Heir of Blood and Secrets

by Linda Xia

“We’re all complicit in things we regret. Sometimes, we just do what we must.”

In the city-state of Devovea, behind the walls of the Castle, Scylla Delevan waits for a chance to prove herself. When a Magistrate is murdered and her father stands accused of the crime, she eagerly sets out to prove his innocence. As she races to find the real killer before it is too late, she begins to unearth dangerous secrets that could throw the fragile balance of her city into chaos. In too deep to turn back, Scylla is forced to question all she has ever known and choose between what is expected of her and what is right.

Family loyalty and personal beliefs collide as Scylla navigates a dystopian world divided by race and gender. Heir of Blood and Secrets will challenge you to consider how far you are willing to go—and what you are willing to sacrifice—to forge a better world.

Genres: Young Adult, Mystery, Dystopia, Murder Mystery

245 pages, Paperback

First published August 24, 2021

About the author

Linda Xia is a prolific writer whose work has been published in various anthologies, such as Polar Expressions’ Inkslide and the Poetry Institute of Canada’s The Heart of Solstice.

She spent her childhood hoping for a letter from Hogwarts or a visit from a Camp Half-Blood satyr but eventually grew tired of waiting. Now, she firmly believes that people can choose to be heroic and hopes to inspire young girls to become the heroes of their own stories, regardless of where they were born or the color of their skin.

When not writing, Linda travels the world, climbs mountains, and (inevitably) gets lost. Her time at Minerva University has taught her that failure is a side effect of living.

Reviews

[Heather Adores Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25⭐
Genre ~ Young Adult dystopian
Publication date ~ August 23, 2021
Page Count ~ 217
POV ~ single 1st
Featuring ~ debut, amateur sleuthing, cliffhanger

I don't read too many dystopian books, but I do like YA if there's a mystery involved, so I was delighted when Linda Xia reached out to me to read her debut book, that she started writing when she was just 14!

Scylla Delevan and Ilya Ochion are best friends and heirs, therefore future leaders of Devovea. They both live in The Castle, but went to school in The Tiers, which is where they became close. Scylla enjoys training with the guards, while Ilya is more artistic and enjoys painting landscapes. They have a great bond and I really enjoyed their friendship.

When one of the Magistrates is stabbed, Scylla's father is accused of the crime. Scylla doesn't believe this could be true, so she decides to investigate the murder herself. She is strong and ambitious, and seemed wise beyond her sixteen years. She might not like what her amateur sleuthing uncovers though.

The map was a nice added touch to help guide us along of where Scylla was roaming around searching for answers. I liked that the chapters were titled too.
All in all this fit perfectly with what I envision a dystopian book to be. It's well written and fast paced and perfect for YA readers.

This one does leave off on a cliffhanger and you'll have to wait until December 2022 to read Heir of Death and Rebels to find out what happens next. I do hope we see more of Galen in the future because I like what's evolving between him and Scylla.
ETA ~ it's now April 2024 and I haven't heard of a sequel yet, so I'm not sure when it will be released.

*Thanks to Linda Xia for sending me a complimentary copy. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*

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[Rainz ❤️rainnbooks❤️(on a break) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Linda Xia’s Heir of Blood And Secrets is the story of 16 year old Scylla Delevan who matures into her role as an heir to the ruling class in Devovea. The dystopian world is not something I am much too keen on, basically, the futuristic sci-fi kinda flies over my head most of the time coz of which I am choosy about this genre. I’m glad though for the world created by author Linda Xia.
Devovea is a place that fits into my imagination wonderfully and I did picture it like The Titanic, where each rung holds different classes of people and the castle with the ruling class at the top and except for the high-end technology being used, the dystopian world is many ways similar to what we know.

The murder of a magistrate and the accusation pinned against her father throw Scylla’s world upside down and rather than sitting idle and believing the justice system, she decides to conduct her own investigation, little knowing how her own perceptions about her city are gonna be ripped to shreds by the time she’s done. The author’s sketch of Scylla is excellent as the reader is made to walk in her headstrong attitude at first and then as she matures into an understanding of politics and the policy of ‘greater good’ followed by the council, there is a mellowing down of her actions.

The mystery of the murder is not hard to guess for seasoned readers as there are not many culprits in the first place but I loved how the story evolves into varied subjects reflecting the conditions of the society today. Class distinction, race, child labor, poverty, lack of freedom and voice, subjugation by the rulers, all this and more gets mentioned before Scylla finds the courage to stand up for what is right.

My favorite moments in the story are those between Scylla and her best friend Ilya, the warmth of their friendship and love shines thru brilliantly in the story. The romance element unlike other YA novels is not the intense kind that we are used to, Scylla and Galen who is her connection to the Tier share a love that is quite innocent and sweet. Galen is more like Scylla’s conscience encouraging her to look for answers for herself giving her the strength to believe, and rebel against the injustices meted out against the poor.

The author’s experiences of being born in a different country to the one growing up and the questions that arise coz of it are reflected in the storyline and this was something, I feel many of us can relate to, the sense of neither here nor there always hanging on our heads. This is book #1 and is clearly like an introduction to Devovea and Scylla. There is a lack of tension and thrilling elements in the story which I hope the author would bring about in the series as Scylla continues her adventures in Devovea.

Many thanks to the author for the chance to read and review this book. All opinions are expressed voluntarily.

This review is published in my blog Rain'n'Books, ##Goodreads, ##Amazon India, ##Book Bub, ##Medium.com, ##Facebook, ##Twitter.

[charlene ✿ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 stars  

★★★☆☆

**I was contacted and provided with an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review**

✿ My review is also posted right here on my blog ✿


☞ Trigger warnings: **contains spoilers** attempted blackmail, blood depictions, captivity & confinement, child abuse and neglect, classism, colourism, dead bodies, death of a parent, death of a sibling, death of a spouse, gentrification, gun violence, grief & loss depictions, home invasion, hospitalisation (mentioned), indentured servitude (children), medical experimentation (mentioned), misogyny, racial microaggressions, murder, police harassment, physical injuries, suicide, poverty themes, war themes, workplace harassment..


The Heir of Blood and Secrets reviews:
#1     Heir of Blood and Secrets: ★★★☆☆ 
#2     Sequel: ?? (your guess is as good as mine) 



Question.

Your father is accused of a highly public, political murder. 

You either;

     A: Trust the justice system and official investigators, despite them not looking for other suspects and there never being an innocent verdict found in court. 
or
     B: Investigate the murder yourself to exonerate your father and bring the real culprit to face justice

What would you choose? Me, I would choose B: to investigate because I have watched enough police procedurals and true crime tv shows/movies to think I will find the culprit instead of the police but the difference between myself and the main character in Heir of Blood and Secrets, Scyalla, is that I know I'm delusional and probably won't find anything useful. Scyalla, however, is not me.

Scyalla attends a political event where she is a witness to the murder of one of the heads of the city-state. Not only that, but her father is arrested and accused of this murder. Scyalla is adamant that her father didn't commit this murder and has to prove his innocence before it's too late.

We all know, when one endeavours to solve a murder investigation, it is expected that secrets will be uncovered in order to find the murder. It's the name of the game. We have all watched episodes of police procedurals like Law & Order: SVU and/or Criminal Minds. You never know where a lead goes and what is connected. People murder other people for every reason under the sun so to find a motive, you dig, and you dig, and you uncover whatever everyone wants hidden. Scyalla digs and she finds a rotting foundation under the shining city-state. Her father's murder investigation becomes the least of her worries when she stumbles onto a conspiracy that she cannot ignore.

"Secrets are the currency here, where nothing is as simple as it seems."

