You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.56 AVERAGE
3.56 AVERAGE
Damn. I wanted to like this. I was all set to like this when I started reading. I really enjoyed the beginning and I was eagerly wondering if this would be my next 4 star. My next 5 star?! A badass killer lady who is basically a Grey Warden and who partners up with an over the top slightly foppish character (an archetype I like) to kill evil monsters?! Sign me the fuck up! Then we had a disabled character who seemed to throw a monkey wrench into the heroine's world view and I was even more engaged.
Then this book fell flat on it's face. It didn't know what it wanted to be. An exciting swords and magic adventure, an angsty romance, court politics, a mystery to solve? Lots of books can do all of those, but this one keeps dipping its toe into each, then backing off before any of them can be engaging. It felt like such a tease. I'd be ready for it to finally delve deeper into ANY of these things, and it never did.
Keep an eye on my youtube channel for a more in depth review to come soon: Julian's youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/JulianGreystoke
Then this book fell flat on it's face. It didn't know what it wanted to be. An exciting swords and magic adventure, an angsty romance, court politics, a mystery to solve? Lots of books can do all of those, but this one keeps dipping its toe into each, then backing off before any of them can be engaging. It felt like such a tease. I'd be ready for it to finally delve deeper into ANY of these things, and it never did.
Keep an eye on my youtube channel for a more in depth review to come soon: Julian's youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/JulianGreystoke
Rosamund Hodge understands the fairytale dynamic. Crimson Bound is really good, even if I didn't always feel the deepest connection with the characters. Keeping that in mind, the world is very intricately woven, albeit, kind of difficult to follow at times. I also like that Armand has major physical flaws; it makes him seem much more real. I like him as a character, actually more so because of his metal hands. I feel like flaws like that usually don't befall main characters, so it was definitely a breath of fresh air. Plus, the use of the forest in this Red Riding Hood retelling is incredibly haunting and beautiful. I definitely hope to see more books by Hodge in the future!
Well, well, well.
Crimson Bound is very well-written and, like other works by Rosamund Hodge, the fairy tale atmosphere feels just fantastic. While I fully know it is been said as a retelling from The Red Riding Hood, this book does not feel like that fairy tale at all. Instead this feels like a whole new story with a different myths and characters.
I really like Rachelle. She's complex and flawed, but realistically human. I love Amelie so much, you have no idea, I love her because I love people who can show unconditional compassion towards everything no matter how horrible. I love Erec so much it hurts me to accept how messed up he is and how I can somewhat understand his desperation/obsession towards someone he loves. To be honest, I don't like Armand that much, I'm not sure why, but I can sympathize with him at the very least.
Eventhough this was a decent read, I didn't enjoy it as much as I did Cruel Beauty. The plot and the twists were still original and mind-fucking as the author usually wrote (I had prepared myself of the twists but even then I was gasping in shock finding out some of them at the end of the book) and it was a great adventure, but the reason why I enjoyed Cruel Beauty better is probably my bond with the characters. I love Rachelle, but I can relate myself more with Nyx. I love Erec and Armand, but I adore Ignifex much much more especially after the ending.
But anyway, maybe this is completely subjective and it's just that my taste likes Cruel Beauty more than Crimson Bound eventhough both are pleasant and rare kind of read. I consider myself following all of the author's works in the future too, I guess. The adventures are somewhat refreshing.
Crimson Bound is very well-written and, like other works by Rosamund Hodge, the fairy tale atmosphere feels just fantastic. While I fully know it is been said as a retelling from The Red Riding Hood, this book does not feel like that fairy tale at all. Instead this feels like a whole new story with a different myths and characters.
I really like Rachelle. She's complex and flawed, but realistically human. I love Amelie so much, you have no idea, I love her because I love people who can show unconditional compassion towards everything no matter how horrible. I love Erec so much it hurts me to accept how messed up he is and how I can somewhat understand his desperation/obsession towards someone he loves. To be honest, I don't like Armand that much, I'm not sure why, but I can sympathize with him at the very least.
Eventhough this was a decent read, I didn't enjoy it as much as I did Cruel Beauty. The plot and the twists were still original and mind-fucking as the author usually wrote (I had prepared myself of the twists but even then I was gasping in shock finding out some of them at the end of the book) and it was a great adventure, but the reason why I enjoyed Cruel Beauty better is probably my bond with the characters. I love Rachelle, but I can relate myself more with Nyx. I love Erec and Armand, but I adore Ignifex much much more especially after the ending.
But anyway, maybe this is completely subjective and it's just that my taste likes Cruel Beauty more than Crimson Bound eventhough both are pleasant and rare kind of read. I consider myself following all of the author's works in the future too, I guess. The adventures are somewhat refreshing.
I want to read it again right now except for the part where I know how it ends... Couldn't put it down.
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Cruel beauty was confusing yes, but interesting and exciting with a beautiful, unlikely love story. This book was just confusing. My favorite character was Eric even after he proves to be totally and completely evil. I honestly wish the book ended with her just loving him and serving the forest. That being the case, I found the real story unrewarding, confusing, and predictable. The love was sudden and forced. The concept of the forest and all the many one sided characters was all just too much. Overall I was disappointed this book didn't live up to its predecessor.
So here's the thing: I should have really liked this book.
In fact, I was fully prepared to love this book. I liked Cruel Beauty, and I really liked Gilded Ashes, so when I started this book, I went into it with high expectations. And perhaps that was the problem. See I don't think that 3 stars counts as a bad review, in fact the reason that I gave it 3 stars is because I still really like Rosamund Hodge's writing and Crimson Bound isn't a bad book, even though it just didn't work for me.
Hodge tends to write her female characters as very conflicted, very raw people who are usually carrying the burden of some decision that has been made. In Cruel Beauty and Gilded Ashes, the characters were carrying the burden of decisions made for them, but in Crimson Bound, the consequences that the main character is dealing with are because of her own bad decision. That is probably the theme of the book, hard questions and even harder answers.
Because the main character's suffering is somewhat of her own doing, because she's a difficult character to read about, I found it hard to root for her. I found it hard to connect with the book. But I found it intriguing enough to read. Which is why I finished it.
I don't think it's a bad book at all, it just didn't work for me. Still Hodge's writing is good enough to push me till the end, and great enough that I'll definitely be looking out for her next book.
In fact, I was fully prepared to love this book. I liked Cruel Beauty, and I really liked Gilded Ashes, so when I started this book, I went into it with high expectations. And perhaps that was the problem. See I don't think that 3 stars counts as a bad review, in fact the reason that I gave it 3 stars is because I still really like Rosamund Hodge's writing and Crimson Bound isn't a bad book, even though it just didn't work for me.
Hodge tends to write her female characters as very conflicted, very raw people who are usually carrying the burden of some decision that has been made. In Cruel Beauty and Gilded Ashes, the characters were carrying the burden of decisions made for them, but in Crimson Bound, the consequences that the main character is dealing with are because of her own bad decision. That is probably the theme of the book, hard questions and even harder answers.
Because the main character's suffering is somewhat of her own doing, because she's a difficult character to read about, I found it hard to root for her. I found it hard to connect with the book. But I found it intriguing enough to read. Which is why I finished it.
I don't think it's a bad book at all, it just didn't work for me. Still Hodge's writing is good enough to push me till the end, and great enough that I'll definitely be looking out for her next book.
As soon as I heard that Crimson Bound was a Little Red Riding Hood retelling, I knew I would have to read the book. I enjoyed reading Cruel Beauty last year, so I was super curious to see what Rosamund Hodge had come up with this retelling. As much as I enjoyed Cruel Beauty because it was a Beauty and the Beast retelling, I think I enjoyed Crimson Bound even more!
The main character in the story, Rachelle, was one of those really awesome heroines that I always love. The girl can kick some bad guy butt, but she also has a seldom seen soft heart that proves how much she cares about people. I love that about her. There was a bit of romance going on for Rachelle in the book, and it comes off as a bit of a love triangle. I honestly really didn’t buy one side of the triangle at all. But the other side was sweet, and that’s definitely the team I was rooting for.
The thing about Crimson Bound, much like Cruel Beauty, is that the worlds that Hodge creates in these books are SO very unique and creative. It’s insane how in depth she gets with these stories. The characters, the setting, the storyline – it’s all so very well thought out and written. There are lots of twists and turns throughout the story that will have you turning the pages to find out what is going to happen next. I’m pleased to say that the end of the book comes together nicely as well.
Overall; fans of Hodge’s Cruel Beauty will definitely enjoy Crimson Bound!! I really enjoyed this Little Red Riding Hood retelling, and I can’t wait to see what Rosamund Hodge comes up with next!
Happy Reading!
The main character in the story, Rachelle, was one of those really awesome heroines that I always love. The girl can kick some bad guy butt, but she also has a seldom seen soft heart that proves how much she cares about people. I love that about her. There was a bit of romance going on for Rachelle in the book, and it comes off as a bit of a love triangle. I honestly really didn’t buy one side of the triangle at all. But the other side was sweet, and that’s definitely the team I was rooting for.
The thing about Crimson Bound, much like Cruel Beauty, is that the worlds that Hodge creates in these books are SO very unique and creative. It’s insane how in depth she gets with these stories. The characters, the setting, the storyline – it’s all so very well thought out and written. There are lots of twists and turns throughout the story that will have you turning the pages to find out what is going to happen next. I’m pleased to say that the end of the book comes together nicely as well.
Overall; fans of Hodge’s Cruel Beauty will definitely enjoy Crimson Bound!! I really enjoyed this Little Red Riding Hood retelling, and I can’t wait to see what Rosamund Hodge comes up with next!
Happy Reading!
how does one write such a genius, complex story with great characters and an amazing ending?
Recommend 100%
Recommend 100%
That was... something.
The story was intriguing but poorly written (which seems to be this author's personal brand), and the characters seem soulless. I couldn't care less about this cardboard-box-personality prince or the morally-grey-wanna-be main character or the evil-but-hot-with-a-sad-past villain because none of them have been consistently represented throughout the book, which means their personality changed according to the author's need for the story to develop without the effort of... you know... developing the plot or the character.
I had the very same problem with another book from Rosamund: an amazing idea with terrible execution. It wasn't awful, of course, but it is quite sad to see so much potential lost to lack of experience.
The story was intriguing but poorly written (which seems to be this author's personal brand), and the characters seem soulless. I couldn't care less about this cardboard-box-personality prince or the morally-grey-wanna-be main character or the evil-but-hot-with-a-sad-past villain because none of them have been consistently represented throughout the book, which means their personality changed according to the author's need for the story to develop without the effort of... you know... developing the plot or the character.
I had the very same problem with another book from Rosamund: an amazing idea with terrible execution. It wasn't awful, of course, but it is quite sad to see so much potential lost to lack of experience.