ARC Review: "Crimson Kiss" by Jodie Angell (The Ancient Spells Trilogy #1) ★★★

ARC Review: Crimson Kiss by Jodie Angell (The Ancient Spells Trilogy #1)

This is a great epic fantasy bodyguard and princess romance, a debut novel by Jodie Angell that should therefore not be ignored. Being the first book in a trilogy, this is both ambitious and a huge achievement. I was really drawn into the story through its promising premise. Ultimately, the story’s rushed events threw me off and unfortunately was not for me.

“My sword—my life—is yours, should you need it. I will stop at nothing to ensure you sit on that throne and take your place as queen. You will rule, and you will make this kingdom far better than those who preceded you. I know my place,” he paused, his throat bobbing as he swallowed. “But you haunt me, Evalyn.”

[Contains some spoilers]

PLOT SUMMARY
In the kingdom of Arogath, peace and prosperity cease with the overrun of Orcs. They are rumoured to be searching for someone from a prophecy said to be destined to rule the realm. King Atticus, uncle to Princess Evalyn, reveals that the Orcs are searching for her and she must hide. She is sent away with her bodyguard Felix, her childhood friend who once rejected her. They make for Lake Delendil, realm of the High Elves.

The realms of light are under threat of war from the Dark Triads (Orcs, Trolls, Dark Mages) and even the Ezen Riders. What’s more, the Dark Mages wield magic that allows them to use their higher conscious into intercepting another’s aura and manipulating the being into doing as the mages wish.

Being the sole survivor and new ruler of Arogarth, Evalyn must turn to the magical powers she has suppressed and find allies in all sorts of unusual places. From Oracles to Gnomes to fire magic-wielding Salamanders to Nereids to Goblin-like Krears, all band together to help the Queen. But there are traitors in their midst.

As time progresses and the longer they spend in each other’s company, Felix is drawn to Evalyn and she is drawn to him. But will their love, and rank, conquer all? And what if the prophecy is not quite as it seems?

OVERALL OPINIONS
This story is meant to be a reimagining of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, which is such an interesting and unique idea that has not been explored much (perhaps not even since the Witcher with the Wild Hunt). I like that they have been changed into women:

“During the time of the Noble Ones, the legend says that the Dark Mages conjured the Ezen Riders—four deadly women mounted on bears—to do their bidding. They encompassed all evil—the apocalypse—and were extremely powerful, an almighty force to combat.”

I also got Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 vibes when Evalyn protects the High Elves by conjuring stone soliders. Cue Professor MacGonagall’s “I’ve always wanted to use that spell!”

Indeed, I really loved the whole concept of this story but because the pacing was so fast, the deeper connections to the characters were lost. From the very first chapter, I could tell things were moving very quickly. By page 12, her uncle reveals Evalyn is who the Orcs are looking for and she is already fleeing her home.

The relationship between Evalyn and Felix is secondary to the plot. I assumed this would be more of a central aspect of the novel. This felt like a waste. I did love them so much!

Initial books that set the scene and characters can sometimes have the tendency to either provide too much information or not enough. Here, the world-building felt poor as it lacked details and was thrown into the deep end with plots suddenly revealed but not explained. I think I would have liked a summary of things, like the history of the Noble Ones, the previous war, the current situation and how it was brought about.

My suggestion is that Angell fleshes this out more and splits this trilogy into more books. As I have indicated, though, world-building and storytelling is not an easy thing to do and I heartedly commend her on her efforts with this story. Overall, I feel like if I had been a teenager I would have enjoyed this far more than I do now. This was giving major Young Adult vibes though based on the sex scenes this is certainly meant to be an adult book.

<< Positives >>
🠚Having a dagger as the chapter header images (paperback version) was really cool! It alludes to what happens near the end of the book which is very subtle and clever. I liked this a lot!
🠚Again, I like that the book is called Crimson Kiss. It makes perfect sense as it is a major plot point that happens later in the story.
🠚Evalyn and Felix’s relationship that is covered is so lovely! The moments between them are so cute and funny. I did giggle whenever Evalyn broke stuff when they were lost in their passions, and when they splashed each other in the water.
🠚The spice was exquisite!
🠚The inclusion of so many creatures from mythology and general fantasy was spectacular! This included: High Elves, Gnomes, Centaurs, Undines, Nereids and Sylphs. I especially liked the Sylphs.
🠚The magical elements, like Evalyn training and mastering her magic powers. This was fascinating to read. I like that the Elves have this tradition of sending their dead into the lake. The description reminds me of The Lady of the Lake from Arthurian legends: “Pure white hands rose from beneath the still water and eased her body below the surface”
🠚The way the mystery of her parents is gradually revealed is excellent. I liked the plot twist that they are both still alive.
🠚That cliffhanger was unexpected and well done.

<< Negatives >>
🠚No map. Not a huge issue but I like these as they always indicate where places are and help me imagine distances.
🠚No indication of an era/time period or even number of years: the first war with the Noble Ones appears to be some time less than 40 years ago, based on the fact her parents had much to do with this, but there are no dates, months, years; nothing.
🠚Inconsistency of era via language: the Arogath kingdom’s coat of arms is a fleur-de-lys is often associated with the medieval times and a lot of how the characters talk is considered old-fashioned and proper but then Evalyn says things like “gee” (this may be euphemistic for Jesus which would not work in this fantasy context) or “sure as hell” which is very modern. I acknowledge this is a fantasy world and can be whatever people desire.
🠚Should hell even be used as an expression when the realm of the dead has its own name here (Elysium)? There could be a name for the more hellish part of Elysium.
🠚The Dark Mage Makdou should have been mentioned much earlier than it was, when it is revealed who she really is.
🠚A lot of the characters feel a little too willing to help. There is no tension created here. The only character that was not willing to help at first was Sofia but she very quickly changes her mind when she discovers Evalyn is pregnant.
🠚Surprised about the moment when Felix first kisses Evalyn. It is hardly very romantic!
🠚Everyone seems to know who Evalyn is by sight, from the Orcs to the High Elves. But surely this would not always be the case.
🠚Evalyn distrusts Laurent – “Something about the man terrified me. Perhaps the chill tone to his voice. Why would Aneirin trust him?” – but I feel this observation does nothing in terms of moving the plot on except to make the reader consider him suspicious for a moment. But he does nothing else to cause suspicion and I really feel more could have been done with this idea.
🠚I feel like when Felix is missing, Evalyn does not act as panicked as others would. She sends her men to look for him and does not go herself.
🠚The Elementals all essentially disappear after that ambush. Why is this the case? Should they not have come to help at Southkeep?

CHARACTERS
-ˋˏ ꒰ Evalyn꒱ ˎˊ-
↳ I generally liked her character arc, but I wished she was a bit stronger as a character in some moments (like when her men are starting to follow her father and not her).
🠚The person she becomes by the end of the book is so beautifully dangerous (broken yet stronger and more bitter from all that has happened) that it will be interesting to see how she goes from here. I think this transformation was an incredible thing.

“It is my duty, and I am glad a sliver of happiness still prevails. Even in the darkest of times.”

-ˋˏ ꒰ Felix꒱ ˎˊ-
↳ One of the better parts and characters of the book. He is everything you could possibly want in a book boyfriend, honestly. He says and does all the right things, and will literally protect attack and love you right back!
🠚All the moments with and descriptions of Felix are very vivid I can tell Angell must have really enjoyed writing them. There is a whole paragraph just dedicated to his looks: “ He remained still for a few moments before lifting his helmet from his head. Handfuls of dark brown hair fell around his face in a tousled mess. He flattened the mane with the palms of his hands. His hazel eyes glimmered in the firelight, and a thin scar ran down the left side of his face from his high cheekbone into a fine layer of stubble. He prodded the fire with a crooked stick he’d kept to one side and peered at me… There was something beautiful about him. I’d always thought his scar told a story like the dents and scratches on his helmet. There was something mysterious about him.”
🠚How did he get his scar? I need more details!
🠚*Those* two scenes were just dayum! So good! I mean “What are you doing?” “Taking what’s mine.” come onnn! Amazing!

“While it is my sworn duty to protect you, I fear you are now in possession of my heart and mind.” He grinned. “Nothing will keep me away. I am yours as much as you are mine.”

FAV QUOTES
• The way he looked at me, as if I were the only person in his world, would be enough to bring any woman to her knees.
• In the wake of my magic, a coolness spread through me. And hope, I realised.
• “Trust me, it was never a question of whether I was interested in you. I’ve always found you interesting, and not because you are royal. In fact, you are interesting for a whole host of other reasons. The way you watch the sunset when you think no one is looking, how you frown when you concentrate. And most of all, your compassion and willingness to be better than those who ruled before you.”
• My name on his lips was like velvet. Soft, irresistible. Inviting. Everything about him drew me in.
• “You live in my dreams, and in my thoughts.” He closed the space between us and brought his lips to my ears. His next words were a soft purr. “You consume me.”
• “You’re mine,” he muttered against my flesh. “Say it.”
• They were terrifying creatures, but to win this war against the Dark Triads, we needed a little evil ourselves.
• I reflected on how my life had progressed over the last few months. I’d experienced every possible emotion. Pain, anger, fear, grief, passion, love, familiarity. How could so much light and dark coexist within my mind at one given time?
• The sunlight poured in through the coloured glass of the Citadel, caressing my cheeks with its light glow. I smiled, beginning to appreciate the things I’d taken for granted. I’d jump out of bed every morning and dash towards the window, expecting the sun to be in the sky, as beautiful as ever, and I wouldn’t think twice about it.
• He took me in his arms, and as we glided around the room and everything else fell away. We were now cocooned by our own love. No one else mattered in that moment. It was a moment of happiness, something we shared little of during the war. Forced together during the darkest era this realm had struggled through, a bond developed.

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I received an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review and I’d like to thank Jodie Angell for the opportunity. This has not affected my opinion in any way.

“Crimson Kiss” is out August 5th