shadowmaster13's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
casualhermit's review against another edition
4.0
A satisfying conclusion to a delightful series. Just like the previous entries, Bloodsworn is packed with action that brings about the end of the war with Oridia.
brittsbookblurbs's review against another edition
4.0
I loved the final instalment in the Bloodbound Trilogy. I know that [b:Bloodforged|36438891|Bloodforged (Bloodbound Book 2)|Erin Lindsey|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1508403764l/36438891._SY75_.jpg|44222634] wasn't my favourite, but it provided the backstory and buildup to this gripping finale. It honestly felt like I could not put it down.
Once again, I am so impressed by [a:Erin Lindsey|7915669|Erin Lindsey|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1394519366p2/7915669.jpg]'s ability to create real characters. Their emotions and relationships are honest and realistic and don't bend or break to allow 'happy endings' all around. The complicated relationship between Alix, Erik, and Liam after all of their actions in the second book isn't just pushed aside or forgotten; it grows, develops, and becomes a part of them as the story progresses. This trilogy's character development and growth are inspiring, but they are still the people I came to care about in [b:Bloodbound|36393506|Bloodbound|Erin Lindsey|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1507742648l/36393506._SY75_.jpg|40320983]. I find that in so many series, the characters stagnate, becoming caricatures of themselves, or they change so easily to allow for plot complications that they're no longer realistic.
There's an optimistic feeling that there could be a fourth book, even though the story doesn't need another addition. It doesn't keep me from wanting more, though: this world and these characters are so real to me I would be happy to escape there for another adventure. Thank you, Erin Lindsey, for a well written, exciting, and all-encompassing trilogy that I am sure to reread again and again.
Other books in the Bloodbound Trilogy:
#1: Bloodbound ⭐⭐⭐⭐
#2: Bloodforged ⭐⭐⭐
Once again, I am so impressed by [a:Erin Lindsey|7915669|Erin Lindsey|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1394519366p2/7915669.jpg]'s ability to create real characters. Their emotions and relationships are honest and realistic and don't bend or break to allow 'happy endings' all around. The complicated relationship between Alix, Erik, and Liam after all of their actions in the second book isn't just pushed aside or forgotten; it grows, develops, and becomes a part of them as the story progresses. This trilogy's character development and growth are inspiring, but they are still the people I came to care about in [b:Bloodbound|36393506|Bloodbound|Erin Lindsey|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1507742648l/36393506._SY75_.jpg|40320983]. I find that in so many series, the characters stagnate, becoming caricatures of themselves, or they change so easily to allow for plot complications that they're no longer realistic.
Spoiler
Yes, the end of the war is predictable, but it doesn't make it any less satisfying. It doesn't make the novel or trilogy less worth reading. I like the fact that everything isn't rounded up perfectly with everyone paired off and happy in the end.There's an optimistic feeling that there could be a fourth book, even though the story doesn't need another addition. It doesn't keep me from wanting more, though: this world and these characters are so real to me I would be happy to escape there for another adventure. Thank you, Erin Lindsey, for a well written, exciting, and all-encompassing trilogy that I am sure to reread again and again.
Other books in the Bloodbound Trilogy:
#1: Bloodbound ⭐⭐⭐⭐
#2: Bloodforged ⭐⭐⭐
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blodeuedd's review
3.0
I do feel disappointed. Yes, the book was good, but neither this one or book 2 were as good as book 1. That one had promise, but it never got as good.
Alix in this one, well she did her thing.
Liam did not do a lot. I still do not see them together.
Eric, I still think Alix should have been with him, and yes that triangle kept popping up. It got tiresome. It should have been left in book 1 where it was resolved.
There is danger ahead. The army is approaching, and here we really see how this is light fantasy. Epic is was sure not. The final battle is in the very last pages and poof, 5 pages later the end, the battle was over in a few pages. Was there a battle. I do not know. They sure defeated them fast.
Ok so yes I only have negative things to say. But for a reeeeally light fantasy book it was good, a little adventure, some drama. Nothing serious. But it is hanging loose in that 3, that is does. It could have been so much more.
Alix in this one, well she did her thing.
Liam did not do a lot. I still do not see them together.
Eric, I still think Alix should have been with him, and yes that triangle kept popping up. It got tiresome. It should have been left in book 1 where it was resolved.
There is danger ahead. The army is approaching, and here we really see how this is light fantasy. Epic is was sure not. The final battle is in the very last pages and poof, 5 pages later the end, the battle was over in a few pages. Was there a battle. I do not know. They sure defeated them fast.
Ok so yes I only have negative things to say. But for a reeeeally light fantasy book it was good, a little adventure, some drama. Nothing serious. But it is hanging loose in that 3, that is does. It could have been so much more.
thoughtsstained's review
5.0
Originally posted at Thoughts Stained With Ink:
**Copy of The Bloodsworn by Erin Lindsey graciously given by Literary Agent Lisa Rodgers in exchange for an honest review**
"Not for you."
*commence endless screaming*
I realize you have no idea regarding the significance of that line, thrown in out of context like that. But oh is there significance and feels attached to it, as there are many, many feelings attached to this entire book, not to mention the whole series. So I'm just being cruel and teasing you. Trust me, you wanna find out why that line makes you want to fist-pump the air into oblivion (but you can't because you work in a public library, so you satisfy yourself by whispering, "Fuck yes" instead).
If you've read either of my reviews of the previous two books (The Bloodbound and The Bloodforged), you know I have some opinions (
The first in the trilogy, The Bloodbound, gave me a feeling of nostalgia and home I haven't felt in ages, as I returned to a story focused in a realm and time of knights; a time period that I adore and is so close to my heart, as it was these types of stories that fueled me during my youth. There, I met Alix Black, who inspired me and encouraged me in a time where I desperately needed both of those things. By the end, I wanted to be a little more like her.
