Note: This is my last review of Dystopian August. A recap with winners list to come on Sept 26th.
BECAUSE IT IS MY BLOOD is the second book in the Birthright series that began with ALL THESE THINGS I'VE DONE (see my review). Scroll down for the giveaway if you haven't read the first book yet and don't want to be spoiled.
BECAUSE IT IS MY BLOOD opens with Anya in Liberty detention center, about to be released. After the dramatic events of the first book, Anya is determined to go legit and put chocolate and the illegal family business behind her. She has small, immediate goals like finishing high school. Win is now dating someone new and his father Charles' campaign is in full swing. Charles' competitor uses his bitter history with Anya to her advantage and Anya is forced to flee to Mexico where she come to realize that chocolate is in her blood and that she'll never really escape it.
The reason I'm giving this novel the writing merit badge is because of the way Anya seems like an old friend to me. Zevin writes in a sort of faux-memoir style with asides and notes to the reader. Judging by reviews on Goodreads, this method bothers some readers, but I love it because it makes me feel that much closer to Anya.
There are some developments that seemed odd at first and others which seemed almost too contrived, but in the end, I enjoyed how everything played out and how it all sets us up for the third book which promises to be fascinating.
Two big ideas are at play here - one is that alliances are ever-shifting and yesterday's enemy can be today's friend and visa-versa. The other concerns the nature of love. As Anya says, some kinds last forever and other kinds don't, "but even the ones that weren't necessarily everlasting were not without meaning," and "who and what and that you loved was your whole life."
Also? I love Win. Sometimes he seems far too good to be true, but I don't care.
BECAUSE IT IS MY BLOOD comes out on September 18, 2012. Find out more about the series at the publisher's website.
I have one prize pack up for grabs that includes copies of ALL THESE THINGS WE'VE DONE and BECAUSE IT IS MY BLOOD. US and Canada only. Enter via this form by Sept 13, 2012 at 11:59 pm CST for your chance to win.
See index of all dystopian reviews at Presenting Lenore
FTC disclosure: Review copy from publisher
BECAUSE IT IS MY BLOOD is the second book in the Birthright series that began with ALL THESE THINGS I'VE DONE (see my review). Scroll down for the giveaway if you haven't read the first book yet and don't want to be spoiled.
BECAUSE IT IS MY BLOOD opens with Anya in Liberty detention center, about to be released. After the dramatic events of the first book, Anya is determined to go legit and put chocolate and the illegal family business behind her. She has small, immediate goals like finishing high school. Win is now dating someone new and his father Charles' campaign is in full swing. Charles' competitor uses his bitter history with Anya to her advantage and Anya is forced to flee to Mexico where she come to realize that chocolate is in her blood and that she'll never really escape it.
The reason I'm giving this novel the writing merit badge is because of the way Anya seems like an old friend to me. Zevin writes in a sort of faux-memoir style with asides and notes to the reader. Judging by reviews on Goodreads, this method bothers some readers, but I love it because it makes me feel that much closer to Anya.
There are some developments that seemed odd at first and others which seemed almost too contrived, but in the end, I enjoyed how everything played out and how it all sets us up for the third book which promises to be fascinating.
Two big ideas are at play here - one is that alliances are ever-shifting and yesterday's enemy can be today's friend and visa-versa. The other concerns the nature of love. As Anya says, some kinds last forever and other kinds don't, "but even the ones that weren't necessarily everlasting were not without meaning," and "who and what and that you loved was your whole life."
Also? I love Win. Sometimes he seems far too good to be true, but I don't care.
BECAUSE IT IS MY BLOOD comes out on September 18, 2012. Find out more about the series at the publisher's website.
I have one prize pack up for grabs that includes copies of ALL THESE THINGS WE'VE DONE and BECAUSE IT IS MY BLOOD. US and Canada only. Enter via this form by Sept 13, 2012 at 11:59 pm CST for your chance to win.
See index of all dystopian reviews at Presenting Lenore
FTC disclosure: Review copy from publisher
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4 comments:
Dystopian August is ending? Sadface. I truly enjoyed the week or so I got to read reviews and interviews. Thank you!
I can't remember if I read All These Things I've Done, I'm pretty sure I really liked it, so I'm definitely entering the giveaway! And the cover... wow. Just wow :-)
Ana @ BookSpark
I thought All These Things I've Done was amazing, and I love the writing style. Anya isn't usually my kind of main character (she has a tough outer shell), but Gabrielle Zevin managed to make her accessible (due to the faux-memoir tactic?). I can't wait to read Because It Is My Blood, especially since it sounds just as good as the first.
I loved the first book-it had a very contemporary feeling despite being set in the future and I think that plus the memoir-esque style really connected with me. I'm excited to find out what happens next so thanks for the giveaway!
Hmmm it's interesting because the first book was everywhere on all the blogs, but I haven't seen a lot of reviews for this one. I really liked All These Things.. as well, so I'm curious to check this one out at some point, but I'm glad to read a review like this, so I won't go in expecting a lot (heck, that might make me like it even more).
regards,
charmaine of Kansas Pheasant Hunting
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