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The Blodeuedd Trilogy #1
Flowerface
Hell hath no fury like a goddess scorned.
Born of flowers and magic, Blodeuedd is tied to Lleu, the sun-god, in an eternal marriage. Even when she meets a mortal man who shows her the meaning of true love, she remains faithful to her husband.
Soon, however, she discovers that not just her marriage but her entire life has been built on lies and secrets. She was created, not to love Lleu, but as a pawn in his callous game.
Fighting for vengeance as well as for survival, Blodeuedd seeks to protect herself and those she loves from the machinations of her husband and his family. The question is...how can a mere vegetation goddess triumph against the powerful Summer King?
A tale of myth and magic, Flowerface springs from ancient roots in the Welsh Mabinogian. It is intended for an adult audience.
Born of flowers and magic, Blodeuedd is tied to Lleu, the sun-god, in an eternal marriage. Even when she meets a mortal man who shows her the meaning of true love, she remains faithful to her husband.
Soon, however, she discovers that not just her marriage but her entire life has been built on lies and secrets. She was created, not to love Lleu, but as a pawn in his callous game.
Fighting for vengeance as well as for survival, Blodeuedd seeks to protect herself and those she loves from the machinations of her husband and his family. The question is...how can a mere vegetation goddess triumph against the powerful Summer King?
A tale of myth and magic, Flowerface springs from ancient roots in the Welsh Mabinogian. It is intended for an adult audience.
444 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 31, 2022
7 people are currently reading
303 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
January 24, 2022
Wrought of flowers and magic, Flowerface was made for a demi-god— not to love but to use. Robbed of agency from the start, yet endowed with very human attributes, Flowerface must contend with those who fear and need her in equal measures.
Christiana Matthews’ debut novel is a lush and lyrical re-telling of a Welsh myth that had until now cast Flowerface in the role of villainess. Here, we finally get her point of view and it is a compelling one.
If you enjoy mythic re-tellings with a strong and relatable female protagonist, if you love beautiful prose and a richly-detailed setting brought to vibrant life on every page, then you will enjoy this story.
Flowerface is a force of Nature, one to be reckoned with. I suspect the author is too. I look forward to reading more from her.
Christiana Matthews’ debut novel is a lush and lyrical re-telling of a Welsh myth that had until now cast Flowerface in the role of villainess. Here, we finally get her point of view and it is a compelling one.
If you enjoy mythic re-tellings with a strong and relatable female protagonist, if you love beautiful prose and a richly-detailed setting brought to vibrant life on every page, then you will enjoy this story.
Flowerface is a force of Nature, one to be reckoned with. I suspect the author is too. I look forward to reading more from her.
April 16, 2023
Immortal gods and goddesses. What is happening? Who am I kidding?
Anyone out there who is a sucker for Retellings…?
This book is told from the perspective of Blodeuedd,a wife of Lleu, born from the flowers 🌸
Fun fact: Blodeuwedd is known as the Goddess of flowers, emotions, the wisdom of innocence and initiation ceremonies.
Wait… did I say born? More like made. Made specially for Lleu. Even worse, his uncle was the one who created flower face Just for ….. you know what😩
The character building was so good, where the heroine’s life from a few days old till she becomes mature is powerful.
The maturity that she strains as the story progresses is conventional. The relationships between each character and their involvement is building up.
The ending had me reeling and no, I’m not going to spoil more than this. And I’m definitely recommending this.
Rating: 4.3/5 ⭐️
Also , you needn’t wait that long for book 2 , Owlfeather, as it was released on February 28, 2023.
Anyone out there who is a sucker for Retellings…?
This book is told from the perspective of Blodeuedd,a wife of Lleu, born from the flowers 🌸
Fun fact: Blodeuwedd is known as the Goddess of flowers, emotions, the wisdom of innocence and initiation ceremonies.
Wait… did I say born? More like made. Made specially for Lleu. Even worse, his uncle was the one who created flower face Just for ….. you know what😩
The character building was so good, where the heroine’s life from a few days old till she becomes mature is powerful.
The maturity that she strains as the story progresses is conventional. The relationships between each character and their involvement is building up.
The ending had me reeling and no, I’m not going to spoil more than this. And I’m definitely recommending this.
Rating: 4.3/5 ⭐️
Also , you needn’t wait that long for book 2 , Owlfeather, as it was released on February 28, 2023.
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April 8, 2023A reimagining of the Welsh myths of Blodeuedd (Blodeuwedd) and her husband Lleu, FLOWERFACE by Christiana Matthews gives readers a unique spin on an old tale. In this version, Blodeuedd isn’t simply the villain, but is instead a woman trapped in a loveless marriage, who learns her entire existence is a lie. A story born of vengeance, I enjoyed seeing Blodeuedd discover her powers and work to gain not only her independence, but also her autonomy.
The world created was exciting and magical, and I really enjoyed the various Welsh gods and goddesses that make up this tale. I also loved Blodueudd’s strength and resiliency, and her quest for both personal freedom and revenge. There were plenty of twists and turns that I wasn’t expecting and those definitely made things super interesting.
Bottom line — FLOWERFACE was a really interesting reimagining that will delight lovers of Welsh mythology and fantasy fans alike. I look forward to the next installment to see what’s in store for these characters.
The world created was exciting and magical, and I really enjoyed the various Welsh gods and goddesses that make up this tale. I also loved Blodueudd’s strength and resiliency, and her quest for both personal freedom and revenge. There were plenty of twists and turns that I wasn’t expecting and those definitely made things super interesting.
Bottom line — FLOWERFACE was a really interesting reimagining that will delight lovers of Welsh mythology and fantasy fans alike. I look forward to the next installment to see what’s in store for these characters.
January 17, 2022
Blodeuedd was created from flowers with the magic of Math and Gwydion as the intended bride of Lleu. Tynged by his mother Arianrhod, this Flower Bride is just a pawn in the hands of the Gods.
Then she grew into her powers, understood the slights her husband placed on her by taking a mistress and the desire for vengeance gained fuel.
The author brings the tale to life beautifully with her words. You feel the emotions pouring out of the characters and how they affect their decisions and choices.
Enjoyed the book and look forward to the sequel.
I received an ARC from the author for my honest review.
Then she grew into her powers, understood the slights her husband placed on her by taking a mistress and the desire for vengeance gained fuel.
The author brings the tale to life beautifully with her words. You feel the emotions pouring out of the characters and how they affect their decisions and choices.
Enjoyed the book and look forward to the sequel.
I received an ARC from the author for my honest review.
February 1, 2022
If you have enjoyed Greek mythology and the shenanigans of their gods, this story, based on Mabinogion, might be right up your alley, as old gods of Wales stand as equals with their Greek counterparts. If you like strong heroines, fighting for their rights, this is yours to enjoy.
If you are looking for a fantasy quickie, one night stand, Flowerface is probably not the right one for you. This story is worth savouring a few pages at a time.
If you are looking for a fantasy quickie, one night stand, Flowerface is probably not the right one for you. This story is worth savouring a few pages at a time.
February 4, 2022
Blodeuedd was created from flowers to become a wife for Lleu. She was unique being made from flowers. She could draw power from plants, insects found her scent to be alluring & she was also very loyal to her family. Since she was just created she had to learn the ways of a wife & as she did, she discovered things are not always as they seem. Her journey to learn will test her abilities & her loyalty. The author created great characters with twists that will keep you turning pages. A great read.
January 27, 2022
Flowerface was a fun read! I enjoyed the internal conflicts and well-rounded characters. It's great when an author takes the time to provide backstories for the side characters, not just the main ones.
The world is beautiful and stakes were high as Blodeuwedd's straight forward life got twisted upside down.
You can check out my full review here:
https://tlheinbooks.ca/flowerface/
Triggers:
Rape was mentioned. Adultery. Emotional abuse. Domestic violence was mentioned.
The world is beautiful and stakes were high as Blodeuwedd's straight forward life got twisted upside down.
You can check out my full review here:
https://tlheinbooks.ca/flowerface/
Triggers:
Rape was mentioned. Adultery. Emotional abuse. Domestic violence was mentioned.
February 1, 2022
Bloudeuedd was made from flowers and magic, set to be the wide of Lleu. But he has different plans. After coming into her powers, Bloudeuedd has decided enough is enough.
I loved every second of this book. The plot was fun, and full of action, emotion and revenge. Bloudeuedd, or Flowerface, was a fantastic character, and you could truly feel her emotions as she progressed in the story. Her character character what makes this story such a fascinating read, and I highly recommend it.
I loved every second of this book. The plot was fun, and full of action, emotion and revenge. Bloudeuedd, or Flowerface, was a fantastic character, and you could truly feel her emotions as she progressed in the story. Her character character what makes this story such a fascinating read, and I highly recommend it.
March 15, 2022
This book is beautifully written, with lively characters and a setting that draws vivid images in your head. The main character is sharp and funny. I loved the twisty plot, and the references to old myths enhanced the story rather than swamping it. If you're looking for something a little different that will stick with you, this book fits the bill :)
September 29, 2022
Flower Face is a fantasy novel that is well written.
Flower Face has been born of flowers and magic and is tied to Leiu. She then discovers that not only her marriage but her entire life is a lie.
I really enjoyed the book and couldn't put it down till I finished it. Looking forward to reading more from the author.
Flower Face has been born of flowers and magic and is tied to Leiu. She then discovers that not only her marriage but her entire life is a lie.
I really enjoyed the book and couldn't put it down till I finished it. Looking forward to reading more from the author.
February 8, 2023
I received a complimentary copy and am giving my honest review. I very much enjoyed the book as I like mythology but I don't know anything about Welsh mythology. I didn't expect the book to go where it did, but the journey is all the better for it. There is a lot of character growth and things to be revealed that created a good experience.
April 9, 2023
Thank you to Hidden Hollow Book Tours and Christiana Matthews for providing me with a digital copy of this book. This is my honest review.
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Mythology lovers, this one’s for you! 🗣️ Before reading Flowerface, I knew next to nothing about Welsh mythology. This book sent me on a full-on deep dive!
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Blodeuedd was a fascinating heroine. I love heroines that demolish the expectations people have of them. She’s so much more than the pliant wife the men in her life made her to be. I guess my love for women with nature-related powers is still standing strong 😂 Poison Ivy, Layla from Sky High, and now this version of Blodeuedd! 🍃
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Flowerface was full of interesting characters, both malicious and charming. Cynar, Delthi, and even Arianrhod quickly grew on me. And the oak that is Goronwy?! 👀🔥 No spoilers in case someone isn’t familiar with the King Math myth, but yes, please! 🗣️ I loved the mythological aspects! The shape shifting, the magic 🙌🏽 And of course there was an absolutely bonkers family tree. Isn’t there always? 💀
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Overall, Flowerface was a delightful read! An intoxicating mixture of mythology, romance, and fantasy, Flowerface is one you’ll definitely want to pick up 🙌🏽 I can’t wait to read its sequel Owlfeather. Both Flowerface and Owlfeather are available for purchase NOW.
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Mythology lovers, this one’s for you! 🗣️ Before reading Flowerface, I knew next to nothing about Welsh mythology. This book sent me on a full-on deep dive!
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Blodeuedd was a fascinating heroine. I love heroines that demolish the expectations people have of them. She’s so much more than the pliant wife the men in her life made her to be. I guess my love for women with nature-related powers is still standing strong 😂 Poison Ivy, Layla from Sky High, and now this version of Blodeuedd! 🍃
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Flowerface was full of interesting characters, both malicious and charming. Cynar, Delthi, and even Arianrhod quickly grew on me. And the oak that is Goronwy?! 👀🔥 No spoilers in case someone isn’t familiar with the King Math myth, but yes, please! 🗣️ I loved the mythological aspects! The shape shifting, the magic 🙌🏽 And of course there was an absolutely bonkers family tree. Isn’t there always? 💀
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Overall, Flowerface was a delightful read! An intoxicating mixture of mythology, romance, and fantasy, Flowerface is one you’ll definitely want to pick up 🙌🏽 I can’t wait to read its sequel Owlfeather. Both Flowerface and Owlfeather are available for purchase NOW.
April 8, 2023
This was my first intro to Welsh mythology and I absolutely loved it! Very similar to Greek myths which I adore - full of drama, romance, intrigue and adventure! Flowerface is such a strong female lead - one to be reckoned with in this story, making it worth your while to really take your time with this one; to appreciate its lush plot line and vibrant characters.
December 20, 2022
I received book from Voracious readers. Loved this version of an old welsh myth of Blodeuedd and lleu The story transports you back to the world of the myth and you get to know the story through Blodeuedds narrative.
April 25, 2022
This book is absolutely amazing.
Firstly, the writing is beautiful. Lyrical and so vivid, you can see—and smell!—the world the protagonists live in. From lush forests to gardens, from gods' castles to simple huts. All filled with flowers, colors, and mouth-watering food descriptions. It’s pretty historically accurate too, for a story about gods.
The story is told from the perspective of Flowerface (sorry, the original names are a bit too much for my simple Slavic mind), the goddess of vegetation created to be a bride for a sun god Lleu Llaw, which is a name I remember only because in my mind it transformed into LuLu. LuLu is a piece of work. Even worse is his uncle, Gwydion, who created Flowerface, but views her as nothing more than a glorified sex doll for his nephew.
Flowerface, in turn, is endearingly innocent at the start (and Christiana did a great job writing someone who is only days old, with artificially inserted knowledge), but over the course of the story she matures, learns to break free from the destiny others envisioned for her, and carve her own path. But even at her darkest, she never loses her tenderness, “humanity”, I’d like to say, even though she’s not human.
My only complaint is that the ending was a bit anti-climatic. The final fight took the last 20% of the book and was broken into several fights that made you almost forget who the main bad guy was. And to my greatest disappointment, he was not kicked in the balls at the end. Good thing the sequel is in the works.
Overall I greatly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to everyone who likes myth retelling, lyrical prose, characters you want to root for, and misogynistic pigs being shown their place.
Firstly, the writing is beautiful. Lyrical and so vivid, you can see—and smell!—the world the protagonists live in. From lush forests to gardens, from gods' castles to simple huts. All filled with flowers, colors, and mouth-watering food descriptions. It’s pretty historically accurate too, for a story about gods.
The story is told from the perspective of Flowerface (sorry, the original names are a bit too much for my simple Slavic mind), the goddess of vegetation created to be a bride for a sun god Lleu Llaw, which is a name I remember only because in my mind it transformed into LuLu. LuLu is a piece of work. Even worse is his uncle, Gwydion, who created Flowerface, but views her as nothing more than a glorified sex doll for his nephew.
Flowerface, in turn, is endearingly innocent at the start (and Christiana did a great job writing someone who is only days old, with artificially inserted knowledge), but over the course of the story she matures, learns to break free from the destiny others envisioned for her, and carve her own path. But even at her darkest, she never loses her tenderness, “humanity”, I’d like to say, even though she’s not human.
My only complaint is that the ending was a bit anti-climatic. The final fight took the last 20% of the book and was broken into several fights that made you almost forget who the main bad guy was. And to my greatest disappointment, he was not kicked in the balls at the end. Good thing the sequel is in the works.
Overall I greatly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to everyone who likes myth retelling, lyrical prose, characters you want to root for, and misogynistic pigs being shown their place.
December 24, 2022
I enjoyed this book very much the way that myth was woven into a novel. I look forward to hearing more from this writer.
June 13, 2022
'Flowerface' is based on the Welsh myth of Blodeuedd (Middle Welsh: 'Flower-faced') and Lleu, which is a myth I was not familiar with prior to reading this book, so I had to educate myself after the fact. In the original story, Blodeuedd is cast as an antagonist, but in this retelling she is written as the heroine. This book really reminded me of 'Till We Have Faces' by C.S. Lewis: a fresh retelling of an old myth from an unexpected perspective.
The writing is beautiful, and the characters are well-rounded and sympathetic. Blodeuedd herself is a darling. She starts out the story so naive and innocent, but as she grows and learns about the world and her place in it, she becomes stronger, braver, a little flawed, but ultimately a character you root for (get it? Root for? Like, tree roots? Read the book and you'll get it, haha). There are also plenty of other characters to love and root for in this story. (I won't say who they are though, because spoilers!)
I highly recommend this book for fans of mythology/fairy tale retellings, as well as fans of classic literature--the writing style leans much more towards literary fiction than genre fiction, in my opinion. The descriptions are lush and detailed, and the story is one that will stay with you long after you've finished.
The writing is beautiful, and the characters are well-rounded and sympathetic. Blodeuedd herself is a darling. She starts out the story so naive and innocent, but as she grows and learns about the world and her place in it, she becomes stronger, braver, a little flawed, but ultimately a character you root for (get it? Root for? Like, tree roots? Read the book and you'll get it, haha). There are also plenty of other characters to love and root for in this story. (I won't say who they are though, because spoilers!)
I highly recommend this book for fans of mythology/fairy tale retellings, as well as fans of classic literature--the writing style leans much more towards literary fiction than genre fiction, in my opinion. The descriptions are lush and detailed, and the story is one that will stay with you long after you've finished.
January 9, 2023
The best version of this Welsh myth!
I bought this book because I love mythology, romance, beautiful prose, and strong female characters. And boy, does this book deliver. Blodeuedd is such a relatable and lovable protagonist. I was so glad to see things from her point of view, to see how her husband wronged her and why he deserved everything he got and more. It's refreshing to read about a vengeful female protagonist who wants to take control of her life.
The prose is absolutely gorgeous and a pleasure to read. I finished this book faster than I expected because the author kept me on the edge of my seat throughout the story and I badly wanted to keep going without breaks to see how it ended.
I really loved King Math and Dylan. In fact, I should like to buy a cottage by the sea and marry Dylan, the sea god. 😄 He was such a fun character.
Both their teasing of Blodeuedd was delightful and gave me a good laugh to release some of the tension in such a dramatic story.
The story's ending was satisfying, and I look forward to the next book in the series. I've already pre-ordered it.
I bought this book because I love mythology, romance, beautiful prose, and strong female characters. And boy, does this book deliver. Blodeuedd is such a relatable and lovable protagonist. I was so glad to see things from her point of view, to see how her husband wronged her and why he deserved everything he got and more. It's refreshing to read about a vengeful female protagonist who wants to take control of her life.
The prose is absolutely gorgeous and a pleasure to read. I finished this book faster than I expected because the author kept me on the edge of my seat throughout the story and I badly wanted to keep going without breaks to see how it ended.
I really loved King Math and Dylan. In fact, I should like to buy a cottage by the sea and marry Dylan, the sea god. 😄 He was such a fun character.
Both their teasing of Blodeuedd was delightful and gave me a good laugh to release some of the tension in such a dramatic story.
The story's ending was satisfying, and I look forward to the next book in the series. I've already pre-ordered it.
March 3, 2023
This book is a wonderful way to enter Welsh Mythology! I was immediately drawn to the heroine and her world. Lovely—even intricate detailed characters and world building pulled me in like I was there throughout, and when it was finished, left me yearning for more.
February 8, 2023
I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys reading stories based off myths and legends, and those who enjoy a strong and sympathetic female lead.
What I loved:
The main character is a delightfully easy character to love and follow. I normally don't like first person, but I found B so likable that it was easy for me to get lost in the story.
The romance felt genuine
Dylan was my favorite character, he seems fun. I'd hang out with him at a bar (even though I don't drink)
What I wasn't fond of:
I felt the ending was a bit of a bait and switch. My expectations were off, and I think it made it hard for me to feel it had a satisfying end. Some people may enjoy that an element they enjoy, however.
Overall I give it my stamp of approval.
Long live the goddess of flowers
What I loved:
The main character is a delightfully easy character to love and follow. I normally don't like first person, but I found B so likable that it was easy for me to get lost in the story.
The romance felt genuine
Dylan was my favorite character, he seems fun. I'd hang out with him at a bar (even though I don't drink)
What I wasn't fond of:
I felt the ending was a bit of a bait and switch. My expectations were off, and I think it made it hard for me to feel it had a satisfying end. Some people may enjoy that an element they enjoy, however.
Overall I give it my stamp of approval.
Long live the goddess of flowers
June 9, 2022
I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys reading stories based off myths and legends, and those who enjoy a strong and sympathetic female lead.
What I loved:
The main character is a delightfully easy character to love and follow. I normally don't like first person, but I found B so likable that it was easy for me to get lost in the story.
The romance felt genuine
Dylan was my favorite character, he seems fun. I'd hang out with him at a bar (even though I don't drink)
What I wasn't fond of:
I felt the ending was a bit of a bait and switch. My expectations were off, and I think it made it hard for me to feel it had a satisfying end. Some people may enjoy that an element they enjoy, however.
Overall I give it my stamp of approval.
Long live the goddess of flowers 🌹
What I loved:
The main character is a delightfully easy character to love and follow. I normally don't like first person, but I found B so likable that it was easy for me to get lost in the story.
The romance felt genuine
Dylan was my favorite character, he seems fun. I'd hang out with him at a bar (even though I don't drink)
What I wasn't fond of:
I felt the ending was a bit of a bait and switch. My expectations were off, and I think it made it hard for me to feel it had a satisfying end. Some people may enjoy that an element they enjoy, however.
Overall I give it my stamp of approval.
Long live the goddess of flowers 🌹
November 11, 2022
I had a hard time with the beginning of the book, I felt it was too slow and there was a lot of filler. I almost stopped readying but continued on and it got better as it went on. The characters are well done and thought out. The story is well done and I liked the use of magic. For me the best part of the book was the last 400 pages where it really picked up and got good. The last 400 pages is why I gave a 4 instead of a 3 star rating. Had the first 1000 pages have been fast paced like that it would for sure have been a 5 star book. I was given a free copy of this book from voracious readers and I am leaving my review willingly.
January 24, 2022
I had a great time reading this book, it was exactly what the description said and I really enjoyed going through this book. The cover was beautifully done and the writing is great. I can't wait to read more from the author.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 26, 2022
An old Welsh tale
The author has brought to life an old Welsh tale of Blodeuedd and Lleu and brought it back to life in this retelling. It was a highly enjoyable read and I would recommend it to you if you love fantasy and romance and especially if you like Y Mabinogion you will enjoy this.
The author has brought to life an old Welsh tale of Blodeuedd and Lleu and brought it back to life in this retelling. It was a highly enjoyable read and I would recommend it to you if you love fantasy and romance and especially if you like Y Mabinogion you will enjoy this.
July 28, 2022
A thoroughly enjoyable, wonderfully evocative tale of myth, gods and men. Rich characterizations and eloquent, lyrical language take you to a world not normally included in the realm of myth, but clearly extremely well researched. An intriguing plot that leaves the reader with the tantalizing thought of more to come. An excellent read for lovers of myth and fantasy. Would actually rate it 4.5.
March 30, 2022
An enchanting mythological retelling with a dash of spice. I only wish it was longer.
March 13, 2023
I loved the ending. I wonder if her ex-husband will return?
April 10, 2023
This had some slow and fast paced parts that balanced pretty well and kept me so enthralled!!
It is very description heavy, as in, the scenery is heavily described but that goes with Blodeuedd's character since she is a goddess of nature so just keep that in mind. At first I didn't know if I was going to like Blodeuedd but once she started to realize she was more than just the wife made for Lleu I really liked her! She knew not many liked her but that didn't stop her from standing her ground and protecting herself when she needed to. She fought a little in defence but I enjoyed it, including her use of plants to fight or more like defend. She also wasn't just like a earth elemental, she had knowledge of the earth and a deep connection to it and it's inhabitants, so I really want to know how that progresses as she's learns more about her powers. Which I'm hoping is seen in the next book!
Her companions were definitely rocky to start but once she got up to some mischief in response to someone aggression I really started to like them too. Especially Cynar. The people she gains as a surrogate family are very loyal and while they have some secrets it's not totally their fault but once the cats out the bag they still follow her and have no qualms about her status. I only wish I saw the girls fight a bit more but they didn't have too many times they could have because the enemies weren't normal and they only knew some self defense not weapon work.
Okay Lleu is a jerk, Gwydion is an a**hole, and hope they both get there's in the next book or at least in the end. They both did her so wrong and I'm kinda confused what Gwydion's motivation is for doing everything, like seriously, it seems like he's just a big a**hole because he wants to show dominance but I'm guessing there's something or he is just being a typical trickster god. Lleu needs time away from Gwydion but I feel like that's not gonna happen so he's just as rage inducing as Gwydion. Again hoping both get theirs in the end.
I really like the world and mythology of the book. I think I've found another mythos to latch onto and explore the gods of. And y'all know I like my mythology retellings 😂. I did skim a little when it came to the descriptions but i think was more because I was pressed for time than because I didn't like them. They really helped me picture everything happening and really made me feel immersed in the world. When I can I'm getting to the next book because it seems like a lot more fighting is going to happen in that one and I'm expecting Blodeuedd to be pissed!
It is very description heavy, as in, the scenery is heavily described but that goes with Blodeuedd's character since she is a goddess of nature so just keep that in mind. At first I didn't know if I was going to like Blodeuedd but once she started to realize she was more than just the wife made for Lleu I really liked her! She knew not many liked her but that didn't stop her from standing her ground and protecting herself when she needed to. She fought a little in defence but I enjoyed it, including her use of plants to fight or more like defend. She also wasn't just like a earth elemental, she had knowledge of the earth and a deep connection to it and it's inhabitants, so I really want to know how that progresses as she's learns more about her powers. Which I'm hoping is seen in the next book!
Her companions were definitely rocky to start but once she got up to some mischief in response to someone aggression I really started to like them too. Especially Cynar. The people she gains as a surrogate family are very loyal and while they have some secrets it's not totally their fault but once the cats out the bag they still follow her and have no qualms about her status. I only wish I saw the girls fight a bit more but they didn't have too many times they could have because the enemies weren't normal and they only knew some self defense not weapon work.
Okay Lleu is a jerk, Gwydion is an a**hole, and hope they both get there's in the next book or at least in the end. They both did her so wrong and I'm kinda confused what Gwydion's motivation is for doing everything, like seriously, it seems like he's just a big a**hole because he wants to show dominance but I'm guessing there's something or he is just being a typical trickster god. Lleu needs time away from Gwydion but I feel like that's not gonna happen so he's just as rage inducing as Gwydion. Again hoping both get theirs in the end.
I really like the world and mythology of the book. I think I've found another mythos to latch onto and explore the gods of. And y'all know I like my mythology retellings 😂. I did skim a little when it came to the descriptions but i think was more because I was pressed for time than because I didn't like them. They really helped me picture everything happening and really made me feel immersed in the world. When I can I'm getting to the next book because it seems like a lot more fighting is going to happen in that one and I'm expecting Blodeuedd to be pissed!
August 18, 2023
This is one of the most well written romance novels, and retellings, I have ever read.
The fourth branch of the Mabinogi is my absolute favourite, but it being a Christianised, patriarchal story, there's a lot to be desired. Blodeuedd/Blodeuwedd touched my heart, and I felt this deep connection with her that instantly compelled me to add her to my altar space.
This book elevated the myth to whole new levels for me, and did justice towards one of my all time favourite goddesses. She was written so well. I also wasn't expecting Lleu to be complex upon reading the blurb, but within the first few pages I could tell the author wasn't going to treat him like a completely unsympathetic, one-dimensional villain. I felt for him and his lover, though it didn't excuse his actions towards Blodeuedd. I have had a little crush on Gronw since reading the myth, but the way she characterised him bought that to whole new heights.
I wish more people knew about this trilogy and I'm going to recommend it to romance lovers, myth lovers and fantasy lovers alike.
The fourth branch of the Mabinogi is my absolute favourite, but it being a Christianised, patriarchal story, there's a lot to be desired. Blodeuedd/Blodeuwedd touched my heart, and I felt this deep connection with her that instantly compelled me to add her to my altar space.
This book elevated the myth to whole new levels for me, and did justice towards one of my all time favourite goddesses. She was written so well. I also wasn't expecting Lleu to be complex upon reading the blurb, but within the first few pages I could tell the author wasn't going to treat him like a completely unsympathetic, one-dimensional villain. I felt for him and his lover, though it didn't excuse his actions towards Blodeuedd. I have had a little crush on Gronw since reading the myth, but the way she characterised him bought that to whole new heights.
I wish more people knew about this trilogy and I'm going to recommend it to romance lovers, myth lovers and fantasy lovers alike.
April 11, 2023
Title:Flowerface
Author: Christiana Matthews
Rating: ☆☆☆☆
Matthews rewrote quite a lovely story, a retelling of the Welsh Mythology about the goddess of flowers, Blodeuedd and Lleu, the sun God. I've never heard of this story before reading this book but I was captivated by Blodeuedd (Flowerface) point of view as well as how beautiful the writing and descriptions were.
I know most of us women can relate to this story at some point in our lives because we've all been used and lied to by our boyfriends/husband's. It's like a punch to the gut when you find out you've been betrayed. Most of us, being human and all, can't help but want revenge or some sort of retribution. I definitely enjoyed this book and Blodeuedd'd point of view. It's nice to finally get a different side of the story. 🤍
Author: Christiana Matthews
Rating: ☆☆☆☆
Matthews rewrote quite a lovely story, a retelling of the Welsh Mythology about the goddess of flowers, Blodeuedd and Lleu, the sun God. I've never heard of this story before reading this book but I was captivated by Blodeuedd (Flowerface) point of view as well as how beautiful the writing and descriptions were.
I know most of us women can relate to this story at some point in our lives because we've all been used and lied to by our boyfriends/husband's. It's like a punch to the gut when you find out you've been betrayed. Most of us, being human and all, can't help but want revenge or some sort of retribution. I definitely enjoyed this book and Blodeuedd'd point of view. It's nice to finally get a different side of the story. 🤍
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