REVIEW: Blood Magic (Blood Journals #1) by Tessa Gratton

It stars off simply. Draw a circle...place a dead leaf in the center...sprinkle some salt...recite a little Latin...add a drop of blood...

Maybe that last part isn't exactly simple. Yet somehow it feels right to Silla Kennicott. And nothing in her life has felt remotelyy right since her parents' horrific deaths. She's willing to do anything to uncover the truth about her family-even try a few spells from the mysterious book that arrived on her doorstep...and spill some blood.

The book isn't the only recent arrival in Silla's life. There's Nick Pardee, the new guy next door who may have seen Silla casting a spell. She's not sure what he saw and is afraid to find out. But as they spend more time together, Silla realizes this may not be Nick's first encounter with Blood Magic. Brought together by a combination of fate and chemistry, Silla and Nick can't deny their attraction. And they can't ignore the dark presence lurking nearby-waiting to reclaim the book and all its power. (Taken from Goodreads)

Title: Blood Magic

Author: Tessa Gratton (Check out her website)

Publisher: Random House Books For Young Readers

Pages: 405

Teasers:

"I am Josephine Darly, and I intended to live forever." - pg 1

"A handful of drama club members chatted near the barn, including Nick, who was dressed in a pinstripe three-piece suit like he'd walked out of a production of Guys and Dolls." - pg. 85

"I reached out and tentatively put my finger in the scarlet pool. It was warm and sticky and gross." - pg. 139

My Review:

I waited until Halloween to post this review because I believe it to be a perfect book to read today. The story starts with Silla who has lost both her parents. She lives in a small town where her every action in response to their deaths is watched and scrutinized. Her way of surviving is to live behind the beautifully interact masks, one for every reaction or occasion. The other side to this story is told from Nick's point of view. Nick, the city boy who has inherited his grandfather's property in Silla's small hometown. Past and present meet in this lovely tale of how magic that was started in the past changed the present in unexpected ways. I would like to give you more details, but this story is truly best left to the reader. You will be taken on a journey as Gratton develops each character and as the story lines intertwine you are left with a beautiful story of hardships.

Things I Loved:

This book is the best example of a stand alone novel that is a part of a series that I have seen in a while. I feel like when authors do the cliffhanger it is almost as if they are insecure about their writing and are trying to force the publisher and the readers to buy into the next book to know what happens next. You will just want more of Tessa Gratton's writing. Her writing style is beautiful. Other things I really liked about her book: Dueling narrative (We see the story from two main characters, Silla and Nick), there are diary portions which take you back in time momentarily, and the author uses the setting (woods, graveyard, school) as a character in itself. It is the perfect October read because it has to do with all things witches. 

My Rating: 5 Stars

Keep your eye out for the next book in this series, The Blood Keeper, set to release next Summer 2012. 

Disclosure: Won from Bibliopunkk and part of the Tessa Gratton Blood Magic Challenge. 

Happy Reading!

Michelle

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