Pitch a Book: Blood Like Magic

Cover of Blood Like Magic by Liselle Samsbury

The Novel 

Blood Like Magic by Liselle Sambury is a rich, dark, futuristic fantasy that follows a young girl named Voya who lives in Toronto, in the year 2049. This book explores the lives of witches in a futuristic setting and, its relevance lies in the witches’ connections to their history and ancestors.

The book describes how people belonging to the African diaspora, suffer from a loss of history and culture due to a cruel colonial history and as a consequence of slavery.

"When our ancestors were dying of thirst and starvation in slave boats, the magic that runs in our veins kept them alive...Our magic is our connection to our past," (Sambury 16)

The magical aspect of Blood Like Magic is tied to their connection to their history and family. It was captivating to read about the connections made between magic, belonging, and community. The primary conflict involves Voya's having to choose between killing her first love and forfeiting her entire family’s magic forever. Once the reader learns the meaning of magic to her family, they can understand why Voya takes on the daunting task. This conflict introduces Luc, a Mexican trans boy. The combination of magic, family, LGBTQ issues, and life from the lens of a black woman provides many windows and mirrors for readers as well as a fascinating story. It was refreshing and realistic to have a vulnerable main character that when chosen for such a daunting task, still had doubts and insecurities. Like a mirror, this novel has many engaging characters battling real things, even in this fantastical world. As a window, it introduces readers to a little bit of African history in a modern context as well as embracing the duality of modernity and tradition. 

Why This Novel? 

The representation present in the book is so effortless and not as forced as in some books. It explores identity, family, self-determination, and the ways we allow others’ expectations to define or validate us. The combination of minute and thrilling details with the normalcy of teenage life and Voya’s hilarious tone makes the novel fit for lovers of most YA genres. The novel also has a dystopian, apocalyptic ambience because of how futuristic yet eerily familiar Voya’s world is. Social media is as big as ever, much like now however, society thrives based on public rating systems. These concepts don't seem far-fetched in today's climate! The word, "blood" in the title signifies not only witchcraft but also connection, ancestry, and community. 

Sambury has a youtube channel where she discusses her journey to becoming a traditionally published author, her favourite books, and her inspirations. In the video linked below, she actually mentions that her family is almost as large as Voya's family and growing up with that dynamic inspired her to include the same experience for her main character. She laughs, "I didn't think about it that much when I put it in the book because I just love the idea of having a big family like I had a big family!" Her family is meaningful to her so she carries familial elements all throughout Blood Like Magic. There are multiple times in which her family comes together and shows support despite their differences or arguments.