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Blood Flowers #1
Blood Flowers
An explosive new dystopian romantasy YA, perfect for fans of The Hunger Games, The Atlas Six and Leigh Bardugo. Seventeen-year-old Bear lives in the walled town of Calleston – a place of stark divide between the rich and poor. Living down in Cobbleside, Bear is painfully conscious of the inequalities between him and residents of Roofside.
When the town's annual Field Day – an event during which those who've recently come of age test their Sinsen growing capacities – shows Bear to have unprecedented abilities, he's hurtled into the upper echelons of society, and everything he's ever wanted is within his grasp. But it soon becomes apparent, that it's not all he expected it to be. He finds himself existing amidst an uncaring, callous people, concerned only with themselves, living in a society in which corruption is rife.
Finding himself unwillingly entangled with the Overlord's beautiful but spiteful daughter, Bear is forced to make decisions which may jeopardise everything he's dreamed of – or risk the lives of the people he once lived amongst.
A story of love, witchcraft, betrayal and murder!
From member of internationally adored band The Wanted, Jay McGuiness, comes his breathtaking debut YA novel. Based on where Jay grew-up, with themes of poverty, class divide and addiction. A powerful plot, sweeping, heartfelt romance and an iconic new YA hero.
When the town's annual Field Day – an event during which those who've recently come of age test their Sinsen growing capacities – shows Bear to have unprecedented abilities, he's hurtled into the upper echelons of society, and everything he's ever wanted is within his grasp. But it soon becomes apparent, that it's not all he expected it to be. He finds himself existing amidst an uncaring, callous people, concerned only with themselves, living in a society in which corruption is rife.
Finding himself unwillingly entangled with the Overlord's beautiful but spiteful daughter, Bear is forced to make decisions which may jeopardise everything he's dreamed of – or risk the lives of the people he once lived amongst.
A story of love, witchcraft, betrayal and murder!
From member of internationally adored band The Wanted, Jay McGuiness, comes his breathtaking debut YA novel. Based on where Jay grew-up, with themes of poverty, class divide and addiction. A powerful plot, sweeping, heartfelt romance and an iconic new YA hero.
432 pages, Paperback
Published February 1, 2024
87 people are currently reading
1570 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 119 reviews
July 18, 2025
I received a gifted copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via the publishers.
Blood Flowers is the first book in an exciting new dystopian YA fantasy series filled with all my favourite things; magic, witches, friendship, found family, secrets, lies, hunger games vibes and slow burn.
We follow the POV of Bear, who lives in the divided walled town of Calleston. Bear lives with the poor and is used for his growing skills of a plant called Sinsen, which is used across the land but only grown in Calleston.
When the Queen comes to visit to see the growing for herself on the annual Field Day, much is set into motion, tearing friends apart, secrets being spilt, uproar, betrayal, and even death at the hands of the monsters that lurk in the forest surrounding the town and those in power too. Bear finds himself swept away, questioning everything he's known and finding his own abilities amongst the chaos he's found himself swept up in.
This book is perfect for anyone who loves the hunger games books and I devoured this book and it's sequel Blood Tides back-to-back and can't wait for book 3!
Blood Flowers is the first book in an exciting new dystopian YA fantasy series filled with all my favourite things; magic, witches, friendship, found family, secrets, lies, hunger games vibes and slow burn.
We follow the POV of Bear, who lives in the divided walled town of Calleston. Bear lives with the poor and is used for his growing skills of a plant called Sinsen, which is used across the land but only grown in Calleston.
When the Queen comes to visit to see the growing for herself on the annual Field Day, much is set into motion, tearing friends apart, secrets being spilt, uproar, betrayal, and even death at the hands of the monsters that lurk in the forest surrounding the town and those in power too. Bear finds himself swept away, questioning everything he's known and finding his own abilities amongst the chaos he's found himself swept up in.
This book is perfect for anyone who loves the hunger games books and I devoured this book and it's sequel Blood Tides back-to-back and can't wait for book 3!
April 17, 2024
Incredible!
An absolute onslaught of emotions from beginning to end! The most beautifully crafted world and characters with the warmest of hearts and darkest of secrets.
