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rachaelreadthat's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This book has EVERYTHING. Love. Murder. Scheming. Betrayal. A love triangle. The Bachelor ft. a Prince and a witch. I was enthralled the whole way through and absolutely tore through this book. I wasn’t expecting some of the modern elements when I first started, so a fate-reading witch wearing skinny jeans on tv isn’t what I thought was going to happen, but wow did it work.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Terminal illness, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Blood, Medical trauma, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment
kreela's review against another edition
5.0
I received this during a free book promotion, based on the title. I had no clue it would be so good. Ostensibly, it is a princess competition, and Sable is just one of 13 chosen to compete for the Prince. I love this trope anyways, but the trope is the perfect backdrop to explore how much control we have over fate, tradition, and upbringing.
For Sable, Fate is like a God residing inside her, and Fate allows her to see futures and character. It is also one point in the pentagram, along with Earth, Wind, Fire, and Water. The magic system is well detailed, and I would like to see more stories based in this magic world, but the mages were not tied to just one elemental power, which confused me a tiny bit.
In the plot, Sable thinks she is visiting the crown in order to save the Prince from murder, as she has foreseen. But the real shiner comes from her “Fairy Godmother” who uses spiders to create the most amazing fashions for her. That priestess rocks.
The plot is paced well until the end, which I thought was finished at 90-95%, but you get the full HEA. There are no cliffhangers for a part 2.
For Sable, Fate is like a God residing inside her, and Fate allows her to see futures and character. It is also one point in the pentagram, along with Earth, Wind, Fire, and Water. The magic system is well detailed, and I would like to see more stories based in this magic world, but the mages were not tied to just one elemental power, which confused me a tiny bit.
In the plot, Sable thinks she is visiting the crown in order to save the Prince from murder, as she has foreseen. But the real shiner comes from her “Fairy Godmother” who uses spiders to create the most amazing fashions for her. That priestess rocks.
The plot is paced well until the end, which I thought was finished at 90-95%, but you get the full HEA. There are no cliffhangers for a part 2.
shineylikeadiamond's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
takealookatmybookshelf's review against another edition
4.0
When Wishes Bleed by Casey L. Bond is a magical, romantic, enchanting story with an intricately layered world and a unique magical system. I thoroughly enjoyed this YA fantasy with insta-love, forbidden romance, and Cinderella/The Hunger Games vibes.
Bond has created amazing characters and I loved the romance between Sable and Tauren. The world-building, writing, and plot were fantastic and I found myself not wanting the book to end. The ending was great and I loved reinforcement of a strong female character and her values.
I want more of Sable and Tauren and I can’t wait to see what the sequel holds!
Rating: 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Bond has created amazing characters and I loved the romance between Sable and Tauren. The world-building, writing, and plot were fantastic and I found myself not wanting the book to end. The ending was great and I loved reinforcement of a strong female character and her values.
I want more of Sable and Tauren and I can’t wait to see what the sequel holds!
Rating: 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
flotrenza's review against another edition
4.0
Simply wonderful
I honestly couldn't put this down. The whole concept spoke volumes to me. -1 star because the final show down could have been longer and more intriguing but still an amazing read
I honestly couldn't put this down. The whole concept spoke volumes to me. -1 star because the final show down could have been longer and more intriguing but still an amazing read
highfaehoe's review against another edition
3.0
I wanted to sleep on it before I wrote a review for this. I LOVE the premise. A private sector of outcast witches, with ONE witch being then ostracized from the group as well? Love it. She's also Fate's Daughter and can read/see the future and prophecies? Sold. She meets a mysterious (ofc gorgeous) man during a festival, reads his terrifying fate and then he leaves mysteriously? Please!
This book had a great start. I feel like the story really started to get a little muddled at the 30% mark when it went less from a cool, witchy, coming-to-age story and more into an insta-love romance. It just felt forced to me, especially after reading the epilogue. The writing also felt like it was missing something, I just couldn't put my finger on what.
Overall this is a decent, witchy romantasy. Heavy on the ROMANtasy bc once the romance is introduced you really lose the importance of any other plotline.
This book had a great start. I feel like the story really started to get a little muddled at the 30% mark when it went less from a cool, witchy, coming-to-age story and more into an insta-love romance. It just felt forced to me, especially after reading the epilogue. The writing also felt like it was missing something, I just couldn't put my finger on what.
Overall this is a decent, witchy romantasy. Heavy on the ROMANtasy bc once the romance is introduced you really lose the importance of any other plotline.
afantaseaofbooks's review against another edition
4.0
◦ I've received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review ◦
The book began pretty darkly with witches and their ceremonies and the way things were happening in their districts. I got charmed by the mystery and the dark side of the witches – including a TW moment that happens in the book. For me in general wasn’t too gruesome but the detail of that scene was pretty detailed and played with my imagination big time and I felt like that was a big point that moved the story forward.
