Blood Like Magic is a captivating book written by Liselle Sambury. Set in a futuristic world where magic and technology coexist, the story follows the life of Voya Thomas, a sixteen-year-old witch tasked with a daunting mission. In order to save her family's magic, Voya must complete her ancestral spell, called the Binding Oath. To do so, she must sacrifice the life of her first love. Sambury's world-building is one of the highlights of the book. She seamlessly combines elements of magic and technology, creating a unique and immersive setting.
She seamlessly combines elements of magic and technology, creating a unique and immersive setting. The futuristic Toronto in which the story takes place feels believable and adds an extra layer of depth to the narrative. The characters in Blood Like Magic are complex and well-rounded.
Blood Like Magic
An urban fantasy debut following a teen witch who is given a horrifying task: sacrificing her first love to save her family’s magic. The problem is, she’s never been in love—she’ll have to find the perfect guy before she can kill him.
After years of waiting for her Calling—a trial every witch must pass in order to come into their powers—the one thing Voya Thomas didn’t expect was to fail. When Voya’s ancestor gives her an unprecedented second chance to complete her Calling, she agrees—and then is horrified when her task is to kill her first love. And this time, failure means every Thomas witch will be stripped of their magic.
Voya is determined to save her family’s magic no matter the cost. The problem is, Voya has never been in love, so for her to succeed, she’ll first have to find the perfect guy—and fast. Fortunately, a genetic matchmaking program has just hit the market. Her plan is to join the program, fall in love, and complete her task before the deadline. What she doesn’t count on is being paired with the infuriating Luc—how can she fall in love with a guy who seemingly wants nothing to do with her?
With mounting pressure from her family, Voya is caught between her morality and her duty to her bloodline. If she wants to save their heritage and Luc, she’ll have to find something her ancestor wants more than blood. And in witchcraft, blood is everything.
-
Genres FantasyYoung AdultRomanceWitchesUrban FantasyYoung Adult FantasyFiction
With mounting pressure from her family, Voya is caught between her morality and her duty to her bloodline. If she wants to save their heritage and Luc, she’ll have to find something her ancestor wants more than blood. And in witchcraft, blood is everything.
Voya, the protagonist, is a relatable and strong-willed young woman who is torn between her duty to her family and her own desires. The relationships between the characters are beautifully explored, and the dynamics between Voya and her family members, as well as her love interest, are richly developed. The story itself is full of twists and turns, keeping the reader engaged from start to finish. Sambury incorporates themes of self-discovery, family, and sacrifice, adding depth and emotional resonance to the plot. The pacing is well-balanced, allowing for moments of intense action and quieter, character-driven scenes. Overall, Blood Like Magic is a spellbinding book that weaves together magic, technology, and complex relationships to create a captivating read. Liselle Sambury's storytelling skills are evident in her compelling world-building, well-developed characters, and enthralling plot. This book is a must-read for fans of fantasy and YA fiction..
Reviews for "Exploring the dystopian elements in 'Blood Like Magic"
1. Emily - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "Blood like magic" but was ultimately disappointed. The premise sounded intriguing, but the execution fell flat. The characters lacked depth and I struggled to connect with any of them. The plot felt disjointed and rushed, leaving many loose ends unresolved. Overall, I found this book to be underwhelming and would not recommend it.
2. Joshua - 1 star - I found "Blood like magic" to be incredibly boring and slow-paced. The world-building was confusing and never fully explained, making it difficult for me to immerse myself in the story. The main character also lacked any real development or growth throughout the book, making it hard to care about her journey. The writing style was also lackluster, with clunky dialogue and repetitive descriptions. I couldn't wait to finish this book and would not recommend it to others.
3. Sarah - 2 stars - "Blood like magic" had an interesting concept, but it failed to deliver on its potential. The pacing was off, with long stretches of nothing happening and then sudden bursts of action that felt forced. The romances in the book also felt forced and lacked chemistry. Additionally, the ending left me unsatisfied and wanting more resolution. Overall, this book left me feeling disappointed and I wouldn't recommend it to fellow readers.
4. Michael - 3 stars - While "Blood like magic" had its moments of intrigue, I found myself struggling to stay engaged with the story. The writing was overly descriptive, which bogged down the pacing and made it difficult to follow the plot at times. The characters also felt one-dimensional and lacked depth. While the concept of blood magic was interesting, it wasn't explored as fully as I had hoped. Overall, this book was just okay for me, and I wouldn't go out of my way to recommend it.