The Blood Keeper (The Blood Journals, #2)

Sep 09, 2012 ♥Rachel♥ rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, arc, netgalley-e-book

The Blood Keeper is a dark magical story that takes time and patience to get into, but is well worth the effort. It’s a companion novel to Blood Magic with previous characters showing up, but focused on a whole new cast.

In this story, there are two POVs in the present, Mab and Will, and one from the past, Evie.

Mab is the new Deacon, a leader and guide of the blood witches, after Arthur the previous Deacon passed away. Arthur, Grandma Lyn, Donna and a hodge-podge group living at The Pink House a...more
The Blood Keeper is a dark magical story that takes time and patience to get into, but is well worth the effort. It’s a companion novel to Blood Magic with previous characters showing up, but focused on a whole new cast.

In this story, there are two POVs in the present, Mab and Will, and one from the past, Evie.

Mab is the new Deacon, a leader and guide of the blood witches, after Arthur the previous Deacon passed away. Arthur, Grandma Lyn, Donna and a hodge-podge group living at The Pink House are more of a family to Mab than her own mother, Josephine. Her mother dropped her off there when she was two years-old, only visiting and staying occasionally. We know from Blood Magic, Josephine was busy tracking down and stalking her love, or more accurately, her obsession, Philip. This ended tragically for Josephine, Philip, and his wife. Thankfully, Mab is nothing like her mother, and it really was a blessing in disguise that Arthur and Granny Lyn raised her. Arthur’s final request before he died was for Mab to “destroy those roses,” yet everything Mab tries, fails. Finally, to get to the bottom of this mystery, Mab fashions a “doll” (not really what you’d call a doll, more of a mud-monster) with the spirit of the roses and the curse that dwells in them. Little does she know what evil she’s about to unleash.

There had been a secret planted under my bedroom window all my life. I knew I should have spent my creating a spell to burn the curse away, to turn the roses into ash and spread the pieces on the wind and on the river. It’s what Arthur told me to do. But that isn’t what I chose.

Will knows what he doesn’t want. He doesn’t want to follow in his father’s and brother’s footsteps into a military career. His family is still reeling from his brother, Aaron’s death. An event that shook Will up and made him realize he didn’t want to follow. Will and Mab’s life collide when her “doll” gets loose and plows into Will, touching him with the evil curse and marking him with it, unbeknownst to him or Mab. Will is intrigued with the strange and beautiful Mab, not knowing exactly how important she’s about to become in his life.

We’re introduced to Evie when she joins a much younger Arthur and his friend Gabriel at the Pink House. She is a blood witch but only uses magic as a tool when needed. It doesn’t dominate her life. Her POV is a letter to Arthur recounting the events of the past. You get a glimpse of Josephine too, who even back then was an enigmatic figure with little or no morals. You witness Evie falling in love, but at the same time you feel something bad is coming. You realize her letter is not just recounting a love story, but a tragedy as well.

As I said in the beginning, I had a hard time getting into this story. It wasn’t until I was about 30% in that I finally started clicking with it. While the prose was beautiful, I felt like it could’ve been pared down. The explanations and detailing of many rituals throughout the book had my eyes glazing over in a few parts. I’m not a huge fan of detailed writing, so these points of complaint could just be me. I did finally engage in the story, and from then on I was anxious to find out what was going to happen next. The story truly became riveting, and I was rushing to piece together the mystery of the past to the events in the present. I’m so glad I pushed through because The Blood Keeper was worth it! It was a strange, romantic, and enthralling tale.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Children’s Books for allowing me to read this.

You can find this review and more at The Readers Den.(less)

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Sep 26, 2012 Krys rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, medium-length-book, arcs-manuscripts, own, first-person-narrative, alternating-dual-multi-narratives, read-in-2012, southern-gothic, witches-wizards-magic-themed, series, have-a-hardcover-and-an-arc, series-i-love

Many of you will remember that Blood Magic was my favourite book last year. I loved it utterly, and I've been wanting this one for a while. Initially I was disappointed to see that this book followed new characters and not the ones I had come to know and love. However, I dove in wanting to be back in the world and back in Tessa Gratton's head. I have found myself dreaming about this world for the better part of a year.

In The Blood Keeper Nick and Silla take a backseat to new characters Will and...more

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Aug 23, 2012 Crystal rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, netgalley, arc, favorites

BEST.BOOK.EVER! I am not kidding or exaggerating one bit either. Most books I usually say that I loved them but I wish this was different or this annoyed me, but this one is PERFECT. There is not one single thing I would want changed, slowed down, altered, or deleted. The Blood Keeper is pure perfection!

In this one we have Mab who is now the Deacon. She protects her land and helps others like herself in need with her magic. Mab is very curious by nature which makes her an awesome at what she doe...more BEST.BOOK.EVER! I am not kidding or exaggerating one bit either. Most books I usually say that I loved them but I wish this was different or this annoyed me, but this one is PERFECT. There is not one single thing I would want changed, slowed down, altered, or deleted. The Blood Keeper is pure perfection!

In this one we have Mab who is now the Deacon. She protects her land and helps others like herself in need with her magic. Mab is very curious by nature which makes her an awesome at what she does. When her curiosity drags her to find out why Author, her old mentor, wanted her to get rid of the rose bushes in their yard she unknowingly opens up a whole can of worms that changes her life forever. Will, having lost his brother only a few months ago, is just trying to figure out what he wants to do. Every man in his family has joined the service and he isn't so sure that is the path that he wants to take anymore. Also added to that he is having nightmares about being dragged underwater and all kinds of non pleasant things. Thinking gt has something to do with the day he saved one of his friends lives, he goes back to where it all happened. There is where he meets Mab for the first time and their introduction is nothing short of hilarious and terrifying. This story is filled with action, adventure, romance, passion, magic, and I can't forget blood. I loved how the author chose to describe the magic in this book and show how Mab balanced everything out. Even the simple connection between Mab and Will was described and explained so perfectly. Their romance was beautiful. There was nothing forced and yes they had an instant connection but there is a really good reason why that I can't explain but just trust me it definitely works. Their romance is my top favorite one of all time. Yes I know that is a huge statement and I mean every word.

Mab proves to be one of the toughest characters I have ever read about. She does what needs to be done and doesn't make excuses or whine about it. I was so shocked at her decision at the end and I know that the author never takes the easy way out so I was on pins and needles at the end. I actually was on pins and needles throughout but that ending was killer! Also I have to say that I loved that even though Mab was the outcast girl she didn't get treated like a weirdo. The girls at Will's school didn't make fun of her, they didn't break out in a song and dance about being besties forever upon their first introduction, they welcomed her nicely and opened up the idea of being friends. That is reality. Most new girls don't have besties within the first day and they don't all get teased by the head cheerleader. I loved that the author added that part. Will was the perfect balance to Mab. They complimented each other nicely and like I said above I loved their romance. Will was just your typical guy, he loves his dogs, plays soccer, and is just trying to keep his life together. Mab proves to be the glue he needs and in my eyes they are the perfect couple. Don't think for a second that this book is all romance, there is an enormous storyline here that is told in two different times alternating chapters. The story was just as captivating as the romance and even more so at times.

If you have read my previous review of the first book you already know that I am a huge fan of this world that Tessa Gratton has created. There is just something about it that is intriguing and just captivates me. It is so different from any other magic book I have read. I don't think there is another book planned set in this world but if there ever is one I will definitely be that crazy girl waiting at the door of my book store the day it releases. Tessa Gratton is a brilliant author and I cannot wait to see what she comes out with next!

By the way if anyone knows where I can find Crow Memory Please let me know!

This review and more can be found here:

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Aug 20, 2012 Lindsay rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: netgalley, young-adult, curses, cutting, danger, death, family, friendship, magic, paranormal, romance, secrets, reviewed, own

For Mab Prowd, practicing blood magic is as natural as breathing. Growing up on an isolated farm with others that practice is all she's ever known, but it's given her a sense of purpose, a connection to the land around her, and she's protective of the magic. Plus, she's able to practice openly with the crows as her companions, to keep the magic alive while guarding its secrets. But then a spell goes wrong one morning and she meets Will Sanger, a local, and very normal, boy with some personal dem...more For Mab Prowd, practicing blood magic is as natural as breathing. Growing up on an isolated farm with others that practice is all she's ever known, but it's given her a sense of purpose, a connection to the land around her, and she's protective of the magic. Plus, she's able to practice openly with the crows as her companions, to keep the magic alive while guarding its secrets. But then a spell goes wrong one morning and she meets Will Sanger, a local, and very normal, boy with some personal demons he wants to get rid of. His brief encounter with Mab's magic leaves his mind scrambling to understand it, and he's all too eager to end their chance meeting. But secrets, those kept from Mab and past users of blood magic, have a way of resurfacing, and soon she and Will are drawn together again by something looking to break from from the earth and take back its power.

The Blood Keeper is a return to a world first introduced in Blood Magic, a return to a place rich with secrets and magic, a place where the blood coursing through your veins holds untold power, and letting it loose can either help or hurt those around you. Part sequel and part companion novel, this is a story about dealing with the present while battling the past, told in alternating viewpoints and gorgeously crafted prose.

Five years later and in a different state, the reader meets Mab and Will instead of returning to Silla and Nick. Also, the tone of this differs greatly from the first, not so dark, not so heavy, not so dangerously all-consuming. Instead, The Blood Keeper felt oddly sweeter but by no means any safer or any less magical. Among the wide-open fields, the trees with trinkets and crows filling their branches, the roses, there is evil, the evilness that people do to each other out of spite and jealousy and hatred.

The sweetness comes from Mab, her world filled with blood magic and spells, with happiness and love and affection with those who practice, with connections to the land around her gained through blood and ritual. She has such compassion, such a gentle nature, and it plays well against Will's skepticism. For once, there is a main character who knows nothing about the blood magic, about the world that Mab (as well as Silla and Nick) grew up in, a character who was, for all intents and purposes, completely normal. Not counting his nightmares.

But there's something else lurking in the story, hidden away in Gratton's prose, hidden from Mab and everyone else at the Pink House, hidden in the letters of a young girl, and when the secret comes to life, the world as Mab knows it changes and leaves her and Will scrambling.

I was surprised when I noticed this dark and dangerous thing, this shadow, creeping up and into the pages, then was surprised again when I realized it was always there, waiting, waiting for the right moment. It's proof of Gratton's wonderful storytelling and weaving together of characters and plot and surprises that it took me so long to figure it out, and that when I did I wasn't angry at myself for not realizing it. I was more in awe of how everything fit together so perfectly.

There is magic in blood, magic and power, but there are also connections. There's magic in the earth, in animals, in people, in the simple things in life, and when evil comes to take a piece, it will be beaten down by any means necessary. Those who were fascinated by Gratton's debut will be just as thrilled with this offering, and I can only hope there will be more of this world in the future.(less)

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Oct 10, 2012 Ellz Readz rated it 4 of 5 stars

The Blood Keeper is the sequel to Tessa Gratton's novel Blood Divided. It is a book about love, dedication, family, and magic.

I started this book immediately after finishing book 1, so I expected to walk right into the characters lives. I did not. The story takes place several years later and features several new characters. The original cast still plays a role, especially Reese, but it did take a few chapters to get my bearings.

The new characters were interesting. The Blood Keeper is told fro...more

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Oct 08, 2012 Kelly rated it 3 of 5 stars

Having loved Blood Magic, I was really excited for this book even knowing it had a cast of different characters. However, while it was written in the same style as Blood Magic the pace felt much slower and almost dragged on in parts. I was taken aback by how quickly the book started and I was given no background on the characters - it just felt like I had missed the first chapter or something. It was hard to follow and I probably would have put it down except for Will. I really liked his charact...more

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Sep 16, 2012 Rhiannon Ryder rated it 5 of 5 stars

Last sumer I read Tessa Grattons debut novel, Blood Magic (the companion to The Blood Keeper), and promptly fell in love with her writing. She takes YA somewhere strange and different, she introduces characters who don't fit the stereotypes and she has a lot of fun while doing it. If you haven't read Blood Magic yet, then I'm telling you, you're missing out. I especially love that these two books, while both part of the Blood Journals, are stand alone novels each telling a separate story that tw...more Last sumer I read Tessa Grattons debut novel, Blood Magic (the companion to The Blood Keeper), and promptly fell in love with her writing. She takes YA somewhere strange and different, she introduces characters who don't fit the stereotypes and she has a lot of fun while doing it. If you haven't read Blood Magic yet, then I'm telling you, you're missing out. I especially love that these two books, while both part of the Blood Journals, are stand alone novels each telling a separate story that twines into a history of Blood Magic and it's practitioners.

Blood Keeper has a very different ambience then Blood Magic. Where BM is mired in dark revelations and sinister characters, BK shows a very different look at blood magic and it's workings. In many ways Mab and her family are everything good in blood magic, and even the journal entries sprinkled throughout the narrative seem to be more of a love story then the dark, and somewhat creepy journal entries of Josephine's from BM. But towards the end of the story, things take a definite dark twist, and just like that Gratton takes the reader back to the goose bump inducing atmosphere of the unexpected and truly dark parts of her blood magic.

The way BK ties into BM is fantastic, subtle but holding serious significance, all while playing out it's own story. Mab is the daughter of Josephine, and Nick's mother Donna lives with her. But most importantly, so does Reese. If I was to write a one line review of this story it would be that it started and ended with my anguished cry of Reese! Nick and Silla make small appearances that were both totally cathartic (oh how I missed them!), but not so much that they took over a story that belonged to new and intriguing characters.

Which, speaking of them, I adored Will and Mab, every bit as much as I loved Silla an Nick the first time around. They are both delightfully a-typical teens, Mab is a raging blood magic hippie who eschews both shoes and bras, and Will is a football playing, crew cut sporting, military brat. But they're both teeming with surprises, Mab is full of brass, and Will is gentle and kind-hearted, but most unanticipated is how perfect they are together. Like Nick and Silla, Will and Mab seem to beautifully compliment each other. Their strange relationship is both charming and compelling and I especially love how Will frequently admits Mab is extremely odd, as if that's a delightful attribute instead of negative.

This was definitely the most wild, embarrassing conversation I'd ever had. But Mab turned everything a little wild, even this old clunker of a car...Instead of moving to get out, I stared at her. I'd never admired somebody my own age before, but Mab, she wasn't just gorgeous and weird, she was confident. And knew herself. I wanted that.
The way Evie's journal entries are interspersed with Mab and Will's story is as effective as Josephine's was in BM. The convention works especially well, since Gratton is giving such brief bits of Evies story in comparison to Will and Mab's. Although Evie's journal is not as obviously dark as Josephine's was, you know it's leading you to some kind of revelation, and the way it's dragged out of her kept me on the edge of my seat. One liner's like:

But it was not merely tea. It was poison.
were especially torturous.

Finally, I have to say I LOVE the new look they've created for the series. I'm tempted to replace my copy of BM just so I can have this fabulous matched set. BM is the dark version of BK which mirrors the stories, but I also adore the fact there are no people on the covers! Such an unusual thing these days, but so refreshing. Also, under Blood Keepers paper jacket is an exquisite maroon cover with leaf green binding, so pretty.

A great set of books, I can't recommend highly enough, but don't take just my word for it, Maggie Stiefvater also loves them:

"Love buried in cemeteries, horror hidden behind masks, and whispered language of blood. I adore this book" (for Blood Magic)
as if you need anymore convincing.(less)

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Sep 08, 2012 Amy Lignor rated it 4 of 5 stars

Although fantasy readers may find some very interesting scenes in this tale, the problem I found is that out of the two story lines presented - past and present - the past was the one that was far more interesting.

When we begin, readers meet up with Mab Prowd in a quiet, almost deserted area of Kansas. Her life revolves around magic and she’s currently trying to kill rose bushes that are on the property. She’s been trying for some time, and for those who don’t know, killing roses are almost like...more Although fantasy readers may find some very interesting scenes in this tale, the problem I found is that out of the two story lines presented - past and present - the past was the one that was far more interesting.

When we begin, readers meet up with Mab Prowd in a quiet, almost deserted area of Kansas. Her life revolves around magic and she’s currently trying to kill rose bushes that are on the property. She’s been trying for some time, and for those who don’t know, killing roses are almost like trying to kill a vampire - extremely difficult. Mab was told by her now deceased benefactor that she must destroy them, yet they seem to be cursed. What she hasn’t figured out yet is why. Using a spell, after a very disgusting sacrifice, Mab creates what you would call a doll-like monster who races away from the property.

Will is a young man who’s sitting by a lake. Will recently saved a girl from drowning in this particular lake, and he is trying to get over the fear that still resides in his soul. While there, a huge doll-like monster makes his appearance and Will ends up killing the thing. Unfortunately, he also ends up catching a curse that a female stranger will need to help him with.

Will has enough problems without getting involved with Mab. He has a very dedicated family - dedicated to the marines - and his father and brother want him to join up and make that his only pathway in life. However, his other brother, Aaron, found only death while in the armed forces and Will truly doesn’t want to head into that dark, frightening future.

Mab has her own difficulties. As the Deacon of a place that takes care of people with a magical ‘bent,’ she is also brought a young boy who has a major curse set on him by his father that she has to free him of. She is also still dealing with her family and a horrific event that happened a while back that turned one boy into many crows.

The parallel story running through this present-day tale regards Mab’s past. How she came to Kansas, finding romance with her benefactor, and a relationship that was beyond obsessive. This is a tremendously good story that, if the plot worked differently, might have been spotlighted instead of the ‘reality’ tale.

For any reader who is interested in the magical ways of the world, they will enjoy this book. The scenes are certainly detailed and offer many a terrifying moment to go along with a mystery of mammoth proportions.

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Sep 04, 2012 Ashleyn Poston rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc

ARC provided by Netgally and Delacorte!

In the second installment in The Blood Journal series, Nick and Silla are swept to the wayside (to which I sort of rejoiced), for two compelling new characters. Will and Mab. Mab, the new Deacon, is is incredibly curious and quite likable. Will, struggling between his own future plans and the plans his family has for him, is endearing and funny. When their romance blossoms, it’s exhilarating and exciting… but you’re in for the long haul if you like romances...more ARC provided by Netgally and Delacorte!

In the second installment in The Blood Journal series, Nick and Silla are swept to the wayside (to which I sort of rejoiced), for two compelling new characters. Will and Mab. Mab, the new Deacon, is is incredibly curious and quite likable. Will, struggling between his own future plans and the plans his family has for him, is endearing and funny. When their romance blossoms, it’s exhilarating and exciting… but you’re in for the long haul if you like romances. This story is less about romance, and more about family, and the inner dynamics of them.

Will and Mab don’t exactly meet until two-hundred pages into the book. Which leaves room for great backstory and character development… but often times I found myself skimming entire chapters (mostly Mab’s… she goes on and on about magic, how magic works, what it means, ect, it grew old very quickly).

HOWEVER. There is a third viewpoint who, if you’re intuitive, you’ll pick up who it is pretty quickly, but it by far kept me the most enthralled throughout this read.

Much of the plot is left open until the very end of the novel, but then again that’s Gratton’s way of writing. She pulls you to the very brink of the cliff, not sure whether she’ll cut her losses and push you off, or jerk you back at the last minute. It’s exhilarating, and at times extremely frustrating (and those were mostly Mab’s chapters.) Mab is definitely not Silla, but then again she doesn’t even try to be, which makes her not only frustrating, but slightly endearing.

I think the only problem with this novel is that Gratton made such likable, strong characters in the first installment, starting the second book with a completely new cast is a disservice to the new cast. The reader has become so intensely invested in the first set of characters, to switch their empathy to Mab and Will takes up those two hundred pages until they meet at the rose bush. By then the reader’s either quit the novel or so heartbroken because Nick and Silla are MIA that they can’t find it in their hearts to like Mab and Will at all.

If The Blood Keeper hadn’t followed up Blood Magic, I’m very certain I would’ve liked Will and Mab just as much as I did Nick and Silla, but as it stands they just don’t cut it. It’s nothing personal, I just fell in love with the first cast, and it’ll take a lot of chocolate to get over them.(less)

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Jul 21, 2012 B rated it 3 of 5 stars

Now this book’s pretty cool. It’s very much about family and is written from the perspective of two characters, Will and Mab, who both have different roles in their families, but are also working to establish themselves as their own person while staying part of a group of people they care about. The magic in this book is what’s neat, it’s all tied to nature and blood and there are just as many curses as there are charms. The magic can be a character of its own sometimes and it brings together Wi...more

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Oct 28, 2012 Blodeuedd Finland rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal-romance, ya

I liked the way this book was written, there was an ease to it and the POV changes worked great. It was also so easy to follow.

The book has 3 POVS. First Mab who is a blood witch and lives on a farm, working with curses and blood. Not your ordinary teen. Then there is Will, a local boy she meets and who ends up involved with it all. And yes romance interest too. Lastly, there is Evelyn who came to the farm long ago. Her POV is not around much as it is in the past, but it's important to the plot....more

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Sep 30, 2012 Midnight rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

I am sad that there are new characters. At first i thought the new characters had nothing to do with the old characters except blood magic. I was wrong. I had to slowly put pieces together that Donna was Nick's mother.
When I was reading it, there is this dark eerie feeling like bad things were going to happen. The book is very well written. I skimmed over many parts of Mab doing her spells. I would recommend it to everyone EXCEPT people who are queasy about blood(like my mom). Mab pricks hersel...more

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Apr 18, 2013 Kayla rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Let me begin with Blood Magic:

I read it not all that long ago. I don't remember the plot, to be precise, just fragments and being disappointed with the ending.

Which means I was reluctant to pick up The Blood Keeper; but I am glad I did.

Firstly - I enjoyed the plot, the pace and the love/confession letter dotted throughout the book. I liked Mab, to an extent, although her character fell flat against the description of literal "blood magic."

I liked the male lead, Will. However, like Mab, I felt l...more

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Aug 04, 2012 Kathy Martin rated it 5 of 5 stars

THE BLOOD KEEPER is breathtaking. Gratton weaves three viewpoint characters into a story of love, magic, and menace. Two of the characters are named and one slowly reveals herself to us as the story progresses.

Mab is the newly chosen Deacon after the death of her mentor and father figure Arthur. His last directive to her was to destroy a bed of roses that was tended by his late wife. Mab has grown up under Arthur's tutelage learning magic and tending the land by renewing wards and ending curses....more THE BLOOD KEEPER is breathtaking. Gratton weaves three viewpoint characters into a story of love, magic, and menace. Two of the characters are named and one slowly reveals herself to us as the story progresses.

Mab is the newly chosen Deacon after the death of her mentor and father figure Arthur. His last directive to her was to destroy a bed of roses that was tended by his late wife. Mab has grown up under Arthur's tutelage learning magic and tending the land by renewing wards and ending curses. Her magic is based on bloodletting and powered by her blood. In an effort to learn about the rose bed before destroying it she creates a homunculus to tell her what the roses' secrets are. It escapes and Mab has to chase it.

Enter Will who is in the summer before his senior year, grieving the death of his brother Aaron, coming to terms with being a reluctant hero after saving a friend from drowning, and trying to plan his own future which conflicts with the future in the military that has been laid out for him. Saving his friend from drowning has left him with nightmares which he attempts to combat by revisiting the scene. There he encounters the homunculus and, while trying to subdue it, gets injured by it. Will and Mab meet and his is fascinated by her unique approach to life. Will soon gets sick with a strange illness and goes to Mab for help. He has taken on the curse and Mab tries magical means to cleanse him.

The story is told with each chapter from a different point of view. The third point of view begins with an unnamed narrator. It tells of that person coming to live with Gabriel and Arthur after a magical accident that left her an orphan. She is looking for a home and a place of peace. It is pretty clear that this portion of the story takes place in the past. We gradually learn about the two men and their different approaches to magic. We also watch our narrator - now identified as Evelyn Sonnenschein - fall in love with Arthur and see him love her in return. And we see Gabriel come in and out of their lives and watch his jealousy grow until he tries to do the unthinkable.

When the two story lines - past and present - come together the tension and danger amps up for Mab and Will. I was fascinated by the blood magic which was the center of Mab's life. This system of magic was very realistic. I loved that magic wasn't easy and that it had a cost. I also loved that both Mab and Will did a lot of self-exploration in this story and that both grew during the course of it.

The writing was emotional and descriptive. Each character had a unique voice and writing style. I wouldn't have needed the chapter titles to know who was speaking. I think my young adult lovers of the paranormal will really enjoy this story. I can't wait to share it with them.(less)

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Jul 20, 2012 Savannah (Books With Bite) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Alright, I went into this book expecting a continuation of the story from the first book Blood Magic.
That is not the case. This is the same world different characters. After a while and finally getting into it, I was able to get into the story and enjoy it. Because I was under the wrong impression, it took my a while to understand where the characters are coming from and how they relate to Silla and Nick. The connection is made but not till the end. Still, as the reader I was still a but confuse...more

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Dec 14, 2012 Katie Halliday rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The practice of blood magic is like Mab Prowd was meant to do it. She's good at it, and she knows it. She is quite lonely, but then she does live on an isolated farm in Kansas. Not that she lets this faze her. She'd rather concentrate on what she does best. She is very connected to the land and is able to practice whenever she wants, with only the crows nearby. One day, when she's practicing a spell, a local boy called Will interrupts by getting unintentionally involved. Mab then has no choice b...more The practice of blood magic is like Mab Prowd was meant to do it. She's good at it, and she knows it. She is quite lonely, but then she does live on an isolated farm in Kansas. Not that she lets this faze her. She'd rather concentrate on what she does best. She is very connected to the land and is able to practice whenever she wants, with only the crows nearby. One day, when she's practicing a spell, a local boy called Will interrupts by getting unintentionally involved. Mab then has no choice but to help Will, who learns about this blood magic for the first time. Corrupted inside by his inner demons, Mab is by his side to help him in every way possible, and they end up being there for each other. A dark character returns from being imprisoned, and Mab feels that in her every power she should help. For poor Will is involved, who Mab has learned to love. With Mab's magic and the help of the crows, can she free Will from evil clutches?

This book is the second from the 'Blood Magic' series. However, only the characters from the first book have minor parts in this story. The book is written from two points of view: Mab's and Will's. It also includes small chapters of a character's words from the past.
I liked Mab's character in this book because she is a very strong person and sets straight to the task at hand. It's nice that you get a strong heroine leading the story, rather than a weak one. Will has demons in his past. He lost one of his brothers, and his father and older brother want him to follow in their footsteps. I admire his courage and for sticking up for his beliefs and what he wants to do in his life.
The ending of this book was quite nice. Having sorted everything, the mood within the characters is calm.
The storyline for this book is different from most. It's the first ever book I have read with this sort of theme evolving around blood magic. I wouldn't say I thought it was amazing, and that was the reason I gave it four stars. If you are interested in magic and hidden curses, then I recommend you buy it.
Overall it's a good book, and if you purchase it, I hope you enjoy it.
Happy reading =) (less)

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Feb 25, 2013 Lisbeth Avery {Assorted Insanity} rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: dual-pov, male-pov, fem-pov, two-stars, library, let-me-love-you, cover-love-book-hate, disappointed, hormone-crazy-teens, horrible-heroine, its-angst-time, no-no-no, reviewed, past-pov

THE BLOOD KEEPER is a book that started off smoothly and had everything I loved: blood magic, action, and mystery; however it didn't continue like that. A few days after reading the initial hundred pages or so, I picked it up again and to my great disappointment, it soon felt like a completely new book.

This book is actually a sequel, something I didn't find out till a few moments before writing this review. I didn't even suspect it since this book felt like a standalone. From what I see, the fir...more

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Apr 23, 2013 Dentro de un Libro rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

El Secreto de los Cuervos es una historia de magia original y diferente, que trata sobre el poder de la sangre y sus conexiones, sobre hechizos y maldiciones. Con toques de romance y lleno de misterios, el libro cuenta también con la dosis necesaria de acción.
El estilo de narración de Gratton es detallista y cautivante. Las descripciones de la autora te hacen sentir cada situación, cada hechizo. Entreteje muy bien los personajes y la trama. Todos los giros que tenía reservados me sorprendieron,...more

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Nov 09, 2012 Maureen E rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, simply-superb, young-adult

I read Blood Magic, Gratton's first book, when it came out and it was okay. I wasn't amazed by it, but I didn't dislike it either. But I'd been hearing good things about Blood Keeper in the blogosphere and decided to take a chance. I'm so glad I did. Gratton completely blows the first book out of the water. Blood Keeper is a beautifully written story from first to last, with compelling characters. I loved Mab, who is proud and responsible and makes mistakes. To me, she read as entirely human and...more

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Oct 07, 2012 Michelle rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I loved the previous book in this series, Blood Magic, and at a recent event held by the publisher I was given a copy of The Blood Keeper. When I first began reading it actually took me a till chapter 6 to connect the dots and actually place some of the characters in this book and how they connected with Blood Magic and to realise who Silla, Reece, Nick and Donna were..
Mab, is Josephine's daughter, she may be young but is also the Deacon. We are introduced to her while she is in the process of m...more I loved the previous book in this series, Blood Magic, and at a recent event held by the publisher I was given a copy of The Blood Keeper. When I first began reading it actually took me a till chapter 6 to connect the dots and actually place some of the characters in this book and how they connected with Blood Magic and to realise who Silla, Reece, Nick and Donna were..
Mab, is Josephine's daughter, she may be young but is also the Deacon. We are introduced to her while she is in the process of making a clay body to discover the secret of the roses. Unfortunately it gets away from her, only being stopped by Will. But the curse it contains isn't easily stopped and soon Mab finds both Will and Lukas's lives in danger.

One again Tessa has managed to grab me from the moment I began her book, and although it has taken me a while to read it, every single second of free time I had was devoted to reading The Blood Keeper. When I began reading and saw the name Mab, I immediately thought she would be one to keep an eye on and waited with baited breath to see what havoc she would cause. I was happily surprised to discover Mab is not like the Mab's I know of. She is kind and gentle and only uses her magic for good and for helping others. The more I got to know her the more I liked her and when she has to make tough decisions she always made the one that was right for others, and not just for herself.
When her friendship with Will begins to grow into something more I enjoyed seeing it develop slowly in front of me and watching how all the small gestures mean so much more.

I enjoyed the magic and mystery behind The Blood Keeper, and liked getting to see how Mab unravels it all to finally find out what she needs to stop the curse. Each character brings so much into the story and it all adds to make it captivating. Although I do have to admit I loved Reece's part in this story.
The Blood Keeper is a great read and anyone who has read Blood Magic needs to make sure they read this too.(less)

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Jul 01, 2012 Suzanne rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: for-slj

This series seems to polarize readers. It's one of those paranormal romances with some staunch fans, it appears, but I never read book one called Blood Magic. I do see that folks were not thrilled that the romantic leads from that book, a girl who finds she has untapped magical skills and is a witch and her heartthrob Nick, are NOT headliners here. However, from what I can tell about the series opener, Gratton has structured both as some kind of triangle narration with the extra long hypotenuse...more This series seems to polarize readers. It's one of those paranormal romances with some staunch fans, it appears, but I never read book one called Blood Magic. I do see that folks were not thrilled that the romantic leads from that book, a girl who finds she has untapped magical skills and is a witch and her heartthrob Nick, are NOT headliners here. However, from what I can tell about the series opener, Gratton has structured both as some kind of triangle narration with the extra long hypotenuse of one story set in an earlier time period--a bit unwieldy in the most deft of hands is multiple point of view.

Ponderously long and grisly in the wet stickiness of its magic. No blood suckers, but LOTS of blood letting. Pain and cutting are the foundation for a sacrifice based witchery taking place on the Kansas prarie. Seriously, I had some concern about the glorification of wounding oneself to the most damaged or impressionable teen readers and I'm fairly liberal about content.

So who is the Blood Keeper? Well, that person is the magical head of the "family," made up of blood witches, aka The Deacon. Young Mab has recently taken over for Arthur, who raised her as a princess of the natural magics so that she could maintain their control on their lands and peoples. He warned her to destroy a problematic rose garden, but her attempt sets loose a sort of golem, meant to speak for or suck up the evil from cursed plants, who attacks a young man ultimately infected by its taint. Mab is powerfully attracted to Will (as is he to her) and has to share the truth about her powers in order to try and save him from the horribly pernicious roses and the magic tethered there.

So we hear this story straight from Mab and Will and another somewhat mysterious third voice from the past fills in its own strand of events from the first half of the 20th century: Evelyn, a woman of magical blood who shared the home of Arthur and another witch companion. Her story helps fill in the gaps and causes of the curse, but only patient or ensorcelled readers will make it all the way through, I think, a dragging narrative.

These witches use earth, nature, and blood, not sorting hats and wands, and so they will appeal to a very different sort of magic story lover. Not my chalice of blood, but it will no doubt find more eager practioners.
(less)

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Apr 16, 2013 Diane rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: magic, romance, suspense, washyarg

Mab practices her blood magic in rural Kansas. Will meets her when one of her spells (a life sized “doll” that she animated) goes wrong and attacks him. There is an immediate connection between Mab and Will, but it takes almost 300 pages to discover just what that connection is. In alternating chapters told by Mab and Will and a mysterious woman from the past, we learn about Mab’s calling as the Deacon and the traditions of blood magic.
If you liked Daughter of Smoke and Bone, this book has a...more

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Sep 26, 2012 Tara Fuller rated it 5 of 5 stars

Wow! What else can I say about this book, but that Tessa Gratton has hit it out of the park again. First of all, let me just say how absolutely in love I am with this author's writing style. Her prose and descriptions are flawless, beautiful ,and at times, deliciously dark. I loved the first book in this companion series and if possible I loved The Blood Keeper even more. Unique characters and an eerie, intriguing plot that keeps you on your toes kept me up late and on the edge of my seat. This...more

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Dec 01, 2012 ~Jeannie~(I.♥.Reading.) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-young-adult, witch-witches, romance, paranormal, magic, fantasy

I finished in about two days so I guess it was a hard to put down book for me.