I adored it!
I am firmly in my YA era this year, this book proves that you can have so much power and passion in a YA story. I laughed, I SOBBED, I felt wicked and vengeful.
I must admit, had I have known the author prior to reading this I maybe wouldn't have picked it up, assuming it would have been rubbish, and that says everything I need to know about my outrageous judgements and has truly taught me a lesson.
An absolute onslaught of emotions from beginning to end! The most beautifully crafted world and characters with the warmest of hearts and darkest of secrets.
I adored it!
I am firmly in my YA era this year, this book proves that you can have so much power and passion in a YA story. I laughed, I SOBBED, I felt wicked and vengeful.
I must admit, had I have known the author prior to reading this I maybe wouldn't have picked it up, assuming it would have been rubbish, and that says everything I need to know about my outrageous judgements and has truly taught me a lesson.
January 25, 2024
as an avid supporter of the wanted for more than half of my life, i don’t believe i’m being biased when i say this book is incredible.
Jay, your imagination will never cease to amaze me. i got so invested in your characters and i love that you didn’t shy away from killing off some of the main characters, as to me it adds so much more depth to the story and makes it seem more real.
and for the mouse that frequently visited Bear turning out to be Megg enlaced??!! heartstrings were tugged.
i truly loved reading this so much, and i hope there is another so i can find out how Felix is getting on!!
“talented, brilliant, incredible, amazing, show-stopping, spectacular, never the same, totally unique, completely not ever been done before” - lady gaga x
Jay, your imagination will never cease to amaze me. i got so invested in your characters and i love that you didn’t shy away from killing off some of the main characters, as to me it adds so much more depth to the story and makes it seem more real.
and for the mouse that frequently visited Bear turning out to be Megg enlaced??!! heartstrings were tugged.
i truly loved reading this so much, and i hope there is another so i can find out how Felix is getting on!!
“talented, brilliant, incredible, amazing, show-stopping, spectacular, never the same, totally unique, completely not ever been done before” - lady gaga x
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 20, 2025
A brilliant debut YA book.
Loveable (and dislikable!) characters, plenty of action, fast-paced, unexpected twists.
I love the Queendom and how well thought out the world this book is set in is. I attended a talk by the author and absolutely loved how much he's thought about the world as a whole and how other elements will be brought in for the other books in the series.
I noticed a few mistakes that should have been picked up by editors that disrupted the flow a little but I know these things happen.
A great cliffhanger ending; can't wait for book 2!
Loveable (and dislikable!) characters, plenty of action, fast-paced, unexpected twists.
I love the Queendom and how well thought out the world this book is set in is. I attended a talk by the author and absolutely loved how much he's thought about the world as a whole and how other elements will be brought in for the other books in the series.
I noticed a few mistakes that should have been picked up by editors that disrupted the flow a little but I know these things happen.
A great cliffhanger ending; can't wait for book 2!
June 22, 2025
I honestly didn’t really get what was going on most of the time- I thought it was okay writing but the story/ the place/ the set didn’t feel very put together like the world felt wishy washy to me and I couldn’t imagine the world.
I thought some of the characters were good but naive. And how last minute Bear finds out that the flowers were magical because they were grown with magic like wasn’t it obvious from the start?
Also I was upset that Megg just got killed and I thought there would have been more to it but then again it is a debut of the series so there’s more to it afterwards.
And the ending felt rushed, I reached the end pages as I was like “is that it?” And there’s a lot of unanswered questions.
I liked some of the characters like Felix and Megg but the overall story I just couldn’t get into it much I just couldn’t imagine all the scenes very well in my head but it is a good book for a first published book and I won’t take that away from Jay McGuiness because his writing style is good though.
I thought some of the characters were good but naive. And how last minute Bear finds out that the flowers were magical because they were grown with magic like wasn’t it obvious from the start?
Also I was upset that Megg just got killed and I thought there would have been more to it but then again it is a debut of the series so there’s more to it afterwards.
And the ending felt rushed, I reached the end pages as I was like “is that it?” And there’s a lot of unanswered questions.
