I wanted to turn but I was held captive by the song on the wind. I’m coming, I told the voices. Please, wait for me.
When her sister becomes bet...
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reviews
Sep 16, 2011
Tatiana
rated it: 
2.5 stars
Guess you could call Blood Song a romantic teen fantasy, or teen fantasy extra lite?
It is probably unfair to compare this book to such outstanding fantasy novels as Daughter of Smoke and Bone or Finnikin of the Rock. After all, Blood Song is clearly aimed at the younger part of teen crowd. But everything about this novel is so simplistic, there is hardly anything to wow you, in my opinion.
The story itself is very basic. 16-year princess Zeraphina li More...
Guess you could call Blood Song a romantic teen fantasy, or teen fantasy extra lite?
It is probably unfair to compare this book to such outstanding fantasy novels as Daughter of Smoke and Bone or Finnikin of the Rock. After all, Blood Song is clearly aimed at the younger part of teen crowd. But everything about this novel is so simplistic, there is hardly anything to wow you, in my opinion.
The story itself is very basic. 16-year princess Zeraphina li More...
13 comments
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(31 people liked it)
Oct 02, 2011
oliviasbooks
rated it:
During the first chapters there were only some things that rubbed me the wrong way:
- the language in general and certain expressions that in my point of view did not match the high fantasy setting,
- the forced fairytale vibes - including a carriage that looked like a hollowed pumpkin and letters sent out within an instant to advertise the princess' hand in marriage to the bald and bumpy -,
- the heroine speaking of her mother as Renata while Renata always addressed her d More...
- the language in general and certain expressions that in my point of view did not match the high fantasy setting,
- the forced fairytale vibes - including a carriage that looked like a hollowed pumpkin and letters sent out within an instant to advertise the princess' hand in marriage to the bald and bumpy -,
- the heroine speaking of her mother as Renata while Renata always addressed her d More...
22 comments
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(17 people liked it)
Aug 22, 2011
Nic
rated it: 
We all know that I am constantly saying I am not a huge fan of fantasy but it turns out I am. But only really good fantasy and that is definitely what Blood Song is. I absolutely loved it. For me it was the perfect reading escape.
Zeraphina has always known she is different with her unusual striking looks and her craving for blood which is getting strong each day and calling her to the north. When her older sister Lilith becomes engaged to Prince Amis in the northern land Zeraphina More...
Zeraphina has always known she is different with her unusual striking looks and her craving for blood which is getting strong each day and calling her to the north. When her older sister Lilith becomes engaged to Prince Amis in the northern land Zeraphina More...
30 comments
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(22 people liked it)
Oct 17, 2011
Emily
rated it: 
3.5 stars
I have been keeping an eye out for a new YA fantasy series to love and cherish and I think this is it! Blood Song is an intriguing and compelling read - it kept me up all night long, as only the best books do.
Hart's debut tells the story of Zeraphina, a princess who has an inexplicable desire to travel to the north. I loved Zeraphina from the very first page. She reminded me of one of the literary greats: Elizabeth Bennet. Each are stubborn, strong-willed, quick More...
I have been keeping an eye out for a new YA fantasy series to love and cherish and I think this is it! Blood Song is an intriguing and compelling read - it kept me up all night long, as only the best books do.
Hart's debut tells the story of Zeraphina, a princess who has an inexplicable desire to travel to the north. I loved Zeraphina from the very first page. She reminded me of one of the literary greats: Elizabeth Bennet. Each are stubborn, strong-willed, quick More...
5 comments
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(11 people liked it)
Feb 03, 2012
Ari
rated it:
Another Aussie book on my shelf full of awesome ;))
To be honest, it's more like 4.5 because the last part of it was so-and-so, but anyways it's hard to tell how much I loved this book.
It's really great.
This is one of those books that you take in your hands and then you can't put down. I started reading it late at night and the first thing I did in the morning was to finish it.. no breakfast for me until the last page.
I liked Zeraphina (still More...
To be honest, it's more like 4.5 because the last part of it was so-and-so, but anyways it's hard to tell how much I loved this book.
It's really great.
This is one of those books that you take in your hands and then you can't put down. I started reading it late at night and the first thing I did in the morning was to finish it.. no breakfast for me until the last page.
I liked Zeraphina (still More...
0 comments
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(3 people liked it)
Sep 06, 2011
Isamlq
rated it: 
3.5/5
Blood Song is an easy kind of fantasy (fantasy lite, if you will). Zeraphina's world is not at all difficult to get into. The set up is pretty bare, and like the character we don't know that much. Consider, there's Amentia, her home. Then Pergamia, another kingdom. And of course, the mysterious Lharmell. But we do know some stuff: we know that she's the second daughter of an impoverished kingdom. We know that her sister is to wed the prince of another. And we also know what Zera More...
Blood Song is an easy kind of fantasy (fantasy lite, if you will). Zeraphina's world is not at all difficult to get into. The set up is pretty bare, and like the character we don't know that much. Consider, there's Amentia, her home. Then Pergamia, another kingdom. And of course, the mysterious Lharmell. But we do know some stuff: we know that she's the second daughter of an impoverished kingdom. We know that her sister is to wed the prince of another. And we also know what Zera More...
5 comments
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(4 people liked it)
Sep 09, 2011
Kwesi 章英狮
rated it:
When blood smeared all over the ground a putrid smell of a marigold spread all over your nose. The smell of death, hunger and cold that will hunt creatures in the night and the living will start to crumble. Two great lands with ultimate power fought for years and hunted by blood, and only one will survive. Is it the light that will help us see the truth or the dark that will creeps everyone until end.
When Zeraphina was young, she was sick and nearly died. After that accident everythi More...
When Zeraphina was young, she was sick and nearly died. After that accident everythi More...
14 comments
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(20 people liked it)
Feb 07, 2012
Cat
rated it:
Finally finished! I need to quit my job so I have more time to read. Taking a week to read this book was just insane! Way to write an awesome fantasy novel, Rhiannon! I am super happy to get to say "I knew her when" even if it was only through blogging. heh heh
So excited for this one, even if my wonderful friend Rhiannon did forget to feed the characters through the book. ;)
So excited for this one, even if my wonderful friend Rhiannon did forget to feed the characters through the book. ;)
0 comments
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(2 people liked it)
Aug 13, 2011
Rachel
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
17 comments
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(1 person liked it)
Oct 29, 2011
Shannon
rated it:
This book surprised me. I had been eagerly been waiting for it to be released for a few months, fully expecting a lenghty high fantatsy adventure. I guess you could still call it a high fantasy adventure, but it is also so very different and original. This book is small, 290 pages small to be exact, which to me is a very quick read. As it is, the book is fantastic; original, mysterious, romantic, action packed, with a few balls (as in the dance type) thrown in to satisfy my liking for perdy dres
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(1 person liked it)
Jul 21, 2011
Brodie
rated it:
The palace of Amentina is slowly falling into disrepair, the money is dwindling and Reneta, Queen of Amentina, is adamant that her eldest daughter, Lilith, marry a wealthy Prince soon so their land will not die. But when her betrothed suddenly dies, the plan goes awry and Lilith is left nursing a broken heart. Until Renata quickly puts her back on the market and she's offered marriage to Prince Amis of Pergamia. Lilith wants no part of it at first, but something is calling, beckoning her sister
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16 comments
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(8 people liked it)
Jan 18, 2012
Morgan
rated it:
WARNING, WARNING! THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS :)
Blood Song by Rhiannon Hart was an enjoyable read and I was glad that I read it after seeing mostly good reviews.
In Blood Song main character Zeraphina is a sixteen year old Princess battling against a growing hunger that dwells inside of her, this hunger is for blood. She also feels a strange draw to the north as if a call was being sent to bring her home. When her older sister Lilith receives a proposal of marriage from the pr More...
Blood Song by Rhiannon Hart was an enjoyable read and I was glad that I read it after seeing mostly good reviews.
In Blood Song main character Zeraphina is a sixteen year old Princess battling against a growing hunger that dwells inside of her, this hunger is for blood. She also feels a strange draw to the north as if a call was being sent to bring her home. When her older sister Lilith receives a proposal of marriage from the pr More...
Nov 02, 2011
Tracey
rated it:
WOW! Rhiannon Hart has written an awesome debut book.
Blood Song is The First Book of Lharmell.
Zeraphina isn’t your typical princess, she is into hunting and archery. She has two pets, Leap, a cat and Griffin who is a golden eagle.
Right from the very first page I was drawn in and I had trouble putting it down, it was so good. I loved everything about this book epically the way it is written. With Zeraphina telling the story in first person, Blood Song is a stand More...
Oct 11, 2011
Paradoxical
rated it:
I have moderately mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, the main character is rather interesting, isn't (exactly) weak, and has adorable animal companions (which is, admittedly, a great vice of mine, even if I acknowledge how cliche it is). She's also fairly detached from her family and even if others would be concerned about their sister and said sister's state of happiness, Zeraphina just sort of uses her sister's circumstances as a way to get herself up north (because she feels com
More...
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(1 person liked it)
Sep 22, 2011
Kris
rated it: 
I don't understand how the ratings on this book are as high as they are. The writing was sloppy, imprecise, rushed, and written for a very young audience (if you are reading this and in elementary school I'll give you a pass). The characters were not fleshed out adequately, the plot had ridiculous holes, and I thought about putting this book down more than once; I only slugged on because it was short enough to be a novella and I knocked it out in an hour or three.
I admit I probably wo More...
I admit I probably wo More...
0 comments
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(3 people liked it)
Sep 22, 2011
Nicki
rated it:
I began to see this book mentioned on blogs some months back and tried several times to win a copy in giveaways but was unsuccessful. The cover drew me in and the blurb sounded interesting, plus I'd seen some great reviews coming out. Then I saw it in KMart for $14 and quickly grabbed a copy.
I certainly wasn't disappointed with my purchase as I found this book to be a great read and finished it in one sitting. It is a fairly simplistic tale, but then it is aimed at a YA audience and no More...
I certainly wasn't disappointed with my purchase as I found this book to be a great read and finished it in one sitting. It is a fairly simplistic tale, but then it is aimed at a YA audience and no More...
0 comments
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(1 person liked it)
Jun 14, 2011
H.J.
rated it:
A while ago I was whinging about the lack of Aussie YA fantasy coming out, and how I really just wanted to sink my teeth into something amazing. Well! The book gods obviously heard my cries and answered with Blood Song, though I think this wonderful gem had less to do with book gods and more to do with superb début author Rhiannon Hart.
I was hooked straight away by feisty heroine Zeraphina. A pet hate of mine is when female characters are Pillars of Perfection: they do all the right t More...
I was hooked straight away by feisty heroine Zeraphina. A pet hate of mine is when female characters are Pillars of Perfection: they do all the right t More...
4 comments
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(4 people liked it)
Sep 20, 2011
Anki
rated it:
Zeraphina is the princess of Amentia, younger daughter of Queen Renata. When her sister is betrothed to a prince of a prosperous nation in the North, she is ecstatic. Her yearning to go North, to be finally able to discover why something from there calls to her so deeply is finally being fulfilled. To be able to find out about the disease she contracted that changed her appearance. To know more about the unspoken lands of Lharmell.
I got into the book pretty quickly. The first few chap More...
I got into the book pretty quickly. The first few chap More...
Sep 28, 2011
Ranting
rated it:
http://www.rantingdragon.com/blood-song-...
Blood Song is the debut novel of Australian author Rhiannon Hart and the first installment in the Lharmell trilogy. Blood Song is quite an impressive debut, and one that should appeal to a wide range of readers despite being aimed primarily at the young adult market.
The story is narrated in the first person by Zeraphina, the second daughter of the Queen of Amentia, a small and rather impoverished kingdom in Brivora. While her mo More...
Blood Song is the debut novel of Australian author Rhiannon Hart and the first installment in the Lharmell trilogy. Blood Song is quite an impressive debut, and one that should appeal to a wide range of readers despite being aimed primarily at the young adult market.
The story is narrated in the first person by Zeraphina, the second daughter of the Queen of Amentia, a small and rather impoverished kingdom in Brivora. While her mo More...
0 comments
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(2 people liked it)
Sep 18, 2011
Foster
rated it:
I would have to say that i did enjoy this book.
At the start was a little bit slow then it gradually became more fluent,
I loved the setting and time/place that the story was written in,
Zeraphina has always known she is different with her unusual striking looks and her craving for blood which is getting strong each day and calling her to the north. When her older sister Lilith becomes engaged to Prince Amis in the northern land Zeraphina jumps at the chance to visit a pl More...
At the start was a little bit slow then it gradually became more fluent,
I loved the setting and time/place that the story was written in,
Zeraphina has always known she is different with her unusual striking looks and her craving for blood which is getting strong each day and calling her to the north. When her older sister Lilith becomes engaged to Prince Amis in the northern land Zeraphina jumps at the chance to visit a pl More...
0 comments
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(1 person liked it)
Nov 29, 2011
Lou-Lou
rated it:
I really thought the blurb for this book was very odd, and to be honest I was hesitant because of it. But I am very glad I read this story!!
Blood song is the first in a series about Zeraphina, a girl who has always felt apart from the rest of her family and people. She has dark hair and chrystal clear eyes, vastly different from her mother and sister's green eyes and light brown hair. And she craves blood.
Zeraphina's mother Renata is desperate to marry off her daughters More...
Blood song is the first in a series about Zeraphina, a girl who has always felt apart from the rest of her family and people. She has dark hair and chrystal clear eyes, vastly different from her mother and sister's green eyes and light brown hair. And she craves blood.
Zeraphina's mother Renata is desperate to marry off her daughters More...
Aug 05, 2011
Shirley
rated it:
Let’s start with the cover. It’s absolutely, eerily stunning! As soon as I laid eyes on the cover, I knew I just had to read it! But truthfully, I was still a bit scared as to whether this was another ‘misleading cover’.( A beautiful cover, but a not-so-great book)
I needn’t have worried. This book enthralled me from the very first word, and I couldn’t stop reading even if I wanted to. It was like a magnetic pull, urging me to continue reading and finish the entire book at once! Us Au More...
I needn’t have worried. This book enthralled me from the very first word, and I couldn’t stop reading even if I wanted to. It was like a magnetic pull, urging me to continue reading and finish the entire book at once! Us Au More...
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(1 person liked it)
Oct 15, 2011
Missie
rated it:
Agh! I've kind of been avoiding writing a review for Blood Song for a while now because my thoughts on it are all over the place, but here goes nothing.
As a fantasy novel, I think Blood Song does its job. It enchants. How could it not? Set in a magical realm that has an old-world charm but also carries a modern edge twist, it quickly sucked me right in. That said, I feel like the first half of the book was much better than the second half.
Zeraphina, a young princess from a More...
As a fantasy novel, I think Blood Song does its job. It enchants. How could it not? Set in a magical realm that has an old-world charm but also carries a modern edge twist, it quickly sucked me right in. That said, I feel like the first half of the book was much better than the second half.
Zeraphina, a young princess from a More...
4 comments
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(3 people liked it)
Jul 25, 2011
Skye
rated it:
This review is also posted on my blog, In The Good Books.
Zeraphina is being lured northward and she thinks there could lie the answers to why she has such strange cravings for blood, so when the chance arises to travel there with her sister, she ignores her misgivings and takes it up -- but on arrival, she realises her misgivings may not have been totally unfounded.
If you expect anything even close to a clichéd vampire story from the synopsis, you're completely off. Blood More...
Zeraphina is being lured northward and she thinks there could lie the answers to why she has such strange cravings for blood, so when the chance arises to travel there with her sister, she ignores her misgivings and takes it up -- but on arrival, she realises her misgivings may not have been totally unfounded.
If you expect anything even close to a clichéd vampire story from the synopsis, you're completely off. Blood More...
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(6 people liked it)
Sep 20, 2011
Cyp
rated it:
From the very first page, BLOOD SONG managed to capture my attention. Quite wholly, I might add.
Even tho this novel is based on a (kinda sad) variation of vampires, I did like it. Very much. Hart didn't focus on the romanctic relationship between Zeraphina and Rodden, but the sparks that flew between them were as clear as day. And I loved every single moment of it. Both were so smart and witty, trying to outsmart the other every time they saw each other. When they weren't, well, thos More...
Even tho this novel is based on a (kinda sad) variation of vampires, I did like it. Very much. Hart didn't focus on the romanctic relationship between Zeraphina and Rodden, but the sparks that flew between them were as clear as day. And I loved every single moment of it. Both were so smart and witty, trying to outsmart the other every time they saw each other. When they weren't, well, thos More...
