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A review by lrjohnson13
RoseBlood by A.G. Howard
3.0
RoseBlood is a modern, Phantom of the Opera–inspired retelling that follows the story of Rune Germaine, a young girl whose extraordinary voice is both her greatest gift and her most dangerous curse. After her mysterious vocal affliction leaves her physically drained after every performance, Rune is sent to RoseBlood, a boarding school and former opera house just outside of Paris. There, Rune hopes to find healing, but instead discovers that the opera house holds dark, supernatural secrets—including an elusive boy, Thorn, and the presence of a real phantom.
At the heart of the story is Rune’s relationship with Thorn, a boy who seems to come straight out of the 19th century and who mysteriously appears and disappears at will. As Rune and Thorn grow closer, she begins to feel strangely cured in his presence. However, Thorn is connected to the phantom of RoseBlood, who has his own plans for Rune’s talent—plans that put her in grave danger. Thorn is then faced with an impossible dilemma: protect the girl he's falling for or obey the only father he's ever known.
I LOVE Phantom of the Opera and I was really excited for this book. Though RoseBlood is atmospheric and beautifully written, with vivid descriptions that capture the gothic setting of the opera house, the pacing is slow and can be difficult to get through. The first half of the book drags, as the plot jumps between past and present and shifts between different points of view. While this method attempts to provide a well-rounded perspective on each character, it felt distracting and prevents the story from moving forward at a satisfying pace.
Rune, the protagonist, is meant to fill the role of a modern Christine, cursed by her incredible vocal ability. Despite her intriguing backstory, I struggled to connect with her, which may make it difficult for some to fully invest in her journey. The romance between Rune and Thorn is an interesting dynamic, but the love story feels secondary to the mysterious plotline involving the phantom’s sinister plans.
At the heart of the story is Rune’s relationship with Thorn, a boy who seems to come straight out of the 19th century and who mysteriously appears and disappears at will. As Rune and Thorn grow closer, she begins to feel strangely cured in his presence. However, Thorn is connected to the phantom of RoseBlood, who has his own plans for Rune’s talent—plans that put her in grave danger. Thorn is then faced with an impossible dilemma: protect the girl he's falling for or obey the only father he's ever known.
I LOVE Phantom of the Opera and I was really excited for this book. Though RoseBlood is atmospheric and beautifully written, with vivid descriptions that capture the gothic setting of the opera house, the pacing is slow and can be difficult to get through. The first half of the book drags, as the plot jumps between past and present and shifts between different points of view. While this method attempts to provide a well-rounded perspective on each character, it felt distracting and prevents the story from moving forward at a satisfying pace.
Rune, the protagonist, is meant to fill the role of a modern Christine, cursed by her incredible vocal ability. Despite her intriguing backstory, I struggled to connect with her, which may make it difficult for some to fully invest in her journey. The romance between Rune and Thorn is an interesting dynamic, but the love story feels secondary to the mysterious plotline involving the phantom’s sinister plans.