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REVIEW: The Witch’s Blood by Michele Notaro
The Ellwood Chronicles: The Witch’s Blood – Michele Notaro
I’ve been living with this burden for years, but my secret has finally been revealed and I feel like I can breathe again. I’ve wanted to ask—to beg—for help, but the spell that’s held me captive wouldn’t allow it. With it out in the open, I’m more determined than ever to break the seal from my chest so I can truly be free.
But what if my seal has something to do with one of the most feared prophecies of the millennium?
“A broken seal breaks the fragile hold…”
What does that mean? How am I connected? And why do I find myself so deeply drawn to Julius when I know my viramore, my soulmate, is out there somewhere? It’s not fair to either of us for me to lead Jules on, but it seems that my vampire companion is fierce in his determination to help me.
The Witch’s Blood is the third book in The Ellwood Chronicles and is a continuation of the overall story as we follow Emrys, Julius, Sebastian, and Ailin on their journey. It contains explicit material and is intended for mature adults 18 years of age and older.
Recommended Reading Order:
The Enchanter’s Flame
The Witch’s Seal
The Enchanter’s Soul
The Witch’s Blood
That damn long-ass prophesy continues to haunt the Ellwoods. This time, it’s all about Emrys and the seal that cost him everything.
Em was part of the Ellwoods coven and also Ailin’s ex-boyfriend who, for reasons unknown at that time, betrayed them. Or so, they thought. It was Sebastian who finally shed some light when he saw that there was a seal on the witch’s chest, preventing him from telling Ailin and the coven the truth.
Reading the books in sequence is the best way to get to know the Ellwoods. I liked how each book build up on the previous one. There are a lot of things going on but it’s not as overwhelming as other urban fantasy books (*side eyes Soulbound*) and it never loses sight of the main thread.
The series is full of magical creatures up the wazoo, either making it on page or name-dropped. Each creature has its own magic. I do wish we get more details about the magic systems or creature abilities. What we know is that witches have different magical affinities, ex. Ailin has nature magic. Enchanters have their own special magic but what makes it different from witch abilities was not explained.
The Witch’s Blood is as riveting and magical as the first two books but with more bloodsucking. The romance takes focus but is nicely integrated with the prophesy and the overarching thread. Since this is the third book, the world is already established so there not so much info-dump.
The book picks up on the aftermath of the ogre battle where the Ellwoods’ nearly lost Seb. Em is now with his friend/lover Julius, a vampire, in coven grounds as they try to recuperate. This is where they, Julius in particular, constantly butted heads with Ailin as they try to find a way to break the seal while trying to keep all the coven members safe.
The story is presented through four POVs, Emrys, Julius, Ailin and Sebastian. This is very effective in showing the group dynamics and how each character developed as their world descends into chaos.
Sage Ailin continues to take responsibility for everything because the witch just loves to bear the weight of the world on his shoulders. He is a giant asshole but we all know A’s heart is in the right place because he couldn’t resist bringing home yet another stray. Seb is forever the peacekeeper, defusing the easily triggered A everytime his viramore (soulmate) gets ticked off.
I was already invested in Em and Jules since the previous books and I’m glad that the author gave them their own story. Emrys is a death witch. He has magical affinity for dead things. I think it’s very apt that his partner is a vampire. It adds an extra kick to their relationship because he could very easily control the undead.
I love how Jules really shine here. You gotta love his devotion to his witch. The vampire is all about keeping Em safe. Once you read about his past, you will love him even more. Regularly drinking a witch’s blood gives him access to their powers. He could use it anytime he wishes. But would he?
This is what’s fascinating about Em and Jules’ relationship. There are many nuances to their relationship, much more so than Ailin and Seb. Later, it turned out that they are even more deeply connected.
A big hug goes to Tobi, Julius’ fledgling. I don’t know why everybody was threatening the guy, he was a cinnamon roll! If A didn’t make him part of his coven, I would have hexed the damn witch. Luckily, A has a soft spot for lost creatures.
And me, I have a soft spot for the Ellwoods a mile wide. Why can’t those evil creatures leave them alone?
We’re near the end of the prophesy. Armies gather. War is here. Another horrid monster rises out of some Goddess-forsaken hole. You can bet one of these Ellwoods is going to make the ultimate sacrifice.
I can’t wait for the final book!!!!
P.S.
Review of The Enchanter’s Flame here.
Review of The Enchanter’s Soul here.Rating:
4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bitsSoundtrack: Blood Sings
Artist: Suzanne Vega
Album: -
BOOK TOUR: Broken Triangle by Elle W. Silver (Excerpt & Giveaway)
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NEW RELEASE BLITZ: Forbidden Bond by Lee Colgin (Excerpt & Giveaway)
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REVIEW: Prophesy Book II: Bringer of Wrath by A.E. Via
King & Alpha: Prophesy Book II: Bringer of Wrath – A.E. Via
Shifter and Vampire True Mates story.
Alek’s older brother, Justice—the Alpha Zenith—was the first shifter to mate with a vampire in many generations, and it was believed the rare, fated pairing would stop at him. But, it hadn’t. Aleksei ‘Alek’ Volkov was second beta, next in succession to the most powerful shifter in the world. He was proud of his title and he took his duties seriously. It was all he had. Until his true mate literally showed up on his doorstep.
While his brother—the overachiever—excelled at having a vampire as a mate, Alek wasn’t that optimistic he would. He wasn’t averse to love, and he’d often thought of how different his life could’ve turned out if he’d ever experienced the emotion. His life was a mess and he’d worn a mask of stability for a majority of that time, only showing his siblings and pack what they needed to see—a strong Volkov alpha. Not the damaged man he was, with a tortured soul and a rogue wolf.
Alek dropped his heavy head in his hands.Now, for some reason, I’ve been granted a true vampire mate.And not just any vampire.The intimidating Belleron Liatos.Lord High to the King and the leader of his army.
Belleron ‘Bell’ Liatos had come to the states for one reason—his best friend and Vampire King, Chadwick Bentley. He certainly didn’t come to be pounced on by a wolf that could act independently of its master. Not only was his destined cherished a complicated and confused man; but he was also unaware of the powerful presence that lurked in the shadows of his soul. Bell didn’t know he’d be the key to unlocking an exceptional triad that would play a critical role in fulfilling the prophesy.
This story DOES NOT contain or even mention MPREG.
No multiple pairings. No cliffhangers. Ends with a very HFN.Warning:This book is M/M paranormal:If you DO NOT like alpha men shifting into large wolves, or vampires feeding from their destined beloveds, than this may not be the novel for you.
I liked this better. I wanted to like it more.
The second book of the King & Alpha series brought together the second-in-commands. Belleron is the bestfriend of King Bentley and Lord High of the Vampires. He is always impeccably dressed and strove to excel at all things. Aleksei was the second beta and next in line to the Alpha Zenith. He’s a genuine, down to earth guy who has a lot of inner conflict. Their story had more things happening compared to the first book, starting with Alek having multiple personalities.
Alek has his human self, his wolf self and something much darker within him. He can transition seamlessly between all three if they so willed. This created an interesting dynamic with his mate. It was, in a way, an MMMM love story involving two individuals. I totally loved how Bell embraced all of Alek’s selves unconditionally. Though, I kind of suspect his favorite is the dark one because that’s my favorite too.
Back in book one, Prophesy, Alek lost control of his wolf and latched on to Bell when the vampire showed up at their doorstep. Alek was filled with shame and was too embarrassed to meet Bell again. The second book started with Alek and Bell trying to get to know each other.
The first quarter of Bringer of Wrath was the exciting part. Bell had to go on a mission to London to apprehend rogue vampires raiding their tombs. His troops were overwhelmed and he was captured. Alek decided to go rescue him despite his natural shifter fear of flying. His younger brother and sister went with him. Things were pretty intense here.
