In this sequel to Firstlife, Ten must learn how to navigate her place in her new realm. She’s separated from the boy she loves, and she has to learn how to deal with making new friends while coming to terms with mistakes that’s she’s made. While Ten, and even Killian, experience some character development, this book was ultimately a letdown. The plot was interesting, and Gena Showalter’s world building was great. However, the dialogue and Ten’s inner thoughts were cringey and hard to read. Also, the numbers were too much. Everything in Ten’s life turns into a number, and the ridiculously long equations she comes up with to make things equal the number she wants were annoying. Reader be warned: good story, bad follow-through.

Tenley experienced an unexpected betrayal at the end of the first book, causing her first-death and her choice to enter the Light seeking realm of Troika. Which meant leaving behind her love Killian, a Myriad through and through. Troika believes that Ten is one of their prized conduits, a powerful soldier needed to end the war between the realms. Ten is not convinced she is who they believe she is, but she will give it her all to try and make them believe she fits in and deserves to be there. But this was never an easy battle, and Ten's war is just beginning.

Disclaimer- This is not a standalone, but the second in a complicated series. Lifeblood picks up almost exactly where book 1, Firstlife ends, so I highly recommend that the series be read in order. I really enjoyed Lifeblood. I was a little leery when I started the book since it had been a year and some change since I had read the first book and I was not positive that I would be able to remember all the world and character details I needed to fully enjoy this chapter of the story. But I was pleased that within a chapter or two I was caught up (but not in an info dumping kind of way, more like the backstory came back to me as the small details were discussed) and ready to face another battle.

I love that Ten still had her obsessive compulsion for numbers and relating them to the world around her to help her make sense of things (and I am glad her random burst of poetry were kept to a minimum because they just made me feel awkward for her). It is an endearing quirk that made her an interesting character. Let's also mention how much freaking character development she endures in this sequel- she evolved so much as a person, becoming a true Troiken, using the ideals of her people to help guide her actions. The selfish needy girl of the past has gone, and in her place is a warrior of the light and I so wanted to cheer! I also really liked how she gave her trust to the person she loved the most (aka a certain Irish reformed bad boy) and she stayed true to her word- there was no angst over his actions or affections, she took his word, gave her trust and was resilient. Her forgiveness was sweet, even to those who she had every right to hate, and her heartbreaks were almost non-stop. Gah, my little Ten is all grown up!

Holy Batman, I flew through this 450ish pages book in just a few days- there was so much going on I didn't want to put it down and miss out! I was really into the level of action that Lifeblood had-never a dull moment, seriously. We went from one battle to the next, to training, secret missions, stolen moments, betrayals, crazy court system, deaths, rebirths... well, pretty much all kinds of activities and I loved every minute of it. Oh an ps, there was some intense (yet still pretty pg) stolen romance moments that made me want to swoon.

I have no idea what will happen next to Ten or the realms but I very much so look forward to the adventure.
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Okay finally got my hands on the first book and then powered through this! Really intriguing world building again and this time I liked that the book felt like a stand-alone. I read the books back to back so I didn't quite need a detailed refresher but it was nice to have the info front loaded a bit so those who did read far apart could hop right back in without confusion.

Loved just as much as first book! Showalter doesn't disappoint and I will continue to read anything and everything she writes!

THIS BOOK IS A BINGE-READ BOOK!!! There is no way a person could read this book in little bits and pieces. It's too fabulously complex! I love this series, and have a group of teens at my library reading and asking for the next book already. I am going to say it again, Gena Showalter writes the best book boyfriends. Why can't these guys exist in real life?

Let's get back to the complex thing. Gena is so wildly talented. Every book she writes has so much going on in it, and it all comes together so exquisitely in the end. How does she do it? This book has so many levels to it already and I know she is not done with it yet. The next book cannot come out soon enough!!!

Excellent book! Excellent author!

An awesome sequel! Picking up right where FIRSTLIFE left off, LIFEBLOOD thrusts readers right back into the action packed storyline. With a whole new change in scenery, a few more characters, a lot more danger, and some unexpected twists, Secondlife is anything but for smooth sailing for Ten. It feels almost as though everything that took place in Ten's life in Firstlife was preparing for her for what's to come in Secondlife.

Secondlife is a whole new life for Ten. Literally. She learns to make peace with the life she live in Lifeblood, which helps her accept her new life in Secondlife. There's a whole new set of laws to learn that govern this world. While she's learning the ropes, and her role here, she grows up a lot. Even in her changes, I admire that she's still stays that same loyal, passionate person who she has always been. She makes new friends, along with a few new enemies. I like that many of the characters I loved in the previous book, all play a huge part in this book as well. Including Killian.

Killian and Ten may be on opposing sides, which definitely causes a few problems for both of them, especially since their realms are still at war with each other. That doesn't stop them for falling more in love with each other, and risking it all to find a way to be together. I love how protective Killian still is of Ten. No matter the consequences, he risks a lot to help her. I loved seeing how much these two learn to rely on each other, and trust each other. It's not without consequences, since they're suppose to enemies. I loved seeing these two grow closer together, and fight for each other. I already loved these two in Firstlife, but I absolutely love these two even more so in Lifeblood.

Character wise, I really enjoyed getting to know Deacon more. He's a character I was hoping to get to see more as the series went on. His role in this book was perfect. I loved all he brought to the story, and what he does for Ten. There's a few other characters who's roles now compared to what they were previously, surprised me. Overall, I loved seeing the new challenges for the characters, and how they handle their choices and consequences. This life is far from easy. The choices they made in their previous life have got them where they are at now.

This is another fabulous Showalter book. Rich in world building, and character development, this is a story that doesn't suffer from second syndrome. It's just as engaging, if not more so, than the first book in the series. It's an action packed storyline with new twists, more dangers, a few surprises, more romance, and takes it's readers deeper into this series's complex history. LIFEBLOOD is fantastic sequel. I can hardly wait to read what happens next in Everlife.

I gave LIFEBLOOD 3.5 stars

Ten's Firstlife is over and Everlife starts with a bang.

LIFEBLOOD starts exactly where FIRSTLIFE left off. There is a lot of confusion on the battlefield and in Ten's mind. The consequences of her choice hits pretty quickly when she finds herself torn between protecting Killian—the boy she loves— and helping Troika—the side of the Everlife she chose— win the fight. I didn't find Ten to be as independent and strong as she was in FIRSTLIFE which kinda bummed me out. She got stronger throughout the story, but I wanted her to kick ass and take names from the get-go.

The romance in LIFEBLOOD was all over the place just like it was supposed to be. Ten lives in a totally different Everlife than Killian and the push and pull they feel towards each other is hard to ignore and even harder to act on. Showalter did a great job in keeping us on our toes in regards to figuring out if Killian's feelings were real or just part of the job his superiors set him on. In the end you know, but it was hard to figure out and the suspense just about killed me.

LIFEBLOOD had a nice quick pace to it, but I felt that it could have been slowed down at some points. It was hard to really connect to some of the scenes. I enjoyed learning about Troika and thought the world building was nicely done. I'm excited to see what the last book, EVERLIFE, will give us.

* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

LIFEBLOOD is the second book in the Everlife series by Gena Showalter. I would highly suggest reading this series in order as the first book kind of ends on a bit of a cliffie. Some answers are present in this book but mostly, Showalter raises more questions and puts Ten, our heroine, in some very disastrous situations. One of my favorite parts of the first book was Ten. She’s very independent and fun, but in this book, I think there was a bit of a change in her character. I’m not sure that she’s as fiery as she was in the first book, but that might just be because now she knows she’s in and over her head and must act a bit more rationally.

In terms of romance, there’s an interesting one here. I wondered what was going to come from it because really, the first book only introduced them and didn’t explore it as much as I wanted. I still don’t know where Showalter is going with it, but I am intrigued by Ten and Killian’s dynamic. I really like him. There’s a complexity to his character that I find intriguing. We never really know where his thoughts are or what he’s going to do next and I think that keeps the readers on their toes when he’s around.

Again, Showalter continues to build her world from the ground up and I really like the way she’s done it. She doesn’t reveal everything all at once and that’s a good sign. If she did, I think it would bore readers and it probably wouldn’t be as good as it is now. LIFEBLOOD is another wonderful installment to the series.

Great continuation of the series, didn't suffer from "second book syndrome". Looking forward to the finale!

Fast-paced and unique storyline, beautiful world-building.

Tenley "Ten" wasn't quite the same strong, independent girl that I adored from the first book, but it's understandable with everything she's going through. The obsession with numbers feels a bit forced and gets in the way of getting to know the character, even when written from her point of view.

My student's love Gena Showalter's Alice in Zombieland series and I'm pretty sure this latest one will be a hit with them as well!

Firstlife was a fun read, if a bit odd and scattered. There was a spunky heroine, a couple of hunky guys, and a unique paranormal-esque world to keep my attention. While most of those things continued on in Lifeblood, they seemed to have lost momentum since book one.

Ten is still spunky, which is fine. She has some sass to her, but that sass seemed to get in the way of actually getting to know her as a person. She’s too obsessed with numbers and being all goody two-shoes for readers to even connect with her. Don’t get me wrong, her obsession with numbers is a great quality, but she doesn’t have any realness to her other than that oftentimes distracting characteristic. She doesn’t even spend enough time with her family in book two for readers to get a sense of how she would interact with them.

Part of the reason it’s hard to get to know Ten is how fast-paced the book was. A lot of things needed to be slowed down for not only character development, but also world and relationship development. It was difficult to get to know other characters and to even care about them when something bad would happen to them. It was also hard to understand the limitations of the Troikan and Myridian powers in this sequel. I was constantly asking myself questions: Why can Ten do this? Why couldn’t she do that earlier? Why can this person do that? How does this thing connect to that other magical thing from before? Why is this character acting like Ten’s servant? Why does Killian/Asher/Deacon/anybody even like Ten? Like I said, I was confused.

Part of that confusion may have been my fault. I didn’t remember a whole lot from Firstlife. And, while I believe there is a glossary at the beginning of the book that outlines some of the terms in the Myridian and Troikan realms, reading Lifeblood in ebook form and trying to flip back and forth isn’t an easy feat.

All in all, I do have to hand it to Gena for trying to build a unique world in a time period where the same ol’ same ol’ fantasy and paranormal books are all the craze. I just wish she’d taken the time to really build a world where the rules and restrictions are clearly set out for readers. And, while I’m a little let down by this series, enough to where I’m not sure if I’ll pick up book three, I definitely won’t be giving up on Gena’s future non-Everlife books anytime soon.

2/5 stars

*Note: I received a copy of this book to review from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way affected my opinion/review.

Ten’s Firstlife has ended and she has chosen which realm to spend her Everlife in, but there is a war taking place and Ten has a role to play. She has a rare power that the Powers That Be want to use; unfortunately, the enemy wants her stopped. She is still trying to learn about her Secondlife, while also fighting for her own survival. Will Ten be able to fight Killian and overcome her personal feelings toward him? Which is more important, Love or Winning?

Lifeblood is the second book in the Everlife series. Showalter does spend some time having the main character think about events from the first book so readers will be reminded and memories will be jogged. New events start quickly and readers will swiftly be immersed in Ten’s Secondlife. My feelings about this novel were erratic at best. I would find myself completely absorbed in the story and then a little while later wonder why I was reading it at all. Lifeblood was a good second book in a series, but I really hope the next installment re-grabs my interest.

I enjoyed this, but the "twist" was completely predictable. I enjoyed Firstlife more.

I didn't read the first volume of this series but I was still pulled in to the story. Like many bridges in a trilogy, this book lacks a certain arc to the story but was still a pleasure to read.

Lifeblood by Gena Showalter is book 2 of 3 in the Everlife series. Ten has ended her first life and is beginning her second life in Troika. As she trains and gets used to her new role as Conduit she continues to be in love with the Myriad Laborer Killian, regardless of the realms separating them.

Overall I liked Ten big more in this book than the previous one. She is a much stronger, well developed character than in the first book. Even though she is powerful she struggles whereas in the first book she was a little "Mary Sue" in my opinion. Some irritating traits remain but definitely an improvement. Other characters, Meredith and Levi, grew on me too.

New struggles, characters, and battles rage across the realms. I eagerly await book 3 to see what happens next!


I was given a free copy of this book from Harlequin TEEN via Netgalley. All opinions here are my own and not effected in any way.

I can't really rate or review because I just couldn't finish this book. I feel bad because I love the author but this book just wasn't for me

This is book 2 of a trilogy that most fantasy teen readers will enjoy. I did not read book 1 and I think that would have made a big difference in understanding and enjoying this story. I would recommend reading the series in order. I've read a lot of Gina Showalter's books and she is a wonderful author that gives you an enjoyable story with characters you admire and hope will continue into future books.

What a flippin roller coaster ride! I laughed, I cried, and I sat on the edge of my seat. This was a great middle book of a trilogy. Showalter never ceases to amaze me in her world building...and this world(s) is no exception. I love her characters and there were some new ones added to the mix in this installment. I can't wait to see how the series wraps up!!

Lifeblood didn't fully live up to my expectations, as Ten didn't seem the same, strong, independent girl she was in Firstlife. The side characters were not as fleshed out, and in some ways, I felt very removed from the story.