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Blood of the Chosen #2

Taken: A Vampire & Witch Paranormal Romance & Urban Fantasy

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Mercy’s plan was supposed to be simple: remove her feelings with a spell for Dorian and continue the mission—to destroy the vampires who held her prisoner. But not all spells are perfect, and love may be stronger than any magic conjured.

Meanwhile, Maurice has disregarded Mercy’s warning, and his sick game of cat and mouse has only just begun. He’s coming for her again and has no intention of stopping.

Author Notes:

See notes and trigger warnings on the Amazon link

327 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 1, 2024

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About the author

D.L. Blade

11 books621 followers
Author also writes under Diana B. Lynn

Hey readers! I'm D.L. Blade.

I've always had a passion for creative writing, starting my career as an author with somewhat milder books and now exclusively writing dark romance. I love looking for ways to take my readers on a journey into a world of unconventional love, morally gray men, and villains who get the girl.

When I’m not writing, I enjoy reading, spending time with my family, attending rock concerts, and exploring new restaurants in Denver.

I dream of continuing to create exciting novels for my readers and taking them on a journey through the magical realms that spill from the pages of my books.

***All three of my young adult novels are written under Diana B. Lynn. Please note that if you see the titles The Dark Awakening, The Dark Underworld & The Dark Deliverance out there, these are NOT adult, dark romances, like I write today. They are young adult romances.

Follow me!

https://linktr.ee/dlblade

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5 stars
65 (41%)
4 stars
42 (26%)
3 stars
41 (25%)
2 stars
9 (5%)
1 star
1 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
1,605 reviews14 followers
June 16, 2024
Taken is the second book in this book trilogy. I love how this book makes connections with the first one. I love how the author’s writing makes it feel like you’re apart of the story. I got completely hooked on this book, just like I did with the first book. I throughly enjoy books that are part of a trilogy. I thought Taken to be a well-written book. I would recommend this book to readers who have already read the first one.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Sophie Koufes.
2,012 reviews26 followers
December 22, 2022
Vampires, witches, oh my goodness; Taken (Blood of Chosen, book 2) is a perfect urban fantasy romance with the right dose of romance, smexyness and suspense seeping through the pages. The world building is descriptive and highly intriguing. Characters are compelling with complex characteristics. Mercy is such a wicked character and I love it. A supernatural romance that keeps the pages flipping and craving more. All of a doodah for third book in trilogy.
Profile Image for Pat Labrie.
411 reviews4 followers
January 10, 2023
I absolutely loved this book. It kept me reading from the first page right till the end.
Profile Image for p_a_u_l_a.
22 reviews1 follower
May 25, 2026
✨ 𝑻𝒂𝒌𝒆𝒏 𝒃𝒚 𝑫.𝑳. 𝑩𝒍𝒂𝒅𝒆 ✨

𝐵𝑜𝑜𝑘 𝑡𝑤𝑜 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝐵𝑙𝑜𝑜𝑑 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝐶ℎ𝑜𝑠𝑒𝑛 𝑠𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑠 𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑘 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑒𝑚𝑜𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑦 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑢𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑔

⭐ 4 out of 5 stars | A sequel that ꜱᴜʀᴘʀɪꜱᴇᴅ me, 🅲🅷🅰🅻🅻🅴🅽🅶🅴🅳 me and left me needing the final book immediately

| Book Series: Blood of the Choosen one (2/3) |

[ E-BOOK ]

| unpaid review |

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🔮 General facts about the book

Taken completely pulled me in from the very first page. I started it without huge expectations but this sequel blew me away. The concept felt fresh and unique exploring a darker more psychological side of the supernatural world.

The book is heavier more intense and emotionally charged than the first installment. It blends romance danger and moral tension in a way I haven’t seen often making every chapter feel unpredictable. I found myself thinking about the story even when I wasn’t reading and the ending shocked me so deeply that I couldn’t put the book down. I immediately had to continue with the final book because I needed to know what happens next.

🔮 Story (spoiler free)

The plot picks up after book one with Mercy navigating a world filled with supernatural threats and moral challenges. She is forced into situations that test her resilience loyalty and emotional boundaries.

Mercy’s struggle with Dorian adds layers of tension and romance but it’s not simple or safe. Their connection is complicated by magic past trauma and the choices they both must make. Meanwhile the villain Maurice is relentless manipulative and chillingly clever. His presence is a constant threat creating a psychological game that pushes Mercy to her limits.

The story balances moments of intense action with emotional and psychological depth. Survival trust manipulation and forbidden love all intertwine keeping the stakes high and the tension unrelenting. The supernatural elements vampires witches and elemental powers expand the world in interesting ways while keeping it unpredictable.

