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Blood Series #1

Blood Purple

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Predators & Editors Readers Choice - #3 Best Science Fiction book of 2012 In a world we think we know, live other races entirely hidden from the mortal perspective. Creatures of legend, of fable and myth, their very history and nature have allowed them to walk side by side with humans since time immemorial. They are warriors, they are hunters, and they are Algula. Vampire. And in their own midst, a battle is brewing for supremacy, for dominance, that can and will affect all around them. Old hatred never dies and vengeance is a fiery sword that cuts a bloody swath.

168 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 1, 2012

15 people are currently reading
972 people want to read

About the author

Ashley Nemer

27 books74 followers
Hello, and welcome to my Goodreads page! I am touched you have taken the time to visit me.

Here's a bit about me. My hubby and I have been married over a decade now. Our family has grown to include two perfect kids, two dogs who think they are humans and a cat who thinks he’s a dog, haha!

Writing has always been something that called to me, or rather being creative in one form or another.


I am so thankful to everyone (and there are a lot!) who has helped me along this journey. Each and everyone of you mean so much to me and I will never forget your love, support and help!

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5 stars
41 (34%)
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26 (21%)
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26 (21%)
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14 (11%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
Profile Image for CoffeeTimeRomance andMore.
2,046 reviews163 followers
December 31, 2014
Nikole Kadin, princess of Algula, is determined to join and fight in her brother’s army to protect her people. After failing the last test, she goes to a local nightclub to meet up with her best friend, Adara. Once there, she and Adara meet two men who are more than they seem. This meeting will lead to a series of events that will test her strengths, her bonds with her brother and her best friend.

Zayn, Algula’s king, just wants what is best for his sister and for his people. He is alarmed when he learns the identity of one of the men she and Adara have met, as the man is a known mercenary. This meeting may lead to danger for his sister and possibly his people…danger they face by hiding to escape. So he will have to become more of a king to his people.

Algula, a kingdom of vampires, originates from the Middle East. In 1776, a great war causes the king and his people to flee to the new world where they live in secret. The king’s uncle, Hadar, has vowed to take the kingdom that should have been his, no matter who or what he has to sacrifice. A new war will start. New loyalties and relationships will form. The current ones will be tested.

The novel has a strong beginning and solid back-story. Too bad transitions of scenes and character point-of-view’s are choppy and sometimes confusing to the general flow. The characters are engaging and entertaining despite being dramatic and with a tendency to be impulsive. Ms. Nemer’s concept for vampires is rather interesting, so there is much potential for a great story, which I would like to see fleshed out more.

Llaph
Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance & More
3 reviews
August 28, 2012
This book was a fantastic read, beginning to end. With characters that literally fly off the pages to grab you by throat, it's full of danger, mythos, action and surprises. Completely unlike any other type of book in this genre that I've read, I think the author has taken a fresh spin on our fangy friends and given them new life, new breath. I recommend this book to all of you who have a love of the paranormal, but even more..I recommend this book to anyone who simply wants to lose themselves in a mysterious new world. Can't wait to read more!
Profile Image for Delta.
1,959 reviews24 followers
August 30, 2014
In the Blood Series world conceived by Ashley Nemer, feuding factions of the Algula vampires are the powers behind the scenes of the conflict in the Middle East. When the dying Agula king passes over his first-born, Haydar, to bequeath the crown to his daughter, Ikbar, it ignited fierce bitterness and hatred in Haydar. The depth of the feud between the royal brother and sister and their progeny was compared to the enmity between the human sons of Ishmael and Isaac.

Blood Purple is the story of treachery, greed, and murder as Haydar and his vampire clan seek to eliminate Ikbar's heirs and regain the Algula throne. Ikbar's son, Zayn, is the Algula king. In addition to his vampire longevity, strength, and healing ability, Zayn has elemental magic related to water. His sister, Princess Nikole, has elemental magic with fire.

I enjoyed the action-adventure plot and the developing romances between Zayn and Adara (Nikole's best friend) and between Nikole and Alec. The sometimes flippant dialogue that at times has a teen-speak flavor seems incongruous with an ancient culture and characters that are at least several hundred years old. Nikole's immature and irrational response to Zayn's growing affection for Adara seems a weak basis for what looks to be the major conflict to carry forward into the next book.

Still overall, Blood Purple is an enjoyable read with some unique elements, and I am recommending it to fans of vampire-adventure-romance. It is still a free download on 8-30-14 at http://www.amazon.com/Blood-Purple-Bo...,
Profile Image for Ann.
1 review1 follower
August 29, 2012
I was fortunate to be one of Ashley's beta readers while she wrote Blood Purple. From the moment I read the first chapter I was hooked. Always an avid reader I dove into the plot and characters right away. The story pulled me in its tale of the Kadin's. A royal family, a family of born vampires. Zayn the king his sister Princess Nikole and the other character's Ashley created made me cry at times and cheery them on while they battled their evil Uncle.

To my friends out there I HIGHLY recommend this book. I have never steered you all wrong and at the end of this one you will be waiting on pins and needles to see what happens in the next installment.
5 reviews5 followers
November 10, 2012
This Book Moves Away from the Usual Genre I Read and I Found Both the Characters and Story Line to be Captivating and Enthralling... I Can't Wait for the Next Book in This Series to be Released and Will be Sure to Purchase It... I am More Than Happy to Highly Recommend Blood Purple to All!!!
Profile Image for Joood Hooligan.
518 reviews34 followers
January 8, 2018
I will say this about Blood Purple, it's got an interesting concept. I liked the beginning, it had a strong opening. It kept me wanting to continue the story, even during the many parts of incoherence and repetition.

Read more here:
https://www.platypire.com/j-hooligan/...
Profile Image for Naomi.
1,438 reviews56 followers
October 29, 2012
This was a fabulous start to the series. We have a mix of paranormal/romance with a bit of an ancient twist as the story prologue starts with a feud between immortals centuries ago. As we move into the modern day, the feud continues but with some new players. It's fun, graphic and has a touch of romance too.

Nikole and Zayn are siblings and Zayn is the current King of the Algula (Vampires). They are currently in hiding from Haydar, who is their Uncle, and the person who began the war over a millennium ago. He wants to rule the Algula and will use anyone and anything within his power to obtain his objective.

Nikole's greatest desire is to be able to join the Algula army so she can fight alongside her brother Zayn. She is put to the test, but she lets her guard down. To escape the lectures of her brother she ventures out to the local night club to meet her best friend Adara, where they meet some guys who aren't exactly who they appear to be.

I really like Nikole, she may be a Princess but she has a warrior’s heart and a very strong personality. She doesn't crack under pressure and she is able to push Zayns buttons. They are very close siblings and Zayn just wants to protect his sister.

Zayn wasn't as dominating as I hoped, but at the conclusion of the book, things are going to change! He has a confident exterior but when he's behind closed doors his emotions are able to escape. He has been ruling his people for so long that he always puts others before himself. I don't think he has really done anything for his own pleasure. But even during a crisis the King needs to find someone for support.

There are a few Villains in the book, some of which have some serious physiological issues, and some of the things that they do are a little disturbing, but they give great depth to the story. To see the inner workings of their minds and some of the hardships they have had to deal with enables us to see why they have become that way.

I found that Ashley Nemer has a fabulous writing style. Even though we are in the present day, she often takes us back into the past and shows us glimpses of some of the characters lives. There are some steamy bedroom scenes, but there is also torture and murder too! Not everything can be black and white; loyalties change, new relationships are developed and some friendships are challenged. So basically to sum it up, some nasty things happen, crap hits the fans all over the place and War maybe coming. Things are going to be interesting in the next book.
Profile Image for Jennifer.
1,221 reviews27 followers
August 25, 2013
When I first heard of this book my first thought was.... Sigh not ANOTHER vampire book.

But I read it anyway, and you know what? I enjoyed this very fast paced ride.

It really is a different type of vampire, sure they are blood suckers, but the real story here is the story of a family fighting for power. The fact they are vampires isn't really the story just something they are.

And I enjoyed that. A lot.

Ms. Nemer has no issues making you fall in love with a character, makes you want to see where this character is going...and then BAM she rips them from your hands in a way that makes you want to scream at her. Believe me I did. In fact I tweeted the woman at like 2am.

I do think this book was "choppy" at times but I think it fits perfectly in the way she developed the story. Some people don't like that, but I think that writing style is necessary, especially since this book moves fast. Very fast.

This book is a great first book in the series. I've already bought the 2nd book & I can't wait to see where she is taking this sick & twisted vampire family.
Profile Image for Marinda.
379 reviews7 followers
December 16, 2013
This book was given to me by the author and PR&ATR for an honest review. First let me say I am a vampire fanatic so it's hard to impress me, that said this is a great book. At first I was a little confused with the use of Arabic names for mom,dad,sister etc. but after a bit I caught on and it was smooth sailing from then on.This book has angst, drama, hatred and vengeance, in a story as old as time. This is the story of the original vampires and how they ended up splitting into two groups, the ones who work with and care for the humans and the ones who see us as nothing but cattle. The King is Zayn and along with his sister Nikole, they try to keep the humans safe. Their uncle wants to rule not only the vampires but the humans also, he looks at them as cattle, good for nothing but food. For a first book it is well written and very descriptive, there is some sex but nothing to much for anyone over 16. I couldn't put it down I read it basically without stopping, the story really draws you in and captures you.I am reading book 2 now to see how things play out.
Profile Image for Jeannie Holbrook.
76 reviews20 followers
April 18, 2014
I really liked that Ms. Nemer based this story on the Middle East culture. I really liked the back story. I thought it was solid. Oh, but I really did not like either of the main characters at all. Zayn the king and his sister Princess Nikole were suppose to be hundreds of years old but acted like adolescents. Well Nikole did and Zayn acted like an overbearing father. I understand he was protective of his sister because he had lost of all his family but here so I could look over his behavior to a point. Whereas Nikole did not think through any of her actions at all and suffered the circumstances for her digressions.
I don’t normally like flashbacks in a novel but the ones here allowed us more insight to the character, which did help get to know them a little better..
The writing was solid and flowed easily from scene to scene. I will get the next book in the series to see if there is any development for Nikole and Zayn.
2 reviews8 followers
October 6, 2013
Ashley Nemer has given us a magnificent first glimpse behind the shroud of legend and history. Blood Purple is rich and vibrant. A vampire history brilliantly woven into that of humanity spins a tale that springs to life, drawing you until you are hooked. Brimming with hero’s you will love and villains you will love to hate, while your heart breaks for what made them who they are. A family of legend that endures the same familial strife, resentment, and anguishes that everyone suffers, Blood Purple is a tale with characters that will grip you from beginning to end, leaving you anxiously awaiting the next glimpse beyond the shroud. This book will rock you from beginning to end. For any who love the vampire mythos and are seeking a view of the true story that lies beyond, this is a must read.
Profile Image for Tracey Steinbach.
Author 10 books76 followers
August 31, 2012
This book is a page-turner. It started out kind of slow, for me, but a few pages in, I had to know what happened next. The way she tied fantasy and reality together was wonderful. I will be recommending this book to my friends.
Profile Image for Elizabeth.
422 reviews5 followers
September 15, 2018
The start

I was unsure how I would like this novel at first, but quickly fell into the story line and characters. I wish I would have been able to delve a little deeper into a few characters and feel as though I was seeing from their eyes, but there were many perspectives present and u fortunately I never felt that closeness. Despite that I was hooked and enjoyed this novel. I hope to be able to read the others in the series in the future.
Profile Image for Vonnie.
521 reviews7 followers
September 29, 2013
There are many books about vampires out there but hardly any of them are set in the Middle East. This quickly got my attention because of my fascination of the Arabic culture. Blood Purple was a very interesting twist of the vampire mythology.

The vampires in this story did not follow the norm. They appeared very human other than the fact that some had elemental powers and lived longer than humans. They did not burn in the sun nor were they constantly hungry for blood. In fact, I almost forgot that I was reading a vampire book until I was reminded that there fangs were involved in certain scenes. I quite enjoyed the human aspect of Nemer's vampires.

What I also enjoyed enjoyed reading about this book was the use of the Arabic language. Certain words were used many times and I quite enjoyed adding these words to my vocabulary. They were not hard to understand because Nemer used context to help the reader comprehend what they were, plus there's a glossary at the beginning and at the end of the book.

The characters were also great. The main character Nikole was strong but did let her emotions get the best out of her. Tragic things happened to her and it saddened me to read about it. Though I do have to admit that her rash decision towards the end of the book left me disappointed with her character a bit. My favorite character in the book had to be Nikole's brother, Zayn. He was the king of the Algula but this fact did not get to Zayn's head. He was brave and caring. I loved how he was not afraid to show his emotions. My heart broke for him at the end.

As much as I liked this novel, I did have to lower my grading. It had poor transition of scenes that broke the flow of the story many times and had me confused as to what was going on. Other than that, the rest of the novel was great.

Overall, I enjoyed Blood Purple. I recommend it to whoever would like to read a new twist with the vampire mythology.
Profile Image for Llaph .
1,066 reviews29 followers
May 25, 2013
Nikole Kadin, princess of Algula, is determined to join and fight in her brother’s army to protect her people. After failing the last test, she goes to a local nightclub to meet up with her best friend, Adara. Once there, she and Adara meet two men who are more than they seem. This meeting will lead to a series of events that will test her strengths, her bonds with her brother and her best friend.

Zayn, Algula’s king, just wants what is best for his sister and for his people. He is alarmed when he learns the identity of one of the men she and Adara have met, as the man is a known mercenary. This meeting may lead to danger for his sister and possibly his people…danger they face by hiding to escape. So he will have to become more of a king to his people.

Algula, a kingdom of vampires, originates from the Middle East. In 1776, a great war causes the king and his people to flee to the new world where they live in secret. The king’s uncle, Hadar, has vowed to take the kingdom that should have been his, no matter who or what he has to sacrifice. A new war will start. New loyalties and relationships will form. The current ones will be tested.

The novel has a strong beginning and solid back-story. Too bad transitions of scenes and character point-of-view’s are choppy and sometimes confusing to the general flow. The characters are engaging and entertaining despite being dramatic and with a tendency to be impulsive. Ms. Nemer’s concept for vampires is rather interesting, so there is much potential for a great story, which I would like to see fleshed out more.

Official Review @ Coffee Time Romance & More
Profile Image for Emi Lia.
136 reviews
June 6, 2013
**I received a copy of this book for an honest review**

I really enjoyed this book. It's a great start to The Blood Series! I found myself at the end of the book, without even realizing it. This series has a great plot, a lot of action, sibling rivalries, and a bit of steaminess. I like that it has a different spin on Vampires, and no, they don’t sparkle, lol.

Haydar feels he's been deceived and shunned away by not receiving the crown. He swears to avenge this wrong doing and leaves to plan his vendetta against his own family. Barely escaping their crazy uncle's attempt to eradicate their family, Zayn & Nikole flee to the new world and have to rebuild their Kingdom, along with the help of their godfather Nasir. While constantly fearing another war with Haydar, Zayn & Nikole try to keep their location on the down low. Until one night out brings their worst nightmare to fruition.

Considering the way Zayn treats and thinks of Nikole, you would think she would try her hardest to prove him wrong, instead she acts exactly like he says she does. She’s a bit childish with her decisions. I have to say, I would act out a bit too if my brother was Zayn, lol. He’s definitely a sexy alpha, but sometimes he’s a bit much with the whole “I am King, do as I say!!!” lol But that’s understandable between siblings, big brothers will always want what’s best and protect their little sisters, and in turn that encourages little sisters to prove they can do it. Lol It’s a crazy cycle.
I really enjoyed this book, and I definitely recommend it.
182 reviews13 followers
June 25, 2018
I liked this book! Now, I will say that I rate books quite stingily before I say anything else. I bought this book at Comicpalooza some time back, but never found myself picking this book up due to a huge TBR list. I really thought the concept is great, and definitely will keep reading to see how the story pans out. I think my favorite character is Leigh, as she is absolutely evil and wicked in a way that is sultry.

My complaint might seem weird, and I have had some time to ponder on this as I also listened to the Audible through kindle/amazon. I feel like the story moved a little quickly (character emotions) and while I liked the story, I wanted a few details filled out. I look forward to the next book as it might fill in a few details that I am looking for, and I can see how the King handles his new situation.

The poor dude can't catch a break!

*On another note, I would like to say that there are some points that could be more clear, or worded better. Overall I enjoyed the book by a local author and may have some bias to this.
Profile Image for Johanna M Rae.
Author 23 books145 followers
October 14, 2012
For a debut novel, this book is awesome. Speaking from experience, I know how difficult it is to get everything right first time. The journey as an author is not something you just pick up overnight but something that is learned step by step along the way. There are a few places where Nemer has switched tense, or a typo has been missed but I urge you to look beyond that and allow yourself to be immersed into the world of the Algula.

The sibling bond between the main characters, and their determination not to give up on each other made it easy for the reader to bond with them, and the authenticity Nemer has given this book with all the little Middle Eastern touches very impressive. She has even included actual Arabic script in places. My favorite story arc was that surrounding Dominic and his struggles, definitely something to tug on the heartstrings.

If you are a fan of the vampire genre, you will enjoy Blood Purple.
Profile Image for Audrina.
1 review5 followers
September 23, 2012
Debut author Ashley Nemer delivers an outstanding passionate read with her first paranormal romance Blood Purple. The book is filled passion, wild entangled emotions and now it’s time for you to relax and escape along with the characters by reading Blood Purple. Ashley Nemer is a new XoXo Publishing author to look out for.
Audrina Leone
I only review the kind of books I like to read.

Blood Purple
Ashley Nemer
http://www.xoxopublishing.com/Products
Rated: 5 Stars



Profile Image for Erin Hayden.
Author 9 books3 followers
February 9, 2013
What a different spin on vampires from the norm. It did take me a while to get into the story, but once I did, I was captured by the amazing characters. I am a vampire lover, I love just about all of them, with the exception of the sparkly ones, and the way Ashley wrote this new breed of those loveable blood suckers will make you question everything you think you know about them. I thoroughly enjoyed this story, and can't wait for the next installment, as she left you hanging badly at the end.
Profile Image for Lucie.
42 reviews5 followers
May 4, 2014
Grabbing Story

What a grabbing tale Ashley Nemer has woven. I truly got wrapped up in Zayne and Nicole's individual stories as well as their combined as siblings history. The ending is well placed in the story, so much so that you want to immediately dive right into the next book!! I really have nothing negative to say, even the few (and I do mean few) editing errors do NOT take away from the book AT ALL!
Profile Image for Mary Hartshorn.
593 reviews2 followers
April 8, 2014
This book was terrible and hard to fall into. The term for sister, brother, etc. kept changing it seemed for the same character from one page to the next. The author was trying to write the book from it seemed EVERYONE's point of view with no transition or warning between them. The beginning chapter seemed to be promising, but then it became garbled. I do not recommend this book.
42 reviews
April 16, 2013
I concur with other commEnts. Great read, couldn't put it down. Can't wait for Blood Yellow. I am hooked.
Profile Image for Laken.
1 review1 follower
April 20, 2013
ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!
Profile Image for Remi.
122 reviews2 followers
May 10, 2013
I loved the sorty that was woven. It left me wanting more and I have to wait for Blood Yellow to come out to feed my fix.
Profile Image for Melissa.
232 reviews2 followers
July 20, 2013
Loved the characters although the Arabic family names threw me off at first. Liked the different take on the vampire creation story also. Refreshingly different ..
Profile Image for Corinna Mcmahan.
3 reviews
September 8, 2013
I loved this book. The characters seemed real and believable. They had normal flaws anybody could have yet were able to fight the fight
69 reviews1 follower
May 29, 2024
Vampire from the Middle East

Paranormal fantasy a race of Vampires displaced from their homeland in Lebanon by inter family strife and their struggles to survive. Interwoven with historical events that add credence to the tale. Supernatural powers, blood and guts sibling tensions. I’ll be moving on to the second volume now.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews

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