I liked that this first quarter brought focus to bigger issues in the vampire/shifter world. But sadly, the rest of the book fell short. I wasn’t exactly bored but I wasn’t that excited either. It wasn’t a Mating 101 thing, like Wick and Justice. The romance was actually sweet and enjoyable but it took over the book and completely overshadowed the politics and the world-building.
Some work could have done to make the world-building much more solid, like providing more details on what exactly are these antagonists fighting for? Because for all appearances, Wick was a good king and so is Justice as the AZ. What is the say of humans in this scenario? Since gods were mentioned, what kinds of pantheons exist and how do they influence the world? And that damn prophesy. The book only paid lip service to it. You can take it out of the story and it would still work just fine. I’m guessing there’s a huge endgame in store so here’s hoping the prophesy aspect will be put to good use.
The strength of this series lies on the characters. Many characters stood out. I liked them all enough to make me want to follow their stories. The villains were throwaways though but I’m okay with that.
I was disappointed with the ending. I wanted Bell to have his moment but sadly his much awaited revenge was pre-empted by the introduction of a new character. Said character had the third brother, Mac’s hackles up. Their butting of heads almost made up for Bell’s lost moment.
Overall, Bringer of Wrath is a much improved sequel to Prophesy. It has similar issues when it comes to balancing the elements of the plot but it has more substance and more developments. I do wish the author strengthen the plots and the overarching threads because the backbones of the series is interesting. I want to find out more about what’s happening in the King & Alpha world so I’m still here for the next one.
P.S.
Prophesy review here
Rating:
3 Stars – not exactly setting my world on fire but I liked itSoundtrack: You Belong To Me
Artist: Cat Pierce
Album: CP1 -
REVIEW: Prophesy by A.E. Via
King & Alpha: Prophesy – A.E. Via
An Enemies to Lovers
Shifter, Vampire True Mates story.Justice Volkov is the youngest Alpha Zenith to ever lead the wolf shifters. Following in his father’s large paw prints was a responsibility he met head on. Now at age thirty-three, he is alpha of the alphas. As a direct descendant of the original Siberian pack, his wolf is bigger and stronger than Justice, himself is sometimes able to control.
His wolf howled long and hard but Justice kept it inside. It felt like a bass drum beating against his rib cage. The harsh breaths, angry snarls and the determined pacing inside him was overtaking him.
Justice takes his role of leadership and his legacy very seriously. He has little time for romance, not to mention a true mate. His packs are his priority. With a human government trying to regulate them, an uprising of rogue shifters, and a violent team of scientists trying to experiment on them, Justice has his hands way too full.
Chadwick ‘Wick’ Bentley is not enthusiastic when the captain of his escort tells him he has to leave his comfortable London home and go back to the States. As the Vampire King, he has no choice but to get his species back in line before they cause anymore chaos. At over one-hundred years old, Wick is no one to trifle with, but his smooth, charismatic manner makes him quite unique, despite the negative reputation vampires have. Wick has had nothing but time up to this point. He doesn’t feel the need to make issues pressing. Nothing is urgent in his life. Until he meets Justice. His beloved.
“Natural enemies can’t be mates.” Or so Justice thought. He knows his skepticism and rejection is hurting his mate, so while he fights their connection, Wick gets help from a source very close to Justice to help him win his beloved’s heart. Wick is a force all on his own, but when he’s blessed with a special gift from the Mother herself, not even Justice’s powerful wolf can prevent the prophesy from being fulfilled.
This story DOES NOT contain/mention MPREG.
No multiple pairings. No cliffhangers. It ends with a very HFN.Warning: This book is MM paranormal: If you DO NOT like hot, alpha men shifting into large wolves, or vampires feeding from their mates, this may not be your read.
Tsk! This could have been epic. This could have been the vampire/shifter series of my dreams.
Instead, it was so focused on Mating 101, it lost sight of the much bigger picture. That of the prophesy and IMHO, the more interesting vampire/shifter politics. I was mentally urging Justice and Wick to hurry up, sate their mate lust and focus on their duties at hand. As the Alpha Zenith and the King, they have jobs to do, for fuck’s sake.
