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Book Review: Crimson Bound by: Rosamund Hodge

"You always have to choose between the path of needles and the path of pins. When a dress is torn, you know, you can just pin it up, or you can take the time to sew it together. That's what it means. The quick and easy way or the painful way that works." - Rosamund Hodge, Crimson Bound


Crimson Bound is a fantasy story that has the feel of a fairytale and the energy of an action novel. Set in the fictional country of Gevaudan, which was inspired by 17th-century France. The main character is 18-year-old Rachelle, a bloodbound and protector of the King. Three years earlier, the ferocious kiss of a forestborn -- a non-human creature that has incredible strength and fighting ability -- had turned her into a bloodbound, half-human and half-forestborn and since then, she had killed her aunt and joined the King's bloodbound army in which she quickly climbed the ranks. Now, at the top of the army alongside her friend and pursuer, Erec D'Anjou, she has almost forgotten her old life as the apprentice of a woodwife, who wove magical charms.

The story unravels when the King appoints Rachelle as a bodyguard to his illegitimate son, Armand. The young man is seen as a saint for his escape of the Great Forest's power, but Rachelle isn't buying the act. She sees guarding the prince as an annoying chore, using all of her free time to search for the magical sword that could slay the Devourer, a threatening creature. She recruits Armand to her search and finds herself uncovering mysteries of the palace. and the people that live within it.

Rachelle is a powerful character with a belief in good and evil. From her early childhood and apprenticeship as a woodwife, she wanted to save the world. This dream did not cease to exist even after she became bloodbound and was always her main motivation. At times Rachelle can be lustful and overbearing, but in my opinion she remains at least somewhat likable throughout the book and her personality definitely didn't ruin the book for me.

This is a tale of betrayal, love, action, and mystery. In this fantasy world, anything is possible. The book beautifully exhibits struggles between the church and the monarchy, the bloodbound and the human worlds, and good and evil. It has a rating of 3.69/5 on its Goodreads page, though my personal rating of the book is 5/5. I thought it was amazing and a very quick read. Despite its fairytale feel, it is not at all cheesy and I would absolutely recommend this book to all fans of fantasy, fairytales, romance, and action books, regardless of gender, because this book has something for everyone.


Alix
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