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Blood, She Read
Keeping secrets from a psychic can be murder.
Petra Maras lives a charmed life, but only in the magical sense. Her absentee father is a criminal, her mother is emotionally dead, and everyone at her new school knows she comes from a family of witches. All she wants is to be normal, but that's impossible, given her family. And given that she's psychic. When the police request help with a murder investigation, Petra reluctantly agrees. Which isn't such a good idea since the prime suspect wants to date her, and she really wants to say yes. Her gut says he's innocent, but since she can't get a read on him, she can't know for sure. And when she discovers he's been keeping secrets, she wonders if maybe she's been following her heart instead of her head...
Petra Maras lives a charmed life, but only in the magical sense. Her absentee father is a criminal, her mother is emotionally dead, and everyone at her new school knows she comes from a family of witches. All she wants is to be normal, but that's impossible, given her family. And given that she's psychic. When the police request help with a murder investigation, Petra reluctantly agrees. Which isn't such a good idea since the prime suspect wants to date her, and she really wants to say yes. Her gut says he's innocent, but since she can't get a read on him, she can't know for sure. And when she discovers he's been keeping secrets, she wonders if maybe she's been following her heart instead of her head...
351 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 2, 2012
1 person is currently reading
1962 people want to read
About the author
Sara Hubbard
29 books377 followersSara Hubbard is a romantic fiction author. Her debut novel released fall 2012 and was a NEORWA Cleveland Rocks winner and a RCRW Duel on the Delta finalist. Sara lives in Nova Scotia, Canada with her two children (four if you count her husband and her needy labradoodle) and works as a registered nurse.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
December 26, 2012
It isn't unusual to come across a book, every so often, that you read and simply know that you'd have loved it, if only your expectations had been a little different. In fact, one of the best things about reading those types of books is the knowledge that you'll go back to it in the future, maybe a couple of months or years down the line, and truly just love it. It happened to me very recently, with Son of the Shadows by Juliet Marillier, and seems to have happened again with Hubbard's debut, Blood, She Read. For me, the main factor preventing me from enjoying Blood, She Read more than I did was the mere fact that I was constantly anticipating for the plot to focus more on the alluded murder mystery in the synopsis. Now, don't worry - it's certainly there and very present - but unlike other novels, it isn't the sole focus. Instead, Blood, She Read is a paranormal mystery that is more character-driven than anything else and this unique change made it an extremely interesting read, to say the least.
Hubbard's debut opens up by introducing us to Petra Marras, our protagonist who has descended from a long line of witches and has the power to read people or objects with a mere touch. When the trail of the murder of a teenage girl goes cold, the police come knocking on Petra's door for help. Petra, whose father is estranged from her family, has been forced by her father to use her powers for a variety of evil deeds. As such, she feels responsible to use her powers for good and help in any way she can, but, as most good deeds, this winds up backfiring. Not only do the police nab the wrong guy, the murdered girl's secret boyfriend, but Petra begins to be threatened by his older brother in school, not to mention the police officer keeps blackmailing her for more information and accidentally gets fed a love spell by her mother. Just to make matters worse, though, strange Petra who is usually given a wide berth in school makes a new friend, only to have him be the best friend of the murdered girl and a rival of the girl, Josie's, boyfriend, Finn, who happens to like Petra. In a world so confusing where Petra doesn't know who to trust, the killer could be lurking right around the corner and maybe, this time he's coming after her...
Although the driving force behind all the events in Blood, She Read is the murder of Josie, a local teenage girl, it isn't the main plot thread at all. Instead, as I mentioned before, this paranormal mystery is more character-driven than anything else. Petra's life has been far from normal with a father who has exploited her powers and a mother who shies away from affection. Thus, finally away from her father, all Petra wants is normal. Yet, since her mother inherited the house of Petra's aunt, who made it publicly known that they were a family of witches, Petra continues to be the odd one out. One of the first things that struck me about this tale was how complex the relationship between Petra and her mother is. It isn't your usual mother-daughter relationship and although they could behave like best friends at times, there was an undercurrent of tension throughout the novel for here are two women who don't know how to relate to one another. More than anything else, their interactions and their journey was a driving and compelling force behind this tale that, in my opinion, truly captured the heart of the teenage girl.
In addition to Petra's relationship with her mom, her friendship with Dylan, the best friend of Josie, was a vital aspect of this novel. In Dylan, Petra finds someone she can trust and rely on and for her, this is a huge deal. I love that Petra was very strong outwardly, exhibiting a cool exterior that showed others that their dislike of her didn't bother her in the least, while inside, she was every bit as vulnerable as expected. It was Petra's constant growth throughout the novel that was so realistically portrayed and really made me a fan of her. Even Petra's romance with Finn, although going through its ups-and-downs and not being the main focus of the plot, was very sweet and nicely done. It allowed us to see both Petra and Finn as individuals before seeing how their interactions together made them better people. Furthermore, Hubbard addressed issues such as Finn being a suspected murder target, not to mention someone who might simply be using Petra or taking advantage of her because they too were now un-cool, very well.
Nevertheless, despite my adoration of the characterization in this novel, I did have some minor qualms that, when added up, took away from this story. For one, there is no real plot to Blood, She Read. Now, that doesn't mean it's a haphazard novel, but it isn't focused on finding the murderer and nor is it focused on romance or friendship. It's a little bit of everything, which is fine, and it never lags or bores the reader, but it does leave a slightly more solidified plot thread to be desired. In addition, for a novel that is marketed as a murder mystery, there is a shocking amount of world-building that is lacking. We never even realize that we need this until the last fifth of the novel, but after finishing the book, I am increasingly curious about Petra's world. Furthermore, I found that Blood, She Read was excruciatingly predictable. On one hand, it was never irritating to wait while Petra figured out the murderer that the reader had already known, for it was a difficult choice for Petra to really acknowledge and accept, but at the same time, I can't help but wish that it hadn't been so obvious. In my mind, there were way too many clues strewn about and constantly repeated, which simply detracted from the novel. Even the plot twists surrounding Finn were deceptively easy to figure out, all making for a read that lacked a shock-factor.
Ultimately, however, with some altered expectations about the murder mystery, Blood, She Read is a debut that won't disappoint. In Petra, we find a heroine that is strong, yet realistically vulnerable and a mother-daughter relationship that puts most others to shame. It is these character dynamics, explored so vividly and with such attention to detail, that make this novel the gem it is. If you're a fan of paranormal romance with a dash of mystery and a heavy dose of characterization, Blood, She Read is the definite book for you.
A huge thank you to Sara Hubbard for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
You can read this review and more on my blog, Ivy Book Bindings.
Hubbard's debut opens up by introducing us to Petra Marras, our protagonist who has descended from a long line of witches and has the power to read people or objects with a mere touch. When the trail of the murder of a teenage girl goes cold, the police come knocking on Petra's door for help. Petra, whose father is estranged from her family, has been forced by her father to use her powers for a variety of evil deeds. As such, she feels responsible to use her powers for good and help in any way she can, but, as most good deeds, this winds up backfiring. Not only do the police nab the wrong guy, the murdered girl's secret boyfriend, but Petra begins to be threatened by his older brother in school, not to mention the police officer keeps blackmailing her for more information and accidentally gets fed a love spell by her mother. Just to make matters worse, though, strange Petra who is usually given a wide berth in school makes a new friend, only to have him be the best friend of the murdered girl and a rival of the girl, Josie's, boyfriend, Finn, who happens to like Petra. In a world so confusing where Petra doesn't know who to trust, the killer could be lurking right around the corner and maybe, this time he's coming after her...
