Brittany M. Willows stuns in Bloody Spade, a young adult urban fantasy novel that explores trauma through a richly imagined magic system that relies on aptitude and willpower.
Influenced by card suits and realized in magical transformations in the same vein as Sailor Moon or Persona, Amberlye (and, more specifically, the city of Hildegrand) is under fire for the repercussions of the Reemergence, a powerful and destructive magical awakening that set the world ablaze. What was long considered a myth became reality soaked in corrupted void magic, the Reemergence a blessing and curse. With magic run rampant in the form of Empowered individuals, Amberlye and the surrounding territories turned to suppression technology and magical sanctions, with one organization offering security in exchange for relatively free reign of use: Cardplay.
A magical institution of sorts, intent on honing ability to its maximum potential, Cardplay encourages Empowered to wield magic for the greater good alongside law enforcement. Joining the ranks involves rehabilitation, study and intense training with the ultimate goal of becoming a Joker, free to use magic at will within reason to protect Hildegrand. There is no real alternative to magic use short of suppression devices or detainment; on its own, magic is too dangerous and unwieldy, amplified by intense emotion and easily corrupted.
Iori Ryone is something of an outlier: an orphaned thief capable of taming the darkness that is Void magic, fluid ink and rhythm at his command. Iori is the Keeper of the Spade, a powerful magic Suit, legendary myth turned reality. Sought after for his ability and the power it represents, despite the corruption coursing through his veins, Iori is forced to live on the fringes of society, wary of Cardplay and terrified of the opponent that is Blackjack, a criminal organization dealing in magic, secrecy, and, unbeknownst to Iori, a harrowing piece of his past better left forgotten.
Iori serves as a perfect introduction to the world of Cardplay, and magic in general. He’s sharp-tongued, quick-witted and mischievous. He knows how to skirt boundaries and stick to shadows out of necessity, but his daring, thief-like tendencies are a part of his personality, born of isolation. Despite his bold nature, he’s cautious, careful and incredibly intuitive – not just when it comes to magic, but relationships. He’s a kind, playful soul that suffers from hardship, anxiety born of PTSD in the wake of a traumatic childhood brought upon by the Spade. Anxiety and shame war within him, his POV offering incredible insight into his harrowing experiences, all of which are explored with care from the death of his mother to his traumatic relationship with Blackjack.
When a magical surge pits Iori against Cardplay, Willows branches out into multiple POVs, each intuitive, insightful, and written with gorgeous attention to detail. While the cast of supporting characters can be a bit much to handle between Cardplay’s ranks and Blackjack’s denizens, Willows ensures that each and every character stands out. Personalities jump off the page alongside climatic magical-girl transformations, infusing the narrative with life and color through the eyes of four main characters: Iori Ryone, brother-sister duo Alexander and Ellen Jane, and the heart-wrenching Keeper of the Club, Kyani Oto.
While Iori’s character arc was the most impactful and prominent, Willows ensures that each character has a voice, simultaneously developing alongside Iori while they face their own emotional trials and tribulations. Internal battles rage alongside tense magical standoffs, Iori and Alexander instant enemies due to the complexities of the Reemergence. As they fight tooth and nail against each other, Ellen is a fiercely compassionate voice of reason. Gentle, kind, and responsible, Ellen offers a bright spot of hope in an otherwise tumultuous relationship, fueled by bullying and hatred. When it comes to redemption arcs and villains, Willows is a master; I’ve never hated a character as much as Alexander Jane, who undergoes a harrowing journey on the path toward redemption, one that is emotionally devastating to the point of shattering your initial opinion of his character.
Ellen, while a touch predictable at times, was a balm to my weary soul. Her genuine kindness, seen in her refusal to judge Iori, was a breath of fresh air. She remains steadfast, determined, curious, and fiercely independent – a real force to be reckoned with despite the sweetness of her personality. Though I would have loved to see more of her, especially in the second half of the novel when her relationship with Iori slowly edges toward romantic (perhaps because I see so much of myself in her, and would have benefitted greatly from a sex positive, gray ace character as a young adult), I appreciated her resolve and understanding. From her love of baking to her more whimsical eccentricities, I looked forward to learning more about her, and genuinely appreciated Willows’ approach to sexual orientation and identity, which is addressed openly, without drawing undue attention toward the characters or focusing on coming-out.
Willows pens a narrative that is openly queer but focuses on the many shades of grey. Alexander is aromantic; Kyani is demisexual, demiromantic; and Ellen is gray-asexual, a topic explored intimately in her slow burn relationship with Iori, which borders on platonic and romantic in the sweetest way. From skating on acoustic ink vibrations to dancing at a ball, not to mention sharing a bed to ward off nightmares or building cozy blanket forts on birthdays, Iori and Ellen spend time together in comfortable companionship, making the best out of every situation. Iori carefully navigates his growing love for Ellen which wars with desire, respecting her boundaries even as he pines for her, culminating in a renewed love of music and piano.
Though the romantic in me longed for a more definitive shape to their relationship (despite a few well-placed, teasing hints), or, at the very least, a glimpse into Ellen’s POV, especially after Iori confessed his feelings to Ellen’s best friend, I found great satisfaction in the sheer intensity of Iori’s longing, which remains hidden due to his respect for her situation and sexuality. Iori and Ellen represent true companionship, their bond a thing of vulnerable beauty and tender affection. I’ve seen a few reviews suggest that Bloody Spade is a fantasy romance, and while romance is a bit of a stretch, Willows does set a very strong foundation for the future of their relationship in a romantic sub-plot that I hope to see bloom in the sequel, Bleeding Heart.
She twirled, white hair and porcelain skin touched silver by moonlight, with flung water droplets like stars around her. And Iori pictured himself as a meteor among them, no longer caught in this girl’s orbit but plunging helplessly through her atmosphere.
Oh.
So this was what falling felt like.
– excerpt from Brittany M. Willows’ Bloody Spade
Trends toward romance aside, Bloody Spade is built upon relationship dynamics, which drive the force of the narrative alongside the opponent that is Blackjack. In a war against the Empowered, Cardplay and Blackjack are on opposite sides, each vying for power as one attempts to maintain peace, the other dead set on wreaking havoc and creating a new world order. What ensues is a battle of will and animosity that reveals hidden secrets and corrupt agendas, culminating in fast-paced, climatic battles. While I found magic to be a bit convenient at times (it seems to recharge a rather quickly), I was mesmerized by Willows’ astounding attention to cinematic detail. Transformations are written with impeccable detail, down to the fabric and fine detail work on the characters’ outfits, with lush, vivid backgrounds and well-choreographed fight scenes, where magic and hand-to-hand combat combine to create intense battles of emotion and will-power.
Magic is a blight, a plague, a thing to be feared amongst the common folk, but in Cardplay’s hands it is a thing of wonder; an undertaking to behold. Abilities are summoned by name, made manifest by gorgeous transformations, the Empowered turning into living weapons, each with a unique calling. The result is a clever blend that combines video game influence with larger-than-life battles, the characters’ emotional arcs anime-inspired and impactful. The beauty in Willows’ inspiration is the sheer versatility in genre and trope. Bloody Spade felt like an oddly satisfying combination of the mid-2000s — Sailor Moon, Kingdom Hearts, Chuunibyou, Persona, and D.Gray-Man – when it came to influences, but remained unique: a vividly imagined world built upon gorgeous details that brought magic to life.
His glowing irises flashed in her mind. Twin discs of captured flame. If eyes were a window to the soul, then his was ablaze, and she no longer knew how to stop the winds of his rage from whipping it into an inferno. Where once she was water, she had become gasoline.
– excerpt from Brittany M. Willows’ Bloody Spade
With a plot that plays on the age-old trope of good versus evil, Willows exceeds expectations by infusing the world with unforgettable color. Vivid imagery and emotional character arcs make Bloody Spade a mesmerizing urban fantasy. While I did question the inclusion of a few things – namely standardized test scores and VHS tapes – in a world that seems slightly more advanced than our own, Willows more than makes up for it with a vibrant setting and imaginative magic system. As someone who generally struggles with visualization, I greatly appreciated the immaculate attention to detail. Willows offers crisp, vivid descriptions of everything, bringing even the most minute details to life. From character appearances to weather and ambiance, not to mention settings, tastes, and sounds, I never once struggled to picture a scene. Bloody Spade was born to be an animated series or graphic novel. For the few gaps that do exist when it comes to world-building, Willows has fantastic, in-depth character and world guides available online that would benefit the text greatly as supplemental material in an appendix or glossary.
Pretending wasn’t forgetting. Pretending was simply an act of reminding herself what she was holding on for.
– excerpt from Brittany M. Willows’ Bloody Spade
Bloody Spade is an imaginative work of urban fantasy that pairs the emotional turmoil of a shōnen anime with sincere slice-of-life fantasy, all while normalizing the often-misrepresented aroace spectrum. Unapologetic when it comes to hard-hitting topics and trauma, Bloody Spade deftly explores difficult topics through an anime-inspired lens, all while promoting inclusivity, consent and vulnerability. An ode to finding yourself and overcoming hardship, Bloody Spade is an awe-inspiring, uplifting work of young adult fiction.
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