch of Darkness and Hades x Persephone series
• Hachette Book Group: Kingdom of the Feared
• Publishers Weekly: Bride
• r/fantasyromance: finished Blood and Ash / Flesh and Fire, looking for recs (January 2025)
• r/fantasyromance: books like From Blood and Ash & ACOTAR (November 2024)
• r/fantasyromance: tandem read thread (April 2026)