A review by alisarae
Blood of My Blood by Barry Lyga

This final book of the series is about tying up ends in Jaz's family secrets. The amount of terrible abuse that Jaz underwent in his childhood is treated lightly and I don't think the tone of the rest of the characters in the series is appropriate. Howie, Jaz's best friend, exists as comic relief (he's my favorite character actually), so every awful revelation about Jaz's past is bookended by corny jokes. I guess to not make this too much of a downer?? Idk, it repeatedly came off as inappropriate. The other thing is, Connie, Jaz's girlfriend, has this loyal faith that Jaz will make good decisions that made me want to shake her and say: BREAK UP NOW HE NEEDS TO GO THROUGH DECADES OF INTENSE THERAPY BEFORE HE WILL BE A SAFE BOYFRIEND. I don't think that Jaz would physically abuse Connie, but he is going to suffer a lot of emotional and psychological fallout that will create destructive relationship patterns. It's unfair to paint Connie as being mature enough to appropriately handle that at the ripe ol age of 17. And how many young women are already out there thinking they can be strong enough for their partner and willing to "see this through"?? Connie's character just reinforces this belief because the only fallout you as the reader sees is sexual dissonance (but Connie will wait until Jaz is ready.... however long that is), and hiding information (in order to protect each other... so that one is pretty normal for humans to do and not necessarily related to Jaz's past).

Overall, I think the series started off in a good direction (lighthearted serial killer fun, yay, lolz) but changed keys without changing the characters.