By Lauren Blackwood
Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Spice rating: 🌶️
Blurb
A romantic historical fantasy from New York Times bestselling author Lauren Blackwood, set in the American Civil War with vampires and people with demigod-like abilities.
1863, Pennsylvania
War doesn’t scare Jerusalem—she’s a Saint. Thanks to powerful demigod-style reflexes, endurance, and strength, she’s fearless. And ever since the Confederates declared civil war, partnering with the vampires who benefitted off slavery, she and her battalion of Saints are essential to the Union army.
Jerusalem herself had been enslaved by a vampire, escaping North only after her family was murdered. She knows the enemy better, hates the enemy more than anyone in her battalion, and has been using it to her advantage since she joined the war a year ago. More than anything she wants revenge, but if she can help Black people gain freedom and equality without having to steal it for themselves like she had to, then all the better.
But she never expects to have to team up with a vampire to do it. Alexei is one of those handsome, arrogant Ancient Vampires. But he’s on the Union’s side, and in the year they've known each other, has never done anything but prove he’s on hers.
Together, they set out to change the course of the war and take down the vampire who destroyed everyone Jerusalem loved. But for her, it’s about more than justice.
It's about killing a god.
Category: Young Adult
Read if you Like:
🩸Civil War Setting
🩸Vampires
🩸Past trauma
🩸Romance subplot
🩸Pining
My Thoughts:
I love this concept! Vampires and the Civil War? Add a romance? I'm in! I ultimately enjoyed this story but it in my opinion it is very heavy for a young adult book. As an adult in my late twenties, I found some of the discussion of sexual violence and torture difficult so I imagine it would be a lot for some teens, especially younger ones.
I did like the romantic plot. I loved how much Alexei admired Jerusalem and was glad we got his POV as well. I usually won't have liked how indecisive Jerusalem was about her feelings but I thought it made sense given her history.
I know there was a reason this book was hard to read. Black people in US history endured terrible things and I'm not saying we should not have books about them. However, I was bothered by the idea that torture described in detail was ok for a YA book. Especially when it is pretty standard that sexual acts should not be described in detail in YA books. So normal human sexuality is more disturbing than torture? I want to be very clear this is not a criticism of this author or her story, only how it has been marketed and the genre it has been put into.
I think if you are an adult reader who thinks this story sound intriguing and you are up for the heavier subject matter you will enjoy this one! I do think the idea of slave owners as vampires and the way the author explored power and trauma was very interesting.
Thanks to Wednesday Books for providing me with an ARC. All opinions are my own.
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