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A review by doodles_and_books
Bloody Spade by Brittany M. Willows
4.0
Thank you to the author for providing me with a review copy. This has not affected my review, which reflects only my honest opinions.
My full review can be found here!
It feels an integral thing to know that Bloody Spade was originally intended to be a manga, because that influence seeps off the page in the best way—from the way characters (and their outfits, and their whole ass transformation sequences!!) are described, to the magic system (and the battles!), to how the plot itself builds and develops and, ultimately, unfolds.
Bloody Spade reminded me of literally all of my favourite animated shows, and it was just so…bloody fun.(oh no, I think that might count as a terrible pun)
That’s not to say there’s not heavier things that need unpacking—because certainly, there are. Like any of my favourite animes, Bloody Spade manages to balance the low points alongside a whole lot of heart, and a whole lot of humour.
Largely, that comes down to characters. When I say I adored the entire cast, I’m saying that with my whole chest. This is one of my new favourite groups of superqueeros, okay?(technically it’s more magic than superpowers, but you get my drift) The entire cast is the best sort of rambunctious found family, complete with fabulous rep across the board. In particular, Iori and Ellen are the slowburn grump and sunshine pairing of my dreams. I knew I was a goner the minute that Bloody Spade employed the use of my literal favourite trope of all time within the first fifty pages *cough*hurt/comfort*cough* involving these two. The giddy flip-flopping of my heart that they put me through?
"Somehow, she made both him and this savage thing inside him feel safe. Made this room, this mansion, feel less like a prison, and more like a place that could come to have meaning to him."
My full review can be found here!
It feels an integral thing to know that Bloody Spade was originally intended to be a manga, because that influence seeps off the page in the best way—from the way characters (and their outfits, and their whole ass transformation sequences!!) are described, to the magic system (and the battles!), to how the plot itself builds and develops and, ultimately, unfolds.
Bloody Spade reminded me of literally all of my favourite animated shows, and it was just so…bloody fun.
That’s not to say there’s not heavier things that need unpacking—because certainly, there are. Like any of my favourite animes, Bloody Spade manages to balance the low points alongside a whole lot of heart, and a whole lot of humour.
Largely, that comes down to characters. When I say I adored the entire cast, I’m saying that with my whole chest. This is one of my new favourite groups of superqueeros, okay?