Un tallo plateado y roto

Crystal Bloom #2

by Sarah A. Parker, Xavier Beltrán Palomino (translator)

La explosiva secuela de Un pétalo de sangre y cristal , unaserie de fantasía oscurade la pluma de Sarah A. Parker, la autora deromantasyque ha embrujado a las lectoras internacionales. Una historia llena de pasión, secretos ypeligrosa magia.

«Quiero hacerle daño. Quiero que sangre.
Quiero que se rompa como él me ha roto a mí».

Antes mi mundo era pequeño y seguro, pero todo cambió cuando me uní a un hombre al que apenas conocía. Sumida en intrigas políticas, debo asegurar una flota para combatir la invasión de bestias salvajes que ha tomado el continente. Y un paso en falso provocará la guerra que tanto he luchado por evitar.

Interpretaré mi papel a la perfección y con mi mejor sonrisa, bajo el escrutinio de los que me rodean, incluso mientras Rhordyn busca una fisura en mi coraza de hielo. No se rinde. No se esconde. ¿Por qué me mira ahora, cuando tengo que escondérselo todo?

Los secretos germinan, las verdades florecen y más de uno de nosotros acabará hecho pedazos.

Antes el miedo era mi captor. Ahora, en cambio, es mi prisionero.

Sobre Un pétalo de sangre y cristal :

«La pluma de la autora es preciosa y muy descriptiva… La emoción, los detalles, el desarrollo de los personajes, el conflicto… ¡Es perfecto!».

«Echaba de menos encontrar un libro que me dejara con esta ilusión y expectativas del siguiente».

«Preparaos para unos paisajes impresionantes, selkies malvados, duendecillos iridiscentes, plantas medicinales y mucho mucho encanto. Me he enamorado por completo de este mundo y de todos sus personajes».

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Romance, Fantasy Romance, Fae, Dark Romance, Dark

575 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 8, 2022

About the author

Sarah is an international bestselling autho​r who​ grew up on a farm in New Zealand, where she spent her days getting lost amongst the rolling pasture, building forts in the hedge, climbing trees, and exploring the forest pathways—making up elaborate stories that never lost their grip on her.

​She now lives in Australia with her husband​, dog, three children, and countless plants, and spends her days pouring her stories onto paper rather than throwing them to the wind.

Her genre of choice is epic fantasy romance, and she thrives off dreaming up​ real, ​​complex characters​​ and immersive worlds to get lost amongst.

Reviews

[✩ Yaz ✩ · Rating 5 out of 5]

First read: 5 - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Second read: 5 - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Third read: 5 - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I want him to hurt. To bleed. I want him to snap, just like he snapped me.

Now is the time to pour all of my emotions into this review because it has taken me a day to process my feelings (and I haven't recovered still).

I know I'm gonna be in tears by the time I finish writing this review because I'm so overwhelmed by so many feelings.

This book gutted me.
In the best and worst way.

Rest assured that you will finish this book feeling so proud of Orlaith and who she becomes. This is her story and this is her journey and Sarah did it fucking justice.

Sarah stays true to the dark fantasy romance genre in the sense that nothing is coming easy for any of these characters, and the story is descending towards a darker path. She does not shy away from hurting the characters and the readers, and as a reader myself I'm savoring the pain because I know it's worth it for what's to come.

I'm elated that we got additional POVs that do not overwhelm the story but expands the world and the character arcs.

There's a new ship on the horizon that I'm 100% rooting for and I think many readers will.

There are so many different facets to each of these characters and you will see a new side to them, especially Cainon and Rhordyn... in an unexpected way.

Some truths were revealed that speared right through my heart and it's going to get darker than that.

Now that Orlaith's world expanded beyond Stony Stem, nothing now will come easy for her and nothing did.

The way Sarah handled her character arc in this book was realistic given Orlaith's inexperience and emotional maturity. Just thinking about her growth in this book makes me tear up because she's finally pulling those roots out and coming into her own person.

Orlaith after TBACB was hurt and angry and this shapes so many of her decisions and actions in this book. It makes you either want to throttle her or root for her, and I was rooting for her 90% of the time.

It does not mean that the Orlaith we knew in TBACB had gone through a 180 change and her character entirely changed. Not at all, our darling Orlaith maintains her tender and nurturing heart, her essence does not change but she starts to realize that the world she lives in is not a kind one and there are dark truths that must be faced.

The romance comes secondary to Orlaith's journey but YES! you will get a clearer answer of who is Orlaith's endgame. There's 100x times more angst in this book.

Orlaith in this book is in her rebel era and I loved every damn second of it.

The world-building expands through multiple POVs but what I love the most, same as the first book, is how the world is unfurling for the reader the same way it does for Orlaith. I love that we're learning and experiencing things alongside her. I love being in her head and following her throughout this journey.

I have to applaud Sarah because not enough words will convey my appreciation for her for staying true to the vision of the story she wants to tell because even though this story draws inspiration from a fairytale, Sarah crafted such an authentic fantasy story and I always appreciate authors for giving me a story I have not experienced before.

This book is an emotional whirlwind.
Get ready to be hurt.

I would like to put in a disclaimer and mention that this is a dark, dark fantasy romance. You will be frustrated and devastated by the turn of events and you won't always agree and be happy with the choices the characters make—and that's the point of it sometimes and flawed characters are more compelling to me. Characters in this book make mistakes and the relationships can be toxic but it makes their growth and change more meaningful. There is a lot of suffering, guilt, and grief that all the characters deal with. From book 1 the plot was building itself gradually and woven with an intricate lore that sheds itself more with every book and that's why not all questions are answered right away and when they do, it creates more questions and that what personally keeps me invested in the series—knowing that there is more that I want to unravel and how it ties into the stories of all these characters.

Unlike other dark fantasy romance books this is just not surface-level dark, it dives right into the depths. And as my friend Underseabookish said and I quote:
"this series dares to be bold and wants to set itself apart within that genre by bringing back the DARK, the FANTASY, and the ROMANCE all into one series."

I've been craving a dark fantasy series such as this for a long time but I absolutely understand how it might not be everyone's cup of tea. I just wanted to express why I appreciate the series for what it is.

[Marianna Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well. I was right. So many tears. WHAT. JUST. HAPPENED?!

Sarah’s writing is so insanely poetic I could read it all damn day!! This book is heartbreaking and Orlaith’s journey HURTS, but is so powerful and raw and real. This series is like nothing I’ve ever read before. This is dark fantasy romance PERFECTIONNNN!! Like god tier potential!!

I still have so many questions, but I can confidently say Cainon infuriates me and I absolutely love my dark, mysterious, ruthless man Rhordyn.

Okay time for the next book like now.

[évieane · Rating 4 out of 5]

“A smart woman once told me that everything is nothing if you’re in pieces.”

ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ━ 4.3 - 4.5 ☆ ━ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦
ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ╰┈➤˗ˏˋㅤmight contain spoilers ❗

ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ The absolute joy I feel when I find myself rating a book in a series with four stars, especially the second novel, cannot be expressed in simple terms. I can honestly say that this series has me in a chokehold, and God almighty, I never want to escape it. I have been constantly disappointed by the second novels in several series, so you can imagine my astonishment when this one did not disappoint at all; in fact, it fascinated me much more than the first book.

ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ "To Snap a Silver Stem" still continues the very dark and gloomy story of the characters, so once again I am reminding you all to keep in mind that this is a dark fantasy book, therefore do not forget that some of the things it presents are not really light, so make sure to read the trigger warnings before starting this series.
ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ The second book in the Crystal Bloom series jumps straight back into the action, which was quickly and heartbreakingly cut short in the cliff-hanger of the first book. Despite her good intentions, Orlaith finds herself still unable to escape the clutches of her past, and her heart might not be the easiest thing which's desires one can quench. Her naiveté quickly drives her to realise that the world, which is still unknown to her, is indeed as cruel as she was repeatedly warned about. However, her wild and curious self can definitely not be tamed, and a gilded palace, no matter how beautiful and shining, still hides dark secrets that are waiting to be discovered. Lies are once again coming into view, and even those that hold her heart in the palm of their hands might turn into her worst enemies when some light is shed over their own sinful truths. But do not get too excited, because despite it all, our FMC is still just as easily tricked into believing sweet words and wicked lies, and you will find yourself brimming with annoyance more than once as your mind will work far better than hers in realising the real truth. However, when the object of all her desires turns into something far worse than she could ever imagine, heartbreak might lead one to make the hardest, most painful, and awful of decisions -and truth be told, who could even truly blame Orlaith?

ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ As usual, I am struggling to find the perfect words to write a review for a book that I thoroughly enjoyed. But let me do my best and explain briefly about some of the topics below.


ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ -ˋˏ ༻ world-building, writing and action ༺ ˎˊ-

ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ Very similar to the first book, the aspect of the world building is still shrouded in the mystery that you, as a reader, are also thrown into, very much like the FMC of the story herself. Way more things are getting clarified and are coming to light, and if you are reading carefully enough, you are sure to create some of your own theories regarding the world and its own secrets. Normally, I would really hate it for a second book to not clarify so many things concerning the way the imaginary world is created, but somehow, for this specific concept of this book, the mystery and secrets for the world-building simply work. Not to mention, that it actually serves the scope of this novel perfectly: it builds up the anticipation for the future events.

ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ I still did not manage to find the right words to perfectly describe the beauty of the writing in this book. I have absolutely NOTHING to say against it. Sarah A. Parker is an absolutely mastermind and one of the most amazing writers and word-crafters I've ever had the opportunity to read the works of. The writing in this book is simply magical.

ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ Once again I am getting back at making it very clear that this is a series inclining towards being character-driven, therefore, the action might seem pretty slow-moving for those of you that are more into action-packed writing. The second book in this series, doesn't really bring a change into that pace, but you definitely do not get bored while reading this; there are numerous revelations that drive you to draw so many conclusions and to create so many theories of your own that it all just becomes really engaging. I, for one, considered the pace of this novel to actually be perfectly suitable for this series and I just found myself loving every aspect of it.


ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ -ˋˏ ༻ characters ༺ ˎˊ-

ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ Unlike in my review for the first book, I will hopefully not have just as many tings to talk about concerning the characters. Frustratingly enough, this was also slightly helped by the quite disappointingly slow character progression and development.

ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ❀ Orlaith - Despite realizing how her innocence plays into the evolution of the plot and has the scope of assuring the mystery that the entire story is submerged in, I was so frustrated by her lack of rational judgment and fundamental thinking. Despite her desire to help and become independent, to break free from the chains she believes others have placed on her, she has such terrible character judgment and is easily deceived as a result of her stubbornness. I would have liked to see actual character growth, but this did not happen, and as a result, I am unlikely to give this a 5-star rating. I sincerely hope that the next book will finally push her to become the powerful character that this series deserves, because there is a lot of potential in her.

ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ❀ Rhordyn - This man is climbing my top of book boyfriends faster than I'd climb him if he were real. Aside from the continual mysteries he hides and the lack of answers he chooses to provide, this character is utterly, maddeningly phenomenal. I feel sorry for everyone who opted not to continue with this series, for a variety of reasons, because they will lose out on meeting THIS ridiculously fantastic MMC. He is the pure definition of "I would let the entire world burn for you", he has absolutely no moral limits when it comes to defending those he cares about, and he is one of the most intriguing, smart, and selfless characters I have ever read about, despite his claims of being selfish and some sort of villain. He truly provides the ideal balance for Orlaith, bringing everything this novel could otherwise have overlooked. He is still slightly frustratingly secretive, but I am so sure that the revelations about his character in the following books are about to be insane.

ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ❧ The relationship between these two characters is probably the most complex and frustrating one you'll get to read about. The way the secrets seem to play into whatever comes between them and their outcome are entirely soul-crushing. This is the most amazing slow-burn I've ever encountered, and the tension and angst it creates are just out of this world. So, if you enjoy some good share of pain, READ THIS!
ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ If you read my review for To Bleed a Crystal Bloom, you will notice that I have brought some points that I noticed in the book, which helped me further clarify the nature of this relationship and some of the things that were highly controversial for a lot of people, even making them stop reading this story. I am very delighted that this book thoroughly defined exactly those points, made a lot of things really apparent regarding the evolution of the connection between Orlaith and Rhordyn, so that now I can fully come and confirm them to you, just in case you decide to give this series a try:
ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ 1. Rhordyn is indeed the one that repeatedly tried to push Orlaith to leave her safe-space and indirectly encouraged her to familiarise herself with the harsh world around her. He knew what was coming for her, and he really tried to prepare her to meet the unforgiving world in his own twisted ways.
ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ 2. Rhordyn was indeed entirely absent from Orlaith's life and he only started being more involved once she became a mature woman. This is specifically why the book starts with a 21-year-old Orlaith, and not an younger version of herself that held none of these controversial feelings. So, there was indeed NEVER even a master-ward relationship between them.
ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ 3. This book marks the slow beginning of the ending for the power imbalance between the two characters, and this is made clear especially at the very end of the book. Which makes perfect sense, since this is a very slow slow-burn romance.
ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ 4. Live, laugh, love Rhordyn! ♥ that's all.

ㅤㅤ ❀ Baze - BRING MY CINNAMON ROLL BACK AND GIVE ME MORE OF HIM RIGHT NOW!! How dare you take my moral support away from me and give me just a few very short chapters of him???

ㅤㅤ ❀ Cainon - A former psychotic b*tch in the making, now successfully becoming a full-time psychotic b*tch. I knew I was right.


ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ -ˋˏ ༻ ending and conclusions ༺ ˎˊ-

ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ The ending of the first book was already the cause of a lot of anger and possibly heart issues for me, but it is absolutely cruel to go on and give me an even bigger pain, anguish, and fury with the ending of this second book. I do not think there are enough words in this world to describe the trip to Hell the very last pages of this book made me take. I am genuinely another person after reading this book, and I thank all the Gods above that they brought me this series at a time when the next book is already released, because otherwise I would not have been responsible for the person I would have become if I had to wait for the sequel to come out. I genuinely have nothing beautiful/kind/calm/appreciative to say about this ending apart from: it is pure pain given form on a page in a book and you should all definitely read and experience it.

ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ For me, this series clearly became one of my best reads of the year and I am entirely captivated and ruined all at once by the beauty of this world and the words scattered on the pages of this series. The second book, "To Snap a Silver Stem, just cemented this idea for me, and it fills me with utter joy to actually see this literary series becoming better and better with each new book I am reading from it. Take this with a pinch of salt, because, as I've repeatedly stated, I am a mood reader and whatever works for me, is not guaranteed to work for you as well; but if you find yourself in the mood for some dark fantasy that puts secrets and mystery above all else and that keeps you frustrated and your mind brimming with theories for yet unanswered questions, please consider reading the beauty of Sarah A. Parker's writing in this series.
ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ Undoubtedly, I am plunging right into the next book, and I am hoping that this will be my next 5-star read if it begins to focus more on authentic character development. It is great to be so thrilled about a new book.




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ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ᯓ ✿ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍pre-reading ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ⪼ ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ finally having time to start this! I love going on trips, but my mind has been only on this series for the past 3 days and now I finally have some alone time!
Dark daddy Rhordyn HERE I COME!!! 😩

[Eliza · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don't normally write reviews, I try and
keep to myself and just read books purely for entertainment. But sometimes... sometimes, there are exceptions and boy oh boy is this book one of my exceptions.

I wanted to give this series the benefit of the doubt. I originally had issue with the first book, but there was enough hope given towards the ending that lead me into believing that perhaps Orlaith's character could grow once she found her freedom. I was completely wrong.

𝘿𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙗𝙚𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙥𝙝𝙚𝙣𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙖𝙡, 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙞𝙨 𝙖 0 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙢𝙚.

ALL the characters EXCEPT Orlaith had a personality shift, they didn't even read the same. Not only does Orlaith stay stagnant for some time, but her character begins to spoil the further in you get into the book. Even the additional representation thrown into the story couldn't bring up the overall oppressive smog that seeps out of the pages. In fact, it came across as awkward, and often times felt like the author was just hitting checklist requirements. As an LGBTQ member myself, I'd rather the inclusion be omitted than read something as vapid and atypical of gay coupling than with was shown here.

Overall Orlaith is a horrible person and is even WORSE than in book 1. The new development and ultimate 'twist' is meant to explain why a certain relationship is okay. However, in reality it made the level of immortality that much worse.

Before anyone gets on my case for judging any sort of relationship dynamic I just want to say, I DON'T CARE. There are some things in life that are just wrong, labeling Pedophilia, Grooming, Stockholm Syndrome, and Trauma bonding as just "dark" is by no means enough of a trigger warning. 𝙀𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙞𝙩'𝙨 𝙧𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙯𝙚𝙙. And yes, I'm judging you if you can't see the issue with that.

The explaination given in the plot would never be an adequate nor acceptable excuse as to why things happened the way they do. It's honestly tragic for the sake of being tragic. Add in how abuse and manipulation is blamed on completely innocent parties and how lust is the cure-all of any wrong-doings, and you have the perfect toxic concoction. It seems like cheap plot armor, a flimsy excuse for a relationship to be relevant when it should have never even been nourished.

I focus mainly on one relationship because Orlaith is singleminded and we have the lovely benefit of being stuck in her traumatized one track mind for the majority of the reading. Everything she does down to breathing is with 1 person in mind. Unfortunately the other love interest was reduced to a basic NPC. The degression of his character by all means felt intentional. The potential for his development was crushed seemingly because he was definitely more likeable than his counterpart. It's yet another frustrating element of the story I have difficulty accepting.

I understand that it's currently popular to have fmc's end up with the bad guy, but the situation here is best compared to the equivalent of having 𝘽𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙂𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙣 as endgame. Yes, Orlaith has issues and needs time to heal and come into her own, I understand that. It just doesn't happen here because she doesn't want to grow. She doesn't change, she doesn't even mature. She really was pathetic even though the tools necessary for healing were lain at her feet. She could have built herself back up, but when she actually acknowledges the negative direction of her fixation/obsession she purposefully ignores it and does the opposite. The potential for her to bloom was there, so the irony that the symbol of the story is a crystal flower makes sense. She's synthetic in all aspects and jaded to the point of injury. It may appear physically pleasing but all in all is cold, unyielding, and detached from all living reality.

Honestly, it's sickening given the amount of abuse, grooming, lack of communication, and lack of actual history (in a sense).

In no way is there even hope or character growth in book 2. Orlaith is a fucking brat. She's bitchy, judgemental, blames everyone else except Rhordyn for her past, and lashes out on those undeserving.

The level of mental instability Orlaith's character goes through is appalling. She gets even more sick as time goes on. She's in full denial mode for the majority of the time and we have front row seats to her spiral.

Now onto that ending... and my oh my what a 2010 ending that was. If you want a hint of how that shitstorm played out, just think of Eclipse from Twilight because in many ways it was similar.

As confusing as the plot of this story was, I'm not sure where the series can go from such an ending. All the main questions and obstacles were 'technically' covered. Since there will be another book, however, there's somehow more to tell. Unfortunately, I have no interest or intention of finishing it out.

[SailorRain · Rating 2 out of 5]

✨ 𝐖𝐔𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐇𝐄𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒 𝐌𝐄𝐄𝐓𝐒 𝐄𝐂𝐋𝐈𝐏𝐒𝐄✨

Angst. Depression. Pain. Spicy. More Angst.

I am... confused.
I absolutely LOVED book one, LOVED IT, and I still do.
I waited with bated breath for book two and have devoured it over the course of the day.
But book two has genuinely left me disoriented and a little saddened.

Before diving into it, I just want to say that Sarah is an amazing writer, and I thoroughly enjoyed the written prose and the way she weaved her words together. That being said, I would give the writing of the book a 5/5 and my review does not reflect my opinion on the author, just the book.


✨ 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖✨
⚠️𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐒𝐏𝐎𝐈𝐋𝐄𝐑𝐒⚠️

"My captor. My torturer. My rapture. He was-in some fucked-up way- my family. But he was also a monster."

The book starts off where the last ended, and we are met with a pouty Orlaith headed towards her betrothed, Cainon, and her new home. Through a series of events, we get to see how Orlaith is handling her new surroundings as well as a new cast of characters. The guards from the previous book, Vanth and Kavan, also make an appearance in book two and they have an intense way of progressing the story. Might I ask, am I the only one that felt a little off with the characterization of them? They seemed to have gone through quite a shift since the last book.

Actually, this is a theme that I feel occurs with many characters in the series. What happened there? Why the sudden change in behavior and interactions? They're like completely different characters.

I would like to add that in book one, it is a huge deal for Orlaith not to have exothryl. In the final pages of book one, we are left wondering how she will deal with these potential withdrawals as she heads to her new land and new life partner. I'm here to save you!

She doesn't!
*Poof*
Plot hole.

Caspun, exothryl, and any of 34 ingredients from book one is only briefly mentioned in book two.
She does not take it, despite heavily relying on this drug throughout the entirety of book one.

