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Blood Challenge (World of the Lupi #7)

by Eileen Wilks (Goodreads Author)

4.28 of 5 stars 4.28 · rating details · 1,838 ratings · 110 reviews

View our feature on Eileen Wilks’s Blood Challenge.

Ex-cop Lily Yu and werewolf Rule Turner's engagement announcement is stirring up ugly passions in the Humans First camp. There's hate mail, followed by death threats. And when a lupus in Tennessee goes on a killing spree, Lily realizes that it's only the opening skirmish in an all-out war.

Paperback, 447 pages

Published January 4th 2011 by Berkley (first published January 1st 2011)

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Best Adult Paranormal Books of 2010

53rd out of 105 books — 354 voters

Best ADULT Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance

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Jan 04, 2011 Melindeeloo rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: shapeshifters, urban-fantasy, favorites

The series arc in Eileen Wilks' fabulous new World of the Lupi book is heating up: Lupi wolfshifter Rule's plan to break a Lupi taboo (if you read the last book you'll know what I'm trying to avoid spoiling for those who haven't) brings some nasty attention to Lily from hatemongers and the Lupi's public relations take a hit when a Lupi goes inexplicably berserk and kills several humans. I can't really do justice to the book with a simple synopsis, because the story setup is just the tip of the i...more The series arc in Eileen Wilks' fabulous new World of the Lupi book is heating up: Lupi wolfshifter Rule's plan to break a Lupi taboo (if you read the last book you'll know what I'm trying to avoid spoiling for those who haven't) brings some nasty attention to Lily from hatemongers and the Lupi's public relations take a hit when a Lupi goes inexplicably berserk and kills several humans. I can't really do justice to the book with a simple synopsis, because the story setup is just the tip of the iceberg for a scheme which threatens Lily, Rule and the entire Lupi race.

In between books I always forget how much I love the leads, Lily and Rule, and the secondary leads, Cullen and Cynna too. Wilks' characters are well developed and they (and their relationships) continue to grow as the series progress. This time Wilks also offers a more in depth view into the minds of continuing characters Isen and Benedict (Rule's wily and charismatic father and his taciturn and dangerous brother) who both have important parts to play in the story. I was also charmed by a new but significant member of the cast: part fae and info-freak Arjenie - and since she's a newbie to the Lupi world, there's a bit of a recap of series high points and Lupi lore that will help fans-to-be come up to speed too.

The story and the world building in Blood Challenge are terrific as always - I loved how the influence of the Lady (the Lupi's deity) is manifesting and how well chosen her "Chosen" really are as the Lady and her enemy begin putting their 'pieces' in play. And the finishing touch, I loved how Wilks' continues to add to the richness of the Lupi culture, as we learn even more about the other Lupi clans, the clan 'mantles' - power held by the clan leader which connects its members - and as we get to witness a ceremony honoring fallen Lupi warriors.

I loved Blood Challenge, so much that I read it twice in a row and it is definitely going on my very small keeper shelf next. End of gushing fan girlness:) Can't wait for the next book - Death Magic.
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Aug 10, 2011 Shannon C. rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Urban fantasy & paranormal romance fans

Shelves: favorites, magic-special-powers, shapeshifters

I LOVE THIS BOOK!!!

*do not read unless you've read through book #6: spoilers for PAST books* Blood Challenge, book seven in the World of Lupi series, picks up shortly after Blood Magic left off. FBI agent and magic sensitive Lily Yu and her Lupi (werewolf) mate Rule Turner are recently engaged. Lily has become the target of anti-Lupi bigots, and receives hate mail and death threats. Meanwhile, she is investigating murders allegedly done by a Leidolf Lupi--hard to believe since he lived in peace...more I LOVE THIS BOOK!!!

*do not read unless you've read through book #6: spoilers for PAST books* Blood Challenge, book seven in the World of Lupi series, picks up shortly after Blood Magic left off. FBI agent and magic sensitive Lily Yu and her Lupi (werewolf) mate Rule Turner are recently engaged. Lily has become the target of anti-Lupi bigots, and receives hate mail and death threats. Meanwhile, she is investigating murders allegedly done by a Leidolf Lupi--hard to believe since he lived in peace with humans for years. Then a series of events makes them believe an old enemy may be at play, leading up to a roller coaster ride of edge-of-your-seat suspense and action.

This book was a great mix of mystery, suspense, romance, adventure and drama. I couldn't put it down! The character development and world building are top notch. I enjoyed seeing a lot of my favorite characters from earlier books as well as meeting new characters like Arjenie. While I missed the presence of Lily's grandmother and Sam, I liked the greater focus on the Lupi, especially Benedict and Isen. The behind-the-scenes look at Lupi life, including their politics, culture and day-to-day life, was interesting. I especially enjoyed the surprising plotline involving Benedict, which took up a large part of the story. I can't say more because it's too big of a spoiler, but it was one of my favorite parts of the book. I also really liked the parts at the end. Great job, Eileen Wilks!

If you haven't tried this series, I think it would appeal to urban fantasy and paranormal romance fans. Since the lead character Lily is a cop turned FBI agent who becomes mated to a werewolf, the books tend to be a mix of mystery/suspense and paranormal romance. Other books similiar in style to this series that I enjoyed:
Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs
Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews
Guild Hunters series by Nalini Singh
Night Huntress series by Jeaniene Frost
Fever books by Karen Moning
Chicagoland Vampires series by Chloe Neill
Cassandra Palmer series and Dorina Basarab Dhampir series by Karen Chance (less)

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Jan 16, 2011 Catherine rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction-vixen-reviews, first-reads-arcs-won-a-copy, contemporary, crime-police-mystery-private-invest, fae, excellent, fantasy-paranormal-sci-fi, fated-mate, magic-mystical-ability, read-2011, romance, series, were-shifter

This series is a relatively new discovery to me. I actually only read the first book of the series, Tempting Danger, in October of 2010! But it was love at first sight for me. Right after I closed Tempting Danger I called one bookstore, visited two other used bookstores, and even hit up the library looking for the second book so I could jump into it immediately. Alas, my little town sucks and I had to order it and wait for it to arrive. But finally the rest of the series came in and I got to rea...more

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Oct 16, 2011 BamaGal rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: pnr-uf

4.5 Stars. After reading a stream of 'average' PNR/UF novels lately, I was so very pleased at how much I enjoyed this one. I'm not sure why Berkley labels this PNR. This series leans much closer to UF, imo.

Pretty much everything worked for me in Blood Challenge. Lily and Rule's relationship was put under the microscope and moved forward. Benedict,with whom I had mixed feelings about in previous books; got a new mate in this one. I enjoyed the building of the relationship, and how they worked out...more 4.5 Stars. After reading a stream of 'average' PNR/UF novels lately, I was so very pleased at how much I enjoyed this one. I'm not sure why Berkley labels this PNR. This series leans much closer to UF, imo.

Pretty much everything worked for me in Blood Challenge. Lily and Rule's relationship was put under the microscope and moved forward. Benedict,with whom I had mixed feelings about in previous books; got a new mate in this one. I enjoyed the building of the relationship, and how they worked out their feelings on the mate bond. I liked Arjenie, and I came to see a new side of Benedict that made me change my opinion of him. His past and past relationship with Claire was explored nicely. The reader was also given new insight into Isen.

The reader found how important Cynna and Cullen will be in future books. I sure didn't see THAT revelation coming at the end of the book. This one was full of pack politics, which I find very interesting. Wilks has obviously put a lot of work into her canon and in defining the world she's writing about. The story was fast-paced, quite interesting, and had multiple points of view and subplots. This book is definitely not for the first time reader. This series builds on itself, and there looks to be a whole slew of new subplots coming up in Death Magic. This one of those series that has gotten better as it goes along. Wilks seems to have hit her stride in the development of the stories, and it has been a great ride.

The only nit I really have is about the cover. The cover itself is great, they've got Lily down pat, even to the black tank tops she prefers. I am not pleased, however; with how western Lily's face looks on this cover. I know it can't be because marketing thought a western face would sell better; because in previous book covers, Lily on the cover was obviously Chinese. I can only assume that it was a mistake. Hopefully that will be rectified. If Lily is going to be Chinese in the book, she should be Chinese on the cover.

If I'm not mistaken, Benedict and Arjenie are to be the ss subjects in the upcoming anthology 'Tied With a Bow'. It is about them going to meet Arjenie's family, and takes place during the period between the end of this book and the 'two weeks later' epilog.(less)

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Jan 07, 2011 ~Megan~ rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: best-heroes-ever, dangerous-dudes, pnr-uf, shifters-werewolves, witches-wizards-magic-fae, angels-demons, shifters-cats, shifters-other, favorite-authors

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. OH MY WORD! I don't know if I can effectively put my love for this book into words.

I have been in love with this series from the very first, and each book has gotten better and the world has grown bigger and bigger, but I have to say this book is my favorite of the entire series. It was, in a word, EPIC. So many things happened, so many HUGE things happened.

Lily was injured for the majority of the book, but I didn't mind because this made for the majority of the action to revolve around the wol...more OH MY WORD! I don't know if I can effectively put my love for this book into words.

I have been in love with this series from the very first, and each book has gotten better and the world has grown bigger and bigger, but I have to say this book is my favorite of the entire series. It was, in a word, EPIC. So many things happened, so many HUGE things happened.

Lily was injured for the majority of the book, but I didn't mind because this made for the majority of the action to revolve around the wolves in her life. The way we delved into the lupus culture in this book was exciting because it happens to be my favorite part of the story.

Benedict and Arjenie were my favorite thing...I have been wanting Benedict to find love for a long time, especially coming from a past as tragic as his. The Lady seems to be cropping up more and more lately and doing things nobody ever thought could be done. Benedict is the only lupus ever to have TWO Chosens. I personally feel The Lady made a mistake in his first Chosen and is trying to rectify it here. Arjenie is just perfect for him, and they were so sweet together. I loved her character, and even though this book is rich with a billion characters, I'm thankful for one more.

Lily has accepted the Wythe mantle now, so between them, Rule and Lily now carry THREE mantles. That's three different clans, and this all makes sense when we hear the prophecy the Leidolf Rhej pulled from the memories at the end. That, above all, has me extremely excited for the upcoming books. When the two-mantles calls, we come together, and when a female lupus is born, the war begins again. Cullen and Cynna had a daughter......who turns out to be lupus!!! I knew the "little rider" had to be special, but this is all so exciting.

So the war begins...I guess this means that all the previous books have just contained skirmishes. If this all happened before the war began, I can't wait to see what happens now.

Gosh, I love this series....have I gushed enough??!(less)

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Jan 05, 2011 ALPHAreader rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

FBI agent Lily Yu and her Lupi (werewolf) prince mate, Rule Turner, have a rough road ahead. Rule has done the impossible and uncouth by proposing marriage to his human chosen mate. This is unheard of amongst the notoriously promiscuous Lupi. . . it is even unheard of for bond-mates like Lily and Rule, who are bound to one another per the Lupi’s deity, The Lady. But it’s not just Rule’s clan-mates who are suspicious of the upcoming nuptials. Human anti-werewolf groups are airing their grievances...more

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Jan 03, 2011 Bookaholics rated it 4 of 5 stars

Blood Challenge by Eileen Wilks
Paranormal Romance – Jan 4th, 2010
4 ½ stars

Blood Challenge is the 7th in Eileen Wilk’s phenomenal Lupi/shifter series. This series is involving and complex. It does for werewolves what J R Ward’s series does for vampires. Because of this, I feel that reading all of the books in order would be highly advisable but not strictly necessary.

FBI agent Lily Yu and her fiancée, the werewolf leader Rule Turner, will soon be married. However, not all humans are ready to ack...more Blood Challenge by Eileen Wilks
Paranormal Romance – Jan 4th, 2010
4 ½ stars

Blood Challenge is the 7th in Eileen Wilk’s phenomenal Lupi/shifter series. This series is involving and complex. It does for werewolves what J R Ward’s series does for vampires. Because of this, I feel that reading all of the books in order would be highly advisable but not strictly necessary.

FBI agent Lily Yu and her fiancée, the werewolf leader Rule Turner, will soon be married. However, not all humans are ready to acknowledge or accept shifters and Lily is threatened by hate crimes. Lily’s job in the FBI calls her to a case involving a rash of murders by an out of control werewolf. She and Rule must travel to investigate. But Lily soon finds that these murders are not all that they seem and soon her investigation uncovers fairies, witches and a powerful madman. Can she stop a man bend on revenge?

Benedict is the dour older brother to Rule. He is happy that his brother has found his Chosen/mate but his disastrous past with his Chosen keeps him free from entanglements. But fate has other ideas when the Lady chooses another woman named Arjenie for Benedict, the one he tries to resist. But Arjenie has secrets that may be the key to the survival of the Lupi and their attraction for each other will not be denied.

Readers who love this series will not be disappointed. This is a thick book with many subplots. I think it is my favorite since the very first book, Tempting Danger, came out! I really like Lily and am glad the author has returned to her and Rule being the main characters. They have a real chemistry and the Lupi politics and Lily’s crime solving make their storylines absorbing.

But I was even more surprised by how much I enjoyed Benedict’s storyline. He has always seemed stoic and mysterious, and I am thrilled to find out about his past and his failed (and tragic) relationship with his previous Chosen. In this book, he is given a 2nd chance when the Lady picks another Chosen for him - a mysterious woman named Arjenie, who knows more than she lets on. However, Benedict’s miserable history prevents him from seeking her out as most Lupi would do. He feels like a failure and doesn’t want another woman in his life. His relationship with Arjenie is fascinating and well worth the price of the book alone! I am so happy he finally gets someone worthy of him. (About time!) This book definitely made Benedict more human and sympathetic. His scenes and his interactions with Arjenie are gripping. He is an even better a character than I expected, and I might like him a little better than Rule now!

As usual, the author does not stint on a complex plot and some very 3 dimensional characters. As I mentioned earlier, the best part of this story is how Benedict is really revealed. I loved learning more about him and how the author makes him a lot more human and approachable. This book is thick and feels like 2 books in 1 but the different storylines never felt choppy and eventually meld.

Multilayered and thrilling, this is a paranormal romance that will knock your socks off! If you love shifters, urban fantasies, or dark paranormals with some serious bite, get this book.

Reviewed by Steph from the Bookaholics Book Club

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Oct 19, 2012 Estara rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Fans of Meljean Brooks Guardians or Ilona Andrews Kate Daniels

Recommended to Estara by: Love the series, so auto-buy

Shelves: ebook, read-in-2011, re-read, read-in-2012, favorites

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This is not a book to start the series with, there is no catching up info-dump - which I like. And the book is meaty - at about 410 pages of story on my ebook reader, but it really moves the plot along.

Something the Lupi and the Special Unit for Magic at the FBI have suspected gets confirmed here and the first few shots of all-out magic war are fired under the guise of internal problems among the various Lupi clans - abetted by the machinations of the recurring villain, the head of Humans First....more This is not a book to start the series with, there is no catching up info-dump - which I like. And the book is meaty - at about 410 pages of story on my ebook reader, but it really moves the plot along.

Something the Lupi and the Special Unit for Magic at the FBI have suspected gets confirmed here and the first few shots of all-out magic war are fired under the guise of internal problems among the various Lupi clans - abetted by the machinations of the recurring villain, the head of Humans First.

Because the stakes rise, so does the action, we have Isen Turner in danger of his life, a Lupi mantle passing on, Lily being the victim of an almost successful assassination attempt, and Cullen and Cynna's child being born. And to top it off there is a love story for Rule's older brother Benedict who still hasn't recovered from the death of his mate about 50 years earlier. And I love the new lady they introduced for that purpose and the fact that she has more than one role to play in the way the situation develops.

This Urban Fantasy/Romance series is too little known, I think.

_________________________
On reread I loved this book even more. Everything combines together so well - the information bits are (to my mind) cleverly integrated into the dialogue and - in the case of elven lore - into the development of the love between Ben and Arjenie.

Lily and Rule continually negotiate their relationship while working on the dangers that surrounds them and both sides are served equally well where appropriate: a very tough balance for an UF/PR. Not even the Alpha & Omega books by Patricia Briggs manage to make daily life and family and love in the relationship so much a part of the whole of the novel - they emphasize it as a plot point (when Charles has to be explained to his father for example) but then they take a bit of a backburner while the mystery happens until it's time for a quiet moment again.

