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A review by kmartbooks
The Bloodstained Key by Charity Rau
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Marianna's life is turned upside down as she faces familial financial ruin, her father's expensive illness, and her grief over a previous love lost at sea. When the enigmatic Lord Bludington offers her a chance to save her family, she reluctantly accepts, only to find herself trapped in a web of mystery and danger.
Despite being haunted by personal tragedy, she remains resilient, trying to keep her family's spirits up, especially for her sister's sake. The plot unfolds with twists and turns that kept me guessing and I found it quite engaging. The short length of the book makes it a quick and engaging read, perfect for fans of YA fairytale retellings and fantasy with a side of mystery.
While the main storyline is intriguing, the side characters (especially the servants) feel quite underdeveloped. At one point, it's implied that they would work for nothing except the goodness of their hearts. They seem to serve as plot devices rather than fully realized characters, which at times detracted from the overall story. Despite this, the novel's compelling mystery makes it difficult to put down.
This is a YA novel that trends towards the younger side in dialogue and characterization, but the mystery is interesting. This is a quick and fun read in a Regency-era fantasy world. I did not expect that epilogue!
Despite being haunted by personal tragedy, she remains resilient, trying to keep her family's spirits up, especially for her sister's sake. The plot unfolds with twists and turns that kept me guessing and I found it quite engaging. The short length of the book makes it a quick and engaging read, perfect for fans of YA fairytale retellings and fantasy with a side of mystery.
While the main storyline is intriguing, the side characters (especially the servants) feel quite underdeveloped. At one point, it's implied that they would work for nothing except the goodness of their hearts. They seem to serve as plot devices rather than fully realized characters, which at times detracted from the overall story. Despite this, the novel's compelling mystery makes it difficult to put down.
This is a YA novel that trends towards the younger side in dialogue and characterization, but the mystery is interesting. This is a quick and fun read in a Regency-era fantasy world. I did not expect that epilogue!