Moran, Katy.Bloodlines. Candlewick Press. Feb. 2009. ISBN: 978-0-7636-4083-5. Gr 8-11.
-- School Library Journal, 3/4/2009
This book was recommended to me by a friend, and the story seemed like it could really happen. I liked everyone’s motives. Essa seemed to travel everywhere and very fast for back then. The cover was good and very interesting, though I think Essa should have been holding the Silver Serpent sword.
Beware spoiler here: the ending was disappointing. Everyone died (everyone who was dead should stay dead, btw). Lark and Essa’s relationship should have gone further. There should have been more. We don't know who won the battle. Essa should have met up the remaining villagers who are captured by Penda. Penda orders Wulf to kill Essa and he refuses and is killed by Penda. Essa fights Penda and almost loses when Lark kills him. Penda men then either kill everyone or leave to defend the east. More people would be dead but it would have been a much more satisfying ending.
The map was useless. It showed almost none of the places they went to. It should of had the borders on it and all the towns visited. – Luke M., age 15
This review is from a member of the Teens Know "Best" YA Galley Group of the St. Paul Public Library and the Metropolitan State University Library and Learning Center (MN), a part of YALSA's Young Adult Galley/Teen Top Ten Project which uses 15 public libraries and school library media centers from across the country to provide feedback to publishers of young adult books.
