Stands head and shoulders above most of the competition on a number of counts: the period detail is convincing, the character of the obsessive hero, Charles Jackson, is finely drawn and the chase across Europe as Jackson tracks the blood-drinking villain is terrifying, thrilling and relentless. * Guardian *
This macabre fantasy follows a trail of blood across Europe over 50 years...Stylish, thrilling and fast, you needn't be a horror fan to enjoy this. * Sunday Mirror *
Utterly engaging and intelligently written... It has quite a cinematic feel to it with its dramatic settings and fast-paced mystery. A must for fans of sharp, fast-paced thrillers to intrigue and disturb (in the best possible way). * A Case for Books *
This is a genre book (of whichever genre you choose, although I know which side of the fence I'm on) of great distinction and quality. Marcus Sedgwick has produced a galling amount of high quality children's and teen reads in a short career that shows no sign of relenting, nor of losing his way as he steps into the adult market. In my first mental draught of this review, before I'd read it, I was imagining myself saying 'there must have been something in the water in the Sedgwick household' to make him such a confident, firm and competent writer. But no, it has nothing to do with water - it must be in his blood... * The BookBag *
The style is much like a Victorian ghost story with the expectation of horror building with every page, drawing the reader in... I was enthralled. * Our Book Reviews *
A Love Like Blood features some unforgettable settings-suffice it to say that Charles' travels take him far beyond the squalor of Avignon-as well as pitch perfect pacing, a canny combination of genres, and smoothly flowing, sophisticated prose. Expect suggestive, sensory storytelling on the sentence level, then... and as I said at the outset, little things like this can pack a proper punch. As does A Love Like Blood. * Tor.com *
Sedgwick shifts triumphantly to adult fiction with this moving and multifaceted thriller...maintains a high level of tension up until the devastating conclusion * Publishers Weekly *
This adult debut portends a tremendous second act from acclaimed YA author Sedgwick...a novel
that tastes of blood and dust, just as a fine old-fashioned horror novel should.
* Booklist *
