From the Bookshelf of Shut Up & Read…

RoseBlood

A.G. Howard

Start date: March 1, 2017

Finish date: March 31, 2017

Discussion: Book of the Month

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What Members Thought

Jul 09, 2017 Christina (Ensconced in Lit) rated it really liked it

Beautifully written with a gorgeous gothic atmosphere which is present and a strength of all of Howard's books. I felt that it took a while to get into the meat of the story, and it took me until 70% to get into it. But I loved the ultimate twists and the descriptions of the setting, which usually is not my thing but Howard is so freaking good at it. And the MC was interesting and likeable with a good hook to keep me in it for that long. I wish we could have seen a little more of the supporting ...more

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Sep 11, 2024 Lauren rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: romance, young-adult, retelling, france

RoseBlood is a modern, Phantom of the Opera–inspired retelling that follows the story of Rune Germaine, a young girl whose extraordinary voice is both her greatest gift and her most dangerous curse. After her mysterious vocal affliction leaves her physically drained after every performance, Rune is sent to RoseBlood, a boarding school and former opera house just outside of Paris. There, Rune hopes to find healing, but instead discovers that the opera house holds dark, supernatural secrets—includ RoseBlood is a modern, Phantom of the Opera–inspired retelling that follows the story of Rune Germaine, a young girl whose extraordinary voice is both her greatest gift and her most dangerous curse. After her mysterious vocal affliction leaves her physically drained after every performance, Rune is sent to RoseBlood, a boarding school and former opera house just outside of Paris. There, Rune hopes to find healing, but instead discovers that the opera house holds dark, supernatural secrets—including an elusive boy, Thorn, and the presence of a real phantom.

At the heart of the story is Rune’s relationship with Thorn, a boy who seems to come straight out of the 19th century and who mysteriously appears and disappears at will. As Rune and Thorn grow closer, she begins to feel strangely cured in his presence. However, Thorn is connected to the phantom of RoseBlood, who has his own plans for Rune’s talent—plans that put her in grave danger. Thorn is then faced with an impossible dilemma: protect the girl he's falling for or obey the only father he's ever known.

I LOVE Phantom of the Opera and I was really excited for this book. Though RoseBlood is atmospheric and beautifully written, with vivid descriptions that capture the gothic setting of the opera house, the pacing is slow and can be difficult to get through. The first half of the book drags, as the plot jumps between past and present and shifts between different points of view. While this method attempts to provide a well-rounded perspective on each character, it felt distracting and prevents the story from moving forward at a satisfying pace.

Rune, the protagonist, is meant to fill the role of a modern Christine, cursed by her incredible vocal ability. Despite her intriguing backstory, I struggled to connect with her, which may make it difficult for some to fully invest in her journey. The romance between Rune and Thorn is an interesting dynamic, but the love story feels secondary to the mysterious plotline involving the phantom’s sinister plans. ...more

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