I really enjoyed the character development in this book. The characters were strong and I liked that love interest was not the expected one. I know that my students who liked The Selection will really love the character dynamics and love triangle aspects of this book. The cliffhanger was also a fun twist at the end!

The blurb about the book had me dying to read it, But it was a slow progression and it took me awhile to get hooked. About halfway through, despite being slow and confusing - the book took a turn and felt more tangible - easier to follow and more enjoyable.

I absolutely loved this book I have not stopped thinking about since I finished. I loved the characters, the plot, and the setting 😍. My biggest complaint was that the pacing seemed a little off. It would pick up and feel like the action was starting and then just kind of fall off for a chapter or two. Overall it was a great book and I absolutely do still recommend it!!

My problems with The Cerise started in the opening chapters and only got worse from there. This was easily one of my worst reads of 2024 so far.

Right away, there's a huge emphasis on Khiara, our FMC, and her red hair—because in this world, red hair marks someone as a Cerise (a type of elemental witch). The monarchy has supposedly hunted down and wiped out all Cerise to extinction, yet Khiara’s (poorly disguised) red hair is revealed almost immediately… and no one really seems to care? Instead of raising alarms, people just compliment her on it. Even in the palace. Where the genocidal royals live.

The book also includes a poorly handled SA storyline. Khiara is a survivor, but it feels like the author forgets about this aspect of her character until it’s convenient for the plot. One glaring example: Khiara runs into her abuser years later, which (understandably) sends her into a dissociative panic attack. The guy she’s with (who, out of nowhere, becomes a love interest) decides the best way to “snap her out of it” is… to kiss her. And then has the audacity to say he’d never lay hands on a lady. Sir, you just did. Without her consent. While she was in distress. The inconsistencies in how her trauma is written are frustrating and, honestly, unsettling.

Then there’s her so-called “mission”—rescuing her best friend. The same best friend who drugged her to try and make her fall for him, relentlessly pursues her despite her clear lack of interest, and whose first major scene involves him leering at her in a way that reminds her of her attacker. Why exactly should I care about saving him? Khiara certainly doesn’t give us much reason to, beyond the fact that he’s her friend, but the book does nothing to make him redeemable.

Now, let’s talk about the sex scene. I have read some awkwardly written ones in my time, but this? This was painful. It was so bad I physically cringed while reading. And the events leading up to and following it weren’t much better, making an already weak plot even more unbearable.

As for romance, there’s a half-hearted love triangle, but none of the love interests are appealing enough to root for. There’s just no reason to care. If this wasn’t an ARC, I would have DNF’d it multiple times.

Final verdict? Skip this one. There are far better books out there with similar themes, but with stronger execution, more compelling characters, and significantly less secondhand embarrassment.

This book has a really intriguing vibe, with plenty of twists to keep you hooked. The atmosphere is super immersive, and the story takes some unexpected turns. It might not be for everyone, but it definitely leaves an impression!

I loved the concept and the world that this book introduces the reader to. Khiara is the FMC of this story and it’s very clear that she is going to be different and there will be a lot of growth needed for her character as well. I did like the mystery of the story and trying to piece together certain aspects of the story. I would say it was a bit difficult to follow at times, and I feel like we could have had a bit more world building to give more context, We get bits and pieces but I feel like it’s lacking a bit of information for this to be the first in a series. I also think that the relationship between the FMC and her love interest seemed a little too quick/instant and I would have loved to see that dynamic and complexity explored a bit more. Overall a pretty interesting story to follow,

The Cerise by Bailey Black is an action-packed, magical adventure that blends vengeance with unexpected alliances. The protagonist, a determined and powerful Cerise, has spent years hunting down the soldiers who killed her family. But when her mission goes awry, she’s forced to infiltrate a deadly competition—the Culling—in an attempt to rescue her partner from the Crown’s dungeons. What should have been a covert operation quickly turns into a fight for survival when the welcome ball at the royal castle spirals into chaos, and her family’s killer reappears. Black weaves a fast-paced narrative full of intrigue, magic, and shifting loyalties, creating a gripping story of revenge, survival, and unexpected twists. The Cerise is a thrilling read that keeps the stakes high and the suspense unrelenting.

A great story. The characters are all very interesting and well formed. It was a easy book to read and was well written.

This book started out amazing. The descriptions and world building really were great. The second half of the book I was more disappointed. I know it's a series and this is book one but there were SO MANY lose ends that happened from about half way through the book till the end and some where minor and I felt they would have been answered but weren't. SPOILER ALERT - here's one example. Jinx seemed to be really ill for part of the story, and at one point it said that her hand was mangled - but others seemed to not notice it - and it never explained why or how, another is when the Khiara keeps having scent flash backs between her two love interests - saying that the scent of each of them is familiar and takes her back to a time before her family was murdered - but she cannot recall why. This is an element of foreshadowing that just left the reader hanging. Why are there so many loose ends in this book?

I also did not like how the love interests were handled, there was Bash - the stunning prince who was a life saver in the beginning - and then without warning suddenly we were told she liked his guard who wanted nothing to do with her one minute and then everything to do with her the next. There was really no build up to either character or love interest - and it was sad to see such a good opportunity go to waste.

I would maybe recommend this book to teens or YA who are just getting into romantasy genre - but not to a seasoned reader. I hope the sequels are better.

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

A romantasy adventure you won't soon forget. And a warning - that ending is a killer! The story starts a little slow, but once you're deep into the world, you'll forget where you are and become completely wrapped up in the story. Khiara's got a lot of fire in her, and I'm not just referring to her magic. Although she's determined to get vengeance at any cost, fate has some curveballs coming her way. The world building is well done, and I hope we get to see more of it in book two. The pacing wasn't as smooth as I'd have liked, but the story is interesting. The characters are well-developed, and there are a few who will find their way into your heart. Overall, a great start to a new series.

On paper this is everything I like in a book but for some reason I just couldn’t connect with this.
I didn’t really like any of the characters and on a personal level prefer a spicier book.
I don’t feel a pull to read book 2 but this may just be my opinion.

I LOVED this book! Couldn’t put it down, a real easy read young adult romantasy. Great characters, plenty going on with a glorious slow burn.

I had a plan. Find the soldier who killed my family and make him pay. It should have been an easy feat. I’d done it over a dozen times, taking out each member of that regiment one by one, but the mission went sideways. It all started with the man in the woods. The one my webs of magic couldn’t sense even when he stood before me. Then my partner made a mistake, and now he’s lying in one of the Crown’s dungeons fighting for his life. I couldn’t leave him to die, but I couldn’t just walk into the castle either.

Or maybe I could.

With the help of some unexpected allies, I entered the Culling—a one-in-a-lifetime chance to become queen. I have no interest in winning the prince’s heart or the crown. My only goal is to get into the castle, find my friend, and get out before someone realizes I’m a Cerise.

But when the welcome ball turns from a grand event into a nightmarish dance of death, all eyes are on me. As if that’s not bad enough, the soldier, the one who took my family, he’s here.

This is what the first book, "The Cerise" by Bailey Black, is about. It is compared to "The Selection" by Kiera Cass or "From Blood and Ash" by Jennifer L. Armentrout. The romantasy includes all of my favorite tropes: forced proximity and he falls first. The story, plot and characters were great. It grabs you from the first page and you just can't stop reading. Once you start, you just have to read until you're finished. There are lots of twists and turns and you'll be wondering what happens next. Unfortunately, it ends with a mean cliffhanger, but the next part is coming out in November, don't worry.

A great book, ending in a cliffhanger, so I'm looking forward to the next book in the Kingdom of Lies series!

Thank you to the NetGalley and publisher for an ARC of The Cerise.

Its hasnt the book for me
Does not mean is a bad book
I like my books with a tons of spice
And if it has a full page of TW its the best for me
I will soon give this book another chance when its their time

Cerise=witch
I never saw her doing anything with her powers though. She just knew plants
She enters competition to find her friend but her friend dies before it. If I remember right.
Boring but a quick read

I’m absolutely captivated by the cover art of The Cerise by Baily Black—it's stunning and immediately grabs your attention. This romantasy, set in a world of magic, really took off once the characters and plot were fully developed. I became completely engrossed and couldn't put it down. I’m convinced that The Crown is up to something sinister, possibly harming its own people—definitely shady! I adored Khiara and Riot, while Bash, though a bit oblivious, hasn’t been bad so far. The buildup towards the end was incredible, leaving me eagerly anticipating the next book. The story offers a variety of engaging tropes that make it a must-read for fans of the genre.

While it wasn’t the worst book I’ve ever read (looking at you Cruel Prince), it wasn’t the best either. It literally ends in the most obnoxious way and I can’t find any news on book two.

I didn’t feel any attachment to anyone except for maybe Riot. Not a whole lot happens and I’m still not sure what the point is, but I might read book two if it ever happens just to figure it out lol.

Bash was fine, I guess. Although I don’t know who wouldn’t catch on that Bash is a nickname for Sebastian and he’s literally the prince. Or that the whole culling seems pointless. Still not sure who to trust in this one.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

I enjoyed the plot a lot. I loved the fast paced storyline. I do wish there was more world building though. Other than that, it was a solid 3 stars.