All good murder investigations start with a murder board and sidekicks. Scyalla starts her own murder board, and has her best friend Ilya to help with this investigation. Galen her other, somewhat secret friend, is there in support and to remind her that there is more at stake than her father's life. The people are unhappy, and the ruling class is unwilling to listen to their plights. Galen is the unofficial voice of the people to Scyalla and Ilya is the opposite, unwilling to comprehend any social dissidence. This dichotomy is pulling Scyalla in both directions, unsure of where she fits now that she is aware of the underlying shadiness of her world. One thing Scyall was steadfast on was her trust in her father's innocence and even that was put to the test.

"He would never tarnish the Delevan family name with murder or risk his position as Magistrate."

It's kind of funny that Scyalla doesn't believe her father wouldn't murder anyone for the risk of his reputation or position and not because murder = bad. The relationship between Scyalla and her father is heartbreaking to say the least. Scyalla has this perception of her father that gets challenged because of this murder investigation. She knows he isn't a great father, but she absolved his behaviour because of her belief that he was a great Magistrate that truly helped people. The progression of Scyalla and her fathers relationship was really intriguing and came at the expense of Scyalla's innocence. She is establishing an identity separate from her father, and from the people she believed were trying to make the world a better place. It's confronting to find out what you believe to be true is a lie, especially when they involves life and death.

Heir of Blood and Secrets is a YA dystopian murder mystery that is ultimately about the hero's journey. For those unfamiliar with the concept, the hero's journey is the story of the everyman (or woman) who undertakes an adventure or quest, and on this journey they have to overcome trials and are confronted with obstacles that transform who they are and what they believe in, resulting in them 'saving the day' with this new enlightened outlook. The hero's journey is everywhere, from Tolkien to Stephen King and has been applied in every type of way. It's a classic trope and one I believe is evolving over time, with new elements and new perspectives, particularly from people of colour and marginalised people who were (and still are) underrepresented and ignored.

"Anyone can be a hero. We don't need anyone to appoint us" -

Linda Xia

Author of Heir of Blood and Secrets

It was interesting to read the overarching mystery read unfold. What I loved and felt the most surprised about was I felt apart of the process in solving this murder. There was no surprise reveal that felt left field because there was a build up of clues from the start that gave room for the audience to solve it with the main character. Scyalla was somewhat ruthless in her solving methods. She wasn't very subtle, and caused chaos wherever she was investigating.

Following Scyalla uncovering the layers of this city-state really brought out the rich world-building that had nuances of refugee experiences, xenophobia, classism and wealth disparity. The author's experiences as a women of colour are reflected in Scyalla and they have depicted realistic portrayals of refugees, people of colour and the impoverished (many of whom fell into all three groups). I saw myself in Scyalla in how I was perceived in the world, baring the brunt of racial microaggressions and listening to the propaganda that spouted prejudices about immigrants. It was a reflection of society in many places and how leaders are aware of issues that they perpetrate and uphold. People suffer when we hold onto these fallacies.

The romance is very tame, and is basically just handholding but still makes you root for them. It's a minor part of the overall story, but still very cute and innocent.

This was a really fast-paced quick read that doesn't let up and I'm excited to read the next book. I love a revolution and rebellion so I expect it to be explosive.



Would I recommend this book? 
Yeah, especially younger readers (of the teenage variety).

Will I continue reading this series?
I very much want to know what happens next so I will continue this series. 

 Will I re-read this book? 
Depends on when the next book comes out. We shall see.

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[Siobhan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Heir of Blood and Secrets contains two things I adore – a dystopian world and a mystery to puzzle through. Both elements had me super curious, and I was eager to see how things played out in this one. While it was an interesting read, it didn’t quite grab me the way I had hoped.

I think, for me, the reason I did not love it as much as I’d hoped was because things were a little too easy with this one. I wanted more from the mystery, but it felt like things happened too conveniently for the main character and that took away some of the intensity I had hoped to experience with such a story. It could be that I have read too many books in this genre – as the other elements of this story were strong – but this one didn’t quite pack the punch I had hoped for.

All in all, I’m sure many will love this, but it didn’t wow me to the degree I’d anticipated.

[Kailey Bright · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Heir of Blood and Secrets" is the comfort must-read for fans of YA dystopia. Surprising twists and turns knotted my stomach and kept me engaged throughout. The world of Devovea is lively with cyberpunk aesthetics, classist tension, and racial undertones--a recipe for delicious disaster. Linda Xia’s writing style also contributes to a well-paced and consistently escalated story. Even in the lighthearted moments of the book, the stakes are daunting. I look forward to the next installment!

*Update*: Bumped up to a 5 because I still think about this book on a regular basis. Incredibly memorable and I might re-read, which I hardly do.

[Esha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Note: A digital copy of this book was sent to me by the author, Linda Xia, in exchange for my honest review.

Book in One Sentence
Linda Xia’s Heir of Blood and Secrets is a YA Dystopian Mystery, where we get to learn about the dichotomy of power and money.


Introduction
Heir of Blood and Secrets starts with the protagonist Scylla in a high-profile event with her best friend, Ilya. She is not a willing guest in the event and is just there to support her father, who is a Magistrate. So, it is more of a formality. Unfortunately, the event does not end on a positive note as one of her father’s co-workers is murdered right on state and her father becomes the primary suspect. Scylla is left with gathering the pieces of evidence to prove her father’s innocence as she uncovers how rigged the justice system can be!


Themes
👩 Young Adult
Scylla and Ilya are 16-year old’s. Scylla’s friend, Galen, is also a young adult, although his age has not been revealed. These three are the main characters in the novel. The novel also focuses on their relationships, amidst the overall plot of solving the murder mystery. It showcases their struggles, desires and perseverance to fight against the system, while most elderly have already given in to it. This kind of determination is mostly found in youngsters, who are motivated to do their best and correct their wrongs.


⚔️ Dystopia
From the very beginning, we see a very dystopian undertone. We get a glimpse of the social dichotomy in Magistrate Rheas, who had an elitist undertone in his talks and mannerisms. The dystopian atmosphere is further revealed when Scylla ends up going to the Tiers and we are confronted with the reality. It is due to this dystopian world of Devovea that a high-profile office has been murdered and people are subjected to suffer along the way, as cruel truths about the corrupt administration resurface.


The Ending
For me, the ending felt a bit rushed. It felt like the story was gradually building up and then, right when it reached a tipping point of the climax, it fell a bit steeper than I expected. Provided the novel did not really have that many characters, it was fairly predictable who the murderer can be.


Conclusion
All in all, Linda Xia’s Heir of Blood and Secrets is an enjoyable read. I really liked the book and would not mind reading a second part, if there’s any. The predictability factor did not put me off at all. I would also state that the main characters are well-developed and likeable. The series has great potential in the long run.

[Brooke ♥booklife4life♥ · Rating 3 out of 5]

**I was given a copy of this book from the author for free, this does not affect my review, which is unbiased and entirely my own opinions**


I'm always on the lookout for more diverse dystopian books, and while this book doesn't heavily go into a different culture, the main character does deal with being different in a world where status and what you look like/are can get you far.

Our main character, Scylla, is a daughter of a Magistrate, which is a government official in charge of certain things, her mother, who is not from Devovea, died when Scylla was young. Scylla was humbled by going to school outside of the "castle" in a place called the "tiers" (think like Ba Sing Se from Avatar or the town in Attack on Titan, the further out from the leader, the worse the conditions). Scylla reminds me of a cozy mystery MC, she will throw herself into situations to get the answers she wants without regards to what happens to her. Overall not a bad MC, I was never annoyed with her, and even thou there is a slight romance going on, it didn't overtake the story, nor did Scylla turn dumb once with the boy or to get the boy.

