Sammy Cordova’s life is complicated. Between grieving the loss of her longtime partner and the grueling task of hunting vampires, she can barely keep her head on straight. The last thing she needs is more chaos in her life, but as the daughter of the esteemed founders of the Department of Vampire Extermination, chaos comes with the territory.
When a company scientist suddenly dies in a freak accident on the same day she discovers a potential cure for a virus that is aggressively creating a world of vampiric beings, Sammy is eager for answers.
Forced to team up with Gray, a new hunter who better serves as an irritant than a partner, she has no choice but to temporarily swallow her grief, train Gray, and make sense of the world around her.
Will her desperate hunt for the truth put them back on track for a much-needed cure, or will it tear her already fragile psyche apart? Find out in this adrenaline-rushing paranormal romance adventure!
Wow! This book had me screaming, pulling my hair, and eagerly flipping through the pages the entire time, it was amazing!
In a dystopian world, after an attempt by the government to create powerful soldiers goes wrong, a virus is spreading and quickly. The people affected, the vampires, are bloodsucking feral creatures. Sammy, a extremely talented vampire hunter who suffered great loss by these creatures, wants revenge, whats to rid the world of this horrible creatures. She is tasked with training a recruit, Gray, after her irresponsible actions almost get her killed.
Gray and Sammy can't stand each other, I love the tension between them! Sammy is hot-headed, stubborn and wants nothing to do with a partner. The story is full of plot twists, OMG that ending!! I couldn't believe it. So many secrets, so many underlying motives and an entire society we did not expect. The author writes action scenes masterfully, its like watching a movie perfectly in my mind. The novel is intense, dark, vivid, thrilling and amazing!
I received and ARC for my honest review. Everything is my opinion and my opinion alone.
As a teenager I used to read loads of urban fantasy novels and gradually moved more towards high fantasy. However, some books like House of Earth and Blood and The Blood Society remind me why I enjoyed the genre so much and make me want to pick up more similar books. The setting of these books where you get a similar world to your own yet full of new creatures and technologies is fascinating.
In my opinion, for a debut novel B.B. Palomo did a great job. There were few minor flaws I noticed but nothing big. For instance, the abuse of word ‘my’. In prologue, it was used 5 times in a same paragraph and it wasn’t different objects mentioned every single time but used to continuously refer to main character’s mom and dad. I understand it might be a difficult word to replace but when there are only three characters in a room, simply saying ‘mom’ and ‘dad’ wouldn’t make anyone question who’s mom and dad the author is referring to.
Samantha — or as everyone calls her Sammy/Sam — turned out to be more likeable and relatable of a character than expected. At first she seemed cocky and straight up rude, but as book progressed we got to know her better and everything became more clear, made more sense. Although Sam read as someone at least slightly older. I thought of her as my age or older (22 and up) with how experienced she was and all of the things she survived. Therefore finding out that she’s 19 years old was a surprise.
Gray, on the other hand… We are in a sort of love hate relationship. At first I genuinely enjoyed his antics but as book progressed, the ongoing plot made me side-eye him. Alec also seemed to be a pretty tangible character but only because we give out more details when pondering about someone we know well.
Other supporting characters let me with a number of questions. For example, Alana. Still unsure how I should feel about her.
The plot itself wasn’t that complex and hard to follow. However, with it being so straightforward you’d expect Sam to put pieces together faster. That being said, there wasn’t that much of the intrigue after reaching a revelation about certain character. So there might not be many shocking moments but I would argue it is a good thing because it shows that the path we were following was logical and all of the details coming together makes sense. One nitpick would be
All being said — despite the critiques — I had fantastic time reading it. The Blood Society grabbed my attention and held on it tight. A huge compliment to a book as right now I am battling with myself for starting books and never finishing them (in the middle of about ten, wish I was joking).
In The Blood Society, Sammy is a hunter, but not just any hunter. She's the young heiress to the entire D.O.V.E. (Department of Vampire Extermination). But she's struggling with the loss of her parents as well as her partner, and her grief causes her to make some pretty poor life choices. Can Todd (her parents' best friend and the man in charge) and the new recruit he's forced her to train pull her out of her despair and back into the real world?
I have to admit, I didn't like Sammy much for a lot of the book. Here she is, the one who is supposed be taking over the company tasked with protecting humans, and all she can do is wallow in her self-pity. But she grew on me by the end of the book, and I realize that this grief was a big part of her character. Without giving too much away, we'll just say that she has a couple false-starts and epiphanies that make you think she's going to be ready to step up. But she is ultimately still young and sorting through her pain while also trying to figure out who she really is.
This book, while predictable, was an enjoyable paranormal romance with a completely different take on vampires and how they were created. I can't say that any of the twists honestly surprised me - in fact I called most of them really early on in the book. But I still give this one ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 stars for being an enjoyable read in one of my favorite genres.
