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3.66 AVERAGE
3.66 AVERAGE
I freaking loved it! The feisty-ness of the FMC was awesome and I loved the occasional commentary given by the FMC re: male masculine ego. Not a fan of the cliffhanger, but that's b/c I don't like cliffhangers in general. Overall, a great book!!! I can't wait for the next installment.
*Thank you for the ARC from Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op in return for my honest review!*
*Thank you for the ARC from Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op in return for my honest review!*
Thank you to the author for providing me an ARC of this book.
Overall, this book was a pretty easy read. It's bloody, sexy, and has interesting fantasy world building and details. I unfortunately had a tough time connecting with the characters, especially the FMC. I also didn't feel very compelled by the writing, but that may just be a matter of personal preference in style.
If you want a pretty quick read, this is a good option! i read this over the span of just a few days. Just maybe don't expect to be wowed by this one. And slight spoiler: major cliffhanger at the end.
Overall, this book was a pretty easy read. It's bloody, sexy, and has interesting fantasy world building and details. I unfortunately had a tough time connecting with the characters, especially the FMC. I also didn't feel very compelled by the writing, but that may just be a matter of personal preference in style.
If you want a pretty quick read, this is a good option! i read this over the span of just a few days. Just maybe don't expect to be wowed by this one. And slight spoiler: major cliffhanger at the end.
I love a good story about a strong female character taking action of her own without needing or seeking a man!
Queen Layla is that woman!
Seeking answers and solving problems her damn self!
Rune I wanted to truly like from the beginning but need some more. He was kind of a rollercoaster character for me… up and down. Hard to really invest in.
I was drawn in immediately to this story with ending leaving me wanting more…
Ready for book 2!!
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Queen Layla is that woman!
Seeking answers and solving problems her damn self!
Rune I wanted to truly like from the beginning but need some more. He was kind of a rollercoaster character for me… up and down. Hard to really invest in.
I was drawn in immediately to this story with ending leaving me wanting more…
Ready for book 2!!
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I like FMCs that are strong headed and don't need saving. Layla was a character that was right what I wanted in that aspect. She was maybe a bit too distrusting at times and would change her mind about the prince too often. The twists were predictable, but I still enjoyed the story. I liked the MMC, being a brute but still being a softie with his "queeny". The betrayal was an interesting part of the story. I enjoyed the writing and the pacing was nice. I'm curious to see where the story goes next. Recommended if you like strong FMCs, morally grey main characters, and betrayals.
*eBook provided for ARC Review*
Blood Queen is a thrilling novel about a young queen named Layla who inherits the throne after her parents are murdered. She is left so distraught from her parent's brutal murder, that she takes a backseat to the politics of ruling her kingdom and instead puts more effort on taking down the person responsible of killing her parents. Layla is determined to do whatever it takes to bring peace to Kusmal, which is plagued by murders and rebellion. As a way to honor her parents and fulfill her last duty as queen, she decides to marry a foreign prince her father had arranged before his death. Although, she hopes of bringing stability back to her land, she fears that the marriage will lack love and connection. However, Layla didn't expect that a suppose one night stand to have long lasting effects on her arranged marriage.
I will say I really enjoyed reading this book. The writing was so easy to follow and captivating. It was so hard to put this book down, I read it in two sittings. Once you start reading this book you'll love it instantly and you won't be disappointed, it's consistently good all throughout.
Blood Queen gives you, murder mystery, magic, royalty, betrayal, romance, it has it all. There is no other book like Caitlin Denman's Blood Queen. Everything flowed perfectly, the author did a wonderful job at showing us and telling this story. I felt the angst, the hurt, the suspense, I felt it all. I was so lost in this book that I didn't realize I had reached the end until I flipped the page and saw it ended.
Blood Queen is a story filled with intrigue, suspense, and complex characters. It explores themes of duty, sacrifice, and the lengths people will go to protect what they love. This is a must read, I cannot wait for the second book!
Blood Queen is a thrilling novel about a young queen named Layla who inherits the throne after her parents are murdered. She is left so distraught from her parent's brutal murder, that she takes a backseat to the politics of ruling her kingdom and instead puts more effort on taking down the person responsible of killing her parents. Layla is determined to do whatever it takes to bring peace to Kusmal, which is plagued by murders and rebellion. As a way to honor her parents and fulfill her last duty as queen, she decides to marry a foreign prince her father had arranged before his death. Although, she hopes of bringing stability back to her land, she fears that the marriage will lack love and connection. However, Layla didn't expect that a suppose one night stand to have long lasting effects on her arranged marriage.
I will say I really enjoyed reading this book. The writing was so easy to follow and captivating. It was so hard to put this book down, I read it in two sittings. Once you start reading this book you'll love it instantly and you won't be disappointed, it's consistently good all throughout.
Blood Queen gives you, murder mystery, magic, royalty, betrayal, romance, it has it all. There is no other book like Caitlin Denman's Blood Queen. Everything flowed perfectly, the author did a wonderful job at showing us and telling this story. I felt the angst, the hurt, the suspense, I felt it all. I was so lost in this book that I didn't realize I had reached the end until I flipped the page and saw it ended.
Blood Queen is a story filled with intrigue, suspense, and complex characters. It explores themes of duty, sacrifice, and the lengths people will go to protect what they love. This is a must read, I cannot wait for the second book!
I was so surprised by this book. I expected to enjoy it but not how much I would. I love these characters. The banter is top-tier. I especially love how our Blood Queen, Layla, is strong and independent and doesn't fall to the trope of still backing up for a man to save her or be the hero. She is Rune's hero. I cannot wait for the next book because holy cliffhanger!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you NetGalley for this arc and new must-read author.
I just reviewed Blood Queen by Caitlin Denman. #bloodqueenbook #NetGalley
I just reviewed Blood Queen by Caitlin Denman. #bloodqueenbook #NetGalley
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC! This book was an easy read and definitely kept me on my toes. Layla was a frustrating FMC to say the least though. She was a bit naive to everything going on around her and she ran away from every issue she had. I did like the romance between her and Rune. My favorite characters were Marv and Kier! Kier had my heart from the beginning and I enjoyed his sass. I do look forward to reading the next book just to see what happens as this one ended on a cliffhanger.
2.5-3 stars.
I liked how quickly the book started -with only the necessary back story to catch you up to date. I was immediately suspicious of Brandt, and I loved Keirs character and personality (I want a cheeky bird friend).
I was excited to have a FMC who was a decent age (28 instead of 18-19) but Layla ended up being so naive at times I wish she was younger as it would let me excuse the constant internal debate of "no it can't be Brandt, he helped raise me" even after he tried to seduce her (ew).
The love/lust between the main characters just didn't feel natural to me, I think it was just too much indecisiveness on Laylas part and Runes conflicting attitude (you don't try to kill someone you supposedly love even if you think they are capable of murdering your friends). It was just a bit too "insta love" for me.
The book had all the right plot ideas, but I just felt it could have been written slightly better. It felt like it was rushed or overthought in places. There was a lot of repetition, for example about her red hair being distinctive or about what soul shards are. It only really needed to be described fully once and then could've been mentioned in passing later on instead of a full breakdown each time. It ended on a cliffhanger, but I don't know if I will continue reading the series as this book fell short for me.
I liked how quickly the book started -with only the necessary back story to catch you up to date. I was immediately suspicious of Brandt, and I loved Keirs character and personality (I want a cheeky bird friend).
I was excited to have a FMC who was a decent age (28 instead of 18-19) but Layla ended up being so naive at times I wish she was younger as it would let me excuse the constant internal debate of "no it can't be Brandt, he helped raise me" even after he tried to seduce her (ew).
The love/lust between the main characters just didn't feel natural to me, I think it was just too much indecisiveness on Laylas part and Runes conflicting attitude (you don't try to kill someone you supposedly love even if you think they are capable of murdering your friends). It was just a bit too "insta love" for me.
The book had all the right plot ideas, but I just felt it could have been written slightly better. It felt like it was rushed or overthought in places. There was a lot of repetition, for example about her red hair being distinctive or about what soul shards are. It only really needed to be described fully once and then could've been mentioned in passing later on instead of a full breakdown each time. It ended on a cliffhanger, but I don't know if I will continue reading the series as this book fell short for me.
3 stars for 'Blood Queen' – it's a bit of a mixed experience. I dove into this book expecting a thrilling blend of dark fantasy and romance, and while there were glimpses of brilliance, it didn't fully hit the mark for me.
First up, Lyla, the Blood Queen, is a character with potential. She's got this tough exterior but also moments of vulnerability. However, her character felt a bit inconsistent, swinging from ruthless to compassionate without much transition. I mean, she's meant to be 28, but sometimes she came across more like a young adult in her early 20s or younger.
Rune's character, on the other hand, was less compelling. He seemed to lack depth and flip-flopped in personality, which made it hard to get a read on him. The dynamic between Lyla and Rune had its moments, but it lacked that spark I was hoping for.
There were some strong elements, like the touch of mystery and the 'touch her and die' trope, which I usually enjoy. The book also touches on some darker themes, but the treatment of topics like sex work was a bit off-putting for me. It felt like the book was trying to make a point but ended up misrepresenting the complexities of the subject.
Plot-wise, there were some predictable twists, and the world-building could've been fleshed out more. The ending? Total cliffhanger.
Overall, 'Blood Queen' had its moments and some interesting ideas, but it felt like it needed more polish and consistency in both character development and world-building. I'm curious about where the story might go, but I'm not totally sold yet. It might be worth a read if you're into dark fantasy with a bit of spice and don't mind a few rough edges.
First up, Lyla, the Blood Queen, is a character with potential. She's got this tough exterior but also moments of vulnerability. However, her character felt a bit inconsistent, swinging from ruthless to compassionate without much transition. I mean, she's meant to be 28, but sometimes she came across more like a young adult in her early 20s or younger.
Rune's character, on the other hand, was less compelling. He seemed to lack depth and flip-flopped in personality, which made it hard to get a read on him. The dynamic between Lyla and Rune had its moments, but it lacked that spark I was hoping for.
There were some strong elements, like the touch of mystery and the 'touch her and die' trope, which I usually enjoy. The book also touches on some darker themes, but the treatment of topics like sex work was a bit off-putting for me. It felt like the book was trying to make a point but ended up misrepresenting the complexities of the subject.
Plot-wise, there were some predictable twists, and the world-building could've been fleshed out more. The ending? Total cliffhanger.
Overall, 'Blood Queen' had its moments and some interesting ideas, but it felt like it needed more polish and consistency in both character development and world-building. I'm curious about where the story might go, but I'm not totally sold yet. It might be worth a read if you're into dark fantasy with a bit of spice and don't mind a few rough edges.