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A review by cute_monkey_girl
Crimson Bound by Rosamund Hodge
2.0
Actual rating: 2.5
Despite the similarities between the covers and the fact that both titles start with C.B., [b:Crimson Bound|21570318|Crimson Bound|Rosamund Hodge|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1413217438l/21570318._SY75_.jpg|40902835] is a standalone story in a completely separate universe from [b:Cruel Beauty|15839984|Cruel Beauty|Rosamund Hodge|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1371652590l/15839984._SY75_.jpg|21580669], not a sequel to it. This book is also a blended retelling of Little Red Riding Hood and The Girl Without Hands. For a richer reading experience, you may want to do some background research on The Girl Without Hands and older, grimmer versions of Little Red Riding Hood, like The Grandmother (a very old French version of Little Red Riding Hood), but it is not required to understand or enjoy the story.
Also, forewarning: This book is rated YA, but it's definitely geared more toward older teens and 20-something adults. [b:Crimson Bound|21570318|Crimson Bound|Rosamund Hodge|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1413217438l/21570318._SY75_.jpg|40902835] has some heavily implied sex scenes, fair amount of violence with some gore, and covers some gruesome things and subject matter that younger teens and tweens may get perturbed by – like what Old Mother Hunger's house is made of (hint: it's not gingerbread and candy; think Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters).
In my opinion, [b:Crimson Bound|21570318|Crimson Bound|Rosamund Hodge|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1413217438l/21570318._SY75_.jpg|40902835] was okay (meh at worst), and I don't think that it deserves the hype that is associated with it. This book had potential and the premise was appealing, but the execution…well, executed the potential and the appeal of the premise.
To give you three examples of poor execution, firstly, there is a general consensus among the Goodreads reviews of fans and detractors alike that the romance could have been better written. A lot of people hated the unnecessary love triangle, spotted some insta-love, and felt that the romance was corny and forced at times. Secondly, there is also a general consensus that [b:Crimson Bound|21570318|Crimson Bound|Rosamund Hodge|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1413217438l/21570318._SY75_.jpg|40902835] could have been shortened because some parts of the plot were too slow-paced and other parts were confusing and difficult to follow. Worst of all, there were also a lot of face-palm-worthy tropes that could have very easily been avoided or done differently to make [b:Crimson Bound|21570318|Crimson Bound|Rosamund Hodge|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1413217438l/21570318._SY75_.jpg|40902835] a much better book.
That being said, I hesitate to recommend [b:Crimson Bound|21570318|Crimson Bound|Rosamund Hodge|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1413217438l/21570318._SY75_.jpg|40902835] because it requires a certain kind of reader – the kind of reader who enjoys Sarah J. Maas' [b:Throne of Glass|7896527|Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass, #1)|Sarah J. Maas|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1495278054l/7896527._SY75_.jpg|11138426] series and [b:A Court of Thorns and Roses|16096824|A Court of Thorns and Roses (A Court of Thorns and Roses, #1)|Sarah J. Maas|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1546406962l/16096824._SY75_.jpg|21905102] (and its sequel), Robin LaFevers’ [b:Grave Mercy|9565548|Grave Mercy (His Fair Assassin, #1)|Robin LaFevers|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1320269319l/9565548._SX50_.jpg|14452295] (and the rest of His Fair Assassin series), and, of course, [b:Cruel Beauty|15839984|Cruel Beauty|Rosamund Hodge|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1371652590l/15839984._SY75_.jpg|21580669].
For readers who don’t fit into that niche, like me, Rosamund Hodge's [b:Crimson Bound|21570318|Crimson Bound|Rosamund Hodge|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1413217438l/21570318._SY75_.jpg|40902835] will likely be a disappointment.
Despite the similarities between the covers and the fact that both titles start with C.B., [b:Crimson Bound|21570318|Crimson Bound|Rosamund Hodge|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1413217438l/21570318._SY75_.jpg|40902835] is a standalone story in a completely separate universe from [b:Cruel Beauty|15839984|Cruel Beauty|Rosamund Hodge|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1371652590l/15839984._SY75_.jpg|21580669], not a sequel to it. This book is also a blended retelling of Little Red Riding Hood and The Girl Without Hands. For a richer reading experience, you may want to do some background research on The Girl Without Hands and older, grimmer versions of Little Red Riding Hood, like The Grandmother (a very old French version of Little Red Riding Hood), but it is not required to understand or enjoy the story.
Also, forewarning: This book is rated YA, but it's definitely geared more toward older teens and 20-something adults. [b:Crimson Bound|21570318|Crimson Bound|Rosamund Hodge|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1413217438l/21570318._SY75_.jpg|40902835] has some heavily implied sex scenes, fair amount of violence with some gore, and covers some gruesome things and subject matter that younger teens and tweens may get perturbed by – like what Old Mother Hunger's house is made of (hint: it's not gingerbread and candy; think Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters).
In my opinion, [b:Crimson Bound|21570318|Crimson Bound|Rosamund Hodge|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1413217438l/21570318._SY75_.jpg|40902835] was okay (meh at worst), and I don't think that it deserves the hype that is associated with it. This book had potential and the premise was appealing, but the execution…well, executed the potential and the appeal of the premise.
To give you three examples of poor execution, firstly, there is a general consensus among the Goodreads reviews of fans and detractors alike that the romance could have been better written. A lot of people hated the unnecessary love triangle, spotted some insta-love, and felt that the romance was corny and forced at times. Secondly, there is also a general consensus that [b:Crimson Bound|21570318|Crimson Bound|Rosamund Hodge|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1413217438l/21570318._SY75_.jpg|40902835] could have been shortened because some parts of the plot were too slow-paced and other parts were confusing and difficult to follow. Worst of all, there were also a lot of face-palm-worthy tropes that could have very easily been avoided or done differently to make [b:Crimson Bound|21570318|Crimson Bound|Rosamund Hodge|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1413217438l/21570318._SY75_.jpg|40902835] a much better book.
That being said, I hesitate to recommend [b:Crimson Bound|21570318|Crimson Bound|Rosamund Hodge|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1413217438l/21570318._SY75_.jpg|40902835] because it requires a certain kind of reader – the kind of reader who enjoys Sarah J. Maas' [b:Throne of Glass|7896527|Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass, #1)|Sarah J. Maas|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1495278054l/7896527._SY75_.jpg|11138426] series and [b:A Court of Thorns and Roses|16096824|A Court of Thorns and Roses (A Court of Thorns and Roses, #1)|Sarah J. Maas|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1546406962l/16096824._SY75_.jpg|21905102] (and its sequel), Robin LaFevers’ [b:Grave Mercy|9565548|Grave Mercy (His Fair Assassin, #1)|Robin LaFevers|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1320269319l/9565548._SX50_.jpg|14452295] (and the rest of His Fair Assassin series), and, of course, [b:Cruel Beauty|15839984|Cruel Beauty|Rosamund Hodge|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1371652590l/15839984._SY75_.jpg|21580669].
For readers who don’t fit into that niche, like me, Rosamund Hodge's [b:Crimson Bound|21570318|Crimson Bound|Rosamund Hodge|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1413217438l/21570318._SY75_.jpg|40902835] will likely be a disappointment.