Review of The Court that Bleeds Gold (Gold Weaver #1) by Zara Storm. Escape a cruel fate by striking a dangerous deal with a Fae Prince in ‘The Court that Bleeds Gold,’ a gripping dark fantasy romance reminiscent of Rumpelstiltskin and Beauty and the Beast, perfect for fans of Raven Kennedy, Krista Street, and Sarah J. Maas.
“This is a bad idea. I’m only doing this because I’m angry. And because I want to. Desperately.”
– The Court that Bleeds Gold
Zara Storm
‘The Court that Bleeds Gold’ is a promising debut that offers a thrilling dark romance with plenty of surprises along the way
Synopsis
Desperate to escape marrying a brutal king, I make a deal with a Fae Prince…
“I can spin gold,” I lie.
With my life at stake, I have no other choice.
I get one chance to turn my lie into truth, and I’m shocked when I succeed.
But now the cruel human king demands I become his wife—passing between his bed and being locked away in a tower, spinning gold until my last breath.
My only way out is to summon him.
A brutal Fae prince.
The deal we strike is sickening, but it’s the only way I’ll live after I’m caught escaping. My new captor drags me back to his realm.
A place of profound beauty and savage cruelties.
As wicked fairies play sadistic games, the prince is my sole protector.
He’s not just protecting me, though. He’s guarding his own secrets.
I should hate him. But our pact shows me a side his court never sees.
There is more behind his monstrous mask.
I can’t stop myself from looking.
Especially when I learn what he really wants with me.
Review
I received a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Embark on a mesmerizing journey alongside Eleanor in ‘The Court that Bleeds Gold’. Despite her initial naivety, Eleanor proves to be an intriguing character, offering readers a captivating perspective to follow. While her innocence may be a point of contention for some, it adds depth to her character arc, setting the stage for compelling development as the story unfolds.
Ruskin, the brooding fae prince, is a standout character who adds depth and complexity to the narrative. Fans of enigmatic protagonists will find themselves drawn to his mysterious allure, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the story. Despite his typical archetype, Ruskin brings a freshness to the tale, offering readers a character worth rooting for.
In addition to the main characters, Destan and Halima add a delightful depth to the story. Their presence brings a sense of fun and companionship, and I immediately fell in love with them as characters.
‘The Court that Bleeds Gold’ explores alchemy instead of traditional magic, which sets it apart in the fantasy genre. However, I wanted more exploration of this unique aspect, as it takes a backseat in this novel. Nonetheless, the infusion of alchemy adds an intriguing layer to the world-building, promising an immersive experience for those willing to delve deeper.
The plot of ‘The Court that Bleeds Gold’ is both interesting and well-thought-out. Eleanor’s journey to help Ruskin and unravel the mysteries of Seelie kept me hooked from start to finish.
The pacing is sometimes a bit off, especially in the beginning, with events unfolding rapidly and hindering my ability to fully sympathize with Eleanor. This does improve throughout the rest of the book. However, as the story progresses, Eleanor’s character development shines through, endearing her to readers and highlighting her strength and resilience amidst adversity.
While the novel does occasionally have some typos in it, they are minor in nature and do not detract significantly from the overall reading experience. Additionally, while some plot twists may be predictable, they still manage to deliver a satisfying punch, keeping readers engaged and eager to uncover the next twist and turn. I, for one, did see the huge plot twist coming but not as quickly as I should’ve. Which made for a pleasant surprise.
Would I recommend it?
Yes! ‘The Court that Bleeds Gold’ is a promising debut that delivers an enthralling dark romance experience. With its compelling characters, refreshing twist on magic, and engaging writing style, it is sure to captivate fans of the genre and leave them eagerly anticipating future installments.
Rating
8/10
Details
- Trigger warnings / Torture, snakes, mythical creatures, blood, death, death of a loved one, spicey scenes
- Representation / ? not sure
- Genre / General Fiction (Adult), Romance, Fantasy
- Pages / 390
- Publication date / April 3rd, 2024
- Publisher / Relay Publishing
- About the author / Zara Storm writes fantasy romance with dark, compelling heroes and sassy, competent heroines. Her debut series is The Gold Weaver series. Zara loves fast-paced books with adventure, magic, strong characters, a rough-edged hero, and spicy romance.
Zara lives in Colorado with her husband, their two kids, her scaredy cat pit-bull mix, and their feisty cat who is queen of the house. When she’s not writing, she loves to read, hike the mountains, and travel to new places, but she’ll cop to the fact that she spends too much time watching Tiktok videos and she can endlessly watch Lucifer and Vampire Diaries.
With love,
heavenlybookish 