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3.67 AVERAGE
3.67 AVERAGE
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.
Overall 3/5
Spice 1/5
I really enjoyed this book and the first look into the world of Esfer. While I would've liked more world-building and more explanation of the overall magic of the world, I can't wait to see where the series goes!
The banter between the two main characters is great. I am hoping for more spice as the series progresses, but I love their push-pull and hope to see more development as they grow.
I'm hopeful that the characters show some more development and insight as the series progresses and hope that the FMC turns around into more a confident character.
It was a bit predictable in some ways as to where the story was going but is left on a great note to leave us wondering what will happen next and keeping us all on the edge waiting to see when the next novel comes out.
The Blood Queen was a great, fast paced read that I really enjoyed.
Spice 1/5
I really enjoyed this book and the first look into the world of Esfer. While I would've liked more world-building and more explanation of the overall magic of the world, I can't wait to see where the series goes!
The banter between the two main characters is great. I am hoping for more spice as the series progresses, but I love their push-pull and hope to see more development as they grow.
I'm hopeful that the characters show some more development and insight as the series progresses and hope that the FMC turns around into more a confident character.
It was a bit predictable in some ways as to where the story was going but is left on a great note to leave us wondering what will happen next and keeping us all on the edge waiting to see when the next novel comes out.
The Blood Queen was a great, fast paced read that I really enjoyed.
Thank you to NetGalley for a chance to read and review this book.
DNF @ 72%
I tried but it was a struggle for me to get through. The sentence structuring, grammar, and semantics felt disjointed and rough or even, at times, nonexistent. There was a lot of wordy exposition throughout the book; details or monologue repeated that didn’t contribute to whatever was happening at the time. It didn’t seem like the plot had a cohesive direction… it either unfolded too quickly without many details or inconsistently with too many subplots trying to vie for attention. The characters lack depth and any basic common sense.
Layla’s inner struggle and inability to decide who to trust felt like an endless pendulum of whiplash. Can she trust Rune, the poor mmc of interest, her betrothed, who is harboring secrets which he later divulges, whom she repeatedly claims to despise and tries to kill several times but is also the man she’s falling in love with. OR can she trust Brandt, the man whom she’s known most of her life, who has been running her kingdom for 5 years after the murder of her parents, a man she considers an uncle but who constantly creeps in the corner of her room when she’s not there and hits on her in the bedroom of her murdered parents. We just don’t know because the back and forth literally doesn’t stop… at least for 72% of the book. Girl, just flip a coin at that point. When a leading character who is “nearing thirty” acts in such a juvenile manner, well, it’s hard to dredge up an ounce of sympathy.
It’s unfortunate because the premise sounded rather interesting but it falls flat for me.
DNF @ 72%
I tried but it was a struggle for me to get through. The sentence structuring, grammar, and semantics felt disjointed and rough or even, at times, nonexistent. There was a lot of wordy exposition throughout the book; details or monologue repeated that didn’t contribute to whatever was happening at the time. It didn’t seem like the plot had a cohesive direction… it either unfolded too quickly without many details or inconsistently with too many subplots trying to vie for attention. The characters lack depth and any basic common sense.
Layla’s inner struggle and inability to decide who to trust felt like an endless pendulum of whiplash. Can she trust Rune, the poor mmc of interest, her betrothed, who is harboring secrets which he later divulges, whom she repeatedly claims to despise and tries to kill several times but is also the man she’s falling in love with. OR can she trust Brandt, the man whom she’s known most of her life, who has been running her kingdom for 5 years after the murder of her parents, a man she considers an uncle but who constantly creeps in the corner of her room when she’s not there and hits on her in the bedroom of her murdered parents. We just don’t know because the back and forth literally doesn’t stop… at least for 72% of the book. Girl, just flip a coin at that point. When a leading character who is “nearing thirty” acts in such a juvenile manner, well, it’s hard to dredge up an ounce of sympathy.
It’s unfortunate because the premise sounded rather interesting but it falls flat for me.
That ending! Yo!
This story was gripping. It sucked me in and wouldn't let me go!
Mystery, betrayal, lies, lu$t. It makes it hard to know who to trust. Friends could be enemies, and strangers could be allies.
Our FMC, Layla, is headstrong and fierce. Her soul shard, Keir the crow, is hilarious and loyal. Rune is the very definition of brawn. And the bar owner, Marv, is just awesome.
This story was gripping. It sucked me in and wouldn't let me go!
Mystery, betrayal, lies, lu$t. It makes it hard to know who to trust. Friends could be enemies, and strangers could be allies.
Our FMC, Layla, is headstrong and fierce. Her soul shard, Keir the crow, is hilarious and loyal. Rune is the very definition of brawn. And the bar owner, Marv, is just awesome.
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Sadly, this book turned out to be not my cup of tea. There were a bit too many inconsistencies and things that didn't flow right with the story in my opinion. The general development of both characters and story could have been handled differently as well. I really had to push myself through to keep on reading, partly because of the very immature characters. Nevertheless it reads very fluently once you put yourself to it and has an interesting magic system that I would have liked to see more of.
** First, I want to thank the author for allowing me to receive an ARC copy of the book for an honest review **
Rating 3-3.5/5 (I felt like the first half of the book was strong, but the second part felt rushed)
Spice
Rating 3-3.5/5 (I felt like the first half of the book was strong, but the second part felt rushed)
Spice
Wow! Please tell me there's a second book coming Caitlin! Please! You can't end a book like that without a second book. No spoilers. I can do this.
Layla is tough and independent. She is fierce and protective over her country. Layla needs no one to protect her not even Rune her betroth. Rune is one handsome man and the chemistry between the two is off the charts, but Layla trusts no one especially since her parents were brutally murdered. Rune has his own secrets. Can Layla get past them and marry him anyways? Will her hunt to avenge her parents murder cost her everything even her country?
Special thanks to Caitlin for this ARC! This book was beautifully written with twists and turns along the way. Amazing enemies to lovers, close proximity, touch her and die, and arranged marriage.
Layla is tough and independent. She is fierce and protective over her country. Layla needs no one to protect her not even Rune her betroth. Rune is one handsome man and the chemistry between the two is off the charts, but Layla trusts no one especially since her parents were brutally murdered. Rune has his own secrets. Can Layla get past them and marry him anyways? Will her hunt to avenge her parents murder cost her everything even her country?
Special thanks to Caitlin for this ARC! This book was beautifully written with twists and turns along the way. Amazing enemies to lovers, close proximity, touch her and die, and arranged marriage.