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Nightshade #2
Bloodlust
Jillian Conrad's blood has killed the vampire king. Now an enemy to all vampires, she is targeted for elimination. So is the infant daughter of the dead king. If Jillian doesn't stand in the way of her death, then everyone, living or dead, is in great peril.
283 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 5, 2011
38 people are currently reading
1774 people want to read
About the author
Michelle Rowen
67 books2,722 followersNational bestselling author MICHELLE ROWEN writes paranormal romance, urban fantasy, and young adult fantasy, both light and dark, sexy and sweet, long and short -- it all depends on the story! She's won a Holt Medallion for Best First Book and a Romantic Times Reviewers Choice award for Vampire Romance. For more information, please visit Michelle at her website at www.michellerowen.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 135 reviews
March 7, 2017
I originally wrote this when Tascha and I had a long discussion about HIMYM and the habit of writing a letter to your future self, explaining why a relationship (book) worked or didn't work out for you.
So, this is a letter to my future self, because Tascha is a bad influence. (And I love her very much.)
Patricia,
in a moment of deep daddy issued rage you ordered those two novels despite your initial belief that they were written for young adults – an age-group you shy away from in real life and in fiction. Looking at the cover one would believe this was way more Urban Fantasy than PNR, but this someone (and I’m talking about me here) would be wrong.
Nightshade was pretty good. It is about a woman who accidently stumbled into one hell of a mess. Injected with a serum that is addictive and deadly to vampires, she has been taken hostage by one hell of a half-vampire who pretty much hates everything about his supernatural heritage and wants to use her as a weapen against vampires.
I’ll make it short because this is about two novels after all.
In Nightshade I liked Jill, the heroine, very much. First of all, her name rocks. But she also had some huge potential, even though she’s no runner for the favorite heroine spot. Unfortunately she disappointed me in Bloodlust, but more about that later on.
Matthias, the bad guy, was very cool. I have a thing for well-written villains and he definitely is one, even though I do not like his past and how he always had more than one lover etc. I suppose that is because I cannot really romantasize him this way, but he still intrigued me.
Declan, the actual loveinterest, was very interesting. He seems to be inspired by heroes like Terrible and that made me like him very quickly. He takes meds to do exactly what the people he works for want, which makes him one cold bastard. Reminds me of some Anti Depressants, and that made me like his plotline alot.
The whole story was good and I think people will enjoy Nightshade. I’m not regretting that I bought the paperback copies of this and the next installment, but it could have been much better. There was more potential to the novel and Rowen didn’t use all of that. But I also think that some parts could not have been better executed. So it’s a mixture of average idea and average execution, plus popular tropes and some rather special characters. My, my. I’m so confused.
In comparison Bloodlust was less good. Where in the first installment I was able to handle the heroine, in this one she wasn’t behaving like a 28 yrs old woman with some supernatural powers and responsibilities. She didn’t even act like an 18 yrs old girl. She was very childish, very often. She (frequently) hurt Declan because he hurt her – to hurt him back, which was not acceptable for me. I know that people tend to do it, and I don’t like it then, either.
I think their relationship is a little too unhealthy and what’s been shown in this and the first novel doesn’t justify her (and his) use of the word “love” altough one could argue that he is from an emotional point of view younger than a fourteen yrs old facebook-addict, which makes it sort of okay for him to say it. As long as he is not on my friends list on Facebook. Naturally.
The plot was good, though. Not super-awesome, but it was thick enough and I like me some Noah and Matthias.
Future Self, while those two novels didn’t completely blew my mind, they definitely entertained me. Rowen knows how to play with tropes and if she had changed a few things those two books could easily have become favorites of mine. I hope you’ll pick other Rowen books up in the future!
Sincerely,
Patricia
So, this is a letter to my future self, because Tascha is a bad influence. (And I love her very much.)
Patricia,
in a moment of deep daddy issued rage you ordered those two novels despite your initial belief that they were written for young adults – an age-group you shy away from in real life and in fiction. Looking at the cover one would believe this was way more Urban Fantasy than PNR, but this someone (and I’m talking about me here) would be wrong.
Nightshade was pretty good. It is about a woman who accidently stumbled into one hell of a mess. Injected with a serum that is addictive and deadly to vampires, she has been taken hostage by one hell of a half-vampire who pretty much hates everything about his supernatural heritage and wants to use her as a weapen against vampires.
I’ll make it short because this is about two novels after all.
In Nightshade I liked Jill, the heroine, very much. First of all, her name rocks. But she also had some huge potential, even though she’s no runner for the favorite heroine spot. Unfortunately she disappointed me in Bloodlust, but more about that later on.
Matthias, the bad guy, was very cool. I have a thing for well-written villains and he definitely is one, even though I do not like his past and how he always had more than one lover etc. I suppose that is because I cannot really romantasize him this way, but he still intrigued me.
Declan, the actual loveinterest, was very interesting. He seems to be inspired by heroes like Terrible and that made me like him very quickly. He takes meds to do exactly what the people he works for want, which makes him one cold bastard. Reminds me of some Anti Depressants, and that made me like his plotline alot.
The whole story was good and I think people will enjoy Nightshade. I’m not regretting that I bought the paperback copies of this and the next installment, but it could have been much better. There was more potential to the novel and Rowen didn’t use all of that. But I also think that some parts could not have been better executed. So it’s a mixture of average idea and average execution, plus popular tropes and some rather special characters. My, my. I’m so confused.
In comparison Bloodlust was less good. Where in the first installment I was able to handle the heroine, in this one she wasn’t behaving like a 28 yrs old woman with some supernatural powers and responsibilities. She didn’t even act like an 18 yrs old girl. She was very childish, very often. She (frequently) hurt Declan because he hurt her – to hurt him back, which was not acceptable for me. I know that people tend to do it, and I don’t like it then, either.
I think their relationship is a little too unhealthy and what’s been shown in this and the first novel doesn’t justify her (and his) use of the word “love” altough one could argue that he is from an emotional point of view younger than a fourteen yrs old facebook-addict, which makes it sort of okay for him to say it. As long as he is not on my friends list on Facebook. Naturally.
The plot was good, though. Not super-awesome, but it was thick enough and I like me some Noah and Matthias.
Future Self, while those two novels didn’t completely blew my mind, they definitely entertained me. Rowen knows how to play with tropes and if she had changed a few things those two books could easily have become favorites of mine. I hope you’ll pick other Rowen books up in the future!
