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Blood Fugue

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“Some folks treated the past like an old friend. The memories warmed them with fondness for what was, and hope for what was to come. Not me. When I thought of long ago, my insides curdled, and I was left feeling sour and wasted.”

Jenny Schmidt is a young woman with old heartaches. A small town Texas girl with big city attitude, she just doesn’t fit in. Not that she has ever tried.

Life has pummeled her heart into one big, lonely callus. She has no siblings, both parents were dead by sixteen, and her last grandparent—and caretaker—was in the ground before she turned twenty-one. She’s the last living member of her immediate family. Or so she thinks…

“We found my ‘grandfather’ sitting at his dining room table. An entire scorched pot of coffee dangled from his shaky hand. His skin was the ashen gray shade of thunderclouds, not the rich mocha from the photo I’d seen. There were dark blue circles under each swollen red eye. A halo of white hair skirted his bald head, a crown of tangles and mats. Corpses had more life in them.”

Suddenly, instead of burying it with the dead, Jenny is forced to confront the past. Armed only with an ancient family journal, her rifle, and an Apache tomahawk, she must save her grandfather’s life and embrace her dangerous heritage. Or be devoured by it.

Blood Fugue is the first of the Moonsongs Books, an ongoing series of New Adult, paranormal-horror-action novelettes by author E.J. Wesley.

(These stories contain language and content better suited for readers 17+)

47 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 12, 2012

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About the author

E.J. Wesley

9 books210 followers
Growing up in small town Oklahoma, there were limits on the amount and types of entertainment at my disposal. Perhaps that’s why I set my imagination free. After collecting degrees in psychology and counseling, life brought me to Missouri, Texas, and Northern California—where I currently read, write, and live. I fill my spare time playing video games, watching movies, planning for the zombie apocalypse, reading graphic novels, and playing with my dogs.

My passion for New Adult literature led me to producing the weekly New Adult Lit Chat on Twitter, and contributing to the NA Alley Blog. I’m also the author of the Moonsongs Books, a series of New Adult, speculative-rural fantasy novelettes.

Let's get in touch!

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Twitter

My latest novel, Perfectly Ernest (New Adult, contemporary), is out now.

Blood Fugue, Moonsongs Book 1, is available at:

Amazon

Witch's Nocturne, Moonsongs Book 2, is available at:

Amazon

Dark Prelude, Moonsongs Book 3, is available at:

Amazon

Dragon's Game, Moonsongs Book 4, is available at:

Amazon

Vampire's Ball, Moonsongs Book 5, is available at:

Amazon

Perfectly Ernest is available at:

Amazon (Paperback)
Amazon (eBook)

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
Profile Image for Rachel.
7 reviews
September 26, 2012
What an entertaining read! The characters have depth and the plot is filled with mystery and suspense. A real page-turner! Can't wait for the next chapter in this original story!
Profile Image for Candace.
645 reviews187 followers
December 28, 2012
This is a very fast read, as it's a novelette of only 47 pages. I don't often read short stories as I feel I don't get the opportunity to know the characters or the world and don't have time to get attached. That's not the case here though. First of all it's a series, so as each one comes out we get to know a bit more about the characters and the world. I also felt like I got a pretty good idea about the characters and the world from this first story. It may not have had time to get real in depth, but it was just enough. And I'm intrigued! The characters are fantastic. I love characters with a bit of OOMPH and Jenny was definitely a character with OOMPH. She has a purple mohawk (AWESOME!) and is a big gamer (that's what we hear, but don't see, cause that would be boring) she's also totally kick ass, she just doesn't know it yet. Or I guess... didn't know it yet.
The writing is superb. I actually don't have any problems with it at all, not one negative thing to say. Not that it was actually perfect, but the errors I saw were minor formatting ones like not extra spaces after a period and stuff. It was only in a couple places though and it never took away from the story or the writing.
I know that some aren't in love with the cover, so I encourage you to look past that (if that's your issue) and consider giving this one a read cause it's definitely worth the 45 minutes or so it takes to read it.
And the second one is out now!