I received and ARC for my honest review, I’ve been on the journey of this book for a number of years now and when I say this is one of my all time favorite books, I do not say it lightly. From the first sentence, you’re wrapped up in an enthralling world of mystery and violence. The imagery in the story really paints a picture in your mind and allows you to feel as though you’re watching a movie play out in your head. There were moments I was screaming, there were moments that I was crying, I could not get enough of this book. I love love love this story and I am (not so patiently) waiting for the next installment because I can’t get enough of this book.
HIGHLY recommend to anyone that likes YA novels, I’ll certainly be passing this book to everyone that will listen.
Wow! I love vampires! I especially love a great story line to accompany a vampire tale. This book was very well written and packed with action. There wasn't a dull moment, and B. B. Palomo did a phenomenal job with the character development. The stakes are high in this story and the ending is EPIC! I can't wait for the next book!
As many of you know, I love vampire stories. It’s a kind of story/myth that I find fascinating. I love to see what the author take is of the entire “vampire community”; what is the origin story, how the society works.
“The Blood Society” is the first book in the series, and of course we get the introductions of the world, some important characters, including the main character, and we get to understand little by little what it going on. That been said, this is a fantastic opening to a brand-new vampire world.
We follow Samantha, aka Sammy, and it's through her point of view that the story unfolds. Sammy was amazing! She’s the kind of character that we can connect with. Sammy isn't only dealing with the vampires and working for a company trying to protect the world from the "monsters", she's also dealing with loss. And that made her very believable. Plus, I love that she got to grow and develop. I honestly can’t wait to see what else is going to happen in book two, especially because of the revelations in the end of this novel.
But this book wasn’t just about Sammy, of course. There is a group of characters that we get to meet, some that I immediately liked and found fascinating, and others that set off some alarms in my mind.
The beginning of the book had this dream like feeling. It happened in the past and it’s our introduction to the vampires and the hunters, as well as the tragedy that is going to mean a lot in the rest of the book. From there, we jump to the present, following Sammy through her daily life as a hunter, experiencing every emotion, every moment she goes through.
The relationships between them, and the relationships that Sammy has with them, give us an understanding of the personalities and open our minds to the context of the story and plot. I love seeing the interactions of how real they felt.
Even the romance... I loved how Sammy doesn't need him (not going to say who) to keep living, but he does help out a lot. It’s through their interactions that we learn more about Sammy and get to see her growth and the real struggle she’s dealing with. So, I loved it because it gave me some contrast, and sweet moments as well.
One of the brilliant things about this story is how much it made me think. My brain filled with many theories and I was happy and excited when I realized I was on the right track. Still, the revelations were mind blowing, some I was surprised to learn.
Overall, I absolutely love this book and I highly recommend it. With action, romance, mystery, surprises and the vampire/hunter dynamic that, combined with the interesting origin story, gave us an unique book and series.
[I want to thank B. B. Palomo for the ARC of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.]
Debut novel for a promising author! At first, Sammy came off as cold and unfeeling, but demonstrated such a depth of emotion she became a very relatable character. Lots of action and enough twists and turns to keep you interested. These are not the romanticized vampires of the last decade!
I hope we get more in-depth with Grey and Sammy's relationship in the next book, which I will definitely be reading!
I received an ARC in preparation for an interview with the author. All opinions my own.
I'll admit that lately as much as I love vampire books I was getting sick of the same old story just with different character names. This had different character names but it also had a story that immediately sucked me in (no pun intended).
We meet Sammy for the first time when she is thirteen and has been dragged out of bed by her father to hide in a hidden passageway underneath her house, the vampires come in and kill her parents. This sets her on a journey into kicking/killing vampires, in this world the vampire population is increasing and the human population is decreasing. Being a vampire is a disease that doesn't have a cure, though they are trying to come up with one. The previous government made a big mistake when they tried to create super soldiers, it all went wrong and now the vampires are the result of the experiment. The Protected is now the only place people are safe and have some resemblance to what normal used to be, hunters protect people as much as they can.
Needless to say I'm obsessed and need the next book ASAP!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I’ve always been somewhat enthralled (pun intended) by an inventive vampire story – and this well written tale was no exception. I loved this depiction of the origin of vampires and the description of feral vampires in particular, likening them to zombies in my mind. Sammy was a hot mess in her grief for her partner Alec and subsequently reckless in her zealous pursuit to eradicate the vampires. I certainly empathized with her plight and the pressures on her to succeed. It was her curiosity however, that led to some startling revelations about the vampires and the company her parents had founded – D.O.V.E., the Department of Vampire Extermination. I enjoyed the mystery that gradually unfolded along with the action, drama and suspense that accompanied it. While I had my suspicions about what was going on, I wasn’t prepared for the surprise at the end. I’m looking forward to how that new development plays out in the continuation of this captivating tale.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
❤️I loved this book! A well-written vampire novel that didn't have twinkling vampires for once. The story follows Sam - a badass vampire hunter (total Buffy vibes 😍) who works for a company called DOVE exterminating vampires. She lost her partner in battle and is still cut-up about it so she's not happy when she gets assigned a new partner - Gray.
