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Blood Calling #1
Blood Calling
When Lucy Leary turned 18, her life fell apart. She crashed her car, her best friend abandoned her, her parents divorced, and her grandfather passed away, leaving her a single possession: A vampire slaying kit with a note that said, “THEY’RE REAL. FIGHT THEM.”
Now Lucy must stop the oldest, most dangerous vampire in history, before it can kill her family.
Now Lucy must stop the oldest, most dangerous vampire in history, before it can kill her family.
270 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 10, 2011
45 people are currently reading
1126 people want to read
About the author
Joshua Grover-David Patterson
11 books56 followersJoshua Grover-David Patterson is a freelance writer, screenwriter and blogger. His articles on pop culture, film and the Internet have appeared in The Post-Crescent, Bull magazine, delight! magazine and Film Threat. Patterson’s films have won 13 awards and appeared in 29 film festivals all over the world, including in Japan, Australia, Hungary, Norway, the UK and throughout the United States. Patterson lives in Wisconsin with his wife and their daughter. You can follow him via Twitter at www.twitter.com/GroverDavid, Like him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/JoshuaGroverDavid, or follow his book-blogging at groverdavid.blogspot.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
November 14, 2011
I hate to have to do it, but sometimes I must. This novel just warrants a negative review because it's riddled with what I perceive to be a lot of problems. If anything, it wasn't for me.
Now, this first issue isn't necessarily a problem, but that depends on the reader's preferred narrative style. This is a fictional autobiographical novel, so it reads like someone telling you their life story way back when it happened. Don't expect to be transported through time and space, feeling as though you're right there with the characters like a fly on the wall. I'm not against this style, but if every book were written this way, I know I'd get annoyed, eventually.
Story and characterization difficulties abound. There's no semblance of a plot. The characters just do one thing, then move on the next thing, kind of like real life. That can work in some fiction, like Interview with the Vampire, to name another vampire novel. But, not here. At least Louis regales an actual character in the novel with his life history. Here, we get Lucy rambling for 65,000 words to whatever reader will listen to her. And, of course, there's no depth of character, no inspired thematic elements to rescue it.
There are misplaced digressions that just don't seem to matter. The story of how Emma became a vampire is good, I'll admit. But, other than it being how she met the villain character, a bad old vampire, I didn't see any point to it. Then there's Wash's story of how he met the bad old vampire, told by Emma right before Lucy needed to go fight the guy in a one-on-one battle. Lucy even asks Emma to give her some fighting pointers before she goes to fight him, but Emma claims there's no time for that. But, there's time for a pointless story on how Wash met the bad old vampire? It makes no sense.
I also have a problem with every character sounding exactly the same. Many times they go on and on about something, for several paragraphs, which is not good, sounding exactly like the main character narrator. And, we get way too many details of every mundane thing Lucy does. She steps into the bathroom and she brushes her teeth, and then she gets into the shower, and she lathers up the shampoo—then, later she checks her phone for messages, etc., etc. This is commonplace, and doesn't add anything meaningful to the story.
I will never advise against buying a book because if you want to read something, despite my opinion of it, then you should. It's your life. Some people might find this story charming. I can see that. None of the characters are annoying, and at least Lucy's not some selfish, spoiled brat who sits around and lets everyone do everything for her. The story is not completely awful, but not particularly good. And, that's all I really can say about that.
* I received this from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.
Now, this first issue isn't necessarily a problem, but that depends on the reader's preferred narrative style. This is a fictional autobiographical novel, so it reads like someone telling you their life story way back when it happened. Don't expect to be transported through time and space, feeling as though you're right there with the characters like a fly on the wall. I'm not against this style, but if every book were written this way, I know I'd get annoyed, eventually.
Story and characterization difficulties abound. There's no semblance of a plot. The characters just do one thing, then move on the next thing, kind of like real life. That can work in some fiction, like Interview with the Vampire, to name another vampire novel. But, not here. At least Louis regales an actual character in the novel with his life history. Here, we get Lucy rambling for 65,000 words to whatever reader will listen to her. And, of course, there's no depth of character, no inspired thematic elements to rescue it.
There are misplaced digressions that just don't seem to matter. The story of how Emma became a vampire is good, I'll admit. But, other than it being how she met the villain character, a bad old vampire, I didn't see any point to it. Then there's Wash's story of how he met the bad old vampire, told by Emma right before Lucy needed to go fight the guy in a one-on-one battle. Lucy even asks Emma to give her some fighting pointers before she goes to fight him, but Emma claims there's no time for that. But, there's time for a pointless story on how Wash met the bad old vampire? It makes no sense.
I also have a problem with every character sounding exactly the same. Many times they go on and on about something, for several paragraphs, which is not good, sounding exactly like the main character narrator. And, we get way too many details of every mundane thing Lucy does. She steps into the bathroom and she brushes her teeth, and then she gets into the shower, and she lathers up the shampoo—then, later she checks her phone for messages, etc., etc. This is commonplace, and doesn't add anything meaningful to the story.
I will never advise against buying a book because if you want to read something, despite my opinion of it, then you should. It's your life. Some people might find this story charming. I can see that. None of the characters are annoying, and at least Lucy's not some selfish, spoiled brat who sits around and lets everyone do everything for her. The story is not completely awful, but not particularly good. And, that's all I really can say about that.
* I received this from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.
February 3, 2013
Book exchanged for an honest review~
Lucy Leary is your typical teenager, that is nearing adulthood and her eighteenth birthday, and ready for the next step or path in her life. Lucy's grandfather has recently passed away and struggling to cope with her grief hides out in grandfather's house. Lucy is surprised to find a hidden space inside a closet. Lucy's world is about to turn in ways she never expected. Lucy learns that vampires are real but she's not sure she believes until it's too late. Lucy meets Wash at a homeless shelter while doing community service. What Lucy doesn't even suspect is that Wash is a vampire but not like in stories that she's read. Lucy's like turns upside down when she discovers she's been turned into a vampire. Lucy becomes Sarah Jane but she can't contact her family which frustrates her to no end. Someone is killing the homeless yet no one knows why. Can Lucy accept her life? Whose responsible for these deaths? Will Lucy accept vampires? Your answers await you in Blood Calling.
I was pleasantly surprised by this book in ways I didn't expect. I found that all of the characters were relatable, likable, and flawed beautifully. I thought the author did an excellent job of crafting this story. I look forward to reading more from this author.
Lucy Leary is your typical teenager, that is nearing adulthood and her eighteenth birthday, and ready for the next step or path in her life. Lucy's grandfather has recently passed away and struggling to cope with her grief hides out in grandfather's house. Lucy is surprised to find a hidden space inside a closet. Lucy's world is about to turn in ways she never expected. Lucy learns that vampires are real but she's not sure she believes until it's too late. Lucy meets Wash at a homeless shelter while doing community service. What Lucy doesn't even suspect is that Wash is a vampire but not like in stories that she's read. Lucy's like turns upside down when she discovers she's been turned into a vampire. Lucy becomes Sarah Jane but she can't contact her family which frustrates her to no end. Someone is killing the homeless yet no one knows why. Can Lucy accept her life? Whose responsible for these deaths? Will Lucy accept vampires? Your answers await you in Blood Calling.
