A Taste for Blood

by Diana Lee

Ryan was born when Vikings raided the British coast and the clans of Scotland feuded with blood lust. Raped, killed and reborn as a vampire at the tender age of sixteen, she is now over eight hundred years old. Over the centuries, Ryan has ravaged the lives of many helpless victims, and now she has risen to a position of power and influence in Victorian-era Scotland. In her years she has loved many women, but none have so touched her life as those descended from her first lover, Carissa - a girl on the edge of womanhood. Lee's prose is as gripping as it is erotically charged.

Genres: Lesbian, Vampires, Ebooks, LGBT, Romance

370 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2003

About the author

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Reviews

[Professor Ratigon · Rating 3 out of 5]

My goodness, for my whole life, I've never procrastined to read a book almost 2 years, and then I came back, read it again and feeling somewhat satisfied, especially for the ending. And unfortunately, this book contains lots of rape scenes, murder children, and betrayal of love which I had no idea how I found the strength to finish this book completely. But admittedly, I truly adore the character of Carissa (not to mention she's the reason that keeping me read this hell book) as much as I can feel her infinite sadness when she finds out the one she loves most is the only one that awfully tears her heart apart.

I've had enough with those mental rape scenes in this book, I need to take a break now, jeez.

[Dide · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the very few books that has an unaccustomed ending. This is a vampire story with all the immoral that can be imagined in a gore like vampire story. Also it spans generations so a lengthy entertainment. Enjoyable time reading it

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has been one of my go-to re-reads for years. A Taste for Blood follows the life of a vampire as she weaves her way through generations of human society, leaving a quiet yet powerful mark on history. The book almost reads like a collection of connected short stories, each one set in a different era and featuring descendants from the same family line.

What makes this novel stand out is the emotional thread that ties everything together. The vampire doesn’t just watch over this family, she falls in love with its women, one generation after another, until she finally finds her lasting connection in the present day. It’s romantic, haunting, and surprisingly tender. It does include vampires, time-piece story line, lgbtq and some bondage.

Diana Lee has a real gift for evoking time and place. Her descriptions of each era are vivid and immersive, without overwhelming the story. The historical atmosphere gives the novel a rich, layered feel that kept me fully engaged.

My only complaint? There’s no digital version available. As someone who travels a lot, I’d love to have it on Kindle or audio. If that ever happens, I’ll be first in line.