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The II AM Trilogy #2
Blood Hunt
He killed her lover, and for that crime and many others, Two Majors cut off the vampire Abraham's head, reduced his remains to ashes, and scattered them to the winds. Now each night she wanders New York, freed from the chains of heroin addiction but longing still for Theroen's kiss, the taste of blood on his lips, the echo of his thoughts in her ears. There are other vampires out there; she knows it, and so she hunts.
Tori Perrault spent a dozen years living in the woods, stalking her prey in the dark and killing without mercy. Now, she too has returned to humanity, and struggles to come to terms with all that has happened. Her parents' love smothers her and life seems empty. She spends her nights in the bottle, and in the company of strange men. She doesn't know that she is watched, until the fragile life she has rebuilt is torn from her and she is dropped suddenly into a world she never knew existed.
Rhes Thompson and Sarah Taylor have never met a vampire, and never want to. All they want is to help their friend Two, who falls further away from them with each passing day. They have all but given up when they are thrust into a world of madness, death, and vampire politics beyond their understanding. They must abandon their concern for Two, and worry instead about saving their own lives.
Blood Hunt is the ambitious sequel to the popular Urban Fantasy novel The Blood That Bonds. Nearly twice as long as the first novel, Blood Hunt weaves together the stories of Two, Tori, Rhes and Sarah, along with a large cast of characters both old and new, as they attempt to navigate their way through the difficulties they face.
Tori Perrault spent a dozen years living in the woods, stalking her prey in the dark and killing without mercy. Now, she too has returned to humanity, and struggles to come to terms with all that has happened. Her parents' love smothers her and life seems empty. She spends her nights in the bottle, and in the company of strange men. She doesn't know that she is watched, until the fragile life she has rebuilt is torn from her and she is dropped suddenly into a world she never knew existed.
Rhes Thompson and Sarah Taylor have never met a vampire, and never want to. All they want is to help their friend Two, who falls further away from them with each passing day. They have all but given up when they are thrust into a world of madness, death, and vampire politics beyond their understanding. They must abandon their concern for Two, and worry instead about saving their own lives.
Blood Hunt is the ambitious sequel to the popular Urban Fantasy novel The Blood That Bonds. Nearly twice as long as the first novel, Blood Hunt weaves together the stories of Two, Tori, Rhes and Sarah, along with a large cast of characters both old and new, as they attempt to navigate their way through the difficulties they face.
515 pages, Nook
First published August 25, 2011
43 people are currently reading
413 people want to read
About the author
Christopher Buecheler
10 books244 followersChristopher Buecheler has written ten novels and published five. He is also a web developer, a musician, an illustrator, a mixologist, and a fan of video games and the NBA.
He lives a semi-nomadic existence with his wonderful wife Charlotte and their two cats, Carbomb and Baron Salvatore H. Lynx II. Currently they reside in Providence, RI.
You can visit him at http://www.cwbwriting.com
He lives a semi-nomadic existence with his wonderful wife Charlotte and their two cats, Carbomb and Baron Salvatore H. Lynx II. Currently they reside in Providence, RI.
You can visit him at http://www.cwbwriting.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews
August 20, 2011
* * totally subjective review disclaimer alert!
Since I am married to the author, I cannot pretend to be at all objective, though I will try… but I hope this helps people form an idea about Blood Hunt, the follow-up to The Blood that Bonds, and what they can expect from it. I am also trying to avoid spoilers (which may make the review a little vague, since the books are quite plot-driven), but if you haven’t read The Blood that Bonds, beware! **
The Blood that Bonds ended on a bittersweet note: Two and Tori have been rescued from the grip of the elder Abraham, but they have lost much in the process – Two lost the man she loved, and Tori years of her life. Returned to humanity, both women try to cope with their new situation. Each in her own way is having a hard time fitting in, or even knowing if fitting in is what she wants. It isn’t long however before their old life catches up with them, and once again they find themselves the pawns of forces much greater than they have a chance to comprehend, forced to make choices with consequences difficult to predict.
Blood Hunt is a much more ambitious book than The Blood that Bonds in that its vampire universe gets fleshed out a lot more than previously, which was a major attraction for me. It also demands a little more of the reader, as the story is less linear – that’s another thing I liked… But as far as I’m concerned, the main improvement was that we got to know the protagonists better, and to understand why they were the protagonists in the first place. Freed from the shackles of the blood craze (Tori) and from both addiction and fairy-tale love (Two), the two women must make their own decisions. Don’t mistake me, that still doesn’t mean that they can do anything that they want (they are as I said caught in a situation that is much bigger than they can hope to control, AND they are flawed characters influenced by their own psyches), but there is real character growth in the story in addition to the plot’s twists. Someone else commented that the story was a good balance of fantasy (it is a vampire story after all!) and real characters, and I must echo this. The book is definitely on the entertaining side of what I read, and it is really really good at precisely that -- being fun without being totally mindless.
And on the UNABASHEDLY subjective side: the author totally rocks and you should support him!
