What do you think?
Rate this book
Blood of Ages #1
The Genesis
An Uncontrollable Power. An Unstoppable Corporation. A Vampire God.
The vampires of Dayson city are preparing for war. Having lived in constant fear of the Archway Corporation for decades, desperation has forced them into action. Their solution is to bring the First vampire, Alistair, back from the dead, a warrior famed for eradicating entire armies in the name of his kind.
For fledgling vampire Catrina Malinka, the fabled return of some unknown deity falls low on her list of concerns. Between fending off strangers trying to kill her in her dreams and trying to rein in an uncontrollable power that no one else even understands let alone shares, Catrina is forced to fight her assumed role in the war against Archway, which threatens to send her down a path she doesn't want to travel.
The first book in The Blood of Ages series, "The Genesis" is an urban fantasy about the inescapable nature of Fate and the corruption of power.
The vampires of Dayson city are preparing for war. Having lived in constant fear of the Archway Corporation for decades, desperation has forced them into action. Their solution is to bring the First vampire, Alistair, back from the dead, a warrior famed for eradicating entire armies in the name of his kind.
For fledgling vampire Catrina Malinka, the fabled return of some unknown deity falls low on her list of concerns. Between fending off strangers trying to kill her in her dreams and trying to rein in an uncontrollable power that no one else even understands let alone shares, Catrina is forced to fight her assumed role in the war against Archway, which threatens to send her down a path she doesn't want to travel.
The first book in The Blood of Ages series, "The Genesis" is an urban fantasy about the inescapable nature of Fate and the corruption of power.
344 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2009
4 people are currently reading
842 people want to read
About the author
K. L. Kerr
2 books43 followersK. L. KERR is an eighties child, raised on the likes of "American Werewolf in London", "Elvira" and "The Lost Boys", all of which she attributes to her long-lasting interest in tales of the supernatural.
Kerr very much enjoys writing in the universe she's created, and she intends to write many, many more.
Kerr very much enjoys writing in the universe she's created, and she intends to write many, many more.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
April 19, 2015
Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book.
The cover is so cool, the name of the book is cool, even the name of the series is cool.
*sigh*
It's not a bad story, it's just not awesome. There was a lot of room for awesomeness, but it never really happened.
Imagine a new friend calls you up and invites you over to their house for dinner.
"Hey! Come on over! We're grilling out and hanging by the pool!"
Now in your mind you're imagining a good time, right? Except when you get there it's just them, their weird cousin, and you...sitting in lawn chairs around an inflatable Spongebob pool. Oh, and they were out of charcoal, so dinner consists of microwaved pizza rolls.
Now, consume enough alcohol, and you might be able to salvage the evening. But I doubt it.
And, unfortunately, I've never found reading and drinking to be much fun.
My point is, The Genesis was like eating soggy pizza rolls when you were expecting steak.
Catrina is a 19 year old girl who has evidently been adopted or fostered by a shady guy named Tony since she was 10 or so. He evidently taught her...bad guy stuff, I guess, 'cause it's not really explained....and apparently she's now his gun-for-hire. It opens with her almost getting shot in an alley by some guy she was sent to to kill. Just when she thinks she's a goner, a mysterious man with super-human strength jumps out of the shadows and saves her.
Ta-da!
He takes her to a bar and tells her that his people have been keeping tabs on her for a while, then offers to make her like himself.
Now, this is a really great start for a book, don't you think?
I'm totally excited!
And then it just kind of slowly peters out. I thought she would be some kind of a bad-ass prodigy with a gun, or maybe a kick-ass assassin? But no. She's kind of toughish, but she didn't pull out any Matrix moves and wow me. And the whole 'I was raised by a hit-man' backstory kind of poofed into thin air.
Huh. Ok...
Anyway, at some point (off page) she agrees to be turned into a vampire. Only, when she wakes up a changed woman, she doesn't remember how she got there. Well, except a hazy recollection of being attacked by the shadowy dude.
*Freak out stuff happens here*
When she finally calms down, Fox (the mysterious stranger) takes her to the vampire stronghold and explains that they are at war.
As the story unfolds, you learn that there are evil agents out to kill them, a crazy vampire who is trying to gain total control of the clan, a prophecy about a vampire who may be their salvation or destruction, and a sweet-heart of a demon who mixes drinks for everyone.
Again, it sounds pretty good.
But the actual execution of the story was like chewing on a dry hunk of meat. It could have been good, if it wasn't so...dry and chewy.
There were also too many things that didn't add up when it came to the vampires. Why did they continually let these agents come in and kill them off without retaliating, or even doing much to defend themselves? It's not like they were portrayed as hippie vamps or anything. None of them seemed to have a problem killing people, even if they didn't go out of their way to do it on a regular basis. It was odd to see these vampires running and screaming from the agents all of the time. Um, maybe if this happens so often, it would be a good idea to train yourselves to fight. Or at the very least hide yourselves better . I'm just sayin'. Think outside the box, people.
In the end, it was ok.
I've been waffling over the rating while writing this, and I can't bring myself to give it less than three stars. I mean, all of the elements of a good book are there!
Ugh.
But I can't rate it any higher than three stars, because by the time I was halfway through I was having an easy time putting it down. The ideas behind the book were great, the potential for the characters to be interesting was there, and writing wasn't amateurish. The whole thing felt one dot away from being connected!
I wouldn't mind trying something again by this author in the future, but The Genesis just wasn't my cuppa.
This review can also be seen at:
The cover is so cool, the name of the book is cool, even the name of the series is cool.
*sigh*
It's not a bad story, it's just not awesome. There was a lot of room for awesomeness, but it never really happened.
Imagine a new friend calls you up and invites you over to their house for dinner.
"Hey! Come on over! We're grilling out and hanging by the pool!"
Now in your mind you're imagining a good time, right? Except when you get there it's just them, their weird cousin, and you...sitting in lawn chairs around an inflatable Spongebob pool. Oh, and they were out of charcoal, so dinner consists of microwaved pizza rolls.
Now, consume enough alcohol, and you might be able to salvage the evening. But I doubt it.
And, unfortunately, I've never found reading and drinking to be much fun.
My point is, The Genesis was like eating soggy pizza rolls when you were expecting steak.
Catrina is a 19 year old girl who has evidently been adopted or fostered by a shady guy named Tony since she was 10 or so. He evidently taught her...bad guy stuff, I guess, 'cause it's not really explained....and apparently she's now his gun-for-hire. It opens with her almost getting shot in an alley by some guy she was sent to to kill. Just when she thinks she's a goner, a mysterious man with super-human strength jumps out of the shadows and saves her.
Ta-da!
He takes her to a bar and tells her that his people have been keeping tabs on her for a while, then offers to make her like himself.
Now, this is a really great start for a book, don't you think?
I'm totally excited!
And then it just kind of slowly peters out. I thought she would be some kind of a bad-ass prodigy with a gun, or maybe a kick-ass assassin? But no. She's kind of toughish, but she didn't pull out any Matrix moves and wow me. And the whole 'I was raised by a hit-man' backstory kind of poofed into thin air.
Huh. Ok...
Anyway, at some point (off page) she agrees to be turned into a vampire. Only, when she wakes up a changed woman, she doesn't remember how she got there. Well, except a hazy recollection of being attacked by the shadowy dude.
*Freak out stuff happens here*
When she finally calms down, Fox (the mysterious stranger) takes her to the vampire stronghold and explains that they are at war.
As the story unfolds, you learn that there are evil agents out to kill them, a crazy vampire who is trying to gain total control of the clan, a prophecy about a vampire who may be their salvation or destruction, and a sweet-heart of a demon who mixes drinks for everyone.
Again, it sounds pretty good.
But the actual execution of the story was like chewing on a dry hunk of meat. It could have been good, if it wasn't so...dry and chewy.
There were also too many things that didn't add up when it came to the vampires. Why did they continually let these agents come in and kill them off without retaliating, or even doing much to defend themselves? It's not like they were portrayed as hippie vamps or anything. None of them seemed to have a problem killing people, even if they didn't go out of their way to do it on a regular basis. It was odd to see these vampires running and screaming from the agents all of the time. Um, maybe if this happens so often, it would be a good idea to train yourselves to fight. Or at the very least hide yourselves better . I'm just sayin'. Think outside the box, people.
In the end, it was ok.
I've been waffling over the rating while writing this, and I can't bring myself to give it less than three stars. I mean, all of the elements of a good book are there!
Ugh.
But I can't rate it any higher than three stars, because by the time I was halfway through I was having an easy time putting it down. The ideas behind the book were great, the potential for the characters to be interesting was there, and writing wasn't amateurish. The whole thing felt one dot away from being connected!
I wouldn't mind trying something again by this author in the future, but The Genesis just wasn't my cuppa.
This review can also be seen at:
February 18, 2013
Really like this 1st book. It's nice to see vampires outside of the twilight genre. It's definitely not a teen-angst paranormal romance novel. bit more Anne Rice feel but with guns and fist fights. Fast paced, easy to read. There's action and fighting which brings a modern day feel to the book, and you don't lose out on character development because of it. it's just a new feel for the vampire genre where you really feel they have to fight for their existence. Theres some good mythology about vampire origins which hasn't been discussed before again since Anne Rice.
December 21, 2012
Amazing book, great plot and very well described characters! Got me hooked within the first chapter! Great page turner !
September 3, 2013
This was ultimately one of the best vampires books I have read in a very long time. I feel that so much of the vampire genre is distorted into making vampires seem weak, redeemable, and romantic.
Give me throat ripping any day over gushy love triangles that make teenage hearts brim over thinking they can save the bad boy too!
This story isn't about saving the bad boy.
This story doesn't even really have a romance edge.
This story is rough, raw, gritty, and full of something that is lacking in so many books of its genre--just keeping it real.
Yes, there is a few hints that Fox could be into Catrina. It is implied a few times, but it isn't dwelled on as a plot device to drive the story forward. The story relies on itself to drive it forward and make you second guess and keep page turning until you are screaming for more at the end of each chapter.
I kept finding myself getting to the end of the chapter, saying I'm gonna put it down, and then I just keep reading. The author does a fantastic job at building a world around you, dumping you smack in the middle of it, and you being the keen observer in a world were vampires could very well be in the same room as you.
The characters were written so well!
Catrina wasn't to cold, and she wasn't too weak. There was vulnerability without being a doormat, and there was just enough fight in her so she wasn't a cold-hearted "B". The shifting point of views sucked me deeper into the story because knowing what drove each character gave me the ability to dive in head first and not look back until I got the last page and screamed my head off that I wanted more!
I get more right?
So, for those of you that loved legit vampire stories like Anne Rice and The Lost Boys--I would highly recommend this book!
*I received this book from Penrefe Publication via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
Give me throat ripping any day over gushy love triangles that make teenage hearts brim over thinking they can save the bad boy too!
This story isn't about saving the bad boy.
This story doesn't even really have a romance edge.
This story is rough, raw, gritty, and full of something that is lacking in so many books of its genre--just keeping it real.
Yes, there is a few hints that Fox could be into Catrina. It is implied a few times, but it isn't dwelled on as a plot device to drive the story forward. The story relies on itself to drive it forward and make you second guess and keep page turning until you are screaming for more at the end of each chapter.
I kept finding myself getting to the end of the chapter, saying I'm gonna put it down, and then I just keep reading. The author does a fantastic job at building a world around you, dumping you smack in the middle of it, and you being the keen observer in a world were vampires could very well be in the same room as you.
The characters were written so well!
Catrina wasn't to cold, and she wasn't too weak. There was vulnerability without being a doormat, and there was just enough fight in her so she wasn't a cold-hearted "B". The shifting point of views sucked me deeper into the story because knowing what drove each character gave me the ability to dive in head first and not look back until I got the last page and screamed my head off that I wanted more!
I get more right?
So, for those of you that loved legit vampire stories like Anne Rice and The Lost Boys--I would highly recommend this book!
*I received this book from Penrefe Publication via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
November 29, 2025
This is a dark and violent life of a vampire. These vampires are hunted by a multinational corporation (Archway Corporation) and the vampires even allow a specific number of their population to be taken and brutally experimented on in the hopes of keeping the peace. Tired of this existence the vampires search for a way to restore the mythological "original" vampire. The hopes all lie on this resurrection and the vessel vampire that will carry his return. But Catrina knows better...
Catrina is a newly created vampire but as soon as she is turned she is plagued with stranged dreams that give her insight into the vampire world. They hoped Catrina would be the vessel. The power Catrina now holds has shown her the truth of what will happend if the original vampire breaks his spirit free...annihilation.
The story is unique and fresh look on a vampire based plot. Delving into vampire mythology and origins, we see a dark and violent world where you might be sacrificed for the good of the many and/or fight for their right to live. I found the story fast paced and action packed. Gun fights, weapon and combat training as well as biological war fare all have a place in this battle to survive. I didn't feel any connection to the characters but still really enjoyed the story. This is a modern day vampire tale for the reader who likes their vampires more like Anne Rice depiction than Stephenie Meyer.
I received this ARC copy of The Gensis from Patchwork Press - Penrefe Publications in exchange for an honest review. This book is set for publication Sept. 12, 2013.
Catrina is a newly created vampire but as soon as she is turned she is plagued with stranged dreams that give her insight into the vampire world. They hoped Catrina would be the vessel. The power Catrina now holds has shown her the truth of what will happend if the original vampire breaks his spirit free...annihilation.
The story is unique and fresh look on a vampire based plot. Delving into vampire mythology and origins, we see a dark and violent world where you might be sacrificed for the good of the many and/or fight for their right to live. I found the story fast paced and action packed. Gun fights, weapon and combat training as well as biological war fare all have a place in this battle to survive. I didn't feel any connection to the characters but still really enjoyed the story. This is a modern day vampire tale for the reader who likes their vampires more like Anne Rice depiction than Stephenie Meyer.
I received this ARC copy of The Gensis from Patchwork Press - Penrefe Publications in exchange for an honest review. This book is set for publication Sept. 12, 2013.
May 22, 2015
Vampires sans romance? This is not something I would normally read.
The Genesis proved to be a interesting read even without the romance. It is pure urban fantasy with an awesome heroine, a great cast of supporting characters and an action packed plot.
I really like the author's style of writing. She is quite thorough and really does paint a vivid picture without being completely overpowering. She makes you feel as if you are in the story as well.
This is a dark, intriguing urban fantasy that leaves you wanting more. It had a bit of a slow start while you get used to the world the author creates, but once the action picks up it carries you straight to the end. All in all a great read!
The Genesis proved to be a interesting read even without the romance. It is pure urban fantasy with an awesome heroine, a great cast of supporting characters and an action packed plot.
I really like the author's style of writing. She is quite thorough and really does paint a vivid picture without being completely overpowering. She makes you feel as if you are in the story as well.
This is a dark, intriguing urban fantasy that leaves you wanting more. It had a bit of a slow start while you get used to the world the author creates, but once the action picks up it carries you straight to the end. All in all a great read!
February 17, 2013
Very good read for vampire lovers. Has a very nice selection of attributes, strengths and weaknesses unlike some other unmentionable shiny vampires. None of the silly holy symbols weaknesses which is nice, and probably due to the cool origins story which I hope it goes into in more depth later in the series. Perhaps a whole book dedicated to the origins of vampires, that'd be nice. But yeah, nice to not have "god cursed him and thus he was dead but alive and has to suck blood or become ugly".
June 30, 2013
I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, here it is!
*As few spoilers as possible*
No this is not a review of the start of the Bible, but the first in Kerr’s series the “Blood of Ages”
NB: apologies, I like long posts. You have been warned, but will endeavor to stay under 1000 words =]
I was given a Kindle copy of this book by the lovely author herself in return for a review so here it is!
“A Stolen Power. An Unstoppable Corporation. A Vampire God.
The vampires of Dayson City are preparing for war. Having lived in constant fear of the Archway Corporation for decades, desperation has forced them into action. Their solution is to bring the First vampire, Alistair, back from the dead, a warrior famed for eradicating entire armies in the name of his kind.
For fledgling vampire Catrina Malinka, the fabled return of some unknown deity falls low on her list of concerns. Between fending off strangers trying to kill her in her dreams, or trying to rein in an uncontrollable power that no one else even understands let alone shares, Catrina is forced to fight her assumed role in the war against Archway, which threatens to send her down a path she doesn’t want to travel.”
So. That’s the blurb. Now, I am not going to lie- when I see vampire books these days my eyes automatically role and my expectations drop. But I agreed to read this book hoping it wouldn’t be our now typical ‘vampire-angst-love fest’.
It did that and more.
What K L Kerr has managed to do is bring back the more horrific aspects of the creatures, the never-ending hunger and pain they live with. Yes the main clan of vamps in this don’t eat and kill but that’s purely a matter of logistics (eventually they’d die out PLUS we humans can be a pain when we find out (read: suspect) about supernatural forces living amongst us.)
The female protagonist is a hit-woman, so it’s nice that she’s not a limp useless woman, waiing for a man to come and take her away; she has a spark and knows her way around a gun and her opponents.
She meets her maker after a hit takes a turn for the worst, her gun jams and someone moves inhumanly fast and does save the day. This character Fox was a major concern for a cliché (attractive, sullen, grating and frankly quite annoying). The difference again in this book is that people call him out on being so rude and at times kind of creepy: there’s a scene where Catrina wakes up to see that Fox has been watching her while she’s been asleep and she makes it VERY clear that that is a pretty creepy thing for a person to do.
