Reviews

Mark of Blood and Alchemy by Evangeline Denmark

booklady83's review

adventurous dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

scostner's review

3.0

I read an advance copy of Curio and was sent the prequel by the publisher. This story goes back to the very beginning and the events that began the struggle between the Chemists and the Defenders. It also shows the cause of the problems shown in Monument City during the first book and why everyone there is dependent on potions from the Chemists to get any nutrition from their food. There is plenty of intrigue, and enough action to keep the story moving along, and we meet some of the characters we already know, like Alaric and Olan, but they are much younger than during the events in Curio and there are still unanswered questions and a gap between the end of this book and the beginning of the next.

readingwithrebeccanicole's review

"In keeping time we gain power over its passing."

Okay, cool. I'll go along with this.

"I will become a mistress of time. Not to live forever, but to reclaim a life taken too soon."

Resurrecting dead people 15 years later because you somehow feel responsible for the death? Nope, nope, nopety nope.

DNF 50%

booksforchristiangirls's review

1.0

{{This is a Goodreads Only Review! Meaning, this review will not be posted on 'Books for Christian Girls'. }}


About this book:

“In this novella prequel to Evangeline Denmark's YA fantasy novel Curio, Olan Havardsson flees a devastating plague that took his family only to be saved by a mysterious group of "magickers" with healing powers. But as he accompanies his rescuers to their alpine enclave, mysteries arise surrounding their potions and powers of alchemy. Questions mount when Olan observes a deep division forming between those who seek to defend the purity of the healing alchemical work and those who would wield it as a powerful weapon.
Olan is thrust into the midst of this dissention after he discovers he is somehow special--chosen as a guardian like the enclave's founder. As he spends time with two of his rescuers--Auriana, a clever and captivating inventor, and Alaric, a brooding young man wrestling with his father's cruel beliefs--Olan realizes he may have the power to direct the course of blood and alchemy..”


Series: Considered Book #.5 and connected to the author’s new book, “Curio”.


Spiritual Content- A mention of thanking God; A mention of God’s green earth; A couple mentions of prayers; A couple mentions of church; A mention of a monk believing the natural state of our bodies is dust; Mentions of monks;
*Note: All about a man who’s called a Saint & the miracles he performed; All about dark (blood) magic & evil practices; Mentions of witches & witchcraft; Mentions of gods, goddess, demons & spirits; A mention of dark angels becoming humans; A mention of d*mning a soul & another realm; A mention of Hell’s gate.


Negative Content- All about blood & bleeding people (semi-detailed to detailed); Lots of blood, fighting, & pain (semi-detailed); Thinking you’re dying (semi-detailed); Many mentions of drinking & brandy (semi-detailed); Mentions of injuries (semi-detailed); Mentions of hitting (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of throwing up; A couple mentions of murder (up to semi-detailed); A mention of a picture of animals eating each other (barely-above-not-detailed).


Sexual Content- a forehead kiss, a semi-detailed kiss & a boarder-line semi-detailed // detailed kiss; Lots of Warmth, Nearness, Holding & Touches (semi-detailed); Noticing & Staring (semi-detailed); Olan has a yearning to find a wife; Olan has visions of making Auriana his wife, kissing her, exploring & studying her; Mentions of kisses; Love & love at first sight.

-Olan Havardsson
P.O.V. of Olan
Steampunk
112 pages

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Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star
Early High School Teens- One Star
Older High School Teens- One Star
My personal Rating- One Star
Well. That was interesting, I’m not sure what I just read. I feel very lost & confused. This wasn’t a very happy prequel. Lots of blood, pain, bleeding, dark (blood) magic & drinking other people’s blood. See a theme? Lots of blood! I think I understood most of what I read, but I’m not a-hundred-percent-sure on that. The word building & describing things other than a woman's body was lacking. I didn't feel like I was actually there, just looking in. The epilogue was quite depressing. No actually Christian content, which wasn’t surprising. I don’t like the whole ‘love at first sight’ thing and I personally found some parts to be lust. I don’t have high hopes for “Curio” now, but I still plan to read & review it.


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http://booksforchristiangirls.blogspot.com/


*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.

tonimmarie's review

3.0

More like 3.75
I really really liked this setting and this set of characters. A lot was happening that I didn't quite understand and it took me so long to read for some reason! The chapters were quite long haha. But it was good and worth it. When reading Curio I wanted to know more about this defenders VS Chemists thing and I got a lot of backstory. The ending didn't really have everything I wanted, but I still enjoyed it.

difelicj's review

4.0

I really enjoyed this preview into the world of Curio. Although the insta-love was a little much, it was still fun and worth the read :)