I was really excited to read this book, but was somewhat disappointed. I found it to be a tad predictable. It is an easy read with memorable characters and I did enjoy it, It just didn't live up to my expectations for what I thought it was going to be. I did read this as though it was a stand alone, but later found out that it is actually part one of a trilogy, so maybe I will find what was lacking in the books to come.

All in All... it was a good read, just not fantastic.

Aurelia is a strong and independent female character with a strong sense of loyalty. However, I felt the other characters could have been developed a bit more. Since I did not realize this was going to be a trilogy, I am sure they will be developed a bit more in later books. The book descriptions I have read are selling her story as she has to choose between her crown and her new sense of freedom. There does not seem to be any time in the book that she was going to give up her crown for “freedom.” The entire book she was trying to figure out how to stop the evil plot and man behind it. The book had closure, so it could have been a standalone. Now, that I know, of course, we want to hear more, but it did conclude well. A quick read with action, a bit of love – which we knew was going to happen, magic, and deception.

Bloodleaf was a book that I was really excited about and I’m happy to say that it was a book that I enjoyed!

I loved the characters, especially Aurelia, and Zan! The plot was fast paced and I loved the whole magical aspect.

This book also had some touching and heartbreaking moment that had me in tears.

All in all, Bloodleaf is a fast read that fantasy fans will love.

Aurelia is a princess who is forced to flee into exile because of her magic, which leads her to pretend to be a commoner in the kingdom where her betrothed is the prince. The magic that protects the wall which divides the kingdoms is being threatened, with the removal of each ward requiring deaths. The final layer of protection will fall when three royals of that country's bloodline are killed. 

What I loved:

* Magic is hated and feared in Aurelia's home country, yet she continued to practice it. I think I'd add into the love category everything to do with the magic system, especially regarding the mysterious plant bloodleaf itself! 

* The connection between Aurelia and Zan. Seeing Aurelia find happiness despite everything going on around her showed her determination to live the best life possible. 

* The emotional journeys of some of the side characters, such as Zan's friend's wife.

* Despite being the first book in a YA fantasy trilogy, the story felt complete. There was no sense that Aurelia's story had been chopped into three just for the sake of it. 

I was a little more uncertain about other aspects of the story, such as the reveal relating to Toris, the novel's villain. I think for me Bloodleaf was a novel much less about the plot itself and more about the relationships between the characters. If you liked the characters, as I did, then the story was very satisfying. I also found what happened to Aurelia's best friend a little unbelievable, but understand why it had to happen.

Overall this was a really fun read. The magic system and the ghostly element brought by the spirits Aurelia is haunted by added some depth to the story. I'm excitedly awaiting the next book in this series and urge anyone who loved Queen of the Tearling or Red Queen to pick this novel up! 

Thank you to NetGalley, HMH Books for Young Readers and Crystal Smith for the opportunity to read Bloodleaf in exchange for my honest review.

Just because Aurelia is a princess does not mean she is exempt from her kingdom's strict intolerance of witch craft. So when she is forced to use her gift, she must flee her kingdom to Achleva in hopes of finding safety.
Pretending to be a peasant, she discovers that while Achleva is more tolerant of her gift, there is danger here too. She must learn to use her gifts well to save this enemy kingdom and hopefully free her own as well.
Recommend this book to those who like page turners and can identify with the struggle Aurelia has with coming to terms with her witchcraft as a gift instead of something to fear. There is plenty of mystery and romance to keep the story moving and Aurelia is a compassionate character.

Bloodleaf combines magic, action, romance, adventure, a folklore into one unique fantasy. Once again, Smith does not disappoint.

Sometimes, I admit, I judge a book by its cover, and the cover of Bloodleaf, by Crystal Smith really is lovely. With a mysterious white flower dripping with blood and its swirling lines of thorny vines, my interest was peaked. Happily for me, the possibilities hinted at by the cover came to fruition. Bloodleaf is full of strong characters, a swoon-worthy romance, an exciting world of ghosts, treachery, and betrayal, and a story that was a page-turner. I loved it!

What I Liked:
Characters:

The story centers around Princess Aurelia. She is a blood-mage (a witch who can use her blood to perform magic). She's been told all her life that this is a curse, that she should be killed for her abilities. At the beginning of the story, even she believes this. I love how Aurelia gains self-worth and comes to understand that these are gifts. Her transformation from helpless to courageous had me cheering her on.

