A Shade of Blood

A Shade of Vampire #2

by Bella Forrest

Having been delighted by the bestselling debut, A Shade Of Vampire, readers are begging for more. In A Shade Of Blood, Bella Forrest transports you deeper into a unique, enthralling and beautifully sensitive story. Prepare to be lost in its pages...

When Sofia Claremont was kidnapped to a sunless island, uncharted by any map and ruled by the most powerful vampire coven on the planet, she believed she'd forever be a captive of its dark ruler, Derek Novak.

Now, after months of surviving an endless night, the morning sun may soon rise again for Sofia. Something has possessed Derek's heart and he offers her a gift no human slave has ever been given in the history of his cursed island: escape.

High school, prom and a chance to move on with her life now await her.

But will she be able to forget the horrors that steal her sleep away at night? ... or the feelings that haunt her for that tormented prince of darkness?

Genres: Vampires, Paranormal, Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult, Paranormal Romance, Supernatural

403 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 8, 2013

About the author

UPDATE MARCH 11, 2024:

BELLA IS BACK!

*** New, updated online store at https://BellaForrest.com

*** New books coming soon

*** Possible Film/TV series coming soon

*** Stay up to date by joining our e-mail list at https://BellaForrest.com/join

###

Bella Forrest is a lover of fantasy, romance, action, and mystery infused stories with twists you don’t see coming. She has sold over fifteen million books since her first novel was published in 2012.

Check out her website for a full list of her books: https://BellaForrest.com

Official Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/BellaForrest...

Here's a list of some of Bella's books:

DARKLIGHT

Darklight (Book 1)
Darkthirst (Book 2)
Darkworld (Book 3)
Darkblood (Book 4)
Darktide (Book 5)
Darkbirth (Book 6)
Darkfall (Book 7)
Darkwilds (Book 8)
Darkhunt (Book 9)

A LOVE THAT ENDURES (Trilogy)
A Love that Endures 1
A Love that Endures 2
A Love that Endures 3

HARLEY MERLIN AND THE SECRET COVEN

Harley Merlin and the Secret Coven (Book 1)
Harley Merlin and the Mystery Twins (Book 2)
Harley Merlin and the Stolen Magicals (Book 3)
Harley Merlin and the First Ritual (Book 4)
Harley Merlin and the Broken Spell (Book 5)
Harley Merlin and the Cult of Eris (Book 6)
Harley Merlin and the Detector Fix (Book 7)
Harley Merlin and the Challenge of Chaos (Book 8)
Harley Merlin and the Mortal Pact (Book 9)
Finch Merlin and the Fount of Youth (Book 10)
Finch Merlin and the Lost Map (Book 11)
Finch Merlin and the Djinn's Curse (Book 12)
Finch Merlin and the Locked Gateway (Book 13)
Finch Merlin and the Forgotten Kingdom (Book 14)
Finch Merlin and the Everlasting Vow (Book 15)
Finch Merlin and the Blood Tie (Book 16)
Finch Merlin and the Legend of the Luminary
Persie Merlin and Leviathan's Gift (Book 18)
Persie Merlin and the Door to Nowhere (Book 19)
Persie Merlin and the Witch Hunters (Book 20)
Persie Merlin and the Dying Song (Book 21)

THE CHILD THIEF

The Child Thief (Book 1)
Deep Shadows (Book 2)
Thin Lines (Book 3)
Little Lies (Book 4)
Ghost Towns (Book 5)
Zero Hour (Book 6)

HOTBLOODS

Hotbloods (Book 1)
Hotbloods (Book 2): Coldbloods
Hotbloods (Book 3): Renegades
Hotbloods (Book 4): Venturers
Hotbloods (Book 5): Traitors
Hotbloods (Book 6): Allies
Hotbloods (Book 7): Invaders
Hotbloods (Book 8): Stargazers

THE GENDER GAME

The Gender Game (Book 1)
The Gender Secret (Book 2)
The Gender Lie (Book 3)
The Gender War (Book 4)
The Gender Fall (Book 5)
The Gender Plan (Book 6)
The Gender End (Book 7)

THE GIRL WHO DARED TO THINK

The Girl Who Dared to Think (Book 1)
The Girl Who Dared to Stand (Book 2)
The Girl Who Dared to Descend (Book 3)
The Girl Who Dared to Rise (Book 4)
The Girl Who Dared to Lead (Book 5)
The Girl Who Dared to Endure (Book 6
The Girl Who Dared to Fight (Book 7)

A SHADE OF VAMPIRE

Season 1: Derek & Sofia’s story

Books 1 to 7

Season 2: Rose & Caleb’s story

Books 8 to 16

Season 3: The Shade continues with a new hero...

Books 17 to 24

Season 4: A Clan of Novaks

Books 25 to 32

Season 5: A Dawn of Guardians

Books 33 to 41

Season 6: A Gift of Three

Books 42 to 50

Season 7: A Call of Vampires

Books 51 to 59

Season 8: A Voyage of Founders

Books 60 to 68

Season 9: A Birth of Fire

Books 69 to 77

Season 10: An Origin of Vampires
An Origin of Vampires (Book 78)
A Game of Death (Book 79)
A Veil of Dark (Book 80)
A Bringer of Night (Book 81)
A Circle of Nine (Book 82)
A Bender of Spirit (Book 83)
A Memory of Time (Book 84)
A Shard of Soul (Book 85)
A Break of Seals (Book 86)

Season 11: A Shade of Mystery
A Shade of Mystery (Book 87)
An Isle of Mirrors (Book 88)
A Sanctuary of Foes (Book 89)
A Ruler of Clones (Book 90)
A Gate of Light (Book 91)
A Dawn of Worlds (Book 92) ➜ Coming soon!

Reviews

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before i start, i have a very important message to Ben...














PLEASE, someone do me a favor and kill that motherfu****. The lightning will strike me in a minute. I can' even... *deep breaths*. Maybe after i calm down i'll tell you why i hate him so much.

A Shade of Blood is the 2nd book in the Shade of Vampire series. I loved the 1st one, it was amazing! So obviously i was excited when i got a copy of the next book from the author (thanks Bella!). I really enjoyed it, BUT was it better from the previous one?











When Sofia Claremont was kidnapped to a sunless island, uncharted by any map and ruled by the most powerful vampire coven on the planet, she believed she'd forever be a captive of its dark ruler, Derek Novak.






Now, after months of surviving an endless night, the morning sun may soon rise again for Sofia. Something has possessed Derek's heart and he offers her a gift no human slave has ever been given in the history of his cursed island: escape.

But will she be able to forget the horrors that steal her sleep away at night? ... or the feelings that haunt her for that tormented prince of darkness?






There are a couple of reasons why i didn't give this book 5 stars.

Number 1 - Sofia.
I can't believe (!tiny spoiler warning!) that she actually left Derek after everything he's done for her. If she would have truly cared and loved him she wouldn't have left and for what? Ben?! Really? She was such an unthoughtful protagonist!






Number 2 - the 'surprise/twist'.
There is a twist further into the book about Sofia's farther. It did not surprise me at all. I predicted it and therefor didn't like it.






Number 3 - the separation between Derek and Sofia.
I don't know what it is about authors wanting to separate the main couples. It practically always happens, and i'm disappointed that Miss Forrest decided to take that path. It's not only boring but also annoying because you can't think of anything else but them getting back together.


Reasons why i hated Ben:
He told Sofia to do things and that got on my nerves so much, like when he told her to join the hunters. Thank god she had enough sense to tell him no. And i hated him mainly because he was in the way of Derek and Sofia being together, and he scr*wed with her mind. Ben was talking sh*t all the time and made Sofia question if she should come back to the Shade and if Derek could ever truly love her, i was like...






I would also improve Derek's behavior. Like, he turned a bit evil when Sofia went away, but when she came back he magically turned good again. *shaking head*.

Overall






A Shade of Blood was still a very good and interesting read. Derek was still amazing and i love him. It was a very good sequel to the series. There was some action and i was never bored in general.
I'm looking forwards to reading book 3! Can't wait to see what happens next :)

[Carol [Goodreads Addict] · Rating 5 out of 5]

I believe that I liked book two even more than I did book one. Book two, A Shade of Blood, starts right off where the first book left off. Ben and Sofia are being escorted to the port to leave the island of The Shade. And, right there, at the very beginning of the book, Bella Forrest got me, hook, line, and sinker, when Sofia and Derek share their first kiss, a passionate good bye kiss, and Derek utters the words, "Sofia, stay." My heart broke. Each chapter of this book is from a different person's POV which I really liked. I felt it really helped me to dig deeper into each character to know what motivates them to say and do the things they do. We really get to know Ben better in this book. I spent a lot of time switching back and forth between team Ben and team Derek. At times, I was even frustrated and a little angry with Derek. Even though he is the all feared Prince of The Shade, when Sofia leaves the island and he kind of goes "dark," it made him seem weak to me. That without Sofia there, he could do such despicable things. And it ends on a huge cliff hanger. I did not see that coming at all! I really did love this book and I can't wait for book three. Thank you Bella Forrest.

[Christina (Ensconced in Lit) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

A Shade of Blood by Bella Forrest takes place right after the events in A Shade of Vampire. We are immediately reintroduced to the main characters Sofia, Derek, the vampire she loves, and Ben, the best friend that has been tortured by other vampires. Derek has agreed to let them leave the Shade, but this leads to his own self destruction. Sofia and Ben are forever altered by their experiences, although Sofia still maintains an odd loyalty to Derek and the Shade, while Ben is unsurprisingly determined to bring the Shade down. What happens next will forever change all of their lives.

I had an extremely difficult time rating this book. In a lot of ways, the writing and plotting of this second installment is stronger than the first. Forrest is definitely getting more honed in her writing skills. The pacing is there and I read from cover to cover very quickly. It's a nicer length than the first book, and gives us a lot more back story on the history of Derek, the Shade, and its inhabitants. Not to mention, there are some really wonderful twists that I was not expecting, although, I have to admit, I don't really understand them. Perhaps the final installment will be more revealing.

Now we come to my dilemma. There will be some mild spoilers. While I really liked the characters in the first novel, I now have issues with all of them. Derek has become completely despicable -- can we really blame everything he's done on the fact that he's a vampire? And I can only explain Sofia's state as Stockholm's syndrome, where she has this bizarre loyalty to her kidnapper. I actually understand and empathize with Ben's mindset more than anyone else's, but he is so incredibly angry to the point of violence, that it's hard to like him. Not to mention, he's always been a douche bag to Sofia and only after she likes someone else does he realize he better stop messing around and possibly make his move. Lastly, we come to Vivienne, Derek's sister, who seems like this malicious and spoiled Princess in the first book, but suddenly apparently becomes this tragic and sympathetic character? It just felt like such a 180 that I wasn't able to make this transition.

Overall, a fast paced and well written follow up to A Shade of Vampire, but I had a lot of trouble with the character development.

[Jacqueline's Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars because of Ben

A Shade of Blood is the second book in the A Shade of Vampire series. This continues Sofia’s and Derek’s story. This also continues Sofia’s and Ben’s story. It wouldn’t be a true YA paranormal romance without a love triangle right?

Derek lets Sofia go and we are all wondering what’s going to happen next? I completely understand why Sofia wanted to leave, even though she had strong feelings for Derek, but I am not happy about it. I have no love for Ben because of the way he treated her on her birthday, but Ben is different now, he’s jaded, guarded and wants to move forward and towards Sofia.

Ben’s feelings for Sofia kind of comes to a surprise to me because I had no idea he felt that way, maybe he didn’t see it until Derek showed interested in Sofia, but in my mind it’s a little too late. Sofia struggles in her world and she wants to live a normal life, but she can’t stop thinking about Derek.

I had a hard time with this one because I couldn’t connect with Ben and there’s a HUGE chunk of the book where Derek and Sofia do not interact. I guess you can say this is a Ben’s book and if you are a fan of Ben, you will be pretty happy with it.

Back in the Shade Derek loses his light, Sofia and he slowly turns dark. This I enjoyed reading a lot because I love a dark hero. He goes way into the deep end and you kind of wonder if there is any redemption for him, because at some parts it’s pretty dicey, but addictive to read. The best part is the last 40% where everything is heightened and all the crazy stuff happens.

Because of the last part of the book, I can’t wait for the next one.

READ on Kindle Unlimied

[Lana Mason · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ok, well, I wasn’t going to read another one of these after the first one. I learned my lesson the first time, by gosh! However, upon reading reviews for the second, I saw a lot of “I loved the first book, hated the second”, and that did make me curious. As for the rating… I know what I said. I said, “Oh, I’ll put at least two stars if it’s at least edited decently and doesn’t make my eyes bleed with mistakes unless the content is THAT BAD.” It’s that bad.

As with the first one, I am reading the book while doing the review, and my reactions are the review. Why break a streak, right?

1% -- Here we go again, though it starts with Derek’s POV this time, so at least that’s different. Also, if your voice came out as a “husky, breathless whisper” that means you didn’t talk since breathing is a requirement for talking.

Also, I’m going to interrupt here from snarky review to talk seriously about how damaging it is for men to be portrayed as always on the verge of losing control when aroused. Seriously, guys can control it, and to say otherwise is saying that men are just beasts who can’t control their emotions. They can. Stop it, writers. Just… stop.

2% -- WOW. Not only is it incredibly stupid for them to fall into instant twu luv (just add water!), but then it’s compounded by the ridiculousness of them NOT TALKING ABOUT IT. “Hey, stay ‘cause I love you and want to bone you.” “I want to bone you too, thanks for telling me!”

3% -- Sofia knows what it’s like to be encased in Jell-O?

4% -- The changing POV’s really do nothing for the book. Absolutely nothing… save for making the chapters super short. Also, Sofia get pushed to the brink of insanity quite a lot by absolutely nothing terrifying.

5% -- Wait, WHAT? The witch on the island was able to diagnose her because she was a psychology major? Does she have her degree? Does she work as a therapist? Did she go to med school? Get her masters?

8% -- Is this… actual plot? *gasp!*

9% -- UGH, the plot disguised the TWU LUV for a moment. Ugh ugh ugh. Also, I prefer Derek as he is there. At least he’s not hiding he’s a dick.

10% -- Now we get Ben’s POV too? Also, “Best friend is missing, HELLLLOOOOO HOTTIE!”

11% -- Holy exposition, Batman! … also, nice graphic rape depiction there.

12% -- This is a YA book?! I’ve seen LESS horrifying descriptions in the literary adaption of Hostel. (Amazingly, this made the book more interesting to ME but this is wildly inappropriate for a YA book.)

13% -- You can totally afford to have him go after her, Derek. Who cares? She’s gone. OH WAIT, TWU LUV I forgot.

15% -- Please, book, spare me the love triangle. That’s all I ask. Just spare me the love triangle. I’ll put up with the twu luv, and the stupid vampires, and the Mary Sue with sparkling brand new vajayjay action… just spare me the love triangle.

16% -- What the hell, book? Now we have to have Lucas’s POV too?!?

17% -- Also, OF COURSE they’re evil: they’re smoking!

20% -- Ben, if you tell people the truth, they are going to lock you up in the nuthouse.

21% -- Ugh, god. I’m calling it now: Sofia is going to turn out to be a half-vampire or witch or something with the mysteriously missing father and all. Also, yeah, the kids ran away, the son has horrible scars on the, and they both act like they have PTSD… throw ‘em back in school right away. They’ll be fine.

22% -- Five and a half days to modernize this huge space, complete with flatscreen monitors, sound equipment, and recliners. Is there a Wal-Mart on this island? I mean, Wal-Marts are everywhere, so it’s possible. And they replaced the roof with glass. In five and a half days. There has to be a Wal-Mart, or maybe a Lowe’s.

23% -- Did Sophia really just compare herself to characters in 1984? They were in a much better written book!

24% -- Ben knows what the word “pensive” means? Wow. And GROSS!! He mentally thinks how awesomely beautiful Sophia is, and then calls her dad a fool to leave her! Those sentence back to back equal gross incest. And six paragraphs in this chapter and I hate Ben. Yup. She’s not an object, ass.

25% -- Well, if he can’t feel anything he’ll make a lousy quarterback, but a great lineman.

28% -- Sigh. Love triangle.

29% -- Ten thousand people living there… has to be a Wal-Mart on the island.

32% -- Of course, the darkness is inside Derek without Sophia. Of course it is. Did I expect anything else? Nope, not at all.

36% -- The times Derek healed Sophia with his blood it was instant, yet it took time with other people. I’m definitely leaning towards half-vampire.

39% -- Jeez, Ben and Sophia kiss once or twice, and then suddenly he’s so handsy with her all the time. Ew.

40% -- Yeah, taking her around to all of the places where YOU have good memories isn’t a good first date, Ben.

41% -- Let me get this straight… once a vampire tastes a victim, they are obsessed with that victim forever? That’s… not a very good survival trait.

48% -- “Why are you here, vampire lady?” “Oh, you asked a question! No wonder why he’s so enamored of you!”

49% -- Instead of manning up and facing the things he did to protect his “kind”, Derek ASKED the witch to put him to sleep ‘to escape’. What. A. Hero.

50% -- Gagging on the chess metaphors. One guess what Sophia was told she was!

52% -- Raping a prisoner. Awesome hero. Just awesome.

55% -- Yeah, ultimatums don’t work, Ben. AND… you friendzoned yourself.

57% -- Sister gets kidnapped, Derek beats the hell out of the messenger. Isn’t he just dreamy, girls? Gosh, golly darn I totally want a rapist guilty of aggravated assault as MY boyfriend!

58% -- OH, and now he’s going to make SOPHIA pay by torturing the girls she befriended on the super secret vampire treehouse island. Wow, he’s such a catch. AND he starts to rape another girl when Sophia walks in. I am so hot for him right now. Whew.

60% -- Oh yeah, forget what you saw, Sophia. Forget the attempted rape and assault, and the blood all over Ashley, and how he threw you up against the wall (again) and was about to kill you. He didn’t mean it, baby. He was just angry. Just tell everyone you walked into a door, kk?

61% -- “You never lost me.” *PUKE* Not because of the sickly sweetness of it all--which is pretty sickening--but because he’s an abusive twat and SHE FORGIVES HIM. NO NO NO NO NO.

62% -- They’re bantering back and forth and kissing now? WHAT THE EVERLOVING FUCK, PEOPLE?!

I have to stop here and point out that this is CRAZY. Now, granted, some of the stuff was explicit for a YA novel, but I’m a horror writer and reader. I love horror. I love blood, guts, gore. Love, love, love it. But this… this right here, is turning my stomach, because it’s portraying abuse and being with a psycho crazy ass vampire as being OK. It is NOT OK, not in any sense of any words I can think of. What is really disgusting is that it’s being portrayed as OK … FOR YOUNG WOMEN. Girls, let me tell you what: if you found someone you loved who was in the middle of first trying to MURDER and then TORTURE BY RAPE another girl, you would not go all “tee hee hee” and lay a kiss on him. If you did? Congratulations, battered woman syndrome! This is not something to be taken lightly. It’s what’s wrong with Twilight, The Hunger Games (Oh yes, I have a beef with the Hunger Games and Katniss being forced into a faux relationship with Peeta, but at least she was trying to save her own life there. Still not ok though), and especially 50 Shades of Grey. When I write horror, it’s made clear that it’s not OK. Of course it isn’t! Any abusive situations I’ve read in horror novels it’s made clear there as well that it’s not OK.

This… THIS makes it seem, “Oh, as long as they’re together, everything’s puppies and rainbows and they were Meant to Be Together ForEver!” No. A thousand times no, I tell you. NO.

It makes me throw up in my mouth.

64% -- Sofia finds out that Derek was punishing Ashely because he wanted to punish her. Here’s the quote from the book: “Unable to control my rage, I gave in to instinct and did the unthinkable. I gave him the most defiant glare I could manage.” *facepalm*

65% -- Well, at least she calls bullshit on the “I couldn’t control myself” defense.

66% -- K, so I’m imagining Ben meeting Superfly. It’s far more amusing.

67% -- … worldwide organization of highly trained vampire killers. Sigh.

68% -- LOLforever. Sophia’s dad leads the organization. That means her mother was the crazy half vampire or whatever. XD

Also, I don’t know how she can look at you that way either, Derek.

71% -- “Here! Read about my bloody history of killing tons of people!” “Oh, you’re forgiven! Smoochies now!”

73% -- Sigh. Sophia the virgin being besmirched again. Tiresome. Really, really tiresome.

76% -- Wait wait wait… his heart beats? What kind of vampire is this??

78% -- Yeah, of course Sophia is forgiven by vampire slaves for ditching them on the island.

81% -- Honestly, I can’t even poke fun at the book anymore. It’s just depressing to read.

83% -- Wow, some author did research and realize that people need vitamin D to survive!

84% -- The vampires have a power plant! One mystery solved. It’s not said how it’s powered though… how the electricity is generated. Maybe a big ass human burning furnace? Maybe gerbils? We don’t know.

88% -- “The woman that I love.” Sigh. Big sigh. Double big sigh.

89% -- DEREK’s obsessed with Sophia, Lucas? Pot, meet kettle!

93% -- Yeah, rapekisses too. Awesome. I just love our hero so very much. He’s just a precious gem.

94% -- Oh so what, they had sex and we didn’t even get to see it? I don’t know if I should relieved or insulted.

95% -- Well, you know, I hope he used a condom with all those other girls she keeps thinking about him having sex with. Just because he’s a vampire doesn’t mean he can’t pick up a disease even if it doesn’t affect him.

96% -- We really needed to see him chew up half a sandwich and spit it out again. We REALLY needed to see that, did we, author? Really?

99% -- Hey, guess what? I was right about the mom. Big. Shocker.

That was even more painful than the first book. Run. Run away fast.

[Tee Loves Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant follow-up in this addicting series!! A Shade of Blood is a gritty, sexy, emotion-ridden return to this captivating world of vampires, and I was hooked from start to finish as I devoured every word!

We rejoin Bella Forrest's story right where the first book left off, with Sofia facing the decision of staying with Derek at The Shade or returning back to her normal teenage life with Ben. My heart broke for Derek as she walked away from him, and I braced myself for what I knew would be an emotional aftermath on both sides.

It was strange how I both loved and hated every moment that kiss lasted. I loved it because it hinted so much about what she felt for me, yet hated it because it was clearly a kiss goodbye. ~Derek LOC 251

But nothing could have prepared me for the intense and often gut-wrenching downward spiral that Derek would subject himself to in the wake of his heartbreak. He and Sofia both were suffering as they tried to face a life without the one they had unwittingly fallen for, but a darkness was surfacing in Derek with the absence of his Sofia. The tender, patient vampire who'd won her heart became buried beneath the surface of something much more sinister, and it was so painful to see him become so lost. It was as if she was the only light of his existence, and when she left, the darkness just took over every corner of his world. The results were nothing short of gruesome and troubling as Derek reclaimed his role as the dark ruler, and I was terrified of what would be left for Sofia to return to.

As Derek struggled with his demons, Ben and Sofia faced the return to a normalcy that neither one of them could embrace. The extent of Ben's torture at Claudia's hands was revealed, and it became abundantly clear that he had been broken in a way that could never be repaired. Despite how numb he felt both inside and out, it was the love he had for Sofia that helped him move on. I loved this side of Ben that we get to see, because there was so much more depth to his character this time around and he definitely earned himself a place in my heart even though I'm always going to be a huge Derek fan! Sofia's heart is so torn, and truly the time she and Ben share was just beautiful.

I had to push away thoughts of how much I missed Derek in order to let Ben in again. It was, after all, how Derek got to me in the first place - when I allowed myself to stop pining for Ben. ~Sofia LOC 744

As much as we see an entirely different side of Derek, we also see a stronger, more determined side to Sofia surface. Through her torment, she begins to question her emotions and refuses to be a pawn in anyone's game, and I was cheering her on every time her claws came out. I can't wait to see just how pivotal she will be when the house of cards begins to fall!

The intensity between Sofia and Derek was amplified thanks to their emotions being so close to the surface, and every moment they shared together just had my pulse racing. The suspense was non-stop as secrets were revealed, and painful memories created a sense of foreboding that was maddening. My heart ached and my stomach was twisted in knots for virtually the entire story, and by the time the huge jaw-dropping twist came at the end I was desperate for more! It's once again going to be a torturous wait for the next book as I grow increasingly nervous about what lies ahead, but A Shade of Vampire has definitely become one of my favorite series!

[Kelly⁷ · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wow, in this book we can appreciate how the number of pages doesn't build a good story line. This book is the most bland and boring that I have read in my life.

The plot doesn't make me feel anything, I hate all the characters but the worst thing is that I will keep reading it. It's not because of the plot (which doesn't exist, btw) but because I need to read something.

My hate for Derek is bigger now and Sofia keeps me a little interested in the book but I kind of hate her too.

[Sylvia · Rating 5 out of 5]

PLEASE, BELLA, I WANT SOME MORE! That ending has left my mouth hanging to the floor in shock! Whoa! What an amazing sequel and I am gob smacked. I love this world of vampires and hunters that Bella Forrest has created and found myself devouring this book with a fever. I stopped only occasionally to step back into the real world, but didn't last too long. The story was calling me to finish and that's what I did, and I am left enamoured and needing more! I need the next book, NOW!

The story continues exactly where it left off in book 1, with Sofia Claremont making the choice to leave The Shade, and Derek Novak, allowing her too. This goes against everything he's position stands for. As the Prince of the Shade, it is his duty to keep the secrets of the island and by allowing Sofia and Ben Hudson (her best friend) to leave, will bring nothing but great consequence to the Vampires he is sworn to protect. But, what choice does he really have? Fearful of his oldest brothers need for Sofia and making her his, he is doing what he must and protect the young women he has grown fond of. My heart ached for him and I was fearful of what would happen to Derek when Sofia left. And boy, oh boy, was I right. The dark, which lay deep within Derek for centuries, was beginning to consume him, once again. Slowly, his true nature was beginning to bring about his destruction and he was turning into the vampire leader he despised, yet could not run away from. He was vigilant, cruel and sadistic, yet I understood his desire to lead in this way. Although, I knew that deep down he was deeply wounded by Sofia choosing to leave and he did not know how to cope any other way but to succumb to the depths of darkness. Derek's downward spiral was heartbreaking to read, yet disturbingly beautiful at the same time. Those torturous ones get me every time.

While Derek is delving deeper into his own abyss, Sofia and Ben are finally back home and trying to be "normal." Trying to move on from the events and their time on The Shade. And, this feat alone was not an easy one. Their relationship as best friends was strained and there was a divide that seemed to be growing bigger by the moment. Sofia couldn't get Derek out of her thoughts or her heart, and she struggled daily in resisting the urge to think of him. She also grew into this stronger and determined young woman, who refused to be anything else but who she wanted to be and be nobody's push over. I really loved her frailty and torment over Derek, yet her strength and resilience in finally sticking up for herself.
We also learnt that Ben suffered immensely at the hands of the sadistic Claudia, during his time at The Shade, to the point that he was completely numb on the inside, as well as on the outside. I really loved seeing this side of Ben and his developmental as a character. It is so critical and crucial to the story. He too is struggling to stay above water and he found himself needing to do something to breath air back into his relationship with Sofia, who was drifting off and away from him. He's determination to win back Sofia was relentless, yet he knew, deep down, that he may have lost her for good.

A Shade of Blood is not only a story about Vampire's and Hunter's, but it's about the constant struggle within. The need to follow your heart, yet lead with you head. The want of choosing what's right, instead of choosing what's right for right now. It's about understanding that no matter how desperate one is to bring about change in bettering themselves, but learning to cope with the demons within and accept them as part of your make. I absolutely love this series and it's definitely topping my favourites. Thank you Bella Forrest for writing such an dark and seductive story, but also for providing me with and ARC too. I seriously can't wait to the next instalment, especially after that nail biting twist at the end. Another mother load of a cliffhanger. EEEEPPPPPPP!!!

[Julia Ash · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are so many different reasons I stick with a book series. In the case of A SHADE OF VAMPIRE, I crave the characters Sophia and Derek! I want to continue to learn how they'll deal with their differences and the challenges which threaten humans and vampires. I enjoyed book 2, A SHADE OF BLOOD! Onto book 3...

[C.L. Bevill · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed the first one, which was a novella and featured a young woman kidnapped by vampires to be a kind of blood slave. However the second one I could not finish. I don't normally leave bad reviews, so I will say some positive stuff about the author. The writing is well done. I liked the chapters on the perspective changes. It went from the girl to the hero and even threw in the bad guy.

But sigh. Spoilers ho. This is the third book (not by this author) I've read this month that has a similar theme. Innocent girl meets bad boy. Bad boy becomes good. I get that. I do, but in this book the bad boy vampire sends the girl away for her own protection. Then he becomes ultra bad boy vampire and begins murdering, raping (yes, I said it), and another attempted rape. The author might argue that the prison cell scene wasn't really rape, but that's what I'm calling it. I'm also saying that innocent girl transforming the evil out of the pseudo protagonist is tricky at best. I do understand that the hero is just misunderstood and all he needs is a good girl. But this is supposed to be a young adult novel and the murdering/raping/attempted rape really icked me out.

Sorry. The heroine should be running for the hills. I won't be reading any more of this author. It's a shame because she has a nice style that I liked.

[Beth The Vampire · Rating 2 out of 5]

They must’ve done something to me at The Shade, because no matter how far away from the island I was, I remained its captive.

Less infuriating and ridiculous than the first one, but still not great by a long shot. You know, sometimes you get tired of reading books that make you think, that excite you with every page, that make you believe in them. Sometimes you just need a trashy book. This is a trashy book. It's the action movie equivalent of a book. Just watch the colour and the movement and take your mind off everything else. And good for me because it's quick since I'm behind on my reading target.

So Sophia and Ben return from The Shade and wake up on the banks of Cancun, where they were kidnapped. It's unknown how long they've been gone, and the first thing they do is live it up. CONTACT YOUR DAMN PARENTS!! They must have been going mad with worry, and yet Sophia and Ben decide to only call them when they're ready for their holiday to end. Seriously, what fucking jerks. And they went back to the same hotel and no one recognised them? I'm sure a big deal would have been made about their disappearance.

Anyway, while Sophia is trying to get back to her life, she can't forget The Shade....or Derek. You know, the vampire who was keeping Sophia as a slave, but was kind of a good guy but not really. She and Ben try to kindle a romance....but that lasts like a week. Ben is a dick. He was 'saving' Sophia for when he was finished with other girls because he knew he would settle down with her and he just wasn't ready yet. Poor Sophia (that's one of the only times I will say that) having to live through his crap. She is essentially a possession to him and it's sickening.

Sorry, I did it again. Okay, so back in The Shade, Derek is losing it and essentially sleeping around, tearing his kingdom apart and almost killing on of his other slave girls. Because, you know, he's a FUCKING VAMPIRE!! Excuse me. Then one day, Derek's sister, Vivienne, decides to seek out Sophia and beg her to return to The Shade because Derek needs her and she may the girl in some prophecy or another. So Sophia goes back (god knows why), and Ben decides to go the other way and join the hunters. Sophia delves further into The Shades, learns it's history and the way it treats humans, and basically punishes Derek for it. Then they sleep together because he told Sophia he loved her and a big deal is made about her losing her virginity to a vampire. Blah Blah Blah.

The End. Literally, the end. The main plot was Sophia coming back to the shade. That was it. There was a surprise or two, with Sophia's mother and father coming into the picture in different ways which poses more issues for the future. Again, this felt like half a story, with no antagonist, no real push forward towards a different end.

Ben is a dick. Sophia's father is a dick. Derek is a dick (and how can Sophia really expect him to change so much, she is a human and he is a vampire, and if she doesn't like it then she shouldn't have come back). The cast of B-characters are all dicks. Sophia is a douche and I do not like her at all. She needs to get her priorities straight, like right now. Maybe if she grew some balls she would be more of an interesting protagonist. And this would be more of an interesting story. But alas......

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Back on the beach at Cancun, the same place they were both taken from months ago, Sofia and Ben aren't ready to go home yet. And having missed it for so long, they find themselves trying to soak up as much sun as they can. Having been left with a large quantity of money, they book themselves into the villa they had been staying in previously. After a few days, they feel the time has come to call Ben's parents. When they arrive, they don't tell them where they were and when questioned by the police, they say they just ran away. They say nothing about where Ben got the scars all over his body from his torture at the hands of Claudia, and at Sofia's request, there's no mention of the vampires or The Shade.

Ben has a name and number for the hunters, given to him by a hunter who tried to save him on the island, but ended up being killed herself when they were caught. Knowing that his life will never be the same again, and having the need for vengeance and retribution, he plans to contact them. He tells Sofia that he'll give her some time, but that then, with or without her, he'll be making that call. He needs to take his revenge on the vampires, especially Claudia.

But Sofia can't seem to forget Derek and The Shade, and when Ben wants to become more than friends, something that she herself had wanted for a long time, she finds that she can't give herself wholly to him. Part of her still belongs to Derek.

And without Sofia there, the darkness is overtaking Derek. He's a completely different character than the Derek we met in A Shade of Vampire, and it was interesting seeing this other side to him. But it was also nice to see the effect that Sofia had on him when she returned, to find him in a compromising position with Ashley.

Lucas is not in this book too much, though we do get his POV a couple of times. He's on the run from Derek who will kill him for what he did to Sofia. But if he wasn't obsessed with her before, having tasted her blood, he can't stop thinking about her, and won't rest until she is his.

Things are getting tough in the Shade. Derek is struggling to keep everyone under control and try to keep Sofia happy at the same time. The vampires are not happy that Sofia, a human slave, is being put before them. But Sofia is not happy with the way things are currently done. She wants the humans who live in the Shade to be treated better and not treated like slaves or food which is exactly how the vampires see them. Sofia has learned a lot about how things are run in the Shade and has read it's history, and it doesn't sit well with her. There are going to be tough times ahead, and revelations throughout this books make for what should be a really interesting third book in this series.

I'm also looking forward to learning more about the prophecy made by Cora, the witch, over four hundred years ago, and what it means to Derek and Sofia, and to the Shade. Derek seems to be going to have quite the fight on his hands if he's going to manage to hold onto Sofia.

[Veronica Morfi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was awesome. It was perfect in so many ways.

A Shade of Blood picks right at the end of A Shade of Vampire. When I read the first book I was sure I knew how it ended, what decision Sofia made but then came this book and I realised I was wrong. Sofia decides to leave the Shade with Ben (why girl, why???). They go back to their old lives and try to be normal, even date (which I though was a waste of time...) in the mean time Derek's life at the Shade goes through some major changes. Without Sofia there he turns into something darker, more dangerous even a little scary at times.

We finally get to learn more about the background of the characters and the Shade. I didn't realise it until I read this book, but in the first one we didn't get to learn anything. I didn't know about Sofia'a parents and Ben's family, or even what happened for the Shade to be created. Especially with the Shade, we get to learn a lot of vital info about it. About the human living in it and how everything works. We even got to visit a lot of places, since once Sofia gets back (and of course she gets back) she visited the whole island.

We also learned more about Ben and what he went through during his time at the Shade with Claudia (by the way that vampire is craaaaazy). I did like him more and I do understand why he is doing the things he is but still I didn't want him and Sofia together. I still believe that he is going to turn sides by the end of the series.

This book had a lot of swoon worthy moments, lots of passion and so so many mind blowing revelations. I love how everything is grey. The Hunters are supposed to be the good guys (and they are doing good) but they are also just like the vampires they try to kill in so many ways. On the other hand the vampires, and especially Derek, are doing some horrible things, but still you can't help loving them. I loved that Sofia realiised that too and she is fighting hard to make a change in the Shade. I know she will finally manage that.

So, all in all, I loved it. Can't wait for the next one, especially after the Epilogue. I mean, come on... Bella Forrest you just blew my mind.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another AMAZING story by Bella Forrest!!! I am completely blown away by this series. Still reeling in from my book high on this one. Just as its getting REALLY good, we are cut off til the next book left wanting so much more. A Shade of Blood was so much better than the first book in this series. Getting into the story and reading some of the history behind the characters made me leary at first as I hate when an author brings history in after a series has already been started, but let me tell you Bella Forrest made it work.

Now with Sofia and Ben back home and away from the captures they are both having problems of readjusting to their lives. Both for different completely reasons. As they are trying to rediscover what was taken from them, they are both only headed to one conclusion, nothing will ever be what it was. Suffering from nightmares they find comfort with each other until they realize they are both heading in different directions and are no longer on the same page as the other.

Derek has given in to the darkness, especially now that Sofia is no longer there to help him see the hope she believes in. Derek has lost just about all control, his kingdom is falling apart and all because of one person.

[Kat Montemayor · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 stars
This series is oddly addicting.


It has some beautiful phrases, and other parts just don't work. But what is lacking in writing finesse, the author more than makes up for in plot and imagination.

And I have to give her major credit for this: I'm a vampire, Sofia. The only reason I was trying to control my impulse to kill Ashley after having fed on her was because she mattered to you.



Thank you for finally admitting the true nature of a vampire! Asking a vampire not to suck a human's blood is like asking a snake not to strike.



So, like any good soap opera, I have to see what happens to Derek, Sofia, Ben and Vivienne. On to book 3!

[Chrystal · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ughhhhhhh this series is like a guilty pleasure, but without (enough of) the pleasure part. I am truly embarrassed for reading this. It's a less realistic/believable version of the Twilight series with the worst character development ever. I'm so annoyed because this whole "fated to love each other" bullshit even when the guy is literally the worst person ever is the reason why young girls don't know when they're in abusive relationships. It talks about rape in a cavalier manner. It has the bare bones of something that should be fun, but then veers I these weird directions that just make me feel guilty for continuing. But it's kind of addictive. This series is like a drug - I want to know more but every time I finish reading I feel shittier and shittier and wish I could stop but it feels so good for the moment and then I look at my life and my choices and I hate myself. So. Two stars for the addictive nature, and not for quality.

[Ari Reavis · Rating 5 out of 5]

What the hell was that ending? OMG, This book threw some major twists my way. On to book 3.

[Alaina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute.. but Ben annoyed me.

A Shade of Blood is the second installation for the A Shade of Vampire series. I honestly have no idea how many books this thing has.. but I'm determined to get through a bunch of them. They are pretty quick reads - I just wish that the story lines were better with each book. I get that I'm only on the second one but I feel like nothing really happened in it?

In this, you well still see the same people.. but we do get to see Sofia's dad towards the end plus more about the vampire hunters. I guess they will have a bigger part in the next book/the rest of the series.. but at the moment, I think:
1. Her dad is a tool and I hate him.
2. Wow, Ben.. I really do hate you and you don't deserve Sofia.
3. How many guys are going to keep claiming Sofia theirs?
4. Poor Vivienne, she deserves better.

Other than that, Derek is kind of losing his mind because of Sofia. He let her go but he became such a pussy after that. I get that the darkness was slowly taking over him.. but damn, he's weak. Then there's Sofia and Ben, ugh I can't tell you how much I hated them together. I cringed every time they kissed because she is supposed to be with Derek!

Then once she gets back to Derek she kind of overlooks that he almost killed her friend.. and that she almost died from said friend. Then she has the balls to order Claudia around, which was honestly my favorite thing she has done so far. However, I didn't like that there's a hint of him sleeping with said claudia.. It's like he couldn't keep his dick in his pants for what.. a week? Maybe more? Like really??

If she's the love of his life... I'm sure he could've not slept with someone else. Other than that, I'm glad they are together-ish.. but is she going to end up the Queen or something? Like his wife.. or something. I feel like I have all of these questions and not enough information to answer them. I hope I get these soon though.

[Annie Brewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Holy crap!!! It's 4:30 in the morning.This series is getting crazy good!!! I couldn't put this fucker down!!!So much is going on, I can't keep up. But this book was amazing!!!!! Just amazing! Found another favorite series and Bella is pretty high up on my top fave authors. Wow! That ending!!! Just wow...love it!!! I got freakin chills.

[diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can’t believe it’s finally here! After reading the first book, A Shade of Vampire, I was totally hooked in the ravaging, suspense-filled vampire world Bella Forrest has created.
A Shade of Blood picked up from where A Shade of Vampire left off – Sofia torn between choosing to stay with Derek on The Shade or leaving with her long-time bestfriend Ben and finally escape the world she wanted nothing more than to forget about and destroy the first time she got there.

A Shade of Blood is told from the different and new perspectives of the different chief characters. I love reading and seeing through their eyes. This gave me a better connection to the characters and this helped in knowing and understanding them better and in a deeper sense. We’d get a glimpse of their emotions and thoughts and this would make readers relate more to them. I admit I was especially intrigued reading from Lucas’ POV. He’s one of the characters who hides a lot of things and never seem to be the person others expect him to be. I felt sad for him to tell you the truth. There was just this air about him that he truly feels sad inside but he won’t let anyone know this for fear he’d seem weak and the gods forbid, more human. He’s an unpredictable character and I think that is what makes him appealing even if he is quite evil.

A Shade of Blood is dark and thrilling. This book would reveal a lot of new things we may never expect. It is full of twists that would make you gasp and would catch you unawares. I love that a lot of the past would be finally out in the open. We’d see Derek in a whole new light and know why he has become what he is. Some history of The Shade would also be revealed and we’d get more acquainted with the world of vampires. Derek is just as gorgeous, charismatic and breathtaking. Expect a lot of swoon moments between him and Sofia that would make you giddy and act all girly. I love how Derek makes me feel. He’s very sincere and always backs up his words with actions and he has this gentle, broken side to him. He’s infuriatingly smug but when he cares for someone he would do anything it takes to protect them and keep them alive and safe. He’s the perfect vampire to fall for.

“Whose blood do you want to drink then? Or would you rather just bleed to death? If it’s the latter, you might as well just let me feed on you. That way, your bleeding to death could at least serve to satisfy my hunger.”

The only complaint I have about the book is that it lacked real action. It felt like we were just nearing the climax and suddenly and frustratingly and much to my disappointment it was already the end. The book just felt too short. (But considering I always consider good books to be “too short”, I can’t really say.) There was this whole buildup and level of excitement and bam, the end. You can’t leave readers hanging like that and expect us to wait patiently until the next book comes out. That’s just torture.
Seeing that that is the only complaint I have, I’d say that A Shade of Blood is a perfect follow-up book. Everything was beautiful and I love every twist and turn of the story. There are still a lot we don’t know about and I can’t wait to see how the characters would handle everything that comes their way. I’d love to see a stronger, fiercer side to Sofia.

I can’t wait for the next book to come out and once again be completely submerged and perplexed by the world of The Shade.

Sometimes, that’s the way it is with people. You think you can tell what they are based on the patterns that you see, but when you take a look inside, they’re nothing like you expect them to be.

“I’m going to win you back, Sofia.”
I planted a gentle kiss on his cheek. “I don’t understand why, but somehow… you never quite lost me.”

[Karla Kbooklover · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another amazing book by Bella Forrest, A Shade of Vampire is by far one of my favorite paranormal books and after reading A Shade of Blood I reconfirm that she's a great writer and one of my favorite authors.

This book is dark, captivating and intense, it was impossible for me to put it down, even when that implied for me to stay awake almost all night.
The story is still as good as in the first book, and thanks to the fact that places and scenes are well described and detailed it is fairly easy to be transported to the world that the author created, that mysterious and intriguing place called "The Shade" where there are all these vampires governed by Derek Novak.
The characters are well developed and for me it was really easy to relate to them, you can feel their pain, frustration, love, their struggle and I think this is why I'm so captivated by Bella Forrest's books.
One thing I really enjoyed was the multiple POV's that we see in this book, to be able to switch between Sofia, Derek, Ben and Lucas really helped me understand better these characters, their feelings and what was behind their actions.
In this second book we learn more about Derek's past, "The Shade" and also get to know Ben better (Sofia's best friend who after this book became more interesting for me than in the first one).
This book in a manner explores the subject of how people deal with their pain and how after a life changing event it seems fairly impossible forget and leave everything behind, also it shows that even when there's love relationships are not always easy and sometimes you have to fight for what you want.

The end of this book left me wanting to read the next one in this series (can't wait for the release) and I definitely recommend it to Romance, Fantasy and Paranormal fans, but to understand and really enjoy this book you should read first "A Shade of Vampire" also by Bella Forrest.

[Becca · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's not nice to end a book like that.

I am feeling a bit lazy so i am going to do a quick review tonight.

song choice, song choice.... "Do You Remember" Not Don't you remember by Adele, Do you remember by Ane Brun. and "If I didn't care" um originally i don't know who sings it, yeah sorry, but i know the Amy Adams and Lee Pace version.

Kay so, better than the last one because it really expanded on the plot which yay! cool, i was interested, i figured some stuff out, i am slightly confused right now and just a little peeved off at that cliffhanger ending. BECAUSE OH MY GOD.


the characters were better i suppose in this one. I don't know there has always been something missing for me in this series, i enjoy what i am reading, really i am, but i feel like we are just missing that one moment. that something? i don't even know. But i liked certain things about Sofia and actually Derek bothered me with his whole, i am a prince listen to me roar kind of thing.

in the end yes i will go on with this series, because i really do think that they are good reads. It just really, its me. this isn't some cheesy break up thing, really honest to god its all me. this is worth your time.


you can check out more indie fantastics at my blog, yeah i am not even going to be subtle about this. You can also check out my thoughts on the first book there as well, much more detailed as well. because this is not my normal type of review, but being lazy today. so here is the linky link:
http://theviolethourbookreviews.wordp...

[J. Kahele · Rating 4 out of 5]

After Lucas takes a bite out of Sophia, Derek realizes that she is no longer safe in the Shade, so he offers her something, that he would never offer anyone else, the chance to escape.

Sophia is torn with leaving the Shade, leaving Derek. She has grown very fond of him and may even be in love with him. But she knows the best thing for her is to go, she doesn't want to live her life being a slave to Derek.

Once back at home, during a football game she is interrupted by a woman needed to speak to her, the woman is Vivienne, Dereks sister. She agrees to meet her at a coffee shop, where she is surprised by what Vivienne is asking her, to go back to the Shade, to be with Derek. But again Sophia is torn, but she misses Derek terribly and soon finds herself traveling back to the Shade.

This was a nice continuation of Derek and Sophia's story. Um the love scene was a little bland and abrupt that I didn't even realize what was going on till it ended other than that this is great series and I am off to read number three.

[Briseis · Rating 5 out of 5]

OH MY GOD!!! what the hell's just happened????

[Ton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Things are really starting to get interesting between Derek and Sofia. Wonder what will happen next with the prophecy.

[Colleen Scidmore · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in A Shade of Vampire series and I started this immediately after finishing the first book, that's how much I was into this series. I normally don't start another book in a series back to back just because I need a breather usually, but I just had to see what was going to happen. This was also a good book but I think the first one was a bit better to me.

Sofia and Ben are back home thanks to Derek. But Sofia can't forget about Derek and all the horrible things that happened on the island. And neither can Ben, they are both plagued by nightmares. Ben and Sofia get closer and more distant all at the same time because of their captivity at The Shade. Each tackling their own fears and demons. And no matter how hard Sofia tries she just can't forget about Derek.

I liked the fact that their were several POV's from Ben to Lucas, and Sofia and Dererk it was interesting too see what other characters were thinking besides the MC's.
I don't know why but I wasn't as intent on the second Shade Book maybe because there was not as much interaction between Sofia and Derek. It just didn't intrigue me as much.
There were some surprises that held my interest though. And I think there are like 42 books total so it must be continuously good or I don't think people would bother to keep reading.

Even though I didn't like this book quite as much as the first, I'm still looking forward to continuing the series. I have a feeling my interest will be piqued again.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a reread, but I honestly didn't remember much of it...unlike A Shade of Vampire .

The story picks up a little earlier then where we left Sofia, Derek, and Ben. This time it's from Derek's POV and we see his thought process for allowing the to leave.

While I understood Ben's anger, he frustrated me so much. Especially when it was revealed he knew how Sofia felt about him for years, but he wanted to date other girls and was saving her for his forever girl. Ugh! He just thought he could keep her waiting and she'd always be there. I was a little irritated that she agreed to date him. Not because she wanted to see if her feelings for Derek weren't real, but because once she knew she loved Derek and didn't feel the same way about Ben she continued to date him.

The ending wasn't a surprise, but it explains a lot. I'm curious to learn more about how it happened.

[Cori · Rating 5 out of 5]

WhenI read A Shade of Vampire I fell in love with Sofia, Derek, Vivienne, and everyone else. It was one of the best young adult paranormal romance books I’ve read since Amelia Atwater Rhodes books and you all know how much I love her. I didn’t think there was a way to top the interactions going on in the first book, but I was wrong. A Shade of Blood is twice as intense and a dozen times more emotional.

A Shade of Blood picks up immediatelywhere A Shade of Vampire leaves off and the uncertainty bubbling inside of Sofia is palpable. Does she stay? Or does she go? Should she choose her past with Ben or her future with Derek? All these questions are answered within the first couple of chapters and seeing the sheer pain between Sofia and Derek made my heart ache.



The two things I love most about this series, aside from my love of Derek and Sofia, are the intricate plot and the character development. Even the characters I can’t stand have something that humanizes them. Something that can make me understand why they are the way they are.

That being said, I don’t like Ben. Ever since the beginning he’s taken Sofia for granted and despite the love he feels for her I was not won over to his side. If you love someone you don’t go through dozens of girls because you’re not ready for “the one” sorry life doesn’t work that way. I felt like he only wanted her because he didn’t want Derek to have her and that’s not okay with me since I adore Sofia.

I don’t want to give a lot away, but Derek gets very dark in this book and we see a lot of the person that he was before he took his little witch induced nap. We also learn a lot more about The Shade, how things were built, how it runs, and what needs to be done in order to preserve it. Forrest does an amazing job of showing us the inner struggle Derek is facing when it comes to Sofia and his kingdom. He’s so torn up inside that you just want to hug him.

Sofia is the same way. Seeing her go through the motions with Ben made me upset, but seeing how much she thought about Derek, how her heart was always with him despite what he had become in this book, made my heart warm. Her emotions over whether or not to trust her love for Derek or believe what everyone said about him growing tired of her was painful. I wanted to throttle them both and be like you love each other don’t be dumb!

There is a really sweet scene between them, several actually towards the end of the story and god they made me smile. I swooned a bit, not going to lie.



Another thing I love is seeing what’s going on from different characters perspectives. Seeing into Sofia’s head, Derek’s head and even Lucas’s shows us what is going on at different parts of the story so we get a rounder picture of how things are playing out and oh my god. There are two huge twists in this story that I did not see coming. The first comes from Ben’s point of view.



Mind officially blown is all I can say. I mean looking back on things I guess it makes sense even though I had someone else completely different in mind for the secret we find out, so yeah super surprised. Another really amazing scene was between Ben and Vivienne which also happens towards the end of the book. But the biggest twist of course comes at the end of A Shade of Blood.

Forrest creates this world, molds and shapes it into a tangible sphere of imagination where anything and everything is possible. It sucks you deep into the depths of The Shade where vampires rule and humans are the prey, but one girl stands to change it all. I’m enamored by the connection between Derek and Sofia as well as the intertwining pasts and futures of the characters around them. Hats off to Bella Forrest and good god give us the third book soon!

[Melissa (thereaderandthechef) · Rating 3 out of 5]

After listening and loving the Audiobook of A Shade of Vampire, I was very much looking forward to listening to this sequel, A Shade of Blood. It turned out to be a nice read, I enjoyed coming back to the Shade and meeting once again with Derek and Sofia, but I have to say that I was expecting more from it.

The book starts off great and right where A Shade of Vampire ended. On one side, Sofia and Ben find themselves out of the Shade, nursing traumatic wounds that possibly not even time may heal. They go back to school, try to act normally, and even start developing a romantic relationship. But back in the Shade, Derek is a complete wreck. Missing Sofia terribly, he falls back and gives in to his inner demon, showing us his true monster side for the first time.

Up until then, I thought the plot was doing great. The build-up was getting intense and it had me excited for when Sofia would finally go back to the Shade and reunite with Derek, but after she does, things slow down a lot. There are a few interesting tidbits going on, like getting to know more about the humans of the Shade and meeting new characters, but other than that, nothing much happens during the second-half.

Even so, I still like the characters and wish to find out more about them, especially Derek Novak. I find him to be an intriguing character and I hope that in the next book he opens up more and we finally come to learn exactly why he went to sleep for such a long time. Sofia is turning out to be a much more complicated character than what I thought she would be, her background is... interesting and I'm curious to see how she came to be.

On the other hand, who I find sort of annoying and I couldn't care less for is Ben. He's so dull and not at all likeable for my taste. I enjoyed Lucas' character better, and that's saying something.

Overall, A Shade of Blood was just a nice, solid sequel to the first book in the series. It's more like the bridge that we need to cross in order to get to the good stuff that might be found in the third book. At least, the revelation in the epilogue hints on it strongly. I'm curious to see what happens next.

As for the Audiobook's performance, I think it was well done. The narrators did a fine job portraying each of their characters and now I can't imagine myself reading the books since I'm now used to hearing their voices and listening to the story. ;)

*Thanks go out to Audible Studios for the free audiobook in exchange of my honest opinion. This review can also be found at my blog, The Reader and the Chef.*

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved A Shade of Vampire. So much. So, so much. So when I got A Shade of Blood...well, there was some flailing. Okay, A LOT of flailing. I was so excited to get back into the world of the Shade and find out what came next for Derek (my boy!) and Sophia.

Then I actually, you know, started READING the book. And...it was a fantastic sequel. FANTASTIC. It was also longer than the last book, so it wasn't a whirlwind of awesomeness and then BOOM over. It was a slow, steady string of awesomeness.

Character Rundown:
Sophia: I just like this girl more and more as time goes on. I like how loyal she is to Derek, how calm she is in...certain situations, and...she's just an all-around STRONG character, and I admire that.

Derek: Still my boy, of course. But...he disappointed me with some of his actions in this one. He has a long list of excuses, but I'm not falling for any of it. LUCKILY, he got better when a certain something happened at a certain point, but I'm not going to tell you because...I do not spoil. Nope. I don't.

Plot. The book started out good, especially considering it was answering questions I had been waiting to know about since the end of the last book. Then things slowed down a little. I was still interested, but the plot wasn't moving as fast as before and..it was just slower. THEN, about halfway through, everything picked up again and kept on a-rollin' all the way to the end. So the book had it's low spots, but overall, was...well, it was fantastic.

Romance. It's still here! And it's sweet! Some things happen romantically that just needed to happen to lead to...other things. But I loved the romantic element in this book. Once Derek stopped being disappointing, it got EVEN BETTER. I still love Derek & Sophia. They are incredibly cute. And they WORK. Ahhh, I love them.

The ending. Hello, book 3. Can I have you now?

Overall, A Shade of Blood is a fantastic, fulfilling sequel that not only grabbed my interest from the very first page, but left me wanting even more at the end. Yet again, Bella Forrest has written a vampire romance that wasn't even close to letting me down. And now I'm going to be here, waiting until I can sit my booty down and read A Castle of Sand. Man, I really hope that day is soon.

You can find more from me on my blog: Just a Booklover