The magic system was really great – however, I wanted it to be a little bit more explained, how they get their powers, from who more exactly because each one of the witches was part of elemental affinities and they were able to control them but from who exactly they get their powers weren’t mentioned and I felt that was an interesting thing to find out.
I also adored the way Fate and Sable were discussing and having their relationship, the way he was guiding her but also “showing” her things that can or will happen. It was really interesting that part of the book.
I adored the forbidden love and the stolen kisses, the romance in the book was clean so no smut things were happening but their kisses and forbidden moments were just the perfect touches on a book already filled with lots of amazing things happening.
I felt the book had some Hunger Games elements for example the districts were very close to the Hunger Games ones including the selection and the way the prince was choosing his own wife, instead of fighting to death they were competing for his heart in different ways, the world-building was really fascinating and everything played behind my eyes like a movie.
I loved the different use of tropes in this book from forbidden love to found family and friendship. However, as much as I’ve enjoyed the romance in the book I felt the relationship between Tauron and Sable to be a little bit too quickly perhaps some will call it insta-love. Sometimes it felt a little bit forced how from reading in the wish bones she was already swooning for him and nothing else pretty much didn’t matter – the thing that I found good was the fact they didn’t act on their impulses from the beginning so that allowed for things to flow a little bit more naturally but their overall thoughts were pretty much into the insta-love trope.
Another thing that I enjoyed but also not so much because at times it was a little bit too much, was the description of everything. I felt we’ve received way too much information that perhaps could’ve been left out to play more with our imagination.
Overall I did find this book to be an interesting read and I’ve enjoyed more things than disliked. The beginning and the end of the book were definitely on the more promising side of things because we’ve got magic, Fate, and other witchy rituals that captivated me from the get-go.
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The book began pretty darkly with witches and their ceremonies and the way things were happening in their districts. I got charmed by the mystery and the dark side of the witches – including a TW moment that happens in the book. For me in general wasn’t too gruesome but the detail of that scene was pretty detailed and played with my imagination big time and I felt like that was a big point that moved the story forward.
The magic system was really great – however, I wanted it to be a little bit more explained, how they get their powers, from who more exactly because each one of the witches was part of elemental affinities and they were able to control them but from who exactly they get their powers weren’t mentioned and I felt that was an interesting thing to find out.
I also adored the way Fate and Sable were discussing and having their relationship, the way he was guiding her but also “showing” her things that can or will happen. It was really interesting that part of the book.
I adored the forbidden love and the stolen kisses, the romance in the book was clean so no smut things were happening but their kisses and forbidden moments were just the perfect touches on a book already filled with lots of amazing things happening.
I felt the book had some Hunger Games elements for example the districts were very close to the Hunger Games ones including the selection and the way the prince was choosing his own wife, instead of fighting to death they were competing for his heart in different ways, the world-building was really fascinating and everything played behind my eyes like a movie.
I loved the different use of tropes in this book from forbidden love to found family and friendship. However, as much as I’ve enjoyed the romance in the book I felt the relationship between Tauron and Sable to be a little bit too quickly perhaps some will call it insta-love. Sometimes it felt a little bit forced how from reading in the wish bones she was already swooning for him and nothing else pretty much didn’t matter – the thing that I found good was the fact they didn’t act on their impulses from the beginning so that allowed for things to flow a little bit more naturally but their overall thoughts were pretty much into the insta-love trope.
Another thing that I enjoyed but also not so much because at times it was a little bit too much, was the description of everything. I felt we’ve received way too much information that perhaps could’ve been left out to play more with our imagination.
Overall I did find this book to be an interesting read and I’ve enjoyed more things than disliked. The beginning and the end of the book were definitely on the more promising side of things because we’ve got magic, Fate, and other witchy rituals that captivated me from the get-go.
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chanelchapters's review against another edition
3.0
3.25
Witch of fate is chosen to compete in the prince’s bachelor games as 13 women vie for his heart, but someone’s also gunning for his life. And it’s up to Sable to stop them.
The magic system was cool but not executed well. Sable & the prince have an insta love happening and there’s a triangle with her bff bro. It also felt really young and the characters make a lot of dumb decisions. The villain wasn’t fleshed out either, didn’t really understand their motives. And the ending felt corny.
It’s fine - but it could have been really cool.
Witch of fate is chosen to compete in the prince’s bachelor games as 13 women vie for his heart, but someone’s also gunning for his life. And it’s up to Sable to stop them.
The magic system was cool but not executed well. Sable & the prince have an insta love happening and there’s a triangle with her bff bro. It also felt really young and the characters make a lot of dumb decisions. The villain wasn’t fleshed out either, didn’t really understand their motives. And the ending felt corny.
It’s fine - but it could have been really cool.