Anyway, to move away from what this book ISN’T to what it IS. It is a fast paced type of book, I finished it very quickly and it had a good cinematic quality to it which I really enjoyed. The idea of bringing back the first vampire hasn’t been looked at hugely (I can’t think of any other than in Queen of the Damned) and ‘Alistair’ and Rice’s Akasha share little in common other than their vampiric nature and being…well, evil). The fight scenes are written well, not too much fussing around, but written in good enough detail for a rich imaginative experience.
The humans we encounter in Kerr’s world are mainly the human ‘doners’ in special clubs for vampires who have to be monitored during their feedings, the humans unlucky enough to cross paths with the occasional desperate vampire and lastly, Archway. This is the multi-million company with a special area for eradicating the vampires. As is often the way, I ended up rooting for the vampires as the humans are just so hideous and want to wipe out a species just because they are slightly higher in the food chain. The relationship with Archway and the vampire clans is an interesting one of rules of who you can and can’t kill, for fear of the scale of retaliation.
It is these adversaries that lead the vampires to seek out the original vampire, as he meant to be their greatest warrior, with extra powers that have all but disappeared through the diluting of the blood over generations.
I don’t want to give too much away in regards to the Genesis and the return of their ancestor- suffice it to say, his homecoming isn’t quite what they expect. And Catrina isn’t quite the standard vampire fledgling.
The only negatives I can point out are, in my opinion, a lot of the characters don’t feel fleshed out to me, even Catrina- we know she works for a man who is like a foster father, but why? Who is he? Fox’s life is all mystery as is the presence of the demonic bar staff at a vampire can. However, this can almost be forgiven due to the fact that it is the first in a series so there is time to add the extra details teasingly along the way but it would be nice to be closer to the characters. Something I did like was how the perspectives changed throughout the book (all third person though) so you got to see the events through different eyes and understand their actions better.
Also, maybe it’s due to my love of Buffy and True Blood, but I like the traditions (crosses, silver) although at least Kerr’s vampires don’t sparkle, they blister and burn in sunlight, as they should. The vampires are also really quite young, the elders we meet (Jessie and Jacob) are both a few hundred years old. This isn’t actually a negative, just something I found slightly odd.
All in all, I found this book a lot of fun to read and most importantly, it had me wanting to read the next book! Highly recommend for people who like their vampires with a bit of violence and a lot of mystery and NO TEEN ANGST.
7/10
*As few spoilers as possible*
No this is not a review of the start of the Bible, but the first in Kerr’s series the “Blood of Ages”
NB: apologies, I like long posts. You have been warned, but will endeavor to stay under 1000 words =]
I was given a Kindle copy of this book by the lovely author herself in return for a review so here it is!
“A Stolen Power. An Unstoppable Corporation. A Vampire God.
The vampires of Dayson City are preparing for war. Having lived in constant fear of the Archway Corporation for decades, desperation has forced them into action. Their solution is to bring the First vampire, Alistair, back from the dead, a warrior famed for eradicating entire armies in the name of his kind.
For fledgling vampire Catrina Malinka, the fabled return of some unknown deity falls low on her list of concerns. Between fending off strangers trying to kill her in her dreams, or trying to rein in an uncontrollable power that no one else even understands let alone shares, Catrina is forced to fight her assumed role in the war against Archway, which threatens to send her down a path she doesn’t want to travel.”
So. That’s the blurb. Now, I am not going to lie- when I see vampire books these days my eyes automatically role and my expectations drop. But I agreed to read this book hoping it wouldn’t be our now typical ‘vampire-angst-love fest’.
It did that and more.
What K L Kerr has managed to do is bring back the more horrific aspects of the creatures, the never-ending hunger and pain they live with. Yes the main clan of vamps in this don’t eat and kill but that’s purely a matter of logistics (eventually they’d die out PLUS we humans can be a pain when we find out (read: suspect) about supernatural forces living amongst us.)
The female protagonist is a hit-woman, so it’s nice that she’s not a limp useless woman, waiing for a man to come and take her away; she has a spark and knows her way around a gun and her opponents.
She meets her maker after a hit takes a turn for the worst, her gun jams and someone moves inhumanly fast and does save the day. This character Fox was a major concern for a cliché (attractive, sullen, grating and frankly quite annoying). The difference again in this book is that people call him out on being so rude and at times kind of creepy: there’s a scene where Catrina wakes up to see that Fox has been watching her while she’s been asleep and she makes it VERY clear that that is a pretty creepy thing for a person to do.
Anyway, to move away from what this book ISN’T to what it IS. It is a fast paced type of book, I finished it very quickly and it had a good cinematic quality to it which I really enjoyed. The idea of bringing back the first vampire hasn’t been looked at hugely (I can’t think of any other than in Queen of the Damned) and ‘Alistair’ and Rice’s Akasha share little in common other than their vampiric nature and being…well, evil). The fight scenes are written well, not too much fussing around, but written in good enough detail for a rich imaginative experience.
The humans we encounter in Kerr’s world are mainly the human ‘doners’ in special clubs for vampires who have to be monitored during their feedings, the humans unlucky enough to cross paths with the occasional desperate vampire and lastly, Archway. This is the multi-million company with a special area for eradicating the vampires. As is often the way, I ended up rooting for the vampires as the humans are just so hideous and want to wipe out a species just because they are slightly higher in the food chain. The relationship with Archway and the vampire clans is an interesting one of rules of who you can and can’t kill, for fear of the scale of retaliation.
It is these adversaries that lead the vampires to seek out the original vampire, as he meant to be their greatest warrior, with extra powers that have all but disappeared through the diluting of the blood over generations.
I don’t want to give too much away in regards to the Genesis and the return of their ancestor- suffice it to say, his homecoming isn’t quite what they expect. And Catrina isn’t quite the standard vampire fledgling.
The only negatives I can point out are, in my opinion, a lot of the characters don’t feel fleshed out to me, even Catrina- we know she works for a man who is like a foster father, but why? Who is he? Fox’s life is all mystery as is the presence of the demonic bar staff at a vampire can. However, this can almost be forgiven due to the fact that it is the first in a series so there is time to add the extra details teasingly along the way but it would be nice to be closer to the characters. Something I did like was how the perspectives changed throughout the book (all third person though) so you got to see the events through different eyes and understand their actions better.
Also, maybe it’s due to my love of Buffy and True Blood, but I like the traditions (crosses, silver) although at least Kerr’s vampires don’t sparkle, they blister and burn in sunlight, as they should. The vampires are also really quite young, the elders we meet (Jessie and Jacob) are both a few hundred years old. This isn’t actually a negative, just something I found slightly odd.
All in all, I found this book a lot of fun to read and most importantly, it had me wanting to read the next book! Highly recommend for people who like their vampires with a bit of violence and a lot of mystery and NO TEEN ANGST.
7/10
October 11, 2022
I received this e-book from the author about a month or so ago and just got around to reading it. The problem with e-books is that they tend to be uploaded onto my Kindle and then sometimes forgotten. With physical copies, I see books needing to be reviewed on a constant basis so they are there to remind me. I have started getting more into reading on my Kindle Fire since most of the books I have been getting offered for review or in giveaways are in the e-book format. In summary, I forgot I had this book to read and once finding it I decided to start perusing the e-pages. Boy, was I ever kicking myself for not reading this book sooner.
The story opens a little shakily on Catrina being chased by a man she refers to as her “mark” leading one to believe that she is a hired assassin from the beginning. With reading the synopsis I thought perhaps the gunman and the dark, mysterious stranger who leaps to Catrina’s aid may be a dream. After reading so much young adult romance and paranormal romance I expect the fight to lead to a steamy love scene. Not the case. Instead, the entrance of the stranger turnout to be the doorway to Catrina’s new world as a vampire.
Catrina is thrown into this understand that vampires are real, she is now one of them, oh yeah, and she is to be gateway for the god of all vampires to return to earth and save them from an evil corporation bent on exterminating vampires. No pressure! Poor Catrina has powers no other vampire has, so she not only has to realize what is to be a vampire, but what is to be a vampire with superpowers. No wonder she seems so lost throughout the book!
Throughout Catrina’s experiences in her new vampire life, there was no romance. Not an iota. Not a lingering glance, not a brush of fingertips, nothing. The romance addict in me whimpered, but I scolded her to hush up since not all characters have to be horn dogs all the time. There was a bit of a connection between Catrina and Fox, her maker, which could elude to some sort of romance later down the road, perhaps. But really, I kind of see Catrina and Fox as more of really close friends in “The Genesis”.
Since we are on the topic of Fox, let me just say, he is one stone cold man mountain that I wouldn’t mind scrapping with in the Tournaments, the vampire equivalent of fight club in Catrina and Fox’s Clan. Fox exudes this confidence that is palpable on the pages. He knows who he is, what his responsibilities are, and damned if anyone ever got in his way. I loved that about Fox. He also didn’t turn to man mush with Catrina’s appearance. He stayed true to who he was and was not swept away by a pretty face. Way to stay strong, Fox!
