Blood Rose Rebellion by Rosalyn Eves
Release Date: March 28, 2017
*ARC provided by publisher via Netgalley for an honest review – thanks so much to the publisher!!*
So, this was one of the very first books I requested when I first joined Netgalley. I was so pumped for it. Beautiful cover, mention of folklore, and magical powers? Sign me up! But after a while, there was nothing – not a single peep from the Netgalley peeps, so I preordered it because Eves had an epic preorder swag going on. The moment I got my swag? I was approved. XD I think Netgalley was mocking me a bit, but I’ll forgive it. However, I really can’t wait to see this beautiful book in person to go with the swag, even though I had a few problems with it!
Once Upon a Time…
Sixteen-year-old Anna Arden is barred from society by a defect of blood. Though her family is part of the Luminate, powerful users of magic, she is Barren, unable to perform the simplest spells. Anna would do anything to belong. But her fate takes another course when, after inadvertently breaking her sister’s debutante spell—an important chance for a highborn young woman to show her prowess with magic—Anna finds herself exiled to her family’s once powerful but now crumbling native Hungary.
Her life might well be over.
In Hungary, Anna discovers that nothing is quite as it seems. Not the people around her, from her aloof cousin Noémi to the fierce and handsome Romani Gábor. Not the society she’s known all her life, for discontent with the Luminate is sweeping the land. And not her lack of magic. Isolated from the only world she cares about, Anna still can’t seem to stop herself from breaking spells.
As rebellion spreads across the region, Anna’s unique ability becomes the catalyst everyone is seeking. In the company of nobles, revolutionaries, and Romanies, Anna must choose: deny her unique power and cling to the life she’s always wanted, or embrace her ability and change that world forever.
I had such a weird time with this book. There were a lot of parts I enjoyed, but there were a lot of parts I wasn’t as crazy about and I think that all stems from the pace. Let’s go over what I enjoyed first because I always believe in sharing the happy stuff first.
I really like the setting that Eves created. From the Victorian England to the journey to Hungary to the haunting Hungary itself. It’s a land filled with folklore, and I think Eves did such an amazing job of describing each place we went. She really has a knack for making me feel transported into these places, and I loved the journey she took us on in them.
I also thought the storyline was interesting. Yes, there is lot of stories in YA now of “chosen” heroines with different magic, but I felt that Eves did a great job standing out. She created a complex but interesting magic system, and Anna’s powers were something that I haven’t seen pop up before in a YA magic novel. I thought it was so interesting that she had this power, and the whole Luminate and big spell (whose name I can’t remember now but it was something fancy and catchy) was such an interesting concept and addition to the novel. I definitely have to applaud Eves on the creativity.
I also liked the addition of folklore. I wish there had been a little bit more, but I still felt that there was a good amount and that the amount that was in was great. I liked all of the creepy monster stories Anna’s cousins would tell, and it made the story felt richer because of it.
And also, this is totally not even connected to anything, but can I just say that I’m so happy to have finally seen a realistic escape from a bedroom window in YA? Seriously, I’ve been waiting yearsssss for this.
I liked the characters well enough, but I think this is the beginning of the big disconnect for me. I just felt super disconnected from this story, and I’m not really sure why. I thought the characters were good, but I never super loved any of them. They were all just kind of there, and while I got into them for a little bit, I never got into the ship, their struggles, or wanting to root for them like I usually do.
And as I said, I’m really not sure what created this disconnection. The plot would have interesting parts and kept moving along, but yet I still felt it was going too slow? I just wanted to skip to parts where something big would happen. I just didn’t feel excitement for anything – which I actually did in the beginning. Before Anna made it to Hungary, I was definitely super into the novel, and then something just switched and I felt the story dragged.
I’m not even sure if this review makes any sense, but I’m not entirely sure I can pinpoint anything that went “wrong” in a sense. I did like a good deal of the things in this book, but that disconnection where I didn’t feel anything just brought this book down for me. I’m not entirely sure where the problem was – with me, the novel, something else entirely, lol – but this story started off strong and then dragged for me. I still have my pre-order coming, but I don’t think I’ll be picking up the second novel in the series.
3 crowns and a Belle rating!
Check it out:
What do you think? Have you read this yet? Let’s discuss in the comments below!
