Review for Blood for Blood by Ryan Graudin!
Quick View Review:
Overall Rating: **** (5/5)
Amazon Rating: **** (4.5/5)
One Sentence Review: A sequel that took this series from 4 ish stars to 5 and beyond, this book took me on a rollercoaster of newfound love for the characters, one of the most suspenseful plots EVER, and outstanding writing.
Full Review:
For the resistance in 1950s Germany, the war may be over, but the fight has just begun.
Death camp survivor Yael, who has the power to skinshift, is on the run: The world has just seen her shoot and kill Hitler. But the truth of what happened is far more complicated, and its consequences are deadly. Yael and her unlikely comrades dive into enemy territory to try to turn the tide against the New Order, and there is no alternative but to see their mission through to the end, whatever the cost.
But in the midst of the chaos, Yael's past and future collide when she comes face-to-face with a ghost from her past, and a spark with a fellow rider begins to grow into something more. Dark secrets reveal dark truths, and one question hangs over them all--how far can you go for the ones you love?
(Summary from Amazon)
This book you guys. THIS. BOOK.
When I read Wolf by Wolf (the first book in this duology), my favorite aspects of the novel were plot and writing, and while these two remained absolutely amazing, where this book got so, so much better was in the character department.
In the first book, I had trouble connecting to Yael, and while Felix and Luca were two characters I enjoyed, they never became fully dimensional and real in my mind.
In this book, that ALL changed.
My favorite part of this series became the characters. As the stakes rose and the plot became increasingly suspenseful, I found myself becoming more and more emotionally invested in each and every one of the characters: the main three, of course, but also everyone else who was a part of their journey (disgusting Nazis aside, of course).
“So why did the characters get better?” you might be asking. Well, in the first book, since many of the characters weren’t in mortal danger, as readers we never truly got exposed to what they were really like under their outer facades (even Yael). With the constant peril and nail-biting suspense in Blood for Blood, however, each of the main trio was facing an entirely new and personal emotional journey, exposing the sides of them that just weren’t there in the first installment.
My favorite, of course, obviously, was Luka. I can’t even think about him without bringing back alllllll the feels of this book (and there were many), and he will forever live on in my mind as one of the best and most complex characters I’ve ever come across.
As I’ve mentioned a few times above, the plot of this sequel was utter perfection. I was racing through the pages, desperate to find out how it all ended and, of course, wishing beyond anything for a happily-ever-after ending. (No comment about whether my wishes were granted ;)).
Another thing I really loved about this book was the shifting perspectives. The story just would not have been the same if we hadn’t gotten all Yael, Felix, and Luka’s perspectives, and I felt this new addition definitely contributed to the improved depth of the characters.
Overall, this second installment raised this series from one I had just liked to one of my favorites. I don’t understand why it isn’t currently being read and being obsessed over by people everywhere, but you know, I’m gonna work on that ;).
Make sure to come back next Wednesday for a new review!
Xoxo,
Jordan
