By the Blood of Rowans by Xan van Rooyen

This is a really magical and intriguing queer YA fantasy full of old Celtic mythology, witches, vampires and deathwalkers! There’s also a murder mystery plot, abusive and toxic family relations and first love.

The story takes place on the island of Inisliath, where four founding families have a long history of ancient magic specific for each family - as witches, faes, vampires and shapeshifters - and of old family feuds. The Sheehy witches are the most feared and detested family on the island of Inisliath, and none more so than Rowan, the teenage deathwalker.

At the same time as the magic on the island starts to seep away from the other founding families, Ash and their family arrive on the island to escape their abusive father. Life on Inisliath might be the fresh start Ash needs, and meeting the soft-spoken, curly-haired Rowan feels like the ray of sunshine Ash has desperately needed. But everything goes sideways when Ash’s mum becomes lead detective on a series of ritualistic murders allegedly tied to island magic and Ash’s family history.

I really enjoyed the mythology parts and it was such an interesting notion how the ancestors’ fate was connected to the new generations forcing them to remain at the island, but the mix with a modern day murder investigation made the story lose some of its magic. But it’s a really intriguing, well-developed and rich fantasy world that Xan van Rooyen has created!

I also really appreciated that the two main characters were non-binary respectively demi or ace (possibly) and the thorough discussion about labels. Some of the other characters were a bit bland though.

Minor spoiler alert:
And the way Ash’s mother suddenly realized the situation she’d put herself and Ash in and suddenly had the strength to do something about it didn’t seem realistic sadly, but just a way to try and get a happier ending.
End of spoiler.

But all in all, it was an addictive, fast-paced and rich YA fantasy with a queer twist on Celtic mythology.

Thank you to the author, Xan van Rooyen, and MTMC Tours for the free review copy and blog tour invitation! All opinions are my own and I am leaving my honest review voluntarily.

Rating:
3.5 stars rounding up to 4

Get your own copy:
Amazon

Author info:
Xan van Rooyen