The thrilling first book in a YA fantasy trilogy for fans of *Red Queen.*** In a world where social prestige derives from a trifecta of blood, money, and magic, one girl has the ability to break the spell that holds the social order in place.
**Sixteen-year-old Anna Arden is barred from society by a defect of blood. Though her family is part of the Luminate, powerful users of magic, she is Barren, unable to perform the simplest spells. Anna would do anything to belong. But her fate takes another course when, after inadvertently breaking her sister’s debutante spell—an important chance for a highborn young woman to show her prowess with magic—Anna finds herself exiled to her family’s once powerful but now crumbling native Hungary.
Her life might well be over.
In Hungary, Anna discovers that nothing is quite as it seems. Not the people around her, from her aloof cousin Noémi to the fierce and handsome Romani Gábor. Not the society she’s known all her life, for discontent with the Luminate is sweeping the land. And not her lack of magic. Isolated from the only world she cares about, Anna still can’t seem to stop herself from breaking spells.
As rebellion spreads across the region, Anna’s unique ability becomes the catalyst everyone is seeking. In the company of nobles, revolutionaries, and Romani, Anna must choose: deny her unique power and cling to the life she’s always wanted, or embrace her ability and change that world forever.
“A fast-paced historical fantasy full of magic, romance, and adventure!”—JESSICA DAY GEORGE, New York Times bestselling author of *Silver in the Blood*
**
From School Library Journal
Gr 8 Up—In 1847 London, Anna Arden's family belongs to the Luminates, the ruling class whose power is derived from magic. Only members of this society have access to magic, which is held in reserve in the Binding. Anna has a complicated relationship with magic; she finds it much easier to break spells than to create them. Because of this unfortunate development, she is banished to Hungary with her grandmother. Hungary is in the midst of civil unrest in response to the Luminates' monopoly on magic. A rebellion is beginning; the people want access to the magic as well as the same rights and privileges enjoyed by the nobility. With Anna's ability to break spells, she could undo the Binding. Realizing that her power can do some good, she becomes swept up in the spirit of the cause, finally feeling like she belongs. But is breaking the Binding the right thing to do? Gabour, a Romani man who can practice magic, supports the revolution, but he is against Anna breaking the Binding. Torn between two worlds, Anna must ultimately decide the best course of action, even if it means disappointing the ones she loves. The open ending invites readers to follow the story in this proposed trilogy's forthcoming volumes. VERDICT Despite its 400-page length, this is an enjoyable, fast-paced read with a likable protagonist with whom teens will identify. Recommended for most YA collections.—Lisa Wurch, Cuyahoga County Public Library, OH
Review
“Romance sizzles and deadly magic crackles in Rosalyn Eves’s electrifying debut.
Prepare to be spellbound.”—JULIE BERRY, Printz honor-winning author of The Passion of Dolssa and *All the Truth That’s in Me
“Everything I love in a fantasy: history, noblemen, magic, romance, and a revolution. Blood Rose Rebellion had me charmed from the first page.”—VIRGINIA BOECKER, author of The Witch Hunter*
"A successful blend of fantasy, romance, history, and political commentary." —The Bulletin
"Intrigue, action, and star-crossed romance abound."* —School Library Journal
Description:
"A magical tale unlike anything you've read before." —**Bustle
"[A] richly imagined 19th-century historical fantasy." —EW, A-
The thrilling first book in a YA fantasy trilogy for fans of *Red Queen.*** In a world where social prestige derives from a trifecta of blood, money, and magic, one girl has the ability to break the spell that holds the social order in place.
**Sixteen-year-old Anna Arden is barred from society by a defect of blood. Though her family is part of the Luminate, powerful users of magic, she is Barren, unable to perform the simplest spells. Anna would do anything to belong. But her fate takes another course when, after inadvertently breaking her sister’s debutante spell—an important chance for a highborn young woman to show her prowess with magic—Anna finds herself exiled to her family’s once powerful but now crumbling native Hungary.
Her life might well be over.
In Hungary, Anna discovers that nothing is quite as it seems. Not the people around her, from her aloof cousin Noémi to the fierce and handsome Romani Gábor. Not the society she’s known all her life, for discontent with the Luminate is sweeping the land. And not her lack of magic. Isolated from the only world she cares about, Anna still can’t seem to stop herself from breaking spells.
As rebellion spreads across the region, Anna’s unique ability becomes the catalyst everyone is seeking. In the company of nobles, revolutionaries, and Romani, Anna must choose: deny her unique power and cling to the life she’s always wanted, or embrace her ability and change that world forever.
“A fast-paced historical fantasy full of magic, romance, and adventure!”—JESSICA DAY GEORGE, New York Times bestselling author of *Silver in the Blood*
**
From School Library Journal
Gr 8 Up—In 1847 London, Anna Arden's family belongs to the Luminates, the ruling class whose power is derived from magic. Only members of this society have access to magic, which is held in reserve in the Binding. Anna has a complicated relationship with magic; she finds it much easier to break spells than to create them. Because of this unfortunate development, she is banished to Hungary with her grandmother. Hungary is in the midst of civil unrest in response to the Luminates' monopoly on magic. A rebellion is beginning; the people want access to the magic as well as the same rights and privileges enjoyed by the nobility. With Anna's ability to break spells, she could undo the Binding. Realizing that her power can do some good, she becomes swept up in the spirit of the cause, finally feeling like she belongs. But is breaking the Binding the right thing to do? Gabour, a Romani man who can practice magic, supports the revolution, but he is against Anna breaking the Binding. Torn between two worlds, Anna must ultimately decide the best course of action, even if it means disappointing the ones she loves. The open ending invites readers to follow the story in this proposed trilogy's forthcoming volumes. VERDICT Despite its 400-page length, this is an enjoyable, fast-paced read with a likable protagonist with whom teens will identify. Recommended for most YA collections.—Lisa Wurch, Cuyahoga County Public Library, OH
Review
“Romance sizzles and deadly magic crackles in Rosalyn Eves’s electrifying debut.
Prepare to be spellbound.”—JULIE BERRY, Printz honor-winning author of The Passion of Dolssa and *All the Truth That’s in Me
“Everything I love in a fantasy: history, noblemen, magic, romance, and a revolution. Blood Rose Rebellion had me charmed from the first page.”—VIRGINIA BOECKER, author of The Witch Hunter*
"A successful blend of fantasy, romance, history, and political commentary." —The Bulletin
"Intrigue, action, and star-crossed romance abound."* —School Library Journal
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