Blood Rose (Blood Books, #1) by Danielle Rose

Jul 22, 2015 Emmeline (The Book Herald) rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: irritating-protagonists, romance, arc, requested-book-reviews, paranormal, new-adult

I received this ARC from the author in return for an honest review.

I'll jump straight into the plot.

Avah is the girl of prophesies.
wielding a Katana and freeing the world of fanged- demons is what she lives for.
But she has powers.
Powers to wield the elements and protect mankind.
On the night of her awakening,
rogue vampires decimates her family, leaving her weak...bleeding...dying.
Until she sees a group of Vampires unlike the rogues, they fight to save her.
With her dying breath she asks to

...more

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Aug 19, 2018 Nina marked it as to-read

19.08.2018: The ebook is currently free on Amazon!

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Aug 19, 2015 Martha Sweeney rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: author-friends

Danielle had me with Vampires! I'm a sucker for them ever since the Underworld movies. This was a wonderful debut novel with a neat twist to the vampire realm where they aren't battling werewolves. Instead, it's about a witch, some vampires - good and bad. I don't want to put any spoilers in the review. :)

This was a quick, easy, but fun read. I enjoyed the story. I saw some of the twists coming, but I didn't mind. I can't wait to read the next book to see if what I think's going to happen will.

G ...more

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Aug 25, 2017 Darque Dreamer rated it really liked it

Blood Rose is fast paced, heart pumping, and intensely magical. This one has witches, vampires, romance, and danger! Rose draws you in with a rich writing style, and a powerful roller coaster ride. Prepare to be drawn in to the fight!

The Plot: Avah has grown up in a family of witches. As a witch herself, and the chosen one for The Power, she is destined to receive the ultimate weapon against the vampires. Witches and vampires have been at war for centuries. But, on the night of the ritual, the c Blood Rose is fast paced, heart pumping, and intensely magical. This one has witches, vampires, romance, and danger! Rose draws you in with a rich writing style, and a powerful roller coaster ride. Prepare to be drawn in to the fight!

The Plot: Avah has grown up in a family of witches. As a witch herself, and the chosen one for The Power, she is destined to receive the ultimate weapon against the vampires. Witches and vampires have been at war for centuries. But, on the night of the ritual, the coven is attacked, and Avah is left on the brink of death. One choice can save her life, but it will cost her everything, and nothing will ever be the same again as Avah is forced to find refuge with the very creatures she sought to destroy.

I really enjoyed this one! I felt like there were characteristics of Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Underworld, The Mortal Instruments, and Twilight mixed in to the story! I liked the writing style in which we got a little bit of the backstory and character personalities mixed in with the present story. The plot was unique, fast paced, and full of surprising twists and turns! The romance was a little predictable, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. I also really loved the incorporation of pagan magic and rituals found in the book. I felt like that made the story stand out compared to what I have read lately. The fact that Avah had to recite incantations, rather than just have something magically happen, added another layer to the story and her character.

I really liked Avah's character. I find it very unique to get the plot and character twist we saw with her. She had a mixture of personality traits from the heroines in the above mentioned titles, so I felt like that gave her depth because I liked her most of time, found her slightly annoying at times, and found her to have her fierce, kick ass moments throughout the book. She felt like a real person.

I liked the names of the characters. especially Jasik and Malik. Though I would have liked to learn more about each of the characters and their histories, I enjoyed how they had different personalities, roles in the coven, and meshed well together in the story. I especially loved the mysterious, conflicted, bad boy traits in Jasik.

I will admit that there may be a few things a highly critical reader could pick out in this one, but I enjoyed it and definitely got lost in the magic of the story. Danielle Rose has an enticing, well developed writing style that gives the appeal and excitement of a YA novel and the maturity level of a New Adult novel. I immediately purchased the next two books, upon finishing this one, because I am dying to know what happens next! ...more

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Jun 21, 2017 Siobhan rated it liked it

The synopsis of Blood Rose grabbed me right away: witches and vampires – of course I was going to jump into this one. I’ve always enjoyed such stories – and ever since I read Discovery of Witches, my love for such stories has increased tenfold. Thus, this was one I needed to read.

I was pulled in throughout this story – I cannot deny that. It was a very easy read, one that pulls you in, leaves you reading it in next to no time at all. You believe you’ve been reading for a few minutes, when in rea The synopsis of Blood Rose grabbed me right away: witches and vampires – of course I was going to jump into this one. I’ve always enjoyed such stories – and ever since I read Discovery of Witches, my love for such stories has increased tenfold. Thus, this was one I needed to read.

I was pulled in throughout this story – I cannot deny that. It was a very easy read, one that pulls you in, leaves you reading it in next to no time at all. You believe you’ve been reading for a few minutes, when in reality you’ve been reading for a couple of hours and are close to finishing the book. I cannot fault the book in that sense – it really does suck you in.

However, despite being sucked into the story, my emotions towards the book are a bit all over the place. I experienced both highs and lows with this one. I was addicted, yes, but I had expected something more from this. It was enjoyable, but it did not deliver everything it could have. I wasn’t expecting the high of Discovery of Witches – I doubt I will ever find a vampire and witch romance that will top that – yet I had expected something a little bit more.