Don’t get me wrong, I signed up because I wanted to see a vampire mate with a wolf. I was all hyped up for those hate-filled USTs. Their first meeting, holy hell, that was something! But after they got along and started resolving their tensions, I got bored. And that was practically what 90% of the book was about. It felt like nothing was happening.
It also felt like going through a checklist of shifter mating rituals. The sniffing, the mating, the marking, the possessiveness, the challenging and so on. This is fine. I get it. I could appreciate it. But can they please do something else too? Like deal with the threats to their world?
The ‘things that were happening’ were unfortunately crammed in the last 10% of the book. There were humans who were experimenting on shifters and vampires and rebel packs working with them. It irked me that these were barely talked about at all, practically almost an afterthought. They were dealt mostly off-page. Meh.
And that titular prophecy. It should have been a big deal but the impact was minimized due to the aforemention non-events. Again, meh.
Rant, I did but I will read the rest of the series. This is me hoping things will get better as it progressed. And like I said, I do get a kick out of a vampire+shifter couple. I love enemies-to-lovers stories. Add paranormal elements and I am all heart-eyes.
So yeah *sigh*, I wanted to like this so much.
Rating:
2.5 Stars – far from hate but not quite a like -
REVIEW: The Vampire’s Club 4 by X. Aratare
Lucas Daniels is in danger!
Not from his mysterious new job, but from someone in his own house: his stepfather. Just when he thought Garrett’s intentions were all in his head, his stepfather’s actions send him running to Dyavol and Konstantin for protection.
Count Konstantin “the Wolf” Volk will do anything to protect Lucas, and not only because Lucas’ blood may be curing him. When he finds Lucas under threat from every corner, he’ll do things he never thought possible in order to keep the young man safe. Cutting deals with ancient dangerous vampires, testing the bounds of his curse, even opening up the heart of his vampire Sanctuary itself to a mere mortal. Nothing is off limits.
But while Konstantin is focused on keeping Lucas safe, could the real person in danger be Konstantin himself?
For me, the hardest books to review are the rare 5-star books. There is the very real temptation to simply fill the page with incoherent squees and emojis bursting with heart eyes and stars and exclamation marks. So excuse me just a sec.
The Wolf is claimed!!!!!! ♡☆*:.｡.o(≧▽≦)o.｡.:*☆♡ !!!!!!!
And holy mother that elevator scene!!! (❤ω❤) !!!!!!!
“Anything? Everything?” ヽ(>∀<☆)ノ｡o○♡ !!!!!!!
Now that’s out of the way…
Book 4 of The Vampire’s Club finally has the evil stepfather making his move on Lucas (TW: sexual harrassment). The Volk family, the awesome Lizzie and the paranoid (and vocal) Xavier in particular, rallied to Lucas’ aid. They attempted their powers of seduction on Lucas’ mother to make her see the truth regarding the incident. However, they were met with the strongest mental barrier they have ever encountered. The evil stepfather has a mental wall as well…
I could understand the spell on Lucas’ mom but the evil stepfather too? Hmm…
On a happier note, we are getting a LOT of Lucas and Konstantin! Hence the explosion of emotions above. The plot thickens some more as two arch-enemies meet face to face. I am on tenterhooks!
What exactly is Gaia’s plans for the vampires? Are witches and vampires truly enemies? Is Lucas the Trojan Horse the Nomad suspects he is? Will Lucas realize what Konstantin really is? Will Konstantin ever tell him?
TELL HIM DAMMIT!!! Make him your fledgling!!!
The Vampire’s Club continues to work it magic. I am completely enthralled. Let it seduce you too.
P.S.
The serial should be read in order. TVC books here
X. Aratare books hereRating:
5 Stars – absolutely perfect -
REVIEW: Not Dead Yet by Jenn Burke
Not Dead Yet – Jenn Burke
Dying isn’t what it used to be.
Wes Cooper was dead. Then he wasn’t—though he’s not exactly alive, either. As an immortal not-ghost, he can transition between this world and the otherplane, which makes him the perfect thief for hire. For seventy years he’s made a “living” returning items to their rightful owners, seeing his fair share of the bizarre in the process. But he’s never witnessed murder. Until now.
His latest mission brings him more than he bargained for: a very-dead actor who is definitely going to stay that way. It’s just Wes’s luck that his ex-boyfriend, Detective Hudson Rojas, is assigned to the case. Hudson broke Wes’s heart years ago—and could again, given he’s rocking a hot silver-fox look that shouldn’t be legal.
As they work together to track down the murderer before anyone else gets hurt, it becomes clear Wes and Hudson have unfinished business. And when a secret Hudson’s been keeping threatens more than just their happiness, it might mean the end of their not-life together—permanently.
This book is approximately 91,000 words
Not Dead Yet by Jenn Burke has one of the most unique premises I’ve encountered for a while, putting a fresh spin on the ghost lover trope.
First, it’s set in Toronto and I can’t even remember the last time I’ve read a book with a Canadian setting. So that’s a big plus. Also, Wesley Cooper is a not-ghost. He’s 110 years old, killed by a lover in 1933 and brought back to life by his lover’s sister who was a witch.
Wes works as a ‘recovery specialist’ aka glorified thief who retrieves certain items per client request. He can become a ghost and go to the other plane at will, which is a very useful ability for his job because ‘no breaking, just entering‘. He has not aged in a century and forever looks in his 20s.
The other MC is Detective Hudson Rojas, Wes’ ex-boyfriend, with whom he parted in not so good terms. They met in the 80s when people were not open to gay relationships especially in the police force. They met again when Wes was involved in a murder case. Hud turned out to be quite the silver fox at 58. Interestingly, he stopped aging in his 30s (he turned grey early) because, well, you’ll see.
These established the backbones of a highly entertaining paranormal mystery. The world-building came naturally. Nothing too complicated on the surface, very magical realism feels. But as I get deeper into the story, it became obvious that there’s more to this than merely witches and ghosts. There’s so many fun things you can do with this set-up and different avenues to explore.
The story is told in Wes’ POV. I loved his ‘voice’. Wes is very open with his feelings. He could be a tad dramatic sometimes but his thoughts never failed to be funny.
Hudson is the opposite of Wes. He’s grumpy and blunt. He was an asshole to Wes many times. As in, downright insulting at some instances. Then just like that, he turns on the charm. The hot and cold treatment should have been a turn off but Jenn Burke pulled it off really well and I can’t even dislike Hudson that much. He had his reasons.
I really enjoyed the slow-burn, second chance romantic subplot. It was integrated nicely to the story. It’s pretty obvious that the spark was still strong which was highlighted by how easily they traded zingers as if they never parted. And since slow-burn is my jam, I get a thrill out of the whole process of catching up, dancing around barely suppressed feelings and hashing it out.
It’s not just the romantic chemistry between them. I liked how the the contract thief and the police detective worked together in the case. Their shared history and complimenting abilities was put to good use in the investigation. Their partnership came together through necessity but they just clicked on many levels.
Very likable supporting cast too, with Lexi, Wesley’s witch bestfriend and the great grandaughter of the witch who brought Wes to life. There’s also Evan, somebody they adopted because Hudson accidentally killed him when Wes appeared out of nowhere. I appreciated the found family thing forming for these people who always end up alone as their loved ones come and go through the decades.
The book also has a good ace rep. Wes is demisexual and Hudson is one of the rare few who did it for him. Appropriately, it’s a low heat book with only one sex scene. Low heat or no heat makes reading more convenient for me because it usually means less pages to skip.
The mystery was a well-written one. For one of his jobs, Wes had to retrieved an item from the house of an actress, only to walk in on her being strangled by a shadowy being. Who suddenly looked directly at Wes while he was still in his ghostly form. That should have been impossible!
Not Dead Yet effectively blended police procedural and paranormal. It kept me engage all throughout the story and kept me in the dark until the big reveal. I had a few suspects but then there were more mysterious agendas from mysterious masterminds in action. And with this, things unraveled fast. The two men were in a whole world of trouble!