Although the driving force behind all the events in Blood, She Read is the murder of Josie, a local teenage girl, it isn't the main plot thread at all. Instead, as I mentioned before, this paranormal mystery is more character-driven than anything else. Petra's life has been far from normal with a father who has exploited her powers and a mother who shies away from affection. Thus, finally away from her father, all Petra wants is normal. Yet, since her mother inherited the house of Petra's aunt, who made it publicly known that they were a family of witches, Petra continues to be the odd one out. One of the first things that struck me about this tale was how complex the relationship between Petra and her mother is. It isn't your usual mother-daughter relationship and although they could behave like best friends at times, there was an undercurrent of tension throughout the novel for here are two women who don't know how to relate to one another. More than anything else, their interactions and their journey was a driving and compelling force behind this tale that, in my opinion, truly captured the heart of the teenage girl.
In addition to Petra's relationship with her mom, her friendship with Dylan, the best friend of Josie, was a vital aspect of this novel. In Dylan, Petra finds someone she can trust and rely on and for her, this is a huge deal. I love that Petra was very strong outwardly, exhibiting a cool exterior that showed others that their dislike of her didn't bother her in the least, while inside, she was every bit as vulnerable as expected. It was Petra's constant growth throughout the novel that was so realistically portrayed and really made me a fan of her. Even Petra's romance with Finn, although going through its ups-and-downs and not being the main focus of the plot, was very sweet and nicely done. It allowed us to see both Petra and Finn as individuals before seeing how their interactions together made them better people. Furthermore, Hubbard addressed issues such as Finn being a suspected murder target, not to mention someone who might simply be using Petra or taking advantage of her because they too were now un-cool, very well.
Nevertheless, despite my adoration of the characterization in this novel, I did have some minor qualms that, when added up, took away from this story. For one, there is no real plot to Blood, She Read. Now, that doesn't mean it's a haphazard novel, but it isn't focused on finding the murderer and nor is it focused on romance or friendship. It's a little bit of everything, which is fine, and it never lags or bores the reader, but it does leave a slightly more solidified plot thread to be desired. In addition, for a novel that is marketed as a murder mystery, there is a shocking amount of world-building that is lacking. We never even realize that we need this until the last fifth of the novel, but after finishing the book, I am increasingly curious about Petra's world. Furthermore, I found that Blood, She Read was excruciatingly predictable. On one hand, it was never irritating to wait while Petra figured out the murderer that the reader had already known, for it was a difficult choice for Petra to really acknowledge and accept, but at the same time, I can't help but wish that it hadn't been so obvious. In my mind, there were way too many clues strewn about and constantly repeated, which simply detracted from the novel. Even the plot twists surrounding Finn were deceptively easy to figure out, all making for a read that lacked a shock-factor.
Ultimately, however, with some altered expectations about the murder mystery, Blood, She Read is a debut that won't disappoint. In Petra, we find a heroine that is strong, yet realistically vulnerable and a mother-daughter relationship that puts most others to shame. It is these character dynamics, explored so vividly and with such attention to detail, that make this novel the gem it is. If you're a fan of paranormal romance with a dash of mystery and a heavy dose of characterization, Blood, She Read is the definite book for you.
A huge thank you to Sara Hubbard for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
You can read this review and more on my blog, Ivy Book Bindings.
November 26, 2012
Great new release by debut author Sara Hubbard! YA, paranormal, mystery, romance. This one’s got it all. Loved the voice of the main character and the relationship with her and her mother as well as her and the guys in her life. I couldn’t put it down and can’t wait for her next book! Hoping to see more in this series and from Hubbard.
December 23, 2012
Whatever you think this book is going to be about, you are probably wrong. It's that and so much more. When I first read the blurb, I thought 'Teen psychic helps the police on a murder investigation. Haven't I read this somewhere before?' Oh, no. That little portion might have sounded familiar, but what evolves from that is anything but. This is a unique story in and unto itself and it has so many twists and turns, you will almost feel your head spin. But that's a good thing because it keeps you guessing from beginning to end and if there's one thing I desire in my books, it's that I have no idea what's going to happen from one page to the next. Which is quite a feat as I am a writer myself and I often find myself figuring out what's happening or who did what long before the reveal. Well, this one kept me guessing and I loved it!
Aside from a simply amazing plot and twisty-turny storyline, there are the characters. They are so well drawn, they are like real people - with all of their flaws and foibles. I found myself loving some and loathing others, learning to like ones I originally loathed and hating ones I originally liked. That is quite a feat! Usually, if I don't like a character from the beginning, it's almost a given that I won't like them at the end and vice versa for the ones I like. But this book turned that philosophy on its head. For instance, I couldn't stand Petra's mother for most of the book - she was just so un-mother-like and mean to Petra that I had to wonder why Petra didn't run away from her. I won't give away what happens, but you do see a different side of her elsewhere in the book. Same goes for Tommy. In the beginning, I didn't like him very much, but he has his moments later in the story. I won't reveal what character is a flipside of that because it might spoil the plot, and you definitely should discover it for yourself. The two characters who I always liked from beginning to end, however, are Petra and Finn. They are just so sweet together, even when they're keeping secrets from each other.
In short, this is a little gem of a book and I have a new author to add to my favorites list. Can't wait to see what she comes up with next!
Aside from a simply amazing plot and twisty-turny storyline, there are the characters. They are so well drawn, they are like real people - with all of their flaws and foibles. I found myself loving some and loathing others, learning to like ones I originally loathed and hating ones I originally liked. That is quite a feat! Usually, if I don't like a character from the beginning, it's almost a given that I won't like them at the end and vice versa for the ones I like. But this book turned that philosophy on its head. For instance, I couldn't stand Petra's mother for most of the book - she was just so un-mother-like and mean to Petra that I had to wonder why Petra didn't run away from her. I won't give away what happens, but you do see a different side of her elsewhere in the book. Same goes for Tommy. In the beginning, I didn't like him very much, but he has his moments later in the story. I won't reveal what character is a flipside of that because it might spoil the plot, and you definitely should discover it for yourself. The two characters who I always liked from beginning to end, however, are Petra and Finn. They are just so sweet together, even when they're keeping secrets from each other.
In short, this is a little gem of a book and I have a new author to add to my favorites list. Can't wait to see what she comes up with next!
January 11, 2013
Sara Hubbard did an amazing job in this story. I love the teenage drama and issues she brought into the book that so many teens face. Bullying, awkwardness, and just plain trying to fit it. She also brought to life the reality of how teens struggle to maintain relationships with their parents and friends. I read this book in one day because I couldn't put it down. I predicted some of the outcomes a little sooner than I would have liked, but it didn't take away from the pleasure of reading this book. Since this is her debut novel, I can't wait to read her future writing. A definite read and one I would recommend to adults as well as young adults.
February 22, 2013
Blood, She Read is the debut novel of author Sara Hubbard. It is a character driven tale of friendship and first love, which involves murder, magic, deceit, jealousy and betrayal.
In the novel, Petra Maras is a witch from a long line of witches. She and her mother are on the run from her father who is a criminal. They have just moved into her mother’s childhood home in the town of Paradise, Nova Scotia. In addition to being a witch, Petra is also a psychic and can read people, seeing into their past and future. She reluctantly agrees to help the police with their investigation into the murder of a local girl, Josie, by attempting to use her gift to read an object stained with the victim’s blood.
