Synopsis:
In exchange for protection, Emperor Amias de Marc has two requests of the people of a willing supply of blood sacrifices, and a wife…
Every hundred years, the vampire Emperor opens the gates to his Eternal Palace to select a human bride. In ‘The Picking’, unmarried maidens turning twenty in the winter are requested to attend, and, from them, the one to make the flowers bloom becomes his betrothed. Refusal means certain death.
Lamia Fontaine is a girl hell-bent on revenge. And her target is the Emperor. Lucky for her, she’s part of The Picking, and has an invitation to attend the Palace. Now, all she needs is a chance to get close enough to strike…
Review:
Retellings of Hades and Persephone are some of my favourites, but this was not. The only similarity to their story was the female main character being able to make flowers grow. I wanted to enjoy this, but it has joined the (ever-growing) pile of DNFs for 2024.
The writing is all over the place. Most of it is ‘this happened and then this happened’ and if I ever have to read the phrase ‘nipping at their ankles’, or some variation of that, again I will lose my mind. It is said at least five times over 40 pages.
Once I had decided to put this down, after just one sitting, I checked out some reviews and this book is weird. I’m talking doing it on your twin brother’s grave with the guy that killed him. Also a 1100 year old vampire, the same guy as the grave fondler, says the word ‘menses’ and that makes me feel sick. Apparently during this time of the month is the only time he can produce heirs with a woman–the reason why he need for heirs and a new wife every hundred years is never mentioned other than he wants company. Personally, that’s not a good enough reason to force a woman to be your wife.
I got almost halfway through Of Blood and Roses and pretty much nothing had happened. Lamia, our main character, apparently has a burning hatred for Amias (the vampire lord) but it’s hard to believe–everything feels very monotone and Amias gave me the creeps.
Just because this book wasn’t for me, doesn’t mean you won’t enjoy it. Personally, I just don’t have the time to commit to books I’m not enjoying.
Rating: DNF
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