The first couple of chapters are wonderful. Our female lead is introduced as a no nonsense kind of woman – the kind of woman to take down the bad guys and ask questions after. It’s wonderful. Moreover, we’re quickly thrown into dire situations. I love it when this happens – things get moving so quickly, pulling you in.

Now, whilst the rest of the book kept me interested in where things were going, I feel as though the delivery was a bit off.

I feel as though the butt kicking lessened for quite some time, with our female seeming much weaker than she’d originally been. It was supposed to be a portrayal of her shifting views, in her growing accustomed to her new life, yet it felt as though I was reading a very different character. Her choices and the way things played out didn’t quite fit with the image I’d created in the first part of the book. Towards the end of the book I felt as though she shifted again, but for a while, it felt a bit off.

I think my main issue is because of the romance. It just happened. There was no deep connection from my point of view – it just was. If there had been more depth to it, I feel as though I would have enjoyed it more – I would have been able to believe the changes were due to the impact of the romance. Unfortunately, I couldn’t buy into it in the way I wanted to. There was the potential for me to love the romance, yet it was lacking the depth I favour.

As the first book in the series, though, it does open up a lot of potential. I have some ideas of where the series will go from here, there are certain things I really wish to see play out, yet I do feel as though it didn’t quite pack the punch it could have. Everything happened so fast, there was so much to it, but I didn’t quite make the connection I wished I had.

I’m interested to see where the series goes from here, but it’s not at the top of my to-read list. ...more

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Jun 13, 2017 Monica Hay rated it did not like it

I received an ARC of Blood Rose from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

1.5 stars*

Well, where do I start... I hate giving bad reviews. I really hate it. I LOVE making publishers and authors happy. I'm a writer myself, so giving bad reviews just makes me hurt for the author. But I have to give my honest opinion.

This book had potential. Really, it did. While this book had a lot going for it, it was poorly written. When I say poorly written, I mean that the writing was overall element ...more

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Aug 01, 2015 Cheryl rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I thought that this was a good first book in this series. The author, Danielle Rose is a good writer. She did infuse life into Avah, Jasik, and the rest of the characters in this book. I got a nice sense of the vampires. Which in this case they were not the evil ones. Just the ones that they fought were the evil ones.

Danielle did a wonderful job of taking me the reader through the progression of Avah's transformation from a witch to a newly formed vampire. The urges, fear, loss, and strength. T ...more

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Oct 23, 2015 Jade Klinger rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Blood Rose is one of those special novels that is purely addicting. I want to say that it was the first chapter that got me hooked, but honestly it was the first couple of paragraphs. Danielle Rose clearly spent a lot of time and effort into this exquisitely amazing story. She has a particular way of drawing you into the novel that makes you not want to stop. There wasn't ever a time the story was slow, it was more action-packed and fast-paced than anything I've read before. The diversity betwee Blood Rose is one of those special novels that is purely addicting. I want to say that it was the first chapter that got me hooked, but honestly it was the first couple of paragraphs. Danielle Rose clearly spent a lot of time and effort into this exquisitely amazing story. She has a particular way of drawing you into the novel that makes you not want to stop. There wasn't ever a time the story was slow, it was more action-packed and fast-paced than anything I've read before. The diversity between all of the characters was so well executed. I found myself realizing how relatable, and enjoyable all of the characters were.

Especially the main character Avah Taylor, she just has this huge sense of strength that embodies her entire being. It was super inspirational to see such an powerful and strong female protagonist in Blood Rose. I loved how even though Avah was going through extreme circumstances, she hardly let her fear show and instead kept her head on her shoulders.

Another detail that really sold me were the spiritual aspects and embellishments that Danielle added in Blood Rose. I'm personally a very spiritual person, and I love practicing all different tastes of spirituality. So from reading Blood Rose, I at times felt one with myself because I could relate to the character and story.

Blood Rose has the ultimate dose of romance! Throughout the novel Avah crosses paths with a very handsome, and sweet vampire named Jasik. I want to say that their relationship was almost "insta-lovey" but I felt like there was more of a true bond or connection that both Jasik and Avah have. I'm very intrigued to find out more information of their bond...As well as Jasik ;)

Danielle Rose somehow found a way to balance action,romance, humor,fantasy, vampires ,witches, and so on. And from that it created a very beautiful and unique novel. There's so many typical vampire novels as well as witch novels that just don't pull it off the way Blood Rose does.

The climax in this novel was jaw dropping, there was a rollercoaster of emotions flowing through me at every moment. And it topped the charts when the ending came around! I'm impatiently waiting for the second novel in the Blood Books series! ...more

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Jun 17, 2017 Aanchal rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: arcs, series-started

Can we just take a minute to appreciate the gorgeous cover? I didn't realise how pretty it was until I got a copy of my own.

