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gems_31's review
5.0
Originall Posted on Book Chick City
After the excellent Firebrand, the sequel BLOODSTONE had a lot to live up to. Although BLOODSTONE is a fantastic read, it just falls short of gaining five stars from me. I have still given it five stars, even though it really only should be 4.5, but Goodreads doesn't let you give half stars
The four hundred year time jump between books was more of a hindrance, at least for me. We left Seth at the end of Firebrand, mourning the loss of his lover. Conal had rode off without him, intent on finding the fabled Bloodstone which would either save or destroy the Veil.
Because of this, it felt as though there was a big chuck of Seths’ story and character development missing. I wanted to know more about Seth’s journey, how he met back up with his brother and was now a mature version of the Seth I grew to love in the first book. We had left him is such a broken state that to see how he had managed to recover, for me was a vital part that was missing from the book in order to engage fully with him. This niggled at the back of my mind for a good few chapters of the book.
Fortunatly Philip’s managed to set up such an interesting plot, involving new characters, that I was able to push this to the back of my mind and become sucked into the book.
The two new characters we are introduced to are at first only supporting cast members, but by half way through they were just as important as Conal and Seth.
The newest member of Conal and Seths’ family is Finn, their niece. She is the stereotypical teenager, suffering from the same angst that we have all been through. She is at the age where she is trying to find her place in the world. What doesn’t help is the fact that she is Sithe and therefore instantly forgettable to mortals. Well, everyone except the other new character in the book, Jed.
As per their race, Finn’s mother has very little to do with her, but I think it may also be due to the fact that Finn’s father was killed on a recon mission back in the otherworld. It is therefore up to Conal and Leonora to nurture her, but they were not to mention her true heritage. Leonora tries to show her some of the old ways and we see that a strong bond develops between the two. It was nice to see this softer side of Leonora, for she came across as very cold and aloof in Firebrand.
It is this bond that causes Finn and her friend Jed to cross the veil to her home world. Finn is concerned for her Gran, but both her mother and Conal claim that she is just getting old. When Leonora wanders off, Finn is concerned and it’s this one act that is the catalyst for the whole book.
Though she is related to Seth through his father, being the daughter of Conal’s sister, we see a strong resemblance between the two. Finn has her half-uncles’ fiery temper and the feeling of being an outsider. Unfortunately this does end up causing her to make a few bad choices, one of which left me gob smacked. By the end of the book I could see a potential storyline for the future and I can’t wait to see what will happen.
Jed is a bit of a strange character. He is of course full mortal, and is pulled in by a number of chance encounters. The most important, at least at first, is when he befriends Finn. This should be impossible since Finn is Sithe, she blends into the background. Somehow he still sees her and remembers her. It is never fully explained why this is till the latter half of the book and it is such a twist, that I had to take a breath to absorb what I was reading.
Jed, for me was one of the characters that showed a lot of growth throughout the book. When we first meet him, he is the angry teenager, trying to play the grown up to a junkie mother. He is doing the best he can for his family, which includes his little brother Rory. It is his dedication and love for his little brother that is a constant thread throughout the book. When he appears to be trapped in the otherworld, his main concern is his little brother.
On returning to our world, Jed finds that his mother has passed away, no doubt from an overdose (Time passes more quickly here than in Seth and Conals world). With the authorities closing in, Jed does the only thing he can think of and runs back to the Watergate where he and Finn crossed over. Now he shouldn’t be able to cross it as the only reason he crossed the first time was because Finn was Sithe and pulled him across. It made me think that maybe there was more to Jed than I first thought. Though I was partially right, the true twist was much cleverer.
As I said at the beginning of the review, Seth seems to have resorted back to his old ways. He is still extremely loyal to his brother. Seth is still a bit pigheaded and seems to be at loggerheads both with Leonora and Conal’s sister. However, he has become disillusioned with the cause and wants to return home. Much like Finn, he makes a few choices that are questionable. What really had me shaking my head in disbelief is Seth handing over the Bloodstone to Kate. It is for the greater good, but Kate has proven to be far from trustworthy that to give her the Bloodstone, was signing a death warrant for his race.
For me Seth will always make the harder choice and he should be commended for that. Seth isn’t one to be the good guy. Instead he will make the tough choice for what he sees as the greater good. As always, it is to save his brother from making that choice.
