Crystal Bloods by Aerin Apeltun

Book Review

Elloise Hopkins

Princess Sorsha, the Seventh Starlight Princess, is well used to hiding the secrets of her blood. Even best friend, Kit, has no idea she is a double blood. Not only does she bleed when cut, she also produces the rarest of crystals: the Pellucid, capable of enhancing all other crystal magic. But of course, such a rarity will always be sought by those in power, and Sorsha will find out there are those capable of seeking out Crystal Bloods, for their own ill intentions.

Now it seems double blood is far from Sorsha’s only problem. As a Starlight Princess, she is obligated to marry well, and despite avoiding this fate for so long, her mother has finally found her a match. She will be Pledged to a prince, and her quiet life hiding away from the Starlight Citadel, will soon come to an end.

Sorsha favours training and obscurity over courtly life, but today, on her once-a-year trip to court, not only is she confronted by the upcoming Pledging, and her teasing cousin, Taran, she finds herself summoned by the King. It would seem the Moon Order has been out of touch for long enough to cause worry, and Sorsha is to travel there to find out what has happened.

As if hiding her secret on a long voyage would not be hard enough, not to mention the seasickness and storms she will have to contend with, Taran’s newest acquaintance, Prince Etienne of the Sun Order, is to accompany her. Sorsha is less than pleased, but perhaps she will discover more in common with the prince than first impressions suggested.  

Crystal Bloods offers a fairly unique concept: those with Crystal Blood tend to produce crystals of one particular colour when they bleed, with each crystal in this magic system granting the user a particular short-term ability, such as yellow for tracking other Crystal Bloods, orange for healing, and the Pellucids that enhance the others’ power. The underlying story is that the Emperor has developed a desire for crystals and is using yellows to find and imprison Crystal Bloods, draining them for magic.

However, first and foremost, this is a romantasy, and the developing relationship between Sorsha and Etienne is at the heart of the story. Whilst it is obvious where things are heading from early on, Crystal Bloods fits well into the current landscape, where detailed descriptions and epic-scale worldbuilding give way to internalised thought and romantic obstacles.

For this reader, much of the narrative flow felt somewhat underdeveloped, and as a protagonist, Sorsha came off with a little too much naïvety and uncertainty for someone who has dedicated themselves to combat training and a life of concealment. Nevertheless, it is a sweet read for lighter nights and will be enjoyed by many.