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A review by pinguicha
In the Blood by R.L. Martinez
4.0
DISCLAIMER: I did the map for this, and am listed in Lakewater Press's website as their illustrator. The editor provided me with an ARC when I asked.
EDIT: I also made the new cover for In the Blood, as well as the cover of Beneath the Skin!
That being said...
I found IN THE BLOOD to be a fascinating fantasy, and one's not afraid to get dark when it needs to. I found the blood magic system properly two-edged (as blood magic should be), and the same can be said for the onkai (the shapeshifters in Martinez's universe). Each character is compelling in their own, different way, though my personal favorite was Oriabel (I have a weak spot for witches, OK?).
The plot was intriguing, and I sort of loved how the ending was a "it kind of ended well, except where it didn't" situation.
There were some typos and missing commas, but this was an uncorrected e-proof, and the editor told me they'd found those and will be corrected once the novel comes out.
Bottom line: I'll definitely be reading book 2, and if you're into dark fantasy, chances are you'll say the same once you read book 1.
EDIT: I also made the new cover for In the Blood, as well as the cover of Beneath the Skin!
That being said...
I found IN THE BLOOD to be a fascinating fantasy, and one's not afraid to get dark when it needs to. I found the blood magic system properly two-edged (as blood magic should be), and the same can be said for the onkai (the shapeshifters in Martinez's universe). Each character is compelling in their own, different way, though my personal favorite was Oriabel (I have a weak spot for witches, OK?).
The plot was intriguing, and I sort of loved how the ending was a "it kind of ended well, except where it didn't" situation.
There were some typos and missing commas, but this was an uncorrected e-proof, and the editor told me they'd found those and will be corrected once the novel comes out.
Bottom line: I'll definitely be reading book 2, and if you're into dark fantasy, chances are you'll say the same once you read book 1.