Bloodkin

Gr 8 Up—Kadee Obsidian has seen and done more in her 16 years than many have in their lifetimes. As a young child, she was plagued by seizures that her human parents could not understand or control. Weak and very ill, Kadee is taken in and raised by the Shantel and the serpiente. While she is offered many opportunities, she always feels like an outsider, never accepted or fully trusted. In an effort to control her own destiny, Kadee joins the Obsidian guild, whose focus is to destroy the world of Midnight (a vampire society) and bring an end to vampire tyranny. But as plans are set in motion, difficult decisions must be reached and sacrifices need to be made. How far is Kadee willing to go as she struggles to keep her humanity, pride, and ideals intact? In this second installment in the trilogy, Atwater-Rhodes thickens the plot and carefully crafts a tale of suspense and intrigue. The colorful cast of characters adds depth to the fast-paced narrative about shape-shifters. Kadee is a likable and strong protagonist and her relationship with Vance Ehecatl—who was prominently featured in Bloodwitch (2014)—is complex. The cliff-hanger ending provides an ideal segue for the final chapter in this series.