Since I am married to the author, I cannot pretend to be at all objective, though I will try… but I hope this helps people form an idea about Blood Hunt, the follow-up to The Blood that Bonds, and what they can expect from it. I am also trying to avoid spoilers (which may make the review a little vague, since the books are quite plot-driven), but if you haven’t read The Blood that Bonds, beware! **
The Blood that Bonds ended on a bittersweet note: Two and Tori have been rescued from the grip of the elder Abraham, but they have lost much in the process – Two lost the man she loved, and Tori years of her life. Returned to humanity, both women try to cope with their new situation. Each in her own way is having a hard time fitting in, or even knowing if fitting in is what she wants. It isn’t long however before their old life catches up with them, and once again they find themselves the pawns of forces much greater than they have a chance to comprehend, forced to make choices with consequences difficult to predict.
Blood Hunt is a much more ambitious book than The Blood that Bonds in that its vampire universe gets fleshed out a lot more than previously, which was a major attraction for me. It also demands a little more of the reader, as the story is less linear – that’s another thing I liked… But as far as I’m concerned, the main improvement was that we got to know the protagonists better, and to understand why they were the protagonists in the first place. Freed from the shackles of the blood craze (Tori) and from both addiction and fairy-tale love (Two), the two women must make their own decisions. Don’t mistake me, that still doesn’t mean that they can do anything that they want (they are as I said caught in a situation that is much bigger than they can hope to control, AND they are flawed characters influenced by their own psyches), but there is real character growth in the story in addition to the plot’s twists. Someone else commented that the story was a good balance of fantasy (it is a vampire story after all!) and real characters, and I must echo this. The book is definitely on the entertaining side of what I read, and it is really really good at precisely that -- being fun without being totally mindless.
And on the UNABASHEDLY subjective side: the author totally rocks and you should support him!
September 4, 2011
Like many others who read The Blood that Bonds, I couldn’t wait until Blood Hunt was released. I am very happy to say that Chris made it well worth the wait. It was the perfect sequel.
I’ve made no secret of the fact that I was not happy with where Two and the rest of the characters were left at the end of The Blood that Bonds. I even devoted a Follow Friday post on my blog to my feelings on the subject. I’m not saying that I felt like it should have ended differently. It ended where it needed to end so Two’s story could continue. I’m just saying that I wished Two could have been in a better place than she was, only because I felt so bad for her. After reading Blood Hunt, I now feel a lot better about how the first book ended and know now why it had to end the way it did. See, it’s always important to trust an author to take care of his characters.
Blood Hunt was longer than The Blood that Bonds, which allowed for a lot more in depth description of vampire history and politics. It also allowed for more character development and the introduction of some more key characters. This brought you a lot closer to the main characters and help you understand a bit more of where they were coming from.
Although Two ended in a much better emotional place at the end of Blood Hunt, that doesn’t mean that she didn’t suffer. Actually, through most of the book she was still suffering, along with most of the other characters. There were some light and happy moments though, just enough to keep the reader from becoming totally bogged down.
Several things that Chris did with Blood Hunt kept things interesting. Chapters and sections were written from different characters’ perspectives. The book was also broken up into parts, which didn’t always follow chronologically. At first this bothered me, but once I started reading and saw how the parts eventually wove together, I realized it was actually a very effective way to approach the scenes.
As far as the ending of Blood Hunt as compared to the end of The Blood that Bonds? I’m not going to give anything away except to say that I was so wrapped up in the story, I never saw the twist coming until it happened. It still wasn’t a truly happy ending, but Two’s story isn’t a happy one by any stretch of the imagination. It’s dark, sad and full of conflict, but there’s still hope. I’ll be waiting patiently for the next installment because there are still a lot of lose ends that need to be tied. The Children of the Sun is sure to be another emotional ride for Two and the rest of her friends.
I’ve made no secret of the fact that I was not happy with where Two and the rest of the characters were left at the end of The Blood that Bonds. I even devoted a Follow Friday post on my blog to my feelings on the subject. I’m not saying that I felt like it should have ended differently. It ended where it needed to end so Two’s story could continue. I’m just saying that I wished Two could have been in a better place than she was, only because I felt so bad for her. After reading Blood Hunt, I now feel a lot better about how the first book ended and know now why it had to end the way it did. See, it’s always important to trust an author to take care of his characters.
Blood Hunt was longer than The Blood that Bonds, which allowed for a lot more in depth description of vampire history and politics. It also allowed for more character development and the introduction of some more key characters. This brought you a lot closer to the main characters and help you understand a bit more of where they were coming from.
Although Two ended in a much better emotional place at the end of Blood Hunt, that doesn’t mean that she didn’t suffer. Actually, through most of the book she was still suffering, along with most of the other characters. There were some light and happy moments though, just enough to keep the reader from becoming totally bogged down.
Several things that Chris did with Blood Hunt kept things interesting. Chapters and sections were written from different characters’ perspectives. The book was also broken up into parts, which didn’t always follow chronologically. At first this bothered me, but once I started reading and saw how the parts eventually wove together, I realized it was actually a very effective way to approach the scenes.
As far as the ending of Blood Hunt as compared to the end of The Blood that Bonds? I’m not going to give anything away except to say that I was so wrapped up in the story, I never saw the twist coming until it happened. It still wasn’t a truly happy ending, but Two’s story isn’t a happy one by any stretch of the imagination. It’s dark, sad and full of conflict, but there’s still hope. I’ll be waiting patiently for the next installment because there are still a lot of lose ends that need to be tied. The Children of the Sun is sure to be another emotional ride for Two and the rest of her friends.
August 29, 2011
I've never written a review before, so I'll keep this short and.sweet! Like many, I've waited a long time time for Blood Hunt, and I must say that I was certainly not disappointed! I practically devoured this book in 36 hours, and, despite it being much longer than The Blood That Bonds, I was left wanting much, much more! Congratulations, Mr. Buecheler, on what is a superb 2nd book to your trilogy. I'm not sure how I can wait another year-and-a-bit until the last installment! Absolutely fantastic!
September 2, 2011
Oh my gosh! I couldn't put this book down and now that I have finished it I want to read it again. Full of chaos in a good way. Exciting from the beginning to the end. Left me wanting more. How will I ever be able to wait for the third book??? As bad as I want to share more about this book it will absolutely spoil it so I must keep my thoughts to myself. All I need to say is: I knew it!!!! Love prevails!!! Thank you Chris for another book well done!!
August 31, 2011
Ugh! I want MORE...NOW! That was such a good story and I love Two's story...I NEED to learn more about Tori and The Children of The Sun...how long??? HOW LOOOONG!!!! Chris...u have done it again to me with this book! AMAZING!!!
December 8, 2011
Christopher Buecheler's The Blood That Bonds was one of the first books I downloaded on the Kindle I got for my birthday, October 2010. I was hungry for more vampire stories, after building my (mostly-defunct) career around being a "Twilight Librarian" (hey, if it got kids reading I was all for it...). Blood that Bonds had an atypical heroine in Two Majors-- she was a heroin addict whose prostitution brings her in contact with vampire Theroen. I fell in love with the scrappy Two (though her name drove me crazy...I kept reading it and thinking, "two whats?") I didn't care so much about Theroen, but I was fascinated by the life he led with Abraham, Melissa/Missy and Tori. Blood that Bonds ended all too quickly and I was definitely wanting more.
I immediately sought out Buecheler's website so I could see when the sequel to Blood would debut and was dismayed to find out that Buecheler was taking his sweet time with the next installment. How dare he not hurry through his work so that I could get my fix! I went on to other vampires of various sorts, but Two was always in my back of my mind.
So I was doing the happy dance when I found out recently that Blood that Bonds' follow up was out-- Blood Hunt. Let me tell ya-- it was worth the wait! Long-suffering Two was back, and this time we learn more about her through the vampire world-- and the friends she has tried to leave behind.
Let me get to what I loved about Blood Hunt. I love vampire lore and I really like how Buecheler bends the rules of the typical vampire story. And let's face it-- you gotta break from the tired old vampire dogma that states that vampires can't be out in the daylight or they must kill their victims to be satiated, yada, yada, yada (Stephenie Meyer only gets a 1/4 pass, though, for coming up with that sparkly vampire shit. Ugh!) Buecheler takes us to new places with Two, who has (mostly) reverted to her formerly-human self. Two seeks a return to the "life" by seeking out a bloodsucker that would bring her back into the vampiric fold.
This is where my second love in this book comes in-- vampire politics. Ah, if only a vampire would run for the Republican nomination (now that we've lost both Donald Trump and Herman Cain in next year's election)! I'm convinced that Obama is a zombie-- so having a vampire enter the race would make this all the more interesting. But back to Blood Hunt. I like that we get to find out about the vampire caste system here, and Buecheler does a splendid job of establishing the various vampire worldviews. Abraham, the big baddie from BtB is ever-present in the decisions the American vampire council must grapple with, and we get to meet the movers-and-shakers-- namely, Naomi, Jakob, Malik and Stephen (who provides an outsider-insider's view). The little anarchist in me was thrilled that there were dissidents-- I was mildly sympathetic to the plight of the Burilgi, but per usual, their leader is batshit crazy (but hey, that's way of subalterns, no?).
Ah, now we come to the characters. This is where Blood Hunt shines for me. My love of Two grew in this one, but then she does fulfill all my spunky girlcrush needs. I love that we got more of Rhes, Sarah and Molly in this one, too. I especially like how Sarah speaks her mind and how we are brought into her pain over her blindness. Sarah's contribution to the captives finding their way out of the Burilgi mess? Love that she was essential and not just a victim because of her "disability." Ah, and the proposal-- be still my little unconventional-proposal heart! If dire circumstances don't solidify your union, nothing will, and boy, do Rhes and Sarah find themselves in a case of the dires! Oh, and Molly seems to be shaping up as a mini-Two, and I hope we see more of her in the next book.
As far as other characters are concerned-- we've seen the human-despising vampire female before, but I really admired Sasha, here, and want more of her. Stephen-- could not get enough of him (Buecheler, I know you are wrapping up this trilogy, but I need Stephen's full backstory. Pronto! Get on it!). The Ancient and near-Ancient are represented by Ashayt and Eadwyn (I adored his wackadoodle riddling). The stories of Ashayt, Eresh and the other ancients are somewhat reminiscent of the originators in Anne Rice's early Vampire Chronicles series-- but I don't mind this (what if all these vampire folklorists came together and spun one giant tale that incorporated various elements from all their tales...hmmm...).
I should probably touch on the romances. Unrequited love figures prominently into the lives of several characters. We still feel Two's despair from losing Thereon in the first novel, and I found my self rooting for her to find new love and move along. Naomi, though? Bleh! Haven't we seen the wimpy, clingy female vampire before? I get that she, too, has suffered the loss of loved ones-- but geez, girl, it's been a few hundred years-- get over it! And ok, I'm really getting old(er), because I was kinda happy there wasn't one sex scene after another. There was just enough boot-knocking to keep me happy, and Buecheler imbues intimate moments with just the right amount of heat and emotion between the characters (I feel that a lot of male authors simply fail at this--sexist, I know... but kudos to Buecheler!)
Ok, let's move on to what didn't work for me. This was the perfect vampire story to me-- for the first 90% of the book. When Blood Hunt doubles back to relay the events that lead up to the rescue attempt of the captives, the tale started to loses steam. When the rescue team shows up and they each, in turn, step forward to reveal themselves, it seemed kinda corny. The ending was starting to feel a little too twisty and drawn out (and while I'm not entirely happy with how it ended-- I can understand where Buecheler was taking the story, and that makes enough sense for concluding the trilogy). I wish I cared about Tori. I really didn't care about her in the first book, and I care even less about her in this one-- and she's essential to the plot of the last book in this series, The Children of the Sun. I am on-board until the very end of IIAM, but I wonder if Buecheler will bring something fresh to the vampire-hunter theme. I certainly hope so. Tori is (understandably) emotionally vacant (and physically, too, I might add) throughout Blood Hunt, but I'm going to need a whole lot more from her character to hold my interest in the next book.
As I stated in the beginning, Blood Hunt was worth the wait. Buecheler does a fine job with this sophomore effort. He does an excellent job of breathing new life into this sub-genre and Two and most of her fellow sojourners are interesting, likable characters.
Buecheler, I'm going to be keeping an eye on you on Twitter. Don't be a-tarrying-- hurry up and finish Children of the Sun. Like Two in Blood that Bonds, I need a vampire to come along to cure my addiction, and that ain't happening anytime soon, so, yes, get on with it!
I immediately sought out Buecheler's website so I could see when the sequel to Blood would debut and was dismayed to find out that Buecheler was taking his sweet time with the next installment. How dare he not hurry through his work so that I could get my fix! I went on to other vampires of various sorts, but Two was always in my back of my mind.
So I was doing the happy dance when I found out recently that Blood that Bonds' follow up was out-- Blood Hunt. Let me tell ya-- it was worth the wait! Long-suffering Two was back, and this time we learn more about her through the vampire world-- and the friends she has tried to leave behind.
Let me get to what I loved about Blood Hunt. I love vampire lore and I really like how Buecheler bends the rules of the typical vampire story. And let's face it-- you gotta break from the tired old vampire dogma that states that vampires can't be out in the daylight or they must kill their victims to be satiated, yada, yada, yada (Stephenie Meyer only gets a 1/4 pass, though, for coming up with that sparkly vampire shit. Ugh!) Buecheler takes us to new places with Two, who has (mostly) reverted to her formerly-human self. Two seeks a return to the "life" by seeking out a bloodsucker that would bring her back into the vampiric fold.
This is where my second love in this book comes in-- vampire politics. Ah, if only a vampire would run for the Republican nomination (now that we've lost both Donald Trump and Herman Cain in next year's election)! I'm convinced that Obama is a zombie-- so having a vampire enter the race would make this all the more interesting. But back to Blood Hunt. I like that we get to find out about the vampire caste system here, and Buecheler does a splendid job of establishing the various vampire worldviews. Abraham, the big baddie from BtB is ever-present in the decisions the American vampire council must grapple with, and we get to meet the movers-and-shakers-- namely, Naomi, Jakob, Malik and Stephen (who provides an outsider-insider's view). The little anarchist in me was thrilled that there were dissidents-- I was mildly sympathetic to the plight of the Burilgi, but per usual, their leader is batshit crazy (but hey, that's way of subalterns, no?).
Ah, now we come to the characters. This is where Blood Hunt shines for me. My love of Two grew in this one, but then she does fulfill all my spunky girlcrush needs. I love that we got more of Rhes, Sarah and Molly in this one, too. I especially like how Sarah speaks her mind and how we are brought into her pain over her blindness. Sarah's contribution to the captives finding their way out of the Burilgi mess? Love that she was essential and not just a victim because of her "disability." Ah, and the proposal-- be still my little unconventional-proposal heart! If dire circumstances don't solidify your union, nothing will, and boy, do Rhes and Sarah find themselves in a case of the dires! Oh, and Molly seems to be shaping up as a mini-Two, and I hope we see more of her in the next book.
As far as other characters are concerned-- we've seen the human-despising vampire female before, but I really admired Sasha, here, and want more of her. Stephen-- could not get enough of him (Buecheler, I know you are wrapping up this trilogy, but I need Stephen's full backstory. Pronto! Get on it!). The Ancient and near-Ancient are represented by Ashayt and Eadwyn (I adored his wackadoodle riddling). The stories of Ashayt, Eresh and the other ancients are somewhat reminiscent of the originators in Anne Rice's early Vampire Chronicles series-- but I don't mind this (what if all these vampire folklorists came together and spun one giant tale that incorporated various elements from all their tales...hmmm...).
I should probably touch on the romances. Unrequited love figures prominently into the lives of several characters. We still feel Two's despair from losing Thereon in the first novel, and I found my self rooting for her to find new love and move along. Naomi, though? Bleh! Haven't we seen the wimpy, clingy female vampire before? I get that she, too, has suffered the loss of loved ones-- but geez, girl, it's been a few hundred years-- get over it! And ok, I'm really getting old(er), because I was kinda happy there wasn't one sex scene after another. There was just enough boot-knocking to keep me happy, and Buecheler imbues intimate moments with just the right amount of heat and emotion between the characters (I feel that a lot of male authors simply fail at this--sexist, I know... but kudos to Buecheler!)
Ok, let's move on to what didn't work for me. This was the perfect vampire story to me-- for the first 90% of the book. When Blood Hunt doubles back to relay the events that lead up to the rescue attempt of the captives, the tale started to loses steam. When the rescue team shows up and they each, in turn, step forward to reveal themselves, it seemed kinda corny. The ending was starting to feel a little too twisty and drawn out (and while I'm not entirely happy with how it ended-- I can understand where Buecheler was taking the story, and that makes enough sense for concluding the trilogy). I wish I cared about Tori. I really didn't care about her in the first book, and I care even less about her in this one-- and she's essential to the plot of the last book in this series, The Children of the Sun. I am on-board until the very end of IIAM, but I wonder if Buecheler will bring something fresh to the vampire-hunter theme. I certainly hope so. Tori is (understandably) emotionally vacant (and physically, too, I might add) throughout Blood Hunt, but I'm going to need a whole lot more from her character to hold my interest in the next book.
As I stated in the beginning, Blood Hunt was worth the wait. Buecheler does a fine job with this sophomore effort. He does an excellent job of breathing new life into this sub-genre and Two and most of her fellow sojourners are interesting, likable characters.
Buecheler, I'm going to be keeping an eye on you on Twitter. Don't be a-tarrying-- hurry up and finish Children of the Sun. Like Two in Blood that Bonds, I need a vampire to come along to cure my addiction, and that ain't happening anytime soon, so, yes, get on with it!
June 11, 2012
I was a little wary at first, since the first book was so incredibly raw and emotional and here he is more than doubling the size of the sequel. I shouldn't have worried. Just when I think vampires have done too much, someone comes along with a new take that gives fresh energy. In this case, it's all in the characters. You cheer for them, you cry with them and throughout you root for them to win. The vampire council is fleshed out here in idiosyncratic and amusing detail and the growth of Two's character is a lovely coming of age story, albeit one with a lot of pain and emotional difficulty that resonated at times a little too much. Definitely looking forward to the third and final book, though hopefully he doesn't take as long to get it out.
January 7, 2020
I read the first book 'The blood that bonds' and enjoyed it so much I bought the follow up as soon as I had finished it and read it in a day! I now have the 3rd book in the series and as it is just turned midnight I will start reading it tomorrow, I might even manage to put it down and do something else and not spend ALL DAY just reading it?
Please keep them coming Christopher (or at least similar as this was a 3 book series)
Please keep them coming Christopher (or at least similar as this was a 3 book series)
April 5, 2013
I loved this book. I liked the part when she went before the council and she still couldn't get what she wanted. My favorite part was when Two and Naomi injected the blood into Thereoen's neck and he came back to life. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes danger, suspense, and vampires.
March 12, 2024
Book two of my favorite vampire series. (Spoilers ahead if you're reading this pre-reading the book you should stop). Since I'd read it before i was super antsy breezing through the pages waiting for Theoren to be revived, and enjoying all of the friends that Two made along the way. Having poor Rhes and Sarah put into danger like they were was an awesome way to tie the humans and vampires together and with Two regaining a new type of vampirism, it made the ensuing battles so much fun to read especially with tying in a supposedly dead 4000 year old vampire. Jakob and Sasha were so much fun to read about too, and going through the book I was SO amped up to get to book three so I could read the big scenes between the remaining council vampires and the Children of the Sun.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 12, 2019
Another great installment. Buecheler delivers even more than I had hoped--developing his characters and introducing new ones, just the right ones that you didn't realize you wanted to meet. The thread that holds the II AM Trilogy together is strong but pliant. I love learning the history and the potential of the vampire races that is laid out in this volume. Can't wait to see where the third book will take us.
October 23, 2018
I really enjoyed this book. It was well written and the main characters were well crafted and had a depth to them which allowed the storyline to develop in many different ways.
I’m now picking up the follow up and am hoping for more of the same.
I’m now picking up the follow up and am hoping for more of the same.
July 29, 2017
Simply amazing! This is my second time reading it. Still kept me on the edge of my seat. I can say this author is now my new favorite one.
August 12, 2017
Brilliant
Couldn't put it down almost sorry it's finished. Looking forward to the next book Children of the sun. Can't wait.
Couldn't put it down almost sorry it's finished. Looking forward to the next book Children of the sun. Can't wait.
September 26, 2018
I love this series
November 15, 2018
Good book
Can’t wait to read the last book!!! Page turner couldn’t put it down. Not a normal vampire book, a lot different than what you would think.
Can’t wait to read the last book!!! Page turner couldn’t put it down. Not a normal vampire book, a lot different than what you would think.
Want to read
July 19, 2020elibrary
July 1, 2012
You know that feeling, when something bad-no not bad, life-shattering happens in a book (hello Theroen is dead) and you feel like boarding a plane to the authors doorstep, kicking his ass and demand for him to just FIX it? And then you realize it's your own very girlish need for an happy ending talking? And you want to kick your self too, for even thinking there has to be a happy end? You enter a second stage of book grief-you try to stay strong and convince yourself it's OK for the heroine to be eternally miserable, or in case of Two not so eternally. You keep telling yourself that Theroen can't come back, that it would ruin the beauty of the book- the uniqueness of the book. And with the next breath you'll be back to stage one- How could this happen?!