By the time Orlaith reaches the Southern Territory to become the new mistress of Bahari, she is, unfortunately... still the same. She continues to pine after Rhordyn and suffers from self-tormenting thoughts and commits to decisions that she claims are "freeing" and yet they disgust her, and she continues. The downward spiral is reminiscent of Bella from New Moon- it's not pretty. At times her imaginings border on schizophrenic episodes (New Moon, Bella seeing phantom Edward), but plot twist, Rhordyn is physically present with her the entire time!

Also, Rhordyn can sometimes read Orlaith's mind, a topic not heavily spoken on or given much clarity.

Throughout the book, Orlaith goes through more heartache and expresses more inner turmoil- wholly anticipated- but she never seems to grow from this. I sympathized with Orlaith for quite a bit of the book, she has been lied to by everyone she knows, and she exhibits a hearty dose of Stockholm syndrome (hence the TW). If anything, Orlaith succumbs to even more depraved yearnings and cravings for self-depreciation as well as self-discovery as she struggles with herself and her feelings for Rhordyn. In regard to this, Orlaith becomes more cold and bitter towards her surroundings and the people around her, yet she craves everything that destroys her. She is not very practical in her thinking and more often than not, she will choose poorly out of spite or sheer defiance. It's like reading through the eyes of an addict.

In a twist that I personally hoped would not happen (I was rooting for you Cainon, I really was), Cainon transformed into a kind of douche-canoe. I'm not really sure the development process for his character, or why Orlaith decidedly believes him at his word (despite the vast array of side characters that tell her not to) but he starts off as a stud and ends as a dud. How he went from a devilish rouge who could coax out lovely blushes and smiles from our FMC, to potentially being connected to a religious cult that massacred all of the Aeshlians to save humanity... I don't know, but here we are.

The alternating perspectives turned out to be the saving grace for me because Kai's portion of the story was just *muhah* chef's kiss. It was thoroughly unexpected but greatly appreciated amidst the angst of the book, it helped to break up the monotony of Orlaith's constant poor choices. He was truly the diamond in the rough and I loved that he got a mate in this book, a non-verbal mate, but a mate nonetheless! How could Orlaith completely forget about him? You'd think she'd remember her 𝙗𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙.

Baze. Poor, poor Baze. Such a tragic story and I just had/have this feeling that he was/is the foreshadowing future of Orlaith. A lot of the trauma he went through and the feelings he continues to feel for his dead master, are very similar to Orlaith. It's hard not to draw comparisons between the two, but also icky. The grooming and pedophilia that's alluded to here- I'm not okay with it.

As for the ending- I don't know how Sarah is going to progress in the series from this point onwards. Orlaith and Rhordyn's relationship is very similar to that of Cathy and Heathcliff. They both love the other but cannot for the life of them allow it to be that simple, often hurting others in their constant back and forth. No one is immune from their love/hate game, and others can influence minor decisions that each makes as the story progresses. As for the prophecy, will Orlaith take her future into her own hands, or will she fall into a destiny already carved out for her?

I found myself becoming annoyed with Orlaith and not so much rooting for her success. Cainon convinced her in only a few moments, with hardly any proof, to levy the harshest punishment against the man she obsesses over every waking moment. How can she kill Rhordyn and then... immediately want to cry about it as if she didn't just commit the murder? At this point, it's all up in the air and I'm uncertain how the plot will progress in the next book.

Overall, the story felt a little scattered and I'm still collecting my thoughts and feelings on the plot. I'm optimistic for the next addition to the series, but it may be the make-it or break-it on whether I continue.

[Jayna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cried, idk what to even say besides that

My theories:

1. Rhor is Kavth. I thought it in the last book too but it makes a lot of sense. Of course Cain wants Orlaith to believe that Rhor is the bad guy. And I'm sure Rhor is a bad guy. But I don't think he is Unseelie, even though Cainon planted all those thoughts in her head.

Also this, relating to the prophecy.

"Light will bloom from sky and soil. Skin tarnished by the brand of death"

What if death is a person (kavth/rhor)? Skin tarnished by the brand of Kavth. rhors brand. Of death. I took death to be something that would happen to Orlaith originally, but what if in this sentence, death is a person??! And what happened in the end will release her from the brand? And the prophecy? And then maybe he can come back in one of his other forms???


2. In Bazes epilogue, he mentions that rhor is much hotter than everything around him.

"His face looks like sculpted stone— carved from the Gods my Lord speaks about. His hair is black like the tunnel with lighter bits threaded through, but he doesn’t look old. He looks big, strong, and scary. He’s frowning, his silver eyes scraping across my face. “Wh- who are you?” My voice wobbles free, scratchy and raw. He grips my chin, his hand much warmer than the ground or the air or the blood in my veins that is maybe a little bit black. My Lord doesn’t like our blood black. He throws us away when it turns. That’s why my Lord needs to come back and give me time in the sun- beam."

Throughout book 1 and 2, Rhor is constantly described as cold, icy, etc. Literally chilly. And then at the very end of the book, when he "dies", he is described by Orlaith as being warm.

Also, in this quote, we see that Baze believes his blood is turning a little bit black. That the kids with the black blood get tossed away. "THATS WHY my lord needs to come back and give me time in the sun beam". Because Baze believes that time in the sun can make the black blood leave? Maybe Orlaith needs something. Sun against her Aeshlian skin? Some kind of nourishment, like the sun nourishes Baze? What if she needs Rhors blood and that is the cure to the blackness crawling over her shoulder?




3. Orlaith says this quote:

“The Irilak feed off anything with a heartbeat. Anything but … me,” the rasp of my voice echoes through the hungry hollow between us—a chasm gored by the secrets he kept, “and the Unseelie."

BUT SHE IS FORGETTING SOMETHING SO IMPORTANT!!! Kavth made Irilak from his own Shadow. So irilak wouldn't be fearful of him, either.



Probably more crazy theories to come but it is 2 am so...


4. Update to my list of theories: reference this quote again:

“The Irilak feed off anything with a heartbeat. Anything but … me,” the rasp of my voice echoes through the hungry hollow between us—a chasm gored by the secrets he kept, “and the Unseelie."

I think Orlaith is half Unseelie. Half Aeshlian. Rhor made a comment in the prologue of TBACB that he thought she was mixed with something else. Boom


************************************
EDIT : REREAD! NEW THEORIES BELOW
**************************************

With TFAWF approaching, I want to add all my theories in one place before the release. Some of this may be redundant or may contradict what ive written before but ya girl is barely hanging on right now and I need the next book ASAP so here we go, buckle in bitches


Theories:

Orlaiths father is Maars.

Evidence:
From tbacb-
“Mount Ether. Home of the prophet Maars. Frightful creature, but he transcribes the future through riddles he carves into stone,” Kai says, pointing to the twelve surrounding spires. Something climbs up the length of my spine and leaves me battling a shiver. “There’s a band of hardcore worshipers called the Shulák. They hang off his every chiseled word like a suckling babe.” I frown, peering up, but his eyes are still cast on the text he can apparently decipher. “Like a ... a faith?” “Yes. Many believe he speaks for the Gods.” Canting my head to the side, I tuck a lock of hair behind my ear. “Gods?”

