Tag: blood heir trilogy

Book Review: Crimson Reign (Blood Heir Trilogy #3) by Amélie Wen Zhao

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Rating: ★★★☆ (3.5)
Audience: YA Fantasy
Length: 496 pages
Author: Amélie Wen Zhao
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Release Date: March 1st, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

For fans of Children of Blood and Bone and Six of Crows comes the thrilling conclusion to the Blood Heir trilogy. A princess with a dark secret must ally with a con man to liberate her empire from a reign of terror in this epic fantasy retelling of the Anastasia story.

The Red Tigress, Anastacya Mikhailov, has lost the gift she was only beginning to realize defined her. Stolen from her during the battle in Bregon, her blood Affinity rests with Sorsha Farrald, a dangerous Affinite who is on the run, headed staright to Cyrilia and to Ana’s aunt…the Empress Morganya.

Though she is weakened, Ana’s course remains true–yet her return to her homeland reveals a Cyrilia on the brink of collapse. Morganya’s tyrannical rule has transformed into a sinister quest for unquestioned authority, and she has set her sights far beyond Cyrilia. Morganya seeks a legendary ancient power, rumored to have once belonged to the Deities themselves. If she can locate it, she can rule the world.

What’s more, Ana’s allies, the insurgent Affinite rebels known as the Redcloaks, no longer support her. For their allegiance is with the people–and there can be no equality with a monarchy.

Ana faces enemies at every turn, and every day without her Affinity brings her closer to death. Yet she is determined to liberate her people and vanquish the legacy of her own imperial bloodline–the inequality sewn into the fabric of her land. Her only hope lies in the navy she recruited in Bregon, the courage of her band of friends, and the cunning crime-lord-turned-captain she’s fallen for.

If Ana loses this fight, it will be her last. And Morganya’s reign of darkness with consume the world.

NOT EVERYTHING I HOPED FOR.

*sigh* I always hate feeling let down by the last book in a series. This was fine, but not the stellarness I was hoping for.

One of my biggest pet peeves here was the separation of the main couple. Ana and Ramson were separated for WAY TOO LONG. The first half was sooooo slow because of the gathering armies scenes. There wasn’t enough intrigue here and it felt repetitive until everyone was at last together. I just would have preferred more screen time between certain characters.

I definitely wanted to throw the book at the main character a time or two for how she was handling her relationship with Ramson too. Some very YA heroine decisions that popped up here that I generally enjoy not having around.

The second half was much better. I loved all of the action with Morganya and how those final battle scenes played out. There was a clear point to this story and I like that it didn’t waver into random territory. Ana and crew were a one track mind to help save her country and push it towards a better future. Linn was a big shine for this book and I loved her POV’s. She grew SO MUCH and it was a beautiful progression for her. I loved how she found strength within herself and made critical decisions in the end.

A mixed bag, but I would definitely still be interested in future books from this author.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Fantasy
  • Language: a little
  • Romance: closed door
  • Violence: mild+
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: torture, loss of loved ones, battle scenes, weaponry, physical and magical altercations

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Book Review: Red Tigress (Blood Heir Trilogy #2) by Amélie Wen Zhao

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Rating: ☆☆☆ 1/2
Audience: YA Fantasy
Length: 464 pages
Author: Amélie Wen Zhao
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Release Date: March 2nd, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Ana Mikhailov is the only surviving member of the royal family of Cyrilia. She has no army, no title, and no allies, and now she must find a way to take back the throne or risk the brutal retribution of the empress. Morganya is determined to establish a new world order on the spilled blood of non-Affinites. Ana is certain that Morganya won’t stop until she kills them all.

Ana’s only chance at navigating the dangerous world of her homeland means partnering with Ramson Quicktongue again. But the cunning crime lord has schemes of his own. For Ana to find an army, they must cross the Whitewaves to the impenetrable stone forts of Bregon. Only, no one can be certain what they will find there.

A dark power has risen. Will revolution bring peace–or will it only paint the streets in more blood.

BUT WHY THO.

I take serious annoying issue with obvious lack of communication. Or plot decisions THAT JUST DON’T MAKE SENSE. This book was pretty good, some stumbling at the end made me throw my hands up.

