Scan barcode
theduchess93's review against another edition
5.0
I LOVE despicable female protags, especially if they're queer, so this was fantastic. This book also got much darker (and bloodier) than I expected, which was refreshing. I can't wait for the next one!
ameserole's review against another edition
3.0
Beyond the Ruby Veil was one of those books that I instantly wanted to dive into based on seeing the cover. Then I read the synopsis and I just knew it had to be amazing. Yet, after diving into the actual book... it was just okay for me.
Now don't get your panties in a twist or mad at me because I didn't downright love the book. Trust me, I wanted to love it. I wont lie, the book even had something interesting parts to it.. I just couldn't really connect with anyone or anything that was happening. Maybe it's because of the extreme vagueness throughout the book which I could understand. The reason why is because I figured I would everything might make more sense down the road in future books. So, yeah I can get behind the book being downright vague to my face.
Other than that, the characters were okay. The romance was just fine too. Maybe if I had a thing for slow burns I probably would've adored everything that was happening. I guess the main thing for me today is that I wanted to love this book. Overly adored the shit out of it. I just couldn't. It was just okay for me and I'm hoping that the next book will be a lot better. Or maybe get me out of this weird funk that I'm in...
Now don't get your panties in a twist or mad at me because I didn't downright love the book. Trust me, I wanted to love it. I wont lie, the book even had something interesting parts to it.. I just couldn't really connect with anyone or anything that was happening. Maybe it's because of the extreme vagueness throughout the book which I could understand. The reason why is because I figured I would everything might make more sense down the road in future books. So, yeah I can get behind the book being downright vague to my face.
Other than that, the characters were okay. The romance was just fine too. Maybe if I had a thing for slow burns I probably would've adored everything that was happening. I guess the main thing for me today is that I wanted to love this book. Overly adored the shit out of it. I just couldn't. It was just okay for me and I'm hoping that the next book will be a lot better. Or maybe get me out of this weird funk that I'm in...
minniemueller's review against another edition
5.0
From the cover and blurb I thought it might be one of the endless YA fantasy novels I've started and not finished. But from the very first page I was hooked, it's really different and perfect for what it is. Didn't care for the world building too much, but am hopeful for the second part. Never have I enjoyed an unlikable protagonist more!
rachelbookdragon's review against another edition
2.0
Wow, I did not like this book. Honestly, I should have read the decryption about it being about an unlikeable main character and blood and that should have steered me away, but I didn’t and I have regrets.
The world-building was fine. 1000 years of hierarchy and magic to turn blood into water with an oppressive red veiled sky giving them omens of death. Only to find out more about the catacombs and what lies beyond. The description of the setting was very good in painting a picture to visualize.
Emanuela was an unlikeable protagonist, focused only on her needs and power and cruelty to others. If anything, her journey in this book exacerbated those traits. Ale was appealing in his kindness, but ultimately he was a side character and didn’t propel the action. Vee is a mash up of both sweet and vicious.
I found the book’s pacing to be fine. The story moved along, but I just didn’t find much compelling in it personally. It’s just not my type of fantasy book. The writing was fine, it just wasn’t a plot, world, or group of characters that drew me in, even if they were of the LGBT+ community. It’s a yay for representation, ugh for gore for me. I’m sure there is an audience for this book, I’m just the wrong reader for it and it’s sequels. I wish the author all the best with her debut!
The world-building was fine. 1000 years of hierarchy and magic to turn blood into water with an oppressive red veiled sky giving them omens of death. Only to find out more about the catacombs and what lies beyond. The description of the setting was very good in painting a picture to visualize.
Emanuela was an unlikeable protagonist, focused only on her needs and power and cruelty to others. If anything, her journey in this book exacerbated those traits. Ale was appealing in his kindness, but ultimately he was a side character and didn’t propel the action. Vee is a mash up of both sweet and vicious.
I found the book’s pacing to be fine. The story moved along, but I just didn’t find much compelling in it personally. It’s just not my type of fantasy book. The writing was fine, it just wasn’t a plot, world, or group of characters that drew me in, even if they were of the LGBT+ community. It’s a yay for representation, ugh for gore for me. I’m sure there is an audience for this book, I’m just the wrong reader for it and it’s sequels. I wish the author all the best with her debut!
elyana's review against another edition
2.0
(DNFed at 60%)
I've been on a book buying ban for a few weeks now and I am currently trying to focus on reducing my TBR.
I was really excited when I put this book on my wishlist and got it as a Christmas present, as it sounded cool and was marketed as "sapphic ruthless girls". Then I looked at the writing style and got... a little bit less excited. But I needed to know if it was worth the read or not so I started reading, and sadly it wasn't worth it.
It's a short fantasy book with quite a simple writing style, so I really thought I would finish it either way but it just got more and more ridiculous and I couldn't do it.
So what did I like about this book ?
- The world created by Mara Fitzgerald was honestly interesting. We have a city trapped under a red shadow veil with no source of water. They depend on a watercrea (a witch) to create water from the blood of people who are meant to die very soon. Then the MC kills the watercrea, run away and discover what's behind the ruby veil. I found it quite interesting and really wanted to see how the author was going to explain the things that were happening to our characters.
What did I not like about this book ?
- The characters : I tend to like morally grey characters and quite enjoyed Emanuela, our main character, at the beginning of the book. She was mean sometimes and really ambitious, but showed love to the people close to her and was quite funny. Then she just gradually became more and more infuriating, impulsive and all-around horrible to other people, even her supposed "bestfriend".
Let's talk about the bestfriend, Ale. He is the epitome of the "gay bff" who's just here as an accessory to the main character and has no brain of his own. He follows her everywhere and just keeps stuttering during all their conversations, while Emanuela constantly cuts him off and humiliates him for who he is. Here is a quote from page 54 :
What the heck. We never go back to the horrible things Emanuela says to him and he never defends himself (at least before the 60% mark). I wouldn't want to be a young gay boy reading this book, honestly.
We also have Verene and Theo, but I don't want to bother talking about them.
- The writing : As mentioned before, it's a fast-paced and easy book to read as the writing is quite simple. It could be a good thing, but some chapters and dialogues felt really unpolished.
The action scenes are weird too, everything happens way too fast and Emanuela gets out of every difficult situation way too easily. She's always saying "I'm superior, I'm not like other people blablabla" but if things are constantly made so easy for her it's difficult to believe in her so-called greatness.
Also some characters are just thrown to the side and we do not get answers for things that I think should be mentioned. (for example,)
Honestly I won't say this book wasn't entertaining. It was entertaining, but in such a ridiculous way I couldn't consider the story and those characters seriously anymore.
My Bookstagram
I've been on a book buying ban for a few weeks now and I am currently trying to focus on reducing my TBR.
I was really excited when I put this book on my wishlist and got it as a Christmas present, as it sounded cool and was marketed as "sapphic ruthless girls". Then I looked at the writing style and got... a little bit less excited. But I needed to know if it was worth the read or not so I started reading, and sadly it wasn't worth it.
It's a short fantasy book with quite a simple writing style, so I really thought I would finish it either way but it just got more and more ridiculous and I couldn't do it.
So what did I like about this book ?
- The world created by Mara Fitzgerald was honestly interesting. We have a city trapped under a red shadow veil with no source of water. They depend on a watercrea (a witch) to create water from the blood of people who are meant to die very soon. Then the MC kills the watercrea, run away and discover what's behind the ruby veil. I found it quite interesting and really wanted to see how the author was going to explain the things that were happening to our characters.
What did I not like about this book ?
- The characters : I tend to like morally grey characters and quite enjoyed Emanuela, our main character, at the beginning of the book. She was mean sometimes and really ambitious, but showed love to the people close to her and was quite funny. Then she just gradually became more and more infuriating, impulsive and all-around horrible to other people, even her supposed "bestfriend".
Let's talk about the bestfriend, Ale. He is the epitome of the "gay bff" who's just here as an accessory to the main character and has no brain of his own. He follows her everywhere and just keeps stuttering during all their conversations, while Emanuela constantly cuts him off and humiliates him for who he is. Here is a quote from page 54 :
"Nobody wants that with you. Nobody wants you at all. Do you even realize how pathetic your life is without me ?"
What the heck. We never go back to the horrible things Emanuela says to him and he never defends himself (at least before the 60% mark). I wouldn't want to be a young gay boy reading this book, honestly.
We also have Verene and Theo, but I don't want to bother talking about them.
- The writing : As mentioned before, it's a fast-paced and easy book to read as the writing is quite simple. It could be a good thing, but some chapters and dialogues felt really unpolished.
The action scenes are weird too, everything happens way too fast and Emanuela gets out of every difficult situation way too easily. She's always saying "I'm superior, I'm not like other people blablabla" but if things are constantly made so easy for her it's difficult to believe in her so-called greatness.
Also some characters are just thrown to the side and we do not get answers for things that I think should be mentioned. (for example,
Spoiler
what happened at the wedding after Emanuela was kidnapped by the watercrea? How was Ale married to someone else so fast?Honestly I won't say this book wasn't entertaining. It was entertaining, but in such a ridiculous way I couldn't consider the story and those characters seriously anymore.
My Bookstagram
bedovian's review against another edition
An unlikable protagonist is one thing, but a protagonist who relentlessly abuses the only person in her life she can rely on while never apologizing or even coming around to the idea that she was wrong to do so is insufferable for the sake of being insufferable. Fitzgerald weaves a world of intrigue surrounding the mysterious watercrea and magic rulers, but I found myself slogging through the actions of a group of characters that are varying degrees of morally bankrupt with the exception of Alessandro Morandi, Emanuela's best friend. Ale was an oasis of rationale in Emanuela's typhoon of bloodthirst and bad decision making. That being said, I am continuing on to the sequel as I still find myself drawn to the mystery Fitzgerald has placed in front of her readers.
aroth's review against another edition
3.0
The world building was interesting, but I have never dislike/felt frustrated by a main character more. Emanuela doesn't care about the consequences of her actions and is downright malicious. This definitely took away from the story/the enjoyment of reading it. Might read the sequel but currently undecided.
popthebutterfly's review against another edition
3.0
Disclaimer: I received this ebook from the publisher for Rockstar Book Tours. Thanks! All opinons are my own.
Book: Beyond the Ruby Veil
Author: Mara Fitzgerald
Book Series: Beyond the Ruby Veil Book 1
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: fantasy, revenge, romance, bully like romance
Publication Date: October 13, 2020
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Pages: 288
Recommended Age: 16+ (romance, sexual content, violence, gore, death, torture)
Synopsis: Cunning and unapologetic, Emanuela Ragno is a socialite who plays by her own rules. In her most ambitious move yet, she’s about to marry Alessandro Morandi, her childhood best friend and the heir to the wealthiest house in Occhia. Emanuela doesn’t care that she and her groom are both gay, because she doesn’t want a love match. She wants power, and through Ale, she’ll have it all.
But Emanuela has a secret that could shatter her plans. In her city of Occhia, the only source of water is the watercrea, a mysterious being who uses magic to make water from blood. When their first bruise-like omen appears on their skin, all Occhians must surrender themselves to the watercrea to be drained of life. Everyone throughout history has obeyed this law for the greater good. Everyone except Emanuela. She’s kept the tiny omen on her hip out of sight for years.
When the watercrea exposes Emanuela during her wedding ceremony and takes her to be sacrificed, Emanuela fights back…and kills her. Before everyone in Occhia dies of thirst, Emanuela and Ale must travel through the mysterious, blood-red veil that surrounds their city to uncover the source of the watercrea’s power and save their people—no matter what it takes.
Review: For the most part I liked this book. It was a fun, short read that kept me on my toes. The book is great for people who want something fast to get through in one sitting and the plot kept me intrigued from start to finish.
However, there were a ton of problems with this book. The book is way too fast paced and by 15% in I had already reached what should have been the climax of the book. The book is also confusing and spends very little time on developing the story. Nothing is explained outright and the reader is left to guess. The book also had very little world building and the character development was non-existent.
Verdict: It was good and I liked it, but there’s some problems.
Book: Beyond the Ruby Veil
Author: Mara Fitzgerald
Book Series: Beyond the Ruby Veil Book 1
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: fantasy, revenge, romance, bully like romance
Publication Date: October 13, 2020
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Pages: 288
Recommended Age: 16+ (romance, sexual content, violence, gore, death, torture)
Synopsis: Cunning and unapologetic, Emanuela Ragno is a socialite who plays by her own rules. In her most ambitious move yet, she’s about to marry Alessandro Morandi, her childhood best friend and the heir to the wealthiest house in Occhia. Emanuela doesn’t care that she and her groom are both gay, because she doesn’t want a love match. She wants power, and through Ale, she’ll have it all.
But Emanuela has a secret that could shatter her plans. In her city of Occhia, the only source of water is the watercrea, a mysterious being who uses magic to make water from blood. When their first bruise-like omen appears on their skin, all Occhians must surrender themselves to the watercrea to be drained of life. Everyone throughout history has obeyed this law for the greater good. Everyone except Emanuela. She’s kept the tiny omen on her hip out of sight for years.
When the watercrea exposes Emanuela during her wedding ceremony and takes her to be sacrificed, Emanuela fights back…and kills her. Before everyone in Occhia dies of thirst, Emanuela and Ale must travel through the mysterious, blood-red veil that surrounds their city to uncover the source of the watercrea’s power and save their people—no matter what it takes.
Review: For the most part I liked this book. It was a fun, short read that kept me on my toes. The book is great for people who want something fast to get through in one sitting and the plot kept me intrigued from start to finish.
However, there were a ton of problems with this book. The book is way too fast paced and by 15% in I had already reached what should have been the climax of the book. The book is also confusing and spends very little time on developing the story. Nothing is explained outright and the reader is left to guess. The book also had very little world building and the character development was non-existent.
Verdict: It was good and I liked it, but there’s some problems.
cuckleberryfins's review against another edition
5.0
I fucking loved this oh my god
Emmanuella is an actual agent of chaos and just the shittiest most unlikable character I loved her so much. I'm so psyched for book 2
Emmanuella is an actual agent of chaos and just the shittiest most unlikable character I loved her so much. I'm so psyched for book 2