MY POST for this tour is a review. Enjoy reading my thoughts and leave me a comment to share yours!
NOTE: I received the book from the author, as a part of a blog tour promotion.
The moment I laid eyes on this cover, I just wanted to read BLOOD CROWN. Somehow it reminded me of books that were too good to put down.
I was a little disappointed that I didn't get the 100% satisfaction from reading BLOOD CROWN. I guess I had too high expectations and not having them met just didn't work out for me.
Don't get me wrong, the book is a good read, fast paced, packed with action, cute romance and intrigue. But for some reason I couldn't enjoy it as much as anticipated.
Also, there were questions that were never answered, and I felt irritated by it. I'm not going to say what exactly those questions were, because it'll spoil the book, but it did annoy me a little.
Writing style:
I think this is where the problem was. I didn't feel comfortable with the writing style and I can't pinpoint exactly why. What I do know that I was bothered that some scenes, where anticipation should've been built up to a climax, were wasted on descriptions that could've been postponed or cut out altogether. I wasn't exactly keen to know what each character was wearing at any given time. But I did want to have tension working in my mind.
Story line:
I am not such a great lover of series. In fact I prefer standalone books. Yet, BLOOD CROWN cried with the need to be a trilogy. Why? Everything was packed into such a short time, it felt unrealistic and impossible. I did like the story line - it had good reasoning behind it - but the shortness of it made me think that it was just not enough.
After all we're talking about humans defeating a super advanced android population. It should've taken a bit longer than a week, don't you think?
Themes:
- There's always hope.
- Humans are always meant to win.
- Sometimes, androids can love.
- Prophesies always come to pass.
- Love lasts forever.
Characters:
Archibald was the Servant android to the Royal Family of the West. He was the person who raised the little princess, Serantha, until her 10th year of age. He was supposed to teach her everything she should know about the world, about herself, about her future as a queen, wife and mother. But the Mind (a group of Elite androids) had different plans. Yet, even in their hands, Archibald still remains loyal to his little charge. He never abandons her, always protects her and is ever ready to sacrifice himself for her well-being.
Nicolai is the prince of the East. He's got his heart in the right place. He knows what the Mind is capable of, and he wants to protect the human race from the android's plans of destruction. Unfortunately, his father doesn't share his opinions, so Nicolai is banished/leaves his kingdom and joins the rebel force.
Now, let me tell you, I liked Nicolai's character. He was bold and brave and didn't hesitate to help those who needed rescuing. Sometimes he was even rash and stupid, acting without really thinking, but he always did it for the best of the human race.
Serantha always described him as proud and serious and scowling. I never really saw him like that, so I'm sort of confused. Sera's supposed to know this guy because of their bond and stuff. But it seems that she has no idea who Nicolai really is as a person.
Serantha is the little princess, Archibald's charge. She went missing after her parents' murder and was assumed dead. Thus, no one hoped that the prophesy of the Blood Crown would ever be fulfilled. Yet, Sera lived. A lowly life, full of scorn, brutality, distrust and no hope. But it was life nonetheless. I guess she was brave, since she always stood up to the guards and protected her roommates from assaults and such.
Now she's 19 years old. She's hated by the humans around her, and the guards just want a piece of her because she's different. But no one knows who she is. She doesn't either.
When she realizes she's a ruler of an Empire, I think it's too much for her and she makes a bunch of stupid crazy decisions. I'm not sure she knows how to be wise or how to analyze events and consequences. It's weird that she should need technology help to do it too. It sort of feels like ordinary people aren't able to make wise decisions, which is untrue.
Galen was the evil Elite android who wanted to destroy mankind and rule the Universe. I understand his reasoning. He's selfish and degraded and has no honor. I'm not sure I know how he got there, since he's, you know, artificial intelligence, and could've been controlled, mind-wiped etc. etc.
He wasn't a good villain, to be honest. Sure, he had a bunch of people killed, ships destroyed, and so on, but he lacked in some aspects.
In conclusion, BLOOD CROWN was an interesting read with a lot of potential. It was crammed in a single volume, but I think it would've been done better as at least a duology.
My rating is:
BOOK DETAILS:
Title: BLOOD CROWN
Author: Ali Cross
Publication date: February 28th, 2014
Genres: New Adult Science Fiction
Androids have claimed power over what remains of the human race. They rule without remorse. They are the Mind and humans exist only to serve them.
But it wasn't always so.
Before the android uprising, select droids, called Servants, were pivotal in engineering a new human race with nanotechnology enhanced DNA. The Blood Crown theorum was to be humanity's crowning glory and the key to their survival in deep space.
But Serantha, Daughter of the West, was the last female to receive Gifts from her Servant and when the Mind mutinied, she was hidden away, and presumed dead.
Without Serantha there is no hope of the Blood Crown being realized so Nicolai, Son of the East, abandons his crown to join the rebel forces. He might not provide the future for his people he had once dreamed of, but he will not go down without a fight.
When Nicolai discovers Sera among a small compliment of kitchen staff, everything changes--but Sera's Gifts were never completed and she is ill-equipped to face a legion of androids determined to wipe her, and every other human, out of existence.
Their only hope is the Blood Crown--but even if Serantha and Nicolai can realize their potential it may be too late to save mankind.
Buy links:
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Ali Cross is the
sensei of Novel Ninjutsu where she holds a black belt in awesome. She
lives in Utah with her kickin' husband, two sparring sons, one ninja
cat, one sumo dog and four zen turtles.
Ali is the
award-winning author of young and new adult fiction and moonlights as
Alex Cross when she can write wild middle grade adventures set in the
faraway places of her imagination.
Twitter:
http://www.twitter.com/ali_cross
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/authoralicross
Blog:
http://www.alicross.com
Book on
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19241969-blood-crown
Author on
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5188441.Ali_Cross
Tumblr/Pinterest/Etc:
http://desolationdiaries.tumblr.com/
Indelibles (indie
authors): http://indeliblewriters.blogspot.com/
Emblazoners
(middle grade authors): http://emblazoners.com/
Dauntless
(authors): http://dauntlessauthors.blogspot.com/
GIVEAWAYS:
-Prize: Lee Strauss's PERCEPTION (signed paperback)
a Rafflecopter giveaway
-Prize: DVD's, ebooks, BLOOD CROWN T-shirt, BLOOD CROWN signed paperback
a Rafflecopter giveaway
No comments:
Post a Comment
I absolutely LOVE comments!!! So, if you stop by my blog, please leave me something nice :)
NOTE: I'm sorry for putting the CAPTCHA back up. I know it can be annoying, but I've gotten so many spam comments in the past week, it's not even funny.