I’ll start there. Ramson and Ana could have both been much more open at the end of this book. I’m tired of something claiming to be romance, but there actually isn’t anything happening in their relationship. I got a kiss. No admissions or anything else and then the end. Ughhhhhh.

Otherwise, y’all, not too bad of a middle book for a fantasy series. Dragged a bit here and there, but I’m still highly invested. I loved the addition of some new POVs and how they played into the story. I think I was more hooked on them then Ana/Ransom by the end.

This was more plot driven than character driven. I’m personally a fan of character driven novels, so this is a statement that may be good (or bad) for you. I think I was hoping for some more connections and understandings, and I mostly got change of location and here’s some more bad guys. A note to the villains though, there’s multiple, they are wild, and I love it. I do. I like a good villain that doesn’t make me roll my eyes because they’re ridiculous. These villains have enough background to amplify themselves within the story.

I’ll definitely be reading the last book. I need a great finale to see where this overall series will sit for me.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Fantasy
  • Language: very little
  • Romance: kiss
  • Violence: battles, weaponry, magical, loss of loved ones, explosions; fairly bloody/gory

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Book Review: Blood Heir (Blood Heir Trilogy #1) by Amélie Wen Zhao

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Rating: ☆☆☆☆
Audience: YA Fantasy
Length: 464 pages
Author: Amélie Wen Zhao
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Release Date: November 19th, 2019
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

In the Cyrilian Empire, Affinites are reviled. Their varied gifts to control the world around them are unnatural—dangerous. And Anastacya Mikhailov, the crown princess, has a terrifying secret. Her deadly Affinity to blood is her curse and the reason she has lived her life hidden behind palace walls.

When Ana’s father, the emperor, is murdered, her world is shattered. Framed as his killer, Ana must flee the palace to save her life. And to clear her name, she must find her father’s murderer on her own. But the Cyrilia beyond the palace walls is far different from the one she thought she knew. Corruption rules the land, and a greater conspiracy is at work—one that threatens the very balance of her world. And there is only one person corrupt enough to help Ana get to its core: Ramson Quicktongue.

A cunning crime lord of the Cyrilian underworld, Ramson has sinister plans—though he might have met his match in Ana. Because in this story, the princess might be the most dangerous player of all. 

MORAL GRAYNESS ABOUNDS.

And y’all. That sometimes makes for a really good book.

Don’t you love characters that have a hard time making a good decision, but you know do care deep down about the greater good? ME TOO. That’s how I felt reading about practically all of the characters in this book. Everyone had their own agenda, yet would reach out to help others, then turn around and stab them in the back, to really actually be helping them. AH. It was awesome to turn each page not knowing who’s side everyone was on.

I loved watching Ana learn to love her powers and herself. While she still has a long way to go, it was amazing watching her eyes continually open wider as her world was expanded and the deeds of her kingdom come to light. On the path to forging a better world, wrongs must be acknowledged before they can be righted.

The entire story line actually leans to a darker nature of book. I was impressed to find that the hype around this book was more or less on point. My girl Ana COULD NOT CATCH A BREAK. Goodness gracious. It was almost too much. I felt like she would get through one battle scene, turn around and there would be someone else getting stabbed who needed her help (or that someone was trying to stab her). I would have loved to have some more quiet, building moments than allllllll the action that was given. Did make more a lively tale at least.

I am so into the very little burgeoning romance happening with Ramson. He lives in a realm of grayness and it makes me love him more. I liked getting some POV chapters from him and learning the sins of his past. It makes both Ana and Ramson characters you shouldn’t necessarily like, but appreciate the ways they are trying to be better. Ramson is witty and always ready with a comeback and the banter with Ana just made me happy.

Will I read the next book? Definitely. This is a series I can’t wait to continue reading!

Overall audience notes:

  • Young adult fantasy
  • Language: a little
  • Romance: banter/flirting
  • Violence: magical, physical, arrows, swords, knives, poison; somewhat bloody/gory
  • Trigger warnings: Ch. 4 – a remembrance of an attempted suicide by drowning (by the main character); racism, human trafficking and slavery

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