The story ended with a great jumping off point for the next book. Wes and Hudson came to an agreement. Major career changes were planned. Something is happening to Wes and he doesn’t know what. I need to find out more ASAP!
Overall, Not Dead Yet is shaping up to be a very promising series. It’s heavy on humor, light on spook, with a just the right balance of romance, mystery and paranormal that really worked for me. Recommended if you like your ghosts sassy, your detectives gruff and your stories twisty.
Rating:
4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bitsSoundtrack: Ghost
Artist: Parachute
Album: Losing Sleep -
REVIEW: The Vampire’s Club 3 by X. Aratare
The Vampire’s Club 3 – X. Aratare
Lucas Daniels must be protected!
Lucas Daniel starts his job at Club Dyavol, but, immediately, he wonders what he’s gotten himself into. Though the patrons are wealthy, glamorous and remind him of nobles from an earlier age, Lucas senses that they are dangerous as well. Yet he still feels safe within Dyavol’s walls, because of Count Konstantin “the Wolf” Volk’s watchful eye on him through the club’s many cameras.
Count Konstantin “the Wolf” Volk believes that Lucas’ blood can cure his curse, and Lucas’ companionship could ease his isolation. But he needs to keep the young man secret, because drinking the blood of a witch could start a war between vampires and witches once more. Yet when the leader of the Vampire Council arrives at Dyavol’s doors on Lucas’ first night of work, Konstantin must let him in, and somehow keep Lucas’ true identity hidden.
***TRIGGER WARNINGS: mentions of child abuse and paedophilia***
PURE LOVE!!! ♡＾▽＾♡
The Vampire’s Club is the ongoing saga of a boy and his Wolf. It’s written as a serial and cliffy as fuck which drives readers crazy. The pain is worth it.
It’s Lucas’ first day at work and Konstantin assigned Collette and Darrell to watch over him. A human in a vampire club is nothing but prey. Also, Lucas was not suppose to know what the place really was. Many times during the course of the evening, trouble reared its malicious head and he was saved by members of Konstantin’s vampire family. But really, the boy didn’t need saving. I loved the way he took control of the Angelis situation and the scene where he put the arrogant Marius in his place was a major fuck yeah team human moment! Marius was so conceited yet so clueless, it was almost comical.
Konstantin’s past!!! ☆*:.｡.o(≧▽≦)o.｡.:*☆
The Wolf was a young man in Russia 250 years ago when he met the Nomad. It was a tragic encounter. Konstantin’s mother was dying and his father, desperate for a cure, contacted occultists and sinister beings. One of these was a dark entity known as the Nomad who was said to grant eternal life in exchanged for blood.
I am over the moon about learning Konstantin’s past, how he met the Nomad and his great love for his mother. And while it appeared that the Nomad was nothing but a cold-hearted monster who abandoned his Childe, I know deep down he loved his Fledgling because he’s watching over Konstantin in some guise or another. I think I know who. ( ರ Ĺ̯ ರೃ ) And I can’t say this enough, the Nomad and his alter ego need a book of their own.
Mothers are key figures in this series and I’m pretty sure who that Angelina Jolie look-alike Lucas met at the end of the book. Fathers were also a big deal. Lucas has issues with his step-father while Konstantin had complicated relationships with his biological father, The Nomad and his adopted Sire, Arsene Reynard.
This is the kind of story where you use the word “enthralled” because there is that palpable feeling of being under a spell. X. Aratare is very effective at making me feel her words and with narrator, Ethan Holtan, they worked perfectly together to keep me mesmerized. The story was very suspenseful and dramatic without going over the top. And the zing between Konstantin and Lucas was unbelievable! I got the goosies. It was 5 hours and 4 mins of my life well spent.
So many hints and revelations, still so many mysteries. Will Arsene’s plan work? Will the Nomad reveal his secrets? Will Konstantin be cured? Will Lucas finally realize what’s really going on? Does he have special powers? And why does the boy need to claim the Wolf?
Here I am dying for that next book. (✖﹏✖)
P.S.
