Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore – a Review

Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore – a Review

Bitterblue is the third book of Kristin Cashore’s Graceling Realm series.  Bitterblue picks up 8 years after the death of her father, the evil King Leck. Bitterblue is now at 18, the Queen of Monsea.  Though 8 years have passed since her rise to the throne, the people of Monsea are still recovering from the evil Kings 35 year reign of terror and horrific torture.  The story starts off with Bitterblue bogged down in paperwork, given to her by her trusted advisors.  She is tired and bored, and she yearns to know more about her country and what happens outside of her castle. But no one listens to her, and she has to stay under the protection of her advisors and guards.

Bitterblue discovers the library, and begins to read cryptic books about her mother and father.  She begins to question her advisors, who though they have been with her all her life, they keep avoiding talking about those horrible days.  Bitterblue starts to have strange feelings that something is being hidden from her.  She decides to explore more on her own, and in disguise, she sneaks out many nights to see what is happening in the towns near her.  Bitterblue discovers a pub that has storytellers, and they do talk about sordid details of King Leck’s reign, which opens her eyes to things she was not aware of, or cannot remember. 

On one of the excursions, she meets two thieves, who in time become her friends, though they do not know she is the Queen of Monsea.  Saf, short for Sapphire, becomes more then just a friend, but he is reckless, and brings danger to her.  Listening to the stories about the bad days, and how they all perceive her as Queen, and learning things from her new friends, Bitterblue suspects that she is being lied to from her trusted advisors. 

Working with her librarian, Death (spoken as Deeth), they look at all the old books, many of which Death is resurrecting, as his Grace is remembering everything he reads. She also begins to discover so many hidden rooms in the catacombs of the castle, that her father used for his dastardly deeds.  The amazing thing about this story, is how Cashore brings in puzzles, and so many, in different ciphers, & languages,  and making it so believable, though complex. As she begins to learn the truth, Bitterblue’s life becomes threatened, and she has to rely on old friends to keep her safe.  This is some of the best parts of the book, that we get to see a lot of Katsa, Po, Raffin, Giddeon, and Fire nearer to the end.  We also meet so many new and interesting characters, both good and bad….Helga, Fox, Hava, Saf, just to name a few.

The last 1/3 of the book is filled with surprises, twists, and mostly betrayal, as Bitterblue begins to find out the truth, hidden behind so many lies, even if it was meant to protect her.  Bitterblue has to rise above the pain from those discoveries, and be the Queen who must bring Monsea back from those terrifying years.  You can’t help but feel sorry for Bitterblue, as one after another she suffers from the knowledge of how deep the betrayals her within her own castle. 

Overall, I thought Kristin Cashore wrote another great book in this series.  However, there was so much detail, complexity, not a lot of action, that I felt made this book, not quite as good as the first book Graceling, or even the prequel Fire.  But with that said, it is a writing of an excellent author. 

Reviewed by Barb

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Kiss of Snow by Nalini Singh

Kiss of Snow by Nalini Singh

Kiss of Snow is the 10th book in Nalini Singh’s wonderful Psy/Changeling series.  Kiss of Snow is also the long awaited story of Hawke and Sienna. 

We have known about the Laurens from the start of this series, as they are defected Psy’s, who came to Snow Dancer to save the lives of the children.  Hawke, the Alpha of Snow Dancer, allowed them all to live, and become part of their changeling world.  They have hidden from the outside world, as they were deemed to be dead, and only the Dark River Changelings knew of the Laurens. 

Sienna Lauren, who is now only 19, is expected to be the most powerful Psy.  She has spent her early years learning to control her powers, and to fight her attraction to Hawke. Their relationship has always been intense, as they constantly fought each other.  Hawke, at first frustrated with Sienna, struggles with his growing feelings for her.  It is important to note, that Sienna is not like most 19 year old girls.  Her experiences starting at 5 years old in the PsyNet, especially under the evil Ming, has made her mentally old in years.  Sienna can no longer handle her feelings for Hawke, nor that he refuses to look at her as a young woman, but as a child. She decides to take matters in her own hands. His jealousy changes things, when he realizes he must pursue her, or he will lose her to another male. 

