Silver in the Blood by Jessica Day George

Silver in the Blood by Jessica Day George

• ISBN-10: 1619634317 - Hardcover $17.99
• Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens (July 7, 2015), 368 pages.
• Review copy courtesy of the publisher and Netgalley.

The blurb:

As debutantes in 1890s New York City, cousins Dacia and Lou knew little about about their mysterious Romanian relatives, the Florescus. Now, upon turning seventeen, the girls must journey to Romania--a journey that seems to be both reward and punishment--to meet their cousins and their tyrant of a grandmother and to learn the secrets of their family. Secrets spoken of in whispers. Dangerous secrets known as the Claw, the Wing, and the Smoke.

But as dangerous as those family secrets might be, even more dangerous is the centuries-old bond between the Florescus and the royal Dracula family, and it seems that it's time for Dacia and Lou to give up their life in New York society and take their place among the servants of the Draculas. When the devilish heir, Mihai Dracula, sets his sights on Dacia as part of his evil, power-hungry plan, the girls must accept or fight against this cruel inheritance. Do they have the courage to break the shackles of their upbringing and set the course of their own destiny?

Review:
Debutantes from New York City travel to Europe to visit their powerful, wealthy and mysterious Romanian relatives.  Think Downton Abbey period - the girls lose friends on the Titanic.  

As the two cousins, Dacia and Lou, get closer to their destination, they notice that people have been acting strangely.  Their relatives have gotten more anxious and it's a surprise to see their independent aunt defer to the tyrannical grandmother.  Also, as they meet a prince and nobility, their last name provokes a strange reaction.  

As we learn about the shape shifting and the Florescu family's long tie to the Dracula family, Silver in the Blood gives us an unexpected twist.  Lou and Dacia are transformed and it's a delight to have Lou discover her power.  If you're looking for a historical fiction with a twist - think Gilded Age and werewolves - Silver in the Blood is treat!

About the Author:

Jessica Day George earned a BA in Humanities/Comparative Literature from Brigham Young University, where she enjoyed classes in Pottery and Old Norse, and dutifully forced herself to take Algebra and Biology. Originally from Idaho, she now resides in Salt Lake City, Utah, with her husband and three young children.  To learn more,   visit Jessica at http://www.JessicaDayGeorge.com