You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.32 AVERAGE
3.32 AVERAGE
Original Review Found at: www.literarychaos.com
I had seen this book in stores and thought it sounded amazing but I shied away due to all of the mixed reviews I have seen for this book. After a lot of hemming and hawing, I finally bit the bullet and picked it up. I am so glad I did. This book was a good reminder that sometimes you have to just go with your gut and ignore the reviews.
What drew me into the story the most was the author's writing style. She switched viewpoints between the two girls, Dacia and Lou. Normally, I am not a huge fan of this, but the voices of the two main characters were a great contrast that helped round out the story and moves the plot forward. She also added in letters and diary entries, which I really enjoyed. I found them to be helpful, particularly in the beginning, to learn more about the girls and their personalities, and overall I think that it was a very unique way of telling the story.
The author also did an amazing job with the setting. It is set in the late eighteen-hundreds, and it truly felt as if the story was taking place at that time. I have read so many books that are set in a certain historical period and yet the characters act like they are part of the present (time travel as an exception). This drives me CRAZY, and I was so pleased to find that this was not the case for this book. I also loved the how well described the setting was. This is truly one of those books that the reader can immerse themselves in. The author describes the gowns, buildings, and places so well that it truly feels like the reader is there.
I was very surprised that I ended up liking both of the main characters. It is rare for me to like one young adult protagonist let alone both, so I have to give Jessica Day George props for that. I think what I liked about them is that they were so different and yet were complementary; like yin and yang. Dacia is more wild and reckless whereas Lou is quiet and more mild-mannered, and yet they seem to compliment each other and balance one another out. A big part of me loved them because I was able to relate my own relationship with my cousin and best friend to Dacia and Lou.
I was so happy that I ended up loving this book. I am so glad that I didn't let negative review deter me from reading it. I do see that this book may not be for everyone. The historical setting can mean that some modern readers may become annoyed with certain characters for actions they take due to the etiquette and protocols of the time. Others may not like how tame this book is. It is definitely a young adult read, but I would say that it could be appropriate for a younger reader as well. I personally don't find this to be a negative, but rather I saw it as a depiction of the time frame it was set in. But for those who love history and paranormal novels, this is a perfect mix of both.
I had seen this book in stores and thought it sounded amazing but I shied away due to all of the mixed reviews I have seen for this book. After a lot of hemming and hawing, I finally bit the bullet and picked it up. I am so glad I did. This book was a good reminder that sometimes you have to just go with your gut and ignore the reviews.
What drew me into the story the most was the author's writing style. She switched viewpoints between the two girls, Dacia and Lou. Normally, I am not a huge fan of this, but the voices of the two main characters were a great contrast that helped round out the story and moves the plot forward. She also added in letters and diary entries, which I really enjoyed. I found them to be helpful, particularly in the beginning, to learn more about the girls and their personalities, and overall I think that it was a very unique way of telling the story.
The author also did an amazing job with the setting. It is set in the late eighteen-hundreds, and it truly felt as if the story was taking place at that time. I have read so many books that are set in a certain historical period and yet the characters act like they are part of the present (time travel as an exception). This drives me CRAZY, and I was so pleased to find that this was not the case for this book. I also loved the how well described the setting was. This is truly one of those books that the reader can immerse themselves in. The author describes the gowns, buildings, and places so well that it truly feels like the reader is there.
I was very surprised that I ended up liking both of the main characters. It is rare for me to like one young adult protagonist let alone both, so I have to give Jessica Day George props for that. I think what I liked about them is that they were so different and yet were complementary; like yin and yang. Dacia is more wild and reckless whereas Lou is quiet and more mild-mannered, and yet they seem to compliment each other and balance one another out. A big part of me loved them because I was able to relate my own relationship with my cousin and best friend to Dacia and Lou.
I was so happy that I ended up loving this book. I am so glad that I didn't let negative review deter me from reading it. I do see that this book may not be for everyone. The historical setting can mean that some modern readers may become annoyed with certain characters for actions they take due to the etiquette and protocols of the time. Others may not like how tame this book is. It is definitely a young adult read, but I would say that it could be appropriate for a younger reader as well. I personally don't find this to be a negative, but rather I saw it as a depiction of the time frame it was set in. But for those who love history and paranormal novels, this is a perfect mix of both.