The mystery itself was good, thou I knew who it was at around the 40% mark, but Xia did a good job of making me doubt myself when she kept throwing more suspects/motives at me.

I enjoyed the world building, the only issues I had was Xia explained in detail the gondola system twice, and I had slight confusion when it came to if Scylla had been to Galen's apartment or not. Once it was said "I know where he (Galen) lives, but early on he had made me promise to never visit unless it was life-or-death" but then later states "I've know where Galen lives for quite some time, but I've never actually entered his apartment. Mostly because Galen refused to let me in the first few times I'd randomly showed up at his door. After a while, I'd just stopped trying, accepting it as one of his quirks". Just comes across confusing, to me anyhow. *shrug*

Overall a good book, and I'd pick up book 2 if this was a series or try another book from the same author.

[Brittany Shields · Rating 4 out of 5]

[3.5 rounded up because this series has potential]

“The Castle might be home to the wealthiest and most powerful people in Devovea, but it’s also home to the nosiest. Secrets are the currency here, where nothing is as simple as it seems.”

This is a dystopian YA mystery novel. Dystopian in that the city has sectors that divide people by class. Devovea is ruled by The Crown and the unelected Council. There was a Rebellion that happened in years past but the events that preceded this ‘dystopian’ era are unclear. I feel like this could be fleshed out in book two if Xia so chooses.

There wasn’t a lot of description or details about the world. It was a little hard to picture. And the resources/tech available to the people seemed generally similar to today. I wouldn’t say it was ‘futuristic.’ It wasn’t as immersive as a world as say Hunger Games, Maze Runner, or Divergent. But all of those are series so Xia has the ability to give us more in future books.


I would say that YA is the correct classification for this book. It’s a pretty light and fast read. Not a super complicated plot or characters but still some mystery. The main characters are all teenagers or young adults.


Plot

The premise of this book is a whodunnit. At a public meeting a Magistrate is stabbed on stage. The only other person on stage is Scylla’s father, another Magistrate, who claims his innocence. Scylla, our main character, (according to the author pronounced ‘sky-la’ or sometimes ‘sill-a’) believes his innocence and is determined to exonerate her father.

With the help of her best friend, Ilya (also the son of a Magistrate), and Galen (who lives in the lower class Tiers) Scylla sets out to find out who the killer is, even if it means she has to trade some of The Crown’s secrets. But can she find the truth without getting caught or bringing dishonor to her elite family name?


What I Liked

In the Author’s Note at the beginning of the book Xia talks about the common trope of the main character being given their destiny and told they had to be hero. But she says, “I think anyone can be a hero. We don’t need someone else to appoint us.”

She also talks about how strong female leads are often portrayed with a lot of ‘masculine’ qualities or with an avoidance of ‘feminine’ things.

These two things inspired Xia in writing this book:

“Realizing this made me want to write a book that pushed back on those assumptions; that showed girls they can be powerful and still wear dresses; that being strong doesn’t just mean displaying physical prowess but also demonstrating intelligence, compassion, and resilience.”

I admire this endeavor. Females don’t have to be masculine to be strong. I am not pro-gender-fluidity. But I am pro-gender-diversity in that to be a ‘woman’ is to be a biological woman. Therefore, women are diverse in their traits, interests, and personalities.

“Enjoying pretty things doesn’t make me any less strong.”

I’m not sure if Xia’s take on Scylla is super unique, but I do like the path that she chose and that she created a character who made a choice to do something and didn’t just wait for someone magical to show up and tell them they’re important.


One thing I also liked about Scylla’s character is her belief in justice.

“He needs to be punished by the system, not by a group of vigilantes. That’s not justice.”

Some may say she is blinded by her privilege to trust and advocate for a broken judicial system. But I disagree. She recognizes the system is broken but her solution is not anarchy and ‘taking matters into her own hands.’

We see her inner struggle with this cognitive dissonance of how to go about getting justice. I like that she didn’t just go full-on vigilante but also that she sees problems with the way things are. By the end I’m not sure if she landed anywhere or if Xia has plans for her to go one way or the other, but I hope she continues to wrestle with this. There are more benefits of a justice system than of anarchy and it would be nice to see the plot show growth towards reform than just straight up rebellion. But we’ll see.


Another thing I liked was the title ‘Heir of Blood and Secrets.’ Scylla and Ilya are considered ‘heirs’ because they will eventually take over for their fathers as Magistrates. But what are they inheriting from their fathers? When Scylla learns things about their fathers that she didn’t know before she laments,

“How can that be our legacy? Lies and manipulation and secrets?”

I like the concept of how an heir would handle that legacy when it’s their own family. Do they embrace the life and sacrifice what they need to to accomplish their goals, however ‘noble’? Or do they have a moral code or line to abide by?

“We’re Delevans. Honoring the family name isn’t just about being respectful and avoiding scandal. It also means doing whatever is necessary to help the people of Devovea.”

It’s an intriguing title. I’m not sure the book was as ‘dark’ as the title implies but I still like it!


What I Didn’t Like

I think the biggest letdown of the book was the lack of danger and tension. It never really felt like Scylla was taking big risks and when she did take a risk, never had to face the fallout. Everyone was surprisingly amicable. Even when she confronted The Crown, there didn’t seem to be any danger for her or her friends and family.

The night of the rescue could have had a lot more suspense or unexpected problems they had to account for. Only one injury occurred and Scylla was upset that one of the guards they were opposing got hurt. This doesn’t tell the reader there is danger. I mean I get that Scylla is a bit of a pacifist, even though she’s a trained guard, but considering the circumstances that called for the rescue, it seems like an injury or two was very minimal.

There were a few political insinuations like “the ninety percent that isn’t lucky enough to be born in the Castle” or “History is written by the victors.” I’m not sure if the author was trying to make a point here or if she was just portraying the class-struggle of her created world.


There was an interesting twist at the end but I still felt like the ending could have been bigger, more intense, more dangerous, more suspenseful. It was a little too neat. Again, this probably fits the YA genre a little more, but I think she could have done more.


I also thought there were a few ‘discoveries’ that happened where I was like- “How would other people have not found that?” or “Oh that was a surprise? I thought we all already knew that about that person…”


There are comments about the color of Scylla’s skin because her mother was a foreigner that make people treat her a certain way. But we don’t really have any concept of any of the places surrounding Devovea or what it means to be a foreigner.


Recommendation

This isn’t a hard-hitting thriller, but I still enjoyed reading it. I think this series has potential.

If Xia could just add some more danger and suspense and flesh out the world-building, I think there is a lot that could be done. She left some mystery with The Crown and the Rebels that could go in a lot of different directions.

I’d also like to see some intrigue with her mother’s past and heritage in the next one that comes into play with the Devovea politics, etc.

I would definitely recommend this for teens though. It’s a clean, creative book with mystery.

I think adults will like it to if you know what you’re getting into.


**Received an e-copy of this book via the author in exchange for an honest review**

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[Kirsten · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you Linda Xia for reaching out to me and asking me to read your book in exchange for an honest review!

First, I want to say that I loved the author's note at the beginning of the book. It was so inspiring to read the road Linda Xia has walked to get where she is now. As an aspiring writer, it was inspiring and pushed me to keep going and follow my dreams.

