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3.56 AVERAGE
3.56 AVERAGE
First, let me start by saying this: I rarely don’t finish books. Even if I don’t like a book, I’ll usually stick through it to the end, albeit sometimes with severe eye-rolling. That being said, this book isn’t awful. I’ve read and finished many books that I disliked much more than this one. I just was not feeling it and this book was putting me in a reading slump…so I moved on. At about 50%, mind you. So, let’s talk about it.
I really wanted to like this book. I started reading it thinking I was really going to like this book. I really enjoyed Hodge’s take on Beauty and the Beast in Cruel Beauty But this one just didn’t do it for me.
I think the biggest reason was that the mythology was confusing. In CB, there are aspects of Greek mythology used which I thought was a really interesting combination with the fairy tale, fantasy, and mythology. But that mythology was somewhat familiar to me so I was able to comprehend it and keep moving forward in the story. In Crimson Bound, however, it was a new mythology, unique to its world. A mythology that Hodge made up completely. Which was so unique, don’t get me wrong. And I don’t know if it wasn’t explained thoroughly enough or if I just didn’t fully grasp the exposition…but I just didn’t get the mythology behind their world. And that was something vital to understanding what was going on. There’s a capital-f Forest that just starts materializing everywhere and something evil called the Devourer and I. Just. Don’t. Understand. Why. If you’ve read it, please help me understand!
Besides the mythology, there was an obvious love triangle forming, with an obvious ending. I didn’t have to look anywhere or Google anything to know who she’s going to end up with…from the first moment of meeting the character, I knew.
And everything seemed very forced between Armand and Rachelle. Of course, I didn’t read the entire thing so that could have changed.
Most of all, this book was putting me in a slump. I put it down and didn’t read for almost two days. Two. Days. And that might not seem like a lot to you but it is to me! It just made me lose all desire to pick it up…and that’s when I decided just to take out the bookmark and move on.
Sooooo, I’ll just take my unpopular opinion and skedaddle.
I really wanted to like this book. I started reading it thinking I was really going to like this book. I really enjoyed Hodge’s take on Beauty and the Beast in Cruel Beauty But this one just didn’t do it for me.
I think the biggest reason was that the mythology was confusing. In CB, there are aspects of Greek mythology used which I thought was a really interesting combination with the fairy tale, fantasy, and mythology. But that mythology was somewhat familiar to me so I was able to comprehend it and keep moving forward in the story. In Crimson Bound, however, it was a new mythology, unique to its world. A mythology that Hodge made up completely. Which was so unique, don’t get me wrong. And I don’t know if it wasn’t explained thoroughly enough or if I just didn’t fully grasp the exposition…but I just didn’t get the mythology behind their world. And that was something vital to understanding what was going on. There’s a capital-f Forest that just starts materializing everywhere and something evil called the Devourer and I. Just. Don’t. Understand. Why. If you’ve read it, please help me understand!
Besides the mythology, there was an obvious love triangle forming, with an obvious ending. I didn’t have to look anywhere or Google anything to know who she’s going to end up with…from the first moment of meeting the character, I knew.
Spoiler
OBVIOUSLY when there is the hunky, bad boy guy + the he-seems-innocence-but-she-doesnt-believe-it-so-she-hates-him guy…there’s going to be a love triangle. But it was SO obvious to me that she was going to end up with Armand, the guy she hates and thinks is lying about his innocence. And obviously he’s not going to be lying about his innocence. Because, yeah. That’s what happens.And everything seemed very forced between Armand and Rachelle. Of course, I didn’t read the entire thing so that could have changed.
Most of all, this book was putting me in a slump. I put it down and didn’t read for almost two days. Two. Days. And that might not seem like a lot to you but it is to me! It just made me lose all desire to pick it up…and that’s when I decided just to take out the bookmark and move on.
Sooooo, I’ll just take my unpopular opinion and skedaddle.
I got to 40% and just wasn't interested anymore. Not in the characters, the storyline, it was just boring. :/ The start was intriguing and I was hoping that this book would be a lot better than it actually was, I did admittedly read this one straight after 'Uprooted' so maybe I'm overly judgemental but this didn't compare at all. Uprooted was excellent whilst this was extremely lacking.
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Crimson Bound is a retelling involving many fairytales, bounding them together with a dark twist.
First of all, the author does an amazing job creating a luscious, dark atmosphere that elevates the story, which, on paper sounds interesting, but it falls short in the end.
Still, the characters were strong and the mythology created was amazing.
First of all, the author does an amazing job creating a luscious, dark atmosphere that elevates the story, which, on paper sounds interesting, but it falls short in the end.
Still, the characters were strong and the mythology created was amazing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Toxic relationship, Violence
When i originally found out that this book was coming out i couldn't wait. Firstly because Cruel Beauty was so amazing. Secondly Hodge is an amazing author. And Thirdly, i've always been into mythology as well as the fairy tales. I just always wanted a version i could actually believe. And i have to say this is it. She makes the character's come alive and she really hits the nail on the head with trust issues. I didn't want to put this book down, and as excited as i was to finally reach the end i was also heartbroken. Simply because it meant that book had ended. I already want to read it again. Can't wait to see if there is another similar.
adventurous
dark
tense
Dark, intense fantasy novel with religious undertones (very) loosely based on Little Red Riding Hood… overall enjoyed the concepts (forestborn, Great Forest, woodwives, etc.) but the relationship building (or lack thereof) is where this book got stuck at 3 stars for me. None of Rachelle’s relationships (except maybe Erec and Aunt Léonie) felt believable to me. Her friendship with Amélie felt out of nowhere and lacking depth even though it was supposedly this girl she felt so strongly about. Her love for Armand was very sudden for me as well, it went from “okay she’s starting to have feelings for him/be into him” to all of a sudden professing this deep & undying love. The hot & cold with Erec got kind of old as well. Just overall the connections felt rushed and the descriptions of how she was supposedly feeling about these people seemed over-dramatized. Also, while obviously I’m happy she got a semblance of a happily ever after… getting to just come back to life seems like it’s cheating a little. 😂 I did like that the author was self-aware in that with Rachelle’s dialog with Aunt Léonie about it not being fair that she can just be alive again.
Overall, interesting story and I’m not mad I read it, but stays at just good/ok for me!
Liked the story disliked the romance. It was too fast and unbelievable.
This is another fairytale retelling. This time it's an original take on Little Red Riding Hood. I always really liked this fairy tale, because it wasn't really a romance and Little Red Riding Hood had a great deal of agency in terms of fairy tales. It was also a lot darker than most.
This particular story follows Rachelle, who's chosen by her Aunt to protect the forest. Unfortunately, Rachelle is too reckless and forced to make a choice that binds her to the evil she hoped to defeat. Three years later she is fighting to protect the realm and the king forces her to protect her least favourite prince. Together the two become unlikely allies and work to find the mystical sword, that will kill the evil.
This is pretty far from the original tale, with just the general idea and the occasional nods to the original fairytale. This has a lot more medieval royalty elements than the original tale. I liked the changes though and think it made for a richer novel. I'm a sucker for mystical forests, and I think this novel did a great job with that. The whole world building was great. Rachelle as a protagonist was really good I though. I also didn't mind the romance in the novel. I mean we all knew it was going to happen, but that didn't make it any less enjoyable.
I really enjoyed this novel.
4/5 stars.
I recommend this novel to anyone who likes Little Red Riding Hood or fairy tale retellings. Or YA fantasies in general. It's a very well done novel. If you like retellings to be close, this probably isn't for you.
This particular story follows Rachelle, who's chosen by her Aunt to protect the forest. Unfortunately, Rachelle is too reckless and forced to make a choice that binds her to the evil she hoped to defeat. Three years later she is fighting to protect the realm and the king forces her to protect her least favourite prince. Together the two become unlikely allies and work to find the mystical sword, that will kill the evil.
This is pretty far from the original tale, with just the general idea and the occasional nods to the original fairytale. This has a lot more medieval royalty elements than the original tale. I liked the changes though and think it made for a richer novel. I'm a sucker for mystical forests, and I think this novel did a great job with that. The whole world building was great. Rachelle as a protagonist was really good I though. I also didn't mind the romance in the novel. I mean we all knew it was going to happen, but that didn't make it any less enjoyable.
I really enjoyed this novel.
4/5 stars.
I recommend this novel to anyone who likes Little Red Riding Hood or fairy tale retellings. Or YA fantasies in general. It's a very well done novel. If you like retellings to be close, this probably isn't for you.
It started out a bit slow, IMO, but it soon picked up. And the world building lacked a little so it was kind of hard to pick up on certain things happening, but it doesn't quite take away from the story so it's all good.
The characters are greatly flawed in a way that makes you both love and hate them. Everything makes you angry, also.
It's a rollercoaster ride. I enjoyed it.
The characters are greatly flawed in a way that makes you both love and hate them. Everything makes you angry, also.
It's a rollercoaster ride. I enjoyed it.
Had an emotional connection to it because I was hoping for it to be as good as Cruel Beauty, but it just misses the mark.
I enjoyed buddy reading this book with Ahmed Ejaz
I think it's the first fairy tale retelling I read..
This book was a retelling of Red Riding Hood. But it's not really that similar I mean it could do fine as an original book I thought.
We follow Rachelle who is supposed to become the next woodwife and protect everyone from the evil of the Great Forest but she is not very careful and becomes bound to the that evil as she becomes bloodbound.
What I loved:
• The setting. It was magical and it had that fairytale feeling to it. It’s dark and grim. The imageries for the forest were breathtaking. All credit to her beautiful writing.
• How Rachelle was a survivor first and foremost. Even though she was haunted with her guilt, she admitted that to herself.
• Armand. I have a thing for people with silver hands maybe.
• The chemistry between Rachelle and Armand.
• Zisa and Tyr’s story. I devoured (:P) those parts. It was gloomy.
•
What I did not love:
• I felt like most of the characters besides Armand were very one-dimensional. Our protagonist Rachelle had such potential but I feel like that wasn’t fully explored I mean we should’ve gotten to see more of monstrous side and basically just more of her. Erec who was one of main characters; did not exactly have much personality for most of the book, except that he teased her. Amelie and the King felt more like plot devices than actual characters.
• There was a whole chunk in the start where they looked for the DOOR; it was dragging on too much.
• The Devourer. Our main antagonist and sadly we don’t know much of him.
•
After this review I'm going to be a bit inactive.
Overall I enjoyed this. 3.5 stars!
P.S guys what is with the ugly cover? :P
I think it's the first fairy tale retelling I read..
This book was a retelling of Red Riding Hood. But it's not really that similar I mean it could do fine as an original book I thought.
We follow Rachelle who is supposed to become the next woodwife and protect everyone from the evil of the Great Forest but she is not very careful and becomes bound to the that evil as she becomes bloodbound.
What I loved:
• The setting. It was magical and it had that fairytale feeling to it. It’s dark and grim. The imageries for the forest were breathtaking. All credit to her beautiful writing.
• How Rachelle was a survivor first and foremost. Even though she was haunted with her guilt, she admitted that to herself.
• Armand. I have a thing for people with silver hands maybe.
• The chemistry between Rachelle and Armand.
• Zisa and Tyr’s story. I devoured (:P) those parts. It was gloomy.
•
Spoiler
When we find out that Erec is the forestborn, I was so surprised even though now I see that there were hints, and he becomes more interesting specially with his love for Rachelle.What I did not love:
• I felt like most of the characters besides Armand were very one-dimensional. Our protagonist Rachelle had such potential but I feel like that wasn’t fully explored I mean we should’ve gotten to see more of monstrous side and basically just more of her. Erec who was one of main characters; did not exactly have much personality for most of the book, except that he teased her
Spoiler
he became interesting when we found it his mad obsessive love for Rachelle• There was a whole chunk in the start where they looked for the DOOR; it was dragging on too much.
• The Devourer. Our main antagonist and sadly we don’t know much of him.
•
Spoiler
When Rachelle manages to put the Devourer it just seemed too easy, I don’t understand if that was the solution why didn’t Zisa think of it?After this review I'm going to be a bit inactive.
Overall I enjoyed this. 3.5 stars!
P.S guys what is with the ugly cover? :P