Rating: 
Summary: A MUST READ!!!!!!!!
Review: I cannot begin to describe this book. I lent the book to a friend and then to my mother. I knew it was going to be EXCELLENT and I would not be able to put this book down. I would photo copy the pages so I could read it at work and no one would know I was reading when I should be working. My mother would ask me where I was in the book daily. When I would ask her what was going to happen because I could not take the suspense, her answer was "read the book,or wait it gets better." I was furious but I realized that she was right I would have been cheated if she told me what would have happened. For some reason My Soul To Keep had the same effect on me. This is a must read. I was so moved by the story and the characters. Some parts of the book also scared me. I would read late into the night and could not wait to read the book on the way to work. This is a great author, I cannot wait to read more from her.
Rating: 
Summary: Spellbinding Story
Review: Well - I got 3 hours of sleep last night because I started reading this book after work yesterday. I was captivated by the imagery...this continuation of "My Soul to Keep" did not disappoint. This story could strech on for 36 volumes like Nancy Drew Mysteries and I'd lose sleep to read every one!I loved Fana aka Bee Bee - this little witch was so well developed I felt like she was a confused member of my own family. And the perspective changed in this novel - in My Soul to Keep Teferi was described as this utter fool, upon "meeting" his character I grew to understand and respect him...
Rating:
Summary: Bravo!
Review: I absolutely loved My Soul To Keep, and The Living Blood really picks up where that one left off. I enjoyed it as much if not more than My Soul to Keep. Ms. Due did a great job of narrating the first story, so someone who may not have read the first book can follow along without feeling that something is missing from the story. Very imaganitive, intriguing and exciting writing. It goes deeper, and there are so many other facets to the Jessica, David/Dawit saga; like Teferi's story. The only slight drawback for me was "the foul" language and what I felt were somewhat disrespectful references to Jesus Christ. There's no "H" in His Name!
Rating:
Summary: Spellbinding!!
Review: I am still shaking after reading this novel. It was more than what I could have ever expected. Jessica Wolde, whom we met in "My Soul to Keep", is trying to come to grips with the death of her daughter, Kira, and the new life that she has to deal with, immortality. The question that continued to come to her mind was "Why?" To make matters more complicated, she gives birth to Bee-Bee or Fana who is able to control the weather, read her mind and enters her dreams. She is scared. Then there is Lucas, who will do almost anything to save his son. Even if it means leaving his son on his death bed to travel to Bostwana for this unknown cure. "The Living Blood" will make you hold your breath from beginning to end. It is a story that makes your question your own beliefs of loyalty and humanity. Ms. Due has written another excellant novel. I just hope that there will be a sequal. (be cautious of the Bee cave and wait until you find out who the Mummy-like character really is) Peace and Blessings!
Rating:
Summary: intelligent ficiton from an intelligent black woman author
Review: The way this majestic seamstress of words weaves the threads of immortality, love, and suspense through this novel leaves no doubt that she is among the greatest fiction writers alive. You will consume this book with the hunger faithful readers have for good fiction. If you are a writer, you will also marvel at the way she keeps us interested in all the characters with shifts in places and perspectives. The voices are authentic and despite the supernatural story, as easy to relate to members of your family or a close circle of friends. If you prefer your fiction with substance, this is a sure bet.
Rating:
Summary: Did not think it could get any better than My Soul to Keep!!
Review: I have read all novels by this wonderful writer and have not been disappointed yet. Each time I finish one, I thirst for the next work by Ms. Due. I recommended "My Soul to Keep" to numerous friends, although I was not aware that a sequel was in the making. Imagine my pleasant surprise when I discovered "The Living Blood" was available. I did not know what to expect, but of course I was going to buy it and read it. I thought the new characters that she introduced in the beginning, Lucas Shepherd & his son Jared, among others, were a wonderful addition to the story and the history she provided on these characters was necessary before you were engulfed on the journey. And oh what a journey it was! From Ethiopia to Miami, back to Botswana and Tallahassee, Florida. What a remarkable ability that Ms. Due has for story-telling. To take a 3 year old innocent child and give her powers that she has no idea how to control & then Ms. Due takes you into the world of this child's "imaginary place", as she called it, and you feel everything that this child is experiencing. Incredible, is all I can say. I will purchase anything that this author writes, sight unseen, because I absolutely know that it will be a great story. Thanks Ms. Due for putting out exciting, fresh, new, and excellent fiction and giving me reading enjoyment.
Rating:
Summary: Our next GREAT (black) female writer
Review: This is one of those go-down-in-history times in literature. How wonderful it is to have this young sister writing, and wow, can she. I am part of a small reading group and even though I advertise,the reading of this book was one of the few times in 11 years that new folks showed up. We are mindful of the fact that Ms.Due has not gotten anywhere near the recognition she deserves from the mass(white) media. And you know what? It doesn't matter. She will not only survive but will thrive, because we will make it so. I was so surprised last month when I saw that My Soul To Keep was not only in production but is set for an October release.Thank God for brother Blair Underwood, who bought the rights, produced it and stars! An Anne Rice effort would have been advertised and the first showing sold out a year before release. I strongly urge everyone who loves well-written, thoroughly researched, and downright GOOD reading to keep up with this sister.She will only get better. Can we stand it?
Rating:
Summary: The Living Blood
Review: Ms. Due has outdone herself once again! This book I finished in a few days. Just couldn't put it down. She has the gift of breathing life into characters, making them become sometimes our personal and close friends. People who we ache with, cry with, smile with; characters who we love and others who we hate. She takes us on a breathtaking ride into fantasy, spirituality, and the supernatural. Most of all we see how important family is, and to what extent the love of a mother for her child extends. Like a tigress in the jungle, Jessica will go to the farthest ends of the earth for her precious daughter Bebe. We see the unselfishness in the human spirit with regards to saving lives versus medical conglomerates who worship and only see the almighty dollar. She weaves a story of a journey into fear, wonder, the future and maybe human kinds' past. I was once again captivated by the concept of blood, and its possible healing properties we in the twenty-first century have yet to truly understand. Ms. Due's journey into Lalibela and her beautiful description made me hunger and question, could it - does it - really exist? A must read! Looking forward to a posible sequel?
Rating:
Summary: Superlative!!! Excellent portrayal of subject matter.
Review: Due's expertise in storytelling is spellbinding! I could barely contain myself from peeking at the ending. Usually I skip over geographical details but TLB held my interest as the story bobs and weaves in and out of Florida and Africa. The past and present were interwoven with intricate detail and imagination. The race against death by Dr. Shepard made my heart beat fast, and I stayed up several nights until 4:00 am trying to second-guess the outcome. When Due mentioned the mummy-like figure, I was moved to tears after the person was revealed. Fana exemplified all of the traits of a child responsive to psychic forces. Her child's responses to the supernatural powers were unpredictable; I was especially caught up in the experience at the airport. Jessica wrestled with loyalty to humanity and was tossed between making decisions relating to her child and her husband. Dawit and the Life Brothers made me think a lot about human nature in that, jealousy can be a dangerous thing. I identified with Jessica's fears with each step she took in the tunnel through the Bee Colony. I saw greed and love of family mortality in this work. The storm episode involving Alex, her sister and Dr. Shepard made me see what they saw. Due captured the art of visualization, making the scenes so vivid that you can actually feel the presence of the characters in the room with you. I loved the book. Even though it had been a while since reading My Soul To Keep, TLB artistically filled in the gaps with such subtlety that I didn't miss a beat. I wait with baited breath for the continuing saga. Due owes it to her readers not to leave us hanging. Due's book, TLB proves that "Love does conquer all", in my opinion.
Rating:
Summary: Super Sequel
Review: Don't recoil from the cover. I know that it's a fright to view, but the story inside the cover is engaging, mind sweeping, mystical, and powerful. 'The Living Blood' picks up where 'My Soul to Keep' leaves off with Jessica Jacob-Wolde, her secretive husband, daring sister, and a whole tan drum of new characters. The mystery surrounding Dewit is unveiled catapulting tremendous tailwinds of violence and mayhem. Struggling to save herself and her family, Jessica travels from Africa to Miami running for her life and attempting to preserve the lives of her loved ones the entire time. Evil lurks at every turn, and Jessica will have to seek the aid of those who once sought to kill her. Like a creepy wind rousing your curtains through an open window, The Living Blood keeps you looking over your shoulder, shivering with anticipation, and shuttering in disbelief. Tananarive Due's lyrics are pompous and bright, painting a detailed picture that allows you to simply read and enjoy the tale without having to figure things out. Thus, this thriller leads you through paths and journeys from Africa to Florida that will have you holding your breath in anticipation of the next sinister prowler. The imaginative world that Ms. Due has created teeters between terror and reality. She uses just enough reality to suck us into this pensive spiritual world and the necessary amount of imagination to keep us reading.
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