The Vampire’s Club books here
Rating:
5 Stars – absolutely perfectSoundtrack: This Is Home
Artist: I Am Ghost
Album: Lovers’ Requiem -
REVIEW: All Souls Near & Nigh by Hailey Turner
Soulbound: All Souls Near & Nigh – Hailey Turner
You can’t bargain with death if you’ve already sold your soul.
Special Agent Patrick Collins has been reassigned by the Supernatural Operations Agency to New York City. Navigating his new relationship with Jonothon de Vere, the werewolf he’s now soulbound to, is nothing compared to dealing with territorial disputes between the vampires and werecreatures who call the five boroughs home. But the delicate treaties that have kept the preternatural world in check are fraying at the edges, and the fallout is spilling into the mundane world.
Manhattan’s club scene is overrun with the vampire drug known as shine and the subways have become a dumping ground for bodies. When the dead are revealed as missing werecreatures, Patrick and Jono find themselves entangled in pack politics twisted by vampire machinations.
Learning to trust each other comes with problems for both of them, and the gods with a stake in Patrick’s soul debt aren’t finished with him yet. Bound by promises they can’t break, Patrick and Jono must find a way to survive a threat that takes no prisoners and is stalking them relentlessly through the city streets.
Old and new betrayals are coming home to roost but the truth—buried in blood—is more poisonous than the lies being spun. Trying to outrun death is a nightmare—one Patrick may never wake up from.
All Souls Near & Nigh is a 104k word m/m urban fantasy with a gay romantic subplot and a HFN ending. It is a direct sequel to A Ferry of Bones & Gold, and reading the first book in the series would be helpful in enjoying this one. Please see the disclaimer at the beginning of the book for content some readers may find triggering.
***Trigger warnings include a character forced to take drugs then later sexually molested and an alternate version of the holocaust.***
I absolutely loved the Soulbound universe Hailey Turner created. It the kind of richly realized, highly immersive world where literally anything’s possible and a typical day goes from morning sex to adopting a dragon to going toe to toe with the Goddess of Death.
All Souls Near & Nigh is the second book. It brought the Aztec pantheon into the scene. Dead were-creatures were found and Patrick was called in to investigate. He and Jono crossed paths with a certain DEA Agent ‘Juan Delgado’ who was really Quetzalcoatl or as Patrick liked to say, ‘Pretzel’. The god revealed that his brother Tezcatlipoca was currently courting Santa Muerte and was using the independent were-creatures as sacrifice. This last part had Jono butting heads with the New York City god pack alphas who were not doing their jobs protecting the were-creatures. And, as if dealing with gods weren’t bad enough, Lucien, the master vampire, was calling in Patrick’s debt by demanding he helped him take over the Manhanttan night court. In the midst of it all was a teenage dragon who can’t stop eating.
One of Patrick’s defining features was his inability to say no which time and time again entangled him in one dangerous scheme after another. He rushes head first into a situation, rarely pauses to think or ask for help and all too often ready to sacrifice himself to save others. Good thing Jono’s got his back. The god pack alpha was always there to pick him up and patch him up and the mage is now allowing himself to rely on the werewolf. Pat’s learning to trust. Attaboy!
A major part of the story was Jono’s character development as he confronted the NY god pack alphas and his own pack grew. I loved how he’s so loyal, caring and reliable. He came through for Pat and their pack every single time. Very much looking forward to seeing him unleash Fenrir, hopefully in book 3. Time to own it, Jono!
In this installment, we get a lot of Jono’s POV and I enjoyed seeing their relationship progressed through his eyes. There were a gazillion other things going on but Patrick and Jono’s tender moments when they came were subtle and sweet. As I said before, I really liked how the romantic subplot was done. It was beautiful and memorable without taking over the entire story.
Like in the first book, A Ferry Of Bones & Gold, the second book has magic up the wazoo, which is how it should be done if you have a book filled to the brim with magic users and mythical creatures. It’s a peeve of mine when the books about magic users skimp on the magic, like, a couple of minor spells here and there, a big spell for the grand finale. Also, if the practitioner is a beginner, you have to deal with learning curves. That’s meh. So extra points for the series starting with Patrick already an active mage and quite a powerful one even with his damaged soul so we can expect big bad-ass spells early on.