Although she hasn’t identified any individual in her reading, suspicion falls on Finn, one of the boys at school. This does not go down well with Finn’s brother Tommy, who is openly hostile towards her. At the same time Dylan, who was close to Josie, befriends Petra. Finn, however, is drawn to Petra and asks her out. At first Petra resists, as she knows that Finn is a murder suspect, and also because Dylan does not approve of him. However, they do date but Petra cannot read Finn and she cannot be sure if he is as innocent as he seems. Also Petra realises that Finn is hiding secrets from her and begins to question his motives and whether he is the murderer after all.
The tale begins to hot up and contains scenes of attempted blackmail, theft and violence against Petra. These scenes are peppered with magic potions and spells cast by Petra and Gina, which do not always work according to plan! There is also a secondary romance involving Gina. After a number of surprising plot twists, which I did not see coming, the tale resolves in a satisfying HEA.
Petra has experienced a lot of unpleasantness in her life. This has left her strong, as she is used to dealing with adversity, but also vulnerable, as she finds it hard to trust. She is ashamed of her powerful magic and aches to be normal, but is shunned by her classmates, who know that she is from a family of witches. Petra is overjoyed when Dylan becomes her friend and begins to trust him and share her past. She cannot believe it when Finn, the school hunk claims that he is attracted to her. She fears that he has an ulterior motive or it is only because, as a murder suspect, he is being shunned by others and has no one else to turn to.
The characters of the three young men in the book play a big role in Petra’s life and in the development of the plot. Dylan, who befriends Petra, is a misfit. He was close friends with Josie and wants to find her murderer, suspecting Finn. Finn is an attractive and enigmatic figure and it is easy to see how Petra is drawn to him. He seems genuinely attracted to her but is harbouring secrets. Tommy, Finn’s brother, is aggressive towards her and the reader is left to wonder whether he is protecting Finn, has something to hide or if he is the murderer. I found myself chuckling at the teenage relationships in this book as it not only made me remember the positive feelings of first love, but also how uncomfortable they can make you feel!
Gina, Petra’s mother is volatile. Petra and Gina do not have a typical mother/daughter relationship and often Petra acts more like the adult than Gina does. Gina’s romance in the novel is, in typical Gina style, unconventional! The way the relationship between Petra and Gina develops is one of the central themes to the book and I ended up liking Gina a lot more at the end. Other characters include Henry the police officer, who plays a key role throughout the book and Sebastian, a demon, who, bound in service to Petra’s father, makes a brief but noteworthy appearance.
Overall I found the novel to be an engaging read with funny and romantic moments with a lot of suspense. Although the end was satisfying, it also left scope for the author to develop future novels. I would like to find out what happens to some of the other characters, especially Tommy and Sebastian, as well as future adventures of Petra and Finn. I would recommend this book for young adults or adults who like sweet paranormal romance with a strong plot and characterisations, containing humour and a HEA.
This novel was given to me by the author for the purpose of an honest review.
In the novel, Petra Maras is a witch from a long line of witches. She and her mother are on the run from her father who is a criminal. They have just moved into her mother’s childhood home in the town of Paradise, Nova Scotia. In addition to being a witch, Petra is also a psychic and can read people, seeing into their past and future. She reluctantly agrees to help the police with their investigation into the murder of a local girl, Josie, by attempting to use her gift to read an object stained with the victim’s blood.
Although she hasn’t identified any individual in her reading, suspicion falls on Finn, one of the boys at school. This does not go down well with Finn’s brother Tommy, who is openly hostile towards her. At the same time Dylan, who was close to Josie, befriends Petra. Finn, however, is drawn to Petra and asks her out. At first Petra resists, as she knows that Finn is a murder suspect, and also because Dylan does not approve of him. However, they do date but Petra cannot read Finn and she cannot be sure if he is as innocent as he seems. Also Petra realises that Finn is hiding secrets from her and begins to question his motives and whether he is the murderer after all.
The tale begins to hot up and contains scenes of attempted blackmail, theft and violence against Petra. These scenes are peppered with magic potions and spells cast by Petra and Gina, which do not always work according to plan! There is also a secondary romance involving Gina. After a number of surprising plot twists, which I did not see coming, the tale resolves in a satisfying HEA.
Petra has experienced a lot of unpleasantness in her life. This has left her strong, as she is used to dealing with adversity, but also vulnerable, as she finds it hard to trust. She is ashamed of her powerful magic and aches to be normal, but is shunned by her classmates, who know that she is from a family of witches. Petra is overjoyed when Dylan becomes her friend and begins to trust him and share her past. She cannot believe it when Finn, the school hunk claims that he is attracted to her. She fears that he has an ulterior motive or it is only because, as a murder suspect, he is being shunned by others and has no one else to turn to.
The characters of the three young men in the book play a big role in Petra’s life and in the development of the plot. Dylan, who befriends Petra, is a misfit. He was close friends with Josie and wants to find her murderer, suspecting Finn. Finn is an attractive and enigmatic figure and it is easy to see how Petra is drawn to him. He seems genuinely attracted to her but is harbouring secrets. Tommy, Finn’s brother, is aggressive towards her and the reader is left to wonder whether he is protecting Finn, has something to hide or if he is the murderer. I found myself chuckling at the teenage relationships in this book as it not only made me remember the positive feelings of first love, but also how uncomfortable they can make you feel!
Gina, Petra’s mother is volatile. Petra and Gina do not have a typical mother/daughter relationship and often Petra acts more like the adult than Gina does. Gina’s romance in the novel is, in typical Gina style, unconventional! The way the relationship between Petra and Gina develops is one of the central themes to the book and I ended up liking Gina a lot more at the end. Other characters include Henry the police officer, who plays a key role throughout the book and Sebastian, a demon, who, bound in service to Petra’s father, makes a brief but noteworthy appearance.
Overall I found the novel to be an engaging read with funny and romantic moments with a lot of suspense. Although the end was satisfying, it also left scope for the author to develop future novels. I would like to find out what happens to some of the other characters, especially Tommy and Sebastian, as well as future adventures of Petra and Finn. I would recommend this book for young adults or adults who like sweet paranormal romance with a strong plot and characterisations, containing humour and a HEA.
This novel was given to me by the author for the purpose of an honest review.
February 19, 2013
Check this review out as well as a chance to win a free ebook copy of Blood, She Read right here!
4.5 Stars
REVIEW
Blood, She Read was a fantastic paranormal full of humor, bittersweet nibblets, and a romance that stands out among all of the other YA paranormal's love stories. Although it was a read that took me a while to finish, the reading experience I had while reading this book was the best so far this year. I know only been a month and a half of this year will have passed by the time this review is posted, but out of the dozen of books I've read so far, this is the one that stands out the most.
When Petra helps the police with an investigation by using her powers to give clues toward the murderer of a girl in town, she knows that she's going to have to face consequences. Sadly, this turns out to be a threat from the suspect and his family, not to mention even more ostracization from the people in her town. With a mystery she has reluctantly begun to piece together and deciding between her new friend and the boy she's attracted to (Finnigan), Petra has to face a conflict that trumps the hazards that are plaguing her life.
