The Secrets of Blood and Bone: A Novel (Secrets)

by Rebecca Alexander

In the stunning follow up to The Secrets of Life and Death, Rebecca Alexander has created a gripping supernatural thriller that bridges time, legend and the power of blood.
 
Following her showdown with Elizabeth Bathory, Jackdaw Hammond is running from her past, hiding from her future, and hoping to contain her newfound thirst for blood. Buying an overgrown home in the middle of nowhere seems like the perfect place to escape…at least until she finds herself in the sights of a murderous family with a terrible secret and a penchant for dark magic. Meanwhile, her old ally Felix Guichard has gone to New Orleans to conduct his own investigation into the nature of blood magic, but is soon sucked into the intrigues of the city’s occult underworld. But Jack will need Felix more than she knows, for the battle for her soul is set to begin.
 
Her only salvation may lie with the secrets of 16th century master occultist Edward Kelley, and a dangerous mission he undertook in Venice to confront the Inquisition, the darkest deeds of his own past, and the fearsome power of Elizabeth Bathory.

• ISBN10: 0804140707
• ISBN13: 9780804140706
• Publish Date: 1 September 2015 (first published 9 October 2014)
• Publish Status: Out of Stock
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Crown Publishing Group (NY)
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 384
• Language: English
• URL: https://penguinrandomhouse.com/books/isbn/9780804140706

Reviews

[Beth C.]

In the continuation of Jackdaw's story from 'The Secrets of Life and Death', we find Jack struggling to understand the changes that have come over her and fighting a desire for blood. Sadie is struggling just to survive, but has discovered herself to be able to "hear" plants and trees. Felix is trying to help Jack and Sadie both while fighting a losing battle for his heart. Then into all of this steps a family hellbent on finding the "cure" for a family disease before their son wastes away.

If it seems like there is a lot going on here - you'd be right. I read the first book and enjoyed it. It wasn't anything massively spectacular, but it was interesting and something different. However, this one seemed pulled in too many directions and simply struggled overall. And the ending, while I don't do spoilers, seemed simply designed to end the book and force the reader to come back for the next.

I still enjoyed the bits of history woven throughout, and the parts about Elizabeth Bathory (one of the most intriguing potential serial killers ever), but the rest was just OK. Frankly, I can honestly say that I will not go out of my way to get the next installment. If it happens to fall into my lap I will probably read it just to see if there is a resolution to Jack and Sadie's half-life, but I probably won't even remember to look for it.