Mini-Book Review: Bloodwitch by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes

Bloodwitch
The Maeve’ra #1
Author: Amelia Atwater-Rhodes
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Fantasy
Released: May 13th 2014
Review Source: Delacorte Press

A gripping tale about loyalty, power, and the quest for freedom Vance Ehecatl was raised with every luxury he could imagine in a beautiful greenhouse within the powerful empire of Midnight. Vampires are the only guardians Vance has ever known since he was abandoned by his shapeshifter family as a baby quetzal, and he is grateful to them for generously providing for all of his needs. When an act of violence forces Vance from his sheltered home, he is startled to meet Malachi Obsidian, a fellow shapeshifter with conflicting ideas about Midnight and its leader, Mistress Jeshickah.

Malachi claims Vance is a bloodwitch, who Jeshickah and her trainers, Jaguar and Taro, are trying to control. Vance doesn't know anything about the rare and destructive magic Malachi says he possesses, and he can't believe Jeshickah would use it to hurt others. But when his friends begin falling ill, Vance starts to realize his perfect world may not be as flawless as it seems. Now Vance must decide who to trust-the vampires he's always relied upon, or the shapeshifters who despise them.

I don’t know how to describe this book. It is definitely different from what I am used to reading but I am still confused of what I’ve read. Bloodwitch has interesting characters but unfortunately I had a hard time understanding them. Shapeshifters, vampires and other sorts of creatures are part of this world. A world where vampires rules. Yet their powers are still unknown to me. I still do not know how and why they rule.

As I read some of the fans reactions, it seems like Bloodwitch is connected with another of Rhodes series. This is probably the reason why I feel lost. It feels like I’ve been thrown to the Hunger Games but without anyone guiding me or telling me what I have to do or expect. I think if the world was better described in this new series, people that haven’t read her previous serious would have a better concept. The only reason why I kept reading was I found her writing rich and unique.