Armentrout’s epic romantic fantasy features extensive worldbuilding and detailed, fictional history to develop the conflicts in each novel. At the time of this guide’s publication, the six-book Blood and Ash series also includes a compendium novel and a spin-off series called Flesh and Fire (which includes A Shadow in the Ember, A Light in the Flame, A Fire in the Flesh, Born of Blood and Ash). The Crown of Gilded Bones is the third book in the Blood and Ash series, preceded by From Blood and Ash and A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire, and followed by The War of Two Queens, A Soul of Ash and Blood, and Visions of Flesh and Blood. This novel bridges the protagonist’s previous role as a guarded Maiden lacking control and life experience with the powerful goddess and queen that she grows to become in the later books.

In the Known World, the Kingdom of Solis is ruled by the tyrannical Ascended, Queen Ileana and King Jalara. Solis remains at odds with the Kingdom of Atlantia. Now, after the War of Two Kings, Atlantia is ruled by a mixed monarchy consisting of Queen Eloana and King Valyn.