Review: Bloodspell by Amalie Howard

Book Description via Goodreads:

ARC, 357 pages

June 1, 2011, Langdon Street Press

The spell was simple...

Cruentus Protectum (Defend the Blood)

But what do you do if your blood is your enemy?

Victoria Warrick has always known she was different. An outcast at school, she is no stranger to adversity. But when she receives an old journal for her seventeenth birthday, nothing prepares her for the dark secrets it holds -- much less one that reveals she's a witch with unimaginable power.

What's more, when she meets the dazzling but enigmatic Christian Devereux, she has no idea how much her life is about to change. Enemies will hunt her. Friends will turn on her. The terrible curse that makes her blood run black will stop at nothing to control her. And Christian has a sinister secret of his own...

Without knowing whom to trust, can Victoria survive her blood's deadly desires? Or will she lose everything, including herself?

Source: Langdon Street Press & Marissa (Thank you!)

My Thoughts:

Victoria – Tori – was an outcast at her school. She never really thought much about it. But what she didn't know then was that there was more to it. On her seventeenth birthday, her aunt Holly gave her a gift from her grandmother. The journal inside it held her family’s history and secret. She found out that she was a strong witch just like her ancestors. She struggled to accept this reality, even coming to the point that she intentionally stayed away from the journal and kept herself busy so that she would not think about it.

I have read novels about vampires and witches loathing each other but nothing comes close to Bloodspell. The history between vampires and witches that Howard weaved was captivating and heart-wrenching. I enjoyed reading about Tori’s ancestry. The journal itself generated so much intrigue that it has become one of the things that I looked forward to.

Tori’s blood was dangerous, craving spilled blood, death and sacrifice. It sang of dark desires and dark pleasures, infusing Tori with its evil nature. Not wanting to be like her ancestor, she struggled to control the blood, to prove that she was the master. I found Tori very human despite her gifts. She had that careful, sincere and concerned spark inside her that never vanished even as she embraced her powers. She sided with caution and refused to give in to her blood.

Tori and Christian’s relationship was a difficult one. Aside from it being forbidden, both of them were experiencing the strain between them as they both struggled to control their inner demons. Their moments together were so sweet that they made me smile. But at other times, I was gripping the book, emotionally aching from their problems. Christian craved Tori’s blood and he had to reign in the beast inside him, to make sure that he never slipped whenever they were together. Tori knew that her blood wanted to kill – even Christian – and took precautions too.

The action in Bloodspell was written well. It was as savage, inhuman and magical as the characters. I loved how the scenes reflected the true nature of vampires and witches. The aftermath of the fight scenes were also shown. During these scenes, the emotions of the characters, particularly Tori’s, were explored. Tori often felt disgust and fear as she remembered her joy at killing and winning. She was still vulnerable inside even though she was strong. The drawbacks of being a witch was as great as her power.

Bloodspell is a captivating tale of forbidden love bloodlust and danger. Deliciously dark, fast paced and beautifully written, this novel will get the attention of paranormal romance readers. I highly recommend this! This reminded me of Vampire Diaries (the TV series) when it comes to suspense, action and unpredictability.

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