A Crown of Ruin

Blood and Ash #6.5

by Jennifer L. Armentrout

When everything falls apart, the truth of who they are is revealed.

Poppy has fallen into stasis, her body broken and power spent, carried beyond the mortal realm. While she lies suspended in dreams, Casteel faces a world without her—raw, wrathful, and altered in ways he doesn’t yet understand.

Left to steady a kingdom trembling under the weight of loss, Kieran shoulders what he cannot say aloud, even as the fractures between gods, mortals, and fate widen around him.
In the days that follow, grief becomes a guide, loyalty a burden, and love the only thing holding the realms together.

These are the pieces that fill the silence. The moments of wrath, ruin, resolve, and the spark of what must come next.

A Crown of Ruin reveals the unseen moments of love, loss, and change that happened between The Primal of Blood and Bone and The Throne of Bone and Ash.

161 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 26, 2025

About the author

Hey Guys! Please note: I don't send out ARCs for review. If you're interested in reviewing a book of mine before release date, please contact the appropriate publisher. I also do NOT check my Goodreads email.

To email me, please use the below addy.
jenniferlarmentrout@live.com

# 1 New York Times and # 1 International Bestselling author Jennifer lives in Charles Town, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing. she spends her time reading, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell Loki. In early 2015, Jennifer was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, a group of rare genetic disorders that involve a breakdown and death of cells in the retina, eventually resulting in loss of vision, among other complications. Due to this diagnosis, educating people on the varying degrees of blindness has become of passion of hers, right alongside writing, which she plans to do as long as she can.

Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Tor, HarperCollins Avon and William Morrow, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen. Her Wicked Series has been optioned by PassionFlix. Jennifer has won numerous awards, including the 2013 Reviewers Choice Award for Wait for You, the 2015 Editor’s Pick for Fall With Me, and the 2014/2015 Moerser-Jugendbuch- Jury award for Obsidian. Her young adult romantic suspense novel DON’T LOOK BACK was a 2014 nominated Best in Young Adult Fiction by YALSA. Her adult romantic suspense novel TILL DEATH was a Amazon Editor’s Pick and iBook Book of the Month. Her young adult contemporary THE PROBLEM WITH FOREVER is a 2017 RITA Award Winner in Young Adult Fiction. She also writes Adult and New Adult contemporary and paranormal romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.

She is the owner of ApollyCon and The Origin Event, the successful annual events that features over hundred bestselling authors in Young Adult, New Adult, and Adult Fiction, panels, parties, and more.

Reviews

[Sarah Richman Burns · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don’t actually know how I feel about this little in between I think I’m just ready for the series to be over as mean as that sounds..it’s all become just batshit crazy

[SoFresa12 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, damn! Happy holidays to us, I guess.

Although this is not a novella per se, these chapters felt like the earlier books. The writing and the tone were more familiar, grounded, and delivered so many of the elements that POBAB lacked. There was real humor and strong emotion, along with new revelations that actually moved the plot forward. Most importantly, the story had depth.

I’m still not a fan of Casteel’s murder rampage and not caring about his people or the mortals. I'm ready for him to be put in stasis for a while and I hope Nyktos or Kieran is the one to do it.

Poppy being in stasis again is frustrating, but after everything she’s endured, it makes sense. What I absolutely did not expect was the level of body horror Poppy was subjected to; it was disturbing, difficult to read, and honestly shocking. I had to stop reading that part a couple of times because it was a bit much. That said, JLA really took it there and that took guts. It was also effective for the story's arc.

Enough with that damn promise! They made one mistake. That should not be the thing to break this trio. I'm so over it.

Getting Kieran’s POV was both a gift and a heartbreak. I loved seeing some level of reconciliation between him and Casteel, but I’m so tired of watching Kieran carry the weight and guilt of everything on his shoulders. He deserves peace, happiness, and the longest hug imaginable. Why is he still babysitting Casteel who claims to be in control? Why is he afraid to use his powers? What are his powers?! Yeah, we still don’t know.

I also hated that another beloved Primal fell. I knew it was coming, but it was still sad to read. On the bright side, I was glad to learn some of our favorite side characters are still alive. There’s a clearer path forward for the next book, which makes me excited (and nervous) to see what comes next.