What I loved about Hawke and Sienna’s romance, was how Singh handled it.  When Hawke finally started pursuing Sienna, he did it slowly.  Having a little fun playing games; just getting the feel of each other being close; talking freely and truly getting know one another.  He forced his wolf to go slow and not rush things, and when the time came to consummate the relationship, it was beautifully done. Despite his taking extra care not to hurt Sienna, and ensure her dangerous powers stayed under control, we still were able to feel the emotions, and scorching passion between them.  Well done Nalini.

Throughout the story, it was constantly stressed how powerful Sienna was, as possibly the only Cardinal X-Psy alive.  An X-Psy, with fire, was considered extremely dangerous, and uncontrollable, and most were eliminated years ago, as they were like a major nuclear weapon. Knowing full well about who and what she is, Sienna learned to control her powers, with the help of Judd, Sascha and Faith.  She lived in fear that she could be the cause of hurting all those she has come to love within the Snow Dancer and Dark River group.  But the danger remained, that if she reached a critical stage, there would be no way to maintain that control.

I have always loved Hawke, his sense of humor, especially with Lucas and Sascha; his strength, and loyalty to his pack.  Even though we have known Sienna for a long time, I totally loved her in this book.  Her strength against such odds, her confidence, her love for her family and friends, and her utmost love of Hawke, was wonderful to see.  Sienna showed that the power of love can shut down Silence, as she was willing to give up her life for all of them. 

I always enjoy the way Singh continues to keep all the other characters from the previous books in her storylines, and many of them played a big part in this story.  Walker Lauren finally has his own romance in this one with Lara, the Snow Dancer healer. I enjoyed seeing both of them, and it was great to see them together. Both Judd and Walker were instrumental in this story, as they are family to Sienna.  We got to see Sascha and Lucas again, and I love how both packs are now fully together.  

Back to Hawke and Sienna, I was so moved near the end, with Hawke pouring his heart out to Sienna.  It was very emotional, as Singh powerfully does with just words that blew us away.

Nalini Singh’s continues to do a wonderful job with keeping things evolving and changing in each book with this worldbuilding, as the war comes closer.  In Kiss of Snow, the war is escalated, and both Snow Dancer and Dark River must rise up to face some of the Psy council members, & the Pure Psy group, who are amassing a massive attack.  This was exciting from beginning to end, but the last third of the book was awesome.  Once again, bravo to Nalini Singh for keeping the Psy/Changeling series fresh, and exciting even now in the 10th book.  I for one hope she continues for a long while with this series.   

Reviewed by BARB

 

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THE PROPHET (The Graveyard Queen #3) by Amanda Stevens-a review

THE PROPHET (The Graveyard Queen #3) by Amanda Stevens

THE PROPHET (The Graveyard Queen #3) by Amanda Stevens

From Amanda’s website:

Never acknowledge the dead.
Never stray far from hallowed ground.
Never associate with those who are haunted.
Never, ever tempt fate.

My name is Amelia Gray. I am a cemetery restorer who sees ghosts. In order to protect myself from the parasitic nature of the dead, I’ve always held fast to the rules passed down from my father.

THE PROPHET is the third instalment (April 2012) in The Graveyard Queen paranormal series by Amanda Stevens. Amelia Gray is a caulbearer-born behind the veil in the Gray-the place between the Light and the Dark. With her ability to see and speak to ghosts, Amelia dismisses her father’s warning and inadvertently acknowledges a couple of ghosts who’s spirits have refused to move on. But these ghosts have a history-one is the young daughter (Shani) of her ex-lover and the other is a cop murdered in one of the cemeteries that Amelia was restoring-and somehow these two ghosts were haunting Amelia for her help.

The ghosts are drawn through the veil (The Gray) by a hunger for human warmth or a desire to rejoin the living. But there are some who continue to be earthbound-beyond their control-when a lover or family member refuses to let go.

John Devlin is a police officer and Amelia’s ex-lover. He does not understand why Amelia has pushed him away. But Devlin is haunted by guilt and the ghosts of his deceased wife and daughter, and it is through these associated hauntings that Devlin has inadvertently released the spirits that continue to draw on Amelia’s life force. But when Robert Fremont (aka The Prophet), the murdered police officer, is able to cross onto the hallowed grounds where Amelia lives she knows she now has a much bigger problem. Her sanctuary was her protection and now the ghosts are able to make contact. And Robert needs Amelia’s help to solve his murder and cross-over. But it is through Amelia’s search, that she soon realizes that Robert’s murder and the death of Devlin’s wife and daughter are connected and it is up to Amelia to solve the case, and allow Devlin’s hauntings a peaceful retreat. But not all ghosts are so easily convinced and one in particular is willing to disrupt and haunt Amelia for as long as it takes.

