Audiobook Review: Because It Is My Blood by Gabrielle Zevin

Title: Because It Is My Blood (Birthright #2)
Author: Gabrielle Zevin
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (Macmillan)
Acquired Via: My Local Library
Release Date: September 18, 2012
“Every time I think I’m out, they pull me back in.”- Michael Corleone, The Godfather

Since her release from Liberty Children's Facility, Anya Balanchine is determined to follow the straight and narrow. Unfortunately, her criminal record is making it hard for her to do that. No high school wants her with a gun possession charge on her rap sheet. Plus, all the people in her life have moved on: Natty has skipped two grades at Holy Trinity, Scarlet and Gable seem closer than ever, and even Win is in a new relationship.But when old friends return demanding that certain debts be paid, Anya is thrown right back into the criminal world that she had been determined to escape. It’s a journey that will take her across the ocean and straight into the heart of the birthplace of chocolate where her resolve--and her heart--will be tested as never before.

My Review

Previously reviewed in series: All These Things I've Done

Because It Is My Blood is the second book in the Birthright series, aka the series that I never was interested in reading but became a little obsessed with. Okay, a lot obsessed with. Anya Balanchine has become one of my favorite literary characters for reasons that I can't exactly pinpoint - perhaps it is the way the novel is written. I guess this is an instance where the narrator of the story (not the audiobook), Anya, talking directly to us as her audience actually works. I imagine her as a old woman telling her grandchildren about the important events in her teenage years, which makes for a successful audiobook.

Because It Is My Blood picks up after the events of All These Things I've Done, after Anya spends the summer at Liberty as a part of a plea deal. The poor girl can't catch a break, getting swept along with tide of crime with her mafia family.

Okay, I'm having hell with this review, so I'm just going to give you the basics. I like both Theo and Yuji so very, very much, and I think it's mostly because I don't ship (have I ever used that term before?) Anya with Win. I like pretty much every other character (except Gable, but who likes him? Not even Scarlet...), but Win is just a giant snoozefest. Anya is so much more interesting when he's not around.

There were a few twists to Because It Is My Blood, but they didn't surprise me overmuch. I saw the villain coming a mile away. The twist at the end was overwhelming. But, damnit, I love Anya so much that I love the book! That's really all I can say because I have no idea why I like what I like in this book. It's abnormal for me, but I guess that says more about Gabrielle Zevin's writing ability than anything about me.

(Just nod and agree.)

- 5/5 Stars -

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