Disclosure: I did receive this book from the author for review but I promise, all opinions expressed are my own and I was not paid or influenced in any way.
Profile Image for Robyn Jones.
Author 5 books104 followers
April 11, 2013
Blood Fugue
by E.J. Wesley
44 pages
I won this ebook novelette
4 STARS

Jenny does her best to be your typical hostile gaming hermit. Then she opens a seemingly innocuous email. Suddenly she has a living grandfather she believed long dead, commits to doing a favor that involves bullets, and discovers a destiny that will test her tendency to push people away.

I'm so happy I won this novelette! E.J. Wesley created the best protagonist in Jenny. She's rude, she's nearly six feet tall, and she sports a purple Mohawk. I did not fall in love with Jenny from the start, yet I loved reading from her perspective. Through her interactions with Marshal, her pushy best friend, and her mysterious resurrected grandfather, I discovered a girl I wish I knew in real life. She'd be the coolest friend. I can't forget to mention the setting. I've read books set in Texas before and yet I never felt like my car broke down there and forced me to spend my entire vacation waiting for it to be fixed. Between Jenny's rudeness and the Texas backdrop, I fell into this story with zeal. If you're in the mood for an edgy paranormal read or love a strong female protagonist who knows how to handle guns get this book!

E.J. Wesley was kind enough to do a mini-interview with me. You can check it out here, http://robgirlbooks.blogspot.com/2013....
Profile Image for Brande.
118 reviews2 followers
October 2, 2012
Do not start this novella...
... if there is any possibility you will have to put it down before you are finished with it.

I started this on a Sunday night and didn't get it finished before I had to go to bed. As a result my sleep was interrupted by thoughts about what I'd read and what I would read the next day.

Jennifer Schmidt has a story to tell and shoves you face first into her story from the very first lines. She doesn't tell her story with the grace and caution of some storytellers because she is in a hurry. She is angry, passionate and on a mission. Rather than being distracting or off-putting, the fury and the pace of the story suck you in further and further until suddenly you're either finished with the story or gnashing your teeth because you have to go to bed and didn't get it done.

The author E.J. Wesley has set himself a high bar in his debut novella. I expect to read more from him in the coming years, with each publication better than the last.
Profile Image for Michael Offutt.
Author 8 books60 followers
October 9, 2012
Upon finishing this story by E.J. Wesley, I immediately realized why I love Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter. It's for the same reason why I like Jenny. She's a tough as nails female protagonist with just the right amount of Texas in her to make me think that the southwest is a perfect setting for silver bullets and monsters.

I won't say too much about this story because it's short and would be easy to spoil. But this is a return to the monsters. You won't find any romantic, skinny, sparkling werewolves here. What you will find is something scary and atmospheric like King's "Cycle of the Werewolf" that will leave you wanting more. Read expecting some gore and violence. It's perfect for October and Halloween.
Profile Image for Brinda.
Author 24 books692 followers
April 14, 2013
Blood Fugue surprised me. I read the first pages and thought I knew what to expect. Don't get me wrong. The first pages are clever. Wesley delivers witty lines like this: "For me, dwelling on the past was akin to keeping a picture of an ex-boyfriend who had cheated on me with the town whore, stolen my favorite t-shirt, and given me Chlamydia." After the narrative that sets up the story, Wesley reveals his true talent. The characterization and dialogue are really good. I tweeted to Wesley that the story has a Stephen King feel to it. I wasn't talking about the elements of horror. Actually, I was referring to the comfortable way the characters move within the story.
Profile Image for Julie Flanders.
Author 10 books166 followers
October 2, 2012
This is a fantastic story and an entertaining and suspenseful read. Jenny is a wonderful character who really draws you into her story. I can't wait for more installments of the Moonsongs series!
Profile Image for Laura Thomas.
1,311 reviews78 followers
January 17, 2014
I just knew I was gonna love Jenny. She has serious attitude issues, wears radical clothes, and sports a purple mohawk. She doesn’t give a crap what anyone thinks about her.

Her mother died when she was 10 and her father lived for the bottle. The only good times they shared were when he took her to the gun range, teaching her how to shoot.

She became quite good at it. Never knowing she’d need to be.

