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A review by skytannathegreat
Silver in the Blood by Jessica Day George
2.0
2.5 stars
Being my first YA book that I have read in a good while, I will say that the story-line about an ancient family having a supernatural secret was enjoyable and helped push me through my read. That and some of the character's growing moments were about all that I enjoyed. I think that George should have stuck with telling this story how she first envisioned it: set in present day, as said in her author's note. The places and time didn't really show through her writing. There was something a little too modern about how the characters were acting throughout the story. I spent a whole semester reading books written in the 1800's, so I know how people are supposed to act, I hope so at least. These two teenage girls did have a wonderful relationship with each other and had some good moments as well, but the way that they would playfully punch other characters--even if they were playful ladies of the time--brought me out of the set time period, for example.
The setting in Romania was also not flushed out as much as it could have been. I feel bad for saying so because of the work that George said she did during her own trip to Romania, taking notes and pictures and the like. George didn't really describe the setting around the characters much, just little things about the buildings that they were currently in. Nothing about the countryside or the "Little Paris" Bucharest, which was disappointing. The dark forest where the first transformations took place could have been a lot more magical or scary with just a little more description, in my opinion.
I know this was a little more of a lengthy review, but I really liked reading this story and I actually couldn't put it down at some points! A more lengthy review just means that I respect the reading, whether good or bad, more than others.
I recommend this book to people who want an interesting take on the Dracula myth, or just someone who is looking for a quick YA read.
Being my first YA book that I have read in a good while, I will say that the story-line about an ancient family having a supernatural secret was enjoyable and helped push me through my read. That and some of the character's growing moments were about all that I enjoyed. I think that George should have stuck with telling this story how she first envisioned it: set in present day, as said in her author's note. The places and time didn't really show through her writing. There was something a little too modern about how the characters were acting throughout the story. I spent a whole semester reading books written in the 1800's, so I know how people are supposed to act, I hope so at least. These two teenage girls did have a wonderful relationship with each other and had some good moments as well, but the way that they would playfully punch other characters--even if they were playful ladies of the time--brought me out of the set time period, for example.
The setting in Romania was also not flushed out as much as it could have been. I feel bad for saying so because of the work that George said she did during her own trip to Romania, taking notes and pictures and the like. George didn't really describe the setting around the characters much, just little things about the buildings that they were currently in. Nothing about the countryside or the "Little Paris" Bucharest, which was disappointing. The dark forest where the first transformations took place could have been a lot more magical or scary with just a little more description, in my opinion.
I know this was a little more of a lengthy review, but I really liked reading this story and I actually couldn't put it down at some points! A more lengthy review just means that I respect the reading, whether good or bad, more than others.
I recommend this book to people who want an interesting take on the Dracula myth, or just someone who is looking for a quick YA read.