ARC Review: Blood for Blood (Wolf by Wolf #2) by Ryan Graudin
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Series: Wolf by Wolf #2
Author: Ryan Graudin
Published October 6th 2016 by Orion Children's Books
Goodreads Synopsis
There would be blood. Blood for blood. Blood to pay. An entire world of it.
For the resistance in 1950s Germany, the war may be over, but the fight has just begun.
Death camp survivor Yael, who has the power to skinshift, is on the run: the world has just seen her shoot and kill Hitler. But the truth of what happened is far more complicated, and its consequences are deadly. Yael and her unlikely comrades dive into enemy territory to try to turn the tide against the New Order, and there is no alternative but to see their mission through to the end, whatever the cost.
But dark secrets reveal dark truths, and one question hangs over them all: how far can you go for the ones you love?
Goodreads
Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher. This in no way impacted on my view.
Going ahead with her plans to kill the Fuhrer, Yael thought she would never make it out alive. And when it's revealed that Hitler is still alive, and the person she shot on camera was a doppelganger, she's knows she needs every bit of luck she can manage to finally bring him down, and allow Operation Valkyrie the Second to succeed. And, being hampered by her unlikely comrades, Hitler Youth poster boy Luka Lowe, and Felix Wolfe, it seems that all their luck has run out. But when an old ally comes out of the woodwork, and old countries start to return, Yael may just manage to bring down the Nazi war machine, once and for all.
Now, I adored Wolf By Wolf, and was so glad I could immediately start the sequel, Blood For Blood, because that cliffhanger was shocking. And, I think I might have enjoyed this one even more than book 1. I've seen some reviews that say the pacing was off, or that the book was too long, and while I can see why others might think that, to me, I felt like it was perfect. Because we have the three main characters playing such an integral role in the conclusion, the flashbacks to the same days, from all three points of view, helped the audience to understand the actions of the characterises, and what made them tick, so much more. Yes, the book was long, but I don't know what could've been cut out, and not hamper the story. Everything was necessary, and because we had so much time to explore the nitty gritty aspects of Yael's life, both before, during, and after her time in Auschwitz, any question we may have had was answered perfectly.
The book is definitely about the threat of the Nazi's, and the aim of destroying the viscous and horrific regime of the Third Reich, and it was so visceral and real that you could almost imagine the what if scenario posed here. The rebellion and resistance played such a crucial role in this book, and I adored seeing that aspect playing out, from both Yael's perspective, and as an observing, seeing how the Muscovy territories were so important to success. And the betrayal and heartbreak that came out of the blue was just another thing altogether. I never expected there to be any sort of romance in the book, and thought I would hate the idea of someone from the Hitler Youth being with a survivor of Auschwitz, but we see the things that made Luka and Yael into who they were, and how they were - Luka especially - starting to see the truth in the world, and being horrified in what he'd been indoctrinated into. The conclusion of the story was exquisite, and soul crushing, all at the same time. Definitely a series that stays with you long after you've finished it!
Dates Read:
June 28-30, 2021
Rating
4 Stars
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