❤️Loved the storyline and the kickass MC. She was easy to like, determined, strong-willed, and that little bit stubborn. And the chemistry between her and Gray!🔥🔥
❤️The twist in the plotline snuck up on me and was unexpected, and that ending...I was kind of waiting for it & wondering when it was going to happen & then it hit me on the last page. Now I'm eager to read book 2 to see where this story will go. Can't wait for the next book!!
Sammy lost her parents when she was young by rabid vampires. Their best friend, Todd that worked with them took her in and raised her to hunt and kill vampires like they did. She was trying to get over Alec, her partner and lovers death when Todd assigned Gray to work with her at DOVE. Gray had secrets that he didn’t want discovered. As Sammy and Gray started their interesting and exciting relationship it fluctuated between love and hate while betrayal, danger, intrigue, surprises, and lies surround their high risk time together. Fun read
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The book was overall alright, I found it hard to like the characters since the very beginning. At first when I was reading I was excited about how vampires were described as "monsters" because I thought "Great! It won't be one of those cliche vampire romances" but my excitement was short lived as it was revealed that the female leads partner was indeed a vampire and a romance did bloom between them. The ending was a bit confusing but overall it was ok.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Amazing read. Had my attention the second I picked it up. This author made it her mission to describe every detail so perfectly to make us readers feel like we knew these characters personally and feel like we were apart of this story. If I could give a 100 Star rating I would. Cannot wait to read more from this author!
This book was amazing! Once I started reading I was so captivated and couldn't put it down. The detail on every page is amazing and gave me vivid pictures and emotions. This is definitely the best read I have had in a long time! I received this ARC to read for an honest review.
A wonderfully unique vampire story that was fun to read. I like this genre but this was a different and totally unexpected tale. The author crafted a story that was imaginative and entertaining. I can’t wait to read more from this author.
A great read! Seriously, this book is such a refreshing take on a vampire story. I couldn’t put it down. The writing is amazing and I can’t wait for the next one!
I was gifted this ARC for my honest review. The Blood Society is going to be released on 8.20.20 through Amazon.
Synopsis: Sammy Cordova isn’t new to dealing with the lose of a loved one. She lives in a world where vampires thrive and people are not supposed to go out at night. After a tragic accident where she loses her partner while out hunting, Sammy decides it’s time to find a cure.
Sammy is a vampire hunter who is the heir to The Department of Vampire Extermination. She hasn’t taken over the company yet though and still has to report to her Uncle Todd. He forces her to partner up with the new guy Grey.
Sammy and Grey don’t exactly get along but, they both try to make the best of the situation. Even with Grey in her way, Sammy will stop at nothing to find a cure.
My thoughts: You guys this book is really damn good for being @b.bpalomo first book. I thought the style of writing was beautiful. I also liked that this book didn’t glamorize vampires. I read it quick because, it is fast paced and action packed. I’m definitely going to get her second book when it comes out so, I can continue on Sammy’s adventure.
If you enjoy vampires, action, gore and romance all mixed in one then you should check this one out! Also go give @bbpalomno a follow because, she is the sweetest.
If Buffy and Priest had a baby – who then married the offspring of World War Z and I am Legend, B.B. Palomo’s The Blood Society would be the resulting literary baby. I’m not even kidding. This book has it all – a kick-ass MC, vampires, viruses, hunters, scientists searching for a cure, secrets, love, lust, death, and betrayal. I went in not really knowing what to expect, keeping my expectations in check. I love Vampire books, but lately they all feel the same. But, I am so thrilled to say that I was pleasantly surprised – and immediately hooked. As in, from the very first paragraph, I was an addict – I just had to finish this book! The story was well thought out, and although at times predictable, there were more than enough twists and turns to keep me interested. I loved how fleshed out the characters, and the world-building were. I was there, in Palomo’s world with her characters, going through the highs and lows with them. The direction that Palomo took this story was not only fascinating, but believable and relatable. Not only did I finish the book in one sitting, but the story has stayed with me, keeping my mind ticking over as to what could possibly happen next. I only hope that Palomo’s sequel isn’t too far away!
While this isn't my usual genre, my attention was immediately caught and I wasn't able to put it down. It's a book I'll end up reading over and over again yet never get bored.