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likeagilmoregirl's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Drug abuse, Addiction, Gore, Gun violence, Blood, and Death
Moderate: Eating disorder and Murder
cosmicwillow's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
Graphic: Misogyny, Violence, and Gun violence
Moderate: Slavery, Eating disorder, and Addiction
Minor: Transphobia, Police brutality, and Racism
lenaricharz's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Moderate: Addiction, Blood, Murder, and Eating disorder
Minor: Child death
jadejade's review against another edition
- 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
Moderate: Addiction, Murder, Toxic relationship, Blood, and Grief
Minor: Child death, Medical content, Slavery, Eating disorder, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Police brutality, Fire/Fire injury, and Genocide
queer_bookwyrm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Blood Like Fate by Liselle Sambury is the final installment in the Blood Like Magic duology. Don't let the rating fool you, I did enjoy reading this book, but it had some pacing issues, and I was able to guess the twist not even half way through the book. It was just so painfully obvious.
We pick up with Voya after the events of the last book, heartbroken and grieving. In the first book we see Voya's struggle to make decisions, any decision, and realizes that even not making a decision is a decision. This time she now has to deal with the consequences of her decisions and the fallout therein. Voya is also struggling with being the new Matriarch. She doesn't believe in herself, and neither does her family. They only see her as a kid making all the wrong choices. Even though Luc is one of the reasons her life is a mess, she still pines for him throughout the book (which honestly was really annoying).
One of the things I love about this series is the family dynamics and importance of history and ancestors. Voya's family is large and complicated, and they don't always agree on everything, but when it comes down to it, they love each other and will fight for one another. There is also a major thread about community as extended family, and how pooling their resources makes everyone stronger. I also really appreciate the examination of grief and other mental health issues such as substance use disorder and eating disorders.
Sambury describes her writing as "messy black girls in fantasy situations", and she delivered. Voya is messy AF, and I found myself grumbling at her throughout the book, but I try to remember, she's only 17. She's a great character, and I wouldn't mind seeing how she grows as matriarch as she gets older. It's also nice to read about Canadian-Trinidadian families and other families from the Caribbean. The speculative science in this is so interesting! It's very much science run amuck. The main message is science without ethics is violence.
Check out my review of book one for the representation in the series.
Graphic: Blood, Addiction, Gun violence, Eating disorder, Gore, and Death
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Child death and Police brutality
missrosymaplemoth's review against another edition
4.5
Voya, her family and the other witches all stand out as their own individual and unique characters, which can be hard to do with such a large ensemble supporting cast. I love the relationships and Voya’s reflection and introspection. Themes of ancestry and self-doubt were explored and well handled. I liked how LGBT identities and the conversations surrounding them were integrated seamlessly into the book and treated with love and respect. I was not expecting the plot twist. I like how the plot points were all wrapped cleanly and satisfyingly.
My one complaint is that the first half of the book was very slow paced, but the last 25% is un-put-downable! A great conclusion to a fantasy YA duology I will be recommending.
☀️6/20
Graphic: Addiction, Child death, Death, Confinement, Death of parent, and Blood
Moderate: Murder, Eating disorder, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
bookswhitme's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Blood, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Murder, Death, Gun violence, Violence, Cursing, Medical trauma, and Death of parent
Moderate: Addiction and Eating disorder
lemonlord_of_the_south's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I felt the ending wrapped up the story in a very satisfying way and made up for a lot of the frustration I felt in the first book.
Some of the miscommunication didn't make sens but only small parts for me at least.
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Murder, Blood, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Child death, Addiction, Slavery, and Police brutality
caelinsullivan's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Blood, Death of parent, and Death
Moderate: Eating disorder, Child death, Addiction, and Abandonment
Minor: Child abuse, Police brutality, and Mental illness
librarybookscene's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Blood and Body horror
Moderate: Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Grief, Medical content, and Addiction
Minor: Child death, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Eating disorder