To Bleed a Crystal Bloom: A Novel

Zully Rodriguez

Every chapter was a punchline!!!

"Holy cow... I’ve been repeating that same phrase for the past hour while sitting in front on my computer trying to compose myself and this review. That was intense. A wild, wild, wild ride. This book is a 5 star read just because of how it gripped me in its clutches from the very beginning and made me flip pages for almost 12 hours straight until I finished it. Yes, I did all-nighter and I have zero regrets. I love Dark Fantasy Romance and this book is it. It’s dark, dark, dark and secrecy! Emotional devastation. Sets the plot perfectly to be developed in further books. Important: This is the first book of a series and it’s exactly that; lots world building, descriptive, intense, character development and introduction. At the same time, we have Sarah A. Parker’s writing style that is just so captivating. EVERY. SINGLE. CHAPTER. was a punchline. I was inside this book, like, in it, part of it! The way Parker writes is just so good; you can taste, smell, feel everything through the characters here. If you’re a DARK FANTASY ROMANCE bookish person, I’m sure you’ll like this one. **Make sure you read the trigger warnings as there are some very explicit scenes here that may be too strong for some readers. ["

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February 22, 2026 Verified Purchase

Literarylynz

Rapunzel are you okay?

"I'll do my best to avoid major spoilers, but I must apologize in advance if anything slips through. Overall, I truly enjoyed this book—it had that irresistible quality that keeps you glued to the pages, thanks to the witty comebacks and the pervasive air of mystery that runs through the story. However, a few aspects kept nagging at me. There was the nightingale trope, which left me a bit perplexed. Perhaps I'm not familiar with it enough, but the obsessive behavior here caught me off guard. Falling in love with one's captor is one thing, but the level of obsession felt intense. The numerous love interests left me in a state of confusion at times. Rhordyn, Kai, and possibly Baze were all part of the equation, and there was another character I'll keep hush about for the sake of avoiding spoilers. I found myself grappling with whom to root for among them, and it became a bit overwhelming. It goes without saying that I love a good cliffhanger but this story left a lot of unanswered questions for me. To anyone who likes all the loose ends to be tied up, you will be let down with this one, it’s my hope that all of these will be addressed in the sequel. So fingers crossed. Okay, let's start with the pros. As of now, three out of the four books in the series have been released, and the fourth is scheduled for a 2023 release. So, if you're a fan of binge-reading, this series offers that opportunity. Plus, here's a cool bonus – the book comes with a Spotify playlist that you can enjoy while reading. Personally, I love that, as I already listen to music while I read. Another great aspect is the diverse cast of characters that you get to know, keeping you engaged beyond just the main character. Now, for the cons. I must admit, I struggled with the fantasy names in this book – they were quite challenging for me to keep track of. Additionally, I found myself a little creeped out by the names Laith gave to her world at Castle Noir. It didn't necessarily hinder the story, but it felt somewhat childish, and it conflicted with the mature themes of the book. Interestingly, I'm writing this review sometime after reading the book, and it has stayed with me. There's something captivating about it that keeps drawing me back in. It could be the well-developed characters or the engrossing plot, but I'm undeniably invested in the story. I'm eager to see what lies ahead for our main character and, without a doubt, I'll be picking up the next book in the series. ["

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August 31, 2023 Verified Purchase

EatSleepRead

3.5⭐️questions questions and more questions!

"Did I enjoy this book? Yes! Read it in one go and really enjoyed the second half. For an NA book it’s very tame (and slow burn-ish? But not spicy) This first book seems to set the stage by asking lots of questions and never getting any answers. Hopefully the second book is filled with answers because Orlaith’s questions are literally NEVER answered by anyone. Ever! We seem to learn the world as she does. This almost reads as a YA, lots of angst and inner turmoil, growing up and finding your place, etc. She does pull a lot of Bella Swan moments (smh) Shay- I’m a fan! I found that to be the best and healthiest relationship in this whole story! There seemed to be a lot of tedious filler that didn’t always have a pay off. I get it- her days are repetitive, she’s obsessed with plants and she’s got issues. The plot is there but it’s very jumbled. Nothing really makes sense. The few pov changes really confuse me. Which makes me believe the next book is going to bring it all together. I’m hopeful! I kept hoping that something would explain the pull between Rhordyn and Orlaith outside of the obsession they both seem to have. Both unhealthy. He’s psychologically cruel and gaslights the hell out of Orlaith- but just like her, I keep waiting to see some kind of redeeming quality in Rhordyn to make me understand her infatuation and it never really comes. So by the end, I find his character to be an enigma. Overall, this story has a lot of story points that come together just enough to have a plot. I enjoyed the read and will definitely look out for book2. ["

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April 1, 2022 Verified Purchase

Katie Peirce

Amazing writing, decent story!

"When I was told this was a Rapunzel retelling I wasn’t sure what to expect. I figured, girl trapped in a tower waiting for prince charming to come save her *eye roll*. Luckily, this was so much more.. although I’ve read through all of the pages there are still so many dots to connect and questions to be answered which is leaving me reeling for Silver Stem!! Going along on Orlaiths journey, I was originally hoping for that whirlwind romance. I’ll admit, I was a bit weirded out at first with the perceived age gap between Rhordan and her, seeing as he rescued her when she was just a girl.. It was hard to watch her struggle through the pangs of rejection, denial, emotional unavailability and unrequited love to the point where it was almost disturbing at times. Yet, I couldn’t look away. I was always hanging on hoping the next chapter would be the one (call me a hopeless romantic I guess) The magic and the beauty of this story for me was the ability to feel her deep pain, anxiety and lack of self-identity. Although this one was a lot to stomach, I think it sets the stage nicely for whatever is to come next. I think there were a lot of lessons she had to learn and if anything this was such a beautiful depiction of naivety and young love and reliving the traumas of heartbreak and pain. I am so torn with how this book ended - part of me is ecstatic for this poor, anxious, emotionally abandoned girl to get a fresh start in a new place but another part of me need has so many loose ends that need to be tied with Rhordan. I must read on and find out how this journey continues on! <3 ["

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November 27, 2024 Verified Purchase

readbykaycee

Absolutely Addictive

"To Bleed a Crystal Bloom By Sarah A. Parker This is a book of trauma, emotion, and about overcoming your fears. The character relationships take the center stage and he HATES her. But you won’t be able to look away! The first half of this book gave me anxiety to read but I also couldn’t stop reading it. Let’s play the game of how awful Rhordyn can be and watch him shatter the expectations. Every. Single. Time. He is awful. “These waves remind me of the psychological beatings Rhordyn dishes me, because like these waves, he just doesn’t stop.” - Orlaith The notes I took while I read this book revolved around how awful he is and how he is the worst person to Orlaith ever. It’s not enemies to lovers. He just hates her and she knows it. “I’m in love with a man who’ll never be mine—who’s unavailable in every way, shape, and form—and I’m certain it’s going to ruin me.” It is multiple POV but mostly told from Orlaith’s perspective with a few chapters told from Rhordyn’s and Kai’s point of view. Kai is an ocean drake who she views as her best friend. Baze is her other friend, who Rhordyn has hired to basically be Orlaith’s friend. Shes was raised by Rhordan and Baze who have been hiding things from her and allowing her to spiral. Orlaith is a drug addict with no purpose in life. She refuses to participate in the world beyond her small little box. For the first part of the book she’s insufferable. Juvenille. But I can’t help but blame Rhordyn for making her this way. Clearly there is a bond between them and he has known about it since she became his ward and he’s so infuriated by the idea that he has ignored her and left her to wither way. Orlaith lives in fear of her memories and has confined herself the grounds of the castle and while he wants her to expand her world view, he coddles her and allows her to wallow in self doubt and fear. He also wants her to stay his at the castle, even when he’s not hers. He has also hidden everything about her past from her and kept every secret imaginable. Her social circle consists of a small group of people and she avoids all others at all costs. It is absolutely heartbreaking to watch this woman cling to any bit of scraps that Rhordyn gives her just to watch him walk away, again and again, and completely ignore the connection they have to each other. And then invites another woman to spend time with! Sending Orlaith into a jealous spiral. “Because I deserve gentle. I deserve gentle when this man is so boldly destroying me.” I don’t see a redemption arc for him that I could possibly forgive. I’m sure the author will try, and it will be some tragic thing about trying to protect her… I just don’t think I can forgive the lies. “What I want, what I need, and what is right are three entirely different things.” - Rhordyn By the end of the book I really liked Orlaith and she had a dry humor that was cracking me up. Here are a few: “Your face is wearing your opinion.” “‘You’re lying to me.’ I absolutely am. And I probably shouldn’t start this relationship relying on my crutch of fibs, but here we are.” I’m looking forward to her character growth and how she will embrace the next part of the series. I’m hooked. ["

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July 15, 2025 Verified Purchase