Bloodleaf

Bloodleaf by Crystal Smith

This book will be published on March 12, 2019. I read an advance reading copy and there will undoubtedly be some differences between the version I read and the published edition.

But, that cover art. Gorgeous. Don't judge a book by it's cover, but like always admire art. ammmmm I righttttt (yeah!)

An amazon summary, "A roar of a dark and luscious epic fantasy that’s layered with heady romance, bloodthirsty magic, and ghostly intrigue—an absolutely wicked delight.

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?" AMAZON LINK OF JUSTICE

Princess Aurelia is a princess in a hellishly suspicious kingdom. They're running around and prosecuting people (mostly women it appears) for being witches. They, being a council that isn't really a governing body but has elevated itself to basically be able to act without consequences. ...Kind of salem witch trials style mixed with a very small hint of the spanish inquisition ...except magic really does exist in this world. There are three different disciplines, and Aurelia happens to use blood magic. The kingdom can never know or they would have her hanged. But, the kingdom strongly suspects and relentlessly bullies Aurelia so she has nothing that remotely resembles a healthy life except for a loving mother and a maid who is pleasant.

Anywho, so Princess Aurelia is supposed to marry a prince from a neighboring kingdom not only to form an alliance between their kingdoms, but to protect Princess Aurelia's life and maybe unseat some of the wannabe spanish inquisition types. A, let's call him an advisor, comes from her suitors kingdom to help safely escort her to other kingdom. But there's an attack! He ends up staying behind to protect her mother, while the princess and prince flee into the night with the princess's most trusted guard....and the least trustworthy advisor to the queen., plus his daughter ...but one thing leads to another on their passage to the other kingdom and her guard dies, the princess escapes the advisor, and tries to make it to the other kingdom alone. Which she does, and after a few misadventures, she finds the other kingdom in it's own turmoil.

That's enough summary.

I really liked Princess Auerlia. She felt balanced between her flaws and strengths, so I was rooting for her throughout the entire book. The elements of magic were well done, had some sort of rhyme or reason to them instead of that wiggly finger "it's magic!" effect to explain everything (but I suspect we'll see more magic mechanics in the second and third books), and I loved the rich history woven into the story. It feels like an entirely different world with enough familiar elements to it that you're not lost wondering if a brownie is a food or a creature when casually yet briefly mentioned in a sentence (bad, memorable experience. Can you tell?)

On the back of my edition it's like, "oh man if you like Maggie Stiefvater and Sarah J. Maas, well you'll probably like this too!" which I kind of can see? Ehhh? I didn't really have a point there. ... it's fine.

There were two reveals that I whole heartedly disagreed with, but, as they're reveals I'm not going to delve into them. I did find her ability to see ghosts a little strange but useful? But I also wonder if that's specifically her gift, or if other people are able to do it too. I don't know, but I do know that I'm looking forward to the sequels.

Happy reading!