I wasn't expecting to like this as much as I did and I'm looking forward to reading more. I need to know more about the daughters of legend and see more of the culling process.

DNFing at 35% I picked this up because of the cover but it was a little too choppy for me to get through. It took until about 30% for the culling to really be mentioned and I was very confused to what they were talking about. I stopped where I did because of how Khiara talks to Jessup. It seems pretty unrealistic that Jessup would let Khiara tell him to shut his mouth when he is physically abusing his wife in public. I did like the idea of the book though, just wish it was executed a little better!

“blood was the key to it all. it cursed, and it cured, but not without cost.”

OML, bailey black, that cliffhanger?! 😨 seriously criminal! gonna be stressing about my babies till november. but, like, i can't wait! 🤭

and, guys, EVERYONE needs to read this book RN! it's seriously awesome, loved it so much. just a tiny issue, but it's almost close to perfection. the world-building, the plot, and OML, THE CHARACTERS 🥹. such a ride, and getting that ARC approval made my week. bailey, you rocked my world with this book, even though you also shattered it with that cliffhanger! 😵‍💫

➛ tropes:
⤷ a witch in a world where magic is illegal
⤷ a rescue mission
⤷ a touch of enemies to lovers
⤷ a revenge mission
⤷ he falls first she falls harder
⤷ 2 love interests (not a reverse harem nor a love triangle)
— genre’s: fantasy, romance

➛ plot summary:
so, there's this girl khiara, right? she's on a mission to save her friend, ezra, who's stuck in the kingdom dungeons fighting for his life. she can't just let him die, but walking into the castle? risky move 😬. but, guess what? with some unexpected allies, she dives into the culling - this one-time shot at becoming queen. khiara's not into winning the prince heart or the crown; she just wants to storm the castle, find her friend, and bounce before they figure out she's a cerise.

sounds cool on paper, huh? but when the welcome ball on the first night turns into a messed-up dance of death, everyone's eyes are on khiara. and as if that's not wild enough, the soldier who killed her whole family back then is also there. yeah, khiara's in for a crazy ride 😭

➛ the writing:
okay, so that little issue i mentioned? yeah, the start of this book was a bit of a drag 🥱. seriously, it felt like forever to get into it, and i almost gave up, but thank the stars i didn't because i would've missed out on this masterpiece. for me, things started getting good around 37%, and from there, it was just up, up, up 😍. loved every second, it became a total page-turner. i was hooked, couldn't do anything else but read to find out what happens.

around 60%, i was loving this book so much that i didn't want it to end 😣. had to force myself to drop it for like 8 hours before i was back to clinging desperately to it. yeah, i'm seriously attached. the writing is cool – it's a fantasy, but not all fancy and complicated. easy to read, kinda contemporary vibe, and i'm all about it. plus, the second half's pacing was spot-on, had me on edge till the end. super awesome! 😋

꒰🕸️ ⌗ khiara:
⤷ little bird / princess
SPITFIRE! 🔥 i'm telling you, i'm lowkey obsessed with this girl 😫. i'm all about those strong, badass female main characters, and khiara is owning that title. her no-nonsense attitude is off the charts, seriously remarkable. even with her whole family death, she's standing strong, doing her thing. she's independent as heck, fights her battles solo, but hey, if someone decent comes along, she won’t say no 🫣

and her sass? legendary. khiara's comebacks to the mean girls in the culling? priceless 😂. she demands respect, and you better believe she gets it. overall, she's on a mission for revenge and justice for her family and all the cerise’s. if you're into fierce female leads, khiara's your girl. i'm legit in love with her, and bonus, she kinda reminds me of alizeh from this woven kingdom. anyway, did i mention i love her? like, a lot 🤭💘

꒰👑 ⌗ bash:
he's legit charming, like giving off major jacks vibes from once upon a broken heart. so witty, it's hilarious, feisty, and sweet all rolled into one. i'm loving how he instantly clicked with khiara and has been glued to her side ever since 🥹. she's got him wrapped around her finger, and it's just adorable how into her he is. he's like a super welcome highlight to the story, seriously awesome, no lie. can't wait to see what he's up to in the next book, especially after that ending 👀

꒰🗡️ ⌗ riot:
OML, let's finally talk about riot because HOLY MOLY, #teamriot all the way! 😍 this guy is a whole mood. he's like hazan from this woven kingdom, but cranked up to a hundred in the sexiness department. riot is the bomb, seriously. he's this perfect mix of sweet and hot, protective, witty, and sassy – just like khiara. and get this, he COOKS for her. like, cook for me, and i'm head over heels! 😫 plus, he'd probably kill anyone who even glances at khiara. total gentleman move – he gives her his coat so she won't freeze, like, all the time! i'm just in love, major swoon vibes! 🥹

oh, and did i mention jealous riot? hell yeah! he's like a sulking baby when he's jealous, and it's freaking adorable. like, let me kiss that frown off your face! 🤭 and his mouth? unreal. wink wink 🤪. when he talks, i'm on the floor every time. the things he says about khiara, to her – it's all too much. i just NEED riot to be endgame, you feel me? 😣

꒰🕊️ ⌗ khiara and bash:
so, these two haven't hit the relationship gas pedal like khiara and riot, but they're chill and comfy together. their interactions? super cute. right now, though (early days, you know?), they seem more like tight pals than anything romantic. but hey, who knows? things might spice up in the next book. for now, it's all cozy and platonic vibes. 🤷🏾‍♀️

꒰❤️‍🔥 ⌗ khiara and riot:
if these two ain't endgame, i swear i’m gonna riot, 'cause OML, they're just perfect for each other, and i'm dying to see more of them 😭. the chemistry is off the charts, and the tension? i can't even! and that spicy scene? hold up, i did not see that coming – jaw on the floor moment, for real 😳. these two might just be the death of me, but i want them together, crazy in love, forever and ever 😋. they're adorable, perfect, match made in heaven – i'm all heart eyes for them. yeah, my review might be a bit biased, but can you blame me? these two are the real deal, and i can't help but gush about it. 😍🔥

➛ overall.
"the cerise" is a magical, mind-blowing adventure. the twists, the characters, the plot – it grabs you and won't let go 🤭. it's out everywhere, so seriously, grab it. if you loved “the selection” and “from blood and ash,” this is your jam. also, if you vibed with “once upon a broken heart” and “this woven kingdom,” trust me, you'll be screaming about this one too!

P.S. november 5th, come faster! 😫

”thank you netgalley, booksgosocial, and the author for sending me a copy of this e-arc. opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.”

I wasn’t expecting to like this as much as I did, because books that are compared to “ The Selection” have mostly disappointed me over the years and never come up to my expectations. But boy, did this book exceed every one! I loved the vibes throughout the entire thing and read it all in one sitting which I rarely do anymore.
Our main character is Khiara and she is a Cerise, someone with magical powers, and typically red hair. Her family was killed, and she's made it her life's mission to get revenge and to do so she has to enter the Culling to potentially become the next queen. I loved Khiara, she's a super strong female character and a total badass and her character development was super good.
We seem to have 2 love interests, Bash the prince and Riot his soldier and honestly I won’t be upset if she ends up with one or the other. I enjoy both but the book doesn’t seem to be a why choose so I’m curious on who she’ll end up with. ( Please be Riot just bc ) . She has good chemistry with both and I’m excited to find out who it is in the next book.
The world building in this story is also extremely good and I found myself loving every second of it. The only downside to this book in its entirety was the cliffhanger at the end. Like I don’t think I’ll be able to survive that long without knowing what's happening next!
Thank you to Netgalley and BooksGoSocial for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

This was a really good book. Good magic system and decent world-building with a likeable main character.

However, I have a lot of unanswered questions and it ends on a cliffhanger. The plot is a good, but I have more questions than answers from the first book. I hope the second book ties some of this together.

3.75 stars!!

If you loved the Selection series, if you love cool powerful witchy magic, if you like the FMC being called nicknames (emphasis on nicknameS!!), if you like your fantasy with a little intrigue of "what on earth is happening here," then the Cerise is for you!

Khiara is at risk of being murdered- because she's a redhead. No, not because the king just really hates gingers, but because red hair in this world typically signals a person with magical powers, and that is something that will not do! Through a wild series of events that involve some light ransom of her best friend, Khiara enters the Culling, a Selection-style event held at the palace where the prince is meant to pick his future bride from 12 (in this case 13! what a good witchy number!) eligible bachelorettes. With some fun twists, and a love triangle that's not quite a love triangle, Khiara finds herself torn between the prince (who she had met before, and feels extra familiar to her for unknown reasons) and the head of his guard (who seemingly hates her, but is it a cover for something?).

This book was a fun addition into the romantasy genre, and that CLIFFHANGER left me waiting excitedly for book 2 so I can check some of my theories when trying to understand what just happened!!

Thank you so much to Bailey Black and NetGalley for a chance to read this in exchange for an honest review! The Cerise is out now!

"Cerise" by Bailey Black introduces a trio that steals the spotlight – Khiara, Bash, and Riot. These characters bring a dynamic energy that elevates the narrative. Khiara, with her unapologetic sass and charisma, adds a layer of complexity to the story. Her character is a refreshing departure from conventional archetypes.

Bash, the charming counterpart, brings a magnetic presence to the ensemble. His interactions with Khiara are a highlight, injecting humor and warmth into the plot. Their chemistry contributes to the novel's engaging enemies-to-lovers dynamic.

Riot, the wild card, introduces an unpredictable element that keeps the reader on their toes. The contrast between Riot's impulsiveness and the calculated nature of the others creates a fascinating dynamic. The interactions within this trio form a captivating subplot, adding depth to the overall narrative.

While the focus on Khiara, Bash, and Riot enhances the book's appeal, certain pacing issues and predictable plot twists prevent it from reaching its full potential. Nevertheless, their presence contributes significantly to the charm of "Cerise," earning it a solid 3.5 stars. Fans of character-driven narratives and intricate relationships will find this trio's story arc a compelling aspect of the book.