As we are introduced to Petra and her realm, everything is revealed slowly, methodically, and unconventionally. Instead of becoming a flaw, this unconventional pattern of slowly revealing the layers of the characters is captivating and mesmerizing. The characters that we're introduced to first appear to be skewed on the good or bad meter, but as time goes on, the complexities of each character are exposed, causing them to be seen a completely new light . For example, we meet characters that seem deranged like Gina, Petra's sociopathic mother, and Tommy, the anger-prone brother of Petra's crush, that are both hateful toward Petra, but are exposed as normal people who received the bad end of the stick. The incidents behind their anger and malice may seem like excuses; however, they're not when the revelations are revealed without any exaggerated confrontation. Somehow through the course of the book, many characters are able to hide secrets that slip out so easily without any awkward disruptions to the story. There wasn't a troublesome scene where the antagonist just spill the humongous pile of secrets that the author couldn't manage to explain quickly enough.
Well part of the reason why there wasn't an idiotic revelation scene was because there wasn't much to the actual climatic mystery itself; the whole mystery of the murder was a bit obvious. The problem lied with the fact that there were only so many suspects that were offered up as an option. There will be no spoiling who was the murderer because thankfully, the focus of the story seemed to be the fiery relationship between Petra and Finnigan. This messy relationship is one that is surprisingly very convincing because there isn't any fluff between the two. Although there are lies that cause conflict, the key factor, empathy for each, exists between the two of them, which is enough. Unlike most paranormals that have a somewhat refined, a little too polished romantic connection between the main couple, Petra and Finnigan give everything to each other in a realistic manner. Rather than trying mold into the other's model of a perfect boyfriend or girlfriend, the two cuties learn to accept each other for what they are. This is what I hope is in the waiting for future romances.
With basically everything a book can have going for it, it's really surprising that Blood, She Read doesn't receive more attention. This is what a paranormal should be! No noble idiocy or any of that bull crap that forces the reader to need to strangle someone, nothing of that sort. Just pure heartfelt moments with the bits and pieces of twisting plot that slowly entrap the reader, never letting them go. Although hastily concluded with a somewhat generic ending, Blood, She Read is a read that will give you the good kind of tingles while you read it (I don't mean those kind of tingles).
Angie @ YA Novelties
4.5 Stars
REVIEW
Blood, She Read was a fantastic paranormal full of humor, bittersweet nibblets, and a romance that stands out among all of the other YA paranormal's love stories. Although it was a read that took me a while to finish, the reading experience I had while reading this book was the best so far this year. I know only been a month and a half of this year will have passed by the time this review is posted, but out of the dozen of books I've read so far, this is the one that stands out the most.
When Petra helps the police with an investigation by using her powers to give clues toward the murderer of a girl in town, she knows that she's going to have to face consequences. Sadly, this turns out to be a threat from the suspect and his family, not to mention even more ostracization from the people in her town. With a mystery she has reluctantly begun to piece together and deciding between her new friend and the boy she's attracted to (Finnigan), Petra has to face a conflict that trumps the hazards that are plaguing her life.
As we are introduced to Petra and her realm, everything is revealed slowly, methodically, and unconventionally. Instead of becoming a flaw, this unconventional pattern of slowly revealing the layers of the characters is captivating and mesmerizing. The characters that we're introduced to first appear to be skewed on the good or bad meter, but as time goes on, the complexities of each character are exposed, causing them to be seen a completely new light . For example, we meet characters that seem deranged like Gina, Petra's sociopathic mother, and Tommy, the anger-prone brother of Petra's crush, that are both hateful toward Petra, but are exposed as normal people who received the bad end of the stick. The incidents behind their anger and malice may seem like excuses; however, they're not when the revelations are revealed without any exaggerated confrontation. Somehow through the course of the book, many characters are able to hide secrets that slip out so easily without any awkward disruptions to the story. There wasn't a troublesome scene where the antagonist just spill the humongous pile of secrets that the author couldn't manage to explain quickly enough.
Well part of the reason why there wasn't an idiotic revelation scene was because there wasn't much to the actual climatic mystery itself; the whole mystery of the murder was a bit obvious. The problem lied with the fact that there were only so many suspects that were offered up as an option. There will be no spoiling who was the murderer because thankfully, the focus of the story seemed to be the fiery relationship between Petra and Finnigan. This messy relationship is one that is surprisingly very convincing because there isn't any fluff between the two. Although there are lies that cause conflict, the key factor, empathy for each, exists between the two of them, which is enough. Unlike most paranormals that have a somewhat refined, a little too polished romantic connection between the main couple, Petra and Finnigan give everything to each other in a realistic manner. Rather than trying mold into the other's model of a perfect boyfriend or girlfriend, the two cuties learn to accept each other for what they are. This is what I hope is in the waiting for future romances.
With basically everything a book can have going for it, it's really surprising that Blood, She Read doesn't receive more attention. This is what a paranormal should be! No noble idiocy or any of that bull crap that forces the reader to need to strangle someone, nothing of that sort. Just pure heartfelt moments with the bits and pieces of twisting plot that slowly entrap the reader, never letting them go. Although hastily concluded with a somewhat generic ending, Blood, She Read is a read that will give you the good kind of tingles while you read it (I don't mean those kind of tingles).
Angie @ YA Novelties
November 16, 2013
It’s always important not to have too many expectations (be them high or low) when going into a book by an author you’ve never read before. One could easily get let down and feel very disappointed…or one could close the cover (or electronically swipe the cover) and say “Holy crap, that was good!” It’s definitely a risky business. Luckily, I came away from Blood, She Read deeply satisfied and wanting more of Sara Hubbard’s writing. The novel is character driven but not in an epic sort of way where one has to have complete focus on what’s going on or lose a vital piece of the story. Those kinds of stories can be exhausting. Petra’s story is much more laid-back…or as laid-back as it can be since it involves a murder mystery, witches/psychics, and the fun drama-filled days of being a teenager.
This was something fresh in the YA paranormal world, for me anyway. Petra is from a long line of witches and although a lot of spells (including a spellbook!) and magic is talked about, it wasn’t forefront in the story. Her psychic ability is more prominent and becomes a huge part of the story while the search for the murderer of a local teen is taking place. Petra reluctantly assists law enforcement which gains her some unwanted attention from her new schoolmates and the boys she may or may not have fingered for the crime. Speaking of said boys, Petra becomes quickly drawn to one of them and constantly questions whether she can trust him or not. And to be honest I take back what I said about magic…Petra’s witchcraft and magical abilities are limited because she refuses to practice or embrace her powers. There is actually plenty of spells and magic in the book and it adds a lot of depth to the story when Petra’s only friend becomes involved with it.
One of my favorite aspects of the story is the unique relationship between Petra and her mother. They are definitely not the most loving mother-daughter duo I’ve seen. When they do speak to one another it usually involves a lot of strained dialogue and eye-rolling. But the rare display of affection goes such a long way in the story. Petra has never really gotten along with her mother and it’s easy to see why. Her mother picked a winner of a husband (and decided to father a child with said winner) who is a dangerous criminal that doesn’t hesitate to take a life. Way to go girlfriend! She also seems to be a user – in the sense that she uses people to get what she wants or further herself in her life someway. She, unlike Petra, isn’t afraid that the entire town knows about her family history. She isn’t afraid to use her powers when she deems necessary. And the only thing that really scares or worries Petra’s mother is her psycho ex-husband. But I never thought for a second that Petra’s mother was a truly bad person – just someone with frowned upon personality traits. The two obviously care about each other and I really enjoyed seeing their relationship develop during all the twists in the plot. And honestly I like Petra’s mother despite her suck-y personality and her not-so-awesome mother skills…
There were many unexpected plot twists that had me, as a reader, on my toes. It’s nice to think you know what’s going to happen in a book and then be totally surprised. I was very much a happy little hen while reading Blood, She Read. I think the author could even take Petra’s story further into another book but sometimes one shouldn’t tamper with a good thing. No need to stretch out a story if it’s more than satisfying by itself. However, I’d still like to see some avenues explored Ms. Sara Hubbard… we really must discuss this further =) I’m happy to report Sara’s writing is fun, modern, and engaging. I certainly plan on continuing with any (most likely all) future books she may write!
**I received a copy of this in exchange for an honest review**
This was something fresh in the YA paranormal world, for me anyway. Petra is from a long line of witches and although a lot of spells (including a spellbook!) and magic is talked about, it wasn’t forefront in the story. Her psychic ability is more prominent and becomes a huge part of the story while the search for the murderer of a local teen is taking place. Petra reluctantly assists law enforcement which gains her some unwanted attention from her new schoolmates and the boys she may or may not have fingered for the crime. Speaking of said boys, Petra becomes quickly drawn to one of them and constantly questions whether she can trust him or not. And to be honest I take back what I said about magic…Petra’s witchcraft and magical abilities are limited because she refuses to practice or embrace her powers. There is actually plenty of spells and magic in the book and it adds a lot of depth to the story when Petra’s only friend becomes involved with it.
One of my favorite aspects of the story is the unique relationship between Petra and her mother. They are definitely not the most loving mother-daughter duo I’ve seen. When they do speak to one another it usually involves a lot of strained dialogue and eye-rolling. But the rare display of affection goes such a long way in the story. Petra has never really gotten along with her mother and it’s easy to see why. Her mother picked a winner of a husband (and decided to father a child with said winner) who is a dangerous criminal that doesn’t hesitate to take a life. Way to go girlfriend! She also seems to be a user – in the sense that she uses people to get what she wants or further herself in her life someway. She, unlike Petra, isn’t afraid that the entire town knows about her family history. She isn’t afraid to use her powers when she deems necessary. And the only thing that really scares or worries Petra’s mother is her psycho ex-husband. But I never thought for a second that Petra’s mother was a truly bad person – just someone with frowned upon personality traits. The two obviously care about each other and I really enjoyed seeing their relationship develop during all the twists in the plot. And honestly I like Petra’s mother despite her suck-y personality and her not-so-awesome mother skills…
There were many unexpected plot twists that had me, as a reader, on my toes. It’s nice to think you know what’s going to happen in a book and then be totally surprised. I was very much a happy little hen while reading Blood, She Read. I think the author could even take Petra’s story further into another book but sometimes one shouldn’t tamper with a good thing. No need to stretch out a story if it’s more than satisfying by itself. However, I’d still like to see some avenues explored Ms. Sara Hubbard… we really must discuss this further =) I’m happy to report Sara’s writing is fun, modern, and engaging. I certainly plan on continuing with any (most likely all) future books she may write!
**I received a copy of this in exchange for an honest review**
July 30, 2014
I really liked this book!! So many intersting ideas and amazing characters! Even though the novel is fast paced and mostly plot driven, the characters are really fleshed out and I felt like I knew something deep about each one of them. The dialogue was very witty and - most importantly - very realistic!
Overall, a perfect combination of mystery, suspense, and YA romance!
Quick summary:
Petra is the psychic daughter of two witches. Her mother is quite self-centered and her father is a criminal that they are hoping never to see again. A murder investigation is going on in their little town, and the police needs Petra's psychic help. The prime suspect is Petra's crush, Finn, who is full of secrets of his own. Petra believes in his innocence, but her best friend - Dylan - will stop at nothing to prove Finn's guilt!
MAJOR SPOILER:
While Petra's mother annoyed me at the beginning, she more than made up for it towards the end. I felt their mother-daughter relationship grow and thought it was really well written.
Petra's evil father was left as somewhat of a loose end, so I am really hoping for a sequel that includes him... I would love to continue reading about these characters and would love to see their relationships and personalities grow and develop !!
Finally, a big thanks to the author for the opportunity to read this book and review it!!!
January 6, 2013
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is the debut book by Sara Hubbard and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Her writing is wonderful and the characters in this book are fully developed. While I have a soft-spot for PNR/urban fantasy, I have never read a book on witches and I was pleasantly surprised with how much I liked it. I believe this book to be a character driven book and bravo to Sara because I think she nailed it!
Blood, She Read is about the murder of local teen by the name of Josie and this is how we are introduced to the heroine, Petra Maras because she’s going to help solve the mystery. However, there wasn’t one storyline happening, there were a few and to me, I found it to be distracting from the original plot of PNR murder-mystery. It was also light on the romance and I wanted more of Finn and Petra.
Petra is the type of heroine that every book should have, she’s strong and brave but she’s also vulnerable. I found myself invested in her and I loved how her world turned into complete chaos and there certainly wasn’t a dull moment in this book.
There are so many different relationships in this book that the one I found to be the most interesting and yet odd was the relationship between Petra and her mother. One minute they were BFF’s and the next minute they were at odds. Truth be told, I didn’t care for her mother because I found her to be mean but every book needs a character that is unlikable!!! Then there is the friendship that she forms with Dylan, her classmate and he’s a crucial character to the story and that relationship will prove to be more than interesting!!! Again, this book is heavy on the character driven side so it will not leave you wanting and that’s what I truly loved about this book.
My final two cents: I thoroughly enjoyed Blood, She Read and I look forward to reading more books by Sara Hubbard! ;)
This is the debut book by Sara Hubbard and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Her writing is wonderful and the characters in this book are fully developed. While I have a soft-spot for PNR/urban fantasy, I have never read a book on witches and I was pleasantly surprised with how much I liked it. I believe this book to be a character driven book and bravo to Sara because I think she nailed it!
Blood, She Read is about the murder of local teen by the name of Josie and this is how we are introduced to the heroine, Petra Maras because she’s going to help solve the mystery. However, there wasn’t one storyline happening, there were a few and to me, I found it to be distracting from the original plot of PNR murder-mystery. It was also light on the romance and I wanted more of Finn and Petra.
Petra is the type of heroine that every book should have, she’s strong and brave but she’s also vulnerable. I found myself invested in her and I loved how her world turned into complete chaos and there certainly wasn’t a dull moment in this book.
There are so many different relationships in this book that the one I found to be the most interesting and yet odd was the relationship between Petra and her mother. One minute they were BFF’s and the next minute they were at odds. Truth be told, I didn’t care for her mother because I found her to be mean but every book needs a character that is unlikable!!! Then there is the friendship that she forms with Dylan, her classmate and he’s a crucial character to the story and that relationship will prove to be more than interesting!!! Again, this book is heavy on the character driven side so it will not leave you wanting and that’s what I truly loved about this book.
My final two cents: I thoroughly enjoyed Blood, She Read and I look forward to reading more books by Sara Hubbard! ;)
March 26, 2014
A brilliant debut novel that’s a fantastic edition to a hugely popular genre.
I am really impressed by Sara Hubbard’s exciting novel, full of inspired concepts and imaginative wonder. I would categorize this book as a paranormal romance ideal for both teens and adult readers, that’s highly readable and wonderfully compelling. I was drawn into the exquisite romance and interesting tale, that kept me in suspense as to the mystery. ‘Blood, she read’ can be considered as a stand-alone novel as well as the first instalment within a series, as I gather Sara is working on a sequel…so as to find out more about Petra and Finn! This well-written narrative is of great premise, and it was interesting to see the characters develop and grow throughout the novel.
If you’re a fan of paranormal romance then I would recommend you adding this to your bookshelf!
Petra is a gutsy, sincere protagonist whom many younger readers will look up to and be able to empathize with. There is a realism and authenticity within Sara Hubbard’s writing, as she ‘gets’ the YA readership and teenage years so acutely. I was instantly pulled into this intriguing tale of relationships; between mother & daughter at a challenging age in which finding your direction and where you slot into life is tough. Petra’s journey of self-discovery is about looking inside of yourself and thinking about your heart’s desires rather than what your head states. It’s a profoundly poignant, heartrending tale that touches you inwardly and which reaches out to readers through the moving narrative and enthralling storyline.
Lost within this intricately interwoven mystery that was thought provoking and full of meaning; Blood she read was an unexpectedly remarkable read.
I would like to thank the author for providing me with an e-copy of her novel to read and review, and I cannot wait to delve into her other books!!
I am really impressed by Sara Hubbard’s exciting novel, full of inspired concepts and imaginative wonder. I would categorize this book as a paranormal romance ideal for both teens and adult readers, that’s highly readable and wonderfully compelling. I was drawn into the exquisite romance and interesting tale, that kept me in suspense as to the mystery. ‘Blood, she read’ can be considered as a stand-alone novel as well as the first instalment within a series, as I gather Sara is working on a sequel…so as to find out more about Petra and Finn! This well-written narrative is of great premise, and it was interesting to see the characters develop and grow throughout the novel.
If you’re a fan of paranormal romance then I would recommend you adding this to your bookshelf!
Petra is a gutsy, sincere protagonist whom many younger readers will look up to and be able to empathize with. There is a realism and authenticity within Sara Hubbard’s writing, as she ‘gets’ the YA readership and teenage years so acutely. I was instantly pulled into this intriguing tale of relationships; between mother & daughter at a challenging age in which finding your direction and where you slot into life is tough. Petra’s journey of self-discovery is about looking inside of yourself and thinking about your heart’s desires rather than what your head states. It’s a profoundly poignant, heartrending tale that touches you inwardly and which reaches out to readers through the moving narrative and enthralling storyline.
Lost within this intricately interwoven mystery that was thought provoking and full of meaning; Blood she read was an unexpectedly remarkable read.
I would like to thank the author for providing me with an e-copy of her novel to read and review, and I cannot wait to delve into her other books!!
November 20, 2012
Lovely story!
What I Liked: The story is set in Canada! It makes a lovely change from all the US settings I’ve read lately. Although this story is very much a teen romance, I think the protagonist’s mom steals the show. The relationship dynamic between Petra and Gina is just fantastic, making for some humurous and poignant moments. It is this relationship that elevates Blood, She Read above other books in this genre. The writing is great and extremely voicey. Petra is a great MC and a great narrator, letting the reader experience the tumultuous world through her eyes.
What I Didn’t Like: The ease with which one of the characters seemed to pick up magic but there’s a loose end there that I’m hoping will be tied up in the next book.
Bonus Points: Sebastian. I wish he’d had a bigger role in this story and I’m really hoping he comes back in the next book. I see so much potential for this character and really liked him despite only meeting him briefly.
My Rating: 4/5 stars. This is a great YA read for fans of books like The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater. I loved the forest clad Canadian setting, loved the characters – particularly Gina – and really want things to work out well for Petra. If you’re looking for a paranormal story peppered with romance and served with a side dish of family drama, then you should definitely read this book.
What I Liked: The story is set in Canada! It makes a lovely change from all the US settings I’ve read lately. Although this story is very much a teen romance, I think the protagonist’s mom steals the show. The relationship dynamic between Petra and Gina is just fantastic, making for some humurous and poignant moments. It is this relationship that elevates Blood, She Read above other books in this genre. The writing is great and extremely voicey. Petra is a great MC and a great narrator, letting the reader experience the tumultuous world through her eyes.
What I Didn’t Like: The ease with which one of the characters seemed to pick up magic but there’s a loose end there that I’m hoping will be tied up in the next book.
Bonus Points: Sebastian. I wish he’d had a bigger role in this story and I’m really hoping he comes back in the next book. I see so much potential for this character and really liked him despite only meeting him briefly.
My Rating: 4/5 stars. This is a great YA read for fans of books like The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater. I loved the forest clad Canadian setting, loved the characters – particularly Gina – and really want things to work out well for Petra. If you’re looking for a paranormal story peppered with romance and served with a side dish of family drama, then you should definitely read this book.
April 5, 2013
Petra is the teen that we all wish we could be (or were) - irreverent, insightful, beautiful, and magical, of course. While she has some dark stuff in her past (a demon for a friend, a sinister father), she is like all of us - searching for her place in her family, trying to figure out high school, and falling for the cutest guy in school.
When Petra starts at a new school in her mom's home town, she is definitely an outsider. Which is not helped by the fact that she's a blood witch, regardless of whether she actually knows how to use her magic or not. It lands her in trouble, as well as catching the eye of cute Finn. Unfortunately, she doesn't know if Finn has only recently killed his last girlfriend...
The dialogues between Petra and her mom are so well thought-out, with such snappy and real dialogue, that it made me laugh out loud at points. Glad to read a story where not everyone has a leave it to Beaver family at home.
Really enjoyed this story and look forward to anything else Sara Hubbard writes. Great book.
When Petra starts at a new school in her mom's home town, she is definitely an outsider. Which is not helped by the fact that she's a blood witch, regardless of whether she actually knows how to use her magic or not. It lands her in trouble, as well as catching the eye of cute Finn. Unfortunately, she doesn't know if Finn has only recently killed his last girlfriend...
The dialogues between Petra and her mom are so well thought-out, with such snappy and real dialogue, that it made me laugh out loud at points. Glad to read a story where not everyone has a leave it to Beaver family at home.
Really enjoyed this story and look forward to anything else Sara Hubbard writes. Great book.
December 20, 2012
I expected to like this book a great deal based on what I know of the author and samples I'd read. But it is. after all, written for young adults, and I am certainly not young. Then I fell in love with the protagonist and her mother. They have an uneasy relationship that isn't helped by the daughter's difficulties controlling her magic or by her peculiar talents drawing the unwanted attention of the local lawman--which leads to interesting complications. The result is that I want to know what happens next to these characters. I wish, in fact, that the book had been longer so we could learn more about some of the supporting characters.
September 17, 2012
This is a wonderful book that's sure to entertain the young adult.
It's a magical roller coaster ride with feeling.
The story evolves around a young women called Petra dealing with her gift of magic and it's difficulties. I found the strained relationship with her Mom grasped my attention early on and I was interested to find out more. Then an attraction towards a bad boy hunk that she can't erase adds further fuel to the fire.I found the book interesting and enjoyed the experience. Whats a girl to do???...loved it.
It's a magical roller coaster ride with feeling.
The story evolves around a young women called Petra dealing with her gift of magic and it's difficulties. I found the strained relationship with her Mom grasped my attention early on and I was interested to find out more. Then an attraction towards a bad boy hunk that she can't erase adds further fuel to the fire.I found the book interesting and enjoyed the experience. Whats a girl to do???...loved it.
December 4, 2012
What fantastic read! It is not my usual genre but I am already looking forward to a follow up novel. I loved Petra and her relationship with her mother...it had me laughing out loud! I am also intrigued with her father and finding out more about that relationship. Maybe that will be addressed in the next book. Overall it was a great read and I plan on getting it for both my nieces!
January 1, 2013
What a fantastic story! I couldn't put it down. I loved the dynamics between Petra and her mother,the relationships between Petra, Finnigan and Dylan, and the suspense that kept me turning pages long after I should have turned off the lights and climbed into bed.
Read
May 27, 2018Blood, She Read is available on Wattpad! For a limited time, I'll be posting chapters regularly on Wattpad until the full book is uploaded. But it won't stay there for long so make sure to follow along. https://www.wattpad.com/myworks/14811...
November 23, 2018
Awesome story, good for a good reading time.
July 19, 2013
Blood, She Read is a murder mystery surrounded by a paranormal world and is set in Paradise, Nova Scotia. Petra Maras was born into a family of blood witches. But more than being a witch she also possesses the extra ability of being a psychic. She can touch an item belonging to any living person and see that objects memories. Henry Miller, a local police officer, brings Petra a bracelet with blood on it belonging to a case that has recently gone cold due to lack of viable leads. It's Henry Miller's hope that Petra will be able to read memories off the bracelet even though it's owner is deceased. Petra doesn't believe it will be possible but gives it a shot and is able to see that she was chased through the woods and eventually killed but couldn't see who her killer was.
Now her mother, Gina, whom Petra almost never refers to as "Mom" is upset with Petra for using her gift to help the police. Gina fears retribution from her father, also a blood witch, whom she has gone through great lengths to keep Petra safe from for years. She has to work hard to keep Petra off his radar so he won't come looking for her again to force her to use her gifts to question and help him kill his enemies.
In the middle of all of this, Petra is still a 17 year old girl who is attending the local high school where everyone has hated her family for at least a century for being known witches. Bad things always seem to happen when a family member is at her school. Gina is not above using her magic to get her daughter out of trouble from time to time. Following the unexpected visit from Henry Miller, Petra is confronted at school by Tommy and Finnigan (or Finn as she refers to him later). They are the two boys now on the police radar for the murder of the local girl. Finnigan had a relationship with the girl, but their relationship was never made public, making him the prime suspect in the case. It's not Finn who is upset with Petra though, it's his cousin, Tommy, who has hated witches like Petra all his life.
Meanwhile, Petra has never had a friend, she doesn't know what it's like to belong at school, but Dylan, a lanky, nerdy boy at school has recently taken an interest in her. Dylan gains Petra's trust even though she is weary of his intentions and his anger toward Tommy and Finnigan. Dylan was close friends with the deceased girl and is the one that told the police that Finnigan had been seeing the girl behind her parents backs. Dylan believes whole heartedly that Finnigan is to blame for her murder. But as the story unfolds, even though everyone has turned their backs on Finn at school, Petra becomes Finn's friend as well, much to Dylan's dismay. Petra now must try to gather as many facts as she can to not only find the girl's killer, but to prove Finn's innocence and silence her friends hatred once and for all.
This was a wonderful read. I finished it in a couple of days and enjoyed the characters and the story very much. I love mysteries and the fact that as the reader I didn't predict the outcome of the story before it even began was quite refreshing. I also enjoyed not knowing who the killer was even if the character didn't know; a lot of stories give you this information up front while the stories characters usually operate in the dark. I also love that Petra was not written as a naive 17 year old. She keeps her guard up and isn't overly trusting of anyone she knows, not even her own mother. She also doesn't hide information from her mother like most teenage female protagonists often are written to do. Now maybe that's because her mother is a witch and would know something was up with her daughter whether she told her or not, but I can't stand that most teenagers are written as being less than forthcoming with their elders. I thoroughly enjoyed Sara Hubbard's writing style and I am hoping that I will be able to read and review any works she comes up with in the future.
Now her mother, Gina, whom Petra almost never refers to as "Mom" is upset with Petra for using her gift to help the police. Gina fears retribution from her father, also a blood witch, whom she has gone through great lengths to keep Petra safe from for years. She has to work hard to keep Petra off his radar so he won't come looking for her again to force her to use her gifts to question and help him kill his enemies.
In the middle of all of this, Petra is still a 17 year old girl who is attending the local high school where everyone has hated her family for at least a century for being known witches. Bad things always seem to happen when a family member is at her school. Gina is not above using her magic to get her daughter out of trouble from time to time. Following the unexpected visit from Henry Miller, Petra is confronted at school by Tommy and Finnigan (or Finn as she refers to him later). They are the two boys now on the police radar for the murder of the local girl. Finnigan had a relationship with the girl, but their relationship was never made public, making him the prime suspect in the case. It's not Finn who is upset with Petra though, it's his cousin, Tommy, who has hated witches like Petra all his life.
Meanwhile, Petra has never had a friend, she doesn't know what it's like to belong at school, but Dylan, a lanky, nerdy boy at school has recently taken an interest in her. Dylan gains Petra's trust even though she is weary of his intentions and his anger toward Tommy and Finnigan. Dylan was close friends with the deceased girl and is the one that told the police that Finnigan had been seeing the girl behind her parents backs. Dylan believes whole heartedly that Finnigan is to blame for her murder. But as the story unfolds, even though everyone has turned their backs on Finn at school, Petra becomes Finn's friend as well, much to Dylan's dismay. Petra now must try to gather as many facts as she can to not only find the girl's killer, but to prove Finn's innocence and silence her friends hatred once and for all.
This was a wonderful read. I finished it in a couple of days and enjoyed the characters and the story very much. I love mysteries and the fact that as the reader I didn't predict the outcome of the story before it even began was quite refreshing. I also enjoyed not knowing who the killer was even if the character didn't know; a lot of stories give you this information up front while the stories characters usually operate in the dark. I also love that Petra was not written as a naive 17 year old. She keeps her guard up and isn't overly trusting of anyone she knows, not even her own mother. She also doesn't hide information from her mother like most teenage female protagonists often are written to do. Now maybe that's because her mother is a witch and would know something was up with her daughter whether she told her or not, but I can't stand that most teenagers are written as being less than forthcoming with their elders. I thoroughly enjoyed Sara Hubbard's writing style and I am hoping that I will be able to read and review any works she comes up with in the future.
March 1, 2013
Blood, She Read is the debut book by Sara Hubbard and I must say I really enjoyed it. Sara Hubbard has written an great book with wonderful characters that develop through to the end of the story. Of course at Paranormal Cravings we always have a really soft-spot for the Paranormal beings, and it is lovely to read it in a YA. Blood, She Read shows you that it has not always have to involve action and hot love scenes to enjoy a good paranormal book.
Blood, She Read is about Petra Maras and the murder of a local teen, Josie. And how Petra is going to help the local police in solving this mystery with her crazy mother and the other school students on the background. Although the paranormal mystery was the main line of the story there was also a little romance going on between Petra and Finn, and a love hate relationship between Petra and het mother. That in my opinion was a little on the heavy side. I think I enjoyed the story more if the relationship between Petra and het mother would have evolved a little more from the start. Of douse this is a YA, so wishing for more romance is not really possible. But maybe leaving out the romance has in this case also it's attractions and keep the reader wishing for more.
Sara Hubbard said that this is a stand-alone but that she is working on a sequel, so maybe we can read later more about Petra and Finn than that we could in Blood, She Read.
I really loved reading about Petra and het life on school. She is brave with all the actions like any teen. I had a little trouble around page 40 to continue this book. Somewhere I had the feeling the story stopped and there was not really anything new happening, that and the negative story line between Petra and het mother that came back to often to really enjoy this part of the book. The mother/daughter relation feels unnatural and written with a strange angle almost forced. I do like it that there was some tension between them but somehow it feels more natural if the relationship between the two would have written sooner to the positive.
That said! Overall I found Blood, She Read to be good story with funny and some romantic moments. I would recommend this book for young adults or adults who like fun paranormal mystery books with a small taste of romance. I liked Blood, She Read and will look forward to the next book!
July 6, 2013
First I would like to say that I love the cover art. The colors and design are beautiful. This novel grabbed my attention the first moment I saw it and I had to buy it.
Then I started reading Blood, She Read and I was immediately hooked into the story and the character’s plight. Petra is a blood witch with amazing powers that she doesn’t quite have a grip on, and she doesn’t want to either. She is also a teenager with a screwed up family. The relationship between the main character, Petra Maras, and her mother was quite different and really entertaining to read. Petra’s mother is immature and quite abusive, but I got a sense right away that there was a lot of depth of emotions and history between these two. Petra’s father is even worse, which is why Petra and her mom live by themselves in a big Victorian house far far away on the coast of Nova Scotia. From the first few chapters I was wondering and hoping Petra and her mother would resolve their conflicts and the author doesn’t disappoint. This plot point in the novel was touching, believable, and not cheesy.
The other characters were really well written – the paranormal creatures (I won’t give away anymore than that), the cop, the best friend, and the enemies. I was amused by all of them. Petra’s crush, Finn, is definitely my favorite. He’s sexy cool and sort of aloof but isn’t afraid to lay it all out there when it comes to telling Petra how he feels. He’s most definitely swoon worthy.
Ms. Hubbard has crafted a stellar YA paranormal romance packed with mystery, action, and plenty of entertaining magic.
*5 magical stars for Blood, She Read*
Then I started reading Blood, She Read and I was immediately hooked into the story and the character’s plight. Petra is a blood witch with amazing powers that she doesn’t quite have a grip on, and she doesn’t want to either. She is also a teenager with a screwed up family. The relationship between the main character, Petra Maras, and her mother was quite different and really entertaining to read. Petra’s mother is immature and quite abusive, but I got a sense right away that there was a lot of depth of emotions and history between these two. Petra’s father is even worse, which is why Petra and her mom live by themselves in a big Victorian house far far away on the coast of Nova Scotia. From the first few chapters I was wondering and hoping Petra and her mother would resolve their conflicts and the author doesn’t disappoint. This plot point in the novel was touching, believable, and not cheesy.
The other characters were really well written – the paranormal creatures (I won’t give away anymore than that), the cop, the best friend, and the enemies. I was amused by all of them. Petra’s crush, Finn, is definitely my favorite. He’s sexy cool and sort of aloof but isn’t afraid to lay it all out there when it comes to telling Petra how he feels. He’s most definitely swoon worthy.
Ms. Hubbard has crafted a stellar YA paranormal romance packed with mystery, action, and plenty of entertaining magic.
*5 magical stars for Blood, She Read*
November 25, 2016
I really enjoyed this debut young adult specultive fiction novel from Sara Hubbard. Blood, She Read is witty, original, and the writing is awesome.
Petra is a witch who returns to her mother's home town and lands into trouble from day one. Not her fault, the town knows of her family and they're not terribly immpressed. This has the usual elements of YA novel - love interest, a curse - but it also has (without giving to much away) a psychic murder investigation, a battle of magic powers, and cameo appearances by a few other supernatural characters.
One of my favorite scenes is when Petra becomes ill and her witch mother covers her in a salve that has to be taken off with a wooden mallet. Very original and funny. The interaction between mother and daughter makes for an entertaining read.
At first I wondered why Petra would be reluctant to use her witch powers. I know for one if I had them I'd use them - never understood why Samantha Stevens in Bewitched would choose to live a mortal life when she had magic powers. Sara Hubbard does a good job of explaining why her lead character Petra is loathe to use her powers.
Awesome writing. A real page turner. I loved this book.
Petra is a witch who returns to her mother's home town and lands into trouble from day one. Not her fault, the town knows of her family and they're not terribly immpressed. This has the usual elements of YA novel - love interest, a curse - but it also has (without giving to much away) a psychic murder investigation, a battle of magic powers, and cameo appearances by a few other supernatural characters.
One of my favorite scenes is when Petra becomes ill and her witch mother covers her in a salve that has to be taken off with a wooden mallet. Very original and funny. The interaction between mother and daughter makes for an entertaining read.
At first I wondered why Petra would be reluctant to use her witch powers. I know for one if I had them I'd use them - never understood why Samantha Stevens in Bewitched would choose to live a mortal life when she had magic powers. Sara Hubbard does a good job of explaining why her lead character Petra is loathe to use her powers.
Awesome writing. A real page turner. I loved this book.
January 3, 2014
I thought this was a fun YA read. I didn't really fall in love with it right away. I kinda thought that this was a story I'd heard a bunch of times before. A girl has strange powers that her family doesn't want her telling people about and there's a boy at school that she kinda likes but everyone thinks is creepy. There isn't much that immediately struck me as unique, and I'm not even sure I could tell you what exactly it was about this book that I liked so much. But I did like it. A lot. I'm always looking for YAs where the main character is someone that is relatable as well as someone you can look up to. I think that played a big role in how much I liked it. The characters felt deep and well thought out. The world was a actually very cool and felt different than a lot of YAs with a similar theme. I definitely would recommend this book to fans of the urban fantasy genre and YA. It's a fun, enjoyable read. :) Read this review here: http://paperbacksandfrosting.com
July 22, 2014
I received this book free from Goodreads First Reads in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed Blood, She Read it was an interesting and original read. I loved that it was both paranormal and a murder mystery. I did enjoy the love triangle because it kept the mystery going longer. It had me going back and forth on who did it.
Petra was a great character to read about. She was so strong for what she had gone through and I love that she didn't let anyone tell her what to do. She did what she wanted and was ready incase there were any repercussions. The one male character I really liked and the other I had a weird felling about from the get go.
I would recommend this book to fans of Supernatural. Blood, She Read was an amazing read and I can't wait to get my hands on more of Sara Hubbard's books.
I really enjoyed Blood, She Read it was an interesting and original read. I loved that it was both paranormal and a murder mystery. I did enjoy the love triangle because it kept the mystery going longer. It had me going back and forth on who did it.
Petra was a great character to read about. She was so strong for what she had gone through and I love that she didn't let anyone tell her what to do. She did what she wanted and was ready incase there were any repercussions. The one male character I really liked and the other I had a weird felling about from the get go.
I would recommend this book to fans of Supernatural. Blood, She Read was an amazing read and I can't wait to get my hands on more of Sara Hubbard's books.
March 21, 2014
This book was so predictable. The first time Petra met , I KNEW he was the murderer. It's boring when you know how it ends, seriously. And Petra? Just another girl with superpowers who thinks she's ugly (because she has freckles and red hair wtf) and just wants to belong and doesn't realize how freaking pretty and special she is. I hate girls like her, I really do. I also didn't like the writing style, it just didn't feel right. I did not enjoy this book and had to force myself to keep reading. I would have given it one star but it deserves two stars because Tommy is a character I really liked (maybe because he's the only one who didn't feel 'fake').
February 18, 2016
How did this book get such good reviews? Seriously. Completely obvious with no surprises. Petra is so stupid she can't figure anything out. Whole premise is completely ridiculous and unrealistic (even for a "paranormal" book). Waste of time.
January 14, 2014
Great first book from Sara Hubbard. I am not usually in to reading paranormal books but this was great! I loved the plotline and the characters and thoroughly enjoyed this read. Well done!
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