BLACKBLOOD

A street-smart 19-year-old fears losing the only home and family she’s ever known.

Following the mysterious murder of her adoptive father, Averard, quick-witted Armina smuggles magical artifacts across the Arachnida Federation as captain of the Blackblood, the truck she and ex-girlfriend Valaina call home. Armina, who has a prosthetic leg, suspects that Averard died at the hands of the Huntsmen, an authoritarian force consisting of soldiers who drink the blood of mages to gain strength and power. When Canto, a mage who uses they/them pronouns, stows away in the Blackblood in an effort to escape the Huntsmen, Armina risks her own and Valaina’s safety to deliver Canto to a life of relative safety and freedom in Crotalus City, the Federation’s largest settlement. Meanwhile, Renn, a Huntsman who prefers archival work in the Huntsmen’s library, is sent on a mission to capture Armina (who’s wanted for her illegal smuggling activities) and bring her to Perishing, the Huntsmen’s headquarters. The story’s alternating viewpoints provide readers with comprehensive, powerful storytelling that captures the dynamic voices of Armina, Canto, and Renn. The fast-paced action scenes include graphic details of combat, and the thorough worldbuilding sets the stage for debut author Sullivan’s exploration of themes such as discovering one’s own identity and finding family and allies among unlikely companions. Characters are varied in skin tone.

A riveting story of redemption.