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Blackthorn #2
Blood Roses
“She was supposed to kill vampires, not save them. Those were the rules. That was the lore.”
A rare and powerful witch whose blood is lethal to vampires, Leila has always viewed her serryn abilities as a curse. After seeing her mother slaughtered as a child, Leila longs for a safe, quiet life.
That wish is shattered by Caleb Dehain – a vampire with a dark past and a darker heart. The most feared serryn hunter of his generation, Caleb now needs the help of one of the witches he despises to save his dying brother.
A serryn who has no reason to help him. Except that he has her sister.
Caleb and Leila are each other’s worst nightmare – but the slow-burning spark of attraction between them is undeniable. Will Leila’s blood be his damnation? Or could her kiss be his salvation?
* Blood Roses is book two in the Blackthorn series.
A rare and powerful witch whose blood is lethal to vampires, Leila has always viewed her serryn abilities as a curse. After seeing her mother slaughtered as a child, Leila longs for a safe, quiet life.
That wish is shattered by Caleb Dehain – a vampire with a dark past and a darker heart. The most feared serryn hunter of his generation, Caleb now needs the help of one of the witches he despises to save his dying brother.
A serryn who has no reason to help him. Except that he has her sister.
Caleb and Leila are each other’s worst nightmare – but the slow-burning spark of attraction between them is undeniable. Will Leila’s blood be his damnation? Or could her kiss be his salvation?
* Blood Roses is book two in the Blackthorn series.
398 pages, Paperback
First published April 23, 2013
119 people are currently reading
2477 people want to read
About the author
Lindsay J. Pryor
16 books522 followersSign up to be the first to hear about Lindsay's NEW releases here: http://bit.ly/150twsa
*Lindsay is not an active Goodreads user. Please visit her website if you would like to contact her.*
Lindsay J. Pryor is a speculative fiction author published by Hachette U.K. Her dark, gritty and complex dystopian BLACKTHORN series has achieved numerous Gothic and PNR Amazon number ones both in the UK and the US. Her spin-off LOWTOWN standalone novels are underway as well as her upcoming romantic Gothic horror.
Quickly deciding that fantasy was more interesting than reality, Lindsay has been creating stories since she was nine years old. She holds a BSc (Hons) degree in Psychology and Communication and is a qualified Psychology lecturer and English teacher. She taught for eighteen years before becoming a full-time author.
Lindsay was born and grew up in Wales and now lives in South West England with her husband and a plethora of wild woodland creatures.
To find out more about Lindsay and her books, please visit her website: lindsayjpryor.com
BLACKTHORN is published by Bookouture. Her LOWTOWN novels are being published by Piatkus (Little, Brown Book Group).
I absolutely adore the world she's put into place here. Everything is so well formed with its own history and culture that it really feels like I'm living in Blackthorn... (Marked by Books)
This is a paranormal universe like none you have encountered before. (Keeper Bookshelf)
I don't think I have read such a finely executed dark PNR world before... The world-building is spectacular. (Gaga Over Books)
Lindsay Pryor has crafted a world that's intricate, gritty and genuinely fascinating... (Big Little Sister Blog)
This concept is creative and different from other paranormal books I've read lately. (My Paranormal Book Review)
I cannot say how much I love this author. She is creating a world which sucks you in, which makes you want to know more about Blackthorn and its inhabitants. (I Heart Books)
Not only are Pryor's characters and fathomlessly dark love stories fabulous, but her continual world building of Blackthorn blows me away. (Gravetells)
Lindsay is a wonderful writer. She's crafted one heck of a world... (Vice President of Creative Affairs for Relativity Media Film Studios, California)
*Lindsay is not an active Goodreads user. Please visit her website if you would like to contact her.*
Lindsay J. Pryor is a speculative fiction author published by Hachette U.K. Her dark, gritty and complex dystopian BLACKTHORN series has achieved numerous Gothic and PNR Amazon number ones both in the UK and the US. Her spin-off LOWTOWN standalone novels are underway as well as her upcoming romantic Gothic horror.
Quickly deciding that fantasy was more interesting than reality, Lindsay has been creating stories since she was nine years old. She holds a BSc (Hons) degree in Psychology and Communication and is a qualified Psychology lecturer and English teacher. She taught for eighteen years before becoming a full-time author.
Lindsay was born and grew up in Wales and now lives in South West England with her husband and a plethora of wild woodland creatures.
To find out more about Lindsay and her books, please visit her website: lindsayjpryor.com
BLACKTHORN is published by Bookouture. Her LOWTOWN novels are being published by Piatkus (Little, Brown Book Group).
I absolutely adore the world she's put into place here. Everything is so well formed with its own history and culture that it really feels like I'm living in Blackthorn... (Marked by Books)
This is a paranormal universe like none you have encountered before. (Keeper Bookshelf)
I don't think I have read such a finely executed dark PNR world before... The world-building is spectacular. (Gaga Over Books)
Lindsay Pryor has crafted a world that's intricate, gritty and genuinely fascinating... (Big Little Sister Blog)
This concept is creative and different from other paranormal books I've read lately. (My Paranormal Book Review)
I cannot say how much I love this author. She is creating a world which sucks you in, which makes you want to know more about Blackthorn and its inhabitants. (I Heart Books)
Not only are Pryor's characters and fathomlessly dark love stories fabulous, but her continual world building of Blackthorn blows me away. (Gravetells)
Lindsay is a wonderful writer. She's crafted one heck of a world... (Vice President of Creative Affairs for Relativity Media Film Studios, California)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 173 reviews
February 27, 2014
Okay so this was my general expression while reading Blood Roses! Personally I think this one was way better than the first book! Again heavily plot based, with steamy and sensual sex scenes!
Leila is a witch, she's not a very powerful one though, she's always got her nose in a book learning about some or other spell but she never actually uses these spells. Until one day she gets a call from her sister, she's been taken by a group of vampires, in Blackthorn. Okay so from here on out it's plot twist after plot twist. Revelation after revelation, and quite frankly I was never bored. Caleb was cold, harsh and distant at first but when he realised how much he wanted Leila he was quite the dog the with the bone!
All she could see was Tay writhing in agony - writhing in agony from her blood. Blood that Caleb injected in him knowing exactly what it would do. Caleb who had killed one of his own with such cruel ease. He was a monster. And now she was at his mercy.
The story is based around a prophecy, a prophecy that Leila and Caleb are a part of. But fulfilling this prophecy will mean the loss of their connection, which is ironic since this prophecy is only possible because of their connection. I won't go into further detail because that would give away the story!
He licked her blood from his lips. "I'll take you on a bed of roses, if that's what you want."
"Thorns intact? Prepared to bleed with me, are you?
"Maybe a drop or two..."
This book was the perfect blend of the paranormal, mystery, romance and suspense! I couldn't put it down! Now for Jask Tao's book, he's a werewolf shifter and I just cannot wait!!!
June 17, 2016
"From the first moment I saw you, I intended to kill you."
I think I'm swooning over this guy! What a sweet talker, huh?
So, in this book we have Caleb, a vampire, and Leila, a witch, as our couple. They not only hate each other, but she is also a special type of witch that has blood which is toxic to vampires. Considering what we all know from all of our extensive vampire-studying, this is going to be a pretty big problem if they fall in love. Vamps like to take a little sustenance while they get down and dirty. It would be the equivalent of us eating a sandwich during sex. Seems a little awkward, but whatever floats your boat.
only if you wash the sheets later. And make sure to pre-treat the mustard stains!
These two will have to practice extremely safe-sex if they both want to live through it!
That should do it...
Here's the thing that I like about these books (so far), but could also be something others don't like: there is a lot of inner dialogue. The characters are doing a lot of thinking and we get really into their heads. This is something that can annoy me in some books, but in these I like it. It is not done in an info-dump way, but instead we are understanding their past experiences that led to their present mind-set. And, there are a ton of little "twists" that are slowly revealed as we go on. I like how there is something new around each corner. It keeps me on my toes as I read.
And, speaking of info-dumping, there isn't any. It can almost be frustrating as I read this world from the POV of someone who is in it and feels no reason to explain it to me. Instead of giving me a big history of the world, things are revealed slowly and naturally. I also like that. I need to feel like I don't know what the hell is going on sometimes. It also keeps me on my toes because I'm a pretty perceptive person and usually 'get things' quickly. I might get arrogant if they make it too easy on me. Make me work for it, girl!
Wait, what's with these four towns thing? How did the vamps end up in the Australia of the world? Why are you spelling words like realization with an "s" instead of a "z"? Where are you, Australia?
Obviously, Australia is a strange, foreign land to me.
Is this a common problem for you guys?
The only reason I gave this book one less star than the last one is that I found their insta-love to be a little too insta. I mean, I get that these PNR books are always insta-love. And, I totally allowed it in the last book because the two main characters had known about each other, and found each other attractive, for years. But, in this one, we have love declarations within 48 hours of meeting for the first time. That's fast. Even by PNR standards.
Yes! I totally believe in love at first sight when it comes to a classic Mustang convertible! ! I just need an exterminator first and then I'll be driving off into the sunset.
But, in spite of the insta-love - which is completely unreasonable and unrealistic - I fell in insta-love with this series. On to the next one, froggy-chauffeur!
I think I'm swooning over this guy! What a sweet talker, huh?
So, in this book we have Caleb, a vampire, and Leila, a witch, as our couple. They not only hate each other, but she is also a special type of witch that has blood which is toxic to vampires. Considering what we all know from all of our extensive vampire-studying, this is going to be a pretty big problem if they fall in love. Vamps like to take a little sustenance while they get down and dirty. It would be the equivalent of us eating a sandwich during sex. Seems a little awkward, but whatever floats your boat.
only if you wash the sheets later. And make sure to pre-treat the mustard stains!
These two will have to practice extremely safe-sex if they both want to live through it!
That should do it...
Here's the thing that I like about these books (so far), but could also be something others don't like: there is a lot of inner dialogue. The characters are doing a lot of thinking and we get really into their heads. This is something that can annoy me in some books, but in these I like it. It is not done in an info-dump way, but instead we are understanding their past experiences that led to their present mind-set. And, there are a ton of little "twists" that are slowly revealed as we go on. I like how there is something new around each corner. It keeps me on my toes as I read.
