Bloodguard by Cecy Robson
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Web ID: 20312312Great and Unexpected!
I have been wanting to read this book for a while and finally bought it. And wow! At first it slowly built up the story, then boom! Totally unexpected twist in the story. The suspense and action went together beautifully! I finished this book quickly because I could not put it down. I recommend this book, especially if you like Gladiators!
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Truly incredible
This book was an incredible read, I’m not for romance but this book was one I could not put down. It has incredible characters both main and side. It’s a book that keeps getting better as you flip through the pages. It is not a slow burn rather hooks you from the very start and does not let up. Highly recommend if you like fantasy, action or romance!
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Can’t spot reading it!
I got this book for Christmas and I have nearly finished it. bloodgaurd keeps me engaged. I have hardly been able to put it down. I can’t wait for the second book to be published on June 6th
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Overall 4 Star Read
Overall Rating: 4 stars Storyline: 5/5 Pace: 4/5 Writing: 4/5 Characters: 3/5 The storyline from this book was amazing; it felt so fresh, different, and exciting. I love that the author didn't shy away from the gore and the battles and ingenuity. She really leaned in to her inner Soro when writing the scenes and I was here for it. The political machinations were also something I loved in this book; the corruption, the intrigue, and that no one was honestly what they seemed - it really spoke to what I love about fantasy novels. The pacing was really solid for me; there were some moments that felt slow - but I feel like that's to be expected when you're creating such a large story with plot lines - it can't be climax after climax. You need some quiet. Where this story lost me a little, was the connection I personally felt to the characters. Do not get me wrong - Cecy can write some really good tragedy and I was near tears a few times in the book. But for me to fall head over heels in love with a book, there's a level of connection to the characters that I search for, and I didn't quiet get there with this book - that doesn't mean someone else won't connect with them, because they are written so well - it just didn't click for my emotional brain. Definitely give this book a read!
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What a ride
I was not expecting the rush of emotions and the roller coaster this book took me on. I'll admit I was expecting a lot of fighting to the death and crazy trials due to the gladiator references, but what I wasn't expecting was the amount of emotional depth, character development, world building, found family, and utter villainy that Bloodguard brought. Leith is a gladiator by choice trying to earn a better life for his family by completing enough trials to become a Bloodguard (the top tier of gladiators who are given noble titles and riches). He has a moral compass even though he knows he must do what he needs to survive and support his family. Maeve is a princess trying to find the right person to marry in order to gain her crown and become the queen that her people desperately need after the death of her grandmother years ago. She sees something in Leith and chooses to sponsor him. The story moved from there with so many twists and turns it was difficult to put down because I needed to know what would happen next. I loved that Leith found a home with Maeve and her extended family even though he wasn't finished and was still fighting to become a Bloodguard. Giselle is one of my favorite characters and I would love to know more about her and her story (hopefully in one of the next books from this series). I won't get into all of the twists and turns, but will say that the villain in this book is one of the most awful I have read in a long time. Truly unredeemable in my eyes. By the time Bloodguard came to a close, I had laughed, cried, held my breath, basically experienced all the emotions. The ending was absolutely brilliant and one of the best last sentences I have read in a book! Can't wait to read more from this world.
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Gladiators, who know how much I'd enjoy this.
I remember reading the blurb for this one and thinking, hum, gladiators, this could be interesting, and oh, was it interesting. There were parts of this book I loved and parts that fascinated me, others just baffled me but it worked (sharks and eels iykyk) and I loved it. Maeve is one of those characters that makes me giggle one moment and say oh dear lord the next and it's amazing. Leith, besides being this intense gladiator, is a character who cares about his family and his friends and about righting wrongs in a world that is full of them. Together, they're electric and unstoppable; reading this story is one twist after another, filled with so much depth and world-building that I felt like I was there at times. I may just need to add books with Gladiators to my list of favorite genres after reading this book. Thank you to Entangled Publishing and NetGalley for providing a copy of this e-book; I have voluntarily read and reviewed it, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
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Bloodguard
Bloodguard by Cecy Robson was to use a word from the cover Bloody Unforgettable. So much excitement and chaos and twists galore. This book had many MOUTH DROPPING HEART POUNDING SCENES. And that last scene was so brilliant it was so vivid and beautiful and wife did i read lol.
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Spectacular! A Must Read for any Romantacy reader
Bloodguard has everything: the excitement of gladiator battles mixed with magic users, mythical creatures, a fight for the throne and of course, a beautiful romance. A Must Read for any Romantacy reader! Leith of Grey went to the City of Arrow to fight in the arena to earn money to send home to his mother and little sisters. He also fights for the chance to become Bloodguard. Once upon a time, the Bloodguard were the elite generals of the Arrow army, it now referred to a gladiator who survives 100 battles and has not only won their freedom and a title of royalty and great wealth. When we begin this story, Leith has survived 97 battles and has already been given his first of four tattoos which will eventually be his ticket to providing his struggling family with a life of leisure and plenty. Everything he does has been for them. But there have been so few who have lasted long enough to be given the title of Bloodguard and he knows that the next few battles will be the hardest to survive. Maeve of Iamond is next in line for the throne. Her grandmother is dead, supposedly killed by her Papa but Maeve will never believe that. With her father arrested for her grandmother's murder, Maeve needs only to marry before her 21st birthday to claim her birthright. But as the days tick by towards her birthday, Maeve if finding it harder and harder to find an acceptable royal candidate. Her uncle has been holding the title of High Lord since her grandmother's death and it seems that Vitor has closed the borders to the City, keeping out any potential grooms. Vitor wants Maeve to choose his son, the self-titled General, Soro, who unfortunately is a sadistic SOB who wants to go to war with...well, everyone to show the greatness of Arrow. Marrying Soro would be the worst thing to happen to Arrow, and honestly, to Maeve herself as she suspects that Vitor and Soro would subjugate her and rule in her stead, doing nothing for the betterment of her people. So Maeve comes up with her own plan when she sees Leith fighting in the arena. If she can help him become the Bloodguard, he will be titled royalty and she can marry him in order to take her throne. It's a good plan, Maeve just has to make sure Leith lives to fulfill it. There is so much to love about this story. As far as excitement, we have Leith and the other gladiators battling to the death in the arena, and it is not just gladiator against gladiator. Like the Romans threw in lions, here we have mythical creatures. Leith might be human in this story, but after 97 wins, he knows how to battle an opponent, be they elves, trolls, dwarves or mages, but what happens when you are suddenly looking at a dragon across the sand? We also have a less bloody battle for the throne. While there might be a less blood, there is ultimately more strategy needed. Once Maeve makes her decision to marry Leith, she needs to balance on a knife's edge keeping Vitor and Soro believing they have outmaneuvered her or else, Soro, who is in charge of the games, will make sure that Leith doesn't survive to become Bloodguard. What I liked best about Maeve is that she doesn't just take care of her people from afar. Maeve is an elf, which means she heals quickly, yet she has made it her mission to learn the art of healing with magical herbs. She goes into the poorer sections of her city and heals her people as well as the people immigrating into the city from the even poorer or ravaged areas around the city. This is important as she uses that magic to heal Leith. Because Maeve and her family "sponsors" Leith, Maeve takes him home between the fights and helps him heal from his wounds. This little nugget give our author carte blanche to make Leith's battles even bloodier and more insane, as once his body is ravaged, Maeve can help him heal up before the next fight. One of my favorite scenes in the book involves Maeve healing some particularly nasty wounds and being very relatable in the icky-ness of it all. That has to be a rule, right? Thou shall not hurl on thy patient? Cecy Robson has a gift for making even the most trivial character lovable. Of course, Maeve and Leith's plan on a mutually beneficial marriage turns to true affection and eventually love, making Bloodguard a Must Read story for any Romantacy lover.
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