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sugarpop's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
singsthewren's review against another edition
4.0
This book was sitting on my to-read shelf, literally, for five years. The title sort of put me off, and the main character's name is so silly I assumed it would be really painfully typical YA. And I got it for free, so I just kept putting it off.
I finally decided to read it since I was on vacation, and I figured I could leave it behind when I was done. Well, unfortunately, the book was so darn good that I had to shlep it all the way home so I can lend it to other people!!
The plot is really different - I love how accepting everyone is of the magic, and how open and honest the main characters are with the other people in their lives. The romance feels very real and engaging, and the different points of view are earned and interesting. Can't wait to read the next one!
I finally decided to read it since I was on vacation, and I figured I could leave it behind when I was done. Well, unfortunately, the book was so darn good that I had to shlep it all the way home so I can lend it to other people!!
The plot is really different - I love how accepting everyone is of the magic, and how open and honest the main characters are with the other people in their lives. The romance feels very real and engaging, and the different points of view are earned and interesting. Can't wait to read the next one!
emma211's review against another edition
5.0
This is an amazing book. I loved the characters, the plot, the setting, the magic, all of it!
amaldae's review against another edition
2.0
Written in April 2014. Slightly edited April 2016... and I do mean slightly.
There are just a few things I would like to point out after reading this book. In no particular order:
1. Cursing in one's thoughts doesn't make them "cool", "masculine" or "convincingly angsty". The male protagonist, I swear... I couldn't even tell the MCs apart most of the time!
2. I didn't hate Silla so much after, but she never became my favourite character - I couldn't feel for her and felt that rather than a flaw in her characterization, something in the actual narrative kept me from getting involved in the story.
3. Reese's every word only managed to piss me of more. No one is supposed to "get over it" in (a few) months when someone close to them dies. NO ONE. I get that he didn't necessarily mean his words this way but wouldn't he be able to take care of his sister a bit better if he's being the over-protective idiot he pretends to be? I couldn't see past the annoyances at any point in the book.
4. I, like, really have had enough of these curly-haired lipstick bimbo sidekick girls as the main character's empty-headed "best friends". And no, those are mostly not my words.
5. While Judy wasn't one of the characters I loathed, I fail to understand why exactly was she in the book.
6. The Big, Bad, Mysterious Evil in this book is ridiculously simple and unoriginal. And by gods, how I dislike cheap shock/horror elements replacing everything else. (Yep, referring to the ending here.)
7. I loved Philip as well as Nick's mother. Adorably insane, though I doubt this would have worked had they had more pronounced roles in the kids' lives. As side characters, they didn't feel too much like yet another shock factor.
8. To everyone in this book and outside of it: Never, ever cut yourself with a dirty object. Nothing good will follow.
9. The writing wasn't bad but it never grabbed my interest, although that may be partly because I initially disliked the characters so much.
10. I have to say, Gratton managed to create a nice distanced atmosphere at times - I hope it was intentional - but it made everything feel a bit boring and not very well-thought-out, especially since the romance, which of course has quite a big role, has practically no basis and isn't convincing at all.
11. Also the magic, while drawing upon an interesting concept, made me roll my eyes at times. Really, how much does a little cut hurt? etc. etc. - Nothing felt deep. It was a part of the atmosphere, but distracted me fairly much.
I was close to DNF'ing this at page 24 but as I got closer to the end and begun to understand what kind of an YA this is trying to be and learned to appreciate its... grayness more (as well as its characters, after some plot- and other twists), enough to consider giving it a 3 with some reservations. But no, in the end I'm just not sure if it'd have indeed been smarter of me to call it to quits early on and leave this book to people who actually like it more than I did.
I remain unimpressed.
There are just a few things I would like to point out after reading this book. In no particular order:
1. Cursing in one's thoughts doesn't make them "cool", "masculine" or "convincingly angsty". The male protagonist, I swear... I couldn't even tell the MCs apart most of the time!
2. I didn't hate Silla so much after
Spoiler
Reese's death3. Reese's every word only managed to piss me of more. No one is supposed to "get over it" in (a few) months when someone close to them dies. NO ONE. I get that he didn't necessarily mean his words this way but wouldn't he be able to take care of his sister a bit better if he's being the over-protective idiot he pretends to be? I couldn't see past the annoyances at any point in the book.
4. I, like, really have had enough of these curly-haired lipstick bimbo sidekick girls as the main character's empty-headed "best friends". And no, those are mostly not my words.