0 comments
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(1 person liked it)
Aug 10, 2011
Arlene
rated it:
Rating Clarification: 4.5 stars
If finishing this book in one day is any indication of how much I truly enjoyed Blood Song, well then there you have it. I adored it! Now I guess it also helps that this book is Australian and YA Fantasy, two elements that when done right are sure to grab my attention and catapult me into my out-for-the-day-call-me-later reading zone. I really enjoyed every minute of this adventure!
Blood Song by Rhiannon Hart is a masterful kickoff to a ser More...
If finishing this book in one day is any indication of how much I truly enjoyed Blood Song, well then there you have it. I adored it! Now I guess it also helps that this book is Australian and YA Fantasy, two elements that when done right are sure to grab my attention and catapult me into my out-for-the-day-call-me-later reading zone. I really enjoyed every minute of this adventure!
Blood Song by Rhiannon Hart is a masterful kickoff to a ser More...
56 comments
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(21 people liked it)
Oct 09, 2011
Amanda
rated it:
4 1/2 stars, and loved it! Blood Song is set in the time of King, and Queens. Renata is the Queen of Armentia, her eldest daughter is Lilith, and her youngest Zeraphina. Zeraphina's straight black hair, and blue/white eyes are nothing like her families, but her blood craving confirms her difference. She has so far been successful in hiding these cravings. Lilith is engaged to be married to a prince, who suddenly dies in a terrible accident. Her mother wants to find another husband for her as soo
More...
0 comments
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(1 person liked it)
Jun 14, 2011
H.R.
rated it:
A while ago I was whinging about the lack of Aussie YA fantasy coming out, and how I really just wanted to sink my teeth into something amazing. Well! The book gods obviously heard my cries and answered with Blood Song, though I think this wonderful gem had less to do with book gods and more to do with superb début author Rhiannon Hart.
I was hooked straight away by feisty heroine Zeraphina. A pet hate of mine is when female characters are Pillars of Perfection: they do all the right t More...
I was hooked straight away by feisty heroine Zeraphina. A pet hate of mine is when female characters are Pillars of Perfection: they do all the right t More...
0 comments
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(6 people liked it)
Aug 16, 2011
Lisa
rated it:
Originally posted on Read Me Bookmark Me Love Me
A brilliant debut novel by Australian author, Rhiannon Hart. I was captivated by Blood Song immediately. Zeraphina craves blood like any human craves food and water. The pull to travel north is unexplainable and only her archery can occupy her mind otherwise. Her eagle, Griffin, and cat, Leap, are her companions, fiercely loyal and attentive to her moods. When her mother is desperate for wealth and her sister is slated to marry, who els More...
A brilliant debut novel by Australian author, Rhiannon Hart. I was captivated by Blood Song immediately. Zeraphina craves blood like any human craves food and water. The pull to travel north is unexplainable and only her archery can occupy her mind otherwise. Her eagle, Griffin, and cat, Leap, are her companions, fiercely loyal and attentive to her moods. When her mother is desperate for wealth and her sister is slated to marry, who els More...
6 comments
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(3 people liked it)
Oct 08, 2011
Elena
rated it:
Nice read.
The Lharmell series is set in Brivora, a “parallel” world where Zeraphina, our protagonist, lives.
She’s from the poorest kingdom of Brivora, Amentia, where she’s a princess and second daughter of Renata.
She might sound a “normal” sixteen-year-old girl, except for the fact that she craves blood since when she was about twelve. And she doesn’t know why.
Add it up to the fact that--unlike her mom and her sister Lilith, who’ve got auburn hair and green eyes—she’s got More...
The Lharmell series is set in Brivora, a “parallel” world where Zeraphina, our protagonist, lives.
She’s from the poorest kingdom of Brivora, Amentia, where she’s a princess and second daughter of Renata.
She might sound a “normal” sixteen-year-old girl, except for the fact that she craves blood since when she was about twelve. And she doesn’t know why.
Add it up to the fact that--unlike her mom and her sister Lilith, who’ve got auburn hair and green eyes—she’s got More...
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(1 person liked it)