I liked some of the characters like Felix and Megg but the overall story I just couldn’t get into it much I just couldn’t imagine all the scenes very well in my head but it is a good book for a first published book and I won’t take that away from Jay McGuiness because his writing style is good though.
February 1, 2024
[This review can also be found on my BLOG]
**I received a proof copy from Scholastic UK in exchange for an honest review**
CW: violence, blood, murder, injury, death, death of parent, bullying, grief, addiction, classism
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This was one hell of a captivating debut!
Taking place in a walled and tiered town called Calleston that has a distinct class divide Blood Flowers follows a young Cobblesider, named Bear Aberson who akin to those around him dreams of escaping a life of poverty and climbing the ranks to be a Roofsider. Cobblesiders with the ability have the responsibility of growing and harvesting Sinsen, the red flower that is the prized commodity of the town, despite the increasing threat of monsters lurking on the edges of the fields and with the annual Field Day approaching it will be Bear’s turn alongside the other adolescents to test his power. However, through some chance events and crossing paths with the Overlord’s daughter, Bear starts to see that there is a lot more afoot in the world and not everything that glitters is gold.
There is definitely a dystopian-esque vibe to this book but a good sprinkling of magic and the whisper of witchcraft drives the story, drawing you in more and more as you follow the characters around the maze-like setting. The worldbuilding in this is absolutely fantastic. From the vivid descriptions of both the lower and upper levels of Calleston to the stark contrast that we see in the portrayal of the two communities as well as parts of the wider Queendom, McGuiness’ narration brings the place to life and immerses you right in. I was equally fascinated with the magic system and loved how it is grounded in beats and rhythm.
Bear is a much quieter character than I expected but I really enjoyed following his journey of coming into his powers and uncovering the truth about society around him. Alongside Bear, Meya the daughter of the Overlord also plays a leading role and I really liked her characterisation. There were also snippets from the perspective of various other interesting characters interspersed within the chapters that added to the intrigue. I absolutely loved Felix and am super curious to know more about a certain group of older Cobblesiders.
There is a lot less romance than the synopsis alludes to in the book but I welcomed the larger focus on community, family and platonic relationships.
I will admit that I found the pacing a bit sporadic particularly in the second half of the book. The first half of the book has more of a balance with slower scenes that lay the groundwork and ease us into the character’s lives alongside a few tense moments of action that really get your heart racing (those Blots are terrifying). Then further in everything just ramps up and there are so many things happening and reveals dropping that it was a little overwhelming.
However, the way everything wrapped up also left me with the urge to jump back to the beginning and read the book all over again to catch all the carefully laid out dots that are connected by the end. And what an ending! I shall be eagerly awaiting a sequel.
Final Rating – 4/5 Stars
**I received a proof copy from Scholastic UK in exchange for an honest review**
CW: violence, blood, murder, injury, death, death of parent, bullying, grief, addiction, classism
--
This was one hell of a captivating debut!
Taking place in a walled and tiered town called Calleston that has a distinct class divide Blood Flowers follows a young Cobblesider, named Bear Aberson who akin to those around him dreams of escaping a life of poverty and climbing the ranks to be a Roofsider. Cobblesiders with the ability have the responsibility of growing and harvesting Sinsen, the red flower that is the prized commodity of the town, despite the increasing threat of monsters lurking on the edges of the fields and with the annual Field Day approaching it will be Bear’s turn alongside the other adolescents to test his power. However, through some chance events and crossing paths with the Overlord’s daughter, Bear starts to see that there is a lot more afoot in the world and not everything that glitters is gold.
There is definitely a dystopian-esque vibe to this book but a good sprinkling of magic and the whisper of witchcraft drives the story, drawing you in more and more as you follow the characters around the maze-like setting. The worldbuilding in this is absolutely fantastic. From the vivid descriptions of both the lower and upper levels of Calleston to the stark contrast that we see in the portrayal of the two communities as well as parts of the wider Queendom, McGuiness’ narration brings the place to life and immerses you right in. I was equally fascinated with the magic system and loved how it is grounded in beats and rhythm.
Bear is a much quieter character than I expected but I really enjoyed following his journey of coming into his powers and uncovering the truth about society around him. Alongside Bear, Meya the daughter of the Overlord also plays a leading role and I really liked her characterisation. There were also snippets from the perspective of various other interesting characters interspersed within the chapters that added to the intrigue. I absolutely loved Felix and am super curious to know more about a certain group of older Cobblesiders.
There is a lot less romance than the synopsis alludes to in the book but I welcomed the larger focus on community, family and platonic relationships.
I will admit that I found the pacing a bit sporadic particularly in the second half of the book. The first half of the book has more of a balance with slower scenes that lay the groundwork and ease us into the character’s lives alongside a few tense moments of action that really get your heart racing (those Blots are terrifying). Then further in everything just ramps up and there are so many things happening and reveals dropping that it was a little overwhelming.
However, the way everything wrapped up also left me with the urge to jump back to the beginning and read the book all over again to catch all the carefully laid out dots that are connected by the end. And what an ending! I shall be eagerly awaiting a sequel.
Final Rating – 4/5 Stars
September 4, 2025
Jay McGuiness’s Blood Flowers is a debut novel, it shows a lot of promise, but I feel the writing still needs some work.
The plot/idea is great, I love dystopian and really liked the setting of Callestone where Cobbleside is separated from Roofside with their homes literally stacked on top of one another like jumbled flats. People residing in Cobbleside’s main job is to grow Sinsen, a drug which they make into truthwine, ruby brew, and for smoking to help the workers cope with their daily lives. The social class division is displayed really well, with golden gates separating the poor from the rich and having them literally look down on Cobbleside. The bots were a fantastic villain, weaponised to keep people scared of stepping out of line and venturing out of the city. Meya – I was rooting for her! Loved the twist and Percy’s revenge, I didn’t see that coming.
I cannot believe Bear was meant to be seventeen, he seemed much younger emotionally and mentally. There was a lot of telling rather than showing unfortunately, for example we’re repeatedly told that the city is starving and everyone looks weak and skinny, but Bear barely mentions being hungry. The book is around 400 pages, but the real action didn’t begin until well over half way, and the novel’s climax happened in the last 100, making the action feel rushed. The Queen has abolished magic, yet it takes Bear until the last few pages to realise that how they grow Sinsen is magic – like, put two and two together man, your not making plants grow with science. I thought a lot more of the novel would take place with Bear living on Roofside as the blurb implied, but he barely spends a night there, so we don’t see a lot of how Roofside live in comparison.
“Bear is forced to make decisions which may jeopardise everything he's dreamed of – or risk the lives of the people he once lived amongst” – was the decision in the room with us? Is this in reference to whether or not to tell people about the Overlord’s evil plans? Because he told everyone instantly, as he should, there was no mental turmoil over whether to inform the citizens. Same as him revealing the Overlord’s plans to Meya, he wasn’t conflicted about it.
The ending sets the scene nicely for the second novel, but I’m okay not reading anymore of this series.
The plot/idea is great, I love dystopian and really liked the setting of Callestone where Cobbleside is separated from Roofside with their homes literally stacked on top of one another like jumbled flats. People residing in Cobbleside’s main job is to grow Sinsen, a drug which they make into truthwine, ruby brew, and for smoking to help the workers cope with their daily lives. The social class division is displayed really well, with golden gates separating the poor from the rich and having them literally look down on Cobbleside. The bots were a fantastic villain, weaponised to keep people scared of stepping out of line and venturing out of the city. Meya – I was rooting for her! Loved the twist and Percy’s revenge, I didn’t see that coming.
I cannot believe Bear was meant to be seventeen, he seemed much younger emotionally and mentally. There was a lot of telling rather than showing unfortunately, for example we’re repeatedly told that the city is starving and everyone looks weak and skinny, but Bear barely mentions being hungry. The book is around 400 pages, but the real action didn’t begin until well over half way, and the novel’s climax happened in the last 100, making the action feel rushed. The Queen has abolished magic, yet it takes Bear until the last few pages to realise that how they grow Sinsen is magic – like, put two and two together man, your not making plants grow with science. I thought a lot more of the novel would take place with Bear living on Roofside as the blurb implied, but he barely spends a night there, so we don’t see a lot of how Roofside live in comparison.
“Bear is forced to make decisions which may jeopardise everything he's dreamed of – or risk the lives of the people he once lived amongst” – was the decision in the room with us? Is this in reference to whether or not to tell people about the Overlord’s evil plans? Because he told everyone instantly, as he should, there was no mental turmoil over whether to inform the citizens. Same as him revealing the Overlord’s plans to Meya, he wasn’t conflicted about it.
The ending sets the scene nicely for the second novel, but I’m okay not reading anymore of this series.
October 8, 2024
I would give this 0 stars if I could.
March 12, 2024
Not even because I’m a biased fan but I honestly loved this book so much - what a way to make a writing debut !!
Fantasy isn’t usually my thing, especially in YA as it can be a bit cliche and take too much influence from existing best sellers, but Jay writes so well and has really set the tone for a whole unique series to come 🤞🏼
It was also actually so refreshing for there to be no major love interest and only subtle romantic hints to just enjoy the actual story and the characters themselves.
The ending felt a bit rushed to be honest as I was thinking there hadn’t been any shocking plot twists but then it allll hit in one.
Can’t wait to read the next in this funny little fantasy land !!
Fantasy isn’t usually my thing, especially in YA as it can be a bit cliche and take too much influence from existing best sellers, but Jay writes so well and has really set the tone for a whole unique series to come 🤞🏼
It was also actually so refreshing for there to be no major love interest and only subtle romantic hints to just enjoy the actual story and the characters themselves.
The ending felt a bit rushed to be honest as I was thinking there hadn’t been any shocking plot twists but then it allll hit in one.
Can’t wait to read the next in this funny little fantasy land !!
August 2, 2025
I have always thought what a genuine young man Jay McGuiness is and particularly like how open he was on the Pilgrimage TV programme. I hadn’t realised he had written two books until I saw him being interviewed recently. I don’t normally read fantasy but this was a good story, well thought out and original. It is billed as young adult fiction but I felt had more than enough depth to be read by adults.
December 8, 2023
I was lucky to win a proof copy of Blood Flowers at YALC, all thoughts are my own.
About the book…
Inside a walled town called Calleston, there is a stark divide between rich and poor, a seventeen year old boy called Bear lives in the squalor that is Cobbleside, on the lowest tier. The level that holds the town’s main gates that lead to the fields which will be used to grow Sinsen. A flower when smoked or drunk by the rich and poor alike, can calm the nerves and bring contentment to all. The town's annual Field Day, a day to grow and harvest Sinsen, is fast approaching. The towns people with the magical ability to call upon the flowers, stand in the fields, settle into a trance like state and turn the brown earth into a sea of wondrous red. This special event also tests those, who've recently come of age with their Sinsen growing capacities and Bear proves to have unprecedented abilities. He's soon hurtled into the upper level of society and everything he's ever wanted is within his grasp. But the people of Roofside are cruel, callous people, concerned only with themselves. Bear finds himself unwillingly entangled with Meya, the Overlord's beautiful but spiteful daughter and is is forced to make decisions which may ruin his new life in Roofside or risk the lives of the people he once cared for in Cobbleside.
I feel this book reads on the younger end of the YA scale with no real romance. I really enjoyed reading about the different areas of Calleston, so much so that at times it kept me reading into the night. The world building was spot on, I could see in my minds eye, everything Bear and Meya saw. Jay McGuiness lead us through the world in full colour!
However I really had trouble connecting with the characters, they lacked something for me. This could be because the story is told in the third person, but I just couldn’t connect with the characters. They felt flat to me, which was such a shame as even though the characters were busy doing risky things it felt like the story moved along slowly - at a flat pace, which in reality wasn’t the case.
Whatever my feelings are on Jay McGuiness’ debut book, it was an enjoyable read and I look forward to reading any future books and seeing what you all think of Blood Flowers.
I have rated this book 3.5 Stars (rounded down to 3 stars).
About the book…
Inside a walled town called Calleston, there is a stark divide between rich and poor, a seventeen year old boy called Bear lives in the squalor that is Cobbleside, on the lowest tier. The level that holds the town’s main gates that lead to the fields which will be used to grow Sinsen. A flower when smoked or drunk by the rich and poor alike, can calm the nerves and bring contentment to all. The town's annual Field Day, a day to grow and harvest Sinsen, is fast approaching. The towns people with the magical ability to call upon the flowers, stand in the fields, settle into a trance like state and turn the brown earth into a sea of wondrous red. This special event also tests those, who've recently come of age with their Sinsen growing capacities and Bear proves to have unprecedented abilities. He's soon hurtled into the upper level of society and everything he's ever wanted is within his grasp. But the people of Roofside are cruel, callous people, concerned only with themselves. Bear finds himself unwillingly entangled with Meya, the Overlord's beautiful but spiteful daughter and is is forced to make decisions which may ruin his new life in Roofside or risk the lives of the people he once cared for in Cobbleside.
I feel this book reads on the younger end of the YA scale with no real romance. I really enjoyed reading about the different areas of Calleston, so much so that at times it kept me reading into the night. The world building was spot on, I could see in my minds eye, everything Bear and Meya saw. Jay McGuiness lead us through the world in full colour!
However I really had trouble connecting with the characters, they lacked something for me. This could be because the story is told in the third person, but I just couldn’t connect with the characters. They felt flat to me, which was such a shame as even though the characters were busy doing risky things it felt like the story moved along slowly - at a flat pace, which in reality wasn’t the case.
Whatever my feelings are on Jay McGuiness’ debut book, it was an enjoyable read and I look forward to reading any future books and seeing what you all think of Blood Flowers.
I have rated this book 3.5 Stars (rounded down to 3 stars).
March 28, 2024
i absolutely believe in Jay and i know this is going to be brilliant. that being said, if someone is reading here and wants to give me access to an arc i’ll happily read it to confirm my 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
update: it is a 5/5 book. i absolutely loved it💗
update: it is a 5/5 book. i absolutely loved it💗
February 13, 2024
Not the biggest fantasy fan but loved this book! The pacing felt awkward at times but once I got into it, I really enjoyed the storyline and the characters. A great debut by Jay McGuiness and I look forward to seeing what he does next!
4 stars!
4 stars!
May 27, 2024
In Calleston, there are two living arrangements, Roofside and Cobblesider. Roofside is the rich side while Cobblesider is the poor leaves. The part of the town is literally divided by up and down. Those that live at ground level of the building are those that involve mainly in farming for source of live income while those that live at the upper level feeding of from the town’s sources.
The situation of the town is like dystopian society. The Roofside often peek down to look at their favourite Cobblesiders and take it as entertainment. The Cobblesiders worked hard to provide for their life sustenance. However, their activity is limited within the wall and during the day as the night approaches, the Bolt - zombies like creature will approaches the town and eat what ever meat they can find.
Bear, Megg and Fenix are trio in this book where they learn to grow Sinsen from magic which supplied the most popular drink of the queendom. They got tangled with the daughter of the Overlord which turned the story into something sinister. I would have not predicted the innocent looking Meya would do something that she did in the last part of the book.
The situation of the town is like dystopian society. The Roofside often peek down to look at their favourite Cobblesiders and take it as entertainment. The Cobblesiders worked hard to provide for their life sustenance. However, their activity is limited within the wall and during the day as the night approaches, the Bolt - zombies like creature will approaches the town and eat what ever meat they can find.
Bear, Megg and Fenix are trio in this book where they learn to grow Sinsen from magic which supplied the most popular drink of the queendom. They got tangled with the daughter of the Overlord which turned the story into something sinister. I would have not predicted the innocent looking Meya would do something that she did in the last part of the book.
January 25, 2024
A strong debut, Blood Flowers is wonderfully reminiscent of peak Dystopian books such as The Hunger Games, Maze Runner and Divergent but with fantasy elements laced in. The story primarily follows Bear, a boy living in the poorest area of Calleston with dreams of one day gaining access to the more affluent part of town. His chances of that seem unlikely, but as a series of events begin to unfold he starts to reevaluate the world he lives in.
