As Red As Blood

Author: Salla Simukka

Series: Lumikki Andersson #1

Publisher: Crown for Young Readers

Release Date: January 17, 2017

Rating: 3 Stars

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

This book had such potential to shine like the fairy tales it eludes, but for me it fell flat.

Lumikki Andersson likes to keep to herself and out of the business of others. Even though she is only sixteen she is living by herself and going to a charter school for the gifted.  It is an ideal situation after the problems she had at her old school with some not so nice girls that attended the school.  Trying to stay out of others business usually works well for her, until she stumbles upon thousands of washed Euro notes hanging in the school’s darkroom and three of her classmates acting very suspiciously.  It doesn’t take long for Lumikki to become completely involved in the center of the problem these three have found themselves in.  They all end up going against a drug lord, Polar Bear, and many others that end up hunting them for what they have and know.  Lumikki is now in a race to stay alive and uncover the truth to try and save them all.

When I first heard about As Red as Blood I thought it sounded like a very intriguing read, especially for a YA, which are some of my favorites.  I’m not sure if it is the fact that it was translated from Finnish or maybe just the story itself, but it didn’t live up to my expectations.  One of my biggest pet peeves is a book marketed to young adults that has vulgar language.  I’m not naive, I know that is how many kids speak but I still don’t like seeing it in books for this audience.  I also felt like the story didn’t really get going until it was almost over.  The best part of the book for me was the last twenty-five pages or so.  Finding out more about the main character should have come earlier to help make the connection and establish a better relationship.  I still think some of it could have been lost in the translation and don’t want to fault the author too much on that part.  The two female leads really had good potential and I think there is further development to explore there, I just don’t feel compelled to explore it personally.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.