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The Phlebotomist
*LONG LISTED FOR THE BOOKNEST FANTASY AWARD*
War brought the Harvest. Willa Mae Wallace is a reaper.
To support herself and her grandson Isaiah, Willa works for the blood contractor Patriot. Instituted to support the war effort, the mandatory draw (The Harvest) has led to a society segregated by blood type. Hoping to put an end to it all, Willa draws on her decades-old phlebotomy training to resurrect an obsolete collection technique, but instead uncovers an awful truth.
Patriot will do anything to protect its secret. On the run and with nowhere else to turn, Willa seeks an alliance with Lock, a notorious blood-hacker who cheats the Harvest to support the children orphaned by it. But they soon find themselves in the grasp of a new type of evil.
War brought the Harvest. Willa Mae Wallace is a reaper.
To support herself and her grandson Isaiah, Willa works for the blood contractor Patriot. Instituted to support the war effort, the mandatory draw (The Harvest) has led to a society segregated by blood type. Hoping to put an end to it all, Willa draws on her decades-old phlebotomy training to resurrect an obsolete collection technique, but instead uncovers an awful truth.
Patriot will do anything to protect its secret. On the run and with nowhere else to turn, Willa seeks an alliance with Lock, a notorious blood-hacker who cheats the Harvest to support the children orphaned by it. But they soon find themselves in the grasp of a new type of evil.
345 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 8, 2020
137 people are currently reading
3480 people want to read
About the author
Chris Panatier
23 books212 followersChris lives in Dallas, Texas, with his wife, daughter, and a fluctuating herd of animals resembling dogs (one is almost certainly a goat). He writes short stories and novels, "plays" the drums, and draws album covers for metal bands. As a lawyer, he goes after companies that poison people.
Chris's short fiction has appeared in many places. His novels come from Angry Robot, Sobelo Books, and Rapture Publishing. He's a member of SFWA and HWA.
Chris's short fiction has appeared in many places. His novels come from Angry Robot, Sobelo Books, and Rapture Publishing. He's a member of SFWA and HWA.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 285 reviews
June 15, 2025
"The bombs that followed were the natural sequelae of the first, with the country now engaged in a never-ending war with someone, though the authorities were cagey about saying who. They justified their surreptitiousness under the umbrella of protecting intelligence, and with the press largely dismantled, the public had long given up in pushing for answers."
The Phlebotomist starts out fantastically, atmospherically describing a dystopian future where several cities in America (I'm guessing, the country is never really specified) were blown away by huge nuclear explosions. The people who still live there, in the so-called Grey Zones, need a lot of donor blood to refresh their irradiated bodies. The populace of unbombed cities have to mandatorily give blood, but also can give extra blood for money. Society is now divided by the bloodtype one has, as some types can be used by anybody, the rest become increasingly less useful.
"When Claude arrived, Willa traded the woman’s blood bag for the gelpack, a small syrette filled with carbs and epinephrine used to jumpstart folks who sold more than their bodies could give. She broke its cap, pushed the two tiny needles into the skin on the inside of the woman’s arm, and squeezed the contents into her basilic vein."
The phlebotomist of The Phlebotomist is an older woman, Willa, who used to be a professional phlebotomist long before the Chrysalis (the word used for the first bombings). She works at one of the bloodbanks, which are run by a corporation calling itself Patriot, that also seems to function as the government.
Soon things take a strange turn, and Willa finds out that the bloodgiving and Patriot might not be what they seemed. The first thing that now probably springs to your mind, is the correct one, I'm afraid. I was quite disappointed, especially after a great opening.
From here the narrative logic starts to really slip, there are too many inconsistencies, and the characters are dull and don't develop. The worst is Willa, who becomes whinier and whinier the further you read. The last third of the book makes all kinds of illogical jumps to push the book towards its end. That said, I did like the very end of the book - it ends in what I thought is the only real logical way possible.
2.5 stars
(Kindly received an ARC from Angry Robot through NetGalley)
The Phlebotomist starts out fantastically, atmospherically describing a dystopian future where several cities in America (I'm guessing, the country is never really specified) were blown away by huge nuclear explosions. The people who still live there, in the so-called Grey Zones, need a lot of donor blood to refresh their irradiated bodies. The populace of unbombed cities have to mandatorily give blood, but also can give extra blood for money. Society is now divided by the bloodtype one has, as some types can be used by anybody, the rest become increasingly less useful.
"When Claude arrived, Willa traded the woman’s blood bag for the gelpack, a small syrette filled with carbs and epinephrine used to jumpstart folks who sold more than their bodies could give. She broke its cap, pushed the two tiny needles into the skin on the inside of the woman’s arm, and squeezed the contents into her basilic vein."
The phlebotomist of The Phlebotomist is an older woman, Willa, who used to be a professional phlebotomist long before the Chrysalis (the word used for the first bombings). She works at one of the bloodbanks, which are run by a corporation calling itself Patriot, that also seems to function as the government.
Soon things take a strange turn, and Willa finds out that the bloodgiving and Patriot might not be what they seemed. The first thing that now probably springs to your mind, is the correct one, I'm afraid. I was quite disappointed, especially after a great opening.
From here the narrative logic starts to really slip, there are too many inconsistencies, and the characters are dull and don't develop. The worst is Willa, who becomes whinier and whinier the further you read. The last third of the book makes all kinds of illogical jumps to push the book towards its end. That said, I did like the very end of the book - it ends in what I thought is the only real logical way possible.
2.5 stars
(Kindly received an ARC from Angry Robot through NetGalley)
September 17, 2025
There's a definite theme to the reviews for this book: unexepected and full of awesome characters. That is a spot on description to which I add my voice.
I don't know what I thought I was going to get with this book based on the cover and the description, but whatever it was, it wasn't this, and that turned out to be an excellent thing. Not only a fast-paced and exciting story, The Phlebotomist also features a determined and strong-willed grandmother as the main character who really delivers.
All around a win for me.
I don't know what I thought I was going to get with this book based on the cover and the description, but whatever it was, it wasn't this, and that turned out to be an excellent thing. Not only a fast-paced and exciting story, The Phlebotomist also features a determined and strong-willed grandmother as the main character who really delivers.
All around a win for me.
September 13, 2020
3.5 Stars
This is one of those science fiction dystopians with the kind of unique premise that keeps the genre feeling fresh. I really liked the female main character because she was not only smart and confident, but also an older person (something we don't see in fiction enough).
My favourite aspect of the book was easily the hard science focused around blood. I haven't read about the subject since high school biology class, but I was able to keep up since the author explained the science in clear, understandable terms.
In terms of the plot itself, I liked the idea of it more than the execution. While the narrative was filled with classic tropes of scifi thrillers, like evil corporations and secret government plots, I never found myself fully immersed in the world or storyline.
Overall, I would recommend this one to readers looking for a different approach to dystopian fiction. This one would be approachable for someone who is newer to science fiction, but also deep enough to appeal to seasonedreaders.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher, Angry Robot Books.
This is one of those science fiction dystopians with the kind of unique premise that keeps the genre feeling fresh. I really liked the female main character because she was not only smart and confident, but also an older person (something we don't see in fiction enough).
My favourite aspect of the book was easily the hard science focused around blood. I haven't read about the subject since high school biology class, but I was able to keep up since the author explained the science in clear, understandable terms.
In terms of the plot itself, I liked the idea of it more than the execution. While the narrative was filled with classic tropes of scifi thrillers, like evil corporations and secret government plots, I never found myself fully immersed in the world or storyline.
Overall, I would recommend this one to readers looking for a different approach to dystopian fiction. This one would be approachable for someone who is newer to science fiction, but also deep enough to appeal to seasonedreaders.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher, Angry Robot Books.
July 10, 2020
Wow, this book wasn't what I expected.
To summarize it short I can say that: The Phlebotomist teams up with an ex-marine hacker and they decide to take out an evil government whose members are
Yeah, this book started like some Orwellian dystopian novel, but fast became something else entirely. We enter the world where people are segreagted by blood. If you are an universal donor, like 0-negative, you're a highblood, if you are an universal recipent, well your blood isn't worth much so you're a lowblood. To pay for living, people have to sell their blood, that is used to help people from Grey Zone (meaning a zone that suffered after bombardment).
Of course nothing is as it seems, and when our protagonist The Phlebotomist Willa (who is AB-positive, lowblood herself) finds out that something is wrong, the hell breaks loose. She has to team up with legendary Locksmith and those two badass old ladies, backed with some other side characters, try to show people the truth.