I was pleasantly surprised by this book in ways I didn't expect. I found that all of the characters were relatable, likable, and flawed beautifully. I thought the author did an excellent job of crafting this story. I look forward to reading more from this author.
October 7, 2012
An original concept where vampires are the good guys who end the suffering of humans and are not the cause of it except the evil John Smith who is your more stereotypical vampire who kills for pleasure. I felt like someone was reading me a bed time story most of the time and I found it hard to invest in the characters. Wash was a vampire on the road to redemption running a homeless shelter with odd opening hours. Lucy just turned 18 and scores community service after a DUI offence and then her life is changed forever one night after she discovers that monsters are real. I must admit I prefer a faster paced book and there was no real romance as such. An interesting read with a different slant on vampires and the journey Lucy has when she becomes one. Emma is her mentor who is a snarky two thousand year old vampire born in the time of Jesus who is eternally a teenager with an attitude.
August 24, 2013
Vampires as the good guys, give me a break! Vampires are one of the ultimate predators. They have super speed, agility, strength, hearing, see in the dark, and so forth, all to help them hunt down and kill ordinary humans. I can accept, with reservations, a vampire who goes against the norm, so long as there is a good reason for it (Angel in Buffy the Vampire Slayer for example). I cannot accept that the nasty vampire is the exception to the rule. And, the blurb is misleading. I thought I was going to read a good slaying vampires / hunting vampires novel, not worshiping those wonderful creatures of the night books.
July 4, 2013
I was not able to finish reading this book. No matter how many times I have tried to read I can never finish it. I think it was more about the narrative style that gave me problems. I think this is one of those books that you either love or you hate.
July 20, 2017
Purchased for free after it appeared on one of those 'free or under a quid' lists that you can get emailed every day.
This is an enjoyable read, which is quite well written and has some interesting ideas.
Lucy, the central character is an American teenager. Her life is going through a rough patch, featuring such staples as a Mum in the midst of a mid-life crisis, a beloved Grandfather dying, an arrest for driving drunk and a whole school who won't talk to her.
I won't go into the story of how Lucy discovers that vampires are real, but suffice it to say that she does.
Was there a danger at this point that the book would dissolve into some derivative Buffy wanna-be? It certainly felt like it. There are quite a few sly asides referencing the iconic 1990s vampire tales. There are even references to the types of vampire found in the Twilight series.
But Lucy's story takes a path of its own. It is internally consistent, with no aching plot holes, and the writing is easy to digest.
There are, as so often, a couple of the sorts of grammar glitches which bring out my inner grammar Nazi. The sort of thing that a good proofread would have found and fixed. But, nowadays, only finding 2 is probably good going...
In summary, the story takes an interesting new direction for the vampire genre, and includes interesting, well rounded characters who have lots of potential to grow. I don't think I will be rushing out to read the rest of the series, but this is as much to do with the fact that I'm really not the target audience for books about teenage girls. But I might well read one in the future.
This is an enjoyable read, which is quite well written and has some interesting ideas.
Lucy, the central character is an American teenager. Her life is going through a rough patch, featuring such staples as a Mum in the midst of a mid-life crisis, a beloved Grandfather dying, an arrest for driving drunk and a whole school who won't talk to her.
I won't go into the story of how Lucy discovers that vampires are real, but suffice it to say that she does.
Was there a danger at this point that the book would dissolve into some derivative Buffy wanna-be? It certainly felt like it. There are quite a few sly asides referencing the iconic 1990s vampire tales. There are even references to the types of vampire found in the Twilight series.
But Lucy's story takes a path of its own. It is internally consistent, with no aching plot holes, and the writing is easy to digest.
There are, as so often, a couple of the sorts of grammar glitches which bring out my inner grammar Nazi. The sort of thing that a good proofread would have found and fixed. But, nowadays, only finding 2 is probably good going...
In summary, the story takes an interesting new direction for the vampire genre, and includes interesting, well rounded characters who have lots of potential to grow. I don't think I will be rushing out to read the rest of the series, but this is as much to do with the fact that I'm really not the target audience for books about teenage girls. But I might well read one in the future.
July 17, 2017
Too tedious with the descriptions, felt flat and boring. The characters and/or situations described failed to convey any emotion
November 26, 2012
I promise to be brutally honest with my opinion, but it should not be taken as fact. Any reader should read it for themselves, before they decide if this book has any merit or not. Do not judge this book biased solely on my opinion. If you do, you might miss out on a great read. You never know. It could happen.
1. Strong Main Character/ Female Heroine: First of all, I have a hard time remembering the heroine’s name in this story, because I hardly ever seen her name in the book. I wish I would have seen it more often, so that I could remember it without having the hassle to try to look it up in the book for one of those rare moments…Ah, Lucy. Lucy is such a pretty name for this invisible girl. She is shy and very much a loner. She really reminds me of Bella from Twilight, but even Bella had more friends than Lucy, which makes Lucy a great candidate for what life has in store for her. It is a little too convenient that her life fits in a convenient box to be forgotten for forever. I would have loved a little more complexity and a little more fight on her part. 3 out of 5 stars
2. Strong Minor Characters: Wash is really mysterious, but I do not think that there is any romance on part towards him. He is not really described as handsome and I do not think he really is. Once the reader learns his secret, they will understand him a bit more, but the reader is soon separated from him and who he could be by Emma. Emma is a beautiful, petite woman, although she is really just a sixteen or seventeen year old girl. I never got the vibe from Emma that she was so young, but hey, once the reader also knows her secret, they will realize why I did not see her as very young. They are the only real minor characters in the story that have a big enough role to really know them, although, I do not really see them as three dimensional characters. They are more like two dimensional, even with their moving stories. Emotional stories (monologues) do not make a character three dimensional. 3 out of 5 stars
3. The Setting: The surroundings are a bit restrictive, but not by much. Lucy does go all over town, but I find her to always be sitting in her room thinking or in the hotel room for most of the book, which is kind of boring. The places were interesting, but nothing really sticks out inside my mind. Nothing was really described in detail, so it is hard to remember them. Not a lot of places were memorable. 3 out of 5 stars
4. The Plot: There is definitely an interesting plot here to intrigue any paranormal reading teenager. It is not for the light hearted, because of some of the mature content, such as rape and torture. It is a very well developed storyline though. I think it will deepen and develop in the second book better than it is in the first. The first is all about the transformation, which is kind of slow, but I believe the second installment will be full of action. It is a good lead-in into the series. 3 out of 5 stars
5. The Artwork: The cover is very pretty, because the girl’s face is so fresh and airbrushed. She did not match in with my first initial thoughts and feelings towards Lucy, but by the end of the book, I am totally convinced that the cover is supposed to look just like her. It has her kind innocent eyes and trusting expression. 4 out of 5 stars
6. The Writing: The writing style is very unique and interesting. I have never read a book quite like it, which is a very good thing. The way the book is written captures the reader’s attention and makes them want to keep reading to know what the narrator Lucy knows. This author definitely has his own voice that I would recognize anywhere. I will be looking for this author’s second book in the series; however, I do believe that the writing quality could be improved. That or find a new editor for some of those grammatical mistakes where you wright “John” when you really mean “Wash”. I also love the big monologues of background stories about the characters. I just wished it was a bit more spread out or Lucy be able to interrupt to cut it up a bit and not make it so up in your face or like a punch in the gut. 4 out of 5 stars
7. The Dialogue: There is no apparent teenage slang, which is refreshing. The teenagers talk like adults, but the reason why becomes apparent later making that indiscretion okay, except for Lucy who has no excuse for her lack of teenage voice. The dialogue is at times witty, but also borders on annoyance when no one will say what is going on in the story. It makes the plot go nowhere instead of moving it forward. I understand that you need a little mystery, but it was too much at times. 3 out of 5 stars
Overall, I give this book 3 stars for being a good use of my free time during Thanksgiving Break with no college homework to do. I will be reading the second book in the series to find out what happens next.
1. Strong Main Character/ Female Heroine: First of all, I have a hard time remembering the heroine’s name in this story, because I hardly ever seen her name in the book. I wish I would have seen it more often, so that I could remember it without having the hassle to try to look it up in the book for one of those rare moments…Ah, Lucy. Lucy is such a pretty name for this invisible girl. She is shy and very much a loner. She really reminds me of Bella from Twilight, but even Bella had more friends than Lucy, which makes Lucy a great candidate for what life has in store for her. It is a little too convenient that her life fits in a convenient box to be forgotten for forever. I would have loved a little more complexity and a little more fight on her part. 3 out of 5 stars
2. Strong Minor Characters: Wash is really mysterious, but I do not think that there is any romance on part towards him. He is not really described as handsome and I do not think he really is. Once the reader learns his secret, they will understand him a bit more, but the reader is soon separated from him and who he could be by Emma. Emma is a beautiful, petite woman, although she is really just a sixteen or seventeen year old girl. I never got the vibe from Emma that she was so young, but hey, once the reader also knows her secret, they will realize why I did not see her as very young. They are the only real minor characters in the story that have a big enough role to really know them, although, I do not really see them as three dimensional characters. They are more like two dimensional, even with their moving stories. Emotional stories (monologues) do not make a character three dimensional. 3 out of 5 stars
3. The Setting: The surroundings are a bit restrictive, but not by much. Lucy does go all over town, but I find her to always be sitting in her room thinking or in the hotel room for most of the book, which is kind of boring. The places were interesting, but nothing really sticks out inside my mind. Nothing was really described in detail, so it is hard to remember them. Not a lot of places were memorable. 3 out of 5 stars
4. The Plot: There is definitely an interesting plot here to intrigue any paranormal reading teenager. It is not for the light hearted, because of some of the mature content, such as rape and torture. It is a very well developed storyline though. I think it will deepen and develop in the second book better than it is in the first. The first is all about the transformation, which is kind of slow, but I believe the second installment will be full of action. It is a good lead-in into the series. 3 out of 5 stars
5. The Artwork: The cover is very pretty, because the girl’s face is so fresh and airbrushed. She did not match in with my first initial thoughts and feelings towards Lucy, but by the end of the book, I am totally convinced that the cover is supposed to look just like her. It has her kind innocent eyes and trusting expression. 4 out of 5 stars
6. The Writing: The writing style is very unique and interesting. I have never read a book quite like it, which is a very good thing. The way the book is written captures the reader’s attention and makes them want to keep reading to know what the narrator Lucy knows. This author definitely has his own voice that I would recognize anywhere. I will be looking for this author’s second book in the series; however, I do believe that the writing quality could be improved. That or find a new editor for some of those grammatical mistakes where you wright “John” when you really mean “Wash”. I also love the big monologues of background stories about the characters. I just wished it was a bit more spread out or Lucy be able to interrupt to cut it up a bit and not make it so up in your face or like a punch in the gut. 4 out of 5 stars
7. The Dialogue: There is no apparent teenage slang, which is refreshing. The teenagers talk like adults, but the reason why becomes apparent later making that indiscretion okay, except for Lucy who has no excuse for her lack of teenage voice. The dialogue is at times witty, but also borders on annoyance when no one will say what is going on in the story. It makes the plot go nowhere instead of moving it forward. I understand that you need a little mystery, but it was too much at times. 3 out of 5 stars
Overall, I give this book 3 stars for being a good use of my free time during Thanksgiving Break with no college homework to do. I will be reading the second book in the series to find out what happens next.
December 10, 2012
I received Blood Calling in return for an honest review from a giveaway at Librarything from the author. Lucy isn't one of the popular girls she's always been a outsider. Her parents are divorced so now she's living with her and her younger boy toy who happens to be a personal trainer. Her grandfather has passed away and when Lucy heads to his house she finds a vampire slaying kit hidden in his closet where she used to play as a girl. If that's not enough Lucy ends up at a popular girls party where she unknowingly has a few drinks which cause her to wreck on the way home.
Even though she's just turned 18 the judge is not as harsh as he could be, taking her license for a year and sending her to community service at the Sundown Shelter. Lucy arrives for her first night of community service at the shelter meeting Wash the guy who runs the shelter. It isn't till the night the Smitty shows up looking run down and half dead that Lucy starts to wonder what's going on. She sets out to find out an answer who is Smitty really? What's really going on at the Sundown Shelter?
She returns to the Sundown Shelter to find Wash draining Smitty learning that he's a vampire, and her grandfather was right. He sends her away in attempt to protect her, but it doesn't last when she runs across John Smith the vampire who's been killing all the homeless in the area and more. Wash has a choice to turn her into a vampire or let her die he chooses to save her life. Lucy is quickly set away with Wash's friend Emma and fellow vampire to Denver to avoid her family who are looking for her and John Smith. Emma teaches her more about being a vampire, that they aren't out there as killer but doing a service to those who are dying. When they learn that John Smith has put the community into a panic and Wash is unable to feed they return to help him before it's too late, and stop John Smith.
I really enjoyed Blood Calling it's not your typical sparkly vampire story it has a unique concept for what and why the vampires exist. It's a fast paced adventure as Lucy progresses from average school girl to vampire then on to vampire slayer. I liked that Lucy is a reader it made it a little easier to connect with her. Plus Wash and Emma are great characters each with their own unique story that enhances Lucy's story. I found Blood Calling well written, it flows smoothly so that teens or adults will enjoy the Lucy's adventure. It was also refreshing that it has its own concept for the vampire isn’t anything I've read before which I really enjoyed. Overall it's a great first installment in the series I can't wait to get some free time to check out the rest of the series I'm curious to see what will happen to our trio next.
Even though she's just turned 18 the judge is not as harsh as he could be, taking her license for a year and sending her to community service at the Sundown Shelter. Lucy arrives for her first night of community service at the shelter meeting Wash the guy who runs the shelter. It isn't till the night the Smitty shows up looking run down and half dead that Lucy starts to wonder what's going on. She sets out to find out an answer who is Smitty really? What's really going on at the Sundown Shelter?
She returns to the Sundown Shelter to find Wash draining Smitty learning that he's a vampire, and her grandfather was right. He sends her away in attempt to protect her, but it doesn't last when she runs across John Smith the vampire who's been killing all the homeless in the area and more. Wash has a choice to turn her into a vampire or let her die he chooses to save her life. Lucy is quickly set away with Wash's friend Emma and fellow vampire to Denver to avoid her family who are looking for her and John Smith. Emma teaches her more about being a vampire, that they aren't out there as killer but doing a service to those who are dying. When they learn that John Smith has put the community into a panic and Wash is unable to feed they return to help him before it's too late, and stop John Smith.
