Brad About Books: Because It Is My Blood by Gabrielle Zevin

Read from April 19 to 20, 2013

BECAUSE IT IS MY BLOOD
Published: September 18, 2012
Publisher: FSG (Macmillan)
Format: Hardcover
Page Count: 350 pages
Source: Amazon.com
Series: Birthright, #2

This review is entirely spoiler free, even if you haven't read All These Things I've Done. 

What a fantastic sequel! Gabrielle Zevin has created another masterpiece with Because It Is My Blood, which I loved even more than the first book!

I'm officially addicted to this series. The world-building is so unique and original - I love getting to see the new city Zevin created! And one thing I love so much about this second book is the fact that we get to step outside of the country, which book one was set entirely inside the United States. The world and the world-building in Because It Is My Blood was so vivid and bright and I loved it! It was definitely a highlight of the book!

Anya is... oh gosh, what can I say? She's fantastic - that's all there is to it. She has rapidly become one of the strongest characters I've read about. She's determined, fierce, and wonderful in every single way. The entire cast of characters is great too. Gabrielle Zevin is also a master of making an ensemble of characters all important and play a strong role in the novel. Anya, though, is definitely the best part of the characters and the book.

And wow! The sequel slump totally missed this series, and I'm so happy. Because It Is My Blood was phenomenal. I honestly couldn't find a single flaw! The pacing, the characters, every single bit of this book is great. I highly recommend and push this series onto everybody!

Overall, Because It Is My Blood is an electric and mind-blowing sequel. I honestly can't express my love for this series enough! So excited for In the Age of Love and Chocolate, but I'm so scared as to what's going to happen!

M Y   R A T I N G

Brad About Books: All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin

Read from July 6 to 8, 2012

ALL THESE THINGS I'VE DONE
Published: May 8, 2012 (paperback)
Publisher: Square Fish (Macmillan)
Format: Paperback
Page Count: 354 pages
Source: Parnassus Books
Series: Birthright, #1

In 2083, chocolate and coffee are illegal, paper is hard to find, water is carefully rationed, and New York City is rife with crime and poverty. And yet, for Anya Balanchine, the sixteen-year-old daughter of the city's most notorious (and dead) crime boss, life is fairly routine. It consists of going to school, taking care of her siblings and her dying grandmother, trying to avoid falling in love with the new assistant D.A.'s son, and avoiding her loser ex-boyfriend. That is until her ex is accidently poisoned by the chocolate her family manufactures and the police think she's to blame. Suddenly, Anya finds herself thrust unwillingly into the spotlight--at school, in the news, and most importantly, within her mafia family.

All These Things I've Done is a fast-paced, magnificent novel of a daring and fierce heroine and fighting for the ones you love. I absolutely adore this book.

I must start off this review by saying that Anya is one of the strongest, toughest, and most dynamic character developments I have ever read. Right from the first page, I knew I was going to like Anya. But when I finished this book, I realized that I loved Anya's character and everything about her. I felt bad for her with all the struggles and conflicts going on in her life, and I was rooting for her the entire way. I was always connected to her storyline, and Gabrielle Zevin did a marvelous job at making such a great protagonist!

A world where chocolate and caffeine are illegal? How about no. I wouldn't classify All These Things I've Done as dystopian specifically - mainly because their is no overbearing or wicked government for the entire book - but there are definitely traces of some sci-fi/dystopian elements. But really, All These Things I've Done shouts a melody of things in my mind, and it's one of the main reasons that I love this book. It stands out so much, and it's hard to find a book like it (I don't think there is one!). 

And this novel played out like a movie in my head. I mean, a strong protagonist sneaking around in a mafia-filled family while trying to figure out the curious incident of her family's past? Yes please. All These Things I've Done was one of my absolute favorite novels of 2012, and I still think about it to this today! I'm so happy I read this book, and if you haven't picked up this book, you must.

Overall, All These Things I've Done is a mind-blowing, mind-bending read that had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. Phenomenal!

M Y   R A T I N G