Sincerely,
Patricia
August 5, 2011
3.5 stars
After Jill and Declan get away with the Vampire King’s baby, a dhampyr female, Declan hides the baby. This story picks up with Jill meeting up with Noah, to see about her and Declan’s condition. It is safe to say I recommend reading Nightshade before this one. Declan is a dhampyr who has taken injections for years to suppress rage. At the end of the first book he was injected with a permanent serum. The serum strips away his emotions, even his sex drive. In the first part of this story we see this ‘permanent’ serum start to wear off.
Jill on the other hand is dying. In the first books she was given Nightshade, a chemical that turns her blood poisonous to vampires. It is also killing her. Noah is a human working to help both Jill and Declan. With him comes Matthis, the Vampire King, believed to be dead.
Matthis wants his daughter back, but because the blood of an infant female dhampyr grants true immortality to vampires, Declan refuses to tell him. Declan at the same time is battling his rages, because the serum is wearing off. Matthis soon tells Jill, Declan will become crazy. He also tells her there is a way to help him, but he has to know where his daughter is first. That’s not all we discover about Matthis, his brother is also about to wake, and try to over throw his kingdom. Kristoff, Matthis’s brother, wants to take the world letting vampires rule.
Jill has come to terms with the fact she is in love with Declan, but he hasn’t. Her character grows at the end of the story, and she finally starts to get the hang of things, but it takes her a long time. Her blood is poison to the vampires, and her smell irresistible, so that means lots of nibbling, and lots of vampire death. There are a lot of twists in this novel, and Jill seems to get a lot of the abuse, but she bounces right up again.
Declan drove me nuts. He is hot on minute, cold the next. Jill said it right when she kind of called him bi-polar. In the first novel, we were lead to believe that people had lied to him, and he didn’t need the serum. In this we learn he needs it, or is going to need it. I am not a fan of getting jerked around. Declan is by far the most interesting character, he is one of our lead men. Usually in a book like this the leads are perfect, from head to toe, Declan’s not. Declan is a giant muscle man, with scars everywhere, in fact he is missing an eye. He goes through huge changes in this novel, and in the end I forgave him for his craziness.
In the first book I was excited with Matthis, a mysterious, powerful Vampire King. His mystery wore off. He spends so much of the novel weak, or seeming weak. His sexiness rubbed off as soon as he was half-dead and bloody in Jill’s arms. He does help Jill greatly, and I think some interesting stuff will come out of the two of them.
Because there are so many twists, I didn’t give any more of the plot. Just the issues the characters have to resolve. I had a hard time rating it. There is one sex scene, and a few that edge on sex, but never get there. It read far more like an Urban Fantasy, than a Paranormal Romance. Jill has the same problem as most heroines do in her position, she repeats her feelings again, and again. I wish some of that focus was given to the setting, or description. There is a lot of gore, but the descriptions sometimes felt bogged down. The plot was exciting and action packed, but it wasn’t as shocking as the first book. I was a little upset at the turn Declan took, but still rooted for him. There was growth, and character development. The series could be stopped here, but I hope for another book.
-Beth (Guest Reviewer)
After Jill and Declan get away with the Vampire King’s baby, a dhampyr female, Declan hides the baby. This story picks up with Jill meeting up with Noah, to see about her and Declan’s condition. It is safe to say I recommend reading Nightshade before this one. Declan is a dhampyr who has taken injections for years to suppress rage. At the end of the first book he was injected with a permanent serum. The serum strips away his emotions, even his sex drive. In the first part of this story we see this ‘permanent’ serum start to wear off.
Jill on the other hand is dying. In the first books she was given Nightshade, a chemical that turns her blood poisonous to vampires. It is also killing her. Noah is a human working to help both Jill and Declan. With him comes Matthis, the Vampire King, believed to be dead.
Matthis wants his daughter back, but because the blood of an infant female dhampyr grants true immortality to vampires, Declan refuses to tell him. Declan at the same time is battling his rages, because the serum is wearing off. Matthis soon tells Jill, Declan will become crazy. He also tells her there is a way to help him, but he has to know where his daughter is first. That’s not all we discover about Matthis, his brother is also about to wake, and try to over throw his kingdom. Kristoff, Matthis’s brother, wants to take the world letting vampires rule.
Jill has come to terms with the fact she is in love with Declan, but he hasn’t. Her character grows at the end of the story, and she finally starts to get the hang of things, but it takes her a long time. Her blood is poison to the vampires, and her smell irresistible, so that means lots of nibbling, and lots of vampire death. There are a lot of twists in this novel, and Jill seems to get a lot of the abuse, but she bounces right up again.
Declan drove me nuts. He is hot on minute, cold the next. Jill said it right when she kind of called him bi-polar. In the first novel, we were lead to believe that people had lied to him, and he didn’t need the serum. In this we learn he needs it, or is going to need it. I am not a fan of getting jerked around. Declan is by far the most interesting character, he is one of our lead men. Usually in a book like this the leads are perfect, from head to toe, Declan’s not. Declan is a giant muscle man, with scars everywhere, in fact he is missing an eye. He goes through huge changes in this novel, and in the end I forgave him for his craziness.
In the first book I was excited with Matthis, a mysterious, powerful Vampire King. His mystery wore off. He spends so much of the novel weak, or seeming weak. His sexiness rubbed off as soon as he was half-dead and bloody in Jill’s arms. He does help Jill greatly, and I think some interesting stuff will come out of the two of them.
Because there are so many twists, I didn’t give any more of the plot. Just the issues the characters have to resolve. I had a hard time rating it. There is one sex scene, and a few that edge on sex, but never get there. It read far more like an Urban Fantasy, than a Paranormal Romance. Jill has the same problem as most heroines do in her position, she repeats her feelings again, and again. I wish some of that focus was given to the setting, or description. There is a lot of gore, but the descriptions sometimes felt bogged down. The plot was exciting and action packed, but it wasn’t as shocking as the first book. I was a little upset at the turn Declan took, but still rooted for him. There was growth, and character development. The series could be stopped here, but I hope for another book.
-Beth (Guest Reviewer)
February 1, 2012
It has been two weeks since Jill has been injected with the Nightshade that made her a vampire’s favorite flavor, a flavor that has the harmful side effect of death. She is on the road with an emotionless Declan and they are searching for a cure or reversal or any piece of hope to her current situation.
With the minimal romance this book felt more urban fantasy than paranormal romance. The spine clearly lists this book as a paranormal romance. I was intrigued by the idea of a hero that could not feel the emotions that would allow him to fall in love with his heroine. This seems like a trait that could really amp up the sexual tension in a book. There are so many potential hurdles for them to overcome as a couple. Declan’s lack of emotions made him a cruel jerk for the most part. The attraction and desires seem one sided for the majority of the book.
Jill seemed overall weak and completely defenseless. Her only strength is the fact that her blood is poison to vampires. Even though she is continually physically harmed by vampires she is very optimistic in trying to find good qualities and traits in them. She is extremely strong willed and has an immense desire to live.
I did not enjoy Bloodlust nearly as much as I did Nightshade. The first half moved at a slower pace than I would have preferred. The plot seemed like it was all over the place to me. I thought Bloodlust was weighed down by having too much going on. There were too many schemes and ploys to the big climatic ending. The experiments also became tiresome. I was pleased with where the numerous ploys and schemes ended. Everything came together in the end.
With the minimal romance this book felt more urban fantasy than paranormal romance. The spine clearly lists this book as a paranormal romance. I was intrigued by the idea of a hero that could not feel the emotions that would allow him to fall in love with his heroine. This seems like a trait that could really amp up the sexual tension in a book. There are so many potential hurdles for them to overcome as a couple. Declan’s lack of emotions made him a cruel jerk for the most part. The attraction and desires seem one sided for the majority of the book.
Jill seemed overall weak and completely defenseless. Her only strength is the fact that her blood is poison to vampires. Even though she is continually physically harmed by vampires she is very optimistic in trying to find good qualities and traits in them. She is extremely strong willed and has an immense desire to live.
I did not enjoy Bloodlust nearly as much as I did Nightshade. The first half moved at a slower pace than I would have preferred. The plot seemed like it was all over the place to me. I thought Bloodlust was weighed down by having too much going on. There were too many schemes and ploys to the big climatic ending. The experiments also became tiresome. I was pleased with where the numerous ploys and schemes ended. Everything came together in the end.
June 14, 2015
Series changed from Paranormal Romance to Urban Fantasy YA
July 6, 2011
In Six Words:
liked plot but didn’t like romance
Why did I read this? And am I glad I did?:
I read Nightshade earlier this year and loved it. I even had this pre-ordered. Now let me first mention that I read this front to back. It held my attention with no issues (well unless you consider me not wanting to stop to eat an issue). So why only 3 stars?! I didn’t like how the romance played out. It seemed far too back and forth. I was shocked to find that I had switched sides and then was ultimately disappointed in how things progressed.
Jill seemed a little less in control. Which considering all she had been through in the past few weeks is probably understandable, but still hard to like. Matthias was the star. I love guys that don’t fit in a category. He’s not a good guy, but he’s not a bad guy. He’s both and owns it. Declan was hard to like in this book. I believe it was done on purpose by the author, but that didnt’ stop it from breaking my heart.
If you haven’t picked up the first book yet, please do. If you have read the first then I still highly recommend this one. I really hope to see more in this series.
liked plot but didn’t like romance
Why did I read this? And am I glad I did?:
I read Nightshade earlier this year and loved it. I even had this pre-ordered. Now let me first mention that I read this front to back. It held my attention with no issues (well unless you consider me not wanting to stop to eat an issue). So why only 3 stars?! I didn’t like how the romance played out. It seemed far too back and forth. I was shocked to find that I had switched sides and then was ultimately disappointed in how things progressed.
Jill seemed a little less in control. Which considering all she had been through in the past few weeks is probably understandable, but still hard to like. Matthias was the star. I love guys that don’t fit in a category. He’s not a good guy, but he’s not a bad guy. He’s both and owns it. Declan was hard to like in this book. I believe it was done on purpose by the author, but that didnt’ stop it from breaking my heart.
If you haven’t picked up the first book yet, please do. If you have read the first then I still highly recommend this one. I really hope to see more in this series.
February 26, 2016
Ahhhh, I'm so happy I started and finished this duology in February. While it didn't on a cliffhanger, giving me a satisfying ending, you can just feel the potential it would have for a longer series.
I miss the world already.
I miss the world already.
August 9, 2011
*Rating* 3.0
*Genre* Urban Fantasy
*Review*
Bloodlust is the second installment in the Nightshade series. The story picks up shortly after the events of Nightshade and finds Jillian and Declan on the run from vampires who know all about the Nighshade virus that flows in Jillians veins. They are also working with Noah, a former government scientist who has become a friend, to find a cure for the toxin before it's too late for her to do anything about it.
*Please refer to Nightshade to what actually transpired that caused Jillian to have toxic blood and forced her and Declan to run*
Jill is one of those characters that you really have to have some patience with. She believes that she is in love with Declan but he is having so many personal issues because of events that happened in Nightshade, that it's forcing her to take a realistic look at their situation. This includes looking towards the one person she thought was dead after drinking her blood; Matthias.
Jill also realizes that without a cure, she will be dead within the next two weeks, and none of this will really matter in the long run. Jillian's mistakes and choices are tossed aside as being normal behavior for her character. She is also pushed into difficult situations by not only Matthias and his actions, but in saving Noah and Declan as well. She is the perfect pawn in a chess game played by others who want to use her toxic blood as a means to take out their enemies. One bite from Jill’s blood and the vampire who bites her dies a painful death.
Others:
Reyes is a dhampyre whose father is a vampire and mother was human. He has issues of his own after being forcibly injected with a new serum by Carson, the man Declan thought to be his real father. The serum has rendered him emotionless, and unstable. He is a walking contradiction, and as Jillian says, it's like dealing with a person who has bi-polar disorder.
Reyes knows that he has to try and protect Jillian from the vampires and from her own stupid actions, but it is also causing him to rethink some of the choices he’s made along the way. If he doesn’t find a cure for his condition soon, he may end up going insane and hurting those around him. Reyes is also forced to live with a difficult choice that Jillian makes in regards to his survival and his sanity as well as the cure for Carson’s serum.
Then there is the former vampire king Matthias who drank Jillian’s blood and was presumed to be dead. He tracks Jillian and Declan to a shady motel with Noah’s help and now wants his dhampyre daughter back. He knows that it is only a matter of time before his psychotic twin brother Kristoff is released from his prison that Matthias put him in and comes after his daughter. Matthias also believes that by drinking Jill’s blood, it has weakened him to the point of no longer having immortality.
Matthias has won fans because of his desire for Jillian as well as attempting to protect his daughter against Kristoff. He has gone from being the evil king of the vampires, to wanting to put an end to his brothers desire for world domination. I call it manipulated love by Matthias towards Jillian but others will say that she feels the same way towards him.
