Cover Image: Blood Like Magic

Blood Like Magic

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Member Reviews

(english review below!)

☆☆☆☆,5 /5

Sans vous parler de cette magnifique couverture qui m’a tapé dans l’œil dès le premier regard, je dois dire que j’ai été conquise par la qualité du texte. Je n’avais entendu que du bien de ce roman, sorti tout fraîchement le 15 juin dernier, et j’avais peur d’avoir trop d’attentes.
Finalement, l’auteure m’a complètement éblouie et je suis tombée amoureuse de l’histoire qu’elle nous propose.
¤
Dans ce roman, nous suivons Voya Thomas, une jeune sorcière, qui n’attend qu’une seule chose depuis des années : passer et réussir l’épreuve du « Calling », une épreuve par laquelle tous les sorciers doivent passer afin d’accéder à leurs pouvoirs. Cela dit, lorsque la jeune fille fait face à son épreuve, elle échoue. Alors que tout semble perdu, on lui accorde pourtant une seconde chance… Vraiment ? Voya a une quête à accomplir afin de passer son épreuve et de sauver sa famille. Elle doit trouver son premier amour et le tuer… Mais comment va-t-elle faire pour tuer un inconnu ? Et surtout, comment va-t-elle savoir qui est son premier amour alors qu’elle n’est jamais tombée amoureuse ?

Désolée pour ce résumé un peu cafouillé mais avez-vous réellement besoin de savoir tout cela pour lire ce roman ? Personnellement, il m’a seulement fallu savoir que l’on allait avoir droit à une histoire de sorcières à Toronto et j’étais déjà en train de lire les premières pages.
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J’ai été tellement entraînée par le récit ! L’écriture de l’auteure est tout simplement magique. Si, au début, j’ai eu quelques difficultés de compréhension, plus liées à mon niveau d’anglais qu’à la narration, je n’ai pourtant pas eu de soucis à apprécier l’histoire à sa juste valeur.
J’ai beaucoup apprécié la manière dont l’auteure a construit son univers et ses personnages, mais également lorsqu’elle nous donne des informations à propos des sorciers, de la magie, du fonctionnement de leur monde, de leur société et cette histoire d’épreuve. Aussi, ce qui m’a agréablement surpris, c’est que je ne lisais pas simplement une histoire de magie, de paranormal. L’auteure a su ajouter une touche de sciences et de technologie à son récit et je dois dire que c’était intéressant d’en connaître plus sur cette version futuriste de Toronto. C’était intéressant et original de mélanger magie et technologie dans ce roman et c’était bien fait à mon goût. Chaque chose avait son rôle et bien que ces domaines puissent être différents dans leurs caractéristiques, ils peuvent être également complémentaires.
Voya est une jeune fille qui est prête à tout pour sauver sa famille. Elle a le cœur sur la main et pense d’abord aux autres. J’ai été touchée par sa détermination, par son amour pour ses proches. À travers son personnage, l’auteure va parler de la famille, mais surtout de la première fois… de toutes les premières fois. Durant sa mission, Voya va ressentir des sentiments qu’elle n’a jamais ressenti auparavant. Elle va apprendre à se connaître et à connaître le monde autour d’elle. Elle va apprendre à faire des choix et à prendre du recul sur sa situation pour revoir ses priorités. Voya va grandir, maturer et j’ai tellement aimé l’accompagner dans ses réflexions.
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En bref, dans ce roman, on va parler de la magie, de la technologie, de la famille, du premier amour, mais surtout de l’identité. Au début, en attendant désespérément le « Calling », Voya voulait prouver aux autres qu’elle était une véritable sorcière. Et là, alors qu’elle doit tuer son premier amour pour sauver sa famille, elle va chercher à se connaître en tant que personne. Pas en tant que sorcière, pas en tant qu’adolescente seulement… Mais en tant que Voya.
C’était une aventure assez palpitante. J’ai eu quelques soucis de longueur à certains moments quand j’avais voulu que l’histoire aille plus vite, mais sinon, l’auteur a su équilibrer le rythme et les événements.
J’ai découvert une version de Toronto imaginaire, futuriste… et en fait, j’ai envie de découvrir Toronto, une ville qui mérite que j’aille y faire une visite dès que je le pourrai !

•°•°•°•

Not to mention this wonderful cover that caught my eye from the first glance, I must say that I was won over by the quality of the text. I had heard nothing but good about this book, which came out on June 15, and I was afraid I might have too many expectations.

I fell in love with the story the author offers us.
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In this book, we follow Voya Thomas, a young witch, who has been waiting for only one thing for years: to pass the "Calling", a test through which all witches must pass in order to come into their powers. Having said that, when the young girl faces her Calling, she fails. While all seems lost, Voya’s ancestors give her a second chance. Voya has a quest to accomplish in order to pass her Calling and save her family. She must find her first love and kill him ... But how is she going to kill a stranger? And most importantly, how will she know who her first love is when she has never fallen in love with anyone?

Sorry for the messed up synopsis, but do you really need to know all of this to read this book? Personally, I just had to know that we were going to get a witch story in Toronto and I was already reading the first pages.
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I was so drawn to the story! The author's writing is simply magical. At first I had some difficulties understanding the story, more related to my level of English than to storytelling, but I had no problem appreciating the story to its true value.
I really appreciated the way the author constructed her world and her characters, but also when she gives us informations about witches, magic, the functioning of their world and their society and this story of test. Also, what pleasantly surprised me was that I wasn't just reading a magic and paranormal story. The author knew how to add a touch of science and technology to her story and I have to say it was interesting to know more about this futuristic version of Toronto. It was interesting and original to mix magic and technology in this book and it was done well, for me. Everything had its role and although these areas may be different in their characteristics, they can also be complementary.
Voya is a young girl who will do anything to save her family. She thinks of others first. I was touched by her determination, by her love for those close to her. Through her character, the author will talk about the family, but especially about the first time ... all the first times. During her mission, Voya will experience feelings she has never felt before. She will get to know herself and the world around her. She will learn to make choices and take a step back from her situation to review her priorities. Voya is going to grow and mature and I loved accompanying her in her reflections.
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In short, in this book, we are going to talk about magic, technology, family, first love, but especially identity. At first, desperately waiting for her "Calling," Voya wanted to prove to others that she was a real witch. And there, while she must kill her first love to save her family, she will seek to know herself as a person. Not just as a witch, not just as a teenager ... But as Voya.
It was quite a thrilling adventure. I had some length issues at times when I wanted the story to go faster, but otherwise the author was able to balance the pace and the events.
I've discovered an imaginary, futuristic version of Toronto ... and in fact, I want to discover Toronto, a city that I have to visit as soon as I can!

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“Don’t feel bad for taking up space with your body. People are always going to want to force you to be smaller to fit what they want”

Blood Like Magic was an amazing fantasy read set in 2024 Toronto Canada. We follow Voya, a young witch who’s about to embark on her witch's calling. A witch’s calling is an important milestone, if they pass they will be awarded with a magical gift. Unfortunately Voya fails, ashamed with this outcome she prays heavily to her ancestor, Mother Joya for another chance. Mother Joya sees something in Voya and gives her an impossible task. Voya must kill her first love and if she fails her family will be stripped of their powers. Luckily with the help of an advanced app, Voya is able to find an unexpected genetic match with Luc, a boy who she had a rough encounter with not too long ago. Now Voya must push herself to accomplish this challenging task, fall in love with Luc before her family is destroyed


WHAT I LIKED: 
* A story filled with love, sacrifice and dysfunctional family
* Including important topics beautifully into the story such as racism, poverty, addiction and sexuality/homophobia 
* Written in first person perspective of Voya. I was able to connect with her lack of self confidence in herself, overthinking and holding herself back especially with being surrounded by an outspoken opinionated family. Regardless of her flaws and vulnerability I admired her determination to protect her family no matter what. I liked how Liselle explored Voya’s complicated relationship with her father and the effects it had on her, even now  
* Loved the magic system it was unique to see the different level of magic each witch can earn 
* The diversity of the characters, felt like the story truly represented Toronto that I know. It made me feel even more connected to the story
* Voya’s Caribbean and Louisiana heritage and the food included in the story. It left me hungry reading the recipes being made 
* Luca, I loved his passion for science. Despite his flaws he overcame so much in his life especially with his identity 

This was an amazing debut novel 4.5/5 stars

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3.75 stars!

Filled with thrilling adventure and lovable characters, Liselle Sambury delivers a 2021 release you do not want to miss.

First, let’s talk about the plot. A futuristic world revolving around a Black-Canadian witch sounded amazing. Luckily, the book was just as good as I hoped it’d be! The plot was constantly moving, and I was gripping on to every page wondering what would happen next.

Moreover, the characters were very likeable! Our main character Voya is strong and relatable. She constantly tries to put on a brave face, even when the odds aren’t in her favour. Her friends and family also play a huge role in the book. I absolutely adored the best friend dynamic, as well as Voya’s relationship with her grandmother. It was so unique and amazing to see!

The dialogue had it’s snarky and witty aspects to it, that I will admit, were very enjoyable. Voya and her best friend Keis had some sweet moments, but kept a steady flow of sarcastic banter.

Unfortunately though, I did have some trouble with the writing. It was a bit too dull, which then caused the pacing to slow. I also think the book would have benefited from more descriptions and less dialogue. Blood Like Magic is set in the future, so I was hoping to get more insight on how things would work 30+ years from now.

The overall enjoyment level of Blood Like Magic is fairly high. Personally, I feel as though it could have benefited from a shorter page length. Nevertheless, if the idea of futuristic witches intrigues you, then I say read on!

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I thoroughly enjoyed this! I loved the cultural allusions - both Canadian and Trinidadian. I also thought the world building was super interesting. And the characters!! I love Voya and Luc and everyone else. They were so fleshed out. I also highly enjoyed the casual queerness in this story. I love that this is the trend in YA now. I did think this book could have been about 150 pages shorter. The pace felt very slow, and I felt like a lot of moments were incredibly repetitive - it felt like Voya came to the same conclusion about her task at least 10 times and I found myself wishing we could get on with it. But overall, this was a great read and I'm definitely looking forward to where Luc and Voya's story goes next!

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I enjoyed this book but I think some people will get offended by the scene where Voya gets her period because lets be honest we just don't talk about periods enough to make this scene normal. There is nothing nicer than a hot bath when you are on your period. The heat makes all the cramps more bearable.

I love that this book might make people uncomfortable, Liselle even provides a warning about the triggers before you start reading.

I wasn't a fan of how much waffling Voya does but then I remembered she is 17 and these decisions are huge even as an adult. Once I got over myself I was able to truly enjoy this book. The story was great and I can't wait for the sequel.

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Blood Like Magic tells the story of young future witch, Voya Thomas, and her deep connection to her family. To gain her magic powers, Voya must complete her Calling, a special task given by a family ancestor. But when she gets Mama Jova, she knows her Calling will be like no other. She has a month to meet her first love and kill them, or her whole family will lose their powers.

The story is set in 2049, so on top of being a paranormal fantasy filled with blood magic, there's also a futuristic side, with genetic modification and other technological advancements. It's a really nice blend between fantasy and sci-fi that gets richer with all the drama and family politics within the witch community.

Although the book blurb mainly mentions the romance aspect, where Voya must find her first love and kill them, this is a story about family and what you would do to keep it safe and together. As mentioned before, it's filled with family drama, adults keeping secrets, and miscommunication. Voya, the main character, is mainly driven to help her family survive, putting it before everything else.

This brings us to Voya. This is an indecisive girl if I've ever met one, which is why she must face the most challenging decision of all. I must say, I don't agree with most of her very frustrating choices, but the point is for her to make them and deal with the consequences, good or bad. And she really is strong enough to do them. I also particularly enjoy her relationship with her cousin Keis, who completely understand and support each other. At least at first.

Luc, the guy Voya ends up with on a genetic matchmaking program, seems rude and abrupt at first. But it's easy to see how it's just his defenses. He's very intelligent, profoundly talented, and also feels the pressure to show his value since he's only in Canada while his sponsor dad decides he's worth it. It's nice to see him and Voya come together. Although there's always the shadow of him having to die, there's an unmistakable spark between them.

The writing is very accessible, even with all the magic and science talk. Still, the plot drags a bit, especially in the middle. Apart from the central dilemma, other minor mysteries unravel as the story goes on, and by the end, everything connects. There's a lot of casual queerness representation, with trans and demiromantic characters. The exploration of the Black community and its different cultures and heritage is fascinating. Last but not least, some of the reasonings and explanations behind the characters' decisions are hard to follow and don't make much sense, especially Voya and Mama Jova's.

This book was one I enjoyed reading, but the ending blew it for me. I won't go into spoilers, but let's say it's 20% poetic, 20% bittersweet, and 60% frustrating. Everything could have ended more neatly if there wasn't lack of communication or more thought-out decisions. Even at the beginning, it's easy to see that killing someone may not be the answer to the dilemma. But it takes everyone so long to see it. Also, the epilogue chapter feels abrupt, and it lacks proper conclusion. Still, now that I found out this book will evolve into a series, it makes sense.

Blood Like Magic is an enjoyable YA paranormal fantasy with a dash of sci-fi that will keep you intrigued and tense due to the crazy high stakes involved. However, as seen in this Blood Like Magic book review, the ending may be a hit or miss, and aspects such as pacing and logic don't deliver.

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Rating : 3.5 stars

What's cool about this book:
- It's set in a futuristic Toronto where you can modify your features using DNA. I loved the setting as someone who lives in Ontario and has visited Toronto many times.
- This book has strong themes of family and community that I don't see written this well often. I also loved how diverse the characters were (tons of queer and racial representation).
- The witch lore was strongly tied to Black culture in a way I hadn't seen before. For example, witches get their powers when they "bleed"(aka for women, periods or for men, they will bleed from their eyes) and they get a challenge they have to pass from an ancestor. The witch mythology of this book was definitely my favourite part of the book.
- There were a lot of different and interesting plot points in this book. Voya is trying to pass her challenge while also competing in a cooking competition, solving a family mystery, and helping her cousin get an internship.

My only complaint was that this book was a bit too long. I feel like at least 50 pages of the main character waffling between decisions could have been cut out.

I'd highly recommend this book if you like books set in Canada and want something fresh in the witch genre.

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Thanks to Simon & Schuster Canada for this book to review. It was a good read that I almost DNF'd at the beginning but I pressed on. I was not to sure about some of the topics since I am a bit older but the magic that is rooted in the Black culture is what allowed me to keep reading. It was a great read that I thought I would fly through but some parts were drawn out that once again almost made me stop reading it. It is a debut book for the author but it does mean she wasn't able to write but it shows her beginning and she will go far with her writing.

Thanks again for the book to review.

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DNF’d @5%… beginning of the book threw me off when talking about her period. I’m sure the rest would have been amazing and I do love a good Canadian YA fantasy but unfortunately this book isn’t for me. This is just my opinion, however, do not be swayed into not reading this book, I just lost interest at the beginning.

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This book is chock full is magic, perfect for any fantasy lover! A fabulous YA novel for anyone looking! Cannot wait for my copy to come in the mail!

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4.5 Stars

Keypoints: Black girl magic, trans love interest, trans cousin

I am so thrilled that more books about Black Girl Magic are being published!!! There is a serious lack of Black representation in fantasy and I'm glad publishers are (at least somewhat) publishing and advertising these works more.

I read this book a few months ago and initially was very perplexed by the last 50 pages or so as I thought it was a standalone. Knowing that it isn't, certainly makes everything make more sense.

What I really loved about this book (other than that the haughty male love interest is trans because we don't see that enough) is that the magic is so clearly rooted in Black culture and history.

