Blood Rose Rebellion by Rosalyn Eves | Audiobook Review

I received this book for free from Library, Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

"A magical tale unlike anything you've read before." --Bustle

"[A] richly imagined 19th-century historical fantasy." --EW, A-

The thrilling first book in a YA fantasy trilogy for fans of Red Queen. In a world where social prestige derives from a trifecta of blood, money, and magic, one girl has the ability to break the spell that holds the social order in place.

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 Romani, 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.

"A fast-paced historical fantasy full of magic, romance, and adventure!"--JESSICA DAY GEORGE, New York Times bestselling author of Silver in the Blood

Why Did I Listen To Blood Rose Rebellion?

Blood Rose Rebellion by Rosalyn Eves immediately intrigued me based on the title alone. Like, I would assume there’s going to be a body count. Also, there’s going to be people rising up against the powers that be and I AM HERE FOR IT. Of course, the official summary talks about magic, money and blood and girl I am READY FOR THIS BOOK. Not so ready that I would read it in a timely manner, however. When I saw my library had this available via audio CD, I waited months – got through all my Overdrive and Hoopla audiobooks that are also books on my Netgalley queue. AND FINALLY I was like, okay the time for CDs is nigh.

What’s The Story Here?

Rosalyn Eves’ Blood Rose Rebellion follows teenage Anna Arden who is considered Barren meaning that she can’t even do simple magic. This sucks because while her family is high society — the Luminate — she doesn’t really get to be part of that society because of her lack of ability. So, her older sister is about to debut with this complicated show off magical spell, but then Anna accidentally breaks the spell and ruins her sisters debut. So, she’s exiled to Hungary – which is where her family is originally from. There is a lot of tension there, there’s also bits with the Roma who are treated terribly and a part which was super hard to read which involved a baby. And well, we get a sense that SOMETHING big is going to happen, maybe a rebellion of sorts?!

How Did I Like It?

Overall, I liked this book. I know I will continue with the series. It isn’t the sort where I will continue with audio – namely because my library doesn’t have it nor does Scribd. However, I get the sense that I will like the next book more because I am physically reading it. The society tensions were fascinating. The whole magic thing was also interesting too — I will be interested to see where this goes next.

How’s The Narration?

I feel sort of meh on the narration. For one thing, I had to listen at 1x speed, so the OG speed due to listening to the CDs. I could only listen in the car. And well, my attention wandered a lot due to what I now perceive as slow narration. That’s where listening to a sped up audiobook gets you into trouble I guess. There’s not anything wrong with Fiona Hardingham’s narration in Blood Rose Rebellion per se, just, IT FEELS SO SLOW at 1x.

Other reviews of Blood Rose Rebellion by Rosalyn Eves:

• Nose Graze – “a pretty cool book to read“
• Bookscoffeeandrepeat  – “Sadly, this book wasn’t for me“
• Emily Reads Everything – “interesting and unusual“

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April (Books&Wine)

April is in her 30s and created Good Books And Good Wine. She works for a non-profit. April always has a book on hand. In her free time she can be found binge watching The Office with her husband and toddler, spending way too much time on Pinterest or exploring her neighborhood.

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