Okay, now that that's out of the way, I'll come straight to the point. This book could have been so much better. It definitely had the potential to be something that I would really enjoy. But it just touched the surface that needed to be delved deeper. Most will say that this book is fast paced but to me, it seemed rushed.

I'll start with the pros first -

⦁ I really liked Ava Can we just take a minute to appreciate the gorgeous cover? I didn't realise how pretty it was until I got a copy of my own.

Okay, now that that's out of the way, I'll come straight to the point. This book could have been so much better. It definitely had the potential to be something that I would really enjoy. But it just touched the surface that needed to be delved deeper. Most will say that this book is fast paced but to me, it seemed rushed.

I'll start with the pros first -

⦁ I really liked Avah's fight scenes. I thought they were really well done. And the beginning with the forest and vampire thing was kick-butt.

⦁ This book is addicting. It makes you want to keep turning the pages (It made me want to).

⦁ SEBASTIAN. Can we have more of him, please! He was introduced at the very end of this book so we didn't see much of him in the book, but I got a two chapter extract from the next book and I really like his character. I guess we'll have so much more of him in the next book.

Now, let's get to the hard things -

We don't get much character development. Avah, the main character who was taught all her life to hate vampires becomes one. Though we do see a conflict there, it wasn't much pronounced. Only like a week after her transition she falls in I'll-die-for-you love with Jasik, a vampire and befriends (or at least, gets close enough to get the hugging-affectionate kind) Jeremiah, another vampire.

Some parts were all together brushed over. Like Avah's training as a hunter.

I was not a fan of romance in this book. I can work with insta-like. That happens all the time in real life too. When people find themselves attracted to someone and then slowly it transitions into love as they grow to know and understand each other. But Jasik seemed ready to die for Avah if it ever came to that. They don't even know each other that well. Not to mention she tried to kill him the first time they met. Which was like a few days ago??

I would have liked this book so much better if it was a bit more detailed.

** I received an ARC of this book for an honest review** ...more

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Aug 03, 2015 Lori rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Wow! Just wow! I don't even know where to begin. BLOOD ROSE doesn't read like a debut novel. Rose has crafted the perfect tale with equal parts action and romance. Her characters are developed and original. Her world-building is amazing! I could see everything! This is paranormal ROMANCE, so Rose uses the "soul mate" theme often seen in the YA/NA paranormal romance genre, but it's not "insta-love." The main character, Avah, fights her feelings at first. And speaking of Avah, she is a fantastic c ...more

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Sep 20, 2015 Kisabella rated it liked it · review of another edition

Enjoying read.

Enjoyed this book a lot. Was too short in my opinion, guess that means I need more Avah and Jasik in my life. Looking forward to the next book and getting some answers regarding Avah and this new Sebastian guy. Can't wait.

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Jul 01, 2017 Miranda rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: new-adult, 5-star-reads

You can find my original review post @ Miranda's Book Blog

Blood Rose has all of the elements I love in a New Adult Paranormal Romance: Magic, Mayhem, Intriguing Plot Twist, & Romance!

Character Development- I really connected with the main character, Avah. In the beginning, she thinks she knows who she is and what her goals are, however, her situation rapidly changes beyond her control and everything she thought she knew is flipped upside down. I love the way she handled herself and others around ...more

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Jun 20, 2017 Tiffany Heywood rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

i really enjoyed bloodrose and cant wait to carry on with the series. Avah and Jasik are definatley some of my favourite characters i met in my whole reading experience.
The writing style grips you easily and helps you fly through the book while savouring and taking in every word. I liked how she kept her facts true on how vampires can only come out at night.
i loved the plot of this book and how she mixed the different supernatural creatures together. I loved the romance and was one of my favouri ...more

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Oct 26, 2015 Domoni rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Avah Taylor has trained her whole life for one thing: to hunt and kill vampires. Her coven, like all witches, despise them and want to rid the world of the foul beings. The only witch in her coven with the power of Spirit, which enables her to slightly control all the elements, she must rely on her senses and reflexes more than magic. Chosen to receive The Power, given by the gods to one witch in each generation, she hopes she will be the one to finally destroy all vampires. Every previous gener Avah Taylor has trained her whole life for one thing: to hunt and kill vampires. Her coven, like all witches, despise them and want to rid the world of the foul beings. The only witch in her coven with the power of Spirit, which enables her to slightly control all the elements, she must rely on her senses and reflexes more than magic. Chosen to receive The Power, given by the gods to one witch in each generation, she hopes she will be the one to finally destroy all vampires. Every previous generation has died before being able to master The Power. On the night of her birth rite ceremony her coven is attacked by vampires and then saved by other vampires. Avah is dying and begs to be saved. Now she is a vampire and turned out by her family, forced to go with the creatures she despises. Why did they save her and her coven? And why is Avah so drawn to Jasik, the vampire that saved her. She is forced to accept that everything she thinks she knows may not be true.

I very much enjoyed this story. Following Avah’s transformation from witch to vampire to hunter is exciting. It evokes the battle with one’s own self that many people deal with when they find themselves stuck in a place they do not want to be, and learn they were wrong about many things. Avah hates all vampires and has only ever been told that they are evil and must die. As she learns the truth and accepts who she has become, I found I liked her character more. The hunters and the coven of vampires they protect are a very civilized society with its owns rules not unlike the coven Avah knew as a witch. Their battle against the rogues, the vampires that are everything Avah thought all vampires were, is the same battle she had always fought.

The romance between Avah and Jasik is interesting but not my favorite part of the story. It was very much a romance novel type of interaction. They were just drawn to each other with no real explanation other than a momentary mention of a sire bond popping through Avah’s thoughts. This pinpoints the parts of the story I was disappointed in. I wanted more depth to some areas. I loved the story I just felt like I wanted more information; more history to Avah’s life in the Coven, the feud with the vampires, the basics of transformation and sire bonds. I felt like things were rushed. Avah barely questioned what happened and just ran off with the vampires without much argument and settled in in one night. The story up until she reached the vampire compound felt like a basic synopsis and I wish it had more depth. Once she arrived there the story got much better and I was sucked into the world and loved it. I am very much looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

For this and other reviews visit https://fangirlsreaditfirst.wordpress... ...more

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Jun 06, 2015 Narrative Ink Reviews rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Danielle Rose’s debut novel, Blood Rose, is a book everyone absolutely must add to their summer reading lists. Rose bends genres and blends elements of the best of both witch and vampire fiction to create a brilliant debut that not only provides the excitement and gripping suspense readers of paranormal romance and urban fantasy have come to expect but also touches on deeper questions like: what does it mean to be immortal? What is the nature of evil? How are our deepest prejudices formed? The b Danielle Rose’s debut novel, Blood Rose, is a book everyone absolutely must add to their summer reading lists. Rose bends genres and blends elements of the best of both witch and vampire fiction to create a brilliant debut that not only provides the excitement and gripping suspense readers of paranormal romance and urban fantasy have come to expect but also touches on deeper questions like: what does it mean to be immortal? What is the nature of evil? How are our deepest prejudices formed? The book is edge-of-your-seat exciting and incredibly smart, and it will leave readers clamoring for the next installment in the series.

Avah Taylor is a young witch who has been gifted with The Power, a force that is given to one member of each generation of witches, a force that is supposed to be the key to defeating vampires, who the witches have been at war with for centuries. On the night of the ceremony giving the Avah The Power, her coven is attacked, and Avah is left for dead until a mysterious, handsome vampire different from any she has ever encountered saves her life by making her a vampire too. Turned away by her coven and family, Avah is forced to join a group of vampires who instruct her in their ways and whose behavior forces her to question everything she thought she knew about these beings. Avah is torn between her prejudices and the deepening feelings she has for Jasik, the vampire who sired her, and when the worst happens and Avah is once again faced with death, Avah must decide who she is and where her loyalties lie.

When I finished Blood Rose, I was mad that I didn’t immediately have the next book in the series to read: it was that good. The characters are well-developed, and Danielle Rose carefully and meticulously gives the reader insight into just what it means to be a witch and a vampire. She doesn’t overlook any detail (from vampire religious beliefs to what they eat to how they love and have sex – she’s got it all!), and she weaves the two together seamlessly. The plot is exciting, and the subplots add depth and texture to the story. Not only do we follow the dangers of vampires who are at war not only with witches but amongst themselves, but we see the developing romance between Jasik and Avah, and we feel for Avah as she is torn from her family and betrayed by those she loves most, denied by even her own mother. Readers will feel for these characters and root for them as they navigate the world Rose has so masterfully and vividly brought to life. All this leads to a nail-biting climax and a satisfying ending that you won’t see coming and will have you wishing the next book in the series was out now. This book is unputdownable. ...more

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Dec 30, 2015 Julie Daniels rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Blood Rose is such an amazing book in a genre that is somewhat crowded these days. Some authors are great storytellers and some authors are great writers. Danielle Rose is both! Everything is there! Great characters, an interesting, original story, romance, humor, fantasy/magic, and mystery!
It is very apparent right away that the author has put a lot of work into the amazing world that she has created. Its definitely one of the more interesting and original books that I've read about witches a Blood Rose is such an amazing book in a genre that is somewhat crowded these days. Some authors are great storytellers and some authors are great writers. Danielle Rose is both! Everything is there! Great characters, an interesting, original story, romance, humor, fantasy/magic, and mystery!
It is very apparent right away that the author has put a lot of work into the amazing world that she has created. Its definitely one of the more interesting and original books that I've read about witches and vampires. Sometimes when writers make a book about both one of them doesn't seem as well developed in the storyline but Danielle Rose has managed to make both of them not only the shared focus of Blood Rose but she has done it flawlessly. Both of their separate races are explained very well and the story flows beautifully. The descriptions in the book are done so well that you're pulled right into the story. I loved Avah, the heroine. She definitely grew as a person throughout the book. And Jasik, her love interest- oh Jasik...he reduces me to a pile of fangirling mush! The supporting characters were equally likable. I especially liked the other Hunters- Malik(Jasik's brother), and Jeremiah. I think I will like Lillie more when she and Avah get closer(i.e Lillie isn't so hostile to Avah) but I found that I couldn't strongly dislike or even hate Lillie. I have a feeling that(and I hope) she will warm up to Avah more as time goes on. The plot of the story was definitely unlike any I've read and I loved that! The types of creatures are familiar but original and the story is it's own. I couldn't predict what would happen next and I prefer it that way. There were twists and turns- the story was never flat or boring and the pacing was just right. I just wish there was more! I need more! The ending left me wanting more but in the best possible way! I would definitely recommend this book to anyone that enjoys reading about vampires and/or witches or Amy magical/fantasy books! Blood Rose is truly a gem!
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review* ...more

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Sep 17, 2015 Brenda A rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: from-author

I'm reallllly fighting myself with this one. The author is gifted and knows how to make a story sound good. She really does. But I put this to what I call the "friend test". When my friend asked what the latest book in my hand was, I told her Blood Rose. When she asked what it was about, it became a little more cringe-worthy:

Girl who supposedly hates vampires with all the vehemence of a racist gets attacked and begs a vampire to turn her into a vampire too so she won't die. Then she's surprised ...more

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Aug 13, 2015 Amp rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: book-club, ebooks

Blood Rose by Danielle Rose was an August read for The Book Cove book club. I received this ebook from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Blood Rose did not read like a debut to me, not even as a first book in a series. The book was FULL of action and hairpin turns. I felt like I was battling alongside Avah and wanted to be as kickass as she is. The breakneck pace kept me engaged but I felt like Rose expected a bit more than usual from the reader. Knowledge of Pagan rituals and vampire ...more

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Aug 11, 2015 Darlene Cruz rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

My kind of paranormal read, witches and vampires just dripping with action. Whew . . . fast action speed, Avah a spitfire the chosen one. Decisions must be made and so she did, now the truth unfolds can she accept it? What was instilled in her will it matter in the end? Now that's a good question and getting to the matter of things became the thrill for me. Poor thing torn with a past life and befuddled with the present. One part I had to laugh at, "The willing? Why are they so willing anyway? A ...more

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Aug 27, 2015 Emily M rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This book was fast paced, get ready for whiplash..not boring at all..just need it a few details but I truly enjoyed it!

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Apr 01, 2019 iamnotabookworm rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: ebooks, giveaways-earc, publisher

It's Monday again and March has just ended. Another month is here. Another new beginning, another chance to start over, just like this story. The main character is in a way forced to leave home and start over in a way far different from what she knew. She had to live and trust strangers because the worst thing happened. She had become what she hunted and loathed the most.

Guessing from the title, you wouldn't think this is a paranormal story but the cover does say that it is. With that ball of li It's Monday again and March has just ended. Another month is here. Another new beginning, another chance to start over, just like this story. The main character is in a way forced to leave home and start over in a way far different from what she knew. She had to live and trust strangers because the worst thing happened. She had become what she hunted and loathed the most.

Guessing from the title, you wouldn't think this is a paranormal story but the cover does say that it is. With that ball of light, it's kind of a giveaway, right? The main character, Avah, was the chosen one of her people. She was supposed to lead and be the most powerful witch. One who can master all the elements but that changed. And now, she felt so alone and abandoned by her family. Cast out because she failed them. Now, she's forced to live like the people she was born to destroy and she's one of them now. There's no turning back. What a cruel fate, right?

Yes, this book is another vampire versus witches story but what sets it apart is the part that Avah could still be the chosen one of her people. She could still be what she was meant to be. Only now, she's got a boost. She's a better version of herself even if it's not what she wanted. She had to live and the choice presented itself, so she took it. I guess, this is just how her life is meant to be. This is how fate wanted it to be and she had to learn the new way to live to prove to her family that she's still the same though physically she's not anymore.

There are a lot of surprises in this story. Even the ending was a surprise and it explained the title which to me is a revelation in itself. How Avah's character had to grow here is very interesting. How she had to embrace a new way of life yet still feel like she could still be her old self and tap into those abilities is very important. The core of her being, her essence, is still there and that's what makes her so dangerous and deadly. As I have said, she got a boost and now her abilities as a witch just got intensified and amplified.

This is a very interesting and engaging start to a very intense series. Avah's character transformation alone is already very powerful and this book just started. What more could it offer in the next installment? What revelations could it still unravel? Yes, I am expecting to be blown away in the next book. I expect the same intensity, if not, more. From here on, I don't know how the story would go or turn. I can't get a glimpse of the mind of the author. This is beyond me. My detection abilities don't work here as much as reading a thriller or a suspense. This is supernatural and there are a lot variables here. Any minute, a new character could be introduced and my theories would all be undone. That is if I have one and I don't. I am working blank here and I look forward to be surprised and amazed in the next adventures of Avah and her new found friends.

