Book Review: To Snap A Silver Stem by Sarah A. Parker
To Snap a Silver Stem
Happy release day to To Snap A Silver Stem and Sarah A. Parker! And thank you Sarah for the early review copy 💙
BEWARE: This is book 2 in a series, so there may be spoilers ahead if you haven’t read book 1, To Bleed A Crystal Bloom. Check out my full review for book 1 here.
“Everything is nothing if you’re in pieces.”
About The Book
I finished this last night and I was … gutted and hurt and reeling. I’m still in a daze this morning. I think I snapped a little, too. But … in the same breath, I cannot wait to see where this story ends up. The best is yet to come … I can feel it.
Book Details
Title: To Snap A Silver Stem
Author: Sarah A. Parker
Publication Date: August 8, 2022
Genres: New Adult, Romantasy, Fantasy Romance
My Rating: ★★★★★/5
Purchase a copy: Amazon
Add on Goodreads | Literal >> Check out my blog all about Literal Club here <<
Synopsis
I want him to hurt. To bleed.
I want him to snap, just like he snapped me.
Once upon a time, my world was small and sheltered. Everything changed the moment I stepped over my Safety Line, barreling towards a coupling with a man I hardly know.
He wants me. All of me.
Dunked in a charged political pit, I must secure the ships needed to quell the spill of murderous beasts still flooding the continent. But one wrong move could spur the war I’ve worked so hard to avoid.
I’ll wear the dress and the cupla and the shoes. I’ll do it all with a smile on my face. Because everyone's watching.
He’s watching—hunting a fissure in my frosty shield, trying to scrape back the layers and see my ugly insides.
He’s unyielding. Unguarded.
Changed.
Why is he looking now when I’ve got everything to hide?
Secrets sprout, truths bloom, and more than one of us will snap.
Crowned in the crippling weight of my mistakes, I must atone. Even if it costs me my life.
Fear was my overlord. Now, it’s my prisoner.
To Snap a Silver Stem is the explosive sequel of To Bleed a Crystal Bloom—a dark Rapunzel reimagining full of immersive imagery and breathtaking angst. A unique fantasy series perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas and Jennifer L. Armentrout, guaranteed to grip you from the very first page.
“He taught me to bleed so beautifully. I wonder ... will he bleed for me?”
The Story
spoiler-free
Orlaith must atone for her sins, or at least that’s what she tells herself. And she’s had enough. Enough of hiding and enough of his lies. Discovering she’s truly still in a land riddled with monsters, Orlaith plans to help stop the waive of impending war and devastation through a forced coupling with Cainon, High Master of the South and weilder of the most ships in the entire land. Ships Ocruth needs. Her home needs. Without them, families in Ocruth and the northern territories risk war and eventual… unavoidable… death and despair. This coupling is the least she can do for other families like hers, to prevent what happened to her to ever happen to anyone else ever again. And to finally and truly get away from him. …Or at least that’s what she tells herself.
this book has:
💙fated/bonded mates
💙prophecy x secrets
💙aquatic shape shifters
💙kingdom/courtly intrigue
💙deception, political power plays
💙arranged couplings/political pairings
💙heartbreak x despair
💙secret identity x rendezvous
💙monsters x growing sickness tropes
💙gutwrenching love stories
💙multiple POV/storylines
The Characters
these are the main players!
Orlaith, or Laith for short, our reimagined Rapunzel - fierce and determined and utterly powerful.
Rhordyn, High Master of Ocruth, broody and distant but protective and secretive, you can’t really help but love him.
Baze, a close friend of Orlaith and confidant of Rhordyn, he’s our big brother figure in this story.
Kai, one of Laith’s close friends from Castle Nior, there’s definitely more to him than meets the eye!
Zali, promised to Rhordyn through a political / arranged pairing.
Cainon, High Master of Bahari and promised to Orlaith through a forced pairing, he’s hiding a lot and has alterior motives.
Steamometer
🥵🌋 - SOMEWHERE BETWEEN MY OVARIES ARE BURSTING AND MY BODY IS MELTING
So this installment definitely had a bit more spice to it! But not with the characters you might have been expecting…!
There’s still all the stolen moments, pining, angst, longing and hurt that make all the couplings that much more intense and also so beautiful.
For those who are unfamiliar with my Steamometer, check it out below (it’s ever-evolving lol)!
❤️ NICE AND SWEET
💃🏼 SASSY SPICE
🔥 STEAMYYYY GOODNESS
🥵 MY OVARIES ARE BURSTING
🌋 MY WHOLE BODY IS ON FIRE AND I’M MELTING
🖤 SMUTASTIC
Book Aesthetic (by me) & Playlist (by Sarah)
This installment, just like book 1, was so vivid in my mind and just incredibly atmospheric. It was hard not to automatically start piecing this story together visually. All photos are from Pinterest - links provided.
Content Warnings
Content warnings can be tricky with fantasy reads, but I like to call out things I notice that might be potential triggers for others. It’s done well and enhances, really, the tragedy and despair of the story but with so much underlying hope and growth and positive self progression. Please take them into consideration though.
self hatred
thoughts of self harm
grief/despair
death
Overall Thoughts
Well, holy hell, my heart 😭💔
This story, from start to finish, was stunning in its moving prose, vivid imagery, and in its overflowing feeling and gut-wrenching emotion. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time, my mind bouncing between all sorts of theories and predictions and what ifs… but oof what a blow this book gives. That “hurts so good” kind of feeling, but more. It gutted me and left me reeling and I'm still in a daze this morning... but, in the same breath, I cannot wait to see where the story ends up!
In Crystal Bloom fashion, Silver Stem is an all-consuming, soul-devouring and -shattering, mind-bending, can’t-do-anything-else-til-I-finish-but-I-don’t-want-it-to-end read that tears and pulls at those heartstrings and doesn’t let you go. I have no idea what I'm supposed to do until book 3. I'm waiting with baited breath for what's to come next, because I just know it's going to be the best so far.
“I’d strike the fucking world down for you.”
About The Author
ABOUT SARAH A. PARKER:
Sarah is an international bestselling author who also writes under the pen name S.A. Parker. She lives in Australia with her husband and children, and spends her days with her nose in a book or her mind in a world of her own creation. Her genre of choice is epic fantasy romance, and she thrives off dreaming up complex characters and immersive worlds to get lost amongst.
*Pic and bio Courtesy of her website
To Snap a Silver Stem is out now!
Thank you so much Sarah for the advanced digital and review copy.
Others Books/Series By Sarah That I Can’t Wait To Start!
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Oh hey, friend!
I’m Leah. Cozy connoisseur and bountiful book buyer. I have a minor obsession with getting lost in the pages of a good book, guzzling coffee, and thriving at home. Leggings, wine, and essential oils are also my jam. I'm truly just a bookworm and homebody at heart with a knack for content creation & cozy shots. This is my creative space.
Happy release day to Sarah A. Parker and To Snap A Silver Stem, book 2 in the Crystal Bloom series! This book utterly gutted me and I’m still dazed from the impact. Moving prose, vivid imagery, overflowing feeling and gut-wrenching emotion. This book is all consuming and soul shattering. Check out my latest book review of To Snap A Silver Stem by Sarah A. Parker.