And, speaking of info-dumping, there isn't any. It can almost be frustrating as I read this world from the POV of someone who is in it and feels no reason to explain it to me. Instead of giving me a big history of the world, things are revealed slowly and naturally. I also like that. I need to feel like I don't know what the hell is going on sometimes. It also keeps me on my toes because I'm a pretty perceptive person and usually 'get things' quickly. I might get arrogant if they make it too easy on me. Make me work for it, girl!
Wait, what's with these four towns thing? How did the vamps end up in the Australia of the world? Why are you spelling words like realization with an "s" instead of a "z"? Where are you, Australia?
Obviously, Australia is a strange, foreign land to me.
Is this a common problem for you guys?
The only reason I gave this book one less star than the last one is that I found their insta-love to be a little too insta. I mean, I get that these PNR books are always insta-love. And, I totally allowed it in the last book because the two main characters had known about each other, and found each other attractive, for years. But, in this one, we have love declarations within 48 hours of meeting for the first time. That's fast. Even by PNR standards.
Yes! I totally believe in love at first sight when it comes to a classic Mustang convertible! ! I just need an exterminator first and then I'll be driving off into the sunset.
But, in spite of the insta-love - which is completely unreasonable and unrealistic - I fell in insta-love with this series. On to the next one, froggy-chauffeur!
May 29, 2019
5 Stars!!
Reread 5/18/2019
My third time reading this one and still very much loved it! I can not wait for the final book in this series to come out tomorrow:))
Reread 10/2/2016
I loved this just as much as I did the first time I read it!
This series just keeps getting better and better! Another sexy vampire and a witch.
Powerful witches aren't suppose to love vampires. They are suppose to hunt and kill them. But Leila can't make herself hunt and kill them after what happened to her when she was nine. Leila keeps to herself and buries herself in her library books. She doesn't want to go any where near vampires but when her sister needs her Leila goes right into the heart of the vampires. The instant she looks across the room and sees Caleb she knows she's in trouble.
Caleb lost his brother to a witch and it sent him on a killing spree. He knows the instant he meets Leilas eyes that she's not a normal witch she's a Serryn. Exactly the kind of witch that lures vampires in and one drop of her blood will kill them. Exactly what kind of witch killed his brother and what he hunted and killed for a very long time. But damn if he doesn't want her.
I loved Caleb. He's so damn cocky and Leila was so damn shy but she also had some fight on her. They were super duper hot together!!
Fate brought these two together because they both are part of a big plan in the future. Neither trust the other.
Will Caleb let Leila and her sister go or will he hold onto them?
Jask is next. A sexy wolf shifter:)) I might reread later!
This series is about different couples but they still must be read in order or you will be lost. Hope you give it a try and enjoy:))
Reread 5/18/2019
My third time reading this one and still very much loved it! I can not wait for the final book in this series to come out tomorrow:))
Reread 10/2/2016
I loved this just as much as I did the first time I read it!
This series just keeps getting better and better! Another sexy vampire and a witch.
Powerful witches aren't suppose to love vampires. They are suppose to hunt and kill them. But Leila can't make herself hunt and kill them after what happened to her when she was nine. Leila keeps to herself and buries herself in her library books. She doesn't want to go any where near vampires but when her sister needs her Leila goes right into the heart of the vampires. The instant she looks across the room and sees Caleb she knows she's in trouble.
Caleb lost his brother to a witch and it sent him on a killing spree. He knows the instant he meets Leilas eyes that she's not a normal witch she's a Serryn. Exactly the kind of witch that lures vampires in and one drop of her blood will kill them. Exactly what kind of witch killed his brother and what he hunted and killed for a very long time. But damn if he doesn't want her.
I loved Caleb. He's so damn cocky and Leila was so damn shy but she also had some fight on her. They were super duper hot together!!
Fate brought these two together because they both are part of a big plan in the future. Neither trust the other.
Will Caleb let Leila and her sister go or will he hold onto them?
Jask is next. A sexy wolf shifter:)) I might reread later!
This series is about different couples but they still must be read in order or you will be lost. Hope you give it a try and enjoy:))
July 28, 2013
I had a really hard time getting through this book. I liked the premise and I found the world building intriguing, but the romance did not work for me at all.
It all starts when Leila gets a call from her sister, Alisha, begging for help. Alisha says she is being held by vampires. She needs Leila to bring her ancient spellbook to vampiretown (Blackthorne) and use her magic to save a dying vamp. It goes against everything she believes, but Leila agrees, for her sister's sake.
It's dangerous for any human in Blackthorne, but it's even worse for Leila. She's not only a witch, but a serryn, a rare woman whose blood is toxic to their kind. Unfortunately, Caleb, brother to the dying vamp, figures out her secret. And it only goes downhill for Leila from there.
Despite her deep seeded aversion to vampires, Leila is attracted to Caleb. An attraction he mercilessly exploits. Caleb is convinced Leila is a killer, as most serryns are. He puts her through the wringer, with test after test to prove her "true nature." Most of these tests involve sex.
I had big issues here. Yes, ultimately Leila wanted Caleb, but at the same time, she really had no choice but to sleep with him. Not exactly non-con, but a little too close for my comfort. Add to that, Caleb lies to her, jerks her around, and threatens to kill her and her sisters throughout the book. I kept waiting for things to get better, for him to be redeemed, but it never really happened. And for the life of me, I cannot understand how Leila could fall for him under such circumstances.
I almost put the book down a few times... I was just so put off by Caleb's treatment of Leila, but the world building was interesting and I figured the payoff would be worth it. But it wasn't. The ending is terrible. Things aren't really resolved and even calling it a HFN is a stretch.
The dynamic of the relationship was very off putting to me. The balance of power, virtually non existent. I can only watch my heroine get kicked when she's down so many times before you can just count me out.
*ARC provided by author for review
It all starts when Leila gets a call from her sister, Alisha, begging for help. Alisha says she is being held by vampires. She needs Leila to bring her ancient spellbook to vampiretown (Blackthorne) and use her magic to save a dying vamp. It goes against everything she believes, but Leila agrees, for her sister's sake.
It's dangerous for any human in Blackthorne, but it's even worse for Leila. She's not only a witch, but a serryn, a rare woman whose blood is toxic to their kind. Unfortunately, Caleb, brother to the dying vamp, figures out her secret. And it only goes downhill for Leila from there.
Despite her deep seeded aversion to vampires, Leila is attracted to Caleb. An attraction he mercilessly exploits. Caleb is convinced Leila is a killer, as most serryns are. He puts her through the wringer, with test after test to prove her "true nature." Most of these tests involve sex.
I had big issues here. Yes, ultimately Leila wanted Caleb, but at the same time, she really had no choice but to sleep with him. Not exactly non-con, but a little too close for my comfort. Add to that, Caleb lies to her, jerks her around, and threatens to kill her and her sisters throughout the book. I kept waiting for things to get better, for him to be redeemed, but it never really happened. And for the life of me, I cannot understand how Leila could fall for him under such circumstances.
I almost put the book down a few times... I was just so put off by Caleb's treatment of Leila, but the world building was interesting and I figured the payoff would be worth it. But it wasn't. The ending is terrible. Things aren't really resolved and even calling it a HFN is a stretch.
The dynamic of the relationship was very off putting to me. The balance of power, virtually non existent. I can only watch my heroine get kicked when she's down so many times before you can just count me out.
*ARC provided by author for review
April 26, 2013
**Find this and other reviews @ The Demon Librarian**
Intense!
Blackthorn is not a nice place. Just ask Leila, the leading lady of Blood Roses.
From the moment Leila stepped onto the page, I felt for her. Raised her whole life in the safety and security of Summerton, she has never set foot on the vampire-infested streets of Blackthorn, nor does she want to. But when she receives a frantic call from her younger sister Alisha, begging for help, Leila has no choice but to enter the proverbial lion's den.
Getting in is the easy part. It's getting out that will be tricky, because a certain uber-sexy and dangerous vamp has figured out Leila's most closely guarded secret, and he's not about to let her go.
Caleb has hunted serryns for years. He hates them with the fire of a thousand suns, and having one fall into his lap resurrects all the darkness inside of him. Darkness that is aimed entirely at poor Leila.
Leila is put through the wringer in this book, and yet somehow, she prevails. She stood up to Caleb, poked holes in his armor, and defied all his negative expectations. And she did it in a way that not only won him over (reluctantly), but me as well (wholeheartedly). The strength of character she displayed impressed the hell out of me, and I was cheering her on the whole way.
Caleb, for his part, is one very bad boy. In any other book, he'd be slated as the villain and I'd be booing and hissing him off the page. He's cold, unforgiving, and more than a little cruel. Yet he's also a devoted brother, an astute businessman, and loyal to his people. I would never call him good, but he isn't outright evil either, and honestly, I liked him. A LOT. He's exactly the kind of complex character I love to sink my teeth into.
Supporting characters Alisha and Jake (Caleb's brother) deserve a special mention. Jake in particular surprised me. He comes off at first as a useless playboy, but he sure proved me wrong! I'm pleased as punch he and Alisha both had scenes written from their POV. The story wouldn't have worked nearly as well without them and I hope we see more of them both in the future.
As in book one, the story unfolds over a short period of time, and once again, I did not feel gypped in any way. BLOOD ROSES is a fully-developed, thoroughly engrossing story filled with heavy emotional hits and swoonworthy moments. In or out of the bedroom, whether they are viciously fighting or tearing each other's clothes off, Caleb and Leila burn up the pages together. Every moment between them seethes with emotion and intensity. It's potent stuff, and the more I read, the more hooked I became. In fact, when the book ended, it took all of, oh, five minutes for the withdrawal to set in. I wanted MORE.
That's right. I am officially addicted to this series. Why, you ask? Because Lindsay Pryor is my kind of fearless author. She isn't afraid to "go there", to create characters and situations that challenge me as a reader. She doesn't wrap anything in a pretty bow for me, and after two books, she has yet to hand me a single quick fix or easy answer. Black and white? Forget about it! You will find nothing that simple in the the world of Blackthorn. Everywhere you look, there are blurred lines and shades of gray. There are no clear-cut Happy Ever Afters, either. I don't think there can be in this world. Not yet. I could be wrong, but my gut tells me there is a lot of story yet to be told, and everything we're reading now is merely the prelude. All these different stories are going to intersect at some point (I hope), and I can't wait to see what happens when they do.
BLOOD ROSES isn't a wild, action-packed ride through the paranormal world. If that's what you are in the mood for, I would recommend you look elsewhere, because you'll only be disappointed. However, if you're hunting for a book that isn't afraid to get its hands dirty and show you a darker side of life - a book with characters who will grab you by the throat and refuse to let go - then you should definitely check out the Blackthorn series.
5 Stars ★★★★★
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Intense!
Blackthorn is not a nice place. Just ask Leila, the leading lady of Blood Roses.
From the moment Leila stepped onto the page, I felt for her. Raised her whole life in the safety and security of Summerton, she has never set foot on the vampire-infested streets of Blackthorn, nor does she want to. But when she receives a frantic call from her younger sister Alisha, begging for help, Leila has no choice but to enter the proverbial lion's den.
Getting in is the easy part. It's getting out that will be tricky, because a certain uber-sexy and dangerous vamp has figured out Leila's most closely guarded secret, and he's not about to let her go.
Caleb has hunted serryns for years. He hates them with the fire of a thousand suns, and having one fall into his lap resurrects all the darkness inside of him. Darkness that is aimed entirely at poor Leila.
Leila is put through the wringer in this book, and yet somehow, she prevails. She stood up to Caleb, poked holes in his armor, and defied all his negative expectations. And she did it in a way that not only won him over (reluctantly), but me as well (wholeheartedly). The strength of character she displayed impressed the hell out of me, and I was cheering her on the whole way.
Caleb, for his part, is one very bad boy. In any other book, he'd be slated as the villain and I'd be booing and hissing him off the page. He's cold, unforgiving, and more than a little cruel. Yet he's also a devoted brother, an astute businessman, and loyal to his people. I would never call him good, but he isn't outright evil either, and honestly, I liked him. A LOT. He's exactly the kind of complex character I love to sink my teeth into.
Supporting characters Alisha and Jake (Caleb's brother) deserve a special mention. Jake in particular surprised me. He comes off at first as a useless playboy, but he sure proved me wrong! I'm pleased as punch he and Alisha both had scenes written from their POV. The story wouldn't have worked nearly as well without them and I hope we see more of them both in the future.
As in book one, the story unfolds over a short period of time, and once again, I did not feel gypped in any way. BLOOD ROSES is a fully-developed, thoroughly engrossing story filled with heavy emotional hits and swoonworthy moments. In or out of the bedroom, whether they are viciously fighting or tearing each other's clothes off, Caleb and Leila burn up the pages together. Every moment between them seethes with emotion and intensity. It's potent stuff, and the more I read, the more hooked I became. In fact, when the book ended, it took all of, oh, five minutes for the withdrawal to set in. I wanted MORE.
That's right. I am officially addicted to this series. Why, you ask? Because Lindsay Pryor is my kind of fearless author. She isn't afraid to "go there", to create characters and situations that challenge me as a reader. She doesn't wrap anything in a pretty bow for me, and after two books, she has yet to hand me a single quick fix or easy answer. Black and white? Forget about it! You will find nothing that simple in the the world of Blackthorn. Everywhere you look, there are blurred lines and shades of gray. There are no clear-cut Happy Ever Afters, either. I don't think there can be in this world. Not yet. I could be wrong, but my gut tells me there is a lot of story yet to be told, and everything we're reading now is merely the prelude. All these different stories are going to intersect at some point (I hope), and I can't wait to see what happens when they do.
BLOOD ROSES isn't a wild, action-packed ride through the paranormal world. If that's what you are in the mood for, I would recommend you look elsewhere, because you'll only be disappointed. However, if you're hunting for a book that isn't afraid to get its hands dirty and show you a darker side of life - a book with characters who will grab you by the throat and refuse to let go - then you should definitely check out the Blackthorn series.
5 Stars ★★★★★
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
September 30, 2016
RATING: 5 Hearts! <3
Absolutely loving this series! It's fast-paced, action packed, and amidst the vampires, witches, werwolves, and evil forces at work, it's the sweetest kind of love story. Adored both Caleb and Leila! On to the next one!
August 12, 2016
I loved this book more than the first ONE!!!
March 15, 2017
I would have like this book much, much more if the timeline wasn't between 48-60 hours. Which of course would mean the insta-love.... Hate insta-love.
November 25, 2022
2022 Edit: Didn't realize they updated the cover for Blood Roses until I came on here to find book recs similar to Blood Roses and... what in the loving hell. The new cover with a teenage looking heroine screams young adult when this entire series is adult romance period. Editors/publishers: What are you doing?! I would not pick this book up if it had this cover and I honestly don't think this is a book for young adults. It's dark and clearly meant for adult audiences. Just because it's dystopian doesn't mean it's YA by default. Also, this Kindle cover is more similar to how hero and heroine are described.
INITIAL THOUGHTS 10/17/21
I don’t know how Lindsay J. Pryor did it but the second book is just as addicting!!! Different couple dynamics but it’s 10s across the board!!!
RTC!! Because I need to rave about it at length!
FULL REVIEW 10/27/2021
Caleb and Leila are my favourite couple after Jessie and Eden. Blood Roses was everything I loved about Blood Shadows and even more!
Oh Caleb and Leila. Together, they are perfection. Incredible. So explosive. Their love story makes me ugly cry. They do the dance of the hunter and the hare so well. Caleb and Leila are a perfect example of the hunter and the hare trope i.e. the hero is hunting the heroine.
This trope is difficult to pull off because we have to believe in the hero's obsession that transmutes into passion, and we have to be with the heroine feeling all kinds of ways about being pursued, without doing anything that makes her seem weak or foolhardy. I want to shiver with the heroine, not be stepped under the boot with her.
Caleb and Leila were hot, hot, hot. Caleb pushed buttons while Leila had to figure out how to last the night with her head on, while dealing with her immediate attraction to Caleb. I haven't come across the strong witch vs vampire hunter trope but this was oh so delicious?! Offhand, I dig vampire male and witch woman couplings (see Die by the Drop).
The stakes are raised (proverbially speaking) in Blood Roses. Some paranormal romances will make things life and death but you either can't suspend your disbelief or just go along with it. I believed everything that unfolded. The world, the corruption, the politics - it was hyperreal.
One downside is
INITIAL THOUGHTS 10/17/21
I don’t know how Lindsay J. Pryor did it but the second book is just as addicting!!! Different couple dynamics but it’s 10s across the board!!!
RTC!! Because I need to rave about it at length!
FULL REVIEW 10/27/2021
Caleb and Leila are my favourite couple after Jessie and Eden. Blood Roses was everything I loved about Blood Shadows and even more!
Oh Caleb and Leila. Together, they are perfection. Incredible. So explosive. Their love story makes me ugly cry. They do the dance of the hunter and the hare so well. Caleb and Leila are a perfect example of the hunter and the hare trope i.e. the hero is hunting the heroine.
This trope is difficult to pull off because we have to believe in the hero's obsession that transmutes into passion, and we have to be with the heroine feeling all kinds of ways about being pursued, without doing anything that makes her seem weak or foolhardy. I want to shiver with the heroine, not be stepped under the boot with her.
Caleb and Leila were hot, hot, hot. Caleb pushed buttons while Leila had to figure out how to last the night with her head on, while dealing with her immediate attraction to Caleb. I haven't come across the strong witch vs vampire hunter trope but this was oh so delicious?! Offhand, I dig vampire male and witch woman couplings (see Die by the Drop).
The stakes are raised (proverbially speaking) in Blood Roses. Some paranormal romances will make things life and death but you either can't suspend your disbelief or just go along with it. I believed everything that unfolded. The world, the corruption, the politics - it was hyperreal.
One downside is
April 27, 2013
Review originally posted at http://fictionvixen.com/review-blood-...
After finishing Blood Roses I had to sit down and really think about how to write this review and what rating I wanted to settle on. I very much enjoyed the first book in the series, Blood Shadows. Dark, very well written, with fully fleshed out characters that were so intriguing. I also enjoyed the world building and found the plot to be suspenseful. While the first book dealt with humans, their law enforcement and control of what they call the “third species”, book two delves deeper into the vampire culture. It’s just as dark, the hero is more of an anti-hero, but the love story between Leila and Caleb, while hot, is not a tender romance.
Our heroine is a witch who gets a call from her wayward sister asking for help. To help she must venture into vampire territory and rescue her from one of the most dangerous vampires alive. Leila is a witch, but she’s also something more, a fabled serryn whose blood is lethal to vampires. She’s kept what she really is from her sisters and has tried to live as quiet a life as possible, surrounded by books, always staying in the upper crust part of town where she has less of a chance of encountering the things that scare her the most. When she gets to Blackthorn she must save the life of a vampire who has drunk a woman to death and as a result now lies near death himself. She is terrified of his brother Caleb and of what he might do to her and her sister if she can’t perform her duties. When she succeeds Caleb realizes she is much more powerful than she leads everyone to believe. They start out as enemies and soon find out there is much more between them than what they originally thought. They are both instrumental parts in a prophecy that will ultimately decide the fate of both vampires and humans.
Caleb and Leila play a dangerous game. Their entire relationship from beginning to end is based on who can outsmart the other and which one of them will be the winner in their struggle for control. He is stronger and in a position of power, but Leila is desperate to save her life. Caleb is loyal to his species and has spent a lifetime tracking down and killing serryns. He has a terribly violent past with them, both on the giving and receiving end. Leila has been raised on the hatred of all things vampire and she also has had some pretty brutal past experiences. There is no trust in their relationship, no softness and almost all the kindness shown is to get something in return. They have a scary sort of chemistry and as a result some pretty intense sexual encounters. Caleb is cruel and taunting and harsh in his treatment of her and yet I kept wondering what he would do next.
