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Posted 20 hours ago

To Bleed a Crystal Bloom: 1

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It was an unreliable narrator, & limited povs that gave you little tid bits & questions & you filled in the blanks… but what it really is, is something else entirely - it’s utter genius

Their relationship is dysfunctional and the power balance is very off, but for such a dark tale and for the sake of Orlaith's arc it should be done that way. I felt every range of emotion with this book, and as a person who has and still struggles with trauma, hardship and mental health from a very long time, this book has changed my life forever. I continue to be in awe of Parker's craft and how she intricately carved Orlaith's journey from the beginning to where she is now. This book continues to prove what a brilliant storyteller Parker is. There are a lot of unanswered questions and set up for future books, so for now I am tentatively invested. Actually, this is a theme that I feel occurs with many characters in the series. What happened there? Why the sudden change in behavior and interactions? They're like completely different characters.

My Book Notes

Once upon a time, my world was small and sheltered. Everything changed the moment I stepped over my Safety Line, barreling towards a coupling with a man I hardly know. The dynamic between Orlaith and Rhordyn is meant to unsettle the reader but also spark that intrigue and curiosity on where it could all lead to.

And if they turn out to be mates, which I truly believe there are given the strong evidence in the book itself, I'm really intrigued by the concept of a mating bond that is not romanticized. Most of those who find their mates struggle a little or accept that they have found their one true love, and that bond mostly gives them little butterflies and an infinite love. The dark concept of mates in this world is a tragedy, at least for Orlaith and Rhordyn. Cainon, on the other hand, showed an “interesting” side of him. There were some surprising revelations along the way. The rest of the characters I just missed, Baze in particular, who simply has my heart. He is not the only one though, but there will be no spoilers today. 👀🤫😁 This story’s scale is astounding and it just keeps getting bigger and bigger. And the uniqueness of it is striking. It seems like a doomed love more than anything -me he knows it—and maybe it has to do with the prophecy? This series is planned to be 6 books in total, this is book 3 so three other books are left in the series.When he singled us out: this is bazes POV, us in this sentence I believe refers to aeshlians as a whole The world-building expands through multiple POVs but what I love the most, same as the first book, is how the world is unfurling for the reader the same way it does for Orlaith. I love that we're learning and experiencing things alongside her. I love being in her head and following her throughout this journey. Okay so multiple times it has been mentioned that Orlaiths purity is important to their union and important to Cainon. He asks if she has had sex with Rhordyn. She is always sleeping on white sheets. He asks her if he had sex with her right then, would she break for him? Etc etc. Over and over. She has a guard constantly to protect her virtue.

Now onto that ending... and my oh my what a 2010 ending that was. If you want a hint of how that shitstorm played out, just think of Eclipse from Twilight because in many ways it was similar. Not once has it been mentioned that Rhordyn had been inappropriate towards Orlaith or had shown any desire for her prior to the events in this book. Eventually, it's pointed out to which moment he actually started to feel more than just a protective instinct (as I said they have a unique connection that is likely a mating bond). There's nothing I couldn't go without in this book, and if that's not proof of how much of a masterpiece this one was, even outstanding its predecessors, which were diamond level reads, I don't know what it will. Orlaith is not kept from the world, there is not much of the world out there to discover because it reeks of monsters and deaths.This installment felt infinitely beautiful and tragic in the best sort of way. It dazzled and consumed me. Gripped me! Tore at my heart. Healed it. Tore it up again. Left it in a puddle. So many questions were answered and yet so many sprouted and remain... Every letter. Every line. Every chapter. Every character. Every tear. Every joy. Every fear. Every hope. Every love. Do you ever read a book that is so bad that instead of dnf-ing you keep reading it? 30% in this book and I knew that this book was a colossal waste of time and I should dnf this book... But I hate-read it instead.

There were random words thrown in the book that were neither explained properly nor written in the glossary. By the way, the glossary had info about random names of places like bitten bay, sprouts, whispers, and safety line. Like...ma'am, you explained these random names of the places this woman-child mentioned once but you can't be bothered to explain WHAT THE HELL IS A CUPLA???? Sarah unfurls such a complex relationship with a tinge of taboo and yet underneath it all lies a thousand questions and secrets. Throughout book 1 and 2, Rhor is constantly described as cold, icy, etc. Literally chilly. And then at the very end of the book, when he "dies", he is described by Orlaith as being warm. I loved everything about this, but seeing Orlaith grow and begin healing was especially sweet. I won't say much about the rest of the story - because wow spoilers - but I'll just say I think most readers will be very pleased with how this story unravels. I had no idea what I was getting my self into with this one - sure, I have about a million theories - but the way this came together went beyond my expectations. As much as I have enjoyed the sexual tension and chemistry between them, neither of them are ready for any notion of a romantic love. Orlaith must break out of her confines and let her world expand beyond her tower—and Rhordyn must face his own demons. As of now, they are not a healthy option for each other, not until that power imbalance shifts and for Orlaith to experience what the world, and not Rhordyn, has to offer for her.I honestly can't wait to discuss some of my favorite scenes with other readers once it's out in the world because oh man do I have many I need to discuss AND YELL about! The romance comes secondary to Orlaith's journey but YES! you will get a clearer answer of who is Orlaith's endgame. There's 100x times more angst in this book. Last but not least, I think Rhordyn directs so much self-loath at himself. I do not think he finds pleasure in what his instincts draw out of him especially when it comes to Orlaith. I don't think he relishes in their power imbalance either and I'll dive into that more when I talk about the mates and their bond. His self-loath is what influences a lot of his actions when it comes to her. Not justifiable in any way, but this is why this book is considered a dark fantasy romance. Nothing is coming easy for them. Some truths were revealed that speared right through my heart and it's going to get darker than that.

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