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?



When I requested Bloodleaf, I knew I would like it. Not just because I'm shallow and ADORE that cover. Not even just because I love retellings. I just had that spark of interest that never faded as I read the synopsis. It never left as I read the novel, either. I was hooked from the start and now I'm making grabby hands at my screen because I need the second installment, like, yesterday.

The world is very intriguing and I'm looking forward to comparing the worldbuilding in the trilogy as it goes. I have a feeling that it's only going to grow more and more complex, and enthralling, as the series continues. Something tells me, too, that the characters will have the same treatment. I am beyond excited to see how Aurelia grows, as I think she is very much so a good nod to her age.

(Seriously, do people forget that YA is, yenno, YA?) 

While I think there are some flaws in the story and development, I still found it to be compelling and magical. A fantastic introduction to the world that is in Bloodleaf. This is the kind of novel that you can read very, very quickly and by the end you'll be left with that feeling of desire for the sequel. I am not exaggerating when I say, "I NEED THE SECOND BOOK NOW!"

Do you feel that? Me? Still making grabby hands?

Bloodleaf's biggest weakness, unfortunately, is in the romantic subplot. This isn't to say that it is a bad quality, it's just my least favourite topic to note in the novel itself. I don't feel especially attached to it and it is what it is. Its biggest strength is in having a teenage character sound like a teenager and the new quality it brings to the fairytale, Goose Girl.

I'm a massive fan of YA and fairytales, so it's only natural that I flocked to Bloodleaf almost instantly. I loved that it had the lyrical tone to it and a darkness that kept me on the edge of my seat in complete captivation. I do think that this will be one of those novels you either love or hate, depending on the reader's personal preference, but I found it be an incredibly vivid and enjoyable fantasy that kept me wanting so much more.