This book was fun! It was a nice, refreshing spin on the good ol' Dracula tale. Thanks for not taking the overused and obvious YA path. The story was different. Sure it was a tad slow in the reveal of the Great and Terrible Family Secret, I still had to find out what it was, and what happened after the Grand Reveal. I may have procrastinated some homework to solve these mysteries.
I liked the characters well enough. I loved how the love interests weren't obvious (by that I mean, no big boom! they're going to date moments) and still their own people. I liked Dacia in the beginning, she got a tad annoying, but better again at the end. Lou was a tad tiresome at the beginning but ended up fairly epic in the end. I wasn't even mad that she was actually the you-know-what! Especially since there was a really good reason she was the first you-know-what in ages. I liked Johnny, Theo, and Radu. I would've liked to find out what happened with Aunt Kate though. But still, I kind of like the idea of this being a stand-alone novel. Well done!
I liked the characters well enough. I loved how the love interests weren't obvious (by that I mean, no big boom! they're going to date moments) and still their own people. I liked Dacia in the beginning, she got a tad annoying, but better again at the end. Lou was a tad tiresome at the beginning but ended up fairly epic in the end. I wasn't even mad that she was actually the you-know-what! Especially since there was a really good reason she was the first you-know-what in ages. I liked Johnny, Theo, and Radu. I would've liked to find out what happened with Aunt Kate though. But still, I kind of like the idea of this being a stand-alone novel. Well done!
2.5/5
Nice narrator, and I love the central friendship. I just wasn't really wowed by anything.
Nice narrator, and I love the central friendship. I just wasn't really wowed by anything.
I really wanted to love this book. It had so much potential, especially with the unique family secret. I also loved the setting and time period.
But the beginning was very slow for me. Even though I do not know exactly why I didn't love this book I felt that I could just put it down and I wasn't captivated.
Closer to the ending it started to pick up and get a bit better. It was still a very good book and a solid three stars.
But the beginning was very slow for me. Even though I do not know exactly why I didn't love this book I felt that I could just put it down and I wasn't captivated.
Closer to the ending it started to pick up and get a bit better. It was still a very good book and a solid three stars.
Actual rating- 1.5 stars. Very disappointing. I adore the concept, the title, and even the cover of this book, but it is poorly executed. Full review to come closer to publication date.
Still processing for a review I have to write. Seems like a good paranormal fantasy for readers transitioning between MG and YA or YA readers who prefer historic locales and clean, easy-to-follow prose.
Let me begin by saying that I love this author, and her 12 Dancing Princess retellings are some of my favorite books. That being said I was extremely disappointed in this book. The premise was great, I love the time period and Romania is a country I don't know a lot about, I was thoroughly intrigued. However, I felt that the characters lacked growth, and after the big family secret I felt like they switched personalities. This book was very choppy, and the ending felt forced.
As a fan of Libba Bray and Cassandra Claire; my interest was piqued when I read the description of this book. Combined with it being handily shelved at my local library, I picked it up for a light weekend read. Jessica George has an interesting perspective on the Dracula story and what happens afterwards. Cousins, Dacia and Lou, come of age in 1890s Europe. Set primarily in Romania, the story sets a fast pace as the cousins quickly learn the supernatural tendencies their Romanian relatives, the Florescus, have and by blood; so do the girls. Servitude to the royal Dracula family does not set well with Dacia and Lou; especially at the cost of their moral compasses. The girls forge a new path for the Forescus which puts them at odds with the Wing Matriarch. An interesting beginning to an original series.
This is gong to be on the low end of 3 stars for me. I loved the idea of the set up of this book - Romania, Vlad and Dracula references as well as shape shifters. Plus it's set in the 19th century, and I'm a huge fan of historical fiction. However the character voices and tone of the story read much younger and lighter than I expected for the setting and themes. I wished for a lot more atmosphere and mood in these pages. Despite that, there are some more serious, darker events that happen near the end of this book that make it not a book for MG.
Dacia and Louisa (Lou) are 17 year old cousins from wealthy New York families - on their fathers' sides. Their mothers are sisters from Romanian, though the girls don't know much about that part of their family, since they've never been to visit. That is until this summer when they are to travel to Romania to stay for several months and meet their relatives at last. The book begins when both girls are in-route to Bucharest. Right away strange things begin to happen and the girls realize that their heritage is much different than they ever imagined.
I liked Dacia and Lou from the start, though they start off as silly society girls, more concerned with their social standing, gowns and getting husbands than anything else. Dacia is the feistier of the two, while Lou is quieter and much more of a rule follower. I liked seeing them both come into their own in this story, though Lou especially has a bit of a personality change with her first transformation, that I didn't quite understand. But I did enjoy the new Lou. I also liked the letters and diary entries we got from each girls at the beginning of the chapters. As the story was written in third person, it was a great way to hear from each of them in their voices.
Each girl gets her own romance and both are sweet and slowly developing throughout the course of the story, though not heavy on the swoon (or physical activity, as would be historically appropriate). At first it appears that Dacia is going to have multiple suiters, but only one of them goes anywhere, and I never worried about a love triangle developing. She only truly falls for one of them and there isn't any wavering once that happens.
I never really felt strongly convinced about the mission of the Florescues (Dacia and Lou's family), and the villains were basically one dimensional. Also, I started to feel like the drama building at the end was all a bit silly. But the book read quickly for me and I enjoyed it mostly as a palate cleanser. I'm not sure whether I would continue this series if it became one. The end of this one wraps well, though there are some lose ends that could be developed in the future.
Love Triangle Factor: None (maybe very mild in the first 1/3)
Cliffhanger Scale: Low
Spoiler
attempted rape, battle scene with wolves tearing out throats. It's all treated fairly lightly, but is still there.Dacia and Louisa (Lou) are 17 year old cousins from wealthy New York families - on their fathers' sides. Their mothers are sisters from Romanian, though the girls don't know much about that part of their family, since they've never been to visit. That is until this summer when they are to travel to Romania to stay for several months and meet their relatives at last. The book begins when both girls are in-route to Bucharest. Right away strange things begin to happen and the girls realize that their heritage is much different than they ever imagined.
I liked Dacia and Lou from the start, though they start off as silly society girls, more concerned with their social standing, gowns and getting husbands than anything else. Dacia is the feistier of the two, while Lou is quieter and much more of a rule follower. I liked seeing them both come into their own in this story, though Lou especially has a bit of a personality change with her first transformation, that I didn't quite understand. But I did enjoy the new Lou. I also liked the letters and diary entries we got from each girls at the beginning of the chapters. As the story was written in third person, it was a great way to hear from each of them in their voices.
Each girl gets her own romance and both are sweet and slowly developing throughout the course of the story, though not heavy on the swoon (or physical activity, as would be historically appropriate). At first it appears that Dacia is going to have multiple suiters, but only one of them goes anywhere, and I never worried about a love triangle developing. She only truly falls for one of them and there isn't any wavering once that happens.
I never really felt strongly convinced about the mission of the Florescues (Dacia and Lou's family), and the villains were basically one dimensional. Also, I started to feel like the drama building at the end was all a bit silly. But the book read quickly for me and I enjoyed it mostly as a palate cleanser. I'm not sure whether I would continue this series if it became one. The end of this one wraps well, though there are some lose ends that could be developed in the future.
Love Triangle Factor: None (maybe very mild in the first 1/3)
Cliffhanger Scale: Low
I have started to have a hard time with YA novels because so many of them seem to make the protagonists young only because that's the market they are selling to. I often just time shift the ages of the characters in my mind because most YA authors write their teenagers as adults and it's just easier. But I couldn't do that with Silver in the Blood because the characters are written as teenagers and as teenagers they are genuinely struggling with identity and family and (accurate for the time) marriage prospects.
I saw that some thought the book dragged in the middle and I wonder if that's because their expectation was that it was going to be all action? As modern readers who looked at the cover we all knew that the family secret was likely werewolves but the joy of the story isn't about the inevitability of the shapeshifting it's about the coming of age for Lou and Dacia. Which I really enjoyed. It was a fun read and kept me entertained throughout.
I saw that some thought the book dragged in the middle and I wonder if that's because their expectation was that it was going to be all action? As modern readers who looked at the cover we all knew that the family secret was likely werewolves but the joy of the story isn't about the inevitability of the shapeshifting it's about the coming of age for Lou and Dacia. Which I really enjoyed. It was a fun read and kept me entertained throughout.