Blood for Blood by Ryan Graudin

Blood for Blood by Ryan Graudin
Series: Wolf by Wolf
On Sale Date: November 1, 2016
Young Adult Fiction \ Action & Adventure
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 496 pages
Source: Bought
My Rating: 4.5 Stars

The action-packed, thrilling sequel to Ryan Graudin's Wolf by Wolf.

There would be blood.
Blood for blood.
Blood to pay.
An entire world of it.

For the resistance in 1950s Germany, the war may be over, but the fight has just begun.

Death camp survivor Yael, who has the power to skinshift, is on the run: the world has just seen her shoot and kill Hitler. But the truth of what happened is far more complicated, and its consequences are deadly. Yael and her unlikely comrades dive into enemy territory to try to turn the tide against the New Order, and there is no alternative but to see their mission through to the end, whatever the cost.

But dark secrets reveal dark truths, and one question hangs over them all: how far can you go for the ones you love?

This gripping, thought-provoking sequel to Wolf by Wolf will grab readers by the throat with its cinematic writing, fast-paced action, and relentless twists.

Vivid, action-packed and thought provoking, BLOOD FOR BLOOD concludes Ryan Graudin's Wolf by Wolf series with an unforgettable ending that left me breathless. Beautiful and haunting - I won't soon forget Yael's story.

Blood for Blood picks up right after the shocking ending of Wolf by Wolf that left readers reeling with its twisted ending. On the run from the enemy, Yael is on a mission, one that takes her straight into the heart of enemy territory, picking up a few unlikely comrades along the way. Her mission: to turn the tide against Hitler's army. 

Yael must come to terms with the fact that her past is far from being over and the greatest threat still remains hidden behind the strange experiments she suffered through. 

Ryan Graudin writes an adrenalin, nail-biting, action-packed read. Told predominately through Yael's voice, this time around, Blood for Blood also gives us Luka and Felix's perspectives too.

Interspaced through the story are Interludes: personal portraits of Felix and Adele Wolfe, Luka Löwe, and a younger Yael, which brings a new understanding and depth to each character that we did not have in Wolf by Wolf. 

This is a bittersweet read, meaning no one really leaves unscathed and you should be prepared for some heart-rending and gut-wrenching moments. But, it all really fits and feels right. 

Each character has tremendous growth and development by the end of the story. Yael, the most I would say. She learns to love (yes, there is a touch of romance and it is the kind that just makes you sigh), to be compassionate, and even open herself up to trust.  Seeing through the additional eyes of Luka and Felix just opens the gates to so many feels. 

Blood for Blood brings an alternate 1950's Germany and the SS to vivid life. Rich in detail, Graudin has created something unique and unforgettable. I would highly recommend this to readers even those who are not fans of historical settings as the alternate elements and gripping pace, along with Yael's voice, makes this such a superb story.