Take a photo of a barcode or cover
A review by intrastellars
Crimson Bound by Rosamund Hodge
4.0
“In all your life, your only choice is the path of needles or the path of pins.”
Okay, so I've been seeing a lot of reviews comparing Cruel Beauty and Crimson Bound , and many people who are huge fans with Rosamund Hodge's debut novel were not impressed by this book. Which I can understand, because although the books are written in the same flowery, impressive prose, they are both opposites in certain aspects.
If there is one thing that I loved about Cruel Beauty , it was the love. I was swept away with the chemistry between Nyx and Ignifex, and I often find myself sighing nostalgically at Nyx's wicked heart. Not to say that Cruel Beauty didn't have its flaws. The plot was rather lackluster, the world-building less than eloquent, and, well, the MC rarely did anything. Nevertheless, I adored that book, mainly for the romance (mm, Ignifex).
So imagine my surprise when I found that I wasn't entranced in the same way for Crimson Bound . It breaks my heart, because I really, really wanted to be convinced about the love in this book the same way I was with its predecessor, but I just couldn't. Rachelle spent about two thirds of the book hating or resenting the main love interest that I actually began to doubt anything would happen, and then when she suddenly proclaimed her undying love it felt like a slap to the face.
“I knew you lived," her mother said after a moment. "Any daughter of mine would be ruthless enough.”
That said, whilst Cruel Beauty focused heavily on the romance, Crimson Bound tried to develop the world-building and fantasy aspects. I found that Rachelle was doing a lot more in terms of plot and badassery compared to Nyx, and truthfully, I find that I admire both MC's equally. They both struggle with the darkness inside of them, and they both try everything in their power to make up for their sins.
“Do you think that doing the right thing will always be pretty?”
If there's one thing I can say confidently, it's that Hodge has a way with writing interesting, multifaceted characters. Erec D'Anjou reminded me of the Darkling from the Shadow and Bone trilogy by Leigh Bardugo, and I always have a soft spot for complex villains. Meanwhile, we have a saint in the form of Armand Vareilles, a boy with no hands and a soft heart. What I liked most about his character was that he called Rachelle out on her shit, even when he was afraid of her.
In the end, Crimson Bound is, in a lot of ways, better and worse than its predecessor. I still find Hodge's retellings some of the best in the genre, mainly because of the grim and unforgiving writing style. I've always liked my fantasy more on the twisted side, and this novel does not disappoint.
Okay, so I've been seeing a lot of reviews comparing Cruel Beauty and Crimson Bound , and many people who are huge fans with Rosamund Hodge's debut novel were not impressed by this book. Which I can understand, because although the books are written in the same flowery, impressive prose, they are both opposites in certain aspects.
If there is one thing that I loved about Cruel Beauty , it was the love. I was swept away with the chemistry between Nyx and Ignifex, and I often find myself sighing nostalgically at Nyx's wicked heart. Not to say that Cruel Beauty didn't have its flaws. The plot was rather lackluster, the world-building less than eloquent, and, well, the MC rarely did anything. Nevertheless, I adored that book, mainly for the romance (mm, Ignifex).
So imagine my surprise when I found that I wasn't entranced in the same way for Crimson Bound . It breaks my heart, because I really, really wanted to be convinced about the love in this book the same way I was with its predecessor, but I just couldn't. Rachelle spent about two thirds of the book hating or resenting the main love interest that I actually began to doubt anything would happen, and then when she suddenly proclaimed her undying love it felt like a slap to the face.
“I knew you lived," her mother said after a moment. "Any daughter of mine would be ruthless enough.”
That said, whilst Cruel Beauty focused heavily on the romance, Crimson Bound tried to develop the world-building and fantasy aspects. I found that Rachelle was doing a lot more in terms of plot and badassery compared to Nyx, and truthfully, I find that I admire both MC's equally. They both struggle with the darkness inside of them, and they both try everything in their power to make up for their sins.
“Do you think that doing the right thing will always be pretty?”
If there's one thing I can say confidently, it's that Hodge has a way with writing interesting, multifaceted characters. Erec D'Anjou reminded me of the Darkling from the Shadow and Bone trilogy by Leigh Bardugo, and I always have a soft spot for complex villains. Meanwhile, we have a saint in the form of Armand Vareilles, a boy with no hands and a soft heart. What I liked most about his character was that he called Rachelle out on her shit, even when he was afraid of her.
In the end, Crimson Bound is, in a lot of ways, better and worse than its predecessor. I still find Hodge's retellings some of the best in the genre, mainly because of the grim and unforgiving writing style. I've always liked my fantasy more on the twisted side, and this novel does not disappoint.