Scan barcode
A review by justinbaumann71
The Blood Gift by N.E. Davenport
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
The thing with this book is that I really don't think it was meant to be a duology. There are many moments in the narrative that bigger ideas, concepts, etc are mentioned and then not able to go anywhere. Especially the ending that I think tries to set up another book series, but I don't know for certain if that will go anywhere based on the sales/reviews of book 2.
Pros: The first 30% was extremely enjoyable, fast paced, and is in direct response to the events of book one so the books felt very connected. I also liked the set up for another series as the ending and the mostly happy ending our characters are given.
Cons: I had a really hard time wanting to pick up this book to read. I enjoyed it while reading, but not actually wanting to read it definitely negatively impacted my reading experience. I think my biggest issue is that there was just too many long internal monologues that Ikenna would go on. She really was narrating the heck out of what was going on around her which I am sorry just isn't that interesting a lot of the time because not only are we getting dialogue and descriptions about the scenes we are also getting her over analyzing every word said, which CAN be fun to read but really wasn't here because it would go on for PAGES at a time. Like the whole plan to take down the blood emperor where they discuss with anjani (idk how to spell his name) went on for SO LONG only for Ikenna to immediately abandon the plan they create. Like girl please be so for real. She was just very self righetous a lot of the time that it felt hard to root for her.
Overall:
I will say this book also has alot to say about race relations especially systemically within a society and those aspects of the book really worked for me. You got a very good sense for Ikenna being a conflicted character but one that ultimately will sacrifice significantly for the good of the country she lives in even if that country wouldn't do the same back.
I liked the book, but probably wouldn't come back for another go in this universe. But i would read the author again.
Pros: The first 30% was extremely enjoyable, fast paced, and is in direct response to the events of book one so the books felt very connected. I also liked the set up for another series as the ending and the mostly happy ending our characters are given.
Cons: I had a really hard time wanting to pick up this book to read. I enjoyed it while reading, but not actually wanting to read it definitely negatively impacted my reading experience. I think my biggest issue is that there was just too many long internal monologues that Ikenna would go on. She really was narrating the heck out of what was going on around her which I am sorry just isn't that interesting a lot of the time because not only are we getting dialogue and descriptions about the scenes we are also getting her over analyzing every word said, which CAN be fun to read but really wasn't here because it would go on for PAGES at a time. Like the whole plan to take down the blood emperor where they discuss with anjani (idk how to spell his name) went on for SO LONG only for Ikenna to immediately abandon the plan they create. Like girl please be so for real. She was just very self righetous a lot of the time that it felt hard to root for her.
Overall:
I will say this book also has alot to say about race relations especially systemically within a society and those aspects of the book really worked for me. You got a very good sense for Ikenna being a conflicted character but one that ultimately will sacrifice significantly for the good of the country she lives in even if that country wouldn't do the same back.
I liked the book, but probably wouldn't come back for another go in this universe. But i would read the author again.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence