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4.06 AVERAGE
4.06 AVERAGE
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This was good. I enjoyed the twist on the Cinderella idea quite a bit.
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This is a retelling of Cinderella. Blue lives in a kingdom where magic is banned due to an ugly experience with a witch. Blue has a small gift that she must hide to avoid being executed, while working to use it to improve the lives of the poor.
I really like Blue in this story. She is determined and compassionate, and I enjoyed how much she tries to do on her own but accepts help when needed. Her relationship with the prince and his own development felt very natural.
I did not love the ending of the book where they are up against the antagonist in that it felt super rushed and a little forced. The fight did not seem believable but the build up to it was solid.
I really like Blue in this story. She is determined and compassionate, and I enjoyed how much she tries to do on her own but accepts help when needed. Her relationship with the prince and his own development felt very natural.
I did not love the ending of the book where they are up against the antagonist in that it felt super rushed and a little forced. The fight did not seem believable but the build up to it was solid.
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is the last currently published book in the Ravenspire series, and I am so sad. I want more now! My review for The Shadow Queen, The Wish Granter, and The Traitor Prince are all linked. Now, these are marked as standalones, and you can read them without having read anything else, but I definitely recommend reading them in order because there are Easter eggs for each of the different tales. The Blood Spell is a Cinderella retelling, and while all the expected parts are there–the evil stepsisters (kind of), the awful stepmother (definitely), the glass slipper (it’s so cool), the fairy godmother and the pumpkin turned carriage–Redwine’s version of these fairytales are always much darker, much more imaginative, and much more feminist.
After sixteen years of Balavata’s blood wraith trapped and caged, children are starting to go missing again, strange and fatal spells are starting to resurface again, and there is a wicked plot to destroy the royal family. Blue de la Cour, alchemist and commoner, has no time for the crown prince or his antics. She’s too busy trying to figure out how to rehome all of the orphaned street kids, tutor the mute princess while still keeping her safe, and keep her shop afloat.
Man, this was good. It was so dramatic, as they always are, but in a really good way. There was one super adorable scene where our Cinderella characters are present, the royal family from the Rumpelstiltskin story have arrived to visit, and Hansel & Gretel are just docking their ship. Plus, Kellan, crown prince of Balavata, had a very small role in The Traitor Prince as Javan’s best friend and roommate, so it was really awesome to see him again. Even outside of the characters, whom I am going to love every time, Redwine twists this complex and compelling plot, taking a pretty standard, white fairytale and just dumping it on its head. And after making it diverse and engaging, she also gives us a damn good story. I get all warm inside at the expected fairytale parts and equal parts terrified and awed at all the unexpected parts. This is truly one of my favorite series, and I can’t wait for the next one.
After sixteen years of Balavata’s blood wraith trapped and caged, children are starting to go missing again, strange and fatal spells are starting to resurface again, and there is a wicked plot to destroy the royal family. Blue de la Cour, alchemist and commoner, has no time for the crown prince or his antics. She’s too busy trying to figure out how to rehome all of the orphaned street kids, tutor the mute princess while still keeping her safe, and keep her shop afloat.
Man, this was good. It was so dramatic, as they always are, but in a really good way. There was one super adorable scene where our Cinderella characters are present, the royal family from the Rumpelstiltskin story have arrived to visit, and Hansel & Gretel are just docking their ship. Plus, Kellan, crown prince of Balavata, had a very small role in The Traitor Prince as Javan’s best friend and roommate, so it was really awesome to see him again. Even outside of the characters, whom I am going to love every time, Redwine twists this complex and compelling plot, taking a pretty standard, white fairytale and just dumping it on its head. And after making it diverse and engaging, she also gives us a damn good story. I get all warm inside at the expected fairytale parts and equal parts terrified and awed at all the unexpected parts. This is truly one of my favorite series, and I can’t wait for the next one.
I am here, to start a petition that all the Disney Princess getting a film adaptation has to actually be based on stories like this one. Why? Because only like this will we finally teach our children that a princess if powerful and brave without the need of any man... Cue any powerful anthem of self-empowerment that is your jam at the moment.
What is the story exactly about?
Sit back.
Let me tell you the tale of Blue de la Cour.
