From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Jennifer L. Armentrout’s From Blood and Ash is a fantasy story of a girl named Poppy who has, up to this point in her life, been extremely sheltered. She’s called the “Maiden”, and you can’t be the “Maiden” unless you’re pure. If your expectations are that you’ll bring peace to the kingdom, well, everyone expects that of you. Poppy doesn’t like being told what to do, and she’d rather have a real life outside her bubble world.

Meeting a mysterious guard named Hawke changes Poppy’s life. He’s brave, he’s charming, and he treats her like a normal person instead of as a symbol. The more time she spends with him, the more she finds out the shocking secrets of her kingdom and her own destiny. Soon, Poppy has to make choices, both easy and hard: rules or Poppy. It’s a story about adventure, romance, danger, who Poppy actually is, what she wants, and how she can fulfil those wants.