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Aphotic #5
Blood Relations: The Fifth Book of the Aphotic
Whoever said you can’t go home again was right. Lex tried. And now she really wishes she hadn’t.
When Lex left No Hope, she had no plans to return. Never wanted to. Not after… No. She doesn’t allow herself to go there. Leave it in the rear-view, just like her hometown.
Ten years down the road, the past can’t seem to stay in the past and her life is in disarray. She really needs to start getting her shit together.
Then her mother is brutally murdered, and Lex finds herself on the long, desolate drive back home. Once there, Lex discovers things are worse than she thought. The family home is in shambles, her father is in decline, and her brother is, somehow, an even bigger asshole than before. Taking comfort in the presence of old friends—and a possible new lover—Lex plans to again leave No Hope in the rear-view as fast as possible. Screw what’s left of her so-called family.
Those plans go awry when a mysterious woman, known to the locals as Spooky Talia, asks a seemingly impossible favour of take up a quest for a mythical talisman so she can strike a bargain with a vicious group of bloodsuckers who aren’t known for their patience. A bargain that will, apparently, hopefully, save her life and deliver her mother’s murderer.
It’s also Lex’s last chance to get her shit together. No pressure.
Embarking on the most bizarre road trip imaginable, Lex will have to face her demons—both real and imagined—in order to rediscover any hope in a town where hope has always gone to die.
“Nope. Don’t like this at all... Tobin, I don’t trust you. No, no. F*ck no!” Jennifer Dinsmore, editor of The Aphotic series
When Lex left No Hope, she had no plans to return. Never wanted to. Not after… No. She doesn’t allow herself to go there. Leave it in the rear-view, just like her hometown.
Ten years down the road, the past can’t seem to stay in the past and her life is in disarray. She really needs to start getting her shit together.
Then her mother is brutally murdered, and Lex finds herself on the long, desolate drive back home. Once there, Lex discovers things are worse than she thought. The family home is in shambles, her father is in decline, and her brother is, somehow, an even bigger asshole than before. Taking comfort in the presence of old friends—and a possible new lover—Lex plans to again leave No Hope in the rear-view as fast as possible. Screw what’s left of her so-called family.
Those plans go awry when a mysterious woman, known to the locals as Spooky Talia, asks a seemingly impossible favour of take up a quest for a mythical talisman so she can strike a bargain with a vicious group of bloodsuckers who aren’t known for their patience. A bargain that will, apparently, hopefully, save her life and deliver her mother’s murderer.
It’s also Lex’s last chance to get her shit together. No pressure.
Embarking on the most bizarre road trip imaginable, Lex will have to face her demons—both real and imagined—in order to rediscover any hope in a town where hope has always gone to die.
“Nope. Don’t like this at all... Tobin, I don’t trust you. No, no. F*ck no!” Jennifer Dinsmore, editor of The Aphotic series
- GenresHorror
422 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 1, 2023
About the author
Tobin Elliott
25 books186 followersTobin was destined for horror. This became obvious when, in the span of two weeks, he built a working model of a guillotine out of popsicle sticks and a razor blade — which his Grade Five teacher didn't seem to appreciate as much as he did — and he also learned to tie a noose and proudly hung one from their apartment balcony — which his mother and the superintendent didn't seem to appreciate as much as he did.
Eventually, he learned to focus the horror into stories. His friends and neighbours likely appreciated the lesser PDH (Public Displays of Horror).
Besides writing ugly stories about bad people doing horrible things, Tobin also
- taught Creative Writing at both Durham College and Trent University (Oshawa Campus) for two decades
- was a founding board member of the Writers' Community of Simcoe County (WCSC)
- was a member of the Writers' Community of Durham Region (WCDR)
- for five crazy years, took part in the annual Muskoka Novel Marathon, a three-day writing marathon to raise money for adult literacy programs in the Simcoe/Muskoka region.
Tobin has been lucky enough to see quite a few works published in the past decade or so...
- his first published work, a horror novella called Vanishing Hope, was through Burning Effigy Press
- Stealing Corey was a semi-finalist in the Whispered Words contest and was published in the subsequent Whispered Words anthology, published by Piquant Press
- the third novella-length installment of the Sam Truman Mysteries, Soft Kiss Hard Death, was published by Abattoir Press
- this, along with the first two novellas, were later collected into the The Sam Truman Mysteries Omnibus Volume 1
- his novella, The Wrong was the final book published by Burning Effigy before they went into extended hibernation (Tobin tends to have that effect on people and publishers)
- Prison Break was published in the Nancy Kilpatrick-edited anthology, Expiration Date, published by Edge SF & Fantasy Publishing, and was singled out by Ellen Datlow in The Best Horror of the Year Volume Eight as one of the standout stories
- Fight or Flight was published in Purgatorium: The Element of Horror anthology, by ID Press
- Nightingale was published in Allucinor: The Element of Romance anthology, by ID Press
- The Riff was published in Nefariam: The Element of Crime anthology, by ID Press
- Horse Guts Horse Guts was published in Released: A Horror Anthology, by No Bad Books Press
- Giving Up The Ghost was published in Doors of Darkness, by Terrorcore Publishing
- possibly his weirdest bit of writing, "EGR 181: Cyclopean Architecture" was published in Nafallen University 2022-2023 Course Catalog, by Madness Heart Press
Since COVID-19 pressed the great pause button, Tobin managed to complete his six-book APHOTIC horror series (which he's delighted to be able to call a "hexalogy") and are being released at two-month intervals.
The Six Books of the Aphotic
- Bad Blood
- Out For Blood
- Blood Loss
- Blood Pact
- Blood Relations
- Flesh and Blood
Tobin has been married for 33 years, and has one son and one daughter, and one relatively brainless dog. He's retired from a large Canadian telecom company where he was a Communications Specialist.
Tobin counts embarrassing his wife and kids, pointing out the stupidities of others, being dumb to kind animals and killing plants among his hobbies.
Finally, Tobin loves feedback, either positive or negative, on his writing. You can find all his links here
Eventually, he learned to focus the horror into stories. His friends and neighbours likely appreciated the lesser PDH (Public Displays of Horror).
Besides writing ugly stories about bad people doing horrible things, Tobin also
- taught Creative Writing at both Durham College and Trent University (Oshawa Campus) for two decades
- was a founding board member of the Writers' Community of Simcoe County (WCSC)
- was a member of the Writers' Community of Durham Region (WCDR)
- for five crazy years, took part in the annual Muskoka Novel Marathon, a three-day writing marathon to raise money for adult literacy programs in the Simcoe/Muskoka region.
Tobin has been lucky enough to see quite a few works published in the past decade or so...
- his first published work, a horror novella called Vanishing Hope, was through Burning Effigy Press
- Stealing Corey was a semi-finalist in the Whispered Words contest and was published in the subsequent Whispered Words anthology, published by Piquant Press
- the third novella-length installment of the Sam Truman Mysteries, Soft Kiss Hard Death, was published by Abattoir Press
- this, along with the first two novellas, were later collected into the The Sam Truman Mysteries Omnibus Volume 1
- his novella, The Wrong was the final book published by Burning Effigy before they went into extended hibernation (Tobin tends to have that effect on people and publishers)
- Prison Break was published in the Nancy Kilpatrick-edited anthology, Expiration Date, published by Edge SF & Fantasy Publishing, and was singled out by Ellen Datlow in The Best Horror of the Year Volume Eight as one of the standout stories
- Fight or Flight was published in Purgatorium: The Element of Horror anthology, by ID Press
- Nightingale was published in Allucinor: The Element of Romance anthology, by ID Press
- The Riff was published in Nefariam: The Element of Crime anthology, by ID Press
- Horse Guts Horse Guts was published in Released: A Horror Anthology, by No Bad Books Press
- Giving Up The Ghost was published in Doors of Darkness, by Terrorcore Publishing
- possibly his weirdest bit of writing, "EGR 181: Cyclopean Architecture" was published in Nafallen University 2022-2023 Course Catalog, by Madness Heart Press
Since COVID-19 pressed the great pause button, Tobin managed to complete his six-book APHOTIC horror series (which he's delighted to be able to call a "hexalogy") and are being released at two-month intervals.
The Six Books of the Aphotic
- Bad Blood
- Out For Blood
- Blood Loss
- Blood Pact
- Blood Relations
- Flesh and Blood
Tobin has been married for 33 years, and has one son and one daughter, and one relatively brainless dog. He's retired from a large Canadian telecom company where he was a Communications Specialist.
Tobin counts embarrassing his wife and kids, pointing out the stupidities of others, being dumb to kind animals and killing plants among his hobbies.
Finally, Tobin loves feedback, either positive or negative, on his writing. You can find all his links here
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
August 7, 2023
"I'm sure I came across as a stone-cold bitch, but honestly, it was going to take a hell of a lot more than dementia or catatonia to thaw the sub-zero disdain of his plight."
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Well, Tobin comes in with another banger. At first, I was skeptical of the first person narrative; not because I dislike it, but because the first four did not have them.
However, a chapter in, I totally forgot.
As I said in the review of the last novella, I love vampires. Much like he did with the lore of werewolves in the third book, he created a lore entirely unique on a creature that has been debatably done to death. I really hope he expands further on it because I truly believe those few paragraphs would have made Anne Rice scrap her whole universe.
I will say that three characters I grew to love survived and, over the course of the series, I've learned that Tobin can't be trusted when it comes to characters I love, but we shall see.
Also, fans of Talia should rejoice at her return. I'm not going to get into it, but her evolution is 👌
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Well, Tobin comes in with another banger. At first, I was skeptical of the first person narrative; not because I dislike it, but because the first four did not have them.
However, a chapter in, I totally forgot.
As I said in the review of the last novella, I love vampires. Much like he did with the lore of werewolves in the third book, he created a lore entirely unique on a creature that has been debatably done to death. I really hope he expands further on it because I truly believe those few paragraphs would have made Anne Rice scrap her whole universe.
I will say that three characters I grew to love survived and, over the course of the series, I've learned that Tobin can't be trusted when it comes to characters I love, but we shall see.
Also, fans of Talia should rejoice at her return. I'm not going to get into it, but her evolution is 👌
July 19, 2023
Wow, I didn't think there would be a contender for my favorite book in the series, Out for Blood or Blood Relations but here we are. I ate this alive; I was planning on this lasting at least a week but Tobin is just too good at sucking me into his universe.
This is a slow burn read, but you really get wrapped up in rooting for the main character and wanting to see what she's going to do with all that's given to her. (It's a lot of bullshit, poor gal.) I wish there was more brutal vampire shit going on, but that doesn't change the fact that this was truly, an incredible read. The twists and surprises definitely did catch me off guard, and I'd say out of all the ones I've read, this one really does tie them in all together. Things that seemed a bit hazy in the others in the series now have a lot more depth and explanation. Can't recommend this series enough, honestly.
This is a slow burn read, but you really get wrapped up in rooting for the main character and wanting to see what she's going to do with all that's given to her. (It's a lot of bullshit, poor gal.) I wish there was more brutal vampire shit going on, but that doesn't change the fact that this was truly, an incredible read. The twists and surprises definitely did catch me off guard, and I'd say out of all the ones I've read, this one really does tie them in all together. Things that seemed a bit hazy in the others in the series now have a lot more depth and explanation. Can't recommend this series enough, honestly.
April 7, 2025
Each book in this series somehow manages to outdo the last, and Blood Relations is no exception. The pacing ramps up beautifully, pulling you in from page one and never letting go. The mysteries unfold in such a compelling way that you can’t help but stay glued to the story, eager for answers. Lex and Monica’s storyline is an absolute standout—both of them are total powerhouses, and their arcs are just as fierce as they are emotional. This installment masterfully weaves together threads from the previous books, setting the stage perfectly for the grand finale. I’m beyond excited to see how it all ends!
December 15, 2023
Blood Relations is book 5 in The Aphotic series, by Tobin Elliot. We learn more about this fantastical and frightening realm we've been navigating throughout this excellent journey. Elliot lets his characters tell the story, and we're taken on some incredible, and terrifying rides.
Secrets, lies, betrayal, discovery, justice, and love. I'm looking forward to reading the final book. I can't even imagine how this will end, but I know it's going to be epic.
Secrets, lies, betrayal, discovery, justice, and love. I'm looking forward to reading the final book. I can't even imagine how this will end, but I know it's going to be epic.
November 3, 2023
That scared the shit out of me!!
Hell of a ride,bring on book #6
Hell of a ride,bring on book #6
October 7, 2024
Yeah, it's the author of this book reviewing another one of his own books again. Hopefully the crazy person who freaked out over me doing this the last time won't do so again, but to be clear...
I'M REVIEWING THE NARRATOR, JENN JOHNSON'S PERFORMANCE. I WILL NOT COMMENT ON MY WRITING WHATSOEVER.
Okay, Lizzo? Don't call me a wet twig again.
Anyway, I just finished listening to the final audio files for this novel and I have to say that the narrator absolutely knocked this one out of the park. When I was searching for a narrator for this series, it was this and the final book, FLESH AND BLOOD that I had in mind the most for some reason, and when I heard Jenn's voice, I knew she was the one.
But she's done SO MUCH BETTER than I could ever have hoped for. The voice effects. The tone of her voice. The inflections at just the right time.
I think the highest compliment I can possibly give is this one: When the book ended, and there was the final "you have been listening to..." bit at the end, I have to say I was actually a little surprised when she said it was written by me. She had me so invested in the story, it literally pulled me out of the mechanics of it and into the actual story, so I could hear it the way every other person would. She made me forget that I'd written it.
And that, to me, is someone who excels at their job.
I'M REVIEWING THE NARRATOR, JENN JOHNSON'S PERFORMANCE. I WILL NOT COMMENT ON MY WRITING WHATSOEVER.
Okay, Lizzo? Don't call me a wet twig again.
Anyway, I just finished listening to the final audio files for this novel and I have to say that the narrator absolutely knocked this one out of the park. When I was searching for a narrator for this series, it was this and the final book, FLESH AND BLOOD that I had in mind the most for some reason, and when I heard Jenn's voice, I knew she was the one.
But she's done SO MUCH BETTER than I could ever have hoped for. The voice effects. The tone of her voice. The inflections at just the right time.
I think the highest compliment I can possibly give is this one: When the book ended, and there was the final "you have been listening to..." bit at the end, I have to say I was actually a little surprised when she said it was written by me. She had me so invested in the story, it literally pulled me out of the mechanics of it and into the actual story, so I could hear it the way every other person would. She made me forget that I'd written it.
And that, to me, is someone who excels at their job.
August 24, 2024
Warning: clear your schedule before starting this!! You will not be able to put it down.
I wanted to take my time with this one, really let it percolate, to pay close attention to the build up as the story started. That worked for a short time, then I was captivated.
This story.....wow! Again, this one had me from the start. I love all the characters. Tobin has a way to create these people that you just want to know, want to hang out with, want to love....although it's probably best to keep your distance based on all the shit that comes their way.
I'm so sad this series is coming to an end but am loving how it's all tying in together. The connections to the other stories are brilliantly written into the storyline, I'm already planning a reread of the series!!
I wanted to take my time with this one, really let it percolate, to pay close attention to the build up as the story started. That worked for a short time, then I was captivated.
This story.....wow! Again, this one had me from the start. I love all the characters. Tobin has a way to create these people that you just want to know, want to hang out with, want to love....although it's probably best to keep your distance based on all the shit that comes their way.
I'm so sad this series is coming to an end but am loving how it's all tying in together. The connections to the other stories are brilliantly written into the storyline, I'm already planning a reread of the series!!
December 18, 2024
Blood Relations is a captivating and emotionally charged story that keeps you hooked from start to finish. Lex's return to her troubled hometown after the brutal murder of her mother sets the stage for a thrilling and suspenseful adventure. Tobin's skillful blending of mystery, supernatural elements, and dark humour creates a unique and engaging narrative. As Lex faces the haunting remnants of her past and embarks on a dangerous quest, her growth and determination are heart-wrenching and inspiring.
February 14, 2024
Very good and straightforward story. Has - of course - also gore elements and a lot of WFT moments (the rape scene comes to mind, Jesus F Christ... mate. Men are really disgusting.) but they are not written for the sake of gore but actually develop the character.
What is not so much character development are the millions of female-female sex scenes. The main protagonists are about 40 years old (best guess only, sorry) and, me being a male and don't have really insight into women's heads... I think there is only a very small amount of women that are so extremely horny when hunting vampires, werewolves and demons. But who knows, maybe I am wrong. However, me being male again: I don't really mind :)
Very much appreciated: there are twists and turns but you basically know where the story is heading. Luckily, Spoiler alert, no main character dies a unnecessary death at the end. This would have sucked.
And I am sad that there is only one book left after this, will have to read it slower. This one was done in 3 days.
What is not so much character development are the millions of female-female sex scenes. The main protagonists are about 40 years old (best guess only, sorry) and, me being a male and don't have really insight into women's heads... I think there is only a very small amount of women that are so extremely horny when hunting vampires, werewolves and demons. But who knows, maybe I am wrong. However, me being male again: I don't really mind :)
Very much appreciated: there are twists and turns but you basically know where the story is heading. Luckily, Spoiler alert, no main character dies a unnecessary death at the end. This would have sucked.
And I am sad that there is only one book left after this, will have to read it slower. This one was done in 3 days.
September 10, 2023
Secrets. Everyone has them. But sometimes the worst secrets are the ones we don't even try to keep hidden. Those are the hungry ones. They're constantly being fed by resentment and anger until they ravenously consume everything in their path. That's when they become most the frightening.
With BLOOD RELATIONS, Tobin Elliott examines how the darkest of secrets have caused emotional fissures that intertwine through the broken cracks of relationships. It happens to the best of us; but here, it happens to the worst. While returning home for a funeral is the initial catalyst that pulls the gears of the narrative into motion, the most fascinating aspect of the book is how it examines the courage it takes to be better than what it was that pushed you away.
BLOOD RELATIONS uses vampires and werewolves and demons to highlight the ferocious battles that oftentimes occur when those who share our own blood have no compunction in spilling it. When it comes to family, some wounds never really heal. But those scars offer an opportunity for a choice. We can either become like the monster that attacked us, or we can choose to be better.
Tobin Elliott understands that a real hero is the one who seeks hope in Little Hope. For me, BLOOD RELATIONS is his finest book so far.
Read less
With BLOOD RELATIONS, Tobin Elliott examines how the darkest of secrets have caused emotional fissures that intertwine through the broken cracks of relationships. It happens to the best of us; but here, it happens to the worst. While returning home for a funeral is the initial catalyst that pulls the gears of the narrative into motion, the most fascinating aspect of the book is how it examines the courage it takes to be better than what it was that pushed you away.
BLOOD RELATIONS uses vampires and werewolves and demons to highlight the ferocious battles that oftentimes occur when those who share our own blood have no compunction in spilling it. When it comes to family, some wounds never really heal. But those scars offer an opportunity for a choice. We can either become like the monster that attacked us, or we can choose to be better.
Tobin Elliott understands that a real hero is the one who seeks hope in Little Hope. For me, BLOOD RELATIONS is his finest book so far.
Read less
January 21, 2024
When I thought it couldn’t get any better here comes Tobin and writes book 5 of the Aphotic Series. Wow!!! I have to give it to Tobin, the man can definitely write.
This book has major family issues. Very dysfunctional
relationships and a twist I really didn’t expect at all.
I love that Tobin brought Talia from book one back
into this amazing series so we get to see how she has
evolved since then and what she has been up to.
Excited to know what’s going to happen next but sad it’s the last book so on to book six.
This book has major family issues. Very dysfunctional
relationships and a twist I really didn’t expect at all.
I love that Tobin brought Talia from book one back
into this amazing series so we get to see how she has
evolved since then and what she has been up to.
Excited to know what’s going to happen next but sad it’s the last book so on to book six.
May 30, 2026
Holy crap, such vile people in this book. Horror at its core. Hard topics due to childhood homelife and abuse. Very needed for the storyline.
This book has a strong FMC. I enjoy that she was built to be tough but broken, and very resilient. The relationships are from a few POV’s which helps the reader see the full scale of the story as it nears to the final book.
It’s hard to review this read without spoilers. A few characters are reintroduced from the previous books in the series and some are so welcome to be seen again.
This book has a great deal of backstory and depth. It created an immediate and deep connection for some new characters for me. The combination of previous characters and new strong ones, was great. While reading a book series about supernatural happenings and mystical evil creatures murderously taking over human life, this author makes sure to add such strong human characters, too (whether you hate some or love some) that all of it feels very believable and real.
It’s a must pick me up during any spare few minutes I had. It’s also a sit down and drown in it for an hour type, too. This book is addictive. It thrives when it’s discussed, where opposing thoughts and feelings can come together and recognize where it might be going.
Cannot imagine the conclusion to this. Off to find out.
Full spectrum of emotions. Definitely recommend.
This book has a strong FMC. I enjoy that she was built to be tough but broken, and very resilient. The relationships are from a few POV’s which helps the reader see the full scale of the story as it nears to the final book.
It’s hard to review this read without spoilers. A few characters are reintroduced from the previous books in the series and some are so welcome to be seen again.
This book has a great deal of backstory and depth. It created an immediate and deep connection for some new characters for me. The combination of previous characters and new strong ones, was great. While reading a book series about supernatural happenings and mystical evil creatures murderously taking over human life, this author makes sure to add such strong human characters, too (whether you hate some or love some) that all of it feels very believable and real.
It’s a must pick me up during any spare few minutes I had. It’s also a sit down and drown in it for an hour type, too. This book is addictive. It thrives when it’s discussed, where opposing thoughts and feelings can come together and recognize where it might be going.
Cannot imagine the conclusion to this. Off to find out.
Full spectrum of emotions. Definitely recommend.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 3, 2023
Well....in my excitement over binging through books 5 and 6 of the series......I managed to post the review for book six on book five lol...Just goes to show how absolutely blown away by this series I was. I do think that book five was my favorite. The pacing was excellent and I really love the characters and concept behind these books. Brilliant!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews