Review: Crimson Bound by Rosamund Hodge

Title: Crimson Bound
Author: Rosamund Hodge
Publication: May 5th 2015 by Balzer + Bray
Genre: Young Adult ~ Fantasy
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository
Rating: 5/5

Review copy provided in exchange for an honest review.

 

When Rachelle was fifteen she was good—apprenticed to her aunt and in training to protect her village from dark magic. But she was also reckless— straying from the forest path in search of a way to free her world from the threat of eternal darkness. After an illicit meeting goes dreadfully wrong, Rachelle is forced to make a terrible choice that binds her to the very evil she had hoped to defeat.

Three years later, Rachelle has given her life to serving the realm, fighting deadly creatures in an effort to atone. When the king orders her to guard his son Armand—the man she hates most—Rachelle forces Armand to help her find the legendary sword that might save their world. As the two become unexpected allies, they uncover far-reaching conspiracies, hidden magic, and a love that may be their undoing. In a palace built on unbelievable wealth and dangerous secrets, can Rachelle discover the truth and stop the fall of endless night?

Inspired by the classic fairy tale Little Red Riding Hood, Crimson Bound is an exhilarating tale of darkness, love, and redemption.

On the edge of destruction, at the end of all things, we still dance. And hope.

Crimson Bound absolutely was one of the most epic, beautifully written and captivating fantasy books that I have read. It was one of those books that you just want to keep reading and never put down. 

So Cruel Beauty was one of my favorite books that I read in 2013 but I am so pleased to say that I thought Crimson Bound was even better. But these two books can't really be compared, in my opinion, because they were very different. Crimson Bound definitely is more "fantasy" than Cruel Beauty. Though at first when I started the book it was a bit much and confusing I quickly came into the story more and just read it so freaking fast, devouring every page because it was such a great story. And yes, it has some elements from little red riding hood, which I enjoyed a lot but keep in mind it's only slightly based on it.

Crimson Bound is about  Rachelle who got marked by a creature called a forestborn when she was fifteen. Which led to having to make the terrible decision of either dying in three days or killing someone and living on as a bloodbound. A horrible choice, but one she made nonetheless. Three years later she works for the king, serving the realm and fighting forestborns. It's then that she learns the Devourer will soon rise and that the endless night will come. Her only hope is to find Joyeuse, a sword of legend that is the only chance to stop it. When the king orders Rachelle to guard his son, Armand, who is called a saint, she is forced to make him help her. Romance, mystery, betrayal and darkness follow soon.

I absolutely liked Rachelle. She could kick ass, was willing to do anything to save the realm even if she had to die and even beneath all that she definitely had a heart. At first I wasn't so sure what to think about Armand but I ended up liking him a lot the more we got to know him. Then there's also Erec, captain of the king's bloodbound and Rachelle's friend. I liked him the most, to be honest. There is some romance in this book, though it's not the biggest element in the book. But I did enjoy the romance aspect, even though it was a bit of a love triangle, but it's not a huge one.

A lot happened in this book and there's a lot of action, which I loved. Also there are twists at every turn. People you think that are good guys end up being kind of bad so there's quite a lot of heartstopping betrayal. I hate it but I love it at the same time. At some point I even think it would have a slightly bad ending. It was that intense and nailbiting suspenseful!

And of course let's not forget the gorgeous way this author writes. It's my absolutely favorite thing from her books and it's even more noticable in Crimson Bound. Her writing is so beautifully descriptive and just took me away. I couldn't get enough of it and actually felt like I had crawled inside the book and not wanting to come out. 

Gorgeous with vivid details and eloquent writing, Crimson Bound by Rosamund Hodge is one of the finest fantasy books I have ever read. Seriously, this is how you write a good fantasy book, people! Also the deceit, passion and all the fascinating characters made this book simply perfection. I loved reading every single page and I'm so very curious as to what this author will come up next!

About the Author:

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I love mythology, Hello Kitty, and T. S. Eliot. I also write YA fantasy novels: CRUEL BEAUTY, where Greek mythology meets Beauty and the Beast, and CRIMSON BOUND, where Little Red Riding Hood meets . . . many strange things.