Now for the actual story. These characters have fought their way into my heart. They are inspiring, realistic, and have such an amazing dynamic. Scylla is such a fierce girl. She knows what she wants and she learns that she can stand against those who do not have the same opinions as her. She has been through quite some things during her youth, but she is standing tall and preparing herself for the future.
Ilya is Scylla's good friend, and the son of another magistrate. He is quite the opposite of Scylla, more reserved, maybe not as willing to stand up for himself. But they have been best friends since they were little and they are on this adventure together. He is often there to give Scylla an important reality check as well!
The friendship between these two is written very realistically. It is not all perfect, but they really have this dynamic that only exists when you no each other through and through. They have inside jokes, amazing memories, and are basically like family.

The writing style this author has was really easy to get into. It sucked me into the story and it read really smoothly. There was barely any focus needed to read. I genuinely could read this while on a very noisy train. I think that says a lot.

The worldbuilding is very well done, especially for a book that does not have that many pages. Everything that I needed to know about the city-state, the government, and the people was explained, but it was incorporated into the story in a way that did not make it boring to read. If there is one thing I don't like it is big parts of just text about worldbuilding.

Some twists and turns were a little too predictable to me. I had guessed some things that were going to happen, not into the full details, but the major plot lines I had figured out pretty quickly. This is why I decided on four stars for this book, instead of five.

Also, sometimes I just missed a little bit of the description of Scylla's thought process. It was there most of the time, but then sometimes she would do something, and it left me wondering why she would decide on doing that.

I wanted to finish with one thing that I absolutely loved. After I finished the book, I realized that there was no focus on romance. It doesn't mean it was not there, but it was not the main focus. I love reading a YA book that is not focused on romance, but instead focuses on the adventure or quests the characters are on.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Heir of Blood and Secrets is a young adult dystopian novel following Scylla Delevan, daughter of a Magistrate, as her father is found to be the number one suspect of another Magistrate’s murder. In this story, we see Scylla as she embarks on an investigation to exonerate her father and uncover who truly committed this crime.

3.25 stars!

Despite not picking up a dystopian novel in several years, I was glad to have given this a read!

There were several factors in this read that I found incredibly refreshing and actually straightened out some things I tend to dislike in other books of a similar nature.

Firstly, we have our protagonist, Scylla. The daughter of a Magistrate, she was brought up in the comforts of finer society known as the Castle, in contrast to the slums beyond known as the Tiers. However, despite this leg up in the world due to her father’s status, she has her mother’s features, a woman foreign to Devovea who died while she was young, and has faced discrimination because of it.

Something the author made a point to emphasize with her strong female lead is that femininity does not equal inferiority or weakness. This feels like a given, especially since the remarkable rise of “strong female” characters (the pinnacle of which being the likes of Katniss Everdeen of The Hunger Games, Tris Prior of Divergent, and all the others along a similar vein), but this story illustrates the distinction between better examples of this and the often bastardized “strong female” lead. Often seen within the dystopian genre in the young adult market is a teenage girl with traditionally “masculine” tendencies being referred to as a strong female lead, when what it fails to get across is that a) “strong” relates to solid characterization, not solely physical attributes, and b) the “masculine” girls aren’t innately superior to “feminine” girls. This, of course, is a commonly discussed topic and laced with nuances of misogyny, girl hate, and far too much to be unpacked here. My point in bringing it up is to say that this novel takes care to distinguish that and it is so very much appreciated.

"As usual, I’ve eschewed the fancy gowns other girls my age prefer. It’s hard enough to be taken seriously when you haven’t reached the age of majority without also introducing something as frivolous as a dress into the mix."

Above is a section in the first chapter that had me worrying that it was going to play into the “Not Like Other Girls” trope, but I think it’s more representative of the misogynistic society and the views the people of it hold whether subconsciously or otherwise.

“If you’re smart,” I add, “you’ll get rid of the flowers. You’ll never earn the respect of your fellow guards if you don’t.”

Celez smiles a little wryly. “Or I could earn it by destroying them in physical combat. Enjoying pretty things doesn’t make me any less strong.”

The way I read that is more carrying the truths of a discriminatory society rather than a personal conviction. And even if it falls into the latter, the story holds a bit more to combat it.

Something I appreciate about the dystopian genre overall is its tendency to explore classism. This novel touches on that a bit as well, though I wish I could’ve seen even more.

These neighborhoods were meant to be temporary, just a cheap place for those down on their luck to stay, but over time they’ve only grown as housing prices near the Castle rose to astronomic sums, and families without generational wealth were slowly pushed out to make room for the moneyed.

Tying into the topic of classism, I’d like to mention the world-building. The world was fascinating with its distinction between the Castle and the Tiers and, similar to the classism, I would’ve loved to see it even further developed. There are some compelling and unique features to it, gondola transportation systems, illegal work factories, and so forth. This story is the first of a series, I believe, so I hope to see further exploration of Devovea.

There’s a small romance in this book, but it doesn’t come anywhere near detracting from or overbearing the story. At first, I felt it lacked a bit of context or preceding foundation, but it’s sweet, minimal, and free of any trivializing of plot or character.

I think the freshest breath of air that I found within this book would be the relationship between Scylla and her best friend Ilya. Throughout the course of the story, friendships, alliances, and trusts waver, but the part of their dynamic that I appreciated most was the friendship between a guy and a girl that is completely void of anything romantic. The tendency to push together such characters is so often forced, unnecessary, and dismissive of platonic relationships’ potential to be deep and true without other strings attached. I think I gain a few extra years of life everytime I stumble across that. I’ve found it very few and far between, so when I come into contact with it, I behold it and appreciate it entirely.

The only thing about this story that I was a bit disappointed by was how easily everything came to our protagonist. While the stakes are high with her father’s life on the line, it’s hard to feel any tension because every discovery made comes with hardly any effort put in, and some plot points are fairly predictable. So, I found the tension a little lacking which is unfortunate for a murder mystery novel, but it wasn’t enough to tarnish the material or the experience for me.

I’d recommend this book to readers of young adult dystopian stories in general, especially those looking for female leads working proactively against internalized misogyny. There were parts that reminded me of my younger years devouring Marie Lu’s Legend series, specifically with the contrast of higher and lower society, and the general dystopian feel.

[Samuel Alexander · Rating 3 out of 5]

For the full review and the video go here Reading Is My Drug

This was an okay read. A bit of murder with a slice of mystery and a dash of stubborn kid. Even though it had all the ingredients for YA awesome it didn’t quite reach its full potential.

Firstly, I like the world. It’s easy to understand and get into without all of the overdramatised and forced situations these modern YA novels have. Especially the Dystopian ones. For the most part, the characters were clearly defined. The way the hierarchy of the book worked also wasn’t hard to understand. Overall, as I said, this book definitely had good bones. There is no disputing that. I loved a lot of things about it. The way it played out just didn’t fit.

Unfortunately for me, I didn’t like the main character. She never seems to hit a learning curve. Scylla looks like an outsider because her mother was not from Devovea so that was an interesting dynamic. But she was born into the higher court and it doesn’t seem to be hindering her much. The one annoying thing about a city with fairly advanced modern tech is the idea that women can’t be soldiers. It seems so foreign because usually future or differently advanced worlds don’t subscribe to such things. The Crown is a woman and essentially she is in charge of everything, so the men being all weird about the women soldiers in the soldier camp was odd. It didn’t fit the story when not only was the main character a female who trained with them, but the Crown, and the head of the rebellion are also female. So the way this connects to both our lead and the story as a whole seemed pretty far off.

So my first gripe with her is her unwillingness to believe her dad is a murderer. She’s so quick to suspect her best friend’s dad, thus ruining their friendship. Rightfully so as I was def team best friend in this scenario. And even when he points out that she refuses to suspect her own father but his father was easily suspected it didn’t affect the way she progressed to the story. It didn’t end there. Even after receiving pretty damning evidence about her father, she’s still team dad. She is so inconsistent about this. Always saying anyone could be guilty but in the same breath uttering what type of daughter would she be if she abandoned her father and putting him right back on the innocent table. Her dad was anything but innocent even if he didn’t commit the crime and her unwillingness to accept this while simultaneously expecting her best friend to get on board with her throwing his father to the authorities was selfish at best.