And then in the prologue:

"None of this made sense before, and now it makes too much fucking sense. No wonder Aravyn kept her hidden. No wonder the fucking Shulák were here. No wonder this necklace is so heavy in my pocket" - could the shulak be there because they know that she is a descendant/daughter of maars? Is that why they raided the safe house, to look for hejet?

And then all the constant references to flames, lava, volcanoes...

"I feel like I could step right onto that volcano and touch the stone spires reaching from its crown. Clouds flirt with the tapered tips of the sharp, toothy fence that guards over the crater lake nesting in the center of it all."

"There’s a band of hardcore worshipers called the Shulák. They hang off his every chiseled word like a suckling babe.”

"My body is an inferno, every surge of blood shooting through my veins another lashing of liquid fire. I pull at my clothes, attempting to shred them, desperate for cool air to blot my sizzling skin. If I rip, will flames spill out? Will my tower turn to ash“


And here, Baze says she is made from stone.
""You’re terrible,” he flips to another leaf in the book. “And you were made from stones, so you’re not much better off.”

"I’m lava in his grip. There is no sizzling sound, but I feel it in my blood. We rock, smooth and docile, so at odds with my fire."

"I need to drink until this volcanic hand no longer has my heart in its fiery fist."

And here I always thought he was about to say prophECY, but what if he was about to say prophET?
“Do you intend on telling her about the proph—” “No,” I snap. “There will be no speak of Gods under this roof. Or anything that might lead her toward the truth.”

And in stem, this trial feels a lot like climbing from a volcano. Maybe she is being lied to and they are trying to really see if she is a descendent of Maars.
"A pause, then he waves a clothed arm toward the bowl. “Get in, then.” “I’m sorry, you want me to climb in?” “Yes,” he states. “The trial imitates the swell of beings that spilled from Mount Ether at the dawn of time. Only once you manage to climb back out on your own have the Gods found you worthy of this coupling. A task you must complete before the people of Parith on the morning of your ceremony.”"



And then here, when Rhor finds her after she traded the diamond pick axe for the dagger:

“I remember finding that pickaxe on the end of my bed, along with the matching hammer and chisel. At the time, I thought it came from Baze. Now, I’m not so sure.”

Why would he give her a hammer and chisel of all things? Unless she has a connection to Maars????!!!
-----------

Theory 2, zero evidence about this besides just a ~feeling~

Could Cainon also be using a necklace or a ring to hide his appearance? And why? Could he be the guard, Gale, at Castle Noir? And then her new friend Gail? Or someone else?


-----------


Theory 3

The bowl isn't to see if she is worthy of being by Cainons side/to see if she should be high mistress. They are testing to see if she can climb out of the bowl/volcano at Mount Ether also. Would explain why the name is to Flame A Wild Flower. Maybe they are trying to prove or disprove that she is a descendent of Maars. It's a little too coincidental that the man training her also looks like the Shulak.

Quotes to back up Theory 3:

The door creaks again, and I drop the page, spinning. Gasping. My chest thumps so hard every beat feels like another stone lumped upon it, threatening to collapse my ribs from the crushing weight. The figure standing in the open doorway looks to have just stepped off the wall in Whispers. I see no skin. No features. No feet. All I see is the robe—the same gray robe I’ve seen so many times. Too many times. A meek sound boils in the back of my throat. Get out of the way, kid. Mercy is not preserved for those who stand against the stones. The memory strikes like a blade to the back of my knees, hand shooting out to steady myself against the table in a feeble attempt to quell this deep-seated swirl whisking me up inside.

And also

A pause, then he waves a clothed arm toward the bowl. “Get in, then.” “I’m sorry, you want me to climb in?” “Yes,” he states. “The trial imitates the swell of beings that spilled from Mount Ether at the dawn of time. Only once you manage to climb back out on your own have the Gods found you worthy of this coupling. A task you must complete before the people of Parith on the morning of your ceremony.”

---------
Add on to theory 2: I think cainons sigil is masking his appearance. He was the only one who didn't pledge his sigil during the meeting about the vruks in tbacb. Have we ever seen him take it off?
Also, I think that the random guy that orlaith had sex with in that sex club is really cainon and maybe that is his REAL appearance and the cainon we see for the rest of the book is his "mask" thanks to his sigil.


-----------

Unhinged Theory 4:

Okay so I think that when rhor "died" that it released them from their mate bonds. And now rhor will have to prove his love and devotion is real and not just because a bond that is forcing their hands. I think if it was a mate bond that kept their souls intertwined they might be more likely to fight it???? Idk like I said, unhinged


--------
Theory 5, I think I figured it out yall. Eye opening moment

“None of this is her fault.” He’s looking at the floor when he says it, though that somehow makes the hit land harder. “I know.” The acknowledgment is shoved past the pit in my throat that won’t fuck off. A swell of hurt sown from a thousand lost lives. Some I knew. Loved. Didn’t get near enough time with. An entire species already struggling to claw itself back from the brink of extinction, decimated by the blow of Maars’s chisel when he carved those words to stone. When he singled us out as the bearer of a single shadow seed that would call upon the end of the world.

Okay this passage is from 18 years ago when rhor first finds orlaith. He tracks down baze and asks him to come back "home", rhors words.

I'm going to break it down

-An entire species already struggling to claw itself back from the brink of extinction, decimated by the blow of maars's chisel when he carved those words to stone: aeshlians are all dying off, dead, in hiding etc and things got worse when maars wrote his prophecy.
-When he singled us out: this is bazes POV, us in this sentence I believe refers to aeshlians as a whole
-as the bearer of a single shadow seed that would call upon the end of the world

Translation: Maars singled out the aeshlians by making them a part of a prophecy to be the bearers of a single shadow seed(shadow seed = a single tainted child) that would call upon the end of the world

Orlaith has a flower growing out of her shoulder. Vines. Rhor intended to kill her when he found her. Idk what this all means but it is what it is

------------

Theory 6 - Aravyn is not orlaiths mother

On her dying breath, she asks rhordyn to protect her. No mention of her son, or her family, or anyone else. I think she was tasked with protecting orlaith AT THE SAFE HOUSE


-------------

Theory 7 - baze and zali are mates, the same as rhor and orlaith. And whatever Rhordyn is, Zali is also. There are a lot of similarities. Baze is like orlaith. He is attracted to zali and her scent, and there is some sort of pull between them. He offers up his neck to her, like orlaith might have done for rhor once upon a time, and zali wants to bite him and drink his blood

Here, when they are out fighting Vruks:
“Hand me that lantern.” I grab it, pulling it back. “This one?” She snarls, reaching past me—our bodies brushing. Scents tangling. I hear her breath hitch, wish I had a little more light so I could see if her cheeks are flushed. Pulling the lantern further away, I keep it just out of reach … She loses her balance, falling against me with an oomph, and I absorb every soft curve of her body. It doesn’t matter that we’re both fully clothed and covered in gore—the smell of her, the mere proximity of her, the thrill of danger … it has me stretching out, baring my throat the slightest amount.

And then here, when zali calls him an ass:
“Not all the time.” The words spill out raspier than I’d intended. She glances up and stills, eyes glazing as they skim across my throat. The bared length of fragile flesh. The invitation. A plea—pathetic and desperate and so fucking shameful. She snarls, shoving off, like a slap back to reality.



------------


Theory number 8, and more evidence that Orlaith is Maars daughter

Okay so multiple times it has been mentioned that Orlaiths purity is important to their union and important to Cainon. He asks if she has had sex with Rhordyn. She is always sleeping on white sheets. He asks her if he had sex with her right then, would she break for him? Etc etc. Over and over. She has a guard constantly to protect her virtue.

And then she meets Gael, and Gael says this about her parents (who we find out later are Shulak):

“Apparently, he wasn’t good enough. Really, Mother had plans to couple me off with someone who would knot advantageous ties for the family line—someone who shared her chosen faith in the hopes that it would coax me into their religious fold—and my discrepancies ruined everything because of their rigid beliefs that women must remain chaste until they’re coupled.”

Soooo....is Cainon Shulak too? Also I think this proves even more than orlaith is Maars daughter. That's why cainon is so obsessed with her.

----------

Theory 9

What is the connection between Gael and the shopkeeper??

Rhors POV from earlier in Stem:
My gaze is drawn to the glass statue of a broad male I recognize, his dreaded hair a transparent churn around his face, wrathful hunger consuming his lucid eyes, fangs bared as he hisses at nothing, lunges at nothing—the transparent Vruk talon he’s wielding paused mid-strike. Must have cost him a lot of coin to procure that statue. To have it carved from the inhospitable heart of Arrin, dragged for days across the stark, windswept plains, then hauled on a barge down the River Norse without even a hairline fracture. Nobody would go to such effort unless they were bribed or paid a handsome sum. Unless, of course, he did it himself.

And then, when Orlaith and Gael meet:
“Mother received a sprite from the High Master instructing me to come to the palace and give you a tour of the city. My family owns a monopoly of trade ships that we use to import glass blocks from the outskirts of Arrin, so I know my way around.”

GLASS??!


------------


Theory 10:
Rhor is part Vruk
He wears a "pelt", specifically, around him. A cape but specifically called a pelt. Suspicious. Maybe he can shapeshift idk I'm grasping at straws, please help me I'm desperate for answers 😂

-----------

Add on to theory 10


I think when Orlaith takes off her necklace, it unchains Rhors beast too.

All throughout Stem we get moments where she is thinking

**run**
**run**
**run**

Usually it's when we know Rhordyn is around but he isn't showing himself. I got the feeling that he was pushing those thoughts into her head.

And then at the beach with Gael, when she incinerates everyone, she witnesses the Vruk come to clean up the aftermath. The vruk sees her, she isn't wearing her necklace (the bad guys ripped it off her) and she gets that same thought in her head, just the same as the other times when rhor was nearby

**run**

Like he told her in Bloom, I believe, when she was pushing his buttons and he told her to run and she ran up stony stem with him chasing at her heels.
Not only that, but he wears a black pelt as a cape, much like the Vruk we see feasting on the remains of the people that Orlaith burned on the beach

What if rhor is part vruk? When she took the necklace off the first time, he knew and freaked out. What if it unleashes him and unchains him and he can't control himself or something? Maybe the chain and the pendant is linked to her "humanness" and that's how he tainted it? By being on her, around her neck, it gives him his humanity back? And without her he just devolves into a beast. Without their connection, he snaps

On the beach, the Vruk let's her run and doesn't chase her too


-------

Theory number ??!!???

Orlaith is going to kill herself to save Rhordyn(who i believe is Kavth). I base this solely on the voice over on the teaser that Sarah posted to her Instagram today which talks about no longer having the tight mask on, no longer having to bleed, no more breath in lungs etc. I think Sarah wants us to believe she is speaking of Rhor but I think Orlaith needs to die to bring Rhor back.



----------

I am NOT saying Rhor is unseelie but...um. every book with fae I've ever read has said that names have a lot of power. Isn't it interesting that 2 seconds before she kills him, she tells him her real name?

"Orlaith..."
I sense him shift, slip my hand behind my back, and wrap my sweaty palm around the thick handle that feels so cold and final.
"My name is Serren," I whisper, and he spins.

[Hassan Saeed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Woahh this was a rollercoaster 😭 I need the next oneee

[Brie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Incredibly disappointed. This book felt wildly different than book 1 and honestly had a bunch of filler chapters then all the sudden she kills him?! Nothing was truly explained.

I’m insanely confused and pissed by this entire story.

[Eliana · Rating 2 out of 5]

I feel bad about this rating but i have to give my honest opinion. First, i would still recommend this series for NA fantasy lovers. The writing is beautiful and poetic. And the characters are well crafted.

Now, my problem is that i perhaps misunderstood the direction of this story and that's a me problem, i think. But what i wanted for the heroine and for the story in general is not what i got. It might be too early to say this, the heroine's growth is obviously not over, but i didn't like the way her development was handled because i felt there was no huge progression, she was still the same, just making more bad decisions.

The romance soured things for me to be honest. I did not expect the whole obsession with Rhordyn to continue, what i wanted for her is to distance herself from his toxicity and even though there's a shift in their dynamic, i don't think anything the author will do can make me accept them as a romantic couple, i was looking for something similar to Mist and Fury and The Plated Prisoner with Orlaith and another character but i guess it's ruled out since the characters aren't what they seemed like. I think i only have myself to blame for this disappointment.

I will continue book 3, i'm curious about the aftermath of the ending. Even though the series is well-written, i am not the target audience, so if the series continues in this direction, i will simply walk away.

[Emily-Rose At The Rose House · Rating 5 out of 5]

“life doesn’t have to hurt like this.”

Well Sarah, I don’t believe you, I’m in a world of hurt after that INSANE plot twist and cliffhanger🤯

“And I don’t hate you at all,” I sob, eyes squeezed shut. “I just love you so much it hurts. Both of us.” 😭

Full review to come once I stop ugly crying

[MM · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had initially picked up the To Bleed a Crystal Bloom series on a recommendation of a fantasy fiction blogger promising a compelling reimagining of the classic fairytale, Rapunzel. What I needed was a quick reprieve into another world.

What I got was was not a reprieve but an immersion. A deep dive into a world that was so thickly layered with heavily guarded secrets, complicated character motives and warring emotions, that it not only made you obsessed with piecing together a puzzle that only led to more questions than answers, but also made you analyze your own firmly held beliefs of good and evil, trauma and healing, forgiveness of the self and others.

I loved the POTENTIAL of the story trajectory from the first book so much, I was preparing my heart for the possibility of disappointment with the second. The disappointment that I was imagining the depth of characters and plot and that all the clues I was piecing together from the first were just wishful thinking.

I was never so happy to be wrong.

To Snap a Silver Stem took hold of our vulnerable hearts and like Orlaith forced it past our own Safety Lines. It forced us to reframe our preconceived notions of abuse vs. healthy love, destiny/fate vs. free will and choice, and most importantly it reinforced that no matter what path we may be on, we deserve to be the authors of our own lives and story.

One of my favorite book series of all time. Enjoy.

[⊹ Gabriela | Asternyx ⊹ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book destroyed me. My heart is breaking.
I. Am. Screaming.
I feel like my heart's been ripped out of my chest and stomped on.

— RTC.

[Christine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointed

I'm so disappointed in this book. I never rate books this low but this book was so hard to get through. Orlaith was so annoying, she was like a big pity party. It was like each chapter starts with her nightmares. I'm so over the nightmares it was too much. I didn't understand this book at all. I finished the story and I can't tell what this series is about anymore. I'm just confused I barely got any answers at all about anything. I find Orlaith to be so dense, naive, depressing and impressionable. She just believes anything someone tells her. Doesn't ask questions just assumes, you want answers but she never asks in the book. There were parts in this book, that took place that did nothing to add to the plot of story. I'm upset I wasted my time reading this story. If you ask me I feel the author progressed this story backwards. I'm not even sure if ill read the next one.

[YesImObssesed · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have only just finished the first book and im counting down the days for the second.......
Looks like im going to be waiting for a while😢

[netty · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was so looking forward to this book- but I wanted Her to grow up and mature. This book is nonstop angst and confusing stuff.

[Nas S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful, breathtaking, devastating, and raw.
I laughed, I cried, and I was right there with Orlaith as she went through pain, sorrow, guilt, and shame. I’m still processing everything I read and coming to terms with my emotions and feelings.

I fell in love with To Bleed a Crystal Bloom, with the depth of the world and the complexity of the character. I thought I knew what I was in for but I should have known better, To Snap a silver Stem has taken all that I knew and flipped it on its head

There are so many layers to this story and so many twists and turns that I truly never know what’s around the net page. Needless to say I gave up guessing and just went along for the ride. Just kept reading until the words played out like a movie in my head.

For those that have read the first book, you’ll know that it’s multiple POVs predominantly centered around Orlaith with tiny glimpses from the other character’s eyes. The stark difference in this book is that while yes the story is still largely centered around Orlaith we get so much more from the others. I absolutely loved Kais chapters and always felt like he had a story that needed to be told. All that history and all that pain was begging to be put to words.

There were two things I was hoping for in TSASS:
1. To see Orlaith grow or I should say Bloom. I was not disappointed! Seeing her work through trauma based in guilt and regret was gut-wrenching but it made her strength that much more beautiful. She’s a fighter and a survivor that’s lived too long in the shadows and not taking control of her own destiny.
2. Rhordyn! My biggest criticism of him has always been that I didn’t get enough from him in the few chapter from his POV in TBACB. He’s the male with very few words to spare. Probably also why I was so quick to jump on the Cainon ship. Again I was not disappointed! I couldn’t get enough of his chapters. There’s a lot more insight into who he is and events surrounding him from the past.

To say that Feb 28th can’t come soon enough is an understatement. I’ve been left torn open and bleeding. Like an addict looking for their next fix. This whole series is magical and whimsical draped in darkness and sorrow and my twisted heart rejoices with every chapter. Sarah, you have officially broken me, I now have to figure out what I’m going to do with my life while I come to terms with everything you put me through reading TSASS. I’m also eternally grateful for the ARC, it was everything I wanted and needed so thank you!

[Yeg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reread : 23/03/28
Rating: 3 stars

I felt like Orlaith had blinders on the entire book, which is a massive testament to her naivety. Unless I’m grievously misunderstanding, she and Rhordyn ultimately have the same goal: to save his people. Rhordyn also is driven to be with her on some instinctual level. But the political goal is the same.

I hate a miscommunication/don’t wanna ask trope even though The miscommunication trope fits here because Orlaith has never learned to communicate, lived a sheltered life with tons of secrets kept from her (including her own identity!!!), acts impulsively and emotionally due to immaturity, repressed her trauma and growth via drugs, etc.

Orlaith makes sense to me now. Orlaith did not get over her issues by leaving home, she did that impulsively, too. Her growth will, in part, be to not act as such. She’s pushing because now she has nothing left and is desperate to stop a war. Sunk cost fallacy.

I don’t even know what to say about the ending. Unless the author is pulling the MCC bait and switch thing this late in the series, I think it’s safe to assume Rhordyn isn’t dead. I just found Orlaith’s immediate shocked (?) regret to a premeditated murder kind of annoying. I’m generally not keen on the dead-but-not-actually-dead thing. I think it’s a convenient way to give an annoying cliffhanger.

This reread was pretty much out of nowhere and random but I wanted at least to change things for me. now that I reread it, I want to see what happens next, without my expectation high or any pre-judgement.

⋅━━━┫⋅✩⋅┣━━━⋅

First read : 22/09/14
rating: 2.5 stars

I'm disappointed in the sequel. The author is talented but I hated that ending at the end of pages of misery. The ending just felt like she needed a cliffhanger and so here we go…very contrived and nonsensical.

[Toribetweenpages · Rating 3 out of 5]

There was so much throw up and so little explanation for anything

[Nuha Masood · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Spoilers warning*

Looking at some of these reviews makes me sad, particularly the ones that are judging the book solely based on the ship that was chosen to be the main one…Rhorlaith. Even more particular are the ones that are claiming this ship was unexpected or out of character for both parties involved. I’ve seen books where that’s the case and this is not one of them.

They are the ship that had the most development in the first book so it only makes more sense for them to have even more in this book. As the last book left on a very isolating, vulnerable note for Orlaith, it makes perfect sense for that same raw feeling of self-blaming, trauma, and role-confusion to take place in this book. The choices she makes throughout this book can seem infuriating but they are her choices as a result of the mindset she is in. When male characters make questionable choices, we are more willing to forgive them and label them as morally gray - even when we don’t entirely know all the situational factors either. But when a female character does it, we are less forgiving, even though we knew extremely clearly from Bloom that Orlaith discovered something about herself that was so traumatic and life-changing it psychologically does not make sense for her to react in any other way. (What, did you expect her to be the same positive, naive, and morally straight person she was from Bloom? Please, if you’d like to read another book where the main female character is that static, uncomplicated, and inhuman then I suggest you stick to your average, cookie cutter, booktok fantasy books and leave the character analyses to the adults.)

Besides Orlaith’s intriguing arc, we get more insight into other characters as well. Cain, whose narcissism and almost villain-like qualities become ever more evident in this book (and yes, these were definitely hinted in the first book too). Kai, who has met a match that challenges and protects him equally. Baze, whose trauma runs deep and invites us to explore it. Gael and Old Hattie, whose circumstances and reactions to Orlaith’s identity leave us with more questions than we started.

It’s also fitting that as Orlaith’s character journey is morphing so is Rhordyn’s. He too has learned from his mistakes in Bloom and is trying to rectify them in his own way.

And jeez, that ending. Again, everything was leaving us questioning for more.

If you are someone who focuses more on stories that are character-centric, this series is for you. I can’t wait to read more about my two protagonists, Orlaith and Rhordyn (because…we all know he’s coming back lolol), and immerse myself once more in Sarah’s rich, lush world in the next editions.

