Debut Review and Interview of Blood and Salt by Kim Liggett

Blood and Salt

Author: Kim Liggett

Published On: 9/22/15

Publisher: Putnam

Page Count: 352

I received an ARC of this in exchange for my honest opinion. Receiving this galley in no way influenced my rating.

Synopsis: (Found on Goodreads)

“When you fall in love, you will carve out your heart and throw it into the deepest ocean. You will be all in—blood and salt.”
These are the last words Ash Larkin hears before her mother returns to the spiritual commune she escaped long ago. But when Ash follows her to Quivira, Kansas, something sinister and ancient waits among the rustling cornstalks of this village lost to time.
Ash is plagued by memories of her ancestor, Katia, which harken back to the town’s history of unrequited love and murder, alchemy and immortality.

The Review

Cover: 4/5

                This cover is creeptastic. Like when i watch scary movies this is the girl of those nightmares.

Characters: 5/5

                Ash: I felt bad that Ash was seeing Katia hanging everywhere she went, although if I was seeing a dead body everywhere I went I would not under any circumstances go into a creepy corn maze following said dead girl in the middle of nowhere….oh wait I did that in York,NE :/

                Rhys: He knows more than he lets on and I love how Kim writes him so naïve in Quivira. He had to have known there was something bad happening and it was related to him and his family. I mean you have to be blind to miss it.

                Dane: So I`m censoring here @#$% Dane, I hate you how could you be such a sweet jacka@@ you knew what was happening and you did nothing-well something but not good- to help the situation. Own up to your mistakes and be a man.

Plot: 4/5

                For some reason I feel like the quotation “When you fall in love, you will carve out your heart and throw it into the deepest ocean. You will be all in—blood and salt.” kind of sums up the whole story. Which seems crazy but once you read this it makes sense. Ash goes in with the intention of saving her mom, she drags her twin brother Rhys into the action and along the way realizes where he bloodline originated.

Overall Rating: 4.5/5

I enjoyed the plot line and characters of the story. The pacing was a little off at times but the story kept it moving forward. The creep factor is what really did it for me. Children of the Corn is one of my favorite movies and I love how Kim created a cult in the middle of a corn field where people are brainwashed into believing in something that they think is right but when reality it is wrong. I'm so happy I received an ARC for review. I've already gone and pre-ordered this and I hope you all do the same. 

The Interview

Did you base some characters on people you knew?

Absolutely! I based Ash on my daughter, Maddie and Rhys on my son, Rahm. I wanted them to be a part of this journey with me. It feels like we did it together! Little known fact: I based Beth on one of my BFF's-- Gina Carey (minus the head injury, of course). 

What books did you love to read as a kid/teen?

I loved Stephen King and VC Andrews. I remember reading Flowers in the Attic and thinking this is really creepy, but I'm not sure why. It wasn't until I got older that I figured it out. But I loved that feeling of unease-- something's not quite right in this world. 

Outside your book who would you “Ship” your MC with?

I'd try to ship Ash with a good guy-- maybe a Gale or a Perry, but I don't think it would take long for her to find her way back to Dane. It's in the blood. 

Describe your book using emoticons.

What book would suggest to be on the lookout for besides yours?

2015 was a killer year for YA. Be on the lookout for The May Queen Murders by Sarah Jude & After the Woods by Kim Savage.

So what do you think so far? Excited for Halloween week?

TTFN,

Ashley