Crimson Bound

By: Rosamund Hodge

Narrated by: Elizabeth Knowelden

An exhilarating tale of darkness, love, and redemption inspired by the classic fairy tale Little Red Riding Hood and the extravagant court of Versailles, from the author of Cruel Beauty. A doomed warrior and the king's most notorious bastard must join forces to defeat a dark evil in this gorgeously intricate fantasy—perfect for fans of An Ember in the Ashes and A Court of Thorns and Roses.

When Rachelle was fifteen she was good—apprenticed to her aunt and in training to protect her village from dark magic. But she was also reckless—straying from the forest path in search of a way to free her world from the threat of eternal darkness. After an illicit meeting goes dreadfully wrong, Rachelle is forced to make a terrible choice that binds her to the very evil she had hoped to defeat.

Three years later, Rachelle has given her life to serving the realm, fighting deadly creatures in a vain effort to atone. When the king orders her to guard his son Armand—the man she hates most—Rachelle forces Armand to help her hunt for the legendary sword that might save their world. Together, they navigate the opulent world of the courtly elite, where beauty and power reign and no one can be trusted. And as the two become unexpected allies, they discover far-reaching conspiracies, hidden magic . . . and a love that may be their undoing. Within a palace built on unbelievable wealth and dangerous secrets, can Rachelle discover the truth and stop the fall of endless night?

So so

Story of good vs evil with a nasty devil and all along with many evil blood bound equals who do not share the heroines continued love of humanity. Will she save all? What do u think?

Entertaining

Good story, well written, good pace. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The world created was beautifully intricate and creative. The love relationship between the main character and the prince could have built more. It seemed too sudden. Overall would recommend.

Everything I wanted from a dark fairytale

Overall, this had everything I was looking for. Bits and pieces of LRRH, altered fantasy-French world building, a sprinkle of political pressure, bloody fight scenes, magic swords, moral hangups, love triangles, and twists! I especially love a book when I can't predict whats coming.

The only thing I didn't like was Rachelle, She beats a moral dead horse almost every time she opens her mouth and her self hatred only made me hate her even more. I didn't hate her enough to ruin the story. The plot is good, I just wish the main character had been more likable. I suppose its made up for with Erec and Armand being very likable in her place.

The best part is Knowelden's voice. She has such a silky voice and portrays the characters well. I don't think I would've picked this book out if it hadn't been her narrating.

Repetitive, yet still engaging

Rosamund Hodge is a pretty good story teller, her worlds are interesting, dark, and stimulating, but her characters all seem a bit too similar, whether in thought, deed, or dialogue. The worst part of her stories is the constant reminders she gives her readers of what is at stake, what the heroine is fighting for, what she must do, why she must do it and how. Several times during the story I felt like shouting, "Alright, yes, we get it! You've already made it abundantly clear she hates herself and feels guilty and that she must find a way to kill the devourer, you can give us something else now."

Aside from the annoying repetition, her stories ARE gripping and you really do want to see how it all turns out. I would read/listen to another of Rosamund Hodges stories in a heartbeat, but I do hope that in the next one she can find a way to clue the reader in without smacking them in the face with it every few paragraphs.

Amazing Narrating

The narration really pulled me into this one. I loved the pace and the narrator's accent, it really fit the story well and gave life to the characters! Definitely a favorite of mine!