I recommend that prospective readers of this series read Nightshade first before trying to understand what has happened to this point. Rowen actually does a good job in reviewing previous events over the course of the story itself, but there’s nothing like actually reading the real thing first hand to understand what is happening.
Bloodlust is the story of betrayal, mystery and love. It ties up loose ends and the difficult choices Jillian is forced to make along the way. Yes, it does leave the door open for the possiblity to continue Jill's story another time, but for now, it feels like a good-bye to Jillian, Declan and Matthias.
*Genre* Urban Fantasy
*Review*
Bloodlust is the second installment in the Nightshade series. The story picks up shortly after the events of Nightshade and finds Jillian and Declan on the run from vampires who know all about the Nighshade virus that flows in Jillians veins. They are also working with Noah, a former government scientist who has become a friend, to find a cure for the toxin before it's too late for her to do anything about it.
*Please refer to Nightshade to what actually transpired that caused Jillian to have toxic blood and forced her and Declan to run*
Jill is one of those characters that you really have to have some patience with. She believes that she is in love with Declan but he is having so many personal issues because of events that happened in Nightshade, that it's forcing her to take a realistic look at their situation. This includes looking towards the one person she thought was dead after drinking her blood; Matthias.
Jill also realizes that without a cure, she will be dead within the next two weeks, and none of this will really matter in the long run. Jillian's mistakes and choices are tossed aside as being normal behavior for her character. She is also pushed into difficult situations by not only Matthias and his actions, but in saving Noah and Declan as well. She is the perfect pawn in a chess game played by others who want to use her toxic blood as a means to take out their enemies. One bite from Jill’s blood and the vampire who bites her dies a painful death.
Others:
Reyes is a dhampyre whose father is a vampire and mother was human. He has issues of his own after being forcibly injected with a new serum by Carson, the man Declan thought to be his real father. The serum has rendered him emotionless, and unstable. He is a walking contradiction, and as Jillian says, it's like dealing with a person who has bi-polar disorder.
Reyes knows that he has to try and protect Jillian from the vampires and from her own stupid actions, but it is also causing him to rethink some of the choices he’s made along the way. If he doesn’t find a cure for his condition soon, he may end up going insane and hurting those around him. Reyes is also forced to live with a difficult choice that Jillian makes in regards to his survival and his sanity as well as the cure for Carson’s serum.
Then there is the former vampire king Matthias who drank Jillian’s blood and was presumed to be dead. He tracks Jillian and Declan to a shady motel with Noah’s help and now wants his dhampyre daughter back. He knows that it is only a matter of time before his psychotic twin brother Kristoff is released from his prison that Matthias put him in and comes after his daughter. Matthias also believes that by drinking Jill’s blood, it has weakened him to the point of no longer having immortality.
Matthias has won fans because of his desire for Jillian as well as attempting to protect his daughter against Kristoff. He has gone from being the evil king of the vampires, to wanting to put an end to his brothers desire for world domination. I call it manipulated love by Matthias towards Jillian but others will say that she feels the same way towards him.
I recommend that prospective readers of this series read Nightshade first before trying to understand what has happened to this point. Rowen actually does a good job in reviewing previous events over the course of the story itself, but there’s nothing like actually reading the real thing first hand to understand what is happening.
Bloodlust is the story of betrayal, mystery and love. It ties up loose ends and the difficult choices Jillian is forced to make along the way. Yes, it does leave the door open for the possiblity to continue Jill's story another time, but for now, it feels like a good-bye to Jillian, Declan and Matthias.
July 7, 2011
I read the first book in this series, Nightshade earlier this year and really enjoyed it. Michelle Rowen set up a very engaging, action-packed vampire world. Bloodlust starts right where Nightshade leaves off. Declan has been injected with a serum to control his dhampyr abilities. This leaves him unable to love, or feel any emotion. This is a problem since Jill thinks she is in love with Declan, but he can’t return this sentiment. Jill is still struggling with the poisonous Nightshade running through her veins. Although it is useful to kill vampires (one drink from Jill’s vein and the vampire poofs into ashes) it is also slowly killing her. Jill is desperate to find a cure.
To make things even more complicated, Matthias, the Vampire King has fathered an infant dhampyr who is in grave danger now. Centuries ago, Matthias and his twin brother Kristoff killed a dhampyr infant in a ritual, giving them true immortality. Kristoff is super evil, and to save the lives of many, Matthias has had Kristoff imprisoned for over 30 years, but as is the game of vampires, someone betrays Matthias and steals the key to free Kristoff, putting Matthias’s infant in danger.
But wait! I’m not done with the complications! Matthias, once thought to be really evil by Jill, has proven himself..not so evil. There is definitely a grey area, and Jill starts to put some of her trust in Matthias, especially when Declan starts to go into sporadic dhampyr rages – Matthias may be the only one that can help him.
I know the set-up makes it sound like there are a hundred different things going on in this book. And well – there are. But it will make much more sense if you read the first book (which I highly recommend!!). The name of the game in this book is betrayal. There are so many twists and turns that it was hard to put this book down. Did I like all of them? I’m not sure. I was very excited to get to the end to see how it all turned out, but looking back, I don’t know if I am 100% satisfied.
I love that Matthias starts as the evil, bad ass vampire king in book one, but in this book, you see another side of him. I started to root for him. I felt, dare I say – a little pity. A bit of compassion. While I loved Declan in book one, Matthias steals the show in this one. He becomes a much more interesting character than Declan. A love triangle is kind of set up. I’m not sure if all of the corners actually meet at a point. But the three sides are there. I very much felt Matthias’s fondness for Jill. But this is also where Jill started to annoy me. She loved Declan – she states it and you know it as the reader. She knows Declan is struggling with his dhampyr side ( dhampyrs get more violent the older they get) which makes him very violent. And after one argument, after Declan leaves, she kind of throws herself at Matthias. It just felt very rash. One minutes she loves Declan, the next she is lusting after Matthias, the next, she is back with Declan. I didn’t love that aspect of the triangle. Especially when she has thoughts like these:
"I grimaced at what Declan had said to me just before he left. He’d seen that I had feelings for Matthias, even when I was trying to ignore them. And I would have ignored them forever if only he’d stayed with me."
Meanwhile, Declan had left so he wouldn’t attack her in his violent rage. This selfish behavior doesn’t sit well with me.
There is another time later in the book where she doesn’t trust Declan again. She has to be a smart girl to survive this far into the book – yet sometimes she acts really dense and her actions don’t make sense. She is too quick to doubt.