The story follows Voya who is told she has to find and kill her first love but she has never been in love and, like the rest of the family, is unsure why she has been given this task (it is still a bit ambiguous at the end but maybe I just need a reread). Watching Voya trade barbs with Luc and navigate her family is a genuine delight (as is the fact that the book taking place in Toronto!)

There are very interesting takes on magic and power that certainly apply to issues of race, classism, transphobia, and sexism and Liselle Sambury illustrates these beautifully. I think the book could have benefitted from being a bit longer as the ending was a bit rushed, but was a genuine delight.

This is Sambury's debut and I am so excited to see what she does next!

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It is a rare thing indeed when a Black Canadian YA author publishes a book and that book is set in an actual Canadian city - in this case, Toronto (even more rare!). That this story centres Black characters (witches at that!), without centring racism is also very welcome. As readers we are aware of it, but there are many other things at play here. Love the world building that Sambury has done here. Can’t wait to put it in the hands of my patrons.

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Thanks to Margaret K McElderry Books for an ARC via netgalley for an honest review.

CW: there is a whipping scene within the context of slavery, gun/police violence, discussion of and character with an eating disorder, blood/gore/violence, death, substance abuse/addiction, mentions of child neglect. These CWs are listed by the author at the beginning of the book.

3.5/5 stars

I really struggled to get into this one. It was such an interesting concept but there was information overload and just too much happening in the beginning. It’s set in a future world with all kinds of genetic technology, but we also have to learn about magic hierarchies, how magic is used, and the characters. Voya, the narrator, felt like she was getting lost among all the other members of her family. We had to learn about the family dynamics and the characters as individuals. We also had to learn about Lauren, Voya’s best friend, who has been missing for a month. This is all before we get into Voya’s Calling and the task that she must complete.
I had a hard time connecting with Voya in the beginning because she was so indecisive. I think the book did a great job of showing pressure to make decisions, the fear over making life changing choices, and the consequences that actions and choices can have. However, I could have done with a lot less of Voya being told she’s bad at making choices, and Voya herself trying to get out of having to make choices. It became so repetitive that I found myself skimming those parts in the beginning.
At about the halfway mark, I found that the story picked up for me. I was more interested in the mystery of Auntie Elaine and Voya’s family than her relationship with Luc. It was okay, but I didn’t find myself anticipating the relationship, and often those scenes felt like they were just extra. I would have loved to get more of Luc as a character though. We got a good amount of info about him in the beginning/middle, but towards the end the character seemed a bit off and flat.
The plot was interesting but it was a bit chaotic and hard to follow. There was always so much happening that it made it difficult to know what was going to be important later and what was just filler. I thought the representation in the book was good! There are a few trans characters, a Demi romantic character, and other LGBT characters as well as lots of Caribbean heritage. Voya’s family heritage is Trinidadian, and she represents it through food.
Overall I thought it was an interesting blend of science (genetics) and magic with fantastic representation. The plot got a bit chaotic, but it was still a good read.

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On this episode of Everything is Canon, Steve talks to Liselle Sambury all about her incredible debut novel, Blood Like Magic, which not only has enough Toronto landmarks to throw a stick at but is described as “a rich, dark urban fantasy debut following a teen witch who is given a horrifying task: sacrificing her first love to save her family’s magic. The problem is, she’s never been in love—she’ll have to find the perfect guy before she can kill him.”

There’s no question that Blood Like Magic is a five-star read, but there’s a little more to it than that. Because it’s not relevant just for the sake of relevance, by connecting the distant past to the near future, what Liselle has done is allow us to see things that maybe we should have seen a long time ago. With a compelling mystery, a stellar top-to-bottom cast including a powerful lead in Voya, and a beautiful soft sci-fi sensibility, Blood Like Magic is a book you won’t soon forget.

Steve and Liselle talk about her connection to the Toronto Writers Crew, her amazing work with the books lead character Voya, the not-so-fair publishing industry, Blood Like Magic of course, and much, much more.

For the full interview, click the link below...

https://www.cinelinx.com/off-beat/shows/everything-is-canon-blood-like-magic/

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There were so many things that I thoroughly enjoyed about this book; the representation of plus-size, LGBTQ+, and POC; I enjoyed that it was set in Canada (as a Canadian myself) so it was fun actually recogizning the places and was able to imagine myself there (and I believe that Liselle’s descriptions were well done that anyone can visualize where the characters are). Overall the physical world building was wonderful and so well done!

Where it kind of lost me for a moment was at the beginning with all the information upfront, however, it did all come together after about the 15% mark where the plot really started to take hold and it wasn’t just a catch up on the characters’ lives and the world. So, a little slow to start, but that’s expected in fantasy books. The plot progresses and takes you on a wild, but wonderous ride that kept me hooked. I loved the blend of sci-fi and fantasy and I think that Liselle did a great job at making the blend as seamless as possible.

Voya I enjoyed as a protagonist so much! I love her tenacity, her determination, but also the love and adoration that she has for her family.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and will be recommending it!

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Beautiful cover, intriguing premise, but the writing was not engaging. It felt choppy, and because it lacked a flow, it was hard to stay focused. I liked the characters but the writing needed something more.

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This book honestly has me stumped. I finished it yesterday and have still not fully fleshed out my rating. There is a lot of good done in this book. I found a lot of the concepts to be pretty interesting, the characters were dynamic and messy. And yet, I found that this falls into some of the traps of a debut that did bring down my enjoyment a bit.

Blood Like Magic is set in 2049, Toronto and follows Voya, a sixteen year old soon to be witch. But, only if she can manage to pass her witch trial. After a disastrous first attempt, her ancestor gives her a unusual second chance. Kill her first love, and save her family's magic. Only there is one problem, Voya has never been in love and has a very small amount of time to do so.

The story itself I enjoyed-even if I had a few problems with it. The first 20% of the story was rough to get through. Just constant dumps of information in regards to how magic worked, Voya's family structure, futuristic tech... There was just way too much, and quite unnecessary at times. The book also felt a bit too long. There were some plot threads that just didn't quite pick up steam or grab me like the main one did. I won't get into spoilers, but having a character off the page from the very beginning is really hard to get me on board.

I really liked our mc and the various dynamics with her messy family. She is really driven by her love for her family and there was something really special watching them all interact. Liselle Sambury's themes regarding family and ancestry were really interesting and hard to read at times (major trigger warnings for depictions of slavery and violence).

Voya's internal struggles were well depicted. Watching an unsure young girl grow in her convictions I will always enjoy. I also thought the romance was fun. The love interest, Luc, is a bit rigid and grumpy, and it takes a while for them to warm up to one another. Watching the two of them interact with a looming deadline gave their relationship an extra twist that I enjoyed.

Overall I do recommend this book and am looking forward to the sequel. There are major consequences from the climactic moments and I'm looking forward to seeing how the characters
rise to the various challenges.

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Thank you so much to the publisher for this copy!!!! I love supporting Canadian authors, especially Black Canadian authors!!! I love contemporary fantasy and I am here for its return. Liselle Sambury is definitely an author whose books I will keep buying in the future. I really recommend this book.

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Things I like
- fusion of genres: sci-fi, urban fantasy, witches, futuristic setting
- morally grey characters and messy protagonist
- complex family dynamics and the fissures of living in a multi-generational home
- positive and inclusive representation of representation
- Toronto as a character in itself

Things I don't like:
- a bit lengthier than I expected, can be quite dragging
- pacing is a bit uneven

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*Thank you Netgalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review*

Blood Like Magic is a YA fantasy following Voya who lives in a futuristic Toronto that has witches. This book is about blood, love, and power of advanced technology.

I felt the plot was a little slow but it was super fun! The diversity is on point. If you want a diverse read for June, pick this up!! Though, I’ll include a list of content warnings at the end of this review (just like the author has in the eARC).

This is a book that I will for sure reread later this year to really digest the story fully.

Content warnings: whipping scene within the context of slavery, gun/police violence, discussion of and character with an eating disorder, blood/gore/violence, death, substance abuse/addiction, mention of child neglect.

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