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Blood Destiny #1
Blood Wager
"I agree to pay Sergio Velenci one million pounds if the female takes less than nine days to fully turn." Lissa's life as a vampire begins on the day her husband is removed from life support. Turned by rogues who wager her life, Lissa is running from her maker who is determined to kill her, hunted by the Council who has branded her a rogue and blackmailed by werewolves, who utilize her newly-developed talents for their own gain.
235 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 27, 2011
155 people are currently reading
2244 people want to read
About the author
Connie Suttle
76 books807 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 278 reviews
December 10, 2011
We (meaning Ilona and me) got this on the kindle and so far it's really quite good.
April 5, 2012
This book had an interesting premise and I found it hard not to keep reading... There were several things that bothered me early on: 1. Lissa wakes up and automatically knows she's a vampire, but goes to her old house and immediately thinks 'I'm thirsty... This OJ should definitely do the trick'.. Um hello!! 2. Turning her into a vampire automatically means she has skills to fight, when she had nothing of the sort before the turn.. 3. It's supposedly next to impossible to have a female turn, but after the initial introduction on that subject no one that finds out about her seems phased.. 4. Her boss and a handful of the guards find out about her because she gets shot 3 times in the back but can still throw a hissy fit when she should be dead.. But it doesn't occur to her that it may have given her away after she TURNED TO MIST AND FLOATED INTO A SECOND STORY WINDOW.. Wtf?! Also there was never any mention that her employer had any idea there was supernatural stuff going on in the world, and then all of a sudden after the bullet incident it's common knowledge and no one is surprised. Too many things like that irritated me about this book, not to mention poor character development, and some annoyed editing mistakes. I'll admit it was hard to put down, but I'm not saying that's because it was good.
December 27, 2011
I found this book cause Ilona Andrews mentioned it in a goodreads blog and since I am a fan of the couple I figured I'd atleast read the description. Well it didn't strike me as something I had to read so I kept it in the back of my mind. And although I have some nitpicking on what i diiked about the book I am glad that I downloaded it. It was a good read deserving more of a 2.5 rating. The characters are interesting enough with plenty of action throughout. What this whole book needed was a good editor, the pacing was a bit off, at times too fast other times the author would go off on tangents. Plus there were too many side characters that came and went so fast that they just muddled up most scenes. Even the more prominence secondary characters got a bit confusing because they weren't developed at all some i couldnt even give you a single physical characterization. That is mainly cause the author doesn't describe anything it seems like, I can't even tell you what Gavin one of the male leads looks like outside of being tall and muscular. Which is all things a good editor can correct and help the author flush out properly.
All that being said I truly commend the author for writting a truly engaging book without the help of an editor. The story is sound and characters are likeable as well as easy to relate too. I find the werewolf/vampire dynamics to be very interesting especially towards the end of the story. I'm eager to see how this will develop in the rest of the series. All in all I like this book, it had me up till 3am to finish it. I just feel there was still too much that was lacking to give it a higher rating.
If you are lookin for a finely polished piece of work then don't bother, but if you enjoy a fun read the pick this up cause you won't be disappointed. I just hope this author gets signed soon cause she has tremendous potential with just the right guidance.
All that being said I truly commend the author for writting a truly engaging book without the help of an editor. The story is sound and characters are likeable as well as easy to relate too. I find the werewolf/vampire dynamics to be very interesting especially towards the end of the story. I'm eager to see how this will develop in the rest of the series. All in all I like this book, it had me up till 3am to finish it. I just feel there was still too much that was lacking to give it a higher rating.
If you are lookin for a finely polished piece of work then don't bother, but if you enjoy a fun read the pick this up cause you won't be disappointed. I just hope this author gets signed soon cause she has tremendous potential with just the right guidance.
October 17, 2011
Wow! Who is this woman and why have I never heard of her books? This is better than 80% of the crap they're "selling" to us! Very impressed!!!
July 19, 2017
I really enjoyed this book. I loved that Lissa a was older it made the story a little different than usual. I'm looking forward to learning more about the vampire society and the characters.
October 31, 2011
Okay to start I must say I loved this book. I don't usually take the time to write a full review but for this one I will. It was special. This author has talent! BUT... oddly enough I found all kinds of things about it bothersome. I found this on Kindle and it sounded interesting so I read it. Simple. As I continued reading though, I found myself frowning and thinking..."Is this author self-published?" (I honestly had no clue at the time). Now however, I have since discovered that, yes, this is a self-published author. Unfortunately it had all the trappings that seem to be tied with self-published authors.
First though, I will start with the good, because that was the overall impression it left on me. It only took me a partial day to read this. That in and of itself is a great thing; to be able to hook the reader on every turn of the page. Suttle has a great opening line and paragraph that instantly grabs you and entices you to read more. Her characters are interesting and likeable with real life vulnerabilities and preternatural/supernatural abilities. Her world is well developed and built and her plot is well thought through. She does a great job at foreshadowing and leading. Her writing voice is entertaining and sarcastic and her pacing is spot on. Her character dialog is also great and entertaining.
The bad: Soon after starting, I was able to tell it was self-published. The biggest thing being that this author broke the "cardinal rule" of writing: Show, don't tell your reader. Sutter narrates through the ENTIRE novel. Narration is usually boring. Amazingly, I continued to read because of her pacing, there was always something happening. Character descriptions were sometimes spotty as well as scene descriptions. I was left wanting a better painting of the mood of the scene, rather than being grabbed by the collar and drug through the story with more narration. It was in places like reading a journal entry. Like a stone that has been skipped across a pond as it yanked you through the story. Publishing house editors usually catch this kind of thing and help the new author to develop their writing skills through that. Sutter also leaves a bit to be desired on character development as far as personalities go. She never gets too deep inside their heads.
I'm not listing this as a con as I've done it in my own writing and it is actually a point of congratulations. Suttle breaks another "rule" (and I hate to even call them that) in that she switches frequently between first person and third person. Most writers will tell you that to switch POV's (point of views) in the story is jarring to the reader and it is not to be done. However, I feel that Sutter has pulled it off successfully and done a wonderful job of weaving the story using the POV switch. Here's the reason I don't like to call it a "rule of writing". These "writing rules" exist because it is a format for a successful novel. But it's not a hard and fast rule. There is always a out of the box success story that don't follow the "cardinal rules". Sutter has proved that. She's kept me reading, made me like her characters, and kept the action rolling.
For all the negatives I listed I will most definitely read more of her work! Good job Connie!
First though, I will start with the good, because that was the overall impression it left on me. It only took me a partial day to read this. That in and of itself is a great thing; to be able to hook the reader on every turn of the page. Suttle has a great opening line and paragraph that instantly grabs you and entices you to read more. Her characters are interesting and likeable with real life vulnerabilities and preternatural/supernatural abilities. Her world is well developed and built and her plot is well thought through. She does a great job at foreshadowing and leading. Her writing voice is entertaining and sarcastic and her pacing is spot on. Her character dialog is also great and entertaining.
The bad: Soon after starting, I was able to tell it was self-published. The biggest thing being that this author broke the "cardinal rule" of writing: Show, don't tell your reader. Sutter narrates through the ENTIRE novel. Narration is usually boring. Amazingly, I continued to read because of her pacing, there was always something happening. Character descriptions were sometimes spotty as well as scene descriptions. I was left wanting a better painting of the mood of the scene, rather than being grabbed by the collar and drug through the story with more narration. It was in places like reading a journal entry. Like a stone that has been skipped across a pond as it yanked you through the story. Publishing house editors usually catch this kind of thing and help the new author to develop their writing skills through that. Sutter also leaves a bit to be desired on character development as far as personalities go. She never gets too deep inside their heads.
I'm not listing this as a con as I've done it in my own writing and it is actually a point of congratulations. Suttle breaks another "rule" (and I hate to even call them that) in that she switches frequently between first person and third person. Most writers will tell you that to switch POV's (point of views) in the story is jarring to the reader and it is not to be done. However, I feel that Sutter has pulled it off successfully and done a wonderful job of weaving the story using the POV switch. Here's the reason I don't like to call it a "rule of writing". These "writing rules" exist because it is a format for a successful novel. But it's not a hard and fast rule. There is always a out of the box success story that don't follow the "cardinal rules". Sutter has proved that. She's kept me reading, made me like her characters, and kept the action rolling.
For all the negatives I listed I will most definitely read more of her work! Good job Connie!
August 23, 2012
I have read all nine books in this series before I could even think of stopping to write a review. Yes, they were that good. Ms. Suttle has an amazing ability to draw the reader into the character's world. She also knows how to write a series. I had almost decided to never read a series again because too many will leave you with a cliffhanger only to start the next book in the series at a much later time. I cannot stand to start a book hoping to find out what happened to a favorite character only to read that we are now years in the future. These books will leave the reader frustrated until all is revealed usually in the middle of the book or a few more books must be read to get the information.
Ms. Suttle does not do this to the reader. The next book begins when the last one ended. Bravo!! This series is not your normal vampire/werewolf series; it is much, much better. I recommend this book to anyone who likes to read books that have action and is fast paced. If you are fortunate enough to spend the whopping 99 cents on this book, please read the rest. Most of all my questions were tied up neatly.
Ms. Suttle does not do this to the reader. The next book begins when the last one ended. Bravo!! This series is not your normal vampire/werewolf series; it is much, much better. I recommend this book to anyone who likes to read books that have action and is fast paced. If you are fortunate enough to spend the whopping 99 cents on this book, please read the rest. Most of all my questions were tied up neatly.
December 7, 2011
The theme of this series seems to be indignation. Every significant character screws the protagonist over at least once. I would guess that she suffers major betrayals at a rate of four or five per book. When she finds out, she generally cries a little, and the character in question explains that he's very, very sorry. No revenge is ever extracted, apparently because she's not the sort of person who would do that. Eventually she forgives him, mostly. The story continues on.
For a while I was convinced this was just a phase: the main character is initially a nice person, and then after getting backstabbed a couple times she starts pushing back. But I read through Book 3 hoping to find the point where she starts standing up for herself, and no standing-up-for-herself has happened, and I'm beginning to think it's not going to.
Quote from a review of Book 5: "She is faced with perceived physical violence, mental cruelty that evokes disturbing memories and emotions from her past, and efforts at intellectual and emotional control over her by nearly all the men who surround her. But along with her blossoming talents as a Queen, Lissa's enormous ability to forgive those transgressions by the people she loves only expands even further."
...So, I'm not sure what to say. I enjoyed these books for a while, when I thought the backstabbing was just a phase. Now it's looking like the main character is permanently engaged in a series of toxic friendships with manipulative assholes, and in retrospect I feel vaguely nauseated about the whole thing. But I gave this book four stars when I first read it, and I'm going to leave that rating.
For a while I was convinced this was just a phase: the main character is initially a nice person, and then after getting backstabbed a couple times she starts pushing back. But I read through Book 3 hoping to find the point where she starts standing up for herself, and no standing-up-for-herself has happened, and I'm beginning to think it's not going to.
Quote from a review of Book 5: "She is faced with perceived physical violence, mental cruelty that evokes disturbing memories and emotions from her past, and efforts at intellectual and emotional control over her by nearly all the men who surround her. But along with her blossoming talents as a Queen, Lissa's enormous ability to forgive those transgressions by the people she loves only expands even further."
...So, I'm not sure what to say. I enjoyed these books for a while, when I thought the backstabbing was just a phase. Now it's looking like the main character is permanently engaged in a series of toxic friendships with manipulative assholes, and in retrospect I feel vaguely nauseated about the whole thing. But I gave this book four stars when I first read it, and I'm going to leave that rating.
May 28, 2014
I know this is a cop-out but I don't have time right now to write my reviews of the six books in this series that I have already read. Promise, I will though!
Very quickly, if you like extremely strong world building, well developed characters, strong story lines, and a heroine who will break your heart while making you want to pull on your black leathers, grab your sword and knives and stand with your back to hers while you fight off all comers, you need to add this series to your "Must Read Immediately" pile right away!
Very quickly, if you like extremely strong world building, well developed characters, strong story lines, and a heroine who will break your heart while making you want to pull on your black leathers, grab your sword and knives and stand with your back to hers while you fight off all comers, you need to add this series to your "Must Read Immediately" pile right away!
June 2, 2020
Notes:
Yay for freebies! This book came up on a list and I decided to try it out because I already had the book. Friends have already read it and reviewed it on the high end.
- Good intro for a series.
- Great MC: Lissa is fun. A mix of down to earth, naive and caretaker.
- Interesting plot line. Writing & connections are a bit rough.
Yay for freebies! This book came up on a list and I decided to try it out because I already had the book. Friends have already read it and reviewed it on the high end.
- Good intro for a series.
- Great MC: Lissa is fun. A mix of down to earth, naive and caretaker.
- Interesting plot line. Writing & connections are a bit rough.
March 20, 2012
"That must be nice, to live in a guilt-free world," I observed.
"I said if you can make me feel guilt. I didn't say I didn't feel it."
"Ooh, excuse me. Tarzan not feel guilt Jane heaps upon him," I said. He turned his head but not before I saw a corner of his mouth quirk a little.
2.5 Stars
I won't lie this book had many flaws. One of the major problems I had with this book was the lack of information. Not a lot is explained about...anything really so I was left feeling unsatisfied about most of the characters and their back stories. Another thing is that there was a lot of situations that were completely unbelievable and not because this is a paranormal book. It really had nothing to do with that side, for example. The main character Lissa gets turns into a vamp but that isn't the weird part. She applies for a bodyguard job with no prior experience AND she's on the news as missing, also this is not a normal bodyguard job. It's for a very famous software developer and you would 'think' they would do background checks and other official stuff but nope she body slams the boss and BAM she's got the job. Now it was kinda explained a little later but not enough to satisfy me. It was just little things like that in the book that felt so unrealistic I found it hard to not be annoyed. Another big thing that really pissed me off was that Lissa's husband had literally JUST died the same day she was turned into a vampire and she doesn't really mourn him. Which was really odd because she obviously loved him very much but a few weeks later she's checking out every man in sight. *Sigh* Lissa you slut.
As you can tell this book had a lot of problems with it, however for some really weird reason I couldn't put it down. It was like a train wreck that I couldn't look away from. Morbid right? But I couldn't help myself and it hurts me to say that 'Yes' I will be reading the rest of the books in this series because there is no way in hell that I'll be able to stop myself.
"I said if you can make me feel guilt. I didn't say I didn't feel it."
"Ooh, excuse me. Tarzan not feel guilt Jane heaps upon him," I said. He turned his head but not before I saw a corner of his mouth quirk a little.
2.5 Stars
I won't lie this book had many flaws. One of the major problems I had with this book was the lack of information. Not a lot is explained about...anything really so I was left feeling unsatisfied about most of the characters and their back stories. Another thing is that there was a lot of situations that were completely unbelievable and not because this is a paranormal book. It really had nothing to do with that side, for example. The main character Lissa gets turns into a vamp but that isn't the weird part. She applies for a bodyguard job with no prior experience AND she's on the news as missing, also this is not a normal bodyguard job. It's for a very famous software developer and you would 'think' they would do background checks and other official stuff but nope she body slams the boss and BAM she's got the job. Now it was kinda explained a little later but not enough to satisfy me. It was just little things like that in the book that felt so unrealistic I found it hard to not be annoyed. Another big thing that really pissed me off was that Lissa's husband had literally JUST died the same day she was turned into a vampire and she doesn't really mourn him. Which was really odd because she obviously loved him very much but a few weeks later she's checking out every man in sight. *Sigh* Lissa you slut.
As you can tell this book had a lot of problems with it, however for some really weird reason I couldn't put it down. It was like a train wreck that I couldn't look away from. Morbid right? But I couldn't help myself and it hurts me to say that 'Yes' I will be reading the rest of the books in this series because there is no way in hell that I'll be able to stop myself.
December 17, 2011
Blood Wager is a classic -girl unexpectedly gets turned into a vampire - story, I found the writing a little simplistic in the beginning but as I became engrossed in the story, it didn't bother me.
Lissa is a grieving widow, turned by bored vampires trying to entertain themselves at her expense, she manages to escape and once she realises what has happened, adapts to her new lifestyle.
She makes a life for herself - a job, a place to live, friends- but it's all an illusion. Declared rogue, she is hunted, both by the vampire council and the vampires who turned her. And finding herself blackmailed and used by a pack of weres doesn't make this easier.
Lissa is a grieving widow, turned by bored vampires trying to entertain themselves at her expense, she manages to escape and once she realises what has happened, adapts to her new lifestyle.
She makes a life for herself - a job, a place to live, friends- but it's all an illusion. Declared rogue, she is hunted, both by the vampire council and the vampires who turned her. And finding herself blackmailed and used by a pack of weres doesn't make this easier.
July 14, 2019
Im torn with this i really am.....
Firstly there were too many side characters it was an overload and just as the reader was getting used to a particular group Lissa (The MC) was jetting off to meet up with another bunch of people it was all a bit too much.
When everyone finds out Lissa is a vamp... that was a bit unbelievable... they were all so agreeable... not one person questioned it....
How Lissa or anyone else for that matter had not figured out Gavin was a vamp... Lissa is cooking these amazing meals... He never eats, he knows alot about Vamps and hes never out in the sun....
The author seems to jump on one train of thought then head off in a completely different direction without rhyme or reason, the pacing of the story seemed all a bit jumbled....
What i did love was the uniqueness of it all, Although Lissa had claimed back her youth, the mind was that of an older woman and it made the read refreshing, And once we met the Vamps i was plunging down the rabbit hole full throttle... Just a shame it took till the end of the book for me to like it.... I will give book 2 a go but im pulling a middle marker on this.... 2.5 stars
Firstly there were too many side characters it was an overload and just as the reader was getting used to a particular group Lissa (The MC) was jetting off to meet up with another bunch of people it was all a bit too much.
When everyone finds out Lissa is a vamp... that was a bit unbelievable... they were all so agreeable... not one person questioned it....
How Lissa or anyone else for that matter had not figured out Gavin was a vamp... Lissa is cooking these amazing meals... He never eats, he knows alot about Vamps and hes never out in the sun....
The author seems to jump on one train of thought then head off in a completely different direction without rhyme or reason, the pacing of the story seemed all a bit jumbled....
What i did love was the uniqueness of it all, Although Lissa had claimed back her youth, the mind was that of an older woman and it made the read refreshing, And once we met the Vamps i was plunging down the rabbit hole full throttle... Just a shame it took till the end of the book for me to like it.... I will give book 2 a go but im pulling a middle marker on this.... 2.5 stars
September 6, 2012
I can't really explain why I enjoyed this book so much. The main character, Lissa, is almost unbelievable in that she starts out as a frumpy middle-aged woman who gets turned into a vampire on the day her husband dies and becomes a foxy, kickass vamp chick that has regressed to being a teenager. That said, you can't help but like her.
Some of the character responses to the events that happen are a little difficult to swallow but the characters themselves are likeable. Especially William Winkler, who I really liked and is an excellent foil to the more sullen and mysterious Gavin. There is no shortage of characters in these books and they all have very distinctive personalities. I do admire Suttle's ability to create, whether world building or character building, and she manages to keep her characters personalities constant and believeable throughout.
I'm not going to give away any spoilers because I think these books (9 in the series) need the surprises and developments to work. They are full of high-octane action scenes, they build nicely, and the endings are pleasing. She leaves questions for the next book but gives enough of an answer to the current story that you are satisfied. That is, until you can't wait to read the next one and hastily download it onto your Kindle. I really enjoyed the first 5; books 6 and 7 seemed to change in direction, becoming extremely political, and I found them difficult. The author creates such an enormous cast of characters and locations that I found it hard to follow the story. This is possibly her greatest strength and her greatest weakness. Her imagination knows no bounds and she has the ability to describe what she is seeing in her head, and in the first 5 books it works very well. That said, I do like some of the new characters that she introduces in these books very much.
All told, the first 5 books are a rip-roaring read. If you look for holes you'll find them but if you are just looking for an entertaining and engaging read then give them a go. You won't be disappointed.
