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Blood Destiny #3
Blood Sense
Saxom is dead. The vampires know this. Anthony Hancock, Director of the Joint NSA/Homeland Security Department knows it as well. Tony and the vampires are now on the hunt for Saxom's brood, all of whom are determined to avenge their sire's death. Neither Tony nor the vampires are aware of the other's efforts to search out these rogues, who may number in the hundreds at the very least. Tony holds information the vampires don't—he knows that Xenides, Saxom's eldest vampire child, has allied with terrorists (both foreign and domestic). Tony also neglects to provide valuable information to Wlodek when he requests Lissa's help.
While struggling to recover from a near-fatal bout with the sun, Lissa fails to understand why Wlodek willingly sends her away on assignment so quickly. With very little information provided to her, Lissa is forced to face an enemy more deadly than anyone can imagine and unravel a plot that could kill millions.
While struggling to recover from a near-fatal bout with the sun, Lissa fails to understand why Wlodek willingly sends her away on assignment so quickly. With very little information provided to her, Lissa is forced to face an enemy more deadly than anyone can imagine and unravel a plot that could kill millions.
221 pages, Nook
First published September 12, 2011
62 people are currently reading
314 people want to read
About the author
Connie Suttle
75 books805 followersConnie Suttle lives in Oklahoma with her husband and three cats.
Connie holds an MFA in Fine Art (film production and animation) and taught courses at the university level before moving on to bookstore management. Nowadays, if she isn't writing or editing, she's dreaming up her next book.
Connie holds an MFA in Fine Art (film production and animation) and taught courses at the university level before moving on to bookstore management. Nowadays, if she isn't writing or editing, she's dreaming up her next book.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 104 reviews
October 1, 2013
Anybody who likes reading about emotionally abusive relationships, puppet females with no personality and a Mary-Sue plot line will love this book. Anybody who does not want spoilers should not read this review.
Firstly I was unable to finish this book (I read over half and skipped through the rest) as it was too horrendously pathetic. Everything that annoyed in me in the first two books just got worse.
What I read was:
Yup, disgusting.
We find out one enlightening thing, that casts a little light on why Lissa has no backbone, , and this is perhaps why she finds it impossible to walk away from her abusive relationship with Gavin. The psychology behind the actions of people from abusive backgrounds is obviously complex, and I won't pretend to understand it...but I do not feel like this UF was the appropriate platform to delve into that.
Perhaps any recovery she may have made with her previous marriage was destroyed when she fell down the vampire rabbit hole, so to speak, and her old fears turned her into a blubbering idiot. I can sympathize with her, up to a point, but I think these things should not be taken lightly; reading about them in a urban fantasy makes my skin craw.
I come to these series looking for empowerment, and humour mixed in with the crap stuff...but reading about a woman with previous history of abuse fall in love with a cowardly jackass like Gavin is just too depressing. Her inability, or lack of desire, to completely escape from the vampires clutches was annoying and pathetic.
The fact that, oh my, she is the queen of the fucking universe with the most powers ever, does not surprise me...this book was predictable. I just really hope, that with these enhanced powers, she gathers the strength to escape from the creepy, over-controlling, misogynistic and physically and emotionally harmful environment she is currently stuck in.
Basically I do not give a fuck about the plot line, I just want Lissa to take control and get out of the tangled web she is in! Please Connie Suttle, let her escape to the Andes or Tibet or an island in the Pacific?
Firstly I was unable to finish this book (I read over half and skipped through the rest) as it was too horrendously pathetic. Everything that annoyed in me in the first two books just got worse.
What I read was:
Yup, disgusting.
We find out one enlightening thing, that casts a little light on why Lissa has no backbone, , and this is perhaps why she finds it impossible to walk away from her abusive relationship with Gavin. The psychology behind the actions of people from abusive backgrounds is obviously complex, and I won't pretend to understand it...but I do not feel like this UF was the appropriate platform to delve into that.
Perhaps any recovery she may have made with her previous marriage was destroyed when she fell down the vampire rabbit hole, so to speak, and her old fears turned her into a blubbering idiot. I can sympathize with her, up to a point, but I think these things should not be taken lightly; reading about them in a urban fantasy makes my skin craw.
I come to these series looking for empowerment, and humour mixed in with the crap stuff...but reading about a woman with previous history of abuse fall in love with a cowardly jackass like Gavin is just too depressing. Her inability, or lack of desire, to completely escape from the vampires clutches was annoying and pathetic.
The fact that, oh my, she is the queen of the fucking universe with the most powers ever, does not surprise me...this book was predictable. I just really hope, that with these enhanced powers, she gathers the strength to escape from the creepy, over-controlling, misogynistic and physically and emotionally harmful environment she is currently stuck in.
Basically I do not give a fuck about the plot line, I just want Lissa to take control and get out of the tangled web she is in! Please Connie Suttle, let her escape to the Andes or Tibet or an island in the Pacific?
December 14, 2011
I really only started this one because of the way book two ends.
I have to say I did not like it at all. which is sad because i have liked this series until then. Lissa shows no character grows at all in fact the position she starts the book in is relatively the same position she ends the book in. she is still engaged weather she want to be or not and is still controlled by Merrill and Wlodek. I feel like beside what happen at the end of book 2 she never really fights for freedom.
She is so special but stupid. At one point she has blood delivered to a hotel room but the front desk person gives it to some else and Lissa gets exposed as a vampire because of it. my question is why didn't she just put compulsions on the person in the first place to just give it to Lissa only then this problem would never had happen. I just felt like there was a lot of inconsistencies in the story and that really ruined the book for me.
I guess my heroines run more to the Kate Daniels and Mercy Thompson variety where they will nod and smile while the nice strong men tell them not to run in to danger. However they ignore them and run it to danger anyway but are smart about it.
I have to say I did not like it at all. which is sad because i have liked this series until then. Lissa shows no character grows at all in fact the position she starts the book in is relatively the same position she ends the book in. she is still engaged weather she want to be or not and is still controlled by Merrill and Wlodek. I feel like beside what happen at the end of book 2 she never really fights for freedom.
She is so special but stupid. At one point she has blood delivered to a hotel room but the front desk person gives it to some else and Lissa gets exposed as a vampire because of it. my question is why didn't she just put compulsions on the person in the first place to just give it to Lissa only then this problem would never had happen. I just felt like there was a lot of inconsistencies in the story and that really ruined the book for me.
I guess my heroines run more to the Kate Daniels and Mercy Thompson variety where they will nod and smile while the nice strong men tell them not to run in to danger. However they ignore them and run it to danger anyway but are smart about it.
June 2, 2020
Notes:
Okay. So big plot events are not one of the writer's strong points. I'm going to read one more book. Hopefully, the content will be more about Lissa and less about world politics. While the characters are well done, the actions that they take are not always in character.
Okay. So big plot events are not one of the writer's strong points. I'm going to read one more book. Hopefully, the content will be more about Lissa and less about world politics. While the characters are well done, the actions that they take are not always in character.
December 30, 2020
Oh snap! I am loving these books. I wish Gavin wasn’t so shouty. Lissa isn’t one for being yelled at and he needs to bring it down a notch.
Tony is too much like a puppy he doesn’t get that Lissa is taken and then what he does to her.. I would have kicked his BUTTTTTT.
I wish Meryl would see what he has in front of him. But I fear he is destined to be alone.
Oh I think of what the one humans name is who is sick I love him so much and his bound with Lissa makes my heart happy. I am sad about him.
Again I am loving the narration!!
Tony is too much like a puppy he doesn’t get that Lissa is taken and then what he does to her.. I would have kicked his BUTTTTTT.
I wish Meryl would see what he has in front of him. But I fear he is destined to be alone.
Oh I think of what the one humans name is who is sick I love him so much and his bound with Lissa makes my heart happy. I am sad about him.
Again I am loving the narration!!
December 31, 2011
2 1/2 stars
I had some problem in grading this book. Again the plot is engaging and the three stories are woven together quite nicely. But I do not know how to relate to Lissa. Every one and his brother (including the one with no real power over her like Charles or Merrill's human son) manipulate, use, betray, keep her in the dark and, apart a few token breakdowns, she does absolutely nothing. She is forced in to an engagement to Gavin, but she says she loves him. No way to see it (acceptance, yes, compliance, yes, love, no). He says he loves her (if this is love, I'm the President.)He is abusive, at least.
Yes, she tried to commit suicide. You would expect some depression or some other sign. Nope. Nothing. Nada. Zilcht. Nothing happened. Sometimes she muses about being deprived of freedom, but that's it. Musing. You can't expect a youngling to take an older vamp, least of all an entire council, but can we please at least avoid being so pliant and pleasant?
What really pissed me off was the way she was constantly manhandled. She can kill easily, yet she lets every single man cop a feel, treat her as a body (literally, they put in a body bag or a dress bag AND handle as such), kiss her, nuzzle her. I simply could not believe it. At times it was degrading as hell.
I'm giving it 2 and half stars because I could not put it down, even when angry, and this has to count. :)
I might be reading the fourth book, but I think I'll draw a line here. If you start throwing me aliens and time travels, rather than character coherence and growth, I suspect it's a teen wannabe, rather than a real author.
I had some problem in grading this book. Again the plot is engaging and the three stories are woven together quite nicely. But I do not know how to relate to Lissa. Every one and his brother (including the one with no real power over her like Charles or Merrill's human son) manipulate, use, betray, keep her in the dark and, apart a few token breakdowns, she does absolutely nothing. She is forced in to an engagement to Gavin, but she says she loves him. No way to see it (acceptance, yes, compliance, yes, love, no). He says he loves her (if this is love, I'm the President.)He is abusive, at least.
Yes, she tried to commit suicide. You would expect some depression or some other sign. Nope. Nothing. Nada. Zilcht. Nothing happened. Sometimes she muses about being deprived of freedom, but that's it. Musing. You can't expect a youngling to take an older vamp, least of all an entire council, but can we please at least avoid being so pliant and pleasant?
What really pissed me off was the way she was constantly manhandled. She can kill easily, yet she lets every single man cop a feel, treat her as a body (literally, they put in a body bag or a dress bag AND handle as such), kiss her, nuzzle her. I simply could not believe it. At times it was degrading as hell.
I'm giving it 2 and half stars because I could not put it down, even when angry, and this has to count. :)
I might be reading the fourth book, but I think I'll draw a line here. If you start throwing me aliens and time travels, rather than character coherence and growth, I suspect it's a teen wannabe, rather than a real author.
August 1, 2017
Something about these books has me addicted. I can't stop, even though many things annoyed me. Go figure.
What annoyed me? The men. Here's why:
Gavin:
--Still a douche. Still yelling and being all around inconsiderate a-hole. Most if not all of their interactions are over the phone with him and he's still yelling, chastising her and telling her what to do and not do. Sometimes she's in tears, not always because of him, but his bitchy attitude certainly doesn't help! She has no support, no shoulder to cry on...nothing. Also, the I-love-yous on both Lissa and Gavin's part feel empty to me at this point. There's honestly little foundation to their relationship, certainly not enough to call love.
Merrill (& Gavin again)
--voting on the punishing and thinking it was acceptable.
Tony
--Ugh. He was worse than Gavin, IMO. He was okay book 1-2, but 3? Showed his true colors! I did not like how she kept telling him no and not to go there with the flirting and kissing, but he didn't listen. I didn't like how she told him repeatedly that she was engaged, but he ignored that and tried to get her in bed anyway. I especially did not like how he took advantage of her when she was the most vulnerable to get the blood for the tests. Not once, but twice. At least Gavin being a total jerk during the first Counsel meeting in book 1 had some reason, he was an assassin bringing a rogue in to be executed, but Tony? No excuse! He even knew it was wrong, both times. And the first time, she went out and got injured because she wasn't 100% due to the blood loss. I also kept getting the feeling that he was using her, I know she was on loan for a purpose, but it felt more...wrong, especially after the blood-draw incidents. Also, did not like the "Lissy" nickname he called her. I hope she never forgives him.
What annoyed me? The men. Here's why:
Gavin:
--Still a douche. Still yelling and being all around inconsiderate a-hole. Most if not all of their interactions are over the phone with him and he's still yelling, chastising her and telling her what to do and not do. Sometimes she's in tears, not always because of him, but his bitchy attitude certainly doesn't help! She has no support, no shoulder to cry on...nothing. Also, the I-love-yous on both Lissa and Gavin's part feel empty to me at this point. There's honestly little foundation to their relationship, certainly not enough to call love.
Merrill (& Gavin again)
--voting on the punishing and thinking it was acceptable.
Tony
--Ugh. He was worse than Gavin, IMO. He was okay book 1-2, but 3? Showed his true colors! I did not like how she kept telling him no and not to go there with the flirting and kissing, but he didn't listen. I didn't like how she told him repeatedly that she was engaged, but he ignored that and tried to get her in bed anyway. I especially did not like how he took advantage of her when she was the most vulnerable to get the blood for the tests. Not once, but twice. At least Gavin being a total jerk during the first Counsel meeting in book 1 had some reason, he was an assassin bringing a rogue in to be executed, but Tony? No excuse! He even knew it was wrong, both times. And the first time, she went out and got injured because she wasn't 100% due to the blood loss. I also kept getting the feeling that he was using her, I know she was on loan for a purpose, but it felt more...wrong, especially after the blood-draw incidents. Also, did not like the "Lissy" nickname he called her. I hope she never forgives him.
July 26, 2016
Lissa
2 Aug '15
1 stars
I read the first two books over 3 and a half years ago and just haven't pick this one up. I don't know if it was that I had forgotten a lot of what had happened previously or not, but I didn't enjoy this book. I'm glad I haven't got any of the other in the series to read. The main character doesn't do a lot of standing up for her self. Everyone around her wants her for something or treats her like a child, keeping things from her. All in all, not good.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Blurb: Saxom is dead. The vampires know this. Anthony Hancock, Director of the Joint NSA/Homeland Security Department knows it as well. Tony and the vampires are now on the hunt for Saxom's brood, all of whom are determined to avenge their sire's death. Neither Tony nor the vampires are aware of the other's efforts to search out these rogues, who may number in the hundreds at the very least. Tony holds information the vampires don't--he knows that Xenides, Saxom's eldest vampire child, has allied with terrorists (both foreign and domestic). Tony also neglects to provide vital infromation to Wlodek when he requests Lissa's help.
While struggling to recover from a near-fatal bout with the sun, Lissa fails to understand why Wlodek willingly sends her away on assignment so quickly. With very little information provided to her, Lissa is forced to face an enemy more deadly than anyone can imagine and unravel a plot that could kill millions.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2 Aug '15
1 stars
I read the first two books over 3 and a half years ago and just haven't pick this one up. I don't know if it was that I had forgotten a lot of what had happened previously or not, but I didn't enjoy this book. I'm glad I haven't got any of the other in the series to read. The main character doesn't do a lot of standing up for her self. Everyone around her wants her for something or treats her like a child, keeping things from her. All in all, not good.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Blurb: Saxom is dead. The vampires know this. Anthony Hancock, Director of the Joint NSA/Homeland Security Department knows it as well. Tony and the vampires are now on the hunt for Saxom's brood, all of whom are determined to avenge their sire's death. Neither Tony nor the vampires are aware of the other's efforts to search out these rogues, who may number in the hundreds at the very least. Tony holds information the vampires don't--he knows that Xenides, Saxom's eldest vampire child, has allied with terrorists (both foreign and domestic). Tony also neglects to provide vital infromation to Wlodek when he requests Lissa's help.
While struggling to recover from a near-fatal bout with the sun, Lissa fails to understand why Wlodek willingly sends her away on assignment so quickly. With very little information provided to her, Lissa is forced to face an enemy more deadly than anyone can imagine and unravel a plot that could kill millions.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
January 9, 2019
4.5 Stars
MAJOR SPOILERS THROUGHOUT:
I liked this book. I enjoyed reading it very much. I loved how fast paced this series is and how there never seems to be a dull moment. Every book is action packed and full of so much drama and I love it.
Lissa was her usual self. She is getting stronger as a person and not letting the males in the book walk all over her as much as they have in the past. I do have to admit that she is taking a little longer than I wish she would. Right now, she is bowing down and listening to what the males tell her to do. I feel it coming and I can't wait for the moment when Lissa finally stands up to all of them and says no. She is definitely becoming a Vampire Queen and the males are all going to get a shock of reality when Lissa finally realizes it.
My opinion of Gavin hasn't changed. He was still the possessive, jealous, manipulative prick he was in the last book. I don't like Gavin at all and I think his and Lissa's relationship is very unhealthy. I feel like she was forced into a relationship with him and is just trying to make it work because she has no other choice (as of now). There were multiple times in this book where Lissa would call him crying and he would be yelling at her. There were also times where Lissa thinks to herself about how much she wishes she could confide in Gavin but either couldn't trust him not to repeat it to the Council or she just felt like he would yell at her if she told the whole truth. If that doesn't raise a giant red flag, I don't know what will. I believe that relationships are built on trust. Lissa and Gavin just don't have it and I don't think they ever will.
I liked Tony going into this book but I really hated him by the end it. What he did to Lissa was a complete violation of trust and absolutely unacceptable. When Lissa agreed to go on the missions with him, she trusted him by sleeping around him and by him taking her blood while she was sleeping, he violated her trust as well as her body. I completely support Lissa's decision to never trust him again and to not talk to him unless necessary. I was actually surprised that either Gavin or Merrill didn't kill him over it. I think a part of me wishes they would have.
Even though most of the males in this series are controlling and intolerable at times, I still really enjoy this series. I was told going in that Lissa has multiple mates by the end of it and I am waiting with open arms for them to show up. She needs someone to show her what a healthy and supportive relationship is because she isn't getting it from Gavin. Obviously, I will be continuing this series, if only to see Gavin's reaction when Lissa tells him she wants to be with multiple men.
**SIDE NOTE**
SPOILERS FOR THE ACOTAR SERIES BY SARAH J. MAAS AHEAD!
MAJOR SPOILERS THROUGHOUT:
I liked this book. I enjoyed reading it very much. I loved how fast paced this series is and how there never seems to be a dull moment. Every book is action packed and full of so much drama and I love it.
Lissa was her usual self. She is getting stronger as a person and not letting the males in the book walk all over her as much as they have in the past. I do have to admit that she is taking a little longer than I wish she would. Right now, she is bowing down and listening to what the males tell her to do. I feel it coming and I can't wait for the moment when Lissa finally stands up to all of them and says no. She is definitely becoming a Vampire Queen and the males are all going to get a shock of reality when Lissa finally realizes it.
My opinion of Gavin hasn't changed. He was still the possessive, jealous, manipulative prick he was in the last book. I don't like Gavin at all and I think his and Lissa's relationship is very unhealthy. I feel like she was forced into a relationship with him and is just trying to make it work because she has no other choice (as of now). There were multiple times in this book where Lissa would call him crying and he would be yelling at her. There were also times where Lissa thinks to herself about how much she wishes she could confide in Gavin but either couldn't trust him not to repeat it to the Council or she just felt like he would yell at her if she told the whole truth. If that doesn't raise a giant red flag, I don't know what will. I believe that relationships are built on trust. Lissa and Gavin just don't have it and I don't think they ever will.
I liked Tony going into this book but I really hated him by the end it. What he did to Lissa was a complete violation of trust and absolutely unacceptable. When Lissa agreed to go on the missions with him, she trusted him by sleeping around him and by him taking her blood while she was sleeping, he violated her trust as well as her body. I completely support Lissa's decision to never trust him again and to not talk to him unless necessary. I was actually surprised that either Gavin or Merrill didn't kill him over it. I think a part of me wishes they would have.
Even though most of the males in this series are controlling and intolerable at times, I still really enjoy this series. I was told going in that Lissa has multiple mates by the end of it and I am waiting with open arms for them to show up. She needs someone to show her what a healthy and supportive relationship is because she isn't getting it from Gavin. Obviously, I will be continuing this series, if only to see Gavin's reaction when Lissa tells him she wants to be with multiple men.
**SIDE NOTE**
SPOILERS FOR THE ACOTAR SERIES BY SARAH J. MAAS AHEAD!
October 20, 2018
This one maked me hate people
Paranormal. Vampire. Werewolf. FBI. Vampire heroine. This time around the Vampire Counsel loans Lissa out to the FBI. Betrayals all around. Breaking my heart here. Loved it still.
Paranormal. Vampire. Werewolf. FBI. Vampire heroine. This time around the Vampire Counsel loans Lissa out to the FBI. Betrayals all around. Breaking my heart here. Loved it still.
May 20, 2015
Despite the abuse she suffered at the hands of her vampire “family”, Lissa is quickly pressed back into service – her skills needed by Homeland security Agent, Tony to defend a series of politicians.
It’s soon clear that the terrorists threatening their lives are not conventional humans and more of Saxom’s
But Lissa is still being used as a tool – and is learning harsh lessons on betrayal from several angles.
Whatever potential this book has, though, is utterly shadowed by most of the men in Lissa’s life. They are terrible terrible people who all need eviscerating at her earliest convenience
I simply cannot understand Lissa’s relationship with any of the men around her, I just cannot. I cannot understand how she tolerates it, or regards any of these men with anything but contempt. Not one of the main male characters shows her even a crumb of respect, not one tiny iota of it. She is a tool to some, a sex object to others, but ultimately a thing to use as they will. They just dress it up in endearing, and often patronising, words.
This book opens with her being driven to suicide by her treatment in the last book – after being kept in the dark she acts how she thinks is best, ends up saving people and is then brutally beaten, stripped and humiliated for her disobedience. I said in my review of the last book that whether this book was a trainwreck or not would depend on how she reacts after she is saved from her attempted suicide in the last book
All aboard the next train to wrecksvile!
Yes, she spends a long time healing and a much much much shorter time nursing any kind of grudge against her tormentors. She quickly focuses most of her ire on one vampire (who is conveniently revealed to be a bad guy in the b plot) and pretty much absolves everyone else after a few snipping remarks. Just to make it extra galling, the vampires put her angry reaction down to her being a woman (because weak and feeble woman can’t take her beatings like a man!) and her being traumatised by an abusive childhood – and yes, it would definitely be triggering to her – but there doesn’t need to be a special REASON why Lissa objects to being used as a weapon then beaten because she isn’t slavishly obedient. She has enough reason! Her outrage is not due to her fragility because of her gender or her childhood. Her outrage is justified and self-explanatory! This ends up casting their actions as “reasonable” and their failure only in not taking into account her extra specially delicate she is.
So Merril continues to be looked upon as the doting, kindly father figure (Lissa has a brief moment of excellence when she calls him out for treating her like a child and a weapon- insisting that she can’t possibly be both and how his use of her as a tool blatantly put the lie to his paternalistic affection). And Gavin is her loving spouse despite, quite literally, the only thing he does in this book is call her and scream at her for daring to put herself in danger (her wilful danger-seeking would be following the orders of people she has been told to obey – after just being beaten for disobedience) until she’s near tears.
She also spends much of the rest of the book being given to Tony to use as his personal vampire agent to personally bodyguard various politicians. I have no idea why they need vampire bodyguards, why they are being targeted by the supernatural or anything else. No-one bothers to explain this to Lissa, she’s just around to fight and do as she’s told; so when the big-bad-hinted-meta-plot arises we’re still unsure as to exactly WHY this is happening. Why has the big bad suddenly decided to appear and be involved in human politics? Did Tony know or was it just a convenient coincidence? I have idea.
To make matters worse, not only is Lissa an abused tool (and Tony certainly joins in on that, moving her while she’s asleep, revealing her secrets to other agents without even thinking about consulting her first – which in turn endangers her and all vampirekind because Tony is so cavalier with her secrets), but Tony constantly hits on her, tries to kiss her and tries to get her to sleep with him despite her repeatedly telling him to stop.
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It’s soon clear that the terrorists threatening their lives are not conventional humans and more of Saxom’s
But Lissa is still being used as a tool – and is learning harsh lessons on betrayal from several angles.
Whatever potential this book has, though, is utterly shadowed by most of the men in Lissa’s life. They are terrible terrible people who all need eviscerating at her earliest convenience
I simply cannot understand Lissa’s relationship with any of the men around her, I just cannot. I cannot understand how she tolerates it, or regards any of these men with anything but contempt. Not one of the main male characters shows her even a crumb of respect, not one tiny iota of it. She is a tool to some, a sex object to others, but ultimately a thing to use as they will. They just dress it up in endearing, and often patronising, words.
This book opens with her being driven to suicide by her treatment in the last book – after being kept in the dark she acts how she thinks is best, ends up saving people and is then brutally beaten, stripped and humiliated for her disobedience. I said in my review of the last book that whether this book was a trainwreck or not would depend on how she reacts after she is saved from her attempted suicide in the last book
All aboard the next train to wrecksvile!
Yes, she spends a long time healing and a much much much shorter time nursing any kind of grudge against her tormentors. She quickly focuses most of her ire on one vampire (who is conveniently revealed to be a bad guy in the b plot) and pretty much absolves everyone else after a few snipping remarks. Just to make it extra galling, the vampires put her angry reaction down to her being a woman (because weak and feeble woman can’t take her beatings like a man!) and her being traumatised by an abusive childhood – and yes, it would definitely be triggering to her – but there doesn’t need to be a special REASON why Lissa objects to being used as a weapon then beaten because she isn’t slavishly obedient. She has enough reason! Her outrage is not due to her fragility because of her gender or her childhood. Her outrage is justified and self-explanatory! This ends up casting their actions as “reasonable” and their failure only in not taking into account her extra specially delicate she is.
So Merril continues to be looked upon as the doting, kindly father figure (Lissa has a brief moment of excellence when she calls him out for treating her like a child and a weapon- insisting that she can’t possibly be both and how his use of her as a tool blatantly put the lie to his paternalistic affection). And Gavin is her loving spouse despite, quite literally, the only thing he does in this book is call her and scream at her for daring to put herself in danger (her wilful danger-seeking would be following the orders of people she has been told to obey – after just being beaten for disobedience) until she’s near tears.
She also spends much of the rest of the book being given to Tony to use as his personal vampire agent to personally bodyguard various politicians. I have no idea why they need vampire bodyguards, why they are being targeted by the supernatural or anything else. No-one bothers to explain this to Lissa, she’s just around to fight and do as she’s told; so when the big-bad-hinted-meta-plot arises we’re still unsure as to exactly WHY this is happening. Why has the big bad suddenly decided to appear and be involved in human politics? Did Tony know or was it just a convenient coincidence? I have idea.
To make matters worse, not only is Lissa an abused tool (and Tony certainly joins in on that, moving her while she’s asleep, revealing her secrets to other agents without even thinking about consulting her first – which in turn endangers her and all vampirekind because Tony is so cavalier with her secrets), but Tony constantly hits on her, tries to kiss her and tries to get her to sleep with him despite her repeatedly telling him to stop.
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June 20, 2019
So this book begins with Lissa healing after her flambé spectacular at the end of the last novel. It takes a while, but eventually she recovers just fine. Shortly after returning to normal, she’s shipped off to the States to work with Tony and basically do his bidding like a loyal little cronie. And that’s pretty much all that happens in the story.
Lissa basically bumblefucks her way across the country, doing as she’s told without really questioning anything. She kills some vamps, saves some folks, helps out Winkler, and gets waaayy too cozy with Tony.
Which really really rankles. Okay, so Tony KNOWS that Lissa is engaged to Gavin, but that doesn’t stop him from constantly putting the moves on her or sweet talking her every chance he gets. And what does she do about it? NOTHING!
There’s kissing and touching going on, and the only thing Lissa doesn’t do is sleep with him. She feels fine and guilt free doing all that stuff with Tony, yet she still has the audacity to say that she ‘loves’ Gavin? Fuck off with that nonsense! It’s unbelievable! At one point Lissa even thinks that if Tony were to touch her just a little more she’d jump him. What a skank!
Smooching and touching another man is definitely cheating! I don't even like Gavin, but adultery makes my blood boil. On top of all that, for some reason every attractive dude wants to jump the heroine. Why does everyone seemingly have the hots of Lissa? She is fawned over and coddled constantly. It's pretty gross!
I don’t understand it at all! Does this author have some sort of fantasy about all men wanting to jump her or something so she decided to put it in her book? If that’s the case, then I have to say that her fantasy really sucks. On another note, many of the guys in this novel refer to Lissa as ‘little girl’. Seriously? Why is she okay with that? It’s creepy and demeaning. And don’t even get me started on everyone calling her ‘baby’. Just NO!
Ugh . . . this book is a steamy pile of crap. There’s nothing likeable about it. Lissa has no morals, doesn’t stand up for herself, and is always pouting or blubbering like a teenage girl. Most of the men in this story are absolute dickheads. The plot is all over the place, and the villain reveal was really boring.
There are several little side plots bouncing around in this novel and all of them were terrible. They didn’t elicit any emotions out of me whatsoever! And the stupidity of the Council is astounding! How those ancient bastards have lived so long, I will never know. Everything goes right over their heads, but by God a newly minted vamp knows just what to do and fixes everything from afar.
How magical! And lets not forget how super special Lissa really is! For she can kill vampires that are thousands of years old like it’s nothing. Yep, she’s just automatically that powerful with unparalleled battle prowess. Does that make any sense to you? Because it sure doesn’t to me!
How can a 48 year old vampire take on a battle hardened master and win? The answer is, she shouldn’t be able to. It’s mind boggling how much godly power this author has given her MC. It’s really stupid. Not even the ‘shocking’ ending could save this book. The best part out of entire series was when Lissa turned into crispy fried chicken. Everything else blows.
The few side characters I like in this story, Frank, Greg, Charles, Weldon and Griffin just don’t hold enough sway to lure me into reading the next installment. I just can’t do it! There is only so much idiocy and skin crawling sweet talk I can take! Time to stake this junk out in the sun and let it burn.
Lissa basically bumblefucks her way across the country, doing as she’s told without really questioning anything. She kills some vamps, saves some folks, helps out Winkler, and gets waaayy too cozy with Tony.
Which really really rankles. Okay, so Tony KNOWS that Lissa is engaged to Gavin, but that doesn’t stop him from constantly putting the moves on her or sweet talking her every chance he gets. And what does she do about it? NOTHING!
There’s kissing and touching going on, and the only thing Lissa doesn’t do is sleep with him. She feels fine and guilt free doing all that stuff with Tony, yet she still has the audacity to say that she ‘loves’ Gavin? Fuck off with that nonsense! It’s unbelievable! At one point Lissa even thinks that if Tony were to touch her just a little more she’d jump him. What a skank!
Smooching and touching another man is definitely cheating! I don't even like Gavin, but adultery makes my blood boil. On top of all that, for some reason every attractive dude wants to jump the heroine. Why does everyone seemingly have the hots of Lissa? She is fawned over and coddled constantly. It's pretty gross!
I don’t understand it at all! Does this author have some sort of fantasy about all men wanting to jump her or something so she decided to put it in her book? If that’s the case, then I have to say that her fantasy really sucks. On another note, many of the guys in this novel refer to Lissa as ‘little girl’. Seriously? Why is she okay with that? It’s creepy and demeaning. And don’t even get me started on everyone calling her ‘baby’. Just NO!
Ugh . . . this book is a steamy pile of crap. There’s nothing likeable about it. Lissa has no morals, doesn’t stand up for herself, and is always pouting or blubbering like a teenage girl. Most of the men in this story are absolute dickheads. The plot is all over the place, and the villain reveal was really boring.
There are several little side plots bouncing around in this novel and all of them were terrible. They didn’t elicit any emotions out of me whatsoever! And the stupidity of the Council is astounding! How those ancient bastards have lived so long, I will never know. Everything goes right over their heads, but by God a newly minted vamp knows just what to do and fixes everything from afar.
How magical! And lets not forget how super special Lissa really is! For she can kill vampires that are thousands of years old like it’s nothing. Yep, she’s just automatically that powerful with unparalleled battle prowess. Does that make any sense to you? Because it sure doesn’t to me!
How can a 48 year old vampire take on a battle hardened master and win? The answer is, she shouldn’t be able to. It’s mind boggling how much godly power this author has given her MC. It’s really stupid. Not even the ‘shocking’ ending could save this book. The best part out of entire series was when Lissa turned into crispy fried chicken. Everything else blows.
The few side characters I like in this story, Frank, Greg, Charles, Weldon and Griffin just don’t hold enough sway to lure me into reading the next installment. I just can’t do it! There is only so much idiocy and skin crawling sweet talk I can take! Time to stake this junk out in the sun and let it burn.
June 28, 2017
I'm loving these books and will do a proper review of the first one. I actually took a star off (which pained me a bit as I really do love them).
I did it because I got so frustrated with the author's use of "Because the vampire council will kill me if I don't" as a catch-all plot device.
While I thought Ms Suttle laid the ground-work for this in regard to the vampire council she did not lay any ground-work as to why Lissa was such a submissive and compliant little madam with Tony and all his endless and stupid demands. This is a vampire - who can use compulsion - is it somehow immoral to use it to get 30 minutes in the morning to wake up, alone and in peace? And if it is - could she tell us that then - instead of just making Lissa a lapdog dragged hither and thither for no valid reason (that we are ever given)
I became very cross with parts of the book where Lissa seemed to have no spine at all and allowed strangers to walk in and out of her bedroom without knocking and 'glaring at them' really isn't the answer! At least not if you're building a credible character. And we had no explanation at all about why this grown woman (let's try and remember she was 47 before she was turned) takes no responsibility for her own safety while she is unconscious.
I like the books very much - recommend them highly and they are self-published. My only recommendation is that the author might want to consider some honest beta readers if she doesn't have the benefit of an editor to alert her when she is taking too many short-cuts and actually detracting from Lissa as a credible character.
However I am off to start the next book .... and I do recommend them
I did it because I got so frustrated with the author's use of "Because the vampire council will kill me if I don't" as a catch-all plot device.
While I thought Ms Suttle laid the ground-work for this in regard to the vampire council she did not lay any ground-work as to why Lissa was such a submissive and compliant little madam with Tony and all his endless and stupid demands. This is a vampire - who can use compulsion - is it somehow immoral to use it to get 30 minutes in the morning to wake up, alone and in peace? And if it is - could she tell us that then - instead of just making Lissa a lapdog dragged hither and thither for no valid reason (that we are ever given)
I became very cross with parts of the book where Lissa seemed to have no spine at all and allowed strangers to walk in and out of her bedroom without knocking and 'glaring at them' really isn't the answer! At least not if you're building a credible character. And we had no explanation at all about why this grown woman (let's try and remember she was 47 before she was turned) takes no responsibility for her own safety while she is unconscious.
I like the books very much - recommend them highly and they are self-published. My only recommendation is that the author might want to consider some honest beta readers if she doesn't have the benefit of an editor to alert her when she is taking too many short-cuts and actually detracting from Lissa as a credible character.
However I am off to start the next book .... and I do recommend them
February 25, 2012
Yes so Lissa tried to kill herself at the end of the last book, but I’m not really sure why. Okay so people were dying because of her but she didn’t create that mess. Yes she’s trapped but really is it that bad? Okay as a modern woman I should be goining the men are in charge noooo!!!!! But really Lissa and the vampires are being a bit dense now and the whole trust/betrayal thing is starting to get old. They have their reasons for what they do but none of the characters seem to be able to develop to a point where thay understand each other’s motivations which is starting to raise warning flags.
Again there is an interesting idea behind the main plot but the characters are still too under developed for me, there just don’t seem to be any real villains. Yes we are told who the bad guys are but we don’t know why they are the bad guys, what did Saxom do that was so evil? There is no history there (or rather it’s under used) so again characterisation is getting a bit formulaic and it is hard to feel that these guys are a threat. There is also an odd subplot regarding murders in the UK while Lissa is in America, and I cannot believe that these ancient vampires are unable to take the same detective steps Lissa has to solve it. I get that she is being set up as some amazing super vampire but unless she stops complaining I’m going to stop caring. These books have been released in quick succession and while the essential idea is very good they zip through from beginning to end in an exciting but ultimately surface manner.
Again there is an interesting idea behind the main plot but the characters are still too under developed for me, there just don’t seem to be any real villains. Yes we are told who the bad guys are but we don’t know why they are the bad guys, what did Saxom do that was so evil? There is no history there (or rather it’s under used) so again characterisation is getting a bit formulaic and it is hard to feel that these guys are a threat. There is also an odd subplot regarding murders in the UK while Lissa is in America, and I cannot believe that these ancient vampires are unable to take the same detective steps Lissa has to solve it. I get that she is being set up as some amazing super vampire but unless she stops complaining I’m going to stop caring. These books have been released in quick succession and while the essential idea is very good they zip through from beginning to end in an exciting but ultimately surface manner.
August 4, 2017
After re-reading this series, I've come to the realization that although Lissa is very smart, part of her is stupid. She is a bit of a push over at times. At times I feel like she should be angry when she's not or she should be standing up for herself when she doesn't. This is especially the case with Gavin. He's been a complete ass hole since the beginning of the series yet she continues to be with him and say things like "I love you." How can she love him when he thinks that she just some baby vamp that can't take care of herself, he's always yelling at her and verbally abusing her, they barely get along, he's way too jealous and he tries to control every aspect of her life. He's felt inadequate the whole time because she's way more bad ass than her. He's betrayed her so many times like in the very beginning when he turned her over to the council, every time he had information that she could have used, and every time he yelled at her when she got into dangerous situations when it's the council that put her in them in the first place. How fair is that. It's as if he doesn't respect her at all. I've found that I kinda wish that most of the men in Lissa's life would have unfortunate accidents. Especially Gavin and Tony.
December 13, 2011
I have to say that Lissa have been come Anita(kinda without all those sex), she got more "talents" one after another and all men adore her. Well, if they didn't than they are bad guy.
She is a self-published author and after book 2, I hope she will try publisher's after all so I can read a better version of this. *face-palm* With good editor I do believe this can be great, but as it is today to raw for my taste(or rather to long to suffer to the end).
Cravings Only human by Eileen Wilks, in this is a raw form of
.
Another thing is that I have to say is I love the first book, love it till the werewolf came out. I find those rather not fit and Lissa have become someone I dislike. I love how she don't whine and just try her best, but as book grow she have become rather like a child. I give up.
She is a self-published author and after book 2, I hope she will try publisher's after all so I can read a better version of this. *face-palm* With good editor I do believe this can be great, but as it is today to raw for my taste(or rather to long to suffer to the end).
Cravings Only human by Eileen Wilks, in this is a raw form of
. Another thing is that I have to say is I love the first book, love it till the werewolf came out. I find those rather not fit and Lissa have become someone I dislike. I love how she don't whine and just try her best, but as book grow she have become rather like a child. I give up.
June 5, 2017
This picks up right where we left off. Merrill has come to the rescue! Lissa has a long road ahead of her but eventually gets sent in assignment. No one has her mentally evaluated and no one seems to give her the love and warmth she needs. In this book Gavin is very verbally abusive to me and Lissa just goes through with it. He's constantly calling her up cussing up a storm about why situations have happened. He needs to be supportive and show love. This portion of the story could have been made better when he was playing hot and cold in book 1 and them going more than surface deep. I know Lissa says ILY to Gavin and he eventually says it too but I'm not feeling it.
People keep leaving her in the dark not realizing the asset she is. They want to use her and her talents but not let her have free rein. And it's just disappointing how she has been treated she's done so much saved so many people and they don't seem to care.
This is not the Lissa I met in Reah's books and I do understand that Lissa's books come before Reah's so we have to build Lissa up.
And yes I'm still reading this stuff.
People keep leaving her in the dark not realizing the asset she is. They want to use her and her talents but not let her have free rein. And it's just disappointing how she has been treated she's done so much saved so many people and they don't seem to care.
This is not the Lissa I met in Reah's books and I do understand that Lissa's books come before Reah's so we have to build Lissa up.
And yes I'm still reading this stuff.
August 9, 2016
Unfortunately this series starts as urban fantasy but it takes a sharp turn to sci-fi.
I finished at book 6, and the whole time I was just expecting our h to explode and give some pay back. Maybe that's why I hung to it for 6 books.
Gavin, the first H, is an abusive bastard. I just cant stand how she just took the abuse.
This book had a lot of plot holes, but it was still enjoyable until you get so passionate about the characters and then they disappoint you and you drop the series.
Another reason I dropped the series was because at book 6, it became too much like Anita Blake. I'm a one guy only sort of gal, thank you very much!
May 8, 2015
The first in this series is great. The second was okay and this one was not so great.
Lissa. Poor Lissa. She started out as such a great, strong character. Now she is pudding. I couldn't even finish this book. All of the men around her treat her like garbage and then she doesn't stick up for herself. Ever. I had thought with the strong start and Lissa's human age, she would have been more solid. She crumpled. I don't find that to be entertaining at all. I am disappointed.
Lissa. Poor Lissa. She started out as such a great, strong character. Now she is pudding. I couldn't even finish this book. All of the men around her treat her like garbage and then she doesn't stick up for herself. Ever. I had thought with the strong start and Lissa's human age, she would have been more solid. She crumpled. I don't find that to be entertaining at all. I am disappointed.
December 31, 2017
DNF @ 25%.
I gave this series its last chance, and guess what it did with it?
Threw it away, that's what.
Lissa, the main character, gets even more stupid. Is there a term for people somehow more stupid than those who are TSTL? B/c if there is, Lissa is it. Every important character in Blood Destiny somehow uses her, lies to her, manipulates her, abuses the hell out of her, and she never does anything about it. Or if she does, she goes back on it. I was so giddy when she tried to kill herself --and how fucked is it that the best thing in the series is this--, but then she was all like 'ok, I'm sorry for doing this and being a selfish cow since obviously Gavin doesn't deserve to suffer this way and everything is about him, duh'.
Do I really need to talk about how much I hate Gavin? I hope there's a place in Book Hell just for him. A solitary confinement kind of place since he's such an asshole it could be contagious, and y'know, evil the world can take on, but more assholes? Please, spare us.
Blood Wager (Blood Destiny, #1)
Blood Passage (Blood Destiny, #2)
I gave this series its last chance, and guess what it did with it?
Threw it away, that's what.
Lissa, the main character, gets even more stupid. Is there a term for people somehow more stupid than those who are TSTL? B/c if there is, Lissa is it. Every important character in Blood Destiny somehow uses her, lies to her, manipulates her, abuses the hell out of her, and she never does anything about it. Or if she does, she goes back on it. I was so giddy when she tried to kill herself --and how fucked is it that the best thing in the series is this--, but then she was all like 'ok, I'm sorry for doing this and being a selfish cow since obviously Gavin doesn't deserve to suffer this way and everything is about him, duh'.
Do I really need to talk about how much I hate Gavin? I hope there's a place in Book Hell just for him. A solitary confinement kind of place since he's such an asshole it could be contagious, and y'know, evil the world can take on, but more assholes? Please, spare us.
Blood Wager (Blood Destiny, #1)
Blood Passage (Blood Destiny, #2)
April 5, 2018
Oh how I wanted heads to roll! And roll they did, although maybe not as fast as I would have liked and not always everyone I wanted. Lissa plays in an ever more complex world, one that seems determined to keep her in the dark. After all she is actually a very capable, intelligent woman in her late 40's. She has every right to get miffed with those in control around her and there were many times when I was gasping out loud and wanted to shout at them for the treatment of Lissa. She suffers the ultimate betrayal in trust and I am beginning to suspect that her powers are quietly and unwittingly affecting those around her, certainly the men at least. There is one character whom I love though, and I love every second he has page time and cannot wait to find out more about him. Yes, that would be Griffin, wonder if anyone else is with me :-) I also am getting annoyed by Gavin, I'm curious as to where Lissa's romantic future might take her. All in all though, the world of vampires and werewolves are solidifying around Lissa and I along with her, am beginning to get a grasp of just how things work. Shame the human governments aren't! All brilliantly captivating and I am enjoying this series immensely. On to the next!
May 12, 2021
I thing sucks harder then reading a first book is a series and getting excited because you found a new series. Then you read the second book and cringe but this “next one will get better”. Then you read the 3 and are like “this series is the worst”. I really wanted to like it but the author went with cranking them out rather then writing a good, entertaining and plausible story.
July 26, 2021
Lost stars for AntiVax Plot Device
Flu vaccines can't be adulterated to attack human DNA. Same thing with the COVID vaccines. I understand that it's a plot device, but it is a cringe worthy one in 2021. The series had been pretty entertaining up to the Vaccine plot device disaster.
Flu vaccines can't be adulterated to attack human DNA. Same thing with the COVID vaccines. I understand that it's a plot device, but it is a cringe worthy one in 2021. The series had been pretty entertaining up to the Vaccine plot device disaster.
July 11, 2020
Loving the way that the characters are developing and themes are being carried on though the series. Although I don't understand the relationship between Gavin and Lissa and I do find aspects of it OTT.
August 18, 2021
Fantastic
I can't properly express how much I adore these books. Lissa is such an interesting character, and the relationships she has with the others who surround her are fascinating. I have re-read these books many times. Highly recommend!
I can't properly express how much I adore these books. Lissa is such an interesting character, and the relationships she has with the others who surround her are fascinating. I have re-read these books many times. Highly recommend!
May 14, 2017
Crazy Good!
Lots of Drama! Tons of Action! Just gets better and better! Can't wait for the next book! From a Fan... Pam James j
Lots of Drama! Tons of Action! Just gets better and better! Can't wait for the next book! From a Fan... Pam James j
May 31, 2017
WHAT HAPPENED? I loved the first 2 books...
November 5, 2017
Fantastic
This series is Addictive and wildly fascinating when you start it you will lose sleep and then you keep on reading. Beware all of her books are like this so ENJOY!
This series is Addictive and wildly fascinating when you start it you will lose sleep and then you keep on reading. Beware all of her books are like this so ENJOY!
November 27, 2017
I enjoyed this book the least out of the three I think I’m going to leave the series there & I can’t see my interest being held for another 7 books.
February 14, 2018
Loved it, thanks Connie. I have to admit that Tony really irked me to the nth degree......how dare he??
March 2, 2018
Not a fan at all of going off-planet. Thank goodness it was short lived. But I did like the characters there.
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