Catrina, on the other hand, was a bit of a conundrum for me. One minute I loved her feisty side and the next I just wished she would follow the rules and save others from further problems. Catrina was a troublemaker, even if she didn’t truly intend to be. She kept Fox and the others of the Clan on their toes, that is for sure.
Overall, this book was superb. The lack of romance did nothing to diminish its quality as a very well written vampire series. Kerr brought governmental control of the populace to the world of fantasy and weaved this story of mythology into existence. Who knew all those things would fit together so perfectly within the pages of “The Genesis”? Certainly not me. A book worthy of any shelf, my ladybug literates!
April 21, 2016
A free digital copy of this book was sent to me by the author in exchange for an honest review.
I read this book with loads of trepidation at first because I’m kind of sick of the vampire genre. There are loads of vampire books out there with mutated vampires who sparkle or teach history at Oxford. I’m all for author imagination and whatnot but sometimes the only thing their vampires and the traditional vampires have in common is immortality. So yes, I fully expected The Genesis to contain vampires without the vamp but as usual, I was wrong. My gut feeling has been gutted once again.
Catrina, our main vamp-girl, was a total badass. A gun-slinging undead to the very core. Her sarcasm and her mostly one-sided conversations with Fox had me in tears although what I didn’t like about her was her transition from human to vampire. I would have loved to have seen more angst and emo-feels but that part was unfortunately skipped. The limitations of her moral capabilities weren’t really defined as she didn’t hesitate to drain a human being dry yet when it came to Alistair and the Awakening, she was suddenly the holy vampire-saint. Her character was too inconsistent, which made me 50% hate her and 50% love her. Part of the reason why I didn’t particularly dislike her character was because she was openly hated by the other vampires at the latter parts of the book and I personally love protagonists who are hated by others. It’s one of my many weird literary quirks.
One character whom I completely fell in love with was Rosie. Her ruthlessness was very endearing and she exuded this aura of “thou-shall-never-cross-me”. But then I regretted my choice of really loving her because of that teensy-weensy bump in the plot. [Curses, K.L.]
The rogue and other clan terms used throughout The Genesis had me really confused. I couldn’t comprehend what they were and I feel that the author should have done more world build-up in order to explain this along with the formations of the clans and so on. If I’m not mistaken, in Twilight terms, “rogue” is a nomad and “clan” is a coven. I’m not sure about this, though, so correct me if I’m wrong.
Apart from the bloodthirsty vampires [they have feeding clubs. Super cool.] the author also dreamt up Themisium, a drug that can kill vampires. It’s very realistic and highly plausible not only because of its name, which sounds very scientific, but also because of the effects it had on vampires. I mean, think of what Themisium can do to the other fictional vampires out there whom I really disliked.
With memorable and sarcastically funny quotes, K.L. Kerr has written a cleverly conceived story filled with traditional vampires who are so bloodthirsty, it’s chilling. I can’t wait for the next book!
I read this book with loads of trepidation at first because I’m kind of sick of the vampire genre. There are loads of vampire books out there with mutated vampires who sparkle or teach history at Oxford. I’m all for author imagination and whatnot but sometimes the only thing their vampires and the traditional vampires have in common is immortality. So yes, I fully expected The Genesis to contain vampires without the vamp but as usual, I was wrong. My gut feeling has been gutted once again.
Catrina, our main vamp-girl, was a total badass. A gun-slinging undead to the very core. Her sarcasm and her mostly one-sided conversations with Fox had me in tears although what I didn’t like about her was her transition from human to vampire. I would have loved to have seen more angst and emo-feels but that part was unfortunately skipped. The limitations of her moral capabilities weren’t really defined as she didn’t hesitate to drain a human being dry yet when it came to Alistair and the Awakening, she was suddenly the holy vampire-saint. Her character was too inconsistent, which made me 50% hate her and 50% love her. Part of the reason why I didn’t particularly dislike her character was because she was openly hated by the other vampires at the latter parts of the book and I personally love protagonists who are hated by others. It’s one of my many weird literary quirks.
One character whom I completely fell in love with was Rosie. Her ruthlessness was very endearing and she exuded this aura of “thou-shall-never-cross-me”. But then I regretted my choice of really loving her because of that teensy-weensy bump in the plot. [Curses, K.L.]
The rogue and other clan terms used throughout The Genesis had me really confused. I couldn’t comprehend what they were and I feel that the author should have done more world build-up in order to explain this along with the formations of the clans and so on. If I’m not mistaken, in Twilight terms, “rogue” is a nomad and “clan” is a coven. I’m not sure about this, though, so correct me if I’m wrong.
Apart from the bloodthirsty vampires [they have feeding clubs. Super cool.] the author also dreamt up Themisium, a drug that can kill vampires. It’s very realistic and highly plausible not only because of its name, which sounds very scientific, but also because of the effects it had on vampires. I mean, think of what Themisium can do to the other fictional vampires out there whom I really disliked.
With memorable and sarcastically funny quotes, K.L. Kerr has written a cleverly conceived story filled with traditional vampires who are so bloodthirsty, it’s chilling. I can’t wait for the next book!
May 21, 2013
I received a free copy of the book, but the following review contains my words and opinions only!
K.L. Kerr's first Blood of Ages book, The Genesis is not your average vampire story. Where others have focused on vampires as all powerful sex symbols, Kerr pays attention to the dark side of being a vampire and the persecution they currently face. Don't get me wrong many of her characters are attractive and there is a hint of a potential love story, but The Genesis is really about the problems in the vampire society.
19 year old Catrina (not Cat or Kat) is turned into a vampire at the start of the story and quickly finds herself a key player (or pawn) in the vampire war. She's turned to help the vampire sort-of-King return and lead them to victory. The vampires have a blind faith in the missing King which is almost cult-like, which Catrina finds strange and unsettling.
I was expecting Catrina to swoon over the brooding vampire, Fox, but the story focuses instead on Catrina's introduction to the supernatural world and discovering her place in it. This was a good direction because it made the story so much more believable. That being said I would totally approve of some romance in the next book!
The story takes a dark turn and Kerr isn't afraid of killing off certain characters (don't worry she's not up to Game of Thrones, character killing-off standards just yet). With The Genesis Kerr sets the tone for the rest of the series.
I really liked Catrina and found her to be an intriguing heroine. Fox really grew on me (although not quite in the same way as J.R. Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood vamp guys do, but this is a very different series to the BDB). I also really liked Rose and Sonny. Whilst wanting to know more about the mysterious Reuben.
I'm not entirely sure what to class The Genesis as other than urban fantasy. I was expecting a YA novel, but I’m not sure it's really YA, but then it's not really adult either. Hmm let’s say it's a fun mix of all of the above and leave it at that!
4 Stars in my Sky!
My fav non-spoilery quotes:
•Despite the sculpted perfection of his face, arrogance was Fox's most prominent feature.
•"You're a vampire, too?" "Oh yeah, we're everywhere," the girl replied dismissively. "You're never more than six feet away from a vampire. Or maybe that's rats."
•"I can be disciplined, when it's needed. I mean, I spend nearly every night with you, and I haven't put a bullet in either of our heads yet."
•The man that eventually looked up was just as she'd dreaded: empty and hollow and completely destroyed.
Also reviewed on my Blog Zili in the Sky!
June 8, 2013
K.L. Kerr's first Blood of Ages book, The Genesis is not your average vampire story. Where others have focused on vampires as all powerful sex symbols, Kerr pays attention to the dark side of being a vampire and the persecution they currently face. Don't get me wrong many of her characters are attractive and there is a hint of a potential love story, but The Genesis is really about the problems in the vampire society.
19 year old Catrina (not Cat or Kat) is turned into a vampire at the start of the story and quickly finds herself a key player (or pawn) in the vampire war. She's turned to help the vampire sort-of-King return and lead them to victory. The vampires have a blind faith in the missing King which is almost cult-like, which Catrina finds strange and unsettling.
I was expecting Catrina to swoon over the brooding vampire, Fox, but the story focuses instead on Catrina's introduction to the supernatural world and discovering her place in it. This was a good direction because it made the story so much more believable. That being said I would totally approve of some romance in the next book!
The story takes a dark turn and Kerr isn't afraid of killing off certain characters (don't worry she's not up to Game of Thrones, character killing-off standards just yet). With The Genesis Kerr sets the tone for the rest of the series.
I really liked Catrina and found her to be an intriguing heroine. Fox really grew on me (although not quite in the same way as J.R. Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood vamp guys do, but this is a very different series to the BDB). I also really liked Rose and Sonny. Whilst wanting to know more about the mysterious Reuben.
I'm not entirely sure what to class The Genesis as other than urban fantasy. I was expecting a YA novel, but I’m not sure it's really YA, but then it's not really adult either. Hmm let’s say it's a fun mix of all of the above and leave it at that!
