The Book of Blood and Shadow

For Nora, being a research assistant to an elderly professor at a local university isn't the most exciting work study experience in the world. Her skills with Latin are good for lots of boring translations, but at least she gets to work with her best friend Chris and boyfriend Max. But her work gets interesting when she begins translating a series of letters written by a woman named Elizabeth Weston, revealing the mystery of a device, the Lumen dei, which supposedly enables mankind to communicate directly with God. Nora doesn't believe in the device, but she empathizes with Elizabeth despite the centuries that separate them. Then one violent night changes everything--Chris is dead, his girlfriend Adrianne is practically catatonic, and Max is missing. Nora must put together the clues Elizabeth left behind to find Max, evade the men who have proven they will kill for her information, and finally figure out what happened the night her best friend died.Rob Wasserman's latest novel is an engaging mix of history, romance, and mystery. Dark secrets, crumbling documents and relics, and shady secret societies abound in this meticulously written story. Nora's search for answers to her friend's death and the mystery brought up by Elizabeth's letters go almost hand in hand with her own issues questions regarding faith and religion in the aftermath of her brother's tragic death. These personal issues are what make her connect with Elizabeth and her experiences and help emotionally invest herself into the mystery of the Lumen Dei. The mystery is very complicated and convoluted--the chronology of Elizabeth's letters and clues can be a little hard to follow, especially when Nora travels to Prague to find answers. There is plenty of action and many plot twists that play out through the streets of the old city as Nora gets closer and closer to the truth, which will test her beliefs and values and make her re-evaluate her relationships. The conclusion is surprising and maybe a little abrupt; there doesn't seem to be a lot of falling action, and there are a few loose ends to puzzle through still. However, the way that Wasserman sets up The Book of Blood and Shadow is clever, and despite any lingering questions this extremely well-written and unique story will keep readers thinking long after the final page.Cover Comments: I adore this cover! I love the shadows of the title font and the way the building is reflected in the girl's eyes, the angle of her face. It's just so cool! And I definitely recommend getting this one in print--the book is beautiful. I love the deckle edges and the end papers on this one.

Whoa! Talk about a hook! The Book of Blood and Shadow starts off with a bang. From the first sentence, I definitely knew something creepy was going on and that I needed to know more about it. Let me tell you right now: the hook was not a trap. Every bit of this book is so good.Robin Wasserman has managed to write an original YA story, by which I mean one that's not remotely like the standard YA book. Nora, for example, is not your standard YA heroine. She's not absurdly clutzy, but she is incredibly intelligent, as in a genius at Latin. Nor is Nora particularly attractive; she's kind of average looking. Her hair is mousy brown, her nose too large for her face and she doesn't wear makeup almost ever. In short, she looks like a lot of girls, rather than some super shiny-haired YA cover girl. This makes her so much easier to relate to.Then there's her storybook love. Well, he's not your usual guy fare either. The perfect-ish guy is her best friend, Chris, who's dating her other best friend. Her boyfriend is Max, who she thought was creepy for quite a while after first meeting at him. Apparently, he stares a lot, perhaps to a Maureen Johnson-esque degree. Max wears glasses and is totally socially awkward, very much not your usual YA hero.Actually, this book has a lot more in common with novels like The Rule of Four. Both focus on academic research of an old text about which very little is known. Where Caldwell and Thomason's book is solely historical fiction though, Wasserman has added a paranormal element. In some books, paranormal is overdone and melodramatic. Here it creates the perfect creepy, gothic atmosphere. For most of the book, you don't even know what the paranormal is; you just sense its presence lurking just off screen, creating serious suspense.As Nora's story progresses, so does her research into the letters of Elizabeth, which could possibly provide insight into The Book her group is researching for Hoff (crotchety professor in search of glory). Although the individual letters are fairly short, I found myself getting just as sucked into Elizabeth's tale as into Nora's. In some historical fiction with this setup, the 'historical documents' are the weak point. Wasserman deftly avoids that trap with the grace of the dancing hippo from Fantasia.The book is dark, unrelenting, soul-breakingly, fabulously, perfectly dark. Everything in Nora's life has pretty much already fallen apart, leaving her bruised, even before the book has begun. Well, things are just getting started for poor Nora. Her world gets shaken on its foundations. Robin Wasserman definitely goes on the list of awesome YA authors not afraid to do terrible things to their heroines/heroes. I love this, because, well, have you met life?In undergrad, I was a theology minor, despite having been an agnostic all of my life, leaning much closer to the atheist side of things than the religious. The reason for my study of theology is that, simply put, I find belief fascinating, both on a global and individual scale. Certainly, it's interesting as a historian to look at how the religions themselves developed from a single person or group to a massive organized thing. Even more so, though, I love hearing the stories of individuals, of how they came to subscribe to their particular faith (or lack thereof). The theology in this book is wonderful, and, if you have any interest in that, I highly recommend this. Again, I think Wasserman was very daring to write this, and I applaud her for it. My favorite quote was one that pretty much sums up my opinions on the idea of God.The story of The Book of Blood and Shadow is also incredibly intricate. I have so much respect for Robin Wasserman for having pulled off a book of this scope. She did so much research, both into Prague's history, into ancient languages, and into secret codes. To sum up this review into just a few words: Robin Wasserman is BRILLIANT, and so is her book. It's out now, so what the heck are you waiting for? GO GET IT!This was my first foray into Robin Wasserman's books, although I have checked out Skinned from the library at least three times and then not had time to read it, but it will by no means be my last. In fact, I'm pretty sure Skinned is getting bumped up the TBR list. There might be a review of it in August, as I'm planning dystopian awesome!

I absolutely loved this book. Exactly what I was looking for. It arrived within 42 hours and was in great condition.

I am an avid reader, reading over 1,000 books in 2 years. Although this is an interesting read, I was exhausted by the time it was finished. I read it all the way through in two days. The researching of old books and documents with religious cults and murder does keep you involved in wanting to solve this elaborate puzzle while finding the murder. It was not difficult for me to figure out the murder early on along with their manipulations to the other characters. I just found myself too distracted with too much information which did not matter. I for one like complications and mystery. However, this did not do it for me. I did not come away feeling, " Wow this is a great book." Overall, if you like this type of story and don't have great expectations, you will like it and maybe it will surprise you. It's obvious the writer is highly intelligent and her young high school and college students in the story rate far above the average student. Thank you dear author for once showing kids can be intelligent and not idiots looking for vampire love.

KurzbeschreibungWhen the night began, Nora had two best friends and a boyfriend she adored. When it ended, she had nothing but blood on her hands. Chris was dead. Adriane couldn't speak. And Max, Nora's sweet, smart, soft-spoken Prince Charming, was gone. He was also-according to the police, according to her parents, according to everyone-a murderer.Desperate to prove his innocence, Nora's determined to follow the trail of blood, no matter where it leads. But Chris's murder is just one piece in a puzzle that spans continents and centuries. Solving it may be the only way she can save her own life.BuchgestaltungMir gefällt das Cover ganz gut, aber die Farben sind mir etwas zu 'fröhlich' und 'bunt' dafür, das im Buch etwas düstere Themen behandelt werden. Der Titel passt auch nicht so richtig. Im Buch geht es zwar auch um ein Buch aber größtenteils doch eher um alte Briefe und andere Dinge. Insgesamt hätte man also mehr aus der Gestaltung machen können.MeinungVorweg möchte ich sagen, das 'The Book of Blood and Shadow' kein schlechtes Buch ist. Es gibt immer zwei Gründe für mich, einem Buch eine niedrigere Bewertung zu geben. 1) Das Buch war wirklich grauenhaft (einfallslos, klischeehaft, nervig, unlogisch etc.) oder 2) Das Buch hat meinen persönlichen Geschmack einfach überhaupt nicht getroffen'.in diesem Fall trifft Grund 2) auf das Buch zu.Ich kann nicht anders, als 'The Book of Blood and Shadow' mit dem sehr bekannten Werk namens 'Der Davinci Code' vergleichen. Ständig habe ich beim Lesen diverse Parallelen gesehen und hatte den Gedanken im Kopf, dass die Autorin versucht hat dieses Buch zu kopieren und den Inhalt auf Jugendbuch umzustellen. Natürlich behandelt Robin Wassermans Buch nicht das exakt selbe Thema wie Dan Brown, aber die Richtung in die alles schlägt ist doch dieselbe. Rätsel, jede Menge religiöse Aspekte, eine Sekte, die etwas anbetet, geschichtliche Verstrickungen und und und'Für diejenigen unter euch die keines der beiden Bücher kennen möchte ich einmal den Unterschied erklären. Dan Brown teilt dem Leser Stück für Stück Informationen mit, klärt Geheimnisse gut durchdacht auf und behält sich zwar etwas Gutes für den Schluss zurück, bietet dem Leser aber auch genug Spannung und Charakterentwicklung. Robin Wasserman bombardiert den Leser mit Informationen (da muss man sehr oft schon einmal Geschichtsdokumente über 13 (!!!) Seiten lang lesen), lässt den Leser zig verschiedenen Spuren nachgehen, die am Ende alle in einer Sackgasse enden und ihre Charaktere bleiben hier oberflächlicher als oberflächlicher.So, damit wäre für mich schon einmal geklärt, das 'The Book of Blood and Shadow' kaum etwas von einem Thriller/Mystery ' Roman hat.Allgemein fand ich es äußert schwer den roten Faden im Blick zu behalten. Die ganze Geschichte über verliert sich die Handlung in diversen Dialogen und unwichtigen Dingen, die keineswegs zur Haupthandlung beitragen. Der Beginn des Buches war unbestreitbar spannend. Nach dieser einen Nacht, aus der einer von Noras Freunden als tot erklärt wird, ihre beste Freundin keine Erinnerungen hat und ihr Freund verschwunden ist'da möchte man einfach wissen, was passiert ist! Doch bis es überhaupt zu diesem Zwischenfall kommt muss man an die 150 Seiten lesen. Bis dahin wird immer nur über die Briefe gesprochen, die später wichtig sein werden, zu diesem Zeitpunkt aber nur mit Alltagsgeschehen aus irgendeinem vergessenen Jahrhundert absolut gar nicht unterhalten.Dazu kommt, das ich keinen der Charaktere mochte, da sie alle distanziert und oberflächlich beschrieben werden und man einfach keinen Bezug zu ihnen aufbauen kann. Bis auf Nora erfüllen auch ziemlich alle Klischees und daher bleiben ihre Handlungen immer sehr durchschaubar. Nora war mir persönlich etwas zu verbissen und zu besessen und zu mutig und'einfach zu heldenhaft. Es gab keine Szene, in der sich einmal Angst hatte. Sie denkt verdammt rational, als ob die Welt ihr nichts anhaben könne und sogar, als sie gefangen genommen wird scheint ihr das nicht nahe zu gehen, als wäre sie einfach nur ein kalter Mensche, ohne Gefühle.Zwischenzeitlich kann das Buch aber trotzdem glänzen. Besonders die Abschnitte in denen die Freunde in andere Länder reisen und eine Entdeckung machen haben mir gefallen. Spannend wurde es leider an diesen Stellen immer noch nicht.Ich habe mich größtenteils durch das Buch gequält, einfach nur in der Hoffnung auf mögliche Wendungen und ein tolles Ende. Wie ihr euch sicher schon denken könnt, hat mir dieses auch nicht gefallen, da die Geschichte ihr Muster durchgehend beibehält. Eine Abfolge von starken Dialogen (das Beste am Buch!), langweiligen, gedehnten Handlungen und einer immergleich bleibenden monotonen Atmosphäre.Positiv zu erwähnen wäre vielleicht noch Robin Wassermans Idee hinter dem ganzen.Ich bin mir nicht sicher, wie viel Fiktion ist und wie viel der Wahrheit entspricht, aber tolle Ansätze waren auf alle Fälle dabei!FazitSkinned fand ich wirklich klasse, aber Th Book of Blood and Shadow hat mir einfach nicht gefallen. Die Charaktere leblos, das Potenzial des Settings maßlos vergeudet und besonders der Plot, der sich oft in sich selbst verstrickt und zu oft langatmige geschichte Briefe enthält, deren Inhalt man auch mit zwei Sätzen hätte beschreiben können.