Zan is another character who is underestimated. All his life, he has been belittled and mistreated because of his fragile health. When he meets Aurelia (disguised as a servant) he realizes that he can enact change to save his kingdom. Zan and Aurelia help each other to make an impact.

Romance:

With Aurelia and Zan being all supportive, is it any wonder that they fall in love? Their romance is really lovely, how they are drawn to each other by similar experiences. I am also really glad that this book did not follow all the regular tropes of a love triangle, or a love/hate relationship. They just can see that they are kindred spirits.

World-Building:

The universe that this novel is set in is full of magic. There are legends of powerful forces, witches, ghosts, and the strange plant, Bloodleaf, which only grows in ground that's been soaked in death.

Story:

The story is full of conspiracies, hidden identities, and betrayal. Someone is plotting to take down the magical barriers of the kingdom of Achleva. In order for this to happen, there must be a series of sacrifices done at precise times to coincide with the phases of the moon. It's up to Zan, with the help of Aurelia's magic to stop it. But who can be trusted? With many characters with hidden agendas, the plot kept me guessing to the very end.

Fun and action packed! I really enjoyed the characters, the world and the magic system. I can't wait to see what these characters get up to in the next book.

Crystal Smith’s debut novel Bloodleaf is a unique fantasy that integrates an intricate magic system, familial bonds, a root-worthy romance, and a story of survival and sacrifice. From the first chapter, the story sucks you in with forbidden magic that has been bombarded by politics and a full-out witchhunt.

Aurelia, the main character, is not only a fierce and determined heroine in the novel, but her constant ability to analyze every situation she is thrown in allows her to mature throughout the chapters. I love that she wears her heart on her sleeve and is always protecting the people she deeply cares about. She is cautious but friendly. Aurelia is a protector, a fighter for justice, and a survivor. She is so straightforward and honest with everyone she encounters. Additionally, I love her interactions with the other well-developed side characters.

As Aurelia explores her magical abilities, she is thrown into many twists and turns. Her journey throughout the novel is to survive multiple assassination attempts and save her kingdom, which all leads to some surprising secrets. However, as her well-paced story unfolds, I found some of the plot twists to be predictable (or I’m just really good at picking up on very subtle clues).

Overall, if you are in the mood for a new fantasy trilogy filled with royal politics, a slow-burn romance, and NO CLIFFHANGER (that’s right, there’s no cliffhanger . . . YASS), then definitely pick up Bloodleaf. You will gasp, laugh, cry, and cheer throughout Aurelia’s story as she learns to control her magic and help those that she loves.

For the most part I thought this book was really good! The plot was intriguing and I really liked the magic system. I thought the world building was really well done and this book was very well paced. I felt like I could really get into this world if there were more books in the series.

However, I do have a couple of complaints about this book. I felt that the characters, aside from the main, weren’t that well developed. Some were actually downright forgettable until the end. I felt that the book didn’t explain all the aspects of the world and while it was built beautifully I still had questions at the end. I felt that the ending was rushed as well.

Verdict: A strong, solid release for 2019.

*ARC received from NetGalley in return for an honest review*

For some reason, I just couldn't get into this book. Maybe because it seemed like the plot for a book I have read multiple times before or I just wasn't in the right mood to read it. Either way, I got only a short way despite trying to pick it up multiple times. This book will still sit on my kindle so maybe I shall give it another go in the future.

Hated and feared by her own people for practicing blood-magic, princess Aurelia flees her kingdom to the safety of the home of her betrothed. But things don't exactly go as planned on her journey, and she soon finds herself alone in a foreign land. After surviving two failed assassination attempts, Aurelia must hide her true identity in her new home and she bides her time until she can retake her kingdom by honing her magical talents and developing new allies.

The world building, character development, and relationships in this story will have you intrigued from the opening chapter and the surprise twists and action will keep you glued to the pages until the jaw-dropping finale. I can't wait to see how Aurelia and Valentin rally their supporters to win their kingdoms back in the second book.

Despite how much I wanted to love this, I couldn't finish it. I found myself skimming and wondering when the conflict would start. I stopped around 1/3 in.

This book was fantastic from beginning to end. Magic, assassinations, and ghostly queens made for a book I couldn't put down and Aurelia was a character I wanted to root for no matter what. It was a darker fantasy which is my favorite type and one of my favorite advanced copies I've ever received!

Magic, fantasy, witchcraft, romance, deception, heartbreak can all be found in this story. I enjoyed reading Bloodleaf by Crystal Smith, but I found that it was a little slow to draw me in. After about 20% of the book I was hooked and waiting to see how things would turn out for the main characters. The plot was good and so were the characters, I just was hoping for a little more build up to the romance. I also am waiting to see what Smith chooses to do with the next part of the story in the second book. Definitely a book I will recommend to my students who enjoy this genre of literature! Thank you netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

This was a slow read at first and then picked up speed quickly. I got sucked into the world of Bloodleaf and could not put it down. I feel like there is room for a sequel.. In fact at the end I was like, that's it? I need more. It's well worth the hard to get through the first few chapters. The twist was expected, but good.

The twists and turns made this book so much fun to read! Just when you think you got it, your somewhere else! Thank you netgalley for the free arc in exchange for an honest review!

Disclaimer: I received this from NetGalley and HMH Books for Young Readers. Thanks! All opinions are my own.



Rating: 3.5/5



Publication Date: March 12, 2019



Genre: YA Fantasy



Recommended Age: 15+ (gore, blood, murder, violence, animal violence, curses, witchcraft)



Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers



Pages: 384



Amazon Link



Synopsis: Princess Aurelia is a prisoner to her crown and the heir that nobody wants. Surrounded by spirits and banned from using her blood-magic, Aurelia flees her country after a devastating assassination attempt. To escape her fate, Aurelia disguises herself as a commoner in a new land and discovers a happiness her crown has never allowed. As she forges new bonds and perfects her magic, she begins to fall for a man who is forbidden to rule beside her.

But the ghosts that haunt Aurelia refuse to abandon her, and she finds herself succumbing to their call as they expose a nefarious plot that only she can defeat. Will she be forced to choose between the weight of the crown and the freedom of her new life?



Review: For the most part I thought this book was really good! The plot was intriguing and I really liked the magic system. I thought the world building was really well done and this book was very well paced. I felt like I could really get into this world if there were more books in the series.



However, I do have a couple of complaints about this book. I felt that the characters, aside from the main, weren’t that well developed. Some were actually downright forgettable until the end. I felt that the book didn’t explain all the aspects of the world and while it was built beautifully I still had questions at the end. I felt that the ending was rushed as well.



Verdict: A strong, solid release for 2019.

I’ll admit that I’ve been in a fantasy rut lately and haven’t really liked anything in the genre. This was the breath of fresh air that I needed.

The characters, storyline, and world were all well designed. I got very caught up in Aurelia’s story and the magic that surrounds her. She was relatable and had a good balance of fear and bravery that made her believable. Zan was a great counterpart to her character. I enjoyed their banter and reading as the start to realize their feelings (yay, no instalove!). I would have liked a little more about the other characters (Nathaniel, Kellan, Simon), but I think that is because I liked them so much and just wanted more of the world.

This was definitely a new world to explore that was well defined and organized by the author. I liked the originality of the landscape and the mythology that surrounds it. I did find that there were gaps that needed to be filled at times. The ending was a bit confusing during the first read and took a little time to sort out what exactly was happening and with who. The founder’s story was covered a few times, but took a sideline to the main story and did not leave an impact until needed at the end. The bloodleaf idea was great and I look forward to more in the future.

Although parts of the story line had been done before, troubled princess, magical secrets, and the like, I was still intrigued and found something new around every corner. All I can ask for is more. This was an amazing first read from a new author and I look forward to reading more of her in the future.

Fantasy fans look no further for your new favorite series! BLOODLEAF delivers on all levels: magic, action, romance, adventure, and a plot pace that will leave you breathless.

What I loved: 🖤🖤🖤
1. The subject matter is dark without being depressing. Bloodleaves grow not only from death, but from love and sacrifice.
2. Aurelia is a strong-willed heroine who makes grievous mistakes, but since her heart is in the right place, she is sympathetic. She is a loyal friend. And she’s not your typical princess, she’s more interested in the greater good than her own wishes.
3. The mythology and world-building are immersive. No detail of the history or present is overlooked.
4. The romance is subtle at first, but oh, so sweet. No spoilers.
5. The side-characters have depth and dimension. Kate in particular, was my favorite.
6. The finale is intense, action-packed, with enough twists to keep you head spinning until the last page.

Highly recommended for fans of Leigh Bardugo, C. J. Redwine, Beth Revis, and Erin Summerhill.