I liked this more than the first book in the Birthright trilogy. It took me a long time to get on board with a future in which chocolate and caffeine are outlawed because it made no sense to me, especially since alcohol isn't against the law in this imagined future. I'm still not sure the pieces of this dystopian future fit perfectly together, but I like Anya's voice and her story enough, plus many of the supporting characters, that I can shrug through the discordant bits. And she did explain the chocolate situation a little more in this volume.
One of my complaints with the first book was that future New York City was supposedly riddled with crime and violence, and I didn't really see that like I did in this second book, where I think she did a better job portraying the seriousness and danger of Anya's situation.
Anya's adventures are much more interesting to me when love interest Win is not in the picture. He is the most boring love interest I've come across in a long time. I guess the point, or one of them, to Anya's attraction to him is that he's not from her world. But still. I was pulling for Yuji Ono until he got so bossy and weird and snaky; of course by then, I was all about Theo. I have high hopes that their friendship develops into something else and Win gets the heave-ho. Natty's out-of-nowhere warning that Win might meet someone else in college gave me hope that the author is setting them up for a breakup that will stick. One thing I like about Gabrielle Zevin from her other books is that there isn't always the expected or predictable happy ending for the lovers in question. I'm hoping that holds true with Win and Anya's relationship.
I liked the portion of the book set in Mexico. Theo is by far my favorite new character, and I hope he's present in a major way in the next book. It was nice to have Anya in a setting where no one was out to get her. At least, most of the time no one was.
Anya's ready admission that she made horrible decisions throughout her life, and the proof of that in many of her actions so far, makes her an interesting character to follow. The first person storytelling in this series feels extra subjective and that gives additional flavor to the suspense. Just how badly will it end? From the point of view of our main character looking back with regret, it feels like there's more sadness to come. But we also know Anya can be moody and driven by her guilty conscience, and that things aren't always as bad as she sees them. Guess we'll just have to wait for the next book to see for ourselves. ( )

I love this series. I had forgotten just how much I loved it until I picked up the second book (which I've had for nearly a year) and started reading it. Once I started reading it, I absolutely refused to be interrupted until I finished reading the book a couple of hours later. First off, the idea of chocolate being illegal breaks my heart. It my favorite food and I can't imagine living in a world where I couldn't have it. But I just love Anya. She's such a strong character and refuses to let anyone push her around, makes her own decisions and doesn't let love for a guy influence her decisions in any form or fashion. She always does what she thinks is best for her and her family. This is just such a great series. I highly recommend these books.
I love this series. I had forgotten just how much I loved it until I picked up the second book (which I've had for nearly a year) and started reading it. Once I started reading it, I absolutely refused to be interrupted until I finished reading the book a couple of hours later. First off, the idea of chocolate being illegal breaks my heart. It my favorite food and I can't imagine living in a world where I couldn't have it. But I just love Anya. She's such a strong character and refuses to let anyone push her around, makes her own decisions and doesn't let love for a guy influence her decisions in any form or fashion. She always does what she thinks is best for her and her family. This is just such a great series. I highly recommend these books.
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Should every book become a series? NO!
In the case of the Birthright series by Gabrielle Zevin, we are talking about a trilogy. A trilogy that should have never been more than a single story or duology at most.
There is a really interesting premise to this series that is dystopian (yr 2080's) with traces of The Godfather. Living in the time that we are, it is easy to buy into a story where things like chocolate are illegal. While the government claims that the numerous laws are for society's own good, it is really about lining someone's pockets. Anya's family have been chocolatiers for a number of years, and when chocolate became illegal, the family turned to organized crime.
The setup is all done in book one, All These Things I've Done, in which we learn a lot of strange, but imaginable laws are in effect. I really enjoyed the first book, but there were a few slow parts that should have ended up on the cutting room floor...
Which brings me to the the second book, Because It Is My Blood. This book hardly need exist at all. It is almost entirely slow paced filler. The romance is dull, little happens, what does happen circles back around so it turns out to be nothing at all, and there is pages upon pages of Anya working in the cocoa fields. At some point I just kind of figured that the author researched the hell out of growing cocoa beans and got overzealous in sharing the things that she learned. *snooze
I have heard that the third and final book, In the Age of Love and Chocolate, delivers a good ending to the trilogy, but it still leaves me wondering why this couldn't have been a duology, maybe even a single book, although the jury is still out on that one, since I haven't read the final book.
If you read and enjoyed the first book and still have not continued with the series, it is safe to say that you can skip this book and move on to the third. Really.
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The second book to All These Things I've Done in the Birthright series. I loved this book. It is better than the first book, but I still gave them both the same five star rating for being one of the best series I've read to date.

Anya is growing to be one amazing and strong young woman who is no longer letting the world get in her way. Instead, she's putting her foot down and making choices that will have you cheer her on. ( )

Wow! I am so in love with this series! This book was even better than the first! The story took a GREAT twist! I am so glad I have the third and final book because I don't want to wait to finish this series! Gabrielle Zevin has an amazing mind and is a pure genius! I have a new favorite author! ( )