Summary (from Goodreads): For Nick Pardee and Silla Kennicot, the cemetery is the center of everything.
Nick is a city boy angry at being forced to move back to the nowhere town of Yaleylah, Missouri where he grew up. He can’t help remembering his mom and the blood magic she practiced – memories he’s tried for five years to escape. Silla, though, doesn’t want to forget; her parents’ apparent murder-suicide left her numb and needing answers. When a book of magic spells in her dad’s handwriting appears on her doorstep, she sees her chance to unravel the mystery of their deaths.
Together they plunge into the world of dark magic, but when a hundred-year-old blood witch comes hunting for the bones of Silla’s parents and the spell book, Nick and Silla will have to let go of everything they believe about who they are, the nature of life and death, and the deadly secrets that hide in blood.
My Thoughts: I signed up for this tour thinking this story had potential. And it does. And it definitely takes that potential and blows it out of the water! Excellent, excellent story. When I think about this story, my thoughts are, “Absotively, posolutely FANTABULOUS!” Yes, I know they aren’t technically words, but I use them quite frequently! 
Anyway …
Silla. The poor girl has been through so much. So very much. Not only are her parents dead in a horrifically violent way, but she was the one to discover them. I think that gives her some license to be a bit messed up for a while. Despite her issues, for the most part, she’s actually pretty level-headed. She collects masks, and visualizes wearing different ones depending on the front she wants to display. I thought that was kinda neat. Reese was really great. What an awesome brother. Their relationship is one I sure hope my kids have as siblings when they get older! And Nick. What a sweetheart! (And I’m always sold on characters from Chicago! ) Sure, he’s got issues resulting from his mother’s baggage, but he finds a way through that for Silla. Their relationship is a good one. They have a clear connection – is it the magic that binds them together? They do disagree, but that is not the central point of conflict in this book, and that’s so nice. The book focuses on the blood magic, with Silla and Nick being secondary. (I like the romance, but I appreciate that the central focus of the book doesn’t change.)
I really liked the alternating viewpoints. It was clearly indicated who was speaking when, and I never felt lost or like something was confusing. Even toward the back, where in some places they each have a paragraph or two during the more dramatic moments. Even then it’s easy to read and follow. The main action is occurring, and you’re seeing it from both characters’ perspectives as it happens. It flows very well and works out perfectly. Very well-written.
Predictability was NOT a part of this story. There were a couple of big somewhat surprising revelations – neither of which was shocking when they occurred. But, there’s enough going on that it wasn’t obvious what they were. (I’m having a hard time writing this one out! LOL) The book is full of foreshadowing, and little hints here and there. But, there are enough well-developed characters and enough events that the final answer to these questions isn’t easily determined. For both instances I’m thinking of, there easily could be two or three answers – in addition to the truth. It was nice. I was kept guessing, but not frustrated. I was given enough to start to piece it together, but not so much that there wasn’t anything left to tell me. I also really liked that we learn pretty early on what happened to Silla’s parents. (It’s just too often nowadays that an author will mention some horrific event and not give details until the book is practically over. I hate being teased and/or strung along!)
Will I read this again? Hell yeah! This is a tour book, so I’ll have to buy my own copy, which I don’t mind doing! This is the first in a series (not sure how many books are planned), and I will be eagerly waiting for Book 2, which according to Goodreads is called The Blood Keeper. I can’t wait to get my hands on that one!
My Rating: 5 stars
Source: Received through Book It Forward ARC Tours for review.
Read It: Blood Magic is scheduled for release on April 26, 2011. You can pre-order it HERE.
Challenges: Counts for 100 Books in a Year Reading Challenge 2011 and iChallenges 2011.
FTC Disclosure: All items reviewed were either obtained by me for my own enjoyment or sent (from the author, publisher, publicist, via tour sites, etc.) in exchange for an honest review. I receive no monetary compensation for my posts. All opinions expressed are my own.
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