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tinysierra's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
“There’s something about lounging in a bath of blood that makes me want to stay until my fingers shrivel enough to show the outlines of my bones.” pg 1
I expected to fall in love with Blood like Magic. The synopsis was interesting and the first sentence hooked me. It’s got black witches and queer representation. Speaking of, I swear I’ve seen this book on asexual rec lists, but asexual and aromantic are two different things. It has an explicit demiromantic (meaning that they’re on the aromantic spectrum) side character. There is another character that does not seem to enjoy physical touch or kissing, but the word asexual is not used. Moving on, another thing that influenced me to read the book was the fact that the plot reminded me of Raybearer, which I really loved.
Maybe I set my expectations too high. I’m not sure. I originally decided to DNF this book because it was a bit repetitive and felt like nothing was really happening. After a few months, I picked it up again to see if it got better. I enjoyed the interactions we got to see between Luc and Voya. The way the plot was executed just didn’t do anything for me. I think the writing style was too… dense and long winded. The book felt too long. The pacing was not fast.
I’m disappointed because I also really loved the cover of this one and the sequel. I won’t be reading the second book.
Themes:
-Broken family
-importance of community
-importance of family ties
-connection to ancestors
-cooking
-sacrifice
-trust
-addiction
-poverty
-eating disorder briefly mentioned
-addiction
-poverty
-eating disorder briefly mentioned
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Violence, Slavery, Blood, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, and Torture
Moderate: Drug abuse, Mass/school shootings, and Transphobia
Minor: Addiction, Eating disorder, and Vomit
halfbloodprincess_hogwarts's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Blood Like Magic is pure perfection. I may have found my favorite book for 2022🥰😍
That was quite an emotional rollercoaster...I am speechless. It's impossible to add specific lines (I annotated this like crazy) without gushing over what happened that it felt like watching a movie series.
It was quite indept... going through the various magic systems, magical families, scientific use of genes and the list goes on!!!!
There were so many laugh out loud moments and one in particular was comic relief at the PERFECT moment 👏🏼🤌🏼 relating to a "certain" family member, it would be a HUGE SPOILER.
I ADORE Voya and find her to be a truly relatable character. From being afraid to making mistakes to her passion for baking to her fierce love for her family and grandma🥰🥺🦋.
I am so enthused its the first of a duology and will soon purchase physical copies to enjoy over and over again. BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR BLOOD LIKE FATE, released August 9th. I know for a fact it will NOT disappoint🔥🦋🦋🦋
That was quite an emotional rollercoaster...I am speechless. It's impossible to add specific lines (I annotated this like crazy) without gushing over what happened that it felt like watching a movie series.
It was quite indept... going through the various magic systems, magical families, scientific use of genes and the list goes on!!!!
There were so many laugh out loud moments and one in particular was comic relief at the PERFECT moment 👏🏼🤌🏼 relating to a "certain" family member, it would be a HUGE SPOILER.
I ADORE Voya and find her to be a truly relatable character. From being afraid to making mistakes to her passion for baking to her fierce love for her family and grandma🥰🥺🦋.
I am so enthused its the first of a duology and will soon purchase physical copies to enjoy over and over again. BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR BLOOD LIKE FATE, released August 9th. I know for a fact it will NOT disappoint🔥🦋🦋🦋
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Addiction, Blood, Death of parent, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Pregnancy, Violence, Alcohol, Child death, Cursing, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Vomit, Body shaming, Chronic illness, Death, Hate crime, Murder, Police brutality, Infertility, Medical content, Body horror, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Bullying, Grief, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Slavery, and Stalking
madarauchiha's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
❤️ 🧡 💛 💚 💙 💜 my about / byf / CW info carrd: uchiha-madara 💜 💙 💚 💛 🧡 ❤️
The character voices are wonderful, and I love the sibling interaction. The magic system is so interesting and has variation to it, which makes it more compelling to hear. And oh thank god theres a trans black character. It is slow paced. This is a good story to settle into. You dont want to rush it.
I liked the variety of relationships that is shown in the novel. I think its compassionate to show teen readers there isn't only One True Love fairy tale relationships. especially towards young Black readers.
▪ “I should have never made you make that promise.”
“I’m going to—”
She shakes her head hard, braid whipping across her shoulders. “You’re a child. I’m an adult. Holding two lives in your hands is more responsibility than anyone should be given at sixteen.”
I swallow. My mouth opens to talk back, but I don’t have an argument. It is a lot. Too much.
“I take it back,” Priya says. “You are responsible for you. I am responsible for my daughter.”
“I won’t let Eden die.”
The morality these adult characters have is chefs kiss! Yes the MC is literally a child, yes the MC is being protected by adults because hello, she is a child!! Trope? Overthrown. Please welcome Liselle Sambury to the throne.
▪ The intersection of Dundas Street West and Spadina Avenue is marked by the gigantic Dragon City mini mall on the corner made up of green tinted glass and masses of people. I rush out and wait for Granny outside. She steps out of the streetcar as the doors close and mumbles a thank-you.
I force down a laugh. Mom does the same thing when she gets off non-subway public transit. “You know it’s automated now, right? There isn’t any driver to thank.”
Granny shrugs. “Habit.”
It strikes me as being painfully Canadian to say thank you to the computer for dropping you off.
My heart... same. I think theres a decent balance of totally horrifying scenes and heartwarming ones.
The genetic match up thing IS a lil weird to me. But it gets resolved later in the plot if anyone is thinking it's another generic YA dystopia plot line a la a hunger games rip off.
I do like the way they scoot around swearing. It is a lil goofy but it's a ya novel, the characters are teens and it's pretty in universe to say hack instead of fuck.
This book was sickening and badass and stunning. I cannot sing Its praises loud enough.
content warnings:
minor anti black racism, blood, child death, child birth, emetophobia / vomit, medical scenarios, misgendering, murder, suicide, toxic relationships, unsanitary
medium ableism, addiction, alcohol use, blood, child abandonment, child abuse, domestic abuse, eating disorder, eugenics, gentrification, misogyny, slavery, torture, unsanitary, violence
major anti black racism, black slavery, body horror, child abuse, child death, classism, gore, gun violence, injuries, intrusive thoughts?, kidnapping, medical scenarios, menstruation, murder, poison, police brutality, spree killing, torture, unreality, unsanitary, misgendering?, context is genetic markers on government ids.,
major asphyxiation/lynching(?) scene, context mc sees her sister being asphyxiated via hanging. the love interest is present and might be involved with the action. it doesn't seem racially motivated but she is a Black character so like. implications. it is a psychic vision and may not occur in actuality. The imagery of a Black person being hung to death may be upetting.
The character voices are wonderful, and I love the sibling interaction. The magic system is so interesting and has variation to it, which makes it more compelling to hear. And oh thank god theres a trans black character. It is slow paced. This is a good story to settle into. You dont want to rush it.
I liked the variety of relationships that is shown in the novel. I think its compassionate to show teen readers there isn't only One True Love fairy tale relationships. especially towards young Black readers.
▪ “I should have never made you make that promise.”
“I’m going to—”
She shakes her head hard, braid whipping across her shoulders. “You’re a child. I’m an adult. Holding two lives in your hands is more responsibility than anyone should be given at sixteen.”
I swallow. My mouth opens to talk back, but I don’t have an argument. It is a lot. Too much.
“I take it back,” Priya says. “You are responsible for you. I am responsible for my daughter.”
“I won’t let Eden die.”
The morality these adult characters have is chefs kiss! Yes the MC is literally a child, yes the MC is being protected by adults because hello, she is a child!! Trope? Overthrown. Please welcome Liselle Sambury to the throne.
▪ The intersection of Dundas Street West and Spadina Avenue is marked by the gigantic Dragon City mini mall on the corner made up of green tinted glass and masses of people. I rush out and wait for Granny outside. She steps out of the streetcar as the doors close and mumbles a thank-you.
I force down a laugh. Mom does the same thing when she gets off non-subway public transit. “You know it’s automated now, right? There isn’t any driver to thank.”
Granny shrugs. “Habit.”
It strikes me as being painfully Canadian to say thank you to the computer for dropping you off.
My heart... same. I think theres a decent balance of totally horrifying scenes and heartwarming ones.
The genetic match up thing IS a lil weird to me. But it gets resolved later in the plot if anyone is thinking it's another generic YA dystopia plot line a la a hunger games rip off.
I do like the way they scoot around swearing. It is a lil goofy but it's a ya novel, the characters are teens and it's pretty in universe to say hack instead of fuck.
This book was sickening and badass and stunning. I cannot sing Its praises loud enough.
content warnings:
minor anti black racism, blood, child death, child birth, emetophobia / vomit, medical scenarios, misgendering, murder, suicide, toxic relationships, unsanitary
medium ableism, addiction, alcohol use, blood, child abandonment, child abuse, domestic abuse, eating disorder, eugenics, gentrification, misogyny, slavery, torture, unsanitary, violence
major anti black racism, black slavery, body horror, child abuse, child death, classism, gore, gun violence, injuries, intrusive thoughts?, kidnapping, medical scenarios, menstruation, murder, poison, police brutality, spree killing, torture, unreality, unsanitary, misgendering?, context is genetic markers on government ids.,
major asphyxiation/lynching(?) scene,
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Hate crime, Kidnapping, Mass/school shootings, Medical content, Murder, Police brutality, Racism, Slavery, Torture, and Transphobia
Moderate: Ableism, Alcohol, Blood, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Misogyny, Slavery, Torture, and Violence
Minor: Blood, Racism, Child death, Child abuse, Pregnancy, Vomit, Medical content, Transphobia, Deadnaming, Suicide, and Toxic relationship
dhwani's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Blood, Death, Eating disorder, Mass/school shootings, Murder, Police brutality, Slavery, and Vomit
Moderate: Transphobia, Vomit, Racism, and Alcohol
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