Hell, I still do.
In The Bloodforged, I couldn't even properly describe how many emotions I experienced, so I forced to try and express myself through a lot of nerdy GIFs. It has been a while since I read a book where I kept telling myself, "There is no way this can get any worse," only to be proven wrong.
Over.
And over.
And over again.
It was, honestly, quite fantastic, even if the ending resulted in me abusing my paperback as I threw it harshly against the ground in protest. At such a plot twist, I was both wary and excited to read The Bloodsworn; excited because I had to know what happened next, yet wary because I had a sinking feeling that the events to come would make the events in The Bloodforged feel like child's play.
And I was right.
You know the advice writers get about being ruthless to their characters? How the best stories are formed by creating the worst possible conflict for your character to conquer? Yeah, Lindsey is obviously a master at this, because holy shit. Similar to book two, every time I dared to hope that the situation couldn't get any worse, I was proven sorely wrong. More impressively, it wasn't just one character going through some shit. It was multiple characters dealing with multiple problems, all of which were the most extreme circumstances where the worst possible thing that could happen usually did. But not only that, all of these situations affected and depended on the outcomes of the others. Oh, and with multi-POV, these events were revealed with expert pacing, so the tension continued to build and build until you finally reached that point where you had to know what happened to Alix, only to be shifted to Rig. Or Erik. Or Liam.
Rinse and repeat for 300+ pages.
Friends, this shit is gold.
Complete with twists and turns, political plots of epic expectations (and endings) and threads that were woven since book one and sewn together neatly (even if a little scarred with all the shit they were forced to go through) here in book three, The Bloodsworn was exactly what I wanted--and honestly, have come to expect--to end this fantastic trilogy. This entire series was such a refreshing and needed read. The characters are some I am not eager to leave behind and I'm so glad Lisa pointed this series my way. I have a feeling Lindsey will be an author I'll be stalking admiring for a long time to come.
Oh, and as an author whose goal has been to write the perfect summer vacation novel, I'm pretty sure Lindsey's already achieved that. I can't wait to see what she comes up next.
Read on!
PS: I might have a crush on Rig. Maybe a really big one.
PPS: Can we get a spin-off story just on the adventures of Rudi? Talk about most underrated character.
**Copy of The Bloodsworn by Erin Lindsey graciously given by Literary Agent Lisa Rodgers in exchange for an honest review**
"Not for you."
*commence endless screaming*
I realize you have no idea regarding the significance of that line, thrown in out of context like that. But oh is there significance and feels attached to it, as there are many, many feelings attached to this entire book, not to mention the whole series. So I'm just being cruel and teasing you. Trust me, you wanna find out why that line makes you want to fist-pump the air into oblivion (but you can't because you work in a public library, so you satisfy yourself by whispering, "Fuck yes" instead).
If you've read either of my reviews of the previous two books (The Bloodbound and The Bloodforged), you know I have some opinions (
The first in the trilogy, The Bloodbound, gave me a feeling of nostalgia and home I haven't felt in ages, as I returned to a story focused in a realm and time of knights; a time period that I adore and is so close to my heart, as it was these types of stories that fueled me during my youth. There, I met Alix Black, who inspired me and encouraged me in a time where I desperately needed both of those things. By the end, I wanted to be a little more like her.
Hell, I still do.
In The Bloodforged, I couldn't even properly describe how many emotions I experienced, so I forced to try and express myself through a lot of nerdy GIFs. It has been a while since I read a book where I kept telling myself, "There is no way this can get any worse," only to be proven wrong.
Over.
And over.
And over again.
It was, honestly, quite fantastic, even if the ending resulted in me abusing my paperback as I threw it harshly against the ground in protest. At such a plot twist, I was both wary and excited to read The Bloodsworn; excited because I had to know what happened next, yet wary because I had a sinking feeling that the events to come would make the events in The Bloodforged feel like child's play.
And I was right.
You know the advice writers get about being ruthless to their characters? How the best stories are formed by creating the worst possible conflict for your character to conquer? Yeah, Lindsey is obviously a master at this, because holy shit. Similar to book two, every time I dared to hope that the situation couldn't get any worse, I was proven sorely wrong. More impressively, it wasn't just one character going through some shit. It was multiple characters dealing with multiple problems, all of which were the most extreme circumstances where the worst possible thing that could happen usually did. But not only that, all of these situations affected and depended on the outcomes of the others. Oh, and with multi-POV, these events were revealed with expert pacing, so the tension continued to build and build until you finally reached that point where you had to know what happened to Alix, only to be shifted to Rig. Or Erik. Or Liam.
Rinse and repeat for 300+ pages.
Friends, this shit is gold.
Complete with twists and turns, political plots of epic expectations (and endings) and threads that were woven since book one and sewn together neatly (even if a little scarred with all the shit they were forced to go through) here in book three, The Bloodsworn was exactly what I wanted--and honestly, have come to expect--to end this fantastic trilogy. This entire series was such a refreshing and needed read. The characters are some I am not eager to leave behind and I'm so glad Lisa pointed this series my way. I have a feeling Lindsey will be an author I'll be stalking admiring for a long time to come.
Oh, and as an author whose goal has been to write the perfect summer vacation novel, I'm pretty sure Lindsey's already achieved that. I can't wait to see what she comes up next.
Read on!
PS: I might have a crush on Rig. Maybe a really big one.
PPS: Can we get a spin-off story just on the adventures of Rudi? Talk about most underrated character.
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