If you read this book, you know what I'm talking about, if you haven't, read it- it's worth every tear you've ever shed. Because you'll be engrossed in Two's story, in the unfairness of life, in your own conflicting feelings. And in the end, you'll be crying like a baby, maybe thanking Christopher for what he did, maybe cursing him. I don't want to be a spoil sport- but I thank him with all my heart, because he did what I needed him to do, and he made it seem so logical that now when I know, I feel like nothing else could have happened. And maybe nothing else could.
And Christopher doesn't stop at that, every time Two's story becomes too much, every time you become unsure of what you want to happen, he jumps to Tori, the girl turned beast turned girl again. And you're left with another mind-blowing story, sometimes conflicting with Two's sometimes perfectly in tune.
It's difficult to fit two perfectly mature and independent heroines into one book, some authors have problems writing about one. But Christopher Buecheler manages it with unbelievable ease, adding incredibly detailed side characters, with history and personality to behold, drawing you into his world. I can't wait for the next and final book. Yet I don't mind, I'm going to enjoy the anticipation, the daydreaming about what could happen, the realization that whatever I'll think of, Christopher will surprise me yet again, and however the series end, it will be right, and inevitable.
And that's how good books are written. With the reader not knowing, yet understanding, devastated, yet accepting. Anticipatory, yet willing to wait.
If you read this book, you know what I'm talking about, if you haven't, read it- it's worth every tear you've ever shed. Because you'll be engrossed in Two's story, in the unfairness of life, in your own conflicting feelings. And in the end, you'll be crying like a baby, maybe thanking Christopher for what he did, maybe cursing him. I don't want to be a spoil sport- but I thank him with all my heart, because he did what I needed him to do, and he made it seem so logical that now when I know, I feel like nothing else could have happened. And maybe nothing else could.
And Christopher doesn't stop at that, every time Two's story becomes too much, every time you become unsure of what you want to happen, he jumps to Tori, the girl turned beast turned girl again. And you're left with another mind-blowing story, sometimes conflicting with Two's sometimes perfectly in tune.
It's difficult to fit two perfectly mature and independent heroines into one book, some authors have problems writing about one. But Christopher Buecheler manages it with unbelievable ease, adding incredibly detailed side characters, with history and personality to behold, drawing you into his world. I can't wait for the next and final book. Yet I don't mind, I'm going to enjoy the anticipation, the daydreaming about what could happen, the realization that whatever I'll think of, Christopher will surprise me yet again, and however the series end, it will be right, and inevitable.
And that's how good books are written. With the reader not knowing, yet understanding, devastated, yet accepting. Anticipatory, yet willing to wait.
May 19, 2012
Christopher Buecheler’s Blood Hunt (II AM Trilogy—Book #2) was thrilling and captivating…quite hard to put down. I would read late at night until I went cross-eyed, beating back the zzz’s. I was initially interested in seeing what happens to Tori; however, Two, Naomi and Stephen stole my attention (in a good way). With Two being desperate to once again be a vampire, she enlists their help in achieving this goal. With no luck from the American vampire council their mission takes the three of them to the European council, as they are more familiar with their old laws—The Code of Eresh-Kigal—and therefore better equipped to make a decision regarding Two’s future. During this time Two gets to know Naomi A LOT better (wink-wink) and Stephen takes on the role of mentoring Two in the art of training and fighting in preparation of her becoming a vampire once again, council willing. Meanwhile, so much is happening back here in the States with Rhes, Sarah and Molly, as well as a slew of other characters that become just as loveable. So much happens in this 482 page book that I find it hard to write a review due to not wanting to spoil anything for the reader!
I’m going to be completely honest here—because that’s what authors and readers alike want—I’m an HEA story kind of girl, which book #1—The Blood That Bonds—was not. I was a little miffed and felt somewhat let down about a certain character’s death, and I have to admit that I wasn’t all that motivated to read book #2. I’m a total dope…I COULDN’T PUT THIS DOWN! If I was flexible enough I’d kick my own arse (as Stephen would so blatantly state). I’m happy to say there were no problems with the name “Two” for me this time around; it was much easier for me to grasp as a name.
Blood Hunt can be read on its own, but I strongly suggest you read the first so you can ride the emo-coaster that I did. BEWARE—Blood Hunt’s rails are slicker and faster, so hold on because it definitely evokes stronger emotions. I loved it, definitely recommend it and hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Get ready for the final book in this series—The Children of the Sun—releasing in November 2012.
Originally reviewed for daydrmzzz.blogspot.com
I’m going to be completely honest here—because that’s what authors and readers alike want—I’m an HEA story kind of girl, which book #1—The Blood That Bonds—was not. I was a little miffed and felt somewhat let down about a certain character’s death, and I have to admit that I wasn’t all that motivated to read book #2. I’m a total dope…I COULDN’T PUT THIS DOWN! If I was flexible enough I’d kick my own arse (as Stephen would so blatantly state). I’m happy to say there were no problems with the name “Two” for me this time around; it was much easier for me to grasp as a name.
