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Card Holders #1
Red Blood
There are two kinds of people in this the bound and unbound. The unbound are born with unnatural, inhuman abilities. While having powers may come with its perks, to be unbound is to be cursed. Unbound individuals are treated as freaks, yet despite this, they hold the highest positions in the the Card Holders of the fifty-two domains. When her domain's Card Holder dies, unbound seventeen-year-old Neela Blydes is forced to participate in a tournament to find the unbound most worthy of leading the Queen of Hearts Domain. But the tournament isn't as glorious as it seems. It's a tournament that herds unique unbound called Specialists into deadly combat, a tournament where winning by default is nonexistent and killing is permitted. As Neela progresses through the rounds with her life on the line, she forges new alliances and encounters dangerous unbound adversaries. Among them is a white-haired man with crimson eyes. Dangerously familiar crimson eyes.
- GenresFantasyYoung Adult
366 pages, Paperback
Published February 19, 2021
4 people are currently reading
64 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
April 10, 2021
“I just wanted to go to a place where people accepted others for who they were.” Kaitlyn B. Legaspi, ‘Red Blood’.
If you enjoyed Nova Artino’s shenanigans in Marissa Meyer's "Renegades", and rooted for Miles Morales throughout "Into The Spiderverse" (don’t we all), then you CAN'T miss on ‘Red Blood’!
Born an unbound in a world in which these people with superpowers are hunted down, self-proclaimed slum vigilante Neela has spent years hiding her identity beneath a dark hood. But her dreams of a peaceful life with her brother Jacen come crashing down when the leader of their domain dies, leaving behind a vacant leadership that must be occupied by someone like Neela—an unbound powerful enough to lead the Queen of Hearts domain. And, as Neela soon discovers, she may be the only one who can save it from falling into the wrong hands…
Before y’all read this gem, I must warn you that AMIL. IS. MINE. Not only is he a ball of fluff—he’s also a former assassin, inspired by HxH’s Killua Zoldyck (A.K.A. my husbando). His softness and innocence made me teary-eyed more than once, and I’m absolutely ready to fight his murderous bitch of an older brother, Claec, if I get Ameela to be canon in return.
The feels were very strong throughout the entire book. Kaitlyn has created a lovely cast of characters you can’t help but love, and if you thought that Haymitch was a lovely trainer-become-fatherly-figure, just you wait for Queen of Hearts’ local ray of sunshine, Brochan. Nearly all of the characters (not you, Redd and Claec, do me a favour and jump off a cliff) are impossible not to love. Neela, in particular, is an incredible protagonist at that—she’s strong and she knows it, but she doesn’t come across as obnoxious, arrogant, or insufferable. I really bonded with her, and I can’t wait to read the rest of her story! Kaitlyn wrote an addictive book here, and I really need everyone to read it so I don't have to fangirl alone!
If you enjoyed Nova Artino’s shenanigans in Marissa Meyer's "Renegades", and rooted for Miles Morales throughout "Into The Spiderverse" (don’t we all), then you CAN'T miss on ‘Red Blood’!
Born an unbound in a world in which these people with superpowers are hunted down, self-proclaimed slum vigilante Neela has spent years hiding her identity beneath a dark hood. But her dreams of a peaceful life with her brother Jacen come crashing down when the leader of their domain dies, leaving behind a vacant leadership that must be occupied by someone like Neela—an unbound powerful enough to lead the Queen of Hearts domain. And, as Neela soon discovers, she may be the only one who can save it from falling into the wrong hands…
Before y’all read this gem, I must warn you that AMIL. IS. MINE. Not only is he a ball of fluff—he’s also a former assassin, inspired by HxH’s Killua Zoldyck (A.K.A. my husbando). His softness and innocence made me teary-eyed more than once, and I’m absolutely ready to fight his murderous bitch of an older brother, Claec, if I get Ameela to be canon in return.
The feels were very strong throughout the entire book. Kaitlyn has created a lovely cast of characters you can’t help but love, and if you thought that Haymitch was a lovely trainer-become-fatherly-figure, just you wait for Queen of Hearts’ local ray of sunshine, Brochan. Nearly all of the characters (not you, Redd and Claec, do me a favour and jump off a cliff) are impossible not to love. Neela, in particular, is an incredible protagonist at that—she’s strong and she knows it, but she doesn’t come across as obnoxious, arrogant, or insufferable. I really bonded with her, and I can’t wait to read the rest of her story! Kaitlyn wrote an addictive book here, and I really need everyone to read it so I don't have to fangirl alone!
April 10, 2021
I've been really looking forward to Red Blood, and actually reading a book by my friend Kaitlyn B. Legaspi.
And I finally can say I have!
Red Blood introduces a REALLY interesting idea of a magic system built around a deck of cards. How cool is that? There's tons of domains, and people both "unbound" and "bound".
Basically, people with magic and people not.
Legaspi's time and effort to flesh out this world is so clear and amazing and I can't wait to learn more about it!
Characters:
Neela - Our main lass is a 5'0 tall 17-year-old from the slums with an attitude. And it's so so clear. Usually YA seems to like to market their MC's to be snarky and cool, but they always are too bland for me. Neela punched me in the face (probably literally) with her strong sense of personality. Her trauma is woven nicely with her character, and how she interacts with those around her is hilarious.
My only problem with her is that she felt really really overpowered? The "twist" at the end really drove the over-powered home hard, but I hope this will take a turn. I personally am not a huge fan of really OP characters. That's just an opinion.
Amil- soft boi assassin. I loved him and he was such a perfect foil to Neela and ahhh they're adorable! His dynamic with his family is so sweet, and I want to learn more about him!
Jacen - Same thoughts as Amil really. He was a really sweet character, except he really didn't play a lot in the plot. except for that ending--- ;-;
Brochan - I loved what Legaspi was going for!! In some places, the father-daughter relationship was really endearing, but it would've been much better if we weren't told from the start that "he might become my father figure". But that aside, he really is so sweet.
The villains were probably the biggest downside. They felt one dimensional. They just kill people in horrible ways because it's fun and that just makes sense to Neela? I hope this is explained in future books, because that motivation really threw me off, and didn't feel realistic.
But man, the assassins were super cool tho!
Plot
It was really intruiging! ANd had so many twists and fun moments, but it didn't ever go anywhere? Honestly, I feel like I just read the beginning of a book. I guess it's a series though, so it makes sense, but not as complete as it could've been.
The plot had lotsss of fun times though! Even if they didn't all connect, each scene was super fun and I loved reading all of them. None were a bore.
Overall
This is a promising start to a series with a budding heroine and a LOVELY cover. Excited for the next installment!
3.5/4 stars
And I finally can say I have!
Red Blood introduces a REALLY interesting idea of a magic system built around a deck of cards. How cool is that? There's tons of domains, and people both "unbound" and "bound".
Basically, people with magic and people not.
Legaspi's time and effort to flesh out this world is so clear and amazing and I can't wait to learn more about it!
Characters:
Neela - Our main lass is a 5'0 tall 17-year-old from the slums with an attitude. And it's so so clear. Usually YA seems to like to market their MC's to be snarky and cool, but they always are too bland for me. Neela punched me in the face (probably literally) with her strong sense of personality. Her trauma is woven nicely with her character, and how she interacts with those around her is hilarious.
My only problem with her is that she felt really really overpowered? The "twist" at the end really drove the over-powered home hard, but I hope this will take a turn. I personally am not a huge fan of really OP characters. That's just an opinion.
Amil- soft boi assassin. I loved him and he was such a perfect foil to Neela and ahhh they're adorable! His dynamic with his family is so sweet, and I want to learn more about him!
Jacen - Same thoughts as Amil really. He was a really sweet character, except he really didn't play a lot in the plot. except for that ending--- ;-;
Brochan - I loved what Legaspi was going for!! In some places, the father-daughter relationship was really endearing, but it would've been much better if we weren't told from the start that "he might become my father figure". But that aside, he really is so sweet.
The villains were probably the biggest downside. They felt one dimensional. They just kill people in horrible ways because it's fun and that just makes sense to Neela? I hope this is explained in future books, because that motivation really threw me off, and didn't feel realistic.
But man, the assassins were super cool tho!
Plot
It was really intruiging! ANd had so many twists and fun moments, but it didn't ever go anywhere? Honestly, I feel like I just read the beginning of a book. I guess it's a series though, so it makes sense, but not as complete as it could've been.
The plot had lotsss of fun times though! Even if they didn't all connect, each scene was super fun and I loved reading all of them. None were a bore.
Overall
This is a promising start to a series with a budding heroine and a LOVELY cover. Excited for the next installment!
3.5/4 stars
June 26, 2021
Kaitlyn Legaspi delivers an exciting new world full of magic and intrigue in her novel, Red Blood. This book is just the beginning of Legaspi’s new Card Holders series. So far, the magical world is impressive. I am looking forward to reading the next installment coming in the spring of 2022.
The Queen of Hearts domain is an excellent setting. I find it interesting to have an entire world built on the backs of playing cards. If there were one area where I would make improvements, it would be to tell more about how this world works. How did it come to be? The roads on the way to the Core are terrible and full of holes. How did they get that way? Was there a war? Tell me more.
