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emilyrosepetro's review
4.0
Not as good as the first, but still really good. The Mexico scenes seemed to deviate a lot from the main plot though and I could have used some more info on what was going on in NYC rather than info on how to cut of cacao pods with a machete. I also didn't like the whole "Oh yeah, let's legalize chocolate after it's been illegal for who-knows-how long" thing, it was a strange change after the "NO CHOCOLATE OR ELSE" message of the first book.
lisawreading's review
3.0
The middle book of a trilogy is never quite as engaging as the first nor as exciting as the last. As the second book in the Birthright series, Because It Is My Blood does a good job of moving the story forward, but didn't quite grab me the way All These Things I've Done managed to do.
Because It Is My Blood continues the story of Anya Balanchine, 17-year-old crime family heiress in a world in which chocolate is outlawed. Anya is a worthy heroine -- smart, protective of her brother and sister, and determined to find a way to fulfill her parents' legacy while creating a new path of her own.
The romance developed in the first book, while still a factor, is mostly in the background in Because It Is My Blood... and that's not a bad thing. I appreciated that Anya makes decisions on her own, and that those decisions are not based on whether they'll suit her boyfriend, but on whether she's doing the right thing for the greatest number of people.
I enjoyed reading about New York in 2083. Gabrielle Zevin has put a fresh spin on the genre of futuristic YA novels, and I'm looking forward to seeing where she goes next with Anya's world.
Because It Is My Blood continues the story of Anya Balanchine, 17-year-old crime family heiress in a world in which chocolate is outlawed. Anya is a worthy heroine -- smart, protective of her brother and sister, and determined to find a way to fulfill her parents' legacy while creating a new path of her own.
The romance developed in the first book, while still a factor, is mostly in the background in Because It Is My Blood... and that's not a bad thing. I appreciated that Anya makes decisions on her own, and that those decisions are not based on whether they'll suit her boyfriend, but on whether she's doing the right thing for the greatest number of people.
I enjoyed reading about New York in 2083. Gabrielle Zevin has put a fresh spin on the genre of futuristic YA novels, and I'm looking forward to seeing where she goes next with Anya's world.
_camk_'s review against another edition
3.0
3.5.
Because It Is My Blood is a very good follow up to it's predecessor, All These Things I've Done.
It shows character growth for all characters.
It also has a few surprises you will not guess.
Because It Is My Blood is a very good follow up to it's predecessor, All These Things I've Done.
It shows character growth for all characters.
It also has a few surprises you will not guess.
alyssaht's review against another edition
5.0
I love this character and the how the author has created the world she lives in. She is smart, spunky, and just wants to live a normal life...which is impossible for her.
sngick's review against another edition
5.0
I love this series. The change in setting for part of this book to Mexico as well as the introduction to new characters was well done. Anya is an interesting main character with many facets. I look forward to more in this series. Dare I say I hope it's NOT a trilogy because I want to read more about Anya's life.
brittany_n_henke's review
2.0
DNF. Made it most of the way through before I realized I didn’t care what happened to the characters!
brendaclay's review
5.0
The continuing tale of Anya Balanchine, illegal-chocolate heiress and mafia daughter, trying to keep herself and her family alive in dystopian 2082 New York. In this second novel, Anya is forced to flee to Mexico as a fugitive, where she stays on a cacao farm and learns more about the family business. Meanwhile, back home, more unexpected tragedies and surprises are set into motion. I've read reviews complaining that "not enough happens" in these books, but not only do I disagree, I also think the time we spend in Anya's head watching her develop is what really makes these books great. Can't wait for the final installment!
sunny_momster's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
lsvicente537's review against another edition
4.0
There is so much action in this book, I was never bored. I like Anya and I feel her very relatable even though her life is so different from mine. She is an amazing young girl, who has so much on her plate and she deals with all of it so well. Yes she makes mistakes, but she is smart enough not to let one mistake her ruin all of her plans. She is strong and independent but she does love Win and they really are so cute together. If there I was one thing I would change, is that I would add more scenes of Win and Annie alone. Everything was so business, business, business, that sometimes, I forgot that she had a boyfriend. Crazy twists in the story, and I can't wait to see what will happen next!