Mab was a sweet girl who made mistakes and tried hard to fix them she was proud of who she was and what she stood for I really liked her character.

Will is a typical teen boy who is tired of everyone telling him who he is and it takes him a while to figure out what/who he is and wants to be, loved his character as well.

Evie's POV in the story was awesome, I really loved that part, it made the story very interesting to...more

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Sep 03, 2012 Midnight rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

I am sad that there are new characters. At first i thought the new characters had nothing to do with the old characters except blood magic. I was wrong. I had to slowly put pieces together that Donna was Nick's mother.
When I was reading it, there is this dark eerie feeling like bad things were going to happen. The book is very well written. I skimmed over many parts of Mab doing her spells. I would recommend it to everyone EXCEPT people who are queasy about blood(like my mom). Mab pricks hersel...more

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Jul 04, 2011 Batool marked it as to-read

OMG!!!!!!! cant wait(:

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Feb 15, 2013 Rosemary Collins rated it 3 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Dec 10, 2012 Nicole rated it 4 of 5 stars

Anyone with a tendency toward hemophobia should not read Tessa Gratton’s The Blood Keeper. You will not make it through. Almost from the first page, the novel’s heroine, Mab Prowd is cutting open fingers and wrists, bleeding into bowls, and mixing it up with other ingredients to connect to the earth and work her blood magic. I often felt like I was trying to read the book between my fingers, but it’s an absorbing read, and slight squeamishness aside, I wanted to keep going.

Mab Prowd is seventeen...more Anyone with a tendency toward hemophobia should not read Tessa Gratton’s The Blood Keeper. You will not make it through. Almost from the first page, the novel’s heroine, Mab Prowd is cutting open fingers and wrists, bleeding into bowls, and mixing it up with other ingredients to connect to the earth and work her blood magic. I often felt like I was trying to read the book between my fingers, but it’s an absorbing read, and slight squeamishness aside, I wanted to keep going.

Mab Prowd is seventeen when she inherits the title of The Deacon (a magical keeper of the land, one who contains curses, and maintains a safe place for all the other blood witches scattered across the United States) from her Uncle Arthur who after hundreds of years as the Deacon has decided to move on. As a last request he asks her to destroy rose bushes planted in the garden. Unfortunately he neglects to explain the meaning behind this odd assignment, and Mab takes it upon herself to explore their power and essence before doing as he asks. She channels the energy of the roses into a creature she fashions out of mud and animal hearts. This turns out to be a big mistake – especially when her creation crosses paths with Will Sanger, a boy from the local high school who is struggling to define his own life choices at the time.

I liked The Blood Keeper a lot. Gratton can run long with her descriptiveness, making for some issues with pacing, but that was outweighed in the balance by strong, well-developed characters, solid mythology and details of the dark rituals comprising blood magic, and good story-telling. Point of view alternates between Mab, Will and a former resident of the blood land which slowly proves to have bearing on unfolding events.

The Blood Keeper is essentially the story of a lonely girl growing up on an isolated Kansas farm, weighted by the responsibility of inheritance and separated from people her own age. While she meets Will because of the danger she has exposed him to, they both need each other. Mab’s strength of character is sometimes to her detriment when she leaps before considering all of the possibilities, and she could benefit fun and the company of other teens. Will finds just as much comfort in her, as he tries to break away from the demands and traditions of his family in light of the unsettling death of his brother. Will was probably my favorite character in the book – his simple openness and trust, desire to do the right thing and his love for his dogs, made him very appealing and the romance very sweet. History, horror, romance and magic coincide for a compelling escapist read. Recommended.(less)

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Feb 01, 2013 Hacedores Desierto rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: romantica, juvenil, juvenil-paranormal, khardan, young-adult, romance

Recuerdo cuando leí el primero de esta saga. Me pareció muy original. Tanto por el sistema de magia como por la forma de narrarlo, por medio de un diario unido a dos puntos de vista distintos. Volvemos a encontrarnos con el mismo sistema de narración, pero con unos personajes distintos. Por un lado está Mab, la hija de Josephine, del anterior libro, y por el otro está Will, un chico normal cuya vida familiar está recuperándose de una tragedia. Esa va a ser la pareja que dé sangre a este libro, m...more

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Nov 08, 2012 Alan rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, must-own, urban-fantasy, witches

I've been going back and forth on the 4 or 5 star's. I guess my definition of 5 stars isn't about perfect stories, but more about whether I can put the book down and this one was a hard to put down. Full disclosure I didn't realize that this was book two and haven't read book one yet.
There are two main characters Mab, the blood witch, and Will, a pretty standard high school boy who's father and two brothers have all enlisted or served in the military. The book takes place in Kansas where Mab liv...more

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