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amandasbrews's Reviews (454)
A rich and enchanting story of the turbulent and beautiful ways we come together
This Fierce Blood is an absolutely beautiful book. From the stunning cover to the writing, to the story, this book had me enchanted from the very start. The pacing, the beauty, the subtle magic, and the thoughtful internal conflict were so gripping that I found myself unable to put it down. This Fierce Blood surprised me in ways that I didn’t anticipate. It woke my sense of wonder and opened my heart to generations of women in the Sylte family.
Quick Summary: Wilhelmina Sylte is a settler starting her life with her immigrant husband when she becomes inexplicably drawn to mountain lions around their property. Two generations later, Josepa is accused of witchcraft in her village for using healing practices passed down from her Native mother. Another generation past, Magdalena inherits her great-grandmother Wilhelmina’s farm and turns it into a summer science camp for teens. As summer progresses Magda finds the lines between science and myth begin to blur in her life.
This Fierce Blood gives us a unique and beautiful look into the joining of cultures in the American Southwest. It cleverly highlights how traditions can clash and come together as one all at the same time. Through three different generations of women, we see both discordance and weaving of culture and how each of these helps our cultures grow. Márquez does a wonderful job of showing the deep complexities that come with growing up in a multicultural and multiracial home. Being multiracial is so often being pushed and pulled from one piece of yourself to another but never fitting quite right anywhere. It’s being drawn in and rejected from every side and not knowing how to identify when you identify with all sides but none of them at the same time. The portrayal of this cultural family growth is nothing short of stunning. Continue reading here...
Bookish Brews | Twitter | Pinterest | Tumblr | Facebook
This Fierce Blood is an absolutely beautiful book. From the stunning cover to the writing, to the story, this book had me enchanted from the very start. The pacing, the beauty, the subtle magic, and the thoughtful internal conflict were so gripping that I found myself unable to put it down. This Fierce Blood surprised me in ways that I didn’t anticipate. It woke my sense of wonder and opened my heart to generations of women in the Sylte family.
Quick Summary: Wilhelmina Sylte is a settler starting her life with her immigrant husband when she becomes inexplicably drawn to mountain lions around their property. Two generations later, Josepa is accused of witchcraft in her village for using healing practices passed down from her Native mother. Another generation past, Magdalena inherits her great-grandmother Wilhelmina’s farm and turns it into a summer science camp for teens. As summer progresses Magda finds the lines between science and myth begin to blur in her life.
This Fierce Blood gives us a unique and beautiful look into the joining of cultures in the American Southwest. It cleverly highlights how traditions can clash and come together as one all at the same time. Through three different generations of women, we see both discordance and weaving of culture and how each of these helps our cultures grow. Márquez does a wonderful job of showing the deep complexities that come with growing up in a multicultural and multiracial home. Being multiracial is so often being pushed and pulled from one piece of yourself to another but never fitting quite right anywhere. It’s being drawn in and rejected from every side and not knowing how to identify when you identify with all sides but none of them at the same time. The portrayal of this cultural family growth is nothing short of stunning. Continue reading here...
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this book broke my heart into a million pieces over and over and over again
Bookish Brews | Twitter | Pinterest | Tumblr | Facebook
Bookish Brews | Twitter | Pinterest | Tumblr | Facebook
Action-packed, nuanced, smart, heartbreaking, vengeful, ambitious
The Blood Trials caught my eye initially because of the strong cover but I was drawn in instantly by the strong female main character, Ikenna, and her struggles trying to survive in a difficult world. The world that Davenport creates is full of politics, history, betrayal, magic, and action. It will have you on the edge of your seat the entire time and keep you guessing until the very end. The Blood Trials is a stunning debut from a wonderful new author. I can’t wait for book two!
Ikenna has one person in her life that keeps everything sable, her grandfather. He raised her and trained her in secret to be an expert martial artist and, even more secretly, to harness her blood gift. After her grandfather is murdered, Ikenna is bent on revenge and discovering the truth of what happened, so she pledges herself to a deadly initiation test that only a quarter of aspirants survive, The Praetorian Trials, where she is positive she will find answers. Is it worth risking it all to find out who murdered her grandfather? What buried secrets will Ikenna discover on her mission for revenge?
While reading The Blood Trials, I found my heart aching for Ikenna. I related so much to the constant pressure and deep desire to live up to her grandfather’s expectations to break the chains of generational poverty but constantly feeling like she is failing to do so. The weight on her shoulders, as a recent graduate, to follow in her grandfather’s footsteps for the chance to become a legacy line, so it will be easier for the next generation, broke my heart. So many people from underrepresented groups feel this weight every single day and it can be absolutely crushing. There is a real tension between what you want to do with your life and what will be best for generations to come and Davenport takes this deep pain and pressure and replicates it so well in an entirely different world. The deep burden, expectation, and legacy that Ikenna carries will resonate deeply with so many readers, myself included. It made me connect instantly with Ikenna. Continue Reading...
Bookish Brews | Twitter | Pinterest | Tumblr | Facebook
The Blood Trials caught my eye initially because of the strong cover but I was drawn in instantly by the strong female main character, Ikenna, and her struggles trying to survive in a difficult world. The world that Davenport creates is full of politics, history, betrayal, magic, and action. It will have you on the edge of your seat the entire time and keep you guessing until the very end. The Blood Trials is a stunning debut from a wonderful new author. I can’t wait for book two!
Ikenna has one person in her life that keeps everything sable, her grandfather. He raised her and trained her in secret to be an expert martial artist and, even more secretly, to harness her blood gift. After her grandfather is murdered, Ikenna is bent on revenge and discovering the truth of what happened, so she pledges herself to a deadly initiation test that only a quarter of aspirants survive, The Praetorian Trials, where she is positive she will find answers. Is it worth risking it all to find out who murdered her grandfather? What buried secrets will Ikenna discover on her mission for revenge?
While reading The Blood Trials, I found my heart aching for Ikenna. I related so much to the constant pressure and deep desire to live up to her grandfather’s expectations to break the chains of generational poverty but constantly feeling like she is failing to do so. The weight on her shoulders, as a recent graduate, to follow in her grandfather’s footsteps for the chance to become a legacy line, so it will be easier for the next generation, broke my heart. So many people from underrepresented groups feel this weight every single day and it can be absolutely crushing. There is a real tension between what you want to do with your life and what will be best for generations to come and Davenport takes this deep pain and pressure and replicates it so well in an entirely different world. The deep burden, expectation, and legacy that Ikenna carries will resonate deeply with so many readers, myself included. It made me connect instantly with Ikenna. Continue Reading...
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I'm obsessed with the "I want to kill you but I kinda wanna kiss you" vibe of this book. Karibian does an amazing job of merging two worlds and teaching us how two completely opposite people can reconcile their differences when they care about each other.
Bookish Brews | Ko-Fi | Twitter | Pinterest | Tumblr | Facebook
Bookish Brews | Ko-Fi | Twitter | Pinterest | Tumblr | Facebook
You can find this book on Kindle Unlimited, so if you're a KU subscriber, check it out.
I was fascinated the whole time but I didn't think I was invested until I reached the end and just started crying like a baby. I guess I was invested the whole time.