Yeah, I think this is as much as I can say about the plot. This book is crazy with action and it is impossible to be bored by it. Characters are great and no one is safe. Great read indeed! I am looking forward to read more of his author.
To summarize it short I can say that: The Phlebotomist teams up with an ex-marine hacker and they decide to take out an evil government whose members are
Yeah, this book started like some Orwellian dystopian novel, but fast became something else entirely. We enter the world where people are segreagted by blood. If you are an universal donor, like 0-negative, you're a highblood, if you are an universal recipent, well your blood isn't worth much so you're a lowblood. To pay for living, people have to sell their blood, that is used to help people from Grey Zone (meaning a zone that suffered after bombardment).
Of course nothing is as it seems, and when our protagonist The Phlebotomist Willa (who is AB-positive, lowblood herself) finds out that something is wrong, the hell breaks loose. She has to team up with legendary Locksmith and those two badass old ladies, backed with some other side characters, try to show people the truth.
Yeah, I think this is as much as I can say about the plot. This book is crazy with action and it is impossible to be bored by it. Characters are great and no one is safe. Great read indeed! I am looking forward to read more of his author.
Want to read
September 9, 2025in my phlebotomy era idk
April 26, 2020
In The Phlebotomist, Chris Panatier gives us the unlikely female protagonists--a plucky grandmother, a tech-geek locksmith, and a teenager with swords--we didn’t know we needed, and sets them in a near-future world that terrifies because it feels so possible. Nuclear disaster? Check. Constant monitoring by Big Brother? Uh-huh. Invasion of both men’s and women’s bodies for the Common Good? That, too. At once grounded in legit science, and also so totally imaginative that you have to find out what happens next, this book will take root at the base of your brain, threading its tentacles into your spinal cord and requiring you to keep turning pages until the bloody end.
September 3, 2021
What I liked the most was having a main character who is a grandma, specifically with all the experience and maturity that age brings with it.
The plot was great, different, with many twists.
Sad that the cover of the book is boring as hell.
The plot was great, different, with many twists.
Sad that the cover of the book is boring as hell.
March 31, 2024
“The only way to stop them is to kill them.
And the only way to kill them is to starve them.
So, stop feeding them.”
👏 This 👏 was 👏 so 👏 cool 👏
Holy cow, this is the most original book I’ve read in many years. A dystopian book following a grandmother who is also a reaper - in a world that has been divided into blood types and different catastrophes have raised the need for blood, citizens must give blood during the Harvest and, for extra money, they can sell it off at the Trade. Highbloods (O- and O+) get extra money for being universal-ish donors, while ABs live in poverty. Willa, the grandmother, is the phlebotomist taking the blood from the people and sending it off to Patriot. But one day, she’s approached by one of the Locksmith’s guys. The Locksmith’s a blood hacker who switches things up so ABs can sell their blood as if it’s O-, which of course is bad for transfusions. Willa would never, unless… things stop making sense.
And guys, this is so cool because 1) there are so many facts about blood and the heart in this book, I learnt a lot. 2) Sugar makes anticoagulant and that’s so cool to know? 3) VAMPIRESSSSSSSSS.
Now, onto the book. I’m obsessed with the setting, the concept, and the world. Below are my bittersweet notes about it and why this isn’t a five star read (as much as it weirdly feels like it).
Some of the characters were great and fun - Lock, Kathy, and Everard. But I found issue with the bad guys, who were flat and just bad. And then… Willa and Isaiah. Willa is the main character and she’s a grandma, but she doesn’t really struggle with anything age-related. And most importantly, this book needs you to care about Isaiah - everything Willa-wise is concerning taking care of him, but Isaiah is just…. There. We know little about him besides his blood type and that he takes a while waking up. So caring about Willa’s plight and objectives was tough. Like, you get her, but you don’t care about Isaiah at all.
The writing was good but it was weird. The book is very fast-paced, yet the writing feels heavy and dragging, like you’re pulling teeth at the story so it can advance. And you’d think this is because of world-building or character-building, and I guess you’re right, but both areas are lacking. You get just enough from the world to understand it and just enough about the characters to root for them generally, but you end up with questions, gaps, and just not knowing anything or anyone deeply. I think if the book had had little chapters or intermissions including what some other citizens or ‘bad guys’ were going through, it would have enriched it all. And maybe more background information about the characters. Even by the end of it, I just didn’t know shit about Kathy or Lock other than what they have said - which I’d get if we were only following Willa or if this was a first person narration, but it isn’t. We’re following all of them, yet we barely know them. And if it wasn’t because Kathy, Lock, and Everard are funny and cool as fuck, I wouldn’t give a damn.
The ending was… weird. This is an issue concerning worldbuilding. We don’t really know where we are. Let’s assume we’re in Washington DC, we know the city is divided into the Crest, and then the blood zones. Beyond Washington DC, we have other cities with similar divisions. Yeah? Okay. So then we are told this is also the case in India. So let’s assume this is worldwide. Something happens at the end of the book in their location and even if we assume this isn’t contained 100% where they are… how do we think it would impact New Delhi? I don’t know. The book needed 100 more pages to flesh out things because I didn’t get the ending (I got it for the characters and their location, but not for the ‘beyond’). And… wtf are the Gray Zones? We hear about them every three pages, what are they? Who lives there? Why do they need blood? Lol
Regardless of the average rating, this was such a trip. I will definitely check the author again because this was FUN. I just had so many questions and I so wish things had been better developed. I would love to read more books set in this world, it was so so so so cool. Highly recommend it!
To wrap up, I'll add a bit that made me laugh here:
“This just seems like a story.”
“Dang Willa, you’re like the worst counterintelligence agent I’ve ever known. Of course it’s told as a story. Then it’s fiction, right? What’d you think they’d do, just spell out who they are and what they’re all about? Attention, here’s our vampire manual for being vampires cause we’re vampires. Read only if you’re a vampire. Geezwilla.”
And the only way to kill them is to starve them.
So, stop feeding them.”
👏 This 👏 was 👏 so 👏 cool 👏
Holy cow, this is the most original book I’ve read in many years. A dystopian book following a grandmother who is also a reaper - in a world that has been divided into blood types and different catastrophes have raised the need for blood, citizens must give blood during the Harvest and, for extra money, they can sell it off at the Trade. Highbloods (O- and O+) get extra money for being universal-ish donors, while ABs live in poverty. Willa, the grandmother, is the phlebotomist taking the blood from the people and sending it off to Patriot. But one day, she’s approached by one of the Locksmith’s guys. The Locksmith’s a blood hacker who switches things up so ABs can sell their blood as if it’s O-, which of course is bad for transfusions. Willa would never, unless… things stop making sense.
And guys, this is so cool because 1) there are so many facts about blood and the heart in this book, I learnt a lot. 2) Sugar makes anticoagulant and that’s so cool to know? 3) VAMPIRESSSSSSSSS.
Now, onto the book. I’m obsessed with the setting, the concept, and the world. Below are my bittersweet notes about it and why this isn’t a five star read (as much as it weirdly feels like it).
Some of the characters were great and fun - Lock, Kathy, and Everard. But I found issue with the bad guys, who were flat and just bad. And then… Willa and Isaiah. Willa is the main character and she’s a grandma, but she doesn’t really struggle with anything age-related. And most importantly, this book needs you to care about Isaiah - everything Willa-wise is concerning taking care of him, but Isaiah is just…. There. We know little about him besides his blood type and that he takes a while waking up. So caring about Willa’s plight and objectives was tough. Like, you get her, but you don’t care about Isaiah at all.
The writing was good but it was weird. The book is very fast-paced, yet the writing feels heavy and dragging, like you’re pulling teeth at the story so it can advance. And you’d think this is because of world-building or character-building, and I guess you’re right, but both areas are lacking. You get just enough from the world to understand it and just enough about the characters to root for them generally, but you end up with questions, gaps, and just not knowing anything or anyone deeply. I think if the book had had little chapters or intermissions including what some other citizens or ‘bad guys’ were going through, it would have enriched it all. And maybe more background information about the characters. Even by the end of it, I just didn’t know shit about Kathy or Lock other than what they have said - which I’d get if we were only following Willa or if this was a first person narration, but it isn’t. We’re following all of them, yet we barely know them. And if it wasn’t because Kathy, Lock, and Everard are funny and cool as fuck, I wouldn’t give a damn.
The ending was… weird. This is an issue concerning worldbuilding. We don’t really know where we are. Let’s assume we’re in Washington DC, we know the city is divided into the Crest, and then the blood zones. Beyond Washington DC, we have other cities with similar divisions. Yeah? Okay. So then we are told this is also the case in India. So let’s assume this is worldwide. Something happens at the end of the book in their location and even if we assume this isn’t contained 100% where they are… how do we think it would impact New Delhi? I don’t know. The book needed 100 more pages to flesh out things because I didn’t get the ending (I got it for the characters and their location, but not for the ‘beyond’). And… wtf are the Gray Zones? We hear about them every three pages, what are they? Who lives there? Why do they need blood? Lol
Regardless of the average rating, this was such a trip. I will definitely check the author again because this was FUN. I just had so many questions and I so wish things had been better developed. I would love to read more books set in this world, it was so so so so cool. Highly recommend it!
To wrap up, I'll add a bit that made me laugh here:
“This just seems like a story.”
“Dang Willa, you’re like the worst counterintelligence agent I’ve ever known. Of course it’s told as a story. Then it’s fiction, right? What’d you think they’d do, just spell out who they are and what they’re all about? Attention, here’s our vampire manual for being vampires cause we’re vampires. Read only if you’re a vampire. Geezwilla.”
September 21, 2020
I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.The nitty-gritty: A bold, bloody high stakes plot, relatable characters, and a diabolical twist make this an standout book of 2020.
I absolutely love when a book surprises me, and I’m happy to say The Phlebotomist is one of the happiest surprises I’ve had all year. This book is sure to make my Best of 2020 list, and it wasn’t even on my radar until just recently. This isn’t an easy review to write, though, because there is a plot twist that happens around page 100 that I simply can’t talk about, which is sad because it’s a huge part of the story (but you're better off not knowing, trust me).
Set in a dystopian future where a nuclear blast has devastated the population, society is now divided up into sections based on blood type. A government agency called Patriot has instituted the Harvest, a mandatory blood draw, in order to help the people who were closest to the blast radius. Those relegated to the Gray Zone are dying of cancer and other diseases and need blood in order to survive, and most citizens are willing to donate their blood in order to help out. Patriot hands out government food rations to those who comply and even lets citizens give more than their required pint every forty-five days in order to earn more money. This system has resulted in inequality among the population, with some blood types (O and A in particular) being able to live better lives than the “lowbloods,” those with AB blood, simply because their blood is more valuable to Patriot.
Willa Wallace is a phlebotomist, or “reaper," and works at a collection center, taking in pints of blood each day and scanning them for authenticity. Willa is one of the best and manages to make her daily quota, but she herself is AB positive and is only able to live in a better neighborhood due to her job. Willa is the sole provider for her grandson Isaiah, after her daughter Elizabeth died, and she will do anything to keep him safe. But one day, Willa witnesses a blood transport drone crash—the drones that transport the day's collection to a blood storage facility—and she’s shocked to discover that it’s empty. Soon after, a security guard from Patriot pays her a visit and bribes her to keep quiet about the drone, but Willa suspects there’s more to the story than Patriot is telling her.
Armed with her new suspicions about Patriot, Willa sets out to discover the truth. Helping her are Everard, a gangster blood hacker, and Lock, an ex-Marine who uses old technology to hack into Patriot’s system. And then Willa uncovers a startling secret about Patriot that will change everything.
Panatier has envisioned a terrifying future that seems familiar in some ways—I mean, we’ve all read stories about autocratic societies who have stripped people of their freedoms—but instead of taking the expected path, the author throws us a curve ball and takes his story in a completely different direction. He also grounds it in hard science by adding in lots of facts about phlebotomy and the science of blood. Each chapter starts with a word relating to blood and other medical terms and its definition (“Hypovolemia - A state of decreased intravascular volume, including as a result of blood loss”), and these really added a nice touch of authenticity to the story. I loved that Willa used to be a “real” phlebotomist, and she actually knows a lot more about blood than most people (which comes in handy more than once).
You wouldn’t know it from the bright pink cover, but The Phlebotomist is a bloody, action-packed thriller that turned out to be much more violent than I was expecting—and that’s not a complaint! This is one of those books that you don’t want to put down, even for a moment. I was so caught up in Lock’s dangerous plan that I stayed up way too late reading. Once Panatier reveals his horrifying secrets, the story takes on even more urgency, but he also balances out the action with some quiet, reflective moments, like the fact that Willa avoids looking in mirrors because she sees her dead daughter’s reflection. Although the majority of the story is told from Willa’s perspective, we occasionally dip into other POVs. Everard’s character progression isn’t something I can talk about—damn you, spoilers!—but I will say there are a few chapters of his near the end of the story that were awful and heartbreaking. Each character, in fact, has some kind of emotional hook that grabbed me and even made me cry, in some cases.
And speaking of characters, The Phlebotomist has a wonderful cast of kick-ass heroines, and I fervently hope there are going to be more books in this series, simply because I didn’t want to say goodbye to them at the end of the book. Willa is a sixty-something grandmother and not your typical protagonist, but I instantly connected with her. She believes completely that Patriot is doing the right thing, and she’s proud of her contributions as a phlebotomist. When the story takes a turn and Patriot turns out to be hiding a big secret, Willa has a hard time coming to grips with that fact.
And then there’s Lock, another middle aged woman who is tougher than nails and has a room full of secret, obsolete technology that she uses against Patriot. Finally, we meet a fourteen-year-old named Kathy with her own secrets, who joins Willa and Lock in exposing Patriot’s schemes. Panatier brought all of these characters to vivid life and also proved that you don’t have to be young and pretty in order to save the world.
All this is set against a gritty, futuristic backdrop with lots of cool elements. All kinds of drones buzz through the skies in addition to the blood transport drones—food drones, ATM drones (imagine the bank coming to you!), and my favorite, umbrella drones. Taxi drones will fly you from place to place, that is if you can afford one. At one point in the story, Lock hacks and steals a Patriot drone named Llydia, and Llydia ends up being an extremely important element in the story.
Panatier’s hard hitting reflections on how governments exert control over their citizens make this not only a thrilling reading experience but a cautionary tale as well. The Phlebotomist is science fiction, but it’s also eerily close to our current reality. If you’re depressed and worried about the trash fire year that is 2020—COVID, climate change, and collapsing governments—then I suggest reading this book right away. Because things could be worse, believe it or not. Much, much worse.
Big thanks to the publisher for supplying a review copy.This review originally appeared on Books, Bones & Buffy
I absolutely love when a book surprises me, and I’m happy to say The Phlebotomist is one of the happiest surprises I’ve had all year. This book is sure to make my Best of 2020 list, and it wasn’t even on my radar until just recently. This isn’t an easy review to write, though, because there is a plot twist that happens around page 100 that I simply can’t talk about, which is sad because it’s a huge part of the story (but you're better off not knowing, trust me).
Set in a dystopian future where a nuclear blast has devastated the population, society is now divided up into sections based on blood type. A government agency called Patriot has instituted the Harvest, a mandatory blood draw, in order to help the people who were closest to the blast radius. Those relegated to the Gray Zone are dying of cancer and other diseases and need blood in order to survive, and most citizens are willing to donate their blood in order to help out. Patriot hands out government food rations to those who comply and even lets citizens give more than their required pint every forty-five days in order to earn more money. This system has resulted in inequality among the population, with some blood types (O and A in particular) being able to live better lives than the “lowbloods,” those with AB blood, simply because their blood is more valuable to Patriot.
Willa Wallace is a phlebotomist, or “reaper," and works at a collection center, taking in pints of blood each day and scanning them for authenticity. Willa is one of the best and manages to make her daily quota, but she herself is AB positive and is only able to live in a better neighborhood due to her job. Willa is the sole provider for her grandson Isaiah, after her daughter Elizabeth died, and she will do anything to keep him safe. But one day, Willa witnesses a blood transport drone crash—the drones that transport the day's collection to a blood storage facility—and she’s shocked to discover that it’s empty. Soon after, a security guard from Patriot pays her a visit and bribes her to keep quiet about the drone, but Willa suspects there’s more to the story than Patriot is telling her.
Armed with her new suspicions about Patriot, Willa sets out to discover the truth. Helping her are Everard, a gangster blood hacker, and Lock, an ex-Marine who uses old technology to hack into Patriot’s system. And then Willa uncovers a startling secret about Patriot that will change everything.
Panatier has envisioned a terrifying future that seems familiar in some ways—I mean, we’ve all read stories about autocratic societies who have stripped people of their freedoms—but instead of taking the expected path, the author throws us a curve ball and takes his story in a completely different direction. He also grounds it in hard science by adding in lots of facts about phlebotomy and the science of blood. Each chapter starts with a word relating to blood and other medical terms and its definition (“Hypovolemia - A state of decreased intravascular volume, including as a result of blood loss”), and these really added a nice touch of authenticity to the story. I loved that Willa used to be a “real” phlebotomist, and she actually knows a lot more about blood than most people (which comes in handy more than once).
You wouldn’t know it from the bright pink cover, but The Phlebotomist is a bloody, action-packed thriller that turned out to be much more violent than I was expecting—and that’s not a complaint! This is one of those books that you don’t want to put down, even for a moment. I was so caught up in Lock’s dangerous plan that I stayed up way too late reading. Once Panatier reveals his horrifying secrets, the story takes on even more urgency, but he also balances out the action with some quiet, reflective moments, like the fact that Willa avoids looking in mirrors because she sees her dead daughter’s reflection. Although the majority of the story is told from Willa’s perspective, we occasionally dip into other POVs. Everard’s character progression isn’t something I can talk about—damn you, spoilers!—but I will say there are a few chapters of his near the end of the story that were awful and heartbreaking. Each character, in fact, has some kind of emotional hook that grabbed me and even made me cry, in some cases.
And speaking of characters, The Phlebotomist has a wonderful cast of kick-ass heroines, and I fervently hope there are going to be more books in this series, simply because I didn’t want to say goodbye to them at the end of the book. Willa is a sixty-something grandmother and not your typical protagonist, but I instantly connected with her. She believes completely that Patriot is doing the right thing, and she’s proud of her contributions as a phlebotomist. When the story takes a turn and Patriot turns out to be hiding a big secret, Willa has a hard time coming to grips with that fact.
And then there’s Lock, another middle aged woman who is tougher than nails and has a room full of secret, obsolete technology that she uses against Patriot. Finally, we meet a fourteen-year-old named Kathy with her own secrets, who joins Willa and Lock in exposing Patriot’s schemes. Panatier brought all of these characters to vivid life and also proved that you don’t have to be young and pretty in order to save the world.
All this is set against a gritty, futuristic backdrop with lots of cool elements. All kinds of drones buzz through the skies in addition to the blood transport drones—food drones, ATM drones (imagine the bank coming to you!), and my favorite, umbrella drones. Taxi drones will fly you from place to place, that is if you can afford one. At one point in the story, Lock hacks and steals a Patriot drone named Llydia, and Llydia ends up being an extremely important element in the story.
Panatier’s hard hitting reflections on how governments exert control over their citizens make this not only a thrilling reading experience but a cautionary tale as well. The Phlebotomist is science fiction, but it’s also eerily close to our current reality. If you’re depressed and worried about the trash fire year that is 2020—COVID, climate change, and collapsing governments—then I suggest reading this book right away. Because things could be worse, believe it or not. Much, much worse.
Big thanks to the publisher for supplying a review copy.This review originally appeared on Books, Bones & Buffy
July 25, 2020
Please note this is a 3.5
This book was a great example of a fantastic set-up, and first half. It didn't pull any stops, building a post-apocalyptic nightmare world that I had no idea as to twist until it hit me full force in the face. Now, THAT was a surprise- and specifically to suddenly have myself gifted with a horror novel. The first half with the caste system, the drones, the blood collection, and the characters was absolutely riveting. However, the second half is where this book lost me.
It was as though it devolved into a generic thriller with no real meaning left in it, and the whole of the story was just lost to the ending. The idea of an epic collection of people fighting the big baddies was sweet, but there are so many other roads it could have gone down, and I think it would've benefitted from perhaps something like the taking down of the system from the inside. I wanted this book to be so much more, and it was deeply lacking in that respect. The characterisation slid downhill too, and I almost felt like I was reading a totally different book.
However, the first half, with its fascinating set-up and the absolute backhand of a twist it provided made for a really interesting start to the book. There was so much potential here, I just wished it went a little further with the story and it ended up somewhere a little less stereotypical.
This book was a great example of a fantastic set-up, and first half. It didn't pull any stops, building a post-apocalyptic nightmare world that I had no idea as to twist until it hit me full force in the face. Now, THAT was a surprise- and specifically to suddenly have myself gifted with a horror novel. The first half with the caste system, the drones, the blood collection, and the characters was absolutely riveting. However, the second half is where this book lost me.
It was as though it devolved into a generic thriller with no real meaning left in it, and the whole of the story was just lost to the ending. The idea of an epic collection of people fighting the big baddies was sweet, but there are so many other roads it could have gone down, and I think it would've benefitted from perhaps something like the taking down of the system from the inside. I wanted this book to be so much more, and it was deeply lacking in that respect. The characterisation slid downhill too, and I almost felt like I was reading a totally different book.
However, the first half, with its fascinating set-up and the absolute backhand of a twist it provided made for a really interesting start to the book. There was so much potential here, I just wished it went a little further with the story and it ended up somewhere a little less stereotypical.
February 15, 2021
4/10 stars
This is me, being generous.
A dystopian take on vampires that doesn't make any sense. I mean, blood types are all nice and well, but if you consume it and it goes through your digestive system, the type just doesn't matter. In only matters in transfusion. Which the vampires in this book clearly didn't get, as they were drinking it from chalices. To forestall any ideas that the so-called ganglia are responsible for all of the consumption and need a direct infusion of blood (and so are naturally picky about the blood type, able to sniff it out) - well, the evolution works on a longer schedule than fifty years or so, and the vampires would not lose that winning trait so easily. You just can't have your cake and eat it.
That said, for a book based on a nonsensical notion, it's actually readable enough. I have a soft spot for feisty grandmas, and while this one is unbelievably perky for what should've been years of malnutrition and near-anemia etc., I could still roll with it. Problem is, this book is just so freaking predictable. Cardboard cutouts fill the cast of characters, and beside the main protagonist the rest is just a selection of tools in the author's drawer, each fulfilling their destined role. And don't let me start on the explanation of hacking... Sigh.
If you want a nonsensical vampire-dystopian romp with a feisty grandma as a main protagonist and a blood-related encyclopedic entries at the beginning of each chapter, this book is for you.
This is me, being generous.
A dystopian take on vampires that doesn't make any sense. I mean, blood types are all nice and well, but if you consume it and it goes through your digestive system, the type just doesn't matter. In only matters in transfusion. Which the vampires in this book clearly didn't get, as they were drinking it from chalices. To forestall any ideas that the so-called ganglia are responsible for all of the consumption and need a direct infusion of blood (and so are naturally picky about the blood type, able to sniff it out) - well, the evolution works on a longer schedule than fifty years or so, and the vampires would not lose that winning trait so easily. You just can't have your cake and eat it.
That said, for a book based on a nonsensical notion, it's actually readable enough. I have a soft spot for feisty grandmas, and while this one is unbelievably perky for what should've been years of malnutrition and near-anemia etc., I could still roll with it. Problem is, this book is just so freaking predictable. Cardboard cutouts fill the cast of characters, and beside the main protagonist the rest is just a selection of tools in the author's drawer, each fulfilling their destined role. And don't let me start on the explanation of hacking... Sigh.
If you want a nonsensical vampire-dystopian romp with a feisty grandma as a main protagonist and a blood-related encyclopedic entries at the beginning of each chapter, this book is for you.
November 29, 2021
An enjoyable story with an unusual and very welcome main character Willa, a grandmother, who discovers everything she knows about her society is a lie.
There is an entire infrastructure in place, in this future Earth, to extract blood from people, and send it to what is called the Grey Zone to purportedly give people there transfusions of untrained blood. The Grey Zones are areas under intense, violent conflict, with people sickening and suffering from diseases and cancers.
Of course, things aren’t that clear cut, and Willa, after 1) seeing something she shouldn’t have, and 2) letting her kindness get her involved with criminals, has her carefully constructed life for herself and her grandson fall apart.
The characters, particularly Willa, make this such an satisfying book. The reveal, when it came, of what’s really going on, was not as big a surprise as I expected, but I liked the way Willa coped as it felt real, including her continuing actions as she, and others, try to stay ahead of the authorities, while blowing the cover off the truth. The ending was sad, and frightening, and though it wrapped the book up, left things open enough to allow for more stories in this world.
There is an entire infrastructure in place, in this future Earth, to extract blood from people, and send it to what is called the Grey Zone to purportedly give people there transfusions of untrained blood. The Grey Zones are areas under intense, violent conflict, with people sickening and suffering from diseases and cancers.
Of course, things aren’t that clear cut, and Willa, after 1) seeing something she shouldn’t have, and 2) letting her kindness get her involved with criminals, has her carefully constructed life for herself and her grandson fall apart.
The characters, particularly Willa, make this such an satisfying book. The reveal, when it came, of what’s really going on, was not as big a surprise as I expected, but I liked the way Willa coped as it felt real, including her continuing actions as she, and others, try to stay ahead of the authorities, while blowing the cover off the truth. The ending was sad, and frightening, and though it wrapped the book up, left things open enough to allow for more stories in this world.
October 11, 2020
A dystopian book that centers around mandatory blood draw. That alone got me curious, I love blood in my books whether it be spilled in epic fantasy books or horror books or whatever genre. In short there was a war and everyone was exposed to different levels of radiation. ( I work with radioactivity and am the type in the hospital that is friendly but def needs to give you an injection ;) I kinda liked the themes some extra because of that). The blood draw is called the Harvest and is overseen by Patriot, a government blood contractor. Then there are blood types, people are sorted by them and the more you give or the rares the blood type the more money you earn. This causes gaps in wealth layers, some people are just getting by. All for a good cause.
My first impression of the book was how fast and smooth it reads, directly getting you effortlessly into the story. You get introduced to the system and we get to know Willa who works for the Patriot collecting blood. Her personality is professional and empathetic towards people. She lives with Isaiah, her grandchild. And is friends with Claude who is her coworker. After Willa has to speed off with her collected blood cause her cooler is broken she comes across something strange. A Patriot personnel arrives and she is taken home, not understanding the severity of what she has witnessed. I don't want to give away much, as it is a book that kicks off pretty fast and full of intrigue. I really loved what Willa gets into and the people she meets. Survival at some point becomes the center and understanding the new insights that changes everything the society has stood for! Change was necessery. Really loved the dynamics of the characters, so much badassery! And the action and horror scenes captivating me throughout the book. Kinda perfect for the Halloween month!
My first impression of the book was how fast and smooth it reads, directly getting you effortlessly into the story. You get introduced to the system and we get to know Willa who works for the Patriot collecting blood. Her personality is professional and empathetic towards people. She lives with Isaiah, her grandchild. And is friends with Claude who is her coworker. After Willa has to speed off with her collected blood cause her cooler is broken she comes across something strange. A Patriot personnel arrives and she is taken home, not understanding the severity of what she has witnessed. I don't want to give away much, as it is a book that kicks off pretty fast and full of intrigue. I really loved what Willa gets into and the people she meets. Survival at some point becomes the center and understanding the new insights that changes everything the society has stood for! Change was necessery. Really loved the dynamics of the characters, so much badassery! And the action and horror scenes captivating me throughout the book. Kinda perfect for the Halloween month!
August 6, 2020
As a trained phlebotomist, I’m fully qualified to tell you that this book is bloody fun. Chris Panatier’s debut novel has satisfied a thirst I didn’t know I had for a dystopian-heist adventure.
The Phlebotomist is set in 2067 after a series of nuclear attacks have led to radiation poisoning and a slew of illnesses, particularly blood-related diseases. The government has been supplanted by Patriot, a private organisation who enforce a monthly blood tax in order to save the sick who live in the Grey Zones.
Willa’s life is quickly turned upside down when she sees something she shouldn’t have, making her question her whole world. Harbouring new suspicions about Patriot, Willa is forced to cooperate with blood-hackers, criminals who profit from mislabelled units of blood, in order to keep her grandson safe.
The Phlebotomist has been on my TBR ever since I first saw the stunning cover illustrated by the author himself. This book is as fun as it is surprising, with Panatier putting an interesting new twist on more than one genre mainstay. While the story can be read as scathing social and political commentary, I think Panatier mostly wants you to sit back and enjoy his bloody ride.
Willa is a badass woman tackling the world head-on in her aubergine boots and candy-pink wig. She is a loveable character, tired of the world and at the same time ready to see it burn if it means giving her grandson a better chance at life. At 60-something years of age she’s not your typical lead for a spec fic dystopian novel, but I found her point of view refreshing and interesting, one that I would love to see more of in SFF. Willa and the tech-savvy, slightly unhinged Lock are absolutely my new favourite criminal duo.
Read my full review on jakeisreading.com
Thank you to Angry Robot for providing an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review, and congrats to Chris Panatier for an awesome debut.
The Phlebotomist is set in 2067 after a series of nuclear attacks have led to radiation poisoning and a slew of illnesses, particularly blood-related diseases. The government has been supplanted by Patriot, a private organisation who enforce a monthly blood tax in order to save the sick who live in the Grey Zones.
Willa’s life is quickly turned upside down when she sees something she shouldn’t have, making her question her whole world. Harbouring new suspicions about Patriot, Willa is forced to cooperate with blood-hackers, criminals who profit from mislabelled units of blood, in order to keep her grandson safe.
The Phlebotomist has been on my TBR ever since I first saw the stunning cover illustrated by the author himself. This book is as fun as it is surprising, with Panatier putting an interesting new twist on more than one genre mainstay. While the story can be read as scathing social and political commentary, I think Panatier mostly wants you to sit back and enjoy his bloody ride.
Willa is a badass woman tackling the world head-on in her aubergine boots and candy-pink wig. She is a loveable character, tired of the world and at the same time ready to see it burn if it means giving her grandson a better chance at life. At 60-something years of age she’s not your typical lead for a spec fic dystopian novel, but I found her point of view refreshing and interesting, one that I would love to see more of in SFF. Willa and the tech-savvy, slightly unhinged Lock are absolutely my new favourite criminal duo.
Read my full review on jakeisreading.com
Thank you to Angry Robot for providing an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review, and congrats to Chris Panatier for an awesome debut.
September 8, 2020
Thank you so much to Angry Robot Books for the finished copy in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own!
My dark sci-fi dystopian blood drawing nurse heart was all about this book. My patients not-so-lovingly call us night shift nurses “vampires” because we are always after blood at night, and I was immediately drawn to the synopsis where a mandatory blood harvest has created a segregated society based off of blood types.
Willa Mae is in her 60s and a fantastic older main character. Lock, the blood hacker, can’t be much younger, and for some reason reading about older women playing the heroes struck a chord with me. They are snarky and wholesome and so caring for their young charges. Both rely on their knowledge and use of older technologies in a highly automated big-brother type world to undermine Patriot and practice some old-school phlebotomy to (at least try) to save society.
I can’t talk about Patriot too much without spoilers but the company runs blood collection stations all over the country to fuel the need for blood transfusions after nuclear bombs struck in certain “gray areas.” The lies, murders, and political structure of Patriot.. let me just say that I couldn’t put this book down once I started.
100% not what I expected.
The side cast of characters was great too, there was so much hope in one area called “bad blood” where everyone that was undesirable for transfusions was sent. They grew gardens and repurposed factory stores. The book definitely was not always happy, there were some significant and bloody deaths which I 100% endorse in any good resistance based dystopian.
Lastly there is a bit of transfusion based science provided just for informational sakes and I thought that was great. We have to do so much checking and double checking of blood before transfusing and I think Panatier did a phenomenal job putting this all into layman’s terms for readers.
if you are even slightly into dystopians, sci fi, resistance based novels, even fantasy/paranormal readers could cross over and enjoy this, I totally recommend it.
My dark sci-fi dystopian blood drawing nurse heart was all about this book. My patients not-so-lovingly call us night shift nurses “vampires” because we are always after blood at night, and I was immediately drawn to the synopsis where a mandatory blood harvest has created a segregated society based off of blood types.
Willa Mae is in her 60s and a fantastic older main character. Lock, the blood hacker, can’t be much younger, and for some reason reading about older women playing the heroes struck a chord with me. They are snarky and wholesome and so caring for their young charges. Both rely on their knowledge and use of older technologies in a highly automated big-brother type world to undermine Patriot and practice some old-school phlebotomy to (at least try) to save society.
I can’t talk about Patriot too much without spoilers but the company runs blood collection stations all over the country to fuel the need for blood transfusions after nuclear bombs struck in certain “gray areas.” The lies, murders, and political structure of Patriot.. let me just say that I couldn’t put this book down once I started.
100% not what I expected.
The side cast of characters was great too, there was so much hope in one area called “bad blood” where everyone that was undesirable for transfusions was sent. They grew gardens and repurposed factory stores. The book definitely was not always happy, there were some significant and bloody deaths which I 100% endorse in any good resistance based dystopian.
Lastly there is a bit of transfusion based science provided just for informational sakes and I thought that was great. We have to do so much checking and double checking of blood before transfusing and I think Panatier did a phenomenal job putting this all into layman’s terms for readers.
if you are even slightly into dystopians, sci fi, resistance based novels, even fantasy/paranormal readers could cross over and enjoy this, I totally recommend it.
October 6, 2021
I heard of this one through a friend (Scott- Book Invasion) and I’ll be honest, the cover is the first thing that caught my eye, I wanted to pick it up for that reason alone. Then after reading the synopsis and hearing Scott’s thoughts on it, I was right in there.
I’m very happy I checked this one out! The concept was different, the characters were awesome and the pacing was great.
I grabbed the audio version of this one (the narrator did an awesome job) so of course I still need to pop in and grab myself a physical copy, definitely one of have the the shelves to admire!
- Dark
I’m very happy I checked this one out! The concept was different, the characters were awesome and the pacing was great.
I grabbed the audio version of this one (the narrator did an awesome job) so of course I still need to pop in and grab myself a physical copy, definitely one of have the the shelves to admire!
- Dark
September 29, 2020
https://lynns-books.com/2020/09/28/th...
My Five Word TL:DR Review : Absolutely Bloody Brilliant, pun intended.
The Phlebotomist is a book that really took me by storm. To be fair I read a glowing review for this over on Books Bones and Buffy but even so, and even though I requested a review copy, I felt a little hesitant about picking this up. I think it’s all to do with my reading mood, the way it fluctuates without warning and the current pandemic situation which I cannot deny has greatly affected my emotions and ability to settle down. Then along comes the Phlebotomist to laugh in the face of all of that and just provide a really damned good bit of respite from the everyday mundane.
Seriously, I wasn’t sure what to expect going into this one (yes, I read a review but it was very secretive and gave little away – apart from the fact that this is good). And, to be honest, I’m going to give very little away too, in fact I’m not really going to go overboard on the plot but will look at world and characters instead.
The Phlebotomist is set in a fairly near future (2060s??). Our worst fears have been recognised and war and nuclear blasts have changed the way we live. There are grey zones that still suffer from the fallout and people who desperately need blood to help them recover. Patriot is an organisation that harvests blood – your country needs you! And, depending on your blood type, your life can be one of relative luxury or incredibly tough with barely enough food to survive. Areas are divided by blood types with the most affluent areas being inhabited by those with the most sought after blood types.
Enter the scene Willa Wallace. I love this woman Willia is the Phlebotomist. She’s old enough to remember the world pre nuclear blast and she still likes ‘old school’ methods when it comes to a lot of things. She is responsible for her grandson, her own daughter having passed away, and she works for Patriot as a Reaper – sounds grim eh? (Ha, another pun). Willa collects blood, but she doesn’t just go through the motions, she’s smart, she likes to read (high five Willa) and she has common sense. Unwittingly, Willy stumbles into ‘something’ and that’s when things start to go pear shaped. I won’t elaborate further other than to say this went in a direction I never saw coming and I loved it.
The other characters. Well, we have an ex marine called Lock (short for the Locksmith) who is basically a hacker. Lock uses old technology to stay under the radar, she has a number of hideouts and her main priority is the group of ragtag children that she’s taken under her wing and cares for. Everard is a bit of a tough character, he’s not above committing crimes, he might have a tweak of conscience about it but he’s prepared to make hard choices when it comes to keeping the children safe. The other character is Kathy, I can’t say too much about her because of spoilers but she’s great and I have to say these three females just about made my day.
Long story short I really enjoyed this. I couldn’t wait to pick it up, it was entertaining, fast paced, high octane, bloody, and violent, in places and emotional. What a ride.
The writing is really good. Panatier strikes a perfect blend between those tense moments where you’re holding your breath and then the relief that swiftly follows. He provides clear information about the world and the way of life. He provides his cast with very ‘real’ motivations and he manages to provoke heartfelt emotion. On top of this there is much drama and over the top heist style scenes that give you a real rush – not to mention woohoo moments.
Okay, I enjoyed this. Maybe you can tell. It just give me a real boost.
In terms of criticisms. The only thing I can think of is that some of the tech info felt a little bit less like a conversation and more like a convenient way to quickly deliver all the knowledge in one swift chunk. It’s not something that bothered me though.
High speed chases through the air, corporate conniving, conspiracy theories, do we really know how the other half lives? It’s all here. I would read more of this world without hesitation in fact I strongly hope that more is forthcoming and I can only hope this gets optioned for adaptation, it would be great on the big screen.
I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.
My Five Word TL:DR Review : Absolutely Bloody Brilliant, pun intended.
The Phlebotomist is a book that really took me by storm. To be fair I read a glowing review for this over on Books Bones and Buffy but even so, and even though I requested a review copy, I felt a little hesitant about picking this up. I think it’s all to do with my reading mood, the way it fluctuates without warning and the current pandemic situation which I cannot deny has greatly affected my emotions and ability to settle down. Then along comes the Phlebotomist to laugh in the face of all of that and just provide a really damned good bit of respite from the everyday mundane.
Seriously, I wasn’t sure what to expect going into this one (yes, I read a review but it was very secretive and gave little away – apart from the fact that this is good). And, to be honest, I’m going to give very little away too, in fact I’m not really going to go overboard on the plot but will look at world and characters instead.
The Phlebotomist is set in a fairly near future (2060s??). Our worst fears have been recognised and war and nuclear blasts have changed the way we live. There are grey zones that still suffer from the fallout and people who desperately need blood to help them recover. Patriot is an organisation that harvests blood – your country needs you! And, depending on your blood type, your life can be one of relative luxury or incredibly tough with barely enough food to survive. Areas are divided by blood types with the most affluent areas being inhabited by those with the most sought after blood types.
Enter the scene Willa Wallace. I love this woman Willia is the Phlebotomist. She’s old enough to remember the world pre nuclear blast and she still likes ‘old school’ methods when it comes to a lot of things. She is responsible for her grandson, her own daughter having passed away, and she works for Patriot as a Reaper – sounds grim eh? (Ha, another pun). Willa collects blood, but she doesn’t just go through the motions, she’s smart, she likes to read (high five Willa) and she has common sense. Unwittingly, Willy stumbles into ‘something’ and that’s when things start to go pear shaped. I won’t elaborate further other than to say this went in a direction I never saw coming and I loved it.
The other characters. Well, we have an ex marine called Lock (short for the Locksmith) who is basically a hacker. Lock uses old technology to stay under the radar, she has a number of hideouts and her main priority is the group of ragtag children that she’s taken under her wing and cares for. Everard is a bit of a tough character, he’s not above committing crimes, he might have a tweak of conscience about it but he’s prepared to make hard choices when it comes to keeping the children safe. The other character is Kathy, I can’t say too much about her because of spoilers but she’s great and I have to say these three females just about made my day.
Long story short I really enjoyed this. I couldn’t wait to pick it up, it was entertaining, fast paced, high octane, bloody, and violent, in places and emotional. What a ride.
The writing is really good. Panatier strikes a perfect blend between those tense moments where you’re holding your breath and then the relief that swiftly follows. He provides clear information about the world and the way of life. He provides his cast with very ‘real’ motivations and he manages to provoke heartfelt emotion. On top of this there is much drama and over the top heist style scenes that give you a real rush – not to mention woohoo moments.
Okay, I enjoyed this. Maybe you can tell. It just give me a real boost.
In terms of criticisms. The only thing I can think of is that some of the tech info felt a little bit less like a conversation and more like a convenient way to quickly deliver all the knowledge in one swift chunk. It’s not something that bothered me though.
High speed chases through the air, corporate conniving, conspiracy theories, do we really know how the other half lives? It’s all here. I would read more of this world without hesitation in fact I strongly hope that more is forthcoming and I can only hope this gets optioned for adaptation, it would be great on the big screen.
I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.
December 17, 2020
Thanks to Angry Robot for sending a review copy of The Phlebotomist to me! This is a dystopian fiction with a mixture of sci-fi and perhaps fantasy elements. As a hardcore dystopian fiction fan, I just can't let this one slip under my radar!
Subsequent to a cataclysmic nuclear war, blood is required to be passed to those in the Grey Zones (areas which were affected by radiation). Hence, the Patriot (the government of the society) imposed a mandatory blood draw (the Harvest) whereby every 45 days, those aged 16 and above must donate their blood to help the Grey Zones in return for incentives. This gives rise to the Trade whereby people (especially the poor and the "low blood") started to trade blood for survival. Due to the Harvest, the population was segregated based on their blood types. Discrimination and prejudice follow from such segregation. People with Type O blood ("universal donors") are considered "high blood" because their blood is the most valuable of all since their blood can be donated or sold to everyone. Whereas, people with Type AB blood ("universal recipients") are considered as "low blood" whereby their blood is of little worth since their blood can only be donated or sold to those with Type AB blood.
Premised on this setting, we follow the journey of Willa, a phlebotomist (who works for the Patriot and is responsible for drawing blood for the Harvest) whereby she discovered some secrets behind the imposition of the mandatory blood draw and is determined to end the segregation in the society. The concept itself is so interesting and creative! This book gives a fresh voice in the arena of dystopian fiction. A lot of blood/medical terminology and some hard science fiction elements were incorporated. Every chapter of this book begins with a blood terminology which inter-laced with what happens in the said chapter. Readers will not feel overwhelmed with the introduction of such elements. Instead, they will be intrigued by the brilliant blending of blood terminology and science fiction, the plot twist, politics, and all the action happening in this book! A minor shortcoming of this story is the characterization as I think the relationship and dynamics between characters were glossed over. Otherwise, this deserves a 4/5 star rating!
Subsequent to a cataclysmic nuclear war, blood is required to be passed to those in the Grey Zones (areas which were affected by radiation). Hence, the Patriot (the government of the society) imposed a mandatory blood draw (the Harvest) whereby every 45 days, those aged 16 and above must donate their blood to help the Grey Zones in return for incentives. This gives rise to the Trade whereby people (especially the poor and the "low blood") started to trade blood for survival. Due to the Harvest, the population was segregated based on their blood types. Discrimination and prejudice follow from such segregation. People with Type O blood ("universal donors") are considered "high blood" because their blood is the most valuable of all since their blood can be donated or sold to everyone. Whereas, people with Type AB blood ("universal recipients") are considered as "low blood" whereby their blood is of little worth since their blood can only be donated or sold to those with Type AB blood.
Premised on this setting, we follow the journey of Willa, a phlebotomist (who works for the Patriot and is responsible for drawing blood for the Harvest) whereby she discovered some secrets behind the imposition of the mandatory blood draw and is determined to end the segregation in the society. The concept itself is so interesting and creative! This book gives a fresh voice in the arena of dystopian fiction. A lot of blood/medical terminology and some hard science fiction elements were incorporated. Every chapter of this book begins with a blood terminology which inter-laced with what happens in the said chapter. Readers will not feel overwhelmed with the introduction of such elements. Instead, they will be intrigued by the brilliant blending of blood terminology and science fiction, the plot twist, politics, and all the action happening in this book! A minor shortcoming of this story is the characterization as I think the relationship and dynamics between characters were glossed over. Otherwise, this deserves a 4/5 star rating!
October 18, 2020
okay, this was really something. As a phlebotomist myself, I really appreciated the research that went into this, though Willa is like 100x more experienced than me. There is no way I could ever attempt a vein-to-vein transfusion, though it sounds very cool. The definitions at the start of every chapter were so fun, especially since they correlated so well with my pathology class this semester; it was like studying, but a lot more entertaining.
The whole concept of this book is very unique from other dystopians I've read, and I really enjoyed it. It definitely took a lot of turns I wasn't expecting, and there are parts of this book that are a little disturbing and made me nauseous, and that's coming from someone who deals with blood for a living.
There were some descriptions that went over my head, though considering this is sci-fi/dystopian, that tends to happen. The last bit of the book, so much happened all at once. The ending definitely had me on the edge of my seat. I'm curious to see if we'll get a sequel. I imagine it'll be bloodier than this one if we do.
Thank you to Angry Robot Books for sending me a finished copy for review! 3.5/5 stars
The whole concept of this book is very unique from other dystopians I've read, and I really enjoyed it. It definitely took a lot of turns I wasn't expecting, and there are parts of this book that are a little disturbing and made me nauseous, and that's coming from someone who deals with blood for a living.
There were some descriptions that went over my head, though considering this is sci-fi/dystopian, that tends to happen. The last bit of the book, so much happened all at once. The ending definitely had me on the edge of my seat. I'm curious to see if we'll get a sequel. I imagine it'll be bloodier than this one if we do.
Thank you to Angry Robot Books for sending me a finished copy for review! 3.5/5 stars
May 4, 2025
Boy do I love me a good sci-fi once in a while. This was excellent!
September 3, 2021
3.5 ⭐️ this was a fun read. I listened to the audio which was well done. I really liked the characters. I thought the ending was a bit rushed but overall enjoyed it.
April 2, 2023
3.5 stars!
Really cool story and very likable main characters.
*book club pick
Really cool story and very likable main characters.
*book club pick
September 13, 2025
full-on banger
went in blind and didn’t see it coming. when “it” came, it did not disappoint, and the story was a hell of a ride from there.
went in blind and didn’t see it coming. when “it” came, it did not disappoint, and the story was a hell of a ride from there.
August 28, 2020
The Phlebotomist follows Willa, a Reaper, a woman who works for Patriot drawing blood for the Harvest. In a society separated by blood types, those with a universal donor type are regarded more highly, creating a caste system. When Willa sees a drone meant to be carrying blood crash, Patriot pays her a visit, leading to Willa on the run, teamed up with a blood-hacker, Lock.
The Phlebotomist ticks every box that I want from a science fiction dystopian novel - an intricate social system, power hungry leaders, a bad ass main character seeking to overthrow the leaders, and a whole lot of feeling. Willa might not be your typical dystopian main character - she’s a grandmother in her sixties, wearing a bright pink wig - but that doesn’t stop her from being just as badass as any other dystopian main character you can think of. In fact, it makes her a bit better than most because she’s mature, level headed, and educated. This also cuts out the typical dystopian love triangle we normally get, and this just made me love The Phlebotomist more.
The blood caste system affecting the social stratification was also fascinating. The level of detail that went into the blood was incredible, giving little tidbits at the start of each chapter that give you some more background on what the different types are, and different skills that a Phlebotomist would have. It felt surprisingly educational while being a fast paced story about trying to overthrow Patriot.
There were some surprising twists throughout the book too, that take it to a new level of dystopian horror almost, and honestly, while I wasn’t expecting it, I was all for it. It suited the story fully, and the twists didn’t feel like they came entirely out of left field just to make the story progress. And for how surprising some of the twists were, and how action packed the story was, there was lot of heart involved. You feel for Willa and Lock, and the hardships they go through. It was a fine balance of cheering them on through all the action, and having your heart hurt, but it balances well and really pulls you in to the story.
The Phlebotomist is one I absolutely recommend for fans of dystopian style books, and especially those that like a touch of horror tossed in for good measure. If you’re looking for a unique main character that you don’t often see in Sci-Fi, Willa is one to remember, and this is absolutely a book worth checking out
The Phlebotomist ticks every box that I want from a science fiction dystopian novel - an intricate social system, power hungry leaders, a bad ass main character seeking to overthrow the leaders, and a whole lot of feeling. Willa might not be your typical dystopian main character - she’s a grandmother in her sixties, wearing a bright pink wig - but that doesn’t stop her from being just as badass as any other dystopian main character you can think of. In fact, it makes her a bit better than most because she’s mature, level headed, and educated. This also cuts out the typical dystopian love triangle we normally get, and this just made me love The Phlebotomist more.
The blood caste system affecting the social stratification was also fascinating. The level of detail that went into the blood was incredible, giving little tidbits at the start of each chapter that give you some more background on what the different types are, and different skills that a Phlebotomist would have. It felt surprisingly educational while being a fast paced story about trying to overthrow Patriot.
There were some surprising twists throughout the book too, that take it to a new level of dystopian horror almost, and honestly, while I wasn’t expecting it, I was all for it. It suited the story fully, and the twists didn’t feel like they came entirely out of left field just to make the story progress. And for how surprising some of the twists were, and how action packed the story was, there was lot of heart involved. You feel for Willa and Lock, and the hardships they go through. It was a fine balance of cheering them on through all the action, and having your heart hurt, but it balances well and really pulls you in to the story.
The Phlebotomist is one I absolutely recommend for fans of dystopian style books, and especially those that like a touch of horror tossed in for good measure. If you’re looking for a unique main character that you don’t often see in Sci-Fi, Willa is one to remember, and this is absolutely a book worth checking out
January 17, 2023
January 2023: It's still entertaining and thought-provoking as a re-read! I love sci-fi.
April 2021: I read a LOT of speculative fiction. It probably makes up around two-thirds of my bookshelves. So I was really taken by surprise when I found out that The Phlebotomist is one of the best I have read. It has all the ingredients to whip up a delicious read:
A badass, yet flawed protagonist - who is a grandma, by the way. This really has to be more common. Seventeen-year-old protagonists were fun to read when I was seventeen but there is a strong case to be made for the cool adult who has so many more experiences to tell us about!
A good amount of plot twists. I clearly remember closing the book on one or two occasions and just going "HOLY FUCKING SHIT" because I was excited and horrified and falling in love with this story all at the same time.
Lastly, I would like to mention that Panatier's writing is quite lit. It is clever and observant. He uses a lot of interesting phrases that make me smile.
So all in all, I think I have found a new book for my favourites shelf and I definitely think you should read this one if speculative fiction is your thing.
I received a free copy of this book from the author.
April 2021: I read a LOT of speculative fiction. It probably makes up around two-thirds of my bookshelves. So I was really taken by surprise when I found out that The Phlebotomist is one of the best I have read. It has all the ingredients to whip up a delicious read:
A badass, yet flawed protagonist - who is a grandma, by the way. This really has to be more common. Seventeen-year-old protagonists were fun to read when I was seventeen but there is a strong case to be made for the cool adult who has so many more experiences to tell us about!
A good amount of plot twists. I clearly remember closing the book on one or two occasions and just going "HOLY FUCKING SHIT" because I was excited and horrified and falling in love with this story all at the same time.
Lastly, I would like to mention that Panatier's writing is quite lit. It is clever and observant. He uses a lot of interesting phrases that make me smile.
So all in all, I think I have found a new book for my favourites shelf and I definitely think you should read this one if speculative fiction is your thing.
I received a free copy of this book from the author.
December 29, 2020
I finished this novel before Christmas and haven't stopped thinking of it. Panatier has a gift of writing medical facts into an amazingly developed dystopian plot. I'm not exactly one who likes a lot of technological, medical or textbook driven paragraphs in my fantasy so when I finished this in two days I realized that talent like this is few and far between.
Hooked is an understatement. Honestly, I need to pull out a thesaurus for a better term to describe my admiration and total immersion into this world. Firstly, go in blind. Do not read anything that explains the plot in detail. The twist, admittedly, tickled the possibility portion of my grey matter but until it was revealed I wasn't sure. So go in naive. Its so worth it!
Secondly, I absolutely freaking love that the MCs are not young people. It was such a breath of fresh air to have a more adult perspective on a dystopian read. Especially with the strong female leads as well. Willa holds a special place in my hardcore bookish female hall of fame. Not to mention some of the other characters that can really break your heart. Who knew that in 300 pages I'd have a crew of characters giving me all of the feels. And no romance! Action, humanity, human rights and so much more make this book a top read for me. No repetitive inner monologues, no instalove, no young person 'woe is me' drivel in every line. A exceptionally crafted dystopian with levels of sci-fi and fantasy that are believable and well researched. This, my friends, is a novel at its finest. Panatier I cannot wait to see what you unleash next!
Thank you to Angry Robot Books for the beautiful gifted copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.
Hooked is an understatement. Honestly, I need to pull out a thesaurus for a better term to describe my admiration and total immersion into this world. Firstly, go in blind. Do not read anything that explains the plot in detail. The twist, admittedly, tickled the possibility portion of my grey matter but until it was revealed I wasn't sure. So go in naive. Its so worth it!
Secondly, I absolutely freaking love that the MCs are not young people. It was such a breath of fresh air to have a more adult perspective on a dystopian read. Especially with the strong female leads as well. Willa holds a special place in my hardcore bookish female hall of fame. Not to mention some of the other characters that can really break your heart. Who knew that in 300 pages I'd have a crew of characters giving me all of the feels. And no romance! Action, humanity, human rights and so much more make this book a top read for me. No repetitive inner monologues, no instalove, no young person 'woe is me' drivel in every line. A exceptionally crafted dystopian with levels of sci-fi and fantasy that are believable and well researched. This, my friends, is a novel at its finest. Panatier I cannot wait to see what you unleash next!
Thank you to Angry Robot Books for the beautiful gifted copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.
November 18, 2024
3.5 stars
I wanted to read this book for so long, and I can't believe I managed it! (Also, I am soooo happy!).
I love that this one is a new take on vampires, and usually, I am not a fan of horror and dystopic but you know what? This one worked pretty well for me all the same! I think that this author works pretty well for me, and I had fun reading it.
I loved the importance of blood here, and I loved all the twists we discovered while reading. Willa and Lock are good characters! Kathy is scary, but good too. So we have an interesting bunch of characters to follow along, and I loved that Willa and Lock aren't young. So yeah, if you want to follow some older ladies while they shenanigans around, you should give this one a try!
There is also some science in there, but it wasn't too much and for once I followed along neatly. And this is a unique occurrence for me! So yeah, I had fun with this one and I am recommending it!
I wanted to read this book for so long, and I can't believe I managed it! (Also, I am soooo happy!).
I love that this one is a new take on vampires, and usually, I am not a fan of horror and dystopic but you know what? This one worked pretty well for me all the same! I think that this author works pretty well for me, and I had fun reading it.
I loved the importance of blood here, and I loved all the twists we discovered while reading. Willa and Lock are good characters! Kathy is scary, but good too. So we have an interesting bunch of characters to follow along, and I loved that Willa and Lock aren't young. So yeah, if you want to follow some older ladies while they shenanigans around, you should give this one a try!
There is also some science in there, but it wasn't too much and for once I followed along neatly. And this is a unique occurrence for me! So yeah, I had fun with this one and I am recommending it!
July 7, 2020
Wow - Panatier's The Phlebotomist drives forward like a semi-truck, never content to let you sit quietly and process. With second to none worldbuilding, he's layered traditional fantasy within sheets of science fiction, post-apocalyptic dystopia, and good old fashioned adventure. Like a parfait (or an onion), every time you think you're comfortable and fully in control, Panatier pulls the rug out from under your feet with a new twist or a new shift to the paradigm of his world. Eschewing the traditional post-apocalyptic protagonists (star-crossed lovers, abandoned-at-birth youth, mysterious stranger with a past), his characters feel real, with understandable motivations and passions that drive them. Panatier did his research as well; his science feels accurate (always a risk when you use actual science vs making it up) and doesn't detract from the plot. All in all, I can recommend this book wholeheartedly, without any reservations - I just need to go find out my blood-type so I can prepare (just in case).
July 5, 2020
It's been a while since a book about the near future has made me that excited. The Phlebotomist draws a very interesting future where blood has literally become the most important part of economy.
We follow the story of a phlebotomist - Willa, trained around our present time, that has held the job title in the future, even though the job in the future bares very little resemblance. Willa now spends her entire workdays collecting blood donations that get sent to areas where people need transfusions because of radiation sickness. She's managed to get a somewhat comfortable life for this post-apocalyptic world, when by sheer accident she starts uncovering the truth behind the system, in which she works and lives.
I really liked the characters and setting, and how everything was explained. This made for quite a nice weekend read. The book seems open to a sequel and I'd be really happy if we get one.
*Thanks to NetGalley and Angry Robot for providing me with an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.*
We follow the story of a phlebotomist - Willa, trained around our present time, that has held the job title in the future, even though the job in the future bares very little resemblance. Willa now spends her entire workdays collecting blood donations that get sent to areas where people need transfusions because of radiation sickness. She's managed to get a somewhat comfortable life for this post-apocalyptic world, when by sheer accident she starts uncovering the truth behind the system, in which she works and lives.
I really liked the characters and setting, and how everything was explained. This made for quite a nice weekend read. The book seems open to a sequel and I'd be really happy if we get one.
*Thanks to NetGalley and Angry Robot for providing me with an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.*
November 29, 2021
(3.5 stars) I was in a major reading slump while working through this one so my rating might not be the most accurate but i did have a lot of fun reading! my interest came in bursts, i loved the main character, and the plot was incredibly well developed. i loved experiencing something new from the sci-fi genre, and i was able to grin and bare all the blood talk. i couldn’t give it 4 stars because there was one character who i believed deserved a bit moreeee but this also could be intentional and may be expanded on in the next book (which based on the end i assume the author intends to continue the story 0.0) anywaysss very fun read and would recommend for my sci-fi/fantasy lovers :))
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