Blood Magic has cast its very own spell on me! Following Silla and Nick's foray into the dangerous world of blood magic, Tessa Gratton has weaved a dark and alluring tale that will be sure to enthrall you from start to finish! I really did love Tessa Gratton's writing style... and the dual perspectives between Nick and Silla along with old journal entries were just an added bonus that were brought to the table. Tessa Gratton's prose is almost poetic and lyrical at times with the way she integrates allusions into the story, and at others, she's very straight-forward and direct to the point she's making. The relationship between Nick and Silla seemed to evolve rather quickly, with their feelings for each other strengthening quite soon, but I was able to overcome this fact for the most part. Because we get inside the minds of both characters, it's easy to see how these two teens can feel a close connection right away with their complicated pasts and their shared interest in learning more about blood magic. My heart ached for the misfortune that had befallen on Silla... and Nick's past, while a little better, wasn't exactly sunshine and rainbows either. They were both in need of help and through supporting each other, they could heal some of the pain to become stronger individuals. As I was reading, there were times when I was staring so hard at the words before me that I thought I'd burn a hole right through the pages! Sure, I thought the pacing was rather slow sometimes, but there were also moments where I was completely gripped by the intensity of the events. This is a novel not for the faint of heart. Blood is spilled many times (from as simple as a drop!) due to the nature of this form of magic and with Tessa Gratton's descriptions, you'll easily be able to conjure images of the events to mind. Sometimes, it felt like I should be even shuddering but instead, I was left with this odd, deep fascination for the thrill and power of blood magic, and the sacrifices it entailed. And the lead up to the ending? It was heart-pounding and thrilling in a way that kept me constantly on my toes trying to guess the outcome! There were quite a few twists and turns that left me surprised and wide-eyed, that's for sure! Tessa Gratton's debut novel is suspenseful and addictive in so many ways! Without a doubt, I shall be eagerly looking forward to The Blood Keeper, a companion novel to Blood Magic, which will be released next year! With a very original storyline, Blood Magic will easily stand out amongst novels in the paranormal genre! You can read this review at: http://midnightbloomreads.blogspot.com/2011/05/blood-magic-by-tessa-gratton.html