Book Recap: A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire (Blood and Ash Book 2)

Already finished From Blood and Ash and want to know what happens to Poppy and Casteel? Below is a detailed recap of A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire, book two in The Blood and Ash series by Jennifer L. Armentrout, beginning to end. This summary highlights the major plot points, key twists, and the most important characters

Fair warning: This is a FULL SPOILER RECAP of the second book. If you haven’t read it yet, turn back now unless you’re ready for all the major twists and reveals!

A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire Book Recap – Book 2 in From Blood and Ash Series

ESCAPE ATTEMPT

The story opens with a shocking announcement: Prince Casteel Da’Neer (previously known to Poppy as Hawke Flynn) declares they are going home to marry. This occurs during a tense dinner with Atlantians and Descenters, where Poppy is still processing Casteel’s betrayal and true identity.

During dinner, a wolven named Landell challenges Casteel’s decision to marry Poppy, insulting her and threatening her life. Casteel responds by literally ripping out Landell’s heart, demonstrating both his power and his intolerance for threats against Poppy. Alastir, advisor to Casteel’s parents and a father-figure to him, arrives unexpectedly. His presence creates tension as Casteel wants to keep certain matters from reaching his parents.

Poppy, confined to a comfortable “cell,” grapples with conflicting emotions about Casteel and the revelations about the Ascended (who are actually vamprys). Poppy’s determined to escape: she manages to pick the lock of her room using skills her brother Ian taught her, she attempts to flee through the woods toward Whitebridge but her escape attempt is thwarted when Kieran (in wolven form) tracks her down. Casteel confronts her and challenges her to a fight, offering freedom if she wins. She ends up staying.

HISTORY & REVELATIONS

Casteel insists on sharing his bedchamber with Poppy, leading to an intimate but tense night where he comforts her after a nightmare. During the nightmare, Poppy recalls new details about the night her parents died, including a mysterious voice saying “What a pretty poppy” and something her mother said that she can’t quite remember. Casteel shares his traumatic experiences as a captive of the Ascended, revealing how they tortured him and forced him to do terrible things.

Poppy spends the next day locked in her room, with only Delano as guard. A strange incident occurs where Delano thinks he hears Poppy calling for help when she hasn’t. Poppy finds out some important revelations about Atlantians:

There are different bloodlines among Atlantians:
The Elemental bloodline (like Casteel) can trace their ancestry back to deities
Half-Atlantians with mortal blood
Changelings who can shift forms
Most Atlantians have golden eyes, with pure gold being a mark of the elemental bloodline

This leads to questions about Poppy’s heritage since her eyes are green. Poppy meets Alastir and Emil, where they discuss her family history and raise questions about how her Atlantian parent managed to survive so close to the “Blood Crown” (the Ascended rulers) without being discovered.

ALASTIR’S OFFER & LIBRARY LEARNINGS

During dinner, Casteel and Poppy maintain their engagement charade in front of others. Alastir questions their relationship and Casteel’s true motives. Tension rises when discussing the future of Atlantia and the lack of available land.
During a private conversation between Poppy and Alastir, Alastir reveals that Casteel was previously engaged to his daughter Shea, who died. He offers to help Poppy escape if she’s being forced into the marriage. Despite her doubts, Poppy declines his help, knowing she needs to stay to find her brother Ian,

In a library, Poppy discovers an ancient book of Atlantian records. She learns more about different Atlantian bloodlines:

Wivern could shift into large cats
Draken are dragon-like beings who could fly and breathe fire
Ceeren are water folk with fins
Empath Warriors could weaponize emotions

Casteel theorizes that Poppy is descended from the Empath Warrior bloodline. A moment of tension between Poppy and Casteel is interrupted by news that the Ascended are approaching.

ASCENDED ATTACK

A dramatic confrontation unfolds when Lord Chaney and the Ascended attack the keep. Poppy attempts to save a young boy from a Royal Knight, successfully killing the knight with her dagger. She surrenders her weapon when Lord Chaney threatens the boy’s life, but is knocked unconscious.

During her captivity in the carriage, Lord Chaney reveals his vampry nature and bites Poppy, causing intense pain unlike Casteel’s bite. Despite being injured, Poppy fights back with a meat knife, repeatedly stabbing Chaney until Casteel arrives to rescue her. It’s revealed that despite Poppy’s surrender, Chaney killed the boy anyway.

After the rescue, Casteel gives Poppy his blood to heal her injuries. The attack results in four deaths and six seriously wounded. A mysterious blood tree appears overnight where the confrontation took place, which many interpret as an omen from the gods about coming change. Poppy uses her empathic abilities to ease the pain of the wounded, though some fear her powers.

Through conversations with Alastir, more is revealed about Poppy’s possible heritage as an empath warrior, a bloodline known as “Soul Eaters” who were feared for their ability to weaponize emotions
A mysterious detail emerges: Poppy mentions a woman at the Red Pearl who directed her to Casteel’s room, but he reveals he never arranged for anyone to send her there.

Poppy also learns that the Ascended’s bite is painful and predatory, unlike Casteel’s, Poppy’s empathic abilities are growing stronger and that some Atlantians fear Poppy’s powers due to the history of empath warriors. It looks like a mysterious force seems to have orchestrated Poppy and Casteel’s first meeting.

TRAVEL & CLAN ENCOUNTER

The chapters begin with Poppy carving the names of the fallen (Mrs. Tulis, her son Tobias, and Mr. Tulis) into a wall as a memorial. That night, she experiences a nightmare about her mother’s death, which leads to an intimate moment with Casteel as he helps comfort her. The group prepares to leave New Haven for Spessa’s End. Before departing, Casteel gives Poppy a new black cloak to replace her Craven-blood-stained one. The group includes Naill, Delano, Kieran, and others. Elijah stays behind to help evacuate the remaining people from New Haven.

During the journey, Poppy struggles with how to act in their “fake” engagement, leading to a discussion with Casteel about relationships. Casteel explains there’s no “right way” to act in a relationship, encouraging her to be herself. They discuss Casteel’s past love (implied to be Shea, Alastir’s daughter), though he becomes withdrawn after Poppy mentions her connection to the Ascended. The journey takes several days, during which Casteel remains distant but still comes to comfort Poppy during her nightmares.

During the travel they encounter an enemy clan. They discover strange bone decorations in the trees, revealing the presence of the Dead Bones Clan. The clan attacks the group with arrows. Casteel is shot multiple times but continues fighting due to his Atlantian nature. The group engages in combat, with Poppy using a special bow with bloodstone arrows. Delano and Kieran transform into their wolven forms to fight. The battle ends with Poppy being grazed by an arrow as the Dead Bones Clan realizes they’re fighting both wolven and Atlantians.

After the battle with the Dead Bones Clan, Kieran and Poppy have an important conversation about Casteel. Kieran reveals that Casteel has nightmares from his time in captivity and can become dangerous if he hasn’t fed. He explains that Casteel hasn’t fed from anyone because he cares for Poppy, as Atlantians find feeding from others repulsive when they care for someone. Kieran suggests that Poppy and Casteel are “heartmates,” though he doesn’t explain what this means. Poppy finally acknowledges to herself that she still cares for Casteel and never stopped falling for him.

SPESSA’S END

At Spessa’s End, Alastir visits Poppy and reveals several important things. He was once King Malec’s bonded wolven (800 years ago). He explains “the Joining” – an ancient Atlantian tradition involving blood exchange between bonded pairs and their wolven. The Joining could extend Poppy’s life to match Casteel’s if completed. He also reveals that Casteel was behind reclaiming Spessa’s End, making Poppy realize Casteel hadn’t trusted her with this information.

Later, Casteel returns and they have an important conversation. He apologizes for losing control earlier
They discuss the Joining, with Casteel explaining it’s not always sexual as Alastir implied. He reveals that the blood bond in a Joining works both ways – if one dies, they all die.
The conversation highlights the growing tension between their supposed temporary arrangement and

Poppy’s struggling with several realizations. Her growing feelings for Casteel, the fact that he seems to care for her despite their “temporary” arrangement, the complications of their relationship given her half-Atlantian status, and the need to help Casteel by letting him feed from her. Both Casteel and Poppy dance around their true feelings as they discuss the implications of Atlantian traditions and bonds.