Even with the lack of details about the domains, I still enjoyed this book. I was nervous about reading after I saw the cover because it looks like a manga drawing. But, the story is incredible. There are several plot lines to follow, but not so many that you can’t keep up. I hope that there is more coverage of the tournament battles coming up. Now that they are down to the final 32 contestants, it’s going to be exciting. I must warn you that tissues should be close by while reading. There are a few heartwrenching parts that tore me up inside.
I am pleased to award Red Blood a full 5 out of 5 stars. This novel is the perfect setup to whet readers’ appetites for more. Now, I am ready for some juicy stuff to come out in the next book. If you love a good urban fantasy, I recommend this series. It is good stuff.
Many thanks to Kaitlyn Legaspi for providing me with a digital copy of Red Blood with a request for an honest review.
The Queen of Hearts domain is an excellent setting. I find it interesting to have an entire world built on the backs of playing cards. If there were one area where I would make improvements, it would be to tell more about how this world works. How did it come to be? The roads on the way to the Core are terrible and full of holes. How did they get that way? Was there a war? Tell me more.
Even with the lack of details about the domains, I still enjoyed this book. I was nervous about reading after I saw the cover because it looks like a manga drawing. But, the story is incredible. There are several plot lines to follow, but not so many that you can’t keep up. I hope that there is more coverage of the tournament battles coming up. Now that they are down to the final 32 contestants, it’s going to be exciting. I must warn you that tissues should be close by while reading. There are a few heartwrenching parts that tore me up inside.
I am pleased to award Red Blood a full 5 out of 5 stars. This novel is the perfect setup to whet readers’ appetites for more. Now, I am ready for some juicy stuff to come out in the next book. If you love a good urban fantasy, I recommend this series. It is good stuff.
Many thanks to Kaitlyn Legaspi for providing me with a digital copy of Red Blood with a request for an honest review.
April 2, 2023
I AM SHOOK!
I have read Kailyn's books before and the endings were sad but never like this.
It was all fine untill she gets in side from chatting with Amil and this is what happpens:
"Then, all I could see was a magnificent spray of red blood. The happiness that had welled up within me drained as my brother collasped onto the pristine, white marble flooring, his arms and legs slayed out like a ragdoll that had been thrown on the floor."
JACEN NO.
He dosen't die right then but later on he does.
Poor sparky.
Neela and her brother were so close and to get his life taken by the same person that took her parents life must have been horrible.
They were like the unlimeted duo.
Jacen was probaly my third favorite character.
1. Amil Galway
2. Neela Blydes
3. Jacen Blydes
It was a really good book and I really enjoyed it.
Her writeing has improved alot since she was 13.
I highly recomend this book I will be loooking forward to the rest of the series.
I have read Kailyn's books before and the endings were sad but never like this.
It was all fine untill she gets in side from chatting with Amil and this is what happpens:
"Then, all I could see was a magnificent spray of red blood. The happiness that had welled up within me drained as my brother collasped onto the pristine, white marble flooring, his arms and legs slayed out like a ragdoll that had been thrown on the floor."
JACEN NO.
He dosen't die right then but later on he does.
Poor sparky.
Neela and her brother were so close and to get his life taken by the same person that took her parents life must have been horrible.
They were like the unlimeted duo.
Jacen was probaly my third favorite character.
1. Amil Galway
2. Neela Blydes
3. Jacen Blydes
It was a really good book and I really enjoyed it.
Her writeing has improved alot since she was 13.
I highly recomend this book I will be loooking forward to the rest of the series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 10, 2021
I’ve read Kaitlyn’s Dark Irregular trilogy, which was amazing, but this was just a whole other level! The characters are just so real and present and driving to the story. Neela is such a tough cookie and really the ideal protagonist. She’s driven, compassionate, and has a strong sense of right and wrong. All the other characters make a great cast, as well. The world-building is incredibly immersive, and the whole idea behind it is so unique. Between the characters and world-building, I was so engaged in this story from the moment I met Neela all the way through to the thrilling conclusion. I loved how so many different clues are woven into the story, and I'm excited to see how all of them come together throughout the series. This is a fantastic book for anyone looking for adventure, magic, and well-developed characters all brought together in a beautiful story.
May 9, 2021
2.75*
Read my full review here: https://lostbetweenpages.wixsite.com/...
Thank you to the author for giving me the ebook in exchange for an honest review!
I wasn't much of a fan of the writing style, sadly. The dialogue felt too cheesy to me, and the writing gave off more telling than showing vibes. Furthermore, there were a lot of rhetorical questions the protagonist liked to ask herself, of which I also wasn't a fan of.
Thus, since I wasn't much of a fan of the writing style, I was less motivated to understand the world and how their powers worked. I didn't feel particularly inspired to pick it back up after putting the book down. However, if the writing style works for you, I think you would like the book!
Read my full review here: https://lostbetweenpages.wixsite.com/...
Thank you to the author for giving me the ebook in exchange for an honest review!
I wasn't much of a fan of the writing style, sadly. The dialogue felt too cheesy to me, and the writing gave off more telling than showing vibes. Furthermore, there were a lot of rhetorical questions the protagonist liked to ask herself, of which I also wasn't a fan of.
Thus, since I wasn't much of a fan of the writing style, I was less motivated to understand the world and how their powers worked. I didn't feel particularly inspired to pick it back up after putting the book down. However, if the writing style works for you, I think you would like the book!
February 14, 2021
A new author for me, and one I’m going to be adding to my reading list.
We start in the past. Men in suits come, and kill her parents and force Neela and her brother to escape with nothing but their lives!
Neela needs to hide who she is, she’s unbound yes, but someone pretty special, and she needs to be careful. Someone wants her dead, Or under their control!!
Unbound? Bound? What or who are they? The Bound are people that can’t use abilities, so Unbound can. They all have different abilities, and most people are scared of them. And as Neela has two powers!! Then she’s doubly dangerous!!
So after their parents were killed, Neela and Jacen (Jacen is her older brother) make their way to a small hospital (Neela was injured in the attack) and that is where they have lived ever since, they’ve become adopted children of the doctor who treated them.
Domain is an area you live in (like a town) and unfortunately she lives in the poorer area, but Neela and Jacen are pretty happy, that is until Neela is told she’s going to have to participate in the tournament.
The tournament felt a little like divergent/hunger games. Staying alive gives you the chance at becoming the next leader in your domain. But everyone knows the tournament is a license to kill the unbound..
There are a few characters introduced early in the book, I have a feeling they are going to be with us for a while.....
Brochan Cordis is Jacen’s boss and is going to train Neela how to participate in the tournament, training is hard and Neela is left wondering how she’s going to survive the training and the tournament! Brochan is also associated with the domain they all live in (does he ulterior motives?)
We meet William Parker (or Will or Parker as he likes to be known) as the pilot that picks Neela and the gang after an incident that nearly sees Neela not entering the contest at all!! He’s going to be a friend an ally.
Lily is Brochan’s sister and Parker’s wife. She works the computers and enters Neela into the tournament, she comes across as a big sister.
Neela is wary of getting too close to people (other than her brother) but these people persevere and slowly gain Neela’s trust.
Amil Galway and Neela meet, and they are not going to be friends. He antagonises her and gives her the nickname “shrimp” and wouldn’t you know it, he’s one of the contestants in the tournament (and a pretty powerful one) and in the Organisation (but they are getting hungry for power and domains) but getting to know him, Neela sees him as a sibling in the shadow of his older and more dangerous brother!!
The tournament is a learning curve for Neela, she thought she was good (and a little cocky) but she was soon brought back down to earth with a bump!!
Each round is surprise, but not as much as the personal attacks on Neela!!!
And who is Redd Ember? Friend or foe? Well after you’ve read this book, your going to know.....
So does Neela become the next Card Holder of the Queen of Hearts?
Cliffhanger? Not really, but it does leave it open for the next book.
Romance? A budding friendship, definitely. Romance? Who knows.
YA? Definitely. The fight scenes are as graphic as an adult might read.
Really well written, and really well thought out. If there is another book, I’m up to read it.
🦋
We start in the past. Men in suits come, and kill her parents and force Neela and her brother to escape with nothing but their lives!
Neela needs to hide who she is, she’s unbound yes, but someone pretty special, and she needs to be careful. Someone wants her dead, Or under their control!!
Unbound? Bound? What or who are they? The Bound are people that can’t use abilities, so Unbound can. They all have different abilities, and most people are scared of them. And as Neela has two powers!! Then she’s doubly dangerous!!
So after their parents were killed, Neela and Jacen (Jacen is her older brother) make their way to a small hospital (Neela was injured in the attack) and that is where they have lived ever since, they’ve become adopted children of the doctor who treated them.
Domain is an area you live in (like a town) and unfortunately she lives in the poorer area, but Neela and Jacen are pretty happy, that is until Neela is told she’s going to have to participate in the tournament.
The tournament felt a little like divergent/hunger games. Staying alive gives you the chance at becoming the next leader in your domain. But everyone knows the tournament is a license to kill the unbound..
There are a few characters introduced early in the book, I have a feeling they are going to be with us for a while.....
Brochan Cordis is Jacen’s boss and is going to train Neela how to participate in the tournament, training is hard and Neela is left wondering how she’s going to survive the training and the tournament! Brochan is also associated with the domain they all live in (does he ulterior motives?)
