YA Weekend Audio: Blood for Blood by Ryan Graudin
Blood for Blood by Ryan Graudin
Mogsy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Genre: Young Adult, Alternate History
Series: Book 2 of Wolf by Wolf
Publisher: Hachette Audio (November 1, 2016)
Length: 12 hrs and 23 mins
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Narrator: Christa Lewis
Well, I just finished Blood for Blood and now I need a hug.
By the way, if you haven’t started this series already, you really need to pick up Wolf by Wolf and read it right away. Go ahead, I’ll wait. Otherwise I can’t promise this review won’t spoil anything for the first book, since this sequel picks up right where the cliffhanger left off and it’d be hard to talk about the rest of the story without going into context.
If you have read Wolf by Wolf though, then you already know that our protagonist has failed in her mission. Years of preparation and training are about to go down in flames. It is 1956 in an alternate history where the Third Reich and Imperial Japan rule the world. After riding more than twenty thousand kilometers in a motorcycle race from Berlin to Tokyo, Resistance fighter and skinshifter Yael finally made it to the Victor’s Ball where she can finally get close enough to assassinate her target, Adolf Hitler.
But things don’t go as planned. Around the world, millions sitting in front of their television screens may have just witnessed a teenage girl shoot and kill Hitler, but only Yael knows the truth of what really happened. And now there’s no choice but to press onward, because too many lives are at stake for the Resistance to fall.
The Wolf by Wolf series really is a special duology. The first book was an exciting and masterful piece of storytelling, introducing the alternate timeline in which the Axis powers were never defeated, as well to our protagonist Yael who is a death camp survivor. Side effects from the horrific human experimentation by the Nazi scientists left her with a mysterious ability to skinshift and take on the appearance of anyone she wants. After joining the Resistance, she was made a central part of a plot to impersonate a contestant named Adele Wolfe to enter the Axis Tour, a transcontinental motorcycle race which Yael needed to win in order for their plans to succeed. At first, I was a little skeptical of the premise, unsure how it was all going to come together, but Ryan Graudin pulled it off marvelously by packing in a whole lot of action. Better yet, she also did it without sacrificing the character development or world-building—important ingredients for a story like that to work.
That’s why I think Wolf by Wolf was still the better book. It was just so well-told and constructed, and a uniquely interesting reading experience. There was definitely something rare and exceptional about it that puts it in a special place in my heart, but that said though, Blood for Blood was no slouch either. It gave me the conclusion I wanted, and for that and so many more reasons I am glad I read it.
For one thing, I must confess I was never all that into Yael’s love interest and fellow racer Luka in the first book, but Blood for Blood redeemed him in more ways than one. While I still wasn’t all that emotionally invested in their romance (the circumstances around it were too complicated for me to find it convincing), Graudin made me see there was more to Luka by fleshing out his background and letting us see the world from his perspective. I might not have enjoyed him as a love interest, but I sure loved him as one of the main characters. It was one reason why I found the events surrounding the ending so impactful.
We also get to learn so much more about Yael in this second book. After having lived through so much pain and suffering, and with more adversity and impossible odds ahead, she does not give up. The scope of the narrative expands to include a few more POVs, exploring the dynamics between them, making this one a bigger, more meaningful and emotional book. The way I see it, Wolf by Wolf gets the edge when it comes to heart-pounding action, but Blood for Blood gets it when it comes to character and relationship development. This series is just so imaginative, riveting, and moving. The two books may form a complete whole, but I also love that they complement each other in this way. I can’t recommend them enough.
Audiobook comments: I also opted to switch formats and listen to the Blood for Blood audiobook, even though I read the first book in print. Best decision ever. I find emotional stories are often more engaging and immersive in audio, and the producers chose an excellent narrator in Christa Lewis, who delivered a touching performance. She projected an overall tone that I felt was perfect for this novel, expressing just the right amount of feeling and inflection in all the right places to make all the most significant scenes stand out.
More on The BiblioSanctum:
Review of Wolf by Wolf (Book 1)
I remember being impressed by your review of the first volume, but until now I had no chance to add it to my reading queue: now that the duology is complete I can at least console myself with the notion that I will not have to wait to enjoy the entire story 🙂
Thanks for sharing!
LikeLike
Yes! The first book is sooo good. This sequel was awesome too, but nothing beat the action and suspense of Wolf by Wolf 🙂
LikeLike
I like alternate ones, they are just scary, even if the world still is scary
LikeLike
I know what you mean, I love the “what if” type stories too.
LikeLike
*sends virtual hug*
I haven’t read your review fully because I do want to read the first book. I need to make more time is all. I’ve been very good through October and November though, really restricting requests and trying to catch up.
Lynn 😀
LikeLike
Haha, thanks, I needed that!
Good luck with catching up! These last few days was supposed to be my “catch up” weekend, but it didn’t quite work out as planned 🙂
LikeLike
*sends her own virtual hug*
And I know what you mean about feeling that way after Blood For Blood, because I did, too. And I agree with you on the character development being stellar in the sequel, and how Graudin redeemed Luka as a character. I didn’t like him at all in Wolf By Wolf – so I was shocked (in the best way possible) that getting to know him better was one of my favorite aspects of Blood For Blood.
LikeLike
Yay, someone to commiserate with me! *hug hug hug* I need so many after that ending. Though…I think a small part of me had expected things to end that way 😦
LikeLiked by 1 person
I was actually surprised by… well, the saddest part, if you know what I mean. But yeah, lots of heartstring-pulling, and lots of necessary commiserating as a result. *more hugs*
LikeLike
Yep, I know the part you mean! I touch upon a bit about that in my review, the fact that I couldn’t really see how the relationship could work out convincingly…and so, that ending 😦
LikeLiked by 1 person
These two books really make the perfect compliment to each other! I agree, they both have their own standout features that make them shine and together they are not to be missed. Wolf by Wolf built such an amazing alternate world and on the edge-of-your-seat action, Blood for Blood made our hearts ache for the characters. I’m thrilled you enjoyed this concluding story. *Huggs*
Fantastic review 🙂
LikeLike
Very true, I liked how each book played to a different strength. The premise as a whole, though – wow! More authors should strive for originality like this!
LikeLike
SO GOOD, RIGHT? The premise is so incredible and creative and Yael is such an amazing character. I’m glad you enjoyed this as much as I did! Thanks for sharing and, as always, fabulous review! ❤
LikeLike
I did love Yael a lot. I’ll miss her!
LikeLike
Pingback: Mogsy’s Bookshelf Roundup: Stacking the Shelves & Recent Reads | The BiblioSanctum
Pingback: Top Ten Tuesday: Favorite Fantasy Books With “Blood” in the Title | The BiblioSanctum