And finally, I need more Millie and Malik! They are unbelievably unhinged and hilarious whenever they’re on page, and their energy is the perfect balance to all the darkness and tension.

Overall, these chapters were a nice addition but it felt like a course correction. It would have been better to have this in the actual book.

[Alexis · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novella was 100x better than the primal book. I can’t believe Cas is batshit tho. :(

[Katelyn C · Rating 5 out of 5]

The way this (semi) HEALED me from TPOBAB ending, thank you JLA for this Christmas gift!! I cannot wait to dissect each chapter and theorize further for The Throne of Bone and Ash. I am foaming at the mouth for more Kieran POV's, I love them so much! I am beyond thrilled especially that Kieran and Casteel are on better terms now. I need my throuple stronger than ever. I can't wait for the final book!

[Samantha (bookgramsaga reviews) · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Amber Nay🖤💫 · Rating 1 out of 5]

JLA is really starting to piss me off lmaooooo.

She keeps putting words on paper and they’re just not doing anything for the story here. I 100% believe that she didnt like the backlash from all the negative reviews of POBAB so she decided to put out this bullshit of a novella.

Book 5- regurgitated info from the first 4 books, just from Cas’s POV

Book 6- no new information, once again regurgitated conversations and a pointless argument that results in Cas being a whiney bitch the entire fucking book

Book 6.5- what in the fuck even was that? It’s all over the fucking place. No new information! Surprise surprise. Just Casteel STILL being insufferable.

Listen. I UNDERSTAND HIS RAGE. but good fucking lord! In the span of one page he says he wants to hate Poppy, but wants to be inside her and blah blah. Get the fuck over yourself Casteel oh my god.

I seriously just don’t know if I have it in me to finish this fucking series anymore.

[Abby Carico · Rating 3 out of 5]

why was this better than THE ENTIRE LAST BOOK

[Erika · Rating 5 out of 5]

I need more!!!! Cas, my poor baby!!!!

[Krista Gallitelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️ rounded up to 4 for Goodreads. Another reviewer said it best - this was a much much needed course correction.

This felt more like JLA, felt like the plot was moving forward with new things happening rather than just a regurgitation of all the things we already knew happened in the other books.

Feeling more hopeful about the final book now. I really hope we get more of our favorite F&F characters. They’re so crucial to the overall story.

Also (I’ve always said this) I really love how she allows us as the reader to explore sympathy for Kolis and understand his villain arc. Very entertaining and thought provoking.

[Sabrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This surprise novella was much needed after the ending that was The Primal of Blood and Bone. Taking place after that book but before the new book that is yet to come out, we get some much needed info and scenes in the aftermath. Told from Poppy, Casteel, and Kieran, these three are not having a good time. Poppy has fallen into stasis after her fight with Kolis. Casteel is well… you can imagine what Casteel is going through without her. And all the power he has now and how he is coping. And Kieran is trying his best to hold everything around him together and try to show Casteel he is there. We can some interesting information from this novella. But it definitely made me excited for the final book that is hopefully coming soon. You definitely don’t want to miss this!

[Taylor Krasinski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy 150 pages to fly through in one sitting! I was so happy to see the last scene of Primal expanded to understand what happened to Poppy! Don’t be fooled, you still get some emotional moments in these few chapters, but they’re worth it ! So grateful JLA shared this!!!

[Alex · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love a little sneaky in between book. And I love this series… I do. But, the fact that this has been dragging on for so many years, and it just gets more complicated and less fun. I’m just ready for it to be all done. Forgive me

[Makenzie · Rating 3 out of 5]

literally just cas being ungodly edgy
the fleeting scenes with poppy were good and sera’s half second appearance was 10/10
feels like a JLA apology letter after book 6 but ….. womp
cas and kieran scene did warm my heart I won’t lie!!!

[Vero · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe actually even 3.5? I am SO confused 😭 BUT I WILL BE CALM ABOUT THIS. OK.

We get 1.3k pages of… whatever THAT was in book 6, and NOW the actual plot shows up in a free 130-page novella?? Be serious.

At this point I’m no longer even trying to understand the structure of this series, I’m just here to see what level of unhinged chaos comes next. This novella ABSOLUTELY changes the story again.

Maybe book 7 will be a cookbook. Maybe it’ll be a compilation of everyone’s diary entries from before they met. Who knows. I don't know. I. DON’T. KNOW. And honestly, I wouldn’t even be surprised if book 7.5 reveals this was all a dream inside Poppy’s dream inside someone else’s vision OR THAT HELL IS REAL AND THIS IS WHAT IT IS. And it will NEVER be over. NEVER.

[Mercedes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though this was only a Novella it was SO good. All the chapters in this gave me everything I wanted out of the last book. Give me all the details on what happened after kolis and poppy fought. This just gave so much more detail and understanding to what happened at the end. This gives me so much hope for the final book.

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly? This was so informative and I feel like I know more than I did at the end of Primal, which is great considering I had a heck ton of questions. This makes me even more excited for Throne!

[Tammy Manning · Rating 5 out of 5]

What’s a girl to do when her favorite author drops a surprise novella for FREE??? That’s right, I immediately downloaded and dove right in! This novella is a bridge between The Primal of Blood and Bone and The Throne of Bone and Ash, so we get some answers to questions but, because it’s JLA, we also end up with more questions.

I was trying to savor this since we don’t know when the last Poppy/Cas book is going to come out, but of course once I started reading, I couldn’t put it down. All I have to say is that Cas in his chaos era is everything I didn’t know I needed and I am so totally here for it! Now to sit here with a book hangover, impatiently waiting for The Throne of Bone and Ash.

[Hoppipolla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Me ha folláo viva, hablando en plata.

Es verdad que responde a un par de cosas que llevamos 7 meses preguntándonos, pero que te deja más preguntas que respuestas, esta bien como adelanto de lo que se nos viene, te calma la sed pero honestamente, necesitamos el siguiente ya, por favor.
Millie y Malik están ya en modo relevo y se ha notado, y que pedazo de relevo van a ser, contiene también muchas promesas de libros futuros en fin, Jennifer, no dejes de escribir pronto esta saga, por favor.

[alyssa Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this WAY more than primal of blood and bone. I hope JLA reads some of this feedback so we can neatly wrap up this beautiful series. Millie’s banter was hilarious! I really enjoyed her and am glad we got a glimpse into that whole aspect of the story. I also feel like I’m getting a better idea of where this MIGHT go and I feel a better vibe about that. Overall, very thankful for this as I was feeling disappointed in this series. I can’t wait for the next book!

[Nicholas Stevenson · Rating 5 out of 5]

the Dark Lord

Aaaah!!!! Casteel is so dark and perfect! I freaking love him. The way Jennifer writes the POV of this man is incredible. She’s breaking my heart in the BEST way. This is the perfect bridge to hold me over til the final chapter of this incredible story. I can’t wait!

[Taylor Outram · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grateful for this in between

I'm so happy to have a little more to hold onto after the ending of POBAB .... this was a great (almost alternate) ending with more explanation and character development. Can't wait for the next one!!

[JJ · Rating 1 out of 5]

Just felt like the same chaotic BS as POBAB. I feel like we keep talking in circles and it’s just annoying. Why can’t they just tell Casteel and the crew that Poppy’s OK, but in stasis? Why can’t they just let him see her? It would solve most of the issues with Cas. Very frustrating read.

[Emily Lucas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Why was this novella actually better than the last book. It was quite short but it felt like the chapters were a bit more important. I felt like these chapters added to the story a lot.

Do I feel ready to read the next book? Probably not. Idk why.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love

Well. I thought this would hold me until the final book. I suppose in some way it does....but it also just made me more impatient for it! Thank you, Jen for giving this to us!

[Anastasia · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️ but giving a 3 felt wrong

[Alexa · Rating 5 out of 5]

honestly… this is exactly what I was missing in the Primal of blood and bone! Let’s get this next book and finish up the series, i’m ready!

[Laura ⊱✿⊰]

you know what they say... don't look a gift horse in the mouth

[Jessica Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Can’t explain how much I want Nyktos to come and kick Casteel’s ass.

[Dani Lindgren · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novella has left me absolutely terrified for the next book. I need to know what's going to happen next.

[Filipa Gonçalves · Rating 3 out of 5]

Casteel 🥹🥹🥹