To Bleed a Crystal Bloom

Crystal Bloom, Book 1

By: Sarah A. Parker

Narrated by: Chelsea Stephens, Troy Duran

"What a pretty flower to keep locked in a big, rocky tower."

Nineteen years ago, I was plucked from the heart of a bloody massacre that spared nobody else.

Small. Fragile. An enigma.

Now ward to a powerful High Master who knows too much and says too little, I lead a simple life, never straying from the confines of an imaginary line I've drawn around the castle grounds.

Stay within. Never leave.

Out there, the monsters lurk. Inside, I'm safe...though at a cost far greater than the blood I drip into a goblet daily. Toxic, unreciprocated love for a man who's utterly unavailable.

My savior. My protector.

My almost executioner.

I can't help but be enamored with the arcane man who holds the power to pull my roots from the ground. When voracious beasts spill across the land and threaten to fray the fabric of my tailored existence, the petals of reality will peel back to reveal an ugly truth. But in a castle puddled with secrets, none are greater than the one I've kept from myself.

No tower is tall enough to protect me from the horror that tore my life to shreds.

To Bleed a Crystal Bloom is a dark Rapunzel reimagining full of immersive imagery and breathtaking angst.

©2022 Sarah A. Parker (P)2022 Podium Audio

I’m hooked!

Loved it! Beautifully written and narrated! Can’t wait for the 2nd book to come out!

Great audiobook for a great story

I absolutely fell in love with this book before the audiobook. I don't normally listen to audiobooks, but figured I would give this a go since I can't get enough of Bloom. Definitely worth the purchase. I love Rhordyn’s narration. Definitely recommend!

Not what I expected

This story could have been so good. I like the idea behind it but I couldn't connect to the MC although I wanted to. She spends the whole time trying to get Rors notice and when she finally gets some proof of his true feelings she runs away! She makes the worst (and dumbest) decisions and choices. Maybe I built this story up in my head but i have to say, I wish I hadn't purchased this one. Hopefully the second one is better but I don't think I'll find out.

What a surprise

This book really kept me thinking and I had know idea where the plot would go next. If you like acatar, from blood and ash, or serpent and the wings of the night you will most likely enjoy this one.

Very confusing. I tried

I did my best to follow along. I re-listened to multiple chapters trying to find where I lost my way. Turns out it was the writing. Jumps all over the place, not entirely sure what the actual plot was. Or even what she “is”. A witch? A wolf? Never figured it out.

Wasn’t all bad. The parts that were not jumping from place to place flowed well and incredibly detailed. Although if I have to hear her say “I’m going to die” one more time, I would have given up.

A writers job is to give us feeling forwards a character. She did that for sure. But it was annoyance. Main character was annoying, whinny, spoiled and had Stockholm syndrome. Toxic relationship and she didn’t really grow out of it.