The plot is very tightly knit and at times, seemingly random or insignificant instances turn out to be very important. There are a few “Oh My!” moments scattered throughout the book that really took me by surprise. The author is brilliant at this and it’s why I like her style of writing so much.
The ending leaves much room for the story to continue and with Wolfsbane coming out in August, I can hardly wait. There is a larger plot throughout the books and I want to see what the conclusion is.
VERDICT:
A fantastic book that is only let down by the huge gap in time between books, therefore you can read this one without missing very much backstory by not reading the first book, Firebrand. Gillian Philip is a master storyteller and brings something new to the genre of urban fantasy and young adult books.
After the excellent Firebrand, the sequel BLOODSTONE had a lot to live up to. Although BLOODSTONE is a fantastic read, it just falls short of gaining five stars from me. I have still given it five stars, even though it really only should be 4.5, but Goodreads doesn't let you give half stars
The four hundred year time jump between books was more of a hindrance, at least for me. We left Seth at the end of Firebrand, mourning the loss of his lover. Conal had rode off without him, intent on finding the fabled Bloodstone which would either save or destroy the Veil.
Because of this, it felt as though there was a big chuck of Seths’ story and character development missing. I wanted to know more about Seth’s journey, how he met back up with his brother and was now a mature version of the Seth I grew to love in the first book. We had left him is such a broken state that to see how he had managed to recover, for me was a vital part that was missing from the book in order to engage fully with him. This niggled at the back of my mind for a good few chapters of the book.
Fortunatly Philip’s managed to set up such an interesting plot, involving new characters, that I was able to push this to the back of my mind and become sucked into the book.
The two new characters we are introduced to are at first only supporting cast members, but by half way through they were just as important as Conal and Seth.
The newest member of Conal and Seths’ family is Finn, their niece. She is the stereotypical teenager, suffering from the same angst that we have all been through. She is at the age where she is trying to find her place in the world. What doesn’t help is the fact that she is Sithe and therefore instantly forgettable to mortals. Well, everyone except the other new character in the book, Jed.
As per their race, Finn’s mother has very little to do with her, but I think it may also be due to the fact that Finn’s father was killed on a recon mission back in the otherworld. It is therefore up to Conal and Leonora to nurture her, but they were not to mention her true heritage. Leonora tries to show her some of the old ways and we see that a strong bond develops between the two. It was nice to see this softer side of Leonora, for she came across as very cold and aloof in Firebrand.
It is this bond that causes Finn and her friend Jed to cross the veil to her home world. Finn is concerned for her Gran, but both her mother and Conal claim that she is just getting old. When Leonora wanders off, Finn is concerned and it’s this one act that is the catalyst for the whole book.
Though she is related to Seth through his father, being the daughter of Conal’s sister, we see a strong resemblance between the two. Finn has her half-uncles’ fiery temper and the feeling of being an outsider. Unfortunately this does end up causing her to make a few bad choices, one of which left me gob smacked. By the end of the book I could see a potential storyline for the future and I can’t wait to see what will happen.
Jed is a bit of a strange character. He is of course full mortal, and is pulled in by a number of chance encounters. The most important, at least at first, is when he befriends Finn. This should be impossible since Finn is Sithe, she blends into the background. Somehow he still sees her and remembers her. It is never fully explained why this is till the latter half of the book and it is such a twist, that I had to take a breath to absorb what I was reading.
Jed, for me was one of the characters that showed a lot of growth throughout the book. When we first meet him, he is the angry teenager, trying to play the grown up to a junkie mother. He is doing the best he can for his family, which includes his little brother Rory. It is his dedication and love for his little brother that is a constant thread throughout the book. When he appears to be trapped in the otherworld, his main concern is his little brother.
On returning to our world, Jed finds that his mother has passed away, no doubt from an overdose (Time passes more quickly here than in Seth and Conals world). With the authorities closing in, Jed does the only thing he can think of and runs back to the Watergate where he and Finn crossed over. Now he shouldn’t be able to cross it as the only reason he crossed the first time was because Finn was Sithe and pulled him across. It made me think that maybe there was more to Jed than I first thought. Though I was partially right, the true twist was much cleverer.