4 Stars in my Sky!
My fav non-spoilery quotes:
•Despite the sculpted perfection of his face, arrogance was Fox's most prominent feature.
•"You're a vampire, too?" "Oh yeah, we're everywhere," the girl replied dismissively. "You're never more than six feet away from a vampire. Or maybe that's rats."
•"I can be disciplined, when it's needed. I mean, I spend nearly every night with you, and I haven't put a bullet in either of our heads yet."
•The man that eventually looked up was just as she'd dreaded: empty and hollow and completely destroyed.
Also reviewed on my Blog Zili in the Sky!
July 26, 2013
The book begins with Catrina, a 19 year old “gun-for-hire”, chasing her “mark” that was assigned to her by her foster father, Tony Gostanza. When Catrina’s gun jams, she is certain that death is eminent. A stranger steps out of the shadows and saves Catrina’s life. The stranger, an unusual man named Fox, invites Catrina into the local bar for a drink. Fox admits that he has been following Catrina for some time now and he would like to offer her a different path in life. Fox hands Catrina an address and tells her to be there if she wants what he has to offer.
Catrina wakes up in an abandoned building as a vampire and Fox is her sire. Fox, and now Catrina, belong to a Vampire Clan led by Jacob and Jessie. The vampires are in a constant war with the Archway Corporation, whose main purpose is to eradicate all vampires. The Archway Corporation is led by Head Agents, and it is not permitted for a vampire to kill a Head Agent for fear of retaliation. The vampires are hoping to resurrect the first vampire, Alistair, so Alistair can wreak havoc on their enemies. Apparently, Catrina was chosen to be the “Vessel” by which Alistair will reenter the world. Will Catrina agree to be the Vessel? Is resurrecting Alistair the answer to the vampires’ problem?
What I liked about this story? I liked that the story was not centered on romance like most vampire novels; instead, we have a strong female lead in Catrina. The story is also fast-paced with a good deal of action. That’s about the end of the positives for me.
There were too many missing pieces to this story for me. What happened to Catrina’s parents? How did she get involved with Tony’s mafia world? What happened when she got to the abandoned building to which she was led by Fox? We see her having a conversation in a bar with Fox and, before you know it, she is waking up as a vampire. What happened in the time between these two events? I also had a problem with the portrayal of the vampires. Agents from the Archway Corporation are constantly invading vampire territory and killing vampires. What do the vampires do? They scream and run away?! What kind of invalid vampires are these? They should be tearing out throats, not running away with their proverbial tail between their legs. I would recommend this book only if you have the need to read all vampire-related novels. Otherwise, I would take a pass.
**Review posted on Goodreads, Amazon, and The Accidental Adventures of a Librarian blog**
Catrina wakes up in an abandoned building as a vampire and Fox is her sire. Fox, and now Catrina, belong to a Vampire Clan led by Jacob and Jessie. The vampires are in a constant war with the Archway Corporation, whose main purpose is to eradicate all vampires. The Archway Corporation is led by Head Agents, and it is not permitted for a vampire to kill a Head Agent for fear of retaliation. The vampires are hoping to resurrect the first vampire, Alistair, so Alistair can wreak havoc on their enemies. Apparently, Catrina was chosen to be the “Vessel” by which Alistair will reenter the world. Will Catrina agree to be the Vessel? Is resurrecting Alistair the answer to the vampires’ problem?
What I liked about this story? I liked that the story was not centered on romance like most vampire novels; instead, we have a strong female lead in Catrina. The story is also fast-paced with a good deal of action. That’s about the end of the positives for me.
There were too many missing pieces to this story for me. What happened to Catrina’s parents? How did she get involved with Tony’s mafia world? What happened when she got to the abandoned building to which she was led by Fox? We see her having a conversation in a bar with Fox and, before you know it, she is waking up as a vampire. What happened in the time between these two events? I also had a problem with the portrayal of the vampires. Agents from the Archway Corporation are constantly invading vampire territory and killing vampires. What do the vampires do? They scream and run away?! What kind of invalid vampires are these? They should be tearing out throats, not running away with their proverbial tail between their legs. I would recommend this book only if you have the need to read all vampire-related novels. Otherwise, I would take a pass.
**Review posted on Goodreads, Amazon, and The Accidental Adventures of a Librarian blog**
March 31, 2013
2.5
This book was just good enough to keep my attention and keep me reading the whole way. The action was excellent, but somehow not enough. I felt like the book was wayyy too long. It took me forever to finish it for some reason and I even skipped a few pages towards the end just so I could get to the good part.
There were a few things I didn't quite agree with. Starting with the length of the book. Half of the book was Catrina getting adjusted to life as a vampire and learning all the little pros and cons. While it was interesting seeing how everything worked, it felt like it took the focus out of the book. There was no further plot advancement for half the book besides Catrina turning into a vamp and learning who their enemies were. Which takes me to my next problem.
The whole deal with Nathaniel and the corporation was, in my opinion not done right, in terms of the vamps. I just find it really hard to believe that a bunch of vamps were too peaceful to deal with their enemies. That they would just lay down and take it like that. I'm willing to go along with the whole them not being warriors, but dude, they have people gunning for them, wouldn't you at least prepare yourself? Make them train so they could take them out if the need arose. Which it did, multiple times, but what did they do? Panic and run around screaming...really? Vampires? Just no.
Only thing that kept me reading was the action scenes and how for once the MC had absolutely no qualms about killing people, liking it and hoping to kill more. I found it refreshing. Sure she finally felt bad towards the end about the whole massacre but she wasn't whiny about it while it was going on, which was so nice.
And it really was all her fault. I believe quite a few things could have been avoided, if not at least much better prepared for if she had just talked to Fox and Jacob, but alas, she just had to keep it alll to herself.
Another thing I did like was how there was like no romance here. It was all about the plot. A plot with holes sure, but still plot focused and not suddenly all about the romance. Also that ending really was something. All the fighting and then that last twist was great. I loved it.
Quite a few things a liked but a little too many issues to really make it to 3 stars for me.
This book was just good enough to keep my attention and keep me reading the whole way. The action was excellent, but somehow not enough. I felt like the book was wayyy too long. It took me forever to finish it for some reason and I even skipped a few pages towards the end just so I could get to the good part.
There were a few things I didn't quite agree with. Starting with the length of the book. Half of the book was Catrina getting adjusted to life as a vampire and learning all the little pros and cons. While it was interesting seeing how everything worked, it felt like it took the focus out of the book. There was no further plot advancement for half the book besides Catrina turning into a vamp and learning who their enemies were. Which takes me to my next problem.
The whole deal with Nathaniel and the corporation was, in my opinion not done right, in terms of the vamps. I just find it really hard to believe that a bunch of vamps were too peaceful to deal with their enemies. That they would just lay down and take it like that. I'm willing to go along with the whole them not being warriors, but dude, they have people gunning for them, wouldn't you at least prepare yourself? Make them train so they could take them out if the need arose. Which it did, multiple times, but what did they do? Panic and run around screaming...really? Vampires? Just no.
Only thing that kept me reading was the action scenes and how for once the MC had absolutely no qualms about killing people, liking it and hoping to kill more. I found it refreshing. Sure she finally felt bad towards the end about the whole massacre but she wasn't whiny about it while it was going on, which was so nice.
And it really was all her fault. I believe quite a few things could have been avoided, if not at least much better prepared for if she had just talked to Fox and Jacob, but alas, she just had to keep it alll to herself.
Another thing I did like was how there was like no romance here. It was all about the plot. A plot with holes sure, but still plot focused and not suddenly all about the romance. Also that ending really was something. All the fighting and then that last twist was great. I loved it.
Quite a few things a liked but a little too many issues to really make it to 3 stars for me.
July 20, 2014
Meh.
I am quite ambivalent about this book.
I appreciate the portrayal of vampires as brutal, vicious, dark bloodsucking monsters who roam all night, sleep all day and turn into BBQ if they wander out in the noon-day sun. I'm not a big vampire novel lover, but, on the whole I prefer my vampires on the True Blood side of the dark, and not the Twilight one. Also a bonus, the Plot was interesting, at certain points the twists were surprising, and the ending was satisfying - it was an actual ending, not a cliff-hanging pause waiting for a sequel.
So, why the ambivalence? Possibly because the book is just so full of holes ... We have vampires - big, scary, fast, blood-sucking monsters who seem to be hamstrung by some kind of evil corporation of humans which like to hunt them. Humans, slow, blood-filled meat sacks of humans. And the vamps are scared of the agents of this evil corporation (the back-story of which just doesn't exist in this novel). So, these humans, who wander around at night, get to smoosh vamps while they're off at vamp-clubs enjoying taster nights on other humans who like to be snacked on. And occasionally the humans rock up to the nest where the vamp clan lives (always at night because what would be the fun in doing it efficiently while the vamps were asleep and all vulnerable during the day???) and have a big battle where the agents shoot and stake the vamps while they try to run away... Are you following me? No ? ... See!
The characters are pretty one dimensional as well. We never find out much about any of the characters aside from basic descriptions. This blood-sucking monster is a cheery chick who likes to be all bouncy and happy when she's not researching ancient texts and grazing on nightclub patrons with incisor fetishes ... The other one is all dark and brooding with some kind of mysterious anorexia because he doesn't eat until 6 short chapters from the end ... Another is a 700 year old mean-girl in a cheerleader's frame ... Then there's the one with the human pet ... But not one of them really speaks to you.
And I must have missed something, but how did we learn about the telepathy again?
That all told, I'm completely on the fence about picking up the next book - maybe with a strong edit, it might develop some real legs... But I'm not sure. The concept is great, the execution, not so much.
I am quite ambivalent about this book.
I appreciate the portrayal of vampires as brutal, vicious, dark bloodsucking monsters who roam all night, sleep all day and turn into BBQ if they wander out in the noon-day sun. I'm not a big vampire novel lover, but, on the whole I prefer my vampires on the True Blood side of the dark, and not the Twilight one. Also a bonus, the Plot was interesting, at certain points the twists were surprising, and the ending was satisfying - it was an actual ending, not a cliff-hanging pause waiting for a sequel.
So, why the ambivalence? Possibly because the book is just so full of holes ... We have vampires - big, scary, fast, blood-sucking monsters who seem to be hamstrung by some kind of evil corporation of humans which like to hunt them. Humans, slow, blood-filled meat sacks of humans. And the vamps are scared of the agents of this evil corporation (the back-story of which just doesn't exist in this novel). So, these humans, who wander around at night, get to smoosh vamps while they're off at vamp-clubs enjoying taster nights on other humans who like to be snacked on. And occasionally the humans rock up to the nest where the vamp clan lives (always at night because what would be the fun in doing it efficiently while the vamps were asleep and all vulnerable during the day???) and have a big battle where the agents shoot and stake the vamps while they try to run away... Are you following me? No ? ... See!
The characters are pretty one dimensional as well. We never find out much about any of the characters aside from basic descriptions. This blood-sucking monster is a cheery chick who likes to be all bouncy and happy when she's not researching ancient texts and grazing on nightclub patrons with incisor fetishes ... The other one is all dark and brooding with some kind of mysterious anorexia because he doesn't eat until 6 short chapters from the end ... Another is a 700 year old mean-girl in a cheerleader's frame ... Then there's the one with the human pet ... But not one of them really speaks to you.
And I must have missed something, but how did we learn about the telepathy again?
That all told, I'm completely on the fence about picking up the next book - maybe with a strong edit, it might develop some real legs... But I'm not sure. The concept is great, the execution, not so much.
February 10, 2014
[Full disclosure: I received a free ARC ebook through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.]
First off, you need to read this book right now. Yes, The Genesis by K. L. Kerr is so good that I’m starting my review with my recommendation. But I know what you’re thinking: “Vampires again? You’re kidding me, right?”
No, imaginary reader, I’m not. Why would I give such a blanket recommendation of a vampire book when vampires are so over-used in mainstream fiction? Because these are real vampires: they are bloodthirsty killing machines with very little or no remorse when they take human lives. They die in the sunlight rather than sparkle and romance certainly isn’t the main focus of The Genesis. The main focus is Catrina’s change into a vampire and her slow journey to find out why the Clan wants her to be the Vessel to return the mysterious Alistair.
Catrina is an awesome protagonist with an occasionally mysterious backstory that is one of the very few narrators that doesn’t go into complete and utter denial when she becomes a vampire. No, she learns a bit about being a vampire and actually believes Fox when he tells her he turned her into a vampire because of the clues she notices around her and the changes to her own body. A logical narrator? Heaven forbid! If her being extremely logical isn’t a satisfactory explanation, there’s more of an explanation later on but it’s a spoiler.
The lack of information given to Catrina by Fox is a little frustrating as a reader at times, but considering Fox’s personality it makes sense. The only thing I didn’t like was that we knew so little about Catrina’s own backstory and there’s really no excuse for this. However, with the fascinating vampire mythology and the slow, suspenseful reveal of the real conflict I guess I can forgive that. Coupled with the fact that there were quite a few unexpected plot twists, I really can’t complain about the lack of backstory. I’m sure K. L. Kerr will explore Catrina’s and Fox’s pasts in the next book in her Blood of Ages series.
I give this book 4.5/5 stars, rounded up to five stars for Goodreads rating purposes.
First off, you need to read this book right now. Yes, The Genesis by K. L. Kerr is so good that I’m starting my review with my recommendation. But I know what you’re thinking: “Vampires again? You’re kidding me, right?”
No, imaginary reader, I’m not. Why would I give such a blanket recommendation of a vampire book when vampires are so over-used in mainstream fiction? Because these are real vampires: they are bloodthirsty killing machines with very little or no remorse when they take human lives. They die in the sunlight rather than sparkle and romance certainly isn’t the main focus of The Genesis. The main focus is Catrina’s change into a vampire and her slow journey to find out why the Clan wants her to be the Vessel to return the mysterious Alistair.
Catrina is an awesome protagonist with an occasionally mysterious backstory that is one of the very few narrators that doesn’t go into complete and utter denial when she becomes a vampire. No, she learns a bit about being a vampire and actually believes Fox when he tells her he turned her into a vampire because of the clues she notices around her and the changes to her own body. A logical narrator? Heaven forbid! If her being extremely logical isn’t a satisfactory explanation, there’s more of an explanation later on but it’s a spoiler.
The lack of information given to Catrina by Fox is a little frustrating as a reader at times, but considering Fox’s personality it makes sense. The only thing I didn’t like was that we knew so little about Catrina’s own backstory and there’s really no excuse for this. However, with the fascinating vampire mythology and the slow, suspenseful reveal of the real conflict I guess I can forgive that. Coupled with the fact that there were quite a few unexpected plot twists, I really can’t complain about the lack of backstory. I’m sure K. L. Kerr will explore Catrina’s and Fox’s pasts in the next book in her Blood of Ages series.
I give this book 4.5/5 stars, rounded up to five stars for Goodreads rating purposes.
March 10, 2014
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I have very mixed feelings about this book. One one hand, I like the portrayal of vampires as brutal, vicious, and dark. I'm very tired of sexy, loving, sparkly vampires that lack any sort of threat. This book gets back to the monstrous aspect of vampires, and I really appreciate it. Romance is not a central feature in this story, something else I truly appreciate. The story is interesting, at points the plot twists are surprising, and the ending left me satisfied.
The reason I have mixed feelings is everything in this book feels a bit shallow. There's a huge, evil corporation hunting the vampires but we never really find anything out about it except that it's huge. And bad. And hunts vampires. Oh, and the vampires hunt them back, but only sometimes. Because apparently they're afraid of this organization, but at the same time they openly operate vampire clubs for feeding. It doesn't make a lot of sense to me, nor does the vampire's 'oh well that's just the way it is let's hide' attitude towards their enemy.
The characters feel a bit flat as well. I think the character that had the most development was Jacob, and he's only involved in around a third of the story, and none of the dramatic moments. We never find out much about any of the other characters aside from basic descriptions. That one's bouncy and happy, that one's brooding and dark, that one's cheerful, that one's creepy and mean...you get the idea.
The story does move along well and there were some very satisfying action sequences towards the end. I think the author has original ideas and a great story here, but it could use more fleshing out. That said, this book has a real ending, something that seems to be rare these days! I'm on the fence about picking up the next book. We shall see.
I have very mixed feelings about this book. One one hand, I like the portrayal of vampires as brutal, vicious, and dark. I'm very tired of sexy, loving, sparkly vampires that lack any sort of threat. This book gets back to the monstrous aspect of vampires, and I really appreciate it. Romance is not a central feature in this story, something else I truly appreciate. The story is interesting, at points the plot twists are surprising, and the ending left me satisfied.
The reason I have mixed feelings is everything in this book feels a bit shallow. There's a huge, evil corporation hunting the vampires but we never really find anything out about it except that it's huge. And bad. And hunts vampires. Oh, and the vampires hunt them back, but only sometimes. Because apparently they're afraid of this organization, but at the same time they openly operate vampire clubs for feeding. It doesn't make a lot of sense to me, nor does the vampire's 'oh well that's just the way it is let's hide' attitude towards their enemy.
The characters feel a bit flat as well. I think the character that had the most development was Jacob, and he's only involved in around a third of the story, and none of the dramatic moments. We never find out much about any of the other characters aside from basic descriptions. That one's bouncy and happy, that one's brooding and dark, that one's cheerful, that one's creepy and mean...you get the idea.
The story does move along well and there were some very satisfying action sequences towards the end. I think the author has original ideas and a great story here, but it could use more fleshing out. That said, this book has a real ending, something that seems to be rare these days! I'm on the fence about picking up the next book. We shall see.
October 24, 2013
Blog Link: http://www.bookbacon.com/?p=99
I received The Genesis as an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
You know those books that you have that sit there for a long time because you just can't bring yourself to keep on reading? Sadly, 'The Genesis" became one of those books for me. The premise is cool and the idea that a vampire book can lean away from the romantic stuff and towards a more 'action-oriented' feel is also awesome.
HOWEVER, I did eventually get through it and because of this, I can shed a few details about the reading...
-Catrina Malinka is a gun-for-hire who works for her shady guardian Tony. Things go wrong from the very beginning when she almost gets shot by the very person she was sent to kill -BUT, that would be a pretty short book right? So, no, she does survive because a tall, mysterious stranger who was evidently following her, named Fox saves her life.
-So, Catrina becomes sired to Fox as a vampire in a coven?clan?family? of vampires run by Jacob and Jessie. But wait! There's more complication here... Catrina finds out that there is a war going on between vampires and the "Archway Corporation" who wants to eradicate all vampires. Characters called "Head Agents" run the Archway Corporation.
-Vampires want to find a way out, so they think that their best bet is to resurrect the first vampire, Alistair and they want to use Catrina as the vessel for the resurrection.
Now, I don't want to give away the book, so I won't continue the synopsis beyond there, however, I will say that the book - which has an interesting and different concept- was readable, for sure. BUT (and that's a big but) it didn't WOW me like I hoped it would. And this brings me back to my original idea - you know those books that you have forever because you just can't bring yourself to keep on reading? Yea.
I received The Genesis as an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
You know those books that you have that sit there for a long time because you just can't bring yourself to keep on reading? Sadly, 'The Genesis" became one of those books for me. The premise is cool and the idea that a vampire book can lean away from the romantic stuff and towards a more 'action-oriented' feel is also awesome.
HOWEVER, I did eventually get through it and because of this, I can shed a few details about the reading...
-Catrina Malinka is a gun-for-hire who works for her shady guardian Tony. Things go wrong from the very beginning when she almost gets shot by the very person she was sent to kill -BUT, that would be a pretty short book right? So, no, she does survive because a tall, mysterious stranger who was evidently following her, named Fox saves her life.
-So, Catrina becomes sired to Fox as a vampire in a coven?clan?family? of vampires run by Jacob and Jessie. But wait! There's more complication here... Catrina finds out that there is a war going on between vampires and the "Archway Corporation" who wants to eradicate all vampires. Characters called "Head Agents" run the Archway Corporation.
-Vampires want to find a way out, so they think that their best bet is to resurrect the first vampire, Alistair and they want to use Catrina as the vessel for the resurrection.
Now, I don't want to give away the book, so I won't continue the synopsis beyond there, however, I will say that the book - which has an interesting and different concept- was readable, for sure. BUT (and that's a big but) it didn't WOW me like I hoped it would. And this brings me back to my original idea - you know those books that you have forever because you just can't bring yourself to keep on reading? Yea.
May 7, 2013
Fluttering Thoughts originally posted at Butterfly-o-Meter Books on March 5 2013:
World Building: Interesting paranormal elements mixed in with contemporary world. Vampires are a bit more old-school, hungry and powerful. I liked the world of the read.
Characters: A lot of potential for a series-long interesting development. Fox was very mysterious and I want to know more about him, he was probably my favorite though he wasn't the main. Catrina, who was the main, didn't really reach me. She was cool, game for action and such but I didn't get emotionally in tune with her. But then again I often have that issue with UF, so it's not too surprising sadly.
Plot: Alert and interesting, I loved the twist there at the end. Unfortunately (for me), it's very action and not something extra (like some romance or something), and I'm not a fan of action. Which is why I tend to read PNR not UF vibe reads. This felt clearly action oriented, so if you're into that you'll get a kick out of it.
Writing: Nice third person narrative, mostly from Catrina's POV, very easy to read it has a great flow.
Curb Appeal: Nice cover and good blurb, but this wouldn't be an impulsive buy for me. UF rarely is. To each their own, right? :)
All in all this was a good start to the series, and if you're into 'real' vampires and urban fantasy, I say give this a try. It's worth it.
World Building: Interesting paranormal elements mixed in with contemporary world. Vampires are a bit more old-school, hungry and powerful. I liked the world of the read.
Characters: A lot of potential for a series-long interesting development. Fox was very mysterious and I want to know more about him, he was probably my favorite though he wasn't the main. Catrina, who was the main, didn't really reach me. She was cool, game for action and such but I didn't get emotionally in tune with her. But then again I often have that issue with UF, so it's not too surprising sadly.
Plot: Alert and interesting, I loved the twist there at the end. Unfortunately (for me), it's very action and not something extra (like some romance or something), and I'm not a fan of action. Which is why I tend to read PNR not UF vibe reads. This felt clearly action oriented, so if you're into that you'll get a kick out of it.
Writing: Nice third person narrative, mostly from Catrina's POV, very easy to read it has a great flow.
Curb Appeal: Nice cover and good blurb, but this wouldn't be an impulsive buy for me. UF rarely is. To each their own, right? :)
All in all this was a good start to the series, and if you're into 'real' vampires and urban fantasy, I say give this a try. It's worth it.
October 10, 2016
I received a free cop from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
This was...something. The writing wasn't the best, and nothing really happened until the end. There was so much set up for the betrayal, yet we were supposed to be surprised when it happened. Our main character was nothing memorable, and honestly seemed to take things way too well. I was thankful there wasn't any forced romance, but I feel like that might have helped give something to the story. There was so much of our cast running around doing not much of anything, and when our main character wasn't in the infirmary, she was having dreams or going off fighting before she was ready. I wouldn't mind so much if it only happened once, but that was how each scene happened. MC gets into a fight, she can't handle it, someone comes to save the day just in time, she spends some time in the infirmary, while she's unconscious she has dreams that move the plot along. It was boring and uneventful and unmemorable.
The vampire society seemed interesting enough, but we didn't get a lot of information about it. Our main character asked a few questions, but more often than not they went unanswered. I think it was supposed to be so it kept us readers in suspense, but it could have been handled a lot better.
Already, it's fading from memory. This will most likely be a book I look back on and go "oh yeah, I read that..." and then never think of it again.
This was...something. The writing wasn't the best, and nothing really happened until the end. There was so much set up for the betrayal, yet we were supposed to be surprised when it happened. Our main character was nothing memorable, and honestly seemed to take things way too well. I was thankful there wasn't any forced romance, but I feel like that might have helped give something to the story. There was so much of our cast running around doing not much of anything, and when our main character wasn't in the infirmary, she was having dreams or going off fighting before she was ready. I wouldn't mind so much if it only happened once, but that was how each scene happened. MC gets into a fight, she can't handle it, someone comes to save the day just in time, she spends some time in the infirmary, while she's unconscious she has dreams that move the plot along. It was boring and uneventful and unmemorable.
The vampire society seemed interesting enough, but we didn't get a lot of information about it. Our main character asked a few questions, but more often than not they went unanswered. I think it was supposed to be so it kept us readers in suspense, but it could have been handled a lot better.
Already, it's fading from memory. This will most likely be a book I look back on and go "oh yeah, I read that..." and then never think of it again.
June 8, 2013
Favorite Line “He wasn’t a praying man, but he did it then. She simply had to survive; life wasn’t worth living if she wasn’t part of it.”
You know how when you read the blurb for a book and you can't wait to read it! Well, for me this was that book and WHEW WAS OT ALL THAT AND MORE!!
The beginning was sorta forced but, the author MORE THAN made up for that with a amazing middle and the ending had my mouth on the floor!
Catrina reminds me of me and how I would react to being made a vampire! Well maybe she handles it a little better than I would! I would have liked to know more about why she was chosen but, I have faith that the rest of the series will give me what the ending gave me!
Fox was such a infuriating man NORMAL RIGHT?? He is a chain smoking, never shows emotion, kick ass vampire! That makes me wanna scream and I LOVED HIM!!
Sonny oh Sonny man I need to know more about him!!
You know I won't tell you what happen but, imagine this....
You get turned into a vampire only to be told you are the whole races hope for bring back the original vampire!! You have powers no other vampire has but, is it what it seems? Is the Awakening all it's suppose to be or is there something more?
All in all FABULOUS BOOK that I WILL RECOMMEND to all my Fairy Friends!!
I was given book in exchange for honest review
FIVE GENESIS FAIRIES
You know how when you read the blurb for a book and you can't wait to read it! Well, for me this was that book and WHEW WAS OT ALL THAT AND MORE!!
The beginning was sorta forced but, the author MORE THAN made up for that with a amazing middle and the ending had my mouth on the floor!
Catrina reminds me of me and how I would react to being made a vampire! Well maybe she handles it a little better than I would! I would have liked to know more about why she was chosen but, I have faith that the rest of the series will give me what the ending gave me!
Fox was such a infuriating man NORMAL RIGHT?? He is a chain smoking, never shows emotion, kick ass vampire! That makes me wanna scream and I LOVED HIM!!
Sonny oh Sonny man I need to know more about him!!
You know I won't tell you what happen but, imagine this....
You get turned into a vampire only to be told you are the whole races hope for bring back the original vampire!! You have powers no other vampire has but, is it what it seems? Is the Awakening all it's suppose to be or is there something more?
All in all FABULOUS BOOK that I WILL RECOMMEND to all my Fairy Friends!!
I was given book in exchange for honest review
FIVE GENESIS FAIRIES
June 18, 2013
This was an interesting vampire book that sticks to the action instead of making it a romance novel. It brought some new ideas that keep you intrigued through out the book. This was well thought out and the characters are complex and well developed. You get the action from a human corporation that is retaliating against the vampires. You are already thrown into a war of humans vs. vampires and then you get a twist in the story. I like the twist making it not just a vampire book but good apocalyptic prophesy book. It was full of action and suspense that keeps you on your toes. I really liked Fox's character even with his tight lipped yet bad ass self. I did think that Catrina was a bit to much with the "everything possible happens to her." There was times I though she seemed weak as a heroine but she made a great comeback when she went for Fox. The strange relationship between them two is great though leaves you thinking if there is something there. Overall good book and will look into reading the next installment.
August 7, 2013
Full review at http://escapeintowords.blogspot.co.uk...
It was really good to read a vampire book about the actual vampires. All too often, vampire books are actually about a human, and their relationship with a vampire. In The Genesis though, we step into the life of a newly-bitten vampire. As we follow Catrina, we learn about the clan she is now affiliated to, and about how it feels to get used to the strange new powers she possesses.
Kerr does a great job of describing the new feelings that come with being turned into a vampire. Her vamps have a heart-beat, which is unusual but makes sense, but they stick with the traditional daylight burns, drinking human blood (thought not necessarily to the death), etc. Naturally, where there are vampires there are people who hunt them, so we are caught up in a battle between the hunters and the vamps. There are some good uses of technology, and I liked the fact that the clan has an infirmary because although the vamps can heal quickly, it's not instant.
It was really good to read a vampire book about the actual vampires. All too often, vampire books are actually about a human, and their relationship with a vampire. In The Genesis though, we step into the life of a newly-bitten vampire. As we follow Catrina, we learn about the clan she is now affiliated to, and about how it feels to get used to the strange new powers she possesses.
Kerr does a great job of describing the new feelings that come with being turned into a vampire. Her vamps have a heart-beat, which is unusual but makes sense, but they stick with the traditional daylight burns, drinking human blood (thought not necessarily to the death), etc. Naturally, where there are vampires there are people who hunt them, so we are caught up in a battle between the hunters and the vamps. There are some good uses of technology, and I liked the fact that the clan has an infirmary because although the vamps can heal quickly, it's not instant.
June 24, 2013
Really great read. A recent vampire based book that isn't a Twighlight copy just what I wasn't expecting. I started the book and it took a few chapters to get going but the writing was enjoyably readable. I have to admit to a moment of " oh here we go" when you realise she has been turned but thankfully the book took a different path and refused to follow the copycat path that many others have. Refreshing!
The story tells of a young girl in some degree struggling to accept the changes she has imposed on her and fighting an inner power, but in other ways resigned to her fate and in full acceptance of her vampire bloodlust. The underlying tension between her and her maker is never fully explored in this book though I am hoping there will be more in coming books as it does seem to be one of the few areas of the story left fuzzy, maybe intentionally.
I finished reading and went looking for the next installments of the series ..... Sadly I have to wait.
The story tells of a young girl in some degree struggling to accept the changes she has imposed on her and fighting an inner power, but in other ways resigned to her fate and in full acceptance of her vampire bloodlust. The underlying tension between her and her maker is never fully explored in this book though I am hoping there will be more in coming books as it does seem to be one of the few areas of the story left fuzzy, maybe intentionally.
I finished reading and went looking for the next installments of the series ..... Sadly I have to wait.
July 29, 2013
Vampires sans romance? I'll admit.. not usually something I read. Most books I read need to have romance in some form or another. Hey, I love to swoon.
The Genesis proved to be a interesting read even without the romance. It is pure urban fantasy with a kick-butt heroine, a great cast of supporting characters and an action-packed plot.
I really like this author's style of writing. She is thorough and paints vivid pictures without being overpowering. She makes you feel as if you are right in the pages with the characters.
This is a dark, intriguing urban fantasy that leaves you wanting more. It had a bit of a slow start while you get used to the world the author creates, but once the action picks up it carries you straight to the end.
I received a copy of this novel in exchange for an HONEST review.
The Genesis proved to be a interesting read even without the romance. It is pure urban fantasy with a kick-butt heroine, a great cast of supporting characters and an action-packed plot.
I really like this author's style of writing. She is thorough and paints vivid pictures without being overpowering. She makes you feel as if you are right in the pages with the characters.
This is a dark, intriguing urban fantasy that leaves you wanting more. It had a bit of a slow start while you get used to the world the author creates, but once the action picks up it carries you straight to the end.
I received a copy of this novel in exchange for an HONEST review.
April 29, 2013
I recieved this book for free in return for a honest review for the author.
You ever read a book that sucks you in so much you forget your name because thats not whats important.Whats important is finishing the book in front of you? Yeah thats what this book did to me from the very momment i found out who catrina was and from the momment the book ended i found myself dying for more.This book deserves my rating of a 5. This is one of the few books i have ever rated so high simply because the action,suspense,and the characters were amazing.I might add more later just as soon as my brain has time to wind down after the amazing journey i just went on so stick to this review for more.Oh but dont expect any spoilers im trying to stay away from that,
You ever read a book that sucks you in so much you forget your name because thats not whats important.Whats important is finishing the book in front of you? Yeah thats what this book did to me from the very momment i found out who catrina was and from the momment the book ended i found myself dying for more.This book deserves my rating of a 5. This is one of the few books i have ever rated so high simply because the action,suspense,and the characters were amazing.I might add more later just as soon as my brain has time to wind down after the amazing journey i just went on so stick to this review for more.Oh but dont expect any spoilers im trying to stay away from that,
May 19, 2013
This book clicked with me almost instantly. Within a very short time I found myself caring about the main character and wanting to know more about her and the new world she was about to step into. It's a story revolving around Catrina, a young girl who's thrust into the vampire world at a breakneck pace. K.L. Kerr doesn't allow the reader much time to breathe during the first several chapters, which I loved. The book may have been a little too long but it had all the vampy goodness and great writing that I'd been looking for. The author is talented with action scenes and there's plenty to devour. It reminded me a bit of Jim Butcher's style at times.
It was so nice to be reunited with vampires that could rip out throats before and after an intellectual conversation.
It was so nice to be reunited with vampires that could rip out throats before and after an intellectual conversation.
May 18, 2013
I was quickly drawn into this intriguing, refreshing vampire novel and couldn't put it down. Kerr's take provides a more humanistic view of the vampire in all their weaknesses as well as strengths, and she certainly provides plenty of action. In many ways, the main character is rather unsympathetic, as a cold-blooded killer, but you find yourself rooting for her nonetheless. My main disappointment in finishing the novel was in finding out that the remainder of the series (listed at both the beginning and the end of the novel) are, in fact, yet to be written...so I will have to wait to find out what happens next in this intriguing saga!
For full disclosure, I received a free copy of this book, but this has not influenced my frank opinion of it here...
For full disclosure, I received a free copy of this book, but this has not influenced my frank opinion of it here...
May 26, 2013
This a vampire story with lots of action and fighting. I really liked how the plot was set up and executed. I liked Catrina's toughness and her determination, but I didn't feel as though I really connected with her. Fox was really mysterious I know there is a story there and I want to find out what it is. The only thing that I didn't like and that made me give this 4 stars instead of 5 was that the vampires (except Catrina) don't try to find a way to destroy their enemies. Most didn't even try to protect themselves when attacked and it just didn't seem right. If someone found my secret hideout I would move! Otherwise a great read and story.
May 17, 2013
Finally a vampire book without a lot of romance! There are some very good starts to this series eg. the main character is not whiny and the vampires still seem to have the human condition (doubts, personality and fear). As a whole, the new vampires are not really apex predators which is different. I'm looking forward to seeing what the author will do with this in the future.
The biggest issue I have is that I've found this author too soon. I enjoy reading several books from a series in a row, that's now possible yet.
I look forward to seeing the other books the author intends to write
The biggest issue I have is that I've found this author too soon. I enjoy reading several books from a series in a row, that's now possible yet.
I look forward to seeing the other books the author intends to write
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews