Blood Song (Lharmell, #1)

Sep 14, 2011 Tatiana rated it 2 of 5 stars Recommends it for: fans of simple teen romance

Shelves: aus-nz, 2011, fantasy, romancelandia, ya

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 lives with her mother and older sister...more

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Sep 16, 2011 oliviasbooks rated it 2 of 5 stars

Recommended to oliviasbooks by: Nomes

Shelves: fantasy, young-adult-fiction, author-from-down-under, high-expectations, unfinished-2011, vampires, borrowed-and-returned, sequel-no-thank-you, love-story-romance

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 daughters as "Daughter",...more 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 daughters as "Daughter",
- the heroine making sudden presumptions based on absolute nothing - just to push forward the plot's main mystery (I can imagine that it takes a lot of effort and skill to make a heroine's unraveling a riddle seem natural and smooth, but still. I scoffed and snorted repeatedly, but a little more irritated each time),
- the pet-eagle on the heroine's arm (I looked it up: There are indeed species that weigh only a pound, but most eagles lug around a few kilos) as if it were little parrot.

Later I got annoyed by Princess Zeraphina's hypocricy (i.e. she expresses displeasure when she is served peacock, because peacocks are so decorative and should in her opinion be treated as no-food-decoration. But on the other hand she secretly craves blood and hunts in her spare time with a bird of prey), her general contempt, her bad mood and her limited view ... and I noticed that I was bored and had begun a calculation in my head about how much more time I would have to spend in this world before I could delve into the next one.

A few pages before I decided to pull the emergency brake (around page 150) the romance started to show first hints of bloom, but I already disliked the characters too much to get roped into a heart-throb-mode.

I am so sorry, dear Booker friends, for not loving the book like you do. And sorry for speaking ill of your new favorite. But I am also so relieved that I managed to cancel my order, because a friend intervened and offered to lend me her copy. 'You can always buy it later', she said. She is right. I can, but I won't. Thank you, M.!(less)

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Sep 02, 2011 Alexa rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Poison Study by Maria V. Synder; Kristin Cashore; Those who like a kickass & funny MC.

Shelves: aussie, arc, tour, young-adult, 2011-reads, borrowed, favorites, own

My review can also be found on my blog Collections.

Blood Song first came to my attention after finding out it was written by an Australian author. (If you don't already know, I love to read Australian YA!) I became even more curious after reading some great reviews. Fantasy seems to be one of the genres that I tend to pay less attention to.I'm not sure why. I have read some young-adult fantasy that I really love and are some of my favorite books. I'm really glad I had the opportunity to read Blo...more

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Aug 22, 2011 Nic rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011, aussie-ya, fantasy, read-in-2011, swoon-worthy-read

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 jumps at the c...more

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Oct 17, 2011 Emily rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: aussie-ya, fantasy, lovely-covers, lost-sleep-over-this, read-in-2011, swoon, series-to-finish

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 to temper... but care d...more 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 to temper... but care deeply about those close to them. Even the relationship between Lilith and Zeraphina reminded me of Jane and Lizzie :)

The world building is flawless. Hart created a traditional fantasy feel, old castles with overgrown forests and monarchies that throw extravagant balls. I have to add that the change of scenery (view spoiler) towards the end of the book was unique and felt quite unlike any fantasy landscape I had read about before.

The mystery and intrigue builds steadily in the first half of the book. As Zeraphina slowly uncovers clues as to who and what she is, the reader grows even more invested in the story. However, this is where the 1 and a half star comes away. I felt the story arc flowed beautifully over the first half, but I became impatient with the second half and a bit disappointed with the info dump that occurred after the masquerade ball. The book could have benefited from being a bit longer to allow Zeraphina to discover more of the answers for herself, rather than finding out over a few pages.

In saying that, I was still blown away by this story. I think fans of Isobelle Carmody will LOVE Blood Song (Leap and Griffin, the animals of this story, added a very Obernewtyn feel to the book). I think it will appeal to readers who don't usually read fantasy and die-hard fantasy lovers alike.

Book two of Lharmell can't come soon enough!

Special thanks to Random House for providing a copy of Blood Song for review.(less)

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Jul 25, 2011 Skye rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: aussie-ya

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 Song proved to be incre...more 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 Song proved to be incredibly imaginative and unique. It had all of the best parts of fantasy without all of the worst (and yes, by worst, I mean the cumbersome names. They just roll off your tongue in this one: Lharmell, Amentia).

Zeraphina was a great character to read about. She was strong; she could (and did) hold her own in an argument, and when faced with a challenge, she dealt with it head-on rather than avoiding it. Part of her appeal was in how she realistically stood apart from the other women in the high fantasy setting, and wasn't moony and obsessed with men. Her relationship with Rodden was realistically developed, and their romance never became her number one priority. It was an appreciated sub-plot, a complement to the main plot.

On the topic of setting, the world-building was excellent, and the otherworldly backdrop to the story was vivid and portrayed in an apt light. For instance, Lharmell's creepiness felt tangible in every moment our characters spent there. The setting was richly imaginative and the tone suited it brilliantly.

Written expertly, you wouldn't guess this was Rhiannon's debut. The story was told in compelling prose, constantly foreshadowing and maintaining a tense and eerie tone. The plot took many turns, always unpredictable and exciting.

Blood Song was amazingly imaginative and atmospheric, definitely a welcome addition to the Aussie fantasy scene. I look forward to Rhiannon's future books!

I give Blood Song a 5 out of 5.

I'd recommend it for fans of: Graceling and Burn Bright.(less)

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Sep 15, 2011 Ariana rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, can-t-wait, aussie, series

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, I didn't like her name) - she was a bit stubborn, b...more

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Sep 05, 2011 Isamlq rated it 3 of 5 stars

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 Zeraphina has th...more 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 Zeraphina has this craving for blood.

The basic mystery really is what she is. And truth be told? I wasn't that surprised to find out the answer to that question (given that there were lots of clues to pick up on long ways before the reveal.) But what comes as an absolute delightful surprise is the love interest. I know! I'm sorry, but I feel as I did when I read Eona. It wasn't the epic fantasy, people journeying, or archers and magic that had me sitting up and paying attention. I was all about Rodden and Zeraphina!

I enjoyed reading how they played off on each other, where she is sometimes prissy, sometimes bratty, more often than not single minded; he is mysterious, quiet, broody and suspicious to the point of being paranoid! But as they got drawn together, well, I was a puddle! Everything she complained of in him, was true. Likewise, most everything he disliked in her was true too. Yet they simply clicked. I suppose some would have a problem with him being overbearing and bossy and needlesly mysterious, and some would have a problem with her her being bratty (given her initial tendency to hurl things and stomp like a child in a tantrum when she didnt get her way!) But they both grow... and adjust. I liked seeing them work things out but not to the extent that the sparks between them disappeared. One word: Cute. Wait, make that two: it was cute and entertaining reading how much they repelled each other but were drawn to each other nonetheless.

I didn't really mind all her "what am I, who am I?" questions. Questions like these have been tackled before and here that aspect of the story progressed much the same as other stories have. And other than reading their developing relationship (which, like I said, I totally got a kick out of,) I also enjoyed reading more about the baddies in this one. Lharmell The place? Deadly. Its people? Magical, creepy, and bloodthirsty! I would have liked to read more of the creatures though especially given her relationship with Leap and Griffin.

It's fantasy lite and easy to get into. Me? I'm all about Rodden and Zeraphina :)(less)

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Sep 09, 2011 Kwesi 章英狮 rated it 3 of 5 stars

Recommended to Kwesi 章英狮 by: Isamlq

Shelves: e-book, rhiannon-hart, 2011

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 everything changed,...more

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Feb 07, 2012 Cat rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-debut, ya, books-i-own, fantasy

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. ;)

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Apr 17, 2012 Keertana rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: aussie

Blood Song is the type of book that leaves you wanting more - but not necessarily in a good way. Yes, I was definitely eager to get my hands on the sequel, but for some inexplicable reason, I found Blood Song to be lacking something. Perhaps I set the bar too high for this novel, simply because of the gushing reviews and the fact that the author was Australian. Either way, Blood Song, despite having an unique premises, failed to make me feel for the characters, romance, or adventure.

Zeraphina is...more Blood Song is the type of book that leaves you wanting more - but not necessarily in a good way. Yes, I was definitely eager to get my hands on the sequel, but for some inexplicable reason, I found Blood Song to be lacking something. Perhaps I set the bar too high for this novel, simply because of the gushing reviews and the fact that the author was Australian. Either way, Blood Song, despite having an unique premises, failed to make me feel for the characters, romance, or adventure.

Zeraphina is the second and youngest daughter of her dying kingdom. Ever since she was wrought with an illness at a young age, her eyes have paled to blue, her hair has darkened to black, and she has had an unexplainable thirst for blood. Furthermore, she has always felt a yearning to go north, so when her sister is offered a marriage proposal to the north, Zeraphina is eager to go. In the palace however, she meets the mysterious Rodden - the one man who seems to know more about her than she does. Unwilling to answer her questions, Zeraphina is forced to uncover the truth of who she really is on her own - for better or for worse.

The idea for Blood Song was fascinating and it was my own curiosity of the Lharmells that kept me frantically flipping the pages. In some areas the dialogue was witty and characterization well developed, but for the most part, it felt as if Blood Song was targeted to a younger audience. The characters never felt as if they had enough depth to them, I didn't find myself feeling for Zeraphina during her struggles, and Hart seemed to devote more energy towards palace balls opposed to rebel murder missions. Furthermore, the action-filled scenes set in Lharmell never felt heart-pounding or dangerous even though they were. I think that is one of this novels biggest faults - the fact that the author simply couldn't draw me into the rich world she had created. I was acutely aware of the fact that I was reading and that there were less than hundred pages left to go - a feeling I can assure does not happen very often as I am loathe to count down till the end of a book.

That being said, I still liked Blood Song. The idea was unique, the setting original, and it had the potential to be an amazing book. Zeraphina was an interesting character and I admired her strength and strong-will throughout the story. Raddon too was an intriguing character, proving to be an enigma on his own. I am definitely eager to learn more of his past in the sequel and see where his personality came from.

The relationship between Zeraphina and Raddon, although having plenty of witty banter that I enjoyed, turned very suddenly from enemies to he's-just-like-me-yay to I-think-I-like-you to let's-pretend-we-didn't-just-kiss-because-we're-in-danger to now-we're-really-close-friends. Essentially, it didn't flow or transition, instead simply changing from one thing to another. In fact, I still remain confused as to whether Zeraphina was only attracted to him because he was like her or because she genuinely liked him (and vice versa regarding his attraction to her). The romance wasn't a particularly large aspect of the novel which I appreciate, but the confusion of feelings that Zaraphina felt towards Raddon came out of the blue (at least until the reached Lharmell...then they solely became focused on the situation at hand and their friendship). So, although their relationship felt very Darcy/Elizabeth in some ways, it fell flat. I like them both as individual characters and it is hinted at that they may have some type of a connection together, but I'm hoping that their relationship is more developed in the sequel. It was by no means bad in Blood Song - just not as well transitioned as I would have liked.

Nevertheless, despite my qualms about this book, it was a quick read that kept me curious enough to finish it in one sitting. Furthermore, the ideas were original and I am definitely eager to get my hands on the sequel. I didn't outright love Blood Song, but I think the series has immense potential for improvement which I hopefully believe will occur. I'd definitely recommend giving Blood Song a try. Many reviewers thoroughly enjoyed it and, at any rate, you'll be introduced to an engaging new idea and refreshing plot. Although Blood Song was definitely an interesting novel, for me it simply didn't deliver. (less)

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Dec 25, 2012 Misty rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: excited-for, supernatural-paranormal, 2011-debuts__elevensies, own, thanks-ksenia, gift, read-in-2012

3.5
Review to come.

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May 01, 2012 Megan rated it 5 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jul 31, 2011 Rachel (The Rest Is Still Unwritten) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: covers-to-die-for, random-house-sent, i-own, arc-s, publisher-sent

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. *Firstly, thanks to the publisher for sending me a copy of this book to review*

An enchantingly eerie ride from start to finish, Blood Song captivated me with its rich, magical details, and refused to let me go the entire tale!
Australian author Rihannon Hart has created a stunning world with her debut novel. The story weaves together beautifully, flowing from one brilliant moment to the next, and the otherworldly feel draws you in from the very beginning. A far cry from all the vampire and supern...more *Firstly, thanks to the publisher for sending me a copy of this book to review*

An enchantingly eerie ride from start to finish, Blood Song captivated me with its rich, magical details, and refused to let me go the entire tale!
Australian author Rihannon Hart has created a stunning world with her debut novel. The story weaves together beautifully, flowing from one brilliant moment to the next, and the otherworldly feel draws you in from the very beginning. A far cry from all the vampire and supernatural books that litter the YA market right now, Blood Song, and the creatures within it, prove to be one of a kind!
From the opening line on the very first page, this book had me. I was hooked. And then as the story evolved and more elements came into play, it was a fight to simply put the book down. The idea behind this story and even the one that surrounds Zeraphina herself was fascinating to me and I enjoyed every moment I got to unravel the worlds of Pergamia and Lharmell.

Apart from the fabulous storyline which is surrounded by mystery and keeps you on your toes, the characters in this book will draw you in as you follow Zeraphina on her journey.
A great new heroine, Zeraphina truly was a joy to follow and read about. She held all the traits of a true princess, but was strong willed and independent, willing to defy what was expected of her to follow her instincts. She never backed down and wasn’t afraid to take a risk; instead ready to face her fear and issues head on. She isn’t obsessed with the norms of royal life and truly is different than her sister and mother.
Queen Renata and Princess Lilith were nice editions to the tale, adding some depth, but I must admit I didn’t feel too much for them. Although it’s clear that despite all of Renata’s faults, she loves both of her daughter very much.
I couldn’t get enough of Leap and Griffin in this book. The animal aspect and the way it was written into the story was just perfect. They were terrific little characters that added personality to the story without the unnecessary drama you sometimes get from actual people.

Honestly, I can’t talk about this book and not talk about the relationship that develops between Zeraphina and Rodden. It was a highlight in this book for me. It’s not an outright focal point in the story, but there’s no denying that it’s there. It’s very effortless and doesn’t seem forced or unrealistic at all. Rodden, who is a few years older than Zeraphina, is arrogant, brooding and oh, so intriguing. He’s sexy and appealing without trying, and there’s a chemistry there between him and Zeraphina—even if they don’t always see it. The two of them had a love/hate relationship, heavy on the hate that I adored. The way they bicker and bait each other and the constant biting comments they made towards one another had me smiling in that all too knowing way. It was kind of like being back in high school when you know two people like each other in a morbid sort of way (even if they deny it) and know eventually they’re going to give into that. The thing I love the most about how Hart has written their romance is that there’s no rush to it. They’re not declaring their feelings straight off the bat and are madly in love—they’re fighting and disagreeing and slowing beginning to get past each other’s walls.

The pace and tone of this book flowed and fit perfectly. It all moved along nicely and the events and certain scenes in this book (mostly between Zeraphina and Rodden) had me entertained and captivated, eagerly turning each page until there was no more to turn. This book will thrill fans of Maria V. Snyder's Study series and Kristen Cashore’s Graceling and I foresee it being a hit!

Now, everyone say it with me.....S-e-q-u-e-l!
(less)

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Sep 15, 2012 Shannon rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: all-time-faves, absolute-favourites, young-adult-favs

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...more 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 dresses and chivalry :-D

The characters were all strong, and there were no background characters that we meet for 2 seconds and leave you wondering, why did we need to meet that character? They are all fleshed out and distinct. The main character, Zeraphina is a feisty little thing. She is quick witted and rather ditzy at times, but its hilarious when that happens, and its usually when she is arguing with Rodden, and knows she's loosing. I loved the relationship between Zeraphina and Rodden (her love interest). Because neither of them realise that they love each other, even though everyone around them can. Their bickering is funny and its not until Zeraphina and her mother decide they have to leave soon, that they begin to realise that they have grown to like eacher other. Its a very slow build to the relationship, which I found refreshing to find in a YA fantasy. Even at the end, when there is usually the pouring out of hearts from the two lovers, there is never a full blown confession of love, rather its a mutual understanding of each others feelings.

There is a little bit of content that may not make it suitable for under 15's. As it is set in an historical setting, and the plot working around the journey for Zeraphina's sister's marriage, there is some talk about the wedding night, and how the couple were tucked into bed before the whole court on the night and the bed sheet being displayed the morning after (mortifying if you ask me!). But honestly, it is very well handled and there is no graphic scene in which we see this acted out, rather a gossip session between the two sisters the morning after. Something minor, but still could be a little shocking for younger readers.

The only thing that dissapointed me about this book was the length. I wanted so much more!! I felt that Hart could have spent more time world building, stretch out the mystery a bit more, take a little more time with each character interaction or scene, describe the world around the characters a bit more. I dunno, I just wanted more of the fantastic world that Hart has created. I guess I shouldnt have compared it to my favourite Fantasy (Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier, which is nearly 600 pages long)before I had even laid eyes on it, but I did, and was shocked when I saw it in the shops with how many pages there is. Im seriously gonna have to get over it though, because I loved the story, loved the writing, the characters, the setting, the whole thing.

Also I was amused by how light the story was. I mean it was still dark, but when I looked at the cover, I expected some serious dark and twisted story. Its still there, but Zeraphina has a personality that doesnt allow the reader to wallow in the misery behind it all, with her surprising sass and hilarious antics. I also loved her little pets (one of them you can see on the front, the Gold eagle, but the other one, the cat is on the back cover.) The cover is amazing, in that it tells some of the story itself.

So im gonna stop gushing about this now and just say that this is a fantastic little book, full of adventure, mystery, romance and glitz and an entirely original twist on the Vampire myth. This one is going on the favourites shelf (Im gonna have to get a new one I think) :-D(less)

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Jul 21, 2011 Brodie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011

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...more 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 Zeraphina to the north where Pergamia lies. The desire burning within her very veins, tugging on every inch of her being toward north. She needs to go there. She must convince Lilith to accept Amis' invitation. But what will await her?

Mystery, danger and Rodden, a man who rivals Zeraphina in all kinds of delicious ways. But can she trust him? What is he hiding? Why does he keep putting a stop to her finding any answers? And why is he such a jerk 90% of the time? (Hush, Zeraphina, don't speak such nonesense of my Rodden!) What awaits the reader is amazing tale that will suck you into it's heart, clutching tighter and tighter as you venture further into Pergamia and the terrors that lurk nearby. I could not read this fast enough, but so very disapointed when I had no more pages to turn!

I think Zeraphina may be one of my new favourite heroines. Your normal definition of "Princess" hardly applies to her and not just because the girl has a craving for blood. And I adore her two animal companions. She's such a plucky young thing - so determined and headstrong and stubborn. If she wants answers, she will go to all ends to seek them out. She doesn't sit around and let the chips fall where they may, she charges forth right in the middle of the action. I really admired her and that fiesty spirit burning within. The wit she brings forth to rival Rodden's makes for such entertaining scenes between the pair and her determined bravery adds to the general awesomeness of this novel, particularly the ending!

I absolutely adored the connection between Rodden and Zeraphina. Their banter back and forth was brilliant. And oh that man. That sexy, brooding, infuriating man. The tension, the agitation and eventually the attraction between them builds and builds until it bleeds from the very pages and you're just as hungry for that blood as Zeraphina is. They grow into such a fierce duo, so full of fire and when they actually do hint at their feelings toward one another, you just about want to explode.

Throughout the novel Zeraphina is on this mission to learn more about the war between Pergamia and Lharmell, but nobody is giving her any answers. She'll find a vague hint here and there, but just when she thinks she might be onto something, Rodden is right there ready to squash all progress. I think that guy has an inbuilt, 'Zeraphina Is Finding Answers' radar to which he must put in motion the, "I Must Intercept With My Brooding Hulk And Piss Her Off" defense strategy. But don't worry, frustrating as it may be for her and the reader at not getting those answers, he makes it a sexy frustration.

Rhiannon has crafted an amazing new mythology with the Lharmellins. Do not chalk up the blood hunger to 'vampires' when you read the synopsis, because it is far, far from your typical bloodsucking craving. When we do learn more about them and their land of Lharmell, it definitely lives up to the mystery! Toward the end especially, Rhiannon has written some brilliant scenes that highlight the creepy, luring nature of the Lharmellins and their effect on Zeraphina. I am so intrigued to see where the story is headed next!

Rhiannon Hart is one debut author that everyone should be on the watch for. Blood Song is an incredible start to what is no doubt going to shape up to be a favourite series of mine. A rich, vivid new fantasy world containing such a unique and compelling mythology with creatures that will lure you into their frenzied web of seduction - to draw away from the pages would be a sin. The gradual romance which starts as a spark, a suspicious, uneasy spark, begins to simmer and then burn and flare into something delightful. If you like your heroines spunky, relatable and flawed, if you like a novel that will demand to be read in one sitting, then this is the perfect read. Do not pass it up!(less)

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Jan 30, 2013 Marie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: vamps

A new spin on vampires.
It was a risk I think since I have read quite a few original stories on vampires.
I didnt hate it but I didn't love it- it was Ok.

Zeraphina is a princess and is the youngest of Queen Reneta's 2 daughters.
When she was younger she was slowly dying from an illness and when cured she became a more than merely a human. Her older sister Lillith receives a marriage proposal from one of the most richest princes in all the land and they soon move there to plan a wedding it's is t...more

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Nov 07, 2012 Lauren rated it 2 of 5 stars

UGH.

First of all: the existence of the stupid brooding lead male character who is a complete jerk but the main girl falls for her anyway. I shouted at this book because of him. I thought it would be better than the paranormal romances flooding the market but although the girl is good at archery and does have SOME independence, she's actually pretty juvenile falls for this manipulative, creepy, stereotypical guy anyway because he's really so BRAVE AND CHARMING AND HE TOTES SAVED HER. No literall...more UGH.

First of all: the existence of the stupid brooding lead male character who is a complete jerk but the main girl falls for her anyway. I shouted at this book because of him. I thought it would be better than the paranormal romances flooding the market but although the girl is good at archery and does have SOME independence, she's actually pretty juvenile falls for this manipulative, creepy, stereotypical guy anyway because he's really so BRAVE AND CHARMING AND HE TOTES SAVED HER. No literally, he had to save her. And when he did, she was completely expecting to be saved because she was like "WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN. I STUPIDLY FLEW OFF ON THIS BIRD I KNEW NOTHING ABOUT SO YOU SHOULDVE BEEN HERE SOONER TO SAVE ME." Nothing actually happens between them in the end but c'mon, next book, it's going to, because that's how cliche fantasy ends ip. And what's kinda more creepy about it is that she's sixteen and he's twenty two. I mean, it's fantasy, true, but still there's quite a difference of maturity between those ages.

Secondly: writing was nothing really special either. It was serviceable, and while the dialogue was fun and witty occasionally, it was far more often clunky and forced and juvenile, especially when Fina is trying to get information out of people. So. Juvenile.

Thirdly: The plot. It rambles so much and there isn't even a thread I could get a grip of - we don't even get to the palace until 50 pages in, and basically 40 of those 50 pages could have been cut. The entire book is just Fina kind of wandering about finding out things, talking to the snarky Rodden who always keeps things hidden, and attending balls and tournaments and weddings. In the last quarter of the book, things sped up a little bit and they were plunged into danger, but it didn't work because there wasn't a proper set up for it - because Fina didn't actually sacrifice enough to find things out. We flitted from scene to scene, and it was actually quite jarring. I like plots where things make sense, and this didn't have one.

It actually reminded me a lot of the traditional gothic plot (lonely "different" female comes to an imposing castle/mansion and forms a connection with a dark brooding man, and in this place lurks a BURIED OMINOUS SECRET that is hidden from the girl, but she strives to know.) Actually wow, that basically sums up the book. But the creepy things about gothic books like that is that you know the lead man is actually the bad guy (think of Jane Eyre's Rochester who keeps his wife locked up, of Rebecca's Maxim who murdered his first wife). But in this book, it's acknowledged that this guy IS creepy and yet Fina falls for him anyway.

Ugh Rodden. Ugh.

Let's not even mention the character development.

So this isn't a completely terrible book and it didn't completely waste my time, because it was only a quick read, but I yelled at it and gagged at it, because it had potential and did not deliver. I won't be reading the next one.(less)

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Sep 14, 2012 Bec rated it 4 of 5 stars

I was lucky enough to win a copy of this book recently.
I truly did not know what I would find in this book, there is a huge number of books on Vampires & "otherworldy" creatures on the shelves these days and some of them are very much same old same old.
I was quite pleased to find that this book was an entirely new world, not just the usual blood creatures in our world story.
I was intrigued by the mystery surrounding Zeraphina's blood hunger and the mystery of her appearance.
A few times I fou...more

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Jan 18, 2012 Morgan rated it 3 of 5 stars

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 prince of Pergamia (...more 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 prince of Pergamia (a country up north) she is very persistent in seeing that her sister goes...so she can tag along.

This is my first Goodreads review so bare with me!!
Zeraphina was a...alright main character, I coped with her most of the time but sometimes I really just wanted to bang my head against a wall. She's always known that she was different from everyone else blah, blah and blah so when the chance arises to go north and find answers...she purely only wants to go for herself. She doesn't even care that her sister’s fiancé just died or that her sister was completely devastated by it. She convinces her sister to go and marry this guy so she can go to this country and figure it all out for herself. She can be seriously selfish not to mention stubborn. I found her kinda amusing most of the time and I found her relationship with Leap and griffin really special and cute, but as I said before sometimes I seriously wanted to strangle her.

Rodden is a great male lead/romantic interest. He's dark and mysterious and not to mention good looking ;) but still sometimes I got seriously mixed messages about Zeraphina's and his relationship. But in the end it was all so very clear :). He’s brave and charming and he and Zeraphina kinda had a really good love/hate relationship thing going on.

As for Lilith, she was alright but for me I never really clicked with her and I didn't think she really grew that much as a person (growing is essential in a book).The mother: Renata, Queen and widow was only worried about money which I can see would be an absolute issue in a country that is poor, I think she was lucky her eldest daughter married a (rich) person she loved in the end or else there could have been some mummy/daughter issues. Not to mention the fact that she put her trust in a complete stranger to save her youngest daughter’s life! I mean seriously...Could’ve taken a turn for the worst there...although for Zeraphina it kinda did later.

The plot was original but I felt like a lot of it was kind of just tug of war between Rodden and Zeraphina. Here was the mystery: Rodden had the answers but didn't want to tell Zeraphina so she kept coming back and trying to find out the mystery which Rodden always answered: NO. That was it in a nutshell.
Then there was the going to the land of Lharmell to destroy the evil person in charge! That part was enjoyable and not to mention I really enjoyed the fighting scenes. The tension between Rodden and Zeraphina only grew with time and I found myself thinking: Just express your undying love for her already!! But that is sooo not Rodden's style so I am finding myself waiting in anticipation for the next book! That is always a good sign.

Lastly! Just have to tag this part on...the plot only moved along because Zeraphina was making it even though there was no darn proof! She couldn't really figure anything out from Rodden unless he was hinting or let a piece of info slip was like digging a hole: you can only go so deep.
Ok, just have to say that I would recommend this book, I don't think it’s an 'oh wow!’ This is better than Twilight kinda book but then again nothing really is. It's enjoyable, a little predictable but completely fresh which is always good because everything is always about vampires and the ‘I can’t live without you’ factor. Good job Hart and please, keep them coming!!
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Nov 02, 2011 Tracey Jago rated it 5 of 5 stars

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 standout book to me, because I loved...more

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Oct 11, 2011 Paradoxical rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-reading-list, books-otherwise

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 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 compelled to go there).

And yet, sometimes I feel like I need to sigh very hard at her. When she thinks she's being subtle? She isn't. When she thinks she's being sneaky? Yeah, not so much. She does try to figure out her situation and what's going on with her, but it feels rather juvenile in nature. Mainly, I just wish that her wild accusations against the male lead held any water other than being, you know, wild accusations.

The main male lead, Rodden, is... well. He feels like the stereotypical, cold, suspicious individual who you know will fall in love with Zeraphina because that's the way these books always end up. Which is not to say that's always terrible, but it's very predictable. At least (and I'm very thankful for this, really) she's not falling all over herself to catch his attention or something (the opposite happens, really).

Still, the book wasn't exactly terrible, and Zeraphina was at least an entertaining main character, up until this point in the book where I wanted to scream, "What in the world were you thinking?!" at her. Monumental stupidity? Meet Zeraphina. It's just... there are very few words for how idiotic she behaved when (view spoiler)

At times the book tosses out a phrase or a word that jars with the entire high fantasy setting that you have going on. I'm not sure if that was on purpose, as to make it more relatable (or... something) to the (presumably young) readers, but I felt it was rather glaring and detracted from what was being read. Like every time I settled in, there was something that yanked me out and prevented me from being really immersed in the reading.

Still, for all of the faults I listed, it's not a terrible book. The writing is not bad (aside from the slightly jarring nature), and the characters are somewhat tolerable. Leap (the cat) and Griffin (the eagle) are adorable, even if they don't do anything other than whatever Zeraphina wants and don't even act like real cats/birds. Um. Heh. The end of the book was... I'm not quite sure. It was interesting and it sped by pretty quickly for me, but at the same time it wasn't exactly shocking or new. 2 stars. It had the potential to be better, but it didn't quite deliver. (less)

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Sep 22, 2011 Kris rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

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 would have l...more

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Sep 22, 2011 Nicki Markus rated it 5 of 5 stars

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 not adults l...more

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Jun 14, 2011 H.J. Harper rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: australian, fantasy, young-adult

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 things, are...more

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Mar 25, 2012 Carrie Ardoin rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc-tour, medieval-times, other-supes, what-a-letdown

Zeraphina is a princess in the poor country of Amentia. When her older sister gets a chance to go to the northern country of Pergamia to meet a suitor, Zeraphina is all too happy. Because for the past several years, she has been secretly craving blood. And the hunger for blood is calling her northward...

When Zeraphina arrives in Amentia, she discovers her cravings are stronger than ever. She meets a royal advisor who is arrogant, but just may hold the answers to who she really is and why she lus...more Zeraphina is a princess in the poor country of Amentia. When her older sister gets a chance to go to the northern country of Pergamia to meet a suitor, Zeraphina is all too happy. Because for the past several years, she has been secretly craving blood. And the hunger for blood is calling her northward...

When Zeraphina arrives in Amentia, she discovers her cravings are stronger than ever. She meets a royal advisor who is arrogant, but just may hold the answers to who she really is and why she lusts for blood. But she will have to be strong if she wants to get the answers from him, because he does not want to divulge what he knows.

Oooook. First, let me say that even though this book was slightly less than 300 pages, it still took me a few days to read it. Even when I knew I only had 40 pages left, I procrastinated on Pinterest rather than finishing this book. By contrast, Beautiful Creatures is more than twice that many pages and I read it in less than a day. That's how bored I was by the plot of this book.

Zeraphina is your typical headstrong, independent heroine. She doesn't exactly fall into instalove when she meets Rodden (in fact, they constantly fight) but you can easily tell that's where it's headed. Just a side note--are there any girls who like to be girly in books anymore? Can I tell you if I were a princess and got to wear awesome dresses everyday, I would be eating that shhh up.

Moving on. The mystery of just WHY Zeraphina craves blood doesn't even get solved until the last 5 pages. And ALL of the action happens within the last 20 pages. It's just the getting there that's so hard.

I dug that she had two awesome pets, an eagle and a cat. But that might have been all I liked about her. Yes, I understand that she is 16, but Zeraphina is very wishy washy. She did not want Rodden to pay attention to her, but got mad when he took a liking to her pets instead of her. Contradictions like this happen all throughout the book.

The author did a great job at world building, and I really loved the land of Lharmellin and its' creepy inhabitants. They were definitely something original. But this was not enough to keep me interested in reading the rest of the series. Many things were missing for me, and I just wished this story had more...something.(less)

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May 28, 2013 Livvvy75 rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: awesome-fantasy, so-unique

Blood Song is a super unique book. Yes, it is parnormal and yes, I know what you are thinking. Hasn't everything paranormal already been done before? Alas my friends, it has not.