I really enjoyed Blood Calling it's not your typical sparkly vampire story it has a unique concept for what and why the vampires exist. It's a fast paced adventure as Lucy progresses from average school girl to vampire then on to vampire slayer. I liked that Lucy is a reader it made it a little easier to connect with her. Plus Wash and Emma are great characters each with their own unique story that enhances Lucy's story. I found Blood Calling well written, it flows smoothly so that teens or adults will enjoy the Lucy's adventure. It was also refreshing that it has its own concept for the vampire isn’t anything I've read before which I really enjoyed. Overall it's a great first installment in the series I can't wait to get some free time to check out the rest of the series I'm curious to see what will happen to our trio next.
April 20, 2015
It’s very hard to find a character with interests similar to mine, but this has changed. I am happy to report that I am represented in YA fiction–I have finally found a character who loves surfing the web and buying books on her smartphone as much as I do. At last I am validated. I can’t cast spells like Harry. I can’t shoot arrows like Katniss. But wasting time online? That’s something I can do, and I’ve never been prouder to do it.
I randomly discovered this book in my Kindle. I didn’t remember downloading it, I didn’t remember how much it cost, and I didn’t remember the barest outline of the summary. I was trawling my carousel for books to read, and the cover + the vampy title lured a click out of me. Going in, I had no idea what to expect, but I found myself pleasantly surprised.
The first element that jumped out at me was the narrative. As in many young adult novels, the heroine, Lucy, faces problems common to most highschoolers–but she deals with them realistically. Time and events pass in seemingly non-connected ways, but they all lead her to a homeless shelter run by a man who goes by the name of Wash (short for Washington). Vampires ensue. Yay!
First person narratives have become common in YA. I’ve never minded them all that much, but I have noticed that authors don’t always use them to full effect. I’m happy to report that Patterson makes use of their full potential here. Lucy is sharp, dry, and possesses just enough cynicism to warm my icy little heart. Her narration is why the supporting characters work so well–characterization is spare, but we know only what Lucy knows. When I was reading it, I could easily believe that they all had lives beyond Lucy’s knowledge. Other reviewers have stated that Blood Calling could have had a better villain, and looking back, I agree. The other characters got such lovely backstories, but not our resident bad guy–and if anyone needs a good backstory, it’s the bad guys. Typos were another flaw, but since they seemed like innocent mistakes, not systematic bad grammar, I forgave them.
Despite the typos, however, Blood Calling is representative of what’s good about the self-publishing industry. This book could have been traditionally published, but it’s unlikely. For one thing, this is the first book I’ve read in which a major character who is a black vampire does not die. (I actually stopped watching Vampire Diaries when I realized that they had decided to kill off every interesting non-white vampire in Season 1. Among other reasons.)
All in all, excellent book, definitely recommend reading, and I hear there’s a sequel. BRB, ordering right now.
I randomly discovered this book in my Kindle. I didn’t remember downloading it, I didn’t remember how much it cost, and I didn’t remember the barest outline of the summary. I was trawling my carousel for books to read, and the cover + the vampy title lured a click out of me. Going in, I had no idea what to expect, but I found myself pleasantly surprised.
The first element that jumped out at me was the narrative. As in many young adult novels, the heroine, Lucy, faces problems common to most highschoolers–but she deals with them realistically. Time and events pass in seemingly non-connected ways, but they all lead her to a homeless shelter run by a man who goes by the name of Wash (short for Washington). Vampires ensue. Yay!
First person narratives have become common in YA. I’ve never minded them all that much, but I have noticed that authors don’t always use them to full effect. I’m happy to report that Patterson makes use of their full potential here. Lucy is sharp, dry, and possesses just enough cynicism to warm my icy little heart. Her narration is why the supporting characters work so well–characterization is spare, but we know only what Lucy knows. When I was reading it, I could easily believe that they all had lives beyond Lucy’s knowledge. Other reviewers have stated that Blood Calling could have had a better villain, and looking back, I agree. The other characters got such lovely backstories, but not our resident bad guy–and if anyone needs a good backstory, it’s the bad guys. Typos were another flaw, but since they seemed like innocent mistakes, not systematic bad grammar, I forgave them.
Despite the typos, however, Blood Calling is representative of what’s good about the self-publishing industry. This book could have been traditionally published, but it’s unlikely. For one thing, this is the first book I’ve read in which a major character who is a black vampire does not die. (I actually stopped watching Vampire Diaries when I realized that they had decided to kill off every interesting non-white vampire in Season 1. Among other reasons.)
All in all, excellent book, definitely recommend reading, and I hear there’s a sequel. BRB, ordering right now.
November 8, 2011
I really enjoyed this new offering by Joshua Patterson. As with his previous book ‘Mercy’ (my review here), the character voice is strong and the writing smooth, drawing us into the story in an easy but ever building pace.
Lucy doesn’t know what to think when she finds the Vampire Slayer’s kit in the back of her dead grandfather’s closet, with a note that said, “THEY’RE REAL. FIGHT THEM,” but a drink driving accident, followed by community service in a shelter for the homeless draws her into a world where she discovers that what her grandfather said is true.
In ‘Blood Calling’, Joshua Patterson gives us a new take on vampires, not an easy task in the overcrowded vampire book market. His vampires are angels of mercy who offer to take away the pain of those near death or with a terminal illness. They leave their left overs with a smile on their face, generally a better option for a terminal cancer patient than a slow painful death. This lifestyle isn’t without its difficulties however, and neither is it the choice of all vampires.
The oldest, most dangerous vampire in history likes a bit of murder and mayhem and is causing trouble in town. Lucy meets Wash, a vampire that sets her views on vampires straight and along with Emma, gradually fills in the missing parts of her Grandfather’s history. The story unfolds in a steady, engrossing pace which leads to the revelation that because of her grandfather’s exploits, the evil vampire John Smith wants all of Lucy’s family dead. A quick course in vampire slaying is all Lucy gets before she and her two vampire friends are faced with the ultimate battle to the death, where she will have to use her wits to outsmart a very old and very strong vampire.
Lucy is a wonderful character with the typical kinds of insecurities that any 18 yr old might have. On top of the death of her grandfather and the vampire revelation, she has a parental divorce, her mother’s toy – boy and an estranged best friend to deal with. She handles all of this in great style making her an extremely likable character that we can easily identify with.
I recommend this book for all readers who love vampire novels and it’s also a good starter for those who are interested in dabbling in the genre. It’s an easy read of 154 pages with just the right amount of light and shade. I give it 4 stars.
Lucy doesn’t know what to think when she finds the Vampire Slayer’s kit in the back of her dead grandfather’s closet, with a note that said, “THEY’RE REAL. FIGHT THEM,” but a drink driving accident, followed by community service in a shelter for the homeless draws her into a world where she discovers that what her grandfather said is true.
In ‘Blood Calling’, Joshua Patterson gives us a new take on vampires, not an easy task in the overcrowded vampire book market. His vampires are angels of mercy who offer to take away the pain of those near death or with a terminal illness. They leave their left overs with a smile on their face, generally a better option for a terminal cancer patient than a slow painful death. This lifestyle isn’t without its difficulties however, and neither is it the choice of all vampires.
The oldest, most dangerous vampire in history likes a bit of murder and mayhem and is causing trouble in town. Lucy meets Wash, a vampire that sets her views on vampires straight and along with Emma, gradually fills in the missing parts of her Grandfather’s history. The story unfolds in a steady, engrossing pace which leads to the revelation that because of her grandfather’s exploits, the evil vampire John Smith wants all of Lucy’s family dead. A quick course in vampire slaying is all Lucy gets before she and her two vampire friends are faced with the ultimate battle to the death, where she will have to use her wits to outsmart a very old and very strong vampire.
Lucy is a wonderful character with the typical kinds of insecurities that any 18 yr old might have. On top of the death of her grandfather and the vampire revelation, she has a parental divorce, her mother’s toy – boy and an estranged best friend to deal with. She handles all of this in great style making her an extremely likable character that we can easily identify with.
I recommend this book for all readers who love vampire novels and it’s also a good starter for those who are interested in dabbling in the genre. It’s an easy read of 154 pages with just the right amount of light and shade. I give it 4 stars.
May 13, 2014
I admire anyone who commits to their dream of writing a novel. So, as a reader I try to make sure my comments are honest, encouraging and constructive. As I read "Blood Calling" I found that the book had a unique approach to the vampire lore but I wasn't sure that the story worked. The author's ideas peaked my interest but the writing felt somewhat devoid of emotions and the story suffered from an identity crisis at times.
Lucy is a social awkward eighteen year old senior who recently experiences one bad situation after another. First, her parents are going through a divorce and her mother moves in her new boy toy. After attending a party where she gets drunk,Lucy hits a telephone pole. Now, the senior class and her Bff won't speak to her. Lucy's grandfather dies and leaves her a vampire slaying kit and she discovers that Washington or Wash, the guy who runs the homeless shelter she is assigned to complete community service is a vampire.
Things just continue to deteriorate when Lucy realizes all vampires are not the evil creatures she once believed. When she is attacked by an old vamp named John Smith who is set on revenge, Wash makes the decision to change her in order to save her life.
This story is a strange mixture of Christianity and vampirism if there is such a thing. The good vamps only drink from the dying who give their permission. In turn, they give the dying a painless and beautiful death. It is definitely different but I am also not sure if it works. Additionally, the characters r devoid of emotions. Lucy experiences so many changes and heartache but not once does she tell us how she feels. Then, there is Wash who out of nowhere announces he loves Lucy; yet there isn't enough of a relationship between them to warrant this reaction.
All in all, this book really didn't capture and maintain me attention. Therefore, I will not be going on to the next book in this series. As always, rear it for yourself and decide. It is currently being offered for free on Amazon.com.
Lucy is a social awkward eighteen year old senior who recently experiences one bad situation after another. First, her parents are going through a divorce and her mother moves in her new boy toy. After attending a party where she gets drunk,Lucy hits a telephone pole. Now, the senior class and her Bff won't speak to her. Lucy's grandfather dies and leaves her a vampire slaying kit and she discovers that Washington or Wash, the guy who runs the homeless shelter she is assigned to complete community service is a vampire.
Things just continue to deteriorate when Lucy realizes all vampires are not the evil creatures she once believed. When she is attacked by an old vamp named John Smith who is set on revenge, Wash makes the decision to change her in order to save her life.
This story is a strange mixture of Christianity and vampirism if there is such a thing. The good vamps only drink from the dying who give their permission. In turn, they give the dying a painless and beautiful death. It is definitely different but I am also not sure if it works. Additionally, the characters r devoid of emotions. Lucy experiences so many changes and heartache but not once does she tell us how she feels. Then, there is Wash who out of nowhere announces he loves Lucy; yet there isn't enough of a relationship between them to warrant this reaction.
All in all, this book really didn't capture and maintain me attention. Therefore, I will not be going on to the next book in this series. As always, rear it for yourself and decide. It is currently being offered for free on Amazon.com.
September 26, 2012
Patterson doesn’t disappoint with his latest novel, Blood Calling, a new take on vampires and vampire hunters, one that is so unique and different that it had my attention from the very beginning. Lucy’s life is spiraling out of control and the last thing she needs is to find out vampires really exist, or to meet one in "the flesh." Yet, these vampires aren’t exactly what she expected, and Lucy finds herself in over her head, in more than one way.
I really enjoyed this novel. Not only does the reader get to step into the world of vampires, but Patterson also gives the reader insight into their past lives, in small increments, spurring the reader on until the end. Ranging as far back as Jesus' times to those of slavery, the back stories for both Wash and Emma are extremely well thought out and written in such a way that the reader can't help but feel sorry for them. It causes the reader to connect with these vampires on a much deeper level once s/he realizes their "turning" wasn't a glorious event, that they didn't choose this lifestyle, but that their turning was one full of pain. I also loved that Patterson takes history and intertwines it with vampire folklore in order to create these back stories, creating an interesting “historical” aspect for the novel that will make the reader want to go back to their history books and reread certain sections. Of course, as the story unfolds and both Lucy and the reader learn more about the world of vampires, both good and bad, the characters begin to come alive right off the page, further making this a must read novel.
Told through the snarky voice of Lucy as she relates her story, the reader is sure to fall in love with everything about his novel, and I highly recommend it to all ages, especially for any vampire lovers out there...
To read my full review:
http://bookvacations.wordpress.com/20...
I really enjoyed this novel. Not only does the reader get to step into the world of vampires, but Patterson also gives the reader insight into their past lives, in small increments, spurring the reader on until the end. Ranging as far back as Jesus' times to those of slavery, the back stories for both Wash and Emma are extremely well thought out and written in such a way that the reader can't help but feel sorry for them. It causes the reader to connect with these vampires on a much deeper level once s/he realizes their "turning" wasn't a glorious event, that they didn't choose this lifestyle, but that their turning was one full of pain. I also loved that Patterson takes history and intertwines it with vampire folklore in order to create these back stories, creating an interesting “historical” aspect for the novel that will make the reader want to go back to their history books and reread certain sections. Of course, as the story unfolds and both Lucy and the reader learn more about the world of vampires, both good and bad, the characters begin to come alive right off the page, further making this a must read novel.
Told through the snarky voice of Lucy as she relates her story, the reader is sure to fall in love with everything about his novel, and I highly recommend it to all ages, especially for any vampire lovers out there...
To read my full review:
http://bookvacations.wordpress.com/20...
May 27, 2018
**I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review**
Vampires. They're kind of one of the 'in' things right now. So, you see the title Blood Calling, you're thinking oh, this is just another vampire book, who cares right? Nope, not the case.
Lucy, for being as clumsy as she is, is a pretty awesome heroine. You really get to like her from the very beginning as she starts to tell you about the crazy things happening in her life. She just has a very likable character, which really helps.
I love that this isn't the typical vampire book out today. There are some traditional elements, but there are also new ones that were really like a breath of fresh air for me, after some of the things that I have read lately. And the stories of some of the vampires really just blew me away. The stories that they told were one of the reasons that I connected so well with their characters, especially Emma. Patterson takes history and combines it with the stories of these vampires making these fantastic backgrounds for them, which I really enjoyed.
The only complaint I have, and its not even really a complaint, I just wish that we knew more about the backgrounds of a few of the characters. John Smith for example. And then there's a totally unresolved problem that's between Wash and Lucy that I'm not sure if it was forgotten about, or if there is going to be a sequel where that will be explored. I wouldn't mind a sequel! I really enjoyed all of the characters and the plot was fantastic.
This is not your traditional vampire book that grabs you from the beginning and doesn't let go until the end. It has amazing characters that you can connect with and great action. If you're a fan of vampire books but are tired of everything else out there, I highly recommend this book!
Vampires. They're kind of one of the 'in' things right now. So, you see the title Blood Calling, you're thinking oh, this is just another vampire book, who cares right? Nope, not the case.
Lucy, for being as clumsy as she is, is a pretty awesome heroine. You really get to like her from the very beginning as she starts to tell you about the crazy things happening in her life. She just has a very likable character, which really helps.
I love that this isn't the typical vampire book out today. There are some traditional elements, but there are also new ones that were really like a breath of fresh air for me, after some of the things that I have read lately. And the stories of some of the vampires really just blew me away. The stories that they told were one of the reasons that I connected so well with their characters, especially Emma. Patterson takes history and combines it with the stories of these vampires making these fantastic backgrounds for them, which I really enjoyed.
The only complaint I have, and its not even really a complaint, I just wish that we knew more about the backgrounds of a few of the characters. John Smith for example. And then there's a totally unresolved problem that's between Wash and Lucy that I'm not sure if it was forgotten about, or if there is going to be a sequel where that will be explored. I wouldn't mind a sequel! I really enjoyed all of the characters and the plot was fantastic.
This is not your traditional vampire book that grabs you from the beginning and doesn't let go until the end. It has amazing characters that you can connect with and great action. If you're a fan of vampire books but are tired of everything else out there, I highly recommend this book!
October 30, 2011
While Lucy's life was not easy it did not seem all that different from other teenagers her age, 18. Parents divorced, death of her beloved Grandfather, not fitting in at school, fighting with her BFF, etc.
A night spent drinking spiked punch at a party led her to more than just community service; it led her to her first vampire.
A wooden box, a cryptic note and a picture left to her by her Grandfather mapped out a new destiny for her young adult life.
While uncovering the secret life her Grandfather led she became a part of a world very few knew existed, outside of movies and books that is. She became the sole fighter & defender for the lives of her family and friends and countless others.
This book draws you in from the beginning. Joshua Patterson's story about vampires and slayers is unlike any other you have read before. His characters have depth & personality. Their histories are fascinating and leave you eager to turn the page to learn more about them.
My personal favorite was Emma. All I can say is she is a vampire and her life story will leave you jaw dropped and re reading to see if what you read was true.
Patterson took his characters to a new place and made it work.
Any vampire fan will consider this book a breath of fresh air. It is not predictable nor does it fit into the stereotypical vamp story mold many find nowadays.
My only problem with this book was that I wanted to learn more about certain character's backgrounds. And I hope if it continues on as a series the author will dive in to the past of his main characters & supporting ones too.
I see so many wonderful places this storyline and its characters can go.
I looked for its sequel on Amazon hoping I somehow missed it. Rumor has it part 2 may be out sometime this upcoming holiday season. Hopefully in time for Christmas
A night spent drinking spiked punch at a party led her to more than just community service; it led her to her first vampire.
A wooden box, a cryptic note and a picture left to her by her Grandfather mapped out a new destiny for her young adult life.
While uncovering the secret life her Grandfather led she became a part of a world very few knew existed, outside of movies and books that is. She became the sole fighter & defender for the lives of her family and friends and countless others.
This book draws you in from the beginning. Joshua Patterson's story about vampires and slayers is unlike any other you have read before. His characters have depth & personality. Their histories are fascinating and leave you eager to turn the page to learn more about them.
My personal favorite was Emma. All I can say is she is a vampire and her life story will leave you jaw dropped and re reading to see if what you read was true.
Patterson took his characters to a new place and made it work.
Any vampire fan will consider this book a breath of fresh air. It is not predictable nor does it fit into the stereotypical vamp story mold many find nowadays.
My only problem with this book was that I wanted to learn more about certain character's backgrounds. And I hope if it continues on as a series the author will dive in to the past of his main characters & supporting ones too.
I see so many wonderful places this storyline and its characters can go.
I looked for its sequel on Amazon hoping I somehow missed it. Rumor has it part 2 may be out sometime this upcoming holiday season. Hopefully in time for Christmas
June 7, 2013
*3.5 stars*
I picked this up because it was a cheap e-book and I like vampire stories. And it was surprisingly good! Proper vampires that burn in the sun, some murderous and some with remaining humanity, that weren't romanticised. However, the story does take a turn that the synopsis does not mention, so look out for that!
So Lucy was the typical female protagonist of a vampire story: normal looks, little anti-social, broken home life. But she wasn't anything special. In fact, she was a little annoying, rambling on about nothing when there was nothing else to say. Very much like real life, yes, but not dramatic enough for a vampire tale. Plus, half the time I forgot her name, but that's just because of the first person narrative. Her counter-part, sort of, was Wash, the boss at her community service homeless shelter, who just happened to be a vampire. Wash was pretty epic; a secret vampire that ends the life of those about to die. He gives them a chance, a painless death that also helps him - having never seen this before, I thought this was nicely fresh take on humane vampires. And then there's Emma, the other vampire. Her story was fascinating and a little heartbreaking, and although I kept forgetting she was supposed to be about 16, I really liked her.
The narrative is worth a quick mention: it was written in past tense, as Lucy was, apparently, way older and looking back at the beginning of her story. It was good, reasonably well done but I kind of forgot about it half the time which meant when future-Lucy butted in, I was a little confused.
All in all, it was a good, funny, fairly original vampire story with some good dramatic scenes that were too few and far between the bore of normal life and hiding out in hotels rooms. Worth a try for paranormal lovers and hopefully would pick up speed in the next book.
I picked this up because it was a cheap e-book and I like vampire stories. And it was surprisingly good! Proper vampires that burn in the sun, some murderous and some with remaining humanity, that weren't romanticised. However, the story does take a turn that the synopsis does not mention, so look out for that!
So Lucy was the typical female protagonist of a vampire story: normal looks, little anti-social, broken home life. But she wasn't anything special. In fact, she was a little annoying, rambling on about nothing when there was nothing else to say. Very much like real life, yes, but not dramatic enough for a vampire tale. Plus, half the time I forgot her name, but that's just because of the first person narrative. Her counter-part, sort of, was Wash, the boss at her community service homeless shelter, who just happened to be a vampire. Wash was pretty epic; a secret vampire that ends the life of those about to die. He gives them a chance, a painless death that also helps him - having never seen this before, I thought this was nicely fresh take on humane vampires. And then there's Emma, the other vampire. Her story was fascinating and a little heartbreaking, and although I kept forgetting she was supposed to be about 16, I really liked her.
The narrative is worth a quick mention: it was written in past tense, as Lucy was, apparently, way older and looking back at the beginning of her story. It was good, reasonably well done but I kind of forgot about it half the time which meant when future-Lucy butted in, I was a little confused.
All in all, it was a good, funny, fairly original vampire story with some good dramatic scenes that were too few and far between the bore of normal life and hiding out in hotels rooms. Worth a try for paranormal lovers and hopefully would pick up speed in the next book.
January 1, 2014
I really enjoyed this book! I went into it cold turkey knowing nothing about it and was more than pleasantly surprised! I am now excited to find the rest of the books in the series! :-)
The good...
This is a terrific start to a new series! There was excitement, drama, danger, a tinge of romance and that somewhat enchanting teenage angst. LOL! Imagine finding out that your Grandfather was a vampire hunter! That would rather tweak your brain!
The bad...
It is a beginning foundation book so the overall information is sketchy. I don't want to spoil it for anyone but there is much glossed over. Enough is revealed that it will have you coming back for more. I'm now on the hunt for the rest of the series! ;-)
All in all it's a fun read and I would definitely recommend it to friends and YA paranormal/fantasy! Give it a read! :-)
XXOO
~Hope
What Goodreads.com says:
When Lucy Leary turned 18, her life fell apart. She crashed her car, her best friend abandoned her, her parents divorced, and her grandfather passed away, leaving her a single possession: A vampire slaying kit with a note that said, ���THEY���RE REAL. FIGHT THEM.���
Now Lucy must stop the oldest, most dangerous vampire in history, before it can kill her family.
The good...
This is a terrific start to a new series! There was excitement, drama, danger, a tinge of romance and that somewhat enchanting teenage angst. LOL! Imagine finding out that your Grandfather was a vampire hunter! That would rather tweak your brain!
The bad...
It is a beginning foundation book so the overall information is sketchy. I don't want to spoil it for anyone but there is much glossed over. Enough is revealed that it will have you coming back for more. I'm now on the hunt for the rest of the series! ;-)
All in all it's a fun read and I would definitely recommend it to friends and YA paranormal/fantasy! Give it a read! :-)
XXOO
~Hope
What Goodreads.com says:
When Lucy Leary turned 18, her life fell apart. She crashed her car, her best friend abandoned her, her parents divorced, and her grandfather passed away, leaving her a single possession: A vampire slaying kit with a note that said, ���THEY���RE REAL. FIGHT THEM.���
Now Lucy must stop the oldest, most dangerous vampire in history, before it can kill her family.
October 5, 2012
Blood Calling is aimed toward the YA audience, but that doesn't make it any less entertaining for adults. This story takes a very different stance on the overly-done vampire story.
This story is told as if Lucy (the main character) is sitting across the table from you—like an autobiography so-to-speak. There are many that hate stories written this way, but I found it refreshing and enjoyed it.
I found Lucy to be a well-fleshed out character that I truly enjoyed reading about. She has become somewhat of a pariah at her school after a drunk driving accident. Her home life isn't much better either. Her parents have divorced and they basically ignore her. As a result of her drunk driving she is sentenced to serve community service at a homeless shelter—where she meets her first vampire...then she tries to kill him.
What I really like about this story is how the vampires are portrayed with a very different and unique twist. I don't want to ruin the story for potential readers, but I will say this—these vampires are saviors of the nearly dead.
Overall, this was a very entertaining and unique story that I highly recommend.
*I got this e-book through the LibraryThing Member Giveaway program in exchange for an honest review.
Book Hollow
This story is told as if Lucy (the main character) is sitting across the table from you—like an autobiography so-to-speak. There are many that hate stories written this way, but I found it refreshing and enjoyed it.
I found Lucy to be a well-fleshed out character that I truly enjoyed reading about. She has become somewhat of a pariah at her school after a drunk driving accident. Her home life isn't much better either. Her parents have divorced and they basically ignore her. As a result of her drunk driving she is sentenced to serve community service at a homeless shelter—where she meets her first vampire...then she tries to kill him.
What I really like about this story is how the vampires are portrayed with a very different and unique twist. I don't want to ruin the story for potential readers, but I will say this—these vampires are saviors of the nearly dead.
Overall, this was a very entertaining and unique story that I highly recommend.
*I got this e-book through the LibraryThing Member Giveaway program in exchange for an honest review.
Book Hollow
April 30, 2013
I really enjoyed this book! I went into it cold turkey knowing nothing about it and was more than pleasantly surprised! I am now excited to find the rest of the books in the series! :-)
The good...
This is a terrific start to a new series! There was excitement, drama, danger, a tinge of romance and that somewhat enchanting teenage angst. LOL! Imagine finding out that your Grandfather was a vampire hunter! That would rather tweak your brain!
The bad...
It is a beginning foundation book so the overall information is sketchy. I don't want to spoil it for anyone but there is much glossed over. Enough is revealed that it will have you coming back for more. I'm now on the hunt for the rest of the series! ;-)
All in all it's a fun read and I would definitely recommend it to friends and YA paranormal/fantasy! Give it a read! :-)
XXOO
~Hope
What Goodreads.com says:
When Lucy Leary turned 18, her life fell apart. She crashed her car, her best friend abandoned her, her parents divorced, and her grandfather passed away, leaving her a single possession: A vampire slaying kit with a note that said, “THEY’RE REAL. FIGHT THEM.”
Now Lucy must stop the oldest, most dangerous vampire in history, before it can kill her family.
The good...
This is a terrific start to a new series! There was excitement, drama, danger, a tinge of romance and that somewhat enchanting teenage angst. LOL! Imagine finding out that your Grandfather was a vampire hunter! That would rather tweak your brain!
The bad...
It is a beginning foundation book so the overall information is sketchy. I don't want to spoil it for anyone but there is much glossed over. Enough is revealed that it will have you coming back for more. I'm now on the hunt for the rest of the series! ;-)
All in all it's a fun read and I would definitely recommend it to friends and YA paranormal/fantasy! Give it a read! :-)
XXOO
~Hope
What Goodreads.com says:
When Lucy Leary turned 18, her life fell apart. She crashed her car, her best friend abandoned her, her parents divorced, and her grandfather passed away, leaving her a single possession: A vampire slaying kit with a note that said, “THEY’RE REAL. FIGHT THEM.”
Now Lucy must stop the oldest, most dangerous vampire in history, before it can kill her family.
December 8, 2018
Blood Calling was an okay book. It didn't have a whole lot of depth to it, but I thought it was a very interesting story, with some humor as well.
It's about Lucy, a girl whose whole world seems to be changing. Her parents are getting a divorce, she's turning 18, and she's a senior in high school.
But things really start to change when her grandfather dies, and she finds a vampire hunting kit in his closet. She doesn't know if her grandfather really believed in vampires, or if it was part of him getting old. She soon finds out that maybe her grandfather wasn't so loony after all, maybe he was right and vampires are real.
I did enjoy reading this story. It had a lot of humor, and it was pretty fast paced. The vampires are a little bit different than normal, so that added to the story as well. However the only thing lacking in the book was some major depth to it. It felt like everything was based on a superficial line, and didn't go any deeper. I may want to read more just to see what happens because I really like Lucy. So for a fast paced read about vampires, I do recommend this book.
It's about Lucy, a girl whose whole world seems to be changing. Her parents are getting a divorce, she's turning 18, and she's a senior in high school.
But things really start to change when her grandfather dies, and she finds a vampire hunting kit in his closet. She doesn't know if her grandfather really believed in vampires, or if it was part of him getting old. She soon finds out that maybe her grandfather wasn't so loony after all, maybe he was right and vampires are real.
I did enjoy reading this story. It had a lot of humor, and it was pretty fast paced. The vampires are a little bit different than normal, so that added to the story as well. However the only thing lacking in the book was some major depth to it. It felt like everything was based on a superficial line, and didn't go any deeper. I may want to read more just to see what happens because I really like Lucy. So for a fast paced read about vampires, I do recommend this book.
December 2, 2013
It starts with a girl named Lucy Leary .Her parents got a divorce but with there busy lives they no longer had time for her . They even forgot her 18th birthday . The day of her birthday she was invited to a party , so she went . Lucy decides to try to fit in and drinks some punch .Well the punch was spiked and Lucy was drunk . She then decides to go home and driving gets into and accident . The police came arrested lucy on a dui.The court judge decides Lucys sentence to a community service for a homeless shelter. There her grandfather passes away and she is told to take what she wants from his home . She finds a vampire kit. This peaks her curiousity, as to why he would have this kit. A few days pass by and she begins working in the shelter. There she meets a man named Wash.
Wash seems to be very nice . but he has a strangeness about him . Lucy begins to suspect Wash is different. So her journey begins by watching him .Soon things unfold revealing truth.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book . I do recommended reading it . It was well written and fast to read .
Wash seems to be very nice . but he has a strangeness about him . Lucy begins to suspect Wash is different. So her journey begins by watching him .Soon things unfold revealing truth.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book . I do recommended reading it . It was well written and fast to read .
October 9, 2014
This book is only about 270 pages, and that's my biggest issue with it. I wasn't as drawn in with it as I could have been. The story gave the most basic details it could just to progress the story. It didn't draw you into their life nearly as much as I hope for in a book. Even the characters were made to say they didn't know things a lot, or they didn't have time to tell a certain story, or we don't have time so here's the condensed version. There's just so much room for more details, but they aren't there. Hell Emma' 2,000 year life was condensed to just a few pages in one chapter. I think if this book had another 200 pages it could have really slowed down and got into those stories they didn't have time for.
Overall, I enjoyed it and I'd like to read the next book in the series. I enjoyed the characters, but I just wanted more from them that would help me better connect to them.
For my complete review visit: http://linzthebookworm.blogspot.com/2...
Overall, I enjoyed it and I'd like to read the next book in the series. I enjoyed the characters, but I just wanted more from them that would help me better connect to them.
For my complete review visit: http://linzthebookworm.blogspot.com/2...
October 25, 2011
Blood Calling is not your average vampire novel, at all. It's a fast pace and entertaining read. Lucy is an awesome and witty heroine. Although she's not your typical leading lady, Lucy is a great character. You will not get enough of Patterson's humor and Lucy's natural charm. Patterson does a wonderful job pulling readers in with his unique writing style. The narrative voice is youthful and refreshing. My only complain would be that I wish the characters were a little further developed. Overall, I enjoyed reading Blood Calling. If you're looking for a new take on your average vampire novel than you've come to the right place! I can't wait to read Patterson's next novel. I hope there's more to come!
January 3, 2013
2.5 stars
First off, the book started a bit slow and it takes a while before it gets interesting.
It has a poor plot, I don't know - I just don't like it at all. However, what got me through, to finish the book is the author's writing style, it's the main character's autobiography, it is straight to the point and doesn't dragged on. Also, this is the first book that I have encountered with this writing style.
There are times that I actually wanted to give up on reading it, if not for it's lovable characters and unique writing style. There are times I actually enjoyed myself. Anyways, I think the author is still promising because he has the ability to draw you through his writing style, he should just improve on coming up with a better plot the next time.
First off, the book started a bit slow and it takes a while before it gets interesting.
It has a poor plot, I don't know - I just don't like it at all. However, what got me through, to finish the book is the author's writing style, it's the main character's autobiography, it is straight to the point and doesn't dragged on. Also, this is the first book that I have encountered with this writing style.
There are times that I actually wanted to give up on reading it, if not for it's lovable characters and unique writing style. There are times I actually enjoyed myself. Anyways, I think the author is still promising because he has the ability to draw you through his writing style, he should just improve on coming up with a better plot the next time.
October 7, 2012
Wonderfully witty! Not your typical teen vampire novel! Lucy is a realistic high school girl whose thought process is at times hilarious, thought-provoking, and reminiscent of how you feel about all the current vampire pop culture media. A quick and easy read with a dash of every plot twist you thought possible (loved the backstory on 2000 year old vamp Emma).
LT Member Giveaways
Blood Calling
Joshua Grover-David Patterson
LT Member Giveaways
Blood Calling
Joshua Grover-David Patterson
November 26, 2012
It's interesting about vampire books written post-Twilight...a lot of them mention Stephenie Meyer's series, and some in a non-flattering way. This author seems to have a case of sour grapes. Not that Twilight bashing made me dislike the story, it just didn't add to the story and seemed like a low-class thing to do.
But, the author is one of the best self published I've read. He's witty and moves a story along well. The content was clean.
But I was disappointed in the ending and the type of vamps themselves.
If you like your vamps swoony and house-trained, or blood thirsty monsters, this book ain't for you as these vampires were kinda boring.
But, the author is one of the best self published I've read. He's witty and moves a story along well. The content was clean.
But I was disappointed in the ending and the type of vamps themselves.
If you like your vamps swoony and house-trained, or blood thirsty monsters, this book ain't for you as these vampires were kinda boring.
October 28, 2012
Overall it wasn't absolutely horrible, I kind of enjoyed it. However the author sucks at writing certain things. Do you realize how annoying it is to read a sentence that says "Smithy did this", "Smithy has this", etc. It needs to be broken up and better written I'm afraid. I think a great editor can go a long way. Other than that, it certainly wasn't your average vampire book. Now that this author is getting published properly, we won't have any access to his previous self published novels, so we will have to wait for the re-release, like this one.
December 27, 2012
I enjoyed this story of Lucy and her narration of the events that occurred in her life leading up to and after her 18 th birthday. The novel unfolds as though Lucy is telling you the story herself and I liked this approach as I was living the story with her
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I liked the interaction between the characters and the descriptions of the places and the events the new Lucy experienced.
Overall a good read and I look forward to the next story about Lucy.
*I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
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I liked the interaction between the characters and the descriptions of the places and the events the new Lucy experienced.
Overall a good read and I look forward to the next story about Lucy.
*I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
February 23, 2013
It wasn't completely horrible. I didn't' quite hate it . I just had several problems with the book.
First: A forgettable and invisible plain Jane as the female lead character........really? Why? Because the plot was more than enough?? Wich leads us to......
Second: What plot? I'm pretty sure it went missing right after the third or forth boring monologue.
Third: The narrative, it was just a few levels of wrong!
I don't think I will be reading the next book in the series. This was free on Kindle (good thing).
First: A forgettable and invisible plain Jane as the female lead character........really? Why? Because the plot was more than enough?? Wich leads us to......
Second: What plot? I'm pretty sure it went missing right after the third or forth boring monologue.
Third: The narrative, it was just a few levels of wrong!
I don't think I will be reading the next book in the series. This was free on Kindle (good thing).
May 6, 2013
There were some things I liked about this story and some things I didn't like. I liked that some of the vamps used their 'gift' to help ease suffering. There were things I didn't like. Giving Wash's life story as they ran up the stairs to hurry to kill the bad vamp was bizzaro to say the least. There were other things on the forensic side that I couldn't wrap my head around either. I have to believe that when a coroner was doing an autopsy that they would notice a little thing like the body contained no blood. Just saying ....
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