HOT SPRINGS & MARRIAGE TALK

After Poppy heals Beckett (a young wolven), there’s concern about how her abilities will be perceived, with some calling her a “Soul Eater”. Casteel proposes they marry sooner rather than later, in Spessa’s End, before meeting his parents. He wants to protect Poppy after the display of her abilities, prevents his parents from delaying the marriage and ensure their marriage is recognized before negotiating with Solis.

*Poppy and Casteel talk in the hot springs*

Casteel takes Poppy to a special place. He shows her fields of poppies (monitored for medicinal use). Takes her to a hidden cave system with hot springs. This location holds significance as somewhere he used to visit with his brother Malik and Shea. They share an intimate moment where Poppy decides to stop pretending and acknowledge their real feelings. Their physical encounter is described as being “real” rather than pretense. Casteel tells his advisor Alastir that his parents will “love her as fiercely as I do” – a slip that reveals deeper feelings.

Poppy’s abilities continue to evolve – she can now sense emotions without actively trying. The marriage will require Poppy to be crowned as Princess, giving her equal authority to Casteel. Alastir expresses concern about the rushed marriage and questions whether Poppy’s wishes are being considered.

ARMY APPROACHING

Delano returns wounded with news that an army of Ascended soldiers (around 800) is approaching Spessa’s End. They’re split into two groups: first group (200-300) could arrive by nightfall. The second, larger group will arrive in about two days. Spessa’s End has less than 100 trained fighters plus 20 archers. Casteel makes a few strategic decisions, Casteel sends Alastir and Kieran to cross the Skotos Mountains to get reinforcements. Despite protests, Casteel refuses to leave Spessa’s End, showing his commitment to the people. Poppy insists on staying to fight, refusing to be sent away to safety.

Casteel finally reveals the full truth about Shea to Poppy. She betrayed him and Malik to the Ascended when captured. She traded information about Malik’s location to save herself. Casteel killed her when she tried to bargain with his life again. Only Kieran and Malik know the truth; Alastir doesn’t know his daughter’s betrayal.

THE WEDDING

After their honest conversation, Casteel properly proposes to Poppy. This time it’s real, not just an arrangement. Poppy agrees. Vonetta helps Poppy prepare for the wedding, providing a red dress (traditional Atlantian color). They discuss Atlantian wedding customs, including the Joining ritual. The wedding takes place outside, barefoot on Atlantian soil.

SKOTOS MOUNTAINS

A wounded wolven warns Poppy about King Valyn’s plans, suggesting that despite Casteel being Prince, the King’s orders would be followed over his son’s. The group enters the Skotos Mountains, which are shrouded in magical mist that serves as protection for Atlantia. They encounter the Trees of Aios – trees with golden leaves that grew where the Goddess of Love, Fertility, and Beauty sleeps. The group splits into smaller parties for safety, with Poppy traveling with Casteel and Kieran.

During their rest in the mountain, the three sleep close together for warmth, leading to some awkward but humorous moments. Poppy discovers she can interact with the magical mist, though Casteel and Kieran dismiss it as her imagination. She experiences a vivid dream/memory of the night her parents died, revealing new details: a mysterious cloaked figure was present that night, her father seemed to know something was coming, her mother’s final moments included someone saying “I’m sorry”.

The story culminates in a dramatic scene where Poppy sleepwalks toward a cliff edge while in her dream state. She’s saved by what appears to be a divine intervention – possibly the goddess Aios herself. The goddess tells her to “go home” and that she’ll find the truth there. The encounter ends with an earthquake-like event, which Kieran explains is a god “returning to their place of rest”.

The book ends with the group descending the mountains, with Poppy processing these revelations and Casteel planning to continue her horseback riding lessons once they reach Atlantia.

Interested what happened next? Check our book recap for The Crown of Gilded Bones, Book 3 in the From Blood and Ash Series.

Where the key characters are at the end of A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire, From Blood and Ash Book 2: