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Bloodwalker
Lightning flashes. Another child disappears…
When Zorka Circus performs, its big top roars with laughter and cheers, but when it moves on, there are fewer children in the European towns it leaves behind.
Circus Security Chief Rurik suspects a killer hides among the international performers, but they close ranks—they’ve always viewed lightning-scarred Rurik as the monster. Nevertheless, he's determined to find the culprit and stop them before anyone else dies and the only place he can call home is ripped apart by the murders.
Into Zorka Circus comes the Skomori clan, despised as gravediggers and ghoulish bloodwalkers. A one-day truce allows bloodwalker Sylvie to marry. Instead, she finds a body. Alerting others will defy her clan’s strict rules, break the truce, and leave her an outcast.
When more bodies turn up, the killer's trail becomes impossible to ignore. Rurik and Sylvie must follow the clues—even if they lead to something unimaginable.
When Zorka Circus performs, its big top roars with laughter and cheers, but when it moves on, there are fewer children in the European towns it leaves behind.
Circus Security Chief Rurik suspects a killer hides among the international performers, but they close ranks—they’ve always viewed lightning-scarred Rurik as the monster. Nevertheless, he's determined to find the culprit and stop them before anyone else dies and the only place he can call home is ripped apart by the murders.
Into Zorka Circus comes the Skomori clan, despised as gravediggers and ghoulish bloodwalkers. A one-day truce allows bloodwalker Sylvie to marry. Instead, she finds a body. Alerting others will defy her clan’s strict rules, break the truce, and leave her an outcast.
When more bodies turn up, the killer's trail becomes impossible to ignore. Rurik and Sylvie must follow the clues—even if they lead to something unimaginable.
284 pages, Paperback
Published October 4, 2016
1 person is currently reading
388 people want to read
About the author
L.X. Cain
5 books67 followersAuthor of novel Bloodwalker (Thriller/Mystery), Soul Cutter (Horror/Paranormal), and upcoming novels: Coldest Night and Paris Underworld.
Also author of short Horror stories "Biggun," "The Mission," and "The Inter-Galactic Gourmet" for sale on Smashwords.
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Twitter: https://twitter.com/LXCain
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Also author of short Horror stories "Biggun," "The Mission," and "The Inter-Galactic Gourmet" for sale on Smashwords.
https://www.smashwords.com/profile/vi...
Connect with LX on:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LXCain
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lx.cain
FB Author: https://web.facebook.com/LX-Cain-Auth...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
December 10, 2016
Pure reading enjoyment!
Absolutely unique, unusual and brilliant! I loved everything about this novel and feel honoured to be posting the first ever review of it on Goodreads. This is a new author to me that I am now a big fan of and keen to read more of her books. She's got one heck of an imagination.
Bloodwalkers.
Nope, not Vampires but human beings who hail from Romania and carry within them the knowledge and teachings of the Bloodwalkers that have gone before them, generations upon generations. Bloodwalkers honour the dead, they are the ones used to prepare a corpse in the ways of old. Ancient techniques, superstitions and charms. The novel shares with us wonderful snippets from "The Bloodwalkers Book".
This book mixed up a number of genres and did it very well. The plot is multi-faceted and it all crossroads together, intertwining as the book hurtles towards its dramatic ending.
Someone that is cruel and relentless is killing young children, for a purpose...one you don't really want to ponder on too much.
Rurik looks after security for a large travelling circus, a circus full of the most interesting characters, good and bad, light and shade. He is going to be one of my most memorable book characters forever. He is imperfect, he has been to hell and back...but he won't let evil continue on his watch. He wants to find the killer. Come hell or high water.
Skomori are the line of people to whom the Bloodwalkers hail from. We meet Sophie who is a Skomori with her destiny and path is laid out for her, or so it seems. Within the circus are the Zorka's - for hundreds of years there has been bad blood between the two. A clash of beliefs, cultures and lifestyles.
With Sophie and Rurik as the central characters the book weaves a brilliant story, the plot and pace grabbed me early on and continued to keep a tight grip all the way through. You've got so much to love in this book. Oh! Did I mention the CLOWNS?
I kept being reminded that the story is set in modern times as often I felt like I was immersed in ancient ways and places, it's so cleverly written that way. There are so many fascinating characters to meet, yet not once did I lose track of them or lose my focus.
I loved the tension in the book. Sophie's journey is at times painful to watch, again, another character I loved. As events unfold I was taken on a thrilling journey and if you are hankering for something a bit different, something to spark your interest then this is the book for you. Readers of many genres would enjoy this book because of how its all melded together.
I loved some of the darker characters in the book, I felt they were so well developed and complex. They bring a dangerous and macabre, threatening mix to the plot.
Be prepared for some graphic scenes and moments of horror along with thrills and tension. With twists and turns I was desperately trying to find the truth, find the killer before the author revealed secrets to me. I didn't win. I had a big A-HA! moment.
When all the pieces come together and the book gravitates towards some thrilling end scenes and I was so excited! It just kept surprising me over and over. I really just enjoyed reading this novel. Entertaining and very memorable. I really recommend this one! 5 stars from me and I can't wait to read more from the pen of R.X. Cain. An author to watch.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest book review from the author, many thanks.
Absolutely unique, unusual and brilliant! I loved everything about this novel and feel honoured to be posting the first ever review of it on Goodreads. This is a new author to me that I am now a big fan of and keen to read more of her books. She's got one heck of an imagination.
Bloodwalkers.
Nope, not Vampires but human beings who hail from Romania and carry within them the knowledge and teachings of the Bloodwalkers that have gone before them, generations upon generations. Bloodwalkers honour the dead, they are the ones used to prepare a corpse in the ways of old. Ancient techniques, superstitions and charms. The novel shares with us wonderful snippets from "The Bloodwalkers Book".
This book mixed up a number of genres and did it very well. The plot is multi-faceted and it all crossroads together, intertwining as the book hurtles towards its dramatic ending.
Someone that is cruel and relentless is killing young children, for a purpose...one you don't really want to ponder on too much.
Rurik looks after security for a large travelling circus, a circus full of the most interesting characters, good and bad, light and shade. He is going to be one of my most memorable book characters forever. He is imperfect, he has been to hell and back...but he won't let evil continue on his watch. He wants to find the killer. Come hell or high water.
Skomori are the line of people to whom the Bloodwalkers hail from. We meet Sophie who is a Skomori with her destiny and path is laid out for her, or so it seems. Within the circus are the Zorka's - for hundreds of years there has been bad blood between the two. A clash of beliefs, cultures and lifestyles.
With Sophie and Rurik as the central characters the book weaves a brilliant story, the plot and pace grabbed me early on and continued to keep a tight grip all the way through. You've got so much to love in this book. Oh! Did I mention the CLOWNS?
I kept being reminded that the story is set in modern times as often I felt like I was immersed in ancient ways and places, it's so cleverly written that way. There are so many fascinating characters to meet, yet not once did I lose track of them or lose my focus.
I loved the tension in the book. Sophie's journey is at times painful to watch, again, another character I loved. As events unfold I was taken on a thrilling journey and if you are hankering for something a bit different, something to spark your interest then this is the book for you. Readers of many genres would enjoy this book because of how its all melded together.
I loved some of the darker characters in the book, I felt they were so well developed and complex. They bring a dangerous and macabre, threatening mix to the plot.
Be prepared for some graphic scenes and moments of horror along with thrills and tension. With twists and turns I was desperately trying to find the truth, find the killer before the author revealed secrets to me. I didn't win. I had a big A-HA! moment.
When all the pieces come together and the book gravitates towards some thrilling end scenes and I was so excited! It just kept surprising me over and over. I really just enjoyed reading this novel. Entertaining and very memorable. I really recommend this one! 5 stars from me and I can't wait to read more from the pen of R.X. Cain. An author to watch.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest book review from the author, many thanks.
May 22, 2017
I am still deciding how to describe THE BLOODWALKERS By LX CAIN superb outstanding just bloody brilliant its unlike anything I've read before in the horror genre, set in Hungary which I loved the premise just jumped right out at you was riveting from start to finish just loved everything about this, nothing to complain about what so ever.
Zorka circus big top roars with laughter & cheers, but when it moves on children vanish.
The security chief of the circus Rurik suspects that a killer is amongst the performers but they closed ranks they have always viewed lightening scarred Rurik as the monster so now he must find who is responsible?
WHO ARE THE BLOODWALKERS & WHAT IS THEIR CONNECTION TO THE MISSING CHILDREN!!
Into Zorksa comes the skomori clan despised as grave digging ghouls. A one day truce allows Blood walker Silvie to marry, instead she finds a body, alerting her clans strict code, break the truth & leave her an outcast.
So now its up to Rurik & Sylvie to find the killer or meet their fate at the hands of THE BLOODWALKERS!!
I really loved all the characters in this novel especially Zora who was deliciously a very nasty character she was pure evil.
I would recommend this for all fans of the horror genre for me it was so completely different from any horror book I have read before. 5 big fat stars nothing less.
Zorka circus big top roars with laughter & cheers, but when it moves on children vanish.
The security chief of the circus Rurik suspects that a killer is amongst the performers but they closed ranks they have always viewed lightening scarred Rurik as the monster so now he must find who is responsible?
WHO ARE THE BLOODWALKERS & WHAT IS THEIR CONNECTION TO THE MISSING CHILDREN!!
Into Zorksa comes the skomori clan despised as grave digging ghouls. A one day truce allows Blood walker Silvie to marry, instead she finds a body, alerting her clans strict code, break the truth & leave her an outcast.
So now its up to Rurik & Sylvie to find the killer or meet their fate at the hands of THE BLOODWALKERS!!
I really loved all the characters in this novel especially Zora who was deliciously a very nasty character she was pure evil.
I would recommend this for all fans of the horror genre for me it was so completely different from any horror book I have read before. 5 big fat stars nothing less.
September 30, 2016
There is a shadow hanging over the Zorka Circus. Stop after stop, children are disappearing. Who is taking them? Why? It is up to Rurik to uncover these hideous crimes.
L.X. Cain has unmasked the workings of an Eastern European circus. She has taken her readers on a tour of the big top, the RVs and all of the characters that it takes to make a circus function. We get an in depth view of the power struggles, the cliques and the family that is “the circus”.
In addition to the circus, L.X. Cain takes us into the inner workings of the Skomori clan of Eastern Europe. They are an Amish-like people, keeping to their old customs of arranged marriages, traditional clothing and fixed trades within the culture.
It is through the lives of Rurik and Sylvie that we get this in depth view of these microcosms of society. She has painted a vivid picture through her two protagonists. The author has given her readers two characters to love. Each one has their own strengths and weaknesses. Rurik and Sylvie are exceptionally believable characters that pulled me into the story.
For much of the book, Bloodwalker read like two stories, crossing over from time to time. This technique worked extremely well to help build the tension, until the action was brought to its climax.
Bloodwalker was an excellent story filled with entertaining characters, some great twists and a strong creep factor.
L.X. Cain has unmasked the workings of an Eastern European circus. She has taken her readers on a tour of the big top, the RVs and all of the characters that it takes to make a circus function. We get an in depth view of the power struggles, the cliques and the family that is “the circus”.
In addition to the circus, L.X. Cain takes us into the inner workings of the Skomori clan of Eastern Europe. They are an Amish-like people, keeping to their old customs of arranged marriages, traditional clothing and fixed trades within the culture.
It is through the lives of Rurik and Sylvie that we get this in depth view of these microcosms of society. She has painted a vivid picture through her two protagonists. The author has given her readers two characters to love. Each one has their own strengths and weaknesses. Rurik and Sylvie are exceptionally believable characters that pulled me into the story.
For much of the book, Bloodwalker read like two stories, crossing over from time to time. This technique worked extremely well to help build the tension, until the action was brought to its climax.
Bloodwalker was an excellent story filled with entertaining characters, some great twists and a strong creep factor.
September 30, 2016
Pure reading enjoyment!
Absolutely unique, unusual and brilliant! I loved everything about this novel and feel honoured to be posting the first ever review of it on Goodreads. This is a new author to me that I am now a big fan of and keen to read more of her books. She's got one heck of an imagination.
Bloodwalkers.
Nope, not Vampires but human beings who hail from Romania and carry within them the knowledge and teachings of the Bloodwalkers that have gone before them, generations upon generations. Bloodwalkers honour the dead, they are the ones used to prepare a corpse in the ways of old. Ancient techniques, superstitions and charms. The novel shares with us wonderful snippets from "The Bloodwalkers Book".
This book mixed up a number of genres and did it very well. The plot is multi-faceted and it all crossroads together, intertwining as the book hurtles towards its dramatic ending.
Someone that is cruel and relentless is killing young children, for a purpose...one you don't really want to ponder on too much.
Rurik looks after security for a large travelling circus, a circus full of the most interesting characters, good and bad, light and shade. He is going to be one of my most memorable book characters forever. He is imperfect, he has been to hell and back...but he won't let evil continue on his watch. He wants to find the killer. Come hell or high water.
Skomori are the line of people to whom the Bloodwalkers hail from. We meet Sophie who is a Skomori with her destiny and path is laid out for her, or so it seems. Within the circus are the Zorka's - for hundreds of years there has been bad blood between the two. A clash of beliefs, cultures and lifestyles.
With Sophie and Rurik as the central characters the book weaves a brilliant story, the plot and pace grabbed me early on and continued to keep a tight grip all the way through. You've got so much to love in this book. Oh! Did I mention the CLOWNS?
I kept being reminded that the story is set in modern times as often I felt like I was immersed in ancient ways and places, it's so cleverly written that way. There are so many fascinating characters to meet, yet not once did I lose track of them or lose my focus.
I loved the tension in the book. Sophie's journey is at times painful to watch, again, another character I loved. As events unfold I was taken on a thrilling journey and if you are hankering for something a bit different, something to spark your interest then this is the book for you. Readers of many genres would enjoy this book because of how its all melded together.
I loved some of the darker characters in the book, I felt they were so well developed and complex. They bring a dangerous and macabre, threatening mix to the plot.
Be prepared for some graphic scenes and moments of horror along with thrills and tension. With twists and turns I was desperately trying to find the truth, find the killer before the author revealed secrets to me. I didn't win. I had a big A-HA! moment.
When all the pieces come together and the book gravitates towards some thrilling end scenes and I was so excited! It just kept surprising me over and over. I really just enjoyed reading this novel. Entertaining and very memorable. I really recommend this one! 5 stars from me and I can't wait to read more from the pen of R.X. Cain. An author to watch.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest book review from the author, many thanks.
Thanks for reading my review! For more of my book reviews, plenty of awesome books to win, author interviews and features come over to join me for book fun at: https://www.facebook.com/BookloverCat...
To follow me on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/promotethatbook
To enquire about joining my reviewers team: http://goo.gl/forms/GWMOvlofZg
Finally to enquire about my book publicity services: http://goo.gl/forms/eVwa2HFKnK
Absolutely unique, unusual and brilliant! I loved everything about this novel and feel honoured to be posting the first ever review of it on Goodreads. This is a new author to me that I am now a big fan of and keen to read more of her books. She's got one heck of an imagination.
Bloodwalkers.
Nope, not Vampires but human beings who hail from Romania and carry within them the knowledge and teachings of the Bloodwalkers that have gone before them, generations upon generations. Bloodwalkers honour the dead, they are the ones used to prepare a corpse in the ways of old. Ancient techniques, superstitions and charms. The novel shares with us wonderful snippets from "The Bloodwalkers Book".
This book mixed up a number of genres and did it very well. The plot is multi-faceted and it all crossroads together, intertwining as the book hurtles towards its dramatic ending.
Someone that is cruel and relentless is killing young children, for a purpose...one you don't really want to ponder on too much.
Rurik looks after security for a large travelling circus, a circus full of the most interesting characters, good and bad, light and shade. He is going to be one of my most memorable book characters forever. He is imperfect, he has been to hell and back...but he won't let evil continue on his watch. He wants to find the killer. Come hell or high water.
Skomori are the line of people to whom the Bloodwalkers hail from. We meet Sophie who is a Skomori with her destiny and path is laid out for her, or so it seems. Within the circus are the Zorka's - for hundreds of years there has been bad blood between the two. A clash of beliefs, cultures and lifestyles.
With Sophie and Rurik as the central characters the book weaves a brilliant story, the plot and pace grabbed me early on and continued to keep a tight grip all the way through. You've got so much to love in this book. Oh! Did I mention the CLOWNS?
I kept being reminded that the story is set in modern times as often I felt like I was immersed in ancient ways and places, it's so cleverly written that way. There are so many fascinating characters to meet, yet not once did I lose track of them or lose my focus.
I loved the tension in the book. Sophie's journey is at times painful to watch, again, another character I loved. As events unfold I was taken on a thrilling journey and if you are hankering for something a bit different, something to spark your interest then this is the book for you. Readers of many genres would enjoy this book because of how its all melded together.
I loved some of the darker characters in the book, I felt they were so well developed and complex. They bring a dangerous and macabre, threatening mix to the plot.
Be prepared for some graphic scenes and moments of horror along with thrills and tension. With twists and turns I was desperately trying to find the truth, find the killer before the author revealed secrets to me. I didn't win. I had a big A-HA! moment.
When all the pieces come together and the book gravitates towards some thrilling end scenes and I was so excited! It just kept surprising me over and over. I really just enjoyed reading this novel. Entertaining and very memorable. I really recommend this one! 5 stars from me and I can't wait to read more from the pen of R.X. Cain. An author to watch.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest book review from the author, many thanks.
Thanks for reading my review! For more of my book reviews, plenty of awesome books to win, author interviews and features come over to join me for book fun at: https://www.facebook.com/BookloverCat...
To follow me on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/promotethatbook
To enquire about joining my reviewers team: http://goo.gl/forms/GWMOvlofZg
Finally to enquire about my book publicity services: http://goo.gl/forms/eVwa2HFKnK
October 10, 2016
Review copy
L.X. Cain has created a richly crafted old-world backdrop for her story.
Bloodwalker is a puzzle involving two distinct story-lines blended into one delightfully horrible tale. On one hand, it's about a troubled circus, the murders that follow wherever it goes, and the severely scarred head of security, Rurik, who is obsessed with finding the party responsible.
The first thread ....
"Somewhere in the Zorka Cyrka—his home since childhood—among the circus tents, RVs, dressing rooms, and show trunks was a clown costume, missing a button. And he was going to find it. Find out who owned it.
And he was never going to hurt another child."
And then there was the story of the young bloodwalkers, three women, set to be married by Zora, the most powerful bloodwalker alive and the ceremony that goes dreadfully wrong for one of the brides to be.
"This disaster wasn't her mother's fault. She was a real bloodwalker—saw souls, heard the dead's voices, and gave messages to their families. Sylvie couldn't, no matter how hard she tried. Even when all she had to do was prepare a body...somehow things just went wrong."
It takes a while, but when the two stories merge into one and we discover the dark truth about surviving the bloodwalker's curse, the race is on to end the killing once and for all.
One thing I did enjoy immensely was the quotes from the Bloodwalker's Book at the beginning of each chapter. Bits of information that give insight into what it means to be a bloodwalker. For example, "All haste must be made to reach the corpse before it stiffens. If you arrive too late, be sure you order the relatives to leave before you begin breaking the joints and snapping the sinews."
I tend to be partial to stories with carnival and circus settings. And Rurik may be a monster on the outside, but in the end he realizes there are worse kinds of monsters in the world.
Not perfect, but certainly an enjoyable read. Recommended.
Bloodwalker is available in both e-book and paperback formats from Freedom Fox Press.
From the author's bio - L.X. Cain was born in the U.S. but now lives on the Red Sea and busily taps away at a laptop, coming up with stories to thrill and entertain readers.
L.X. Cain has created a richly crafted old-world backdrop for her story.
Bloodwalker is a puzzle involving two distinct story-lines blended into one delightfully horrible tale. On one hand, it's about a troubled circus, the murders that follow wherever it goes, and the severely scarred head of security, Rurik, who is obsessed with finding the party responsible.
The first thread ....
"Somewhere in the Zorka Cyrka—his home since childhood—among the circus tents, RVs, dressing rooms, and show trunks was a clown costume, missing a button. And he was going to find it. Find out who owned it.
And he was never going to hurt another child."
And then there was the story of the young bloodwalkers, three women, set to be married by Zora, the most powerful bloodwalker alive and the ceremony that goes dreadfully wrong for one of the brides to be.
"This disaster wasn't her mother's fault. She was a real bloodwalker—saw souls, heard the dead's voices, and gave messages to their families. Sylvie couldn't, no matter how hard she tried. Even when all she had to do was prepare a body...somehow things just went wrong."
It takes a while, but when the two stories merge into one and we discover the dark truth about surviving the bloodwalker's curse, the race is on to end the killing once and for all.
One thing I did enjoy immensely was the quotes from the Bloodwalker's Book at the beginning of each chapter. Bits of information that give insight into what it means to be a bloodwalker. For example, "All haste must be made to reach the corpse before it stiffens. If you arrive too late, be sure you order the relatives to leave before you begin breaking the joints and snapping the sinews."
I tend to be partial to stories with carnival and circus settings. And Rurik may be a monster on the outside, but in the end he realizes there are worse kinds of monsters in the world.
Not perfect, but certainly an enjoyable read. Recommended.
Bloodwalker is available in both e-book and paperback formats from Freedom Fox Press.
From the author's bio - L.X. Cain was born in the U.S. but now lives on the Red Sea and busily taps away at a laptop, coming up with stories to thrill and entertain readers.
January 24, 2018
This book was a huge departure from my usual fare - ah you gotta have some variety yeah? Given the subject matter I enjoyed it as much as I could but I didn't love it.
Rural is the security chief of a European circus. He used to be a strongman but after being hit by lightning his face and part of his upper body are so scarred he frightens people so now he works behind the scenes. He is also phenomenally strong as his bones somehow strengthened even more from the lightning strike. Unfortunately, even Rubik's massive strength may not be enough to prevail against the forces he must face.
Children have been disappearing from towns on the night of the circus's final performance and Rurik is determined to find the abductor. Meanwhile three bloodwalkers (females who minister to the dead) from the Skomori tribe have come to the circus to be married off and, in the way of their tradition, they do not meet their husbands until the wedding ceremony.
Sylvie is one of these three and when the other brides turn up dead some time later Sylvie runs away from her overbearing husband. Long story short, Rurik and Sylvie end up with a bunch of other circus folk fighting a massive force of...well I don't know how to describe them. It would be telling anyway. Suffice it say they are not what we would call 'natural'. This almost read like a very dark fairy tale.
Rural is the security chief of a European circus. He used to be a strongman but after being hit by lightning his face and part of his upper body are so scarred he frightens people so now he works behind the scenes. He is also phenomenally strong as his bones somehow strengthened even more from the lightning strike. Unfortunately, even Rubik's massive strength may not be enough to prevail against the forces he must face.
Children have been disappearing from towns on the night of the circus's final performance and Rurik is determined to find the abductor. Meanwhile three bloodwalkers (females who minister to the dead) from the Skomori tribe have come to the circus to be married off and, in the way of their tradition, they do not meet their husbands until the wedding ceremony.
Sylvie is one of these three and when the other brides turn up dead some time later Sylvie runs away from her overbearing husband. Long story short, Rurik and Sylvie end up with a bunch of other circus folk fighting a massive force of...well I don't know how to describe them. It would be telling anyway. Suffice it say they are not what we would call 'natural'. This almost read like a very dark fairy tale.
August 9, 2016
This book is a truly unique piece of fiction. A mix of genres, a cast of diverse and complex personalities, and writing that transports you into the events of the book. Main character, Rurik, is far from perfect. Having been through some tough times and experienced things he’d rather forget, it’s his job to keep a travelling circus safe – and keep the lurking evil out.
Children disappear from wherever the circus performs, and Rurik is determined to try and stop it happening any more. There are some dark disturbing moments due to the subject matter, but nothing that seems out of place, or just there for the sake of it. I found some of the darker characters to be the most interesting, as they added such a foreboding atmosphere to the story.
Each chapter of the book begins with a small extract from The Bloodwalker Book. Bloodwalkers are those who follow the old traditions from Romania (where they’re originally from,) in order to honour the dead. The plot successfully mixes up the investigation into the missing children and the circus performers negative opinions of the Bloodwalkers.
I really enjoyed the setting of the story in Romania and Hungary. It made a nice change to have a book set in a location not often used. The pacing of the plot was spot on. It kept my interest throughout, and often surprised me with the directions it took. I’d recommend this book to anyone who enjoys suspense and mystery thrillers with a twist of darkness and horror.
Children disappear from wherever the circus performs, and Rurik is determined to try and stop it happening any more. There are some dark disturbing moments due to the subject matter, but nothing that seems out of place, or just there for the sake of it. I found some of the darker characters to be the most interesting, as they added such a foreboding atmosphere to the story.
Each chapter of the book begins with a small extract from The Bloodwalker Book. Bloodwalkers are those who follow the old traditions from Romania (where they’re originally from,) in order to honour the dead. The plot successfully mixes up the investigation into the missing children and the circus performers negative opinions of the Bloodwalkers.
I really enjoyed the setting of the story in Romania and Hungary. It made a nice change to have a book set in a location not often used. The pacing of the plot was spot on. It kept my interest throughout, and often surprised me with the directions it took. I’d recommend this book to anyone who enjoys suspense and mystery thrillers with a twist of darkness and horror.
June 27, 2016
A bloodwalker has nothing to do with vampires. Zero, zip, nada. This book is all about Zorka Circus with Russians, Italians, Romanians, Hungarians. It’s also about humans… and the not so humane! Be warned… and make sure you read this book late at night, when it’s dark and stormy and you’re home alone.Go on, I dare you :)
For Rurik, Zorka Circus is everything. It’s his life. The circus owner Alyosha is like a father figure to Rurik as Alyosha took him in and gave him a home, a place of work and a replacement for his own constantly drunk father. Rurik was the circus strongman act until he got struck by lightning which gave him a badly scarred face. No more able to act due to his appearance, Rurik was granted the position of circus Security. What I really liked about Rurik was that he had a heart of gold and not a selfish bone in his body.
As they travel through Eastern European countries with their RVs and shows children seem to be getting missing. One night, Rurik witnesses a clown taking away one of the kids and he nearly, just about, catches the clown. Naturally, the first suspicion lands on a group of Italian clowns in the Zorka Circus. Is it them though?
Sylvie is a bloodwalker of the Skomori clan. She is 18 and off to a marriage ceremony which is held at the Zorka Circus. The ringleader’s wife Zora is one of the most famous bloodwalkers and she would be holding the ceremony. Sylvie hasn’t met her future husband and it’s all a big honor and hardship for the girls. Feminists would have a field day with this plot!
Her mother had promised that her groom was from a faraway city where no other Skomori lived. A man said to be modern minded. One who might not care if Sylvie forgot things, like scattering owl droppings on the hearth every month, adding spider eggs to the porridge, or hanging a rat skeleton over the bed to ensure marital harmony.
I don’t want to tell you what it is the bloodwalker does exactly, even though you may guess, it would be way more interesting for the reader to discover things as they unravel. I really did enjoy the excerpts from the Bloodwalker Book at the beginning of each Sylvie paragraph. Enjoy?… Eh, you know, such is life and knowledge is king.
If a body has been outside and subjected to the elements, do not collect it in plastic bin liners. Corpses are not garbage! Use a sheet from the deceased’s house, and remember to bring a bucket in case some parts need to be scooped up.
So who is the killer? The book will leave you guessing throughout. It points to one, then the next, and it was for me a surprise element when I found out what was going on. It was even more surprising as the culmination turned into something more sinister than I expected which definitely gave the ‘whodunnit’ an interesting horror element.
I also may have fallen in love with the ‘ugly’ Rurik. I’m not a religious person by all means, but bless him! Just proves the point that heroic and selfless men have the upper hand, I certainly wouldn’t have minded being manhandled into a ditch by him so he could offer protection.
It was a really interesting book, I’ve never read quite anything like it. At times it felt like I was reading something from the past, but it was actually modern day. I also liked how the circus folk was tied in to the story and I did meet an interesting cast of characters who really, at the end of the day, are family and have each others backs. Add to the mix that the whole action takes place in countries like Romania, Hungary, Slovakia… it’s just nice to read about a setting that’s not America or UK for a change and it might have helped with creating a more mysterious image in my head while reading. I would love to have read more about the surrounding scenery of these countries, but I can see how it wouldn't have really fit into the story.
My overall rating: 4****. The writing was good, the characters well-developed. I really loved some and disliked others (the selfish ones of course):) It was a quick read for me as my interest not once wavered. The book is focused and has a good pace and of course, Rurik… I love a male character who isn’t stuck up, arrogant and a freaking billionaire- it just shows that an MC doesn’t have to look like a baby faced magazine cover model to win over the heart of the reader
For Rurik, Zorka Circus is everything. It’s his life. The circus owner Alyosha is like a father figure to Rurik as Alyosha took him in and gave him a home, a place of work and a replacement for his own constantly drunk father. Rurik was the circus strongman act until he got struck by lightning which gave him a badly scarred face. No more able to act due to his appearance, Rurik was granted the position of circus Security. What I really liked about Rurik was that he had a heart of gold and not a selfish bone in his body.
As they travel through Eastern European countries with their RVs and shows children seem to be getting missing. One night, Rurik witnesses a clown taking away one of the kids and he nearly, just about, catches the clown. Naturally, the first suspicion lands on a group of Italian clowns in the Zorka Circus. Is it them though?
Sylvie is a bloodwalker of the Skomori clan. She is 18 and off to a marriage ceremony which is held at the Zorka Circus. The ringleader’s wife Zora is one of the most famous bloodwalkers and she would be holding the ceremony. Sylvie hasn’t met her future husband and it’s all a big honor and hardship for the girls. Feminists would have a field day with this plot!
Her mother had promised that her groom was from a faraway city where no other Skomori lived. A man said to be modern minded. One who might not care if Sylvie forgot things, like scattering owl droppings on the hearth every month, adding spider eggs to the porridge, or hanging a rat skeleton over the bed to ensure marital harmony.
I don’t want to tell you what it is the bloodwalker does exactly, even though you may guess, it would be way more interesting for the reader to discover things as they unravel. I really did enjoy the excerpts from the Bloodwalker Book at the beginning of each Sylvie paragraph. Enjoy?… Eh, you know, such is life and knowledge is king.
If a body has been outside and subjected to the elements, do not collect it in plastic bin liners. Corpses are not garbage! Use a sheet from the deceased’s house, and remember to bring a bucket in case some parts need to be scooped up.
So who is the killer? The book will leave you guessing throughout. It points to one, then the next, and it was for me a surprise element when I found out what was going on. It was even more surprising as the culmination turned into something more sinister than I expected which definitely gave the ‘whodunnit’ an interesting horror element.
I also may have fallen in love with the ‘ugly’ Rurik. I’m not a religious person by all means, but bless him! Just proves the point that heroic and selfless men have the upper hand, I certainly wouldn’t have minded being manhandled into a ditch by him so he could offer protection.
It was a really interesting book, I’ve never read quite anything like it. At times it felt like I was reading something from the past, but it was actually modern day. I also liked how the circus folk was tied in to the story and I did meet an interesting cast of characters who really, at the end of the day, are family and have each others backs. Add to the mix that the whole action takes place in countries like Romania, Hungary, Slovakia… it’s just nice to read about a setting that’s not America or UK for a change and it might have helped with creating a more mysterious image in my head while reading. I would love to have read more about the surrounding scenery of these countries, but I can see how it wouldn't have really fit into the story.
My overall rating: 4****. The writing was good, the characters well-developed. I really loved some and disliked others (the selfish ones of course):) It was a quick read for me as my interest not once wavered. The book is focused and has a good pace and of course, Rurik… I love a male character who isn’t stuck up, arrogant and a freaking billionaire- it just shows that an MC doesn’t have to look like a baby faced magazine cover model to win over the heart of the reader
October 4, 2016
I can honestly say this one surprised me… the synopsis only scratches the surface of the tale and the twists that played out definitely had the shock factor
Two stories collide in this tale. The first being Sylvie, she’s a bloodwalker..although not a very good one. By some bloodwalkers would be classed as special but others look down on them. They help deal with death and I just loved how each chapter started with a quote from the bloodwalker handbook.
Rurik on the otherhand is a security guard working for the circus. When we are introduced to him you quickly learn he’s not an average man. He manages to put together the pieces to learn someone involved with the circus has been kidnapping children and he sets out to put a stop to this
Sylvie and Rurik meet when Sylvie and two other bloodwalkers are due to be married. The wedding takes place at the circus as one of the clans elders is married to the owner
From here things start going wrong fast..
Sylvie makes a ghastly discovery but has no time to tell anyone..Rurik is so driven he sees guilt everywhere and can’t risk confiding in anyone so goes it alone at first to find out who is committing the kidnapping
The author takes their time to reveal the truth of the tale..adding twist after twist to throw you off the truth. The plot was superb.. I couldn’t fault it..
These twists and turns meant there was a great chance to develop the characters which I really felt the author did well. Development is probably the most important thing for me.. I want to feel like I know the character and I definitely felt like I knew what motivated the main players in this tale
This is dark fantasy at its best for me, right up until the end I had no idea how the tale would play out which kept me hooked in page after page.
Major plus point for this tale has to be the very unique plot. I won’t spoil it but this author has a brilliant imagination..i can’t even put into words how unusual and fascinating the tale is.
Overall a cracking dark and gruesome tale that held a lot of surprises. I don’t think I’ll forget this book in a hurry. 100% would read again
Two stories collide in this tale. The first being Sylvie, she’s a bloodwalker..although not a very good one. By some bloodwalkers would be classed as special but others look down on them. They help deal with death and I just loved how each chapter started with a quote from the bloodwalker handbook.
Rurik on the otherhand is a security guard working for the circus. When we are introduced to him you quickly learn he’s not an average man. He manages to put together the pieces to learn someone involved with the circus has been kidnapping children and he sets out to put a stop to this
Sylvie and Rurik meet when Sylvie and two other bloodwalkers are due to be married. The wedding takes place at the circus as one of the clans elders is married to the owner
From here things start going wrong fast..
Sylvie makes a ghastly discovery but has no time to tell anyone..Rurik is so driven he sees guilt everywhere and can’t risk confiding in anyone so goes it alone at first to find out who is committing the kidnapping
The author takes their time to reveal the truth of the tale..adding twist after twist to throw you off the truth. The plot was superb.. I couldn’t fault it..
These twists and turns meant there was a great chance to develop the characters which I really felt the author did well. Development is probably the most important thing for me.. I want to feel like I know the character and I definitely felt like I knew what motivated the main players in this tale
This is dark fantasy at its best for me, right up until the end I had no idea how the tale would play out which kept me hooked in page after page.
Major plus point for this tale has to be the very unique plot. I won’t spoil it but this author has a brilliant imagination..i can’t even put into words how unusual and fascinating the tale is.
Overall a cracking dark and gruesome tale that held a lot of surprises. I don’t think I’ll forget this book in a hurry. 100% would read again
October 4, 2016
"Intrigue and mystery are probably the key words for this one. You know what is happening but right up to the last few chapters you never know who the villain is. You might guess but you will be wrong. When you do figure it out, that’s when things really kick off and the monsters appear. But I am starting to say too much. I’ll leave it there."
See here for the full review:
Bloodwalker
See here for the full review:
Bloodwalker
April 9, 2017
My Rating: 4.5 stars
I received an ARC of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Bloodwalker is a paranormal thriller by L.X Cain. It starts in Budapest, Hungary where something sinister is happening. Children are being kidnapped by a man dressed as a clown. Rurik, the Security Chief of circus Zorka Circus and one of the main characters, is trying to catch him. A young girl called Sylvie arrives in Budapest. She belongs to the Skomori clan which consists of bloodwalkers.
The opening scene is like that of an action movie. I had never read a book centered around a circus so that was exciting and something that I really enjoyed. The book has a very interesting plot. It is centered around Zorka Circus and consists of bloodwalkers which are people who can see souls, hear voices of the dead and take care of them.
Throughout the book, there’s the mystery of who the clown is. There are unexpected murders happening and the book just keeps on getting more twisted. It also gets quite gory sometimes. There were moments when I was frustrated with the events and felt scared for the characters. It was also hard to read about the suppressed traditions of the Skomori clan.
I really enjoyed the writing style of the author. It made the book flow very nicely and had a nice tone to it.
Rurik was a very interesting character and my favorite. He was different than the perfect good-looking male characters we usually see in books. He was strong and brave and had a warm heart. I really felt for him. The only problem was that I wanted to know more about him and there was not enough.
Sylvie is a Skomori woman and a bloodwalker. She is kind and gentle. I felt sorry for her for the situations she finds herself in. She seems naive and not a very strong character at first. However, she becomes braver as the book progresses and manages to stand on her own. I was very glad to see her character developed.
Sylvie and Rurik are apart for most of the book and we read their stories separately. I liked how there wasn’t much romance between them but even then, I rooted for them.
Bloodwalker is a very unique and exciting book. The world building and plot was huge and fascinating. I thought this was going to be a series but it is actually an excellent stand-alone. The ending was very intense and scary and I couldn’t see how it would turn out. However, the book wraps up very nicely. Everything about this book was different and interesting- the circus theme, the clan of bloodwalkers, the villains. All revelations were exciting. This book makes me want to read more books centered around circuses. The paranormal in this book was different than anything I’ve read before. I enjoyed it even though it got very gruesome at times. There wasn’t a moment of rest in the book and that kept me hooked. I liked how Sylvie becomes a very strong character from a quiet, naive girl. I loved the originality of this book as I haven’t read any books like this before.
This book is overall a very enjoyable and exciting read. I recommend it especially if you’re looking for a stand-alone.
I received an ARC of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Bloodwalker is a paranormal thriller by L.X Cain. It starts in Budapest, Hungary where something sinister is happening. Children are being kidnapped by a man dressed as a clown. Rurik, the Security Chief of circus Zorka Circus and one of the main characters, is trying to catch him. A young girl called Sylvie arrives in Budapest. She belongs to the Skomori clan which consists of bloodwalkers.
The opening scene is like that of an action movie. I had never read a book centered around a circus so that was exciting and something that I really enjoyed. The book has a very interesting plot. It is centered around Zorka Circus and consists of bloodwalkers which are people who can see souls, hear voices of the dead and take care of them.
Throughout the book, there’s the mystery of who the clown is. There are unexpected murders happening and the book just keeps on getting more twisted. It also gets quite gory sometimes. There were moments when I was frustrated with the events and felt scared for the characters. It was also hard to read about the suppressed traditions of the Skomori clan.
I really enjoyed the writing style of the author. It made the book flow very nicely and had a nice tone to it.
Rurik was a very interesting character and my favorite. He was different than the perfect good-looking male characters we usually see in books. He was strong and brave and had a warm heart. I really felt for him. The only problem was that I wanted to know more about him and there was not enough.
Sylvie is a Skomori woman and a bloodwalker. She is kind and gentle. I felt sorry for her for the situations she finds herself in. She seems naive and not a very strong character at first. However, she becomes braver as the book progresses and manages to stand on her own. I was very glad to see her character developed.
Sylvie and Rurik are apart for most of the book and we read their stories separately. I liked how there wasn’t much romance between them but even then, I rooted for them.
Bloodwalker is a very unique and exciting book. The world building and plot was huge and fascinating. I thought this was going to be a series but it is actually an excellent stand-alone. The ending was very intense and scary and I couldn’t see how it would turn out. However, the book wraps up very nicely. Everything about this book was different and interesting- the circus theme, the clan of bloodwalkers, the villains. All revelations were exciting. This book makes me want to read more books centered around circuses. The paranormal in this book was different than anything I’ve read before. I enjoyed it even though it got very gruesome at times. There wasn’t a moment of rest in the book and that kept me hooked. I liked how Sylvie becomes a very strong character from a quiet, naive girl. I loved the originality of this book as I haven’t read any books like this before.
This book is overall a very enjoyable and exciting read. I recommend it especially if you’re looking for a stand-alone.
February 5, 2018
This one has so many thrills and chills, it bordered on horror while taking the lovely pace of a mystery. It's easy to sink into the eastern European scenes and picture the world as if it were happening before your eyes. Especially the characters grab with their interesting quirks, shadows and inner battles. This one had me on the edge of my seat...with chills running up and down my spine...until the very last page.
March 10, 2017
Bloodwalker is an amazing read. The story takes us inside a circus, where a mix of fierce loyalty, suspicion, and petty jealousy simmers among the performers. Another thread takes us inside the bloodwalker clan, whose practices and beliefs seem as antiquated as they are bizarre. Cain prefaces each chapter with an excerpt from The Bloodwalker's Book, a manual on handling the dead, a ghoulish touch.
Rurik and Sylvie are exceptionally likable characters and both are committed to integrity. They are also flawed. Rurik suffers from hideous physical scars incurred from lightening strikes and brings to mind a very noble version of Frankenstein's monster. Sylvie is cursed with bad luck. Whatever she strives to accomplish seems to go awry. Working separately, the pair arrive at the truth behind the murdered children and a string of bloodwalker deaths. A large cast of characters—each with their own selfish motives—stand in the way of Rurik and Sylvie.
I had an inkling of what was going on long before the conclusion, but Cain hides the overwhelming extent of the horror until the climax, which is both thrilling and dreadfully intense. This is a novel that pays off in spades (grave-digging reference intended). If you want characters you will gladly cheer for and suffer with and you don't mind a bit of ghoulish horror, read Bloodwalker.
Rurik and Sylvie are exceptionally likable characters and both are committed to integrity. They are also flawed. Rurik suffers from hideous physical scars incurred from lightening strikes and brings to mind a very noble version of Frankenstein's monster. Sylvie is cursed with bad luck. Whatever she strives to accomplish seems to go awry. Working separately, the pair arrive at the truth behind the murdered children and a string of bloodwalker deaths. A large cast of characters—each with their own selfish motives—stand in the way of Rurik and Sylvie.
I had an inkling of what was going on long before the conclusion, but Cain hides the overwhelming extent of the horror until the climax, which is both thrilling and dreadfully intense. This is a novel that pays off in spades (grave-digging reference intended). If you want characters you will gladly cheer for and suffer with and you don't mind a bit of ghoulish horror, read Bloodwalker.
October 4, 2016
Description:
As a circus moves through Europe a child vanishes from each city they stop in. A self-proclaimed monster and disfigured former strongman, Rurik notices the connection and is forced to investigate his own circus family to prevent any more children from going missing. A young bloodwalker woman, Sylvie, is trying to start a new life but in the process finds herself caught up in the danger, and being hunted by the very people Rurik is after. This is a story of 2 underdog protagonists that struggle to save the day and eventually discover how special they really are.
In Short:
If you like urban fantasies, with a mix of supernatural and horror elements and an underlying mystery you will love this book. The story is exciting, unique and very fun to read. There is some gore but not the worst I have read. There is violence, blood and some mutilated bodies are found, just a heads up in case that is a non-starter for you.
Pros:
The story follows two different characters in different places who only sometimes overlap but at other times they are experiencing parallel events. The dramatic irony is that they both have seen things and have information that the other could use. This book is very well written and told in a very artistic manner. The setting of this book is really unique, the story has a historical gothic feel to it but it's set in modern times. The culture of the Bloodwalkers is really fascinating. The passages of the 'Bloodwalker's Book' that begin some chapters were really entertaining and even a bit amusing to me, making them a nice reprieve as the book became darker. The story takes a lot of exciting twists, and is very scary at times. For me this book has a dark sense of humor with ironic twists of fate that couldn't help but summon evil chuckles from me. The character development is spectacular. There are a few characters (I wont give away any spoilers but,) they undergo such a wild transformation by the end and you see their true natures. You also get to watch a lot of relationships develop and evolve in a very natural way. The conclusion was also really awesome. It is a perfect stand-alone book, everything is wonderfully resolved in the end.
Cons:
I have no notable issues with this book.
Parent's Guide and Trigger Warnings:
Violence, blood, gore, and murder of adults, children (the act is not seen) and animals (the act is not seen). NO sexual content. I didn't notice any swearing.
As a circus moves through Europe a child vanishes from each city they stop in. A self-proclaimed monster and disfigured former strongman, Rurik notices the connection and is forced to investigate his own circus family to prevent any more children from going missing. A young bloodwalker woman, Sylvie, is trying to start a new life but in the process finds herself caught up in the danger, and being hunted by the very people Rurik is after. This is a story of 2 underdog protagonists that struggle to save the day and eventually discover how special they really are.
In Short:
If you like urban fantasies, with a mix of supernatural and horror elements and an underlying mystery you will love this book. The story is exciting, unique and very fun to read. There is some gore but not the worst I have read. There is violence, blood and some mutilated bodies are found, just a heads up in case that is a non-starter for you.
Pros:
The story follows two different characters in different places who only sometimes overlap but at other times they are experiencing parallel events. The dramatic irony is that they both have seen things and have information that the other could use. This book is very well written and told in a very artistic manner. The setting of this book is really unique, the story has a historical gothic feel to it but it's set in modern times. The culture of the Bloodwalkers is really fascinating. The passages of the 'Bloodwalker's Book' that begin some chapters were really entertaining and even a bit amusing to me, making them a nice reprieve as the book became darker. The story takes a lot of exciting twists, and is very scary at times. For me this book has a dark sense of humor with ironic twists of fate that couldn't help but summon evil chuckles from me. The character development is spectacular. There are a few characters (I wont give away any spoilers but,) they undergo such a wild transformation by the end and you see their true natures. You also get to watch a lot of relationships develop and evolve in a very natural way. The conclusion was also really awesome. It is a perfect stand-alone book, everything is wonderfully resolved in the end.
Cons:
I have no notable issues with this book.
Parent's Guide and Trigger Warnings:
Violence, blood, gore, and murder of adults, children (the act is not seen) and animals (the act is not seen). NO sexual content. I didn't notice any swearing.
October 4, 2016
Exceptional from beginning to end.
I anticipated this being a vampire book, which I enjoy vampire books so that was fine; but I got something entirely different and couldn't have been more pleased.
Cain wrote a window into the hardships and joys of life in the circus in Eastern Europe, the Zorka Cyrka. The characters were so vivid and their experiences so real. I could picture each person as I was reading. Brilliantly descriptive without being overdone. I felt their tired bones, frustration, affection and fear.
Rurik works in the circus as security. He has noticed that children are missing along the path the circus travels and he is determined to find out who is taking them. It is a circus, so there are clowns and I hate clowns, or am afraid of clowns, whatever. There are still clowns and they are creepy.
Sweet Sylvie is to be wed in an arranged marriage. She is terrified. Sylvie is a bloodwalker, but not a very good one in her mind, or maybe she just really isn't a very good one
"Once, a corpse's hand twitched when she was cleaning his nails, and she'd nearly wet herself. It took five minutes for her to get up the courage to approach him again, during which he'd jerked two more times. He was fresh. The fresh ones twitched."
The wedding is to be held at the Zorka circus since it is in town and Zora, the wife of the ringmaster and the strongest bloodwalker will perform the ceremonies.
And here is where the adventure begins. An intriguing tale of mystery that I couldn't stop reading. There are so many "ah ha" moments and "wow, didn't see that coming" moments.
An excellent read that I would recommend to paranormal readers and non-paranormal readers. It is so well written I don't think you would have to be a paranormal reader to enjoy it.
An advanced reader copy was provided for an honest review.
Reviewed for Becky by Jo&IsaLoveBooks
http://joandisalovebooks.com/
http://joandisalovebooks.blogspot.co.uk/
I anticipated this being a vampire book, which I enjoy vampire books so that was fine; but I got something entirely different and couldn't have been more pleased.
Cain wrote a window into the hardships and joys of life in the circus in Eastern Europe, the Zorka Cyrka. The characters were so vivid and their experiences so real. I could picture each person as I was reading. Brilliantly descriptive without being overdone. I felt their tired bones, frustration, affection and fear.
Rurik works in the circus as security. He has noticed that children are missing along the path the circus travels and he is determined to find out who is taking them. It is a circus, so there are clowns and I hate clowns, or am afraid of clowns, whatever. There are still clowns and they are creepy.
Sweet Sylvie is to be wed in an arranged marriage. She is terrified. Sylvie is a bloodwalker, but not a very good one in her mind, or maybe she just really isn't a very good one
"Once, a corpse's hand twitched when she was cleaning his nails, and she'd nearly wet herself. It took five minutes for her to get up the courage to approach him again, during which he'd jerked two more times. He was fresh. The fresh ones twitched."
The wedding is to be held at the Zorka circus since it is in town and Zora, the wife of the ringmaster and the strongest bloodwalker will perform the ceremonies.
And here is where the adventure begins. An intriguing tale of mystery that I couldn't stop reading. There are so many "ah ha" moments and "wow, didn't see that coming" moments.
An excellent read that I would recommend to paranormal readers and non-paranormal readers. It is so well written I don't think you would have to be a paranormal reader to enjoy it.
An advanced reader copy was provided for an honest review.
Reviewed for Becky by Jo&IsaLoveBooks
http://joandisalovebooks.com/
http://joandisalovebooks.blogspot.co.uk/
October 1, 2016
This is the story of two people who meet for moments but are intrinsically entwined in some unknowable way. It is well written, intense and action-packed and kept my interest from beginning to end. The author has created two groups of people with their own communities and rules that don’t always overlap easily. The Bloodwalkers and the circus people should not have much in common but…in this story they definitely do share something that is definitely not sugar and spice and everything nice.
Sylvie is a Bloodwalker and it time for her to marry. Bloodwalkers do not expect love and are subservient to their husbands. Little did Sylvie realize how horrible her life would become after her marriage. Rurik is in charge of security for the circus - the venue for the wedding ceremony. He was once the strongman of the circus but after his run-in with lightning on two occasions he has relegated himself to staying out of the limelight due to the scars he bears. His focus at the time of Sylvie’s wedding is to find out who is kidnapping children on the last day the circus is in each town they perform in and put a stop to it.
Once the wedding is done Sylvie moves off with her husband to an abusive life of drudgery. Rurik continues to search for the kidnapper while dealing with issues in the circus. Eventually Sylvie and Rurik cross paths again and when they do their world shifts and shakes leaving them wondering if any sort of future is possible for them.
Creating the Bloodwalkers - a group of people that have lived apart for centuries, have their own rules, have their own customs, and give service to their community was intriguing to read about – they seemed so very real. The phrases at the beginning of each chapter made the Bloodwalkers depth and gave more insight into their lives while foreshadowing what might take place in the chapter ahead. I applaud the author for being so inventive and detailed in creating this group of people. I also believe she did a good job depicting life in the circus.
I enjoyed this book and would like to thank the author for the copy to read in exchange for my honest review.
4.5 Stars
Sylvie is a Bloodwalker and it time for her to marry. Bloodwalkers do not expect love and are subservient to their husbands. Little did Sylvie realize how horrible her life would become after her marriage. Rurik is in charge of security for the circus - the venue for the wedding ceremony. He was once the strongman of the circus but after his run-in with lightning on two occasions he has relegated himself to staying out of the limelight due to the scars he bears. His focus at the time of Sylvie’s wedding is to find out who is kidnapping children on the last day the circus is in each town they perform in and put a stop to it.
Once the wedding is done Sylvie moves off with her husband to an abusive life of drudgery. Rurik continues to search for the kidnapper while dealing with issues in the circus. Eventually Sylvie and Rurik cross paths again and when they do their world shifts and shakes leaving them wondering if any sort of future is possible for them.
Creating the Bloodwalkers - a group of people that have lived apart for centuries, have their own rules, have their own customs, and give service to their community was intriguing to read about – they seemed so very real. The phrases at the beginning of each chapter made the Bloodwalkers depth and gave more insight into their lives while foreshadowing what might take place in the chapter ahead. I applaud the author for being so inventive and detailed in creating this group of people. I also believe she did a good job depicting life in the circus.
I enjoyed this book and would like to thank the author for the copy to read in exchange for my honest review.
4.5 Stars
October 2, 2016
I received an e-arc copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion. Thank you!
Bloodwalker is a reaally interesting mix of everything. As for the genre, there are some elements of fantasy, focusing on traditions, horror and mystery. There is a fast and gripping story but there is also a romance part.
In the story we follow two main POVs told by our two main characters. As you can imagine, both stories intertwine. The first one is Rurik - the Chief of Security in Zorka Circus. Rurik is a very likeable character. I definitely felt that he was very charismatic but not too perfect - you know, what I mean? Sometimes there can be some characters you really love and adore but meeting someone similar in real life is impossible.
The second main character is Sylvie who is a bloodwalker. Bloodwalkers are people who honour the dead. Each chapter from Sylvie's point of view was started with an excerpt from the bloodwalker book that showed all the important traditions - this should help you to undersstand who bloodwalkers are.
That was my only problem with the book. As the concept is really unique, I felt really lost for the first 25 % of the book. After that the story pulled me in and I was enjoying my reading experience. I do admit that I suspected the end - at least the main villains of the story but the reasoning behind that was so crazy that I thought it couldn't be true. Well, it was! And the ending is absolutely crazy! I loved it!
I feel that the setting extremely helps the horror elements. Let's face it, clowns are incredibly scary. Moreover, some of the scenes in the book were really graphic! So I was scared while reading. I can definitely imagine this book to be turned into a movie!
Overall, I enjoyed the reading experience, the concept and story was new and unseen but I felt lost in the first part of the book. That means 4 stars for Bloodwalker!
Bloodwalker is a reaally interesting mix of everything. As for the genre, there are some elements of fantasy, focusing on traditions, horror and mystery. There is a fast and gripping story but there is also a romance part.
In the story we follow two main POVs told by our two main characters. As you can imagine, both stories intertwine. The first one is Rurik - the Chief of Security in Zorka Circus. Rurik is a very likeable character. I definitely felt that he was very charismatic but not too perfect - you know, what I mean? Sometimes there can be some characters you really love and adore but meeting someone similar in real life is impossible.
The second main character is Sylvie who is a bloodwalker. Bloodwalkers are people who honour the dead. Each chapter from Sylvie's point of view was started with an excerpt from the bloodwalker book that showed all the important traditions - this should help you to undersstand who bloodwalkers are.
That was my only problem with the book. As the concept is really unique, I felt really lost for the first 25 % of the book. After that the story pulled me in and I was enjoying my reading experience. I do admit that I suspected the end - at least the main villains of the story but the reasoning behind that was so crazy that I thought it couldn't be true. Well, it was! And the ending is absolutely crazy! I loved it!
I feel that the setting extremely helps the horror elements. Let's face it, clowns are incredibly scary. Moreover, some of the scenes in the book were really graphic! So I was scared while reading. I can definitely imagine this book to be turned into a movie!
Overall, I enjoyed the reading experience, the concept and story was new and unseen but I felt lost in the first part of the book. That means 4 stars for Bloodwalker!
August 18, 2016
First thing is the cover. It’s not often I complement another author’s cover, but in this case it’s a damn good image. Read the book and you will understand how the cover tells the story without giving anything away. There is a mélange of genres in this tale woven together like a fine linen shirt. My best comparison is Bloodwalker is the horror version of Sara Gruen’s Water for Elephants. There is a touch of romance, mystery, horror, and a reveal of the precarious life of someone who is not a performer in a small circus. Hint - talent is not replaceable, everyone else is.
The story centers on Rurik, who is head of security for the Zorka Circus, a job with a lot of responsibility, but not much power. Children have been disappearing in the towns they have performed in, the obvious and easy scapegoat is the circus. While Rurik is trying to stop the kidnappings, there is also the wedding of the Bloodwalkers he needs to make sure goes off without issue. Bloodwalkers are from Romania, and prepare the dead for burial. Shunned at best, even by the circus performers, things are never simple. There are mysterious RV fires, bizarre rituals that may or may not be some sort of witchcraft or worse. Felonious clowns, chases through rail yards, in abandoned factories, and in lightning storms. And a really well imaged, nasty bad guy doing really evil things.
Pre-order now and read this book. You will not be sorry.
Yes I received a copy for an honest review and that’s what you got, an honest review.
The story centers on Rurik, who is head of security for the Zorka Circus, a job with a lot of responsibility, but not much power. Children have been disappearing in the towns they have performed in, the obvious and easy scapegoat is the circus. While Rurik is trying to stop the kidnappings, there is also the wedding of the Bloodwalkers he needs to make sure goes off without issue. Bloodwalkers are from Romania, and prepare the dead for burial. Shunned at best, even by the circus performers, things are never simple. There are mysterious RV fires, bizarre rituals that may or may not be some sort of witchcraft or worse. Felonious clowns, chases through rail yards, in abandoned factories, and in lightning storms. And a really well imaged, nasty bad guy doing really evil things.
Pre-order now and read this book. You will not be sorry.
Yes I received a copy for an honest review and that’s what you got, an honest review.
October 4, 2016
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This is in no way reflected in my opinion of this story.
Bloodwalker had me hooked from the very first page. The circus setting is already creepy because, you know,,, CLOWNS ARE EVIL!!! Throw in the fact that every town that the Zorka Circus performs in is missing a child or two, a gallant Chief of Security and friends trying to find and stop the murderer, the mysterious Skomori Bloodwalkers, and enough twists to keep you guessing and you have a fantastic story! The characters are realistic and easy to care about, I loved Rurik, Ivan, Misha, Marva, and Sylvie. The folklore that surrounds the Skomori Bloodwalkers is captivating and I wanted to know more about this intriguing culture. The action found in these pages is exciting and full of suspense leading up to an explosive confrontation as Rurik and friends find out who, or what, is terrorizing the Zorka Circus. I highly recommend this dark and spectacular 4.5 star read.
Bloodwalker had me hooked from the very first page. The circus setting is already creepy because, you know,,, CLOWNS ARE EVIL!!! Throw in the fact that every town that the Zorka Circus performs in is missing a child or two, a gallant Chief of Security and friends trying to find and stop the murderer, the mysterious Skomori Bloodwalkers, and enough twists to keep you guessing and you have a fantastic story! The characters are realistic and easy to care about, I loved Rurik, Ivan, Misha, Marva, and Sylvie. The folklore that surrounds the Skomori Bloodwalkers is captivating and I wanted to know more about this intriguing culture. The action found in these pages is exciting and full of suspense leading up to an explosive confrontation as Rurik and friends find out who, or what, is terrorizing the Zorka Circus. I highly recommend this dark and spectacular 4.5 star read.
October 19, 2016
I don’t know if bloodwalkers were part of folklore, but they make for compelling reading. A group of women dedicated to preparing the dead for burial they have a strict code of conduct overseen by a matriarchal-like figure. L. X. Cain weaves a tale that combines the story of a young bloodwalker named Sylvie whose life intersects with a traveling circus and the circus’ head of security, Rurik.
Although the book is set in modern times, there is a wonderful old-world feel to it that is thoroughly bewitching. I found the sections from the bloodwalkers’ “handbook” especially interesting and odd.
Rurik is tracking a murderer who claims children as victims while Sylvie struggles to grapple with the idea of an arranged marriage. We get POV from each character as their individual stories proceed, only to culminate in a riveting ending.
The writing is wonderful with descriptions and dialog that are spot on for a rich reading experience. Odd, unique, dark, compelling, creepy—however you describe this novel of suspense, mystery and the supernatural—it all adds up to superb!
Although the book is set in modern times, there is a wonderful old-world feel to it that is thoroughly bewitching. I found the sections from the bloodwalkers’ “handbook” especially interesting and odd.
Rurik is tracking a murderer who claims children as victims while Sylvie struggles to grapple with the idea of an arranged marriage. We get POV from each character as their individual stories proceed, only to culminate in a riveting ending.
The writing is wonderful with descriptions and dialog that are spot on for a rich reading experience. Odd, unique, dark, compelling, creepy—however you describe this novel of suspense, mystery and the supernatural—it all adds up to superb!
October 7, 2016
I was a fan of Ms. Cain's Soulhunter, a terrific YA horror debut. I wondered what would happen if she tackled an adult horror tale, and dang if she hasn't delivered! Her prose is excellent, at times stunning. The setting of a European carnival provides exotic backdrop and the lead two characters are interesting and very empathetic. This book oozes with atmosphere and there's a compelling murder mystery to boot. The tension's high as everything speeds toward an exciting conclusion. And, c'mon! You can't go wrong with a mysterious serial killer clown. Brrr. Perfect spooky chills for Halloween reading. My highest recommendation, my favorite horror tale of the year and I can't wait to read her next work.
May 22, 2017
The Zorka Circus is travelling through Europe, but each time it moves on a child goes missing. Scarred by lightning, the circus’ security guard, Rurik, suspects the killer is one of the performers, and he sets out to stop the murders. Sylvie is a Bloodwalker, one of the Skomori clan who prepare corpses post-death, and she is drawn into this terrifying scenario on the day of her wedding. The two of them try to uncover the murderer, without realizing the horror they will find when they eventually discover the truth.
Bloodwalker by L.X. Cain is a well-written and fast-paced novel that might well be nothing like you’ve ever read before. It contains engaging characters and dark settings, together with a backstory and history that is as deep as it is alive. The two main characters could not be more opposite, but they are easy to like given the difficulties each of them have had in their lives. Rurik has been struck by lightning and is shunned because of how he looks; Sylvie is a bloodwalker, and people look upon them as ghouls. Both characters make this book worth reading, and I particularly enjoyed the little snippets of text from The Bloodwalker’s Book to start each of Sylvie’s chapters—example: “If a body has been outside and subjected to the elements, do not collect it in plastic bin liners. Corpses are not garbage! Use a sheet from the deceased’s house, and remember to bring a bucket in case some parts need to be scooped up.” Great stuff, and I wonder if this will ever be coming out in print.
I’ve seen this book around social media for a long while, love the title, the cover is awesome, and the teaser promos on Twitter are very intriguing, so it was only a matter of time before I read the book. Thankfully I wasn’t disappointed. While the horror inside isn’t particularly gruesome, and although the book may take a little time to get to the important action, this is a novel with a great plot and it’s a joy to read.
Bloodwalker by L.X. Cain is a well-written and fast-paced novel that might well be nothing like you’ve ever read before. It contains engaging characters and dark settings, together with a backstory and history that is as deep as it is alive. The two main characters could not be more opposite, but they are easy to like given the difficulties each of them have had in their lives. Rurik has been struck by lightning and is shunned because of how he looks; Sylvie is a bloodwalker, and people look upon them as ghouls. Both characters make this book worth reading, and I particularly enjoyed the little snippets of text from The Bloodwalker’s Book to start each of Sylvie’s chapters—example: “If a body has been outside and subjected to the elements, do not collect it in plastic bin liners. Corpses are not garbage! Use a sheet from the deceased’s house, and remember to bring a bucket in case some parts need to be scooped up.” Great stuff, and I wonder if this will ever be coming out in print.
I’ve seen this book around social media for a long while, love the title, the cover is awesome, and the teaser promos on Twitter are very intriguing, so it was only a matter of time before I read the book. Thankfully I wasn’t disappointed. While the horror inside isn’t particularly gruesome, and although the book may take a little time to get to the important action, this is a novel with a great plot and it’s a joy to read.
September 21, 2017
L.X. Cain's Bloodwalker launches the reader into pure horror from page one and only increases the depth of heart-pounding fear as the story progresses. And she doesn't stint on developing some fascinating characters either. The story is filled with bizarre and mysterious people, but the main characters shine.
One protagonist, Rurik, is a circus strongman who works as the security guard for the circus. A Romanian Quasimoto, he's a man with a great heart who has been deformed by nature. It's his keen sense of duty to save the children that launches the book, and it's the driving force that sees the story to the end.
Sylvie is a member of an ancient sect called the Bloodwalkers. Their duty is to care for the dead. While gruesome, the short passages of the Bloodwalker's book that come at the beginning of Sylvie's chapters create an understanding of the tradition she follows. This "manual" while often gruesome in content, elevates the honor behind the duty that has been passed on from ancestors to her.
The twists and turns will keep you reading and pulling for both of these characters who must overcome so much to survive.
One protagonist, Rurik, is a circus strongman who works as the security guard for the circus. A Romanian Quasimoto, he's a man with a great heart who has been deformed by nature. It's his keen sense of duty to save the children that launches the book, and it's the driving force that sees the story to the end.
Sylvie is a member of an ancient sect called the Bloodwalkers. Their duty is to care for the dead. While gruesome, the short passages of the Bloodwalker's book that come at the beginning of Sylvie's chapters create an understanding of the tradition she follows. This "manual" while often gruesome in content, elevates the honor behind the duty that has been passed on from ancestors to her.
The twists and turns will keep you reading and pulling for both of these characters who must overcome so much to survive.
November 22, 2020
I received a copy of this book directly from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I have mixed feelings about Bloodwalker by L.X. Cain. I almost feel bad for rating it 3 stars, but not quite enough to do otherwise. The book itself is written well - it flowed easily, had interesting characters, and the narrative voice was clear. The atmosphere was decent, as was the world-building, and the killer clown was downright chilling.
All that said, I just wasn't drawn into the book. Although I love the horror genre and supernatural mysteries, I felt just so-so about this one. It wasn't awful by any means, just not my cup of tea. I think there are readers out there that will enjoy this book quite a lot, and I certainly recommend it to readers of horror. I wish I'd liked it better.
I have mixed feelings about Bloodwalker by L.X. Cain. I almost feel bad for rating it 3 stars, but not quite enough to do otherwise. The book itself is written well - it flowed easily, had interesting characters, and the narrative voice was clear. The atmosphere was decent, as was the world-building, and the killer clown was downright chilling.
All that said, I just wasn't drawn into the book. Although I love the horror genre and supernatural mysteries, I felt just so-so about this one. It wasn't awful by any means, just not my cup of tea. I think there are readers out there that will enjoy this book quite a lot, and I certainly recommend it to readers of horror. I wish I'd liked it better.
November 15, 2018
This is a horror novel with some disturbing imagery. I was immediately drawn into the story and equally intrigued and creeped out by it.
When I originally read the description of this story, I thought Bloodwalkers were going to be some kind of vampire. They are not. Bloodwalkers are the terms for the women who would act as undertakers for centuries. A tradition handed down from mother to daughter. While these traditions are necessary in these small, rural villages in eastern Europe where modern morticians and funeral homes are scarce, bloodwalkers are still looked down as ghouls and undesirables.
The only problem I had with this story was that it is hard to remember while reading this story that it is taking place in modern Romania and Hungary. Nothing is modern about these two main characters. On one hand we have Sylvie, who has come out of her little village in the mountains for her arranged marriage. Although her husband-to-be lives in a poor area of a modern city, she still holds to the very backwards traditions of her people; wearing long black dresses and keeping her hair under a braided cap. She is very subservient and almost child-like. She has no money, no formal education and no skills. Even her bloodwalker skills are sub-par. Her husband is abusive, a drunk and a cheat.
Our other POV is Rurik, who is the chief security for the traveling circus. Rurik was hit by lighting twice, once at 7 and once at 17, his body is scarred and slightly deformed. If he walks around outside the circus, he is wearing a cloak and hood…not too conspicuous and questionable. It appears circus folks still hold the tradition of avoiding the police and keeping to themselves, even if it involves murder and kidnapping. Rurik is the only one trying to find the killer. Even with modern Interpol, none of the police agencies made a connection between the missing children and the circus. The circus people also don’t invest in cell phones. Even a local holding cell was described as primitive with a flea-ridden bed and hole in the ground “facilities” that were overflowing with raw sewage.
I kept forgetting that this was not a turn of the century story and there were actually modern hospitals, cell phones and media coverage. Sylvie’s wedding consists of the groom binding her hands together and holding a leash while the oldest bloodwalker in the town declared they are man and wife. That is great, except this is a modern society so where is the marriage license? There wasn’t even a declaration of intent. Welcome to 2016 Romania where all you have to do is tie her up and you’re man and wife.
There is a hinting in the description that Sylvie and Rurik follow clues to the killers but there really isn’t any romance and they are not working together. The only time Rurik and Sylvie ever meet is when Sylvie’s wedding takes place at the circus. They are each involved in this investigation from different angles until they once again meet up at the end.
While you felt bad for Sylvie and her situation, Rurik is the real hero here. Rurik sees himself as nothing but a scarred, scary mess and doesn’t notice the respect he receives from the performers at the circus. They look up to him, but he only sees disdain and it is more a reflection of his own feelings toward himself, but he doesn’t allow those feelings to keep him from doing his job to the best of his ability taking care of the people under his protection as well as trying to protect the children in the towns they visit.
While it was hard to keep focused on the fact that this was actually a modern story, Rurik’s investigation into the matter of who was kidnapping children and what is happening to them as well as what is happening to poor Sylvie is a very interesting story and more than held my attention as I read the story in a day. I never guessed how it was going to end. This wasn’t a paranormal and stays firmly in the realm of horror and it had more than enough creep factor to keep it there.
See more at EBookObsessed.com
When I originally read the description of this story, I thought Bloodwalkers were going to be some kind of vampire. They are not. Bloodwalkers are the terms for the women who would act as undertakers for centuries. A tradition handed down from mother to daughter. While these traditions are necessary in these small, rural villages in eastern Europe where modern morticians and funeral homes are scarce, bloodwalkers are still looked down as ghouls and undesirables.
The only problem I had with this story was that it is hard to remember while reading this story that it is taking place in modern Romania and Hungary. Nothing is modern about these two main characters. On one hand we have Sylvie, who has come out of her little village in the mountains for her arranged marriage. Although her husband-to-be lives in a poor area of a modern city, she still holds to the very backwards traditions of her people; wearing long black dresses and keeping her hair under a braided cap. She is very subservient and almost child-like. She has no money, no formal education and no skills. Even her bloodwalker skills are sub-par. Her husband is abusive, a drunk and a cheat.
Our other POV is Rurik, who is the chief security for the traveling circus. Rurik was hit by lighting twice, once at 7 and once at 17, his body is scarred and slightly deformed. If he walks around outside the circus, he is wearing a cloak and hood…not too conspicuous and questionable. It appears circus folks still hold the tradition of avoiding the police and keeping to themselves, even if it involves murder and kidnapping. Rurik is the only one trying to find the killer. Even with modern Interpol, none of the police agencies made a connection between the missing children and the circus. The circus people also don’t invest in cell phones. Even a local holding cell was described as primitive with a flea-ridden bed and hole in the ground “facilities” that were overflowing with raw sewage.
I kept forgetting that this was not a turn of the century story and there were actually modern hospitals, cell phones and media coverage. Sylvie’s wedding consists of the groom binding her hands together and holding a leash while the oldest bloodwalker in the town declared they are man and wife. That is great, except this is a modern society so where is the marriage license? There wasn’t even a declaration of intent. Welcome to 2016 Romania where all you have to do is tie her up and you’re man and wife.
There is a hinting in the description that Sylvie and Rurik follow clues to the killers but there really isn’t any romance and they are not working together. The only time Rurik and Sylvie ever meet is when Sylvie’s wedding takes place at the circus. They are each involved in this investigation from different angles until they once again meet up at the end.
While you felt bad for Sylvie and her situation, Rurik is the real hero here. Rurik sees himself as nothing but a scarred, scary mess and doesn’t notice the respect he receives from the performers at the circus. They look up to him, but he only sees disdain and it is more a reflection of his own feelings toward himself, but he doesn’t allow those feelings to keep him from doing his job to the best of his ability taking care of the people under his protection as well as trying to protect the children in the towns they visit.
While it was hard to keep focused on the fact that this was actually a modern story, Rurik’s investigation into the matter of who was kidnapping children and what is happening to them as well as what is happening to poor Sylvie is a very interesting story and more than held my attention as I read the story in a day. I never guessed how it was going to end. This wasn’t a paranormal and stays firmly in the realm of horror and it had more than enough creep factor to keep it there.
See more at EBookObsessed.com
November 9, 2018
I liked this book overall . The middle European locales ( Hungary and Romania ) , a old world circus element , the different Slavic ethnic groups all gave it a exotic flavor . The writing was good . I didn't like the end . I felt like it went on longer than it should have . But it is a entertaining read .
June 26, 2016
* I was given a free copy of this book for an honest review. *
Since I'm known for doing book reviews, I get approached all the time by authors begging me to read and review their books. I generally ignore them, as I already have plenty of books on my kindle to read. But I must have been in a mood for a good horror story, and the blurb sounded intriguing, so I agreed. And I'm glad I did.
The story takes place in Hungary, and it drew me in from the very beginning as we're introduced to Rurik, who's skulking around an abandoned train station, spying on children playing where they shouldn't be. Rurik is Chief of Security for Zorka’s Circus, and everywhere the circus goes, children start disappearing. Rurik is trying to track down a mysterious person dressed in an old-fashioned clown suit. Why is he abducting children, and where are their bodies?
I really enjoyed the fact this story took place in Hungary and Romania. The story is broken into chapters that shift between Rurik and Sylvie. Sylvie comes from a small town in Romania where her mother is a Bloodwalker, and she has been trained to be one too. Each of her chapters start with an excerpt from The Bloodwalker's Book, which gives a feeling of authenticity to the story. I even did a Google search to see if Romania Bloodwalkers were real, or at least, in the past. One of the tips from The Bloodwalker's Book is to pour a thin line of honey around the corpse, so the lice leaving the dead body will get trapped, instead of infesting the Bloodwalker. Gruesome, but effective. I looked as forward to reading these little fun facts as I did the actual story.
This tale is fast-paced, gripping, and heart-pounding in places. It's one of those sit-on-the-edge of your seat and can't-read-it-fast-enough type books. The characters are well-defined and developed, and I wanted there to be a HEA for Rurik and Sylvie. But could there ever be? That's one question we're left to ponder at the end. After all, she's a Bloodwalker, and we all know what happens to them . . . eventually.
I also love L.X. Cain's writing. She uses such descriptive imagery without it being boring or slowing down the pace of the story. 'Example - The Russian woman could be waiting to catch her, like some nasty old spider lurking in a web. It really puts you in the mood of the story.
My one complaint is the ending. I was totally caught up in the book until the end and the final confrontation. I don't want to give any spoilers, but I felt there were way to many of Them not to have been noticed before. And what about all the children they needed to live? Someone would have noticed something was amiss. It just seemed too contrived. For me, it was unsatisfactory.
Don’t get me wrong, what they fought against was quite evil and gruesome, and I wouldn’t want to meet one at night. No Way! But, I still felt disappointed.
The cover is awesome, the characters were likable and relatable, and the plot was somewhat lacking. I give it 4.5 feathers, rounded up to 5. If you’re looking for a refreshing change in horror, and love a good monster book, this will be right up your alley. I highly recommend it.
Since I'm known for doing book reviews, I get approached all the time by authors begging me to read and review their books. I generally ignore them, as I already have plenty of books on my kindle to read. But I must have been in a mood for a good horror story, and the blurb sounded intriguing, so I agreed. And I'm glad I did.
The story takes place in Hungary, and it drew me in from the very beginning as we're introduced to Rurik, who's skulking around an abandoned train station, spying on children playing where they shouldn't be. Rurik is Chief of Security for Zorka’s Circus, and everywhere the circus goes, children start disappearing. Rurik is trying to track down a mysterious person dressed in an old-fashioned clown suit. Why is he abducting children, and where are their bodies?
I really enjoyed the fact this story took place in Hungary and Romania. The story is broken into chapters that shift between Rurik and Sylvie. Sylvie comes from a small town in Romania where her mother is a Bloodwalker, and she has been trained to be one too. Each of her chapters start with an excerpt from The Bloodwalker's Book, which gives a feeling of authenticity to the story. I even did a Google search to see if Romania Bloodwalkers were real, or at least, in the past. One of the tips from The Bloodwalker's Book is to pour a thin line of honey around the corpse, so the lice leaving the dead body will get trapped, instead of infesting the Bloodwalker. Gruesome, but effective. I looked as forward to reading these little fun facts as I did the actual story.
This tale is fast-paced, gripping, and heart-pounding in places. It's one of those sit-on-the-edge of your seat and can't-read-it-fast-enough type books. The characters are well-defined and developed, and I wanted there to be a HEA for Rurik and Sylvie. But could there ever be? That's one question we're left to ponder at the end. After all, she's a Bloodwalker, and we all know what happens to them . . . eventually.
I also love L.X. Cain's writing. She uses such descriptive imagery without it being boring or slowing down the pace of the story. 'Example - The Russian woman could be waiting to catch her, like some nasty old spider lurking in a web. It really puts you in the mood of the story.
My one complaint is the ending. I was totally caught up in the book until the end and the final confrontation. I don't want to give any spoilers, but I felt there were way to many of Them not to have been noticed before. And what about all the children they needed to live? Someone would have noticed something was amiss. It just seemed too contrived. For me, it was unsatisfactory.
Don’t get me wrong, what they fought against was quite evil and gruesome, and I wouldn’t want to meet one at night. No Way! But, I still felt disappointed.
The cover is awesome, the characters were likable and relatable, and the plot was somewhat lacking. I give it 4.5 feathers, rounded up to 5. If you’re looking for a refreshing change in horror, and love a good monster book, this will be right up your alley. I highly recommend it.
September 13, 2016
Note: The author provided a free ARC of the ebook in exchange for an honest review.
Rurik, scarred and freakishly strong from being struck by lightning twice, works security at the Zorka circus. Normally that involves just keeping general order, but lately he has noticed children disappearing. After saving a boy from a murderous clown, he begins an investigation into the child's disappearances. However, even though the circus is supposed to be a family, Rurik finds that the subtle divisions and tensions make his job much harder.
Meanwhile, Sylvie, a bloodwalker of the Skomori clan, has come to the circus to be married by the Zorka ringmaster's wife. While there, she discovers a horrible secret, and must decide if she should risk being cast out of her clan to warn others.
This was a very compelling read. One thing I've complained about in the past was that it was hard to distinguish the different voices of the characters. But Cain does an excellent job of giving her characters unique narrative voices. Rurik is terse but often sensitive. He is treated as a monster due to his scars, and he knows he has a tentative link to the circus as his father can no longer work and he is there only because the ringmaster of the circus favors him. Despite his outwardly "monstrous" appearance he is a deeply compassionate character; often flawed and sometimes reckless, but his main motivation is to prevent the death of any other children.
Sylvie was a very relatable character. She seemed to be an anxious kind of person, which I can definitely sympathize with, and in her character arc she must overcome her natural hesitation and timidity to act.
The supporting characters were colorful and well-written as well, and I enjoyed that otherwise unsympathetic characters were complex.
Finally, the twist at the end was very creepy. I started working out who the actual "villain" was about halfway through; I think it's a fairly obvious twist. But that was only half the fun. The entire revelation was incredibly bizarre and very unique.
I did find Rurik's immediate feelings and jealousy for Sylvie a bit odd, but their connection was based on mutual human sympathy rather than the lust often depicted in fantasy books.
I also enjoyed the little blurbs from the Bloodwalker book at the beginning of each chapter. Bloodwalkers are, basically, those who prepare bodies for burial in a traditional way. I was unable to find out if these were real Romanian practices; when I tried to Google it I got a lot of sites about Orthodox funerary practices. I'll keep looking. Anyways, it helped build a picture of the Bloodwalker culture, and it was easy to understand why Sylvie cared deeply about her job as Bloodwalker even though her society was flawed.
Overall, it's an excellent and strange book-part mystery, part horror, and lots of fun all around.
Rurik, scarred and freakishly strong from being struck by lightning twice, works security at the Zorka circus. Normally that involves just keeping general order, but lately he has noticed children disappearing. After saving a boy from a murderous clown, he begins an investigation into the child's disappearances. However, even though the circus is supposed to be a family, Rurik finds that the subtle divisions and tensions make his job much harder.
Meanwhile, Sylvie, a bloodwalker of the Skomori clan, has come to the circus to be married by the Zorka ringmaster's wife. While there, she discovers a horrible secret, and must decide if she should risk being cast out of her clan to warn others.
This was a very compelling read. One thing I've complained about in the past was that it was hard to distinguish the different voices of the characters. But Cain does an excellent job of giving her characters unique narrative voices. Rurik is terse but often sensitive. He is treated as a monster due to his scars, and he knows he has a tentative link to the circus as his father can no longer work and he is there only because the ringmaster of the circus favors him. Despite his outwardly "monstrous" appearance he is a deeply compassionate character; often flawed and sometimes reckless, but his main motivation is to prevent the death of any other children.
Sylvie was a very relatable character. She seemed to be an anxious kind of person, which I can definitely sympathize with, and in her character arc she must overcome her natural hesitation and timidity to act.
The supporting characters were colorful and well-written as well, and I enjoyed that otherwise unsympathetic characters were complex.
Finally, the twist at the end was very creepy. I started working out who the actual "villain" was about halfway through; I think it's a fairly obvious twist. But that was only half the fun. The entire revelation was incredibly bizarre and very unique.
I did find Rurik's immediate feelings and jealousy for Sylvie a bit odd, but their connection was based on mutual human sympathy rather than the lust often depicted in fantasy books.
I also enjoyed the little blurbs from the Bloodwalker book at the beginning of each chapter. Bloodwalkers are, basically, those who prepare bodies for burial in a traditional way. I was unable to find out if these were real Romanian practices; when I tried to Google it I got a lot of sites about Orthodox funerary practices. I'll keep looking. Anyways, it helped build a picture of the Bloodwalker culture, and it was easy to understand why Sylvie cared deeply about her job as Bloodwalker even though her society was flawed.
Overall, it's an excellent and strange book-part mystery, part horror, and lots of fun all around.
September 1, 2016
*I was given an advance copy of this book by the author in exchange for an unbiased review. Brief plot spoilers may follow.*
Bloodwalker tells the story of Rurik, a former Zorka Circus strongman turned head security for the troupe, who notices more than a coincidence when local children continue to come up missing during the circus' tours through different cities, kidnapped by someone wearing a clown's costume. His independent investigations lead him to several suspects in the circus, one of whom is the ringmaster himself, a man Rurik has deep respect and appreciation for. This book also focuses on the story of Sylvie, a bloodwalker whose bad luck seems to follow everyone she interacts with. Bloodwalkers are rejected, despised and feared by nearly everyone, but Sylvie seems to fall into a bit more bad luck than expected. She starts the book as one of three bloodwalker brides taking part in a three-fold arranged marriage, which is being officiated by someone on the circus grounds as part of a temporary truce. As a result, Sylvie and Rurik interact very briefly, but the shared link between them is actually part of a much larger and darker picture than either of them knows. A series of events which bring that connection to light is what eventually brings them back into each other's orbits.
I loved Bloodwalker and found it a very intriguing read. One of my favorite things about L.X. Cain's writing is her ability to create this very immersive culture and atmosphere, one that feels so authentic you Google it to find out if it actually exists (I'm not saying I did that. I'm just saying one might do that because its so believable). They permeate the entire novel and color every interaction, which I think brings the reader further into the story. I think it would change the complexion of the story if you changed the setting or the society in which certain events took place, and I like that. It brings some individuality to the story. As a previous reviewer of this author's work, I did find it a little difficult not to compare the writing style from the first book to this one. But because I was already acquainted with it I could tell that while it had improved, it was still true to the way she prefers to tell a story. A personal note that I made while reading Bloodwalker was that in my review of Soul Cutter a couple of years ago, my primary complaint was that while I thought it was a good read, the energy seemed a bit frenetic and the pace a little too fast and I couldn't keep up. With Bloodwalker, this was nowhere to be found. The style and jumps between scenes no longer have a rushed feel to them and this allowed me to enjoy the book that much more. There is urgency in the plot, but the reader can still follow along without getting lost. Bloodwalker was well-written, everything was so clearly and vividly described it felt like the reader was there, and unfolded at an appropriate pace considering everything that was included in the plot. It was riveting, drew me in from jump, and kept my full interest until the last page. Great read.
A full review of this book is up at my blog.
Bloodwalker tells the story of Rurik, a former Zorka Circus strongman turned head security for the troupe, who notices more than a coincidence when local children continue to come up missing during the circus' tours through different cities, kidnapped by someone wearing a clown's costume. His independent investigations lead him to several suspects in the circus, one of whom is the ringmaster himself, a man Rurik has deep respect and appreciation for. This book also focuses on the story of Sylvie, a bloodwalker whose bad luck seems to follow everyone she interacts with. Bloodwalkers are rejected, despised and feared by nearly everyone, but Sylvie seems to fall into a bit more bad luck than expected. She starts the book as one of three bloodwalker brides taking part in a three-fold arranged marriage, which is being officiated by someone on the circus grounds as part of a temporary truce. As a result, Sylvie and Rurik interact very briefly, but the shared link between them is actually part of a much larger and darker picture than either of them knows. A series of events which bring that connection to light is what eventually brings them back into each other's orbits.
I loved Bloodwalker and found it a very intriguing read. One of my favorite things about L.X. Cain's writing is her ability to create this very immersive culture and atmosphere, one that feels so authentic you Google it to find out if it actually exists (I'm not saying I did that. I'm just saying one might do that because its so believable). They permeate the entire novel and color every interaction, which I think brings the reader further into the story. I think it would change the complexion of the story if you changed the setting or the society in which certain events took place, and I like that. It brings some individuality to the story. As a previous reviewer of this author's work, I did find it a little difficult not to compare the writing style from the first book to this one. But because I was already acquainted with it I could tell that while it had improved, it was still true to the way she prefers to tell a story. A personal note that I made while reading Bloodwalker was that in my review of Soul Cutter a couple of years ago, my primary complaint was that while I thought it was a good read, the energy seemed a bit frenetic and the pace a little too fast and I couldn't keep up. With Bloodwalker, this was nowhere to be found. The style and jumps between scenes no longer have a rushed feel to them and this allowed me to enjoy the book that much more. There is urgency in the plot, but the reader can still follow along without getting lost. Bloodwalker was well-written, everything was so clearly and vividly described it felt like the reader was there, and unfolded at an appropriate pace considering everything that was included in the plot. It was riveting, drew me in from jump, and kept my full interest until the last page. Great read.
A full review of this book is up at my blog.
October 12, 2016
Bloodwalker drew me in right away and I found it really fast reading...mostly because it was so riveting that I found it hard to put down. I kept wanting to see what would happen next!
The two main characters are Rurik, a former strongman disfigured by a lightning strike, now working at the circus he used to perform in, as the head of Security; and Sylvie, a naive and pretty young woman born into the tradition of Bloodwalkers, a group of people who stay apart from regular society and who perform the duty of preparing the dead. as well as knowing various charms and herbs for healing and harmony. Some are even able to see prophecies and truth from people. But Sylvie has no gift for Bloodwalking or prophecy. Everything she does seems to go wrong and she is terrified of being found lacking and cast out of the only society she has ever known. Both Rurik and Sylvie are fascinating characters and easy to care about. While both have gentle hearts, they also have the inner strength to do what needs to be done when they are tested.
The Bloodwalkers were a really interesting creation and one I especially enjoyed. The author created a unique group of people that live their lives by traditions set long ago. They live apart from the world in virtually every way, and to rebel is to risk being shunned and cast out. Their life is difficult. They are trained to work with the dead from an early age, but such work makes regular people see them as bad omens and they are often denigrated by regular folk. They have no say in who they will marry and must be subservient to their husbands who must be of a certain bloodline, as tradition demands. The entries from their "instruction book ... the "Bloodwalker Book" at the start of each chapter really enhanced the believability of the group and it was fascinating to read. So creative! It reminded me of the caste system still alive today in some parts of the world, and the Untouchables who are despised for doing jobs that others find disgusting and therefore seen to be revolting themselves.
The book opens with Rurik trying to catch a child kidnapper/murderer after he begins to see a pattern of missing children that follows the route the circus he is employed in is travelling. To protect the circus, his friends and his livelihood, he is determined to stop the person who is dressing up in an old fashioned clown costume with a Harlequin pattern on it. When Sylvie arrives at his circus to be married by Zora, the circus owner's beloved wife who is also a revered Bloodwalker, she stumbles upon evidence of a horrible crime that ties into the kidnappings that Rurik is investigating. The two story lines criss-cross at various points, telling parallel stories of Rurik and Sylvie, along with the mystery of the missing children, until they come together at the end in an exciting conclusion full of twists and turns that will have you on the edge of your seat.
A gripping read with so many creative and interesting elements! I highly recommend it!
The two main characters are Rurik, a former strongman disfigured by a lightning strike, now working at the circus he used to perform in, as the head of Security; and Sylvie, a naive and pretty young woman born into the tradition of Bloodwalkers, a group of people who stay apart from regular society and who perform the duty of preparing the dead. as well as knowing various charms and herbs for healing and harmony. Some are even able to see prophecies and truth from people. But Sylvie has no gift for Bloodwalking or prophecy. Everything she does seems to go wrong and she is terrified of being found lacking and cast out of the only society she has ever known. Both Rurik and Sylvie are fascinating characters and easy to care about. While both have gentle hearts, they also have the inner strength to do what needs to be done when they are tested.
The Bloodwalkers were a really interesting creation and one I especially enjoyed. The author created a unique group of people that live their lives by traditions set long ago. They live apart from the world in virtually every way, and to rebel is to risk being shunned and cast out. Their life is difficult. They are trained to work with the dead from an early age, but such work makes regular people see them as bad omens and they are often denigrated by regular folk. They have no say in who they will marry and must be subservient to their husbands who must be of a certain bloodline, as tradition demands. The entries from their "instruction book ... the "Bloodwalker Book" at the start of each chapter really enhanced the believability of the group and it was fascinating to read. So creative! It reminded me of the caste system still alive today in some parts of the world, and the Untouchables who are despised for doing jobs that others find disgusting and therefore seen to be revolting themselves.
The book opens with Rurik trying to catch a child kidnapper/murderer after he begins to see a pattern of missing children that follows the route the circus he is employed in is travelling. To protect the circus, his friends and his livelihood, he is determined to stop the person who is dressing up in an old fashioned clown costume with a Harlequin pattern on it. When Sylvie arrives at his circus to be married by Zora, the circus owner's beloved wife who is also a revered Bloodwalker, she stumbles upon evidence of a horrible crime that ties into the kidnappings that Rurik is investigating. The two story lines criss-cross at various points, telling parallel stories of Rurik and Sylvie, along with the mystery of the missing children, until they come together at the end in an exciting conclusion full of twists and turns that will have you on the edge of your seat.
A gripping read with so many creative and interesting elements! I highly recommend it!
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