Dickens & Rumi

book

Blood of the wicked

Age rating, content warnings & parent guide

Leighton Gage · 2007

Is Blood of the wicked appropriate for your child? See the reviewed age guidance, content cautions, positive themes, and supporting evidence below.

Explore the age guidance, content cautions, positive qualities, and supporting notes for Blood of the wicked by Leighton Gage. This book is content notes include Death of a character, Religious themes, Violence; positive qualities include Courage & resilience, Diverse representation.

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10-second decision

Is this likely to fit your family?

Age guidanceNot listed
Strongest cautionsDeath of a character 4/5 · Religious themes 4/5 · Violence 4/5
Strongest positivesCourage & resilience 4/5 · Diverse representation 3/5
Recommendation3.3/5

Courage & resilience; strongest caution: death of a character.

This is the quick scan. Open the evidence and methodology below for the basis behind each rating.

Quick context

What parents should know

Courage & resilience; strongest caution: death of a character.

Readiness snapshotMain watch-out: Death of a character 4/5
Recommendation 3.3/5

Editorial rating

How this review was built

Dickens & Rumi editorial
Source checkedPublication method
16Scored categories
16Evidence notes
0Explicit 0/5 checks
Oct 23, 2026Last updated

Dickens & Rumi describes what is present; families decide what matters to them. Community reactions are kept separate from official content ratings.

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Review depth16 scored categories16 evidence notes
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At a glance

Recommended ageNot listed

Strongest cautions

  • Death of a character4/5
  • Religious themes4/5
  • Violence4/5

Strongest positives

  • Courage & resilience4/5
  • Diverse representation3/5
  • Good role models3/5

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What’s in it?

Death of a character4/5
Why this rating?

Multiple deaths are central to the plot, including murder victims and potentially colleagues.

Graphic injury3/5
Why this rating?

Includes clinical and sometimes graphic descriptions of crime scene injuries.

Strong language3/5
Why this rating?

Frequent use of strong language, consistent with gritty crime fiction.

Religious themes4/5
Why this rating?

Catholic priests, the Church and faith-related corruption are central to the murders and investigation, making religion a major theme.

Romance1/5
Why this rating?

Minimal focus on romance; relationships are secondary to the mystery.

Frightening scenes3/5
Why this rating?

A grim murder investigation includes killings, threats, intimidation and danger, creating sustained adult suspense without being primarily horror.

Sexual content & nudity1/5
Why this rating?

Sexual content appears limited to brief adult references or implied activity rather than detailed scenes.

Alcohol or drugs2/5
Why this rating?

Occasional consumption of alcohol by characters; not glamorized.

Violence4/5
Why this rating?

Contains realistic depictions of murder, police violence, and gritty confrontations.

What’s good in it?

Courage & resilience4/5
Why this rating?

Characters display significant bravery in the face of dangerous corruption.

Creativity & curiosity2/5
Why this rating?

Requires deductive reasoning to follow the investigative process.

Diverse representation3/5
Why this rating?

Features a diverse range of characters reflective of Brazilian society.

Educational value2/5
Why this rating?

Offers insight into Brazilian culture and politics.

Kindness & empathy2/5
Why this rating?

The protagonist shows concern for victims, but compassion is secondary to the investigation's grim crime, corruption and violence.

Positive messages3/5
Why this rating?

Explores the complexity of justice vs. corruption, with a nuanced moral focus.

Good role models3/5
Why this rating?

Mario Silva is a dedicated, albeit flawed, law enforcement officer.

Family discussion

Talk about it

Conversation starters based on this title’s published content notes.

  1. What did courage look like in this story? Was being brave always the same as being fearless?
  2. How did the story approach death or loss? What helped the characters cope?
  3. Which choice in Blood of the wicked would you have made differently, and why?
  4. Who changed the most in Blood of the wicked, and what caused that change?
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Community perspective — separate from editorial ratings

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