The ending completely shocked me. It was impossible to put the book down and I read the final chapters in one sitting. The story builds to a point where everything feels urgent and tense leaving you desperate to continue with the series immediately.

🔮 Characters

Mercy emotional strong conflicted Mercy’s emotional journey is at the heart of the story. She feels vulnerable yet resilient and her inner conflict makes her incredibly relatable. Watching her wrestle with her powers her feelings for Dorian and her moral choices was intense and gripping. She is not perfect or invincible her strength comes from endurance adaptability and courage in impossible circumstances.

Dorian protective loyal complicated Dorian’s presence is a source of tension and warmth. His connection with Mercy adds emotional depth to the story and highlights the stakes of every decision. He challenges Mercy in ways that are both painful and necessary making their interactions charged with emotion and unpredictability.

Maurice menacing cunning manipulative The villain is disturbingly calculated and psychologically intimidating. He is not just a physical threat but a mental one constantly testing Mercy and creating a tense and unpredictable dynamic. His control and manipulations raise the stakes in every scene and keep the story dark and compelling.

Secondary characters are also well developed adding texture and depth to the world while reinforcing the central conflict. Each character’s choices impact the story and highlight the complex moral landscape Mercy navigates.

🔮 Writing style

D L Blade’s writing is immersive and vivid capturing the tension danger and emotional weight perfectly. The pacing allows suspense to build naturally while giving emotional moments room to hit hard. Scenes that are morally challenging or uncomfortable feel deliberate and add depth to the story rather than being gratuitous.

The balance of romance suspense and supernatural conflict is handled skillfully creating an experience that is both gripping and emotionally resonant.

🔮 Cover and atmosphere

The cover reflects the dark intense and dangerous tone of the book beautifully. The atmosphere is heavy tense and charged with emotional and psychological energy. From the first page to the last you feel the threat the romance and the moral stakes in every scene.

📌 Taken completely shocked me kept me glued to the pages and left me desperate to continue the series. The ending was impossible to put down and made me immediately reach for the final book. This sequel is darker more complex and far more gripping than the first book and easily the strongest entry in the series so far.

💬 Did Mercy’s emotional journey and the intense dynamic with Dorian and Maurice keep you hooked too? How did the ending make you feel?
Profile Image for Kitchen Sink Books.
1,794 reviews42 followers
January 25, 2025
Book 2 of the Blood of the Chosen and I will start by saying, honestly, please do not read this unless you have read book 1. It will make sense but you will be missing crucial parts of the story, plot and character development.

After Mercy's kidnapping, the revelations about her blood, her rescue and her promise to the angel Mercy is trying to cope. She and her clan know the victory was only a temporary one so now they are making plans but when a strong of unusual murders leads them to a club, an underground vampire den and another huge shock for Mercy events take on a new twist.

She may have used a spell to remove from her heart the love she felt for both Caleb and Dorian so she can concentrate on her mission, their mission, but true love cannot be stopped by spells and she soon understands the depth of her love for Dorian, his for her. Will their love be enough? Is it strong enough for the challenges ahead?

Mercy is determined to do things her way. She wants to learn more about the unusual murders which appear vampiric and yet not. She wants to help her friend Cami but inadvertently adds more risk to all their lives. She is strong-willed, determined to do things her way, in her time, and not rely on her clan or Dorian. That is when it all goes horribly wrong.

Its is beautiful to read and follow Mercy and Dorian's growing relationship but heart-wrenching to find Mercy wanting to do so much on her own. My heart was in my throat at certain points in the book, bringing me close to tears as Maurice begins to show his true colours but there always seems to be hope on the horizon. The clan are strong, Mercy is strong, her family are strong and they are beginning to learn that whilst there may be traitors among them there are also new friends.


This second title in the Blood of the Chosen deepens the story that started in 'Stalked.' The plot becomes more complex, the stakes (pardon the pun) get higher. It is sexy, powerful, frightening and compelling. I am hooked and I am going straight to Book 3 to find out how and if this will all come together...

I read this adult version of the story, and the full trilogy after reading the YA versions of the trilogy. Both had me gripped, I devoured all the books and they are quite different in that with the adult versions we get a much stronger understanding of the depth of the relationships between the characters, something that adults can truly appreciate.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Dorothy Garcia.
63 reviews
November 16, 2023
This is the second book from the Blood of the Chosen Trilogy and it's going to knock you on your butt......

Ok well I read this book in two days because I just couldn't get enough.

This is the story of how the FMC Mercy was doing trying to make everything right to fix the Angel Tatyana's mess and to make the world a better place.

Well her and her four others who were made to help her have discovered that the vampire who stalked her from book one now is on a mission to make her pay and keep her from the other people in her life along with tricking her to help him out with his own mission.

She's blind sided by finding her father from her first life is a vampire, one of her bff's is possessed, and she has had her memories messed with by a with who is working with the vampire who has been stalking her since the 1700's. Along with someone killing people she knows for no reason.

Mercy and Dorian are both ambushed and taken by Maurice the stalker vampire who she has been stalked by.

Her memories are not real, and she breaks through the fake ones but before she can escape her head is messed with again but worse than the first time.

She ends up helping Maurice find the cure to be able to easily kill vampires totally by accident from the pain he gives her.

She ends up getting freed by one of the trusted vampires of Maurice and it ends up with Dorian no longer a vampire, and her dying again.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Hannah The Awkward.
323 reviews20 followers
November 26, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️.5

I read this book so fast because I just couldn’t put it down. I loved the mystery and the detective-ness that Mercy (the FMC) has acquired to keep people safe from paranormal creatures that have gone to the dark side. I appreciate the character growth she went though in this book especially when things started making since at the end.

Since the last book Mercy and Caleb have become a detective duo searching out evil paranormal creatures and destroying them. Mercy is focused on her work due to the love-locking spell she made in the last book so she doesn’t put herself and those she loves above others. However, is she really the embodiment of Spirit if she doesn’t let herself feel love?

Tropes/vibes:
🧛🏻‍♂️ Detectives
🧙‍♀️ Paranormal creatures
🧛🏻‍♂️ Magic
🧙‍♀️ Touch her and ☠️
🧛🏻‍♂️ Heartbreak
🧙‍♀️ Soulmates
🧛🏻‍♂️ Betrayal
🧙‍♀️ Secrets
451 reviews15 followers
January 17, 2024
A great addition to the series!

Book 1 ended with Mercy casting a spell to remove her feelings for Caleb and Dorian. It gave the reader some answers to the mystery surrounding Mercy but not all. As I grabbed the next book, I hoped I was just as entertained as I was in Book 1.

Book 2 of the Blood of the Chose series does not disappoint and starts immediately with the team rescuing Mercy as the vampires had buried her alive and does not let up until the last page. As with Book 1 a sacrifice was made for the greater good, Book 2 will also have a sacrifice. I will not say what it is because I really want you to read this book.

This is another fast-paced action driven book. Mercy is fantastic FMC. I love this author’s writing style. It’s easy to read, engaging and the dialogue keeps the plot moving. I am on to read the next book as I do not want this story to end.
Profile Image for Dominique.
342 reviews7 followers
January 29, 2024
Taken: A Vampire & Witch Paranormal Romance & Urban Fantasy

D.L. Blade is absolutely going to be one of my favorite new authors that I have discovered in 2024.

D.L. Blade is on track for getting me to read most if not all of the books that they have written.

Mercy is back and had me on the edge of my seat the entirety of Book 2. Thank goodness Book 3 is out and I can immediately dive right in.

This has romance, suspense, paranormal and fantasy- basically everything I could want!
Profile Image for Liz Smith.
19 reviews
March 27, 2024
Taken - D.L.Blade

Mercy and her witch coven come back together to figure out who is now murdering the locals, possessing Cami and fighting vampires!

Mercy also finds her in past father . .

Maurice, known villain vampire puts a memory loss enhancement on Mercy and persuades her that they are actually a couple . .

Dorian and Caleb are still also fighting for Mercy's Love even after she removed her feelings for them both by magic to focus on her mission . . But is it honestly strong enough to fight off true love ? ❤️

This book is fast pacing and plot twisting right up until the end - with the ultimate sacrifice. I honestly couldn't believe what I was reading!!

🖤 Enemies to Lovers
🖤 Love triangle
🖤 Murders/Kidnapping
🖤 Morally Grey
🖤 Ultimate group sacrifice
🌶🌶Spicy
4⭐️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Rebel.
2,654 reviews
July 17, 2023
Urban fantasy romance with the right amount of romance, sexiness and suspense throughout the pages. Well written, moves fluidly with descriptive scenes and is a great read. Mercy is such a great character. Its beautiful to read and follow Mercy and Dorian's growing relationship but a bit heart-wrenching to find Mercy wanting to do so much on her own, especially when she has people who love her and want to help. Stakes are higher in book 2. The adult version allows for a stronger understanding of the depth of feelings with the characters that adults can truly understand.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
22 reviews1 follower
September 14, 2024
This is the second book in the Blood of Chosen and this book I would say is better than the first.

