A review for Blood Magic (The Blood Journals #1) by Tessa Gratton

Posted by Donna
Published Date: July 7th, 2011
Finished Date: June 10th, 2011 
Source: Publishers
Format: Paperback
Pages: 416
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The Blurb from Goodreads: For Nick Pardee and Silla Kennicot, the cemetery is the center of everything. Nick is a city boy angry at being forced to move back to the nowhere town of Yaleylah, Missouri where he grew up. He can’t help remembering his mom and the blood magic she practiced – memories he’s tried for five years to escape. Silla, though, doesn’t want to forget; her parents’ apparent murder-suicide left her numb and needing answers. When a book of magic spells in her dad’s handwriting appears on her doorstep, she sees her chance to unravel the mystery of their deaths. Together they plunge into the world of dark magic, but when a hundred-year-old blood witch comes hunting for the bones of Silla’s parents and the spell book, Nick and Silla will have to let go of everything they believe about who they are, the nature of life and death, and the deadly secrets that hide in blood.
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The review: I’ll admit I was a little bit hesitant before I started Blood Magic mainly because I’ve read quite a few magic/witch books and none of them have been as good as I would of hoped. But, wow, where to start with Blood Magic! 

After the horrific deaths of her parents, Silla has never felt right. She doesn’t fit in at school anymore and only has a few close friends. While trying to make sense of her parent’s death and believing there is something else going on, she tries to uncover the truth about what really happened…even if that means trying a few spells from a book that her father wrote and even spilling some of her on blood to attempt some magic. As Silla is thrown into the life of magic, she also meets new boy Nick who also has his own connection to magic. When their brought together by an undeniable attraction and start uncover secrets that were never told, Nick and Silla realise a dark present is lurking nearby and one that could cost them their lives. 

I think I was pretty spot on when I said wow! Blood Magic is completely compelling, mysterious and dark that will have you captivated all the way through. From the very first page you’re thrown into the magic of this book and it’s completely fascinating that Tessa Gratton has done a fantastic job. 

The story itself is told from different points of view. Firstly we see Silla and then Nick but we also see an unknown character who writes in a journal over a span of a few centuries. I’ve always been a fan of alternate points of view and this one was just as great. I found the more I read about the unknown character, the more I was compelled to finding out who it really was…and yes! I did figure out but it was still quite exciting when the person was finally revealed. The magic in the story was absolutely wow! You’re drawn into the spells and oh it really makes you want to try some spells of your own. Lol, if I weren’t scared of it, I probably would try it. 

Silla & Nick were great characters. They are so similar with their troubles that their parents bring but the magic ties them together. It was interesting to watch their story unfold and I loved how their relationship developed. It was fast paced but I honestly don’t think it was rushed and was believable enough.

Overall, this is a fantastic debut novel. Tessa Gratton has managed to knock out the best magic story I’ve ever read. I’m only a little disappointed that this was a stand-alone novel with a companion novel coming soon. I would love to read more on Silla & Nick and I think the author has so many different avenue’s that she could take. My fingers are crossed. Amazing read. Read it!