We meet William Parker (or Will or Parker as he likes to be known) as the pilot that picks Neela and the gang after an incident that nearly sees Neela not entering the contest at all!! He’s going to be a friend an ally.
Lily is Brochan’s sister and Parker’s wife. She works the computers and enters Neela into the tournament, she comes across as a big sister.
Neela is wary of getting too close to people (other than her brother) but these people persevere and slowly gain Neela’s trust.
Amil Galway and Neela meet, and they are not going to be friends. He antagonises her and gives her the nickname “shrimp” and wouldn’t you know it, he’s one of the contestants in the tournament (and a pretty powerful one) and in the Organisation (but they are getting hungry for power and domains) but getting to know him, Neela sees him as a sibling in the shadow of his older and more dangerous brother!!
The tournament is a learning curve for Neela, she thought she was good (and a little cocky) but she was soon brought back down to earth with a bump!!
Each round is surprise, but not as much as the personal attacks on Neela!!!
And who is Redd Ember? Friend or foe? Well after you’ve read this book, your going to know.....
So does Neela become the next Card Holder of the Queen of Hearts?
Cliffhanger? Not really, but it does leave it open for the next book.
Romance? A budding friendship, definitely. Romance? Who knows.
YA? Definitely. The fight scenes are as graphic as an adult might read.
Really well written, and really well thought out. If there is another book, I’m up to read it.
🦋
February 17, 2021
Book Rating: ★★★★☆ (3.75 / 5 stars)
There are two types of people: bound and unbound. While the ideas of super human strength, super speed, and other such powers might sound like a blessing, it reality it is much difference. Society sees the unbound as a curse, and Neela Blydes knows this all too well. But, when the domain’s cardholder dies, Neela is thrown into the a contest of power and wits, that threatens not only Neela’s life, but the life of those she cares about. Why is a group of assassins after her? Does this have to do with her father’s death? Can he trust her new friend, Amil? Or is it all coincidence?
In an action pact first novel, we enter the domain of the cardholders. Reminiscent, in a way, to the Hunger Games, Battle Royale, My Hero Academia, and other stories that throw young competitors into a ring, Kaitlyn Legaspi perfectly captures the anxiety and confusion a 17-year-old girl might feel upon having an entire competition on her shoulders.
Neela is tough; she doesn’t want to appear weak, constantly standing her ground against her trainer, Brochlan, and her brother, Jacen, while trying to appear just as powerful as two well known assassins, Claec and Amil. But, while being tough, she doesn’t sacrifice her own principles: kindness before anger, sympathy before pain. This makes her a rising star in the tournament, and one that the reader (as well as the ficitonal audience) will cheer for along the way.
Card Holders: Red Blood serves as an introduction to the conflicts, ending with tear-jerking heartbreak that makes you want more. With the direction of the narrative, I wasn’t surprised over the terrible fate handed to Neela, but it still made me tear up all the same.
Yet, while the characters shine in Red Blood, what it lacked was some of the worldbuilding that I oh-so-selfishly desired. There was clearly an interesting hierarchy going on with the cardholders, the unbound, and the bound, but not all of it is laid out clearly. Neela is forced from being a vigilante into being a competitor by someone else’s hand, and even by the end of it all, I wasn’t entirely sure “who” the Queen of Hearts is supposed to be. Perhaps that is on purpose though, making me yearn to come back for more.
While the book is a marvelous introduction to the world of the Card Holders, it felt more like the first half of a bigger story. A true turning point didn’t come right until the end for Neela. Though, this obvious change in her does excite me for the next book.
Card Holders: Red Blood is definitely a fabulous start to this series! It left me with some anime vibes, and I absolutely cannot wait for the next book. Spring 2022 can’t come soon enough!
Card Holders: Red Blood comes out on February 19th. I definitely recommend everyone check it out!
Note: I received a copy of this book at no cost in exchange for my honest review.
There are two types of people: bound and unbound. While the ideas of super human strength, super speed, and other such powers might sound like a blessing, it reality it is much difference. Society sees the unbound as a curse, and Neela Blydes knows this all too well. But, when the domain’s cardholder dies, Neela is thrown into the a contest of power and wits, that threatens not only Neela’s life, but the life of those she cares about. Why is a group of assassins after her? Does this have to do with her father’s death? Can he trust her new friend, Amil? Or is it all coincidence?
In an action pact first novel, we enter the domain of the cardholders. Reminiscent, in a way, to the Hunger Games, Battle Royale, My Hero Academia, and other stories that throw young competitors into a ring, Kaitlyn Legaspi perfectly captures the anxiety and confusion a 17-year-old girl might feel upon having an entire competition on her shoulders.
Neela is tough; she doesn’t want to appear weak, constantly standing her ground against her trainer, Brochlan, and her brother, Jacen, while trying to appear just as powerful as two well known assassins, Claec and Amil. But, while being tough, she doesn’t sacrifice her own principles: kindness before anger, sympathy before pain. This makes her a rising star in the tournament, and one that the reader (as well as the ficitonal audience) will cheer for along the way.
Card Holders: Red Blood serves as an introduction to the conflicts, ending with tear-jerking heartbreak that makes you want more. With the direction of the narrative, I wasn’t surprised over the terrible fate handed to Neela, but it still made me tear up all the same.
Yet, while the characters shine in Red Blood, what it lacked was some of the worldbuilding that I oh-so-selfishly desired. There was clearly an interesting hierarchy going on with the cardholders, the unbound, and the bound, but not all of it is laid out clearly. Neela is forced from being a vigilante into being a competitor by someone else’s hand, and even by the end of it all, I wasn’t entirely sure “who” the Queen of Hearts is supposed to be. Perhaps that is on purpose though, making me yearn to come back for more.
While the book is a marvelous introduction to the world of the Card Holders, it felt more like the first half of a bigger story. A true turning point didn’t come right until the end for Neela. Though, this obvious change in her does excite me for the next book.
Card Holders: Red Blood is definitely a fabulous start to this series! It left me with some anime vibes, and I absolutely cannot wait for the next book. Spring 2022 can’t come soon enough!
Card Holders: Red Blood comes out on February 19th. I definitely recommend everyone check it out!
Note: I received a copy of this book at no cost in exchange for my honest review.
May 17, 2021
Neela is intelligent, rebellious, tough but compassionate, and beautifully powerful. Along with no interest in distractions of romance, she reminds me of myself in some ways. I admire her strong moral values of not harming innocent children and never killing anyone. It is rare and honorable to be a vigilante and not kill. This makes the title of the book a bit ironic, as she has a strong distaste for blood. Neela's character development took an interesting shape. Contrary to the norm, she started off as cocky/assertive and guarded, but then gradually became more soft and open. Not that its rare for a character to enter powerful and strong in morals, but this was a bit refreshing and posed an interesting challenge for Legaspi. I am looking forward to seeing how her character will evolve in the following books.
The contrast between the slums and the core of the Queen of Heart's Domain is certainly realistic, and the treatment and societal discrimination brought onto the unbound remind me of our issues of systematic inequality and racism. They are able to hold government not because the people voted, but because of a dire competition. If Neela can win this bloodthirsty tournament, she has a pretty good shot at making some actual change. She's already got plenty of attention. In fact, even if she dies, (I hope not!) good could still come out of it. The plot had strong foreshadowing and was pretty predictable, but it was still exciting to keep reading and see if I was right. One part of the ending that was not foreshadowed broke my heart. At least this will be a series!
Conceptually, their government structure based on cards makes sense- historically suits in a deck represent the four economic classes of Medieval society. I hope the future books delve more into the cards and their roles- typically the queen of hearts card represents sincere love, which could support the gradual character development of Neela opening herself up to friendships and love. On the other hand, in the roles of government the Heart usually meant the role of the church, Spades for the military, Clubs represented agriculture, and Diamonds represented the merchant/lower class. In Red Blood, the black-backed cards conjure a weapon, which would align with how spades (for the military) are black symbols. That's the only color of their magical spell cards that make clear sense. I also didn't see anything regarding religion in the book, and it would be interesting if in future books the symbolism of the different suits and deeper meanings behind each domain and color of their weapon/magic cards were further elaborated/incorporated. I see a lot of potential here.
Card Holders: Two More Lives will not be out until Spring 2022, and I cannot wait to read it!
The contrast between the slums and the core of the Queen of Heart's Domain is certainly realistic, and the treatment and societal discrimination brought onto the unbound remind me of our issues of systematic inequality and racism. They are able to hold government not because the people voted, but because of a dire competition. If Neela can win this bloodthirsty tournament, she has a pretty good shot at making some actual change. She's already got plenty of attention. In fact, even if she dies, (I hope not!) good could still come out of it. The plot had strong foreshadowing and was pretty predictable, but it was still exciting to keep reading and see if I was right. One part of the ending that was not foreshadowed broke my heart. At least this will be a series!
Conceptually, their government structure based on cards makes sense- historically suits in a deck represent the four economic classes of Medieval society. I hope the future books delve more into the cards and their roles- typically the queen of hearts card represents sincere love, which could support the gradual character development of Neela opening herself up to friendships and love. On the other hand, in the roles of government the Heart usually meant the role of the church, Spades for the military, Clubs represented agriculture, and Diamonds represented the merchant/lower class. In Red Blood, the black-backed cards conjure a weapon, which would align with how spades (for the military) are black symbols. That's the only color of their magical spell cards that make clear sense. I also didn't see anything regarding religion in the book, and it would be interesting if in future books the symbolism of the different suits and deeper meanings behind each domain and color of their weapon/magic cards were further elaborated/incorporated. I see a lot of potential here.
Card Holders: Two More Lives will not be out until Spring 2022, and I cannot wait to read it!
February 16, 2021
I received this book as an ARC reader, and I am glad that I did.
Card Holders: Red Blood is an incredible book with amazing characters and a convincing world. While it shares many similarities with the likes of Renegades and Heartless by Marissa Meyer and The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, it's still it's own unique story with intriguing elements. I especially enjoyed the main characters of Neela and and Amil, as well as side characters Brochan, Jacen, and several others. Neela is a very convincing protagonist, and her few flashback sequences were some of the best parts of the book. While a tad underdeveloped, Neela and Amil's romance/friendship was very enjoyable to read. In general, I love the found family trope, and the author uses it very well in this novel, especially with the relationships between Neela and Amil and Neela and Brochan. Towards the end, we get to see the real peak of Neela and Brochan's familial relationship, a very well written scene.
The world that the story takes place in is incredibly well developed. Going in, I was ready for a Hunger Games esque tournament style narrative, but was pleasantly surprised by the lack (not that this was laking, it had a good amount) of high stakes. There was a great balance between the high stake tournament stuff and the nice filler moments between the main characters, a great balance that I applaud the author for. I loved the world the story took place in, too. I already said it reminded me of Marissa Meyer's Heartless, but in a wider sense it reminded me a lot of Through the Looking Glass, a story I haven't thought about in a long time.
I am rating this 4/5 stars, however, and that is simply because I think there was a lot to be improved on. There was a lot of telling instead of showing throughout the book, and while I loved the minor characters, they definitely could be more developed. All in all, a great read with a few kinks to be worked out in the sequel, which I look forward to reading next year.
Card Holders: Red Blood is an incredible book with amazing characters and a convincing world. While it shares many similarities with the likes of Renegades and Heartless by Marissa Meyer and The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, it's still it's own unique story with intriguing elements. I especially enjoyed the main characters of Neela and and Amil, as well as side characters Brochan, Jacen, and several others. Neela is a very convincing protagonist, and her few flashback sequences were some of the best parts of the book. While a tad underdeveloped, Neela and Amil's romance/friendship was very enjoyable to read. In general, I love the found family trope, and the author uses it very well in this novel, especially with the relationships between Neela and Amil and Neela and Brochan. Towards the end, we get to see the real peak of Neela and Brochan's familial relationship, a very well written scene.
The world that the story takes place in is incredibly well developed. Going in, I was ready for a Hunger Games esque tournament style narrative, but was pleasantly surprised by the lack (not that this was laking, it had a good amount) of high stakes. There was a great balance between the high stake tournament stuff and the nice filler moments between the main characters, a great balance that I applaud the author for. I loved the world the story took place in, too. I already said it reminded me of Marissa Meyer's Heartless, but in a wider sense it reminded me a lot of Through the Looking Glass, a story I haven't thought about in a long time.
I am rating this 4/5 stars, however, and that is simply because I think there was a lot to be improved on. There was a lot of telling instead of showing throughout the book, and while I loved the minor characters, they definitely could be more developed. All in all, a great read with a few kinks to be worked out in the sequel, which I look forward to reading next year.
April 9, 2021
"𝗶 𝗮𝗺 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘂𝗻𝗯𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗮𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱. 𝗗𝗼𝗻'𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁"
I want to thank the author for sending me this copy in exchange for an honest review.
Well, first of all, the premise of the book Is really good. 17 years old Neela Is unbound, someone with great power in a world where being different puts a target on your back (rings a bell?)
I was inmediately in when i read the synopsis, as a big X-men fan i love stories that show how awful societies tend to treat certain people, only because they are different. Whats More, in this case, they like to throw them into a brutal tournament which i will hate if i were a character in the book but I'm not so...😂 i loved the idea because it reminded me when Celaena did something similar in TOG
I will say Neela is different between the different. I struggle with her character sometimes because she was really mature or rather perile, but hey i dont blame the author here because a lot of people act like that (not only teenagers😈) With that said, my favorite scene in this book was all about her. Honestly what a great scene, i cant say much but that little girl just taught everyone a lesson and i rooted for her so badly! I love how kindness and force reside within her character.
I know Neela Is the protagonist but the one who stoled my heart was Brochan, Neela's trainer. He was such a father figure when she and her brother needed him (and he needed that as well) he just won me.
This book is a pretty good first stallment. I haven't read anything with the concept of card holders before and i found it really interesting, but i think we still need more information so the worldbuilding can click well! Which we will luckily recieve in card holders: two more lives coming next year.
I want to thank the author for sending me this copy in exchange for an honest review.
Well, first of all, the premise of the book Is really good. 17 years old Neela Is unbound, someone with great power in a world where being different puts a target on your back (rings a bell?)
I was inmediately in when i read the synopsis, as a big X-men fan i love stories that show how awful societies tend to treat certain people, only because they are different. Whats More, in this case, they like to throw them into a brutal tournament which i will hate if i were a character in the book but I'm not so...😂 i loved the idea because it reminded me when Celaena did something similar in TOG
I will say Neela is different between the different. I struggle with her character sometimes because she was really mature or rather perile, but hey i dont blame the author here because a lot of people act like that (not only teenagers😈) With that said, my favorite scene in this book was all about her. Honestly what a great scene, i cant say much but that little girl just taught everyone a lesson and i rooted for her so badly! I love how kindness and force reside within her character.
I know Neela Is the protagonist but the one who stoled my heart was Brochan, Neela's trainer. He was such a father figure when she and her brother needed him (and he needed that as well) he just won me.
This book is a pretty good first stallment. I haven't read anything with the concept of card holders before and i found it really interesting, but i think we still need more information so the worldbuilding can click well! Which we will luckily recieve in card holders: two more lives coming next year.
October 22, 2022
This book was a highly engaging, impossible to put down, thrill ride! Legaspi's prowess shines brightly in this first book! The characters each have a unique quirk and personality that gives me anime vibes! The heroine: Neela is an MC that you just can't help but root for as trouble after trouble comes her way, ending in a heart wrenching scene that made me have to wipe my eyes. The world of The Card Holders is filled with danger and intrigue, and I desperately wanna know more. I have so many questions about this world and it's people, it make's me wanna go to youtube and make theory videos. A unique spin on the Hunger Games formula, this book is a must read for those looking for some excitement, and feels without leaving the comfort of their couch. GO BUY THIS BOOK!!!
May 3, 2023
Neela is girl who is hiding who she truly is in hopes of surviving, when she is forced to participate in a tournament she starts to blossom. I really really really liked Neela. She’s feisty and has a big heart. She finds a family in her new situation and even though the book ended sadly I can’t wait to read the next one. (already out and sitting on my kindle 😊). This book gave me divergent vibes and I’m hoping it ends better!
July 8, 2021
I was definitely intrigued by the premise of the book, just reading the snippet made me interested. While there is some cheesiness and dialogue was a little forced, it went perfectly with the writing style. I enjoyed getting to know Neela and her admiration for her brother, there weren’t really any loose ends when it came to secondary characters either. the only thing I felt wasn’t touched on enough was how this tournament came to be, maybe Kaitlyn is saving it for another book or prequel. I am very much looking forward to reading book two and give Red Blood 5 out of 5 stars.
July 11, 2021
In a world where people with powers, unbound, are treated badly, lives Neela, a vigilante hiding behind a hood. :) When the domain cardholder dies, the position must be filled, by one of the unbound.
My favorite thing about it was the magical system, it's very unique and very interesting. The story has many twists and turn and kept me glued to the pages. The beginning of the story is a little bit slower and I had a hard time getting into it. After a little while, the action, the characters, the plotline, pulled me in & I was hooked till the end.
received from author
My favorite thing about it was the magical system, it's very unique and very interesting. The story has many twists and turn and kept me glued to the pages. The beginning of the story is a little bit slower and I had a hard time getting into it. After a little while, the action, the characters, the plotline, pulled me in & I was hooked till the end.
received from author
May 19, 2021
3.5
The story was super interesting. A government built on a deck of cards? Talk about an awesome idea.
unfortunately, I really wasn't a fan of the writing style. The characters had a way of saying things that were completely obvious to the reader. It was very "telling" and not enough "showing"
Excusing that, I really did like the story. It reminded me a The Hunger Games mixed with Red Queen. The fights seem interesting, and I'd really like to see more of actual battles in the rest of the series that would be super cool. The characters were ok. Most of them felt kind of flat at times, but I liked Amil and Neela. I liked the relationship they had, and some of their dialog had me laughing out loud. Neela and Jacen's relationship seemed a bit off to me. They had plenty of times where they didn't seem like siblings to. The times they did were really good.
Overall, an interesting read. I most likely will continue with the series.
The story was super interesting. A government built on a deck of cards? Talk about an awesome idea.
unfortunately, I really wasn't a fan of the writing style. The characters had a way of saying things that were completely obvious to the reader. It was very "telling" and not enough "showing"
Excusing that, I really did like the story. It reminded me a The Hunger Games mixed with Red Queen. The fights seem interesting, and I'd really like to see more of actual battles in the rest of the series that would be super cool. The characters were ok. Most of them felt kind of flat at times, but I liked Amil and Neela. I liked the relationship they had, and some of their dialog had me laughing out loud. Neela and Jacen's relationship seemed a bit off to me. They had plenty of times where they didn't seem like siblings to. The times they did were really good.
Overall, an interesting read. I most likely will continue with the series.
January 22, 2023
Red Blood is a fun and intriguing book that could be classed as young adult but reads more like urban fantasy - though I'm no expert. With an easy, readable style, the author makes great use of figurative language to explore the effects of a difficult upbringing in a unique setting. The storytelling is high quality and the prose is clear and well-honed.
I appreciated the excellent pacing right off the bat. We are treated to a demonstration of the main character's abilities from square one, and the author clearly possesses an innate sense of setting up subtle cues toward character motivations. The backdrop is rich with details that paint each scene vividly without slowing down the action.
I easily got behind the likable narrator. As is often the case with a first person perspective, it provided a close and relatable experience. I wouldn't expect any different from the genre these days, and I believe after reading a few pages you will sink into the well-crafted atmosphere.
I am a big fan of descriptions, and could have asked for more, though the thrilling pace was not my priority, it should satisfy most fantasy fans, as long as they are not expecting the slow accumulation of detail of a Lord of the Rings, but a more contemporary approach with sprinkled images to latch onto. This results in a sufficient texture which flushed me into the world, which is all I ever ask for in fantasy. The book is fairly long but enjoyable enough that its length becomes a positive virtue.
Thankfully, internal monologue is used sparingly. Too often novels these days overuse the interior thoughts of their characters to tell rather than show what’s happening on the page. The reader can put together a character's thoughts and feelings to some extent, and don't need to be told. The author knows this, and depicts her protagonist's inner struggles from multiple angles, so I further engaged with the content.
If you like stories featuring people with powers, using those powers in unique ways, you will be more than riveted by Red Blood. The unbound versus the bound, depicting the plight of the exiled, is not the most unique premise, but I've never seen the dichotomy expressed quite like it was here.
Martial arts are always welcome in anything I read, and the implementation of powers was awesome. The constraints of the power system in the novel take some getting used to before they congeal, but once they do, the potential is laid out for some intricate battles.
The complex slums provided a varied backdrop to introduce the reader to the world one step at a time. Each scene is cinematic, offering sweeping views of the environment without bogging down the mind’s eye. The dialogue is quick and well-regulated to develop characters and reveal to the reader each unfurling element of the plot. Neela’s restlessness comes across, as does her recklessness. She does not wear the reader down with commentary or act in such a way as to elicit eye rolls. In fact she is a surprising and well-formed main character.
Characters' actions and words should work in concert to create a multi-sided individual, who must adapt to a demanding set of circumstances. I believe most readers will sympathize with Neela's situation. Jacen is more collected, and a good window into how Neela interacts with others.
The tournament is reminiscent of Hunger Games, but in a good way, ratcheting up the tension and character dramas, and providing plenty of world building opportunities. The 52 domains has a lot of potential to reveal a vast array of conflicts and interplays of forces holding together the tenuous dystopia. I enjoyed glimpsing the difficulties of slum life we’re exposed to. Social strife always arises when people must live among each others’ differences. And a reality tweaked by power users must needs lead to explosive confrontations.
In a slums rife with vigilantes, the carnage is minimized, regulated and patrolled, but society does not go easy on any who disrupt the balance.
Thanks to the smooth sentence structure I read through the book effortlessly. I did not strain my suspension of disbelief or shrug off any inconsistencies. Instead I was entertained and gripped. Ms. Legaspi does not rely on heavy paragraphs of narration but tells her story through strong characters.
I thought the main character acted a bit older than 17, but adapting to harsh conditions can often age a person quickly, I suppose.
This light and electrifying book marks the beginning of a series with loads of emotional depth, introducing you to a fascinating alternate society where daily life is fraught with peril.
I appreciated the excellent pacing right off the bat. We are treated to a demonstration of the main character's abilities from square one, and the author clearly possesses an innate sense of setting up subtle cues toward character motivations. The backdrop is rich with details that paint each scene vividly without slowing down the action.
I easily got behind the likable narrator. As is often the case with a first person perspective, it provided a close and relatable experience. I wouldn't expect any different from the genre these days, and I believe after reading a few pages you will sink into the well-crafted atmosphere.
I am a big fan of descriptions, and could have asked for more, though the thrilling pace was not my priority, it should satisfy most fantasy fans, as long as they are not expecting the slow accumulation of detail of a Lord of the Rings, but a more contemporary approach with sprinkled images to latch onto. This results in a sufficient texture which flushed me into the world, which is all I ever ask for in fantasy. The book is fairly long but enjoyable enough that its length becomes a positive virtue.
Thankfully, internal monologue is used sparingly. Too often novels these days overuse the interior thoughts of their characters to tell rather than show what’s happening on the page. The reader can put together a character's thoughts and feelings to some extent, and don't need to be told. The author knows this, and depicts her protagonist's inner struggles from multiple angles, so I further engaged with the content.
If you like stories featuring people with powers, using those powers in unique ways, you will be more than riveted by Red Blood. The unbound versus the bound, depicting the plight of the exiled, is not the most unique premise, but I've never seen the dichotomy expressed quite like it was here.
Martial arts are always welcome in anything I read, and the implementation of powers was awesome. The constraints of the power system in the novel take some getting used to before they congeal, but once they do, the potential is laid out for some intricate battles.
The complex slums provided a varied backdrop to introduce the reader to the world one step at a time. Each scene is cinematic, offering sweeping views of the environment without bogging down the mind’s eye. The dialogue is quick and well-regulated to develop characters and reveal to the reader each unfurling element of the plot. Neela’s restlessness comes across, as does her recklessness. She does not wear the reader down with commentary or act in such a way as to elicit eye rolls. In fact she is a surprising and well-formed main character.
Characters' actions and words should work in concert to create a multi-sided individual, who must adapt to a demanding set of circumstances. I believe most readers will sympathize with Neela's situation. Jacen is more collected, and a good window into how Neela interacts with others.
The tournament is reminiscent of Hunger Games, but in a good way, ratcheting up the tension and character dramas, and providing plenty of world building opportunities. The 52 domains has a lot of potential to reveal a vast array of conflicts and interplays of forces holding together the tenuous dystopia. I enjoyed glimpsing the difficulties of slum life we’re exposed to. Social strife always arises when people must live among each others’ differences. And a reality tweaked by power users must needs lead to explosive confrontations.
In a slums rife with vigilantes, the carnage is minimized, regulated and patrolled, but society does not go easy on any who disrupt the balance.
Thanks to the smooth sentence structure I read through the book effortlessly. I did not strain my suspension of disbelief or shrug off any inconsistencies. Instead I was entertained and gripped. Ms. Legaspi does not rely on heavy paragraphs of narration but tells her story through strong characters.
I thought the main character acted a bit older than 17, but adapting to harsh conditions can often age a person quickly, I suppose.
This light and electrifying book marks the beginning of a series with loads of emotional depth, introducing you to a fascinating alternate society where daily life is fraught with peril.
July 22, 2021
“Let’s see, to me I guess [the stars] represent the souls of those we’ve lost. Well, the souls of the good people, at least.”
“What happens to the souls of the bad people then?”
“They become part of the darkness the stars shine so brightly against, their punishment being hidden from the eyes of the living humans below.”
Before I jump into this, I wanted to thank the author, Kaitlyn Legaspi, for sending me a free e-book in exchange for an honest review. I had a fun time and it was definitely appreciated! Now, let’s dive in.
Red Blood is the start to a new YA fantasy series that features a young woman named Neela. Neela lives in a world where there are two types of people: bound and unbound. Bound are your every day citizens, living every day lives. But the unbound are people that have incredible powers, like the ability to move at super speeds or produce flames. Neela is an unbound who uses her powers as a vigilante in the slums of the domain she lives in. Because unbound are often treated like no more than animals and Neela is determined to fight back. Then her entire world is turned upside down when the current Queen of Cards, the ruler of Neela’s domain, dies and there is to be a competition between all unbound with multiple powers to see who will replace her. Now, she is fighting for a place that she’s always viewed as corrupt to make sure it doesn’t fall into the hands of someone far more sinister.
I think my favorite aspect of this book was the action. This was such an exciting beginning to a new fantasy series! There were parts of this story that had me absolutely breathless! I thought the pacing was fantastic. There is never a dull moment in this story, even when there isn’t any fighting going on. Gotta love a high stakes tale with assassins and superpowers! Kaitlyn Legaspi has created a wonderfully unique world in this story, as well. There’s a lot of moving pieces to it and I felt like I couldn’t quite get a grasp on it all, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t have a good time learning about it! This is world that is centered around a deck of cards, with fifty two different domains, so there’s a lot going on. On top of that, there are so many different types of unbound powers that it took a second to wrap my head around it. But I think the author does a good job of feeding us information as the story unfolds. I just wanted more!
The characters are also a great aspect of this story. Neela is a fantastic main character! She’s tough, she’s smart, and she has a level of sass that I loved. She doesn’t always make the best decisions, but what seventeen year old does? I enjoyed the fact that she was flawed and had a softer side that we got to see as the story progressed. I will say that she was the most layered and developed character of the crew. Though I enjoyed the other characters we meet throughout the story, they felt like caricatures that were there to support Neela’s story arc. They didn’t feel as fleshed out to me, though I still found myself caring for them. What can I say, I’m a sucker for the found family trope 🤷🏾♀️ The amount of times that we got descriptions of hair/eye color for all of the characters, however, was a tad excessive. Still, I have a firm picture of all of them in my mind and that’s not a bad thing!
Final thoughts: This was such a fun, fast-paced story that had me on the edge of my seat! Though I got a bit lost in the world-building and some of the characters felt a little flat, I still found myself enjoying the overall story. I flew through this book, which is always a good sign! I think, for the start of a new YA fantasy, this is a solid beginning. If you’re a fan of complex worlds, with an interesting magic system, a wonderfully crafted main character, and the found family trope (*chef’s kiss*), I think you would enjoy Red Blood!
“What happens to the souls of the bad people then?”
“They become part of the darkness the stars shine so brightly against, their punishment being hidden from the eyes of the living humans below.”
Before I jump into this, I wanted to thank the author, Kaitlyn Legaspi, for sending me a free e-book in exchange for an honest review. I had a fun time and it was definitely appreciated! Now, let’s dive in.
Red Blood is the start to a new YA fantasy series that features a young woman named Neela. Neela lives in a world where there are two types of people: bound and unbound. Bound are your every day citizens, living every day lives. But the unbound are people that have incredible powers, like the ability to move at super speeds or produce flames. Neela is an unbound who uses her powers as a vigilante in the slums of the domain she lives in. Because unbound are often treated like no more than animals and Neela is determined to fight back. Then her entire world is turned upside down when the current Queen of Cards, the ruler of Neela’s domain, dies and there is to be a competition between all unbound with multiple powers to see who will replace her. Now, she is fighting for a place that she’s always viewed as corrupt to make sure it doesn’t fall into the hands of someone far more sinister.
I think my favorite aspect of this book was the action. This was such an exciting beginning to a new fantasy series! There were parts of this story that had me absolutely breathless! I thought the pacing was fantastic. There is never a dull moment in this story, even when there isn’t any fighting going on. Gotta love a high stakes tale with assassins and superpowers! Kaitlyn Legaspi has created a wonderfully unique world in this story, as well. There’s a lot of moving pieces to it and I felt like I couldn’t quite get a grasp on it all, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t have a good time learning about it! This is world that is centered around a deck of cards, with fifty two different domains, so there’s a lot going on. On top of that, there are so many different types of unbound powers that it took a second to wrap my head around it. But I think the author does a good job of feeding us information as the story unfolds. I just wanted more!
The characters are also a great aspect of this story. Neela is a fantastic main character! She’s tough, she’s smart, and she has a level of sass that I loved. She doesn’t always make the best decisions, but what seventeen year old does? I enjoyed the fact that she was flawed and had a softer side that we got to see as the story progressed. I will say that she was the most layered and developed character of the crew. Though I enjoyed the other characters we meet throughout the story, they felt like caricatures that were there to support Neela’s story arc. They didn’t feel as fleshed out to me, though I still found myself caring for them. What can I say, I’m a sucker for the found family trope 🤷🏾♀️ The amount of times that we got descriptions of hair/eye color for all of the characters, however, was a tad excessive. Still, I have a firm picture of all of them in my mind and that’s not a bad thing!
Final thoughts: This was such a fun, fast-paced story that had me on the edge of my seat! Though I got a bit lost in the world-building and some of the characters felt a little flat, I still found myself enjoying the overall story. I flew through this book, which is always a good sign! I think, for the start of a new YA fantasy, this is a solid beginning. If you’re a fan of complex worlds, with an interesting magic system, a wonderfully crafted main character, and the found family trope (*chef’s kiss*), I think you would enjoy Red Blood!
June 29, 2021
Amil Galway is the second son of the leader of the assassins. He's a seventeen year old Specialist. He wants something different for his life but his older, old school, psycho brother won't let him go.
Jacen Blydes is Neela's older brother, he's twenty-two and Bound, which means he was born without power. He may not have powers but he's wickedly smart and does his best to take care of and support his powerful little sister.
Neela Blydes is seventeen, Unbound and a Specialist with Naturalist and Enhancement powers. She's become a vigilante in the slums of the Domain, escaping all until the tournament to become the next Card Holder of the Queen of Hearts flushes her out.
It's been just Jacen and Neela since her parents were hunted and burned alive twelve years ago. That all changed when the current card holder died. The government rounds up all of the Specialists in the domain to participate in a tournament for the next Card Holder, whether they want to or not.
Jacen and Neela's world change after they are brought to the core. Their circle of friends and family increases and Neela begins to train, finding out she's more powerful than anyone knew. Extra bonus, the first person she runs into is the powerful Amil Galway who turns out to be more than a cute boy. She may not want to get close to anyone but Amil's charm wins her over as well as her protectors.
This is only the beginning of Neela's story as she navigates the new world of the Core, uncovers more information about the attack on her family and being a Tournament participant. She faces death not only inside the arena but outside as more than one faction would like to see her dead.
Legaspi has created an interesting new world, Characters clearly fall into good or bad guy criteria, with Neela being the untapped uber power. That didn't stop me from liking her.
I'm curious how Neela will evolve in this series, especially after what she endures in this first book, I hope the next book fleshes things out a bit more. I would like to see a bit more world building to understand their world better.
Nigglies: If the unbound are leaders in the government why are they treated like freaks and even hunted?
Why was the crafty, street smart Neela so trusting of Brochan and his family so quickly?
Why aren't the existing Platinum card holders competing?
Even with the nigglies I enjoyed this book.
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Jacen Blydes is Neela's older brother, he's twenty-two and Bound, which means he was born without power. He may not have powers but he's wickedly smart and does his best to take care of and support his powerful little sister.
Neela Blydes is seventeen, Unbound and a Specialist with Naturalist and Enhancement powers. She's become a vigilante in the slums of the Domain, escaping all until the tournament to become the next Card Holder of the Queen of Hearts flushes her out.
It's been just Jacen and Neela since her parents were hunted and burned alive twelve years ago. That all changed when the current card holder died. The government rounds up all of the Specialists in the domain to participate in a tournament for the next Card Holder, whether they want to or not.
Jacen and Neela's world change after they are brought to the core. Their circle of friends and family increases and Neela begins to train, finding out she's more powerful than anyone knew. Extra bonus, the first person she runs into is the powerful Amil Galway who turns out to be more than a cute boy. She may not want to get close to anyone but Amil's charm wins her over as well as her protectors.
This is only the beginning of Neela's story as she navigates the new world of the Core, uncovers more information about the attack on her family and being a Tournament participant. She faces death not only inside the arena but outside as more than one faction would like to see her dead.
Legaspi has created an interesting new world, Characters clearly fall into good or bad guy criteria, with Neela being the untapped uber power. That didn't stop me from liking her.
I'm curious how Neela will evolve in this series, especially after what she endures in this first book, I hope the next book fleshes things out a bit more. I would like to see a bit more world building to understand their world better.
Nigglies: If the unbound are leaders in the government why are they treated like freaks and even hunted?
Why was the crafty, street smart Neela so trusting of Brochan and his family so quickly?
Why aren't the existing Platinum card holders competing?
Even with the nigglies I enjoyed this book.
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March 17, 2022
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the Author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.Red Blood by Kaitlyn Legaspi is about a group of people called Specialists fighting to be the next holder of their domain card.
Will Neela get passed the solo fights?
Neela Blydes
Neela Blydes is the main character and the one we follow through the story. She is a seventeen-year-old teenage girl who is one of the unbound Specialists. Neela has to fight in the tournament to be the leader of her domain. She only has her older brother, and he went to the core with his little sister.
Since losing their parents as young kids, these two were thick as thieves, even if Neela has been pulling back a bit from her brother. Neela puts up a front to some people when in reality, once people get to know her, she's just a sweet little cinnamon bun. She is a great character, and I can't wait to see what else happens to her.
The Story
Neela Blydes is a vigilante in the slums and doesn't want to go to the core to be in the tournament. She is scared about going into the tournament, and having her brother and trainer there in the core helped her. Neela meets a lot of different people throughout her time in the core. The story has a lot of things happening around poor Neela, and I can't go into much more detail but get your tissues.
Five Stars
Red Blood by Kaitlyn Legaspi is a young girl that lost her parents and needs to be in the domain for the tournament. Ms. Legaspi spun an extraordinary story that I loved about everything in the story, from the beginning to all the plot twists to the ending. Neela has been through a lot, and I hope that Ms. Legaspi gives her a break in the next book.
My rating for Red Blood by Kaitlyn Legaspi is five stars, and I'm recommending it to anyone that loves young adult fantasy books. I can't wait for Two More Lives by Kaitlyn Legaspi to come out.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Red Blood by Kaitlyn Legaspi.
Until the next time,
Happy Reading!
This review was originally posted on Baroness' Book Trove
Will Neela get passed the solo fights?
Neela Blydes
Neela Blydes is the main character and the one we follow through the story. She is a seventeen-year-old teenage girl who is one of the unbound Specialists. Neela has to fight in the tournament to be the leader of her domain. She only has her older brother, and he went to the core with his little sister.
Since losing their parents as young kids, these two were thick as thieves, even if Neela has been pulling back a bit from her brother. Neela puts up a front to some people when in reality, once people get to know her, she's just a sweet little cinnamon bun. She is a great character, and I can't wait to see what else happens to her.
The Story Neela Blydes is a vigilante in the slums and doesn't want to go to the core to be in the tournament. She is scared about going into the tournament, and having her brother and trainer there in the core helped her. Neela meets a lot of different people throughout her time in the core. The story has a lot of things happening around poor Neela, and I can't go into much more detail but get your tissues.
Five Stars
Red Blood by Kaitlyn Legaspi is a young girl that lost her parents and needs to be in the domain for the tournament. Ms. Legaspi spun an extraordinary story that I loved about everything in the story, from the beginning to all the plot twists to the ending. Neela has been through a lot, and I hope that Ms. Legaspi gives her a break in the next book.
My rating for Red Blood by Kaitlyn Legaspi is five stars, and I'm recommending it to anyone that loves young adult fantasy books. I can't wait for Two More Lives by Kaitlyn Legaspi to come out.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Red Blood by Kaitlyn Legaspi.
Until the next time,
Happy Reading!
This review was originally posted on Baroness' Book Trove
June 5, 2021
Books, Coffee & Passion
I was interested in Neela’s story pretty early on. The 52 domain world sounded very intriguing and I was hooked.
In this world, unbound people have powers and abilities like super strength, super speed and manipulating elements like fire, for example. However, the unbound are considered cursed and are hunted in their society. Still, when the domain’s Card Holder dies, the unbound are forced to participate in a tournament, where killing is permitted, to find the next Card Holder in the Queen of Hearts domain.
The world was pretty unique and it intrigued me. In my opinion there wasn’t enough word building yet, but I hope it’ll be more development in the next book. I couldn’t quite figure out the hierarchy of this unique society considering the different domains, the cardholders, the assassins and the bound vs unbound.
Neela was an interesting main character, I enjoyed the fact that she was street smart but still maintained a level of ingenuity. I liked her strong personality and her irreverence. Sometimes, I struggled with some of her inner thoughts, it felt a little repetitive to be in her head.
I enjoyed Amil, he was a very funny, sweet, multi-layered character and I wished we had his POV along with Neela’s, and I liked Jacen, Neela’s brother too.
Regarding the characters, I think the relationships between Neela, Brochan and Brochan’s relatives developed a little too fast considering Neela’s personality and experience in this world (being a vigilante, hiding her identity, being hunted, etc).
I really liked the mystery about what happened in Neela’s past, I think that was my favorite part of the plot. I also enjoyed the tournament setting, but it bothered me the lack of training at the beginning of it. At times the tournament didn’t feel as important as it was, because Neela was off doing other minor stuff which led to a lack of build up to certain events, including tournament fights. I’m very interested to see how using the cards will influence a real fight.
Overall, it was an entertaining story set in a very, very interesting and intriguing world.
I was interested in Neela’s story pretty early on. The 52 domain world sounded very intriguing and I was hooked.
In this world, unbound people have powers and abilities like super strength, super speed and manipulating elements like fire, for example. However, the unbound are considered cursed and are hunted in their society. Still, when the domain’s Card Holder dies, the unbound are forced to participate in a tournament, where killing is permitted, to find the next Card Holder in the Queen of Hearts domain.
The world was pretty unique and it intrigued me. In my opinion there wasn’t enough word building yet, but I hope it’ll be more development in the next book. I couldn’t quite figure out the hierarchy of this unique society considering the different domains, the cardholders, the assassins and the bound vs unbound.
Neela was an interesting main character, I enjoyed the fact that she was street smart but still maintained a level of ingenuity. I liked her strong personality and her irreverence. Sometimes, I struggled with some of her inner thoughts, it felt a little repetitive to be in her head.
I enjoyed Amil, he was a very funny, sweet, multi-layered character and I wished we had his POV along with Neela’s, and I liked Jacen, Neela’s brother too.
Regarding the characters, I think the relationships between Neela, Brochan and Brochan’s relatives developed a little too fast considering Neela’s personality and experience in this world (being a vigilante, hiding her identity, being hunted, etc).
I really liked the mystery about what happened in Neela’s past, I think that was my favorite part of the plot. I also enjoyed the tournament setting, but it bothered me the lack of training at the beginning of it. At times the tournament didn’t feel as important as it was, because Neela was off doing other minor stuff which led to a lack of build up to certain events, including tournament fights. I’m very interested to see how using the cards will influence a real fight.
Overall, it was an entertaining story set in a very, very interesting and intriguing world.
April 12, 2021
Red Blood follows Neela, a young girl who lives with her brother, Jacen. Jacen is bound (no magic) and Neela is unbound (magic). The characters offer more and more depth as you read, but what I really enjoyed about the book was the world building. I liked the characters, especially Amil and Brochan, but the reason I would pick up book two would be to see how the world build continues. The card holders is both unique and engaging as well as makes use of familiar elements of other works. The idea of a world where some have power and some do not and there are really strong prejudices was reminiscent of Marvel stories such as the X-Men. Her journey has overtones of Hunger Games or even the first book in the Maze Runner series. I'd mention Highlander here as well, though that reference probably dates me a bit. But Red Blood is so much more than just a rehash of other yarns. It is something cool and very unique. And it leads to some great high stakes moments:
“Do you people think we’re just animals to be thrown into a ring to fight for your entertainment?
If you do, you’re twisted, because not only is this a tournament to decide your next leader, but the people forced into this ring are human. We unbound are all human and we feel emotions that bound people feel, too."
Neela, as it turns out, ends the book with a twist that leaves you with both answers and questions. Overall, it was a fun journey. At one point she offers the line: "I'm just the paragon of the phrase, 'don't judge a book by its cover,' aren't I?"
Well, the cover is really great but the read is even better. I would highly recommend.
I was given a copy of Red Blood to review. The thoughts and opinions are my own.
“Do you people think we’re just animals to be thrown into a ring to fight for your entertainment?
If you do, you’re twisted, because not only is this a tournament to decide your next leader, but the people forced into this ring are human. We unbound are all human and we feel emotions that bound people feel, too."
Neela, as it turns out, ends the book with a twist that leaves you with both answers and questions. Overall, it was a fun journey. At one point she offers the line: "I'm just the paragon of the phrase, 'don't judge a book by its cover,' aren't I?"
Well, the cover is really great but the read is even better. I would highly recommend.
I was given a copy of Red Blood to review. The thoughts and opinions are my own.
March 24, 2021
Neela is a teen who lives in a world where humans are bound - with no magical powers, or unbound - those with magical powers. The bound aren’t comfortable around the unbound and the unbound are often targeted for various “misdemeanours”. Neela, an unbound, is determined to come to the aid of targeted unbound whenever she comes across them being hurt and abused and has gained a reputation as a vigilante, not well loved by those in authority.
Neela’s brother Jacen is of the bound variety. They live together in a less affluent part of the city and help out at a hospital, where they also have living quarters. Jacen has a job at a weapons store. Jacen’s boss has offered to train Neela in preparation for an upcoming tournament of unbounds. She is unaware that she has been registered for the tournament and resists both the idea of the tournament and the man who is going to train her. Nevertheless, she finds herself headed for the tournament grounds with Jacen and her trainer, where she will stay for the next number of weeks.
During training, Neela learns more about her brother, her trainer, and a lot more about herself. She also develops a better grasp of the rules of her society, the city she lives in, and her potential future role in it.
I found the beginning a bit hard to stay with – a seemingly arrogant and snarky teen harrassing others who are just trying to do what they understand are their jobs. As the characters develop though, they take on more depth and become quite compelling.
I found myself interested in the characters in how their participation in the tournament was going to play out. Neela finds herself struggling to up her game at an accelerated pace as one of the tournament competitors targets her as his enemy.
I’m looking forward to book two in this collection
Neela’s brother Jacen is of the bound variety. They live together in a less affluent part of the city and help out at a hospital, where they also have living quarters. Jacen has a job at a weapons store. Jacen’s boss has offered to train Neela in preparation for an upcoming tournament of unbounds. She is unaware that she has been registered for the tournament and resists both the idea of the tournament and the man who is going to train her. Nevertheless, she finds herself headed for the tournament grounds with Jacen and her trainer, where she will stay for the next number of weeks.
During training, Neela learns more about her brother, her trainer, and a lot more about herself. She also develops a better grasp of the rules of her society, the city she lives in, and her potential future role in it.
I found the beginning a bit hard to stay with – a seemingly arrogant and snarky teen harrassing others who are just trying to do what they understand are their jobs. As the characters develop though, they take on more depth and become quite compelling.
I found myself interested in the characters in how their participation in the tournament was going to play out. Neela finds herself struggling to up her game at an accelerated pace as one of the tournament competitors targets her as his enemy.
I’m looking forward to book two in this collection
May 13, 2021
If you are looking for a badass heroine and a strong storyline in a fantasy book, this is the book you must be reading right now.
There are two kinds of people in this world - bound and unbound. The unbound have superpowers and the bound have the permission to find and kill them.
Neela, the said badass heroine, is unbound. She should technically be hiding from the bound folks but she is living her best life being a vigilante.
Then, the leader of their domain dies and someone has to take her place as the Queen of Hearts. And who better than Neela who has amazing powers?
I loved the characters, every one of them. Neela, of course, carries the story on her able shoulders. But she is not alone.
Jacen is the perfect brother to her.
Amil is the stuff wet dreams are made of. Sigh. He is mine.
The development of Brochan as Neela's father figure was also good.
But the assassins....omg the assassins were amazing!
As this is just the first of a series, I didn't expect much story here. Character development is very important in a series and that is exactly what the author has done here.
Looking forward to the rest of the series.
4 solid stars.
Thanks to Kaitlyn Legaspi for reaching out to me to review the book. The opinions are unbiased and entirely mine.
There are two kinds of people in this world - bound and unbound. The unbound have superpowers and the bound have the permission to find and kill them.
Neela, the said badass heroine, is unbound. She should technically be hiding from the bound folks but she is living her best life being a vigilante.
Then, the leader of their domain dies and someone has to take her place as the Queen of Hearts. And who better than Neela who has amazing powers?
I loved the characters, every one of them. Neela, of course, carries the story on her able shoulders. But she is not alone.
Jacen is the perfect brother to her.
Amil is the stuff wet dreams are made of. Sigh. He is mine.
The development of Brochan as Neela's father figure was also good.
But the assassins....omg the assassins were amazing!
As this is just the first of a series, I didn't expect much story here. Character development is very important in a series and that is exactly what the author has done here.
Looking forward to the rest of the series.
4 solid stars.
Thanks to Kaitlyn Legaspi for reaching out to me to review the book. The opinions are unbiased and entirely mine.
February 1, 2022
Kaitlyn Legaspi crafts a world with unique powers and characters that you never want to leave.
From page one, I was instantly drawn into Neela's story. Every bit of this book kept my interest. From her life in the slums--to her new life in the core.
The characters are so real and raw with so much emotion. The fights, the friendships, the family...all of it created such an exceptional experience.
The editing in this book is very well done--only a few times did my eyes snag on a typo or grammatical mistake.
The only thing that threw me off was the way the characters spoke. It didn't sound like how real people speak--all their emotions are verbalized, or they start another dialogue segment with the word "Also." It was just a bit unusual, however, it didn't take that much away from the story.
And, dear author, how dare you with that ending??
From page one, I was instantly drawn into Neela's story. Every bit of this book kept my interest. From her life in the slums--to her new life in the core.
The characters are so real and raw with so much emotion. The fights, the friendships, the family...all of it created such an exceptional experience.
The editing in this book is very well done--only a few times did my eyes snag on a typo or grammatical mistake.
The only thing that threw me off was the way the characters spoke. It didn't sound like how real people speak--all their emotions are verbalized, or they start another dialogue segment with the word "Also." It was just a bit unusual, however, it didn't take that much away from the story.
And, dear author, how dare you with that ending??
March 10, 2021
Kaitlyn Legaspi did a wonderful job of bringing the characters and the world to life in this books. I read this as an ARC reader, and I usually avoid reading books with my eyes as much as possible. But Red Blood drew me in and had me forgetting that I don't like reading ebooks! She did such a good job bringing me in to Nella's head. So much so that I got a little moody and pessimistic like she is! I can't wait to see more from Kaitlyn and in this series.
January 26, 2022
I have read several books/series based around cards (often tarot, sometimes not), and I enjoyed the originality at play in 'Red Blood.' A lot of thought was given to the use of the cards and how they worked in this universe. I'm interested to learn more about how to both use cards magically... and the role they play in the power structure overall. There's a ton of potential there.
Neela and Amil are also so very sweet. I'm excited to see where their relationship goes (and all the complexities that come with their different statuses) and how Neela grows and develops with it. Speaking of Neela, she's a wonderfully powerful, devoted and loyal character, but I want her to face more challenges. I want to really dive into her being in the next book. In book one, it sometimes felt like things came a little too easily to her.
Overall, I recommend this book! It shows a lot of promise in the series ahead.
Neela and Amil are also so very sweet. I'm excited to see where their relationship goes (and all the complexities that come with their different statuses) and how Neela grows and develops with it. Speaking of Neela, she's a wonderfully powerful, devoted and loyal character, but I want her to face more challenges. I want to really dive into her being in the next book. In book one, it sometimes felt like things came a little too easily to her.
Overall, I recommend this book! It shows a lot of promise in the series ahead.
January 25, 2023
I just finished Red Blood and the ending has me in tears but it was so good! The foreshadowing and unexpected reveal with Neela was done so well! I thoroughly enjoyed this story and this world, it's so cool. I love Neela and Amil, their personalities are just so fun and they feel so real.
March 13, 2021
Neela is a feisty young vigilante, with unbound powers, that’s grown up hiding in the slums. If you enjoy strong females, you’ll enjoy her.
On their way to the tournament they are attacked. As they try to figure out who, more secrets unravel. Could the attacks be linked to her parents deaths? Neela meets Amil, a young assassin that everyone is cautious of. He quickly becomes her friend, which draws the attention of his not so nice brother. I really enjoyed how their connection grew and how it brought out another side of Neela.
Red Blood is full of fast paced action and superpowers. It reminded me a lot of Naruto, but without the school. It’s a fun read. Kaitlyn has put a lot of thought into the magic system and World-building to bring this story to life.
On their way to the tournament they are attacked. As they try to figure out who, more secrets unravel. Could the attacks be linked to her parents deaths? Neela meets Amil, a young assassin that everyone is cautious of. He quickly becomes her friend, which draws the attention of his not so nice brother. I really enjoyed how their connection grew and how it brought out another side of Neela.
Red Blood is full of fast paced action and superpowers. It reminded me a lot of Naruto, but without the school. It’s a fun read. Kaitlyn has put a lot of thought into the magic system and World-building to bring this story to life.
November 9, 2021
Red Blood is Kaitlyn Legaspi's latest novel and the first one I have been lucky enough to read. It's a fantasy novel with several unique takes worth checking out.
Neela Blydes lives in a world where everyone falls into one of two categories. Either they are bound, or they are unbound. Those with magical abilities are known as the unbound. And while they are looked down upon, they also play an important role in society.
Now Neela, unbound, must participate in a tournament to find out if she will be the next unbound to take control of her domain. It's not a tournament Neela wanted to join, but she didn't have much choice in the matter, and now her life is on the line.
"I just wanted to go to a place where people accepted others for who they were."
Red Blood is a solid fantasy novel, one that I am so happy that I took the time to read. I was immediately transported into a world full of duels and competitions. A world where magic was essential – and yet still looked down upon.
When I first read the description of Red Blood, I was expecting it to have very heavy Red Queen vibes. You can imagine my surprise when I actually found something entirely different! (Though I do believe that fans of the series would still enjoy this one, of course).
I really enjoyed the way Legaspi set up this world – it was so fascinating, and I couldn't get enough of it. Luckily for me, this is the first in a series, so more will come! Likewise, the whole magical system – unbound versus bound – is compelling. Some of these elements were more familiar, but that actually made the whole thing feel very intuitive.
I'm also desperately looking forward to seeing what happens next in Neela's story! The ending is not what I would call a cliffhanger, but it did leave this reader eager for more, which is always nice.
Long story short: go read Red Blood; you won't regret it!
Thanks to Kaitlyn Legaspi for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Read more reviews at Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks>
Neela Blydes lives in a world where everyone falls into one of two categories. Either they are bound, or they are unbound. Those with magical abilities are known as the unbound. And while they are looked down upon, they also play an important role in society.
Now Neela, unbound, must participate in a tournament to find out if she will be the next unbound to take control of her domain. It's not a tournament Neela wanted to join, but she didn't have much choice in the matter, and now her life is on the line.
"I just wanted to go to a place where people accepted others for who they were."
Red Blood is a solid fantasy novel, one that I am so happy that I took the time to read. I was immediately transported into a world full of duels and competitions. A world where magic was essential – and yet still looked down upon.
When I first read the description of Red Blood, I was expecting it to have very heavy Red Queen vibes. You can imagine my surprise when I actually found something entirely different! (Though I do believe that fans of the series would still enjoy this one, of course).
I really enjoyed the way Legaspi set up this world – it was so fascinating, and I couldn't get enough of it. Luckily for me, this is the first in a series, so more will come! Likewise, the whole magical system – unbound versus bound – is compelling. Some of these elements were more familiar, but that actually made the whole thing feel very intuitive.
I'm also desperately looking forward to seeing what happens next in Neela's story! The ending is not what I would call a cliffhanger, but it did leave this reader eager for more, which is always nice.
Long story short: go read Red Blood; you won't regret it!
Thanks to Kaitlyn Legaspi for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Read more reviews at Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks>
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