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The Eden Project #1
Blood Crown
Androids have claimed power over what remains of the human race. They rule without remorse. They are the Mind and humans exist only to serve them.
But it wasn't always so.
Before the android uprising, select droids, called Servants, were pivotal in engineering a new human race with nanotechnology enhanced DNA. The Blood Crown theorum was to be humanity's crowning glory and the key to their survival in deep space.
But Serantha, Daughter of the West, was the last female to receive Gifts from her Servant and when the Mind mutinied, she was hidden away, and presumed dead.
Without Serantha there is no hope of the Blood Crown being realized so Nicolai, Son of the East, abandons his crown to join the rebel forces. He might not provide the future for his people he had once dreamed of, but he will not go down without a fight.
When Nicolai discovers Sera among a small compliment of kitchen staff, everything changes--but Sera's Gifts were never completed and she is ill-equipped to face a legion of androids determined to wipe her, and every other human, out of existence.
Their only hope is the Blood Crown--but even if Serantha and Nicolai can realize their potential it may be too late to save mankind.
But it wasn't always so.
Before the android uprising, select droids, called Servants, were pivotal in engineering a new human race with nanotechnology enhanced DNA. The Blood Crown theorum was to be humanity's crowning glory and the key to their survival in deep space.
But Serantha, Daughter of the West, was the last female to receive Gifts from her Servant and when the Mind mutinied, she was hidden away, and presumed dead.
Without Serantha there is no hope of the Blood Crown being realized so Nicolai, Son of the East, abandons his crown to join the rebel forces. He might not provide the future for his people he had once dreamed of, but he will not go down without a fight.
When Nicolai discovers Sera among a small compliment of kitchen staff, everything changes--but Sera's Gifts were never completed and she is ill-equipped to face a legion of androids determined to wipe her, and every other human, out of existence.
Their only hope is the Blood Crown--but even if Serantha and Nicolai can realize their potential it may be too late to save mankind.
276 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 20, 2014
7 people are currently reading
1219 people want to read
About the author
Ali Cross
26 books685 followersAli Cross, USA Today bestselling author of young adult fantasy, is now publishing her speculative fiction as Ali Archer, and reserving Ali Cross for nonfiction works (coming soon!)
She's also writing Christian Romance/Romantic Suspense as Ali Noble.
Ali Cross is an inspirational speaker and teacher of writing craft. She's a happiness enthusiast and is passionate about helping others become who they were meant to be.
Sign up for Ali's Newsletter for inspiration and encouragement and the occasional writing tip. Sign Up Today!
She's also writing Christian Romance/Romantic Suspense as Ali Noble.
Ali Cross is an inspirational speaker and teacher of writing craft. She's a happiness enthusiast and is passionate about helping others become who they were meant to be.
Sign up for Ali's Newsletter for inspiration and encouragement and the occasional writing tip. Sign Up Today!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
March 7, 2014
I stumbled upon this gem by accident while scrolling through some goodreads lists and decided to buy it. I don’t know the author, have never read any of her other books so this review really is my honest opinion.
THIS STORY IS FU**ING AMAZING! (So much for being objective, ha!) It has just the right touch of everything I love in a good book and none of the faults so many other Young Adult books suffer from.
I loved, loved, loved the setting and world building, characters, romance, writing and plot, the mix of fairy tale and futuristic space travel. It’s like nothing I ever saw in a movie or read in a book. What really moved me beyond words is the intensity of the writing. It's almost as if you could quote the entire book, because the writing are so beautiful and sad and epic.
There was absolutely no info-dumping, even though I sometimes wished for more details to the history. I find it a perfect fairy tale plot (evil villains, the lost heir to the throne, a prince set on rebellion and adventures, a prophecy that has to be fulfilled to save humankind) all reminding a little bit of Snow White and the Huntsman only not set in a medieval magical world but a futuristic world, where the magic is in the technology.
Science fiction doesn’t necessarily mean scientific and technical. Take for example The Chronicles of Riddick, Star Wars, Matrix, Babylon 5 or Lexx – The Dark Zone. They all combine legends, prophecies and mystic elements like any good epic fantasy would and set them in the interstellar space which makes the stories even more mysterious. In Blood Crown the supernatural comes from advanced nanotechnology. Some 1000 years in the past humankind has left a dying Earth behind and is since travelling through space on giant ship-states with several hundreds of thousands of humans on each. After a 1000 years have passed humankind is still slow to evolve, slow to adjust to living and thus ensure the surviving of civilization in space. For a few 100 years humans have tried to create the perfect race by infusing nanotech into the royal bloodlines in the hope one day a princess and prince will bond and bring to life the Blood Crown:
It is said that the Blood Crown will unlock the evolutionary potential in human DNA. Together Seraphina and Nicolai could be the key to ensuring the human race lives on.
Seraphina, daughter of the King of the West, is not entirely human (neither is Nicolai). Her android servant and surrogate father (and your equal to a fairy godmother) Archibald was responsible for gifting her with the nanotech. But before he could finish there was an uprising and Androids killed the King and Queen of the West and The Mind has taken over the Empire. For nine years humans have been forced to serve The Mind and the heir to the throne, Princess Seraphina, was rumored to be dead. Bereft of her memories she survives the android rebellion and grows up as a kitchen maid. It’s a bleak existence.
Even though she doesn’t remember who she is, there is something different that sets her apart from the other humans.
Although she is different from other humans she still cares about them, she wants to belong, wants to be loved. So when her past catches up with her and she starts to remember her identity, she doesn’t jump at the prospect of being queen.
She wants other humans to accept her, to elect her as leader not because of a prophecy or her rightful entitlement to the throne but because they want her to lead, because they think her capable to save them. I very much adored Seraphina’s character. She is different, yes, but she is strong. She is humble enough to beg for something she knows she can’t do herself but badass enough to fight for freedom and save those she loves and cares about. She wants to earn her right to lead; she wants her people to want her as ruler. I was awed how well and likeable her character is composed because even though the story has a fairytale-ish feel to it, Seraphina is not your average princess in distress that needs saving by the prince in shining armor.
Nicolai, oh my, … Simply put I love him and the romance. He is so sweet and just perfect for Sera. They complement each other in every way.
If there is any critique from my part then only regarding the timeline during which the plot takes place. Everything happens awfully fast, like in three days or so.
Nonetheless, I loved Blood Crown and will give other books by Ali Cross a chance to charm me. If you love gritty fairy tales and mystic science fiction, try this book out.
THIS STORY IS FU**ING AMAZING! (So much for being objective, ha!) It has just the right touch of everything I love in a good book and none of the faults so many other Young Adult books suffer from.
I loved, loved, loved the setting and world building, characters, romance, writing and plot, the mix of fairy tale and futuristic space travel. It’s like nothing I ever saw in a movie or read in a book. What really moved me beyond words is the intensity of the writing. It's almost as if you could quote the entire book, because the writing are so beautiful and sad and epic.
There was absolutely no info-dumping, even though I sometimes wished for more details to the history. I find it a perfect fairy tale plot (evil villains, the lost heir to the throne, a prince set on rebellion and adventures, a prophecy that has to be fulfilled to save humankind) all reminding a little bit of Snow White and the Huntsman only not set in a medieval magical world but a futuristic world, where the magic is in the technology.
Science fiction doesn’t necessarily mean scientific and technical. Take for example The Chronicles of Riddick, Star Wars, Matrix, Babylon 5 or Lexx – The Dark Zone. They all combine legends, prophecies and mystic elements like any good epic fantasy would and set them in the interstellar space which makes the stories even more mysterious. In Blood Crown the supernatural comes from advanced nanotechnology. Some 1000 years in the past humankind has left a dying Earth behind and is since travelling through space on giant ship-states with several hundreds of thousands of humans on each. After a 1000 years have passed humankind is still slow to evolve, slow to adjust to living and thus ensure the surviving of civilization in space. For a few 100 years humans have tried to create the perfect race by infusing nanotech into the royal bloodlines in the hope one day a princess and prince will bond and bring to life the Blood Crown:
The Blood Crown is the genetic eventuality that the children of the East and the West will unite, bringing an alliance of both people and blood. Together they will create a perfect race, a union of the best in humanity and in technology. Together they will be strong enough to begin life anew, so that humanity may go on.”
It is said that the Blood Crown will unlock the evolutionary potential in human DNA. Together Seraphina and Nicolai could be the key to ensuring the human race lives on.
Seraphina, daughter of the King of the West, is not entirely human (neither is Nicolai). Her android servant and surrogate father (and your equal to a fairy godmother) Archibald was responsible for gifting her with the nanotech. But before he could finish there was an uprising and Androids killed the King and Queen of the West and The Mind has taken over the Empire. For nine years humans have been forced to serve The Mind and the heir to the throne, Princess Seraphina, was rumored to be dead. Bereft of her memories she survives the android rebellion and grows up as a kitchen maid. It’s a bleak existence.
My body is nearly as cold as the wall. I don’t bother trying to warm myself – what is the point? Life is pitiful. I am pitiful. I might as well suffer.
Will they be coming soon? Will they feed me? Release me?
Eventually they always come. Once they think I’ve suffered enough. They’ll return with a fist to my gut and a warning to keep my own punches to myself.
Even though she doesn’t remember who she is, there is something different that sets her apart from the other humans.
I feel the steel responding to my touch, moving, reshaping itself to match my will. It wouldn’t take any strength, really. Just a thought.
Although she is different from other humans she still cares about them, she wants to belong, wants to be loved. So when her past catches up with her and she starts to remember her identity, she doesn’t jump at the prospect of being queen.
This has been the strangest twenty-four hours of my life. I need time alone to think, to make sense of what it all means. And now Minn has hugged me. She worried for me. My arms hang suspended in the air for a breath too long, disappointed that I didn’t get a chance to hug her back.
She wants other humans to accept her, to elect her as leader not because of a prophecy or her rightful entitlement to the throne but because they want her to lead, because they think her capable to save them. I very much adored Seraphina’s character. She is different, yes, but she is strong. She is humble enough to beg for something she knows she can’t do herself but badass enough to fight for freedom and save those she loves and cares about. She wants to earn her right to lead; she wants her people to want her as ruler. I was awed how well and likeable her character is composed because even though the story has a fairytale-ish feel to it, Seraphina is not your average princess in distress that needs saving by the prince in shining armor.
He only lets go of me to take his sword in his hand. I bite back an argument when he places himself in front of me just before the transport opens. It’s not like I need him to protect me. But his symbiants are a part of me now, and that means he too. So I know he doesn’t act out of disrespect for my ability. He is still the boy-prince with a sword and a vow to keep.
Nicolai, oh my, … Simply put I love him and the romance. He is so sweet and just perfect for Sera. They complement each other in every way.
I have never hoped to feel such belonging, such love. And it isn’t just the Bond—it is more, it is everything. If Nic and I had had time to get to know one another, if we hadn’t been Bonded since we were children, if the Bond had never been created—I am certain I would choose him, still.
If there is any critique from my part then only regarding the timeline during which the plot takes place. Everything happens awfully fast, like in three days or so.
Nonetheless, I loved Blood Crown and will give other books by Ali Cross a chance to charm me. If you love gritty fairy tales and mystic science fiction, try this book out.
July 26, 2014
☆ ☆ ☆☆
Actual 3.8 but rounded up for good feels.
No spoilers and colorful language abound! I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I took part in a little "judge a book by it's cover" on this one and maybe not in the most flattering way, I guess I should explain. I've been in a bit of a book rut, and I've been clutching onto the only good book I've read in awhile refusing to finish it because of my issues, then I found The Blood Crown. I didn't request it on NetGalley because I thought it was going to be fantastic, I thought it might be distracting and was mildly curious but my expectations were very low. Then it starts off with a chapter titled Archibald Nine Years Earlier, with little to no info dump, we jump right into the perspective of an android serving and raising the princess of the West, Serantha. On the second page Archibald is trying to protect this little girl from the mutinying androids who have risen to kill the King and Queen and enslave the people. A thousand years of monarchy, humans bestowed with gifts from their Servants as hypothesized by The Creator culminate with Serantha of the West and Nicolai of the East, the ultimate combination of humanity and nanotechnology. They are destined to create the next race to ensure the survival of not only humans but androids as well and must be protected at all costs.
All the sudden it hit me. Was this actually going to be good? Maybe even... better than good? Spoiler: Yes. This is what I wanted Cinder to be but fell so epically short of. I loved it. The world building, the space ships, the war, the savagery, the technology, the prophecy, the writing. Oh my, the writing! I highlighted so many passages that struck a chord with me, it was a joy. The romance was obvious but not suffocating, they were genetically made to love each other, so there were reasons for it all. The Blood Crown is a great stand-alone, fast paced delicious book. You should read it.
Edit: I just noticed that this says Eden Project #1… so there will be more? This really felt complete at the end and I just made the assumption that it is stand alone. I stand corrected and I'm looking forward to what Cross has to add to this story!
Actual 3.8 but rounded up for good feels.
No spoilers and colorful language abound! I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I took part in a little "judge a book by it's cover" on this one and maybe not in the most flattering way, I guess I should explain. I've been in a bit of a book rut, and I've been clutching onto the only good book I've read in awhile refusing to finish it because of my issues, then I found The Blood Crown. I didn't request it on NetGalley because I thought it was going to be fantastic, I thought it might be distracting and was mildly curious but my expectations were very low. Then it starts off with a chapter titled Archibald Nine Years Earlier, with little to no info dump, we jump right into the perspective of an android serving and raising the princess of the West, Serantha. On the second page Archibald is trying to protect this little girl from the mutinying androids who have risen to kill the King and Queen and enslave the people. A thousand years of monarchy, humans bestowed with gifts from their Servants as hypothesized by The Creator culminate with Serantha of the West and Nicolai of the East, the ultimate combination of humanity and nanotechnology. They are destined to create the next race to ensure the survival of not only humans but androids as well and must be protected at all costs.
All the sudden it hit me. Was this actually going to be good? Maybe even... better than good? Spoiler: Yes. This is what I wanted Cinder to be but fell so epically short of. I loved it. The world building, the space ships, the war, the savagery, the technology, the prophecy, the writing. Oh my, the writing! I highlighted so many passages that struck a chord with me, it was a joy. The romance was obvious but not suffocating, they were genetically made to love each other, so there were reasons for it all. The Blood Crown is a great stand-alone, fast paced delicious book. You should read it.
Edit: I just noticed that this says Eden Project #1… so there will be more? This really felt complete at the end and I just made the assumption that it is stand alone. I stand corrected and I'm looking forward to what Cross has to add to this story!
January 14, 2015
Space ships. Genetic engineering. Humankind fighting for survival. Good, right?
A rebel prince and a hidden princess with hybrid blood running through their veins. Really good stuff.
I was pleasantly surprised by how quickly this book grabbed me. There was an abundance of sappy, lovey dovey stuff in the last chapters that could've been pared way down. Overall, an enjoyable story. 3.5 stars rounded up for GR.
A rebel prince and a hidden princess with hybrid blood running through their veins. Really good stuff.
I was pleasantly surprised by how quickly this book grabbed me. There was an abundance of sappy, lovey dovey stuff in the last chapters that could've been pared way down. Overall, an enjoyable story. 3.5 stars rounded up for GR.
November 23, 2014
In a future where the Earth can no longer support life and humanity has been forced to live on giant State-Ships in space for over 1,000 years we are on the verge of possible extinction. The androids that were built to serve us have rebelled and taken control, they have kept a few humans as slaves but they seek to exterminate the rest of the population. Humanity's only hope is an old prophecy, one that promises when the royal families of the East and the West combine they will create the Blood Crown, the ultimate in human evolution. Humans have been adding nanotech to the Royal DNA for centuries slowly turning them into something more, but it will take combining the two lines to create something truly special, something with the power to save them all.
Although Nicolai, the Prince of the East, is playing a key role in the human rebellion Serantha, the Princess of the West, is missing presumed dead. Nicolai knows he can't fulfil the prophecy on his own but he refuses to give up hope of wining the war against the androids. Sera was nearly killed alongside the rest of her family when the androids took control but she was saved by Archibald, the android who raised her. Archibald had to wipe Sera's memory before he hid her amongst the servants and in the years since she has lived a life of hardship and fear. Sera is the only one who can save them all but she will need to regain her missing memories first and can only save her people with Nicolai's help.
Blood Crown came highly recommended by my friend Erica and now I've read it I can completely understand why - it's such a fantastic YA story and I loved every minute of it. Ali Cross throws readers straight into the action and manages to make you feel invested in the characters very quickly. The story is told from three different points of view - Archibald tells us of the risks he took to get Sera to safety and how he managed to keep her identity a secret, Sera allows us to see the lives of the human servants and how they are treated by the ruling androids and Nicolai shows us the war that the rebels are waging even though they know they have little chance of success.
The story is action packed from the very beginning and the author manages to introduce an interesting and complex world without using massive info dumps. I loved seeing the different technology and the way that Sera was able to interact with her ship using her nanotech. In fact, I just loved Sera's character, she has been through so much but she never lost her humanity, in spite of the way she was treated by some of the other servants. Even before she knew her true identity she has done her best to protect others and I loved how kick ass she was. I was a little nervous when she first met Nicolai that their relationship might move too quickly but I actually found things progressed between them at a believable pace. They are initially wary of each other and although I was irritated with Nicolai for keeping secrets from Sera I was glad that they took time to get to know each other rather than blindly trusting because of who they were. What I liked most about them was how well matched they are, they have mutual respect for each other and they walk side by side into battle knowing they've got each other's backs.
Blood Crown is a must read for YA sci-fi fans, it's such a fun story with great characters, fab world building and a Cinderella / fairytale feel to it. I will definitely be bumping the sequel to the top of my to read pile the minute it's released but in the meantime I think I'm going to have to check out some of Ali Cross's other books because I love her writing style.
Although Nicolai, the Prince of the East, is playing a key role in the human rebellion Serantha, the Princess of the West, is missing presumed dead. Nicolai knows he can't fulfil the prophecy on his own but he refuses to give up hope of wining the war against the androids. Sera was nearly killed alongside the rest of her family when the androids took control but she was saved by Archibald, the android who raised her. Archibald had to wipe Sera's memory before he hid her amongst the servants and in the years since she has lived a life of hardship and fear. Sera is the only one who can save them all but she will need to regain her missing memories first and can only save her people with Nicolai's help.
Blood Crown came highly recommended by my friend Erica and now I've read it I can completely understand why - it's such a fantastic YA story and I loved every minute of it. Ali Cross throws readers straight into the action and manages to make you feel invested in the characters very quickly. The story is told from three different points of view - Archibald tells us of the risks he took to get Sera to safety and how he managed to keep her identity a secret, Sera allows us to see the lives of the human servants and how they are treated by the ruling androids and Nicolai shows us the war that the rebels are waging even though they know they have little chance of success.
The story is action packed from the very beginning and the author manages to introduce an interesting and complex world without using massive info dumps. I loved seeing the different technology and the way that Sera was able to interact with her ship using her nanotech. In fact, I just loved Sera's character, she has been through so much but she never lost her humanity, in spite of the way she was treated by some of the other servants. Even before she knew her true identity she has done her best to protect others and I loved how kick ass she was. I was a little nervous when she first met Nicolai that their relationship might move too quickly but I actually found things progressed between them at a believable pace. They are initially wary of each other and although I was irritated with Nicolai for keeping secrets from Sera I was glad that they took time to get to know each other rather than blindly trusting because of who they were. What I liked most about them was how well matched they are, they have mutual respect for each other and they walk side by side into battle knowing they've got each other's backs.
Blood Crown is a must read for YA sci-fi fans, it's such a fun story with great characters, fab world building and a Cinderella / fairytale feel to it. I will definitely be bumping the sequel to the top of my to read pile the minute it's released but in the meantime I think I'm going to have to check out some of Ali Cross's other books because I love her writing style.
August 8, 2014
(I got a digital copy through NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.)
This book throws you directly into the action, with little info dumping in the beginning: we learn information as the plot goes, and this is a method I tend to like. I found it easy enough to understand the premise of the story (the hope of enhanced humanity through nano-technology, the androids rebelling against their creators and taking control...). And the mastermind behind the android faction was devious enough to my liking. A little on the boasting side, yet with a tendency to keep a contingency plan on the side, and screw with the heroes' minds a little more every time. I like that.
However, there were a lot of things I didn't quite know what to make of, and those contributed to make me consider Blood Crown as a little sub-average, when I would've wanted to enjoy it more (from the blurb, I really hoped I would).
First, there were three points of view, but I felt that only Sera's was really useful. Nicolai's tended to rehash things the reader has already learnt, only with his opinion about it. Not completely uninteresting, but clearly unneeded. Archibald's... Well, the way he saw Sera was sweet, and highlighted the possibility of feelings within machines, the "can an artificial intelligence be like a human or only copy it"; unfortunately, his scenes were often pretty short, made of waiting for events to happen, and not really useful either. Too bad; his presence could've been made better.
Sometimes, the characters' actions were also hard to understand. Both Nic and Sera tended to jump into situations without thinking them through, not always because they lacked time, but because... I don't know? And then I didn't see any point to Nic's lies, pretending he didn't know who Sera was, when just explaining everything would've been so much easier and faster. For what reason? A very insignificant one, considering the big picture and what was at stake. It led to mistrust on Sera's part, and to misunderstandings of a kind I don't like: those that are here only to create artificial tension, not because they're logical. In a way, the Mind's apparent lack of logics (making humans cook food nobody would eat) seemed more believabe, in a "we're superior to humans but in fact we imitate them because we want to be like them, only better, oh the irony" way.
I remain divided about the West/East thing: those terms don't make much sense to me in space, and seemed a remnant of some USA & Eastern block thing, minus the Cold War. The ships' names (New Oregon, New California...) and the Eastern peopel's names (Nicolai, Natalya, Karenina...) definitely gave a very open feeling about that. Part of me is saying "sure, why not?", while another still can't really fathom it. Some thousand years later, in space, would we still care much about that? And what about the rest of the world? Where were people from Asian, African, or any other descent?
The pace was good enough until around 60-65% of the story... then it fell into too much romance. I didn't mind the romance itself in hereas I do in other novels: both Nic and Sera had been kind of "programmed" for that from the beginning, with their symbiants acting to put them together, so, OK, not cool in terms of personal freedom, but not out of the blue either. Only what should've been a part mounting towards climax wasn't, because both heroes were busy being romancy. At that point, I got bored.
In conclusion: interesting premise and good ideas that weren't developed enough, and didn't do it for me in the end. More like 1.5 stars.
This book throws you directly into the action, with little info dumping in the beginning: we learn information as the plot goes, and this is a method I tend to like. I found it easy enough to understand the premise of the story (the hope of enhanced humanity through nano-technology, the androids rebelling against their creators and taking control...). And the mastermind behind the android faction was devious enough to my liking. A little on the boasting side, yet with a tendency to keep a contingency plan on the side, and screw with the heroes' minds a little more every time. I like that.
However, there were a lot of things I didn't quite know what to make of, and those contributed to make me consider Blood Crown as a little sub-average, when I would've wanted to enjoy it more (from the blurb, I really hoped I would).
First, there were three points of view, but I felt that only Sera's was really useful. Nicolai's tended to rehash things the reader has already learnt, only with his opinion about it. Not completely uninteresting, but clearly unneeded. Archibald's... Well, the way he saw Sera was sweet, and highlighted the possibility of feelings within machines, the "can an artificial intelligence be like a human or only copy it"; unfortunately, his scenes were often pretty short, made of waiting for events to happen, and not really useful either. Too bad; his presence could've been made better.
Sometimes, the characters' actions were also hard to understand. Both Nic and Sera tended to jump into situations without thinking them through, not always because they lacked time, but because... I don't know? And then I didn't see any point to Nic's lies, pretending he didn't know who Sera was, when just explaining everything would've been so much easier and faster. For what reason? A very insignificant one, considering the big picture and what was at stake. It led to mistrust on Sera's part, and to misunderstandings of a kind I don't like: those that are here only to create artificial tension, not because they're logical. In a way, the Mind's apparent lack of logics (making humans cook food nobody would eat) seemed more believabe, in a "we're superior to humans but in fact we imitate them because we want to be like them, only better, oh the irony" way.
I remain divided about the West/East thing: those terms don't make much sense to me in space, and seemed a remnant of some USA & Eastern block thing, minus the Cold War. The ships' names (New Oregon, New California...) and the Eastern peopel's names (Nicolai, Natalya, Karenina...) definitely gave a very open feeling about that. Part of me is saying "sure, why not?", while another still can't really fathom it. Some thousand years later, in space, would we still care much about that? And what about the rest of the world? Where were people from Asian, African, or any other descent?
The pace was good enough until around 60-65% of the story... then it fell into too much romance. I didn't mind the romance itself in hereas I do in other novels: both Nic and Sera had been kind of "programmed" for that from the beginning, with their symbiants acting to put them together, so, OK, not cool in terms of personal freedom, but not out of the blue either. Only what should've been a part mounting towards climax wasn't, because both heroes were busy being romancy. At that point, I got bored.
In conclusion: interesting premise and good ideas that weren't developed enough, and didn't do it for me in the end. More like 1.5 stars.
June 15, 2015
Just look at that cover.
Sigh
*Tagged this book as DNF, I was only able to read until page 105.
I am not averse to turning off my brain for a little while when reading certain books. That even though there were flaws in the writing, plot-lines or even if a book tackles a taboo or dark themes (not that this book deals with a dark theme) I still managed to enjoy them, but I just can't do that with this one.
My main issue was that the logic and the characters didn't make much sense.
Serantha...sigh She was just not a believable character and she was so far from being likable. She annoyed me from the get go. She's someone that I don't enjoy reading about.
After her bitching and non-stop complaints on how she was being treated (not that she exerted any effort to change her situation) she became all about "my people" and be all that, even though she's freaking clueless.
She toyed with those people lives, taking in the reins just so she can spite others and because of her pride. tsk.tsk.
There was no inkling in the story that there was a crisis or a threat to the human race. There was no war/epidemic, so there was no need to create a genetically modified superior race of humans. There was peace among the people, they have royalties. They have androids as servants so it seems everything in their world was peachy. The only thing that would make sense was if they were just bored with themselves that's why they tinkered with the human DNA.
The movie I am Robot came to mind while reading this book. The androids revolts against their human creators. They developed a logic to terminate or enslave the humans because they think they are a far more superior and deserves the right to rule over the inferior race. But the similarities ends there and this is where I had a hard time connecting with the book. In the book's world the androids wanted and envied the humans, to the point that they were pseudo eating and thinking of 'coupling' with humans. They also have narcotics, yep androids getting high. They have the humans prepare food for them when there was no point in doing so - to eat and indulge in vices since they are no way organic androids. So if they envied and want to emulate the humans, behavior, etiquette and all, why revolt?
I don't know if things will be explained or pan out in the later pages/chapters but I highly doubt it.
March 12, 2014
This story is told from three points of view: Archibald, Nicolai and Serantha. Archibald is Serantha's Servant, created to serve her until she dies. He wasn't part of the android uprising, but when it happened, he saved her and shut off his connection to her, leading others to believe she was dead. The story begins nine years later and Archibald is starting to receive information from Sera again. Galen, his one-time friend and traitor, believes that Sera is alive and is using Archibald to get the information he needs.
Nicolai abandoned his crown to join the rebels and tries to convince his father to join as well. He and Sera were close once but since he believes her to be dead, he doesn't see any reason to stick around.
Sera works in the kitchen of a ship. She has no memory of who she really is. She fights off advances of the guards when she's not scrubbing dishes. She is tired of the life she's living and when she's had enough, she makes a decision which will change everything.
I enjoyed this book! Sera's chapters were the longest so we hear the most from her. I was lost somewhat in the beginning but as Sera started piecing her past together, my interest was piqued. When Nicolai appears, she has no idea who he is at first. As her memory returns, they grow closer but they have trust issues to work through. The romance is sudden, but as the Blood Crown is explained, it makes sense and works. There are villains to dislike and good, likable side characters that add to the story. If you enjoy fast-paced science fiction (in space!) with romance and fairy tale elements, then this is a book you will enjoy!
Content: Unwanted groping, intense kissing (neither of them are graphic)
Mel's Shelves
Nicolai abandoned his crown to join the rebels and tries to convince his father to join as well. He and Sera were close once but since he believes her to be dead, he doesn't see any reason to stick around.
Sera works in the kitchen of a ship. She has no memory of who she really is. She fights off advances of the guards when she's not scrubbing dishes. She is tired of the life she's living and when she's had enough, she makes a decision which will change everything.
I enjoyed this book! Sera's chapters were the longest so we hear the most from her. I was lost somewhat in the beginning but as Sera started piecing her past together, my interest was piqued. When Nicolai appears, she has no idea who he is at first. As her memory returns, they grow closer but they have trust issues to work through. The romance is sudden, but as the Blood Crown is explained, it makes sense and works. There are villains to dislike and good, likable side characters that add to the story. If you enjoy fast-paced science fiction (in space!) with romance and fairy tale elements, then this is a book you will enjoy!
Content: Unwanted groping, intense kissing (neither of them are graphic)
Mel's Shelves
March 26, 2014
I really don't know where to start with my love-fest over this book. I've read everything Ali has written, from her DESOLATION series to JUMP BOYS, and I love her work. Even with all the high expectations I had, BLOOD CROWN blew me away! It is, simply, the best I've read from Ali to date.
So, why...
The Setting - Ali did a great job of work building in this book. I could envision the world she drew, and I liked it!
The Plot - the story was rich, with a balance of action and narrative so I felt fully immersed and understood what was happening without feeling like the plot had slowed down at all!
The Characters - This is where I felt Ali really excelled. I've always liked her character development, and BLOOD CROWN is no exception to this. The characters were well thought out and full. I loved her crafting of them
Overall, this is a MUST READ book in the extreme. If you like a bit of sci-fi and dystopia, with plenty of action and amazing characters, BLOOD CROWN needs to be first in your TBR pile!
So, why...
The Setting - Ali did a great job of work building in this book. I could envision the world she drew, and I liked it!
The Plot - the story was rich, with a balance of action and narrative so I felt fully immersed and understood what was happening without feeling like the plot had slowed down at all!
The Characters - This is where I felt Ali really excelled. I've always liked her character development, and BLOOD CROWN is no exception to this. The characters were well thought out and full. I loved her crafting of them
Overall, this is a MUST READ book in the extreme. If you like a bit of sci-fi and dystopia, with plenty of action and amazing characters, BLOOD CROWN needs to be first in your TBR pile!
December 17, 2015
This review is also posted on my blog.
I received a copy free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
March 4, 2014
4 stars
young adult/sci-fi
I received this ARC from the author and Paranormal Romance and Authors that Rock in return for an honest and fair review.
9 years ago, the androids revolted against the human population, now living among the stars, and killed many, forcing the humans to go into hiding, or worse, into slaving for the andies. Serantha's parents were killed, leaving her Heir to the Crown of the West, but she disappears. Nicolai, is Prince of the East, but his father does not think the andies will attack them. Nic, not happy with this, leaves and joins the rebels. when Nic and Sera's paths cross, they learn things about themselves, about each other, that neither could foresee. Alone, each is powerful in their own right, but TOGETHER, they can conquer the skies.
my review.....
very VERY different to my usual reads! I'm not normally a young adult fan, and have been filtering them off my kindle, so I was a little wary (some other books by this author on amazon are deemed young adult, so expected this one to be too.). BUT I really liked this. it is different, sci-fi, but not ever so complicated as some sci-fi tends to be. Its not all laid out for you in one go, and there were points I could not see which way the plot was going to go. the characters are well rounded and have a decent tale to tell. there are some twists and turns, and, again, not all were seen coming, and I do like a book that keeps me on my toes! this is not part of a series, as far as I can tell, but there could be a second book, telling of Sera and Nic's adventures after this one. there is no explicit sex, but some violence, also the talk of rape and torture, so I would say this is for an older young adult, 16+
only thing that did my nut in, its written in the first person, present tense. this tends to annoy me at the best of times, BUT also, and why this book did not get n extra half fang, its written from the point of view of THREE different characters. each chapter and change is headed as such, but still, got a little confusing when I had to leave the book, and come back to it. had to go back to the beginning of the chapter!
if you like sci-fi, one for you. if you don't.....this might be the one for you to try!
young adult/sci-fi
I received this ARC from the author and Paranormal Romance and Authors that Rock in return for an honest and fair review.
9 years ago, the androids revolted against the human population, now living among the stars, and killed many, forcing the humans to go into hiding, or worse, into slaving for the andies. Serantha's parents were killed, leaving her Heir to the Crown of the West, but she disappears. Nicolai, is Prince of the East, but his father does not think the andies will attack them. Nic, not happy with this, leaves and joins the rebels. when Nic and Sera's paths cross, they learn things about themselves, about each other, that neither could foresee. Alone, each is powerful in their own right, but TOGETHER, they can conquer the skies.
my review.....
very VERY different to my usual reads! I'm not normally a young adult fan, and have been filtering them off my kindle, so I was a little wary (some other books by this author on amazon are deemed young adult, so expected this one to be too.). BUT I really liked this. it is different, sci-fi, but not ever so complicated as some sci-fi tends to be. Its not all laid out for you in one go, and there were points I could not see which way the plot was going to go. the characters are well rounded and have a decent tale to tell. there are some twists and turns, and, again, not all were seen coming, and I do like a book that keeps me on my toes! this is not part of a series, as far as I can tell, but there could be a second book, telling of Sera and Nic's adventures after this one. there is no explicit sex, but some violence, also the talk of rape and torture, so I would say this is for an older young adult, 16+
only thing that did my nut in, its written in the first person, present tense. this tends to annoy me at the best of times, BUT also, and why this book did not get n extra half fang, its written from the point of view of THREE different characters. each chapter and change is headed as such, but still, got a little confusing when I had to leave the book, and come back to it. had to go back to the beginning of the chapter!
if you like sci-fi, one for you. if you don't.....this might be the one for you to try!
February 16, 2014
5+++!!!!
This book is amazing!!!
Full review to come when I can think straight. Holy cow!
~~
Honestly, this book blew me away. From the very first chapter I was HOOKED. This is one of those stories where everything just works. Amazing characters, detailed world-building, fast-paced plot, high stakes for our heroine...it's all there. And then some.
The characters are fully drawn and interesting, particularly Serantha, who's one of the most compelling female heroines I've read in a long time. She has an amazing combination of strength and vulnerability, and her voice pulled me right into her head. I love how she had her own unique perspective on her world...and watching that change as she learns her rightful place was a joy. It is impossible not to root for her. And when you meet Nicolai...well, swoon. ::fans self::
The world-building is fantastic - I was SO impressed with the way the science and technology of the world was woven so tightly with the plot and even the characters' personalities. Everything felt so organic to the story; my absolute favorite novels are the ones where each element, from plot to setting to characterization, is so intrinsic to the others that it's impossible to tell what came first in the author's mind. Ali did an amazing job of presenting her tech in such a natural, unobtrusive way that the story NEVER slowed down for explanations or felt confusing. Truly, the world-building was flawless. I want to take a writing class from Ali on world-building, just to learn her secrets. It's THAT good.
The action...well, it pretty much never lets up. But the story doesn't feel rushed; there are enough introspective moments to give you time to process all the CRAZY STUFF going on.
Blood Crown blew my already high expectations out of the water. The gorgeous writing and harrowing storyline ripped out my heart a piece at a time, and then put it back together with marvelously compelling characters and an intense, satisfying conclusion.
Seriously. I could go on and on. But you need to experience the awesomeness for yourself. Pick up a copy when Blood Crown releases on February 28th. You won't regret it.
This book is amazing!!!
Full review to come when I can think straight. Holy cow!
~~
Honestly, this book blew me away. From the very first chapter I was HOOKED. This is one of those stories where everything just works. Amazing characters, detailed world-building, fast-paced plot, high stakes for our heroine...it's all there. And then some.
The characters are fully drawn and interesting, particularly Serantha, who's one of the most compelling female heroines I've read in a long time. She has an amazing combination of strength and vulnerability, and her voice pulled me right into her head. I love how she had her own unique perspective on her world...and watching that change as she learns her rightful place was a joy. It is impossible not to root for her. And when you meet Nicolai...well, swoon. ::fans self::
The world-building is fantastic - I was SO impressed with the way the science and technology of the world was woven so tightly with the plot and even the characters' personalities. Everything felt so organic to the story; my absolute favorite novels are the ones where each element, from plot to setting to characterization, is so intrinsic to the others that it's impossible to tell what came first in the author's mind. Ali did an amazing job of presenting her tech in such a natural, unobtrusive way that the story NEVER slowed down for explanations or felt confusing. Truly, the world-building was flawless. I want to take a writing class from Ali on world-building, just to learn her secrets. It's THAT good.
The action...well, it pretty much never lets up. But the story doesn't feel rushed; there are enough introspective moments to give you time to process all the CRAZY STUFF going on.
Blood Crown blew my already high expectations out of the water. The gorgeous writing and harrowing storyline ripped out my heart a piece at a time, and then put it back together with marvelously compelling characters and an intense, satisfying conclusion.
Seriously. I could go on and on. But you need to experience the awesomeness for yourself. Pick up a copy when Blood Crown releases on February 28th. You won't regret it.
February 10, 2014
I not much of a fan of scientific fantasy as a whole their are a select few that can draw me in and keep me reading. This story was fantastic from the first page to the very end. I love the star crossed lovers feel of the two main characters in the story. I also liked that though you were on a ship, you were dealing android, and some other scientific things it kept me reading and not feeling oh great i going to be on star trek adventure. I got upset with the characters, i was invested on the blood crown becoming a reality and humanity getting their second chance. Thanks so much Ali for offering me the opportunity to read your story and to share that this is a must read for 2014.
March 13, 2014
This book wasn't bad, but I had some problems with it. First, it's told in 3 different POV, every chapter is a different character. I'm not a fan of this style because it makes the flow of the story feel choppy (IMO), thus I can’t get into the story easily.
My second problem was the heroine, she was too childish, and it was very difficult to like her. When she didn’t understand the hero’s actions, instead of thinking why he was behaving in a certain way she thought immediately of betrayal.
The idea of this book is interesting, but there were some things that didn’t make sense at all. Despite these problems it was still an entertaining read.
My second problem was the heroine, she was too childish, and it was very difficult to like her. When she didn’t understand the hero’s actions, instead of thinking why he was behaving in a certain way she thought immediately of betrayal.
The idea of this book is interesting, but there were some things that didn’t make sense at all. Despite these problems it was still an entertaining read.
March 25, 2015
Ali has taken a genre that I am never sure if I will like or not and made me LOVE it!!
Full review to come in March!
Full review to come in March!
August 12, 2016
I really enjoyed this book. Ali Cross had me turning pages until there were no more to turn. Blood Crown really is a beautiful love story and I highly recommend it.
March 28, 2014
★★½
As you can probably glean from the rating, Blood Crown was a bit of a mixed bag for me — there were things I liked and things that weren’t quite my cup of tea. So let’s break it down all easy-like…
Things I liked.
The premise. An android-led coup, nanotechnology, the threat of genocide, a hidden princess and a rebel prince with Gifts who together could save mankind? These plot points are ambitious, exciting and winners all. There’s the promise here of action, adventure, romance and danger mixed with spaceships and artificial life, and for the most part, Blood Crown delivers on this.
The world. (Or should I say, universe?) Humans living among the stars in massive ships, android servants, a fusion of biology and technology — always very interesting. There is also that long-explored problem of sentience in artificial lifeforms and the treatment of those individuals which begs the questions “How is humanity defined?”, “Can an android exceed its programming?”, “Can an artificial life-form genuinely feel?” Added to the interesting classist/specist issues, Eastern and Western human empires have come together to try and unite under the banner of taking the next step forward in human evolution. All kinds of interesting. And then there are the androids who will do anything to stop the humans from achieving this, even as they desperately seek to emulate humanity and its trappings. It is a world with so many intriguing aspects that hints at a rich history.
The romance. On the whole, it was cute (but not entirely without issue).
Archibald. This character’s outlook on the human vs. android situation, his nature, the conflicting circumstances he found himself in because of his integrity, and his reactions to all of it made him possibly the most interesting character in the piece. I would’ve loved seeing more from his perspective.
Things I didn’t so much care for.
The execution. There was some repetition in the first half — actions being repeated, similar wording — plus a few continuity issues, and I found this distracting. For example, I know that in a ship the size of the Capital, that the elevator (a.k.a. transporter) would be a primary method of getting around, but that said, for the first third of the book, Serantha was constantly up and down and in and out of the thing. Yes, it’s a relatively minor, but it gets a bit wearing after a while. (Note: These things may be resolved in the final version of the book.)
Also, the lack of explanation as to why things were the way they were bothered me, as some important bits of the story felt a little flimsy when questions like “Who? How? Why?” start getting asked. Who is this “Creator?” How does the Blood Crown theorem specifically help with human survival in space? I mean, instead of , why not give terraforming a whirl? Why were the androids necessary… for *spoilery things*? Why these specific (immensely important and irreplaceable) test subjects? Just to name a few queries I had while reading. Granted, I may have missed something along the way. Totally possible. But all added together, with such little backstory/history/reasoning given, it left me feeling a bit unsatisfied and not entirely convinced of some of the foundational elements. Yes, I know this seems to contradict the whole “I really like the world!” thing. But despite this, because of this, and because of my curiosity to know more, I would definitely pick up the second book (if there’s going to be one) to find out more about this world/universe and how it came to be this way.
Also regarding story execution, the pacing around the conclusion was lagging. Around two thirds of the way in, it seemed like things were coming to a close, but then the story seemed to drag on without a clearly discernible purpose. The reader is given one eventually, but it was a bit confusing, a bit “Wait. Didn’t we do just do this?” I understand why it was done in regard to character/plot development, but still, it felt like it was dragging and its purpose took a while to understand.
Serantha. She never seemed fully realized. There was just so much going on with her character — Her life in the kitchens, her treatment by the staff and the guards, her past coming back to haunt her, *more spoilery things*, assuming a position of leadership, plus more… and her development as a character ended up feeling something akin to a half-popped bag of popcorn. There just wasn’t the time necessary, with all that was going on, for her to believably process/accept what was happening to her, and when she did, it felt rushed so the story could keep on moving. There just wasn’t that feeling on my part of there being emotional authenticity on hers, and so I had trouble connecting with her character. Nicolai, on the other hand, was pretty great.
Overall. Blood Crown is an entertaining and interesting sci-fi novel, but some developmental issues detracted from what could’ve potentially been a really fantastic story. But as always, this is purely my own opinion and, I say if you’re a fan of sci-fi and like ambitious and original concepts, give this one a try and see what you think for yourself.
As you can probably glean from the rating, Blood Crown was a bit of a mixed bag for me — there were things I liked and things that weren’t quite my cup of tea. So let’s break it down all easy-like…
Things I liked.
The premise. An android-led coup, nanotechnology, the threat of genocide, a hidden princess and a rebel prince with Gifts who together could save mankind? These plot points are ambitious, exciting and winners all. There’s the promise here of action, adventure, romance and danger mixed with spaceships and artificial life, and for the most part, Blood Crown delivers on this.
The world. (Or should I say, universe?) Humans living among the stars in massive ships, android servants, a fusion of biology and technology — always very interesting. There is also that long-explored problem of sentience in artificial lifeforms and the treatment of those individuals which begs the questions “How is humanity defined?”, “Can an android exceed its programming?”, “Can an artificial life-form genuinely feel?” Added to the interesting classist/specist issues, Eastern and Western human empires have come together to try and unite under the banner of taking the next step forward in human evolution. All kinds of interesting. And then there are the androids who will do anything to stop the humans from achieving this, even as they desperately seek to emulate humanity and its trappings. It is a world with so many intriguing aspects that hints at a rich history.
The romance. On the whole, it was cute (but not entirely without issue).
Archibald. This character’s outlook on the human vs. android situation, his nature, the conflicting circumstances he found himself in because of his integrity, and his reactions to all of it made him possibly the most interesting character in the piece. I would’ve loved seeing more from his perspective.
Things I didn’t so much care for.
The execution. There was some repetition in the first half — actions being repeated, similar wording — plus a few continuity issues, and I found this distracting. For example, I know that in a ship the size of the Capital, that the elevator (a.k.a. transporter) would be a primary method of getting around, but that said, for the first third of the book, Serantha was constantly up and down and in and out of the thing. Yes, it’s a relatively minor, but it gets a bit wearing after a while. (Note: These things may be resolved in the final version of the book.)
Also, the lack of explanation as to why things were the way they were bothered me, as some important bits of the story felt a little flimsy when questions like “Who? How? Why?” start getting asked. Who is this “Creator?” How does the Blood Crown theorem specifically help with human survival in space? I mean, instead of , why not give terraforming a whirl? Why were the androids necessary… for *spoilery things*? Why these specific (immensely important and irreplaceable) test subjects? Just to name a few queries I had while reading. Granted, I may have missed something along the way. Totally possible. But all added together, with such little backstory/history/reasoning given, it left me feeling a bit unsatisfied and not entirely convinced of some of the foundational elements. Yes, I know this seems to contradict the whole “I really like the world!” thing. But despite this, because of this, and because of my curiosity to know more, I would definitely pick up the second book (if there’s going to be one) to find out more about this world/universe and how it came to be this way.
Also regarding story execution, the pacing around the conclusion was lagging. Around two thirds of the way in, it seemed like things were coming to a close, but then the story seemed to drag on without a clearly discernible purpose. The reader is given one eventually, but it was a bit confusing, a bit “Wait. Didn’t we do just do this?” I understand why it was done in regard to character/plot development, but still, it felt like it was dragging and its purpose took a while to understand.
Serantha. She never seemed fully realized. There was just so much going on with her character — Her life in the kitchens, her treatment by the staff and the guards, her past coming back to haunt her, *more spoilery things*, assuming a position of leadership, plus more… and her development as a character ended up feeling something akin to a half-popped bag of popcorn. There just wasn’t the time necessary, with all that was going on, for her to believably process/accept what was happening to her, and when she did, it felt rushed so the story could keep on moving. There just wasn’t that feeling on my part of there being emotional authenticity on hers, and so I had trouble connecting with her character. Nicolai, on the other hand, was pretty great.
Overall. Blood Crown is an entertaining and interesting sci-fi novel, but some developmental issues detracted from what could’ve potentially been a really fantastic story. But as always, this is purely my own opinion and, I say if you’re a fan of sci-fi and like ambitious and original concepts, give this one a try and see what you think for yourself.
March 18, 2014
NOTE: I received the book from the author, as a part of a blog tour promotion.
The moment I laid eyes on this cover, I just wanted to read BLOOD CROWN. Somehow it reminded me of books that were too good to put down.
I was a little disappointed that I didn't get the 100% satisfaction from reading BLOOD CROWN. I guess I had too high expectations and not having them met just didn't work out for me.
Don't get me wrong, the book is a good read, fast paced, packed with action, cute romance and intrigue. But for some reason I couldn't enjoy it as much as anticipated.
Also, there were questions that were never answered, and I felt irritated by it. I'm not going to say what exactly those questions were, because it'll spoil the book, but it did annoy me a little.
Writing style:
I think this is where the problem was. I didn't feel comfortable with the writing style and I can't pinpoint exactly why. What I do know that I was bothered that some scenes, where anticipation should've been built up to a climax, were wasted on descriptions that could've been postponed or cut out altogether. I wasn't exactly keen to know what each character was wearing at any given time. But I did want to have tension working in my mind.
Story line:
I am not such a great lover of series. In fact I prefer standalone books. Yet, BLOOD CROWN cried with the need to be a trilogy. Why? Everything was packed into such a short time, it felt unrealistic and impossible. I did like the story line - it had good reasoning behind it - but the shortness of it made me think that it was just not enough.
After all we're talking about humans defeating a super advanced android population. It should've taken a bit longer than a week, don't you think?
Themes:
- There's always hope.
- Humans are always meant to win.
- Sometimes, androids can love.
- Prophesies always come to pass.
- Love lasts forever.
Characters:
Archibald was the Servant android to the Royal Family of the West. He was the person who raised the little princess, Serantha, until her 10th year of age. He was supposed to teach her everything she should know about the world, about herself, about her future as a queen, wife and mother. But the Mind (a group of Elite androids) had different plans. Yet, even in their hands, Archibald still remains loyal to his little charge. He never abandons her, always protects her and is ever ready to sacrifice himself for her well-being.
Nicolai is the prince of the East. He's got his heart in the right place. He knows what the Mind is capable of, and he wants to protect the human race from the android's plans of destruction. Unfortunately, his father doesn't share his opinions, so Nicolai is banished/leaves his kingdom and joins the rebel force.
Now, let me tell you, I liked Nicolai's character. He was bold and brave and didn't hesitate to help those who needed rescuing. Sometimes he was even rash and stupid, acting without really thinking, but he always did it for the best of the human race.
Serantha always described him as proud and serious and scowling. I never really saw him like that, so I'm sort of confused. Sera's supposed to know this guy because of their bond and stuff. But it seems that she has no idea who Nicolai really is as a person.
Serantha is the little princess, Archibald's charge. She went missing after her parents' murder and was assumed dead. Thus, no one hoped that the prophesy of the Blood Crown would ever be fulfilled. Yet, Sera lived. A lowly life, full of scorn, brutality, distrust and no hope. But it was life nonetheless. I guess she was brave, since she always stood up to the guards and protected her roommates from assaults and such.
Now she's 19 years old. She's hated by the humans around her, and the guards just want a piece of her because she's different. But no one knows who she is. She doesn't either.
When she realizes she's a ruler of an Empire, I think it's too much for her and she makes a bunch of stupid crazy decisions. I'm not sure she knows how to be wise or how to analyze events and consequences. It's weird that she should need technology help to do it too. It sort of feels like ordinary people aren't able to make wise decisions, which is untrue.
Galen was the evil Elite android who wanted to destroy mankind and rule the Universe. I understand his reasoning. He's selfish and degraded and has no honor. I'm not sure I know how he got there, since he's, you know, artificial intelligence, and could've been controlled, mind-wiped etc. etc.
He wasn't a good villain, to be honest. Sure, he had a bunch of people killed, ships destroyed, and so on, but he lacked in some aspects.
In conclusion, BLOOD CROWN was an interesting read with a lot of potential. It was crammed in a single volume, but I think it would've been done better as at least a duology.
The moment I laid eyes on this cover, I just wanted to read BLOOD CROWN. Somehow it reminded me of books that were too good to put down.
I was a little disappointed that I didn't get the 100% satisfaction from reading BLOOD CROWN. I guess I had too high expectations and not having them met just didn't work out for me.
Don't get me wrong, the book is a good read, fast paced, packed with action, cute romance and intrigue. But for some reason I couldn't enjoy it as much as anticipated.
Also, there were questions that were never answered, and I felt irritated by it. I'm not going to say what exactly those questions were, because it'll spoil the book, but it did annoy me a little.
Writing style:
I think this is where the problem was. I didn't feel comfortable with the writing style and I can't pinpoint exactly why. What I do know that I was bothered that some scenes, where anticipation should've been built up to a climax, were wasted on descriptions that could've been postponed or cut out altogether. I wasn't exactly keen to know what each character was wearing at any given time. But I did want to have tension working in my mind.
Story line:
I am not such a great lover of series. In fact I prefer standalone books. Yet, BLOOD CROWN cried with the need to be a trilogy. Why? Everything was packed into such a short time, it felt unrealistic and impossible. I did like the story line - it had good reasoning behind it - but the shortness of it made me think that it was just not enough.
After all we're talking about humans defeating a super advanced android population. It should've taken a bit longer than a week, don't you think?
Themes:
- There's always hope.
- Humans are always meant to win.
- Sometimes, androids can love.
- Prophesies always come to pass.
- Love lasts forever.
Characters:
Archibald was the Servant android to the Royal Family of the West. He was the person who raised the little princess, Serantha, until her 10th year of age. He was supposed to teach her everything she should know about the world, about herself, about her future as a queen, wife and mother. But the Mind (a group of Elite androids) had different plans. Yet, even in their hands, Archibald still remains loyal to his little charge. He never abandons her, always protects her and is ever ready to sacrifice himself for her well-being.
Nicolai is the prince of the East. He's got his heart in the right place. He knows what the Mind is capable of, and he wants to protect the human race from the android's plans of destruction. Unfortunately, his father doesn't share his opinions, so Nicolai is banished/leaves his kingdom and joins the rebel force.
Now, let me tell you, I liked Nicolai's character. He was bold and brave and didn't hesitate to help those who needed rescuing. Sometimes he was even rash and stupid, acting without really thinking, but he always did it for the best of the human race.
Serantha always described him as proud and serious and scowling. I never really saw him like that, so I'm sort of confused. Sera's supposed to know this guy because of their bond and stuff. But it seems that she has no idea who Nicolai really is as a person.
Serantha is the little princess, Archibald's charge. She went missing after her parents' murder and was assumed dead. Thus, no one hoped that the prophesy of the Blood Crown would ever be fulfilled. Yet, Sera lived. A lowly life, full of scorn, brutality, distrust and no hope. But it was life nonetheless. I guess she was brave, since she always stood up to the guards and protected her roommates from assaults and such.
Now she's 19 years old. She's hated by the humans around her, and the guards just want a piece of her because she's different. But no one knows who she is. She doesn't either.
When she realizes she's a ruler of an Empire, I think it's too much for her and she makes a bunch of stupid crazy decisions. I'm not sure she knows how to be wise or how to analyze events and consequences. It's weird that she should need technology help to do it too. It sort of feels like ordinary people aren't able to make wise decisions, which is untrue.
Galen was the evil Elite android who wanted to destroy mankind and rule the Universe. I understand his reasoning. He's selfish and degraded and has no honor. I'm not sure I know how he got there, since he's, you know, artificial intelligence, and could've been controlled, mind-wiped etc. etc.
He wasn't a good villain, to be honest. Sure, he had a bunch of people killed, ships destroyed, and so on, but he lacked in some aspects.
In conclusion, BLOOD CROWN was an interesting read with a lot of potential. It was crammed in a single volume, but I think it would've been done better as at least a duology.
January 13, 2015
**I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review**
4 stars!
Being the last remaining survivor of the royal family after a coup when she was 10 years old, lead by the androids that were meant to protect and serve them but instead set out to destroy them, the now 19 year old Serantha or Sera as she goes by since she went into hiding, has a hard life. Now in an effort to protect her identity, she is a servant in the kitchen on the very ship that her parents used to reign as King and Queen of the West. She was meant to be part of the hope of the human race, along with the son of the King and Queen of the East, Nicolai by her side – creating the perfect DNA and fulfilling the prophecy. Instead, she is yelled at, forced to work in the hot kitchen, with hardly any food (not that an android army needs food!), and made to sleep in sub-par conditions – treated with no human decency.
Nicolai is dedicated to abdicating the thrown. If he can’t reign with Serantha by his side as intended, he doesn’t want to do it at all. He still remembers the little 10 year old version of her upon his last visit when they were committed to each other, shortly before her family was attached. He, as well as the rest of the world, was left believing that Serantha also perished the day her parents did. Therefore, he decides to join the rebellion to fight against the android army that has such a hold over the world – with plans to destroy the human race all together. This is much to his father’s chagrin, who believes he should stay and take over the Kingdom of the East as he had always intended.
But when Nicolai happens upon the mostly dormant West Capital ship to attack the Minds (the androids) that have gathered there, he finds something much more shocking than just a Mind get together…he sees HER, she’s older, has shorter hair, and is dressed in rags, but he knows it’s her – she didn’t perish after all. Instead of being honest with her, he simply acts like one of her subjects that have come to free her and the staff from their metal prison. She has another secret though…she remembers Nicolai from when they were children, but he seems hell-bent on keeping the information from her. He introduces himself as “Nic” and convinces himself she must remember him for him to make himself known. With the help of the people of the West, some “good” androids, and Nic, Serantha is in for a wild journey – but can she save the human race before it’s too late, before the android Minds take what they feel they deserve and kill everyone?
Starting out, the book was a little slow and confusing as it was told in multiple POV’s. But as the story picked up and the readers were told more about the interactions that Nicolai and Serantha had has children and the prophecy they were to fulfill, the story took on more shape and was a terrific love story, as well as a human interest story of sorts. Serantha has everything taken from her, but she is still willing to fight for her people – for the people, even those that persecuted her along the way. Nicolai just wants something worth fighting for, which is why he joins the rebellion against the Mind – he wants to make a difference as he feels his chance was taken away with Serantha’s supposed death. What comes of their purposes coming together is great and shows that even in the face of adversity, we can still make a difference as long as our hearts are in the right place.
4 stars!
Being the last remaining survivor of the royal family after a coup when she was 10 years old, lead by the androids that were meant to protect and serve them but instead set out to destroy them, the now 19 year old Serantha or Sera as she goes by since she went into hiding, has a hard life. Now in an effort to protect her identity, she is a servant in the kitchen on the very ship that her parents used to reign as King and Queen of the West. She was meant to be part of the hope of the human race, along with the son of the King and Queen of the East, Nicolai by her side – creating the perfect DNA and fulfilling the prophecy. Instead, she is yelled at, forced to work in the hot kitchen, with hardly any food (not that an android army needs food!), and made to sleep in sub-par conditions – treated with no human decency.
Nicolai is dedicated to abdicating the thrown. If he can’t reign with Serantha by his side as intended, he doesn’t want to do it at all. He still remembers the little 10 year old version of her upon his last visit when they were committed to each other, shortly before her family was attached. He, as well as the rest of the world, was left believing that Serantha also perished the day her parents did. Therefore, he decides to join the rebellion to fight against the android army that has such a hold over the world – with plans to destroy the human race all together. This is much to his father’s chagrin, who believes he should stay and take over the Kingdom of the East as he had always intended.
But when Nicolai happens upon the mostly dormant West Capital ship to attack the Minds (the androids) that have gathered there, he finds something much more shocking than just a Mind get together…he sees HER, she’s older, has shorter hair, and is dressed in rags, but he knows it’s her – she didn’t perish after all. Instead of being honest with her, he simply acts like one of her subjects that have come to free her and the staff from their metal prison. She has another secret though…she remembers Nicolai from when they were children, but he seems hell-bent on keeping the information from her. He introduces himself as “Nic” and convinces himself she must remember him for him to make himself known. With the help of the people of the West, some “good” androids, and Nic, Serantha is in for a wild journey – but can she save the human race before it’s too late, before the android Minds take what they feel they deserve and kill everyone?
Starting out, the book was a little slow and confusing as it was told in multiple POV’s. But as the story picked up and the readers were told more about the interactions that Nicolai and Serantha had has children and the prophecy they were to fulfill, the story took on more shape and was a terrific love story, as well as a human interest story of sorts. Serantha has everything taken from her, but she is still willing to fight for her people – for the people, even those that persecuted her along the way. Nicolai just wants something worth fighting for, which is why he joins the rebellion against the Mind – he wants to make a difference as he feels his chance was taken away with Serantha’s supposed death. What comes of their purposes coming together is great and shows that even in the face of adversity, we can still make a difference as long as our hearts are in the right place.
August 2, 2014
Let me start by saying how much I love the book cover. I mean, it's SO PRETTY!!! I can't stop looking at it. *Sigh*
I really enjoyed reading Blood Crown, and I think it's a great book. After reading Shattered Veil (read my review *cough* my fangirling here), I was like "I want to read more Sci-fi books". And when I saw Blood Crown on NetGalley I requested it without even reading the synopsis; I was totally swayed by the gorgeous cover.
I'll be honest, though. I did have some issues with Blood Crown. First of all, I have to say that it was hard for me to get into the story, because like I said earlier, I didn't bother to read what it was about before diving into it. Also, Blood Crown is told from different points of view which is another reason why I struggled with it. However, when I finally clicked with the characters, I couldn't stop reading. Another issue I had was the insta-love. I couldn't understand why Sera felt instantly attracted to Nick, and the affection these two felt for each other didn't seem realistic to me. But later on, I discovered that which explained the "strong connection" they felt. And I was glad that everything made sense.
The world building. I think the world building was great! While I was reading, everything took place clearly in my head. So, I liked that it wasn't confusing, and appreciated that there weren't a lot of information to take in all at once. But I was left with a couple of unanswered questions, such as, "How do they produce food on space?" and "How can they live with infinite electricity?"
The book was fast paced, and I was focused on the fight between the Mind and humans, so my questions didn't pop up until after I finished reading the book. And I know these questions are probably irrelevant, but I'm kinda curious. I hope they will be dealt with in the sequel.
The characters are a strong point in Blood Crown. The plot was great too, with a few twists that I didn't expect, but I think the characters are the reason why I highly enjoyed this book. Sera is a wonderful main character; I loved seeing how this lonely girl, whose only wish was to be accepted, grew confident and found her rightful place. She is strong-willed, but she also has some insecurities, and I like that she isn't perfect. On the other hand, we have Nick. Now, if you ever read this book you will probably fall in love with Nick. As a prince, he has lots of responsibilities; I like that he's passionate, and that he fights back. The side characters were notable, too. I particularly liked Archibald, and was amazed with how loyal he was.
Overall, I think this is an amazing book. I did have some issues with it, but I ended up really enjoying it. If you love reading YA and Sci-fi books, then I would definitely recommend this book to you.
I really enjoyed reading Blood Crown, and I think it's a great book. After reading Shattered Veil (read my review *cough* my fangirling here), I was like "I want to read more Sci-fi books". And when I saw Blood Crown on NetGalley I requested it without even reading the synopsis; I was totally swayed by the gorgeous cover.
I'll be honest, though. I did have some issues with Blood Crown. First of all, I have to say that it was hard for me to get into the story, because like I said earlier, I didn't bother to read what it was about before diving into it. Also, Blood Crown is told from different points of view which is another reason why I struggled with it. However, when I finally clicked with the characters, I couldn't stop reading. Another issue I had was the insta-love. I couldn't understand why Sera felt instantly attracted to Nick, and the affection these two felt for each other didn't seem realistic to me. But later on, I discovered that which explained the "strong connection" they felt. And I was glad that everything made sense.
The world building. I think the world building was great! While I was reading, everything took place clearly in my head. So, I liked that it wasn't confusing, and appreciated that there weren't a lot of information to take in all at once. But I was left with a couple of unanswered questions, such as, "How do they produce food on space?" and "How can they live with infinite electricity?"
The book was fast paced, and I was focused on the fight between the Mind and humans, so my questions didn't pop up until after I finished reading the book. And I know these questions are probably irrelevant, but I'm kinda curious. I hope they will be dealt with in the sequel.
The characters are a strong point in Blood Crown. The plot was great too, with a few twists that I didn't expect, but I think the characters are the reason why I highly enjoyed this book. Sera is a wonderful main character; I loved seeing how this lonely girl, whose only wish was to be accepted, grew confident and found her rightful place. She is strong-willed, but she also has some insecurities, and I like that she isn't perfect. On the other hand, we have Nick. Now, if you ever read this book you will probably fall in love with Nick. As a prince, he has lots of responsibilities; I like that he's passionate, and that he fights back. The side characters were notable, too. I particularly liked Archibald, and was amazed with how loyal he was.
Overall, I think this is an amazing book. I did have some issues with it, but I ended up really enjoying it. If you love reading YA and Sci-fi books, then I would definitely recommend this book to you.
July 22, 2014
Warning contains spoilers!
Serentha has lost her past. She remembers being found in the kitchens of the 'Capital' ship and put to work by cook. Another human enslaved by the 'servants' and droids. She knows it never used to be like this, but only tiny glimpses in dreams hold the key to unlock her past.
Nicolai lost all hope for the future of humans when his fellow Royal, best friend, Princess of the West and soul mate was killed in an ambush by the technology that was supposed to serve and obey them. Now with the future so bleak he can't seem to muster the enthusiasm to rule beside his father as Prince of the East. He longs to join the rebel forces trying to regain the West from the droids control, doing so will see him abdicate his throne and have his father banish him. Knowing which path to chose is easy for a man like him so he takes off to reclaim the West and destroy the leader of the technology or go down trying.
When Nicolai discovers Serantha alive but unaware of who or what she is doesn't change his resolve. The future they were both meant to create is gone, destroyed so the less she knows the better as fas as he is concerned. But as Serantha begins to remember and the spark between them reignited all bets are off as to what future will happen.
Can they both save their people and reclaim their place in a world that humans need to evolve in order to survive? Or can the technology built to serve them destroy their existence and reign the empire?
The start of this book was fantastic. It built the suspense of the oncoming war, the leads coming together and gave hints of the past bit by bit just wetting the appetite for the next bit. Serantha was brilliant. Strong, determined and fierce. Nicolai was for me a little whiny and confusing. His reasoning for the secrets he held were honestly pathetic (sorry!!). He did get on my nerves a little but seemed to come into his own toward the end.
The ending for me was disappointing. Really disappointing. I was stunned that the whole book built up to what you think is going to be an amazing, adrenalin filled ending ... and then ... nope!! I expected a lot more and for me kind of ruined what I think could have been an amazing story.
I did enjoy reading it but wouldn't read again. Like I said the beginning and middle were brilliant and really built you up, until the ending came and I was left thinking 'huh?'. As far as I know there isn't a sequel but the story has been left open for one which if I ever find it I would read out of curiosity.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Serentha has lost her past. She remembers being found in the kitchens of the 'Capital' ship and put to work by cook. Another human enslaved by the 'servants' and droids. She knows it never used to be like this, but only tiny glimpses in dreams hold the key to unlock her past.
Nicolai lost all hope for the future of humans when his fellow Royal, best friend, Princess of the West and soul mate was killed in an ambush by the technology that was supposed to serve and obey them. Now with the future so bleak he can't seem to muster the enthusiasm to rule beside his father as Prince of the East. He longs to join the rebel forces trying to regain the West from the droids control, doing so will see him abdicate his throne and have his father banish him. Knowing which path to chose is easy for a man like him so he takes off to reclaim the West and destroy the leader of the technology or go down trying.
When Nicolai discovers Serantha alive but unaware of who or what she is doesn't change his resolve. The future they were both meant to create is gone, destroyed so the less she knows the better as fas as he is concerned. But as Serantha begins to remember and the spark between them reignited all bets are off as to what future will happen.
Can they both save their people and reclaim their place in a world that humans need to evolve in order to survive? Or can the technology built to serve them destroy their existence and reign the empire?
The start of this book was fantastic. It built the suspense of the oncoming war, the leads coming together and gave hints of the past bit by bit just wetting the appetite for the next bit. Serantha was brilliant. Strong, determined and fierce. Nicolai was for me a little whiny and confusing. His reasoning for the secrets he held were honestly pathetic (sorry!!). He did get on my nerves a little but seemed to come into his own toward the end.
The ending for me was disappointing. Really disappointing. I was stunned that the whole book built up to what you think is going to be an amazing, adrenalin filled ending ... and then ... nope!! I expected a lot more and for me kind of ruined what I think could have been an amazing story.
I did enjoy reading it but wouldn't read again. Like I said the beginning and middle were brilliant and really built you up, until the ending came and I was left thinking 'huh?'. As far as I know there isn't a sequel but the story has been left open for one which if I ever find it I would read out of curiosity.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 18, 2018
i love this book so much its one of my favorite books.
March 30, 2014
OUT's Review
Space travel, protector, mankind, soul mates, who can ask for anything better in a storyline? As a reviewer I can truly say that I have my favorite genres to read. Science fiction/fantasy hasn't been at the top of my "to be read" pile in a very long time. What caught my attention at first glance, was the detailed cover. The dark background with the prominent two people looking ahead. To what exactly? A new life? Changes in humanity? Or simply searching for answer.
What do you do when your world is changed forever? The path you were destined to take is blocked by obstacles that you can't seem to get by. The person you were destined to be with, is no longer in existence. Lastly, the life and world you once knew is now in jeopardy. Blood Crown grabbed me at the very first chapter. The events were vivid and the scenes painted pictures in my mind that immediately took me to their world. Any writing that grabs and tugs at me from the very beginning is great sign that major awesomeness is on the way.
I enjoy the writing shift to multiple points of view in a novel, something many authors are leaning towards. Ms. Cross has done it right with Blood Crown. There are many moments of heartache, pain, passion, but above all determination. Nothing about this storyline is predictable. Blood Crown is a unique read, and that's what I love about it. The main characters Serantha and Nicolai are on a mission. You will want to hear their story. You will want to live it. Will they embrace the challenge and continue to keep their true life locked away as the place they once knew crumbles? Or will they except the challenge to awake and face the what lies ahead?
Space travel, protector, mankind, soul mates, who can ask for anything better in a storyline? As a reviewer I can truly say that I have my favorite genres to read. Science fiction/fantasy hasn't been at the top of my "to be read" pile in a very long time. What caught my attention at first glance, was the detailed cover. The dark background with the prominent two people looking ahead. To what exactly? A new life? Changes in humanity? Or simply searching for answer.
What do you do when your world is changed forever? The path you were destined to take is blocked by obstacles that you can't seem to get by. The person you were destined to be with, is no longer in existence. Lastly, the life and world you once knew is now in jeopardy. Blood Crown grabbed me at the very first chapter. The events were vivid and the scenes painted pictures in my mind that immediately took me to their world. Any writing that grabs and tugs at me from the very beginning is great sign that major awesomeness is on the way.
I enjoy the writing shift to multiple points of view in a novel, something many authors are leaning towards. Ms. Cross has done it right with Blood Crown. There are many moments of heartache, pain, passion, but above all determination. Nothing about this storyline is predictable. Blood Crown is a unique read, and that's what I love about it. The main characters Serantha and Nicolai are on a mission. You will want to hear their story. You will want to live it. Will they embrace the challenge and continue to keep their true life locked away as the place they once knew crumbles? Or will they except the challenge to awake and face the what lies ahead?
August 5, 2014
Received via NetGalley from All Night Reads in exchange for a completely unbiased review
Serantha is just a simple girl, who works in the kitchen of a ship controlled and ruled by Androids. In another life she was a Princess, fated to bring together both technological innovation and human tissue to create the next super race of humans with her betrothed Nicolai. She remembers none of this. There is only servitude.
Nicolai disagrees with his father's decision to hide from the Androids who control the other half of the universe. It is this disagreement that leads him on his own quest to save the universe and reunites the young lovers once more.
Nicolai and Sera must find a way to save humanity, and find their own rhythm with each other to bring about the fated Blood Crown. Only then will the prophecies come to fruition and human kind will be safe once again..
I found that this book snuck up on me. I was reading along, not particularly engaged with the book, not connecting with any of the characters until Nicolai come into the picture. It is then that the author's true talent takes shape. I cried, I laughed and I couldn't put it down.
Mrs Cross develops subtle relationships between the characters which include an Android parent who passes on Gifts, and sacrifices himself to save Sera after years of searching for her. The commitment, the love, the selflessness is reflected in both human and android during the novel invoking the question: are humans really any better than the cruel machines ruling over them?
Truly sci fi, romance and partially thought provoking, Cross develops a cute story that starts off slow, but builds a crescendo when the reader isn't looking. The question of what happens if Terminator happened in space, and only souped up teenaged lovers can save humanity has been answered..now to find out what happens after the war.
Serantha is just a simple girl, who works in the kitchen of a ship controlled and ruled by Androids. In another life she was a Princess, fated to bring together both technological innovation and human tissue to create the next super race of humans with her betrothed Nicolai. She remembers none of this. There is only servitude.
Nicolai disagrees with his father's decision to hide from the Androids who control the other half of the universe. It is this disagreement that leads him on his own quest to save the universe and reunites the young lovers once more.
Nicolai and Sera must find a way to save humanity, and find their own rhythm with each other to bring about the fated Blood Crown. Only then will the prophecies come to fruition and human kind will be safe once again..
I found that this book snuck up on me. I was reading along, not particularly engaged with the book, not connecting with any of the characters until Nicolai come into the picture. It is then that the author's true talent takes shape. I cried, I laughed and I couldn't put it down.
Mrs Cross develops subtle relationships between the characters which include an Android parent who passes on Gifts, and sacrifices himself to save Sera after years of searching for her. The commitment, the love, the selflessness is reflected in both human and android during the novel invoking the question: are humans really any better than the cruel machines ruling over them?
Truly sci fi, romance and partially thought provoking, Cross develops a cute story that starts off slow, but builds a crescendo when the reader isn't looking. The question of what happens if Terminator happened in space, and only souped up teenaged lovers can save humanity has been answered..now to find out what happens after the war.
March 25, 2014
Tech and Humanity Become One,4.5 Stars
I’m not a huge sci-fi reader—normally. I’ve read Enders Game, Across the Stars and a few others, but when it comes to Sci-fi, I’m typically happy to pass. Ali had me with this stunning cover...
And then I read the first chapter.
Sold!
Heart pounding, I finished this entire book in a matter of hours. I loved Serantha’s determination and small-fish-in-a-big-fish-bowl adjustment. Nicolai’s confidence won me over. The mesh of tech to reality was not only forward thinking, but thought provoking. And the odds… Two small people against an evil consortium of androids? Epic.
A warning: as a “clean” reader, this is not a book I would hand off to my teen mostly because of the debauchery of their enemies. This story world is gritty and gory—which also lends it a sense of believability.
All in all, this is a great read and highly recommended.
I’m not a huge sci-fi reader—normally. I’ve read Enders Game, Across the Stars and a few others, but when it comes to Sci-fi, I’m typically happy to pass. Ali had me with this stunning cover...
And then I read the first chapter.
Sold!
Heart pounding, I finished this entire book in a matter of hours. I loved Serantha’s determination and small-fish-in-a-big-fish-bowl adjustment. Nicolai’s confidence won me over. The mesh of tech to reality was not only forward thinking, but thought provoking. And the odds… Two small people against an evil consortium of androids? Epic.
A warning: as a “clean” reader, this is not a book I would hand off to my teen mostly because of the debauchery of their enemies. This story world is gritty and gory—which also lends it a sense of believability.
All in all, this is a great read and highly recommended.
November 2, 2014
I recieved a copy from Netgalley.
Every now and the I like to look for something different than my usual reading comfort zone and I came across this title whilst browsing through Netgalley. The cover got my attention immediately and the description sounded good. I don't read hardly any sci stuff, so figure why not give it a shot.
I thought the world building and the plot was very clever. I loved the spacey settings and the technology. The idea of the plot was complex but interesting. The story was okay, but by the end I was starting to lose interest. I was finding the characters kind of flat and the story was getting a little repetitive. And starting to to skim through.
It wasn't a bad book at all really, just not my cup of tea I guess.
Thank you to Netgalkey and All Night Reads for approving my request to view the title.
Covers a square for my Holiday Bingo card - Set in Space
Every now and the I like to look for something different than my usual reading comfort zone and I came across this title whilst browsing through Netgalley. The cover got my attention immediately and the description sounded good. I don't read hardly any sci stuff, so figure why not give it a shot.
I thought the world building and the plot was very clever. I loved the spacey settings and the technology. The idea of the plot was complex but interesting. The story was okay, but by the end I was starting to lose interest. I was finding the characters kind of flat and the story was getting a little repetitive. And starting to to skim through.
It wasn't a bad book at all really, just not my cup of tea I guess.
Thank you to Netgalkey and All Night Reads for approving my request to view the title.
Covers a square for my Holiday Bingo card - Set in Space
February 10, 2015
I received this novel from romancebeat and netgally in exchange for an honest review.
Unfortunately this review is going to have to be short and to the point because unfortunately I don't have much to say about this novel.
This duel point of view novel was an extremely unusual read that let my imagination grapple with the sci/fi content. This novel allowed the reader to try and put the events together without laying everything out in front of them. Reminding me of many similar mankind saving novels I have read over the past year I could definitely see this become a very popular novel. But unfortunately this novel was not a keeper for me and I was unable to push through and finish it, but i do believe that if you are a YA sci/fi fan then this novel will be a great read for you.
Unfortunately this review is going to have to be short and to the point because unfortunately I don't have much to say about this novel.
This duel point of view novel was an extremely unusual read that let my imagination grapple with the sci/fi content. This novel allowed the reader to try and put the events together without laying everything out in front of them. Reminding me of many similar mankind saving novels I have read over the past year I could definitely see this become a very popular novel. But unfortunately this novel was not a keeper for me and I was unable to push through and finish it, but i do believe that if you are a YA sci/fi fan then this novel will be a great read for you.
June 5, 2014
This book ... oh, this book ...
I LOVED every single thing about Blood Crown, because this is a very unique book! Cross's prose is intelligently written and smart, and it calls out to lovers of sci-fi and, indeed, romance.
This book is written three points of view. I won't give spoilers, but I must say I love it when points of view switch, giving way to a fuller picture.
Blood Crown is about destined love, friendship conquering all, forgiveness, and the importance of following your own stars.
My favorite character is Archibald. If you want to know more about him, you'll have to grab a copy of Cross's book. Believe me, you won't be disappointed!
I LOVED every single thing about Blood Crown, because this is a very unique book! Cross's prose is intelligently written and smart, and it calls out to lovers of sci-fi and, indeed, romance.
This book is written three points of view. I won't give spoilers, but I must say I love it when points of view switch, giving way to a fuller picture.
Blood Crown is about destined love, friendship conquering all, forgiveness, and the importance of following your own stars.
My favorite character is Archibald. If you want to know more about him, you'll have to grab a copy of Cross's book. Believe me, you won't be disappointed!
April 13, 2014
I enjoy romance stories, I love science fiction, and I've read plenty of both. What a refreshing change to read them combined, and it really worked! It's a different format than I'm accustomed to, telling the story from different people's point of view, so it had my interest from the beginning. I loved getting to know Sera and learning about her past and her uniqueness as if I was accompanying her on her journey to becoming a queen. I highly recommend this to anyone who loves sci-fi, or romances, or both!
May 23, 2014
When I first started reading this book, I was a little disappointed. It wasn't like anything else I've read from Ali Cross and I didn't immediately get into it. I am very glad that I stuck it out and continued to read it, as it turned into a great story. One of the things I did not like was the different point of views every chapter. Even though the characters perspectives don't duplicate, it seemed a bit choppy and I did have to go back and reread a few pages to make sure I didn't really miss anything. Look forward to see if this becomes a series and where the story goes.
August 31, 2014
I received this ebook from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I would be frank, there is both good and bad parts in this book. Sometimes is boring or confusing, but I'll give it a positive rating because I like very much the setting. I like the idea of humanity living in spaceship in the universe (and not on planets) and its evolving with nanotechnology in the bloodstream. I also liked how the author describes android in this story. And the romance was not bad.
Vote: 3.5 stars
I would be frank, there is both good and bad parts in this book. Sometimes is boring or confusing, but I'll give it a positive rating because I like very much the setting. I like the idea of humanity living in spaceship in the universe (and not on planets) and its evolving with nanotechnology in the bloodstream. I also liked how the author describes android in this story. And the romance was not bad.
Vote: 3.5 stars
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews