Blood Heir (Blood Heir Trilogy #1) by Amélie Wen Zhao - Restarting October 25th 2020

[Alaina]

A fugitive princess with the power to control blood. A cunning conman with no past and no future. An Empire spiraling into darkness. A world worth saving.

The Cyrilian Empire: a glittering white sprawl of frozen tundras and ancient, snow-capped forests, where ice spirits roam beneath the flickering northern lights, and where slavers hunt Affinites -- those born with powers to manipulate elements.

Born with a horrifying Affinity to blood, Anastacya Mikhailov has never believed herself to be anything more than a monster. Her curse rings true when an accident in the dead of the night results in the death of her father, the Emperor of Cyrilia -- and she is sentenced for his murder.

But Ana knows what she saw that night: the scent of poison in Papa’s blood, and the face of a murderer vanishing into the dark.

Alone, hunted, and on the run, Ana makes a bargain with Ramson Quicktongue, a handsome yet dangerous underground crime lord: help her find the true murderer and clear her name in exchange for her alliance.

When Ana’s search lands her in the lair of the most powerful slave trader in the Empire, she uncovers a horrifying truth. A new monarch stands poised to lead the empire to a path of hatred and divisiveness, and Ana must stop her before Cyrilia falls to darkness. But first, she must come to terms with the monster she thinks she is and the heir she was destined to be.

In a world where the princess is the monster, oppression is blind to skin color, and good and evil exist in shades of gray... comes a dark Anastasia retelling that explores love, loss, fear, and divisiveness, and how ultimately it is our choices that define who we are.

[Nicole]

Can't wait to read this!

[Nicole]

Yeah, I take what I said back about being excited to read this. I didn't know it had anti-black themes in it, so I won't be reading it.

[Sarah Elizabeth]

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Date changed. Restarting October 25th 2020. Happy Reading ☺

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[Trisha (semi-hiatus)]

I'll start this one tomorrow!

[Brinley]

I'll be a bit late on this one, but I'll try and get to it soon!

[Trisha (semi-hiatus)]

Brinley wrote: "I'll be a bit late on this one, but I'll try and get to it soon!"

Nice seeing you here ;)

[Trisha (semi-hiatus)]

Upto Chapter 2
(view spoiler)[I'm really, really interested now!!
I hope we get to see more of Quicktongue, and I'm liking Amelia a lot! (hide spoiler)]

[Brinley]

Trisha wrote: "Brinley wrote: "I'll be a bit late on this one, but I'll try and get to it soon!"

Nice seeing you here ;)"

Nice seeing you too! At this point, I swear we’re the same person

[Trisha (semi-hiatus)]

Brinley wrote: "Trisha wrote: "Brinley wrote: "I'll be a bit late on this one, but I'll try and get to it soon!"

Nice seeing you here ;)"

Nice seeing you too! At this point, I swear we’re the same person"
XD

[Trisha (semi-hiatus)]

Upto Chapter 22
(view spoiler)[This is not okay. Nowhere near okay. I hate everyone right now.

This is turning into Hunger games.

WHHHHHYYYYYYYYYY (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha (semi-hiatus)]

Upto Chapter 37
(view spoiler)[WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON!!?!?!?!

For a moment there, I seriously thought Luka was going to be in favour of the Countess (I think).

I was getting serious Six of Crows vibes from this earlier, but this changed......and I'm really liking it!! (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

Who knows if I'll get to this

[Trisha (semi-hiatus)]

I finished this a couple of days ago, but I forgot to update here
(view spoiler)[I really love it!!
It tied up pretty nicely, and I was having trouble trusting some people by the end, but it ended amazingly!
I can't wait for the next one! (hide spoiler)]Hope you all like this one too!

[Brinley]

I’ll get to this, I promise! Should be in the next day or two (I hope)

[Dr. Andy]

I finished! lol

[Maddie]

was it good?

[Dr. Andy]

Maddie wrote: "was it good?"

I loved it!

[Maddie]

perfect! I've heard conflicting things

[Trisha (semi-hiatus)]

Andy wrote: "Maddie wrote: "was it good?"

I loved it!"

Glad you liked it!

[Trisha (semi-hiatus)]

Maddie wrote: "perfect! I've heard conflicting things"

Yes, a lot of them.....but I didn't think there was anything like that in the book?

[Maddie]

Oh that's good!

[Brinley]

Ok, I'm finally starting this!

[Brinley]

Up to Chapter 9
(view spoiler)[ Ana is such an idiot. At this point, it's kind of irritating. I can't believe that she just attacked that man, I get that hes terrible, but getting herself caught won't do anything for anyone. I like ramson though! (hide spoiler)]

[Dr. Andy]

Brinley wrote: "Up to Chapter 9
[spoilers removed]"

She is kind of an idiot. But it was admirable haha

[Dr. Andy]

Trisha wrote: "Upto Chapter 2
[spoilers removed]"

I loved Ramson! He was an easy favorite.

[Dr. Andy]

Trisha wrote: "Upto Chapter 37
[spoilers removed]..."

(view spoiler)[This chapter was so epic. Honestly this whole showdown was amazing. I loved how nothing went according to plan. I figured something would go right for Ana. But Zhao surprised me! (hide spoiler)]

[Dr. Andy]

50% (view spoiler)[ I really love how we get backstory for both Ana and Ramson interspersed with the present narrative. The flashbacks are working for me. It's not too much, and whenever they end I always want more! I love May so much and I'm so freaking worried for her! She needs to be safe (hide spoiler)]

[Dr. Andy]

CH 33 (view spoiler)[ MIND CONTROL!? Well things have gotten a lot more complicated than I thought they would but I'm here for this.

Also I'm so distraught that May died. HOW COULD YOU AWZ!! She was so pure and innocent :(((((( (hide spoiler)]

[Dr. Andy]

Finished (view spoiler)[ God what a book. I can't believe so many people died!! Also I love Linn! I hope we see more of her in the sequel. And Luka freaking declared Ana empress!! Holy shit. I'm glad that one little thing went right for her. Even though everything else went wrong and she lost her brother. Can't wait for the sequel. (hide spoiler)]

[Brinley]

Up to chapter 22
(view spoiler)[ I’m kinda tired of May not being able to defend herself. She’s likely in this book just to be a catalyst for Anas change. I get it, she’s like a younger sister, but come on, she needs to be able to do something other than get kidnapped, captured, or killed. And despite Ana talking about being a monster, not once has she done anything monstrous. Come on, kill those people, laugh at your supremacy, by a monster, and be proud. I’m liking this, but i didn’t like that last chapter too much (hide spoiler)]

[Brinley]

Up to chapter 28
(view spoiler)[Ugh, again? This author is falling into the trap of talking a ton of smack about everyone, but totally failing to deliver. Like Ramsom, he planned so badly. Did he really expect him to just roll over and die?. Come on (hide spoiler)]

[Brinley]

Page 417

(view spoiler)[ How many times have we read the “Someone was screaming. No, she was screaming” situation in this book? I swear it’s been at least three times. I’m never been a fan of that phrasing, but it’s been so overkill. Like we get it, you’re upset, sad and stunned, but we don’t need to be told you’re screaming every time (hide spoiler)]

[Brinley]

Finished
(view spoiler)[ Seems like I'm in the minority here! I didn't actually like this one very much. I got a bit tired of things going wrong, but then someone conveniently changing allegiances or showing up to save the day. It just got to be a bit too much. Also, how many times did our characters have to get captured in this?? It felt like it was constant, one of them was always in need of saving. I don't think I'll be getting to the rest of the series, I don't see how this plot could become a trilogy unless it becomes pointless and repetitive.

I am super tired right now though, so that might be a reason for my dislike.