With Lily and Rule their love and their life together and Lily being the close-mouthed, repressed one and Rule being not-human even when he is in his human shape in significant ways (Death Magic will really reach an apex in clarifying that) - it's always there. Even and especially when they're in a danger situation. And while it's at the back of their minds it still leaves them competent - especially Lily! to act to stop the danger!(less)

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Jan 08, 2011 Darcy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011

Wow, this book great in so many ways. This time around there wasn't so much of Lily and the FBI stuff, it was more about Rule, and all the Lupi. We really got a great look of how all the clans work and how they work together, the petty conflicts and the political maneuvering.

This book also had a lot of Benedict, who I have always liked. In this book we really got to know a lot more about him and his past. One particular memorable scene was one in which Nettie defended Benedict and what happened...more

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May 07, 2011 Pamela / SpazP rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Originally posted at WickedLilPixie Reviews

This World of the Lupi series is one of my most cherished Shifter/Changer series out there, and I have read a lot of them. In Blood Challenge, Rule and Lily are now engaged to be married which is not a lupi tradition. As a rule, lupi are promiscuous and have a deep protective nature over women, but not one in partcular. There is one sect out there, Humans First, that promotes great fear and hatred towards the lupi and want them all extinguished. The att...more Originally posted at WickedLilPixie Reviews

This World of the Lupi series is one of my most cherished Shifter/Changer series out there, and I have read a lot of them. In Blood Challenge, Rule and Lily are now engaged to be married which is not a lupi tradition. As a rule, lupi are promiscuous and have a deep protective nature over women, but not one in partcular. There is one sect out there, Humans First, that promotes great fear and hatred towards the lupi and want them all extinguished. The attacks of violence escalate in this book on the lupi as a whole, including Lily who the sect has labeled a traitor for mating with Rule. Rule’s positions as Lu Nuncio to Nokolai clan and Rho to Leidolf clan in the world of the lupi are sometimes at deep odds with his engagement to FBI agent Lily. Lily and Rule are at a constant struggle to do right by one another, and with this story, once again the depths of their commitment to one another is challenged.

As in the previous books, there is a lot of complex theory and practice involved with wiccan spellcraft and sidh mythology that is so well told that you are convinced it’s real. It is so well illustrated it feels like you are there and that you are struggling to understand the complexities along with Lily. Eileen Wilks is a master storyteller and by that I mean that she weaves different characters and events together so superbly that is flows like a dream. The secondary story focuses on our favorite Benedict! Benedict gets a story, and what a fantastic story it is! We learn more about his history, and he meets Arjenie and immediately senses from the Lady that she is his Chosen, a second Chosen, which is virtually unheard of. I loved Arjenie, loved her! She is oddly innocent, but not naive or ignorant. She is quirky and has a strong soul. I just adored her for Benedict and enjoyed watching their relationship evolve. Cullun is of course in this story, as well as a very pregnant Cynna. Gotta love their affectionate bickering and one-upping. I really missed Gan in this one, and am hoping s/he makes an appearance in the next book.

Blood Challenge is the 7th novel of the Lupi series, and it is no small feat to buid upon a series that focuses on one couple, keeping it enthralling and interesting, but this is hands down the best book of the series. There are no Happily Ever Afters, Rule and Lily have committed to one another for life but their challenges are ongoing and the work to be together is hard. I would be hard pressed to give you many examples of Paranormal Romance series that focus still on the adventures of a couple… and continues to make it interesting and addictive.

If you are a fan of Shifter/Changer series, it really doesn’t get better than this. Do not read this book stand-alone. The story arc and mythology are just far too complex that you will be lost. To get the full experience of Lily and Rule’s journey, start from the beginning. You won’t be disappointed, I promise! I am sitting on the edge of my chair waiting for the 8th book, Death Magic, out in November of this year!

Lupi series books:

Tempting Danger
Mortal Danger
Blood Lines
Night Season
Mortal Sins
Blood Magic
Blood Challenge
Death Magic – November 2011(less)

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Jan 16, 2011 mlady_rebecca rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: author__eileen_wilks, genre__urban_fantasy, genre_sub__lycanthropes_and_shifter, fiction__part_of_a_series, pov__third_person_female, 2011, fiction__speculative, format__mass_market_pb

Great book, although I'm not sure I have much to say about it. That's what you get sometimes when there are no complaints. It ended too soon, but good books always end too soon. It was actually a pretty thick book. And it ended on a bit of a cliffhanger. Please tell me I don't have to wait till next January for the next book.

Focused heavier on Rule and Lily, as opposed to Cynna and Cullen, although they were all onstage. There is also a new female character (who's not exactly human) who's introd...more

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Feb 23, 2011 Stephanie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: urban-fantasy

I really love this series and this one pulled me in right away.

This is not a series that you can jump into in the middle. It's really best to start at the beginning and work your way through Wilks' meticulous worldbuilding. Her stories are dense but they're magical and I'm really enjoying the ride.

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Feb 13, 2012 Sarah rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Puh, was soll ich sagen ... als ich die letzten Sätze las war ich ganz schön baff und hatte eine extreme Gänsehaut. Umso mehr frustriert es mich nun, dass der nächste Band erst in einem halben Jahr erscheint! Es ist zum Haareraufen. Ein wirklich mieser, mieser Cliffhanger. Und das Buch an sich war richtig super:

Rule und Lily stehen wieder sehr weit im Vordergrund und dennoch passiert so viel mehr bei so vielen anderen Charakteren, dass der Leser wieder eine absolute Vielfalt von Sichtweisen zu l...more Puh, was soll ich sagen ... als ich die letzten Sätze las war ich ganz schön baff und hatte eine extreme Gänsehaut. Umso mehr frustriert es mich nun, dass der nächste Band erst in einem halben Jahr erscheint! Es ist zum Haareraufen. Ein wirklich mieser, mieser Cliffhanger. Und das Buch an sich war richtig super:

Rule und Lily stehen wieder sehr weit im Vordergrund und dennoch passiert so viel mehr bei so vielen anderen Charakteren, dass der Leser wieder eine absolute Vielfalt von Sichtweisen zu lesen bekommt. Das Ganze ist auch keineswegs verwirrend, denn die Orte und Geschehnisse Grenzen sich super voneinander ab, sodass keinesfalls Verwirrung aufkommt.

Bei Rule wird deutlich, wie schwierig es ist mit gleich zwei Clanmächten in sich den Tag zu managen. Zusammen mit dem Band zu Lily und seinen nunmehr zwei Clan-Verpflichtungen ist er mehr als bedient. Natürlich steht Lily weiterhin an erster Stelle und man sieht doch wieder wie sehr sie ihm bedeutet. Und Rule wäre nicht Rule, wenn er es nicht schaffen würde mit der Situation klarzukommen. Aber auch Lily hat dieses Mal wirklich zu kämpfen, denn nach einem Anschlag auf ihre Leben wird ihr Bodyguard getötet und all das weckt bei ihr ungeahnte Tiefen und Albträume. Auch Ruben Brooks - Lilys Boss beim FBI fällt einem Anschlag auf sein Leben zum Opfer. Man sieht also, dass es wieder einmal nicht langweilig wird, denn Lily - ganz die FBi-Agentin - versucht alles um herauszufinden, was hinter diesen Anschlägen steckt. Als auch noch ein Lupus grundlos in Raserei verfällt ist das Chaos perfekt. Und alles deutet auf eine neue Verschwörung der größten Feindin der "Dame" der Lupi hin.

Auch Cullen und Cynna sind natürlich nicht vergessen, vor allem da Cynna hochschwanger ist. Und sicherlich werden die beiden bald noch eine größere Rolle spielen.
Nur Cullen hat es ab und an geschafft mir mit seinem Fachgefasel über Magie und wie sie Funktioniert auf die Nerven zu gehen. Nicht, dass es fehl am Platz gewesen wäre, aber sobald Wiederholungen seiner Ausführungen immer und immer wieder kamen, dann hat es mich schon genervt.

Auch Rules großer Bruder Benedict bekommt endlich einen größeren Part zugesprochen und das hat mich richtig gefreut, denn ich war schon so lange gespannt darauf, wann er endlich weiter in den Vordergrund rückt. Außerdem beschert ihm die "Dame" der Lupi ein zweites Mal eine große Ehre und auch er scheint so langsam sein Glück zu finden. Arjenie ist echt eine super Frau. Vor allem durch ihren Wissensdrang war sie mir direkt Sympatisch und es ist echt witzig, wenn sie einfach nicht aufhören kann über die kleinsten Dinge zu referieren. Es ist einfach ihre Art.

Mit Problemen zwischen den Clans. Anschlägen auf Lily, Ruben Brooks und einen Lupus. Freude, Tränen, Angst und einem echt gänsehautbringenden Ende schafft Eileen Wilks wieder einmal einen super Roman, zwar mit einem echt miesen Cliffhanger, aber das steigert nur die Vorfreude. (less)

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Jan 03, 2012 Crystallena rated it 5 of 5 stars

I read entirely too much urban fantasy to be mistaken for a healthy fan of this genre. I'm more like the creepy celebrity stalker of urban fantasy series. I feel as if I have a relationship with the books I read, and, sadly enough, occassionally with the characters in the books. One part of my brain knows that I am deluding myself, but the other part of my brain feels the need to live vicariously through leather-clad heroines, shifters, vampires and all manners of fey. This, of course, means tha...more I read entirely too much urban fantasy to be mistaken for a healthy fan of this genre. I'm more like the creepy celebrity stalker of urban fantasy series. I feel as if I have a relationship with the books I read, and, sadly enough, occassionally with the characters in the books. One part of my brain knows that I am deluding myself, but the other part of my brain feels the need to live vicariously through leather-clad heroines, shifters, vampires and all manners of fey. This, of course, means that I read a lot of series. Unfortunately, this genre also spawns a plethora of mediocrity. I have read 62 series this year. 62 seperate series. Of course, some of them were re-reads as new books came out, but the fact remains that I have had the pleasure to stalk 62 completely different characters in my own charming way, this year alone. Honestly, so many were crap. Even some of my favorite authors put out some seriously bad shit this year. I found my standards sinking lower and lower, giving some books higher ratings than they deserved just because they weren't THAT bad. Then I got pissed off. Why the hell should I settle for books that are ok? I spend more money on books every month then I spend on food! If I was unhappy with food I received at a restaurant, I would send it back, ask for a discount, or refuse to pay, right? When it comes to an author that I may have previously enjoyed, not only do I not refuse to pay for it, I feel so bad that I didn't enjoy the book that I still give it a 2 or 3 star rating! What the hell is wrong with me? NO MORE I SAY! From here on out I promise to be honest with myself and other readers and rate according to the content of the book, and not my relationship (real or imagined) with the author.

Whew, ok, now that I got that off of my chest I can say that the World of Lupi is continuing to please, surprise, and entertain me 7 damn books into the series! The plot is already reviewed by everyone else that has written a review, so no need to go over it again. I am so glad that the books are still exciting and fresh and I am grateful for the opportunity to realize why I fell in love with this genre in the first place. Good stuff! (less)

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Jul 29, 2011 Book Binge Blog rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: berkley, for-review, paranormal

This is the seventh book in Eileen Wilks's Lupi series and my first experience in this amazingly complex world. Sometimes, it's really hard to come into a series this far along and sometimes it's super-easy (especially when an author recaps what happened in the previous books). While I was dropped deep into the action with this book and I struggled initially with figuring out the language and who everyone was, it didn't take me too long to become completely immersed.

The world of the Lupi is a ha...more This is the seventh book in Eileen Wilks's Lupi series and my first experience in this amazingly complex world. Sometimes, it's really hard to come into a series this far along and sometimes it's super-easy (especially when an author recaps what happened in the previous books). While I was dropped deep into the action with this book and I struggled initially with figuring out the language and who everyone was, it didn't take me too long to become completely immersed.

The world of the Lupi is a harsh one. After finally coming out to the humans, the lupi have done their best to put a tame face on their wilder instincts. That tame face is the gorgeous Rule, nadia (mate) of FBI agent Lily, Rho (leader) of the Leidolf clan and heir of the Nokolai clan. It is he who deals with the public, who does the interviews, and who calms the public when one of his clan goes insane and kills people. He and Lily are some of the Lady's chosen (the Lady is the Lupi's deity) and they, along with the other chosen, are part of her long-term plan to both protect her people, the Lupi, and defeat her enemy. This book introduces a new character, Arjenie who's part-Fae and part-human, to the mix—another Chosen, one necessary to the Lady's plan. I was very happy to see her. Since she is not overly-knowledgeable about the world of the Lupi besides what she could research, I received a bit more insight into their rules and the way things are run. I'm interested to see what her roles will be in the coming battle between the Lady and her ancient enemy (I don't think I'd better say more for fear of spoiler, especially since I'm not well-versed in this series. I don't want to ruin anything for anyone!).

I know that, coming into this world in the seventh book, I'm at a serious disadvantage. I've read enough fantasy, science fiction and werewolf-centric books that I was able to jump on board and enjoy the ride. However, I recognize that I'm missing out on the subtle layers of the relationships that were developed in the previous six novels, something I will remedy as soon as I get a spare moment. The world of the Lupi is one I want to know as much as possible about. I want to know how Rule and Lily got together and the battles they faced. I'm dying to read more about Cullen and Cynna—they weren't in #7 nearly long enough and the taste I got of their relationship and Cullen's wicked humor merely whet my appetite for more.

There's just so much going on in this novel: lupi in love, multiple attacks, old rivalries and new partnerships, betrayals, ancient enemies, and plans of attack. This story is fascinating and the world-building is so richly layered and intricate. I can't wait to read #1-6 and re-reading #7 with new insight—and then breathlessly anticipating #8.

Rating: 4.0/5.0 (though, I'm thinking that if I'd read even some of the previous six novels, I would have rated it higher)

This review was originally posted on Book Binge by Mary.(less)

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Jul 23, 2011 Layla Smith rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: lupi

"This has been my favortie book of the series so far. I could hardly put it down.

So, to begin with now that Lily and Rule have goen public with their engagement, there has been a lot of outcry from the Human's First group lead by Robert Friar. Who was introduced in the story from the Inked anthology. Also, after a couple of books without Her, the great bitch makes a move again, which of course means the Lady has to work against her.

The Lady works by given Benedict another Chosen, Arjanie. I simp...more

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Apr 27, 2011 Trina Lore rated it 3 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I'll confess that this is another "review of a series" posted for one book in the series. When I find a series I enjoy, I tend to devour the books one after the other, with no stops for thinking or catching my breath.

I do enjoy this series and this universe, but with a big caveat: I can barely stand Lily, and only like Rule a hair more.

My main complaint is that Lily isn't the sharpest crayon in the box. I was given the impression in the first couple books that she is supposed to be bright and a...more

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Oct 19, 2011 Liz rated it 4 of 5 stars

I'd never read an Eileen Wilks novel before this, and since this novel is 7th in a series I wasn't sure what to expect. It turned out I very much enjoyed it. It takes a talented story teller to write a book that includes just enough back story, without over explaining or hitting you over the head with details, to allow someone new to jump right into the middle of a series. Eileen Wilks wove in references & back history with such skill it seemed a natural part of the story. Never did I feel l...more

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May 06, 2011 Jenna rated it 5 of 5 stars

This has been my favorite in the series! I'll leave you to read the synopsis so I don't add any spoilers.

The action was non-stop in this book and I was literally thinking 'how are they going to get out of this?!'. I liked seeing Lily vulnerable...like a real human. Although I was not happy about LeBron's fate, it was interesting to watch Lily cope with the guilt, the grief, the sudden realization that something could take Rule or Toby away, and all the while, healing from her injuries and having...more

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Apr 16, 2012 Amy A rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: world-of-lupi

This is a series that I've really grown to love. It's just gotten better and better. Now we are on book seven in the series Blood Challenge. I think one of the things that I like most about the series is the character development. When I think of where everyone started and where they've ended up at this point I can only be curious about where Eileen Wilks has left to take them. But in true form, she continually throws so many twists into the mix and Blood Challenge certainly sets the stage for m...more This is a series that I've really grown to love. It's just gotten better and better. Now we are on book seven in the series Blood Challenge. I think one of the things that I like most about the series is the character development. When I think of where everyone started and where they've ended up at this point I can only be curious about where Eileen Wilks has left to take them. But in true form, she continually throws so many twists into the mix and Blood Challenge certainly sets the stage for more things to come.

The book starts out with the introduction to a new character: Arjenie. Most times I am opposed to authors throwing in new characters that take time away from our original couple. I wasn't too happy when Cullen and Cynna got more page time with Rule and Lily pushed to the background for a book, but this was completely different. I absolutely love Arjenie's character. She's a little mysterious at first, but regardless from the beginning I liked her and her personality. Her link to Benedict is interesting and I'm excited to learn more about him. He's been in the series from the beginning, but always as this type who gets his job done, protects who he needs to protect, but doesn't like talking about his past / personal life even to his family. He's always been mysterious, but in Blood Challenge we definitely get to see a different side to him and Wilks does a wonderful job with that.

Rule and Lily leave San Diego after a Liedolf lupi attacks humans at a party for no apparent reason. Upon seeing the lupi and after Lily is attacked while out on a run, they realize that more is going on than just an attack. Their conclusions lead them to Robert Friar, a man in charge of Humans First, an organization that wants to take away all right the Lupi have built up to this point.

The only thing that I could complain about would be the coincidences. Everything just seemed to add together too easily, and fit together well too, but some of it seemed forced. It shouldn't have gone together but for the sake of making the stroy conprehensible it will go together, kind of thing. It doesn't make the story bad just sometimes I think it messes with the flow a little too much.

While the story doesn't really end on a cliffhanger, Wilks certainly knows how to peak your interest for the next book. I can't wait to continue the series. I never thought I would be caught up, but with Death Magic I will be and then comes Mortal Ties out this October I believe. Until Then!(less)

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Jun 29, 2011 Jennifer (Books&Barks) rated it 5 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this latest book by Eileen Wilks, and have to say it is probably one of my favorites from the series!

The world for Lupi is changing. Events signaling the beginning of war with their greatest enemy are taking place, and no one is safe. She who is not named (a goddess like character who lives in another realm) has returned to her plotting against the wolves, but Rule and Lily are no longer her only focus. All wolves are, and not everyone will survive.

New characters are introduced...more

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Jan 22, 2011 Marisella rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: i-quit-reading-this-because-it-suck

This was an okay read up until page 14. That's when EW jumps on the asshole bandwagon. the assholes who defaced her car were "the predictable demographic.... heterosexual white males between the age of 20 and 60" Really? well, of course it's safe to denigrate this particular demographic, they're the only ones who aren't allowed to defend themselves in the media. So, screw this writer, she's lost me.

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Mar 17, 2011 Gardavson rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy-romance, paranormal, 5-star

Oh my freaking gosh! Why, why, why can't the next installment be ready?! Wonderful addition to the series. As usual, I have my minor gripes, which I seem to have mostly with books I rather like. But they are minor. Again, at times I liked Lily, and at times she irritated me. More so in this book than in previous ones. But it's hard being in someone's head and still liking them all the time I suppose. Though I was pretty ticked at her in regards to the Cobb conclusion. She just didn't seem to put...more Oh my freaking gosh! Why, why, why can't the next installment be ready?! Wonderful addition to the series. As usual, I have my minor gripes, which I seem to have mostly with books I rather like. But they are minor. Again, at times I liked Lily, and at times she irritated me. More so in this book than in previous ones. But it's hard being in someone's head and still liking them all the time I suppose. Though I was pretty ticked at her in regards to the Cobb conclusion. She just didn't seem to put much concern into her part in what happened to him and the position it put Rule in. I also thought that kinda got dropped in the story yet seemed like it should have been a bigger deal. I didn't like what happened with Lily at the end, regarding the guy, Brian I think, they rescued. It didn't seem right and I'm afraid it will put Lily more towards the area in which I don't like her. But, I also think that it's going to come out in plot later as quite purposeful.

This book was full of plot happenings, twists, intricacies, action, intrigue, and emotion. I couldn't even begin to cover them all. There was a bit of fat that could have been trimmed, such as the tv stuff, but it didn't detract and didn't take up that much time. It just didn't lead anywhere and left me wondering why it had been there to begin with. But geesh, a lot went on! We meet Arjenie, find out (finally) about Claire and Benedict. Benedict plays a bigger role in this book than he has before, which I'm glad of. I like him. Plenty of quality Cullen time, and Cynna there too. Toby takes a back seat, where I prefer him. He seems a bit immature, even for his young age. Perhaps being lupus makes me think he should be a bit more mature. It's hard to say much without spoilage. While the first half of the book is a lot of building, the last half flies along and the plot and action suck ya right in. I was impressed with some of the thought Wilks put into the characters' emotional struggles. Much of it was exceedingly well done. I also like the firnam at the end. When it first began I was disappointed and thought it was going to be lame. But Wilks took it up a notch and pulled out the concept superbly, I thought. I love being surprised like that. I thought it was clever and brilliantly done. Now I mourn that I am at the end of current publishings and have to wait for the next book.(less)

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Jan 24, 2011 Teresa Vangilder rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: human, shapeshifter, fantasy

I really enjoyed this book, I think it's my favorite in the series so far. Lily and Rule are still very involved but they aren't necessarily the main focus. Lily has started getting on my nerves with her stubbornness and inflexibility on changing. Having other characters starting to play more equal roles makes this series much more enjoyable and there is enough of a variety almost everyone will find someone to identify with in the series. I am finding it very interesting that Lily is starting to...more

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Sep 05, 2011 E. rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal

4 3/4 stars. Excellent addition to the series. FBI agent Lily Yu and Rule Turner continue making their own rules as they deal with the repercussions of a marriage between a human and one of the most powerful leaders of the lupi. A mysterious substance with frightening powers surfaces and may finally achieve the schism that Robert Friar and his Humans First organization have been agitating for. An unheard of occurrence blindsides Benedict but may be the best thing that's ever happened to him in h...more

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Nov 03, 2011 Puddlyduck rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance, magic, action, urban-fantasy

This is a great addition to Wilk's series. Usually I'm not overly keen on the books that take us away from the leads; Lily and Rule, but I really enjoyed reading about the new character Arjennie.

I think this was due to he fact that Arjennie is a very fresh character. She is a heroine who is strong but doesn't consider herself to be so. In comparison to many of the other characters she is more limited physically. Despite this she does not act helpless. Much praise to Eileen Wilks for creating a n...more

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Jul 29, 2011 Daniela rated it 4 of 5 stars

Magic surges on earth to new hights and ever since then millenia of relative normalcy are coming undone...still! As we have read in the past six World of the Lupi books, things are changing in dangerous ways that once again our group of werewolves and co. have to stop before the world falls into the hands of... It is a book with many inner conflicts, many intelligent characters that solve problems with smarts and their inner conflicts with reasonable to admirable speed and once again delivers th...more

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Apr 03, 2011 Diane ~Firefly~ rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: uf, shifter, paranormal, magic, fae

It is always nice to catch up with characters you enjoy and meet new ones. This book is dealing with threats to the FBI and the wolves from Humans First group. Lily is injured early on and we meet a new main character, Arjenie.

What I enjoyed:
* Catching up with loved characters - Lily, Rule, Cullen, Cynna, etc.
* Arjenie is an awesome new addition. She might be my favorite character in the series outside of Lily's grandmother now.
* Learning more about Benedict.
* The ending.
* The sense of the threa...more

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Feb 02, 2012 Pam rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 12-x-12, 2012-tbr, shifters, pnr, series

Though it's been quite a while since I read the previous book in this series, it took off running from the 1st page and managed to remind me of all the necessary background, which is not easily done. The introduction or Arjenie, a part Fae with interesting "gifts", was a stroke of genius, since her personality lent an air of lightness that was needed after the developments in previous books. She also allowed readers to become re-familiarized, and then more invested in, Benedict and Nettie Two Ho...more

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Nov 19, 2011 Shreya Kishore rated it 5 of 5 stars

OK, I believe that this is the best urban fantasy I have ever read. And I read quite a many of those so I should know. It has all the factors required for a mind-blowing, awesome book- great character builder, adorable characters that forever linger in your mind, excellent plot which is a mixture of action, suspense and romance. A new character Arjenie was introduced in this book and battle or should I say war is declared. The book begins with the usual routine line of Special Agent Lily Yu and...more

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About Eileen Wilks

Eileen Wilks’ first book, a Silhouette Desire published in 1996, hit the USA Today Bestseller List and was nominated for Romantic Times' Best First Short Contemporary award. Since then, her books have appeared consistently on national bestseller lists. With thirty two books in print and novellas in nine anthologies, she has been a finalist in the prestigious Rita Awards three times, as well as rec...more Eileen Wilks’ first book, a Silhouette Desire published in 1996, hit the USA Today Bestseller List and was nominated for Romantic Times' Best First Short Contemporary award. Since then, her books have appeared consistently on national bestseller lists. With thirty two books in print and novellas in nine anthologies, she has been a finalist in the prestigious Rita Awards three times, as well as receiving several nominations from Romantic Times, including one for Career Achievement in Series Romantic Suspense.

Each book in her World of the Lupi series gains a larger audience. It was originally sold in the Romance section of bookstores, but more and more you will be able to find copies cross-shelved under Sci-Fi and Fantasy as the popularity of the series grows!

Eileen has lived in the West Texas town of Midland, TX for over 30 years--three years as a young teen, and the remaining years since she moved back here as an adult. When she first started writing over 10 years ago, it hit her like the first drink for an alcoholic . . . or the first kiss for Romeo and Juliet.

She came to writing romance in a roundabout way. Having read and loved science fiction for years, that’s where she first tried her hand when the writing bug bit. Somehow her stories always ended up having a strong romantic subplot, but she hadn’t read a romance since the early 80’s and didn’t think “those little books” were her kind of stories. But when a friend in her critique group began working on a romance novel, Wilks decided she needed to give the genre another try. She asked her friend to recommend some titles--and quicker than you can say “Jayne Ann Krentz,” she fell in love. The genre had been busy growing up while she wasn’t watching. These days, with romances comprising over 50% of the mass market books published in the U.S., there are romances to appeal to almost every taste--historicals, paranormals and contemporaries that range from romantic suspense to romantic comedy, from inspirational to sizzling.

Eileen covered a lot of territory before coming home to Midland, having lived in Canada and Venezuela as well as twelve U.S. cities in five states.

Profile taken from the author's site with her permission.(less)

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Quotes from Blood Challenge

“Nice to know a few things aren't in the government's files,' he said, opening the front door and stepping out ahead of her. The human courtesy of waiting for the woman to go through a door was all flourish, no sense. If any danger waited on the other side of a door, he'd rather meet it himself, not send her into it.” — 3 people liked it

“I need to check your ankle.”
“Ask.”
“If you object, I—”
“Giving me a chance to object is not the same as asking permission. You’re used to telling people what to do. That works with those guards you’re in charge of. You aren’t in charge of me. You have to ask.”
One corner of his mouth turned up. “It’s more efficient my way.”
“If your primary goal in life is efficiency, you should just die.”
That startled him. His head actually jerked back. “What?”
“The most efficient way to live a life is to die a couple seconds after you’re born. Pfft. Done.” She dusted her hands to demonstrate that. “It’s too late for you to achieve optimal efficiency, but you could still . . .” — 2 people liked it

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Blood Challenge (World of the Lupi #7)

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