Review: Blood Magic by Tessa Gratton

BLOOD MAGIC by Tessa Gratton

Pub. Date: May 2011
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Format: Hardcover , 416pp
Age Range: 12 and up
Series: Blood Journals Series
Source: Publisher (ARC)

This page-turning debut novel will entice fans who like their paranormal romances dark and disturbing. It's a natural next-read for fans of Stephanie Meyer, Carrie Jones, and Becca Fitzpatrick. But instead of mythical creatures, blood magic has everything to do with primal human desires like power, wealth, and immortality. Everywhere Silla Kennicott turns she sees blood. She can't stop thinking about her parents alleged murder-suicide. She is consumed by a book filled with spells that arrives mysteriously in the mail. The spells share one common ingredient: blood, and Silla is more than willing to cast a few. What's a little spilled blood if she can uncover the truth? And then there's Nick—the new guy at school who makes her pulse race. He has a few secrets of his own and is all too familiar with the lure of blood magic. Drawn together by a combination of fate and chemistry, Silla and Nick must find out who else in their small Missouri town knows their secret and will do anything to take the book and magic from Silla.

BLOOD MAGIC brings a fresh insight into the world of magic. I’ve read plenty of books based on magic but Tessa’s writing breathed life within the pages of this book. From the past journal accounts of magic to the mystery surrounding the murders of Silla’s parents, this book bewitched me.

BLOOD MAGIC is told through alternating accounts from Silla and Nicholas. Each character’s life has been affected by magic which ultimately brings them together for some intense and sizzling scenes. Linked together by magic, Silla and Nicholas find themselves on a hunt for answers – answers that could be deadly. Although eerie and gruesome at times, I enjoyed getting inside the heads of these characters.

All in all, I loved the concept behind this book, which was pretty crafty. I always had the feeling that I was watching a great movie which is good enough for me. If you’re looking for something fresh in the magical realm, then this is the book for you. The magic, romance, danger, and suspense scattered throughout the pages left me spellbound.

Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

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Take a sneak peek inside here!

Order BLOOD MAGIC

Sensational 7 Q & A with Tessa Gratton (Author of Blood Magic)!

Have you ever wanted to know what it would be like to hang out with your favorite author(s)? In an attempt to get a better understanding of authors, my Sensational Seven Q & A takes a closer or more personal look at these authors to give you a glimpse of the personalities behind the writing of your favorite books.

“Talent alone cannot make a writer. There must be a man behind the book; a personality which, by birth and quality, is pledged to the doctrines there set forth, and which exists to see and state things so, and not otherwise.” By Ralph Waldo Emerson

TESSA GRATTON has wanted to be a paleontologist or a wizard since she was seven. She was too impatient to hunt dinosaurs, but is still searching for someone to teach her magic. After traveling the world with her military family, she acquired a BA (and the important parts of an MA) in Gender Studies, then settled down in Kansas with her partner, her cats, and her mutant dog. You can visit Tessa at TessaGratton.com.

BLOOD MAGIC will hit shelves May 24, 2011!

If you were given a chance to travel back in time, what year or place would you go / Why?

The Cretaceous Period, baby! I’d see myself some dinosaurs. Because they are awesome.

Describe your novel in seven words or less?
Two teens, magic, blood, kissing, and mayhem.

Please share with us about your favorite book and fictional crush to date?

My favorite book is BEAUTY by Robin McKinley. It’s been my favorite since I was about 9 or 10 years old. It taught me about stories and magic and love. Does it get better than that? NOPE. My favorite fictional crush… wow that’s tough. I think right now it’s a toss up between Andevai in Kate Elliot’s COLD MAGIC and Catcher from Carrie Ryan’s DEAD-TOSSED WAVES.

If you could be any character in fiction, whom would you be / Why?

Howl from Diana Wynne Jones’s HOWL’S MOVING CASTLE. Because then I’d be a total bad-@ss wizard. And being a wizard is a life’s goal.

If Hollywood made a movie about your life, whom would you like to see play thelead role as you/ Why?

Obviously someone totally unknown, so that the movie of my life could build her career.

If someone wrote a biography about you, what do you think the title should be – please explain?

Guts of a Writer – it’s my blog title, too, and it’s a pun about bravery and intestines, which is what my writing career has been about. Finding ways to be brave, and spilling blood onto the page.

How would you describe yourself/life in seven words?

A search for magic and monsters.

Bonus:

**Is there any additional info you would like to share with your readers about what’s next for you and your books?**

I have a BLOOD MAGIC companion novel coming out in April 2012, titled THE BLOOD KEEPER, and an anthology of short stories and writing ephemera I collaborated on with Maggie Stiefvater and Brenna Yovanoff in 2012. I’m very excited about both!

Thanks for stopping by Tessa!

For more information about Tessa Gratton and her books, please visit her website here.

Monday Madness (78): Blood Magic by Tessa Gratton

What is Monday Madness?

It’s the phenomenon affecting all book lovers as we count down the hours in hopes of getting our hands on highly anticipated books on release day. So, come join me throughout the week where I will be featuring Author Interviews, Reviews, Guest Posts, and Contests for great books.

BLOOD MAGIC by Tessa Gratton

Pub. Date: May 2011

Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Format: Hardcover , 416pp
Age Range: 12 and up
Series: Blood Journals Series

This page-turning debut novel will entice fans who like their paranormal romances dark and disturbing. It's a natural next-read for fans of Stephanie Meyer, Carrie Jones, and Becca Fitzpatrick. But instead of mythical creatures, blood magic has everything to do with primal human desires like power, wealth, and immortality. Everywhere Silla Kennicott turns she sees blood. She can't stop thinking about her parents alleged murder-suicide. She is consumed by a book filled with spells that arrives mysteriously in the mail. The spells share one common ingredient: blood, and Silla is more than willing to cast a few. What's a little spilled blood if she can uncover the truth? And then there's Nick—the new guy at school who makes her pulse race. He has a few secrets of his own and is all too familiar with the lure of blood magic. Drawn together by a combination of fate and chemistry, Silla and Nick must find out who else in their small Missouri town knows their secret and will do anything to take the book and magic from Silla.

Want More?

Take a sneak peek inside here!

Order BLOOD MAGIC

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