This one always showed up in my recommendations section on Goodreads but it didn’t really appeal to me that much. I might pick this up in the future if I run out of things to buy (which is never going to happen, let’s be honest!) but for now I don’t think I’m interested in reading this one!
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Yes, it wore me down on my Goodreads recs too, and while there was a lot to like, it just dragged for me. But lol, oh gosh, our wallets will be so happy when we run out of books to buy, but I’m not thinking it’s going to be anytime soon as you said…or ever.
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Well, at least it’s not bad, right? 🤔😉
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No, no, there was a lot to like. Just some disconnection that failed for me. But not bad!.
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That’s good to know! I need to read it right away!
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Yes! And Ik! I didn’t reLize just how fast it was coming up!
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Me either! Like super soon! Lol!
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Ik! All of these books are coming out either at the end of March or early April and I’m totally falling behind. XD
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Me too! Too many good ones this year, right?
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Yes! It’s a wonderful thing…but I just want to read them all. D: XD
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I liked it! I thought the folklore stories were a nice touch. The scary stories actually sounded creepy. I count the corners of my room now 😂😂I especially liked how she included words in a different language. I think it was cool! I can see how you might feel the disconnection, it may be because of a lack of action and not enough magical scenes 🤔 at least that is how it was for me. I’ll be picking up the sequel so I’ll let you know, if you should give it a second chance 🤗 Must ask though…what did you think about the epilogue? And the character who it might be about…? 😁 Nice review!
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I know! I really wasn’t expecting her folklore to be as creepy as it was, but I was super impressed. And I did agree about the language. But yes please, do let me know! But I think it was what you said – I guess I do need some magic and action to get me pumped. And Rendz…I can’t remember the epilogue. I’mma have to go read it super quick and get back to you. Because I failed. XD
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Oops! 🙈
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Rendz, my brain has turned into mush tonight, so for a second, I didn’t even remember Anna’s name was Anna. SO when I went back to the epilogue, I was like…wait, what is this epilogue? How did I not read it…only to realize I totally read it. XD Okay, I’m not superrrrrr sure – since I’m usually quite wrong about such things – but I’m kind of thinking SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER the brother? *am totally completely and utterly wrong* What did you think?
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HAhaha…yeah sometimes that happens! 🤣🤣*SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER* I definitely think it is Matyas (Anna’s cousin) the one who sacrificed himself for her..remember?? I’m excited and I hope he is alive…he had cool magic! 😉
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Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh that is a good one. I didn’t think about that, but I could sooooo see that. I just wanted the little bro to come back, lol. But I definitely think you’re super onto it. Too many mysterious hims XD
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Also think it’s the SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER brother. I loved this one. I was totally enchanted by the fact that those creepy things are from actual Hungarian folklore. But I do like books that have a super political/character development driven plot as well as action driven plots, so that’s probably why I connected with it more. ☺️
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Yay for not being the only one to think it. I just really wanted him to come back. He seemed so cute, lol. XD and yes! I think that is where I got a bit lost, but her folklore was soooo good. I didn’t think it would get as creepy as it did, but it was great!
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Totally agree. I totally feel like I need to count the corners in my room at night now. LOL. I am so excited to see how that epilogue works out in the next book!
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LOL. Yes! XD But definitely. I feel like she could take it a bunch of different directions.
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It’ll be so fun to see what she does with it, and if we’re right!
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Yes! I do love a good being right when it comes to a book. It just really makes me enjoy the book more…and so much for being humble, lol.
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Hahaha! I’m right there with you, lady!
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Oh, I’m sorry you felt disconnected from this one as well! So much potential, wasted…
I did fall in love with the description and all the nice things some great bloggers had to say about it but I definitely have to read it myself before passing any judgement. I do hope I end up liking it because it looks and sounds really cool.
Great review, Mandy! 🙂
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I’ve seen basically two reviews of this: either sooooooo much love or the huge disconnect. I feel like you would enjoy Sophie, since there was a lot to enjoy. Just know that it does have that slower pace, and I think if you know that ahead of time, it might help with the disconnect.
Thanks!! 😀
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Hope so! But I’m not sure what that would say about me LOL
And no problem ^^
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LOL. I’m not sure either, but lol.
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