I would say it's on the younger end of the YA scale in that it is quite an easy read, but that by no means affects the quality of the story. Though it does lose pacing at times, with much of the early chapters focusing on worldbuilding, the plot itself is compelling enough that I never lost interest. The last few chapters in particular had me hooked, with exciting twists and turns building towards a surprising conclusion with a cliffhanger ending that has left me eager for more.
I would say it's on the younger end of the YA scale in that it is quite an easy read, but that by no means affects the quality of the story. Though it does lose pacing at times, with much of the early chapters focusing on worldbuilding, the plot itself is compelling enough that I never lost interest. The last few chapters in particular had me hooked, with exciting twists and turns building towards a surprising conclusion with a cliffhanger ending that has left me eager for more.
March 10, 2025
Struggled a little bit to get into this book, especially initially. Most of the characters are kind of eh, so I don’t even remember the names of half the characters.
I liked Bear, he was okay. Highkey was hoping he would enlace with Meya, cause I lowkey didn’t like Megg at all.
Felt like the whole powers thing was weird and kind of difficult to understand so I’m very confused about the magic system, but it is … unique I’d say.
I bet the witch is either his mom or meya’s mom. Also Meya having premonitions ??? And she had a horrible one with Bear ???? 🥲 also who tf is the girl at the start of the book ?? Maybe it’s the witch ?
I hope there’s a second book and that it’s better than this first book & that we get to see some Bear x Meya action (poor girl was traumatised in the last pages) 😭
I liked Bear, he was okay. Highkey was hoping he would enlace with Meya, cause I lowkey didn’t like Megg at all.
Felt like the whole powers thing was weird and kind of difficult to understand so I’m very confused about the magic system, but it is … unique I’d say.
I bet the witch is either his mom or meya’s mom. Also Meya having premonitions ??? And she had a horrible one with Bear ???? 🥲 also who tf is the girl at the start of the book ?? Maybe it’s the witch ?
I hope there’s a second book and that it’s better than this first book & that we get to see some Bear x Meya action (poor girl was traumatised in the last pages) 😭
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 15, 2024
Such a strong debut!! I am so impressed, I have followed Jay in his yeats in the wanted ever since i was 15 and now to have read his first book which I thoroughly enjoyed is so special!
Painted such a lovely picture of all the characters and I felt I knew them personally and that I was living amongst the walls of Calleston with them.
A lot of plot twists and surprises throughout.
It is not overly fantasy so a good read for someone who hasn't yet read fantasy to start off.
I just hope there is a second part cause I want to know more now. Very excited to see what's to come for Jay!
Painted such a lovely picture of all the characters and I felt I knew them personally and that I was living amongst the walls of Calleston with them.
A lot of plot twists and surprises throughout.
It is not overly fantasy so a good read for someone who hasn't yet read fantasy to start off.
I just hope there is a second part cause I want to know more now. Very excited to see what's to come for Jay!
January 4, 2025
3.5⭐️
I have to say, I really enjoyed it! The story was captivating, and I found it to be a good filler book. It kept me engaged with its intriguing plot and well-developed characters. McGuiness has a unique writing style that draws you in, making it easy to immerse yourself in the world he created. While it may not be the most groundbreaking book out there, it certainly served its purpose in keeping me entertained. If you're looking for something to fill your time with a good read, I definitely recommend giving "Blood Flowers" a try!
I have to say, I really enjoyed it! The story was captivating, and I found it to be a good filler book. It kept me engaged with its intriguing plot and well-developed characters. McGuiness has a unique writing style that draws you in, making it easy to immerse yourself in the world he created. While it may not be the most groundbreaking book out there, it certainly served its purpose in keeping me entertained. If you're looking for something to fill your time with a good read, I definitely recommend giving "Blood Flowers" a try!
