A Soul of Ash and Blood

Jennifer L. Armentrout

69 pages 2-hour read

Jennifer L. Armentrout

A Soul of Ash and Blood

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2023

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Character List

Meet the key characters, with insights into their roles, motivations, and relationships—spoiler-free.

Major Characters

Casteel is an Elemental Atlantian and the King of Atlantia. In the flashback timeline, he operates undercover in Solis as a guard named Hawke Flynn. He possesses the magical ability of compulsion and harbors deep trauma from his previous captivity under the Blood Crown. He aggressively protects those close to him and relies on dark humor to mask his vulnerabilities.

Key Relationships

Wife of Penellaphe Balfour Da'Neer

Best Friend of Kieran Contou

Brother of Malik

Son of King Valyn

Son of Queen Eloana

Ally of Griffith Jansen

Advisee of Alastir Davenwell

Associate of Nektas

Penellaphe, known affectionately as Poppy, is the Queen of Atlantia and the newly discovered Primal God of Life and Death. While she rests in a deep sleep to complete her magical Culling, her past as the repressed Maiden of Solis is explored. She possesses strong empathetic abilities, natural combat skills, and a persistent curiosity about the world outside her restrictions.

Key Relationships

Wife of Casteel Da'Neer

Friend of Kieran Contou

Sister of Millicent

Daughter of Ires

Daughter of Isbeth

Best Friend of Tawny Lyon

Victim of Duke Teerman

Kieran is a wolven shapeshifter and Casteel's bonded best friend. He maintains a calm, observant demeanor that balances Casteel's impulsive nature. He operates as a city guard in the flashback timeline, assisting Casteel with his undercover operations while offering insightful advice.

Key Relationships

Best Friend of Casteel Da'Neer

Friend of Penellaphe Balfour Da'Neer

Associate of Emil

Associate of Jericho

Duke Teerman is a cruel Ascended leader who rules Masadonia. He takes sadistic pleasure in asserting his authority through physical and emotional abuse. He views Penellaphe strictly as a pawn for the Ascended's religious propaganda and punishes her for any perceived infractions.

Key Relationships

Husband of Duchess Teerman

Abuser of Penellaphe Balfour Da'Neer

Employer of Casteel Da'Neer

Employer of Vikter Wardwell

Duchess Teerman operates alongside her husband to control Masadonia and enforce the Ascended's oppressive rules. She uses a facade of gentle kindness to pacify those around her, effectively masking her complicity in the kingdom's atrocities. She closely monitors Penellaphe's behavior to ensure compliance.

Key Relationships

Wife of Duke Teerman

Guardian of Penellaphe Balfour Da'Neer

Employer of Casteel Da'Neer

Isbeth, also known as Queen Ileana, is the first Ascended mortal and the tyrannical former ruler of Solis. She created the Ascended army to maintain control over the mortal population. She holds a dark legacy of manipulating those around her to enact a grand design for the world.

Key Relationships

Mother of Penellaphe Balfour Da'Neer

Mother of Millicent

Former Partner of Ires

Former Captor of Casteel Da'Neer

Supporting Characters

Griffith Jansen is an Atlantian operative working undercover as the Commander of the Royal Guard in Solis. He despises the Ascended, who are responsible for the deaths of his children. He coordinates with Casteel to arrange security positions and plan covert operations.

Key Relationships

Co-conspirator of Casteel Da'Neer

Colleague of Vikter Wardwell

Alastir Davenwell is a trusted advisor to King Valyn and Queen Eloana of Atlantia. He serves as a mentor figure to Casteel, holding significant political influence. He believes a direct war with Solis is the necessary course of action.

Key Relationships

Mentor to Casteel Da'Neer

Advisor to King Valyn

Vikter is the head of security at Castle Teerman and Penellaphe's primary personal guard. He acts as a surrogate father to Penellaphe following the death of his own family. He is highly protective of her and expresses strong suspicion regarding Casteel's intentions.

Key Relationships

Protector of Penellaphe Balfour Da'Neer

Colleague of Casteel Da'Neer

Subordinate to Duke Teerman

Colleague of Rylan

Tawny is a Lady in Wait and Penellaphe's closest confidant. She possesses a mischievous sense of humor and frequently encourages Penellaphe to bend the strict rules governing her life. She provides emotional support and moments of levity in the oppressive castle environment.