Upon his death, she was raised by her grandmother, her last living family, who lived long enough to see Jenny become a grown woman.

Out of the blue she gets an email from her grandfather, Billy Moonsong, the one she’s been led to believe died many years ago. It was a short email.

“I would never contact you unless it was extremely important. It is. Please meet me tomorrow.”

Of course she goes to see him, but not alone. She takes her best friend Marshal.

Short stories and novellas have to grab me quickly. This one did. There’s the mysterious grandfather, a legacy, Native American (Apache) elements and flesh and blood characters.

Did I forget to mention the monster. Oh yeah, one very powerful, murderous creature.

Poor Jenny and poor Marshal. The handbook given to her by Billy Moonsong is supposed to help her understand her place in the family legacy. She’s a monster hunter and she better get with it quick.

What felt so authentic to me was how Jenny, and then Marshal. thought on their feet. They had no time to do research and no idea what creature was coming, so they were going to be very lucky to survive.

What comes is straight out of a horror movie.” Looks like Jenny’s going on the war path.”

I received this book for my honest and unbiased review.
Profile Image for Jeff Beesler.
Author 19 books35 followers
October 24, 2012
Time constraints tend to be a burden in this modern age. To see all the books out there that I would want to read and may never get the chance to do so, well, it's a thought that drives me insane. I just want to fill my cranium and imagination with as many fictional worlds as I possibly can. It would be quite a feat for me to start and finish a book in a single setting.

EJ Wesley's Blood Fugue: Moonsongs, then, is a book that has come as close as any in terms of that single sitting reading. I actually wound up reading this in three or four, not because of anything the author did wrong, but because of those blasted time constraints. In fact, Mr. Wesley has delivered a book that is so seamless that it boldly dared to defy the need for chapters. As one hopelessly addicted to those chapter breaks, I thought it might have been a concern. Mr. Wesley dismisses that thought with his incredible story-telling.

And he does so with a minimal list of characters. The pace stays on track, never losing my attention for a second. His book commits me to the world of the Moonsongs with a sort of kick-up-your-feet-and-relax attitude. At times, it feels like I'm at the movie theater, but without having to fork over 20 bucks on just the admission ticket and popcorn.

I look forward to the next installment in the Moonsongs saga. I'll have to read this one again. It'll help to stifle my impatience that'll come while I wait for book two. Mr. Wesley has a long and promising career ahead of him that I'll be sure to follow
Profile Image for D.M..
Author 9 books29 followers
February 2, 2014
This was just a fun, quick read and I thoroughly enjoyed the story. E.J Wesley keeps the suspense going throughout the book. I'd never read a novelette before but I have to admit, I'll be reading a lot more now.

The story, set in modern times in a small town in Texas is about a young woman, Jenny who discovers two gifts given to her by her Apache ancestors - one - a non-tangible gift she has no choice but to keep whether she wants it or not. We've all been there, so you know what I mean. Except that Jenny's gift is requires her to perform certain acts - the act of saving people from dangerous beings. So it's a good thing the other gift is a tomahawk.

I loved Jenny from the start of the book. She's independent and different, and doesn't care if others like her or not. She hasn't discovered her future yet and she's wondering whatever will become of her. She's all alone with no other relatives. Lucky for her, her best friend, Marshal stands beside her no matter what.

The book starts out when Jenny receives a mysterious email from someone claiming to be her grandfather, whom Jenny was told had been dead for a long time.

I loved Author Wesley's descriptions - whether it was people or places or action. He goes into quick detail and makes you feel as if you're right there with Jenny and Marshal, experiencing all their emotions including fear. Can you imagine finding out you're a protector of people and have to deal with dangerous creatures that you didn't know existed? Could you do it? I couldn't.
Profile Image for Jessie.
33 reviews12 followers
March 16, 2013
Can I just say wow? I looked over some reviews and I was a little worried that maybe I was going to expect too much of this. No not at all.

The first paragraph had me hooked. I loved the humor that's sort of thrown into the book. The book starts off with Jenny talking about how she looks at the past compared to how others looked at it. Two of my favorite lines in the whole book are in that one paragraph. I might have talked about this in another review, but, the first person point of view is sometimes iffy for me. Thankfully, Jenny is an awesome character, she isn't chatty and that definitely helps with getting past the first person point of view bit. The characters on a whole were rather likable.

Unfortunately, though it is a very quick read, I had a ton of distractions, so it took me longer to get through than I had expected. Of course, that more of a complaint toward my family than toward the book itself. Once I was done with it however, I was really happy that I had the second one waiting for me to get to. If I do have one complaint, it would have to be that I felt like things just happened. That maybe there wasn't really a flow to one thing happening to the other. Of course, as I said before, I was distracted while I was reading it, so if that had to do with the fact that I was caught up with whatever was going on at home or the book itself I'm not entirely sure.

I received this book as part of a blog tour.
Profile Image for Eve Gaal.
Author 21 books38 followers
October 3, 2012
I'm Convinced E.J. Stands for Exciting and Jaw-Dropping
My blogger friend E.J. Wesley sent me an advanced copy of his amazing novelette called Blood Fugue and I have to say the imagery, the descriptions and the suspense are still reverberating from my head to my heart. Once I started this story about a girl with a purple Mohawk, I couldn't stop. Great dialogue pulled me in and pretty soon, I was following her memories right out into the West Texan countryside. Obviously, I wanted to know what would happen, where she was going and why. Out I went into the cover of darkness where a mystery awaits the reader and satisfyingly sets into motion the beginning of what is sure to be the first book in a series.


The author is a cool guy who nailed this piece written from a young girl’s point of view. Slightly surprised at this twist, he instantly drew my attention and the creative writing took over making me smile. “…mental scrapbook,” and “nerd landfill,” were two of my favorites along with this sentence. “Alone snuck up on you like stubble growing on your legs in the night.” Isn't that great? Fabulous writing and interesting characters make this a story that works in various genres aimed at anyone looking for a vein throbbing read. If I were handing out stars, I’d have to say this story gets five but deserves fifty.
January 17, 2014
I received a copy of this novelette for my stop on the blog tour at Donnie Darko Girl.

In BLOOD FUGUE, we're introduced to Jenny and her best friend, Marshal. Life has dealt Jenny some low blows. The fact that she hasn't buckled under the crap she's dealt with is not only amazing (I totally would not been sane or comprehensible) but shows her strength. She's snarky, fun to hang around with, and I would love to be her bestie! Plus with her purple fauxhawk and my pink hair, we'd make quite the pair!

And can I just say how much I love Marshal? The fact that he and Jenny stand out from everyone else in their tiny town with such confidence and flair makes me adore them even more. Marshal is such a cool guy, and it's obvious how much Jenny cares about him. It's also refreshing they're best friends without a romantic element to their relationship, proving a girl and a guy can be just friends. (You'll find out why they won't ever be more than just friends.)

BLOOD FUGUE is full of surprises with twists and turns. There's a huge revelation that I'll admit I never saw coming and was happy with the outcome. I think it adds to Jenny's badassery. This novelette is a quick and super fun read with the promise of more awesomeness ahead.
Profile Image for Joleene Naylor.
Author 94 books129 followers
February 17, 2013
Blood Fugue introduces readers to Jenny, a young woman who, after the deaths of her parents and grandparents, believes she is alone in the world. Then, she gets an email from her supposedly dead grandfather. She's smart enough to know that there's no net service to the cemetery which means one of two things, either someone is pulling her leg, or else he isn't dead.

With the help of her best friend, she goes to the address and finds an old, wheel chair bound man. Is it really her grandfather? If so, why has he pretended to be dead all these years? And what does he mean when he says there is a creature stalking him?

Before she really understands what's going on , Jenny finds herself sitting in a tree stand, a rifle in her hands, waiting for what she believes may be an imaginary monster. But it turns out monsters aren't imaginary, and the events of that night will change her and her life.

A great read that I found hard to put down. Wesley's prose are creative, with just the right amount of tough talk to make it a thriller. I'm looking forward to the second book in the series. be warned, though, this is not full novel length - more of a long short story - but still well worth the .99
Profile Image for Heather.
482 reviews45 followers
February 21, 2013
Quick witted Jenny and just as sharp best friend Marshal make this novel such an enjoyable read that I couldn't believe it was over so soon. I have made no secret of the fact that I love serials. It's great to get a complete story in 65 pages or so and get another one that builds on what you know, a month or so later.
Jenny, featured on the cover, has a purple mohawk, sharp tongue, and a Texas sized chip on her shoulder when it comes to family. So when her grandfather, who she was told was dead a long time ago, emails her, she is reluctant to meet him. The mystery only deepens when she agrees to kill a beast that is killing his livestock later that night and she and Marshal return. What they find is like nothing she's ever seen and the true Moonsong in her comes out. The writing is crisp and clean, it matches Jenny's character who knows exactly who she is and doesn't make any excuses for it. I didn't expect to love this one, but I couldn't wait to open up the next story in this series. E.J. Wesley is a fantastic writer! And even though that cover may be strange, it matches Jenny and the storyline perfectly! Take a good look at it before you read.
Profile Image for Shelly Arkon.
Author 6 books9 followers
October 7, 2012
I absolutely loved this. A little bit of humor sandwiched between blood and gore. One twisted plot to the next made this a smooth, fast paced read.


Snarky, foul mouthed MC who sports a purple mo-hawk gets a strange call from someone. Later on she discovers its her grandfather who she thought was dead. Her grandma said so way before she died. MC drags her sidekick to his house to find her grandfather in a wheelchair and a half eaten horse. The mystery thickens when MC tries to imagine what could have done this to a horse. And it gets even stranger when grandpa invites her back to his house at night.

Hugs and chocolate,
Shelly Arkon


45 reviews
November 14, 2013
I loved this book. E.J. gives readers a clear idea who Jenny Schmidt is and what her life has been like. I particularly love her 1st foray into the world of hunting. Just because her daddy taught her how to shoot a gun doesn't make her any more related to the folks of Duck Dynasty. Having said that, falling out of the hidey hole and losing her gun before that made me laugh so hard. Can't wait to read the next installment.
Profile Image for Alex Cavanaugh.
Author 12 books286 followers
November 27, 2012
EJ has created a tense story with some unique elements. The main character is a little rough, but she grew on me. The descriptions are very vivid and I could picture everything happening with great clarity. A very good read!
Profile Image for Heather.
432 reviews268 followers
February 23, 2013
(This review can also be found on my blog at The (Mis)Adventures of a Twenty-Something Year Old Girl).

Jenny is an orphan. Her parents are dead and her only known living relative has just passed away...or so she thinks. Jenny receives a letter claiming to be from her grandfather that she thought was dead. He asks her to come visit him. Little does Jenny know that meeting her "dead" grandfather will definitely change her life.

I found this title to be quite an interesting one. I had to look up the word "fugue" as I had no idea what it meant!! (Turns out it means a period of loss of awareness of one's identity). I definitely am loving this title after I found out what it meant!! It most definitely suits this book.

As for the cover, I have to be honest. At first I wasn't that big on it, but the more and more I look at it, the more it grows on me. I love how it's not a photo of some beautiful model like a lot of book covers these days. I love how it's just a picture that someone drew of a girl. I also like the picture of the wolf face in the background. The cover gives you a good idea of what to expect with this book.

The world building in this book is alright. Having been born and raised in Texas, I kind of didn't like some of the stereotypes of Texas which I didn't find to be very funny or very true. I did like how the world building in this novel reminded me of an old fashioned black and white detective movie/book.

The pacing of Blood Fugue was a little all over the place. Sometimes I found it to be really interesting whilst at other times, I found it to be a bit too slow. However, this didn't put me off the book, and I happily kept on reading it.

I did enjoy the dialogue in this book although sometimes it seemed like the author was trying too hard to be funny. I laughed at the dialogue between Jenny and her best friend Marshal. Jenny's sarcasm was great, and I loved it. Many times I found myself thinking like Jenny. As for language, there is quite a bit of swearing in this book, so if you don't like swearing, this probably wouldn't be the book for you.

I thought the characters were mostly well developed. Jenny was fantastic because she reminded me of myself. I found myself thinking how I'd love to have a friend like Jenny. As I said before, Jenny is very sarcastic, and that made me love her all the more. Marshal was a great character, but I found myself wanting to know about Marshal and his background. All I really got about Marshal was that he was gay, and he was Jenny's best friend.

What bothered me a bit, and this is probably just a personal thing, was the fact that this book had no chapters. It is a short read, but I still think all books should have chapters. Like I said, that's just a personal preference though.

Overall, Blood Fugue (Moonsongs #1) by E.J. Wesley is a fun short read. Apart from a few problems, it's a good book.

I'd recommend this book to fans of the paranormal genre and those that are looking for a fun light read.
Profile Image for Paperback Princess.
158 reviews43 followers
March 24, 2013
This was originally posted on Paperback Princess, to view direct please click here.

"Some folks treated the past like an old friend. The memories warmed them with fondness  for what was, and hope for what was to come. Not me. When I thought of long ago, my insides curdled, and I was left feeling sour and wasted. For me, dwelling on the past was akin to keeping a picture of an ex-boyfriend who had cheated on me with the town whore, stolen my favourite t-shirt,and given me Chlamydia. There'd be no value in holding onto that kind of torment. Personally, if I bumped into yesterday at the grocery store, I'd punch it in it's shitty face and take my shirt back."

That was the first paragraph of Blood Fugue, seriously...who can't continue to read on from there. This paragraph had me in absolute stitches. 

Jenny Schmidt is quite alone in this world, her parents have both passed and her last Guardian, her Grandmother had also recently passed. She hadn't known any other relatives until her Grandfather, Billy Moonsong, Facebook messaged her. The arrival of Jenny's Grandfather is what Blood Fugue is about, the tumultuous journey that changes Jenny's life forever. 

Blood Fugue is the first book in the Moonsongs Series. The series is about the Moonsongs, an Apache tribe of monster hunters! When Jenny's Grandfather contacts her for help, she is thrust from her boring life into a paranormal world she didn't know existed. 

This first book in the series was over before it even began, it was more of an introduction into the new world that Jenny is entering. Don't let the fact that it's an introduction fool you, it was still filled with action and a very surprising ending that really has you wanting to grab the next book immediately. Lucky for me (thanks to the Author and Candace from CBB) I was able to grab Witch's Nocturne straight away.

Witch's Nocturne commences where Blood Fugue left off. Jenny is inspired to start an online paranormal investigation business, after all, she's part of the Moonsong tribe, some of the best monster hunters blood runs through her veins. This book is about Jenny's first clientele, IpsWitch, and their first investigation. IpsWitch's coven is planning to taint the water supply of Jenny's town. The coven wants revenge on the town they held responsible for the burning of one of their founders,  Felicia. 

Disclaimer:- This book was provided free by the Author in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Wendy C.
250 reviews4 followers
July 30, 2013
Blood Fugue (Moonsongs, Book 1) by E.J. Wesley tells us about Jenny who thinks she has no other living relatives. She finds out that is not the case. Jenny receives an email from her Grandfather, Billy Moonsong and he asks to see her the next day. Jenny and her friend Marshal go to see her Grandfather. Her Grandfather tells her that there is something killing his animals and he takes her and Marshal out in the back field to show them the rotting corpse of his horse. Jenny’s Grandfather asks her to come back and hunt down the animal killing his livestock which she reluctantly agrees to do.

He gives her some ammunition to use. Jenny tells her grandfather about an ax she found in a satchel at her grandmother’s house. Jenny’s Grandfather tells her it is his tomahawk and he gave it to her grandma so she could protect herself. Jenny’s Grandfather tells her that she could keep the tomahawk and use it to protect herself. Jenny goes to buy more ammo and finds that the ammo that her Grandfather gave her is “special”.

That night Jenny and Marshal go back to Jenny’s Grandfathers house but he doesn’t answer his door. Jenny decides to just go up in a tree stand while Marshal waits in Jenny’s truck. She sees the animal and it starts to run after her but jumps over her head and goes towards Marshal. Jenny throws the tomahawk at the monsters back and stuns the animal. She ends up shooting the animal. While the monster is lying there looking dead, it starts to shrink and change form. It starts changing into a human. Jenny comes to the realization that the monster is her Grandfather and he is a werewolf. Jenny shoots one final shot and she kills her Grandfather.

E.J. Wesley has written a unique story about Apache monster hunters. Even though the story is short, it is packed with some great action scenes. You do get a little bit of Jenny’s personal history but I hope we find out more about her and Marshal in future books. I loved the exchanges Jenny had with Marshal. Their conversations show closeness between the two and I want to know how it developed.

3.7 Stars
Profile Image for Talk Supe.
1,246 reviews90 followers
January 17, 2014
Talk Supe review

BLOOD FUGUE is the first book of E.J. Wesley's Moonsongs series. It's pretty short at 47 pages but packed with intrigue and designed to keep you reading. I've never read of a 21yo almost 6' heroine with purple hair and a tomahawk for a weapon and that alone got me excited to read Moonsongs 1. Yup, Jenny Schmidt is a spitfire and one can tell she'll be one hell of a heroine to follow.

BLOOD FUGUE opens with a mystery that led to some astounding family history for Jenny. Her grandmother just past and unbeknownst to Jenny, her grandfather is alive. Long lost Gramps gave Jenny a very condensed version of why he wasn't around and carefully added morsels in his explanation to get Jenny digging deeper. Jenny's family are hunters, supernatural hunters, and as she's the last in line, the burden now falls on her shoulders. And before the book ends, Jenny's made her first kill, a rabid werewolf, and she did it with steady hands and heart, passing her initiation to the hunter world with flying colors.

And that's BLOOD FUGUE. Told ya E.J. Wesley will keep you reading more. There's not much that I can derive from this except good impressions. I can tell Jenny is up for a good adventure, she's snarky which always makes for great dialogue, plus her family history is riddled with delicious stuff. I may be wrong but I also picked up some Native American myth and themes in BLOOD FUGUE and that's always an interesting urban fantasy flavor.
Profile Image for Jaclyn.
153 reviews31 followers
November 3, 2019
This was a very quick read taking me no more than an hour so I will keep the review short as well.

The Good

I really enjoyed Wesley's writing. Jenny was a fun character to get to know and her personality was flushed out pretty quickly. She's sarcastic, likes to be alone, and is pretty negative...but I like her. With her purple fohawk and camo tank top, she's different. She's had a pretty tough life so far, but I like the fact that she takes responsibility for what she perceives she has done wrong in her past.

Speaking of the past, I love this quote about her thoughts on it: "When I thought of long ago, my insides curdled, and I was left feeling sour and wasted. For me, dwelling on the past was akin to keeping a picture of an ex-boyfriend who had cheated on me with the town whore, stolen my favorite t-shirt, and given me Chlamydia. There'd be no value in holding onto that kind of torment."

There was just enough air of mystery to keep me interested until the paranormal aspect kicked in. I am really looking forward to jumping in to Witch's Nocturne to learn more about where this story goes. This is one Texan with Apache Indian roots that I want to know more about.

The Bad

There isn't anything bad about it really, it's just shorter than I am used to.

Conclusion

This is a great book. If you are looking for a quick and entertaining read, this one is for you! I'm really looking forward to the second one.
Profile Image for Christine Rains.
Author 60 books236 followers
March 17, 2013
Jenny likes to be left alone with her games. Even though she lives in her grandmother's house, she would prefer to keep her traumatic past buried, but a strange email from her supposedly dead grandfather forces her to confront it. Along with her friend, she visits her grandfather. Perhaps he's a little crazy, but he needs her help. Jenny isn't comfortable embracing her heritage, but she doesn't have much choice. She must be a hunter or become the prey.

What a fun and fast read! There's a bit of Whedon-esque flavor here with the characters and the humor. Jenny is far from being a cheerleader, though. She's blunt, punk, and a gamer. She's had a difficult life and I greatly sympathized with her. Her best friend is just as flashy, but not quite the loner she is. They make a great duo. E.J. Wesley does a wonderful job writing characters that are out of the ordinary and a bit over the top, but still easy to relate to.

While I did guess the twist, the journey was more than worth it. There's vivid imagery and an intriguing mythology. I can't wait to read the next book in this series. I'm hooked!
Profile Image for Cindy Borgne.
Author 9 books46 followers
March 1, 2013
I found this to be a great start to a series.

When I first started reading Blood Fugue what stood out was the voice. Here are just a couple of examples. As you will see, Jenny can come across rather rough at times.

“In reality, if there had been happiness in my life, people hadn’t had much to do with it.”

Here are a few sentences where you see a different side of Jenny.

“The cry ripped open the night’s dark blanket like a freight train of doom. The rifle slipped from my grasp as I pressed my hands over my ears. I didn’t bother to reach for the gun. Terror had frozen me from the inside out.”

In general, there are a lot of lines that stand out. Jenny’s main conflict is dealing with her families past and trying to make sense of it all. Overall, it was the kind of read where you forget you’re reading and just enjoy the story. There is a lot of action and a couple of fun twists. Readers who like stories about strong women will be impressed. Even though it’s a novelette, the next in the series is available. I’m glad because it left me wanting more.
Profile Image for Jaime Arkin.
1,419 reviews1,326 followers
January 26, 2013
Are you looking for a quick, fun read? This might just fit the bill for you.

Jenny lives in a small Texas town where she's been alone for most of her life... or so she thinks! She finds her lone living relative, her grandfather, in a wheelchair and living alone. With only a tomahawk, her rifle and a journal filled with family secrets Jenny has to save her Grandfather from something, only she isn't sure what.

E.J. Wesley shoves you into a world where things aren't as they might seem and he does it with a wonderful protagonist named Jenny. She's tough and filled with passion and doesn't apologize for anything.

Now... don't let these covers scare you away, you know I'm a sucker for a pretty cover, but these totally fit the story that Wesley tells. If you're looking for a quick read filled with great imagination and a kick ass heroine definitely check this one out.

This is part of a series of books so go check out my review for part 2 as well!

Profile Image for Ryan Snyder.
238 reviews79 followers
January 29, 2014
I will admit I was a little reluctant to start this book since it is on the shorter side, but I am glad I relented and decided to give it a try. This was a really fast read at around 47 pages. Like.. really fast. But it kept me engaged all the way through and I am looking forward to starting the second installment. (:

Jenny is rather entertaining with her sarcasm and general sour disposition. I loved reading about her interactions with her best friend, Marshall. Her grandpa was even pretty cool and for an old guy. ;) Now Jenny can cuss like a sailor and Marshall was sort of pushy, but they were real to me and by the end of the novella, I found myself somewhat attached to them as characters. There were interesting twists as well, which were well done, considering the length of the book. Cannot wait to see what is going to happen to Jenny after that bombshell! O.O

Also, I really enjoy the writing style. Everything just flows really well.
Profile Image for Tee loves Kyle Jacobson.
2,471 reviews169 followers
February 7, 2013
Blood Fugue is not your ordinary read. First it is a short Novella which I love because you get a burst of a world that is full of suspense and intrigue. I have to thank Candace for allowing me to be a part of this tour and allowing me to read such a great story.

Jenny Schmidt is a girl with a lot of heartache. She has lost everyone she knows except her grandparents who are her caretaker. She is an old soul in a young body and soon she will find out that everything she thought she knew may not be true. Jenny will have to make decisions once she finds out that her family may be alive and she is the only one who can save them. What will she do? Will Jenny be strong enough to face what she needs to in order to do what is right?

This is a must read Novella!

Profile Image for Medeia Sharif.
Author 18 books427 followers
January 1, 2013
Jenny is the only person left in her family. Everyone else has passed, or so she thinks. Her grandfather, who was presumed dead, reaches out to her. He informs her that she’s a born huntress and she must go after a dangerous beast. She doesn’t believe her eyes when she sees this beast. It’s unlike anything she’s seen before, but she must stop it before it goes on a path of destruction.

This is a suspenseful tale with a strong female lead. I liked the Native American flavor to it, the mystery surrounding the grandfather, and Jenny’s emotions regarding her family. I’d love to read the next installment.
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