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Blood Ties #3
Ashes To Ashes
Being a vampire is a life-or-death situation. When I was first turned, I had only my survival to worry about. Now I'm locked in a battle for the existence of the entire human race - and the cards are definitely stacked against me. The Voluntary Vampire Extinction Movement headquarters are destroyed, and their pet horror, the Oracle, is on the loose. She'll stop at nothing to turn the world into a vampire's paradise, even if it means helping the Soul Eater become a god and harnessing his power for her own evil ends. An ancient vampire, a blood-sucking near deity and oh, yeah, my presently human former sire Cyrus thrown into the mix. I say bring it on. May the best monster win.
378 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2007
47 people are currently reading
2162 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Armintrout
13 books490 followersJennifer Armintrout is a pseudonym for Jenny Trout aka Abigail Barnette.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 161 reviews
July 13, 2014
So here’s the story so far:
Book 1
*Cyrus attacks Carrie and turns her into a vampire
*Carrie seeks out Nathan also a vampire and find they’re attracted to each other
*Carrie goes to Cyrus who forces her to become his lover
*Carrie returns to Nathan, they become lovers
*Carrie kills Cyrus
*Nathan is still in love with his long dead wife despite being with Carrie
Book 2
*Cyrus is brought back, he’s now human and regains his humanity
*Carrie indirectly kills Cyrus’s lover
*Max sleeps with Bella and falls in love with her
*Carrie cheats on Nathan with Cyrus
*Nathan still in love with his dead wife
*Bella rejects Max
*Carrie leaves Nathan
Book 3
*Carrie almost sleeps with Max
*Nathan tries to tell Carrie he loves her, they get back together
*Cyrus is dying so Carrie turns him into a vampire
*Nathan attacks Cyrus, who raped him when Cyrus’s father turned him and killed his wife
*Max admits he loves Bella, and can't say no to her
*Bella admits she loves Max, they get back together
*Bella is pregnant with a half vampire/half werewolf child
*Everyone wants to steal the child for their nefarious purposes
*Carrie rejects Nathan by becoming Cyrus’s lover
*Cyrus is killed
*Carrie is back with Nathan
Is this a soap opera? Everyone is sleeping with/raping everyone else. I can understand Carrie’s love problems though. No one loves her for being herself. Cyrus in the end did love her, he took a risk and sacrificed himself when he could have easily walked away. I wasn’t pleased at his death, I thought they could have been happy together but then death doesn’t mean dead and gone in this series. I wouldn’t be surprised if someone brings him back in the next book.
This series is easy to read but I resent the actions of these characters, they just seem to be making lots of mistakes and going round and round in circles but they're not perfect which makes them real I guess. 2.5 stars.
Book 1
*Cyrus attacks Carrie and turns her into a vampire
*Carrie seeks out Nathan also a vampire and find they’re attracted to each other
*Carrie goes to Cyrus who forces her to become his lover
*Carrie returns to Nathan, they become lovers
*Carrie kills Cyrus
*Nathan is still in love with his long dead wife despite being with Carrie
Book 2
*Cyrus is brought back, he’s now human and regains his humanity
*Carrie indirectly kills Cyrus’s lover
*Max sleeps with Bella and falls in love with her
*Carrie cheats on Nathan with Cyrus
*Nathan still in love with his dead wife
*Bella rejects Max
*Carrie leaves Nathan
Book 3
*Carrie almost sleeps with Max
*Nathan tries to tell Carrie he loves her, they get back together
*Cyrus is dying so Carrie turns him into a vampire
*Nathan attacks Cyrus, who raped him when Cyrus’s father turned him and killed his wife
*Max admits he loves Bella, and can't say no to her
*Bella admits she loves Max, they get back together
*Bella is pregnant with a half vampire/half werewolf child
*Everyone wants to steal the child for their nefarious purposes
*Carrie rejects Nathan by becoming Cyrus’s lover
*Cyrus is killed
*Carrie is back with Nathan
Is this a soap opera? Everyone is sleeping with/raping everyone else. I can understand Carrie’s love problems though. No one loves her for being herself. Cyrus in the end did love her, he took a risk and sacrificed himself when he could have easily walked away. I wasn’t pleased at his death, I thought they could have been happy together but then death doesn’t mean dead and gone in this series. I wouldn’t be surprised if someone brings him back in the next book.
This series is easy to read but I resent the actions of these characters, they just seem to be making lots of mistakes and going round and round in circles but they're not perfect which makes them real I guess. 2.5 stars.
April 21, 2011
Ashes to Ashes is the third installment of the Blood Ties series, and can I just say, Carrie is the most irritating and useless female heroine I have had the displeasure of reading about? Serious! For someone who is supposed to be smart enough to be a doctor, she has a remarkable lack of shear common sense. I am extremely tired of her crying over everything. I mean, put your big girl pants on Carrie, and get with the program already.
In the Turning, Carrie, a former doctor, was attacked by Cyrus/Simon in the morgue and turned into a vampire. (Best book of the series by far). Cyrus carves out her heart and leaves her for dead. She then becames Nathan's fledgling. In Possession, Carrie stupidity left Mouse, who Cyrus/Simon seemed to have fallen in love with after coming back from the dead as a human, behind when she went to rescue him from the Soul Eaters vampires. Mouse dies, Cyrus ends falling into a dark stupor.
The positive I could take away from this story was the Max and Bella storyline. They have been dancing around each other for months now blaming it on the distrust and anger between vampires and werewolves that has existed for eternity. They both work for the Movement as assassins, and are very good at their jobs. Finally, they realize their feelings towards the other, even after Max thought she had slept with Nathan. Of course we then got the whole Bella is pregnant with Max's child. Max drank a potion made by Dahlia in order to bring about a prophecy that says the combined DNA of vampire parents would lead to a natural born vampire. Dahlia was actually hoping that Cyrus (Simon) and Carrie would have intermingled and made a natural born vampire which would then lead the Soul Eater into a God, but it didn't work out that way.
So, in summary: Dahlia is working, and was sired by the Soul Eater. She has been brewing up different potions in order to perfect her baby making formula. She learns that Carrie and Nathan are trying to stop the Soul Eater, and kills Cyrus/Simon. Carrie, being the naive bimbo she is, decides to sire Cyrus/Simon causing a rift between herself and Nathan. Cyrus/Simon has strong feelings towards Carrie, and she feels the same in return but is conflicted since she also loves Nathan. The Oracle, aka Noblewoman Julia, escapes from the Voluntary Vampire Extinction Movement and in the process, burns it to the ground. She takes Annie, who was thought to be dead, along with her. Annie previously was former assassin turned receptionist who had her back broken by the Oracle. Annie decides to join the Oracle crusade, and becomes her second. The Soul Eater, in the meantime, is still trying to become a God. He wants Nathan's soul to complete the process, but Nathan isn't playing that game anytime soon. Simon/Cyrus reappears to the Soul Eater, and puts a stake in his chest. Unfortunately, all it does is make him angry enough to return the favor and Simon/Cyrus goes poof. Ziggy, you remember him? Nathan's so called child was thought to have been killed by the Soul Eater. Uhm, nope. Actually he was turned into a vampire and is working for him. Ziggy, after being told to stake Max, turns instead and stakes the Oracle. This was made possible by the fact that the Soul Eater ate the Oracles heart and when Cyrus/Simon staked him, it goes up in flames. Bella bites Max, subsequently turning him into a Lupin, part vampire, part werewolf. Bella, Max, and Ziggy escape, while Nathan and Carrie who aren't speaking to each other now, decide to flee to Chicao and Max's former condo.
::sigh:: I will end up reading the last book of the series, All Souls' Night, because to stop now would only negate the whole reading of the previous three books of this series. So, here's hoping that things improve drastically over the course of the finale. Here's hoping that Carrie puts her grown up pants on and actually becomes a better character.
In the Turning, Carrie, a former doctor, was attacked by Cyrus/Simon in the morgue and turned into a vampire. (Best book of the series by far). Cyrus carves out her heart and leaves her for dead. She then becames Nathan's fledgling. In Possession, Carrie stupidity left Mouse, who Cyrus/Simon seemed to have fallen in love with after coming back from the dead as a human, behind when she went to rescue him from the Soul Eaters vampires. Mouse dies, Cyrus ends falling into a dark stupor.
The positive I could take away from this story was the Max and Bella storyline. They have been dancing around each other for months now blaming it on the distrust and anger between vampires and werewolves that has existed for eternity. They both work for the Movement as assassins, and are very good at their jobs. Finally, they realize their feelings towards the other, even after Max thought she had slept with Nathan. Of course we then got the whole Bella is pregnant with Max's child. Max drank a potion made by Dahlia in order to bring about a prophecy that says the combined DNA of vampire parents would lead to a natural born vampire. Dahlia was actually hoping that Cyrus (Simon) and Carrie would have intermingled and made a natural born vampire which would then lead the Soul Eater into a God, but it didn't work out that way.
So, in summary: Dahlia is working, and was sired by the Soul Eater. She has been brewing up different potions in order to perfect her baby making formula. She learns that Carrie and Nathan are trying to stop the Soul Eater, and kills Cyrus/Simon. Carrie, being the naive bimbo she is, decides to sire Cyrus/Simon causing a rift between herself and Nathan. Cyrus/Simon has strong feelings towards Carrie, and she feels the same in return but is conflicted since she also loves Nathan. The Oracle, aka Noblewoman Julia, escapes from the Voluntary Vampire Extinction Movement and in the process, burns it to the ground. She takes Annie, who was thought to be dead, along with her. Annie previously was former assassin turned receptionist who had her back broken by the Oracle. Annie decides to join the Oracle crusade, and becomes her second. The Soul Eater, in the meantime, is still trying to become a God. He wants Nathan's soul to complete the process, but Nathan isn't playing that game anytime soon. Simon/Cyrus reappears to the Soul Eater, and puts a stake in his chest. Unfortunately, all it does is make him angry enough to return the favor and Simon/Cyrus goes poof. Ziggy, you remember him? Nathan's so called child was thought to have been killed by the Soul Eater. Uhm, nope. Actually he was turned into a vampire and is working for him. Ziggy, after being told to stake Max, turns instead and stakes the Oracle. This was made possible by the fact that the Soul Eater ate the Oracles heart and when Cyrus/Simon staked him, it goes up in flames. Bella bites Max, subsequently turning him into a Lupin, part vampire, part werewolf. Bella, Max, and Ziggy escape, while Nathan and Carrie who aren't speaking to each other now, decide to flee to Chicao and Max's former condo.
::sigh:: I will end up reading the last book of the series, All Souls' Night, because to stop now would only negate the whole reading of the previous three books of this series. So, here's hoping that things improve drastically over the course of the finale. Here's hoping that Carrie puts her grown up pants on and actually becomes a better character.
January 5, 2016
* Endless Life * Eternal Struggle * Just another day in the afterlife *
September 21, 2014
Carrie’s life turns more dangerous when the Oracle, a very old vampire with physic powers, escapes from the Voluntary Vampire Execution Movement and joins the Soul Eater. Carrie and her friends must now work even harder to stop their evil plans. But when things get complicated and a prophecy comes to pass, things look grim. Also, with Carrie smack in the middle of a love triangle, her feelings for both men battle for supremacy. But who will she chose; Nathan or Cyrus? And how on earth will they stop two old crazy vampires from destroying humanity?
(Please be aware that this review DOES contain spoilers before reading further.)
I’m getting tired with this series, but with now only one book to go, I strive to finish it.
The heroine, Carrie, is as stupid and selfish as ever. She does dumb things, then tries to justify them. She does selfish things, then tries to justify them. When the world was in peril, she was thinking of what man she loved the most. What man she wanted the most. What man didn't deserve her. What man hurt her the most.
Bloody. Hell.
The plot wasn't going far until the end of the book and even then it wasn't much of a climax. The whole book was mainly Carrie thinking of her men. The only remotely interesting parts were the ones with Bella and Max. I certainly didn't see the pregnancy coming, so that was a nice shock. Now it’s clear why Armintrout forced them together in the last book. Yes, I used the word 'forced', as it didn't really fit or make sense in the fist place. But they finally admitted their love to each other, surprise surprise.
I didn't care for Cyrus in the first book, but when he turned human my feelings for him changed. I did like him. He valued humanity even though he had a shabby apartment and lousy job. He was getting by; the last thing he wanted was to become a monster again. Then Carrie did something, her worst action ever... Oh boy, I actually wanted to throw the book out the window at that point.
I don’t hate everything about this series. I like all the characters, except Carrie. Though why Nathan and Cyrus love her, I will never know! Blood tie, I say. The idea of the plot is good, though isn't carried off well. It drags on too much, when I’d prefer more action and more excitement. When the plot does kick in, it’s a disappointment and doesn't spur me onwards, but just burns me out. I even stopped reading a few times to take a nap. When the characters hardly do anything the whole book, the ending is far too... easy. Yes, some bad things did happen, but the Oracles demise was just too silly.
The next book will be missing one special character, and it won’t be the same without them. But, hey, coming back to life seems to be a trend in this series, so fingers crossed!
© Red Lace 2011
(Please be aware that this review DOES contain spoilers before reading further.)
I’m getting tired with this series, but with now only one book to go, I strive to finish it.
The heroine, Carrie, is as stupid and selfish as ever. She does dumb things, then tries to justify them. She does selfish things, then tries to justify them. When the world was in peril, she was thinking of what man she loved the most. What man she wanted the most. What man didn't deserve her. What man hurt her the most.
Bloody. Hell.
The plot wasn't going far until the end of the book and even then it wasn't much of a climax. The whole book was mainly Carrie thinking of her men. The only remotely interesting parts were the ones with Bella and Max. I certainly didn't see the pregnancy coming, so that was a nice shock. Now it’s clear why Armintrout forced them together in the last book. Yes, I used the word 'forced', as it didn't really fit or make sense in the fist place. But they finally admitted their love to each other, surprise surprise.
I didn't care for Cyrus in the first book, but when he turned human my feelings for him changed. I did like him. He valued humanity even though he had a shabby apartment and lousy job. He was getting by; the last thing he wanted was to become a monster again. Then Carrie did something, her worst action ever... Oh boy, I actually wanted to throw the book out the window at that point.
I don’t hate everything about this series. I like all the characters, except Carrie. Though why Nathan and Cyrus love her, I will never know! Blood tie, I say. The idea of the plot is good, though isn't carried off well. It drags on too much, when I’d prefer more action and more excitement. When the plot does kick in, it’s a disappointment and doesn't spur me onwards, but just burns me out. I even stopped reading a few times to take a nap. When the characters hardly do anything the whole book, the ending is far too... easy. Yes, some bad things did happen, but the Oracles demise was just too silly.
The next book will be missing one special character, and it won’t be the same without them. But, hey, coming back to life seems to be a trend in this series, so fingers crossed!
© Red Lace 2011
November 30, 2012
Holy crap Carrie drove me absolutely INSANE in this one. All her whining about how Nathan doesn't love her and blah blah blah. Then she does what she does, and can't decide between Nathan and Cyrus after Nathan told her he loved her?!? ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!? Make up your freaking mind you dumb broad. Ugh, this had to be one of the most infuriating dreaded-love-triangles-of-death I've ever been witness to. Thank goodness the Soul Eater made her decision for her, and you know it has to be bad when I'm thankful to a dude whose name is SOUL EATER. Jeesh!
The whole Max and Bella fiasco... that was definitely the more entertaining story in Ashes to Ashes, and I totally didn't see that stuff coming! I would just skip to those parts and save yourself the migraine you will inevitably get listening to Carrie's inner monologue of stupidity.
Don't say I didn't warn you.
The funniest part is this is probably the least fucked-up of all the books so far. The first two were seriously twisted and ran a very fine line between wanting to know what happens, and not wanting to ruin your brain with thoughts about the super weird, super dark shit going down.
The whole Max and Bella fiasco... that was definitely the more entertaining story in Ashes to Ashes, and I totally didn't see that stuff coming! I would just skip to those parts and save yourself the migraine you will inevitably get listening to Carrie's inner monologue of stupidity.
Don't say I didn't warn you.
The funniest part is this is probably the least fucked-up of all the books so far. The first two were seriously twisted and ran a very fine line between wanting to know what happens, and not wanting to ruin your brain with thoughts about the super weird, super dark shit going down.
September 7, 2018
Viva livros que não nos obrigam a pensar. Ocasionalmente sabe bem ler algo assim, aqueles romances leves que servem para fazer "awwwe" e pouco mais. É um livro que facilmente cai no esquecimento mas a cabeça até agradece ao fim de um dia longo.
Jennifer Armintrout é boa com isso...
Neste livro continuamos a seguir o romance e todos os problemas que vêm por atrelado porque claro que existe um movimento para matar todos os vampiros.
De uma forma geral é rápido de ler mas convém estar com o "mood" certo para o fazer. Claro que quem gosta de romances vai provavelmente adorar mas quem só os lê ocasionalmente poderá não ficar com este livro no top de leituras...
Apetece-me voltar a ler? Nem por isso. Quero ler mais? Nop.
in: www.folhaembranco.blogs.sapo.pt
Jennifer Armintrout é boa com isso...
Neste livro continuamos a seguir o romance e todos os problemas que vêm por atrelado porque claro que existe um movimento para matar todos os vampiros.
De uma forma geral é rápido de ler mas convém estar com o "mood" certo para o fazer. Claro que quem gosta de romances vai provavelmente adorar mas quem só os lê ocasionalmente poderá não ficar com este livro no top de leituras...
Apetece-me voltar a ler? Nem por isso. Quero ler mais? Nop.
in: www.folhaembranco.blogs.sapo.pt
August 18, 2012
Okiedokie, where to begin. I started out this series and enjoyed the first book. Good things there included:
Strong female lead who didn't seem to fall into the damsel in distress category.
Good Pacing.
Decent Plot.
Decent writing.
Alright! I thought to myself. That was a great beginning, I sure hope it continues! It didn't.
Sadly by the third book it has devolved into a story about a girl (Carrie) who can't make up her mind on which one of her two vampire boyfriends to hop into the sack with in a given chapter. Even worse, the male characters who had a genuine spark of personality in the first book have gone from people with their own motivations to portable life support units for their manly bits. Both seem to be so overcome with love for Carrie that she can bounce from bed to bed with a minimum of emotional fuss despite the fact that: 1) she has a telepathic link with both of them so they all know exactly what the other is doing/thinking at any given time. 2) One raped the other and made him kill his own wife. 3)She killed one in a previous book. She literally stabbed him through the heart and killed him. But hey let bygones be bygones. 4) She is partly responsible for the death of Cyrus' first love. 4) She turns Cyrus back into a vampire against his will... I could go on, but I won't. Instead of these little things causing a small bit of friction they all shack up together for easy sexual access. They are good like that. If the sexes in the book were reversed and a 14 year old boy was writing about his sexual vampire fantasy I think it would probably read a lot like this book.
Even worse (yes there is worse), a woman who is suppose to have the brains to become a doctor of medicine consistently makes a number of decisions that include: poor ones, stupid ones, arrogant ones, idiotic ones and borderline evil ones. I don't think I have actually physically cringed or told a book that it is dumb, but I did both with this one.
Plot is pretty much carried by Max and Bella who at least manage to do something throughout the book aside from weave an increasingly moronic soap opera. They are the reason for the single star.
I rarely stop reading a series until I reach the end, and even finishing this book was a chore. I won't be wasting my time with the fourth.
Strong female lead who didn't seem to fall into the damsel in distress category.
Good Pacing.
Decent Plot.
Decent writing.
Alright! I thought to myself. That was a great beginning, I sure hope it continues! It didn't.
Sadly by the third book it has devolved into a story about a girl (Carrie) who can't make up her mind on which one of her two vampire boyfriends to hop into the sack with in a given chapter. Even worse, the male characters who had a genuine spark of personality in the first book have gone from people with their own motivations to portable life support units for their manly bits. Both seem to be so overcome with love for Carrie that she can bounce from bed to bed with a minimum of emotional fuss despite the fact that: 1) she has a telepathic link with both of them so they all know exactly what the other is doing/thinking at any given time. 2) One raped the other and made him kill his own wife. 3)She killed one in a previous book. She literally stabbed him through the heart and killed him. But hey let bygones be bygones. 4) She is partly responsible for the death of Cyrus' first love. 4) She turns Cyrus back into a vampire against his will... I could go on, but I won't. Instead of these little things causing a small bit of friction they all shack up together for easy sexual access. They are good like that. If the sexes in the book were reversed and a 14 year old boy was writing about his sexual vampire fantasy I think it would probably read a lot like this book.
Even worse (yes there is worse), a woman who is suppose to have the brains to become a doctor of medicine consistently makes a number of decisions that include: poor ones, stupid ones, arrogant ones, idiotic ones and borderline evil ones. I don't think I have actually physically cringed or told a book that it is dumb, but I did both with this one.
Plot is pretty much carried by Max and Bella who at least manage to do something throughout the book aside from weave an increasingly moronic soap opera. They are the reason for the single star.
I rarely stop reading a series until I reach the end, and even finishing this book was a chore. I won't be wasting my time with the fourth.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 14, 2012
This is the 3rd book in the series. This one was less fun. Carrie seems to me to be getting weaker and weaker. Not in the literal sense; more like her character is less. She's not as string as she used to be. I occasionally found her VERY whiney. But I don't blame her. She's been through hell and I would have been just as pissed and beat down as she feels! Cyrus is still alive but something happens and you won't believe it. You'll hate Carrie for it. I know I did. As the series continues, there is less and less of what I originally loved about the series. More Max and Bella, less of Carrie being a modern chick with a good head on her shoulders. Having said all that negative stuff, its still a great book and I enjoyed it. Overall, they continued to deal with the Soul Eater and all of his bullcrap. I hope he gets what's coming to him!!!!!
November 21, 2008
Ugh, I am so fed up with this series. The plot and characters are driving me crazy. It seems all they want to do is just have a giant orgy and get it over with. This book was also playing the "bring everyone back to life" game and it is annoying. I still can't see the reasoning behind bringing on of the people back, it doesn't make any sense at all. I do have to say that the narrator for this version was sooo much better than the previous one. I wish she had done the first two, they would have been a lot more enjoyable that way.
May 17, 2010
Not worth reading. The author is horrible. The story is impossible to get into and the charater development is completely lacking.
November 28, 2019
Queen - per RFS
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Avvertenza: da leggere immediatamente dopo il secondo volume della serie!
Ebbene sì, la storia d’amore tra Nathan e Carrie nel racconto precedente è rimasta in stand by, lasciandomi inappagata e un po’ delusa. Nelle prime pagine di questo libro, invece, la situazione appare subito incandescente.
“Tu sei la mia discendenza. Indipendentemente da qualsiasi altra cosa ci sia tra di noi, il mio sangue scorre nelle tue vene. Sei la sola famiglia che ho, è con te che voglio stare.”
Con questa dichiarazione Nathan finalmente dà una speranza a Carrie che ormai, sicura del suo abbandono, era a un passo da un coinvolgimento con il bel vampiro Max.
Il secondo volume si era concluso con l’allontanamento di Carrie che va a vivere a Chicago nell’appartamento di Max, mentre Nathan rimane solo in Michigan, e infine Bella che avrebbe dovuto raggiungere la sua famiglia in Africa.
Quando Carrie e Max, dopo un lungo mese, vedono sopraggiungere improvvisamente e insieme Nathan e Bella, i due pensano al peggio, con vari scenari libidinosi tra loro e quindi inevitabilmente si sentono traditi.
“Ora Nathan aveva Bella. Lei era esotica, sensuale e pericolosa. Così diversa da me. Con tutto quel sesso e quell’idillio, probabilmente non aveva tempo di pensare a me e a quanto potessi sentirmi ferita. Non per la prima volta, lacrime fredde mi scesero lungo le guance mentre pensavo a lui.”
Questi pensieri che pervadono Carrie non sono da meno in Max, che in questo scenario è costretto a una convivenza forzata e conflittuale con Bella dove nessuno dei due si espone, ma è evidente l’attrazione reciproca soprattutto dopo quello che c’è stato tra loro precedentemente.
Ho trovato questo intreccio amoroso esilarante perché, malgrado gli avvenimenti poco piacevoli che si trovano a dover affrontare – tra pozze di sangue, arti amputati, spettri e chi più ne ha più ne metta –, i protagonisti sono tutti spettacolari e unici nel loro genere e mi hanno fatto sorridere nonostante tutto.
In tutta questa confusione amorosa non poteva mancare Cyrus, che ricompare nelle loro vite scombussolando i sentimenti di Carrie che ancora una volta si ritrova divisa tra i due vampiri, chiedendosi se ha fatto la scelta giusta.
L’ambientazione si svolge in più luoghi poiché i personaggi si dividono in coppie per questa nuova avventura che li porterà alla ricerca del divoratore di anime in combutta questa volta con l’Oracolo che, ahimè per l’umanità, sfuggirà al controllo del Movimento.
Adrenalina pure per il terzo volume di questa serie fantasy, con personaggi vecchi, nuovi e reinventati, sempre sul filo del rasoio tra enigmi e incantesimi che non vi faranno annoiare, in attesa dell’epilogo finale con il quarto e ultimo libro.
.
Avvertenza: da leggere immediatamente dopo il secondo volume della serie!
Ebbene sì, la storia d’amore tra Nathan e Carrie nel racconto precedente è rimasta in stand by, lasciandomi inappagata e un po’ delusa. Nelle prime pagine di questo libro, invece, la situazione appare subito incandescente.
“Tu sei la mia discendenza. Indipendentemente da qualsiasi altra cosa ci sia tra di noi, il mio sangue scorre nelle tue vene. Sei la sola famiglia che ho, è con te che voglio stare.”
Con questa dichiarazione Nathan finalmente dà una speranza a Carrie che ormai, sicura del suo abbandono, era a un passo da un coinvolgimento con il bel vampiro Max.
Il secondo volume si era concluso con l’allontanamento di Carrie che va a vivere a Chicago nell’appartamento di Max, mentre Nathan rimane solo in Michigan, e infine Bella che avrebbe dovuto raggiungere la sua famiglia in Africa.
Quando Carrie e Max, dopo un lungo mese, vedono sopraggiungere improvvisamente e insieme Nathan e Bella, i due pensano al peggio, con vari scenari libidinosi tra loro e quindi inevitabilmente si sentono traditi.
“Ora Nathan aveva Bella. Lei era esotica, sensuale e pericolosa. Così diversa da me. Con tutto quel sesso e quell’idillio, probabilmente non aveva tempo di pensare a me e a quanto potessi sentirmi ferita. Non per la prima volta, lacrime fredde mi scesero lungo le guance mentre pensavo a lui.”
Questi pensieri che pervadono Carrie non sono da meno in Max, che in questo scenario è costretto a una convivenza forzata e conflittuale con Bella dove nessuno dei due si espone, ma è evidente l’attrazione reciproca soprattutto dopo quello che c’è stato tra loro precedentemente.
Ho trovato questo intreccio amoroso esilarante perché, malgrado gli avvenimenti poco piacevoli che si trovano a dover affrontare – tra pozze di sangue, arti amputati, spettri e chi più ne ha più ne metta –, i protagonisti sono tutti spettacolari e unici nel loro genere e mi hanno fatto sorridere nonostante tutto.
In tutta questa confusione amorosa non poteva mancare Cyrus, che ricompare nelle loro vite scombussolando i sentimenti di Carrie che ancora una volta si ritrova divisa tra i due vampiri, chiedendosi se ha fatto la scelta giusta.
L’ambientazione si svolge in più luoghi poiché i personaggi si dividono in coppie per questa nuova avventura che li porterà alla ricerca del divoratore di anime in combutta questa volta con l’Oracolo che, ahimè per l’umanità, sfuggirà al controllo del Movimento.
Adrenalina pure per il terzo volume di questa serie fantasy, con personaggi vecchi, nuovi e reinventati, sempre sul filo del rasoio tra enigmi e incantesimi che non vi faranno annoiare, in attesa dell’epilogo finale con il quarto e ultimo libro.
April 29, 2020
“It was the damnedest thing, life. Once you decide exactly how things are going to go, something or someone comes along and messes it all up.”
Another five stars to a book in the Blood Ties series! I can already tell you that all of these books are gonna get five stars. There’s only one left. Enter sad face here. Luckily, I can reread them as many times as I want.
I’m not going to go into much detail about this book because I don’t want to give any spoilers as this is the third book in this series. Just know, this book is action packed!
The only gripe I have about this book is that the sexy-time was almost nonexistent. That’s okay! The fights totally made up for it.
I can see how some people really hate Carrie. She was really pushing my nerves in this book. I’m not going to let that hinder my opinion though. The story of this book is just so freaking fun.
As a reminder, this series is dark! Please go into this series with caution if you need trigger warnings.
5/5 stars
Another five stars to a book in the Blood Ties series! I can already tell you that all of these books are gonna get five stars. There’s only one left. Enter sad face here. Luckily, I can reread them as many times as I want.
I’m not going to go into much detail about this book because I don’t want to give any spoilers as this is the third book in this series. Just know, this book is action packed!
The only gripe I have about this book is that the sexy-time was almost nonexistent. That’s okay! The fights totally made up for it.
I can see how some people really hate Carrie. She was really pushing my nerves in this book. I’m not going to let that hinder my opinion though. The story of this book is just so freaking fun.
As a reminder, this series is dark! Please go into this series with caution if you need trigger warnings.
5/5 stars
April 4, 2021
Tired soap opera with paranormal elements.
April 10, 2025
I didn’t think this book was as good as the previous one. The story didn’t flow quite as well. Look forward to seeing where the author takes the characters in the next book
January 24, 2019
To read more reviews in this series and others, check out keikii eats books!
84 points/100 (4 ¼ stars/5)
The Voluntary Vampire Extinction Movement has lost their Oracle. Which wouldn't be a bad thing if the Oracle wasn't a completely insane and vicious killer. An insane and vicious killer who is looking to team up with the Soul Eater who wishes to become a god.
Ashes to Ashes is yet again an improvement on the series. We take up where Possession left off and start running with it. This book just did not stop piling on with more and more of this horrifying adventure. It is definitely getting interesting, even if nothing really gets all the way solved. At least this does have a better end than Possession did. Ashes to Ashes is mostly a book filled with painful romance and nonstop terror. What little is actually solved is just easily tossed away, basically.
I still hate pretty much all of these people and their stupid romances, though. Definitely my least favourite part of the series are the people in it. On the one side we have Carrie, Nathan, and Cyrus. Carrie "loves" Nathan, who is still hung up on his wife who died because of him decades ago, which is complicated by the fact that technically Nathan has sired Carrie due to a blood fluke in the first book. Carrie also "loves" Cyrus because of the weird fact that she sired Cyrus after he had been resurrected into being a human again, after Cyrus was Carries original sire. The jealousy, pain, and sheer exertion of this love triangle that is being fucked up because of the soul mate bonds is just exhausting. And kind of heartbreaking. Everyone knows what is going on, but no one can seem to say "Fuck it, I love you anyway" because of all the baggage. I hate all three of these people (surprisingly though, Cyrus is the most likable of them).
On the other side is Max, and Max's weird werewolf lover, Bella. Max is basically a playboy who decides because he met the right woman it is time to settle down, but doesn't really have much else going for him except being the "fun" one. Bella is weird and refuses to be with Max but he has finally worn her down. She also decides to be with him for other story reasons that I cannot spoil. These characters are better than the trio from hell above, but they just aren't as fully realised as characters and I kind of resent their addition because it takes time away from other important things.
There are once again two major stories going on here.
The first is that Carrie, Nathan, and Cyrus are once again going after the soul eater. They are trying to find out where he is, what he is doing, who he is doing it it to, and how to stop him. Honestly, nothing is really unexpected in this storyline. It played out how I expected, and how we always see it playing out book after book.
The more interesting story is Max and Bella's. They're on the run trying to track down the Oracle that we met in the last book. She has escaped, and she is absolutely terrifying. She reminds be of the Diclonius from Elfen Lied (showing my inner weeb, here). Just absolutely horrifying. The Oracle can see all, and she is super powerful besides. There is just so much going on with this story.
Despite my hating half the characters in this story, the story is continuing to get better. I hope the ending continues to improve like the rest of the series has.
84 points/100 (4 ¼ stars/5)
The Voluntary Vampire Extinction Movement has lost their Oracle. Which wouldn't be a bad thing if the Oracle wasn't a completely insane and vicious killer. An insane and vicious killer who is looking to team up with the Soul Eater who wishes to become a god.
Ashes to Ashes is yet again an improvement on the series. We take up where Possession left off and start running with it. This book just did not stop piling on with more and more of this horrifying adventure. It is definitely getting interesting, even if nothing really gets all the way solved. At least this does have a better end than Possession did. Ashes to Ashes is mostly a book filled with painful romance and nonstop terror. What little is actually solved is just easily tossed away, basically.
I still hate pretty much all of these people and their stupid romances, though. Definitely my least favourite part of the series are the people in it. On the one side we have Carrie, Nathan, and Cyrus. Carrie "loves" Nathan, who is still hung up on his wife who died because of him decades ago, which is complicated by the fact that technically Nathan has sired Carrie due to a blood fluke in the first book. Carrie also "loves" Cyrus because of the weird fact that she sired Cyrus after he had been resurrected into being a human again, after Cyrus was Carries original sire. The jealousy, pain, and sheer exertion of this love triangle that is being fucked up because of the soul mate bonds is just exhausting. And kind of heartbreaking. Everyone knows what is going on, but no one can seem to say "Fuck it, I love you anyway" because of all the baggage. I hate all three of these people (surprisingly though, Cyrus is the most likable of them).
On the other side is Max, and Max's weird werewolf lover, Bella. Max is basically a playboy who decides because he met the right woman it is time to settle down, but doesn't really have much else going for him except being the "fun" one. Bella is weird and refuses to be with Max but he has finally worn her down. She also decides to be with him for other story reasons that I cannot spoil. These characters are better than the trio from hell above, but they just aren't as fully realised as characters and I kind of resent their addition because it takes time away from other important things.
There are once again two major stories going on here.
The first is that Carrie, Nathan, and Cyrus are once again going after the soul eater. They are trying to find out where he is, what he is doing, who he is doing it it to, and how to stop him. Honestly, nothing is really unexpected in this storyline. It played out how I expected, and how we always see it playing out book after book.
The more interesting story is Max and Bella's. They're on the run trying to track down the Oracle that we met in the last book. She has escaped, and she is absolutely terrifying. She reminds be of the Diclonius from Elfen Lied (showing my inner weeb, here). Just absolutely horrifying. The Oracle can see all, and she is super powerful besides. There is just so much going on with this story.
Despite my hating half the characters in this story, the story is continuing to get better. I hope the ending continues to improve like the rest of the series has.
February 6, 2011
Carrie and Nathan's have been far from any sort of happily ever after scenario. In the short months that they've known each other, he has re-sired her as a vampire, they have been put under the scrutiny of the Voluntary Vampire Extinction Movement for various crimes, people they care about have died, not all of them have stayed dead, bounty hunters have pursued them, they've betrayed each other, and all that pales in comparison to what is on the horizon. The Soul-Eater is still out there forming his evil plans, but now, he is working both with and against the Oracle, an ancient being whose lust for revenge is millenia old. For the sake of the world and for each other, Carrie and Nathan have to stop them, and that means putting aside old grudges and jealousy. Therefore, Cyrus is needed, and he, too much set aside hatred. However, before Carrie can gain his help, things change again and she is forced to do something that will make both men she loves hate her. The story is just beginning then. From there on out, the complexity and emotional action only get more intense.
***** This series is one that only gets better. Readers should be prepared to be taken on a journey that will make them weep, yet want the story to never end despite or because of that. The ending is heart-shattering, yet I am already looking forward to the next story. *****
All are needy and in search of love, but not all of them are truly ready for it. The triangle with Carrie, Nathan and Cyrus continues, in fact the author even indulges in a menage dream sequence. But the dynamics between them shift as events take the three of them through changes. Reasons holding back not just those three, but Max and Bella too, from giving their love disappear. Events occur between Cyrus and Carrie that allow Cyrus/Carrie and Nathan/Carrie to approach each other from common ground. Max and Bella especially find a new beginning, as they undertake what looks like a fatal journey, when they acknowledge love inspite of their fear of rejection or loss. All these changes make for second chances for those that can survive.
Ashes to Ashes carries forward the plot and the relationships from the previous books, but offers only a little in resolution. It turns out that there will be a fourth book in the series, All Soul's Night, out in June of next year. There's some setup for that here, as a character from the past reappears. One enemy is vanquished and another remains to be defeated next time. I couldn't find the page to quote it exactly but in this book, Bella says that every one has scars, and it is how one goes about trying to heal that matters. It will be interesting to see how the Bella, Max, Nathan and Carrie move toward healing in the next book.
***** This series is one that only gets better. Readers should be prepared to be taken on a journey that will make them weep, yet want the story to never end despite or because of that. The ending is heart-shattering, yet I am already looking forward to the next story. *****
All are needy and in search of love, but not all of them are truly ready for it. The triangle with Carrie, Nathan and Cyrus continues, in fact the author even indulges in a menage dream sequence. But the dynamics between them shift as events take the three of them through changes. Reasons holding back not just those three, but Max and Bella too, from giving their love disappear. Events occur between Cyrus and Carrie that allow Cyrus/Carrie and Nathan/Carrie to approach each other from common ground. Max and Bella especially find a new beginning, as they undertake what looks like a fatal journey, when they acknowledge love inspite of their fear of rejection or loss. All these changes make for second chances for those that can survive.
Ashes to Ashes carries forward the plot and the relationships from the previous books, but offers only a little in resolution. It turns out that there will be a fourth book in the series, All Soul's Night, out in June of next year. There's some setup for that here, as a character from the past reappears. One enemy is vanquished and another remains to be defeated next time. I couldn't find the page to quote it exactly but in this book, Bella says that every one has scars, and it is how one goes about trying to heal that matters. It will be interesting to see how the Bella, Max, Nathan and Carrie move toward healing in the next book.
September 6, 2020
DNF
I forced myself to finish the first 2 books because I thought they might get better but nope! and I couldn’t make myself finish the 3rd one.
I originally assumed this author was Jennifer L Armentrout (which is why I read them) but this is a completely different author!!!!
I forced myself to finish the first 2 books because I thought they might get better but nope! and I couldn’t make myself finish the 3rd one.
I originally assumed this author was Jennifer L Armentrout (which is why I read them) but this is a completely different author!!!!
April 19, 2015
Terzo capitolo della saga Blood Ties.
Decisamente meglio del secondo libro, in questo ritroviamo Carrie e Nathan.
Abbiamo la possibilità di assaporare meglio e scoprire il personaggio di Max che personalmente adoro. Ma anche il suo rapporto con Bella che passa inevitabilmente ad un livello successivo.
Devo ammettere che ad un certo punto avrei voluto tirare il collo a Carrie per una sua scelta... E soprattutto per il suo comportamento un po' banderuola.
Ragazza mia, deciditi!
Amo sempre di più il personaggio di Nathan, controverso, ma che fa di tutto per superare i suoi demoni interiori.
E ora diamo inizio all'ultimo libro!
Quattro stelline!
Decisamente meglio del secondo libro, in questo ritroviamo Carrie e Nathan.
Abbiamo la possibilità di assaporare meglio e scoprire il personaggio di Max che personalmente adoro. Ma anche il suo rapporto con Bella che passa inevitabilmente ad un livello successivo.
Devo ammettere che ad un certo punto avrei voluto tirare il collo a Carrie per una sua scelta... E soprattutto per il suo comportamento un po' banderuola.
Ragazza mia, deciditi!
Amo sempre di più il personaggio di Nathan, controverso, ma che fa di tutto per superare i suoi demoni interiori.
E ora diamo inizio all'ultimo libro!
Quattro stelline!
December 21, 2008
In this portion of the series I did enjoy the character development of Max and Bella. While I did enjoy the book there was just something that did not compel me to be as drawn to the title like the previous installments.
I will continue (finish) the series just because I have a weird habit about finishing books (in this case: series) I've started but I must admit I'm not that excited about it.
One side note, it could be because I've over-indulged in fantasy/horror style books as it is a new genre for me and I've read roughly 19 books in this genre in a matter of three (or so) months.
I will continue (finish) the series just because I have a weird habit about finishing books (in this case: series) I've started but I must admit I'm not that excited about it.
One side note, it could be because I've over-indulged in fantasy/horror style books as it is a new genre for me and I've read roughly 19 books in this genre in a matter of three (or so) months.
January 17, 2010
If I hadn't already picked up the sequel to this, All Souls Night, I can safely say that this is where my reading of the series would end.
There were so many moments where I wanted to scream at Carrie or Nathan or Cyrus even and demand to know why the hell they were making such horrible decisions. The plot grows more and more ridiculous with each page.
This is too much like a vampire soap opera for me to be able to get much enjoyment out of it.
There were so many moments where I wanted to scream at Carrie or Nathan or Cyrus even and demand to know why the hell they were making such horrible decisions. The plot grows more and more ridiculous with each page.
This is too much like a vampire soap opera for me to be able to get much enjoyment out of it.
October 11, 2010
Carrie is back still torn from the rejection she felt with Nathan, but now that he is her sire she has to reach out to him. With the Oracle on the loose and a potential blood bath in the making, Carrie must reunite with former sire Cyrus and Nathan to defeat the Oracle.
It has been a long time since I read the first two so it was a bit more difficult to get attached. My favorite character Cyrus was a bit muted in this one.
It has been a long time since I read the first two so it was a bit more difficult to get attached. My favorite character Cyrus was a bit muted in this one.
February 26, 2018
Carrie's character seemed to take a couple of steps back in this book. I expected her to grow stronger, maybe even more cold but I found her to be more whiny and weak. Unfortunately,this was the book that made the series start to take a nose dive (for me.) I really enjoyed the first two books but I found myself disappointed when I closed this.
November 30, 2015
Não gostei do fim :( tanta historia para acabar assim em 10 páginas. depois um morre, volta, morre outro, volta, morre outro... gostei da ligação dos personagens mas o fim foi muito apressado
September 30, 2017
I think that's it with this series for me.
This plot line was all over...
Overall it was just okay but it definitely missed the mark from the first book in the series.
This plot line was all over...
Overall it was just okay but it definitely missed the mark from the first book in the series.
May 4, 2011
(Im a spoiler(and 'spoiler' is just an understatement)!!..Beware)
The oracle is on the loose.The soul-eater is still trying to become a god.Bella and Max must put aside their vampire-werewolf prejudice to admit they love each other.Nathan and Carrie reunite only to have a wedge put between them again when Cyrus comes along.Now this is hell.
Ending: Cyrus dies,max and bella head to rome to meet the clan,nathan and carrie go to chicago to hide from the sou-eater in max's condo.
*PERSPECTIVE OF CARRIE & MAX.
Characters:
Don: one of the movement scientist that are responsible for the oracle,vampire,died.
Sanjay: vampire,one of the movement scientist that are responsible for the oracle.
Anne: goth,cheerful,eternally teenaged receptionist of the Movement,alive,helps max and ella escape the movement people,working for the oracle,brings bella and max to the oracle,on the bad-side,oracle let her be responsible for killing max but anne gets distracted and fails,hurts max,neck twisted by max and got uncousious,died,really really old vampire,looks young.
The Oracle/Julia: has a bunch of her scientist,had been held under strict supervision by the Movement but is out on the loose,unpredictale,can do telekinesis,pale and inquisitive,killed don,dangerous,one of the oldest vampires,knows everything,wants to find the soul-eater to complete her plan,possessed bella for awhile to send a message to max..nathan..carrie,sends her heart to the soul-eater(to trick him into trusting her),the one that started the war between werewolves and lupins,wants bella's and max's baby to rule both werewolves and vampires('the sword forged of blood' is a natural-born vampire/lupin),also wants the baby to lure the soul-eater to her and kill him,trapped max and bella,wants to make the world a vampire's paradise,dies(finnally!lol).
Carrie: ex-doctor,vampire,in california with max,nathan's lover,nathan's fledging,blue eyes,almost had it with max,had it with nathan,in charge for using the pendulum to try to locate the oracle,going with nathan to find the soul eater,turns to cyrus for help,gives cyrus her blood to save him from dying,cyrus's sire,stole dahlia's spell book,Anoint the stone with the oil for a invisibility spell so she can sneak into the mansion without anyone seeing her for info,set off the mansion alram,got caught by the soul-eater,goes back to chicago.
Nathan/Nolen: vampire,ex-movement,carrie's lover,carrie's sire,
owner of apartment and book store,Scottish accent,drives bella to chicago so she can tell max about the oracle mission,frozen in time at thirty-two years old,gray eyes,pale skin,hard muscles,had it with carrie,in charge with the tarot cards,been alive a hundred years,going with carrie to find the soul-eater,attacked cyrus and left,opened his connections up to his sire for abit to get info,goes with yrus and carrie to soul-eater's mansion to get info,goes to chicago with carrie and lives there for awhile in max's condo.
Ziggy: reincarnated by the soul-eater,vampire,nathan's like-a-son,stocky, his brown hair shaved from the sides of his head in what would have been a Mohawk if it weren't so long,ordered to do the honors to kill max but didnt.
Shish: nathan's goldfish.
Max: vampire,part of the movement,bella's lover,turned in the late seventies,sandy-blond hair cut short and spiky,blue eyes,almost had it with carrie,in charge of finding more info about other assasins through his donors,has a donor named Bill,saved bella by doing cpr on her with carrie after bella got possessed by the oracle,going to boston to find out more about the oracle,bella got possessed by the oracle during the trip and broke his knee,has it with bella,a soon-to-be father,got arrested by the movement people,the baby is a natural-born lupin..the only one of its kind,got hung up and tortured by anne,killed anne,his baby will be a natural-born lupin..A natural-born vampire and werewolf combined and a girl,got turned into a lupin,goes back to rome with bella,says goodbye to nathan and carrie.
Bill: Max's donor,invloved in next book also,ziggy's gay lover in next book(opps,thats a spoiler).
Bella: werewolf,max's lover,Italian accent,size four around her hips and the size of a small solar system around her chest,coming to max's apartment w/ nathan to tell max about the oracle mission,golden eyes,exotic and passionate and dangerous,in charge of finding more info about the oracle(clues,hints,etc),possessed by oracle for abit and got injured by that,saved by max and carrie,when blacked out had a dream of the oracle sucking blood from the soul-eater and gaining power from it,going to boston with max to find out more about the oracle,has car-sick,the closer to the oracle..the more power the oracle has over her,has it with max,pregnant(b/c dahlia gave max a potion that can make a born vampire between werewolf-vampire but doesnt..it makes a lupin),a soon-to-be mother,got arrested by the movement people,wanted by the oracle and at the same time the soul-eater b/c of the baby,the baby is a natural-born lupin..the only one of its kind,bit max,takes max with her back to rome.
Marcus: Max's late sire,dead.
Soul Eater/Jacob Seymour: cyrus's father,trying to become a god,sire of nathan..cyrus..etc,wants to get help from the oracle for his to-become-a-god plan,white hair,at a brothel in Nevada for awhile,moving back in the mansion with dahlia,owned the mansion for One hundred and fifty yrs,replaces his heart with the oracle,didnt die when cyrus stabed the heart(b/c it was the oracles,caught carrie(b/c she as his fledging's blood on her),manipulated carrie into dropping the stone and blocking the blood tie to nathan and cyrus,cold blue eyes,was the reason for the stepmother dying,kills his son.
Cyrus's stepmother: mentioned in memories,Rail thin, with limp, dirty blond hair,terrifyed of burning,loved cyrus,jacob's third wife,reason jacob seymour changed a-loong time ago from kinda evil to evilevil selfishness,burned,killed by jacob seymour.
Cyrus/Simon Seymour: carrie's first sire,blond-white hair,got reincarnated(in last book) and became human,helps carrie and nathan locate his dad,got a job:stock shelves in a grocery store,finds mouse's sister and tells her what happened in a not giveaway way(sister didnt even care),staying in a horrible apartment downtown..near the college,got attacked by dahlia,about to die because of attack by dahlia so carrie gave him her blood to save him,carrie's fledging(well thats..ironic),got attacked by nathan for kissing carrie,after staking his father(which didnt kill him) got killed by the souleater,goes with carrie and nathan to the soul-eater's mansion to get info,died.
Dahlia: witch,vampire,powerful,set up cyrus's apartment,traded her help for cyrus with a one room in his mansion(including a bath,etc),lives in cyrus's mansion,brings food and money to cyrus every now and then,had it with cyrus(gross since its with her),helping to soul-eater,heard the messages on the phone carrie left for cyrus(about info on the soul-eater) and attacked cyrus,knows everything nathan and carrie are up to,ate akk the bodyguards to the mansion,first ment cyrus at a club,forced max to have it with her in the first book after forcing him to drink the Vitality Elixir potion(which didnt work),was the one to put the spell on nathan that had him possessed by the souleater,working on spells/makes them,knew someone was in the mansion but cant see(b/c of invisibility spell),soul-eater's fledging.
Clarence: butler of the mansion,helps carrie and cyrus get info out of dahlia,deep brown eyes,ghost,protects dahlia,works for the soul-eater since forever,comes with the mansion,
Rachel: in the movement.
Patrick: bald head,vampire,had a ring through the center part of his nose,one of the soul-eater guys/works for the soul-eater,old and powerful,has to pick up a weapon for the soul-eater.
Paul Bunyan: weighed in at three hundred and fifty pounds of intimidating bulk stacked seven feet tall,bushy red beard and beady black eyes,soul-eater doctor,vampire.
FACTS:
-Pendulum: if it swings:Clockwise for yes, counter for no.
-Lupin is just a werewolf who aligns with technology instead of magic. Is a blanket term for any vampire who's been bitten by a werewolf, or a werewolf who's exchanged blood with a vampire.Lupins are wolves that thirst for blood.Half werewolf, half vampire.
-Vampire plus werewolf equals lupins.
The oracle is on the loose.The soul-eater is still trying to become a god.Bella and Max must put aside their vampire-werewolf prejudice to admit they love each other.Nathan and Carrie reunite only to have a wedge put between them again when Cyrus comes along.Now this is hell.
Ending: Cyrus dies,max and bella head to rome to meet the clan,nathan and carrie go to chicago to hide from the sou-eater in max's condo.
*PERSPECTIVE OF CARRIE & MAX.
Characters:
Don: one of the movement scientist that are responsible for the oracle,vampire,died.
Sanjay: vampire,one of the movement scientist that are responsible for the oracle.
Anne: goth,cheerful,eternally teenaged receptionist of the Movement,alive,helps max and ella escape the movement people,working for the oracle,brings bella and max to the oracle,on the bad-side,oracle let her be responsible for killing max but anne gets distracted and fails,hurts max,neck twisted by max and got uncousious,died,really really old vampire,looks young.
The Oracle/Julia: has a bunch of her scientist,had been held under strict supervision by the Movement but is out on the loose,unpredictale,can do telekinesis,pale and inquisitive,killed don,dangerous,one of the oldest vampires,knows everything,wants to find the soul-eater to complete her plan,possessed bella for awhile to send a message to max..nathan..carrie,sends her heart to the soul-eater(to trick him into trusting her),the one that started the war between werewolves and lupins,wants bella's and max's baby to rule both werewolves and vampires('the sword forged of blood' is a natural-born vampire/lupin),also wants the baby to lure the soul-eater to her and kill him,trapped max and bella,wants to make the world a vampire's paradise,dies(finnally!lol).
Carrie: ex-doctor,vampire,in california with max,nathan's lover,nathan's fledging,blue eyes,almost had it with max,had it with nathan,in charge for using the pendulum to try to locate the oracle,going with nathan to find the soul eater,turns to cyrus for help,gives cyrus her blood to save him from dying,cyrus's sire,stole dahlia's spell book,Anoint the stone with the oil for a invisibility spell so she can sneak into the mansion without anyone seeing her for info,set off the mansion alram,got caught by the soul-eater,goes back to chicago.
Nathan/Nolen: vampire,ex-movement,carrie's lover,carrie's sire,
owner of apartment and book store,Scottish accent,drives bella to chicago so she can tell max about the oracle mission,frozen in time at thirty-two years old,gray eyes,pale skin,hard muscles,had it with carrie,in charge with the tarot cards,been alive a hundred years,going with carrie to find the soul-eater,attacked cyrus and left,opened his connections up to his sire for abit to get info,goes with yrus and carrie to soul-eater's mansion to get info,goes to chicago with carrie and lives there for awhile in max's condo.
Ziggy: reincarnated by the soul-eater,vampire,nathan's like-a-son,stocky, his brown hair shaved from the sides of his head in what would have been a Mohawk if it weren't so long,ordered to do the honors to kill max but didnt.
Shish: nathan's goldfish.
Max: vampire,part of the movement,bella's lover,turned in the late seventies,sandy-blond hair cut short and spiky,blue eyes,almost had it with carrie,in charge of finding more info about other assasins through his donors,has a donor named Bill,saved bella by doing cpr on her with carrie after bella got possessed by the oracle,going to boston to find out more about the oracle,bella got possessed by the oracle during the trip and broke his knee,has it with bella,a soon-to-be father,got arrested by the movement people,the baby is a natural-born lupin..the only one of its kind,got hung up and tortured by anne,killed anne,his baby will be a natural-born lupin..A natural-born vampire and werewolf combined and a girl,got turned into a lupin,goes back to rome with bella,says goodbye to nathan and carrie.
Bill: Max's donor,invloved in next book also,ziggy's gay lover in next book(opps,thats a spoiler).
Bella: werewolf,max's lover,Italian accent,size four around her hips and the size of a small solar system around her chest,coming to max's apartment w/ nathan to tell max about the oracle mission,golden eyes,exotic and passionate and dangerous,in charge of finding more info about the oracle(clues,hints,etc),possessed by oracle for abit and got injured by that,saved by max and carrie,when blacked out had a dream of the oracle sucking blood from the soul-eater and gaining power from it,going to boston with max to find out more about the oracle,has car-sick,the closer to the oracle..the more power the oracle has over her,has it with max,pregnant(b/c dahlia gave max a potion that can make a born vampire between werewolf-vampire but doesnt..it makes a lupin),a soon-to-be mother,got arrested by the movement people,wanted by the oracle and at the same time the soul-eater b/c of the baby,the baby is a natural-born lupin..the only one of its kind,bit max,takes max with her back to rome.
Marcus: Max's late sire,dead.
Soul Eater/Jacob Seymour: cyrus's father,trying to become a god,sire of nathan..cyrus..etc,wants to get help from the oracle for his to-become-a-god plan,white hair,at a brothel in Nevada for awhile,moving back in the mansion with dahlia,owned the mansion for One hundred and fifty yrs,replaces his heart with the oracle,didnt die when cyrus stabed the heart(b/c it was the oracles,caught carrie(b/c she as his fledging's blood on her),manipulated carrie into dropping the stone and blocking the blood tie to nathan and cyrus,cold blue eyes,was the reason for the stepmother dying,kills his son.
Cyrus's stepmother: mentioned in memories,Rail thin, with limp, dirty blond hair,terrifyed of burning,loved cyrus,jacob's third wife,reason jacob seymour changed a-loong time ago from kinda evil to evilevil selfishness,burned,killed by jacob seymour.
Cyrus/Simon Seymour: carrie's first sire,blond-white hair,got reincarnated(in last book) and became human,helps carrie and nathan locate his dad,got a job:stock shelves in a grocery store,finds mouse's sister and tells her what happened in a not giveaway way(sister didnt even care),staying in a horrible apartment downtown..near the college,got attacked by dahlia,about to die because of attack by dahlia so carrie gave him her blood to save him,carrie's fledging(well thats..ironic),got attacked by nathan for kissing carrie,after staking his father(which didnt kill him) got killed by the souleater,goes with carrie and nathan to the soul-eater's mansion to get info,died.
Dahlia: witch,vampire,powerful,set up cyrus's apartment,traded her help for cyrus with a one room in his mansion(including a bath,etc),lives in cyrus's mansion,brings food and money to cyrus every now and then,had it with cyrus(gross since its with her),helping to soul-eater,heard the messages on the phone carrie left for cyrus(about info on the soul-eater) and attacked cyrus,knows everything nathan and carrie are up to,ate akk the bodyguards to the mansion,first ment cyrus at a club,forced max to have it with her in the first book after forcing him to drink the Vitality Elixir potion(which didnt work),was the one to put the spell on nathan that had him possessed by the souleater,working on spells/makes them,knew someone was in the mansion but cant see(b/c of invisibility spell),soul-eater's fledging.
Clarence: butler of the mansion,helps carrie and cyrus get info out of dahlia,deep brown eyes,ghost,protects dahlia,works for the soul-eater since forever,comes with the mansion,
Rachel: in the movement.
Patrick: bald head,vampire,had a ring through the center part of his nose,one of the soul-eater guys/works for the soul-eater,old and powerful,has to pick up a weapon for the soul-eater.
Paul Bunyan: weighed in at three hundred and fifty pounds of intimidating bulk stacked seven feet tall,bushy red beard and beady black eyes,soul-eater doctor,vampire.
FACTS:
-Pendulum: if it swings:Clockwise for yes, counter for no.
-Lupin is just a werewolf who aligns with technology instead of magic. Is a blanket term for any vampire who's been bitten by a werewolf, or a werewolf who's exchanged blood with a vampire.Lupins are wolves that thirst for blood.Half werewolf, half vampire.
-Vampire plus werewolf equals lupins.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 4, 2017
I finally reach a book in the series I haven't read!
And WOW! There is a heck of a lot going on....I wonder if maybe too much....? I don't know.
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 SPOILER ALERT 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
The whole Nathan/Carrie on/off again I'd still going on and in this book....it's the first time I want to slap her for her stupid choices. As we saw in the last book Cyrus is back and Carrie IS drawn to him. Something happens that intensifies that 100 fold and you're just yelling at her not to be so stupid but she goes ahead and does it anyway.....
The Oracle is loose and another game player in the whole Soul Eater becoming a God but not sure why.
What we do know is she's capable of possession as she does thru Bella on numerous times.
They split up. max and Bella heading in the direction of the Oracle and Nathan and Carrie on the way back home to try to get some sort of footing on the soul eater.
More developments with Max and bellas personal relationship which I was really pleased to see and with a title like this in the back of your mind you're always wondering exactly WHO is going to be the ashes....
We are alerted to a weapon that can tip the scales for whichever side had it.
Just as Max and Bella decide to turn around after another possession they're run off the road. So many double crossing agents - and they were 'rescued' by the receptionist at the movement so believed she was on their side.....alas no. She was working for the Oracle, and was actually taking them out of possibly one of the safest places they could be.
Now.....they are held hostage with a blast from the past that really I did not see coming.
I have to say...I really hope these two make it through to the end. They've been a great couple of characters and to watch them fight the feelings to where they're getting to has been so great......
Nathan and Carrie are as always still in limbo. After grasping an invisibility spell she infiltrates the mansion where the Soul Eater and his followers, including Dahlia, are residing. All seems well until he tells her to stay.....busted.
Things go so far downhill for them there it's hard to stay upbeat.
Carrie suffers a loss that she's never felt before and I'm wondering if the whole point of that character was purely to show the huge gap in her character where she's desperate to be wanted, needed and loved - stemming right back from when she lost her parents.
But seeing as the next book is the last I'm guessing everything is wrapped up.
So I guess let's get this one wrapped up!
And WOW! There is a heck of a lot going on....I wonder if maybe too much....? I don't know.
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 SPOILER ALERT 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
The whole Nathan/Carrie on/off again I'd still going on and in this book....it's the first time I want to slap her for her stupid choices. As we saw in the last book Cyrus is back and Carrie IS drawn to him. Something happens that intensifies that 100 fold and you're just yelling at her not to be so stupid but she goes ahead and does it anyway.....
The Oracle is loose and another game player in the whole Soul Eater becoming a God but not sure why.
What we do know is she's capable of possession as she does thru Bella on numerous times.
They split up. max and Bella heading in the direction of the Oracle and Nathan and Carrie on the way back home to try to get some sort of footing on the soul eater.
More developments with Max and bellas personal relationship which I was really pleased to see and with a title like this in the back of your mind you're always wondering exactly WHO is going to be the ashes....
We are alerted to a weapon that can tip the scales for whichever side had it.
Just as Max and Bella decide to turn around after another possession they're run off the road. So many double crossing agents - and they were 'rescued' by the receptionist at the movement so believed she was on their side.....alas no. She was working for the Oracle, and was actually taking them out of possibly one of the safest places they could be.
Now.....they are held hostage with a blast from the past that really I did not see coming.
I have to say...I really hope these two make it through to the end. They've been a great couple of characters and to watch them fight the feelings to where they're getting to has been so great......
Nathan and Carrie are as always still in limbo. After grasping an invisibility spell she infiltrates the mansion where the Soul Eater and his followers, including Dahlia, are residing. All seems well until he tells her to stay.....busted.
Things go so far downhill for them there it's hard to stay upbeat.
Carrie suffers a loss that she's never felt before and I'm wondering if the whole point of that character was purely to show the huge gap in her character where she's desperate to be wanted, needed and loved - stemming right back from when she lost her parents.
But seeing as the next book is the last I'm guessing everything is wrapped up.
So I guess let's get this one wrapped up!
December 1, 2020
Ashes to Ashes is the third book in the Blood Ties series and starts just right where the last one left us, with Carrie living with Max to give some space to Nathan and, from Max’s side convincing himself that he doesn’t love Bella.
But this time apart doesn’t take long since something happens to the Movement and that includes the Oracle and the Soul Eater which puts everyone in danger.
Cyrus’s dad is trying to become a god and they have to stop him before he can get a hold of Nathan’s soul and finish the ritual.
I know that you are probably already tired of this series in my reviews but I have been really enjoying it and I am just one of those people that likes to read the series all at once (if I have the books) so that’s what I am doing.
So the things I can say about this book is, prepare yourself for even more tension between our love triangle since something very unexpected will happen. A baby half werewolf half vampire that will be expected to be a powerful weapon? Expect that too (and here we were thinking vampires aren’t fertile). Also, expect a MAJOR plot twist (this one was extremely unexpected but extremely wanted).
I really like that we get more focus on Max and Bella's relationship, I liked the unexpected events (I am a sucker for plot twists) and I just like where the story is going and I am very curious to see how it will all end in the next and last book.
But I still can’t give it the 5 stars because this love triangle is getting a bit annoying, at least the way Carrie is handling everything and her feelings is getting on my nerves. I usually don’t mind love triangles and most of the time I actually enjoy them but this one is too childish and repetitive in my opinion.
All in all I still recommend this series and I am excited to find out what will happen next.
But this time apart doesn’t take long since something happens to the Movement and that includes the Oracle and the Soul Eater which puts everyone in danger.
Cyrus’s dad is trying to become a god and they have to stop him before he can get a hold of Nathan’s soul and finish the ritual.
I know that you are probably already tired of this series in my reviews but I have been really enjoying it and I am just one of those people that likes to read the series all at once (if I have the books) so that’s what I am doing.
So the things I can say about this book is, prepare yourself for even more tension between our love triangle since something very unexpected will happen. A baby half werewolf half vampire that will be expected to be a powerful weapon? Expect that too (and here we were thinking vampires aren’t fertile). Also, expect a MAJOR plot twist (this one was extremely unexpected but extremely wanted).
I really like that we get more focus on Max and Bella's relationship, I liked the unexpected events (I am a sucker for plot twists) and I just like where the story is going and I am very curious to see how it will all end in the next and last book.
But I still can’t give it the 5 stars because this love triangle is getting a bit annoying, at least the way Carrie is handling everything and her feelings is getting on my nerves. I usually don’t mind love triangles and most of the time I actually enjoy them but this one is too childish and repetitive in my opinion.
All in all I still recommend this series and I am excited to find out what will happen next.
July 30, 2018
Novos estados de sobrevivência, amores impossíveis, indecisão amorosa, novos laços de sangue, revelações de identidade e mais um ou outro ser ressuscitado...
Este 3º volume continua recheado de cenas e detalhes interessantes, muito embora já se consiga prever grande parte dos acontecimentos, e as reviravoltas não sejam tão inesperadas e surpreendentes como nos 2 primeiros volumes.
De uma forma geral, acho que este livro tem palha a mais e era escusado ter esticado isto até um 4º volume que, a propósito, nunca foi editado em Portugal (quem quiser acabar de ler a saga, tem de o adquirir em inglês ou espanhol).
Depois de 2 volumes tão cativantes, esperava um pouco mais deste...
Este 3º volume continua recheado de cenas e detalhes interessantes, muito embora já se consiga prever grande parte dos acontecimentos, e as reviravoltas não sejam tão inesperadas e surpreendentes como nos 2 primeiros volumes.
De uma forma geral, acho que este livro tem palha a mais e era escusado ter esticado isto até um 4º volume que, a propósito, nunca foi editado em Portugal (quem quiser acabar de ler a saga, tem de o adquirir em inglês ou espanhol).
Depois de 2 volumes tão cativantes, esperava um pouco mais deste...
August 26, 2021
DNF @ 38%
After loving the first and tolerating the second, I've officially dropped the Blood Ties series. In addition to the book being surprisingly slow and there being no continuation of built arcs, there were perspective shifts that would happen with ZERO notice or even a new line. It would just be one sentence in one perspective and the next sentence in the next sentence. Ultimately, I couldn't get past these issues and was forced to put it down for good.
After loving the first and tolerating the second, I've officially dropped the Blood Ties series. In addition to the book being surprisingly slow and there being no continuation of built arcs, there were perspective shifts that would happen with ZERO notice or even a new line. It would just be one sentence in one perspective and the next sentence in the next sentence. Ultimately, I couldn't get past these issues and was forced to put it down for good.
January 11, 2019
Ormai mi sono abituata al tipo di scrittura terribile. Le vicende sono in stile soap opera che non fai in tempo a capire cosa è appena successo che già sta avvenendo un altro dramma. Ci sono rimasta veramente male per come mi hanno ammosciato il personaggio di Bella, era forse l'unica che si poteva salvare.
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