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likeagilmoregirl's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Drug abuse, Addiction, Gore, Gun violence, Blood, and Death
Moderate: Eating disorder and Murder
peax33's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- 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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Blood
unfocusedcuriosity's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood and Grief
apoppyinthewind's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-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
I'm going with 5 stars because I could not put it down and just really enjoyed coming back into this mystical futuristic world that's so good at blending realistic and dark elements. I said it for the first book and I'll repeat it for the sequel, the author does a great job of creating a world that feels real and magical at the same time.
My favourite aspect of this book has to be the magic and that the author's not afraid to explore the darker aspects of the blood magic, especially given that this is a YA book. I also liked reading how the family and witch community develop in this book, growing from the foundation set in the first book. They still have their issues but there's growth that feels like a natural progression.
Voya is still pretty angsty & self-critical at times but it felt more understandable and relatable this time around given the grief and pressure she is under in the story. She also had some good moments where she stood up for herself which helped I think compared to the first book.
I'm getting a little spoiler-y going forward here --I was surprised by Eli's reveal and it was nice to be surprised. I expected he was working with Luc but did not expect the truth but once I read and went back to re-read Eli's scenes it was so obvious and well done. I think it was a smart plot device to bring Luc and Voya back into each other's lives without glossing over the incredible trauma they both experienced in the first book.
I knew Johan was up to no good because the foundation for that was set up in the first book but damn, what he did was messed up. I was a little surprised he didn't have more repercussions for what he did but given that dark deeds are somewhat accepted in the blood magic practiced in this world, it wasn't too world-breaking that he would still have some place in the community at the end.
I was also honestly surprised Keis wasn't fully freed from the house as I genuinely expected more of a workaround than giving her access to the internet and an Android avatar. I was kind of hoping she would have been named Matriarch of the Davis family through some deception from April Mae and that might have given her a way to leave. Still, this not happening didn't detract from my enjoyment of the book.
I would recommend checking out this series but you absolutely have to read the first book Blood like Magic to follow what's happening in Blood like Fate.
My favourite aspect of this book has to be the magic and that the author's not afraid to explore the darker aspects of the blood magic, especially given that this is a YA book. I also liked reading how the family and witch community develop in this book, growing from the foundation set in the first book. They still have their issues but there's growth that feels like a natural progression.
Voya is still pretty angsty & self-critical at times but it felt more understandable and relatable this time around given the grief and pressure she is under in the story. She also had some good moments where she stood up for herself which helped I think compared to the first book.
I'm getting a little spoiler-y going forward here --
I knew Johan was up to no good because the foundation for that was set up in the first book but damn, what he did was messed up. I was a little surprised he didn't have more repercussions for what he did but given that dark deeds are somewhat accepted in the blood magic practiced in this world, it wasn't too world-breaking that he would still have some place in the community at the end.
I was also honestly surprised Keis wasn't fully freed from the house as I genuinely expected more of a workaround than giving her access to the internet and an Android avatar. I was kind of hoping she would have been named Matriarch of the Davis family through some deception from April Mae and that might have given her a way to leave. Still, this not happening didn't detract from my enjoyment of the book.
I would recommend checking out this series but you absolutely have to read the first book Blood like Magic to follow what's happening in Blood like Fate.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Medical content, Slavery, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Medical trauma, Drug use, Gun violence, Child death, Panic attacks/disorders, and Self harm
lenaricharz's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Blood, Murder, and Eating disorder
Minor: Child death
nicole_cries_alot's review
adventurous
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.75
Voya’s indecision still being a major issue for her in this book was incredibly frustrating, it also felt like it was trying to do too much. Forgiving Luc at the end was baffling, Voya’s family being awful until the end was annoying. Eli secretly being a robot wasn’t that shocking and Johan being a complete dick wasn’t all that surprising either. I am just a little disappointed over all
Throughout the first half of the book it feels like the plot wants to focus on too many things. The visions, the family business, Voya’s insecurities. Then at the end it get a little out of hand with her family deciding to believe in Voya and go with her asinine plan.
Luc deciding to go after all witches but not ensure he has a fail safe was also stupid for a character that’s supposed to be so smart.
Just disappointed overall
Throughout the first half of the book it feels like the plot wants to focus on too many things. The visions, the family business, Voya’s insecurities. Then at the end it get a little out of hand with her family deciding to believe in Voya and go with her asinine plan.
Luc deciding to go after all witches but not ensure he has a fail safe was also stupid for a character that’s supposed to be so smart.
Just disappointed overall
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder and Blood
jadejade's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-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
I enjoyed this book more than the first, and I was satisfied with the ending of the series. There were a few twists that I had guessed before they were revealed but I didn't unravel the whole mystery of what was going on myself. Everyone's relationship within their family and their community is fundamentally changed by the end. I will point out that the sometimes-hostile family and community dynamics was actually a little triggering for me, so be aware of this if you are sensitive to such topics.
Content Warnings
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
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- 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
3.5 ⭐ CW: (provided by the author) gun violence, reference to police violence, discussion of eating disorders, blood/gore/violence, death, discussion of substance use/addiction, mentions of child neglect, sickness/infection
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.
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.
Content Warnings
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
A rare sequel that doesn’t disappoint and is on par with its precursor. I love the feeling I got while reading this duology, and it all came back with Blood Like Fate.
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
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
Content Warnings
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
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-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
4.0
Content Warnings
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