Also, she is forever going on and on about how the government is supposed to do the right thing. Sigh. No matter how much evidence her quest for justice proves this wrong every time she encounters corruption she is shocked and bemused by it and preaching a moral code. She literally lives under the roof of someone who is part of the system. A system she is rebelling against and wants no parts of, how can she be against how the government treats the people yet so shocked by the corruption within it. That is so contradictory. It’s hard to believe she doesn’t understand how the system works. She mentions it being faulty but on the same token also complains about doing illegal things. You can’t have it both ways you are either trying to bring down the corruption or you are complacent and part of it. It was by far the most annoying thing about her. Saying she wants to do right by the people and then being indecisive and siding with the system she knows is corrupt because when it conveniences her she suddenly has faith in the justice system.

And the last thing she did, when asked to be a spy for the rebellion was say that’s illegal. This bit happens after the killer is named and apprehended so it’s not a real plot spoiler. But after all she finds out, about the Crown, about her father, about the actual murderer, about what happens in the lower levels of the city and actually being part of the rebels for a brief moment, her response is “no that’s illegal”. This is what I mean about her contradictory morals. After already crossing the line numerous times, and each time having this same battle, where are now at the end of the book and she’s still saying no. She should be all noed out by now. How is she not immediately saying yes? Especially when the Crown offered a job as her protege which she did not want to accept because she doesn’t want to be part of a corrupt position. But, through fate, she is now in the job she doesn’t want and given a chance to fix the system and with an entire book of evidence that proves she needs to do this, and even with her saying she wants to fix things, she’s still saying no and has to be convinced to start the change she has already admitted is needed.

This one act sums up my opinion of her. It’s like no amount of evidence could change how she refused to see her father as guilty. Her lack of faith in the system, and the evidence to support this, didn’t stop her on multiple occasions from saying some moralistic stuff about how it should work like she actually had faith in the system. And then, the final act of her contradictory actions is played out once more at the extreme end of the book.

Within its genre and target audience, this book should be a hit. It just wasn’t enough of a hit for me to cross over into, ‘I didn’t like it but it’s so perfect for its genre it gets four or five stars anyway’ territory. So again read this story, chances are high even if you don’t love it you won’t be mad you added it to your books completed file.

[Ralph Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

A big thanks to Linda Xia who provided me with a copy of her novel in exchange for a review.

Young Adult novels are generally not my first choice when looking for something to read. It's not that they are usually written in a way that is easier to read, or that they have main characters that are teens faced with the crisis of growing older while trying to solve a problem. I would have to say it is just mainly because I cannot relate to their plight(s) though I have lived through those formulative years (quite some time ago). That being stated, let's get on to the past few days as I pondered what to put here.

'Heir of Blood and Secrets' actually caught my attention early on in the story. There is murder, a suspected somewhat high-ranking official, whose daughter completely believes is innocent, therefore sets off to prove that innocence. As most YA stories go, the main character has some "new" relaities to face, and make decisions from, as she learns that the world of adults is more complex and complicated than she ever imagined - and more sinister. Scylla also learns that it is harder to commit to doing what you believe is right, and the thought of "what is right for all".

The story is set in what I thought as of a somewhat futuristic time similar to that here on Earth. It is in a very large city environment, that seems to have some technology ahead of ours, yet somethings seem a bit behind our times. There is a definite line between financial classes that is even evident in what level one lives on in the city, with the upper/ruling class at the top and going down. Scylla, our main character, is in the upper teir, and though has traveled to the middle sections, has not really experienced Life in the lower levels. She has made a friend there though, who helps reveal things as they truly are.

So the story in general is somewhat interesting. Our main character is definitely improving as the story progresses, with having to realize truths/lies that were taken for granted in her growing years. She learns about making alliances, and somewhat of the costs that go with dealing with certain things. We learn about the 'government' and sort of how it is set up, I think similar to Britain's monarchy, with a Queen, and a Consul that votes policy and actions. There is not mcuh political in the story except that which our characters have to deal with (the father being a senator-type and the MC a heriditary of that position).

World building seemed pretty easy. City setting with levels that get poorer as they descend. I do not recall much outside this setting except that there appear to be other cities (similar to this one?) that wage war on other cities. There is one part of the story that mentions the need for more military to prevent this attack from another city. Then countered with more military to control the poor masses. Sounds sort of similar to the US? Sometimes a little too much.

Overall, I think this novel was written to lead into at least another book or two. I think the story could flesh out pretty well into a trilogy. My interest was kept in the story, though there were times I would do an eyeroll for the decisions made (by a younger aged character). I would love to learn more about outside the actual city - is it a barren wasteland between cities? Is there a natural resource issue? Are the cities more like city-states-countries? Do they war for resources of different political styles? Or did I miss that in my reading (rather forgot after reading it)? Characters were pretty much what I was expecting, afterall, they are teenagers in general. I thought it better for the story having our MC and her friend having to attend a "public" school versus the "private" one the upper echelons would send their kids to. I defintely would recommend this book.

#HeirofBloodandSecrets

[Escape Into Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a massive fan of YA. I am also a huge fan of dystopia. So when the author approached me to read/review Heir of Blood and Secrets, I jumped on it. Why wouldn’t I? They are two of my favorite genres. But, as I started to read this book, I was also surprised to find out that the author added a mystery. All three combined made for an exciting book that kept my attention.

Heir of Blood and Secrets had an intriguing plotline. Scylla (pronounced sky-la) is the only daughter of a Magistrate in the city of Devovea. As the sole heir to the Magistrate, Scylla is expected to attend events where her father mingles with other Magistrates and the wealthy. At one of these events, another Magistrate is murdered, and Scylla’s father is arrested for doing it. Confident of his innocence, Scylla has a limited time to prove his innocence. But, as she follows leads, Scylla finds a lot more than her father’s innocence at stake. Can Scylla prove his innocence and keep the secrets she has learned from getting out? Or will she be destined to lose her father and destroy her home?

Heir of Blood and Secrets was a fast-paced book. Considering that it takes place over three-four days, I wasn’t surprised by the pacing. There was a slight lag in the middle of the book (when Scylla was shadowing the detective), but it didn’t affect how I felt about the book. It was just right.

Scylla has to be one of my favorite female main characters to date. She was spunky, and she was tenacious. She was determined to find evidence to clear her father’s name. Her loyalty was also a central focus of the book. Even when faced with truths that she didn’t want to believe, she was steadfast.

I would love to see a book with Ilya or Galen in the future!! The secondary characters were well written and added additional depth to the plotlines. I usually do not get attached to secondary characters, but I did with these.

The mystery angle of Heir of Blood and Secrets was well written and kept me engaged. I did figure out who the killer was about halfway through the book. But, and I stress but, the author made me rethink who it was. So, by the time the murderer was revealed, I was surprised (but also doing an internal fist pump because I was right).

The dystopian angle of the book had me wanting to visit there. Devovea is a city-state ruled by an enigmatic ruler called The Crown. I was fascinated by the class system outlined in the book and how everything trickled down. Up at the top was The Crown, then the Magistrates, then the guards, and everyone else. The Magistrates and The Crown lived in The Castle. Everyone else lived in an area called The Tiers. As explained in the book, the higher the address, the poorer the neighborhood.

The author weaved a little romance into Heir of Blood and Secrets, but the author kept it on the backburner. Honestly, I didn’t see it coming and was surprised at who it was.

The end of the book was a blur, but it was so good. There was so much happening that I almost couldn’t keep track of it. The author wrapped some things up but left other things up in the air. Doing that, she left an opening for book 2, which I can’t wait to read!!!

I would recommend Heir of Blood and Secrets to anyone over 16. It is a clean book (no sex or kissing or language). There is some violence, but none of it is graphic.

[Rachel Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.*
I'll admit from the start that I was hesitant about reading/reviewing this book. First, I was contacted by the author about reading/reviewing the book, which always makes it a bit more personal than if I were to get the book from the library, or even an ARC from the publisher. On top of that, it is a YA novel, which is not really what I normally read. What if I hated it? I would feel really guilty since I had already spoken with the author, even if I did explain the above.
Thankfully, I ended up really liking the book. What ended up selling me on the book was that it's a fantasy novel, which I do like to read, and the author's website which provided a world map and character designs. I really liked having the visual, especially when entering a new world with a different culture and history. It showed me a dedication to world-building that I really liked.
Heir of Blood and Secrets follows Scylla Delevan as she tries to unravel the mystery of a political assassination that has been blamed on her father. She must follow the clues wherever they lead, even as she learns that everyone is hiding secrets with morally-questionable motivations. Though Scylla is just 16 years-old, she is already smart, opiniated and being groomed to take over her father's Council seat. Her occasional jaunts outside the 'safety' of The Castle are just the start of the danger Scylla finds herself in, with no idea who she should trust and who she can depend on.
I liked Scylla a lot, though some of the side characters could be fleshed out more. I was a lot more cynical about Scylla's father than she was for most of the book, but also quite a bit disappointed in Ilya, as her best friend who is definitely more apathetic to injustice than Scylla. Gallen, her outer-ring acquaintance/friend, was a pleasant surprise. Overall, a lot of my opinions on the characters will be influenced by my own personal likes and biases and is not the reflection of poor writing.
I really liked the world building. You could tell that the author thought a lot about what this world looks like and how it operates. Information about the kingdom and its inhabitants are sprinkled through out but it never felt like a clunky info-dump. I was engaged with the story the entire time I was reading it. I kept going, 'One more chapter and then I'll go to bed', and ended up reading two more, which is always a mark of a story that is holding my attention.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book and was sad to see it end, as I thought there was more story to be told. I'm glad there will be more books coming.

[József-Sándor Török · Rating 4 out of 5]

Linda Xia’s Heir of Blood and Secrets is a young adult mystery novel set in a rather dystopian world, one in which, as she clearly establishes from the first pages, the discrepancies between social classes and race are predominant. The book revolves around the story of Scylla, an heir having to prove herself when those she loves find themselves in precarious and unjust situations. Behind the walls of the Castle, in Devovea, she must learn where her loyalties lie and to whom she will swear allegiance, but life outside the Castle will wake her up to reality. Before moving on, I must mention that I was contacted and sent a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review, for which I must thank Linda Xia.

Approaching an abundance of themes, the novel places its characters in a dystopian world where race and gender, together with social status, divide people and are causes for protests and rebellion – which, to a certain extent, doesn’t stray too far from our reality. The world created is perhaps what determined the book to be a four star read and not a three star read as Xia succeeds at building it in such a manner that it nearly melts together with the reader’s world. Thus, Devovea is, on a micro level, the world we live in. Particularly outstanding in the context of the setting is the writing style through which she carefully details everything so the reader can have the full image. At the same time, it’s quite fast paced, not for the simplicity of language, but because her writing is, while pretentious most of the time, easy to follow. While reading it, I found myself going through the pages at high speed as everything was nearly perfectly linked together. Accordingly, this is reflected in the characters too as they are very well rounded and credible. However, I cannot help pointing out that every character was lacking depth, which I find to be a crucial aspect of the books I read. Regardless, Xia still managed to build suspense throughout the novel through the writing style.

Heir of Blood and Secrets is centred around one’s personal beliefs as Scylla has to decide whether she will become one with the herd or will fight for the greater cause – or, perhaps, both. Although it has an intriguing plotline and it is a fast-paced book, occasionally I couldn’t help but notice that it was lagging and felt somewhat rushed towards the end, something I often notice with mystery novels. Regardless, to those who love YA mystery novels and dystopia this is a really well-written book, especially if you’ve been struggling with a reading slump just as I was.

[A book by the Fire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to the author for offering me this book in exchange for an honest review!

3.5 stars

I am writing this as I just finished this book so that I have all my ideas fresh in my mind, for once. I am not the biggest fan of dystopias, which usually end up in DNFs with me. But since this book is very short (200 pages) and mainly focused on the murder plot, I can say that I enjoyed it quite a lot!

The worldbuilding is well written for such a short book and I could clearly picture the different places. The author is using all the classic tropes of the genre (an upper class justifying itself by saying the new system is better than the old one and that they are maintaining justice, a rebellion boiling in the poorest parts…) and so the main element of wonder and surprise is the murder mystery.

I enjoyed this one since it was mixed with the politics of the world and the rebellion, which complexified it a bit and allowed to set the scene for the next book. I liked who the culprit was and most of all the motives behind the crime.

Concerning the characters, I think they are the book’s weakest point. They appeared to be a bit flat, and I found Illias especially incoherent. Despite his feelings and opinions (he is convinced that the Castle is right in everything and that the system is flawless), I feel he should have been a bit more supportive of our heroine in her investigation, especially when you know that they are best friends since childhood and that she helped him on multiple occasions. For the heroine, I liked following her even though she is a bit selfish while taking decisions without weighing their consequences.

In brief: A good murder mystery with a dystopian setting, that I would really recommend for a young audience.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dystopia is a genre I enjoy, so I jumped on the opportunity to read and review this book when the author reached out to me. I also was intrigued by the title, as it kind of felt like a dystopian fantasy with that title. But this really was more of a mystery/ young sleuth story. 

I liked how the story was told in the present tense, making the events feel faster. The flashbacks were told in the past tense. This was a mostly clean YA with a hint of a possible romance but mostly violence.

Let's dive into the characters. I really liked Skylla - she's a Magistrate heir who doesn't blindly follow the government. She makes her own decisions and finds ways to push back if something feels wrong to her. Over the story, she really blossoms into a strong force and understands what the rebels stand for. Her best friend Ilya, he's just a normal guy who doesn't want to break the rules or be betrayed, which is understandable. Then there's Galen, who is a bit of a love interest and definitely a supporting character that helps Skylla see her full potential. He apparently has a secret that isn't revealed until the end of the story but Skylla figures it out and honestly, as a reader yea I did too.

I enjoyed the mystery of the book, Skylla does some brave digging to try to protect her dad and discovered so much corruption and horrible truths about her government, the Crown, and other Magistrates. I really enjoyed the outcome of the heist they pulled off but was saddened by the implication to the family of the person they found was the actual murderer. 

Overall a great fast-paced read that I enjoyed at the park while my son was playing.

[Cassie The Ghost · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for allowing me to read this ARC with honesty.

A story of murder, political intrigue and conspiracies. This was an interesting premise. The world is not based in our world but very close to it in terms of the way everyone has a version of prejudice, whether that be the color of skin, the set of class you were born into or even simply the tax bracket you are catalogued.

Scylla is a young, bright individual, who wishes to be more than simply the Magistrate's daughter and the heir to his position. In a time where you were no longer elected into your position, she has now been given a legacy to carry on her father's position. Is it what she truly wants? She's not quite sure. But her father has explained, that's what her life should focus on. Furthering her career and keeping honor to their family name.

There were times where Scylla had almost a gullible naivety to her that questions her ability to handle the future situations that later on arise in the story. Granted, it is a YA book and it definitely felt like one. That being said, it didn't take away from the story though there were times that I felt the characters were running around, making things a hell of a lot more complicated then they needed to be. Scylla seemed to make situations worse by sheer impulse and it happened enough to grow weary of her development over time. I won't mention certain moments because they are in fact spoilers but you can kind of see a pattern happening. Again, this story is definitely interesting and would be willing to read the next installment as the characters do grow on you.

My Rating: 3.5 (rounded up to 4)

[Pao Vilchis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All of the opinions are my own and this did not affect my review in any way.

I was approached by Linda Xia a while back to read and review Heir of Blood and Secrets. Unfortunately, medical school had taken over my life at the time, and I had to postpone the read. Now that I finally have a bit more time, I knew I needed to dive into it—not only because I promised the author, but because the plot had genuinely intrigued me. After finishing the book, all I can say is that I’m mad I didn’t read it sooner. Heir of Blood and Secrets quickly became one of my favorite reads of the year.

Set in the city-state of Devovea, behind the walls of the Castle, the story follows Scylla Delevan, who has been waiting for an opportunity to prove herself. When a Magistrate is murdered and her father is accused of the crime, Scylla eagerly takes it upon herself to uncover the truth and clear her father’s name. But as she delves deeper into her investigation, she discovers dangerous secrets that threaten the fragile balance of her society. With the stakes higher than ever, Scylla must confront everything she thought she knew and decide between fulfilling expectations or doing what is right.

The world-building in this book is excellent. Devovea is a vivid, intricately designed city-state with layers of political intrigue and societal tension that pulled me in from the start. I loved exploring its secrets through Scylla’s eyes and was constantly intrigued by the interplay of power and deception that drives the plot forward. The society felt unique and well-developed, providing a rich backdrop for the unfolding mystery.

The plot itself is gripping, full of twists and turns that kept me guessing until the very end. Every time I thought I had it figured out, the story threw another curveball. But what truly made this book stand out for me was its heroine, Scylla Delevan. She is refreshingly different from many protagonists in similar genres. Scylla isn’t afraid to ask for help, which I found incredibly relatable and realistic. So often, characters are written as “the chosen one” who refuses assistance, leading to reckless decisions that could easily be avoided. Scylla’s willingness to work with others, acknowledge her limitations, and think strategically made her a standout protagonist. Honestly, gold.

Linda Xia’s writing is smooth and engaging, balancing character development, plot progression, and world-building with precision. It’s clear that she has a lot of potential as a writer, and I’m thrilled to have discovered her work. The only downside? I need the second book now.

In conclusion, Heir of Blood and Secrets is an impressive debut filled with intrigue, complex characters, and a richly detailed world. If you enjoy stories of political drama, murder mysteries, and heroines who defy clichés, this book is a must-read. I can’t wait to see what Linda Xia does next!

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you think a murder investigation is a great way to liven up a dystopian story then Heir of Blood and Secrets is for you! I enjoyed this fast paced mystery set in a place that is like the world in which we live in so many ways.

Scylla is an endearing character, she starts out a little naive but well meaning. As the story progresses she adapts and grows and I like how strong willed she was. She could easily have been willfully blind and uncaring as the only child of a Magistrate. She will have to step into his position when the time comes and she does feel loyalty to their government. But that still doesn't stop her from finding answers and doing what is right.

The other character I liked was Galen. He's a helpful friend Scylla made in the Tiers where he lives. Scylla lives in the Castle, the area all the people in power get to reside. Everyone else has to live in the Tiers and you're better off living as close to the Castle as you can get. They don't get a say on who's in power and the people in charge aren't really looking out for their best interests.

The parallels to our world kept things interesting for me. The quick pacing and the mystery overall also held my interest. There were some nice messages in there too. You can make a difference. You don't have to be what is expected of you. Don't give up and don't give in. Least that's what I got out of it.

I would like to thank Linda Xia for the opportunity to read her book and for writing it.

[Jennifer Tooker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full disclosure, I was provided a copy of this book by the author or their authorized representative, however, I have voluntarily chosen to write a review. All opinions are my own.

A YA Dystopian Gem!

Scylla Delevan lives in the Castle. As the daughter of Magistrate Delevan, she has been afforded many luxuries those in the surrounding rings of Devovian society have not. But having gone to school in the Tiers, where the population is poorer and not as privileged she understands compassion in a way that most of the Castle dwellers do not. When she and her best friend, Ilya attend a political function, Scyllas’s world goes sideways as her father is accused and detained for the murder of a fellow lawmaker. Adamant that there is no way that her father would have murdered a fellow magistrate and with the “evidence” against him circumstantial at best, she and Ilya set out to recreate a timeline of events to not only clear her father’s name but to also discover the true culprit. As the clandestine investigation progresses, they begin to uncover a web of lies, secrets, and tragedy, and when the culprit is finally exposed, Scylla wonders if the truth was better left buried. With the fate of more than one Magistrate of Delevan on the line, the truth will set some free but could condemn many more.

Heir of Blood and Secrets by author Linda Xia is on the surface a YA dystopian fantasy reminiscent of The Hunger Games, but if the reader looks deeper is also a commentary on the corruptness of politics and High Society. With the elite sequestered in their ultra-modern dwellings in the Castle, spanning out in waves and districts of housing areas, specific working, and commercial districts, and finally, the “Tiers” where the most destitute and dangerous of society live the caste system in place is obvious. Being a big K Drama fan, the fact that the elite resides in an area called “the Castle” was something that particularly struck me as interesting, but also helped to visualize the overly obscene opulence that those people must have been accustomed to and it also made me wonder if Ms. Xia was not also a drama fan herself. The overall world-building in this book was spectacular, from the biggest detail to the smallest, there was not a moment that I did not feel fully involved in all the characters and their stories. And I feel that this is only the beginning. With as good as Heir of Blood and Secrets is, something tells me that we have only begun to scratch the surface of Xia’s Devovea and there are many more stories to be told and adventures to be had, not only in the Castle but also in the surrounding Tiers and beyond.

I would also be remiss if I didn’t mention that the thing that really impressed me was that in the acknowledgments section of the book Xia reveals that she began writing this book at the age of fourteen even if it did take several years to finalize and publish. For such a polished, engrossing, and entertaining title I for one am glad to see her dream realized and I hope it doesn’t take her another seven years to release the second book in what appears to be a possible series. But even if it does, I will be ready for Devovea’s next tale when she is ready to release it to the world.

[tattooedbooknerdgirl35 (Amanda Lynn) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Received this copy for free from the author and I leave this review voluntary.

I have to say for a YA Mystery it wasn't a bad book. I had trouble following it a little bit but besides that it was a good mystery. I figured out the killer before the book ended though, which is good. I don't ever read YA or mysteries and for me reading something different, I enjoyed it.

blurb about the story:

It's about a girl Scylla who will someday take her dad's place as a magistrate he is the one of Technology. She isn't a typical one though she likes to train with the castle guards and she has friends in the Tiers where other people live like business people and the guards but theirs also ones who just are workers or criminals who can't afford to live where she does. At a meeting for the magistrate for a political event one of the magistrate Rheas was stabbed and everything goes nuts and her father is a suspect cause he was the only one on stage with him. Follow her on her journey she takes to figure out just what happens and who is the killer.

Theirs a lot of mystery and action and just different things I loved reading in this book. It does have a few spots where it was a little draggy but the information helped to figure out the story. So I give it a 3.5 stars as my final option of the story.

[Eesh]

DNF (20%)

This was kinda a case of 'it's not the book, it's me'. When I accepted the ARC, I somehow missed that it was YA? I don't read much YA these days because I'm kinda sick of a lot of the tropes. But I was still reading (very slowly). Then something happened to kill my (already low) desire to keep going.

Let me set the scene. Out protagonist Scylla (bad choice of name), is in the rough part of the city with a friend/aquaintance who's from there. Suddenly, they're attacked by thugs. The guy gets knocked on the head, but Scylla fights back. And in her head, as she's fighting these dangerous people, she's thinking how she can't believe she cares enough about his guy to risk her life for him instead of just fleeing. Anyway, the fight ends and she tries to lift the guy to get him to a healer. She can't, so she put her necklace in his hand to pay for the healer, and leaves him there!

An unconscious guy who's bleeding from a head wound and has a "sluggish" pulse, and you leave him lying there with a valuable necklace, in an area where he just got mugged over the meagre contents of his wallet. Either you don't actually give a shit if he dies (which makes you an awful person), or you're stupid enough to think he'll actually survive. I'm okay with neither of these options, so I decided not to continue reading. Sorry.

[Mysty Sinclair · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was requested by the author to read this book and I am so happy that she reached out because I have never read a book like this before. Never have a read a book where the main character didn't have any super powers or any special skills. Scylla, our main character, was as human as the reader reading the book. At no point while I was reading this book did I ever think that Scylla was unrelatable. She did the best she could with her circumstances and her abilities. While loving the characters of the book, I loved that Xia also touched on the topic of systemic social class imbalance. The rich get richer and the poor get poorer. I believe this book showed what could happen when things finally start to reach the breaking point. It's not as extreme as the Hunger Games but it feels like what could have been a prelude to stories like that. We only just start to scratch the surface of things that are wrong with the system in this book and I personally want to see more of it. If Linda Xia does make a second book, you can bet that I will be looking forward to it and marking on my calendar when it comes out (if it does come out). I even did a whole book blog about the book, so check that out if you want to read more of my thoughts on the book.

I received a copy of this book via the author and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Susan The Book Dragon Campton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This evening’s gem comes to us from a faraway land named Devovea. It is in the form of a shield. Holding the shield and turning it in my claws, I can feel a definitely humming that gives off a feeling of discontent and an air of despair…however this is a stronger feeling of strength, fidelity and courage…it must be the owner of this shield.
This is gem maker Linda Xia’s “Heir of Blood and Secrets”. It is the story of Scylla – the Heiress to her father’s Council Seat in the Castle, a place filled with members of the court to The Crown.
Ms.Xia spins a magnificent tale of intrigue, assassins and courage. Her Scylla is a girl on the verge of adulthood who must make tough choices based on hard truths that are verging on a rabbit hole that goes farther and deeper than Scylla could have imagined.
I really enjoyed this book. In a world where One grows weary of mages and magic, this book had something more. It has youth who use their heads, who have bravery in the face of painful truths and a hero who’s development begins here. We get to watch and experience it.
If you are a young person who enjoys reading about young people who are the heroes, who are smart, caring and fun, this book is for you. Linda Xia doesn’t dumb down, she respects her readers and it shows.
Heir of Blood and Secrets is one of a kind. Read it and see for yourself.

[Kristi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This dystopian YA murder mystery is told from the perspective of Scylla Delevan, a 16-year-old daughter of a magistrate in Devovea. Despite their difficult relationship, when Scylla’s father is accused of murder, she goes on a quest to prove his innocence. Her loyalties are challenged and she uncovers a number of secrets along the way.

This fast-moving story presents interesting views on fatherhood, and I was intrigued by the class system that was built into this book. The story also deals well with a somewhat naive teenage girl figuring out and standing up for what she believes and facing the repercussions of making rash decisions.

The parts that didn’t work as well for me were some of the characters - I felt there could have been more depth and dimension to some of the side characters. There were also a few points in the plot where I got slightly confused.

Overall, I appreciated the world Xia created. I look forward to reading what Xia writes next.

Thank you to the author for reaching out to me and providing a free e-review copy. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

For more of my reviews, visit my book review and photography blog, www.bookpicksandpics.com.

[Anu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heir of Blood and Secrets will challenge you to consider how far you are willing to go—and what you are willing to sacrifice—to forge a better world. All are capable of heroic things. It’s meant to show girls that they can do cool, heroic things; that they can choose themselves.

The writing style is well crafted to make people relate to the characters mentioned in the book. Strong character development with diverse personalities and perspectives.

It is a fast-paced and immersive plot. The author’s storytelling skills are stunning and make readers relish every suspenseful twist.

The author did a phenomenal job portraying the struggles of the protagonist Syclla - A daughter stepping up to save her father’s legacy. The lessons learned during her mysterious journey are reflective and inspiring.

Both the worlds - The Castle & The Tiers, Friendship, Suspects - their motives and secrets are wonderfully portrayed.

The climax is beyond amazing with shocking twists that surprise you. This book was fantastic!

[Marie’s Book Boutique · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Heir Of Blood And secrets we meet 16 year old Scylla Delevan who lives in Devovea in the safety of the Castle walls where all the Magistrate's and the Crown lives and they run the city state of Delevan. She is next in line to be a Magistrate as is her best friend Ilya. They make policy's for the grater good of the people. Beyond the Castle walls live the people living in the Tiers dealing with oppression, mass poverty and people just trying to get by.

At an event at the Castle where her father is going to do a speech, outlining an new policy, when there is a murder of a Magistrate and Scylla father is arrested and the prime suspect. Scylla is beside herself and takes it apron herself to prove her father's innocence, but in doing so she discovers all is not as it seems and everything she has been taught could be tipped on its head.

This is my first YA dystopian read and I have to say it took me a couple of pages to get into it but boy when I did all I wanted to do was read on and find out what Scylla uncovers. I warmed to Scylla because she had good moral standing for standing up for what she believed to be the right thing to do and for her inquisitive mind.

The setting is written really well giving off proper dystopian vibes that just made me so intrigued the whole way through. I adored the map of Devovea at the front of the book, I actually referred back to it while I was reading; which allowed me to paint the perfect visual in my mind as I read. When I got to the end of the book I was sad because I just wanted to read more, I feel like there's going to be another book and I defiantly want to read it if there is!!!!!

I enjoyed Heir Of Blood And Secrets by Linda Xia a great YA dystopian read which; I would recommend if you enjoy this genre.

[Julie (Bookshelf Adventures) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fast paced and easy read. Once picking it up, I was able to read and finish within a few hours. The reader is dropped directly into the story and a murder.

I found myself a bit annoyed at Scylla’s naivety throughout the book. This was understandable due to her upbringing and the bias nature of her schoolage, but it was still a bit hard to swallow at times. I did find her character to be well written and thought out given her age as a 16-year-old though.

I loved the knowledge of the Tiers that came up throughout the novel. The reader is slowly introduced to the class structure as it pertains to the plot. This was such an interesting way to introduce knowledge to the reader and I definitely want to know more about how it all came to be.

The murder and intrigue kept me in the edge of my seat throughout the novel. I can’t wait to see what happens next in the series.

[Casey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book in a series. It was an enjoyable read, I liked the writing style and the mystery. I have my suspicions for the murderer but I guess I will have to wait to find out! The castle setting and the tiers are believable since it does reflect modern day life of the elite and the not, and all the privileges and lack thereof that go along with it. I liked Scylla although, I imagine due to her age, she is somewhat naïve. Nonetheless she gets people on board with her murder investigation which reveals some secrets that people would rather keep in the dark. I am interested to read the next book to see how things end up.

I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review.

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