A review by rainbowbookworm
Better the Blood by Michael Bennett

fast-paced

4.0

Reading Better the Blood was an experience that hit differently for me. I had to read it for a class mostly filled with people who will never understand the frustration of being colonized, of living in a system designed to exhaust you at every turn. I was the only one in the room who could understand why someone might be driven to take extreme actions, especially when the system that should deliver justice continually fails.

Hana Westerman is a complex character, and her story embodies the ACAB sentiment for me. Her quickness to turn on her own people felt like a betrayal, not just to her kin but to herself—and eventually to her daughter. Even though she makes a significant decision at the end of the book, I couldn’t stop wondering what other betrayals she may have committed as a cop, especially since she recognized how those routine traffic stops her coworkers conducted were ruining lives.

The book is well-written and undeniably interesting, but there was one moment that had me rolling my eyes—completely unnecessary. To be honest, I’m still sorting through how I feel about the book, especially since my class discussions left me feeling stifled. But I’m giving it four stars, with the missing star being for that unnecessary scene. I’m looking forward to reading the sequel, Return to Blood, which is already out.
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