The Book of Blood and Shadow - Robin Wasserman

   















     This book is about a girl named Nora . She works at her school, translating old texts of an ancient girl who died long ago searching for a secret book of magic called the "Lu mine Di", which had the power to fix, or destroy, the human race. When Nora's best friend is brutally murdered, Nora's boyfriend, Max, is the top suspect. In a desperate attempt to clear his name, Nora finds herself directly in the middle of a historic feud, and she is the murderer's next target.
     This novel really impressed me! The characters were well-rounded and unique, with a lot of unusual and interesting character traits. Nora, the main character, expressed a lot of emotions but without becoming excessive and seeming weak. She was a strong feminine character, and was very determined throughout the course of the novel. Also, the plot was highly intriguing, and was part horror, romance, and murder mystery, combined into an overall riveting book.
     The one part of the book I didn't like so much was the ending. It was a well thought-out ending, and it was executed effectively, but I feel like the end result was a bit disappointing for the audience. I think, in a way, that the author took the easy way out regarding how to end the novel, which I find quite frustrating and annoying. In my opinion, she could have put more effort into how to conclude the novel, which, of course, is almost the most important part of a book. People look forward to the ending of a book and I think the readers were let down in this case.
     I have been told that there will be a second book in this series, but I fail to understand what further plot could occur since the ending didn't appear to leave any opening for a second book. If anyone has read this book, or knows if a second book will be published, please let me know since I'm quite curious!
     Regardless of the ending, I would highly recommend this book to anyone who would enjoy a fast -paced murder mystery. The author uses very poetic writing, and it is told from two different points of views, which keeps things interesting. When one viewpoint begins to seemingly calm down, the other has an unexpected twist that keeps you absorbed until the end. The Book of Blood and Shadow was a fantastic novel, and if you choose to read it, hopefully you will enjoy it just as much as I did.

By Daisy Hilchey