Voya is now the matriarch of her family. Unfortunately, nobody really wants her there. The adults in her family think she’s much too young for the responsibility, the ancestors refuse to come at her call, and her cousin, Keis, who used to be her best friend, now hates her for the choice she had to make. Because Voya had to choose between Luc, a boy she’d only just met, and Keis, the cousin she’s loved all her life. And Keis was the one to suffer from that choice. Now, Voya is faced with a more difficult task. Not only does she have to somehow understand being a matriarch when she was never shown how to do it, but people’s gifts recently are going haywire. What is the cause of this anomaly, and could it have anything to do with Luc, who still believes Voya murdered his adoptive father?

I received an advanced reading copy of Blood like Fate in exchange for an honest review.

Blood like Fate is a young adult fantasy novel by Liselle Sambury. It’s also the sequel to Blood like Magic, which I read and loved earlier this year, so obviously I was thrilled to get an arc of the sequel!

This is pretty obvious, but there will be spoilers for the first book in this review, so proceed with caution!

As in the first novel, the main star for Blood like Magic is the Thomas family. Of course, Voya is our main character, but she really would be nothing without the family that surrounds her, and, as such, I can’t really talk about her without also talking about her family as a whole. This novel centers around her struggling in her new role as matriarch in her family, which is a big step. After all, she went from being unable to make any decisions in the last book, to being forced to make all the family decisions in this one. She’s convinced that her grandma made a mistake in choosing her, but she has no choice but to keep going and keep trying.

Of course she’s going to make mistakes. She’s a teen who feels like she doesn’t belong in her new role, so while she tries to make everyone happy, it doesn’t always work, and her family is always there to call her on it. I really appreciated how we got more of each family member in this book, and their reactions to Voya’s new role in the family. Like I said earlier, the whole family stars in this book, and you can really see the influence their relationships have on Voya, and the decisions she makes.

But the Thomas family doesn’t exist in a vacuum, and the other magical families also have to deal with Voya’s sudden ascension. The politics and power struggles between all the families were interesting in the previous novel, but I felt really crescendoed in this one. For one thing, the carefully maintained balance was changed in a single moment when the Thomas family lost its matriarch, but for another, the whole magical world is now in danger.

This felt a lot like a novel about power, more than anything. Not just what power you have in a community, but the power to make changes and give strength where you have to. The plot was exciting and just so tense throughout. I had to keep reading late into the night, even though I knew I had so many meetings the next day. But I just had to know how Voya’s story ended, especially because there were so many moments when I was sure it could only end in tragedy.

Of course, I can’t tell you how the story ends, but I can tell you that this duology is one I would recommend to any fantasy fans. As I mentioned in my review of the first book, though, there are some more sensitive topics here, so readers should be ready for those, but otherwise, this is an excellent fantasy series that I had the great fortune of picking up this year. Definitely check it out, because you will not be disappointed.

Blood like Fate will be released on August 9. You can pre-order your copy from Margaret K. McElderberry books here.

Everything I wanted out of the sequel to Blood Like Magic. The character development from the first book continues well into this book and it was such a joy to see Voya come into her own as Matriarch of the family. I loved getting more history on the Toronto witch community and as always Liselle Sambury's writing is beautifully lyrical. I highly recommend this book if you love strong female leaders, a diverse cast, and a sense of community.

Disclaimer: I received this e-arc and physical arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: Blood Like Fate

Author: Liselle Sambury

Book Series: Blood Like Magic Book 2

Rating: 5/5

Diversity: Black MC, Black characters, Asian characters, Black demiromantic character, Black trans cousin (male to female), Hispanic love interest, gay Black characters mentioned

Recommended For...: young adult readers, urban fantasy, paranormal, witches, LGBT, Black witches, sci-fi, magic

Publication Date: August 9, 2022

Genre: YA Urban Fantasy

Age Relevance: 15+ (death, grief, cursing, drug use, drug abuse, gore, blood magic, dieting, eating disorder, panic attack, sickness, slavery, racism, depression, therapy, gun violence, romance, homophobia)

Explanation of Above: There is death and grief talked about and shown. There is some cursing in this book. Drug use, drug abuse, and addiction are all mentioned. There is a lot of blood gore mentioned in the book and there is a use of blood magic. Dieting and an eating disorder are mentioned and slightly shown in the book. There is one instance of a panic attack mentioned. There is sickness mentioned off and on in the book and there is some sickness that is making viable sores on victims. Slavery and racism are mentioned in the book. Homophobia is mentioned in the book. There is some depression talked about in the book, as well as therapy. There is one scene with gun violence shown. There is a slight romance.

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry

Pages: 480

Synopsis: Voya Thomas may have passed her Calling to become a full-fledged witch, but the cost was higher than she’d ever imagined.

Her grandmother is gone.
Her cousin hates her.
And her family doesn’t believe that she has what it takes to lead them.

What’s more, Voya can’t let go of her feelings for Luc, sponsor son of the genius billionaire Justin Tremblay—the man that Luc believes Voya killed. Consequently, Luc wants nothing to do with her. Even her own ancestors seem to have lost faith in her. Every day Voya begs for their guidance, but her calls go unanswered.

As Voya struggles to convince everyone—herself included—that she can be a good Matriarch, she has a vision of a terrifying, deadly future. A vision that would spell the end of the Toronto witches. With a newfound sense of purpose, Voya must do whatever it takes to bring her shattered community together and stop what's coming for them before it’s too late.

Even if it means taking down the boy she loves—who might be the mastermind behind the coming devastation.

Review: I really loved this book overall! I thought the book did well to keep the action level from the first book going and while I think both can be read in a bit of a standalone fashion, both do so well to complement each other. The writing is so well done and it’s hard to believe I had an arc when this was so well done. The character develop was also well done, as was the world building. I also love how the author ties in so much into her books. There’s a lot in this book and series about history, community, acceptance, and healing and I’m so impressed with how well the author was able to blend all of these together. I’m not normally an urban sci-fi fantasy reader, but this one should be held as the example of how they should be written! I also hope that one day we’ll return to this world, but regardless if we do or not Liselle Sambury has a fan in me now until forever.

The only issue I had with the book is that it immediately picked up where book 1 left off, so it was a bit confusing to get back into, but it wasn’t bad at all compared to other books I’ve read.

Verdict: Very well done! Highly recommend this series!

Stunningly dark and gripping tale, and a satisfying ending to the Blood Like Magic series. Voya is a character I could and wanted to rally behind, and I loved (and was sometimes stressed out) by this book filled with love and loss, the strength of family and community, and what you're willing to do for those you hold close to your heart.

A nice ending to this duology. At times it felt like so much was going on at once I had to re-read to follow along. The takeaway messages of family and community shined through to the end but the ending felt rushed.

The cover is absolutely gorgeous and ties into the story.

Blood Like Fate was one of my most anticipated reads and it absolutely delivered!! This series is one of my favorite duologies. Blood Like Fate returns to the precarious situation that Blood Like Magic concluded with. With everything to lose, Voya must learn how to find her balance as the new Matriarch. With her best friend Keis and former friend Luc firmly against her, Voya must step into her grandmother’s shoes and harness her new magic to unite her family against danger.

Blood Like Fate is a beautiful and thrilling conclusion to the duology. I already can’t wait to reread it! Liselle Sambury fills the pages with delicious food, witty banter, and heartfelt family moments. I loved seeing Voya find her place with her family as she navigates new powers and weighty responsibility as a Matriarch. Voya is one of my favorite characters- no matter how many obstacles come up, she is persistent and always tries to do her best. While there is plenty of magic, Sambury skillfully includes side characters struggling with addiction, grief, eating disorders, and tricky family dynamics. These portrayals felt realistic to the complexities of a large and intergenerational family living in one house.

One of my favorite parts of the book was seeing Voya’s character growth- she has come so far from the indecisive girl in the beginning of Blood Like Magic. I loved the overall message that the most important thing is not to be perfect but to always keep trying and do your best. Liselle Sambury elegantly creates a nuanced depiction of family, both found and blood family. Voya’s family was caring, imperfect, and fearlessly worked together to battle the threat against the witches of Toronto. I loved how even when they argued, they were always trying to protect each other. I enjoyed how Voya’s knowledge of the different styles of magic developed as she got to know more of the witch families outside her circle. The pacing was extremely well-done; I couldn’t put it down!

The ending was fantastic and I would highly recommend this duology to anyone. If you are a reader who enjoys complex family dynamics, a great magic system, and witches then you need to read this duology! I hope we get a novella to spend more time in this world and check back in on these characters. I can’t wait to see what Liselle Sambury writes next! Thank you to Liselle Sambury, Margaret K. McElderry Books and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For publisher: My review will be posted on Goodreads, Amazon, Storygraph, Wordpress blog, and Barnes & Noble etc

Sequels can be hit or miss but Blood Like Fate doesn’t disappoint. If you fell in love with Blood Like Magic, prepare yourself for a mostly satisfying conclusion to this unique science fantasy teeming with black girl magic.

Things I loved from the first book that carried over to this one:

- Sambury continues to expertly blend and balance science and fantasy together, using both to complicate and enrich the lives of the characters. I haven’t read many contemporary or near future speculative fiction stories that find such a unique balance and perspective in their world building. I loved it!

- The themes and dynamics of family and community are realistic, relatable and crafted with care. The relationships in the magical community and Voya’s family were fleshed out. I felt like I was reading about real people. The relationships from parent/child, siblings, friendships, romance and all the dynamics in between were well written.

- Voya may be a chosen one, but she’s not perfect and her situations are far from ideal. Voya makes hard, complicated decisions, she makes mistakes and faces the consequences of her choices, and even after things are resolved, the story doesn’t tie up in a neat package. It’s messy, complicated and just … chef’s kiss.


What I didn’t like:
- Again, sequels are hard and you can’t please everyone. While most character arcs were well written, there were two major side characters who’s arcs left a bad taste in my mouth. I’ll try to be spoiler free in this review, but… Does anyone else feel Keis deserved much better, and Johan deserved much worse than what they received? I mean, both of them had major developments/ plot points in the duology and I feel like the resolution/ response for them was meh.

Overall, I really enjoyed the unique world building, the authentic diverse representation, the fully fleshed out characters and community and the duology as a whole. I looked forward to reading more of Sambury’s books.

Thank you to Simon and Schuster Children Publishing, Margaret K. Elderberry Books, and Netgalley who provided a copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and ideas expressed are my own.

This will teach me not to request sequels when I haven't read Book 1.

I DNF'd Blood Like Magic at 24% because I couldn't stand the main character. We spend so much time listening to her irrationally worry about failing her Calling. (No one in her family has failed in 100 years so it didn't make sense for her to be so worried about her performance.) We're constantly told she sucks at making decisions - although we're never really shown evidence of this - and when she tells us why she struggles, the explanation made zero sense.

I was interested in the magic and the potential fallout of failing her Calling, but honestly, I couldn't stand listening to this girl whine / waffle anymore. ("This girl" because, while it's been less than 2 hrs since I put the book down for good, I've already forgotten her name.)

The sequel to Blood Like Magic, I loved it just as much, if not slightly more than the first. I liked seeing the continuation and resolution of the conflicts and relationships from the first book and seeing more from the other major witch families. I don't think I figured out any of the twists or reveals before they happened, which doesn't occur very often in my readings! (4.5/5)

(Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review)

This was a solid conclusion to Blood Like Magic! I loved reunited with Voya, and seeing her grow into her role as Matriarch in this novel. Once again, I was enamored by the sci-fi and fantasy blend that this novel offers through its futuristic setting and magic system. The focus on family in this novel was one of my favorite aspects, just like in Blood Like Magic. Seeing Voya navigate the tumultuous relationships with certain members of her family and extend community was really interesting. Aside from the suspenseful action sequences and plot-twists, the romance between Luc and Voya was super sweet, and I loved how the duology ultimately ended!

Voya is back, baby, and now she is in charge. After the events of Blood Like Magic, she is struggling. She’s struggling with grief (in more ways than one) and being a new Matriarch of a prolific, Black witch family. Voya then gets a vision of the future in which her whole family dies because of amplified, uncontrollable magic. But in the vision is…Luc? Would he really do this to her family? Now Voya must overcome her perceived shortcomings to become the Matriarch she knows she can be in order to save the entire witch community. But who can she trust to truly help her?

THIS BOOK WAS WAY TOO LONG. My NetGalley app said this bad boy was 902 pages. I really really enjoyed the story (I’m glad I didn’t DNF) but I’m only giving this a 3.5 because of how long it was. Much of the beginning was wallowing in Voya’s shame and inner monologue that was self-deprecating. I understand how she feels 100% but it would have had the same effect of it did not go on so long. Other than that, I really enjoyed these characters, the magic system, and the seamless blending of fantasy and sci-fi genres. I enjoyed how there was continued diversity but also a promotion of getting therapy!!!! Seriously, the whole world needs therapy and this book really advocates for that. Loved the story, but again it was way way too long.

I actually waited to read Blood like Magic until I got this accepted, and I'm glad I did. Book one ends in a bit of a mess, and book two picks up soon after. Voya's grandmother was killed and she's now the youngest Matriarch. It comes with a lot of pressure and responsibility. She's also still reeling from the consequence of the choices she made. Overall it was a good sequel although I liked book one better. I don't always understand the science part and there's a sort of spreading sickness in this book that reminded me of the pandemic. What really makes those books for me is the incredible representation. There are trans character, a demisexual character, just so much LGBT+ rep it's beautiful to see. Eating disorders & addiction are also addressed in this book. I'd recommend if you like witchy books with unique worlds and some sci-fi components.

Thank you to NetGalley and Margaret K. McElderry Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was one of my two MOST anticipated reads of 2022. I read Blood Like Magic within a month of it coming and knew I NEEDED this book right then and there. This book is FIVE FREAKING ⭐️!

This book had me shaking and squealing. I was SMILING in the middle of my kitchen out of no where just thinking about parts (which I reread a couple times just to freak out for funsies )!

Voya’s character development was phenomenal. It wasn’t linear; it went back and forth at different paces. She learned so much, the most prominent being when she learned the differencing in knowing and believing. So wonderfully done! We really dove into her insecurities and the root of them. The impact of Matriarch on her was so much to take in, it was affecting her physically and mentally. Watching her grow confident in herself and others around here as she built a stronger relationship with her family and community was just UGH SO GOOD! The writing style and emotional aspect of her inner monologue was absolutely amazing. I’m not one to cry easily, but it brought a couple tears. We watch her grow to become this smart, strong young leader. I love Voya so much🫶

Luc? LUC?!! I LOVE LUC! THE SWEAT? THE TEARS? THAT ENTIRE FREAKING SCENE? I read that scene probably three times (minimum). The tension, the frustration, the angst, the high stakes, just EVERYTHING! (Going to keep this next sentence very vague for the sake of spoilers). I love how his growth happened, even if we didn’t recognize it or see it, we got to figure out how it happened. He and Voya are just so cute. I love them.

I love this duology so much! 110% recommend!!!

i really liked the first book in this series, but this was a lil disappointing not gonna lie. the story went off the rails, and everything felt super confusing to me.

*Thank you to S&S, Liselle Samsbury and Netgalley for providing me with an E-ARC of "Blood Like Fate" in exchange for an honest review *

So I really loved "Blood Like Magic" when I read it last year. I personally haven't read something that fresh and inventive when it comes to YA Fantasy in quite a while, so I was excited to see what was next for Voya in "Blood Like Fate". The book pick where BLM left off, with Voya leading her coven (or trying to, anyway), and Luca not trusting her, to put it gently. I really loved how family was so prominent in "Blood Like Magic" and I'm so happy it was the same in Blood Like Fate.