The story idea was great, but I didn't like where the story line progresses. I thought that Thorn was an interesting character, but I didn't really like the book.

Having read Splintered I was looking forward to reading Roseblood too. One of my favourite things about Howard’s books is that the text is not in black, which means I can read it comfortable without needing my overlay. However, this made it difficult for me to read on a basic kindle, I cannot waiit to reread it in physical form.

I found this book just an unpredictable as splintered, even thought I’m a Phantom Of The Opera fan. For me, that made it entirely worth the time it took me to read it.

I appreciated that rather than being a complete retelling, it was more of a modern continuation. Sounds confusing, but it makes complete sense when you read it.

This story is beautifully written. Rune is very relatable, whils Thirn was a perfect match for Rune and very likeable.

My only issue with this book is probably that is started kinda slow and took a little while for me to get into it.

I give it a 4 out of 5 stars.

This book with it's twists and turns with a Phantom of the Opera theme woven throughout had me excited for this read. At times, the book was a little different and creepy, yet others made me not able to put it down. For the most part I enjoyed this book, there were times it was a little lack-luster and did not keep my full attention. An enjoyable read with exciting premise!

DNF @ 6%

Oh man. I wanted to like this so much but it took me literally hours to read the first chapter and then I skimmed the second and I realized this was not the book for me. I'm only rating it so people can see my review because Goodreads is a b*tch like that where if you don't have a star rating, your review doesn't get filtered in with the rest, but I obviously cannot judge this book. I read two chapters. And wanted to tear my eyes out.

The first chapter was SO BORING. I think it was only 10 pages but it took me two hours to read it. I would read one sentence and then do something else on my phone and then agonize over going back to read another sentence. But I pushed through!!! Because I wanted to read this! And then I got to chapter two and it was like "let me vomit three quarters of the backstory into three paragraphs" and I was like "nah son" so after that I was like "hm should I continue" and I went to bed and woke up and was like "lol I'm not going to continue" and here we are.

I have seen other reviews say that this is REALLY slow to start and then picks up, but I have way too many other books (and good starting books) in my life to read crappy beginnings where it takes me longer to read a chapter than it does to read a whole book. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Rune Germain is in possession of a gift: a talent for opera that is unsurpassed by any other. In an attempt to help Rune overcome her stage fright and train her voice, her mother sends her to a French arts conservatory located in an opera house that is rumored to be connected to The Phantom of the Opera. It is there that Rune meets Thorn – an elusive young man who helps her through her musical transformation and also understands her in a way that no one else can. But Thorn has a secret, and it is this that will lead to the crucial decision he will be forced to make - Rune’s safety or the wrath of the phantom that has been like a father to him all these years.

If you’re anything like me and you find The Phantom of the Opera fascinating, I think that you’ll enjoy RoseBlood. It’s an odd book filled with strange coincidences and eerie details, but these seem sensible things considering the source material Howard drew on. It doesn’t mean I didn’t roll my eyes a time or two, particularly when details were a little too pointed or convenient, but it definitely didn’t hinder my reading experience. In fact, the weirdness was what kept me reading! No, what actually proved to be bothersome in the end were the characters. I just could not find it in me to really care about any of them, even though I could see the effort put into giving them unique personalities. Still, Howard deserves credit for writing a tale that perfectly captures the feel of The Phantom of the Opera while also being an oddly fascinating story that stands all on its own.

For die-hard fans of the original story. And then if they don't mind succubi (???)

Full Review & Giveaway posted at Among the Authors - https://amongtheauthors.com/2017/01/01/off-the-shelf-roseblood-review-giveaway/

When I was around seven years old, my parents took me to see a touring production of Phantom of the Opera. It might not be something you would expect a seven year old to enjoy, but I was captivated by it. I still remember the thrill of seeing the Phantom appear inside Christine’s mirror and the heart-stopping moment when the chandeleir crashes to the stage. My mother and I listened to the soundtrack (on cassette, no less, until the cd came out) any time we were in the car, and I can recall trying to mimic Christine on the high notes (unsuccessfully).

When I told my mother that I was reviewing a retelling of Phantom of the Opera, she was immediately taken aback. “Oh no, there’s nothing that can beat the original.” And I agree. There’s nothing better than the original story. BUT A.G. Howard doesn’t try to retell the original story. She plays off the characters and what might have happened if Erik’s story had continued. There’s no doubt that A.G. Howard has thoroughly researched the story and the lines that blur between fact and fiction of its history, and in turn she crafts a mysterious tale of love, obsession, and fate that answers the question – what would happen if the Phantom’s story continued into the modern day?

Things I Liked:

I adored A. G. Howard’s Splintered series, an Alice in Wonderland retelling. She always has a unique perspective, and she writes in such a way that she makes the story her own. The beautiful, gothic settings that she builds in RoseBlood are totally immersive and almost as haunting as the characters themselves.

Rune and Thorn are both tortured souls that find each other in a most unique twist of fate. There are so many complexities behind their characters that will draw you in, and I found myself really enjoying the romantic elements in their story. The story was a bit slow to start, but once these two characters found each other, I couldn’t put the book down. Their story will seduce you, and it’s entrancing to watch as all of the layers finally come together.

There are fantasy/paranormal elements to this story that I can’t reveal to you, but I have to say that these are the factors that I believe really set this story apart. At first, I was a little unsure that I would enjoy the story going this route, but I can honestly say it brought in an entirely new perspective on the history of the Phantom.

Things I Didn’t Like:

Like I said, the story is a bit slow to start. I found myself more than a little confused at what exactly would happen to Rune when she would sing and about what secrets she was trying to hide from. It takes some time before you start to see the bigger picture, but I think the slow unveiling helps to build the story. I would have liked a little faster pacing at the beginning, but I also get that Rune had to get established at her new school and we had other characters we needed to meet to make this story work.

Overall, there wasn’t much that I disliked about this book. I still have some reservations about the ending, particularly with what becomes of Erik and his relationship with Thorn. Things are almost too neat and tidy in that regard; however, when it comes to the ending for Thorn and Rune, neat and tidy is exactly what I was wanting and it was delivered. The Phantom, while I would consider him a main character in the story, isn’t seen very much, and I found myself wishing for more of that. There’s a lot of his history, but I’d have liked a little bigger glimpse at the modern Phantom.

Overall Rating:

4/5 I adore the original story of the Phantom of the Opera, but this book is really stunning in its own regard. The history is so entwined in this story that it truly feels like an extension of the original. You can feel feel the music coming from within the pages, and the spellbinding romance will seduce you till the final page. A. G. Howard can truly WRITE – and I highly recommend that you check out not only RoseBlood, but her other books as well!