Some of the character responses to the events that happen are a little difficult to swallow but the characters themselves are likeable. Especially William Winkler, who I really liked and is an excellent foil to the more sullen and mysterious Gavin. There is no shortage of characters in these books and they all have very distinctive personalities. I do admire Suttle's ability to create, whether world building or character building, and she manages to keep her characters personalities constant and believeable throughout.
I'm not going to give away any spoilers because I think these books (9 in the series) need the surprises and developments to work. They are full of high-octane action scenes, they build nicely, and the endings are pleasing. She leaves questions for the next book but gives enough of an answer to the current story that you are satisfied. That is, until you can't wait to read the next one and hastily download it onto your Kindle. I really enjoyed the first 5; books 6 and 7 seemed to change in direction, becoming extremely political, and I found them difficult. The author creates such an enormous cast of characters and locations that I found it hard to follow the story. This is possibly her greatest strength and her greatest weakness. Her imagination knows no bounds and she has the ability to describe what she is seeing in her head, and in the first 5 books it works very well. That said, I do like some of the new characters that she introduces in these books very much.
All told, the first 5 books are a rip-roaring read. If you look for holes you'll find them but if you are just looking for an entertaining and engaging read then give them a go. You won't be disappointed.
October 23, 2015
Interesting self published novel mentioned by Ilona Andrews. This story is about Lissa, a forty six year old woman whose husband has just died after years of suffering. In the midst of her grief she is attacked and 'turned' by two dissolute vampires for a bet.
Lissa is an interesting character. Older, and realising what she is immediately upon 'waking', there is not the usual 'OMG What am I? Ouch the sun hurts! Why do I thirst for blood?' angst. She quickly sets about creating a life that fits with her new reality (looks 20 years younger, super strong etc). However the tragedy of losing her husband keeps her withdrawn, surly and fearful. In the meantime enforcers from the Vampire Council as well as her two 'sires' are looking for her with ill intent.
You can tell it's self published. It's written in the 1st person POV of Lissa in a kind of stream of consciousness narrative style. Every now and then you get a 3rd person POV from Gavin, an assassin sent to bring Lissa to the Vampire Council. Every thought and deed is described. The plot is jam packed with new events, situations and people, and lacks a definitive arc.
Despite its faults however, it's a great story. Original world building. Lissa is a sympathetic character and her quasi-relationship with Gavin is fascinating but at the same time like watching a car crash in slow motion.
There are five sequels already with a sixth due out this month but from the reviews I see that the plot takes a weird turn (b-grade Scifi by the looks of it) so I think I'll stop while I'm ahead because I really did enjoy reading this first book in the series.
Lissa is an interesting character. Older, and realising what she is immediately upon 'waking', there is not the usual 'OMG What am I? Ouch the sun hurts! Why do I thirst for blood?' angst. She quickly sets about creating a life that fits with her new reality (looks 20 years younger, super strong etc). However the tragedy of losing her husband keeps her withdrawn, surly and fearful. In the meantime enforcers from the Vampire Council as well as her two 'sires' are looking for her with ill intent.
You can tell it's self published. It's written in the 1st person POV of Lissa in a kind of stream of consciousness narrative style. Every now and then you get a 3rd person POV from Gavin, an assassin sent to bring Lissa to the Vampire Council. Every thought and deed is described. The plot is jam packed with new events, situations and people, and lacks a definitive arc.
Despite its faults however, it's a great story. Original world building. Lissa is a sympathetic character and her quasi-relationship with Gavin is fascinating but at the same time like watching a car crash in slow motion.
There are five sequels already with a sixth due out this month but from the reviews I see that the plot takes a weird turn (b-grade Scifi by the looks of it) so I think I'll stop while I'm ahead because I really did enjoy reading this first book in the series.
December 30, 2011
Pro:
- The story hooked me in an heartbeat. I loved the plot and the writing.
- The world-building was in depth, the characters plenty and interesting.
Cons:
-Well, there's only one big con I found: character consistency.
Above all, Lissa and one of the lead men acted like a seesaw, Jackyll and Hyde. Gavin is clearly and rightly depicted as such, given his role. I had a problem in understanding Winkler, who isn't well rounded. Least of all I understood Lissa who came out with the strongest Stockholm Syndrome I ever seen in a character.
She is blackmailed by her boss, turned in to a pet (the scene with the jewellery is really good in this), but has no qualms whatsoever to cook for her "jailers". Nor could I understand her caring/accepting Gavin at the end of the book. The fact he understood what compulsion means is good, it is a starting point. But no way the heroine should forget his betrayal.
There were times when I thought her behavior was age related (she is almost 50), but then I realized I know a lot of women of that age and it doesn't click.
(To be honest I also know a woman of that age who could have been Lissa in her prevampire life.:P)
This UF novel is from a Indie author. I really think in the self published world out there, it's a gem. At 0,99 is it worth trying. I already bought the sequel.
- The story hooked me in an heartbeat. I loved the plot and the writing.
- The world-building was in depth, the characters plenty and interesting.
Cons:
-Well, there's only one big con I found: character consistency.
Above all, Lissa and one of the lead men acted like a seesaw, Jackyll and Hyde. Gavin is clearly and rightly depicted as such, given his role. I had a problem in understanding Winkler, who isn't well rounded. Least of all I understood Lissa who came out with the strongest Stockholm Syndrome I ever seen in a character.
She is blackmailed by her boss, turned in to a pet (the scene with the jewellery is really good in this), but has no qualms whatsoever to cook for her "jailers". Nor could I understand her caring/accepting Gavin at the end of the book. The fact he understood what compulsion means is good, it is a starting point. But no way the heroine should forget his betrayal.
There were times when I thought her behavior was age related (she is almost 50), but then I realized I know a lot of women of that age and it doesn't click.
(To be honest I also know a woman of that age who could have been Lissa in her prevampire life.:P)
This UF novel is from a Indie author. I really think in the self published world out there, it's a gem. At 0,99 is it worth trying. I already bought the sequel.
September 23, 2024
This book is a little dated, but not enough to take away from the story. When I first started reading it I was thinking it would be a 3,but then it started to fall into place and get a little more action.
October 8, 2011
Give me a minue while I make an adjustment to my top 10 vampire series – Vampires In America, Darkyn, Night Huntress, Dark Days, Sookie Stackhouse, Black Dagger, ….. Since Dark Days has wrapped I can move them out. It’s that serious. Blood Destiny needed a slot of honor on the 10 favs list. I can do this because I already read books 1, 2, and 3. Now, to the matter at hand, a review of Blood Wager, Book 1 of Dark Destiny.
The tale begins with the cruel turning of a 46ish-year-old woman whose husband just died. Her name is Lissa, not short for Melissa, just Lissa. Her last name doesn’t really matter at this point because she’s on the run for her life.
