REVIEW: The Book of Blood and Shadow by Robin Wasserman

Wow, how much did I love The Book of Blood and Shadow by Robin Wasserman? I'd never read anything by Robin Wasserman before this, but I've always been intrigued by the sound of her stories. And after loving The Book of Blood and Shadow, I will be sure to pick up her other books!

The entire tone of the book was slightly unusual for me. There was something about Robin Wasserman's writing style and the story and the structure of the book which made it feel as a reader that time should be taken to think about everything that's happened, everything that's said. But at the same time, it was impossible for me to not fly through the pages and read more and more. I was absolutely hooked on this book, right from the first page. It's so exciting with all the secrets and double-crossing and the tension of being on the run and being not sure if you're travelling with a murderer or not! Plus, the love story was rather sweet.

This book really had me on the edge of my seat! I loved the different twists to it and the added layers to this story as we're taken farther and farther into this complicated mess of a situation. I absolutely loved each of the characters, I love that we travel to Prague of all places and I especially loved the addition of all the Latin translations.

So, Nora and her best guy friend, Chris are Latin scholars put on this special new project translating some really old and historically relevant manuscript which is meant to hold the secrets to uncovering a way to speak with God called the Lumen Dei. Though sometimes feeling a bit of a third wheel when it comes to Nora's two best friends, Chris and Adriane's romantic relationship, Nora begins falling for the other person on this special translation team, Max. I loved the slow and steady build-up to their relationship. Falling in love over letters written in Latin seems like a great way to go about things, if you ask me.

But it is not to last! For one day, Nora finds her best friend dead, Adriane catatonic and her boyfriend on the run, suspected of murder. Nora must piece together this mystery and put all the missing pieces together in order to learn who killed Chris, who is after the Lumen Dei and how much in danger is Nora?!

Seriously, this book is amazing. I especially loved Nora as a character. She's so normal and relateable, and because I connected with her so much, I found myself going through all of the emotions she did. From the stirrings of first love, to the horror and confusion of finding someone you care about dead. The need to put things right and find out the truth, no matter how deep and awful things become.

This book really is like no other YA book I've read before! I'm so excited for everyone else to read it and love it as much as I did. It's not being published until the 19th of January, but when it is be sure to look out for it!