Genre: Urban Fantasy/Romance
Pages:352
book received for review
blood born: most powerful vampire that exists – naturally born from two vampires
warriors: immortal fighters that exist on a different plane, sent via a conduit to save the human race from slavery
conduits: human descendants from warriors and the only way for warriors to enter the human realm. Fiercely hunted down by rebel vampires and killed.
Disclaimer: I’ve been a huge Linda Howard fan since I first read Dream Man; when I received Blood Born for review (a new “UF” book) I was beyond excited. Like twirl with the book in my hand excited…
The story is told from 4 main characters Luca, Chole, Nevada, and Sorin. Vampire rebels are killing off conduits, (rare human descendants from Warriors) and without the presence of conduits warriors cannot appear in the human realm to save the human race from a vampiric hostile takeover.
Blood Born is a pleasant surprise as the authors focus on creating a different take on vampires and humans, foreshadowing a future war that will pit the vampires against the human’s champions…the warriors. In this world vampires are cold, calculating creatures that have little to no emotion whatsoever, their humanity traded for a chance at immortality. Humans are considered no better than cattle, and vampires should NOT have to hide themselves from these pesky humans. It is time for the birth of a new era, an era where Vampires rule!
The Cast
Luca is one of the rare vampires that are blood born, he is investigating the death of one of the vampire that sits on the council, there is a traitor among the vampires.
Chole is a conduit only she doesn’t know it (yet). Hunted by a vampire, she is saved by Luca. Only she isn’t safe, not one bit. The rebel vampires have a person on the inside that can sniff out conduits thus assigning their executions. In order to save herself she must ‘bond’ with Luca and I don’t mean shake hands *exaggerate wink*; she must tie herself to this alien stranger or risk death.
Sorin, captain of the vampire rebels, willingly hunts down and kills conduits. He wants nothing more than to see his kind in power, vampires are the superior race. The human ‘animals’ will learn their place…as tasty snacks on the food chain. He’ll do anything to achieve this.
Nevada is an untrained witch that is being held hostage by the vampires in order to remove the only spell left to protect humans from vampires…once removed, vampires will be able to come in uninvited. With her family held hostage she has no choice but to work for the vampires.
Can the warriors protect the human race in time….?
The secondary characters Sorin and Nevada provided an interesting side story. Sorin is part of the rebel vampires that kill conduits to prevent warriors from entering the human realm. He is very cold but you can’t help but be intrigued by his hidden humanity and his growing affection for Nevada. I must have liked him too much as it overshadowed my connection with the main romance between Chole and Luca. I did feel that some aspects of their relationship were a bit tricky since vampires view humans as a lessor class, and this was glossed over a bit with Chole and Luca’s relationship. However, I am most excited for the future books as the authors left us on the precipice of war and I can’t wait to read more about Sorin and the warriors!
Blood Born is a good start to a new vampire series that has me looking forward to the next installments. Team Warrior-Human all the way!
Rating
Next Story is with Sorin and Iklayina (Immortal warrior)
Giveaway
Giveaway Contest Open to US Residents ONLY (sorry my far-away friends I’ll make sure to hold another contest for you). Contest closes May 13th, just comment that you would like to enter. A random winner will be picked from Random.org
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I have several Linda Howard books on my to-read list thanks to you, K.C.! A new Vamp series sounds great! Please enter me!
@Amy you’re in
Oh please count me in!!! I’ve had my eye on this one since I first heard about it!
I looked at this book just the other day. Haven’t bought it yet so, hell yeah, I want to win it! I am HUGE Linda Howard fangirl.
Man another good author I haven’t read yet! The four different POVs sounds complicated though – were you able to keep track of who you were reading? Please count me in for the giveaway
Please enter me in the contest.
marlenebreakfield(at)yahoo(dot)com
I still have my first Linda Howard to read *blush* I have MacKenzie’s Legacy on the shelves but I heard there were other classics I had to read from her…for the life of me I can’t remember the titles
*one minute later* Okay, I just had to look it up, these are the two books that were rec’ed to me:
Blair Mallory
1. To Die for (2004)
2. Drop Dead Gorgeous (2006)
This new UF Vampire series has an interesting concept, that’s for sure
I’ll be reading this one soon. I’ve seen mixed reviews and I wonder how LH fans will feel about her moving into this genre.
Is it me or are we seeing the Vampire trend heading back to cold, evil types and away from the sexy (sparkly) types?
@ Elizabeth throwing you’re name into the magic hat!
@ Marlene – thanks for stopping by, we’ll put your name in our magic hat too!
@Leontine I recommend her earlier work, Dream Man, there’s one with sexy-time in the jungle, the name is escaping me now but it was steamy-good! She writes some pretty great alphas!
@ FV, I think the next installments in this series will tell us if this is a successful partnership between the two authors. I’m an old school LH fan, so this was definitely a departure from her other work.
I’ve been hearing alot about this one, sounds good! tWarner419@aol.com
As a major Linda Howard fan, I’ve been thinking about this book…She was my gateway author into romance.
@ Teresa Thanks for stopping by, we’ll add you to the mix!!
@ Julia Linda Howard was one of my first romance authors back in the day, I still enjoy her older work better but this series looks promising.
KC is making me take over for the day. :hands shaking: be gentle with me.
@K-Khan my work computer has a virus so I’m not able to comment *cries*
Please enter me:)
Thanks!
bangersis(at)msn(dot)com
This one sounds interesting. Oh, and I’m always gentle.
K.C., you might want to make sure everyone at work wears protective gloves everytime they connect to or use your comp at work!
@ Angie, thanks for stopping by, we’ll enter you in the contest!!!
@ Melissa, KC must be a dirty girl to have infected her computer. It must be those naughty sites she tries to look at. Not that I would know anything about that. :clears internet history:.
Not entering the contest, but this book does sound twirl worthy! I loved Dream Man, but for some reason haven’t read a lot of her books. *sigh* Another series to get started on.
@Colette I lubs Dream Man!!!!!
It will be interesting to see how her vamp book compares to her others. It sounds interesting… Count me in please.
@Donna you’re in!
I enjoy Linda Howard’s books, and this new one sounds very interesting. I’m looking forward to reading it.
I’ve never read anything from Linda Howard before, so winning this book might be a good reason to start
I’m glad I can access your blog again!
@ Barbara We’ll enter you into the contest!
@ Janna It’s not fun when our blogy is sick. :_( I can’t take any credit, KC is the wonder kid with all things technological. I just nod my head and go to my happy place when she starts talkin’ techno speak. We’ll enter you in the contest!!
I’ve been a Linda Howard fan for years, so thanks for the chance to read Blood Born.
caity_mack(at)yahoo(dot)com
I haven’t read anything by this author so I’m def interested in this. Especially since you mentioned that there is smex.
@Ferishia *clutches heart* you haven’t read Linda Howard?!
*cough* yes there is smex.
@ Cathy, :places name in hat: you’re in!! Thanks for stopping by!
Oooo this sounds good. I’m a big Linda Howard fan myself but mostly of her old stuff like AFTER THE NIGHT, SHADES OF TWILIGHT and MR. PERFECT. Her new stuff hasn’t really caught my eye but this one does!
Hugs, VFG
Love your site, I am a huge fan of the dark fantasy, paranormal romantic reads. Please enter me
:) I would love to add this book to my new fond colection.
Sheila