The Blood Spell is a remake on Cinderella, it focuses on our dear Blue and the fact that she is in a sense a "Witch." Witches, however (because of one bad apple) are banned and if found are put to death. But, Blue doesn't let that fuel any hate, and that's exactly what makes her Princess worthy. She's not bent on revenge from the oppression she is just trying to use her craft to save the people that are innocent in all this mess, the children.
They are deserving of anything just like anyone else and for that reason, Blue will stop at nothing to give them the help they need.
Enter our Prince Kellian. Kellian is a dangerous charmer with the tongue of a viper quick and lethal. He is so much smarter than he lets on but still fights with his natural desires of freedom to be able to see things clearly.
My favorite thing about this story is that it doesn't focus on romance or the abuse Blue has to endure it's base is all Blue is doing to make her plans a reality and help the children of her land. Everything in between is just a very sweet added bonus.
What is the story exactly about?
Sit back.
Let me tell you the tale of Blue de la Cour.
The Blood Spell is a remake on Cinderella, it focuses on our dear Blue and the fact that she is in a sense a "Witch." Witches, however (because of one bad apple) are banned and if found are put to death. But, Blue doesn't let that fuel any hate, and that's exactly what makes her Princess worthy. She's not bent on revenge from the oppression she is just trying to use her craft to save the people that are innocent in all this mess, the children.
They are deserving of anything just like anyone else and for that reason, Blue will stop at nothing to give them the help they need.
Enter our Prince Kellian. Kellian is a dangerous charmer with the tongue of a viper quick and lethal. He is so much smarter than he lets on but still fights with his natural desires of freedom to be able to see things clearly.
My favorite thing about this story is that it doesn't focus on romance or the abuse Blue has to endure it's base is all Blue is doing to make her plans a reality and help the children of her land. Everything in between is just a very sweet added bonus.
I really love retellings and this was a good one. Thank his was based on Cinderella (obviously) but it’s definitely different from the original. Thanks to her father’s close friendship with the King, Blue and Prince Kellan grew up together. But they definitely have an “enemies to lovers” type relationship. Blue and her father are Alchemists and she has magic in her blood, magic that is outlawed thanks to a blood wraith that terrorized the kingdom 16 yrs ago. If was locked away behind a gate but someone has been trying to releas it. Kellan and Blue become closer as they try to figure out who is behind it and was as several deaths and missing children around the kingdom. Firing this whole time, Kellan also has to deal with the politics of courting the daughters of the high families and choose a bride before he officially takes over as king. But he soon realizes his heart has already chosen someone he can’t marry.
I didn’t realize this was book 4 but apparently they are standalones. But I will be going back and reading the others in this series.
I didn’t realize this was book 4 but apparently they are standalones. But I will be going back and reading the others in this series.
I received a copy of this from Balzer + Bray(HarperCollins) and Edelweiss in exchange for my honest review.
This was another thoroughly enjoyable fairy tale-retelling from C.J. Redwine with a quick pace. The women in her books are strong, intelligent, loyal, and brave, and this book's main characters are no exception. I love retellings, and am eagerly awaiting her next books (my money is on Hansel and Gretel, who have made two cameos to date)!
This was another thoroughly enjoyable fairy tale-retelling from C.J. Redwine with a quick pace. The women in her books are strong, intelligent, loyal, and brave, and this book's main characters are no exception. I love retellings, and am eagerly awaiting her next books (my money is on Hansel and Gretel, who have made two cameos to date)!
I would say this book surprised me because I wasn't expecting this to be a retelling that had alot of differences from the original fairytale but boy was I wrong! I liked how unique the storyline was atleast according to me. I would recommend this book to anybody who wants a quick fantasy read about a girl with magic lives in a world were magic is forbidden and this mc has a clear enemy from the start of the book.
The main problem that I had with this book is that one of the main relationships goes through a major change that I thought happened very quickly. This change felt a little forced and what I thought would have made it better was if this change had a longer time developing.
Another problem that I had was that one of the friendships in this book is very much talked about but we don't have many scenes of these "best" friends togheter.
The main problem that I had with this book is that one of the main relationships goes through a major change that I thought happened very quickly. This change felt a little forced and what I thought would have made it better was if this change had a longer time developing.
Another problem that I had was that one of the friendships in this book is very much talked about but we don't have many scenes of these "best" friends togheter.