Blood Like Fate

June 15, 2022
A Black teenage witch deals with the fallout of past choices while trying to prevent future destruction. Voya is facing the aftermath of the tough choices she made in Blood Like Magic (2021) in order to pass her Calling and acquire magical powers. Having received two gifts, Voya is now the youngest Matriarch ever to be crowned in her family. She finds that she has much to do to earn the respect of those around her--and possibly even those who came before her, since her ancestors have not answered any of her calls for guidance. The recent death of her grandmother--her family's previous Matriarch--has caused new intrafamilial strain and enhanced existing stressors. Not only that, but Justin Tremblay, renowned tech magnate and sponsor father of Luc, Voya's first love, is presumed dead, and Luc thinks Voya is responsible. As if her plate weren't full enough, Voya experiences a vision that shows her the potential annihilation of her family and the wider Black witch community in Toronto. Now, to try and prevent the devastating future she foresaw, she has to work to overcome her insecurities as a Matriarch and convince the elders who also lack faith in her to unite. Thanks to Sambury's fluid writing style and well-established storyline and characters, readers will easily be able to follow Voya and other supporting characters as their lives and challenges become more complicated. A worthy follow-up to a stellar debut. (Fantasy. 14-18)

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February 1, 2023

Gr 9 Up-In this Afrofuturistic fantasy, Voya is facing the consequences of her choices in Blood Like Magic after passing her Calling and being the youngest Matriarch crowned by her family. When her grandmother dies, Voya joins the ancestors who have failed to answer any of her calls for help, adding to the tension as she tries to gain everyone's respect. When she has a terrifying vision of the future, Voya realizes that Luc, the boy she loves, may be the mastermind behind everything that's about to happen. This urban fantasy takes place in 2049 Toronto and is filled with a diverse cast of well-developed characters. Sambury leans on the character growth and worldbuilding from Blood Like Magic to create a well-structured mystery around her established cast. Voya and her family are Trinidadian Canadian whose heritage brings into relief themes of inclusion, independence, and generational trauma. VERDICT A solid end to this genre-blending duology and worth having on the shelf. Recommended for general purchase.

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