Key Relationships

Best Friend of Penellaphe Balfour Da'Neer

Acquaintance of Casteel Da'Neer

Malik is the older prince of Atlantia and Casteel's brother. His status in Solis serves as the primary motivation for Casteel's undercover mission. He carries a complex history with his family and the Blood Crown.

Key Relationships

Brother of Casteel Da'Neer

Heartmate of Millicent

Son of King Valyn

Son of Queen Eloana

Millicent is Penellaphe's older sister and a Revenant. She previously served as the Maiden before Penellaphe. She holds a soulmate bond with Malik and survives a complicated existence between opposing factions.

Key Relationships

Sister of Penellaphe Balfour Da'Neer

Heartmate of Malik

Daughter of Isbeth

Ires is a god and Penellaphe's biological father. He spent decades held captive in his animal form by Isbeth. He requires significant magical and physical rehabilitation following his rescue.

Key Relationships

Father of Penellaphe Balfour Da'Neer

Former Partner of Isbeth

Ward of Nektas

Nektas is the leader of the draken, beings who can shapeshift between human and dragon forms. He serves as a guardian of the gods and provides cryptic but vital guidance regarding the divine domain and Penellaphe's transition.

Key Relationships

Caretaker of Ires

Associate of Casteel Da'Neer

Emil is an Atlantian operative assisting Casteel's faction. He helps supply Casteel with blood to prevent his senses from dulling. He monitors political developments in Atlantia and relays information to the undercover team.

Key Relationships

Subordinate to Casteel Da'Neer

Associate of Kieran Contou

Jericho is a wolven descended from an old bloodline. He assists with the undercover operations in Solis but struggles to follow orders, leading to severe tension within the operative group.

Key Relationships

Subordinate to Casteel Da'Neer

Co-conspirator of Griffith Jansen

Rylan is a reputable royal guard assigned to protect Penellaphe. He is recognized as an honorable man, making his targeted removal a difficult but strategic necessity for the undercover operatives.

Key Relationships

Guard of Penellaphe Balfour Da'Neer

Colleague of Vikter Wardwell

Pence is a young, mortal guard stationed on Masadonia's security border. He firmly believes the Ascended's propaganda regarding the Maiden and the gods, representing the misguided loyalty of Solis's human citizens.

Key Relationships

Colleague of Casteel Da'Neer

Subordinate to Lieutenant Smyth

Lieutenant Smyth is an officer in the Solis guard. He harbors suspicions about Casteel's rapid promotion and threatens to investigate his background, viewing him as a disruptive presence in the ranks.

Key Relationships

Superior to Casteel Da'Neer

Superior to Pence

King Valyn is the monarch of Atlantia and Casteel's father. He is a grieving parent who desires to strike back against Solis, remaining unaware of the full extent of his son's covert operations.

Key Relationships

Husband of Queen Eloana

Father of Casteel Da'Neer

Father of Malik

Queen Eloana rules Atlantia alongside King Valyn. She awaits her sons' safe return and relies on advisors to navigate the kingdom's tense political standoff with Solis.

Key Relationships

Wife of King Valyn

Mother of Casteel Da'Neer

Mother of Malik

Lord Mazeen is an Ascended noble residing in Masadonia. He preys on vulnerable mortal women and makes inappropriate advances, representing the unchecked predatory nature of the Ascended elite.

Key Relationships

Associate of Duke Teerman

Harasser of Penellaphe Balfour Da'Neer

Delano is a loyal Atlantian operative stationed in the border town of New Haven. He works to maintain control of the reclaimed territory while assisting Casteel with his strategic maneuvers.

Key Relationships

Subordinate to Casteel Da'Neer

Colleague of Elijah Payne

Elijah is an Atlantian stationed in New Haven. He manages the local operative forces and warns Casteel about shifting loyalties and unrest among the troops regarding the current mission.

Key Relationships

Subordinate to Casteel Da'Neer

Colleague of Delano Amicu

Naill is one of Casteel's closest Atlantian friends. He helps secure the border town of New Haven and acts as a dependable enforcer for the undercover operation.

Key Relationships

Friend of Casteel Da'Neer

Colleague of Delano Amicu