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sarrie's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
If I was a Tiktok reviewer the most applicable sound I can think of for this book is the one that goes ‘How do you go from this (Combat Codes), to THIS? (Grievar’s Blood)’. This was a huge step up for me from Mr. Darwin, and I loved this. Grievar’s Blood picks up shortly after Combat Codes, so go in prepared. We quickly find out Sol has left the academy to attempt to retrieve her father and Cego and the others are still there. Murray has gone Deep again, drinking himself into a stupor.
All of my complaints that really bothered me about Combat Codes were resolved out in this volume. Murray and his black and white thinking becomes so much more fleshed out in this book. He started to loosen by the end of book one and in this volume we really see that, and his plot was great. Sol also becomes a point of view character and I LOVED her. She takes no prisoners and goes for what she wants, but in a smart way. In fact Grievar’s Blood really stepped up the game, giving us quite a few more female characters than in book one (where it was almost entirely men everywhere).
Finally the pacing and the story in this was fast. I remember feeling bored by segments of The Combat Codes, it wasn’t terrible but it dragged. Grievar’s Blood dragged nothing but bloody remains behind it. This book is violent, fast, and heartbreaking. One of my favorite side characters dies, but one of my most hated characters also dies. You win some and loose some. My husband pointed out, it’s just like Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
That brings me to my final point. As a fan of the sport, with a husband with over a decade of experience, I absolutely loved all the Jiu-Jitsu in this. Movements and maneuvers were name dropped and brutality but thoughtfulness of the sport was on full display. Overall, for me this was worth the admission. Combat Codes lacked but this more than made up for it to me. I’ve already asked for the books for Christmas and I intend on a full reread before Blacklight Born.
4.5 Omoplatas
P.S. I loved this but Orbit, I still think the covers were better than before. I would kill to get my paws on those old covers.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Slavery, Xenophobia, Gore, and Violence
Minor: Abandonment, Death, and Death of parent
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