Blood (Mercian Trilogy, #1)

Oct 06, 2011 Kwesi 章英狮 rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: k-j-wignall, e-book, 2011

When Will woke up 20 years from the slumber, he remembered the prophecy that will defeat his own kind. He search for the true girl that will soon must be offer to the true owner. But what if a century year old guy will fall in love to a sixteen year old runaway wannabe writer? Can he save his own kind or will suffer from the frightening events that will happen to their life soon?

Since I'm bored to death while dissecting a dead dog, I did a short reading while hiding at the back of the shelves wh...more

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Sep 20, 2011 Jinny (SkyInk.net) rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: arc-or-galley, paranormal, twilight-spawn, ya-teens

I got a copy of this book from the ever-wonderful NetGalley. I was interested in reading a book about vampires, especially after I heard that Blood dealt with the more ‘traditional’ vampire. However, I didn’t really end up enjoying this particular story very much.

The plot of Blood is a little too obscure for my liking, but it certainly has potential; I think it was the execution of ideas that dragged the story down a bit. It’s about William, Earl of Mercia, who “fell ill” (that’s lingo for “turn...more I got a copy of this book from the ever-wonderful NetGalley. I was interested in reading a book about vampires, especially after I heard that Blood dealt with the more ‘traditional’ vampire. However, I didn’t really end up enjoying this particular story very much.

The plot of Blood is a little too obscure for my liking, but it certainly has potential; I think it was the execution of ideas that dragged the story down a bit. It’s about William, Earl of Mercia, who “fell ill” (that’s lingo for “turned into a vampire”) in the 1200′s and was buried away in a crypt. Over the past 800 or so years, he’ll wake up every so often to feed on human blood.

The story opens up with Will waking up and looks for a person to feed on, as per his usual routine, as well as feeling sorry for himself and wondering if he’ll ever find the person who turned him into a vampire so he can exact his revenge. Will finds a homeless person and kills him, drinking his blood, but when he peeks through the homeless person’s notebook and sees his name in it, he becomes intrigued and wonders if destiny brought him to this man. Flipping through it some more, he sees some sketches of this girl who, coincidentally enough, he runs into later in the story. He is sure that somehow, this girl (Eloise) is connected to him, based on the writings/prophecies/notes in the notebook, and that he is approaching his “destiny”, the reason he became a vampire.

So, I think the plot is okay, and the story as whole is okay, but I felt like it was built on a lot of funky coincidences and truthfully, it wasn’t written in the most captivating manner. It’s good writing, but as I was reading, I felt disconnected from the story a lot; I couldn’t fully immerse myself into the world.

I wasn’t a big fan of all the coincidences in the story — which Will handily calls destiny. Will encountered the homeless guy who coincidentally had all these notes about him, and then he coincidentally he meets Eloise, the same girl talked about in the notebook, and Eloise coincidentally knows Chris and Rachel, who have seen Will in 1989 and recognize him and actually remember him, and they coincidentally are really interested in paranormal stuff … it just felt like the story is in danger of crossing over to the deus ex machina side quite often, as it relied on the destiny card quite a bit. I understand that Will’s character has a destiny laid out for him (apparently), but it was not laid out by a god. It was laid out by the villain, who has a use for Will. So I don’t understand how destiny is causing Will to run into all these characters who are so intertwined or related to his story.

The characters were rather mediocre and weren’t very likeable or memorable. Will reminded me greatly of Edward Cullen: vampire, good looks, kind of melancholic, wants to just die and be done with “living”, chivalric, etc. and that immediately made me not like him too much. Eloise struck me as an idiot. She comes from a privileged family, but decided to live on the streets because no one was paying enough attention to her. Chris and Rachel are easily forgettable, as their entire purpose seemed to boil down to being Will and Eloise’s chauffeurs.As for the villains, you don’t really meet them, nor do you get a clear picture as to their goals and motivations. Well, you do meet one villain at the end, but he’s really just the servant of the true villain.

The relationships between characters weren’t logical to me. I didn’t understand why Eloise was happy to disclose her real name to Will, who she’s only known a day, but reveals that she’s been using an alias around Chris and Rachel, who she’s known for much longer and swears are perfectly good people. I also didn’t understand why nobody freaked out or disbelieved the fact that Will was a vampire; everyone seemed to more or less accept it. I understand that Eloise, Chris and Rachel, due to their personalities, want to believe in vampires and other paranormal creatures, but wanting to believe is not quite the same as actually encountering one … and knowing he’s just killed a man yesterday … I feel like these characters aren’t believable in that sense. Most people would be more wary, at the very least, instead of eagerly rolling up their sleeves and offering any help they can to find the vampire’s attacker.

There isn’t very much romance in this book, which I was surprised because a lot of YA paranormal books (especially vampires!) have a romance component in them. It was definitely a welcome change, but what little romance there was in the book happened quite quickly. I am not sure at what point Will and Eloise started liking one another — one second they’re trying to unravel the mystery of Will’s ‘destiny’, the next second, they are locking lips. Nevertheless, the romance is so downplayed and minor in this story that I didn’t really mind the InstaLove.

The story moves pretty slow, and when it ended, it didn’t feel like anything was resolved. As the entire story revolved around Will moping about what his destiny is and all that, it was quite disappointing when the book ended and we still don’t find out what the destiny is. Will does find his attacker, but it was quickly resolved, so fast that if you blink, you would have missed it. I feel like since trilogies and series are a trend in YA, this book decided to follow that path as well, but I honestly feel this story should be a stand-alone book. I’ve said this about a number of YA series now — when you write a series, each individual book still feel conclusive. You can’t just say, “Oh, well, you’ll find the answers in the next book!” The reader shouldn’t finish the first book having discovered nothing. Or barely anything. For example, in the Harry Potter series, each book wraps up that particular books secrets, mysteries and plots, but the overarching plot continues on in the next book (namely, fighting Voldemort). It would be extremely unsatisfying to read The Chamber of Secrets and not find out where the notebook came from, or who Tom Riddle is, until two books later.

Anyway, for all my complaints, this book really was just okay. It’s not horrible, but it could have been a lot better. I think if you are not much of an inquisitive person when reading books, you might enjoy this, but if you are like me and ask a lot of questions, then this may be one better left unread. As a side note, I am also not a fan of this cover. It looks cheaply Photoshop’d, with the gradient text and the blood-splatter brushes. Also, the half-naked guy with abs on the cover is kind of cheesy and strikes me as a romance novel rather than YA. Is that supposed to be Will? I don’t think earls from the 1200s have abs because noble people don’t really do much physical labour back in those days … I don’t know. Just some of my random thoughts.

(Originally posted at http://skyink.net).(less)

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Jun 19, 2012 Nicole Sobon rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley

Reviewed on 9/24/2011:
I just finished "Blood" and all I can say is wow. There are a lot of vampire books out there, most of which are alike, but "Blood" is different. From the very first line until that final line, which will leave you wanting the next book immediately, you'll lose yourself in the story of Will and Eloise.

Will, who was destined to be Earl of Mercia before his death at the age of sixteen, is a vampire. He's spent much of his existence (over seven hundred years) wondering who bit...more

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Dec 03, 2011 Big Book Little Book rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

To the shock and horror of many, I've never actually read a 'Vampire' book before and was therefore unable to contribute to our recent 'around the table' discussions regarding Twilight - now on my 'to read' pile! So this was my first experience and I didn't know if it would be my cup of tea or not. However I was drawn in by the beautiful black, silver and red cover and I'm pleased that the story inside didn't disappoint.

Blood, which is book one of the Mercian Trilogy introduces our protagonist W...more To the shock and horror of many, I've never actually read a 'Vampire' book before and was therefore unable to contribute to our recent 'around the table' discussions regarding Twilight - now on my 'to read' pile! So this was my first experience and I didn't know if it would be my cup of tea or not. However I was drawn in by the beautiful black, silver and red cover and I'm pleased that the story inside didn't disappoint.

Blood, which is book one of the Mercian Trilogy introduces our protagonist Will. Will was born back in 1256 and only made it to sixteen years old having been struck down by a 'strange illness'. We learn that he was bitten by a creature and although buried by his family, he never dies. Set in London, he has a crypt under the city walls and every few years or so after a good long sleep he awakes again not knowing which century he will be in and how life will have changed in the real world. He has witnessed much over the years and is longing to find the creature that bit him and to find answers about what happened to him all those years ago.

I felt sorry for him. He has never met another like him, and has not known anyone who can help him or explain how he came to be in this situation. To him death would be preferable to the existence he has had for the last 750 plus years. The first chapter sets the scene well and I enjoyed the author's descriptive narrative throughout the book. We follow Will on his journey as he first off sets out to satisfy his need for blood - which wasn't gruesome at all - quite clean and methodical in fact! Will rarely needs to have blood - he does it when necessary and he feeds off of drifters and those who wouldn't be missed. It's all quite different to the 'Vampires' that I had imagined.

He finds Jex, who 'lives' in an abandoned warehouse and he becomes Will's unfortunate victim. He also meets Eloise, who is homeless, feisty and completely un-phased by Will's description of himself as 'undead'. She wants to help him in his quest and isn't remotely concerned or scared by anything that they encounter. Going back to Jex's place, they see that he has been writing and drawing pictures and Will realises his writings hold clues to help his quest. As they investigate they find themselves under attack from a supernatural entity. This leads to some fast paced battles which I thought were well written. Along the way, the truth slowly starts to reveal itself leading finally to a showdown in an old abandoned church where Will begins to get some answers at last.

There is romance, but nothing gushy or mushy. The story is unfinished as it's the first of a Trilogy but I shall read the rest. I found it all rather intriguing.

Verdict: An enjoyable and interesting read, and a great introduction to the Trilogy.
Lesley : http://bigbooklittlebook.blogspot.com

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Aug 31, 2011 ♥ Sarah ♥ rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ebooks, ya, vampires, urban-fantasy, arc

When I first saw Blood being offered on Netgalley, I just had to pick it up. What kind of vampire fan would I be if the title, cover, and premise didn't intrigue me?

Blood was a very interesting and different kind of book. If I had to compare it to anything, I would say it gave off the same kind of vibe as the Thirst/Last Vampire series by Christopher Pike. Primarily because Will is this very old vampire who talks much older than he looks and also has never met another vampire in all his life. Th...more

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Jul 15, 2011 Kara rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: arc, ghosts, net-galley, paranormal, vampires, young-adult, england

Goodreads Summary:

I do not remember being bitten. I wish I did, for then I would know the creature who did this to me and I would have a purpose, to track him down and repay him for the poisoned gift he gave me. Back in the Thirteenth Century, Will was destined to be Earl of Mercia, although he never lived to inherit his title. In the centuries that follow, Will has led a lonely life, learning to deal with whatever the present day throws at him, always searching for answers but never finding any...more Goodreads Summary:

I do not remember being bitten. I wish I did, for then I would know the creature who did this to me and I would have a purpose, to track him down and repay him for the poisoned gift he gave me. Back in the Thirteenth Century, Will was destined to be Earl of Mercia, although he never lived to inherit his title. In the centuries that follow, Will has led a lonely life, learning to deal with whatever the present day throws at him, always searching for answers but never finding any. Until this time, when he awakens after a 20-year-slumber, hungry for the blood that sustains his undeath, when it appears that he is finally getting a glimpse at why he exists. He does indeed have a destiny, and an enemy, but revealing that fate will be a matter of trust...

Review:

Usually I hear about books I want to read from other bloggers BEFORE they appear on NetGalley. This book I had not heard about beforehand. I came across it on NetGalley and debated about reading it, because I have so many other books in the lineup. But I am glad I decided to read it, because it was great!

Yeah, the vampire story line is possibly old and overdone right now, but this one was pretty awesome. For one, it was told from a male's point of view. And we all know how rarely that happens in young adult. And the vampires in this book were more classical vampires, which means that for the most part, they are not good people. Even our Protagonist Will realized how dangerous he was. Will really wanted to be in a relationship with Eloise, but all she smelled like was food. This doesn't change throughout the book. Eloise really likes Will and thinks he's the man, but he won't budge.

He also hibernates in a coffin like a real vampire (if they were real), and can be paralyzed with a stake through the heart, but not killed. Will is not a young vampire. I think he was something like 700 years old, and something about that was not very sexy to me. So yeah, it was different. A bit traditional in that sense. And I liked it. Lately I'm finding that some of the YA titles I am reading are getting a bit ridiculous as far as plots go. It's like they are trying to outdo themselves with wackiness.

There's a lot of setup in this book for things to come in the next series, and because of this, sometimes the pacing was a little off. But when things did happen, I couldn't stop reading. Obviously this is a series. And I intend to continue. I look upon this title as if it's a little bit of a dark horse in the YA genre, because I have heard literally nothing about it. I hope it does get read by a lot of people, because I definitely think it was worth my time. It was spooky and very Gothic, which I also loved.

By the time you are 2/3's of the way through the book, the plot is really moving at a breakneck pace. I say this because I hope it will continue that way into the next book. There were also still some unanswered questions which is to be expected. For instance, why do Rachel & Chris make Will's bite mark on his wrist hurt?

The one thing I was unimpressed with was the ending. I just thought it was very anti-climactic and a bit stupid to be honest. I can't say what happened, but let's just say I was disappointed. That being said, I do think the book is worth reading and I can't wait to see what happens in the next book. I really want to find out more about the villains and the prophecy. Pick this one up if you are looking for a good old-fashioned vampire story. (less)

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Jul 11, 2012 Felicia rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

One thing I would like to point out is the cover. I love the cover. The guy reminds me of Leonardo DiCaprio. Second, I love how the author wrote the book. It really sounded like it was written from the perspective of someone who actually was over seven hundred years old. I liked the characters and everything. The only problem I had was with some of the plot. I don't like books that rush some important parts. I felt that there were a few parts that were rushed, like the big fight with Will's crea...more

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Nov 17, 2011 Amanda rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

See My Full Review Here: http://www.hippiesbeautyandbooksohmy....

First Impressions: Blood was chosen next on the list simply because it was its time. This review seems as if it has been a little overdue now. So, while sitting in the car waiting for my wife to finish class, Blood received its turn. I didn’t know much about the story before I read it.

I was pleasantly surprised to find this being another vampire novel. From my first impressions, Blood didn’t have the same class of cheese as portray...more See My Full Review Here: http://www.hippiesbeautyandbooksohmy....

First Impressions: Blood was chosen next on the list simply because it was its time. This review seems as if it has been a little overdue now. So, while sitting in the car waiting for my wife to finish class, Blood received its turn. I didn’t know much about the story before I read it.

I was pleasantly surprised to find this being another vampire novel. From my first impressions, Blood didn’t have the same class of cheese as portrayed by a lot other, more recent vampire novels. Blood has a little bit more intrigue and charm interlaced in the words that reminded me something of “Interview With the Vampire,” but in a young adult addition. This was my first impression developed by the first few chapters of the book.

The very first chapter is written as an entry to a diary. And then some story follows. The mystery and intrigue lie in the word play the author chose for Will, the main character. Had it not been for the mystery that Will’s diary page seemingly accidentally leaves, I don’t think the story would be anywhere near as interesting.

Character Introduction: Will is the hero, or villain, in Blood. I say hero or villain because of the events that unfold throughout the story. The reader will grow a fondness for Will. He is a lonesome little Vampire, or undead as he prefers. Will had his life removed from him at an early age. He has since struggled to come to terms with whom and what he is.

Eloise is our little heroine. She is just a little too cute and perky to think of anything but a heroin. She is a loner though. Eloise comes from an up and coming family household. She chose to run in the hopes of gaining some personal attention and self-relief. Her destiny had a little more something in mind for her though, as she meet Will.

The other two characters that deserve a special note are Chris and Rachael. Both barely play a part in Blood. Both seem rather a little naive and overly excited about the events they become entwined in. Both are new age hippie type of people that are a little too interested in the paranormal and all things holistic. I say they deserve a special mention though because I have a feeling they both will play important roles later in the series.

Review: I wish I could articulate words as well as some authors. But in reality, I can’t. Therefore it pains me that I cannot find the specific words I need to describe Blood. I will however try my best. The word-smithing used with the internal and external dialog with Will seemed to exude certain intelligence. Eloise though, portrayed her 16 year-old self perfectly. The wording surrounding her character was a little bubbly, a little teenage, and a little off. The clashing of word styles used between Will and Eloise was like mixing a Disney Sitcom with the likes of Titanic. There was an air of elegance added to an otherwise teenaged flavored show.

That isn’t to say that I didn’t enjoy the book. In fact, I enjoyed Blood a lot. It was just very weird. I felt as though the book was very well written but then edited by a teenager. The two styles just kind collided head on and blended into something different. Or maybe it felt as if though the author was trying to choose her words carefully but then became a little lazy in some places.

The plot line was addictive. The author planned every little detail to a T. There were intricate little twists that seemed to spin themselves through the entire book. Little threads from each of the character’s destiny spin in very different directions only to converge again and develop a unique tapestry. Every little detail seemed perfectly coordinated. Every little spin, including the ones mentioned at the beginning of the book and long forgotten already, tied closed at the very end. The author did an amazing job.

One particular thing I loved was the alternation between the written story and pulled diary dialog. Every few chapters or so, the reader was treated to a little bit of the inner workings of Will. All though these chapters were farther apart, they added a lot of nice background knowledge at perfectly placed points in the book. The reader simply wasn’t allowed to know more of the past, or more of Will, until the time was appropriate.

Conclusion: Although Blood won’t be receiving my highest of the high recommendations, it does deserve a very hardy thumbs up. It didn’t blow me away as some other select titles have. But I have a feeling this series will become a sleeper hit. Blood leaves off with a very interesting platform for another book. I felt as though this was a very lengthy, albeit entertaining, introduction. I very much enjoyed Blood. I think other readers would too. (less)

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Apr 30, 2013 Book Angel Emma rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Review by Matthew (Year 9)

Blood is an epic adventure full of descriptive battles and challenging puzzles that gripped me from the beginning.

The main character, Will of Mercia, is a Lord who has been turned into a vampire (or undead as he prefers to be called, lol) who has spent the past eleven hundred years searching for the reason as to his existence.

My favorite part of the book was when Will fought off the teenage boys that were bullying Eloise. Eloise is an elegant character with an edge of c...more

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Jul 23, 2012 Lisa rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Cover:

I know, I know!! Usually I like cover's where you might be able to guess what the story is about, but than again who doesn't like a cover with a cute, dark, mysterious, and shirtless guy on it? I sure do(;

Characters-

Favorite:

I really liked the main character Will (a.k.a the hot guy on the cover), not just because of the way he acted, the way he treated Ella (Eloise), but also his past was really interesting.

I think when people hear "vampire" they automatically think Twilight, and Edward Cu...more

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Dec 20, 2011 Amy Miles rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Blood
By: K.J. Wignall

First off…judging by the cover of this book, which I have to admit was rather enticing, I thought this story was going to take on an enticing twist. Sadly, no.

Blood is K.J. Wignall’s first novel for young adults. The storyline sounded interesting, the cover was appealing and it sounded like a good book all around. But in fact it just felt blah to me.

The story if is of a vampire who awakes from his slumber to torture himself once more for the existence that he never chose f...more

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Nov 21, 2011 Pretty in Fiction rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: reviews-by-jesse

Review originally posted on Pretty in Fiction.

Title: Blood
Author: K.J. Wignall
Publisher: Egmont USA
Published Date: September 5th 2011
Rating: 3 Stars

Blood by K.J. Wignall is not your average run of the mill, twenty first century vampire story. It is based on the classics. Will isn't a brooding vampire who drinks animal blood and attends high school. Will is an 800 year old vampire who kills people in order to stay alive. He sleeps in a coffin for decades at a time. He doesn't know the latest tren...more

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Oct 26, 2011 Maria rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

So first of all - try and tell me that this cover does not make you drool!! I would just like to take this moment to give Egmont USA some serious cover love......

