All That Bleeds (Etherlin #1) in Vampires, Weres and Fae!

Jan 20, 2012 Melindeeloo rated it really liked it

Shelves: paranormal-romance

I really liked All That Bleeds, Kimberly Fox's first novel in her new Etherlin series and even though All that Bleeds is a much better story, I think my enjoyment was enhanced by having read the prequel short First Light in the Tied with a Bow anthology. Because even though Frost's Etherlin world is interesting and populated with Muses, the gangster-like Ventala (half human progeny of vampires), and fallen angels, the world is not fully explained here, so it helped to have a bit of the world bui I really liked All That Bleeds, Kimberly Fox's first novel in her new Etherlin series and even though All that Bleeds is a much better story, I think my enjoyment was enhanced by having read the prequel short First Light in the Tied with a Bow anthology. Because even though Frost's Etherlin world is interesting and populated with Muses, the gangster-like Ventala (half human progeny of vampires), and fallen angels, the world is not fully explained here, so it helped to have a bit of the world building coming in. Having read the short, I also had a heads up on the leading pair Muse Alissa and one time ventala enforcer Merrick there was just a glimpse of their forbidden romance - but I though that even that peek was stole the spotlight from the leading pair in short, and I was so ready for their story here.

One of the things that I really enjoyed about All That Bleeds is how that relationship – a friendship that should never have been nurtured - grew from afar through gifts and letters. As much as I like soul mates, building on a connection that grew over time was a nice change of pace to all of those instantaneous mate bonds which are all too often used as a quick and dirty device to pull PNR couples together. And being exceedingly hero-centric I thought that Merrick was a great romantic lead – an understated but lethally dangerous intelligent bad boy with a heart. Also, even though the background plot ties up pretty quickly at the end, I did liked the touch of the suspense which served to bring the pair together and keep them together with the heroine in peril long enough to cement their relationship.

Probably the one thing I found odd about the book was the Muses themselves, while the idea of special race with the ability to magically stoke the creative energy in the humans they sponsor was very original, they ended up feeling sort of like psychic cheerleaders who magically inspire their groupies to greatness. I don't know that Muses on the whole entirely work for me yet.

Even still, I did enjoy the All That Bleeds, and the setup for the next starring pair – a Muse and a fallen angel – will have me checking out the next book.
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Apr 26, 2011 Yodamom rated it really liked it

Shelves: owned, urban-fantasy, favorites, signed

I read through the night, couldn't put it down, needed a resolution.I give it 4 stars. MS. Frost writes characters that I bond to very easily. I really enjoyed the Muse/vampire/human society, the mystery was intriguing, the romance very forbidden. Merrick, the tall dark and handsome vampire/human enforcer and Alissa the intelligent, loyal and beautiful Muse. It built up to a intensity so great I could not stop reading. Then it pulled everything together too quickly, it was unsatisfying. The coup ...more

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