March 6, 2024
As a debut novelist. Jay did fantastic. I've been a fan since The Wanted so I wanted to support his writing debut. Absolutely adored Bear and his crew even if Felix leaving broke my heart and Megg being killed off. I had to cry into my book. I hope he continues to write and we get either more for this franchise or other stories in future.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 12, 2024
Absolutely amazing book to read it was my first book I’ve ever read and it didn’t disappoint me once there was a lot of different mixed emotions for sure and the ending to it was brilliant definitely a book to keep your mind guessing
April 22, 2024
As a first book from the author I found this an enjoyable easy YA read. Covering some interesting political touches based on modern issues. Though I don’t think this is for everyone an enjoyable 3.5 (rounding up for the fun) I’d say :)
June 16, 2024
Often times with fantasy novels, I find it hard to connect with the characters. They are often too different from ourselves and the world around them is too much in focus.
In the walls of Calleston however, I found myself caring for every character we meet and seeing parts of myself and my own life in each of them. The world felt very organically fleshed out; when things like the Free City are mentioned, you can tell it's not just a name picked out of thin air but is a place rich in lore that exists in full in the author's mind.
I have loosely followed Jay's career since he visited my school back in with The Wanted, I am fully invested in this next chapter as I have already fallen in love with this world.
P.s. Felix is the best and the blots are TRULY terrifying!
In the walls of Calleston however, I found myself caring for every character we meet and seeing parts of myself and my own life in each of them. The world felt very organically fleshed out; when things like the Free City are mentioned, you can tell it's not just a name picked out of thin air but is a place rich in lore that exists in full in the author's mind.
I have loosely followed Jay's career since he visited my school back in with The Wanted, I am fully invested in this next chapter as I have already fallen in love with this world.
P.s. Felix is the best and the blots are TRULY terrifying!
May 30, 2024
it was an ok book but most of it didn't even make any sense
January 31, 2024
I have been so excited to get my hands on this since I found out that Jay was writing a novel and it is so much more than i had ever expected or hoped! Jays world building and character development is so well done that within a few chapters i already had a clear image of Calleston in my head and could see the fields and Cobblesides streets and buildings. This is such a well written and captivating dystopian YA, particularly for a debut novel and its really exciting to think of whats to come if this is only the beginning. I grew to love so many of the characters and you could often feel the warmth emanating from characters such as Rose which made the story even more immersive as well as the many parallels to life that could be drawn throughout the story. I also love that he has managed to strike a good balance of both lighthearted and serious without making the book sway too heavy in either direction which gives it a much more realistic feel with characters who know how go laugh even when things get hard.
I couldn't put this book down and am really looking forward to book 2, so proud of you for this Jay ❤️
I couldn't put this book down and am really looking forward to book 2, so proud of you for this Jay ❤️
February 9, 2024
3.75/5
This was such a quick and easy read, and the world was set up so interestingly! The ending goes by so quickly as that's when all the drama picks up, and the final pages leave off on somewhat of a cliffhanger that has me hoping there's more to come from Jay and this series!!!
This was such a quick and easy read, and the world was set up so interestingly! The ending goes by so quickly as that's when all the drama picks up, and the final pages leave off on somewhat of a cliffhanger that has me hoping there's more to come from Jay and this series!!!
February 5, 2024
I was hooked from the first chapter, it’s not very often that i could reread a book as soon as i’ve finished it but that was the case with this one, Can’t wait for the next instalment On Bears Journey.
February 25, 2024
I was lucky enough yo get a copy a couple of days ago. I was also lucky to get it signed by Jay.
Each chapter engulfed me deeper and deeper into this amazing fantasy world, in which I felt each character feeling flowing and growing. I am amazed for real.
Just when I thought the book couldn't get any better, the last 5 chapters had me jaw-dropping on the floor and might be hanging out with Satan himself (LOL a joke).
Absolutely recommend this novel. Jay, you're a gifted motherfluffer.
Congratulations on this new chapter. You won't be gone any time soon.
Each chapter engulfed me deeper and deeper into this amazing fantasy world, in which I felt each character feeling flowing and growing. I am amazed for real.
Just when I thought the book couldn't get any better, the last 5 chapters had me jaw-dropping on the floor and might be hanging out with Satan himself (LOL a joke).
Absolutely recommend this novel. Jay, you're a gifted motherfluffer.
Congratulations on this new chapter. You won't be gone any time soon.
February 2, 2025
A good book however the first 100 pages, not sure what was really happening felt like information we needed but too much at one time. Overall, the book as a whole is really good as it comes together in the end
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