So. This book was one that immediately caught my attention when I was in Waterstones some weeks ago. The cover is very pretty and immediately caught my eye and the blurb sounded intriguing. And I did read some of the start of the book, just to make sure it was one that I would enjoy reading. It took me a couple of weeks after finding this book to get my hands on it, but when I finally did, I was really happy to read it.
I found the main character, Teo, to be really engaging and relatable. It was really easy to care about him and I could immediately see the divide between the Jades and the Golds in the world of this book.
I really liked the obvious references and uses of Aztec mythology. It was really interesting to see those kinds of sacrifices carried through to the modern day, where the characters had cell phones and used Instagram and TikTok. While it clearly wasn’t a case of people getting their hearts ripped out every day, the Sunbearer Trials clearly linked in to that…and the legend about Sol at the beginning of the book, and the sacrifice they made to keep the Obsidians away from people, was such an integral part of the world, I felt like I was a part of it as well while I was reading it.
I was really happy to see that Teo’s wings finally caught up to what his true gender was…although I found myself getting really irritated on his behalf at reading how so many people around him just touched his wings without asking for permission. I mean, that should be a normal action! Ask for consent! (Of course, I say that, but as I type this, I’m reminded that some people seem to consider a pregnant woman’s body as something they have every right to touch, so….) Anyway, it was really sad to read that Teo had got so used to being touched without his consent, it didn’t even occur to him that Aurelio was holding back because he hadn’t received permission.
Speaking of Aurelio, I didn’t much like him (or his sister) at first during the book, but it was hard to hold onto that dislike the more I read of his and Teo’s interactions. By the end of the book, I was kind of wishing that they would end up together. I could feel the chemistry between them every time they interacted.
My other favourite character was, 100%, Niya. She was such a down to earth character who brought some needed levity to the book, even while she came across as more of a hero, a true hero, than many of the other so-called Golds. Plus, I loved the way Niya and Teo worked together to try and keep Xio alive, even though Niya could have easily pulled ahead of the two Jades. She didn’t even consider it, which made her rise a lot in my estimation.
The book didn’t end the way I thought it would, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. It did end on a cliffhanger, which I hadn’t actually realised was going to occur…and now I’m annoyed, because I have to wait for the next book in the series and who knows when that will come out?
Ahem. Anyway. I really enjoyed this book. Yes, it had Hunger Games vibes, but it definitely stood away from that series. I enjoyed it a lot and I want to read the next book in the series. A solid four out of five stars. If you’re on the fence about reading it, give it a try!
Ink of Blood 