This is because this shows us how Mercy doesn't rely on others showing you how she her own person and she doesn't follow other. It's nice to have a book where the female character is powerful and makes her own decisions. I like the relationship between Mercy and Dorian and how it slowly develops.

I can't put it down and its even more compelling as the story continues on from the fist book. Thank you foru for allowing me to read a free copy.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for stephanie cox.
1,265 reviews20 followers
October 23, 2023
Taken (Blood of the Chosen, book 2) is filled with vampires, witches, romance, and suspense. I love these mature/adult edits of stories that give us so much more in a story. The characters are complex and compelling, and the dialogue between characters flows together in a great way. The ending cliffhangers are soul-crushing but completely worth it, you know you are going to get a great first few chapters in the next book.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
9,377 reviews141 followers
July 11, 2023
The second book in the series brings another page turning paranormal romance with strong characters and a suspenseful storyline. It's well written, moves fluidly with descriptive scenes and is a great read.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own and freely given.
Profile Image for Mariaan Belinfante.
1,004 reviews5 followers
July 29, 2023
Another adventurous roller-coaster ride with Mercy and her vampire nemesis, spiced with romance in between the killings and deceit. The suspense spikes high on the chart and combined with unexpected twists turned me into a reading couch potato. Great cliffhanger sets the craving for the next adventures.
I received an advanced review copy and leave this review voluntary through Booksprout.
Profile Image for thewoollygeek (tea, cake, crochet & books).
2,814 reviews121 followers
September 11, 2023
This is the second book in the series and carries on from 'Stalked.' It’s even more gripping than the first, there’s more drama and action , full of chemistry, great characters ,I was hooked after book one and now I need the third even more.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
1,760 reviews43 followers
November 3, 2023
Taken (Blood of Chosen Book 2) is the impeccable sequel to this Urban Fantasy Romance. Spellbinding, oh so smexy, and spine-chilling twist. Also love the character's friendships, the worldbuilding descriptions & settings, plus the escapades are highly entertaining. A pageturner spicey read.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for L KQ.
6,401 reviews28 followers
February 16, 2024
Another Sacrifice

Mercy has sacrificed her happiness and love to defeat the evil wanting to destroy her. The danger, suspense and excitement increase in this second part of the series but another sacrifice will be needed to continue the fight. Hoping this emotional journey is resolved in the next one.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for AMBER CLARK.
961 reviews25 followers
September 16, 2024
The second book in the Blood of the Chosen series, Taken is even better than the first. It's the continuing story of Mercy with romance, suspense and steam. Once I started reading it, I could not stop. It was so good! So descriptive! So exciting! Witches and vampires are always a win in my book. A must read.

Profile Image for Elizabeth Galindo.
12 reviews3 followers
December 9, 2022
Love love love!!!! Another fantastic installment of this series. I love D.L. Blade’s books. Taken takes you on a journey as we explore Mercy’s life in her new super natural world. You won’t want to miss the action here and let’s not forget about the spice! 🔥🥵
Profile Image for Ken Thompson.
570 reviews
August 7, 2023
D. L. Blade is ROCKING with this second book to the Blood Of The Chosen series. Blade is amazing with exceptional character development and world building skills with one serious imagination.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
952 reviews7 followers
August 31, 2023
Taken, was a suspenseful page turner. Everything that Mercy was going through from that first chapter to the last. My pulse was thumping. A must read for paranormal lovers.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
30 reviews
April 17, 2024
I think this is a great second book and I love how mercy grows! Really great urban fantasy setting as well, with great world building!.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for RedSiren.Bookgirlie.
24 reviews
August 23, 2024
Just like the first book this book keeps you guessing and on the edge of your seat. This is a fast paced book with very strong characters. A mist read for paranormal romance lovers.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for brenda hurley.
1,716 reviews10 followers
June 4, 2025
I thought this book was well written and I couldn't put it down and D.L. Blade did it again and I can't wait to read more. This is the second book in this series.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
50 reviews
October 21, 2023
Enjoyed this book second in series enjoyed the characters development and plot little faster paced than first book ended on a cliff hanger third book now down loaded
Author 1 book6 followers
November 19, 2023
If I have one guilty pleasure, it's Maurice. 🥴
Profile Image for Red✨&#x1f495;.
80 reviews1 follower
January 25, 2024
🔥🔥

Did I think this book could out write the first? Absolutely not. Was I blown away page by page? Absolutely
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews