Crimson Bound in Into the Forest

Oct 14, 2015 HJ rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, fairy-tales

3.25 - 3.5 stars.

I loved Cruel Beauty, but this one didn't quite live up to my expectations. Don't get me wrong, I still liked it, and I really think the author has some serious storytelling skills, but I miss the usage of 1st person narrative, and, for some reason, it felt a bit...Hmmmm. Congested? There was a lot of detail to keep track of, not that I have issues with that, but it just didn't seem very smooth to me.

So - this is another nod to fairy tales, this one touching mildly on the Little ...more

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Oct 29, 2014 Rea rated it liked it

Shelves: fantasy, fairy-tale-retellings

A couple of years ago I read and absolutely adored (adored!) Rosamund Hodge's début, Cruel Beauty. When I heard she was writing another fairy tale retelling, I was immediately intrigued. I pre-ordered the book, but it took me a while to get around to reading it.

I didn't feel that this book was as strong as Cruel Beauty. I'm not sure what it was, as both have a fairly similar vibe, but I really struggled to get myself motivated when it came to Crimson Bound. Both books have unlikeable protagonist A couple of years ago I read and absolutely adored (adored!) Rosamund Hodge's début, Cruel Beauty. When I heard she was writing another fairy tale retelling, I was immediately intrigued. I pre-ordered the book, but it took me a while to get around to reading it.

I didn't feel that this book was as strong as Cruel Beauty. I'm not sure what it was, as both have a fairly similar vibe, but I really struggled to get myself motivated when it came to Crimson Bound. Both books have unlikeable protagonists, but in Crimson Bound Rachelle has no hope for herself of her future, and I think that that probably dragged me down too.

There are also some weird choices in the novel. Like at one point Rachelle chooses to sleep with someone she lusts after, but doesn't really like at all. I have no problem with that - it's a positive message to send to girls that it's okay to experiment with sex with people you lust after before you find that someone you want to spend your life with. However, the fact that Rachelle did this during a particularly strong moment of self-hatred detracted from the message.

So I couldn't connect with Rachelle (or any of the other characters), and that will have had a detrimental effect on my enjoyment of the story.

However, it does have to be said that Hodge is very good at building a setting and at crafting a tale. I think the setting was supposed to be based on historical French society; if I disconnected it from actual history then I enjoyed it and appreciated it, but I have to say that the setting was fairly generalised. Suffice to say, I wasn't envisioning the Sun King, Marie Antionette or the lavish halls at Versailles while reading this.

The plot is well-crafted. When you get to the end of the novel and certain plot points become clear, you realise just how well-crafted it really is. I liked the juxtaposition of night and day and the struggle between the two.

All in all, it's a good book, but due to the characters it turned out that it's not the book for me. ...more

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Jul 30, 2017 Mundie Moms & Mundie Kids rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: arcs, mundie-moms-reviews, 2015-release, 2017-reading-challenge

Full review to come

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Sep 14, 2016 Liz C rated it really liked it · review of another edition

The first half of the book was a solid 3 stars. Not bad, but it felt like it went at a slower pace than Hodge's usual work. The second half of the book was a storm of AWESOME and a full 5 stars. I can't get enough of Hodge's writing and clever twists on old fairy tales. ...more

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