With that said, I give this book 5/5 very red roses, as red as pulsating blood. Thanks again, Oftomes Publishing and Danielle Rose, for the ARC. Sorry for the delayed review. I've read this late of 2017, a few days or weeks before this was released but I was not able to post a review right away. I know it's very late but here it is. I really enjoyed this. Thank you so much!

All I want is to take this fragile part of you that you so generously share with the world and protect it. Shade it from the sun yet hide it from darkness.

- Danielle Rose, Blood Rose - ...more

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Jun 19, 2017 Queens of the Pyre rated it it was ok

We received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Witches AND vampires at war? Have to say, this is a new one for us! Very creative concept behind this story, and while it wasn’t executed in the way we were expecting, we still totally enjoyed the unique approach to combining both witch and vampire lore. Also, the main character wields magic AND a katana?... You had us at katana.

Our interest in this book was definitely sparked by the “witchy” elements in both the summary and the We received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Witches AND vampires at war? Have to say, this is a new one for us! Very creative concept behind this story, and while it wasn’t executed in the way we were expecting, we still totally enjoyed the unique approach to combining both witch and vampire lore. Also, the main character wields magic AND a katana?... You had us at katana.

Our interest in this book was definitely sparked by the “witchy” elements in both the summary and the cover (like hiiiii pentagram sister), and the story delivered some really awesome ritual moments where the attention to the details of witch/spellcasting practice was super impressive. We really loved that the author brought in some elements we’re familiar with (like crystals, incantations, and astral projections, whaaaat) and that was one of the big contributors to our enjoyment of the story. However, while the book had its cool and engaging moments, we found that overall the story was super rushed! Everything happened so quickly and we didn’t get a chance to situate ourselves in the world and develop any deep connections with the characters. While the idea behind the plot was solid, there wasn’t enough “meat” to the actual execution of the story, and events that should have been epic/emotional/steamy fell a bit flat. We wanted so badly to really dig into this book and fall in love, because if you know us, there is nothing we love more than a badass witch who slices villains up with a sick katana and gets it on with a sexy love interest! This is not to say that the book isn’t good, there just isn’t enough book. Another 200 pages to really round out the world building and character development would have totally changed our opinion and would have had us way more invested.

So, to wrap up this review, 2 things we really loved were:

1. Avah kicking ass and slaughtering b*tches (again, that katana… so cool)
2. Some of the witchy elements were super detailed and interesting (may have been the most detailed, fleshed out aspect of the story)

And then the biggest thing that was missing, which really effected our overall enjoyment of the story, was the lack of any real character and plot development. The book felt like all bones without any content to actually support and develop the great ideas behind it. Everything felt like it was right there, ready to be explored, but then we just blasted by it without taking any time to let the events simmer and take on meaning. For that reason, this book fell short for us. BUT, that being said, we are high/epic fantasy lovers that usually don’t start to love a series until 3 books and 1500 pages in, so you can take our review of Blood Rose with a grain of salt. We’d still say it’s worth checking out if you’re looking for something light and witchy… and with katanas, of course.

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Jun 20, 2017 Sophiesticated ✨ rated it liked it

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for a honest review.
Plot:
I really enjoyed the beginning of this book, which started out with a fast-paced plot, extremely well-crafted scenes, and over-the-top amazing descriptions that immediately captured my interest. But from there it kind of went slightly downhill. I am personally not the biggest fan of paranormal books because I often find MOST of them are too cliche or repetitive. That was what, in part, went down with Blood Rose. How the book sta I received an ARC of this book in exchange for a honest review.
Plot:
I really enjoyed the beginning of this book, which started out with a fast-paced plot, extremely well-crafted scenes, and over-the-top amazing descriptions that immediately captured my interest. But from there it kind of went slightly downhill. I am personally not the biggest fan of paranormal books because I often find MOST of them are too cliche or repetitive. That was what, in part, went down with Blood Rose. How the book started out promised to have a lot of potential for an incredible story, but then the characters changed drastically. the shift in their personality and it all became a bit too ridiculous.

Some of the things I still loved the most about this story were all of the stuff involving the witchcraft. I LOVED how the powers were explained since a witch can have the ability to control either Air, Fire, Earth, Water, or also maybe SPIRIT. I thought the main character, Avah, was a very strong witch and kickass that I was absolutely enjoying reading about. However, after midway through the book, her personality began to change a lot very quickly and not nicely. I found myself often rolling my eyes at her or the dialogues in this book in general, and the middle part of the story was filled with many cliches.

The reasons why paranormal or New Adult readers might very well enjoy this book are absolutely understandable, though. It is a very easy book to follow that engages and gives a familiar feeling gothic environments in books transmit. It seemed mysterious and dark, filled with secrets, and it is a great option for vampire lovers. However, the vampire theme is still very cliche and something done in a way I’ve seen before.

I liked the witch element in Blood Rose much more because it seemed like something new and fresh. Unfortunately, we saw much less about the witches, and that slightly contributed to my disappointment. I am not very familiar with this genre and it is not one of my favorites to read about in books, either. But I was still very excited to pick this up because it was meant to deal a lot with WITCHES. It has its fair share of talk about them, but I would have loved much more to see the main character as a witch for a larger period of time together with the rest of her coven.

