April 2019 Book of the Month: The Blood Spell by C.J. Redwine.
Published: February 12th, 2019
Episode Eight: The Blood Spell
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ANNOUNCER: This review is brought to you by Words About Words.
BREE: Thank you for tuning in! Today we will be discussing our book of the month, The Blood Spell by C.J. Redwine.
TREE: So, what are your initial thoughts about this one?
BREE: I liked this one. I’ve always been a fan of fairy tales and their retellings though. I know you’re more skeptical of fantasy, so what were your thoughts?
TREE: I honestly think I just read this book at the wrong time. I loved certain parts of it, but other parts I could not get through it quick enough. I tend to like fantasy retellings because fantasy is really hard for me to get into, but with a retelling it gives me something to connect to.
BREE: I feel you on that. Some of the book just progressed so slow that I lost interest for a little bit. As for the retelling aspect, I thought that they included key aspects of the original Cinderella story well without copying it too closely.
TREE: Cinderella is such a good story to have so many retellings of (and there are A LOT) because it is a pretty basic story and easy to modernize.
BREE: Yes! I love Cinderella retellings. They make especially great movies too. (Cough cough. Hilary Duff, Selena Gomez, Lucy Hale, anyone?)
TREE: It’s all about Ever After with Drew Barrymore for me!
BREE: I can’t say I’ve seen that one before, but I’ll definitely add it to my list now. But back on topic, want to elaborate on something you liked?
TREE: I really liked C.J. Redwine’s writing, she has a way with words where you can easily picture the setting. I also enjoyed the characters, they had more to them than just “Prince” and “Cinderella” from the original story.
BREE: Yes! I really liked that too. They actually had backstories and details that made them feel realistic. I’m also partial to Prince Kellan though. I really liked that he (spoiler?) abandoned his bad boy ways pretty fast and actually supported/helped Blue when she needed it instead being an aloof ass.
TREE: Yeah he was pretty great. I loved his sister too, she is mute and it was nice to see a mute character in YA. Plus, Kellan requiring that his future bride be nice to his sister was awesome.
BREE: Ahhh. I loved Princess Nessa. She was seen as inferior by certain people, but she didn’t let that stop her from being herself and doing what has to be done. I honestly wish that she was in more of the book, or that we got a chapter from her perspective.
TREE: She should be the protagonist of the next book!
BREE: I’m totally here for that. Nessa would be a great main character and I would love to see C.J. Redwine expand on Nessa’s ‘language.’ Any last thoughts before we wrap this up?
TREE: I just want to mention all of the Ravenspire novels are standalones and do not have to be read in a specific order. But, characters from the previous novels appear in this one.
BREE: I love when authors do that. It’s like finding an inside joke.
TREE: Overall, my rating is 3/5 stars. It think it was a more of a me thing that this book though.
BREE: Wow, I think this is a first. Normally we’re pretty close on the ratings, but this time we’re a whole star off. I give The Blood Spell 4/5 stars. I think it was a pretty well thought out retelling and I liked how the core aspects of the original tale popped up in ways you weren’t quite expecting.
TREE: Before this month, I had not picked up a fantasy in so long. Hopefully I survive our fall Book of the Month line up.
BREE: (laughs) Ooooh you’re gonna have a rough Fall.
ANNOUNCER: Thanks for tuning in for this review of The Blood Spell by C.J. Redwine.
BREE: Make sure to tune in next month when we review The Boy Who Steals Houses by C.G. Drews!
TREE: You still have time to read A Thousand Perfect Notes!
BREE: Shhhh don’t tell them that.
xoxo, Bree & Tree
Words About Words 
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