logo

Review: The White Lily by Juliette Cross (Vampire Blood #3)

logo

The White Lily by Juliette Cross // VBC ReviewThe White Lily (Vampire Blood #3)
Juliette Cross
Published: Oct. 23, 2017 (Entangled)
Purchase: Book Depository or Amazon
Review source: copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review 

Reviewed by: Margaret

Rating (out of 5): 4 stars

Note: While review will be spoiler free, it does make reference to previous books in the series. If you haven’t started yet, check out VBC’s review of The Black Lily.

The White Lily is the third in Juliette Cross’s series of fairytale retellings with vampires, which I still think is a brilliant idea. As you might have guessed from the title, this one adapts the Snow White story to Cross’s feudal world where the humans are beginning to rebel against their vampire rulers.

Brennalyn Snow, who just happens to have raven-black hair, rose-red lips, and snow-white skin, is the school teacher in the small village where she lives with her seven adopted children, who obviously take the place of a different sort of short person—there’s even one who doesn’t speak. But in secret she is the White Lily, producing flyers on her basement printing press in support of the Black Lily, the name adopted by the rebel cause.

From the previous books, readers know that Friedrich, the Duke of Winter Hill, is also an ally of the Black Lily. Brenna, however, does not know this when she sets out to spy on the duke in hopes of learning about his family’s activities. When Friedrich catches her spying, he uses the opportunity to get to know her better. But when he discovers the king has sent a huntsman after the White Lily, he’s forced to reveal his allegiance, and his intentions, to protect Brenna and the children. I liked their romance, even though I wish the outcome of a relationship between a vampire and a human weren’t always so predictable.

The White Lily follows the original fairytale much more closely than the previous book, The Red Lily, did. Cross even works a mirror and a poisoned fruit in to the story, though not exactly in the way you might expect. This book also does a better job tying in to the series plot, updating the reader on the rebels’ progress and eventually bringing Brenna and Friedrich together with the previous couples.

Because I felt like the last book digressed from the main story, I was happy to see both Snow White and the rebellion in prominent roles in The White Lily. I enjoy seeing these fairytale princesses reimagined as revolutionaries. I think that Sleeping Beauty is next and I’m curious to see what Cross does with her.

Sexual content: graphic sex

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

logo
logo
Powered by WordPress | Designed by Elegant Themes
Malcare WordPress Security