Blood & Breath, a beguiling paranormal revenge thriller, is set against the alluring backdrop of the Jazz Age and laced with horror, forbidden romance, and class conflict.
Three hundred years ago, humans banished all but 100 of the devils who ruled them. Those left were each bound to a family in the ruling Necro class, who give the devils a bit of blood or breath in exchange for protection, luck, or a curse. Members of the middle Dun class are allowed to draw contracts that summon devils, but the lower Magi class, rumors say, are "part devil" themselves and forbidden from interacting with devils. Seventeen-year-old Evangeline "Evan" Wilde is a Magi masquerading as a Dun, drawing contracts for a living. When the "deep brown"-skinned Evan is attacked by Necros and left to die, she hastily draws a contract in the snow and tells the devil she will give all her blood and breath if he kills the Necros. Devil Jack accepts and helps Evan infiltrate the Necros. But Jack has his own revenge plan--one that will return the devils to their rightful glory.
In her traditional publishing debut, Qurratulayn Muhammad effortlessly draws real-world parallels by threading in themes of oppression, class struggle, and prejudice. She explores not only the divides between social classes but also internalized oppression passed down through generations. These themes play out in both Evan's and Jack's POVs (chapter headings identify them only as "Girl" and "Devil"), which are narrative-driving, complementary forces. The darker, often brutal narrative threads are softened by forbidden romances, both queer and socioeconomic, and the appealing Roaring '20s setting. This high-stakes series starter is entrancing and brimming with atmosphere. --Lana Barnes, freelance reviewer and proofreader