Synopses & Reviews
Where we love, we ruin…
Some families hand down wealth through generations; some hand down wisdom. Some families, whether they want to or not, hand down the secret burdens they carry and the dangerous debts they owe.
Lissa Nevsky's grandmother leaves her a big, empty house, and a legacy of magic: folk magic, old magic, brought with Baba when she fled the Gulag. In the wake of her passing, the Russian community of Toronto will depend on Lissa now, to give them their remedies and be their koldun'ia. But Lissa hasn't had time to learn everything Baba wanted to teach her—let alone the things Baba kept hidden.
Maksim Volkov's birth family is long dead, anything they bestowed on him long turned to dust. What Maksim carries now is a legacy of violence, and he does not have to die to pass it on. When Maksim feels his protective spell fail, he returns to the witch he rescued from the Gulag, only to find his spell has died along with the one who cast it. Without the spell, it is only a matter of time before Maksim's violent nature slips its leash and he infects someone else—if he hasn't done so already.
Nick Kaisaris is just a normal dude who likes to party. He doesn't worry about family drama. He doesn't have any secrets. All he wants is for things to stay like they are right now, tonight: Nick and his best buddy Jonathan, out on the town. Only Nick is on a collision course with Maksim Volkov, and what he takes away from this night is going to crack open Nick's nature until all of his worst self comes to light.
Lissa's legacy of magic might hold the key to Maksim's salvation, if she can unravel it in time. But it's a legacy that comes at a price. And Maksim might not want to be saved…
Review
"Spells of Blood and Kin is a fascinating take on urban fantasy, with complex, beautifully-drawn characters that defy stereotypes and stayed with me long after I finished reading." Cassandra Rose Clarke, author of Our Lady of the Ice
Review
"Deft and original, Spells of Blood and Kin pulses with dark energy. Claire Humphrey weaves together witchcraft, beauty, fear, and family into a wholly new concoction. A compelling debut." Greer Macallister, author of The Magician's Lie
Review
"Humphrey’s debut opens a fascinating paranormal world inspired by folklore and full of ancient power. Her characters’ dangerous and powerful magic balances well with their all-too-real loneliness and heartache, making their relationships feel real, and their power formidable...the imagination and creativity in this book are sure to attract plenty of readers and keep their attention to the end." Book Reviews
About the Author
Claire Humphrey is a national buyer for Indigo Books. Her short fiction has appeared in Strange Horizons, Beneath Ceaseless Skies, Apex, Crossed Genres, Fantasy Magazine, and Podcastle. Her short story ''Bleaker Collegiate Presents an All-Female Production of Waiting for Godot'' appeared in the Lambda Award-nominated collection Beyond Binary, and her short story "The Witch Of Tarup" was published in the critically acclaimed anthology Long Hidden. Spells of Blood and Kin is her first novel.