As I said at the beginning of the review, Seth seems to have resorted back to his old ways. He is still extremely loyal to his brother. Seth is still a bit pigheaded and seems to be at loggerheads both with Leonora and Conal’s sister. However, he has become disillusioned with the cause and wants to return home. Much like Finn, he makes a few choices that are questionable. What really had me shaking my head in disbelief is Seth handing over the Bloodstone to Kate. It is for the greater good, but Kate has proven to be far from trustworthy that to give her the Bloodstone, was signing a death warrant for his race.
For me Seth will always make the harder choice and he should be commended for that. Seth isn’t one to be the good guy. Instead he will make the tough choice for what he sees as the greater good. As always, it is to save his brother from making that choice.
The plot is very tightly knit and at times, seemingly random or insignificant instances turn out to be very important. There are a few “Oh My!” moments scattered throughout the book that really took me by surprise. The author is brilliant at this and it’s why I like her style of writing so much.
The ending leaves much room for the story to continue and with Wolfsbane coming out in August, I can hardly wait. There is a larger plot throughout the books and I want to see what the conclusion is.
VERDICT:
A fantastic book that is only let down by the huge gap in time between books, therefore you can read this one without missing very much backstory by not reading the first book, Firebrand. Gillian Philip is a master storyteller and brings something new to the genre of urban fantasy and young adult books.
gothiebiovenom's review
4.0
Great sequel to Firebrand.
Again very glad I picked up this series as a spur of the moment read :)
I love the character development, and the new characters are great.
Quite a good twist in the story too :)
Again very glad I picked up this series as a spur of the moment read :)
I love the character development, and the new characters are great.
Quite a good twist in the story too :)
shubba_the_emoreader's review
4.0
Original post: http://totallybookalicious.blogspot.com/2011/08/bloodstone-rebel-angels-2-by-gillian.html
Gillian Philip has did it again!! I adore this series. The first book Firebrand was such a breath of fresh air in a genre that is over populated with vampires, and werewolves. It grabbed me from the start and I was eagerly awaiting the sequel. So when I contacted the publisher I was super excited when they allowed me to read and review Bloodstone. It was just as explosive as book 1.
Bloodstone is set in the present day Scotland. Sithe Brothers Seth and Conal have been in the Mortal world for 500 years searching for The Bloodstone. Soon they are catapulated back into the own world along with Finn, Conal Neice, Jed a mortal boy who cares for Finn and Jed's infant brother. Together they are fighting to stay alive.
Trying to describe this book is hard. It one of those book that takes your breath away. I truely love it. Seth is one of those self centred, arogant character that you do fall for when you see his sweet side. He is an arse most of the time but he is one of the most Loyal characters I have ever came across in a book. His love for his brother and the fact he would do almost anything for him it what makes him Seth. Conal is one of those men who on the outside is a tough strong man but underneath is a big softy and that comes across when he is with Jed's baby brother.
We are introduced to some new characters, Finn and Jed. Finn is Conal neice and has been brought but unaware of her Sithe heritage. She is a loner and doesn't have any friends she meets Jed. Jed is one of those characters I am on the fence with. On one hand, he is a thief and a cheeky little bugger but on the other hand he really cares for Finn and his llittle brother. The chemistry between all the characters I think is what makes this book so addictive and engaging.
The story itself is amazing! The plot is explosive, epic and freaking awesome. It fast paced anf full of action you will be sitting reading with you heart in your mouth waiting to see what was going to happen next. There is never a dull moment. Gillian has created a fantastic sequel to Firebrand that will be enjoyed adults and older teen.
Bloodstone, personally wasn't as good as Firebrand just because I loved the fact the Firebrand was set in 1600s. As you can tell with the review I did still love it and the story is just as good but just for me I prefered book one. However, I am super excited to see what instore in the next.
Gillian Philip has did it again!! I adore this series. The first book Firebrand was such a breath of fresh air in a genre that is over populated with vampires, and werewolves. It grabbed me from the start and I was eagerly awaiting the sequel. So when I contacted the publisher I was super excited when they allowed me to read and review Bloodstone. It was just as explosive as book 1.
Bloodstone is set in the present day Scotland. Sithe Brothers Seth and Conal have been in the Mortal world for 500 years searching for The Bloodstone. Soon they are catapulated back into the own world along with Finn, Conal Neice, Jed a mortal boy who cares for Finn and Jed's infant brother. Together they are fighting to stay alive.
Trying to describe this book is hard. It one of those book that takes your breath away. I truely love it. Seth is one of those self centred, arogant character that you do fall for when you see his sweet side. He is an arse most of the time but he is one of the most Loyal characters I have ever came across in a book. His love for his brother and the fact he would do almost anything for him it what makes him Seth. Conal is one of those men who on the outside is a tough strong man but underneath is a big softy and that comes across when he is with Jed's baby brother.
We are introduced to some new characters, Finn and Jed. Finn is Conal neice and has been brought but unaware of her Sithe heritage. She is a loner and doesn't have any friends she meets Jed. Jed is one of those characters I am on the fence with. On one hand, he is a thief and a cheeky little bugger but on the other hand he really cares for Finn and his llittle brother. The chemistry between all the characters I think is what makes this book so addictive and engaging.
The story itself is amazing! The plot is explosive, epic and freaking awesome. It fast paced anf full of action you will be sitting reading with you heart in your mouth waiting to see what was going to happen next. There is never a dull moment. Gillian has created a fantastic sequel to Firebrand that will be enjoyed adults and older teen.
Bloodstone, personally wasn't as good as Firebrand just because I loved the fact the Firebrand was set in 1600s. As you can tell with the review I did still love it and the story is just as good but just for me I prefered book one. However, I am super excited to see what instore in the next.
beyondthebig5's review
5.0
Please note, I received this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Usual spoiler warning for book 1, Firebrand, applies here.
Seth and Conal MacGregor have spent so long hunting for the Bloodstone for Kate NicNiven, their queen, that they're reached the present day in our world (after Firebrand took place in sixteenth century Scotland.) They still haven't found it, though, but they have got themselves involved with some wonderful new characters, notably sullen teenager Finn, who's unaware of her Sithe heritage but about to find out with far-reaching consequences. Returning to the realm of the fairies with her in tow, and two others, the MacGregor boys are about to find even more trouble.
Seth burst onto the scene in Firebrand as an incredible narrator, full of youthful rebellion and fury, and while four centuries or so have passed, he's still the same flawed but lovable hero. Add to that Conal, calmer but just as wonderful, and great new characters like the surly Finn, and this is a surefire winner. The narration is mainly by Seth but parts are done by Jed, the human son of a woman Seth has a relationship with, and his voice brings an interesting new twist to things.
It's an epic, sprawling, plot, as befits a series which has so far spanned four hundred plus years over just two books, and similarly to its predecessor sees betrayal and revenge as major topics. It's incredibly difficult to know who to trust and that makes the book a really tense read.
Special praise for the ending, which was incredibly striking and felt, in many ways, nearly unbearably final. However, with two books to go in the Rebel Angels series, it's clearly not. I have no idea where Gillian Philip will take us from here - but I have every confidence that it will be an incredible journey finding out!
High recommendation, and this series is definitely one which adults will enjoy just as much as teens.
Further reading suggestion: Another excellent book about humans interacting with strange creatures from another realm is Cold Tom by Sally Prue, a fantastic retelling of the folk tale Tam Lin.
Usual spoiler warning for book 1, Firebrand, applies here.
Seth and Conal MacGregor have spent so long hunting for the Bloodstone for Kate NicNiven, their queen, that they're reached the present day in our world (after Firebrand took place in sixteenth century Scotland.) They still haven't found it, though, but they have got themselves involved with some wonderful new characters, notably sullen teenager Finn, who's unaware of her Sithe heritage but about to find out with far-reaching consequences. Returning to the realm of the fairies with her in tow, and two others, the MacGregor boys are about to find even more trouble.
Seth burst onto the scene in Firebrand as an incredible narrator, full of youthful rebellion and fury, and while four centuries or so have passed, he's still the same flawed but lovable hero. Add to that Conal, calmer but just as wonderful, and great new characters like the surly Finn, and this is a surefire winner. The narration is mainly by Seth but parts are done by Jed, the human son of a woman Seth has a relationship with, and his voice brings an interesting new twist to things.
It's an epic, sprawling, plot, as befits a series which has so far spanned four hundred plus years over just two books, and similarly to its predecessor sees betrayal and revenge as major topics. It's incredibly difficult to know who to trust and that makes the book a really tense read.
Special praise for the ending, which was incredibly striking and felt, in many ways, nearly unbearably final. However, with two books to go in the Rebel Angels series, it's clearly not. I have no idea where Gillian Philip will take us from here - but I have every confidence that it will be an incredible journey finding out!
High recommendation, and this series is definitely one which adults will enjoy just as much as teens.
Further reading suggestion: Another excellent book about humans interacting with strange creatures from another realm is Cold Tom by Sally Prue, a fantastic retelling of the folk tale Tam Lin.
megankass's review
5.0
Okay, books that are going to tear your heart out need to come with a warning label.
bethkemp's review
5.0
I loved Firebrand - it's easily one of my favourites of the books I've read in the last year or so - and I was a little worried that this might not live up to it. What groundless fear! Philip is an amazing writer who doesn't slip a millimetre. The voice, the characterisation, the plot, the pace - all perfect. Not that this is an easy read: Philip believes in making her characters - and her readers - suffer. Bloodstone makes a heart-wrenching and tense read. Like the first Rebel Angels volume, the novel focuses on Sithe characters interacting with our world (the Otherworld, as far as they're concerned). These are not the fluffy pink fairies of our disneyfied culture but nor are they evil faeries seeking solely to harm mortals. Philip's Sithe warriors are the feudal fae of folklore who lack human sensibilities but are perfectly capable of love and loyalty in their own way. Her main characters certainly gain both love and loyalty from her readers.
Seth's first-person narration, which was one of Firebrand's strengths, remains strong and engaging while showing some character development since the beginning of the saga (not too much, though - we love him for his moody teen-style aspects!). Passages of third-person narration also allow us insight into others' perspectives,with a different but equally effective voice. Like most readers of the first instalment, I fell in love with the central characters, and Philips has gleefully toyed with that emotion in this novel, whilst also providing new characters to share our devotion.
It's impossible (for me at least) to talk about plot without giving too much away, but take my word that the story will grip you and not let you put this down (just ask my poor neglected family!). The pace is relentless and sustained, with occasional humour, albeit of the dark variety, to lift the mood. There are two more books in this series to come, and I cannot imagine what they will contain, but no doubt I will once again be thrilled and gutted by turns.
Seth's first-person narration, which was one of Firebrand's strengths, remains strong and engaging while showing some character development since the beginning of the saga (not too much, though - we love him for his moody teen-style aspects!). Passages of third-person narration also allow us insight into others' perspectives,with a different but equally effective voice. Like most readers of the first instalment, I fell in love with the central characters, and Philips has gleefully toyed with that emotion in this novel, whilst also providing new characters to share our devotion.
It's impossible (for me at least) to talk about plot without giving too much away, but take my word that the story will grip you and not let you put this down (just ask my poor neglected family!). The pace is relentless and sustained, with occasional humour, albeit of the dark variety, to lift the mood. There are two more books in this series to come, and I cannot imagine what they will contain, but no doubt I will once again be thrilled and gutted by turns.
bibliotropic's review
4.0
Where Philip’s Firebrand was historical fantasy, Bloodstone leaps forward a few hundred years to the modern era, turning it more into an urban fantasy despite the fact that a good half of the novel takes place in a realm that is not the mortal one. (Which is considerably less than Firebrand, so I figure it still counts as urban fantasy.) This is urban fantasy with a greater leaning toward mythology and traditional fantasy elements, however, which makes it stand out from many UF offerings out there.
Exiled to the mortal world, Seth and co are searching for the Bloodstone for Kate, something she can use to tear down the failing Veil that separates this world from the Sithe world. Nobody is particularly happy about this exile or the task they’re set to, but they make efforts, dreading the day they actually find something. Tangled up in the tale now are Finn, a Sithe girl raised as a mortal and unaware of her heritage, and Jed, a mortal boy from a troubled home, giving the story an interesting dynamic that it lacked in the first book of the series. Modern meets traditional, mundane meets fantastic, and worlds collide.
The story is told mostly from Seth’s point of view, with his characteristic wry observations and caustic wit, with jumps to Finn and Jed’s respective points of view, though more often Jed than Finn. The two younger one bring some much-needed perspective to the story, without whom many of the revelations in the book would make little sense and seem to come out of nowhere, but I’ll be honest – I mostly read it for Seth’s point of view. His is a great perspective to read from, so morally ambiguous, a jerk with a heart of gold (though that gold may be a bit tarnished by this point). He’s not someone who always does the right thing. He acts out of self-preservation, frustration, anger, makes stupid mistakes and occasionally revels in them because they were his mistakes to make. His independence and intelligence make him a good character for narrative purposes, his tone and temperament providing much of the entertainment.
The plot is fairly slow-going, and there isn’t much in the way of action awaiting readers. It’s highly character-driven. Characters seem to be Philip’s specialty, really, with each character being wonderfully unique and real and flawed, likable and detestable for dozens of different reasons. You really get the sense that there’s far more to each character, even secondary ones, than just what gets written about, like the events being told are only one small part of their lives.
It does, however, suffer a bit from the way the plot seems to lead in circles quite a bit, with very little happening. They’re looking for the Bloodstone. They don’t know where it is or what it looks like. They argue about it. They go back to looking for it. Rinse and repeat. Ditto Seth’s clashes with Finn, and most of Jed’s interactions that have anything to do with his mother. It’s a bit repetitive, and while that repetition was no doubt there to stress the importance of certain things or how their quest seemed futile and unending, I had grasped that fairly early on and didn’t really need it hammered in over and over again.
Still, a strong continuation to a strong series start in Firebrand, and I know full well that I’m going to be following this series closely and anxiously awaiting the day I can read the third book. Philip creates a different kind of urban fantasy, one with deep and ancient roots that has, nevertheless, grown with the times, and it’s a treat to read. It’s fun, highly entertaining, and I don’t think I can really get enough of Seth’s narration. If you haven’t started reading the Rebel Angels series, you’re missing out.
(Book received in exchange for an honest review.)
Exiled to the mortal world, Seth and co are searching for the Bloodstone for Kate, something she can use to tear down the failing Veil that separates this world from the Sithe world. Nobody is particularly happy about this exile or the task they’re set to, but they make efforts, dreading the day they actually find something. Tangled up in the tale now are Finn, a Sithe girl raised as a mortal and unaware of her heritage, and Jed, a mortal boy from a troubled home, giving the story an interesting dynamic that it lacked in the first book of the series. Modern meets traditional, mundane meets fantastic, and worlds collide.
The story is told mostly from Seth’s point of view, with his characteristic wry observations and caustic wit, with jumps to Finn and Jed’s respective points of view, though more often Jed than Finn. The two younger one bring some much-needed perspective to the story, without whom many of the revelations in the book would make little sense and seem to come out of nowhere, but I’ll be honest – I mostly read it for Seth’s point of view. His is a great perspective to read from, so morally ambiguous, a jerk with a heart of gold (though that gold may be a bit tarnished by this point). He’s not someone who always does the right thing. He acts out of self-preservation, frustration, anger, makes stupid mistakes and occasionally revels in them because they were his mistakes to make. His independence and intelligence make him a good character for narrative purposes, his tone and temperament providing much of the entertainment.
The plot is fairly slow-going, and there isn’t much in the way of action awaiting readers. It’s highly character-driven. Characters seem to be Philip’s specialty, really, with each character being wonderfully unique and real and flawed, likable and detestable for dozens of different reasons. You really get the sense that there’s far more to each character, even secondary ones, than just what gets written about, like the events being told are only one small part of their lives.
It does, however, suffer a bit from the way the plot seems to lead in circles quite a bit, with very little happening. They’re looking for the Bloodstone. They don’t know where it is or what it looks like. They argue about it. They go back to looking for it. Rinse and repeat. Ditto Seth’s clashes with Finn, and most of Jed’s interactions that have anything to do with his mother. It’s a bit repetitive, and while that repetition was no doubt there to stress the importance of certain things or how their quest seemed futile and unending, I had grasped that fairly early on and didn’t really need it hammered in over and over again.
Still, a strong continuation to a strong series start in Firebrand, and I know full well that I’m going to be following this series closely and anxiously awaiting the day I can read the third book. Philip creates a different kind of urban fantasy, one with deep and ancient roots that has, nevertheless, grown with the times, and it’s a treat to read. It’s fun, highly entertaining, and I don’t think I can really get enough of Seth’s narration. If you haven’t started reading the Rebel Angels series, you’re missing out.
(Book received in exchange for an honest review.)
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