Oh yeah, and I got super irritated with Ana. The entire book we're told she's a monster, but she doesn't do anything remotely monstrous. Don't give us all that buildup for nothing (hide spoiler)]

[Brinley]

Andy wrote: "50% [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[See, I didn't like May all that much. I didn't feel like she got much development, and mainly seemed to be there to prompt development from Ana. I didn't have a problem with her, I just didn't care about her (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha (semi-hiatus)]

Andy wrote: "50% [spoilers removed]"

Same! (view spoiler)[It didn't feel forced or jarring, and for that I am thankful. May, was very much like Rue, for me.....they had a similar small sister vibe to them. (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha (semi-hiatus)]

Andy wrote: "CH 33 ."

(view spoiler)[The powers of her were a bit disturbing....especially since she seemed like a perfectly nice side character.
You know, May's death was a surprise for me....I started out comparing her to Rue because of her little sister vibe, she ended up having more in common. (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha (semi-hiatus)]

Andy wrote: "Finished [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[A lot of people did die, right? When I sat down to write a review, I could remember only two...
Same, I'm really excited for the sequel! (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha (semi-hiatus)]

Brinley wrote: "Up to chapter 22
[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[I actually didn't realise how little May does in this till I read your update....
Also, I'm not sure about the monstrous thing....I thought she was under the wrong impression or something, and thought herself a monster when she was actually good or something to that effect? I might remember wrong though (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha (semi-hiatus)]

Brinley wrote: "Up to chapter 28
[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[Yeah, that part was a bit unbelievable...I thought he was really underestimating the guy. I was hoping he'd have a better plan than tricking him like that....but maybe I was expecting him to be Kaz Brekker when he was definitely not. (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha (semi-hiatus)]

Brinley wrote: "Page 417

[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[I didn't note that, but it happened a lot....way more than three I think (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha (semi-hiatus)]

Brinley wrote: "Finished
Seems like I'm in the minority here! I didn't actually like this one very much. I got a bit tired of things going wrong, but then someone conveniently changing allegiances or showing up t..."

(view spoiler)[When you put it like that, it does seem awfully convenient with everything falling into place when needed. Food for thought for me!

Again, I didn't realise the constant someone-in-distress, but it was definitely there. A lot of the plot was focused on saving someone or the other.

My overall impression from this book's portrayal of Ana was more 'misunderstood' than 'monstrous'....so I don't know....was monstrous how she was advertised? I really went into this expecting misunderstood, so maybe that's why I didn't feel the lack of that. (hide spoiler)]

[Brinley]

Trisha wrote: "Brinley wrote: "Up to chapter 22
[spoilers removed]"

I actually didn't realise how little May does in this till I read your update....
Also, I'm not sure about the monstrous thing....I thought she..."

(view spoiler)[No, she just thought she was a monster. I just felt like there was way too much buildup, only for her to kill like 10 people who were trying to kill her anyway. Also, it just made her look weak and like she needed constant affirmation that she wasn't monstrous, instead of just being confident in herself. (hide spoiler)]

[Brinley]

Trisha wrote: "Brinley wrote: "Up to chapter 28
[spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"
(view spoiler)[This would've been so much better if he was like Kaz... We got promised a con man, but he couldn't even run the single con he set out to run! He let his feelings get in the way, so he just looked weak and cocky instead of cunning (hide spoiler)]

[Brinley]

Trisha wrote: "Brinley wrote: "Finished
..."

(view spoiler)[ Instead of actually being civil, I'm just gonna throw some quotes in here to organize my thoughts. Again, i think I just read these wrong, but I'm all for a monstrous mc, so I was very disappointed

"But perhaps all monsters were heroes in their own eyes."
"But what good was goodness itself, when the world was ruled by the cruel."
"there was no goodness or kindness in this world."
"except now she was the monster"
"show him what you can do, my little monster"

these weren't even the quotes I was looking for, but they work. Anyway, there was definitely a theme of monstrosity, cruelty, and ruthlessness in this, but it didn't deliver. The book was supposed to be a battle between her and her inner monster, but there was no monster there. I guess I'm just tired of the goody goody heroine who thinks she's so bad. Give us some grit. Be like Aelin, acknowledge you'll do anything to protect those you love, even if it makes you a monster. Don't regret killing those who would kill you, survive and change the world, don't be a "monster" because you protected yourself. (hide spoiler)]