5. While Judy wasn't one of the characters I loathed, I fail to understand why exactly was she in the book.
6. The Big, Bad, Mysterious Evil in this book is ridiculously simple and unoriginal. And by gods, how I dislike cheap shock/horror elements replacing everything else. (Yep, referring to the ending here.)
7. I loved Philip as well as Nick's mother. Adorably insane, though I doubt this would have worked had they had more pronounced roles in the kids' lives. As side characters, they didn't feel too much like yet another shock factor.
8. To everyone in this book and outside of it: Never, ever cut yourself with a dirty object. Nothing good will follow.
9. The writing wasn't bad but it never grabbed my interest, although that may be partly because I initially disliked the characters so much.
10. I have to say, Gratton managed to create a nice distanced atmosphere at times - I hope it was intentional - but it made everything feel a bit boring and not very well-thought-out, especially since the romance, which of course has quite a big role, has practically no basis and isn't convincing at all.
11. Also the magic, while drawing upon an interesting concept, made me roll my eyes at times. Really, how much does a little cut hurt? etc. etc. - Nothing felt deep. It was a part of the atmosphere, but distracted me fairly much.
I was close to DNF'ing this at page 24 but as I got closer to the end and begun to understand what kind of an YA this is trying to be and learned to appreciate its... grayness more (as well as its characters, after some plot- and other twists), enough to consider giving it a 3 with some reservations. But no, in the end I'm just not sure if it'd have indeed been smarter of me to call it to quits early on and leave this book to people who actually like it more than I did.
I remain unimpressed.
j_elphaba's review against another edition
4.0
Primeiro chegou a morte, trazendo consigo a loucura provocada pela perda, em seguida apresentou-se uma máscara de esperança, envolvida num amor por descobrir, e por fim tudo o que lhe restava era o sangue, sufocante, que lhe dominava a alma com algo inimaginável.
Magia de Sangue foi, e será, uma agradável surpresa para todo o público jovem-adulto que gosta de fantasia, com personagens intrigantes e um enredo apelativo, estamos perante uma leitura sedenta que nos prende com o folhear de cada página.
Tessa Gratton traz-nos uma narrativa criativa e inovadora neste género literário que, complementa o interesse do leitor, com uma escrita fácil e sedutora perfeitamente adequada ao público-alvo sem se tornar infantilizada. Promessas de amor, sangue, morte e magia dão as cartas a este livro, que foi para mim, uma revelação.
Opinião completa: http://historiasdeelphaba.blogspot.com/2012/01/magia-de-sangue-tessa-gratton-opiniao.html
Magia de Sangue foi, e será, uma agradável surpresa para todo o público jovem-adulto que gosta de fantasia, com personagens intrigantes e um enredo apelativo, estamos perante uma leitura sedenta que nos prende com o folhear de cada página.
Tessa Gratton traz-nos uma narrativa criativa e inovadora neste género literário que, complementa o interesse do leitor, com uma escrita fácil e sedutora perfeitamente adequada ao público-alvo sem se tornar infantilizada. Promessas de amor, sangue, morte e magia dão as cartas a este livro, que foi para mim, uma revelação.
Opinião completa: http://historiasdeelphaba.blogspot.com/2012/01/magia-de-sangue-tessa-gratton-opiniao.html
acbwalsh's review against another edition
4.0
Well written book with distinct, believable characters who have great chemistry with each other. Lovely pacing with well earned surprises and twists that feel natural and in line with the worldbuilding.
Docked a whole star because these kids are too horny. You're being chased by a demon of a woman, STOP MAKING OUT!!
Docked a whole star because these kids are too horny. You're being chased by a demon of a woman, STOP MAKING OUT!!
chris7w's review against another edition
2.0
Too dark for my taste, but I liked the pacing and loved that you're immediately in the action.
esw_reads's review against another edition
2.0
*2.5
wish it didn't take 200 pages of repetition for it to get interesting, but at least it did get there
wish it didn't take 200 pages of repetition for it to get interesting, but at least it did get there
marialschez's review against another edition
4.0
Me ha gustado mucho y me ha resultado muy innovador y original. En cuanto pueda lo reseño.
waclements7's review against another edition
4.0
This is the first Tessa Gratton book I've read, but it won't be the last. I liked the magic, Silla and her family, and Nicholas and his family--the connection there was interesting. None of the older magicians were really _innocent_, which was an intriguing twist. Josephine definitely not, but not even Silla's father, who for all other purposes was. Longevity carries a heavy price. Still thinking about this one.