Reviews

The Blood Miracles by Lisa McInerney

micahhortonhallett's review against another edition

4.0

Inventive prose that moves like it is trying to escape earth's gravitational pull and a nice twist on modern gangster tropes. Not high art, but possibly low art, which can be a lot more fun. Made of win. Will definitely Give Lisa McInerney another crack.

tanninsandtales's review against another edition

5.0

I really loved The Glorious Heresies (and this love has just grown with time) so it was with some trepidation that I approached The Blood Miracles. I thought it would be difficult for the second Ryan Cusack book to be as brilliant as the first and I had also read some reviews of disappointed readers pointing out that this book was darker and lacking a bit of the warmth and wit of the first. While I would not disagree with them, I didn't like this book less. McInerney's writing is as strong as ever, her characters fully fleshed out and hard not to care about. Strongly recommended.

joyousreads132's review against another edition

2.0

Tough to read if you've not read The Glorious Heresies (I didn't).

marrsia's review

challenging emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

lorimichelekelley's review

1.0

Audio version: I got halfway through this and returned it, which was SUCH a disappointment and big surprise, with me having waited so eagerly for a new book by Lisa McInerney. This is a sequel to The Glorious Heresies, which I LOVED LOVED LOVED! It takes the story of Ryan and continues that to such a boring extent, I just couldn't listen anymore. It was just him being depressed and making stupid decisions, and Karine being mad all the time, and even my favorite character Maureen couldn't pull it together for me. She had been sassy and wise and a bit cantankerous, and here she was just weird. The first book was so much more dynamic, with all the different perspectives and characters, and this one - I just kept waiting for the next chapter to be about someone else, and just went, "UGH!" when it was all about Ryan again! I'll read another book by McInerney, but I'll not be pre-ordering, and I'll carefully read reviews, as the one and two star reviews for this one are spot on.

justvaporlock's review

dark emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

clmckinney's review

4.0

This book continues on my Irish writers exploration. I really liked the Glorious Heresies. I love the character of Ryan Cusack. His downward spiral is both compelling and cautionary at the same time. I don't think this is as good as its predecessor but still worthy of reading. I just wanted to know what happened to the characters after the last book. As well, I realize that I have a deep appreciation of Irish lit. It is wonderful! I give this one a 3.9/5.

nobodyatall's review against another edition

3.0

As gripping and readable as the first one but lacked some of its depth.

ciaras_invisible_llama's review

dark

4.25

jennamorrison's review

4.0

I received a copy of this via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Glorious Heresies was such a great book, I didn't think Lisa McInerney could match it, but she has!

Set a few years after the first book, the focus is on Ryan with only his narrative this time around. Torn between his dealing and girlfriend Karine, Ryan is a wonderfully written, interesting character.

The Blood Miracles is more of a thriller than The Glorious Heresies, but this is a good thing. A continued narrative on Ireland's dark side would have lessened the beauty of TGH.

I would highly recommend this book, but only after reading The Glorious Heresies, which is a must read.