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Bad in the Blood
"Cerilli’s use of Faerie Disorder as an extended metaphor for neurodivergence is rich with nuance, and the world is infused with queerness and racial diversity. A cinematic and enthralling flare of fey magic." —Kirkus STARRED Review
"A viciously clever caper steeped in noir grittiness and fey chaos. Puck's Port will devour you." —Mary Averling, author of The Curse of Eelgrass Bog
In a world where magical beings, fey, are mistrusted and often institutionalized, a human brother and fey sister must team up to solve a bizarre murder in this 1920s-inspired queer teen fantasy novel.
In the city of Puck's Port, where motorized vehicles fill the streets and new technological marvels abound, something rotten is lurking under the surface. A violent murder at the docks seems to point to a fey killer, igniting a powder keg of distrust between the city's humans and its fey inhabitants — folks who wield wonderful but often uncontrollable magical power.
Gristle Senan Maxim Junior finds himself caught in the middle. Forced into the reluctant role of private investigator, like his late father, he's working to solve the mystery of this fiery murder . . . mainly because his sister, Hawthorne Stregoni, is a fey herself with an unfortunate penchant for setting things ablaze.
Hawthorne is part of an experimental study to control feyism but struggles to keep her powerful magic in check in a country that hates what she is. Can she and Gristle work together to find the true instigator of the murder before it's too late?
"A viciously clever caper steeped in noir grittiness and fey chaos. Puck's Port will devour you." —Mary Averling, author of The Curse of Eelgrass Bog
In a world where magical beings, fey, are mistrusted and often institutionalized, a human brother and fey sister must team up to solve a bizarre murder in this 1920s-inspired queer teen fantasy novel.
In the city of Puck's Port, where motorized vehicles fill the streets and new technological marvels abound, something rotten is lurking under the surface. A violent murder at the docks seems to point to a fey killer, igniting a powder keg of distrust between the city's humans and its fey inhabitants — folks who wield wonderful but often uncontrollable magical power.
Gristle Senan Maxim Junior finds himself caught in the middle. Forced into the reluctant role of private investigator, like his late father, he's working to solve the mystery of this fiery murder . . . mainly because his sister, Hawthorne Stregoni, is a fey herself with an unfortunate penchant for setting things ablaze.
Hawthorne is part of an experimental study to control feyism but struggles to keep her powerful magic in check in a country that hates what she is. Can she and Gristle work together to find the true instigator of the murder before it's too late?
392 pages, Hardcover
First published September 2, 2025
12 people are currently reading
6142 people want to read
About the author
Matteo L. Cerilli
6 books83 followersMatteo L. Cerilli (he/him) is a transmasc author specializing in speculative fiction for all ages. His writing aims to erase the barrier between liberation movements and the people they’re for, by opening doorways to Big Ideas like queer justice, neurodivergent liberation, youth equity, and community care. His activism work includes setting up gender care for trans students at York University, helping to found the Students for Queer Liberation—Toronto, and organizing with the No Pride in Policing Coalition. He currently lives in Toronto, within walking distance of so many people and places that he loves.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
September 5, 2025
I can admit, I judge a book by its cover. The cover is your first impression of a book, and it is very important. This cover caught my attention immediately, and the blurb was very intriguing.
Character development and world building were entertaining, but some details weren't necessary for the plot and you kind of have to muddle through it to find the point of the story. The story felt too long and choppy. I absolutely liked the writing style, and every character had a unique and identifiable tone. There was a lot of action which balanced out the longer inner monolgues, but also led to the stalled pacing. The book has a unique format. Overall, it was average, 2.5 stars, and probably a story I won't remember.
Thank you to GoodReads Giveaways for including this title in their catalog. The opinions expressed are completely my own.
If you love active book communities, check out LiterALLy BOOKiSh Book Club (on Facebook)! Games, giveaways, discussions, reviews, bingo, swaps, traveling books, and a lot more!
Character development and world building were entertaining, but some details weren't necessary for the plot and you kind of have to muddle through it to find the point of the story. The story felt too long and choppy. I absolutely liked the writing style, and every character had a unique and identifiable tone. There was a lot of action which balanced out the longer inner monolgues, but also led to the stalled pacing. The book has a unique format. Overall, it was average, 2.5 stars, and probably a story I won't remember.
Thank you to GoodReads Giveaways for including this title in their catalog. The opinions expressed are completely my own.
If you love active book communities, check out LiterALLy BOOKiSh Book Club (on Facebook)! Games, giveaways, discussions, reviews, bingo, swaps, traveling books, and a lot more!
September 21, 2025
Bad in the Blood by Matteo L. Cerilli is everything I love about a good noir story. It is gritty, atmospheric, and the tension slowly ramps up as the mystery is revealed, but it’s also so much more. It’s a story that uses fey as an allegory for mental health struggles, weaving queerness and found family into every page. Set against a 1920s-inspired backdrop, the world is immersive, with just the right balance of magic and fantasy elements.
Hawthorne and Gristle’s sibling bond and their shared grief grounds the mystery. Through them, the book asks questions about survival, prejudice, and what it means to fight for your place in a world that would rather erase you. The representation here is rich and varied, with characters all navigating layers of identity and belonging.
It feels like a love letter to every kid who’s ever felt “too much” for the world, and it resonated deeply with me. This book got under my skin. It’s sharp, stylish, unapologetically queer, and achingly human. I laughed, I teared up, I rooted hard for these characters. Honestly, I’m obsessed—and I fear for the next book I pick up because it’s going to have a hard time measuring up.
To those who feel like they aren’t enough, who hide parts of themselves, or who struggle with acceptance: pick this one up. Bad in the Blood is more than a fantasy mystery; it’s a story that makes you feel seen. And like noir, the end is open and the work continues. Loved the author's note. Highly, highly recommended.
Thank you to the author, Colored Pages Book Tours, and Tundra Books for the gifted copy. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.
Hawthorne and Gristle’s sibling bond and their shared grief grounds the mystery. Through them, the book asks questions about survival, prejudice, and what it means to fight for your place in a world that would rather erase you. The representation here is rich and varied, with characters all navigating layers of identity and belonging.
It feels like a love letter to every kid who’s ever felt “too much” for the world, and it resonated deeply with me. This book got under my skin. It’s sharp, stylish, unapologetically queer, and achingly human. I laughed, I teared up, I rooted hard for these characters. Honestly, I’m obsessed—and I fear for the next book I pick up because it’s going to have a hard time measuring up.
To those who feel like they aren’t enough, who hide parts of themselves, or who struggle with acceptance: pick this one up. Bad in the Blood is more than a fantasy mystery; it’s a story that makes you feel seen. And like noir, the end is open and the work continues. Loved the author's note. Highly, highly recommended.
Thank you to the author, Colored Pages Book Tours, and Tundra Books for the gifted copy. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.
October 27, 2025
***Spoilers Definitely Ahead***
Rating: 3.5/5 - DNF (Because I am an impatient reader.)
Based on what I read:
I really loved the worldbuilding in this book, as well as the diverse cast of characters. As soon as you start reading, you're thrust into a gritty society where humans and fey are forced to coexist. (And where fey are feared and treated as walking time-bombs.) Cerilli's depiction of fey-ism was unique as well, treating "being fey" more as having an uncontrollable chronic condition with magical symptoms rather than being a magical nonhuman as depicted in many fantasy books. The frequent news excerpts and reports sprinkled between the chapters added to the mystery of why Hawthorne and Gristle's parents died, and to the worldbuilding at large.
As much as I enjoyed the world building, I did stop around the 30% mark. Both Gristle and Hawthorne were interesting characters in their own right, but I did not enjoy their dynamic. I found it hard to match the deep sibling bond mentioned in the reports and early chapters, with the distorted, almost adversarial, bond depicted in their adulthood. I'm sure the story later explains why their relationship changed so much, and I am sure part of Hawthorne's frustrations with her brother stem from her own inner struggles. That said, when she brutally attacks her brother simply for touching her, in an attempt to get her home, and left him with burns, I was immediately put off by her character. She does read - at least initially - as a spoiled, coddled child with little consequences. (Which I am sure she resents.) I kept waiting for her to show remorse for her actions, and she did for everything else - mainly how it affected her goals for the future - but not for harming her brother. In fact, she admitted she wanted to do it. That said, this does not make her a bad character, just not one that I can vibe with.
Gristle also has his own struggles, and seems to be living through the motions. He's still stuck in the past, and chooses to pull away from the world around him because he's still haunted by what happened to his parents. However, he does love his sister, and aunt, and hence is willing to put himself on the line in order to keep them safe. Honestly, though he let Hawthorne have it when he gets blackmailed because of her actions, I wished he had been a bit more firm with her. As someone with siblings myself, there is definitely a fair amount of fighting. Like, regularly. That said, there is a line. However, I also concede that these two grew up without their parents, and were raised by an amazing aunt who was also busy doing her own thing. So they may have had to raise themselves.
Lastly, I will admit that the more I read, the more the story and writing began to feel repetitive. I also found myself a bit confused at the beginning with the relationship between the characters.
Overall though, I think this story has a lot of really neat elements, and the writing itself is very fun. I just could not vibe with one of the characters and, being the impatient reader that I am, could not wait for Hawthorne to finally grow up, and for Gristle to speak up.
And though this book might not have been for me at this time, I still would recommend it for those looking for diverse characters, an intricate world, and a murder mystery.
Rating: 3.5/5 - DNF (Because I am an impatient reader.)
Based on what I read:
I really loved the worldbuilding in this book, as well as the diverse cast of characters. As soon as you start reading, you're thrust into a gritty society where humans and fey are forced to coexist. (And where fey are feared and treated as walking time-bombs.) Cerilli's depiction of fey-ism was unique as well, treating "being fey" more as having an uncontrollable chronic condition with magical symptoms rather than being a magical nonhuman as depicted in many fantasy books. The frequent news excerpts and reports sprinkled between the chapters added to the mystery of why Hawthorne and Gristle's parents died, and to the worldbuilding at large.
As much as I enjoyed the world building, I did stop around the 30% mark. Both Gristle and Hawthorne were interesting characters in their own right, but I did not enjoy their dynamic. I found it hard to match the deep sibling bond mentioned in the reports and early chapters, with the distorted, almost adversarial, bond depicted in their adulthood. I'm sure the story later explains why their relationship changed so much, and I am sure part of Hawthorne's frustrations with her brother stem from her own inner struggles. That said, when she brutally attacks her brother simply for touching her, in an attempt to get her home, and left him with burns, I was immediately put off by her character. She does read - at least initially - as a spoiled, coddled child with little consequences. (Which I am sure she resents.) I kept waiting for her to show remorse for her actions, and she did for everything else - mainly how it affected her goals for the future - but not for harming her brother. In fact, she admitted she wanted to do it. That said, this does not make her a bad character, just not one that I can vibe with.
Gristle also has his own struggles, and seems to be living through the motions. He's still stuck in the past, and chooses to pull away from the world around him because he's still haunted by what happened to his parents. However, he does love his sister, and aunt, and hence is willing to put himself on the line in order to keep them safe. Honestly, though he let Hawthorne have it when he gets blackmailed because of her actions, I wished he had been a bit more firm with her. As someone with siblings myself, there is definitely a fair amount of fighting. Like, regularly. That said, there is a line. However, I also concede that these two grew up without their parents, and were raised by an amazing aunt who was also busy doing her own thing. So they may have had to raise themselves.
Lastly, I will admit that the more I read, the more the story and writing began to feel repetitive. I also found myself a bit confused at the beginning with the relationship between the characters.
Overall though, I think this story has a lot of really neat elements, and the writing itself is very fun. I just could not vibe with one of the characters and, being the impatient reader that I am, could not wait for Hawthorne to finally grow up, and for Gristle to speak up.
And though this book might not have been for me at this time, I still would recommend it for those looking for diverse characters, an intricate world, and a murder mystery.
December 11, 2025
Do you miss the show "Carnival Row"? Do you itch for something similar? Then congratulations, "Bad in the Blood" is here!
In a world where fae are seen as potentially dangerous and second-class citizens, 18-year-old Gristle Senan Maxim Jr and Hawthorne Stregoni are outcasts due to Hawthorne's fae heritage and their parents' unconventional marriage and protest activities. When a crime occurs that could potentially implicate Hawthorne, both are faced with the difficult choice of navigating a world that would rather that neither of them exist.
Even if the author's note at the end did not exist, it's fairly obvious that "Bad in the Blood" is an allegory for neurodivergence and mental illness in a fantasy context. Much of the "Fae Madness" that is toe-for-toe with meltdowns and psychotic episodes in real life. And as a commentary on how neurodivergence tends to be criminalized or institutionalized, the book is fairly successful, especially in an environment where we here in America are facing one of the biggest mental health crises to date. At the very least, Cerilli is passionate about the topic and invites readers to come up with their own conclusions as to the best path to deal with these issues, with some definite bias in a certain direction.
Where the book kind of lost me was in the world building. In some ways, it tended to get stuck in the weeds, while we had very little of some other aspects that could have been more fleshed out. For example, Gristle's heritage ends up being a major factor in the conflict resolution of the book, but very little of said heritage is mentioned or explored even until the end. Nor does another main character's background, again very central to the plot, get much time in the spotlight. However, we got so much detail about the naming, dating, and gendering systems of the world, to the point where I actually got confused, because everything seemed so intricate or bogged down by made-up terminology.
The end of the book seemed to be building to a potential sequel, so perhaps there might be some resolution on these latter critiques. As a standalone, however this book stands at a 3/5 for some interesting ideas, but incomplete fantasy elements.
Thanks to Librarything for allowing me to read a free copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
In a world where fae are seen as potentially dangerous and second-class citizens, 18-year-old Gristle Senan Maxim Jr and Hawthorne Stregoni are outcasts due to Hawthorne's fae heritage and their parents' unconventional marriage and protest activities. When a crime occurs that could potentially implicate Hawthorne, both are faced with the difficult choice of navigating a world that would rather that neither of them exist.
Even if the author's note at the end did not exist, it's fairly obvious that "Bad in the Blood" is an allegory for neurodivergence and mental illness in a fantasy context. Much of the "Fae Madness" that is toe-for-toe with meltdowns and psychotic episodes in real life. And as a commentary on how neurodivergence tends to be criminalized or institutionalized, the book is fairly successful, especially in an environment where we here in America are facing one of the biggest mental health crises to date. At the very least, Cerilli is passionate about the topic and invites readers to come up with their own conclusions as to the best path to deal with these issues, with some definite bias in a certain direction.
Where the book kind of lost me was in the world building. In some ways, it tended to get stuck in the weeds, while we had very little of some other aspects that could have been more fleshed out. For example, Gristle's heritage ends up being a major factor in the conflict resolution of the book, but very little of said heritage is mentioned or explored even until the end. Nor does another main character's background, again very central to the plot, get much time in the spotlight. However, we got so much detail about the naming, dating, and gendering systems of the world, to the point where I actually got confused, because everything seemed so intricate or bogged down by made-up terminology.
The end of the book seemed to be building to a potential sequel, so perhaps there might be some resolution on these latter critiques. As a standalone, however this book stands at a 3/5 for some interesting ideas, but incomplete fantasy elements.
Thanks to Librarything for allowing me to read a free copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 14, 2025
*Review to come*
July 16, 2025
~~Thank you to Edelweiss and Penguin Random House Canada for the ARC!~~
1.5/5 stars rounded up.
The only reason I picked up another Cerilli book was because I absolutely adore Evangeline Gallagher's art. The premise also intrigued me, but once I finally started it, I could not for the life of me gel with Cerilli's writing.
Over bloated exposition, and prose in general, makes my head go so foggy, and that's how I felt the entire time I was reading this book. So much is thrown at you in the first hundred pages, trying to explain everything so quickly in order to get into the meat of the story. It was just so hard to sit through; I had to stop reading at multiple points to daydream or distract myself from the headache this read was giving me.
The characters are also very one-dimensional and not interesting, whatsoever. Hawthorne is the fey who's worried she's gonna blow up at any moment like her mom, and Gristle's (Sorry, Gristle Senan Maxim Junior, as the story keeps repeating over and over again) life revolves around said potential blow up because of his dad. It's just those two things over and over, playing out basically in every scene with the absolute minuet changes. There was nothing here to endear or make me care about these two.
The only thing I found myself liking was the newspaper clips scattered throughout the whole narrative. It really contributed to the whole detective noir vibes and somewhat made the worldbuilding easier to digest. Otherwise, I just didn't really like this book, and I'm disappointed by that.
1.5/5 stars rounded up.
The only reason I picked up another Cerilli book was because I absolutely adore Evangeline Gallagher's art. The premise also intrigued me, but once I finally started it, I could not for the life of me gel with Cerilli's writing.
Over bloated exposition, and prose in general, makes my head go so foggy, and that's how I felt the entire time I was reading this book. So much is thrown at you in the first hundred pages, trying to explain everything so quickly in order to get into the meat of the story. It was just so hard to sit through; I had to stop reading at multiple points to daydream or distract myself from the headache this read was giving me.
The characters are also very one-dimensional and not interesting, whatsoever. Hawthorne is the fey who's worried she's gonna blow up at any moment like her mom, and Gristle's (Sorry, Gristle Senan Maxim Junior, as the story keeps repeating over and over again) life revolves around said potential blow up because of his dad. It's just those two things over and over, playing out basically in every scene with the absolute minuet changes. There was nothing here to endear or make me care about these two.
The only thing I found myself liking was the newspaper clips scattered throughout the whole narrative. It really contributed to the whole detective noir vibes and somewhat made the worldbuilding easier to digest. Otherwise, I just didn't really like this book, and I'm disappointed by that.
September 6, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for this free eARC in exchange for an honest review.
4.5 stars. Loved it. Loved it loved it loved it. It's been a bit since I've read an ARC this fast!
The pros: First off, I have to admit. Murder mystery is my favorite genre of anything. I love me a good murder mystery, and this is a good as hell murder mystery. But going in deeper, as someone queer and neurodivergent myself, I love seeing that representation, especially in non-contemporary/genre settings/stories, and I thought this was done phenomenally here. The worldbuilding of [family name] Child never slips, I love the "traditionalists" who keep their childhood names, I love that it's not "picking your pronouns" it's "choosing your path" and how just generally queernormative this world is. It also does something I love in that we are given no indication of a character's birth sex unless they or another character basically directly tells us. Sometimes creatives trying to be inclusive wind up in this thought of needing to state someone's birth sex to "prove" the character is trans or whatnot, and this just completely avoids that. I've never seen anything like it, and I love it. Moving on from the worldbuilding rant, I loved the plot. Like I said, I love murder mystery and I even let some bad ones slide, but this one is tight as hell. There are plenty of leads for the reader to pick up on, but the answer is not directly in your face. (I even had my suspicions of who ends up being the culprit due to lived experience mirroring it slightly, and the book still convinced me to look for other options!) It was so fun to see unravel, to discover things with these characters, to see the twists and the fallout. Speaking of, Gristle and Hawthorne are fantastic, I adore them. I love the ways they mirror each other and I love how little they get along despite how much they love each other. I cannot get over Gristle's total colorblindness mirroring old black-and-white noir films, and both he and Hawthorne make great noir narrators. I admit I am not super knowledgable about noir as a whole, but as far as aesthetics go, this hits the spot there, too. And lastly, I of course have to talk about Faerie Disorder. People have made connections to fae myths and neurodivergence for years, but this really takes it to another level, allowing it to be more fantastical while still hitting hard with reality, and wrapping them together by slotting it into the worldbuilding perfectly. My fiancé brought up something when I told him about this, asking how the book handled what he called "the X-Men fallacy." The X-Men can be an allegory for many things, but in real life, minority groups don't have superpowers that can potentially kill people. Basically, how does this book handle the fact that neurodivergent people in real life don't accidentally kill nearby people/destroy buildings when they have meltdowns/can't control themselves? This isn't something that is directly answered in the book, but I do think the allegory holds up, especially if we look at the damage of fae implosion as an extension of it. Yes, other people or property can get hurt, but the real damage is on the person having the meltdown. It can be upsetting or frustrating to outsiders, but the person themself is having the worst time. Maybe it's not perfect, but all said, I think it still works.
The cons: Most of my cons come from the last 30% or so of the book. It was incredibly strong all the way through, but didn't completely stick the landing for me. Sadly, most of my issues tie really closely to a major spoiler, so I don't think I can say much. As unspoilery as I can manage: the ending feels a little too big and dramatic for a murder mystery. It felt at times like we were edging into a Marvel movie almost. (Maybe not that far.) There is a character who I love that I correctly predicted was fey, but once that is revealed, they are... a little overpowered, despite saying they don't really know what they're doing. I also find this character's abilities here to verge too much into superpowers, which does kind of break the allegory for me. It's very cool, but I feel like it could've been toned back a bit. My last point of contempt is a little less spoilery, which is that I feel this book is maybe a little anti-medication? It works within the context of the story, and even in the allegory, and while the description of how the medication effects a character is cool as hell, it was still playing into stereotypes about real-life medications for various neurodivergencies. (For example, I have ADHD, and I was told all my childhood that ADHD meds "erase your personality," which made me really scared to try and get a diagnosis and try the medicine. Turns out, that is basically only true if you don't need the medication. I've heard this about antidepressants and antipsychotics as well.) I feel like there is room in this world (if not this specific book) to explore things like this, the idea that not all medication/therapy is bad, while still being clear that suppression and punishment of neurodivergency is absolutely unacceptable. Because at the end of the day I find one of the messages of this book to be "we should not change for the world, the world should change to accept us," and I wholeheartedly agree with that - but I also know that for me personally, if that were to happen, I'd probably keep taking my Adderall because I really struggle to get things done without it.
That was long as hell and I'm so sorry! Believe me I really loved this book, and if we get more from this world, from Gristle and Hawthorne, I'll be eager to read it.
4.5 stars. Loved it. Loved it loved it loved it. It's been a bit since I've read an ARC this fast!
The pros: First off, I have to admit. Murder mystery is my favorite genre of anything. I love me a good murder mystery, and this is a good as hell murder mystery. But going in deeper, as someone queer and neurodivergent myself, I love seeing that representation, especially in non-contemporary/genre settings/stories, and I thought this was done phenomenally here. The worldbuilding of [family name] Child never slips, I love the "traditionalists" who keep their childhood names, I love that it's not "picking your pronouns" it's "choosing your path" and how just generally queernormative this world is. It also does something I love in that we are given no indication of a character's birth sex unless they or another character basically directly tells us. Sometimes creatives trying to be inclusive wind up in this thought of needing to state someone's birth sex to "prove" the character is trans or whatnot, and this just completely avoids that. I've never seen anything like it, and I love it. Moving on from the worldbuilding rant, I loved the plot. Like I said, I love murder mystery and I even let some bad ones slide, but this one is tight as hell. There are plenty of leads for the reader to pick up on, but the answer is not directly in your face. (I even had my suspicions of who ends up being the culprit due to lived experience mirroring it slightly, and the book still convinced me to look for other options!) It was so fun to see unravel, to discover things with these characters, to see the twists and the fallout. Speaking of, Gristle and Hawthorne are fantastic, I adore them. I love the ways they mirror each other and I love how little they get along despite how much they love each other. I cannot get over Gristle's total colorblindness mirroring old black-and-white noir films, and both he and Hawthorne make great noir narrators. I admit I am not super knowledgable about noir as a whole, but as far as aesthetics go, this hits the spot there, too. And lastly, I of course have to talk about Faerie Disorder. People have made connections to fae myths and neurodivergence for years, but this really takes it to another level, allowing it to be more fantastical while still hitting hard with reality, and wrapping them together by slotting it into the worldbuilding perfectly. My fiancé brought up something when I told him about this, asking how the book handled what he called "the X-Men fallacy." The X-Men can be an allegory for many things, but in real life, minority groups don't have superpowers that can potentially kill people. Basically, how does this book handle the fact that neurodivergent people in real life don't accidentally kill nearby people/destroy buildings when they have meltdowns/can't control themselves? This isn't something that is directly answered in the book, but I do think the allegory holds up, especially if we look at the damage of fae implosion as an extension of it. Yes, other people or property can get hurt, but the real damage is on the person having the meltdown. It can be upsetting or frustrating to outsiders, but the person themself is having the worst time. Maybe it's not perfect, but all said, I think it still works.
The cons: Most of my cons come from the last 30% or so of the book. It was incredibly strong all the way through, but didn't completely stick the landing for me. Sadly, most of my issues tie really closely to a major spoiler, so I don't think I can say much. As unspoilery as I can manage: the ending feels a little too big and dramatic for a murder mystery. It felt at times like we were edging into a Marvel movie almost. (Maybe not that far.) There is a character who I love that I correctly predicted was fey, but once that is revealed, they are... a little overpowered, despite saying they don't really know what they're doing. I also find this character's abilities here to verge too much into superpowers, which does kind of break the allegory for me. It's very cool, but I feel like it could've been toned back a bit. My last point of contempt is a little less spoilery, which is that I feel this book is maybe a little anti-medication? It works within the context of the story, and even in the allegory, and while the description of how the medication effects a character is cool as hell, it was still playing into stereotypes about real-life medications for various neurodivergencies. (For example, I have ADHD, and I was told all my childhood that ADHD meds "erase your personality," which made me really scared to try and get a diagnosis and try the medicine. Turns out, that is basically only true if you don't need the medication. I've heard this about antidepressants and antipsychotics as well.) I feel like there is room in this world (if not this specific book) to explore things like this, the idea that not all medication/therapy is bad, while still being clear that suppression and punishment of neurodivergency is absolutely unacceptable. Because at the end of the day I find one of the messages of this book to be "we should not change for the world, the world should change to accept us," and I wholeheartedly agree with that - but I also know that for me personally, if that were to happen, I'd probably keep taking my Adderall because I really struggle to get things done without it.
That was long as hell and I'm so sorry! Believe me I really loved this book, and if we get more from this world, from Gristle and Hawthorne, I'll be eager to read it.
August 30, 2025
Bad in the Blood is a mystery/fantasy novel written to mimic the noir films of the 1930s. The story centers on a pair of siblings: brother Gristle Senan Maxim Junior and sister Hawthorn Stregoni. Gristle is mortal (neurotypical and without supernatural powers) and Hawthorn is fey (neurodivergant and supernaturally gifted). On the night of their 18th birthday, Gristle discovers the body of someone burned alive just before Hawthorn briefly looses control of her pyrokinetic abilities. A bad coincidence made worse by a witness in need of a gumshoe who is only too happy to hire Gristle at the cool price of Hawthorn's freedom. When the murder case and the witness's case converge, Gristle and Hawthorn have precious little time to uncover the culprit before everthing goes up in flames.
Despite taking place in an alternate world, Cerilli's descriptions are so vivid and grounded in our own that I never felt lost (even if I had to look up a word or two). The world is racially, ethnically, and queerly diverse as a matter of course. The main cast is nuanced and fleshed out, and both Hawthorn and Gristle (the viewpoint characters) have distinct voices.
The story itself is expertly paced and woven with twists that are surprising while still having clues I could see in hindsight. I appreciate that the chapters are reasonably short, giving breaking points for readers with low stamina who might struggle with focusing for long stretches. I also appreciate that every single one was a cliffhanger so that I, personally, could not take advantage of those easy stopping points.
This story is a doozy. It's far from hopeless, but it's complex and brutal and at least as ugly as it is beautiful. Cerilli does not talk down to his readers, and expects them to have solid media literacy skills regarding subtext, dramatic irony, and un/reliable narration.
Despite taking place in an alternate world, Cerilli's descriptions are so vivid and grounded in our own that I never felt lost (even if I had to look up a word or two). The world is racially, ethnically, and queerly diverse as a matter of course. The main cast is nuanced and fleshed out, and both Hawthorn and Gristle (the viewpoint characters) have distinct voices.
The story itself is expertly paced and woven with twists that are surprising while still having clues I could see in hindsight. I appreciate that the chapters are reasonably short, giving breaking points for readers with low stamina who might struggle with focusing for long stretches. I also appreciate that every single one was a cliffhanger so that I, personally, could not take advantage of those easy stopping points.
This story is a doozy. It's far from hopeless, but it's complex and brutal and at least as ugly as it is beautiful. Cerilli does not talk down to his readers, and expects them to have solid media literacy skills regarding subtext, dramatic irony, and un/reliable narration.
September 5, 2025
“EVIL RUNS IN THE BLOOD.”
In the roaring, steam-powered city of Puck’s Port, tensions between humans and fey run high, and are only made worse by a brutal dockside murder which appears to be the work of a fey. Gristle Senan Maxim Junior, a reluctant teenage investigator, is pulled into the case—following in his father’s footsteps—when his sister, Hawthorne, a powerful fey, becomes the prime suspect. As the siblings navigate rising fear and political unrest, they must work together to uncover the truth and clear her name. But with Hawthorne’s fiery powers growing harder to control and the city on the brink of chaos, time is running out to catch the true killer and prove that evil has nothing to do with blood.
What immediately stood out to me about this book wasn’t the plot or the characters—it was the ambition. This is a story aiming to do a lot: blend noir mystery with queer fantasy, tackle themes of identity and control, and build a world where magic is both feared and misunderstood. The alternate 1920s setting is richly imagined, with layered world-building and clever use of faux primary sources like newspaper clippings that help ground the, perhaps intentional, chaos of the story. My personal favorite part of Bad in the Blood was its layered use of fey as an allegory for neurodivergence and queerness. The inclusive elements—such as characters choosing their names and pronouns, and the shift in narrative perspective tied to identity—are thoughtfully done and genuinely powerful, especially in a book that is intended for a younger audience like teens. However, while the setup soars, the character work falls a bit flat. Gristle and Hawthorne felt more like concepts than people, to the point where I found it hard to care for their struggles on occasion. The emotional stakes felt distant, and the writing—while stylistically intriguing—often obscures more than it reveals, though this could have definitely been an intentional stylistic choice by the author. Still, Bad in the Blood is a story worth reading for the way it humanizes queer characters through an inventive parallel between fey and marginalized identities in the real world.
Pine Reads Review would like to thank NetGalley and Penguin Random House for sending us an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change before final publication.
Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook @pinereadsreview, and check out our website at www.pinereadsreview.com for reviews, author interviews, blogs, podcast episodes, and more!
In the roaring, steam-powered city of Puck’s Port, tensions between humans and fey run high, and are only made worse by a brutal dockside murder which appears to be the work of a fey. Gristle Senan Maxim Junior, a reluctant teenage investigator, is pulled into the case—following in his father’s footsteps—when his sister, Hawthorne, a powerful fey, becomes the prime suspect. As the siblings navigate rising fear and political unrest, they must work together to uncover the truth and clear her name. But with Hawthorne’s fiery powers growing harder to control and the city on the brink of chaos, time is running out to catch the true killer and prove that evil has nothing to do with blood.
What immediately stood out to me about this book wasn’t the plot or the characters—it was the ambition. This is a story aiming to do a lot: blend noir mystery with queer fantasy, tackle themes of identity and control, and build a world where magic is both feared and misunderstood. The alternate 1920s setting is richly imagined, with layered world-building and clever use of faux primary sources like newspaper clippings that help ground the, perhaps intentional, chaos of the story. My personal favorite part of Bad in the Blood was its layered use of fey as an allegory for neurodivergence and queerness. The inclusive elements—such as characters choosing their names and pronouns, and the shift in narrative perspective tied to identity—are thoughtfully done and genuinely powerful, especially in a book that is intended for a younger audience like teens. However, while the setup soars, the character work falls a bit flat. Gristle and Hawthorne felt more like concepts than people, to the point where I found it hard to care for their struggles on occasion. The emotional stakes felt distant, and the writing—while stylistically intriguing—often obscures more than it reveals, though this could have definitely been an intentional stylistic choice by the author. Still, Bad in the Blood is a story worth reading for the way it humanizes queer characters through an inventive parallel between fey and marginalized identities in the real world.
Pine Reads Review would like to thank NetGalley and Penguin Random House for sending us an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change before final publication.
Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook @pinereadsreview, and check out our website at www.pinereadsreview.com for reviews, author interviews, blogs, podcast episodes, and more!
November 3, 2025
Fantasy meets noir detective films in this action packed novel about two siblings who have to work together to solve a murder mystery that’s charged with hate and distrust for the fey population living in their city, which one of the siblings just so happens to be one.
I loved the concept of the fey and Magic in this book and how it can be likened to neurodivergent individuals finding a space in society. I loved the queer representation in the story and as for the physical book itself, I loved the cover artwork and newspaper clippings throughout that helped to set the scene. Although the premise was super interesting, at times I struggled to keep up with the story. I don’t typically read murder mystery genres, but I decided to try something new, and I’m proud of myself for that! With that being said, if you are a fan of murder mystery, mixed with fantasy, then this book is for you!
I was gifted a free copy by NetGalley and Colored Pages Book Tours in exchange for my honest review.
I loved the concept of the fey and Magic in this book and how it can be likened to neurodivergent individuals finding a space in society. I loved the queer representation in the story and as for the physical book itself, I loved the cover artwork and newspaper clippings throughout that helped to set the scene. Although the premise was super interesting, at times I struggled to keep up with the story. I don’t typically read murder mystery genres, but I decided to try something new, and I’m proud of myself for that! With that being said, if you are a fan of murder mystery, mixed with fantasy, then this book is for you!
I was gifted a free copy by NetGalley and Colored Pages Book Tours in exchange for my honest review.
September 7, 2025
4.25 Stars
September 4, 2025
I sadly have to DNF this book. While I could have really enjoyed the concept, I just couldn't understand the plot whatsoever. The writing is confusing and is extremely hard for readers to follow. For that reason, I also couldn't connect with the characters at all, and I could barely tell which POV I was reading from half the time.
Thank you to Tundra Book Group and Netgalley for this ARC!
Thank you to Tundra Book Group and Netgalley for this ARC!
July 31, 2025
With grit, wit and incredible world building Cerili interweaves a noir 1920’s-inspired setting with fantasy using feyism as a sophisticated allegory for madness. Come for the engaging mystery full of atmospheric primary sources and stay for the relationship evolution between siblings Gristle Senan Maxim Jr. and Hawthorne Stregoni.
October 19, 2025
“A person shouldn’t make you feel guilty for existing.”
Bad In The Blood felt very “fresh”, a book like no other, and I enjoyed that. The form, first. I loved how the chapters’ titles were formulated, as much as I loved the multiple “documents” scattered among the pages.
The worldbuilding is dense, especially regarding politics about Feys’ lives (more about that later). I adored how queer normative this world was, and how it was written —again, like no other. The 1920s’ vibes —associated with “film noir”— were one of the main reasons why I picked the book, and it didn’t disappoint.
Because Bad In The Blood is a Fantasy, but also a Murder Mystery. If I wasn’t truly surprised by the end, I loved the false leads and happily followed them, questioning my first intuition with a lot of pleasure. The plot was sometimes too developed for my tired French brain, but I enjoyed most of it, as much as I loved the writing style.
But what I prefered, is how Feys are treated in this world —ie the book’s main subject. As a neurodiverse person, how Feys have to prove they’re not a danger for the humans —or they will be institutionalized— spoke to me. A lot. It was sometimes scary (in the beginning, especially), quite suffocating, a lot reliable. Feys have to hide who they are, to mask a part of themselves. The “treatments” proposed in this society aren’t to help Feys to live better in a society built for humans, but only to make them “fade”, losing a part of their identity. (Non) spoiler alert: it doesn’t help and makes things worse.
Even though Murder Mystery isn’t my favorite genre, I loved this book, especially for everything it does differently.
Thank you to the author, ColoredPages PR and Tundra Book Group for the access to the eARC on NetGalley. My opinions are my own.
Bad In The Blood felt very “fresh”, a book like no other, and I enjoyed that. The form, first. I loved how the chapters’ titles were formulated, as much as I loved the multiple “documents” scattered among the pages.
The worldbuilding is dense, especially regarding politics about Feys’ lives (more about that later). I adored how queer normative this world was, and how it was written —again, like no other. The 1920s’ vibes —associated with “film noir”— were one of the main reasons why I picked the book, and it didn’t disappoint.
Because Bad In The Blood is a Fantasy, but also a Murder Mystery. If I wasn’t truly surprised by the end, I loved the false leads and happily followed them, questioning my first intuition with a lot of pleasure. The plot was sometimes too developed for my tired French brain, but I enjoyed most of it, as much as I loved the writing style.
But what I prefered, is how Feys are treated in this world —ie the book’s main subject. As a neurodiverse person, how Feys have to prove they’re not a danger for the humans —or they will be institutionalized— spoke to me. A lot. It was sometimes scary (in the beginning, especially), quite suffocating, a lot reliable. Feys have to hide who they are, to mask a part of themselves. The “treatments” proposed in this society aren’t to help Feys to live better in a society built for humans, but only to make them “fade”, losing a part of their identity. (Non) spoiler alert: it doesn’t help and makes things worse.
Even though Murder Mystery isn’t my favorite genre, I loved this book, especially for everything it does differently.
Thank you to the author, ColoredPages PR and Tundra Book Group for the access to the eARC on NetGalley. My opinions are my own.
September 21, 2025
Sometimes I read books that are outside of my usual genres but still tickles my brain in a pleasurable way. Bad in the Blood definitely belongs to this category and I'm happy that I got to read it.
Matteo L. Cerilli crafted an intricate, queer-normative world in which fey folks suffer from "madness" and have to be treated in order to keep it under control. Of course, some mortals think that the fey are dangerous and should be institutionalized whereas others are fighting the injustice of a world that sees fey as less than.
I really appreciated this side of the story and how the fey fighting for equality can serve as a parallel to our modern world and any marginalized community.
Bad in the Blood features a dual POV from Gristle and his sister Hawthorne. Years after Hawthorne's mom blew up and killed hundreds of people, they are both compelled to work on a mystery that will reveal layers of corruption and betrayal in their small city.
I really enjoyed this unique story and the author's inclusive writing. This book was very atmospherical and gritty and contained several plot twists that took me by surprise. I would recommend it to readers who love a queer-normative world and murder mysteries with noir fiction vibes.
Thank you to NetGalley, Tundra Book Group and Matteo L. Cerilli for the eARC!
Matteo L. Cerilli crafted an intricate, queer-normative world in which fey folks suffer from "madness" and have to be treated in order to keep it under control. Of course, some mortals think that the fey are dangerous and should be institutionalized whereas others are fighting the injustice of a world that sees fey as less than.
I really appreciated this side of the story and how the fey fighting for equality can serve as a parallel to our modern world and any marginalized community.
Bad in the Blood features a dual POV from Gristle and his sister Hawthorne. Years after Hawthorne's mom blew up and killed hundreds of people, they are both compelled to work on a mystery that will reveal layers of corruption and betrayal in their small city.
I really enjoyed this unique story and the author's inclusive writing. This book was very atmospherical and gritty and contained several plot twists that took me by surprise. I would recommend it to readers who love a queer-normative world and murder mysteries with noir fiction vibes.
Thank you to NetGalley, Tundra Book Group and Matteo L. Cerilli for the eARC!
July 10, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
First let me say that I LOVE that so many YA books are using inclusive language, showing LGBTQ+ characters as heroes and just normal people! In this book, I noticed two things that blew me away.
The characters get to choose their name at a certain age. Before that time, they have "generic" names and are referred to as they/them. Once they have chosen their name, they are referred to as their chosen pronoun. I also noticed that Gristle's story is written in the 3rd person UNTIL he discovers his true self and from then it is 1st person. Brilliant crafting!
Now, my criticisms. There was a lot that seemed unnecessarily confusing. The dates on newspaper clippings make no sense, and unless I missed it, there is no explanation. There were a few phrases (septennial comes to mind) that just didn't seem to make sense in the various contexts it was used in. For the first half of the book, I kind of had no idea who was who and what was going on. The naming of various characters didn't help that. About 3/4 of the way through I was hooked and invested in the story, but I felt like that took an excessive amount of time. Maybe a bit more explanation of terms and ideas would help.
First let me say that I LOVE that so many YA books are using inclusive language, showing LGBTQ+ characters as heroes and just normal people! In this book, I noticed two things that blew me away.
The characters get to choose their name at a certain age. Before that time, they have "generic" names and are referred to as they/them. Once they have chosen their name, they are referred to as their chosen pronoun. I also noticed that Gristle's story is written in the 3rd person UNTIL he discovers his true self and from then it is 1st person. Brilliant crafting!
Now, my criticisms. There was a lot that seemed unnecessarily confusing. The dates on newspaper clippings make no sense, and unless I missed it, there is no explanation. There were a few phrases (septennial comes to mind) that just didn't seem to make sense in the various contexts it was used in. For the first half of the book, I kind of had no idea who was who and what was going on. The naming of various characters didn't help that. About 3/4 of the way through I was hooked and invested in the story, but I felt like that took an excessive amount of time. Maybe a bit more explanation of terms and ideas would help.
June 27, 2025
Bad in Blood
By Matteo L. Cerilli
Release date: September 2, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Everybody who knows me personally knows how much I love Steampunk 🤍
Honestly, I was first attracted to the cover. Aren't we all guilty with picking up books based on covers. 🤪
As a newcomer to Matteo Cerilli’s work, I went in blind and came out absolutely captivated.
"Bad in Blood" is a smart, twisty fairy detective story that masterfully blends steampunk, magic, and mystery. Steampunk can be a tricky genre to pull off, but this book handles it with elegance and grit. Set against a richly imagined historical backdrop, it explores the crooked institutions of power with sharp rage and clever world-building, all wrapped in a stylish trench coat of violence, magic, and intrigue. Gristle and Hawthorne are unforgettable characters who will stay with me for a long time.
Thank you @matteolcerilli , @tundrabooks and @netgalley
for the advanced readers copy
#BadinBlood #HistoricalFiction
#booksta #Bookstagramph #arc
#bookreview
#matteocerilli #detective
#fae
IG: archivesofarmina
By Matteo L. Cerilli
Release date: September 2, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Everybody who knows me personally knows how much I love Steampunk 🤍
Honestly, I was first attracted to the cover. Aren't we all guilty with picking up books based on covers. 🤪
As a newcomer to Matteo Cerilli’s work, I went in blind and came out absolutely captivated.
"Bad in Blood" is a smart, twisty fairy detective story that masterfully blends steampunk, magic, and mystery. Steampunk can be a tricky genre to pull off, but this book handles it with elegance and grit. Set against a richly imagined historical backdrop, it explores the crooked institutions of power with sharp rage and clever world-building, all wrapped in a stylish trench coat of violence, magic, and intrigue. Gristle and Hawthorne are unforgettable characters who will stay with me for a long time.
Thank you @matteolcerilli , @tundrabooks and @netgalley
for the advanced readers copy
#BadinBlood #HistoricalFiction
#booksta #Bookstagramph #arc
#bookreview
#matteocerilli #detective
#fae
IG: archivesofarmina
October 24, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me an ARC of this book for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
I was pleasantly shocked by how dense this YA novel is. And like I mean the good kind of dense: the strong layers of worldbuilding, the unique extended metaphor for neurodivergence, and the melding of detective noir and fantasy genres. I loved the use of ephemera like letters and newspaper articles throughout. I don't know what it is, but I eat that shit up. And WHEW I get all emotional thinking about how this novel shows that even when we fight for our rights and for recognition, things still aren't perfect and may never be. Even when things can be hopeful, not everything is happy.
And I will NEVER get over how intricate and accurate Cerilli's use of the Fae Disorder as a metaphor for neurodivergence is. How it affects everyone differently, how it is feared but sometimes celebrated, how explosive meltdowns can feel, and how good unmasking feels. It got me all teary.
Ugh. So. So. Good.
I was pleasantly shocked by how dense this YA novel is. And like I mean the good kind of dense: the strong layers of worldbuilding, the unique extended metaphor for neurodivergence, and the melding of detective noir and fantasy genres. I loved the use of ephemera like letters and newspaper articles throughout. I don't know what it is, but I eat that shit up. And WHEW I get all emotional thinking about how this novel shows that even when we fight for our rights and for recognition, things still aren't perfect and may never be. Even when things can be hopeful, not everything is happy.
And I will NEVER get over how intricate and accurate Cerilli's use of the Fae Disorder as a metaphor for neurodivergence is. How it affects everyone differently, how it is feared but sometimes celebrated, how explosive meltdowns can feel, and how good unmasking feels. It got me all teary.
Ugh. So. So. Good.
December 1, 2025
Hawthorne and Gristle are step-siblings in a world that includes both mortals and fey. Hawthorne is fey, but Gristle is not. The fey are feared, not because they are magic and crafty, but because they might snap and lose control of their power at any time and cause overwhelming destruction. After Hawthorne and Gristle are orphaned, they are raised by their Aunt, who sets Hawthorne up in a school where she might learn to control (or medicate away) her fey powers. Gristle's father was part of the Maxim and Maxim detective agency, with Auntie. Now, Gristle has taken over the practice as Aunt Shona gets into politics. As the story unfolds, you get to see the struggles of Gristle and Hawthorne growing up and figuring out clues to solve the cases they are involved in. They also find out a lot about themselves, their family, and their past.
The writing is solid and the characters are well developed. This is a unique world and society. Thank you to Tundra Books for the ARC.
Make sure to read the Epilogue.
The writing is solid and the characters are well developed. This is a unique world and society. Thank you to Tundra Books for the ARC.
Make sure to read the Epilogue.
September 14, 2025
This book was really cool! The worldbuilding was pretty intense and hard to follow at first, but this story was the sort that really sucked me in, and by the end, I was all in. A fae noir story is just such a cool concept, and with banger cover art, I was in. The central themes really hit, and the twist definitely made sense with the foreshadowing dropped throughout the story. I also did appreciate how normalized gender nonconformity was in this world, it was both an interesting piece of worldbuilding, and just refreshing in general. The formatting of this book was really creative, with stuff like interviews and flyers and clippings mixed in with general text. The use of POV was also phenomenal.
I do wish there was more time to digest worldbuilding details and some of the fae-centric language used. I struggled to wrap my head around the story in the beginning, but I definitely got it together around the first 1/4th so this is a minor complaint.
I do wish there was more time to digest worldbuilding details and some of the fae-centric language used. I struggled to wrap my head around the story in the beginning, but I definitely got it together around the first 1/4th so this is a minor complaint.
September 23, 2025
Bad in the Blood is set in a shadowy world; dark, atmospheric and unsettling. The most unsettling is the dynamics between the siblings, Hawthorne & Gristle, as they used to be besties but now almost-enemies. I must admit my preference towards Gristle though possibly because Hawthorne insisted on calling him a 'lug' and I'm just not for that; not for anyone. They are a foil to each other in how they process their emotions though in the end, maybe they're more similar than they ever thought to be. If you love your noir mystery fantasy; this is for you.
I've loved seeing other posts with physical copies that show off illustrations properly because that did not come through on my vintage kindle (10+ years!). In turn, it actually confused me because I just wasn't sure what's happening at the beginning and it carried through to the end (I still have questions!). So, I recommend a physical copy (with the pretty cover & even prettier inside!) and only digital if you have a newer ebook reader.
My thanks to Colored Pages Book Tour for having me along this tour
I've loved seeing other posts with physical copies that show off illustrations properly because that did not come through on my vintage kindle (10+ years!). In turn, it actually confused me because I just wasn't sure what's happening at the beginning and it carried through to the end (I still have questions!). So, I recommend a physical copy (with the pretty cover & even prettier inside!) and only digital if you have a newer ebook reader.
My thanks to Colored Pages Book Tour for having me along this tour
September 25, 2025
👧🏻 review: What a crazy book! I remember reading something about Feyism over the summer and with this one sitting on our TBR shelf, it piqued my curiosity. Ahhh, the 1920s… that’s the part in the book that caught my attention. Actually this one is quite engrossing and engaging while touching all sorts of different aspects of the imaginary and almost real-life scenarios. The book is fast paced, highly fantastical, mysterious, dark and intriguing. Plenty of twists and chasing while figuring out the plot, sounds like fun, right!?! I thought the book is well-written especially catering to younger audiences to understand the queerness and neurodivergence in the storyline. The characters and situations are written in the book for those particular reasons and it is absolutely fun to read.
June 17, 2025
My official blurb: "A viciously clever caper steeped in noir grittiness and fey chaos. Puck's Port will devour you."
My unofficial gush: Nobody writes sharp, lyrical, viscerally weird kidlit like Matteo. This was the smart and twisty fairy detective (!!!!) mashup of my dreams, but beyond all the delicious pulpiness, it was also a brilliant exploration of otherness and all its forms, as well as crooked institutions of power. It's rage and identity-building and magic and violence and trauma wrapped up in a stylish trench coat. Gristle and Hawthorne will stay with me forever.
Everyone needs to read this.
My unofficial gush: Nobody writes sharp, lyrical, viscerally weird kidlit like Matteo. This was the smart and twisty fairy detective (!!!!) mashup of my dreams, but beyond all the delicious pulpiness, it was also a brilliant exploration of otherness and all its forms, as well as crooked institutions of power. It's rage and identity-building and magic and violence and trauma wrapped up in a stylish trench coat. Gristle and Hawthorne will stay with me forever.
Everyone needs to read this.
September 27, 2025
Gristle Maxim Jr. never wanted to be a detective, but when a brutal murder rocks the already tense city of Puck’s Port and his magical, fire-starting sister Hawthorne becomes a suspect he’s got no choice but to get involved.
There’s magic, mayhem, sibling chao s, and a whole lot of messy feelings in a city that treats fey like ticking time bombs! Cerilli blends mystery and social commentary so well, and Hawthorne? She’s a firecracker, literally and emotionally! Overall it is part murder mystery, part steampunk fantasy, and part emotional gut punch!
⚡️Thank you @Colored Pages Book Tours and Matteo L. Cerilli for sharing this book with me!
There’s magic, mayhem, sibling chao s, and a whole lot of messy feelings in a city that treats fey like ticking time bombs! Cerilli blends mystery and social commentary so well, and Hawthorne? She’s a firecracker, literally and emotionally! Overall it is part murder mystery, part steampunk fantasy, and part emotional gut punch!
⚡️Thank you @Colored Pages Book Tours and Matteo L. Cerilli for sharing this book with me!
August 20, 2025
OK so many thoughts about this novel !! Noir detective vibes, major (iconic!) queer rep, fey as an allegory for neurodivergence — there’s a lot to unpack. Not sure if it was on purpose, but Matteo’s prose made me feel very much like a character in the book. Kind of foggy, a little confused at times (like I said, there was a lot goin on), but also liberated at the same time ?! Truly haven’t read anything like this before, but it was a wild, cool ride.
TYSM to NetGalley and Tundra Books for the ARC ❤️
TYSM to NetGalley and Tundra Books for the ARC ❤️
December 7, 2025
4.5/5 ⭐️ I liked the different media forms that were introduced in this book such as article clippings from the past and letters. It added in extra character and info without needing to dedicate chapters to add in context for things. It was hard to predict where the story was going sometimes but I don’t think anything was left unanswered for me. The ending leaves room for another story/case but also could be just a cliffhanger to serve as a reminder that there’s always something bigger at play.
June 18, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley, Tundra, and the author, Matteo L. Cerilli, for giving me an eARC of this title in exchange for an honest review!
My love of Cerilli's "Lockjaw" is well documented-- and to be clear, my feelings about that novel have not changed, I still absolutely love it. HOWEVER, "Bad in the Blood," may have surpassed even "Lockjaw," that's how good this book was. I'm going to be obsessed with BitB until, likely, the end of time. From the way gender is done, to the masterful allegory of "fae" as neurodivergence, there is nothing about this book I disliked. Every turn of the page brought a new part of the novel to love. It was simply a masterpiece.
My love of Cerilli's "Lockjaw" is well documented-- and to be clear, my feelings about that novel have not changed, I still absolutely love it. HOWEVER, "Bad in the Blood," may have surpassed even "Lockjaw," that's how good this book was. I'm going to be obsessed with BitB until, likely, the end of time. From the way gender is done, to the masterful allegory of "fae" as neurodivergence, there is nothing about this book I disliked. Every turn of the page brought a new part of the novel to love. It was simply a masterpiece.
September 2, 2025
[2.25] if there is one (of the many) things about me, it is that i LOVE a mixed media book. give me letters and newspaper clippings that add to the story!!!! i need it for the vibe!!!! the beginning was very information heavy, with so many names and places, everything was fuzzy for the first half. and it didn’t get much better after that 🫤 although i found it interesting enough to finish.
thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc in exchange for an honest review
thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc in exchange for an honest review
October 31, 2025
This book is absolutely brilliant. A fantastic mystery that embodies noir detective stories/themes. A delightfully queer normative setting that utilizes fae characters as a way to navigate discrimination of neurodiverse people. The switch between third person and first person was masterfully done. I love this book so much.
September 29, 2025
Bad in the Blood mixed the fantasy vibes I know and love with a darker noir vibe to create a perfect twisty mystery. Between the different POVs, the newspaper articles, letters and other documents throughout the book, it was such a unique read that I’m so glad I had the chance to dive into.
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