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Guardians of the Grove #1
Vengeance Blooms
Orphaned and alone, Ashalea Kindaris has just one goal in life-- to avenge the death of her parents. But when darkness descends on the land, she discovers her motives are linked to a much larger quest.
To protect the world from elimination, she must find the next Guardians of the Grove-- Everosia's inner sanctum and gateway to other dimensions.
As shadows disperse and the forces of evil mount, Ashalea travels through water and wood, sewer and summit, to reach the chosen.
Will her training lead to victory, or will the weight of unravelling secrets lead to her ruin?
To protect the world from elimination, she must find the next Guardians of the Grove-- Everosia's inner sanctum and gateway to other dimensions.
As shadows disperse and the forces of evil mount, Ashalea travels through water and wood, sewer and summit, to reach the chosen.
Will her training lead to victory, or will the weight of unravelling secrets lead to her ruin?
376 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 7, 2020
40 people are currently reading
2068 people want to read
About the author
Chloe Hodge
12 books309 followersI'm the bestselling author of The Cursed Blood series and Guardians of the Grove trilogy. I write all things Fantasy--epic, paranormal, and soon to be RH and urban.
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I'm building a reader group full of fun, bookish babes and I'd love for you to join!
You'll be the first to get teasers, updates, arcs and more, plus be able to interact, make new friends, share recs, and have a laugh.
Join here>>
https://www.facebook.com/groups/chloe...
For more information about my books, visit my website here>>
www.chloehodge.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 120 reviews
November 2, 2019
I loved this book!!! It was so magical and had all the things I love in a fantasy book, including Dragons 😁 This was @chloeschapters debut novel and the first in the Gaurdians of the Grove Trilogy. Chloe has a great writing style and the book flowed well chapter to chapter. It was told in third person POV and it mostly focuses on the main character Ashalea but also some of the other characters. I think it fitted well to have the story told in third person.
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The characters were well developed throughout the story and I loved them all, well all apart from the villains haha. Ashalea is the main character and we follow her and her companions as she seeks Vengeance for the death of her parents as well as find the guardians of the grove. My heart raced a few times due to some of the characters being in a bit of peril, there were some good twists and turns in the story 😁I loved seeing how the relationships between the characters grew and developed as the story progresses and I look forward to see where they go next 😊
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Chloe has done a fantastic job and I am excited for book 2 in the series 😁 I have this one ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 stars 😊
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The characters were well developed throughout the story and I loved them all, well all apart from the villains haha. Ashalea is the main character and we follow her and her companions as she seeks Vengeance for the death of her parents as well as find the guardians of the grove. My heart raced a few times due to some of the characters being in a bit of peril, there were some good twists and turns in the story 😁I loved seeing how the relationships between the characters grew and developed as the story progresses and I look forward to see where they go next 😊
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Chloe has done a fantastic job and I am excited for book 2 in the series 😁 I have this one ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 stars 😊
April 1, 2021
2.5⭐️
This book is interesting. It had everything to be so good. But sadly it was not that great as I expected it to be.
There’s too many addressing to the main characters features as “elven ears” or “elven eyes” and I feel like we know she’s an elf, the hitting in the same button is kinda turn off.
The story is pretty interesting, but I struggled to connect with the characters. I felt like none of them had a personality, not truly and everything happened so easily and fast...
it did take a nice turn around 70% and began to become more enjoyable, but I can’t say I gasped at any of the plot twists from this book.
The writing is good, not very consistent at some points, as there are scenes where some characters are a bit childish and then there’s detailed gore scenes.
Chloe has potential as a writer and she wrote a nice story. I just struggled to connect with Ashalea and the others, it felt as if the more I tried the less it worked.
There’s a big “plot twist” in the end, but the moment the darkness started speaking I suspected right away what it was about so it didn’t grasp me. Didn’t make me cry or feel for the characters or even the romance.
Nonetheless, the world building was very nice and I enjoyed the bg stories. Just struggled with the characters.
Hoping the second book will an even better bridge to the third one.
This book is interesting. It had everything to be so good. But sadly it was not that great as I expected it to be.
There’s too many addressing to the main characters features as “elven ears” or “elven eyes” and I feel like we know she’s an elf, the hitting in the same button is kinda turn off.
The story is pretty interesting, but I struggled to connect with the characters. I felt like none of them had a personality, not truly and everything happened so easily and fast...
it did take a nice turn around 70% and began to become more enjoyable, but I can’t say I gasped at any of the plot twists from this book.
The writing is good, not very consistent at some points, as there are scenes where some characters are a bit childish and then there’s detailed gore scenes.
Chloe has potential as a writer and she wrote a nice story. I just struggled to connect with Ashalea and the others, it felt as if the more I tried the less it worked.
There’s a big “plot twist” in the end, but the moment the darkness started speaking I suspected right away what it was about so it didn’t grasp me. Didn’t make me cry or feel for the characters or even the romance.
Nonetheless, the world building was very nice and I enjoyed the bg stories. Just struggled with the characters.
Hoping the second book will an even better bridge to the third one.
May 4, 2020
Vengeance Blooms began like mug of hot tea on a cold, rainy day, huddled under a blanket. Gentle world building from the beginning made it easy to slip into the story with familiar, comforting fantasy elements. With a soft magic system, elves and mystical elements it was an easy read.
It took me a while to become invested in the story as I found it hard to connect with the main characters. I felt they lacked the depth I personally appreciate in my reading. Hodge held our hand a little too much during the beginning of the tale, spelling out detail in places where it was unnecessary.
The second half of the book really stated to pick up the pace as I found myself more immersed in Everosia. I loved how Hodge wrote the action scenes, detailed enough that I could really picture everything that was going on, but not so much that my eyes were glazing over with too much information. There were some darker themes that began to emerge which I would have loved her to lean into more, but within the context of the rest of the book, it flowed nicely, creating a well rounded novel.
Overall, a great debut from Chloe Hodge. She has laid the foundation for a great trilogy.
It took me a while to become invested in the story as I found it hard to connect with the main characters. I felt they lacked the depth I personally appreciate in my reading. Hodge held our hand a little too much during the beginning of the tale, spelling out detail in places where it was unnecessary.
The second half of the book really stated to pick up the pace as I found myself more immersed in Everosia. I loved how Hodge wrote the action scenes, detailed enough that I could really picture everything that was going on, but not so much that my eyes were glazing over with too much information. There were some darker themes that began to emerge which I would have loved her to lean into more, but within the context of the rest of the book, it flowed nicely, creating a well rounded novel.
Overall, a great debut from Chloe Hodge. She has laid the foundation for a great trilogy.
January 2, 2021
Vengeance Blooms is the action packed debut novel from author, Chloe Hodge.
Book 1 from the Guardians of the Grove trilogy is a must read for all you high fantasy lovers! It is a magical story that follows main protagonist - Ashalea Kindaris - on her self-discover journey.
Chloe captures my attention from the get to, with an explosive beginning. Her attention to detail was exquisite, leaving the book a pleasure to read. The characters developed well throughout the story, and I especially loved the friendships that blossomed.
Vengeance Blooms included everything I love in a fantasy book; magic, strong female characters, love, terrifying creatures, an epic journey, and an explosive battle! It kept me on my toes, and almost had my heart stopping a few times!
This book has left me wanting more, so I absolutely cannot wait to read book 2.
Book 1 from the Guardians of the Grove trilogy is a must read for all you high fantasy lovers! It is a magical story that follows main protagonist - Ashalea Kindaris - on her self-discover journey.
Chloe captures my attention from the get to, with an explosive beginning. Her attention to detail was exquisite, leaving the book a pleasure to read. The characters developed well throughout the story, and I especially loved the friendships that blossomed.
Vengeance Blooms included everything I love in a fantasy book; magic, strong female characters, love, terrifying creatures, an epic journey, and an explosive battle! It kept me on my toes, and almost had my heart stopping a few times!
This book has left me wanting more, so I absolutely cannot wait to read book 2.
April 18, 2022
My first book of elves i have ever read and well, i love it. The world building was quite unique, plot, characters, creatures, everything was just WOW.
The story was really interesting. I couldn't quite grasp of what's the plot at first but after few chapters in, it was explained clearly and about the characters.
It was fast paced at first but after 10 chapters, it was levelly explained.
We got action packed, adventures, long-lost royal, siblings, magical creatures, magic, light and dark, sweet romance, plot twists, secrets, assassins, kingdoms...
I finished book 1 in a couple of days. I loved everything in the book. I'd die for the covers there are so lovely.
On the way to book 2....
The story was really interesting. I couldn't quite grasp of what's the plot at first but after few chapters in, it was explained clearly and about the characters.
It was fast paced at first but after 10 chapters, it was levelly explained.
We got action packed, adventures, long-lost royal, siblings, magical creatures, magic, light and dark, sweet romance, plot twists, secrets, assassins, kingdoms...
I finished book 1 in a couple of days. I loved everything in the book. I'd die for the covers there are so lovely.
On the way to book 2....
August 11, 2020
Thank you so much to Chloe Hodge for sending me a copy of Vengeance Blooms, in exchange for an honest review!
When Ashalea reaches her 16th birthday, she expects celebration, not unimaginable horror and to be fighting for her life. Rescued and set on vengeance, she lives with the wizard who saved her, until they begin a journey Ashalea hopes will lead her to answers from her past, and vengeance for what happened there.
Vengeance Blooms was a magical story with the adventure feel of Lord of the Rings. With an explosive beginning, that built to an even more action packed ending, I loved joining this quest with Ashalea and the other fantastic characters. The lush, descriptive world building had me really immersed in the story and I especially loved the many magical (and often horrifying) creatures we met along the way. Except a certain creature we met on a boat. That thing gave me nightmares 😅
High fantasy isn’t usually my go to genre, but Chloe really hit the nail on the head with this one. I couldn’t have asked for more gripping action scenes, heartstopping betrayals or brilliant twists. I’d highly recommend grabbing yourself a copy of this one and starting your Guardians of the Grove journey. I’m looking forward to the next book!
When Ashalea reaches her 16th birthday, she expects celebration, not unimaginable horror and to be fighting for her life. Rescued and set on vengeance, she lives with the wizard who saved her, until they begin a journey Ashalea hopes will lead her to answers from her past, and vengeance for what happened there.
Vengeance Blooms was a magical story with the adventure feel of Lord of the Rings. With an explosive beginning, that built to an even more action packed ending, I loved joining this quest with Ashalea and the other fantastic characters. The lush, descriptive world building had me really immersed in the story and I especially loved the many magical (and often horrifying) creatures we met along the way. Except a certain creature we met on a boat. That thing gave me nightmares 😅
High fantasy isn’t usually my go to genre, but Chloe really hit the nail on the head with this one. I couldn’t have asked for more gripping action scenes, heartstopping betrayals or brilliant twists. I’d highly recommend grabbing yourself a copy of this one and starting your Guardians of the Grove journey. I’m looking forward to the next book!
January 9, 2020
This book is full of all the things I love: adventure, fantasy, action, and even a little romance. I’d highly recommend it for anyone who loves elves, wizards, magic and epic fantasy. The only thing I found that didn’t make me give this another star was the lack of character development. The relationships, especially the romantic ones, seemed very rushed and it had me confused at times and wishing there’d been far more development involved. Apart from that, however, I enjoyed the story and the well thought about plot. Although I called a LOT of the events that happened, and especially about Ashaelea’s heritage, the ending wasn’t expected at all. I can’t wait to see what Chloe does with book 2.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 18, 2021
Let me start this off by saying I’d been anticipating reading this for quite some time, it’s been hyped up so much, and even with all my high expectations it did not disappoint!!
“𝘐𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥. 𝘓𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘴𝘰 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘵.”
Vengeance Blooms is the addictive first book in the Guardians of the Grove trilogy by Aussie indie author Chloe Hodge. The story follows elf Ashalea in her quest to defeat an evil magic threatening the land after her parents are suddenly and inexplicably killed by it. Packed full of suspense and mysterious magic woven together with utterly enchanting writing, it is truly an unputdownable read. Chloe has created a bridge between the complex storytelling of high fantasies like Tolkien and the quick gripping ways of the ya genre, and I’m officially obsessed.
This book flows beautifully from it’s explosive opening, to the slower poetic character introductions, to the non-stop action packed last half of the book. There is no shortage of magika, mythical creatures or adventure! Everything felt so grand, so important, and each leant towards the character-based nature of this story so well.
Ashalea as an mc is funny and down to earth, her doubts and curiosities are realistic and I so enjoyed watching her grow and discover her strengths. As for the characters that accompanied her quest, each one is distinctly unique yet has an air of familiarity about them (the witty wizard mentor, the quirky kick-ass friend and so on). They were incredibly fun to get to know and enriched by their own personal struggles. I really love it when stories make the side characters more than just accessories, and Vengeance Blooms let each of its have their moment to shine. Not to mention the cute relationships and romance that blooms amongst the chaos of the greater plot.
This series has not yet reached the heights of my all time favs - meaning I can’t quite justify five stars - but its definitely close and I can’t wait to see where the next books will lead. Truly a hidden gem of a fantasy that should be on your tbr if it isn’t already!
My rating: 4.5✰
“𝘐𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥. 𝘓𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘴𝘰 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘵.”
Vengeance Blooms is the addictive first book in the Guardians of the Grove trilogy by Aussie indie author Chloe Hodge. The story follows elf Ashalea in her quest to defeat an evil magic threatening the land after her parents are suddenly and inexplicably killed by it. Packed full of suspense and mysterious magic woven together with utterly enchanting writing, it is truly an unputdownable read. Chloe has created a bridge between the complex storytelling of high fantasies like Tolkien and the quick gripping ways of the ya genre, and I’m officially obsessed.
This book flows beautifully from it’s explosive opening, to the slower poetic character introductions, to the non-stop action packed last half of the book. There is no shortage of magika, mythical creatures or adventure! Everything felt so grand, so important, and each leant towards the character-based nature of this story so well.
Ashalea as an mc is funny and down to earth, her doubts and curiosities are realistic and I so enjoyed watching her grow and discover her strengths. As for the characters that accompanied her quest, each one is distinctly unique yet has an air of familiarity about them (the witty wizard mentor, the quirky kick-ass friend and so on). They were incredibly fun to get to know and enriched by their own personal struggles. I really love it when stories make the side characters more than just accessories, and Vengeance Blooms let each of its have their moment to shine. Not to mention the cute relationships and romance that blooms amongst the chaos of the greater plot.
This series has not yet reached the heights of my all time favs - meaning I can’t quite justify five stars - but its definitely close and I can’t wait to see where the next books will lead. Truly a hidden gem of a fantasy that should be on your tbr if it isn’t already!
My rating: 4.5✰
November 13, 2020
If I can sum this book up in one word, it would be wholesome. Chloe’s writing is elegant and built the world beautifully.
I did struggle to get into the book at first as the writing was complex, in third person, with a lot of information and not too much action early on, but from about 40%, I was flying through the book once things were moving along!
The species of elves and mages, and the brutality of the assassins were intriguing. The take on Magicka was refreshing and well explained. Not to mention, A DRAGON!
The characters were well created and I enjoyed the snippets into their backstories before the time the novel was set to really connect with them. Shara was my favourite character with her bubbly, sassy self, and divine skill set.
I’m looking forward to seeing where this story goes!
I did struggle to get into the book at first as the writing was complex, in third person, with a lot of information and not too much action early on, but from about 40%, I was flying through the book once things were moving along!
The species of elves and mages, and the brutality of the assassins were intriguing. The take on Magicka was refreshing and well explained. Not to mention, A DRAGON!
The characters were well created and I enjoyed the snippets into their backstories before the time the novel was set to really connect with them. Shara was my favourite character with her bubbly, sassy self, and divine skill set.
I’m looking forward to seeing where this story goes!
January 13, 2020
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Honest Review: 🧝♀️🐉✨🧝♂️🌖🌟
I can't understand how this book is underrated and why no-one is talking about it ...?
When going into this book l was told it was going to be a rich read and I wasn't disappointedbut it was also a high quality fantasy book. l was captivated with the smooth description which made it easy for me to imagine the world and the characters which came so quickly to life.
Vengeance Blooms is a character driven story which I liked as you could relate easily with the characters. It did lack a bit of action in the first 60% but this picked up and intensified. The romance was a bit cheesy but it wasn’t in your face which actually made it kind of cute.
My favourite parts of the book was how all the characters had there own moments where their lives didn't always revolve around the MC which is always refreshing and a thing l love in books and tend to look for.
Honestly this book is a hidden gem and should be on everyone's TBR list.
Honest Review: 🧝♀️🐉✨🧝♂️🌖🌟
I can't understand how this book is underrated and why no-one is talking about it ...?
When going into this book l was told it was going to be a rich read and I wasn't disappointedbut it was also a high quality fantasy book. l was captivated with the smooth description which made it easy for me to imagine the world and the characters which came so quickly to life.
Vengeance Blooms is a character driven story which I liked as you could relate easily with the characters. It did lack a bit of action in the first 60% but this picked up and intensified. The romance was a bit cheesy but it wasn’t in your face which actually made it kind of cute.
My favourite parts of the book was how all the characters had there own moments where their lives didn't always revolve around the MC which is always refreshing and a thing l love in books and tend to look for.
Honestly this book is a hidden gem and should be on everyone's TBR list.
September 8, 2019
I gave Vengeance Blooms by Chloe Hodge a 5 star rating
This book was amazing. Absolutely gripping! The world that Hodge builds is a mix between Tolkein's Lord of the Rings and The Cruel Prince. I was hooked within the first few pages and it easily has been one of my favourite reads (it now has an honorary spot on my shelf among my other favourite reads!)
If I was to 'fault' anything within the book, it would only be the development of Ashalea and her romantic interest. I feel like we skipped a lot of the getting-to-know-each-other stage, but it still worked really well with the story.
The characters and the development between then felt really natural. I connected with them a lot, especially Shara. I connected with them all, but Shara stood out for me so much. There was so much emotion behind the characters and they were written to the point where my heart broke and I did shed some tears while they were battling with the darkness.
The plot made sense. There were never times where I was confused with connections, or that I was bombarded with information. The pace was amazing and the world-building... don't get me started on the world-building! Every city and town was so different and the way Hodge described everything so simply but so in detail painted a beautiful picture of everybody we met and the places we visited.
One of the things I loved a lot about this book, was that everything didn't drag on too long and the characters were always moving forward. The pace was really steady.
This book was one that I know will stay for me a long time. It's one everybody needs to read and experience!
Needless to say, when is the second book out, Chloe?!
This book was amazing. Absolutely gripping! The world that Hodge builds is a mix between Tolkein's Lord of the Rings and The Cruel Prince. I was hooked within the first few pages and it easily has been one of my favourite reads (it now has an honorary spot on my shelf among my other favourite reads!)
If I was to 'fault' anything within the book, it would only be the development of Ashalea and her romantic interest. I feel like we skipped a lot of the getting-to-know-each-other stage, but it still worked really well with the story.
The characters and the development between then felt really natural. I connected with them a lot, especially Shara. I connected with them all, but Shara stood out for me so much. There was so much emotion behind the characters and they were written to the point where my heart broke and I did shed some tears while they were battling with the darkness.
The plot made sense. There were never times where I was confused with connections, or that I was bombarded with information. The pace was amazing and the world-building... don't get me started on the world-building! Every city and town was so different and the way Hodge described everything so simply but so in detail painted a beautiful picture of everybody we met and the places we visited.
One of the things I loved a lot about this book, was that everything didn't drag on too long and the characters were always moving forward. The pace was really steady.
This book was one that I know will stay for me a long time. It's one everybody needs to read and experience!
Needless to say, when is the second book out, Chloe?!
Read
April 2, 2022Dnf at 60%
If I could sum up this book with one word, that word would be naïve
Tropes included: insta love, chosen one and secret princess !!! If all three are on your bingo card you are entitled to 10% off your next therapy session!! Congrats.
Don't even get me started on how people with tan skin are now synonymous with brown skin. Olive doesn’t equate to brown either.
Also who fades to black in a dragon riding scene?! What type of fantasy book fades to black when the MC is on a bloody dragon!!!
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April 23, 2020
Silver haired elf, Ashalea, wakes on the morning of her sixteenth birthday to find tragedy awaiting her, not celebration. Saved from horrifying darkness by a wizard, she embarks on a quest for the truth of her past, gathering an eclectic band of friends.
The YA style early part of Hodge's narrative and the quest itself reminded me of old adventure myths such as Jason and the Argonauts, or the more modern Percy Jackson books and, as such, was a fun read, with its mild romance that didn't detract from the pace.
Where this came into its own, however, was in the latter section as the story became progressively darker, violent, adult and, for me, far more compelling. At this point, I couldn't put the book down and it's for this reason I'm giving it 5 ⭐.
The YA style early part of Hodge's narrative and the quest itself reminded me of old adventure myths such as Jason and the Argonauts, or the more modern Percy Jackson books and, as such, was a fun read, with its mild romance that didn't detract from the pace.
Where this came into its own, however, was in the latter section as the story became progressively darker, violent, adult and, for me, far more compelling. At this point, I couldn't put the book down and it's for this reason I'm giving it 5 ⭐.
September 10, 2019
I really enjoyed this book. I am a fan of middle earth. I’ve enjoyed Eragon, Hobbits, Dark Elves, and Shannara and many many more. I enjoyed this equal to any of them. The author does a wonderful job in the descriptions. I enjoyed the way that the author introduced us to the characters and developed them as we progressed through the book. The action starts in the very first chapter much like a great action film. We get a few breaks to see the world and learn more about the characters, then right back to the action. Very well done. I can hardly wait for the next two volumes. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves fantasy or even those who love good action.
September 3, 2019
I was a beta reader for this book. I have now read it three times, and loved every second of it.
Hodge, as far as debuts go, is meticulous in crafting her characters and world, lore and wonder as if she has been doing it for years.
If you like high fantasy and well-realized worlds, this is for you.
Hodge, as far as debuts go, is meticulous in crafting her characters and world, lore and wonder as if she has been doing it for years.
If you like high fantasy and well-realized worlds, this is for you.
August 1, 2024
What an incredible book! I love our main character Ashalea and the entire world Chloe has built! I couldn’t put this fantasy book down! Bring on book two!
July 28, 2021
I really liked this story, and for a debut novel, it is a solid effort. The writing is very vivid and beautifully described, making Hodge a very natural storyteller, with mazing world-building abilities. I can't wait to discover more of the land in the books to come!
It gives me Lord of the Rings meets Throne of Glass but a more lighter and less denser version of the two combined
It's a fast-paced adventure, sometimes a little too fast, but I found by reading it at a slower pace the story travelled at a better pace.
I did have teeny critiques along the way. I found there were a lot of coincidences (but the author does explain along the way which does redeems it). The romance is very insta-love, they are apparently soul mates after basically meeting each other. The MC Ashalea changes mood rapidly which I found it hard to make a connection with but she does have potential to flourish and she is a worthy heroine in the making.
I am still very much interested in continuing the series. The characters have a lot of potential for the next adventure which will be exciting. And THAT battle scene!!! Wow!!! That was done really well, especially the description of the aftermath which really pulled on the heartstrings. I can't forget that little twist at the end with a particular character that came out of no where and slapped me in the face.
A really great and imaginative fantasy debut for Chloe Hodge. I can't wait to follow the Guardian on their next journey.
It gives me Lord of the Rings meets Throne of Glass but a more lighter and less denser version of the two combined
It's a fast-paced adventure, sometimes a little too fast, but I found by reading it at a slower pace the story travelled at a better pace.
I did have teeny critiques along the way. I found there were a lot of coincidences (but the author does explain along the way which does redeems it). The romance is very insta-love, they are apparently soul mates after basically meeting each other. The MC Ashalea changes mood rapidly which I found it hard to make a connection with but she does have potential to flourish and she is a worthy heroine in the making.
I am still very much interested in continuing the series. The characters have a lot of potential for the next adventure which will be exciting. And THAT battle scene!!! Wow!!! That was done really well, especially the description of the aftermath which really pulled on the heartstrings. I can't forget that little twist at the end with a particular character that came out of no where and slapped me in the face.
A really great and imaginative fantasy debut for Chloe Hodge. I can't wait to follow the Guardian on their next journey.
April 28, 2021
The day young elf, Ashalea, turns 16 a horrifying event turns her world upside down and the world changes as she knows it. Soon she’s fighting a evil darkness, fighting monsters and making new allies amongst assassins, elves and Wizards. Chloe has created an epic YA fantasy adventure with a world filled with elves, dragons, dwarves and more! The action never stops and the writing flows beautifully - you will not be disappointed.
Ashalea is an amazing leading character and I loved watching her grow with her magic, identity and new found family. Did I mention this book has elves? Yes ELVES! I loved seeing the different Elf nations and can’t wait to see more of them in the next book. Among the other characters, I loved Shara and how much of a badass she is. She actually may be my favourite in the book!
The writing flowed beautifully, with the action never slowing as we followed each character. I wasn’t a huge fan of the romance but I’m intrigued to see where it will go. I did love the different POVs as it was a great way to see the wider story and what motivated the other characters. Book 1 has set a great foundation for the next book and I am so excited to see what happens next! Thank you so much Chloe for sending a copy my way for an honest review, I’m so excited to read book 2.
Ashalea is an amazing leading character and I loved watching her grow with her magic, identity and new found family. Did I mention this book has elves? Yes ELVES! I loved seeing the different Elf nations and can’t wait to see more of them in the next book. Among the other characters, I loved Shara and how much of a badass she is. She actually may be my favourite in the book!
The writing flowed beautifully, with the action never slowing as we followed each character. I wasn’t a huge fan of the romance but I’m intrigued to see where it will go. I did love the different POVs as it was a great way to see the wider story and what motivated the other characters. Book 1 has set a great foundation for the next book and I am so excited to see what happens next! Thank you so much Chloe for sending a copy my way for an honest review, I’m so excited to read book 2.
April 21, 2021
If you’re looking for a new fantasy obsession, look no further than 𝑽𝒆𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝑩𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒎𝒔 by Chloe Hodge. This book is a whirlwind of magic, epic battles, and plot twists that fans of Throne of Glass, The Black Witch Chronicles, and Lord of the Rings will adore.
The first thing that I loved about this book were the characters. They really stood out to me, and I loved the banter and the friendships they shared throughout the book. Each character is so unique and their personalities really shine through the pages of this book. There’s also a decent amount of humor, which is always a plus!
The worldbuilding in this book is also amazing! I loved the concept of the Guardians of the Grove, elite warriors protecting their land from an ancient evil. It felt like a nod to classic, epic fantasy from authors such as J.R.R. Tolkien and George R.R. Martin, and I absolutely loved it.
What kept this from being a 5⭐️ read for me was the romance aspect. While I did enjoy it, I felt like things happened a little bit too quickly (almost insta-love). I’m interested to see how this relationship develops throughout the trilogy, though!
The first thing that I loved about this book were the characters. They really stood out to me, and I loved the banter and the friendships they shared throughout the book. Each character is so unique and their personalities really shine through the pages of this book. There’s also a decent amount of humor, which is always a plus!
The worldbuilding in this book is also amazing! I loved the concept of the Guardians of the Grove, elite warriors protecting their land from an ancient evil. It felt like a nod to classic, epic fantasy from authors such as J.R.R. Tolkien and George R.R. Martin, and I absolutely loved it.
What kept this from being a 5⭐️ read for me was the romance aspect. While I did enjoy it, I felt like things happened a little bit too quickly (almost insta-love). I’m interested to see how this relationship develops throughout the trilogy, though!
July 17, 2024
I got these books when Amazon had them on sale. I'm so glad I purchased them. The writing reminds me so much of lord of the rings mixed with the vengeance of Celeana Sardothian. Ashalea has a lot of vengeful qualities that I love so much, but she's also smart and kind. She wants to do what's right. Wezlan hid so many things from Ashalea but I understood his reasoning. He wanted to protect her after what happened to her parents, and was also a bit worried on how she would react finding out the truth of her heritage. There are so many good characters, plot developments, as well as world building. The whole darkness and what hides in the shadows may be vague, but it's building into something more horrifying and terrifying. Ashalea's parents were only the beginning. I feel that she has so much more coming. I'm glad she has Wezlan, Danavear, and the other mages and some of the onyxnites by her side.
November 18, 2021
DNF 25%
First of all, I always feel bad giving reviews like this. It's not quite fair because I didn't read the whole thing, but, I did give it a good quarter of the book to grab me and it just wasn't. The world building in this book was very confusing. It was very descriptive, and was magical and definitely felt like a high fantasy book I should love. I was having a hard time connecting to the characters, and they were constantly traveling the whole time, and I was waiting for something to actually happen. I was bored, and I feel bad about that, but that doesn't mean that you will feel that way! This just wasn't for me, but it could be for you if you love complex world building and high fantasy!
First of all, I always feel bad giving reviews like this. It's not quite fair because I didn't read the whole thing, but, I did give it a good quarter of the book to grab me and it just wasn't. The world building in this book was very confusing. It was very descriptive, and was magical and definitely felt like a high fantasy book I should love. I was having a hard time connecting to the characters, and they were constantly traveling the whole time, and I was waiting for something to actually happen. I was bored, and I feel bad about that, but that doesn't mean that you will feel that way! This just wasn't for me, but it could be for you if you love complex world building and high fantasy!
November 13, 2021
This was a difficult novel for me. A lot of it reminded me of the Lord of the Rings (which was also a hard read). I did enjoy the world building and the concept of this novel, but I feel like the lack of character development and the flat storyline took much away from the experience.
The novel lacked depth that I enjoy seeing in my readings. I do feel like this is a good start, but needs a bit more to make it a great read.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The novel lacked depth that I enjoy seeing in my readings. I do feel like this is a good start, but needs a bit more to make it a great read.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 13, 2024
I wanted to love this book 😭 Is a good book but it didn’t wow me. There’s elves, dwarves, human, wizards and more is full of adventure, fighting and battle moments. It gave me LOTR vibes but still something was missing. Sometime it felt to slow and other time it felt to rush. Also I did not connected with these characters they were lacking chemistry. I did like the world building and parts of the plot.
October 1, 2020
Check out my review on my blog
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February 26, 2022
I absolutely loved Vengence Blooms! This is the 1st book that has had me fully hooked and immersed in the world in a long time.
Straight into book 2!
Straight into book 2!
January 21, 2020
SYNOPSIS:
Ashalea Kindaris is an orphan. She was raised by her parents who were then killed by a mysterious stranger who tried to kill her also. Thanks to Wezlan she trains to be able to take vengeance on the person who killed her parents.
When Ashalea finds out who this man is she realises her destiny is much larger than she once thought and she heads out on a Quest with Wezlan to find the next Guardians of the Grove and save her world from impending doom.
REVIEW:
Firstly, wow. This was my first Independent Author read and I am so glad it was! I loved it. Chloe Hodge's writing was so easy to follow and honestly, I love short chapters!! Books with short chapters are the best! I find them so much easier to read.
Anyway back to the book. It was a very Lord of the Rings feel (I agree with the other people who have said this), but it was also a lot more storytelling! The characters were amazing and writing in the third person allowed the readers to follow each character easily. I prefer this over first-person POV, especially when there are more than 2 POV.
The characters are compelling and the storyline is compelling. I loved the little romance on the side and I'm so glad that Ashalea tried to understand what she was feeling before acting unlike a lot of other female characters.
I can't wait until book 2 comes out! Great debut novel!!! 4 stars for me!
Ashalea Kindaris is an orphan. She was raised by her parents who were then killed by a mysterious stranger who tried to kill her also. Thanks to Wezlan she trains to be able to take vengeance on the person who killed her parents.
When Ashalea finds out who this man is she realises her destiny is much larger than she once thought and she heads out on a Quest with Wezlan to find the next Guardians of the Grove and save her world from impending doom.
REVIEW:
Firstly, wow. This was my first Independent Author read and I am so glad it was! I loved it. Chloe Hodge's writing was so easy to follow and honestly, I love short chapters!! Books with short chapters are the best! I find them so much easier to read.
Anyway back to the book. It was a very Lord of the Rings feel (I agree with the other people who have said this), but it was also a lot more storytelling! The characters were amazing and writing in the third person allowed the readers to follow each character easily. I prefer this over first-person POV, especially when there are more than 2 POV.
The characters are compelling and the storyline is compelling. I loved the little romance on the side and I'm so glad that Ashalea tried to understand what she was feeling before acting unlike a lot of other female characters.
I can't wait until book 2 comes out! Great debut novel!!! 4 stars for me!
January 29, 2020
I didn't like this book nearly as much as I wanted to, which was a real shame. I'm not going to sit here and complain or anything, because that isn't useful to anyone, but I also think that honest reviews are very important. I will start off with saying I enjoyed the story as a whole, but I didn't enjoy the way it was written. Essentially, the writing style was not my cup of tea. Everybody writes differently and as this book has been compared to Lord of the Rings (which wasn't my cup of tea either) I honestly am not surprised. Another thing the book was lacking was sufficient character development in my opinion, though that just might be due to the third person narration. I also felt the romantic subplot was rushed and I didn't have time to start shipping the characters before they got together. I will say the plot was well put together and unfolded naturally. I liked the elements of the different societies and the fact that this book features a dragon.
October 5, 2019
Thank you to Chloe for letting me be a beta reader for Vengeance Blooms!
Wow! Vengeance Blooms is Chloe’s debut novel and it is in every way incredible! The world building and imagery is fantastic and so is the storyline! The characters were interesting and the plot was very gripping. It is full of magic, elves, wizards, revenge, death and plot twists.
I flew through this book, it was very captivating. I HIGHLY recommend Vengeance Blooms!
Wow! Vengeance Blooms is Chloe’s debut novel and it is in every way incredible! The world building and imagery is fantastic and so is the storyline! The characters were interesting and the plot was very gripping. It is full of magic, elves, wizards, revenge, death and plot twists.
I flew through this book, it was very captivating. I HIGHLY recommend Vengeance Blooms!
September 6, 2021
I loved this book! Chloe has done such an amazing job at building a truly magical world inside this novel. It's written extremely well; there is so much attention to detail and the characters are amazing.
I read this book in one sitting and did not want to put it down. I can't wait to start the second novel, I'm sure I'll love it just as much as this one.
I definitely recommend this series to those who are fans of the genre.
I read this book in one sitting and did not want to put it down. I can't wait to start the second novel, I'm sure I'll love it just as much as this one.
I definitely recommend this series to those who are fans of the genre.
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