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To Bleed a Crystal Bloom

By: Sarah A. Parker
Narrated by: Chelsea Stephens, Troy Duran
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Publisher's Summary

"What a pretty flower to keep locked in a big, rocky tower."

Nineteen years ago, I was plucked from the heart of a bloody massacre that spared nobody else.

Small. Fragile. An enigma.

Now ward to a powerful High Master who knows too much and says too little, I lead a simple life, never straying from the confines of an imaginary line I've drawn around the castle grounds.

Stay within. Never leave.

Out there, the monsters lurk. Inside, I'm safe...though at a cost far greater than the blood I drip into a goblet daily. Toxic, unreciprocated love for a man who's utterly unavailable.

My savior. My protector.

My almost executioner.

I can't help but be enamored with the arcane man who holds the power to pull my roots from the ground. When voracious beasts spill across the land and threaten to fray the fabric of my tailored existence, the petals of reality will peel back to reveal an ugly truth. But in a castle puddled with secrets, none are greater than the one I've kept from myself.

No tower is tall enough to protect me from the horror that tore my life to shreds.

To Bleed a Crystal Bloom is a dark Rapunzel reimagining full of immersive imagery and breathtaking angst.

©2022 Sarah A. Parker (P)2022 Podium Audio

What listeners say about To Bleed a Crystal Bloom

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

dark romance fantacy

I think I would have been hooked on this story if the main female character isn't in love with a father figure who saved her at 2yrs old. it's just awkward and I couldn't get past that relationship oddity especially in the spicy scenes.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Has potential but falls flat

There is so much waffle in this book that it's hard to pay attention to the story - it has potential but there's just so much internal monologue that's not really character or world building that could have been edited out. I found the romanced pair cringy and toxic, though I believe this is what the author is going for. The MC is very immature and doesn't really have much growth, every decision she makes is out of spite and thus doesn't lend to much character development. I hope that this is all a set up for her to see the outside world, grow up a lot and face the reality that the man she loves is abusive and that she can choose her own path. I doubt this is where the author is going with this but tbh they set up way more interesting relationships with side characters so the potential is there for this story to blossom into something that explores coming of age after being sheltered and groomed. Lots of mystery has been set up and could lend to good pay-off but this book didn't really give enough for me to be excited for more. Would be interested to see how this author grows because they have great potential with the way they world build but they just aren't quite there with making it as engaging as it could be. Narration was fine but was boring at times but I believe this was more related to the material than the performances.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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To Bleed a Crystal Bloom

While the book moved at a glacial pace, the story and characters kept me going back for more. It finished strong, and I look forward to continuing the story in book 2.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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Not what I expected!

I really enjoyed this story and the audio performances from Chelsea and Troy! I was so captivated by Laith and how as a young maturing woman takes steps into independence from being sheltered. Over coming a lot of her fears and making decisions on her own was huge, and the cliffhanger of more secrets I can’t wait to see what book two has in-stored! I wonder if this Guardian to lovers will happen between them … will Royden finally open his harden heart to laith? What are the motives of Kane? Political or purely interested in laith … Thank you Sarah for this dark intriguing and amazing story.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

A sorry tale

There is little reward in listening to a tale of abuse. Not sure about this book nor where the author is going with the plot. If the second book is much the same I would give it a miss.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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Dark High Fantasy

The performance of the narrators was magnificent!

4.5 ⭐️

This book just got better and better and better as it went on.
By the end, I was left with far more questions than answers but in the best way possible. I NEED to move on to book 2!

The writing of this is beautiful, it is a very high fantasy with heavy world building. The exploration of the FMC and the effects of PTSD was beautifully executed.

The plot twists whilst you may have seen them coming, they were so well fleshed out that they didn’t feel predictable.

It was overall a wonderful book!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Intriguing - Great book to listen to

Can you say twist, and then twist some more.
The world build was amazing, the character building was interesting, I got lost about the 70-80% mark, listened to another book and found myself back here,
I don’t know why I got lost and had to stop, but I did. I’m also extremely happy I did finish, wow what an ending. I will be finishing the series because I have to know what the actual f*^k!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Brilliant dark fantasy romance

Thick with symbolism, poetic language and an unreliable narrator—clues are woven through this story give a sense that all is not as it seems. So gripping, can’t wait to continue the series!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Beautiful start to an excellent series

Book was narrated wonderfully by the voice actors.

This book sets up the world and introduces us to the characters in a beautiful way.

Looking forward to listening to the next ones.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Glad I listened

I was initially put off by other reviews, but it’s really a lovely (and heartbreaking) tale with all the makings of a good series ahead. Mostly, the characters are likeable and the tension between them is understandable. Looking forward to the next book

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