[Katrina Kimes · Rating 2 out of 5]

Highly disappointed in this one honestly. The first book was so good it changed my expectations for the entire genre. This one however was... so completely different from TBACB that it didn't feel like the same series. I understand that things had to change due to Orlaiths different circumstances but something just felt off. Rhordyns personality and motivations were so completely different he didn't seem like the same character. Orlaiths actions didn't really make much sense, especially at the end. If you had told me after reading the first book that she had killed him I would have balled me eyes out. After actually reading it I felt nothing but confusion. I will admit that I had high expectations after loving TBACB so much but TSASS just doesn't measure up no matter how I look at it. I love the first book enough to continue with the series but I'm just not as invested as I used to be and feel like the series isn't going to be able to recapture my attention. The part that upset me the most was how the tension between O and R was almost completely nonexistent. The first book had me all hot and bothered at even the smallest interaction between them but TSASS didn't make me feel that once. Also the POVs being split 4 different ways wasn't my fav either, made a lot of the book feel like filler and stunted the stories progression. On the whole I am not excited to continue the series and I feel more disappointed by TSASS than by any other sequel I can think of.

[Laura Greenhalgh · Rating 5 out of 5]

EXCUSE ME?!! that ending?! i am SCREAMING!! sarah, i am sending you my therapy bill.

[Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

oh my goddddd

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

↠ 5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
↠ 2🌶🌶

↠ Reread January 2023:
Why the hell did a do a reread when I still have to wait 2 months for the next book to come out?! I'm not okay and I won't be okay until March.
______________________________

↠ Original review:
It took me a minute to write an actual review for this because I didn't even know where to begin.

This book just completely blew me away. Any hesitancies I had with this series after finishing book one were completely gone with this one.

Book one was just the tip of the iceberg. Just a toe in the water. If you have any reservations about this series at all because you didn't understand book one, I really encourage you to give book two a try. It clears up a few things from book one, but it also keeps a lot open as well for theories for the next books.

I don't think I've ever theorized this much about a book since the early 2000s when I was theorizing about Harry Potter, lol.

This series is officially one of my favorites of all time now.
______________________________

↠ UMMM WHAT???!! IS THAT SERIOUSLY HOW THIS BOOK ENDS????

I need time to process before I write a review.

[Isabel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is uneventful and feels never-ending. I know Orlaith needs to be broken and all but most of the time she’s a doormat here, only remembering she has a spine when she pushes Rhor away. Rhor feels uncharacteristically subservient, I get that he has to prove he cares, but so soon? He should let her grow by her own. His dominating presence is nonexistent, especially after that dumb ending. Ugh. I’m pissed because it’s a shock value judging by the execution. It made me suspect that the plot is also inspired by the Fever series..? Despite Orlaith’s naivety and some stupid actions, I like her courage so here’s hoping the ball starts rolling on the sequel because as much as I’m obsessed with To Bleed a Crystal Bloom, I don’t think I’ll be able to handle it if it’s gonna be another healing book. 😩

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Uhm, excuse me?? That ending, what was that?!

I’m glad I went into this installment knowing we won’t get many answers. Otherwise I would have been annoyed. I’m pretty sure I’ve picked up things, and put some pieces of the puzzle together. But I know there’s a lot more that I did not.

Orlaith?! What you doing girl??! I wanted to shake her sometimes. I get it. She was sheltered and naive. But I side eyed her a few times 😂 I can’t wait to see her blossom. Definitely diving into the next book. And I’ll hate myself for it, because then I’ll have to wait for book 4.

[Leah (LeahsLittlePleasures) · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Everything is nothing if you're in pieces."

Well, holy hell, my heart 😭💔

This story, from start to finish, was stunning in its moving prose, vivid imagery, and in its overflowing feeling and gut-wrenching emotion. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time, my mind bouncing between all sorts of theories and predictions and what ifs… but oof what a blow this book gives. That “hurts so good” kind of feeling, but more. It gutted me and left me reeling and I'm still in a daze this morning... but, in the same breath, I cannot wait to see where the story ends up!

In Crystal Bloom fashion, Silver Stem is an all-consuming, soul-devouring and -shattering, mind-bending, can’t-do-anything-else-til-I-finish-but-I-don’t-want-it-to-end read that tears and pulls at those heartstrings and doesn’t let you go. I have no idea what I'm supposed to do until book 3. I'm waiting with bated breath for what's to come next, because I just know it's going to be the best so far.

"He taught me to bleed so beautifully. I wonder ... will he bleed for me?"

READ THIS IF YOU LIKE:
💙fated/bonded mates
💙prophecy x secrets
💙aquatic shape shifters
💙kingdom/courtly intrigue
💙deception, political power plays
💙arranged couplings/political pairings
💙heartbreak x despair
💙secret identity x rendezvous
💙monsters x growing sickness tropes
💙gutwrenching love stories
💙multiple POV/storylines

"I'd strike the fucking world down for you."

Content Warnings: self hatred, thoughts of self harm, grief/despair, death

Thank you to Sarah for my early review copy!

[Hot Mess Sommelière ~ Caro · Rating 3 out of 5]

This suffered a lot from middle book syndrome.

First half dragged like chewing gum and it was pretty much a chore to come back to it.

Second half had some great moments, but honestly, it felt like the purpose of these 400+ pages was to keep the heroine mostly in one place while giving her one vital piece of character development and the worst friend she could possibly make (by a long shot).

This featured

*25% episode on a ship with mean bodyguards being miserable
*MMC and FMC separation
*OM drama even tho she basically despises OM and can't wait to be out of his disgusting presence
*FMC has to sneak out of castle repeatedly because she is essentially a doggie now
*FMC chooses a hill to die on and sticks to it, even though it's a stupid hill
*new girl character (yeah!) but she is the worst friend anyone could possibly have (ugh)
*OM culture has some crazy traditions, including the bride having to prove herself by climbing out of an oversized fishbowl. FMC has to practice this stunt throughout the book, while pretending to ignore the fact that a marriage to OM sounds like hell

Etc. the list could go on

Author wrote that the entire series got to her in a dream and she had the whole thing plotted out, but also that there is massive amounts of world-building etc left in book 3 ... which makes this a pacing issue more than anything.

None of the plot points above would be deal-breakers per se, if they hadn't dragged on for so long. Together, this felt like a poorly thought out bridging plot that made the heroine look like a stubborn lunatic just to make her get that precious character development, probably to set her up for sweet madness in book 3.

[UndertheTBRMountain · Rating 5 out of 5]

I may be a bit too broken from that ending to write a review properly. So I’ll have to come back to expand.

Orlaith had such a hard journey in healing throughout this book, and I was so mad at her at times but rooting for her more than ever. She acknowledges a lot of her trauma and lack of outside world knowledge but does her best to work through these issues while staying true to herself.
The world build and lore are further expanded in this book and it’s done so perfectly.

This book is a classic example of a dark fantasy, the world is filled with so much turmoil and pain for literally everyone.
I was not expecting half of what happened in this book or to be mentally unstable for several days after. So you’re going to suffer but be very happy!

[Books_and_Crafts · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really don’t even know where to begin with this…

I had so many questions going in from book one and nothing got answered. Now I’m leaving with even more. I think for me personally there’s a point where you need to give me SOMETHING, because two books of just being confused is kinda irritating 😬

[Celeste Raine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don’t cry
Don’t cry
Don’t cry
D- don’t–
…cry
😭😭😭😭😭😭

That’s the review