We are introduced to a cast of eccentric characters who live and haunt the cemeteries and homes of Charleston. Ethan Shaw a forensic anthropologist and his father Dr. Rupert Shaw-who heads the centre for parapsychology studies: Darius Goodwine-Shaman and brother to Devlin’s late wife Mariama: And Isabel and Clemetine Perilloux-sisters with a long-standing connection to John Devlin.

There is plenty of storyline surrounding the use of African medicine and the practice of witchcraft and voodoo. Some religious cultures believed in the rite of passage for the young initiates to enter the spirit world and converse with their dead ancestors-before being accepted into the cults. With their ability to pass through into another realm by consuming plants with magical powers and it is these medicinal plants and their powers that will be at the apex of Amelia’s investigations.

Blackmail, drugs, murder, ghosts, witches, shamans and voodoo all play an important role during Amelia’s search for answers. But it is the persistence of a small female ghost that will push Amelia further into a world that she may never return (from).

THE PROPHET is a well-written story about murder, hauntings, spiritual beliefs and the use of powerful hallucinogens. I did not read the first two storylines in the series and I was somewhat at a disadvantage through much of the novel, when the author made reference to incidences in the previous books. I would highly recommend reading THE RESTORER (book 1) and THE KINGDOM (book 2) before attempting THE PROPHET. I am looking forward (or backward ) to reading the first two books in this series.

reviewed by Sandy

Copy provided by Netgalley

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Slave to Sensation by Nalini Singh-a review

Slave to Sensation by Nalini Singh

Slave to Sensation is the first book in Nalini Singh’s Psy/Changeling series.  I have to say I was a late comer to this series.  I have read other books by Nalini, and I had this series on my huge TBR list.  After reading Slave to Sensation, which I will review shortly, I am totally hooked, and will place this on the top of my list.  What a start for a series.  Anyone who can hook me in immediately, as well as this being her first book in the series, belongs at the top of the list of authors I must read….*pencils in Nalini Singh to the top of the list* 

Slave to Sensation takes place in a future world, consisting of Psy’s, Changelings, and Humans.  Singh tells us early on that the Psy’s are the dominant species, as they have various mind control abilities, as well as being totally emotionless and arrogant.  They are an authoritarian race, that methodically governs Earth.  The Changelings, who are shape shifters, who have similar emotions as humans, and share a common bond of hating the Psy’s.  They all co exist together, though times are now changing. 

Lucas Hunter, who is the alpha leader of the DarkRiver Leopard Pack, is out to avenge the brutal murder of one of his pack members.  He sets about to offer a real estate business arrangement with one of the top and most dangerous  Psy’s, Nikita Duncan , who brings her daughter, Sascha into the meetings.  Lucas intends to try and in filter the PsyNet by using  Sascha to get information on finding the serial killer, before all Changelings will declare war on the Psy’s. 

Sascha Duncan isn’t like the other Psy’s.  She has lived all her life in fear, that she would be discovered as a broken Psy.  Though she is a Cardinal Psy, which is one of the strongest mentally, she was told early on that she had no special psychic ability, and has fought to hide that she has emotional reactions.   Sascha knows that if she is discovered to be flawed, she will be sent to rehabilitation, where they would reprogram her to become mindless.  But her mental shields that she has used to hide her flaws, has become more difficult to control. 

Lucas and Sascha work together on the business arrangement, and Lucas quickly begins to sense that Sascha is not the normal Psy.  Something about her is different.  His panther changeling senses it too.   Sascha finds herself feeling emotions she has never had, an attraction to Lucas.  She fights to control these feelings, and everynight when she goes home, she needs to build up her defenses again, to face her mother, as well as other Psy, who question her about the changelings.  Sascha starts having realistic dreams at night of Lucas, which turn very sexual, and what she doesn’t know is Lucas sees her in the same dream, and they both find themselves drawn to each other, despite the differences.  During the day, Sascha hides her dreams from Lucas, who unbeknownst to her, is totally aware of them. 

What I loved the most was watching Sascha change from a cold business woman, who has never experienced love, sex, sensations into a wonderful caring person.  Just watching the change in her was so well done.  I thoroughly enjoyed watching this, even had fun with Sascha playing with the young cubs.  Cute.    Lucas who hates Psy’s as do all Changelings, knows that she is different, and has fallen in love with her, knowing that she is his mate, despite everything.   His pack, at first finds it difficult to deal with Sascha, but when she unknowingly helps some of them with their own deep emotions, they too begin to see that she is different.  It is one of these encounters that open Sascha eyes as to why the Psy’s are so hated, and learns more about the serial killer, whom the changelings feel the Psy’s are hiding.  As her feelings continue to grow, and become more apparent to herself, and the changelings, Sascha agrees to help them find the killer.   DarkRiver makes an alliance with SnowDancer, a Wolf changeling pack to work with them to help Sascha trap the killer. 

It was a great exciting ending, with Sascha’s life at risk, possible war on the horizon, and surprises and twists along the way.  I loved this book, it reached out to me from the start, and never let go.  I could not put it down.  I enjoyed the characters that Singh introduces us to, especially the changelings from both packs.  I loved Lucas and Sascha together, as their romance sizzled, especially as she discovered all the sensations she missed all of her life.  I can’t wait to continue this series, and find out which characters will be in the forthcoming books.  Thank you, Nalini Singh, for this wonderful series.

Reviewed by Barb

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TOUCHED (YA) by Cyn Balog-a new release review

TOUCHED (YA) by Cyn Balog

TOUCHED (YA) by Cyn Balog

TOUCHED is the August 2012 new release Young Adult paranormal fiction novel from Cyn Balog.

17year old Nick Cross (aka Crazy Cross) by his fellow students can see the future. Not just the few minutes or hours ahead, but a lifetime of memories. And the continuous script that runs through his head takes on epic proportions each time he changes his course of action. The ‘cycling’ of events results in mind-blowing headaches and he must stick to the script or suffer further pain and anguish. But when he is unable to prevent the death of a young child, Nick’s life begins to spiral further out of control and the future he sees does not bode well for Nick and his family. Yet the touch of a ‘beautiful angel’ will stop all of the pain and the cycling of events, if only for a few minutes at a time.

Taryn’s family is new to the Jersey Shore. Moving in with her eccentric grandmother, Taryn must face the reality that will be her future. A family secret, one shared by both Taryn and her grandmother, must be addressed before Taryn’s 17th birthday. As the youngest female grandchild, the power of the Touch will be gifted to Taryn, but it is a gift that Taryn does not want to receive. Hoping to find a way to remove the family ‘curse’, Taryn soon finds a kindred spirit in Nick Cross- a boy she claims has been Touched. But when Nick sees their future, his only recourse is to push Taryn away before they both have no future to tell.

Taryn’s grandmother is a bibliomancer, with the ability to bring The Book Of Touch to life. But a Touch that went horribly wrong almost 18 years earlier, has forced Taryn’s grandmother to leave that part of her life behind. And with Taryn’s 17th birthday only days away, the Book of Touch must once again be addressed. The only problem-the remaining Touches will bring death and destruction to those who use it unwisely or for purposes of revenge.

Throughout his life, Nick has blamed his father for the sins of the son, but his friendship with Taryn has revealed his own family secret that has caused his mother years of guilt and pain. And his grandmother Nan will be the one to bring everything back to the future.

TOUCHED is a story of one young man’s journey to find the truth. But when the truth is revealed, Nick knows that all of the pain and suffering could have been avoided. A mistake made long ago, will force one family member to change history and inevitably the future of everyone they meet at the Jersey Shore. A wonderful storyline, that will make you sit up and think—if you were granted just one wish—would you regret what you wished for.

Available for pre-order:
Amazon Kindle
Amazon Books
B&N Books
B&N Nook

reviewed by Sandy

Touched provided by Netgalley.

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ANGEL’S FLIGHT (The Guild Hunters) by Nalini Singh-a review

ANGEL’S FLIGHT by Nalini Singh- a review

ANGEL’S FLIGHT by Nalini Singh

Angel’s Flight (released February 2012) is a series of 4 novellas by Nalini Singh.

ANGEL’S PAWN

Angel’s Pawn features Guild Hunter Ashwini and Cajun vampire Janvier. Ashwini is a friend and colleague of Elena and like Elena possesses a special gift-she is able to feel and read emotions with a touch. But the Atlanta Archangel Nazarach, with years of pain and suffering on his hands, requires a job of Ashwini–To retrieve one of his errant new-born female vampires. But Ashwini is stunned when she learns of the nature and the extent of Nazarach’s evil.

Janvier is a sexy vampire, who on more than one occasion has been targeted for retrieval by the Guild Hunters, and more specifically by Ashwini. When Ashwini asks for advice, Janvier is prepared to partner with Ashwini in more ways than one. The sexual attraction between the couple is explosive, but Ashwini has a job to do, that does not involve any playtime with the vampire.

When Ash and Janvier return Nazarach’s wayward vampire, his cruelty will touch deep within the Hunter’s soul, and the realization that both she and Janvier may very well have been, the Archangel’s next victims.

Angel’s Pawn is an introduction into the lives of Janvier and Ashwini. There is an attraction between the pair, one that cannot be denied, and let’s hope Nalini is ready to write their story-in the near future.

ANGEL’S JUDGEMENT

Angel’s Judgement is a prequel. We meet Sara Haziz, a hunter-born Guild Hunter before she became the Guild director. She has just been notified that she is in the line of succession for the position of Guild Director, and has been given what may be her final assignment. On the trail of what appears to be a ‘rogue’ hunter who is mutilating and destroying vampires, Sara meets Deacon , the man who will one day be her husband. But meeting Deacon opens up another world within the Hunter’s Guild. Deacon is The Slayer- a highly trained assassin and hunter who is brought-in under extenuating circumstances to ferret out hunters who have over-stepped the bounds of their own authority and power.

Sara and Deacon are determined to find the hunter responsible for the horrendous deaths of the vampires, but when all signs point to 3 possibilities, they must acknowledge and search for the information that will eventually lead them to the true identity. Along the way, the attraction between Sara and Deacon grows, but knowing she has been nominated for the highest position within the Guild, she reluctantly pushes aside all thoughts of a future with The Slayer. All conflicts of interest aside, Sara knows, that Deacon is her soul mate, her life.
ANGEL’S WOLF

Angel’s Wolf is the third novella in Angel’s Flight. Noel is a vampire who had been tortured and left to die, but his recovery in The Refuge is nothing short of miraculous. Bearing both the physical and emotional scars, Noel needs to be acknowledged. As a vampire under Archangel Raphael’s regime, Noel is assigned to the angel Nimra, to aid in locating an assassin determined to end her life.

Undercover as Nimra’s new man, Noel’s presence comes under scrutiny by many of Nimra’s loyal and trusted servants, including another male vying for her attention. But when both of her cherished cats are found dead, Nimra knows that someone within her household wants her dead. Knowing Nimra’s true power, has not deterred the would-be assassin from his/her promise of death. But when someone close enough to be called father, is determined to end her life, Nimra knows there is only one way she is able to handle the situation.

The relationship between Noel and Nimra is no longer one of a hidden agenda and their love for one another grows stronger, as the protector and mate in Noel, is determined to keep Nimra from harm.

ANGEL’S DANCE

Angel’s Dance is the final storyline. Another prequel, occurring approximately 500 years before Raphael meets Elena, Angel’s Dance warns of the threat of war between father and son, human and angel, archangel and the Cadre.

Galen is a powerful weapons master, an archangel currently under Titus’s command, but a brief glimpse of a beautiful ‘clipped’ angel leaves Galen awash with a new purpose.

Jessamy is a 2600 year old angel, who has never been able to fly due to a malformed wing. As a result, she has remained at Refuge most of her life as the resident historian and teacher of the little angels. But a chance meeting with the ‘barbarian’ warrior Galen opens up new opportunities for the future.

Angel’s Dance will leave you breathless with delight when Galen is finally able to ‘dance’ with his mate. The romance speaks volumes for a warrior thought to be cold and a woman who considered herself damaged goods.

The Guild Hunters series by Nalini Singh

Reading Order

Angel’s Blood
Archangel’s Kiss
Archangel’s Consort
Archangel’s Blade
Angel of Darkness (Anthology)
Angel’s Flight (Anthology)
Archangel’s Storm (Sept 2012)

 

 

reviewed by Sandy

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Angel’s Haylo by M.A. Abraham – a Review

Angel’s Haylo by M.A. Abraham – a Review

Having read M.A. Abraham’s first book, Gabriel (Elven Chronicles), I quickly purchased Angel’s Haylo, which is a short story. Haylo, whom we met in Gabriel’s book, is Eden’s twin, and if you had read Gabriel, you know they did not find out about each other until they met in that story.  I loved Haylo, and wanted to learn more about her.

In Angel’s Haylo, we get to see how the twins were separated at birth, as well as learning all about Haylo’s upbringing. We get to meet her family, the grandmother who stole her, and how Haylo learns of her Elf abilities, and about her real elf family.  After reading Angel’s Haylo, we come away with a new insight as to why Haylo is the calm opposite of Eden. 

I really enjoyed reading this short story by M.A. Abraham. It was very well written, and it does answer anything we wanted to know about Haylo, that was not explained in Gabriel.  I can’t wait for the next book in the Elven Chronicles..Marious’ Story coming in August.

Reviewed by Barb

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ANGELS’ BLOOD (The Guild Hunters #1) by Nalini Singh-a review

ANGELS’ BLOOD by Nalini Singh-a review

The Reading Cafe begins our salute to paranormal author Nalini Singh. Over the next several days, we will offer several reviews from her Psy-Changeling series as well as her Guild Hunters series.

ANGELS’ BLOOD by Nalini Singh

ANGELS’ BLOOD is the first book in Nalini Singh’s The Guild Hunter series. Written in the Urban Fantasy genre, Angel’s Blood introduces an exciting cast of characters including hunters, archangels, angels and vampires. A little darker and more violent then some paranormal, fantasy or urban fantasy storylines, Angel’s Blood is a great premiere for The Guild Hunter series.

Elena Devereaux is one of the best rogue ‘vampire’ hunters that the guild employs, but when the Archangel Raphael petitions specifically for Elena, she knows this is one job she cannot refuse. Raphael’s authority and power is never questioned. But when a series of grizzly murders points to the Archangel Uram, Elena’s abilities to hunt and track vampires, tops the list of hunters required to bring the ‘bloodborn’ Archangel to justice. With the ability to ‘sense and scent’ her prey, Raphael demands that Elena use her powers to track his one-time friend.

Throughout the storyline we meet the Cadre of 10 – the most powerful Archangels and the group of 7 (angels and vampires), who answer to and work for Raphael. Vampires are made, when an Archangel chooses to save a human life, or someone requests immortality, but payment is steep. Newly made vampires must serve their sire and when a vampire goes ‘rogue’, one of the Guild Hunters is called in to retrieve and return to their maker.

As the story progresses Nalini offers up a rather dark side of the paranormal, urban fantasy genre. Her description of the gruesome scenes, following Uram’s attacks, is unsettling, but a necessary part of the story. As humans, we have become isolated and distanced from violence and death by the media, but to bring forth a ‘serial’ murderer in the form of a rogue archangel is something only an author can put onto the pages.

Raphael’s need for Elena grows personal when he realizes that he is more than attracted to the vampire hunter. He uses every opportunity to seduce the huntress including his voice, his telepathic abilities to weave sexual scenarios as well as the taste of ‘ambrosia-like’ angel dust. Elena is not immune to the sexual seductions of both the Archangel Raphael as well as his ‘number one’ Dmitri, but she realizes that to remain strong, she must also, play along with their games. But in the end, the attraction between Elena and Raphael sets the stage for a personal confrontation that could lead to death for one or both. Raphael’s ‘little bit of humanity’ and Elena’s lack of immortality will result in a frightening final battle with Uram, leaving more than one Archangel bloody and dead, and a new angel re-born to a life with another.

Angels’ Blood is an interesting story. Archangels sire vampires, who in turn manifest some of the inherent anomalies likened to their sires. The struggle for power between the different Archangels as well as the hierarchy of vampire guardians and warriors, results in a different kind of storyline that will leave you wanting more.

reviewed by Sandy

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