The book has a huge cast with many recurring characters plus new appearances as well. Even with this many characters, Hailey Turner did a great job making most of them stand out. Though there were still some confusing parts, a glossary was helpfully provided at the end of the book. Also, bits and pieces of information was revealed throughout while making a conscious effort to avoid info-dump. The pacing was fast and the momentum was maintained consistently even with all the numerous need-to-knows. The author was also able to deftly juggle multiple major and minor threads and brought them together in an explosion of magic and blood. All in all, it was an outstanding sequel to an epic series.
All Souls Near & Nigh closed with some loose ends left open for a third book and another dangerous mission for Patrick to risk his life for. Huge changes were afoot. Gods have risen and fallen. The vampire leadership has shifted. The god packs are in a fractious state. The Dominion Sect has stolen a powerful artifact and War is owed her due. Will Patrick and Jono survive what’s coming?
P.S.
Book I, A Ferry Of Bones & Gold here
Rating:
4.5 Stars – perfection is only half a step awaySoundtrack: Santa Muerte
Artist: Monika Brodka
Album: Clashes -
REVIEW: The Vampire’s Club 2 by X. Aratare
Lucas Daniels is mine!
That is what vampire Count Konstantin “the Wolf” Volk declares to his Vampire House, and even to his Sire, the ancient, dangerous vampire known only as the Nomad. His Sire wants Lucas dead. His closest advisers want Lucas enslaved. Because Lucas is no ordinary human.
Lucas finds himself eager to start work at Club Dyavol, even though his memories of his time there are hazy. There is one image burned into his memory: a set of brilliant green eyes that turned red. But no matter what awaits him at the elegant club, he is certain it is better than being around his overly attentive stepfather.
But is Lucas running from potential danger to a certain one?
These books come with a warning but still, gad, those cliffhangers!!!
Konstantin is still feeling the effects of Lucas’ blood and imagining a passionate night in the shower with Lucas that seemed oh so real. Meanwhile, Lucas is having one hell of a dream where he claims his Wolf and then a mysterious stranger appeared outside his window. The stranger tried to enter but was repelled by a ward. Lucas wakes up, not sure if it really happened. He goes to the club to start his job and while crossing the street he was nearly hit by a car. Konstantin, who was standing outside the balcony anticipating his arrival, saw the accident and collapsed.
Totally loved where this is going!
It was Lucas’ turn to get possessive. He wouldn’t even let anybody touch Konstantin, not even Xavier. Lucas and Konstantin talked. It was heartfelt and sweet. My heart turned to mush ♡( ◡‿◡ )
Lucas was introduced to Konstantin’s vampire family. It was super adorable the way Lucas and Lizzy bonded. I want more cute scenes from the two of them.
On the flip side, Lucas’ stepdad is a creep. I hate people who make unwanted physical contact and I get the heebie jeebies from him touching Lucas. I’m hoping he’ll just go away but I expect he’ll cause trouble later on. Like, really BIG trouble.
Konstantin gets a visit from his Sire, The Nomad, who was concerned about Lucas’ effect on his fledgling. There’s angst coming from Konstantin and some events and people were alluded to that hopefully would be explored later on. All very mysterious and enticing which only sucked me deeper into this immersive paranormal universe.
Also, once again, it needs to be mentioned, outstanding narration from Ethan Holtan! I loved how he made everything come alive. I hope he narrates more books.
Book 2 ended with the arrival of the Council who demanded to speak to Konstantin and Lucas is right there! How will The Wolf explain a human working in Club Dyavol? How will he keep Lucas safe? Lucas appears to have some magical connections but is he the key?
I need answers stat! The suspense is killing me!
P.S.
The Vampire’s Club Book 1 here
Rating:
4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bitsSoundtrack: Temptation Waits
Artist: Garbage
Album: Version 2.0
