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This ebook was provided to me by NetGalley and Dragonwell Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
Nicholas Blackwell was only 7 years old when his life was destroyed as he watched his doting parents murdered in front of him on Christmas Eve. Whisked away by the Vatican and deposited in a reclusive boarding school called St. Christopher’s, he’s been a virtual prisoner for the last 9 years because the villains who killed his mother and father are also after him. Lured by a giant serpent into eating a certain forbidden fruit, Nicholas unwittingly unleashes the Seven Guardians of Sin. Aided only by a demon, and Amy, the new girl at school, Nicholas must traverse the treacherous City of Demons and defeat each Guardian. He will also learn of the secret everyone’s been keeping from him and face an enemy more powerful than he could ever imagine.
When I first started reading this book I was a little wary because it was immediately obvious that it had strong religious overtones. My limited past experience has made me feel that some books with religious themes can be a little preachy. In The Blackwell Family Secret however, this was one of the things I liked the most about it. The juxtaposition of traditional Catholic beliefs with the supernatural elements made for a very interesting story. Teenage Nicholas starts out extremely annoying. He’s arrogant and treats girls as playthings. He embraces his reputation of being a love ’em and leave ’em kind of guy. That is until he meets Amy who not only challenges him, but also is hiding a secret of her own. During his journey, Nicholas matures and overcomes his less likeable attributes. The descriptions of Demonia and it’s denizens are absolutely fascinating. It actually reminded me a little of Dante’s Inferno. Unfortunately there were some negatives. First and foremost was the incredible danger Nicholas was placed in by his seemingly loving parents when he was a mere infant. I don’t want to post any spoilers, but this made no sense to me. And since it is the premise for the rest of the story it cast a bit of a pall over the book. I also found the battles between Nicholas and each Guardian unbelievable and anticlimactic. And finally, the way the novel was written, I was left unsure of what audience I would recommend this to. It was written more at a young middle school level, yet because of some of the more mature themes, I’d be hesitant in suggesting this to anyone younger than high school age. Perhaps it would be a good fit for a YA reluctant reader. The Blackwell Family Secret is only the first book in a planned series, and I do think it shows signs of promise. Hopefully the next book will be able to address some of the weaknesses.
Claudette Melanson - Author of Dark Fantasy said:
Reblogged this on Claudette Melanson, Author of Dark Fantasy and commented:
Reblogging
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Thanks for another reblog Claudette!
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Lola @ Hit or Miss Books said:
Hmmm, this sounds meh, but I’m glad it wasn’t that bad…or preachy. 😛 The guy on the cover doesn’t look bad ;D
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
It wasn’t great, but it wasn’t as bad as I first thought it was going to be. I hate giving “meh” reviews though 😦
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Heena Rathore P. said:
I like the blurb, but the fact that you rated it 3 is more than enough for me to pass on this one! If the ‘writing style’ comes under one the negatives then it’s a no-no for me.
Thanks for this great review Kim! 🙂
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Rachana said:
From looking at the book, I kind-of assumed it was more a middle-grade book but from what you said, I suppose its a bit of a mix thanks to the “mature themes” you mentioned. Hopefully, this book will be a good fit for me because I’m planning on reading/reviewing it! 😛
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
I’m looking forward to seeing what you think of it 🙂
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Rachana said:
😀 Yes, I really hope I like it because I’m starting to think it might not be my type of book (I just requested it on a whim) 😛
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Molly Mortensen said:
I like the sounds of the supernatural stuff, but I’m also leery of religion in a book. I’m glad that Nicholas doesn’t stay an annoying protagonist. I’m sorry that the plot was unbelievable. That always jerks me out of a book when that happens. (If that makes sense)
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