Okay, lol, onto the review! For lack of a more sophisticated way of saying this: Blood was completely awesome! I loved that the romance in the story was not immediate, nor did it encompass the entire story. As a matter of fact, the romance was kind of like a sidenote here. This is the very first Vampire novel I've read that actually rem...more

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Sep 30, 2011 Krista (CubicleBlindness Reviews) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

Here is a story that I really enjoyed. Will's vampire character and Eloise's as his sidekick really worked for me. Will has awoken after several years and soon finds that he has risen for a reason. He is determined to find his maker and answer all the questions he has never truly tried to find an answer for before.
Eloise reminds me of an old friend. She is the one that the readers will connect with the most. After Will awakens, he is drawn to Eloise and she becomes his companion to help find his...more

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Sep 28, 2011 Reading Teen rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I do not read many vampire books. I think I have only read Thirst by Christopher Pike and it was just okay to me. Blood was a pretty good vampire book, I was surprised I liked it (I'm more of a werewolf girl). Even though fans of Twilight might not believe me, I thought the plot and the characters were very interesting. This book doesn't have the massive romance drama that Twilight had either... just a good story, written pretty well. K.J. Wignall tells the story from Will's point of view also....more

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Sep 22, 2011 Penelope rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: reviewed-books

It took me a while to get through Blood; not because it is a long book but because I felt...well, if I am to be honest, I felt bored. When I finished reading, it was like I had been reading something that was much longer than it really was. It is pretty slow-paced, and there isn't a lot that happens until the last third of the book.

In the beginning, Will--the main character, who is a vampire--gives some great history and background about his past. I was fascinated by the details of his story. He...more It took me a while to get through Blood; not because it is a long book but because I felt...well, if I am to be honest, I felt bored. When I finished reading, it was like I had been reading something that was much longer than it really was. It is pretty slow-paced, and there isn't a lot that happens until the last third of the book.

In the beginning, Will--the main character, who is a vampire--gives some great history and background about his past. I was fascinated by the details of his story. He definitely has a history spanning hundreds of years, and he doesn't act too modern (in language or actions) at all. He was literally an old mind in a teenager's body. While I read, I thought: Finally, a vampire who actually acts like he has been alive for centuries! But then it continued. Most of the book consists of Will's thoughts. Only Will's thoughts. There isn't a lot of conversation until later. This is, probably, because Will is alone for a lot of the book, so it couldn't really be helped. But after a while, I felt like I was having a history lesson of some sort, instead of reading a vampire story. This also kept me from getting to know any of the other characters. We see them through Will's eyes, and although he notices more in social situations than most people would, he relates so much of it to his past and how he was wronged, so that we didn't get to see much personality from any of the other characters.

Things did pick up though, and the story did get more interesting. Unfortunately, everything seemed to happen at the end of the book, and then it was over all too quickly. Everything seemed to fall into place in just a few chapters, and then it was over. I am at such a loss with this book. I enjoyed the beginning so much because of the great historical descriptions, and I felt sorry for Will and what he had gone through. But by the time it got to the exciting part, it was too little, too late. I wasn't invested in the characters, and I didn't much care what happened to them.

I have no idea who I would recommend it to. It reminds me a lot of The Historian; lots and lots of workup, with little of anything else happening until the end. And while I hate to make that connection (it is a completely different story), it is the closest thing I can compare it to. If you liked The Historian, you may like this book.

See the original review on my blog: The Reading Fever.

*I was provided with a copy of this review in exchange for an honest review.(less)

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Sep 20, 2011 Amy ReadingTeen Reale rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I do not read many vampire books. I think I have only read Thirst by Christopher Pike and it was just okay to me. Blood was a pretty good vampire book, I was surprised I liked it (I'm more of a werewolf girl). Even though fans of Twilight might not believe me, I thought the plot and the characters were very interesting. This book doesn't have the massive romance drama that Twilight had either... just a good story, written pretty well. K.J. Wignall tells the story from Will's point of view also....more

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Sep 13, 2011 Niina rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

William wakes up in the twenty first century, he’s been sleeping, if you call it sleep for the undead, for good twenty years since he last was awake. Over 750 years old he’s forever trapped in a body of a tall 16 year old young man. As he awakes he notices that something is different this time around, from his first spilled blood things turn from ordinary to odd, prophecy reveals itself and he finds the girl of it near by the river alone without a home to go to and someone is attacking him which...more William wakes up in the twenty first century, he’s been sleeping, if you call it sleep for the undead, for good twenty years since he last was awake. Over 750 years old he’s forever trapped in a body of a tall 16 year old young man. As he awakes he notices that something is different this time around, from his first spilled blood things turn from ordinary to odd, prophecy reveals itself and he finds the girl of it near by the river alone without a home to go to and someone is attacking him which rarely happens.

Will is trying to figure out just what makes this time around awake different, why all the things that have never happened before happen now. It is tied to his maker, the man who made him ‘sick’, the man he’s never seen or ever heard from who made him and then just left him to fend for his own, he’s sure of it.

Will’s character is almost numb from being alone for so long not wanting any company and it makes an interesting protagonist. See most vampires (though Will likes to be called undead) are animalistic, emotional, slightly showy in the books I’ve read previously – but Will… Will is subdued, calm, and unemotional. It isn’t until he gets to know the girl that some emotions surface, but even those are subdued.

The impression is he’s very sad, even when he’s forced to tackle things that require emotions it’s written in a way that is not bland, but very calm even when he’s nervous or afraid, it’s almost foreboding a very grim future and reflecting a grim past as well.

With the sadness and the sense of growing foreboding there are lighter elements in the book like Will’s lack of knowing the current slang or what some technological advances are, most memorable laugh came as he wondered what born-again Christians were and just what making out was. ;)

The story is something that teenagers can relate to, the feeling of loneliness – and Eloise brings the bit of life and excitement to the story that is lacking in Will. I’d almost call this dark, but in a way that it is hazy not full blow dark. I’ve never read a novel quite written like this, I’d say it’s going to be one of those books you either love or hate, depending on your view of life.

I'd say this book is going to go down well with boys/young men, it has that feel to it.(less)

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Sep 08, 2011 Cyberiasha rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I finished blood and I have to say that while I had high anticipation for it, I was not expecting what I received in return. The novel is good and will truly keep you entertained, especially the feel of the setting from the worn out river front to the cafe to the abandoned church, you will definitely get a very unique take on the London city landscape. You will also get a different kind of vampire, one that is very solitary and recluse to the point of fracture.

Things take on a different vantage...more

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Sep 08, 2011 Stacey rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: kindle, netgalley

“I’ve never looked at fire in the same way since that night, nor witches for that matter, or anybody else who’s apart. Perhaps apart is the wrong word, for I was apart even then, in that I was above the people and below God and the King, born into greatness.” (Loc. 10-16)
I love the idea of apart, not odd, weird, strange, or rude, but apart. What a great description of people who don’t “blend in” like the rest of us. Blood is about being apart, yet looking for a way to find a place where belongin...more

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Sep 04, 2011 Kara-karina rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

2.5/5
Egalley thanks to Egmont USA
I have to say despite the exciting synopsis this book left me severely disappointed. It's written in such way that it makes you feel detached from the very start.

The main character William is 800+ years old vampire, and what did he do with most of his afterlife? Hibernation, hibernation, hibernation. He is forever sixteen, quite striking and very emo. I am undead, I want to die, but can't, see no point in my existence, woe is me. Let's skulk underneath my city w...more

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Aug 19, 2011 Lynnea rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: vampire, romance, paranormal, arc

This story is told from Will's point of view. Will is a vampire, he prefers undead, he was turned in the year 1256 and lives off and on in a crypt under the church where he was buried. When he wakes from his latest 20 year slumber everything changes. He meets people that know more about him than they should and he is guided along by the journal of a dead man and 7 spirits. Along the way he meets Eloise and knows that she is a part of his destiny. She isn't terrified of him when she is told that...more

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Aug 01, 2011 Jessica (BookRockGodess) Bolton rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I liked how this was not just another vampire novel. This book has a classic feel to it more like your old vampire novels. In this book the main character was changed in the 12th century and left to fend for himself. He did not know what had made him or why he was made because through the centuries he never met anyone like him. His life was nothing but keeping a low profile so that he was never discovered. Then everything changes when he wakes from one of his long hibernation and feeds on a home...more

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Jul 31, 2011 Jennifer rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: paranormal-series

Will, a nearly 800-year old vampire, has just awoken from a twenty-year nap. He must feed, so he chooses Jax, a street person who likely won't be missed. But Jax seems to know about Will, and has a notebook with pictures of a girl he says is Will's destiny. Later, Will steps in to protect a girl from a gang, only to find it is the girl from the pictures. Taking it as a sign, Will reveals everything to Eloise. Soon they're off on a search for answers, but keep finding more questions. Who are Asm...more

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Jul 12, 2011 Tammi rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is the story of William, the future Earl of Mercia, aka Will. It tells of how he came down with the “sickness” when he was sixteen and how his life was spent. After seven centuries, when he awakens from his usual hibernation, he goes outside to feed and find Jez, who tells him “You need the girl, the girl needs you, you need the…” before he takes his blood and his life. Jez has with him, a notebook that intrigues Will and so he takes it before he leaves. On Jez’s wall, and in his notebook,...more

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Jul 11, 2011 Angela rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: original-concepts, vampire, cliff-hanger, netgalley, slow, takes-place-over-many-years, male-pov

I congratulate K.J. Wignall for writing this book. In so many different ways, Blood was different compared to most books about vampires. Instead of just being about the relationship of a male vampire and a female, the action is there. The beginning introduced everything including the romance. Gladly, I read this without having to go through too much mushy stuff. This book included the action from the very beginning. There was no relationship mush that lasted longer than a chapter.

This whole mess...more I congratulate K.J. Wignall for writing this book. In so many different ways, Blood was different compared to most books about vampires. Instead of just being about the relationship of a male vampire and a female, the action is there. The beginning introduced everything including the romance. Gladly, I read this without having to go through too much mushy stuff. This book included the action from the very beginning. There was no relationship mush that lasted longer than a chapter.

This whole mess, as I like to put it, starts off with William, a really old, well 750+ year old vampire coming back from hibernation. He has been hibernating for 20 years, so not many things have really changed. As he checks out the world he now lives in, he saves a girl, Eloise, from some gang members. For some reason, he and Eloise feel this connection. They feel that they are destined to meet. After their meeting, they try to discover the mystery behind William's transformation into a vampire. Will does not remember how he was bitten or his transformation. Throughout the whole investigation, Will and Eloise grow closer to each other.

Yes, that is the basic gist of Blood. It was a very fast pace book compared to most. Though the plot may seem dull, the whole darkness that seeps through the pages captures you and holds you captive as you read this novel. I could not put it down for the short while I read this book.

The one true regret I had with this book was the whole intro. It was rushed and did not explain well William's problem or situation. I also thought that Will's adaption to the twenty-first century was a little too easy. Back 20 years ago, we used cassette tapes, computers and had different hair styles compared to today's. But William didn't seem to notice or experience these changes. This is one thing that rather bugged me a bit.

The relationship between Will and Eloise was a charming one. Eloise clearly had enough spunk and heart to believe and care for Will. She did not care whether Will was a vampire. Of course she was curious in the beginning, but was not frightened or really that shocked. That's one of the reasons I root for this relationship. At the same time, Will really shows that he cares about Eloise more than he acts. It is obvious however, that he is willing to pretty much do anything for Eloise. In a way, this relationship is sweeter than any other I have read of.

This book was a well written book as well. I cannot imagine the novel written in any other way other. Well done Mr. Wignall!

This book deserves 4 stars. Definitely!(less)

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Jul 06, 2011 librariantracy rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ya, paranormal

William, Earl of Mercia, has been "undead" (his preferred term to describe a vampire) and frozen at the age of 16 for over 750 years. He has been in and out of hibernation for all those centuries and seen his earldom given to his younger brother and then crumble as famine, plague and wars have given way to modern society. When he awakes from hibernation in the present day, he discovers that this awakening is unlike any other. He soon meets Eloise, and finds his fate intertwined with that of the...more

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Sep 07, 2012 Kimberly rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 52-books-in-52-weeks-2012

I liked it. The story was more old fashioned, dangerous vampire, not one that sparkles, thankfully. I had a hard time believing W and E's attraction and trust in each other. Relationship and trust seemed a bit rushed, but I like Will and his narrative and the story was fast to read and interesting.
There are some really wonderful scenes- such as Will being attached by this creature... I won't give it away. But that was very cool. Through the book, there was a strong sense of darkness, foreboding...more

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Aug 29, 2012 Dani GR Motherfuqqer rated it 4 of 5 stars

Ok this book is another difficult one to put down in my own words in a review because the more questions I had that got answered as I read, another 8 million more would pop up. I think this author has the ability to make this story go on another 10 books but, it says trilogy so that might be a good thing. He might have an aneurysm trying to continue on his quest to fool the readers because I am thoroughly confused. In the case of this book that's a good thing.
The author is able to create this...more Ok this book is another difficult one to put down in my own words in a review because the more questions I had that got answered as I read, another 8 million more would pop up. I think this author has the ability to make this story go on another 10 books but, it says trilogy so that might be a good thing. He might have an aneurysm trying to continue on his quest to fool the readers because I am thoroughly confused. In the case of this book that's a good thing.
The author is able to create this darkness surrounding the book, there's always a sense of forboding and mystery as you read and he was really good at helping me feel creeped out when the characters were creeped out too. I started looking over my shoulder and reading with a lamp on. Lol. I know, I know. I'm ridiculous at times but the author was able to create the atmosphere needed to get a sense of the book. Also, if you're looking for a vampire love story this might not be the book for you, but I have a feeling in the next 2 it might be kicked into gear.
This book is a lot like the classic vampire genre, as far as writing style and vampire capabilities. I know a lot of different variations of what vampires can do pop up in different books but this one sort of sticks to the old tried and true. The writing style of the book might be a problem for some. This one might go slow for some readers who are used to the fast pace of most newer books. I know some authors who could possibly take this entire trilogy and put it into one novel. People want things fast now and they want instant satisfaction. This book is not going to give it up so fast, it's not easy. This book is not a skanky slut.No village bicycle here folks. It makes you wait for it like a gentleman. Even at the end of the book you still have questions and aren't satisfied and just feel like you need to run to the next book to get some satisfaction. Hopefully it will pay off.
Will is an 800 year old vampire who comes out every so often to feed on a human and see what's going on in the world and attempt to catch up a little on current events, wardrobe, and even language. The last time he was out of the grave it was 1989. It's been 20 years since his last excursion into the world and he needs to feed again. He looks for those with a certain kind of blood that calls to him and for those who won't be missed by regular society so as not to call attention to himself. He's kept hidden for so long and not really had many people with which to speak about himself, he tends to be a loner, but this time around a lot of strange things happen as soon as he finds his first victim. His first victim says something to him while entranced, which should never happen, and he finds a notebook that the victim, Jex, has written in that have his name. He takes the notebook and attempts to figure out why his name is in there along with a picture of a girl and other strange prophecies that make no sense to him.
Will soon finds the girl, Eloise, sitting in a tea shop and tries to make conversation. He doesn't gain her trust the first time but a second time he saves her life from some bullies who are harassing her and she soon tells him her life story. He walks her back to where she stays on the street and has a showdown with a demon that tries to attack him. He saves both of their lives and gives her the option of staying behind and coming with him. She comes with him because she doesn't feel safe out on the street alone after witnessing the strange being that morphs into different forms. He then tells her his life story and admits what he really is. Eloise offers to help will because she's tied into his life somehow, but they don't know why. Her picture and name are in the book also. They are now together on a mission to figure out how they are tied to each other and who made Will what he is and why he's so important to the prophecy of an evil man by the name of Lorcan Labraid.
This book feels like it's just getting started. It's not a terrible read and it feels like you should read it with a deep English accent that's meant for horror movies. I liked it, but then again I'm more tolerant than most for stories like this. This book has a lot of imagination put into it and is well thought out and not just thrown together. I recommend it to those who enjoy a good creepfest. The love story takes a back seat. There's no love as of yet but there are hints of one possibly starting. We'll have to see with the next book. Great premise and original idea.

Review is also on my Kindle Book Love Blog.(less)

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Sep 19, 2011 Karissa rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I got an advanced reading copy of this book through Netgalley.com. This is the first book in a planned trilogy. I wanted to love this book, but everything about it was pretty mediocre.

Will was destined to be the Earl of Mercia in the thirteenth century, that was until he was bitten and came down with the Sickness and died. Then he awoke as something other, something undead. Now seven centuries have passed for some of the time Will has been awake and trying to blend in amoung humanity, for the re...more I got an advanced reading copy of this book through Netgalley.com. This is the first book in a planned trilogy. I wanted to love this book, but everything about it was pretty mediocre.

Will was destined to be the Earl of Mercia in the thirteenth century, that was until he was bitten and came down with the Sickness and died. Then he awoke as something other, something undead. Now seven centuries have passed for some of the time Will has been awake and trying to blend in amoung humanity, for the rest of the time he has been in a hibernation-like sleep. One thing has always plagued Will though, why was he bitten? When will kills a squatter who knows Will's name, Will finds out that he may be part of a larger plan. Then Will is drawn to Eloise, maybe she is the key to the why behind his vampirism?

Okay I am trying to think about something positive to say about this book. The writing was okay and there weren't any glaring technical errors. Also the idea of a vampire as a solitary creature over centuries is intriguing, if a tad unrealistic.

Will has spent his past nearly 800 years between periods of hibernation and living amoung the human race. He wants to know why he was changed. This is the first problem I have with the book, I mean seriously what has he done the last 800 years? Why is he still stuck at square one regarding his own history?

Then Will stumbles upon Eloise and saves her from some gang-members. He is drawn to her, Eloise is THE ONE. Okay I have mentioned before how much I hate this immediate love at first sight, destiny kind of thing. Seriously why would Will be drawn to her of all women in the last 800 years? Then there is Eloise she is a runaway who left her privaleged life because she felt ignored by her parents. Okay. Problem is, she is kind of a brat and when this crazy Will guy starts telling her he is a vampire she is all like "That is so awesome, I completely trust you now". Not kidding, she is galavanting off with him to his secret lair in no time flat. She does this after explaining to Will that she is super cautious and never tells anyone her real name.

So I wasn't that impressed with the two main characters. What about the secondary character? Well the secondary characters consist of a couple of Vegan coffee shop owners who are called Chris and Rachel. They are supposed to help Will somehow, but they basically become a glorified taxi service for Will and Eloise. So no winners there. Even the bad guy is pretty underdeveloped. We never are never given a motive for the bad guy's actions outside of "well a guy who is badder than me made me do it"

You don't even get to the meat of the story until the last fourth of the book. It isn't until this part of the book that we are finally given a break from Will's whining about his ignorance and Eloise's blind devotion, here we finally start to get drawn into the mystery of why Will was turned. Then the book ends without resolving anything, it is totally just setup for the next book.

Overall I didn't enjoy this book. While it is technically decently written, it had a number of flaws. The premise behind Will and his history felt contrived, the characters were shallow and bland, the pace drags in the beginning of the book, and nothing is resolved in this book. Eloise contradicts herself often, Will is drawn to her immediately and I hate that kind of basis for a character relationship. The idea of a solitary vampire who hibernates was an interesting one, but just not a very good premise for this type of story...or maybe just not well done in this case. I will not be reading more books in this series and recommend readers check out other MG/YA vampire paranormal series; Vampire Academy and Blood Ninja are pretty good, there are numerous others out there.(less)

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Blood (Mercian Trilogy #1)

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