Almost the entire book takes place in his penthouse above his club where he is holding her prisoner and happens over just a few days. While I love a darker romance, I wanted there to be at least some tenderness between the two of them. There were times I felt they were on the cusp of something and then they would revert back to the manipulations and mind games. I just never knew what they actually felt for each other. Caleb is loyal to his brother and the vampires and is willing to sacrifice Leila. He never moves away from this belief. Even at the end. Leila is loyal to her sisters and the human race and isn’t willing to give in either. The supposed HEA confused me a bit, and left me unsatisfied. It didn’t feel authentic and their professions of love almost unwilling. I needed more, a little gentleness, some deeper commitment to their future, just something more. An epilogue would have been much appreciated.
One thing I will say, the world building is fantastic. Vampires and werewolves are so over used in both paranormal romance and urban fantasy that it’s unusual to find a new series containing both that captures my attention so fully. I can see how Ms. Pryor is bringing plot threads and characters together to create a very interesting story arc. The H/h from the first book are mentioned, and I foresee them playing a pivotal role in upcoming installments. The ending, or lack of one really, of Blood Roses leads me to believe that Caleb and Leila will also be a major part in how this series story arc plays out. Regardless of how unsatisfied I was with the ending to Leila and Caleb’s book, I am still entranced with this world and am looking forward to the next release. Book three comes out this fall and I will most definitely be putting it on my to read list. Final Grade- B-/C+
Favorite Quote:
“I don’t know if letting you live is the most selfish or selfless act I’ve ever committed. I don’t know if you’ll by my salvation or my damnation, but I can’t be without you, Leila.”
After finishing Blood Roses I had to sit down and really think about how to write this review and what rating I wanted to settle on. I very much enjoyed the first book in the series, Blood Shadows. Dark, very well written, with fully fleshed out characters that were so intriguing. I also enjoyed the world building and found the plot to be suspenseful. While the first book dealt with humans, their law enforcement and control of what they call the “third species”, book two delves deeper into the vampire culture. It’s just as dark, the hero is more of an anti-hero, but the love story between Leila and Caleb, while hot, is not a tender romance.
Our heroine is a witch who gets a call from her wayward sister asking for help. To help she must venture into vampire territory and rescue her from one of the most dangerous vampires alive. Leila is a witch, but she’s also something more, a fabled serryn whose blood is lethal to vampires. She’s kept what she really is from her sisters and has tried to live as quiet a life as possible, surrounded by books, always staying in the upper crust part of town where she has less of a chance of encountering the things that scare her the most. When she gets to Blackthorn she must save the life of a vampire who has drunk a woman to death and as a result now lies near death himself. She is terrified of his brother Caleb and of what he might do to her and her sister if she can’t perform her duties. When she succeeds Caleb realizes she is much more powerful than she leads everyone to believe. They start out as enemies and soon find out there is much more between them than what they originally thought. They are both instrumental parts in a prophecy that will ultimately decide the fate of both vampires and humans.
Caleb and Leila play a dangerous game. Their entire relationship from beginning to end is based on who can outsmart the other and which one of them will be the winner in their struggle for control. He is stronger and in a position of power, but Leila is desperate to save her life. Caleb is loyal to his species and has spent a lifetime tracking down and killing serryns. He has a terribly violent past with them, both on the giving and receiving end. Leila has been raised on the hatred of all things vampire and she also has had some pretty brutal past experiences. There is no trust in their relationship, no softness and almost all the kindness shown is to get something in return. They have a scary sort of chemistry and as a result some pretty intense sexual encounters. Caleb is cruel and taunting and harsh in his treatment of her and yet I kept wondering what he would do next.
Almost the entire book takes place in his penthouse above his club where he is holding her prisoner and happens over just a few days. While I love a darker romance, I wanted there to be at least some tenderness between the two of them. There were times I felt they were on the cusp of something and then they would revert back to the manipulations and mind games. I just never knew what they actually felt for each other. Caleb is loyal to his brother and the vampires and is willing to sacrifice Leila. He never moves away from this belief. Even at the end. Leila is loyal to her sisters and the human race and isn’t willing to give in either. The supposed HEA confused me a bit, and left me unsatisfied. It didn’t feel authentic and their professions of love almost unwilling. I needed more, a little gentleness, some deeper commitment to their future, just something more. An epilogue would have been much appreciated.
One thing I will say, the world building is fantastic. Vampires and werewolves are so over used in both paranormal romance and urban fantasy that it’s unusual to find a new series containing both that captures my attention so fully. I can see how Ms. Pryor is bringing plot threads and characters together to create a very interesting story arc. The H/h from the first book are mentioned, and I foresee them playing a pivotal role in upcoming installments. The ending, or lack of one really, of Blood Roses leads me to believe that Caleb and Leila will also be a major part in how this series story arc plays out. Regardless of how unsatisfied I was with the ending to Leila and Caleb’s book, I am still entranced with this world and am looking forward to the next release. Book three comes out this fall and I will most definitely be putting it on my to read list. Final Grade- B-/C+
Favorite Quote:
“I don’t know if letting you live is the most selfish or selfless act I’ve ever committed. I don’t know if you’ll by my salvation or my damnation, but I can’t be without you, Leila.”
May 12, 2013
Last night - instead of editing The Trouble With Coco Monroe (thank you very much, Lindsay) - I started reading Blood Roses. I don't know about you, but I tend to keep books I know I'll enjoy sort of in my favourite box for when I need an illicit treat, almost like eating my favourite box of Belgian chocolates and not sharing any. I've been feeling this way about Blood Roses since I bought it, but last night I broke down and started to read it. I didn't get to sleep until 3.30am - thank you, Lindsay! And here's my review from the notes I made as I went through it.
"The writing is so visual, almost lyrical, that if it was about comparing the work to an artist I'd call it a Constable. I loved it.
The vampire Caleb Dehain, a tortured hero if every there was one, is so well written he does more than leap off the page. He embeds himself into our psyche. And the heroine Leila, a very special witch with her own secrets, is more than a match for Caleb. The sibling dynamic between Caleb's brother Jake and Leila's sister is well thought out and very real. Nothing worse than family for screwing up a person's life and bringing forth the end of the world. And the story begins with the heroine prepared to put aside her deeply held beliefs, values and ethics to enter the vampire world of Blackthorn to help her sister. And Caleb does the same for his brother. And right there, even though the hero and heroine are sworn enemies from a different species, the protection of family is the common goal, neither acknowledged or admitted by either one.
One of the things I dislike about reading and writing a review is the temptation to give away back story, plot and spoilers, so I'm not going to do that. What I will say is that this a truly Gothic and claustrophobic read. The dark, dank and dangerous world of Blackthorn is painted with fluidly visual strokes of language. Loved it. The protagonists are on the page twenty-four seven and every second is a battle of wills to the death. Pryor pulls of this epic tale very, very well indeed and I was thoroughly immersed in the world from the first word. Great job. The love scenes are scorching, physically intense with valid emotional conflicts. And as a writer I know how difficult it is to pull that particular talent out of the hat - it's done seamlessly. I loved it.
As with Blood Shadows we do have a satisfying ending, with plenty more conflicts to come. I for one cannot wait for book three Blood Torn due in Autumn 2013.
And Oliver Rhodes of Bookouture has done a brilliant job, again. Take a bow!
If you love Christine Feehan and JR Ward, you'll love the work of Lindsay J. Pryor.
Read it, you will not be disappointed!
"The writing is so visual, almost lyrical, that if it was about comparing the work to an artist I'd call it a Constable. I loved it.
The vampire Caleb Dehain, a tortured hero if every there was one, is so well written he does more than leap off the page. He embeds himself into our psyche. And the heroine Leila, a very special witch with her own secrets, is more than a match for Caleb. The sibling dynamic between Caleb's brother Jake and Leila's sister is well thought out and very real. Nothing worse than family for screwing up a person's life and bringing forth the end of the world. And the story begins with the heroine prepared to put aside her deeply held beliefs, values and ethics to enter the vampire world of Blackthorn to help her sister. And Caleb does the same for his brother. And right there, even though the hero and heroine are sworn enemies from a different species, the protection of family is the common goal, neither acknowledged or admitted by either one.
One of the things I dislike about reading and writing a review is the temptation to give away back story, plot and spoilers, so I'm not going to do that. What I will say is that this a truly Gothic and claustrophobic read. The dark, dank and dangerous world of Blackthorn is painted with fluidly visual strokes of language. Loved it. The protagonists are on the page twenty-four seven and every second is a battle of wills to the death. Pryor pulls of this epic tale very, very well indeed and I was thoroughly immersed in the world from the first word. Great job. The love scenes are scorching, physically intense with valid emotional conflicts. And as a writer I know how difficult it is to pull that particular talent out of the hat - it's done seamlessly. I loved it.
As with Blood Shadows we do have a satisfying ending, with plenty more conflicts to come. I for one cannot wait for book three Blood Torn due in Autumn 2013.
And Oliver Rhodes of Bookouture has done a brilliant job, again. Take a bow!
If you love Christine Feehan and JR Ward, you'll love the work of Lindsay J. Pryor.
Read it, you will not be disappointed!
July 28, 2015
This series just keeps getting better and better!
The book was so good!
The characters are broken, dark, sensual and amazingly appealing.
The writing is spot on, and this story was written with a dual POV.
Ms. Pryor creates an incredibly dark dystopian world with great characters who each have world changing roles to play.
They want to do what's expected of them even though they may not be able to live with themselves or the consequences.
Right until the very end, the author has the reader on the edge of their seat wondering what's going to happen next.
Will Caleb (the lead male) finally see that Leila (the lead female) isn't like any other serryn he's come across, or will Leila give into the serryn that lives inside her and do what she was born to do?
... and on top of everything else, the chemistry between Caleb and Leila is scorching.
The Vampires in this series are brutal, merciless, loyal, and to be feared.
