The Living Blood

First off, I have to say, I have not and probably will not read a book this year that is as gripping and thick and suspenseful and deep as Tananarive Due's sequel to "My Soul to Keep" -- THE LIVING BLOOD.For those who have read "My Soul to Keep" (and if you haven't, RUN to get it), THE LIVING BLOOD begins five years after the death of David/Dawit, Jessica's husband. Jessica has moved to Africa, along with her sister and three-year-old daughter. To aid in closing the lid of a painful past, Jessica focuses on running a clinic that miraculously assists in the curing of extremely ill children. But it's not that easy for Jessica to forget her past, for it lives within her, in her blood...and in her young daughter's, who has powers well beyond any living person ...mortal or immortal. Jessica's daughter is the first child to be born with the living blood, and this fact does not sit well with the immortals who dwell the Earth...immortals who have lived hundreds of years, and would want nothing more than to see the prodigal child terminated. Jessica's child can be the key to revealing the immortals to the real world...either sparking a union or battle that may destroy civilization.I don't think I could write a review that adequately displays my joy in reading this book. The 500 plus pages of the novel initially daunted me, but the ease in which Due writes makes for a voraciously fast-paced read. The characters jump off the page, and the descriptions of the settings are so vivid. Due writes this unique story so well, that you almost ask yourself if what she's writing about is real...that's some great fiction.I adored this novel and the breadth of which Due wrote it. It's a DEFINITE must have on every book shelf.Reviewed by Shonie

One word: Engaging. After the success of her second novel, My Soul To Keep, Tananarive Due fans have been waiting for the continued story of Jessica, her family and Dawit and the Immortals. However, The Living Blood has surpassed all high expectations. First of all, The Living Blood is a self-contained story and one needs not to have read My Soul To Keep to follow the fast paced action and addictive plot line. I read most of this book in one weekend and I feel that others will have the same experience. There is something to be said for good "page turners" and I believe it is an art within itself to keep readers so glued to the page that they miss appointments, bus stops and much needed sleep. The Living Blood takes us on a journey over a massive landscape, touching down on different countries within Africa, Europe and landing within the United States. Ms. Due's narrative descriptions are so powerful that I often felt if I were to look out my own window I would see the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela or the greying skies of a coming tropic storm. The Living Blood takes you to these places through the eyes of several memorable characters. Jessica and her sister's tenacity continue into this novel from the previous, however, we are also introduced to Lucas Shepherd and experience his one-man quest to find a cure for his son's leukemia. Each character is distinct in their system of beliefs and Ms. Due has done a wonderful job in showing what ethical and moral questions might arise if the world were to become aware of the existence of a blood so powerful that it can heal most diseases and even cause immortality. By far one of the most interesting characters is Fana, the first child born of two immortals. Tananarive Due takes us inside the mind of this unprecedented girl as she discovers the full range of her powers over time. Truthfully, I couldn't put this book down until I hit the last page, and even after that I read the book jacket, the notes, and scanned the back cover looking for more!Tananarive Due is a wonderful author. At every opportunity, I have recommended her books to friends and family. There is one thing that I enjoy in particular about her books, The Living Blood and My Soul To Keep, and that is how Ms. Due's landscape of characters demonstrate the different faces of Americans and the rest of the world. While most of the main characters are African-American there are also prominent Caucasian and African characters, Latino characters, and Italian and Irish characters. All of these people are in roles of doctors, families, soldiers, scholars, lawyers and corporate heads. What is exciting is that while all of these characters interact with one another, the focus of the novel is not the _fact_ that they are interacting. I am so happy to see an author writing books that demonstrate the richness of the world we live in. We are all influenced by one another and Ms. Due's books let that be known through the character's likes/dislikes and ex

I couldn't wait to get my hands on this book. My Soul to Keep was just wonderful and I anticipated the release of the sequel. Ms. Due has a very vivid imagination and it comes across in her writing. Her character development is creative and well done. I liked most of the new characters (hated the Bee Lady, and wanted to skip over that part) I read the book in 1 1/2 days. I loved the scenic descriptions of the country of Africa and later Europe. I could see a sequel of this with concentration on the original leader who started the cult and how he did what he did. Or an adult Fana. Keep up the great work, MsDue. If you read MSTK then you'll enjoy this book.

Simply wonderful. You know a book is good when it calls out to you and won't allow you to sleep at night.

I could not wait to get my hands on a copy of the sequel to My Soul to Keep...The Living Blood. When I finally got it, I waited a couple of hours to read it (took me about a day and a half). Anyway, I really enjoyed reading the Living Blood, though I wish the author had spent more time on Jessica and Dawit/David than the other characters. I'm not sure I liked the way the book ended, but I hope there will be another sequel...with Fana as a young woman. I'd really like to see how she turns out. Why does this book deserve five stars? At times it was heartwrenching and I really, really felt for the characters, especially Dr. Shepard. The story was well-told and quick-paced, though at times I wanted to skip over parts that had nothing to do with Jessica, David, or Fana. The book also scared me, and I like nothing more than a good scare. Overall, it was a very, very good read...my high expectations were met for the sequel. Ms. Due , I look forward to reading more