Fifteen-year-old Amelina longs for someone to confide in. Her once carefree mother has become angry and despondent. One day a strange black cat and a young girl, named Esme appear. Immediately, Esme becomes the sister Amelina never had. The only catch is that Esme must remain a prisoner, living within the mirrors of Amelina’s house. Dreams and a puzzling invitation convince Amelina the answer to … answer to her family’s troubles lies within the walls of the illusive Crystal Cottage. Undaunted by her mother’s warnings, Amelina searches for the cottage on an isolated Cambridgeshire pathway where she encounters a charismatic young man, named Ryder. At the right moment, he steps out of the shadows, rescuing her from the unwanted attention of two male troublemakers.
In time, she earns the right to use three wizard stones. The first awakens her spirit to discover a time of legends, and later, leads her to the Bloodstone, the supreme cleansing crystal which has the power to restore the balance of time. Will Amelina find the power to set her family free?
A YA fantasy set in Cambridge, England exploring various themes/aspects: Light, darkness, time, shadows, a magical curse, crystals, art, and poetry.
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The Curse of Time is the first book in the Bloodstone series written by M.J. Mallon. The book was published in 2018, and the author is currently working on the second one in this young adult fantasy / paranormal, coming-of-age story. At its core, this is an emotional tale about a young girl figuring out her identity, learning whom to trust, and discovering there is more to the world that the tangible things she’s experienced in the first one-and-a-half decades of her life.
Magic Mirrors? Mysterious appearances? Letters that cannot be destroyed? Puzzling trust? What’s a girl to do when she’s followed by two strange boys in the park, only to realize something darker is beginning to happen? Mallon explores the fears in a young girl who wants to break out of her life but doesn’t know where to turn. She’s unsure about trusting friends and family. Ryder, who saves the day, might actually not be the best thing for her… safety… sanity… security. Can she fight the feelings burgeoning around her?
Crystals play a huge role in this story. There’s another girl trapped inside a mirror, but is she working for or against our heroine, Amelina? When pushed to the limit, she’s resourceful and kind. Amelina wields her powers in an unusual way, learning how to manage everything that’s suddenly new to her in this enchanted life that’s begun in the strangest but most welcome of ways. I enjoyed the character development. Mallon’s writing style flows well and draws you in. This isn’t a normal genre for me, but I easily relaxed into the plot and found the characters intriguing and refreshing.
I want to know what could come next. Good thing the author is writing more… now just what kind of magic might unfold? I hope these unbreakable messages and posts figure prominently. What a great way to start the tale!
This is the first book of a series which I am definitely following. With wonderful characters, original storyline and fast paced writing but not to fast so you lose the storyline, this is a must for anyone who loves original fantasy and magicial realisim. Look forward to Book two.
This is definitely for the younger ones. It incorporates magic crystals and breaking a family curse. Then there is the young teen that is a prisoner in their mirrors. There is also a handsome villain that our heroine must somehow reject. Her search for crystals finally takes her to the special cottage, but has she picked the right ones? Will they work with her touch? Where will the imprisoned young woman go if she is released? Has the family curse truly been destroyed?
what a fabulous read!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The story reminds me of a crossing between the stories by the Brothers Grimm and the movie 13th Ghosts. A creepy, eerie vibe goes through the whole story line. Shadows that lingers in the house where Amelina lives. When I started the book I thought another story of finding a magical school where she will learn that she is magical.
But no, her life and family is a magical school and the invite of the Crystal Cottage an alluring fairytale. But Amelina was further from the truth when strange things start happening. In an unfortunate event, she meets the dangerous but attractive Ryder. Her family is cursed and she feels like she lives in a prison, but this is nothing compared to Esme the involuntary house guest.
As Amelina starts to know Ryder better, he makes acquaintance with her friends, especially with her best friend Jade. The more she sees the other side of Ryder, the more she feels something is seriously wrong. Her brain is flashing danger but the heart behaves like it’s under a spell. Things become progressively more weirder and more dangerous. Who can she trust? And what is up with Esme? Even her Aunt seems to have something to hide when she sent Amelina a magical water color set with brushes that have a mind of their own.
U 50×66
PAR’s reviewAug 28, 2021 · edit
it was amazing
Read 2 times
TRIGGER WARNING: this book contains mention of self-harm, mental health issues and alludes to the potential dangers of sexual attraction, which may trigger younger/sensitive readers. I always want to start out with the trigger warning as my background and training are in this area. That said, what an interesting and intriguing novel! Bloodstone is the first book in The Curse of Time series. Fifteen-year-old Amelia Scott lives in Cambridge with her extremely dysfunctional family. Her father disappeared and has now returned as a totally different person. The once happy family is now in extreme discord. Add to all of that some intriguing features such as a suicidal girl in the mirror, an unusual friend she meets along a forbidden path, and add to that that Amelia appears to have descended from a magical family you will find yourself entirely intrigued. This author of this novel is extremely gifted and is able to bring to the surface many issues that are not often discussed in a dysfunctional family system. I really enjoyed this novel and highly recommend it to others. I gave this honest, voluntary review after being given a free copy of the book with no monetary compensation.
“Bloodstone” is a paranormal YA story that centers on 15-year-old Amelina. Her family life drastically changed after her father disappeared and then returned home a different man. Her once happy household was gone. When she gets an invitation to a mysterious place, she goes down a forbidden path by the river. Here she meets Ryder, who completely mesmerizes her after saving her from a robbery attempt. There were many great secondary characters, including her band members and cat, Shadow, but I think my favorite was Esme or the girl who lived in the mirror. There was a lot of depth in Esme, and the subject of self-harm was dealt with well. I’m a fan of rocks/crystals, so their importance in the story was a plus. The magic and darkness weaved into the plot of finding the truth contrasted with Amelina’s constant conflict. The poetry before each chapter was a nice addition, and I enjoyed the descriptive passages. The ending answered some questions, but not all. I look forward to reading the next book in this series to see what happens next. If you like a paranormal story told from a teen’s perspective who is not only finding herself but discovering her unique abilities, this is for you.
Her house is haunted by a girl who lives in the mirror, her dad returned from a strange disappearance oddly aged, and inanimate objects can talk to her and control her. Her cat is capable of disappearing, a talent shared by her dark, handsome, and creepy crush, Ryder. Her family is cursed. Amelina is not a happy teenager.
Each chapter is a puzzle piece that leads the reader deeper into Amelina’s experience. The first third of the book is primarily exposition – filling the reader in through dreams, memories, visions, and the mutterings of the girl in the mirror. The odd things that happen to Amelina reminded me of the adventures of Alice in Wonderland, the connection and significance of each puzzle piece not yet clear. The line from the book, “Nothing is crazy. Everything is possible” sums it up.
For a while, the story shift and focuses on Amelina and Ryder, a budding romance riddled with teenage angst and hinting at a darker side to the handsome teen. It’s not until near the end of the book that Amelina’s goal —to rid her family of its curse— takes over, accompanied by the means to accomplish her wish.
I liked the character of Amelina and was sympathetic to her plight. She’s stuck in that teenage place of caring for one’s parents while also thinking they’re annoying. The use of crystals was intriguing and included the real-life power and wisdom that crystals are thought to possess. The read is full of teenage-life details, and I recommend it for YA readers.
This was a fantastic story with such great characterization and rich details. It was a page-turner that will not soon be forgotten.