Great story!
Now onto the next book in the series.
The book was so good!
The characters are broken, dark, sensual and amazingly appealing.
The writing is spot on, and this story was written with a dual POV.
Ms. Pryor creates an incredibly dark dystopian world with great characters who each have world changing roles to play.
They want to do what's expected of them even though they may not be able to live with themselves or the consequences.
Right until the very end, the author has the reader on the edge of their seat wondering what's going to happen next.
Will Caleb (the lead male) finally see that Leila (the lead female) isn't like any other serryn he's come across, or will Leila give into the serryn that lives inside her and do what she was born to do?
... and on top of everything else, the chemistry between Caleb and Leila is scorching.
The Vampires in this series are brutal, merciless, loyal, and to be feared.
Great story!
Now onto the next book in the series.
February 9, 2018
Phew! Boy, this series is intense!
It's hard to believe the entire thing happened in a matter of 48hrs. O.O
So both the books I've read so far have a very desperate plot. You know? A race against time sort of thing. And I am so impressed by how well it's written! The pages almost literally ooze with angst and desperation of the characters.
I like to think I liked this one better than the first and it's probably cause of Leila. I too have two younger sisters so I really felt like I could relate to her. The struggles of being the eldest, wanting to protect them and at the same time wanting them to grow up and take some responsibilities on their shoulders and the constant worrying. Gah! I just really wanted to do her a favour and just smack some sense into Alisha.
And Sophia. God, Sophia!
She had no actual scenes in the book but I could just kill her for what she put her sister through. And I mean that purely in a way that shows my big sister traits. Kids these days!
But I also read the preview for the next book and there's just this one scene where she's thinking,
Now she needed to know exactly what was going on. Forget The Alliance’s rules about no outside contact – this was family. Not only was her little sister, Alisha, in trouble, but now seemingly so was Leila.
And I know it doesn't seem all that when you read it in isolation like this but it really made me consider reading her book. Like, "Huh, maybe she isn't a total bitch after all. Ms. Nobody Messes With My Family Except Me might just mean business." I'm down with that. xD
I liked Caleb. I mean as much as you can. I found him very similar to Kane, more damaged with an entire warehouse of baggage on the side but definitely similar. It wasn't a bad thing but I don't know...
Another thing was the mind games. I like using my brain as much as the next person and I'm sure it's thrilling to keep the reader on their toes and constantly guessing but after a while it gets tedious and I start to lose my patience. Fast.
3.5 stars for the book .25 stars for the intensity and I'm deducting points for the "romance". It's just not sitting right with me. Major turn off. It's really making me question whether I wanna read the next book or not.
November 30, 2016
And this just got better.....
I love the underline story to this series and the fact that a clue is revealed in all the characters involved.
And the fact that you can't predict what will happen next makes it even more addictive......
Cant wait to see what will happen to "sophia"
I love the underline story to this series and the fact that a clue is revealed in all the characters involved.
And the fact that you can't predict what will happen next makes it even more addictive......
Cant wait to see what will happen to "sophia"
June 18, 2017
Back to Blackthorn
After thoroughly enjoying book one of this series, BLOOD SHADOWS, I happily and greedily delved into BLOOD ROSES with much gusto and enthusiasm, ready for more raunchy, heated scenes filled with tension (of all kinds), and ready to meet yet another sinfully wicked hero and a new spunky heroine. And by and large, I was not disappointed in either of those respects.
This time, in Caleb and Leila's story, we dig a little deeper into the dark, seedy heart of the vampire territory that is Blackthorn. It's really not a nice place. It's where the vampires and other third species races are currently forced to reside along with the dregs of human society who act as their food supply. Where the humans in higher power hope that out of sight can mean out of mind, so that they can just carry on pretending they don't exist. It's also the very place a serryn should not be. Like, ever.
Enter Leila - a serryn, who through her errant sister meets serryn-hating vampire club owner Caleb. Caleb with his extreme prejudice and loathing of everything Leila is. This is a couple that have not even the smallest scrap of common ground, and enough mistrust between them to sink a battleship. In Caleb's defense, his hatred of serryns is not without cause. But I really had to keep reminding myself of that - that he had good reason - during some of the horrendous things he did to poor Leila in this book.
Where the last hero in this series, the lovely Kane, was bad but redeemable, Caleb crossed a few too many lines with me, and didn't quite win me over in the same way. He was just a bit too bad. I'm still prepared to give him more of a chance as the series progresses - because I have a feeling we will see both couples again as their stories don't feel complete quite yet - but he's on his final warning. One more nasty trick and he'll feel the wrath of my Death Glare.
Speaking of their stories not feeling complete... There hasn't been any saccharine sweet Happily Ever After-type endings so far in this series, which has me wondering whether these books are supposed to be classed as PNR, or just very steamy/sexy UF...
Anyway, back to the book.
For most of BLOOD ROSES, I felt sorry for Leila. She was treated so horribly, and it was all so undeserved that I was positively brimming with righteous indignation for her and wanted to her to just explode at Caleb - really give him what for. Preferably with a blunt instrument of some sort. But then, in his mind, that would have only proved his point about her; that she's faking her niceness and is secretly an evil bitch like all other serryns he's known. It was a total lose-lose situation for Leila, and I empathised with her almost as much as I wanted to kidney punch Caleb. Almost.
The best part of this book and this series has to be the intensity of the romantic relationships. Love or hate the characters as you will - as I suspect you are intended to - but you can't fail to love all the drama and, again, that total inability to decide who's telling the truth and who's spinning yet another web of deceit. As I've said in past reviews, it is not always a requirement of mine to like all the characters and their actions in order to enjoy a book. And as you've probably picked up, I'm undecided on Caleb because he's a very naughty boy. But the fact remains, I was still made to care about what happens to Caleb and Leila - good or bad - and was fully engaged in the story throughout, and that's all that really matters to me.
So, to sum up, if (like myself) you love emotional torment and passion in your books and can handle a seriously bad boy (maybe not like myself), then I definitely recommend this series. It pulls no punches, its heroes are on the edge, and its sex scenes are off the charts. You have been warned.
4 Stars ★★★★
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
After thoroughly enjoying book one of this series, BLOOD SHADOWS, I happily and greedily delved into BLOOD ROSES with much gusto and enthusiasm, ready for more raunchy, heated scenes filled with tension (of all kinds), and ready to meet yet another sinfully wicked hero and a new spunky heroine. And by and large, I was not disappointed in either of those respects.
This time, in Caleb and Leila's story, we dig a little deeper into the dark, seedy heart of the vampire territory that is Blackthorn. It's really not a nice place. It's where the vampires and other third species races are currently forced to reside along with the dregs of human society who act as their food supply. Where the humans in higher power hope that out of sight can mean out of mind, so that they can just carry on pretending they don't exist. It's also the very place a serryn should not be. Like, ever.
Enter Leila - a serryn, who through her errant sister meets serryn-hating vampire club owner Caleb. Caleb with his extreme prejudice and loathing of everything Leila is. This is a couple that have not even the smallest scrap of common ground, and enough mistrust between them to sink a battleship. In Caleb's defense, his hatred of serryns is not without cause. But I really had to keep reminding myself of that - that he had good reason - during some of the horrendous things he did to poor Leila in this book.
Where the last hero in this series, the lovely Kane, was bad but redeemable, Caleb crossed a few too many lines with me, and didn't quite win me over in the same way. He was just a bit too bad. I'm still prepared to give him more of a chance as the series progresses - because I have a feeling we will see both couples again as their stories don't feel complete quite yet - but he's on his final warning. One more nasty trick and he'll feel the wrath of my Death Glare.
Speaking of their stories not feeling complete... There hasn't been any saccharine sweet Happily Ever After-type endings so far in this series, which has me wondering whether these books are supposed to be classed as PNR, or just very steamy/sexy UF...
Anyway, back to the book.
For most of BLOOD ROSES, I felt sorry for Leila. She was treated so horribly, and it was all so undeserved that I was positively brimming with righteous indignation for her and wanted to her to just explode at Caleb - really give him what for. Preferably with a blunt instrument of some sort. But then, in his mind, that would have only proved his point about her; that she's faking her niceness and is secretly an evil bitch like all other serryns he's known. It was a total lose-lose situation for Leila, and I empathised with her almost as much as I wanted to kidney punch Caleb. Almost.
The best part of this book and this series has to be the intensity of the romantic relationships. Love or hate the characters as you will - as I suspect you are intended to - but you can't fail to love all the drama and, again, that total inability to decide who's telling the truth and who's spinning yet another web of deceit. As I've said in past reviews, it is not always a requirement of mine to like all the characters and their actions in order to enjoy a book. And as you've probably picked up, I'm undecided on Caleb because he's a very naughty boy. But the fact remains, I was still made to care about what happens to Caleb and Leila - good or bad - and was fully engaged in the story throughout, and that's all that really matters to me.
So, to sum up, if (like myself) you love emotional torment and passion in your books and can handle a seriously bad boy (maybe not like myself), then I definitely recommend this series. It pulls no punches, its heroes are on the edge, and its sex scenes are off the charts. You have been warned.
4 Stars ★★★★
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
August 29, 2017
I loved Blood Shadows, book 1 in the Blackthorn Series and believe me Blood Roses does not disappoint. Blood Roses is clever and enthralling. It has an emotionally gripping pace that is so relentless I didn’t dare blink.
A serryn and a vampire. Born to hate. Destined to destroy. Fated to meet.
Witch Leila is willing to do anything to protect those she loves – even sneak into Blackthorn. Home of the worst kind of vampires and Leila’s hatred. Tricked into leaving the security of Summerton, forced to risk revealing her true nature, all of her fears are about to come true when she enters the dark and dangerous Blackthorn. Leila is a rare serryn, hunted and despised by vampires because of their lethal blood. One taste of a serryn’s blood and a vampire suffers an excrutiating death.
Vampire Caleb hates serryn’s with a passion. Caleb hunted serryn’s for years, a duty he took pleasure in, allowing his anger to overwhelm him and shape him into the lethal vampire he is now. When witch Leila arrives to ‘rescue’ her sister Alisha he suspects her hidden nature but has no choice but to allow her to save his brother from certain death. He may have let a serryn into Blackthorn but there is no way he is letting her out. Leila could be a significant bargaining tool and part of the prophecy. If that means death of a serryn then so be it.
If your thinking that Caleb sounds cruel and ruthless then you’re absolutely right. He is. There are many reasons to hate him. He’s a manipulative, potent and wicked vamp. Dangerous yet delicious and a true anti-hero. But equally there are reasons to love him. With a heart breaking past and an explosive attraction to Leila you just have to take him into your heart. Could Leila be the one to save him?
Leila captures you from the beginning. Despite her hatred and fears she’s fiercely loyal to those she loves, to the point where it becomes her weakness. Yet she’s strong and feisty. Caleb’s punishments might be brutal yet she refuses to break and becomes a worthy opponent in the fight for survival.
The world building by Lindsay J.Pryor is superb throughout to the point I felt a chill creep over my skin as you are taken through the dark and gritty Blackthorn. Yet in all of that darkness the writing is so beautiful you still want to be there.
Throughout there are so many enticing threads and just when you think you are weaving them together – along comes another one to unravel them all! In Blood Roses more secondary characters and prohecy revelations have been introduced making the world of Blackthorn an addictive one. What is so brave and unique about the author is that unlike J.R Ward and Kresley Cole who also create bad vamps in a dark world, Lindsay J.Pryor doesn’t give readers that Happily Ever After. Do I want one? No! I would feel cheated if the bad vamps of Blackthorn suddenly became not so bad after all. That’s not to say that there isn’t romance. There definitely is – and a whole lot of scorchingly sexy scenes. After all Caleb is gorgeous! I don’t need vamp redemption, I just need Blackthorn! And with a lot more of those intriguing threads dangling right at the end I know more Blackthorn is on the way.
A serryn and a vampire. Born to hate. Destined to destroy. Fated to meet.
Witch Leila is willing to do anything to protect those she loves – even sneak into Blackthorn. Home of the worst kind of vampires and Leila’s hatred. Tricked into leaving the security of Summerton, forced to risk revealing her true nature, all of her fears are about to come true when she enters the dark and dangerous Blackthorn. Leila is a rare serryn, hunted and despised by vampires because of their lethal blood. One taste of a serryn’s blood and a vampire suffers an excrutiating death.
Vampire Caleb hates serryn’s with a passion. Caleb hunted serryn’s for years, a duty he took pleasure in, allowing his anger to overwhelm him and shape him into the lethal vampire he is now. When witch Leila arrives to ‘rescue’ her sister Alisha he suspects her hidden nature but has no choice but to allow her to save his brother from certain death. He may have let a serryn into Blackthorn but there is no way he is letting her out. Leila could be a significant bargaining tool and part of the prophecy. If that means death of a serryn then so be it.
If your thinking that Caleb sounds cruel and ruthless then you’re absolutely right. He is. There are many reasons to hate him. He’s a manipulative, potent and wicked vamp. Dangerous yet delicious and a true anti-hero. But equally there are reasons to love him. With a heart breaking past and an explosive attraction to Leila you just have to take him into your heart. Could Leila be the one to save him?
Leila captures you from the beginning. Despite her hatred and fears she’s fiercely loyal to those she loves, to the point where it becomes her weakness. Yet she’s strong and feisty. Caleb’s punishments might be brutal yet she refuses to break and becomes a worthy opponent in the fight for survival.
The world building by Lindsay J.Pryor is superb throughout to the point I felt a chill creep over my skin as you are taken through the dark and gritty Blackthorn. Yet in all of that darkness the writing is so beautiful you still want to be there.
Throughout there are so many enticing threads and just when you think you are weaving them together – along comes another one to unravel them all! In Blood Roses more secondary characters and prohecy revelations have been introduced making the world of Blackthorn an addictive one. What is so brave and unique about the author is that unlike J.R Ward and Kresley Cole who also create bad vamps in a dark world, Lindsay J.Pryor doesn’t give readers that Happily Ever After. Do I want one? No! I would feel cheated if the bad vamps of Blackthorn suddenly became not so bad after all. That’s not to say that there isn’t romance. There definitely is – and a whole lot of scorchingly sexy scenes. After all Caleb is gorgeous! I don’t need vamp redemption, I just need Blackthorn! And with a lot more of those intriguing threads dangling right at the end I know more Blackthorn is on the way.
October 13, 2015
OK I feel I need to give a quick explanation for my rating.
2 stars simply because I didn't care for the hero or heroine. At all. I love dark alpha heroes, don't get me wrong, and I am OK with the hero being a bit violent. For example Joey W. Hill's vamps are not the quiet brooding types. But I cannot be endeared to a hero that took pleasure with the virtual rape, torture and murder of countless women (regardless that he considered them to be his enemies). Plus Caleb was planning on killing Leila (the heroine) right until the very end. Is this heroic? No.
Leila was simply frustrating to watch. Not TSTL, but I felt she couldn't fight her way out of a paper bag. I didn't connect with her at all although I did like
However I like the author's world building, her bravery to write the story how she wants it (warts and all) and the writing was well done so this has bumped it up a star.
Others will likely love this story, but I just didn't dig it.
2 stars simply because I didn't care for the hero or heroine. At all. I love dark alpha heroes, don't get me wrong, and I am OK with the hero being a bit violent. For example Joey W. Hill's vamps are not the quiet brooding types. But I cannot be endeared to a hero that took pleasure with the virtual rape, torture and murder of countless women (regardless that he considered them to be his enemies). Plus Caleb was planning on killing Leila (the heroine) right until the very end. Is this heroic? No.
Leila was simply frustrating to watch. Not TSTL, but I felt she couldn't fight her way out of a paper bag. I didn't connect with her at all although I did like
However I like the author's world building, her bravery to write the story how she wants it (warts and all) and the writing was well done so this has bumped it up a star.
Others will likely love this story, but I just didn't dig it.
December 4, 2013
Second book in the series - and an equal read ...maybe even better than book 1 .
The entire book is filled to the gills with intense feelings , helpless characters - who realize their attraction to each other but are unable to break the mold they were cast in their entire life.
The main characters work hard to fight their attraction and the ending is certainly not your typical HEA - but more the quite before the storm , the night before the battle where the two main characters realize that maybe, just maybe they are able to love each other and survive what will come next.
I absolutely loved this book and I am very much looking forward to the next in the serious.
The entire book is filled to the gills with intense feelings , helpless characters - who realize their attraction to each other but are unable to break the mold they were cast in their entire life.
The main characters work hard to fight their attraction and the ending is certainly not your typical HEA - but more the quite before the storm , the night before the battle where the two main characters realize that maybe, just maybe they are able to love each other and survive what will come next.
I absolutely loved this book and I am very much looking forward to the next in the serious.
February 16, 2018
If you like a read that takes you to the edge and hold you there, test every limit you have and them test them to the extreme then this is a must read!! Caleb & Leila story is one that makes you feel every raw emotion you can think of, straps you down and takes you on one hell of a ride. Leila is one hell of a women with her own mind and stands up for what she believes in what ever or who ever she is confronted with. And Caleb.... there is no words i can say that even compare to that hot alpa Vampire!! He's no shit don't fuck with me attitude is to die for!! But when Leila comes to save he's brother Jake's life, he wasnt expecting a special witch to challenge him in every way possible. Lindsay J Pryor has written this story so well, that well when you eventually put the book down our real world makes you weep....you want to go back to Blackthorn!
Im so addicted to this series and excited to meet more amazing characters!! Dont miss out on these amazing books.
Read & Reviewed by Sara Reece. Owner of Smut Lovers Wonderland
Im so addicted to this series and excited to meet more amazing characters!! Dont miss out on these amazing books.
Read & Reviewed by Sara Reece. Owner of Smut Lovers Wonderland
April 9, 2013
Okay, although I didn't love this book as much as Blood Shadows, Lindsay J. Pryor is an author with a great potential. She writes paranormal romance mixed with urban fantasy the way I like it - clever world-building, intense characters and no easy options for them to take. Also, be ready for plenty of blood and violence as it's an integral part of Blackthorn - a paranormal enclave the vampires and werewolves are forced to live in.
Miss Pryor's heroines are faced with dubious moral decisions to make, her heroes are real nasty bastards, the way I always imagined vampires (they are not precious snowflakes full of angst in my book) could be.
I could not read Blood Roses in one go. This is such an intense read, that I felt emotionally wretched and had to walk away from the book few times just to give myself a breather.
Caleb is a born vampire. When his brother drinks dead blood and is on the brink of death, he finds a witch who can cleanse his blood, but the only way to lure her to Blackthorn is to threaten her sister's life.
Leila has been hiding her deadly nature, even struggling against it all her life avoiding anything to do with vampires, and now she has to get deep into Blackthorn's territory to get her sister back, and she is deadly afraid that the vampires will see her for what she is to their race, - an ultimate poison.
Unfortunately for her, her fears come true, and she has very little time to persuade Caleb to let her go before her own carefully constructed life and her sister's existence come crushing down when her secret is revealed.
What follows is a series of intense mind games where Caleb is trying to find out a hidden motive in Leila's appearance by pushing all her buttons, and she is trying not to give him an excuse to kill her, while both fight an absurd and inexplicable sexual attraction.
Blood Roses was an excellent read, although I had to take a point off my rating for a vague ending and some logical discrepancies in plot. If someone is drained to the brink of death, I expect their recovery to involve blood and glucose transfusions, horrible headache and dry mouth at the very least. I don't expect them to wake up like nothing happened and have wild monkey sex. I think it's a reasonable expectation, n'est-pas?
(Correction: after consulting the author, she reassured me that the vampire stopped before the victim lost too much blood, so in this regard I am satisfied).
Recommended with slight reservations.
Miss Pryor's heroines are faced with dubious moral decisions to make, her heroes are real nasty bastards, the way I always imagined vampires (they are not precious snowflakes full of angst in my book) could be.
I could not read Blood Roses in one go. This is such an intense read, that I felt emotionally wretched and had to walk away from the book few times just to give myself a breather.
Caleb is a born vampire. When his brother drinks dead blood and is on the brink of death, he finds a witch who can cleanse his blood, but the only way to lure her to Blackthorn is to threaten her sister's life.
Leila has been hiding her deadly nature, even struggling against it all her life avoiding anything to do with vampires, and now she has to get deep into Blackthorn's territory to get her sister back, and she is deadly afraid that the vampires will see her for what she is to their race, - an ultimate poison.
Unfortunately for her, her fears come true, and she has very little time to persuade Caleb to let her go before her own carefully constructed life and her sister's existence come crushing down when her secret is revealed.
What follows is a series of intense mind games where Caleb is trying to find out a hidden motive in Leila's appearance by pushing all her buttons, and she is trying not to give him an excuse to kill her, while both fight an absurd and inexplicable sexual attraction.
Blood Roses was an excellent read, although I had to take a point off my rating for a vague ending and some logical discrepancies in plot. If someone is drained to the brink of death, I expect their recovery to involve blood and glucose transfusions, horrible headache and dry mouth at the very least. I don't expect them to wake up like nothing happened and have wild monkey sex. I think it's a reasonable expectation, n'est-pas?
(Correction: after consulting the author, she reassured me that the vampire stopped before the victim lost too much blood, so in this regard I am satisfied).
Recommended with slight reservations.
January 4, 2014
Totally loved this book! I agree with Ute that it is better than the first even thought the first in the series was a 5 star read for me. Words to describe this book: dark, gripping, intense, steamy, and edgy.
This author has the unique ability to keep the reader engaged throughout the book. I usually hate when the hero and heroine immediately jump into bed at the start of the book. I usually lose interest. But, this author throws in unresolved issues and conflicts between the hero and heroine that keeps you engaged.
At the beginning of the book, the heroine Leila is lured to Blackthorn(where vampires live and are contained in order to protect humans) to save the heroes brother Jake who is dying. The hero Caleb tells her that he has her sister Alisha hostage. She arrives and saves Jake, but in doing so she reveals that she is a serryn(a witch whose blood is lethal to vampires). Caleb, on the other hand, was a renowned serryn hunter in the past. Leila has hidden the serryn part of herself for years. The rest of the book deals with a prophecy which Leila tries to avoid at any cost.
Both the heroine and the hero have a reason to distrust and hate the other, but the author writes their characters in a way that you understand their differing viewpoints. Several times in the book I said to myself "Are the hero or heroine really going to do that?"
The story ends on a cliffhanger with everything contingent on the heroine finding a different path in order for their love to survive.
Overall, an intense paranormal thrill ride.
This author has the unique ability to keep the reader engaged throughout the book. I usually hate when the hero and heroine immediately jump into bed at the start of the book. I usually lose interest. But, this author throws in unresolved issues and conflicts between the hero and heroine that keeps you engaged.
At the beginning of the book, the heroine Leila is lured to Blackthorn(where vampires live and are contained in order to protect humans) to save the heroes brother Jake who is dying. The hero Caleb tells her that he has her sister Alisha hostage. She arrives and saves Jake, but in doing so she reveals that she is a serryn(a witch whose blood is lethal to vampires). Caleb, on the other hand, was a renowned serryn hunter in the past. Leila has hidden the serryn part of herself for years. The rest of the book deals with a prophecy which Leila tries to avoid at any cost.
Both the heroine and the hero have a reason to distrust and hate the other, but the author writes their characters in a way that you understand their differing viewpoints. Several times in the book I said to myself "Are the hero or heroine really going to do that?"
The story ends on a cliffhanger with everything contingent on the heroine finding a different path in order for their love to survive.
Overall, an intense paranormal thrill ride.
April 23, 2013
Blood Roses is the second book in the Blackthorn Series. This is the story of Leila and Caleb.
Leila is determined to deny what she is. Caleb is working to control the darkness he has within himself. The two of them are natural enemies, with an undeniable attraction that makes matters complicated. These two are a total train wreck that I enjoyed thoroughly.
Pryor has done it again with this follow up to Blood Shadows. Though there is plenty of excitement, the emotional upheaval these characters constantly face is what makes this such an interesting read. I am extremely impressed with Pryor’s use of imagery especially when she immerses the reader into the area of Blackthorn itself. I also like the way she leads the reader into a dark place, but also gives us love and passion. The lines of good and bad, right and wrong are blurred. I had moments of absolutely wanting to choke a character and then the next moment I had the “AHA!” moment as I realized the why of how they were. I felt as much a part of the emotional rollercoaster as the characters themselves. Needless to say, I devoured the book in a single sitting!
After reading the first two books of the Blackthorn series I am definitely on the Lindsay Pryor fan bandwagon! I can’t wait to see what happens in the third book that will be titled Blood Torn.
**Reviewed by Teresa D. for VampireRomanceBooks.com**
Leila is determined to deny what she is. Caleb is working to control the darkness he has within himself. The two of them are natural enemies, with an undeniable attraction that makes matters complicated. These two are a total train wreck that I enjoyed thoroughly.
Pryor has done it again with this follow up to Blood Shadows. Though there is plenty of excitement, the emotional upheaval these characters constantly face is what makes this such an interesting read. I am extremely impressed with Pryor’s use of imagery especially when she immerses the reader into the area of Blackthorn itself. I also like the way she leads the reader into a dark place, but also gives us love and passion. The lines of good and bad, right and wrong are blurred. I had moments of absolutely wanting to choke a character and then the next moment I had the “AHA!” moment as I realized the why of how they were. I felt as much a part of the emotional rollercoaster as the characters themselves. Needless to say, I devoured the book in a single sitting!
After reading the first two books of the Blackthorn series I am definitely on the Lindsay Pryor fan bandwagon! I can’t wait to see what happens in the third book that will be titled Blood Torn.
**Reviewed by Teresa D. for VampireRomanceBooks.com**
April 21, 2013
I really enjoyed the first foray into Blackthorn with Blood Shadows and Blood Roses did not disappoint! Caleb is every bit as ruthless, unpredictable, alpha, and manipulative as I'd hoped and Leila had a fighting spirit that made her an excellent match for him. One of my favorite things about Ms. Pryor's writing is how she sets the scene so vividly and masterfully so you feel you're there in the moment without being distracted by lengthy, unnecessary descriptions.
I'd have liked to see a little more of Blackthorn, however, and the conclusion between Leila and Caleb felt a little unfinished, but this storyline is absolutely building up to something monumental and it'll be a ride to get there! If you haven't read Blood Shadows, start there or you won't understand some of the world references and the full depravity of Blackthorn.
I'd have liked to see a little more of Blackthorn, however, and the conclusion between Leila and Caleb felt a little unfinished, but this storyline is absolutely building up to something monumental and it'll be a ride to get there! If you haven't read Blood Shadows, start there or you won't understand some of the world references and the full depravity of Blackthorn.
August 10, 2016
5 BITE ME STARS!!!!!!!
Loved this better than the first one! I understood some of the things I didn't at the first book! ANDDDDD I don't know but I loved Caleb more than Kane! SUPER SEXY SERRYN HUNTER!!
Plus the steamy scenes!!!! Serryn & vampire action: YUM!
Blood Torn, you're up next!!!!
Loved this better than the first one! I understood some of the things I didn't at the first book! ANDDDDD I don't know but I loved Caleb more than Kane! SUPER SEXY SERRYN HUNTER!!
Plus the steamy scenes!!!! Serryn & vampire action: YUM!
Blood Torn, you're up next!!!!
February 28, 2016
Wow. This was a fantastic book and I devoured every page. Blood Roses is part of the Blackthorn series and I can't wait to read them all. This book features Leila, Caleb and Feinith, as well as a rich cast of fascinating characters you will love (in Feinith's case, love to hate).
Sexy, steamy and full of danger and excitement, this story flies at a wicked pace. You won't be able to put it down. If you are a fan of the Twilight series, this of this as the adult version. True Blood fans won't go far wrong with this series either. (Yes, vampires are my guilty passion.)
Sexy, steamy and full of danger and excitement, this story flies at a wicked pace. You won't be able to put it down. If you are a fan of the Twilight series, this of this as the adult version. True Blood fans won't go far wrong with this series either. (Yes, vampires are my guilty passion.)
June 19, 2016
Blood Roses
Ok in this second instalment we see Serryn Leila entrapped in the clutches of vampire Caleb.
I fell in love with Blackthorn in Blood Shadows but in this book I think I finally knew I was in so deep that I never would be able to escape. I know I don't even want to either.
I love Lindsay's imagination. It's dark and dangerous but oh so sexy and just a little filthy but in a good way.
Ok in this second instalment we see Serryn Leila entrapped in the clutches of vampire Caleb.
I fell in love with Blackthorn in Blood Shadows but in this book I think I finally knew I was in so deep that I never would be able to escape. I know I don't even want to either.
I love Lindsay's imagination. It's dark and dangerous but oh so sexy and just a little filthy but in a good way.
August 16, 2016
Re-read and still a 5-stars-review!!
The following review is from the first time I read it and I am not going to change a thing!!
...........................................................................................................................................
That was...
and hot...
WOW! That was even better than the first book in this series! More intense, dark and captivating! But the question is this: Why I really like these books? Because the author does an amazing job not only with the world-building that is absolutely astonishing but with the characterization also. Both books in the series so far, don’t have that are good or bad. Not black / white here at all. Only shades of gray.
Everyone has his / her own agenda. This is a world where there is no place to put your personal feelings on the front line. It’s every species for his own. Vampires, witches, lycans, humans… All of them want to survive in this cruel world and be at the top of the food chain.
This book is about Leila and Caled. She’s a serryn who hates the vampires but who also lives a peaceful life because she doesn’t want any trouble. He is the most dangerous vampire for her and he hates with a great passion all serryns. Now, their fate brought them together. Between them there is passion but is this enough for both of them to survive?
I liked Leila a lot. It’s easy to see from the very first page that she lives a very sheltered life and that she’s afraid of the vampires. But her love for her sisters makes her do even the impossible. That means that she’s brave and stubborn. She can see the good in everyone’s heart but she’s prepared for the worst also. She made some difficult decisions in this book and I respect her for that.
Caled isn’t a good man who wants to look like a bad one. But he’s also not a bad man who wants to look like a good one. He’s a man who suffered in the past and because of that he became pragmatic. When he wants to do something, he weighs his options. And his heart doesn’t have a say in the whole process. Of course, he has feelings and sometimes he made decisions because of these feelings, but these decisions are just a temporary solution and if he doesn’t find another way then he’ll continue no matter how hard this will be for him.
If you want a happy ever after, well… then, this is not your book! No false promises here. Here the characters are fighting with all their powers for their happiness but for the survival also! I recommend it to all the fans of this genre, because it’s definitely a unique read!
The following review is from the first time I read it and I am not going to change a thing!!
...........................................................................................................................................
That was...
and hot...
WOW! That was even better than the first book in this series! More intense, dark and captivating! But the question is this: Why I really like these books? Because the author does an amazing job not only with the world-building that is absolutely astonishing but with the characterization also. Both books in the series so far, don’t have that are good or bad. Not black / white here at all. Only shades of gray.
Everyone has his / her own agenda. This is a world where there is no place to put your personal feelings on the front line. It’s every species for his own. Vampires, witches, lycans, humans… All of them want to survive in this cruel world and be at the top of the food chain.
This book is about Leila and Caled. She’s a serryn who hates the vampires but who also lives a peaceful life because she doesn’t want any trouble. He is the most dangerous vampire for her and he hates with a great passion all serryns. Now, their fate brought them together. Between them there is passion but is this enough for both of them to survive?
I liked Leila a lot. It’s easy to see from the very first page that she lives a very sheltered life and that she’s afraid of the vampires. But her love for her sisters makes her do even the impossible. That means that she’s brave and stubborn. She can see the good in everyone’s heart but she’s prepared for the worst also. She made some difficult decisions in this book and I respect her for that.
Caled isn’t a good man who wants to look like a bad one. But he’s also not a bad man who wants to look like a good one. He’s a man who suffered in the past and because of that he became pragmatic. When he wants to do something, he weighs his options. And his heart doesn’t have a say in the whole process. Of course, he has feelings and sometimes he made decisions because of these feelings, but these decisions are just a temporary solution and if he doesn’t find another way then he’ll continue no matter how hard this will be for him.
If you want a happy ever after, well… then, this is not your book! No false promises here. Here the characters are fighting with all their powers for their happiness but for the survival also! I recommend it to all the fans of this genre, because it’s definitely a unique read!
April 28, 2013
Meet Caleb; owner of a successive club in Blacktorn (were all the outcast lives), control freak, protector of his brother, cold-hearted bastard, cruel and punish those who tries to trick him. Vampire to his fingertips and not an ounce of regret for what he’s done in the past.
And Leila: witch, serryn, secluded, loves her sister, very protective of her, loves her books, feisty when cornered.
They never should have met. Unfortunately Alisha ( Leila’s sister) is a bit of a rebellion and ends up right in a vampire’s lap. But not just any vampire… no it had to be Jake – Caleb’s brother. When Jake gets himself into more trouble than bargained for, the only one who can save him is Leila. There’s just one itsy bitsy – minor detail, really….Nobody knows Leila is a Serryn (except herself) and Caleb is THE Serryn Hunter. And everybody knows vampire and Serryn’s don’t mix… At all. Bring in a dark past filled with hurt, pain and darkness, from both of them and the situation is… dangerous. One slip and not only one person but an entire race could be at stake.
This is a gritty, dark book. It left me turning page after page to see what would happen, because I could truly not see a happy ending – in any way. Both Caleb and Leila are blinded by prejudices against each other’s races. Blinded by ancient hurt, by fear and for what might be or could happen. Obligations to each of their races, forgetting themselves in the progress.
There were times were I wanted to reach in a smack Caleb on his head for being so manipulative. For not seeing what was in front of him, not believing what he WAS seeing- but at the same time, a small part of me understood him and his struggle.
Other times it was Leila I wanted to grab and shake. Other times I really wanted to applaud her. There are so many twists and turns in this book, I found myself having a hard time letting the book go and trying to figure out what would happen next.
As I said, this is a dark book. It plunges you down into a deep spiral of doom, fear, hate and when you reach the very bottom and look up… You’d better look closely if you want to catch a glimmer of light from the top.
Lindsay delivers a story who made me more than just invested in the characters, although I have to admit, the darkness, the what if’s, constantly thrown into my head… made it hard to read at times. But then again, it fits so perfectly well into the harsh and tough world she created. It was a great read and I admire Lindsay for going against the ingrained HEA and show us that it can be done in other ways. Thank you for the amazing read.
And Leila: witch, serryn, secluded, loves her sister, very protective of her, loves her books, feisty when cornered.
They never should have met. Unfortunately Alisha ( Leila’s sister) is a bit of a rebellion and ends up right in a vampire’s lap. But not just any vampire… no it had to be Jake – Caleb’s brother. When Jake gets himself into more trouble than bargained for, the only one who can save him is Leila. There’s just one itsy bitsy – minor detail, really….Nobody knows Leila is a Serryn (except herself) and Caleb is THE Serryn Hunter. And everybody knows vampire and Serryn’s don’t mix… At all. Bring in a dark past filled with hurt, pain and darkness, from both of them and the situation is… dangerous. One slip and not only one person but an entire race could be at stake.
This is a gritty, dark book. It left me turning page after page to see what would happen, because I could truly not see a happy ending – in any way. Both Caleb and Leila are blinded by prejudices against each other’s races. Blinded by ancient hurt, by fear and for what might be or could happen. Obligations to each of their races, forgetting themselves in the progress.
There were times were I wanted to reach in a smack Caleb on his head for being so manipulative. For not seeing what was in front of him, not believing what he WAS seeing- but at the same time, a small part of me understood him and his struggle.
Other times it was Leila I wanted to grab and shake. Other times I really wanted to applaud her. There are so many twists and turns in this book, I found myself having a hard time letting the book go and trying to figure out what would happen next.
As I said, this is a dark book. It plunges you down into a deep spiral of doom, fear, hate and when you reach the very bottom and look up… You’d better look closely if you want to catch a glimmer of light from the top.
Lindsay delivers a story who made me more than just invested in the characters, although I have to admit, the darkness, the what if’s, constantly thrown into my head… made it hard to read at times. But then again, it fits so perfectly well into the harsh and tough world she created. It was a great read and I admire Lindsay for going against the ingrained HEA and show us that it can be done in other ways. Thank you for the amazing read.
November 18, 2013
So, I'm stumped again on a rating for this one. This one continued the intriguing storyline started in Blood Shadows. In this one we meet Caleb and Leila. Leila is a repressed serryn, the most dangerous thing to a vampire. Caleb is a vampire who hunts serryns...So, you can see the problem, right? Circumstance brings them together and this was a roller coaster of trying to figure out the outcome. Even though I still loved the world the author has created, what I didn't connect as much with this time was the chemistry between Caleb and Leila. Don't get me wrong, they had chemistry and some great scenes, there was just something that fell a bit flat for me because of their destinies. Caleb has done some depraved things to Leila's kind and his motivation is founded. As the story went on, I couldn't figure out how these two could possibly come together. The secrets surrounding these two and their destinies were excellent but I remained a bit detached because..huge spoiler
This story expands on what was started in Blood Shadows and the world building continues. More secrets and intrigue are introduced and it's quite frankly, addictive. I'm looking forward to the next book to see how this continues to play out.
This story expands on what was started in Blood Shadows and the world building continues. More secrets and intrigue are introduced and it's quite frankly, addictive. I'm looking forward to the next book to see how this continues to play out.
November 18, 2014
I love Lindsay J Pryor's 'Blackthorn'. The first book in the series 'Blood Shadows' captured my interest. Book number two 'Blood Roses' is compelling. The story does stand alone as an episode of life in 'Blackthorn'but for maximum enjoyment meet Kane and Caitlin in 'Blood Shadows' first.
Leila is a complex character; devoted sister,lonely woman and Serryn a special kind of witch who hates the Vampire race. Her blood kills Vampires painfully shortly after feeding. Leila is unwillingly lured into 'Blackthorn' after a distressed call from her sister Alisha. The downward spiral continues from there.
Caleb lives by his own rules after earning a deadly reputation for killing Serryn witches.His attitude and sadistic streak make him an anti hero.You should hate him for what he is and what he does.It is his stunning sexuality and well hidden compassion that make him worth saving. His reasons for hating Serryn witches are personal and create an impenetrable barrier which Leila will have to climb if she is to save herself and their future together. Leila may appear to be subjugated by Caleb's will but I think she is the strongest character.
The plot has many twists and turns which allow Caleb and Leila's story to unfold whilst giving tantalising clues about what might happen in 'Blackthorn' in the future.The world building is so clever you are surrounded by it.
Blood Roses
I am eagerly awaiting the next book in the series 'Blood Torn'.
Leila is a complex character; devoted sister,lonely woman and Serryn a special kind of witch who hates the Vampire race. Her blood kills Vampires painfully shortly after feeding. Leila is unwillingly lured into 'Blackthorn' after a distressed call from her sister Alisha. The downward spiral continues from there.
Caleb lives by his own rules after earning a deadly reputation for killing Serryn witches.His attitude and sadistic streak make him an anti hero.You should hate him for what he is and what he does.It is his stunning sexuality and well hidden compassion that make him worth saving. His reasons for hating Serryn witches are personal and create an impenetrable barrier which Leila will have to climb if she is to save herself and their future together. Leila may appear to be subjugated by Caleb's will but I think she is the strongest character.
The plot has many twists and turns which allow Caleb and Leila's story to unfold whilst giving tantalising clues about what might happen in 'Blackthorn' in the future.The world building is so clever you are surrounded by it.
Blood Roses
I am eagerly awaiting the next book in the series 'Blood Torn'.
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