Hyblood

The Wolva Trilogy #1

by Stephanie Budd, April Wolf

In 1803 France, a young Frenchman named Gaspard, and his friend move out from the Paris orphanage they have lived in for over a decade. They find jobs at an old mansion and perhaps a friendship in the owners daughter, Jocelyn.

While working there, they learn of the disappearance of previous stable hands, and believe some coincidence must have occurred - until something happens to change both of their lives forever.

Now Gaspard finds himself in the midst of creatures he has only heard about in fairy tales. He secretly travels to the vampire castle after sunset to be trained by his own kind to survive. Though, he is unaware that the brutal vampire leader, Lucas, has great plans for him and that his change was for an essential reason that he will soon discover.

With the help of his mentor, Gabriel, he is taught the vampire ways and to keep himself hidden from the human world. But his growing friendship with Jocelyn threatens to reveal the truth of what really lies beneath his flesh.

Between his ever reoccurring dreams of his past and his constant feuds with Lucas, he is caught in a reality he wants nothing to do with. Will he be able to keep himself in control with the creature he has become?

A Vampire. A luster of blood.

Genres: Young Adult

324 pages, Paperback

First published January 13, 2012

About the author

Stephanie Budd was born and raised in Naples, Florida. She grew up with a constant love of reading and creating stories. Stephanie's first unofficial 'book' was a children's novel that was written and illustrated when she was 10. After that, the stories grew in depth and substance until she became the writer she is today - determined to make her mark in the literary world.

Her first book, 'Hyblood: first book of The Wolva Trilgy' (co-written with long-time friend April Wolf) is a paranormal story based around Vampires and Werewolves in the 1800s French era.

Stephanie is now living in Sydney, Australia with her loving and supportive boyfriend as she runs the blogs and multiple accounts of The Wolva Trilogy while writing her own solo novels in between it all.

Her love for well rounded reading in book genres will be mirrored through her future novels and series' as she writes books for YA, Fantasy, Literature, Paranormal Romance and Animal Fantasy.

Reviews

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I hate giving critical reviews, but this is going to be one. This is a nice young adult paranormal book. Would not call it a romance because the interaction between the hero and heroine is limited in first part of the book. It was slow at first but this is the righting teams first effort and I see potential in a follow up. The vampire hierarchy was not as well defined as the werewolves. I would have liked to have known what time period we were dealing with; because at one point, when gasoline is mentioned as what is used to burn up Gabriel it confused me. We have them using horse and buggy as transportation, but gasoline as an accelerant? Gasoline history can be found online, as gasoline was not readily available until after automobiles were in wider use. I think the authors needed a definite period, a historical understanding of Parisian life during the period, and don't use modern terms like "guys", if you are trying for a period piece, also if you are in France use french terminology at some points.
The editor should have pointed these errors out to the authors. Maybe a historian shouldn't have read it, for originality of story I give the book four stars. I liked a hybrid vampire werewolf race idea. But the characters acceptance of being turned into monsters made it seem like it was a normal occurrence. Context and not knowing the area and history of the area or time period you are writing about a generous three stars.

I see potential in the authors, so please keep writing and I will read the follow up books.

[Jack · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this day and age I feel the need to be specific. I am not a fan of the Twilight Saga. I read the novels and deeply regret my wasted time. But, that does not mean I do not like the Paranormal. I love vampires the kind of Bram Stokers 'Dracula' an Anne Rice's 'Interview With a Vampire'. I am also fond of Werewolves, very fond I should say. So when I was referred to 'Hyblood', it is needless to say that I was both apprehensive and curious.

I am happy to say I was not disappointed.

'Hyblood' is a creative change in the current mold of vampire novels on bookstore shelves. Instead of jumping into a story that involves an age-old vampire and a human, 'Hyblood' give us a story between two characater who both end up to be more than what even they were aware of.

I enjoyed traveling along Gaspard in his trials and tribulations of becoming a vampire at the death of someone he cared for like a brother, and I loved standing by him further as the demented (yet very entertaining) vampire leader, Lucas, sent him into a spiral with deceit, manipulation, murder and betrayal. 

Jocelyn, the heroine of the story was - without giving too much of the story away - also a nice change to the stale, powerless females that infect our YA novels today.

I recommend anyone to pick up and read 'Hyblood' today. It is sure to surprise you, not disappoint you. 

[amanda s. · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author gave me this book as a gift few months ago *scoffs* and I'm really sorry that I just finish this book right now. Thank you, Miss Budd! I owe you one! :)

Meet Gaspard, a normal young man who lost his parents when he was just a kid. Forced to live in orphan house, he and Elijh became a best buddy. When the time is come, both of them has to leave made their own life. Looking for a job, they meet Jocelyn. Beautiful girl who made Gaspard's tummy churn. She offers them job at her house and they said yes. They live a quiet and blissful life until something bad happen. Real bad..

At first I don't get all excited with this book. mostly because Elijh's dead. I was like, what the? I thought they were like Harry and Ron or Frodo and Sam?! But Miss Budd's writing is easy to keep up with and I like the way she described Gaspard's feeling after he became a vampire. And I'm kind of curious with Jocelyn and her role in Gaspard's life. I just find out that Hyblood is self-published. Such an awesome fact that Hyblood isn't tacky like any other SP book!

Different than any other vampire stuff I've read before and thank God Gaspard's not all sparky-sparky. He just.. You know, became more.. handsome. LOL!

Way to go, Miss Budd! And I can't wait for the sequel!

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was pleasantly surprised by this story. I enjoy stories with vampires, werewolves, ghosts, the whole shebang, but with the current fad of supernatural characters are almost solely weak and sexual, rather than strong and predatory. Luckily, Hyblood doesn't fall into that trap.

Gaspard is struggling against his nature, trying to hold on to who he was while not being so incredibly broody as to resemble Eeyore. He keeps going, doing what he thinks is right. Jocelyn is an actual individual, rather than someone who is defined by her relationship with the hero. Lucas is insane, which is entertaining and a little terrifying. Gabriel is kinda fascinating, kind of an ambiguous mentor. And the combination of everyone together works really well.

My only issue with this was my personal lack of connection with the characters. It was around page 80 or 90 or thereabouts that I started to get pulled into the story. Before then, I just didn't really care too much.

Overall, though, it is an interesting story with strong, individual characters. Listed as the first in a series, I'm interested in reading what is to come next.

[Reilly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reeled in by the symbol on the cover, I decided to pick up Hyblood in the hopes that I would not be disappointed - I was not.

'Hyblood's main Hero is strong and decisive of his immortality and the life he plans to lead, and the Heroine is not controlled by her feelings for the Hero as we so often see in many YA novels now-a-days. The Villain was both amusing and a little terrifying. I'm happy to have given this book a chance and look forward to what happens next (so many questions to be answered!).

[Stacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!!! I was a bit skeptical to read it at first with all the vampire hype around lately, but a friend said they loved it and said I must read it and I'm so glad I did. The characters are well thought out - both good guys and the bad guys - and you can't stop reading for even a minute without wondering what the crazy vampire Lucas will do to Gaspard next! Im very much looking forward to the 2nd book. Can't wait!

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was pleasantly surprised with this book, being that it was a R2R and some of them can be a real chore and completely put me off of them for a while. This book did the opposite.

It was a little slow to begin with since it is one of a series, and Stephanie took her time introducing the characters. This is one thing I love to have in the first book of a series. Once the story got going it took off like a jet.I mean who kills off one of the main characters in the first half of a book? I loved it! So original. The twists at the end really kept me reading late into the night and there are several loose ends at the end to keep me waiting impatiently for the next installment.

Being a self published book there are of Corse a couple of typing errors but nothing major and had no effect on my enjoyment of the book. This is defiantly one I would suggest to all but be patient with the beginning and you won't regret it!

[Stephanie Budd]

I have been asked many times over the past few months about the music behind the writing of 'The Wolva Trilogy'. Set up in the link below, I have compiled a list of songs that have helped inspire and drive the writing behind 'Hyblood'. As the second and third books are finished and published as well, I will provide links to their respective songs as I am doing here for the first book. (The second and third installments already have work-in-progress play-lists that you are more than welcome to see from the link provided, but bear in mind they are not completed until the books are!)

I hope you all enjoy, and perhaps this will provide further insight to your reading, enjoyment and understanding of 'Hyblood'! If you have any questions or comments, just write them out below and I'll look at them as soon as possible.


Link:
http://grooveshark.com/#!/playlist/Hy...


Thank you for reading, and kindest regards,
Stephanie.

[BookishVegan · Rating 2 out of 5]

It took me a while to get into Hyblood . I think it started to pick up a little over halfway through the book . It wasn't a fast read but maybe because it's just the beginning of the trilogy .
Overall the characters were interesting and the twist at the end left me intrigued. I may read the next book but I'm
Not sure If the writing style is necessarily my cup of tea . I think it will appeal to others though

[Rachelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable. Will be keeping an eye out for the rest of the series.