To be totally honest. I don't like the cover. It kind of put me off the book. I think it is just that I do not like covers with girls on the front that have been too obviously photoshopped (yeah, I know, they all have)or that just don't look right against the setting. The makeup of the girl really bugs me. Not quite sur...more

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Apr 01, 2012 Samantha rated it 4 of 5 stars

Review:
A new and interesting take on vampire that will leave you wanting for more. Blood Song had a very different take on a new world, and I found myself enjoying it. After I got past the very slow part of the story.

Cover:
I absolutely love this cover! I love how her black hair contrasts her pale skin. Then the outlining of light around her skin is just beautiful! Plus the cat and the bird on the front are awesome! They incorporated aspects of the story perfectly!

Plot/Writing:
The story started...more
Review:
A new and interesting take on vampire that will leave you wanting for more. Blood Song had a very different take on a new world, and I found myself enjoying it. After I got past the very slow part of the story.

Cover:
I absolutely love this cover! I love how her black hair contrasts her pale skin. Then the outlining of light around her skin is just beautiful! Plus the cat and the bird on the front are awesome! They incorporated aspects of the story perfectly!

Plot/Writing:
The story started off really slow. It was just a lot of setting up the characters and the background. Once they got on the road it picked up the pace a lot, but I found myself becoming a little bored. Of course, I am one of those people who sit there and scream KISS KISS KISS! at the book at the most awkward times. I found myself doing this because there was absolutely no romance. At least not until the end, which bothered me! I need my romance!!
The story was really well written. Except for the slowness of the plot, it was well written. I think Blood Song was the first book in the series, so she was just setting up the story and giving us a background into the world of Zeraphina.

Characters:
Zeraphina feels a force drawing her towards the North. She doesn't know why, all she knows is she saw a phantom in her room and she wants to know what is wrong with her. She is very headstrong, and will do whatever she can to get what she wants. She doesn't know whats wrong with her, and yet she doesn't let that get her down. She pushes through and fights it!

Then there is Rodden, who I loved. Sure he was really mean at the beginning and ignored her, but then he started warming up to her! He is hiding something, and all throughout the story I wanted to know what her was hiding. There is a couple scenes with Rodden that just made me smile and hope that things turned out his way! That would've made for a very interesting story if things turned out Rodden's way!

All in All:
I really did enjoy Blood Song. It left me wanting for more and I can't wait for the sequel! Job well done, Rhiannon Hart! 4 out of 5 Tacos!(less)

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Sep 22, 2012 Marg rated it 3 of 5 stars

Blood Song is the debut novel from Australian author Rhiannon Hart. I was interested in reading it when it first came out, but I hadn't quite gotten around to it yet. A couple of weeks ago I received the second book in this series for review, but I can't knowingly do the whole reading out of order thing so I borrowed this book from the library.

Shortly afterwards, the author offered me the chance to participated in a blog tour for the two books. Given that I read so much better to a deadline, I a...more

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Sep 20, 2011 Anki rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: ghosts-reapers-zombies

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 chapters were...more 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 chapters were probably the best in the whole book. The eerie phantom in her room, the North calling to her, a promise of something dark to come - it was all there. There's little that I want in a book if all those aspects are present; but soon, it just wasn't enough.

Zeraphina went North, spent a good amount of time in the palace there, yet discovered nothing. It wasn't as if she wasn't looking for information, nope. Rather, it's quite strongly strongly portrayed that she's quite desperately looking for something that will lead her to answers. Yet, her search seems entirely futile. I couldn't see a pattern or basis for her searches and her instant dislike of Rodden - who seemed like nothing more than a somewhat-creepy, not too friendly guy - threw me off. I felt like there was something lacking or there was some part if the story that I was entirely missing. I couldn't figure out reasons behind Zeraphina's thoughts, why she was so fixated on the feeling that Rodden had something to hide.

I don't know what exactly to make of this book. Yes, I liked the it. The writing was excellent and the world was entirely different, curious concept. The idea was excellent. The creatures aren't anything like you would have read before. All in all, it has all the makings for a wonderful, enthralling read. There first couple of chapters drew me in and held me there. It was intriguing. It was compelling. And then slowly, things seemed to deflate. I just couldn't figure things out. A t the end,(which, by the way, seemed really abrupt and a huge torrent of information that should've probably been explained in bits throughout the book), I couldn't make out what had happened. Uh, I should stop saying that.

Maybe it was all me, and I wasn't reading closely enough to see something that was probably staring me right in the face, which would've been a very "me" thing to do. My thoughts about this book are rather conflicted, but all things considered, it was a good read.
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Blood Song (Lharmell #1)

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