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3.67 AVERAGE
3.67 AVERAGE
3,5* I received this ARC by Victory Editing NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
I can’t finish this. This book has so much misogyny in it that I am worried for the author. Her opinions on sex work, the not so subtle slut shaming and “dominant man in bed” at the start are just some of it. I love some degradation and dominance in books but this isn’t giving that.The first sex scene feels like its going to end in abuse, he’s being ‘dominant’ but in a way that makes me think this author has never read about or experience safe BDSM practices. Everyone, including Rune, also slut shame Layla for sleeping with Rune prior to them meeting each other, when she’s the queen rather than the night before when she’s disguised. But no one has any issue with him sleeping with her the day before they meet.
I want to go slightly more in depth on my issues with the way sex work and sex workers are described and discussed in this book. I have studied this heavily as part of my criminology degree. She talks about the women “selling their bodies” due to addiction and trying to eradicate the profession through social welfare programmes (painting her as some kind of saint or something, a common theme in this book). Both these ideas are very wrong. Sex work may sometimes be a result of trafficking but not generally. It is a real and chosen profession done by many, not just women. While there are issues with sex work and treatment of sex workers many of these are actually due to the criminalisation and stigmatisation of it! This view of sex work is incredibly misogynistic, basically saying that all sex workers are brainwashed and not listening to the people doing sex work who almost entirely disagree. If you have heard of TERFs there are also SWERFs, none of which are actually feminists but this gives you an idea of how gross this view is.
I also have a problem with the inconsistency in the characters. Layla, the blood queen, and Rune are both so different from page to page and when you compare their actions to their words. This is trying so hard to paint the queen as a gracious and kind leader, like moving the servants to guest quarters that are fancy rather than the cold servant ones. But it’s so inconsistent with how she talks about everything else that it just feels false. She’s also meant to be 28 but reads as early 20s at most.
There was very little about this book that is good, maybe there is more later on but I will not be finding out.
I want to go slightly more in depth on my issues with the way sex work and sex workers are described and discussed in this book. I have studied this heavily as part of my criminology degree. She talks about the women “selling their bodies” due to addiction and trying to eradicate the profession through social welfare programmes (painting her as some kind of saint or something, a common theme in this book). Both these ideas are very wrong. Sex work may sometimes be a result of trafficking but not generally. It is a real and chosen profession done by many, not just women. While there are issues with sex work and treatment of sex workers many of these are actually due to the criminalisation and stigmatisation of it! This view of sex work is incredibly misogynistic, basically saying that all sex workers are brainwashed and not listening to the people doing sex work who almost entirely disagree. If you have heard of TERFs there are also SWERFs, none of which are actually feminists but this gives you an idea of how gross this view is.
I also have a problem with the inconsistency in the characters. Layla, the blood queen, and Rune are both so different from page to page and when you compare their actions to their words. This is trying so hard to paint the queen as a gracious and kind leader, like moving the servants to guest quarters that are fancy rather than the cold servant ones. But it’s so inconsistent with how she talks about everything else that it just feels false. She’s also meant to be 28 but reads as early 20s at most.
There was very little about this book that is good, maybe there is more later on but I will not be finding out.
I was stoked to get this book as an arc! It has two of my favorite tropes, arranged marriage and touch her and die. I could not put this book down, the world building was good, the character development was great, and the spice.
First....amazing. Second....CLIFFHANGER!!! Third..... read this book. Oh. My. Word. This was a fantasticly fun and fast paced book. I love when we get some good plot twists. Even if they rip your heart out and stomp on it. I loved the characters and their chemistry was so well done and just all around fun! They had excellent banter and while I did get frustrated with Rune bc he just couldn't ..... I dunno he was like a toddler playing chase in a glass shop. He was all bluster and came in hot and then had to apologize bc he came in hot and blustered about lol
Overall I really loved this book. I'm absolutely feral for the characters and I just love the familiars! The steamy spice was sweltering and delicious.
I hate cliffhangers because I never feel like I get enough time in their world. But this is a fantastic series and I'm so glad to have received an ARC for my honest opinion.
Overall I really loved this book. I'm absolutely feral for the characters and I just love the familiars! The steamy spice was sweltering and delicious.
I hate cliffhangers because I never feel like I get enough time in their world. But this is a fantastic series and I'm so glad to have received an ARC for my honest opinion.
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!