Writing Style:
One of my FAVORITE things about this book was the writing. It was obvious to me that Danielle Rose in an incredible author that has a very well developed style. She had it all covered in the writing department with the flawless way in which she depicted scenes and described actions in a manner that made you picture a single movement in your mind with absolutely all of its details. In a fighting scene, for example, what she did stunningly well was explain each of the movements fractioned and made the reader feel very immersed in the story and the moment. Everything surrounding me was turned off automatically when I started reading this book because of how excellently the writing style grounded me and connected me with what was going on I the story.

I gave this book 3/5 stars. Full review can be found here: https://goo.gl/2BgPnS ...more

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Aug 22, 2015 The Cove rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Angela's review:
Blood Rose by Danielle Rose was an August read for The Book Cove book club. I received this ebook from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis: There's no wrath like that of a witch scorned. Avah Taylor has been given a death sentence: as one of the only spirit users in her coven, Avah has been chosen to wield The Power, the ultimate weapon against the immortal vampire species witches have been at war with for centuries. The Power, given by the gods to one witch of ...more

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Nov 29, 2017 Paige Green rated it it was ok

Rating: 2/5

Genre: YA Fantasy

Pages: 334

Amazon

Author

I received a free copy of this book from OfTomes Publishing specifically for review purposes. All opinons are my own.

As one of the only spirit users in her coven, Avah has been chosen to wield The Power, the ultimate weapon against the immortal vampire species witches have been at war with for centuries.

But on the night of her birth rite, Avah’s coven is attacked. Forced to seek refuge among the very beings she’s sworn to kill, Avah vows revenge ...more

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Jul 30, 2015 Dallas rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: new-adult, paranormal-romance, vampire, witch, action

*I was given an advanced reading copy of this book in return for my honest opinion.

Summary:
Avah Taylor is a young witch, born with the power of Spirit, trained as a warrior, and chosen as the one witch in her generation to be gifted with The Power, which prophecy says will be the key to ending the fighting between witches and vampires. Although most witches to receive The Power die young, Avah has vowed to end the centuries old war.

Destiny, however, has other plans.

On the night Avah is to r ...more

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Jun 19, 2017 Lynn 2 Girls & A Book rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Danielle Rose combines witches and vampires into a unique paranormal romance. Fantastic characters and a fast paced read. I devoured Avah's story in just 2 nights. Blood Rose is a great kick off to the series. I can't wait to see where the story/series goes.

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Jul 22, 2015 Molly rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Danielle Rose breathes new life into a familiar genre in her new adult debut, Blood Rose, the first of the Blood Books series. Following the story of Avah Taylor, a witch chosen to receive the mysterious “Power,” and the unfortunate consequences of a centuries-old war, Blood Books hits the ground running with a balance of exciting, well-written action scenes and romance.

I started reading the book the as soon as I got it, and the next thing I knew, I was three chapters in, and it was 2am. The exp Danielle Rose breathes new life into a familiar genre in her new adult debut, Blood Rose, the first of the Blood Books series. Following the story of Avah Taylor, a witch chosen to receive the mysterious “Power,” and the unfortunate consequences of a centuries-old war, Blood Books hits the ground running with a balance of exciting, well-written action scenes and romance.

I started reading the book the as soon as I got it, and the next thing I knew, I was three chapters in, and it was 2am. The explanations of witch and vampire practices are excitingly detailed without detracting from the plot, enhancing an understanding of the world Avah lives in. Every character felt well-thought-out and had purpose. From major characters like the Hunters to more minor characters like Avah’s cousins, each character has indentifying personality and physical traits, individual relationships, and notably different mannerisms and ways of speaking.

Avah herself is a very interesting character. Thankfully, unlike some other female protagonists in the YA and NA genres, Avah has a personality. She is headstrong, loyal, and dynamic. There are times when she becomes the chosen one her birth rite intends her to be; other times, she is fragile and frightened. Combined, these make for an interesting and complex character. I most appreciated the frequency of her inner thoughts: in many of her situations, Avah commented, whether it was to reminisce about home or to express concern for her people. These little additions contributed to my understanding of Avah’s character and how she fit into the world instead of merely reading a string of events from her perspective.

The writing itself is very polished. I actually did a double-take and was unabashedly excited when I noticed a list with semi-colons instead of several commas (#GrammarNerdAlert). Rose’s word choice is varied and expressive, painting clear pictures of scenes and emotions, and the action and romance scenes are well-worded and well-paced. I found myself eagerly speeding through the exciting scenes and then forcing myself to go back and read slowly to better appreciate the phrasing.

The only thing I didn’t care much for was the love subplot. I was suspicious of the connection between Avah and Jasik as soon as they interacted, and though there are really lovely moments when Avah puts the breaks on to focus on her mission, I felt the intensity of their connection was too quickly reached. There’s an explanation for it in the book, which is nice, but on the whole, I’m not a fan myself of the “insta-love” that seems to plague the paranormal romance.

On the whole, Blood Rose breaks the mold and sends a powerful seax-chop to disturb the calm waters where romance reigns supreme. Action is as much a part of the novel as romance, and the surprise ending twist threatens to shake up the stability established by both. Fans of paranormal romance will definitely dig Blood Rose, and I look forward to the next book.
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Apr 28, 2016 Tamara rated it liked it · review of another edition

This book was sent to me by the author in exchange for an honest review, the fact that she sent it will not sway my opinion in any way.*

I’d like to start this review off on a positive note. I have to say that Danielle writes beautifully, the reason this book got a three star rating and not two was based on the fact that her writing was just so darn good. It’s what kept me going until the end.

And now for the actual book. I’ve honestly been avoiding writing a review on this book… Don’t get me wron This book was sent to me by the author in exchange for an honest review, the fact that she sent it will not sway my opinion in any way.*

I’d like to start this review off on a positive note. I have to say that Danielle writes beautifully, the reason this book got a three star rating and not two was based on the fact that her writing was just so darn good. It’s what kept me going until the end.

And now for the actual book. I’ve honestly been avoiding writing a review on this book… Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t horrible, it just didn’t leave me wanting more.

I’ll have to admit, the first few chapters of the book were pretty interesting. I loved reading about witches. It’s honestly something I haven’t read much about before, so it held my interest pretty well. Then the dreaded EVENT happens, Avah gets turned into a Vampire, and let me just say, that’s when she started annoying the hell out of me.

Avah started out as this strong character, willing to do whatever it takes to protect her coven, even if it kills her in the process. Then, unfortunately, she gets turned and with that she transitions into this weak little girl that wouldn’t stop whining. I do get it though, her whole world was ripped away from her and it’s understandable for her to feel like she has nothing left, but I mean you reach a point where you just want to shake her and scream “GET OVER IT ALREADY”.

I did however like Jasik’s character quite a lot – the vampire that takes Avah in once she’s turned. What I didn’t like was how Avah went from despising him and his kind so much to basically throwing herself at him a few pages later (but wait, keep in mind that she still hates his kind…). Im honestly not a fan of insta-love, and it just happened too fast for me to believe it or feel a real connection between the two.

What I wish was introduced to the book at a much earlier time was Sebastian’s character. Now if he was there from lets say the middle of the book, that would have intrigued me so much more. I would have loved the element of the mystery he could have brought along with him, but he was just thrown in the last minute. Like literally, last few pages. I do get that it might have been done to get readers excited for the next book, I just think Danielle could have introduced him in much earlier and still kept us guessing what he might be up to until we finally get our hands on the next book.

I really didn’t hate the book, I just wish I could have connected to the characters a little more. It definitely could have been a bit longer and not as fast paced as it was. I’m still not sure if ill be continuing with the series, like I said Sebastian’s character was pretty interesting…
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Jul 22, 2015 Nicole rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: flights-of-fantasy, 2015-releases, e-arc

Witches and Vampires have been at war for centuries. Avah Taylor is born a hereditary witch and has affinity for Spirit. Because Spirit is not as strong as elements such as Air and Fire, she learns hand to hand combat and advanced weaponry training to fight off vampires. Avah is chosen to host The Power which is used to fight an unfair war against the immortal creatures. Each generation has one witch who wields Earth, Air, Fire, Water and Spirit. The Chosen One gives their life to the cause and Witches and Vampires have been at war for centuries. Avah Taylor is born a hereditary witch and has affinity for Spirit. Because Spirit is not as strong as elements such as Air and Fire, she learns hand to hand combat and advanced weaponry training to fight off vampires. Avah is chosen to host The Power which is used to fight an unfair war against the immortal creatures. Each generation has one witch who wields Earth, Air, Fire, Water and Spirit. The Chosen One gives their life to the cause and ultimately sacrifices themselves for the greater good since all those with The Power died before mastering it.

During a vampire attack during Avah's birth rite of The Power, Avah is injured but is saved by the creature the witches have been feuding with for centuries. Turned away from her family and coven, Avah has no choice but to hone her skills as a hybrid and to join the vampire that sired her. Still in the mind of a witch, Avah shuns the vampires but finds out everything she learned from her elders was not always true.

Danielle Rose creates a compelling and captivating story. It is seductive and full of action and adventure. The world building is phenomenal and is well thought out. Rose describes each character in detail which paints the perfect character profile. There is slight infatuation between Avah and Jasik right away but it wasn't full blown instalove. I was a little put off when Avah was spinning the seax and ended up causing a self-inflicted injury. Usually Avah knows better. I appreciate her feistiness and independence. She is willing to sacrifice her life multiple times. She is selfless and a great leader. Avah instills confidence in others even when there are times when people think the situation is hopeless.

I highly recommend this novel if you are interested in paranormal fantasy such as the Vampire Academy series, Bloodlines series and the Vampire Diaries TV show. Please be advised that this novel is a New Adult novel and contains some sexual content. Blood Rose is the first novel in the The Blood Books series. ...more

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