Lissa has left the hospital after taking her husband off life support and decided to do something she has never done, have a drink in a bar alone. She is devastated by her husband’s death and is not paying attention when two men walk into the bar and begin to study her (and not in a good way). Unknown to Lissa and the other patrons, these two are vampires, nasty ones. The two observe the overweight woman who looks about 60 to them. They make a wager on how long it would take for her to turn. In the parking lot of the bar, they kill her. She awakens in a dark cell days later to discover she is a vampire and a bar napkin with the terms of the bet. She is shocked and realizes what turned means PDQ.
Lissa’s inner dialog reminds me of a cross between Cat and Sookie. The story rotates perspective to third person here and there but mostly, we ride in Lissa’s head. In the early pages, I was happy to learn the basics about Ms. Suttle’s vampires. Right from the get-go, Lissa discovers she is no longer a middle aged, overweight, plain Jane. Oh no, she was now a hot blond in her early twenties with the body to go with it. Lissa learns (on her own) how to survive and what myths are true. She is constantly making jokes about the lack of a vampire manual. Because Lissa is smart, she figures that the two vampires that turned her did not mean for her to live so she hits the road. Lissa’s journey to find a place to be safe while grieving the husband and the life she left behind touched my heart and funny bone. Lissa ends up taking a job as a body guard for a famous tech designer. She has moved from Oklahoma to Texas and is trying to make a life that involves working only at night. In Texas, she meets individuals who will become key characters in her life and the series.
One of the people she meets is her handsome whore of a boss, Winkler. I can’t tell you much about Winkler other than that people are trying to kill him because of a project he is working on. The vampires have a ruling council and they know a rogue has been created. She is the first female in more than 700 years. There are thousands of male vampires but only a handful of female vampires. But rules are rules and Lissa is considered a rogue since she was created without permission and is running around without the guidance of a sire. These vamps are hardcore. They send an assassin to take care of her and to make sure Winkler does not finish what he has started. Gavin is a cold blooded killer. He joins Winkler’s security detail and observes Lissa. He is shocked to learn how much she has learned on her own but mostly he realizes she has no clue that he is a vampire or that Winkler isn’t exactly human either. He reports via email to the council’s leader/Vampire King/Elder/and force-unto-himself – Wlodek. The more Gavin observes Lissa, he realizes she is smart, resourceful, and does not deserve the hand she was dealt. He shares these observations with Wlodek who is working his own angle and agenda. Our next batter up for potential hero and lover is Tony. He is the Director of NSA/Homeland Security. He and Lissa meet innocently enough in a bookstore and go on a couple of dates. He is human and she isn’t plus she is technically on the run with fake ID. So Lissa decides it can never go anywhere and glamours him into letting her walk out of his life.
All the aforementioned men (loosely used term) weave danger and mystery into Lissa’s life without her knowing. There are many other interesting characters and concepts that round out the story. Eventually Lissa has to face many truths including the fact that the vampires have no plans to spare her life. It never occurred to me that she might save herself -- eventually.
I highly recommend this book to UF vampire fans. If you like other paranormals in the mix, this one’s for you too. Lissa is a new kind of heroine for me. She is a mix of all the things I like in a heroine without the TSTL (Too Stupid To Live) aspect. Five stars for the range of emotions this book evoked in me. I had begun to think I might be too jaded and had to settle for entertainment value only. This is a full length novel. There is no sex in this installment but I don’t consider this YA.
The tale begins with the cruel turning of a 46ish-year-old woman whose husband just died. Her name is Lissa, not short for Melissa, just Lissa. Her last name doesn’t really matter at this point because she’s on the run for her life.
Lissa has left the hospital after taking her husband off life support and decided to do something she has never done, have a drink in a bar alone. She is devastated by her husband’s death and is not paying attention when two men walk into the bar and begin to study her (and not in a good way). Unknown to Lissa and the other patrons, these two are vampires, nasty ones. The two observe the overweight woman who looks about 60 to them. They make a wager on how long it would take for her to turn. In the parking lot of the bar, they kill her. She awakens in a dark cell days later to discover she is a vampire and a bar napkin with the terms of the bet. She is shocked and realizes what turned means PDQ.
Lissa’s inner dialog reminds me of a cross between Cat and Sookie. The story rotates perspective to third person here and there but mostly, we ride in Lissa’s head. In the early pages, I was happy to learn the basics about Ms. Suttle’s vampires. Right from the get-go, Lissa discovers she is no longer a middle aged, overweight, plain Jane. Oh no, she was now a hot blond in her early twenties with the body to go with it. Lissa learns (on her own) how to survive and what myths are true. She is constantly making jokes about the lack of a vampire manual. Because Lissa is smart, she figures that the two vampires that turned her did not mean for her to live so she hits the road. Lissa’s journey to find a place to be safe while grieving the husband and the life she left behind touched my heart and funny bone. Lissa ends up taking a job as a body guard for a famous tech designer. She has moved from Oklahoma to Texas and is trying to make a life that involves working only at night. In Texas, she meets individuals who will become key characters in her life and the series.
One of the people she meets is her handsome whore of a boss, Winkler. I can’t tell you much about Winkler other than that people are trying to kill him because of a project he is working on. The vampires have a ruling council and they know a rogue has been created. She is the first female in more than 700 years. There are thousands of male vampires but only a handful of female vampires. But rules are rules and Lissa is considered a rogue since she was created without permission and is running around without the guidance of a sire. These vamps are hardcore. They send an assassin to take care of her and to make sure Winkler does not finish what he has started. Gavin is a cold blooded killer. He joins Winkler’s security detail and observes Lissa. He is shocked to learn how much she has learned on her own but mostly he realizes she has no clue that he is a vampire or that Winkler isn’t exactly human either. He reports via email to the council’s leader/Vampire King/Elder/and force-unto-himself – Wlodek. The more Gavin observes Lissa, he realizes she is smart, resourceful, and does not deserve the hand she was dealt. He shares these observations with Wlodek who is working his own angle and agenda. Our next batter up for potential hero and lover is Tony. He is the Director of NSA/Homeland Security. He and Lissa meet innocently enough in a bookstore and go on a couple of dates. He is human and she isn’t plus she is technically on the run with fake ID. So Lissa decides it can never go anywhere and glamours him into letting her walk out of his life.
All the aforementioned men (loosely used term) weave danger and mystery into Lissa’s life without her knowing. There are many other interesting characters and concepts that round out the story. Eventually Lissa has to face many truths including the fact that the vampires have no plans to spare her life. It never occurred to me that she might save herself -- eventually.
I highly recommend this book to UF vampire fans. If you like other paranormals in the mix, this one’s for you too. Lissa is a new kind of heroine for me. She is a mix of all the things I like in a heroine without the TSTL (Too Stupid To Live) aspect. Five stars for the range of emotions this book evoked in me. I had begun to think I might be too jaded and had to settle for entertainment value only. This is a full length novel. There is no sex in this installment but I don’t consider this YA.
September 23, 2016
One of my GoodReads friends mentioned this book on her page(Thanks Dolly!) and I decided to read it due to her really liking it. I’d never read anything else by this author so it was quite the adventure for me. A really good adventure.
Lissa was having a really bad day. Understatement, as her beloved husband had just died that day and before the day is out so does Lissa. I guess you would call becoming a vampire dying of a sort. And all because two bored vampires decided to make a wager about her becoming a vampire. Her adventures begin when she wakes up alone and escapes the locked room she finds herself in. It doesn’t take her long to realize what she is and that she is totally alone in it. She literally has to start from scratch with her whole life AND grieve her husbands death. From learning how to feed to having to find a job with no ID, it’s not easy for Lissa. She was 47 when she died, when she woke up she looked 23 and completely different so there is no going back to her life. How she goes about her new life, job and new friendships makes for a really great read.
You know those series that even though you just finished one book, you immediately buy the next one and the next one until you run out? That’s what’s going on with this series for me. My TBR stack of books can just sit there awhile while I enjoy these books. Oh there’s a few things that are confusing a bit here and there but for the most part this book sucked me in and never let go. Of course there’s some love interests along the way but that’s not in the forefront of this book. And sometimes that is a good thing because you know you have a whole series to explore that especially since she is a new widow. The author has created a world where vampires and werewolves live among us,albeit secretly. Lissa manages to become involved in both of these worlds. Both worlds have power struggles, politics and their own systems of reprimanding their members-this was some great world building I must say! I loved this book and the next one, Blood Passage, that I am reading now is just as good so far. These have been out awhile and that’s good because there’s several out there to read-and no waiting! I rated it 4.5 stars. Originally posted on PureTextuality.com on 06/21, 2013
Lissa was having a really bad day. Understatement, as her beloved husband had just died that day and before the day is out so does Lissa. I guess you would call becoming a vampire dying of a sort. And all because two bored vampires decided to make a wager about her becoming a vampire. Her adventures begin when she wakes up alone and escapes the locked room she finds herself in. It doesn’t take her long to realize what she is and that she is totally alone in it. She literally has to start from scratch with her whole life AND grieve her husbands death. From learning how to feed to having to find a job with no ID, it’s not easy for Lissa. She was 47 when she died, when she woke up she looked 23 and completely different so there is no going back to her life. How she goes about her new life, job and new friendships makes for a really great read.
You know those series that even though you just finished one book, you immediately buy the next one and the next one until you run out? That’s what’s going on with this series for me. My TBR stack of books can just sit there awhile while I enjoy these books. Oh there’s a few things that are confusing a bit here and there but for the most part this book sucked me in and never let go. Of course there’s some love interests along the way but that’s not in the forefront of this book. And sometimes that is a good thing because you know you have a whole series to explore that especially since she is a new widow. The author has created a world where vampires and werewolves live among us,albeit secretly. Lissa manages to become involved in both of these worlds. Both worlds have power struggles, politics and their own systems of reprimanding their members-this was some great world building I must say! I loved this book and the next one, Blood Passage, that I am reading now is just as good so far. These have been out awhile and that’s good because there’s several out there to read-and no waiting! I rated it 4.5 stars. Originally posted on PureTextuality.com on 06/21, 2013
September 17, 2011
Lissa’s husband had just died, and she decided to go to a bar and get drunk. Since she never drank, it didn’t take her much. She noticed the two men who came in, of course, since one wanted to buy her a drink, but she refused and after her 4th glass of wine she went out to her car. That’s when it happened – as it turned out, the men were vampires and they had decided to turn her and see how long it took her to rise. It was a game to them - the wager was £ 1,000,000 that she would rise within 9 days. Of course, they would then have to kill her, because otherwise they’d have to take her in and take care of her and they had no intention of doing that. Once Lissa realizes that she is probably going to die at the hands of the vampires, she flees and this book - “Blood Wager” - is about how she survives the first few months as a vampire.
There are certainly some plot holes – how, for example, did Lissa suddenly just know she was a vampire? But these certainly do not detract from the overall story, which is very well written, flows smoothly and has a nice, tight plot. The characters are all well-defined and interesting and I enjoyed reading it very much. In fact, I loved “Blood Wager” so much that I purchased the next two books in the series, “Blood Passage” and “Blood Sense.” Connie Suttle plans 9 books in the series (at this time) with the 4th book - “Blood Domination” - due out October 15, 2011 and #5 "Blood Royal" due November 15, 2011. I suggest that those who enjoy a good vampire novel check out Suttle’s books – they are very enjoyable!
There are certainly some plot holes – how, for example, did Lissa suddenly just know she was a vampire? But these certainly do not detract from the overall story, which is very well written, flows smoothly and has a nice, tight plot. The characters are all well-defined and interesting and I enjoyed reading it very much. In fact, I loved “Blood Wager” so much that I purchased the next two books in the series, “Blood Passage” and “Blood Sense.” Connie Suttle plans 9 books in the series (at this time) with the 4th book - “Blood Domination” - due out October 15, 2011 and #5 "Blood Royal" due November 15, 2011. I suggest that those who enjoy a good vampire novel check out Suttle’s books – they are very enjoyable!
August 14, 2011
The most unlikely setting for a vampire story has to be Oklahoma yet this somehow works. A woman, still in shock over the death of her husband, wanders into a bar. She does not notice two men watching her and while her guard is down she is turned into a vampire. Then things get interesting.
The local settings are well done, Flaming Lips Alley, Bricktown and even the wheat fields of central Oklahoma are described in great detail. Though I wonder if there is really a bar out there called Tipsy's but if not then there should be. Choosing settings in Oklahoma and Texas is a refreshing change from typical locations such as New York or Los Angeles.
The main character Lissa finds herself in fantastic situations that contrast with her old life. She's no longer a tired middle-aged woman, when she's turned she looks 23 again. She's also stronger, faster, almost bionic and has to learn how to manage her new abilities without the help of a vampire manual.
She's not grim, this is a funny book. There's flashes of humor here, there have to be when dealing with vampires, bookstores, demanding millionaire bosses and shopping at Wal-Mart. There will be some comparisons to Charlaine Harris's Sookie Stackhouse books because of similar subject matter (vampires and werewolves) and the regional settings. Readers who like those books will probably like this as well. From a technical standpoint the author manages unlikely situations very well, the characters are well rounded and likable (for the most part) and the story holds together throughout. It's also a fun read.
The local settings are well done, Flaming Lips Alley, Bricktown and even the wheat fields of central Oklahoma are described in great detail. Though I wonder if there is really a bar out there called Tipsy's but if not then there should be. Choosing settings in Oklahoma and Texas is a refreshing change from typical locations such as New York or Los Angeles.
The main character Lissa finds herself in fantastic situations that contrast with her old life. She's no longer a tired middle-aged woman, when she's turned she looks 23 again. She's also stronger, faster, almost bionic and has to learn how to manage her new abilities without the help of a vampire manual.
She's not grim, this is a funny book. There's flashes of humor here, there have to be when dealing with vampires, bookstores, demanding millionaire bosses and shopping at Wal-Mart. There will be some comparisons to Charlaine Harris's Sookie Stackhouse books because of similar subject matter (vampires and werewolves) and the regional settings. Readers who like those books will probably like this as well. From a technical standpoint the author manages unlikely situations very well, the characters are well rounded and likable (for the most part) and the story holds together throughout. It's also a fun read.
January 7, 2014
An urban fantasy series about a middle aged, recently widowed woman who gets turned into a vamp?
Sound good, huh?
Well it wasn't.
Sometimes with a first book in a long series it is really hard to make a fair judgement, especially in urban fantasy. Often the characters are going through an intense change, or severe upheaval, and if they act a bit pathetic; well that is just human nature to be scared...It is really in the next few books where the protagonist learns to 'own' their destiny, take charge of their life and start kicking some butt! Therefore I gave 'Blood Wager' the benefit of the doubt, I read it all and even bought the next two books! Grrrr...
I was really up for reading a book about a forty year old woman, rather than the usual teen, because I felt like she might be a bit more empowered, experienced and intelligent. However, after Lissa gets turned she does make some pretty good choices...however her lack of impetus once she starts to work as a bodyguard was disappointing. I won't go into all the plot holes in this book because, like I said, it is the first in the series.
However I have read the next three books and can say quite plainly that it does not.
It does not get better.It actually just gets much much worse.
Sound good, huh?
Well it wasn't.
Sometimes with a first book in a long series it is really hard to make a fair judgement, especially in urban fantasy. Often the characters are going through an intense change, or severe upheaval, and if they act a bit pathetic; well that is just human nature to be scared...It is really in the next few books where the protagonist learns to 'own' their destiny, take charge of their life and start kicking some butt! Therefore I gave 'Blood Wager' the benefit of the doubt, I read it all and even bought the next two books! Grrrr...
I was really up for reading a book about a forty year old woman, rather than the usual teen, because I felt like she might be a bit more empowered, experienced and intelligent. However, after Lissa gets turned she does make some pretty good choices...however her lack of impetus once she starts to work as a bodyguard was disappointing. I won't go into all the plot holes in this book because, like I said, it is the first in the series.
However I have read the next three books and can say quite plainly that it does not.
It does not get better.It actually just gets much much worse.
April 15, 2024
Haha, reading this again. (3rd time)
I have hundreds of books on my kindle and in my bookcase that will just have to wait.
("I agree to pay Sergio Velenci one million pounds if the female takes less than nine days to fully turn."
Lissa's life as a vampire begins on the day her husband is removed from life support. Turned by rogues who wager her life, Lissa is running from her maker who is determined to kill her, hunted by the Council who has branded her a rogue and blackmailed by werewolves, who utilize her newly-developed talents for their own gain.)
I enjoyed this story and will be reading the rest of the series. I liked the writing style, it flows smoothly. I especially like Lissa who is intelligent, mature & has common sense! I am so glad that I didn't have to read page after page of wishy washy, pity party, angsty whining! Lissa is a straight forward person who quickly looks at a situation and acts to the best of her ability.
After reading this book again, I give a 5 star rating. There is so much action packed into this story. I really like how Connie Suttle has created some terrific people. Not that all of them are nice.
4 times and still 5 stars.
Bibliography of Connie's books:
http://subtledemon.com/bibliography.php
I have hundreds of books on my kindle and in my bookcase that will just have to wait.
("I agree to pay Sergio Velenci one million pounds if the female takes less than nine days to fully turn."
Lissa's life as a vampire begins on the day her husband is removed from life support. Turned by rogues who wager her life, Lissa is running from her maker who is determined to kill her, hunted by the Council who has branded her a rogue and blackmailed by werewolves, who utilize her newly-developed talents for their own gain.)
I enjoyed this story and will be reading the rest of the series. I liked the writing style, it flows smoothly. I especially like Lissa who is intelligent, mature & has common sense! I am so glad that I didn't have to read page after page of wishy washy, pity party, angsty whining! Lissa is a straight forward person who quickly looks at a situation and acts to the best of her ability.
After reading this book again, I give a 5 star rating. There is so much action packed into this story. I really like how Connie Suttle has created some terrific people. Not that all of them are nice.
4 times and still 5 stars.
Bibliography of Connie's books:
http://subtledemon.com/bibliography.php
December 13, 2011
I downloaded this as it kept coming up in my amazon recommended list and I had some pennies left over from a voucher. The cover put me off a bit but the reviews were good so I figured it was worth a go.
The writing style is very unusual as the main character is all first person point of view - but most other characters get third person point of view sections. I don't think I've read anything like that before but surprisingly it didn't annoy. Also the writer constantly tells you everything yet somehow I couldn't put it down. I liked Lissa. I liked the idea of a 47 year old dumpy woman being turned, it was somehow refreshing. I did feel slightly betrayed that she was then transformed into the image of youth and beauty, but because she still felt like the same woman inside I could deal.
The plot jumped around a lot, there were too many characters at times but I would like to see her assert herself. I'm going to start the second one in the hopes for more character development.
All in all it was very intriguing despite all it's flaws. Connie Suttle has that certain something that makes you want to pay up and read more.
The writing style is very unusual as the main character is all first person point of view - but most other characters get third person point of view sections. I don't think I've read anything like that before but surprisingly it didn't annoy. Also the writer constantly tells you everything yet somehow I couldn't put it down. I liked Lissa. I liked the idea of a 47 year old dumpy woman being turned, it was somehow refreshing. I did feel slightly betrayed that she was then transformed into the image of youth and beauty, but because she still felt like the same woman inside I could deal.
The plot jumped around a lot, there were too many characters at times but I would like to see her assert herself. I'm going to start the second one in the hopes for more character development.
All in all it was very intriguing despite all it's flaws. Connie Suttle has that certain something that makes you want to pay up and read more.
May 2, 2013
I really enjoyed this book, enough to jump on to the 2nd book in the series almost right away. But I did take a pause to find out what was about this book that made it so readable?
No doubt it’s run-of-the-mill. There’s the paranormal element, the romantic element, and there’s the obligatory mystery/suspense element. What made it work, for me at least, is 1) a pacy storytelling that flowed smoothly, with nary a boring chapter; and 2) a very likeable female protagonist who got me standing on her side right from the start. You can’t help but root for a character who hits rock-bottom at the start but musters enough bravery, resilience and determination to cope with her lousy situation, and yet find room in her heart to help others along the way.
Some plot points are predictable, but that’s easily forgiven because the predicted parts were exactly how I wanted the story to turn out! Great start to a series. Just hope it stays that way.
No doubt it’s run-of-the-mill. There’s the paranormal element, the romantic element, and there’s the obligatory mystery/suspense element. What made it work, for me at least, is 1) a pacy storytelling that flowed smoothly, with nary a boring chapter; and 2) a very likeable female protagonist who got me standing on her side right from the start. You can’t help but root for a character who hits rock-bottom at the start but musters enough bravery, resilience and determination to cope with her lousy situation, and yet find room in her heart to help others along the way.
Some plot points are predictable, but that’s easily forgiven because the predicted parts were exactly how I wanted the story to turn out! Great start to a series. Just hope it stays that way.
December 29, 2020
I read this book a while ago and always wanted to finish the series. I am glad I put this one my list to finish.
Lissa becomes a vampire because of a bet on the day her husband dies. She is special and only just starting to see how special. She is unique in ways they don’t even know yet.
She tends to make allies everywhere she goes and she doesn’t behave like any other female vampire which are rare.
The whole dynamic is interesting and I am loving the narration Traci really does give each character their own voice I am truly enjoying it.
Lissa becomes a vampire because of a bet on the day her husband dies. She is special and only just starting to see how special. She is unique in ways they don’t even know yet.
She tends to make allies everywhere she goes and she doesn’t behave like any other female vampire which are rare.
The whole dynamic is interesting and I am loving the narration Traci really does give each character their own voice I am truly enjoying it.
June 5, 2017
Very different from Reah's book. We are talking days of MySpace and stuff! Lissa is a vampire illegally turned and put on Rogue Status. Typically a death sentence. Gavin is sent to watch her and who she guards. It's interesting!
November 5, 2025
This was a VERY good book. I loved every minute of it. This will definitely be a new favorite for me! It's better than Twilight!
October 14, 2022
I've had this sat on my kindle for several years and finally got round to reading it. Its a book that's been recommended to me by several people and I did enjoy this unique slant on the Vampire world but for me Lissa at times was just too gung ho. She's widowed and the day she buries her husband Lissa murdered and turned into a Vampire but honestly just seems happy to accept her new reality. Yes she's obviously pragmatic and quite possibly joyous at her younger, rejuvenated body but personally I would be freaking out a lot more. She winds up blackmailed and yet again takes her well what amounts to servitude in her stride ! The introduction of Werewolves was I admit a huge surprise and the vague possibility of romance just felt a little off but it's the first in a series so I'm definitely interested enough to want to read more. Not exactly what I expected but certainly engaging.
January 9, 2019
MAJOR SPOILERS THROUGHOUT:
I liked this book. I went back and forth on what to rate it, but after comparing the negatives and the positives, I decided 4 stars was an appropriate rating. Let me start out by saying that the plot is very fast paced. A lot of things happen very quickly throughout the book. If this were another series, I would have expected some of the things that happened in this book to take multiple books to explain yet this books accomplished that with only one. The negative side of that is that I felt like a lot of details were glossed over and a few things were not explained thoroughly enough.
Lissa was a good character for the most part. I think it will take a few more books for me to make a full opinion on her though. I think her being one of the only vampires to mist and mind speak was a little over the top. I understand that main characters need to be special and stand out among the other characters, but I felt like Lissa's abilities were a little too over the top and a little too special.
I don't know if this is positive or negative, but this book had a lot of characters. In fact, there were so many main characters, that I had to start writing them down to remember them all. I also didn't feel like there was a lot of differences between characters, males especially. I'd say about 95% of the male characters had dark hair. I wish there was a little more diversity there. The good thing about having so many main characters was that there were many different point of views and I thoroughly enjoyed them. I did like being outside of Lissa's head every now and then.
The main reason the book didn't get a higher rating from me was because there were a few too many plot holes. I can overlook a few minor plot holes, but if there are two or three major plot holes, there is a problem. For example, after Lissa is shot by Phil, she explains that Winkler and his staff all know she is a vampire now. She fails to explain how they knew or why they had no reactions to it whatsoever. Yes, they were werewolves and they knew already, but she didn't think to question it at all that they were willing to accept her being a vampire so easily? That is just one example of a plot hole that bothered me.
Something that I did like was the major presence of males characters. I knew before reading the series that Lissa ends up with multiple mates. I believe she has somewhere around twenty or so by the end of the series. I'll be the first person to admit that I went into this book for that reason just to see how that happened. After reading this book, I can see why. Lissa is one of only sixteen female vampires and there are a lot of males that are starting to show deep feelings or have crushes on her. She hasn't done anything with any of the males yet, but I am very curious how this is all going to go. A few that stood out were Gavin, Tony, Winkler, Radomir, Charles, and maybe Merrill. I could be very off but I guess I will find out because I am definitely going to be continuing this series.
I liked this book. I went back and forth on what to rate it, but after comparing the negatives and the positives, I decided 4 stars was an appropriate rating. Let me start out by saying that the plot is very fast paced. A lot of things happen very quickly throughout the book. If this were another series, I would have expected some of the things that happened in this book to take multiple books to explain yet this books accomplished that with only one. The negative side of that is that I felt like a lot of details were glossed over and a few things were not explained thoroughly enough.
Lissa was a good character for the most part. I think it will take a few more books for me to make a full opinion on her though. I think her being one of the only vampires to mist and mind speak was a little over the top. I understand that main characters need to be special and stand out among the other characters, but I felt like Lissa's abilities were a little too over the top and a little too special.
I don't know if this is positive or negative, but this book had a lot of characters. In fact, there were so many main characters, that I had to start writing them down to remember them all. I also didn't feel like there was a lot of differences between characters, males especially. I'd say about 95% of the male characters had dark hair. I wish there was a little more diversity there. The good thing about having so many main characters was that there were many different point of views and I thoroughly enjoyed them. I did like being outside of Lissa's head every now and then.
The main reason the book didn't get a higher rating from me was because there were a few too many plot holes. I can overlook a few minor plot holes, but if there are two or three major plot holes, there is a problem. For example, after Lissa is shot by Phil, she explains that Winkler and his staff all know she is a vampire now. She fails to explain how they knew or why they had no reactions to it whatsoever. Yes, they were werewolves and they knew already, but she didn't think to question it at all that they were willing to accept her being a vampire so easily? That is just one example of a plot hole that bothered me.
Something that I did like was the major presence of males characters. I knew before reading the series that Lissa ends up with multiple mates. I believe she has somewhere around twenty or so by the end of the series. I'll be the first person to admit that I went into this book for that reason just to see how that happened. After reading this book, I can see why. Lissa is one of only sixteen female vampires and there are a lot of males that are starting to show deep feelings or have crushes on her. She hasn't done anything with any of the males yet, but I am very curious how this is all going to go. A few that stood out were Gavin, Tony, Winkler, Radomir, Charles, and maybe Merrill. I could be very off but I guess I will find out because I am definitely going to be continuing this series.
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