Blood for Blood by Ryan Graudin
Review by Lauren
source: copy from BEA16; all opinions are my own
Official Summary: The summary is full of spoilers if you have not read Wolf by Wolf, so if you want to read it, check out Goodreads.
Review: Blood for Blood was amazing and it was definitely a wonderful follow up to its predecessor Wolf by Wolf. I love that this was a duology, as it gives you all the story/information you need without dragging on for too long. Plus, it keeps the series from suffering from that dreaded second book syndrome.
I don’t want to go into too many details because if you haven’t read Wolf by Wolf, then knowing almost anything about Blood by Blood could be considered a spoiler. I’m just going to talk about the overall story. Basically, Hitler won WWII and he has taken over a lot of countries. The Holocaust still happened but it’s not as well known. People either don’t know what is really happening – thinking these people are just in labor camps – or they are just too scared to dig deeper, deciding to believe these stories.
The main character, Yael, is a survivor of these camps. She is a skinshifter – someone who take on the form of anyone she meets. Her time in the camp is the reason she has these abilities. This horrific thing that was done to her is something she uses to keep her alive and what she ultimately hones to try and bring down Hitler.
These books are packed with fully formed, wonderful characters. Not only do you have Yael, but you have Luka Lowe, a National Socialist poster boy who could be so much more; Felix and Adele Wofle, two siblings who love each other dearly and would almost always put family first; and all the resistance fighters like Vlad and Henryka who have raised and trained Yael into the fierce young woman she has become. She is a true fighter, in every sense of the world. Despite the horrors that Yael has faced, and continues to face in these books, she does not lose her humanity. She easily could, but she knows that she wants to be more than that.
I truly think Graudin has created amazing works wit these two books and I highly recommend them! There is pain. There is death. It would not seem realistic without it. But there is so much more too – friendship, loyalty, love, and fighting to make a difference in the world.
AN interesting topic and the setting is always intriguing. I'm glad to see it was a good sequel
Oh man I have both by need to find time to read them! The series sounds so good.
Karen @For What It's Worth
Hmm, you have me convinced. Definitely books to be added to my 'Wanna Read' list.
I still havent' gotten around to reading the first book. These sound so good.
I am so sad that I can't read this book yet. I absolutely loved the first one (in fact, Wolf by Wolf is my first read of the year!), but I can't buy this one because I'm on a book ban. *cries* I hope my library brings it soon!
Marianne @ Boricuan Bookworms.
This series sounds really interesting!
I want to try this series!
This sounds different and very good, Lauren! I haven't read Wolf for Wolf, but you got me very interested for sure 🙂
Have a wonderful weekend and happy reading!
Lexxie @ (un)Conventional Bookviews
Glad you enjoyed this as much as I did! 😀
Cheers to stellar sequels!
xx
I haven't read this, but I am always looking for new books to add to my Goodreads list! Thanks for sharing!!
Carrie
curlycraftymom.com
Thanks for the spoiler warning, I actually had a book in a series I was reading spoiled in a review on a blog once and I was sooooooooooooo mad! haha! <3 – http://www.domesticgeekgirl.com
I keep seeing this book in all the bookshops, I've picked it up but I don't think it's my sort of thing. But if I've learned anything in my new job I should really give everything a go as I could very well be surprised. 🙂 Great review,
I love LOVED Wolf by Wolf and have had high hopes for this one, which bear out, it seems! YAY! TGreat review!
BRAVO!!! Awesome non-spoilery review!! I bought the first book when we all got this book at BEA and I still need to read it. I'm so stoked to start. Thanks!!!!
I really, really need to get to this series! I love the author and I love that this is a duology. Thanks for stopping by my weekly update!
Tressa @ Wishful Endings
I read her book The Walled City and loved it. I didn't read these because I don't like stories set in war times. I hope she does something coimpletely different for her next series so I can read her again. I just found out she wrote a book before The Walled City and I am going to read that one soon. Thanks for sharing your review.
Oh this sounds like something my husband would like. Thanks for sharing your review! Now I need to go snag that first book.
I still need to read Wolf by Wolf, though I did get it for Christmas last year! I didn't actually know this was a duology until you just mentioned it, and that definitely has me excited to get to these because as you say – no second book syndrome!