its_rosa_reading's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
foxglovewrites's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, and Child abuse
acatwithabook's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
5.0
The setting of Inisliath is pure fantasy, but you'll recognise the weaving of Celtic mythology through this beautiful YA fantasy about witches and deathwalkers.
Rowan must die over and over -- suffering through the death of every person on his island -- that is what it means to be the Rowan. His job is to guide the dead through their final moments as they cross the river. It is a duty and a curse, and on top of that, his family is hated by every other on the island.
Each family holds a unique power - be it shifting their skins, a kind of vampirism, witch craft -- and the community grows smaller and weaker as the young men and women leave the Island. There are centuries of distrust and hatred between the families, so when strange cult-like deaths start happening on the island, fingers are pointed.
Enter Ash and their mother. Ash's mother is returning to the island with Ash's grandfather, in part to escape the physical abuse that has left them with a damaged shoulder. The family is drawn into the murders. Ash's mom is a police officer, and Rowan becomes the primary suspect. After all, he knows far too much about each and every death -- details only a killer would know.
Or a deathwalker.
By the Blood of Rowans was a rich, dark, atmospheric read filled with magic, with a queer/nonbinary love story. It takes a hard look at what family means, and when you have to stop trusting in blood.
Rowan must die over and over -- suffering through the death of every person on his island -- that is what it means to be the Rowan. His job is to guide the dead through their final moments as they cross the river. It is a duty and a curse, and on top of that, his family is hated by every other on the island.
Each family holds a unique power - be it shifting their skins, a kind of vampirism, witch craft -- and the community grows smaller and weaker as the young men and women leave the Island. There are centuries of distrust and hatred between the families, so when strange cult-like deaths start happening on the island, fingers are pointed.
Enter Ash and their mother. Ash's mother is returning to the island with Ash's grandfather, in part to escape the physical abuse that has left them with a damaged shoulder. The family is drawn into the murders. Ash's mom is a police officer, and Rowan becomes the primary suspect. After all, he knows far too much about each and every death -- details only a killer would know.
Or a deathwalker.
By the Blood of Rowans was a rich, dark, atmospheric read filled with magic, with a queer/nonbinary love story. It takes a hard look at what family means, and when you have to stop trusting in blood.
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