Because It Is My Blood by Gabrielle Zevin

Release Date: Out now!

Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux

Pages: 350pgs

The Story

Since her release from Liberty Children's Facility, Anya Balanchine is determined to follow the straight and narrow. Unfortunately, her criminal record is making it hard for her to do that. No high school wants her with a gun possession charge on her rap sheet. Plus, all the people in her life have moved on: Natty has skipped two grades at Holy Trinity, Scarlet and Gable seem closer than ever, and even Win is in a new relationship.But when old friends return demanding that certain debts be paid, Anya is thrown right back into the criminal world that she had been determined to escape. It’s a journey that will take her across the ocean and straight into the heart of the birthplace of chocolate where her resolve--and her heart--will be tested as never before.

The Review

I really enjoyed reading the first installment of the Birthright series, All These Things I've Done, but I wouldn't go and say it impressed me like how so many others were with the book. Although, after reading this sequel, I can now eat those words up because the sequel is so much better - both in writing style and in its character development. BECAUSE IT IS MY BLOOD brings our main character, Anya Balanchine, back again into our lives and it continues the story shortly after where the first book had ended. Serving out her prison sentence at Liberty, Anya is soon released and is able to return home to her family, and try to get back the life she had in the past. But with many dangers ahead of her and what with the in-the-family mafia very hot on her trail, Anya will have to make or break some friendships - even love - in order to fight for herself and for her own family alone. No matter the cost.

Deep down I think I have always loved Anya as a main heroine. She's always fighting for the cause, protecting her family and friends, but she's also just a troubled teen looking for a way to get out of the family business, and you know . . . try to live out a normal life as much as possible. For the majority of this book I couldn't help but feel sorry for our Anya - she could never catch a break. But as we view Anya's inner conflict and as she develops into a much more well-rounded character, those who didn't quite like her as a character in the first book will soon change their minds about her because she was truly great in this next second installment . . . truly great indeed. I kind of wished I had her strength and possess her very kick-ass ways of life!

I think the main reason why I adored this sequel compared to the first book was because of the story it told to me. Simple as that . . . it was a much stronger one. BECAUSE IT IS MY BLOOD explores a much more darker side of a world that is full of politics, justice, crime and dangerous relationships, and all of those elements I mentioned can make a big change to someone's lives and affect them badly too. It was needless to say a brilliant concept in this sequel and one I had very much enjoyed. But another big change I saw in this particular sequel was the bigger twists and turns the author wrote into the storyline. There was honestly never a dull moment when it came to this book. I mean, for one moment you think everything is going right for Anya (for once in her life) and yet the next thing you know she's going through hell all over again . . . just wow . . . I'm pretty impressed.

Overall, BECAUSE IT IS MY BLOOD offers up a very exciting and non-stop action/dystopian thriller that I'm sure will impress many other readers and not just myself. With many unexpected events, forbidden romances, high tension drama, and plenty of mafia kicks to get you invested in the storyline, I would highly recommend this sequel to everyone! So go and check it out now asap!

The Rating

4 1/2 / 5 stars

All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin

Release Date: 9th January, 2011

Publisher: Pan Macmillan

Pages: 352pgs

The Story

Sixteen-year-old Anya becomes the head of a mafia family after her parents are both murdered by rival gangs. Although Anya is embrolied in the criminal worlds, she is determined to keep her brother and sister out of the mafia family, but her father's relatives aren't so keen to let them go. When Anya's violent ex-boyfriend is poisoned with contaminated chocolate - chocolate that is produced illegally by Anya's mafia family - she is arrested for attempted murder and sent to the notorious jail on Manhattan Island.

Eventually she is freed by the new D.A. in town, who believes she has been framed. But this D.A. is the father of Win, a boy at school to whom Anya feels irresistibly drawn to, and her freedom comes with conditions. Win's father wants to be mayor, and he can't risk having his ambition jeopardised by rumours spreading that his son is seeing a member of a notorious crime family. Anya knows she risks the safety of her family by seeing Win again, but the feeling between them may be too strong to resist . . .

The Review

Being a fan of Gabrielle Zevin's Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac book, I knew I would also enjoy and become another fan of her book with this new dystopian tale she was going to offer to readers. And I enjoyed it immensely. It's not because I have a crazy fangal obsession with the whole mafia-gangster society, but it's because of the strong entities of family and loyalty that are emphasized throughout the book. Real strong points through my eyes. For Anya, the main character, I found that she was incredibly dedicated to her family - to her grandmother, sister and brother - and she was willing to make any sort of sacrifice for them no matter that cost or consequence which made her a complete stand-out as a female heroine.

To be honest I wasn't entirely sure what to expect from ALL THESE THINGS I'VE DONE because there's so many dystopian books out there in the YA world and I haven't really come across a book that was any different from the others. But this book right here could stand on its own without being compared to the likes of the Hunger Games or even the newcomer Divergent. Thank God. While I loved Anya's character both for her independance and being extremely aware of her responsibilities that were laid heavily upon her shoulders, but the only reason why I'm giving this book four stars instead of five is because of the supporting character Win. A lot of readers loved Win's character and as Anya's love interest, but for me he wasn't a favourite of mine nor Anya's best friend, Scarlett. Sure Win was a dedicated young boy and he obviously cares a lot about our Anya and what she's currently going through, but I don't know . . . I just didn't buy into his character. He was the type of guy you want around and then when he is you just don't know what to do with him. Sometimes I wanted him out of the picture. Same goes for Scarlett, who I found wasn't a great friend like she should've been to Anya. But whom I did love besides Anya was a character named Yuji Ono - the childhood crush of Anya's. I just loved him - even though he wasn't really in the book as much as I wanted him to be which was a real bummer. Maybe in the sequel? God I hope so.

ALL THESE THINGS I'VE DONE is the first in the Birthright series and with a few loose threads left untied, I could definitely see a lot of potential in the next few books. With hints of crime, family, love, lies, and betrayal being displayed throughout the book, be sure to pick up a copy of this book because it's a very enticing read for all those dystopian lovers like me!

The Rating

4/5 stars