Blood Hunt can be read on its own, but I strongly suggest you read the first so you can ride the emo-coaster that I did. BEWARE—Blood Hunt’s rails are slicker and faster, so hold on because it definitely evokes stronger emotions. I loved it, definitely recommend it and hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Get ready for the final book in this series—The Children of the Sun—releasing in November 2012.
Originally reviewed for daydrmzzz.blogspot.com
December 30, 2011
This book is the second in Buechler’s II AM Trilogy, and believe me, it does not disappoint!
The book picks up shortly after The Blood That Bonds leaves off, immediately hooking you into Tori and Two’s desperation at the realization that they will never shake off the effects of being Eresh-chen. The story also follows Rhes, Sarah and Molly, who again, cannot attain the normalcy they crave, as they are once again drawn into the intrigues of the 4 vampire races. The richness of the new characters, as they impact Two’s journey to regaining what she has lost, allows details to unfold that fill in the gaps that remained at the conclusion of TBTB.
There’s plenty of action, intrigue and just enough sex/romance to satisfy as Two and company wend their way through loss, love, sacrifice and redemption, and the author also provides tantalizing clues to the story in the next installment.
I am amazed that BOTH of these books are available on Amazon for $2.99 TOTAL - Days of enjoyment for the price of a Starbucks! I am anxiously awaiting the 3rd book, Children of the Sun.
The book picks up shortly after The Blood That Bonds leaves off, immediately hooking you into Tori and Two’s desperation at the realization that they will never shake off the effects of being Eresh-chen. The story also follows Rhes, Sarah and Molly, who again, cannot attain the normalcy they crave, as they are once again drawn into the intrigues of the 4 vampire races. The richness of the new characters, as they impact Two’s journey to regaining what she has lost, allows details to unfold that fill in the gaps that remained at the conclusion of TBTB.
There’s plenty of action, intrigue and just enough sex/romance to satisfy as Two and company wend their way through loss, love, sacrifice and redemption, and the author also provides tantalizing clues to the story in the next installment.
I am amazed that BOTH of these books are available on Amazon for $2.99 TOTAL - Days of enjoyment for the price of a Starbucks! I am anxiously awaiting the 3rd book, Children of the Sun.
June 19, 2012
It took me forever to actually get into the book. Once I did, and things started going, I could not put it down. Just so you know there may be spoilers in this review.
In the first book, I was loving Two, not so much in this book. I love most of the new characters introduced, and hate the story of some of our old and dear characters.
Stephen and Naoimi, I felt like they got dealt a extremely dirty hand. I almost hate Two for what she did to Naoimi, and then it almost felt like she didn't have any remorse about it. I would take Stephen any day over Theron, so that was a big let down for me.
The mother...another big let down. All of that power, but the only thing she could do was avoid being killed because of a thousand yr old vowe never to harm another vamp or human. SERIOUSLY!!! I felt like she could have went back into hiding.
Jakob was interesting, I would've like more of a story on him.
Overall the book was good, sad in some parts, but good. I really hate what happened to Tori, I don't know if I like the direction it is going in. But who knows, maybe I will be surprised like I was in this one.
In the first book, I was loving Two, not so much in this book. I love most of the new characters introduced, and hate the story of some of our old and dear characters.
Stephen and Naoimi, I felt like they got dealt a extremely dirty hand. I almost hate Two for what she did to Naoimi, and then it almost felt like she didn't have any remorse about it. I would take Stephen any day over Theron, so that was a big let down for me.
The mother...another big let down. All of that power, but the only thing she could do was avoid being killed because of a thousand yr old vowe never to harm another vamp or human. SERIOUSLY!!! I felt like she could have went back into hiding.
Jakob was interesting, I would've like more of a story on him.
Overall the book was good, sad in some parts, but good. I really hate what happened to Tori, I don't know if I like the direction it is going in. But who knows, maybe I will be surprised like I was in this one.
May 26, 2014
Overall, its a good story, though not as good as the first book to me, which I loved. This one was a little too long, and though it was not boring in anyway and I didn't mind reading it, it could have been cut down a bit.
I loved all the new characters introduced, and hearing about the ones we met in book 1. The main character, Two, was a bit more self centered this go round. It was not overly done, but still annoyed me at times. I'm not sure if that was done intentionally by the author, or if was due to an accidental lack of some emotions and details at certain situations, but either way that is really the only flaw I found with the story.
I can't wait to read the next one. I loved the first book a lot, and couldn't wait to read this one, even buying it on its release day, and yet let it get buried in the pile on my e-reader. Hopefully the same won't happen with the final book of the trilogy.
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October 26, 2017I was completely taken off guard when I read Blood that Bonds and did not expect how very much I enjoyed it, no LOVED it...so like so many I could not wait to read the second installment. Honest truth, I was not "as" blown away with it as I was the first book. I found that I enjoyed the first book better. That being said, I really really liked this one too. What I loved best about it was that you really got to know the other characters we were introduced to in book one so much more. It gave the story so much more levels and depth. Two really pissed me off in this book, but at the same time as I hated how she was being I loved that I got to see that side of her that is so conflicted and so humanly selfish. I very much look forward to the next book and seeing what directions all these beautiful characters are going in.
September 11, 2011
Warning: Don't read this story unless you have read "The Blood That Bonds" first(last time I checked it was still free for Kindle), or you will be completely lost and miss out on the background stories of most of the characters.
I am very impressed with the author's writing. Not only does he dare to tell a story in a woman's POV, but he does it very well. I applaud him for imagining these amazing characters and putting it all down on paper in such a wonderful way, that I actually care about what happens to them.
I can't wait to see what happens with Tori! I got so caught up in her story in the beginning of the book, that I forgot this was supposed to be about Two. I will be impatiently waiting for the third and final book in the Trilogy. I happily recommend this book to readers who enjoy both Paranormal romances as well as Urban Fantasies.
I am very impressed with the author's writing. Not only does he dare to tell a story in a woman's POV, but he does it very well. I applaud him for imagining these amazing characters and putting it all down on paper in such a wonderful way, that I actually care about what happens to them.
I can't wait to see what happens with Tori! I got so caught up in her story in the beginning of the book, that I forgot this was supposed to be about Two. I will be impatiently waiting for the third and final book in the Trilogy. I happily recommend this book to readers who enjoy both Paranormal romances as well as Urban Fantasies.
December 18, 2011
Wow good book. You first hear about Tory and her story since two left her with her parents, of which she thinks is the best choice. Tory is lost and starting to hate two to leaving her there but when something happens to her parents things change and then her story stops.
That's when two's story begins, again her friends Rhes and Sarah worry about her but this tie they are dragged into to it.
Two how ever is trying to get back to where she thinks she Belongs, that's how she meets her two new friends who help her.
I found her story interestingly take new turns and it had me hooked.
I really love two character and the way she not afraid to go after and do what she feels.right for.her which normally means someone close to her gets hurt, even though she dont see it at the time and she dont mean it.
I am really anxious for the.next book in two's story.
That's when two's story begins, again her friends Rhes and Sarah worry about her but this tie they are dragged into to it.
Two how ever is trying to get back to where she thinks she Belongs, that's how she meets her two new friends who help her.
I found her story interestingly take new turns and it had me hooked.
I really love two character and the way she not afraid to go after and do what she feels.right for.her which normally means someone close to her gets hurt, even though she dont see it at the time and she dont mean it.
I am really anxious for the.next book in two's story.
February 4, 2012
Still not over my vampire lit fixation - totally loved this. I quite like it when the sequel outshines the first book - ok this one isn't free but it is very low priced and it shouldn't be - it is a stonkingly good read. There is a plot which twists and turns, the characters develop and the list of them expands nicely. It weaves 3 plot lines which I think will collide in book 3 (hopefully) and the vampire side isn't cliched - well maybe a little but then I think it has to be a bit in this genre - what cliches there are are minimal and not nausea inducing. I could see where he was going with the main plot line and the two main characters but that didn't detract from the pace or the story telling.
I am now looking forward to the 3rd one - which hopefully will get Tori back into the picture a bit more.
I am now looking forward to the 3rd one - which hopefully will get Tori back into the picture a bit more.
September 29, 2012
i'm convinced now that the ingredient that makes a great book into one of the best books you've ever read, is the characters. This book has that ingredient in spades. i am completely addicted to the lives of the characters in this series. they are real, raw, i can picture them and imagine hanging out with them. of course the story line is great and engrossing and has me reading late into the night to hear what happens next, but a big part of that is that i can't get enough of Two and the people she meets. i also love that the story is unpredictable and exciting. so many others you can guess what's going to happen. i'm already sad for the fact that there aren't other books in this series. i'm going to be hard pressed to find some new books to fill this void when i get to the last page.
March 30, 2013
It took me longer to finish this book but not because of any fault of the novel, just that I got sidetracked by other projects... I thoroughly enjoyed this second installment of Two Ashley Majors story... For a really cheap price on Kindle I was thrilled at every turn of my ebook pages... The plot twists are never ending and I loved that it wasn't obvious that she was going to get her wish to be returned to the vampire state she so longed for... To say Thereon's return came as a complete surprise... I will definitely be reading the third The Children of the Sun... But not yet... I want to savour this one before I get immersed in the next... if you haven't downloaded these books yet... do it... now...
September 6, 2011
This book was awesome. Totally epic. It was beautifully written, and carefully crafted to demand the readers whole attention. I got lost in the words, and the emotions the story inspired. It was a roller coaster for me. I cried, I laughed, I wanted to punch something or someone, and I cried some more.
I got teary eyed at every mention of Theroen.
I loved The Blood That Bonds, and have to say, I loved Blood Hunt more. It was good to find out more of the history of the vampires, and to meet new characters. Whether you liked the character or hated them, they helped make the story what it was.
I eagerly await Children Of The Sun, roll on next Summer!
I got teary eyed at every mention of Theroen.
I loved The Blood That Bonds, and have to say, I loved Blood Hunt more. It was good to find out more of the history of the vampires, and to meet new characters. Whether you liked the character or hated them, they helped make the story what it was.
I eagerly await Children Of The Sun, roll on next Summer!
May 4, 2012
This book was okay I felt like it was all over the place. I completely understand why because he has to set a lot of stuff up by why start the book with Tori's story so indepth and then completely drop it. I would preferred he make a spin off book of completely Tori that way I could have focused all my attention on Two's story line. All I can think about after this book is why did Naomi have to get suck a f'ed deal, completely just feel bad for her and then what happened to Stephen really got me upset. Just feel like it was really drawn out but will say once everyone was back together towards the end it really picked up and saved the book for me.
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