Not to keep dumping on Jill. Although there are a few times where I wanted to bop her over the head, I still like her. She is tough, and funny, and I like that she makes hard choices, to stay alive – and to keep those alive that she cares for. As I said earlier, Matthias really steals this book. Declan is still sexy in his eye patch with his stoic attitude, but Matthias is the one that stands out.
So do I recommend this book? Yes – although be prepared for crazy twists and never knowing what is coming next. But that is fun. And definitely read Nightshade first.
Rating: C+
To make things even more complicated, Matthias, the Vampire King has fathered an infant dhampyr who is in grave danger now. Centuries ago, Matthias and his twin brother Kristoff killed a dhampyr infant in a ritual, giving them true immortality. Kristoff is super evil, and to save the lives of many, Matthias has had Kristoff imprisoned for over 30 years, but as is the game of vampires, someone betrays Matthias and steals the key to free Kristoff, putting Matthias’s infant in danger.
But wait! I’m not done with the complications! Matthias, once thought to be really evil by Jill, has proven himself..not so evil. There is definitely a grey area, and Jill starts to put some of her trust in Matthias, especially when Declan starts to go into sporadic dhampyr rages – Matthias may be the only one that can help him.
I know the set-up makes it sound like there are a hundred different things going on in this book. And well – there are. But it will make much more sense if you read the first book (which I highly recommend!!). The name of the game in this book is betrayal. There are so many twists and turns that it was hard to put this book down. Did I like all of them? I’m not sure. I was very excited to get to the end to see how it all turned out, but looking back, I don’t know if I am 100% satisfied.
I love that Matthias starts as the evil, bad ass vampire king in book one, but in this book, you see another side of him. I started to root for him. I felt, dare I say – a little pity. A bit of compassion. While I loved Declan in book one, Matthias steals the show in this one. He becomes a much more interesting character than Declan. A love triangle is kind of set up. I’m not sure if all of the corners actually meet at a point. But the three sides are there. I very much felt Matthias’s fondness for Jill. But this is also where Jill started to annoy me. She loved Declan – she states it and you know it as the reader. She knows Declan is struggling with his dhampyr side ( dhampyrs get more violent the older they get) which makes him very violent. And after one argument, after Declan leaves, she kind of throws herself at Matthias. It just felt very rash. One minutes she loves Declan, the next she is lusting after Matthias, the next, she is back with Declan. I didn’t love that aspect of the triangle. Especially when she has thoughts like these:
"I grimaced at what Declan had said to me just before he left. He’d seen that I had feelings for Matthias, even when I was trying to ignore them. And I would have ignored them forever if only he’d stayed with me."
Meanwhile, Declan had left so he wouldn’t attack her in his violent rage. This selfish behavior doesn’t sit well with me.
There is another time later in the book where she doesn’t trust Declan again. She has to be a smart girl to survive this far into the book – yet sometimes she acts really dense and her actions don’t make sense. She is too quick to doubt.
Not to keep dumping on Jill. Although there are a few times where I wanted to bop her over the head, I still like her. She is tough, and funny, and I like that she makes hard choices, to stay alive – and to keep those alive that she cares for. As I said earlier, Matthias really steals this book. Declan is still sexy in his eye patch with his stoic attitude, but Matthias is the one that stands out.
So do I recommend this book? Yes – although be prepared for crazy twists and never knowing what is coming next. But that is fun. And definitely read Nightshade first.
Rating: C+
June 30, 2011
Bloodlust by Michelle Rowen
Paranormal Romance –July 5th, 2011
4 ½ stars
Michelle Rowen's second book in her Nightshade urban fantasy series starts out with a bang. The main characters are on the run from evil vampires and covert, deadly human forces. Although this is the second full-length novel, it can be read by itself but by doing so I think the reader will lose some of the intense dynamics between the two main characters which kept me spellbound.
Jill was an ordinary girl, that is until she was accidentally injected with a top secret formula. This formula makes vampires craves her blood but also kills them. Unfortunately, the shot she was given was the only one in existence. The vampires wanted to exterminate her while the people who were responsible for the creation of the formula wanted to ‘study’ her. To add to Jill’s distress, the formula is slowing killing her and the boosters she used to help her adapt cause her terrible pain. Thankfully she has the determined killing machine named Declan Reyes to protect her. But Declan is half vampire and, as a result, unstable. When he succumbs to his emotions, they can be brutally violent to everyone including Jill. When the vampire King hunts them down, they are in even more trouble as they fear for their lives. But they find unlikely assistance when he asks them to help save his infant daughter. Will Jill and Declan be able to save this innocent little girl? Will Jill finally be able to find a cure or will Declan's instability cause further problems?
This was an exciting read. I absolutely love Declan. He is completely hardcore. He is torn by his need to protect Jill but also driven by his uncontrollable and often violent vampire side which craves Jill in a very deadly way. He loves Jill but knows that he is a ticking time bomb. This makes for a tense relationship, especially as Declan relapses and Jill blacks out due to the terrible formula running through her veins. I liked how the author really conveys their desperate love for each other since both feel that their time together is numbered. Despite the risks, they still hang on to being together. Jill is very soft hearted and sometime puts herself in unnecessary danger, which only ratchets up the edginess of the story. This book was also thrilling as it delves into vampire society and the power struggle between two lethal vampire brothers who both want the crown.
Dynamic, emotional and tense, this is a thrilling second installment.
Reviewed by Steph from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club
Paranormal Romance –July 5th, 2011
4 ½ stars
Michelle Rowen's second book in her Nightshade urban fantasy series starts out with a bang. The main characters are on the run from evil vampires and covert, deadly human forces. Although this is the second full-length novel, it can be read by itself but by doing so I think the reader will lose some of the intense dynamics between the two main characters which kept me spellbound.
Jill was an ordinary girl, that is until she was accidentally injected with a top secret formula. This formula makes vampires craves her blood but also kills them. Unfortunately, the shot she was given was the only one in existence. The vampires wanted to exterminate her while the people who were responsible for the creation of the formula wanted to ‘study’ her. To add to Jill’s distress, the formula is slowing killing her and the boosters she used to help her adapt cause her terrible pain. Thankfully she has the determined killing machine named Declan Reyes to protect her. But Declan is half vampire and, as a result, unstable. When he succumbs to his emotions, they can be brutally violent to everyone including Jill. When the vampire King hunts them down, they are in even more trouble as they fear for their lives. But they find unlikely assistance when he asks them to help save his infant daughter. Will Jill and Declan be able to save this innocent little girl? Will Jill finally be able to find a cure or will Declan's instability cause further problems?
This was an exciting read. I absolutely love Declan. He is completely hardcore. He is torn by his need to protect Jill but also driven by his uncontrollable and often violent vampire side which craves Jill in a very deadly way. He loves Jill but knows that he is a ticking time bomb. This makes for a tense relationship, especially as Declan relapses and Jill blacks out due to the terrible formula running through her veins. I liked how the author really conveys their desperate love for each other since both feel that their time together is numbered. Despite the risks, they still hang on to being together. Jill is very soft hearted and sometime puts herself in unnecessary danger, which only ratchets up the edginess of the story. This book was also thrilling as it delves into vampire society and the power struggle between two lethal vampire brothers who both want the crown.
Dynamic, emotional and tense, this is a thrilling second installment.
Reviewed by Steph from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club
November 10, 2011
When I first started this series, I got the feeling of it being more of an urban fantasy than a paranormal romance. While there was definitely some sexy scenes in the first book, it was still edgy enough to be a darker read. So when Bloodlust released, I was excited to jump back into the world of dark and suspense with Jillian and Declan.
What I loved the most was the turmoil between Jillian and Declan. While they are both attracted to each other, they each have their reasons for staying at a safe distance as well. They do the mating dance of should I or shouldn't I, but they also have some steamy scenes of caving into the lust between the two. I admit that I was actually looking forward to Declan and Jillian coming together and figuring out a way to make it work. I was also anxious to see how they were going to deal with the fallout from killing the Vampire King. I loved the twists and the surprises the author brings to this book. While I wasn't a big fan of the former Vampire King until the end of the first book, the introduction of his brother brings evil to a whole new level.
If you looking for a more edgy and dark feel to your paranormal romance books without falling into the deep end of urban fantasy, then the Nightshade series should give you enough enjoyment of both worlds to satisfy you as a reader.
What I loved the most was the turmoil between Jillian and Declan. While they are both attracted to each other, they each have their reasons for staying at a safe distance as well. They do the mating dance of should I or shouldn't I, but they also have some steamy scenes of caving into the lust between the two. I admit that I was actually looking forward to Declan and Jillian coming together and figuring out a way to make it work. I was also anxious to see how they were going to deal with the fallout from killing the Vampire King. I loved the twists and the surprises the author brings to this book. While I wasn't a big fan of the former Vampire King until the end of the first book, the introduction of his brother brings evil to a whole new level.
If you looking for a more edgy and dark feel to your paranormal romance books without falling into the deep end of urban fantasy, then the Nightshade series should give you enough enjoyment of both worlds to satisfy you as a reader.
October 5, 2011
This is the second book, but third story, in Rowen's Nightshade series and it doesn't disappoint. It is my favorite of the three. Declan, scarred physically and emotionally, is still one of urban fantasy's sexiest characters. The chemistry between him and Jill is off the charts in this story.
While it is written as a stand alone book, there is so much background and relationship minutiae you'll miss if you don't read the others first.
This installment in the series has the former vampire king, Matthias, in a much larger, somewhat surprising, role in the story.
Declan continues fighting to protect Jill as they both fight their individual blood issues.
This story has several twists to it, most will not see coming and an ending that will leave you somewhat breathless.
I read this in the middle of night straight through, couldn't put it down.
However, there are no more contracted books for this series! Fans of the series need to stand up and let their voices be heard ... we want more Declan, Jill, Mattias and Noah! There is so much waiting to be explored, so many directions this series can go.
While it is written as a stand alone book, there is so much background and relationship minutiae you'll miss if you don't read the others first.
This installment in the series has the former vampire king, Matthias, in a much larger, somewhat surprising, role in the story.
Declan continues fighting to protect Jill as they both fight their individual blood issues.
This story has several twists to it, most will not see coming and an ending that will leave you somewhat breathless.
I read this in the middle of night straight through, couldn't put it down.
However, there are no more contracted books for this series! Fans of the series need to stand up and let their voices be heard ... we want more Declan, Jill, Mattias and Noah! There is so much waiting to be explored, so many directions this series can go.
September 17, 2012
Wow. It probably tells you everything you need to know about my reaction to this book that when I bitched about the thing that most annoyed me about it, a friend asked me if I was finally reading Twilight.
The thing is that the premise (a heroine who'd been injected with a serum that made her blood both irresistible AND deadly to vampires) had SO MUCH potential had it been handled skillfully. Alas, however, the serum also appeared to afflict our heroine with a complete loss of any sense of self-preservation whatsoever, along with frequent attacks of TSTL syndrome. She very quickly grew to be little more than a plot device and something for the two male leads (who were very slightly less one-dimensional) to be conflicted over.
I get the impression this might have been a better story if instead of a heroine, the book had instead had some kind of inanimate (or a least non-sentient) plot McGufffin that both attracted and killed vampires. Then the lack of self-preservation, competence, and indeed, characterization, wouldn't have been so obvious by its absence; and the two hot guys could have ended up with each other.
Quick! Fanfic to the rescue!
The thing is that the premise (a heroine who'd been injected with a serum that made her blood both irresistible AND deadly to vampires) had SO MUCH potential had it been handled skillfully. Alas, however, the serum also appeared to afflict our heroine with a complete loss of any sense of self-preservation whatsoever, along with frequent attacks of TSTL syndrome. She very quickly grew to be little more than a plot device and something for the two male leads (who were very slightly less one-dimensional) to be conflicted over.
I get the impression this might have been a better story if instead of a heroine, the book had instead had some kind of inanimate (or a least non-sentient) plot McGufffin that both attracted and killed vampires. Then the lack of self-preservation, competence, and indeed, characterization, wouldn't have been so obvious by its absence; and the two hot guys could have ended up with each other.
Quick! Fanfic to the rescue!
December 15, 2013
Ce tome 2 ne m'aura pas embarqué et ne m'aura pas bien convaincu. J'ai moins aimé les personnages et j'ai moins aimé l'intrigue globale. Chaque nouvel obstacle trouvait une conclusion rapide et trop simple à mon goût et bien qu'on garde un fil rouge tout du long, la finalité ne m'a pas impressionné. La toute fin me convient comme elle est, même si je ne suis pas passé loin de la trouver ratée ^^. Oui parce que même si certaines choses se règlent facilement, de façon peu surprenante je veux dire, l'auteur a réussi à me faire souvent douter, mais le suspens ne durait malheureusement pas, et c'était bien dommage.
Ma chronique complète : http://bloggalleane.blogspot.fr/2013/...
Ma chronique complète : http://bloggalleane.blogspot.fr/2013/...
April 26, 2013
3.5 stars.
Ok so I did enjoy this book a bit more.
I liked Mathias already, but in the first book we only got a glimpse. Now his role was more prominent and I thoroughly enjoyed it!
Now, I can't say I was crazy about Declan or that I get how Jillian could fall in love with him so fast especially seeing how he was at first and how little time they spent together. For me he was so-so ,but whatever it was a good book overall and I like the crazy evil twin idea. It reminded me of the movie Prestige for a while there. :)
If there was another book about Mathias I'd probably read it, but I don't think there will be. Too bad if you ask me. :P
Ok so I did enjoy this book a bit more.
I liked Mathias already, but in the first book we only got a glimpse. Now his role was more prominent and I thoroughly enjoyed it!
Now, I can't say I was crazy about Declan or that I get how Jillian could fall in love with him so fast especially seeing how he was at first and how little time they spent together. For me he was so-so ,but whatever it was a good book overall and I like the crazy evil twin idea. It reminded me of the movie Prestige for a while there. :)
If there was another book about Mathias I'd probably read it, but I don't think there will be. Too bad if you ask me. :P
January 7, 2016
I loved this. Really took to the characters and I enjoyed the story line. I was slightly torn between Declan and Matthias, but I was happy with how things turned out in the end.
February 20, 2020
I ran right out to get this book, pulled it off the shelf and smiled on my way to the counter. I love this story, I love the characters and I love the action and sexual tension that fills every page! Oh the drama. There's so many things going on at once and somehow they fall into place perfectly. I'm certain I love both Declan and Matthias, how I wish she could somehow split her time between the two of them! *sigh* I loved some chapters so much; I re-read them over before moving on.
If you've read the first book "Nightshade" there is no way you won't want to read this one. But if you haven't read either, I strongly suggest you do. If you like Kelly Armstrong's Otherworld series, JR Wards Brotherhood series you will want to add this set to your shelf along side.
Perfect Michelle Rowen, I really hope there is sooo much more!!!
If you've read the first book "Nightshade" there is no way you won't want to read this one. But if you haven't read either, I strongly suggest you do. If you like Kelly Armstrong's Otherworld series, JR Wards Brotherhood series you will want to add this set to your shelf along side.
Perfect Michelle Rowen, I really hope there is sooo much more!!!
June 23, 2018
What the heck did I just read? And why did I do it? Didn’t I learn my lesson with the first one? I’m so disappointed with this series that I’m now doubting my memory of how much I thought I loved Immortality Bites. Did I love it because I loved it or did I love because I didn't know any better four years ago? At least this one didn’t inspire the same kind of anger as the first. But really, it didn’t generate much of any kind of emotions in me. I couldn’t stay engaged with it. There was so much going on, so many plots and counter-plots. Now, normally I love those kind of complex political intrigues. Not so much with this one. It felt like everything that happens in the first three-quarters of the book is a slow, needlessly drawn out set up for the cheesy punchline.
August 3, 2020
Le tome 2 reprend immédiatement à la fin du tome 1. Il y a toujours autant d'action dans ce tome que dans le précédent. La romance est au second plan, tout tourne autour de l'intrigue, ce sérum et la lutte de pouvoir contre le roi des vampires.
Je me suis attachée aux personnages, j'ai apprécié leur évolution.
Si je dois trouver un bémol, c'est que tout se passe en un temps très court, c'est un peu trop rapide. Même remarque pour la romance, un peu trop rapide, il m'a manqué un peu de séduction.
Je me suis attachée aux personnages, j'ai apprécié leur évolution.
Si je dois trouver un bémol, c'est que tout se passe en un temps très court, c'est un peu trop rapide. Même remarque pour la romance, un peu trop rapide, il m'a manqué un peu de séduction.
May 25, 2021
3.5⭐
Declan or Matthias? This book had me guessing which direction it would go, and I have to admit that Michelle surprised me with the plot twist. Just when I thought I had the story figured out, she twisted it on me again. Well done, and I loved this book more than the first or the short story.
My only dissatisfaction with this series is for being not enough books😁. It has so much potential for a continuation story for Sara, Noah or even breaking the soul mate bond?
Declan or Matthias? This book had me guessing which direction it would go, and I have to admit that Michelle surprised me with the plot twist. Just when I thought I had the story figured out, she twisted it on me again. Well done, and I loved this book more than the first or the short story.
My only dissatisfaction with this series is for being not enough books😁. It has so much potential for a continuation story for Sara, Noah or even breaking the soul mate bond?
July 27, 2023
Great ending to the series!
The Nightshade series end well here but before you get to the end, there are quite a few surprises a long the way. I was frustrated at times with Jill’s behavior but, it is nice to see the character development. We also have to remember that even though, we have read three books, the actual time that has passed is very short in the chronos of this series. Would love to see a Sara book in the future and maybe an update on Jade.
The Nightshade series end well here but before you get to the end, there are quite a few surprises a long the way. I was frustrated at times with Jill’s behavior but, it is nice to see the character development. We also have to remember that even though, we have read three books, the actual time that has passed is very short in the chronos of this series. Would love to see a Sara book in the future and maybe an update on Jade.
April 11, 2020
*3.5 STARS*
I enjoyed this one. I think I enjoyed it better than the first one. But, I was mad that Jill didn't take enough of a stand for her own life until the end of the book. I really wish that the series continued because I feel like we just skimmed the surface for this world.
I enjoyed this one. I think I enjoyed it better than the first one. But, I was mad that Jill didn't take enough of a stand for her own life until the end of the book. I really wish that the series continued because I feel like we just skimmed the surface for this world.
May 27, 2022
Ce deuxième était un vrai régal !
Pleins de rebondissements et sans une once de répit !
J'ai beaucoup apprécié Jill et Matthias dans cette suite ! Declan aussi bien sûre, mais il m'a fatigué a faire le yoyo sans arrêt...
Pleins de rebondissements et sans une once de répit !
J'ai beaucoup apprécié Jill et Matthias dans cette suite ! Declan aussi bien sûre, mais il m'a fatigué a faire le yoyo sans arrêt...
February 16, 2023
Great series
This series kept me binge reading through all 3 books. I even cried a few times, only because of my soft heart. I liked the characters, even the evil ones, if you can ever figure out which is which??? I guess you will have to read the series to see.
This series kept me binge reading through all 3 books. I even cried a few times, only because of my soft heart. I liked the characters, even the evil ones, if you can ever figure out which is which??? I guess you will have to read the series to see.
December 10, 2023
I really enjoyed this one! It was a fast and enthralling read throughout the entire book. I liked the unique attributes of her vampires and the concept of the evil and the good twin, especially since they are male. Happy to read a fantastic vampire book again!
December 12, 2024
The first one wasn't bad. By the second, one realises that the protagonists "I don't follow rules" means she has no planning faculties and really isn't a.. deep thinker. I tired of her nonsense and overall silly drama in the book and gave up.
April 24, 2018
Ok
Spent too much of the story in pain and turmoil and betrayal. Not enough in love and happiness. Not terrible, but wouldn't recommend.
Spent too much of the story in pain and turmoil and betrayal. Not enough in love and happiness. Not terrible, but wouldn't recommend.
September 4, 2020
Pas mal du tout ce dernier tome. Ça se lit vite, c'est efficace et ça fait le job. Pas un coup de cœur mais un bon moment de lecture sans prise de tête. Team Declan !
August 26, 2023
GREAT READ
Excellent series!!! It was a roller coaster to read, loving every minute of it. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
Excellent series!!! It was a roller coaster to read, loving every minute of it. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
July 16, 2025
3.5⭐️The plot armor sure was strong with this one god damn
August 31, 2011
After Jill and Declan get away with the Vampire King’s baby, a dhampyr female, Declan hides the baby. This story picks up with Jill meeting up with Noah, to see about her and Declan’s condition. It is safe to say I recommend reading Nightshade before this one. Declan is a dhampyr who has taken injections for years to suppress rage. At the end of the first book he was injected with a permanent serum. The serum strips away his emotions, even his sex drive. In the first part of this story we see this ‘permanent’ serum start to wear off.
Jill on the other hand is dying. In the first books she was given Nightshade, a chemical that turns her blood poisonous to vampires. It is also killing her. Noah is a human working to help both Jill and Declan. With him comes Matthis, the Vampire King, believed to be dead.
Matthis wants his daughter back, but because the blood of an infant female dhampyr grants true immortality to vampires, Declan refuses to tell him. Declan at the same time is battling his rages, because the serum is wearing off. Matthis soon tells Jill, Declan will become crazy. He also tells her there is a way to help him, but he has to know where his daughter is first. That’s not all we discover about Matthis, his brother is also about to wake, and try to over throw his kingdom. Kristoff, Matthis’s brother, wants to take the world letting vampires rule.
Jill has come to terms with the fact she is in love with Declan, but he hasn’t. Her character grows at the end of the story, and she finally starts to get the hang of things, but it takes her a long time. Her blood is poison to the vampires, and her smell irresistible, so that means lots of nibbling, and lots of vampire death. There are a lot of twists in this novel, and Jill seems to get a lot of the abuse, but she bounces right up again.
Declan drove me nuts. He is hot on minute, cold the next. Jill said it right when she kind of called him bi-polar. In the first novel, we were lead to believe that people had lied to him, and he didn’t need the serum. In this we learn he needs it, or is going to need it. I am not a fan of getting jerked around. Declan is by far the most interesting character, he is one of our lead men. Usually in a book like this the leads are perfect, from head to toe, Declan’s not. Declan is a giant muscle man, with scars everywhere, in fact he is missing an eye. He goes through huge changes in this novel, and in the end I forgave him for his craziness.
In the first book I was excited with Matthis, a mysterious, powerful Vampire King. His mystery wore off. He spends so much of the novel weak, or seeming weak. His sexiness rubbed off as soon as he was half-dead and bloody in Jill’s arms. He does help Jill greatly, and I think some interesting stuff will come out of the two of them.
Because there are so many twists, I didn’t give any more of the plot. Just the issues the characters have to resolve. I had a hard time rating it. There is one sex scene, and a few that edge on sex, but never get there. It read far more like an Urban Fantasy, than a Paranormal Romance. Jill has the same problem as most heroines do in her position, she repeats her feelings again, and again. I wish some of that focus was given to the setting, or description. There is a lot of gore, but the descriptions sometimes felt bogged down. The plot was exciting and action packed, but it wasn’t as shocking as the first book. I was a little upset at the turn Declan took, but still rooted for him. There was growth, and character development. The series could be stopped here, but I hope for another book.
Jill on the other hand is dying. In the first books she was given Nightshade, a chemical that turns her blood poisonous to vampires. It is also killing her. Noah is a human working to help both Jill and Declan. With him comes Matthis, the Vampire King, believed to be dead.
Matthis wants his daughter back, but because the blood of an infant female dhampyr grants true immortality to vampires, Declan refuses to tell him. Declan at the same time is battling his rages, because the serum is wearing off. Matthis soon tells Jill, Declan will become crazy. He also tells her there is a way to help him, but he has to know where his daughter is first. That’s not all we discover about Matthis, his brother is also about to wake, and try to over throw his kingdom. Kristoff, Matthis’s brother, wants to take the world letting vampires rule.
Jill has come to terms with the fact she is in love with Declan, but he hasn’t. Her character grows at the end of the story, and she finally starts to get the hang of things, but it takes her a long time. Her blood is poison to the vampires, and her smell irresistible, so that means lots of nibbling, and lots of vampire death. There are a lot of twists in this novel, and Jill seems to get a lot of the abuse, but she bounces right up again.
Declan drove me nuts. He is hot on minute, cold the next. Jill said it right when she kind of called him bi-polar. In the first novel, we were lead to believe that people had lied to him, and he didn’t need the serum. In this we learn he needs it, or is going to need it. I am not a fan of getting jerked around. Declan is by far the most interesting character, he is one of our lead men. Usually in a book like this the leads are perfect, from head to toe, Declan’s not. Declan is a giant muscle man, with scars everywhere, in fact he is missing an eye. He goes through huge changes in this novel, and in the end I forgave him for his craziness.
In the first book I was excited with Matthis, a mysterious, powerful Vampire King. His mystery wore off. He spends so much of the novel weak, or seeming weak. His sexiness rubbed off as soon as he was half-dead and bloody in Jill’s arms. He does help Jill greatly, and I think some interesting stuff will come out of the two of them.
Because there are so many twists, I didn’t give any more of the plot. Just the issues the characters have to resolve. I had a hard time rating it. There is one sex scene, and a few that edge on sex, but never get there. It read far more like an Urban Fantasy, than a Paranormal Romance. Jill has the same problem as most heroines do in her position, she repeats her feelings again, and again. I wish some of that focus was given to the setting, or description. There is a lot of gore, but the descriptions sometimes felt bogged down. The plot was exciting and action packed, but it wasn’t as shocking as the first book. I was a little upset at the turn Declan took, but still rooted for him. There was growth, and character development. The series could be stopped here, but I hope for another book.
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