Blood Ties: An Extreme Horror

by Vivian VanDam

Away.
They had gotten away.
Not without scars.
Not without ghosts.
Not without loss.

But there's something wrong with Alyx.
Medication isn't working.
Therapy doesn't touch it.
The whispers in the shadows.
The screams at night.

And the cravings ...
Oh GOD the cravings!
Temptation is a threat, while the urges are promises.

Genres: Horror

131 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 10, 2024

About the author

Vivian has been professionally writing since 2017, but has always been writing since she was very young. She lives in Maryland with her husband fellow author, James Lefay Bishop.

She can be found at any coffee shop working on her next book, or at a bookstore looking through the horror section.

Stephen King has always been her hero.

Reviews

[Mickey · Rating 4 out of 5]

The follow up to The Black Forest, this was another fast-paced extreme horror. While I liked this one, I didn't enjoy it quite as much as the first. For one, there wasn't as much gore as I'd liked, and I wasn't overly keen on the story taking on a paranormal twist. I much prefer it when the evil is human. On top of that, Alyx and Elijah were playing hide the penis waaay too much for my liking.
Aside from those little issues, I did enjoy it, and I'm looking forward to the next installment.

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

3. 5 ⭐

Now hear me out on this one... It was better than the first when it comes to mistakes and errors... However, the book itself was... Boring? Like, I was hoping for something bad and messed up after what happened to Alyx and Elijah but I didn't get that? 😩

When I read the trigger list I was fucking ecstatic! I was ready to throw my soul further down hell for them triggers! (apart from cheating... Like, come on! The one thing we do not accept is cheating ffs!!!)

But the triggers didn't live up to the hype in all honesty. I was hoping for more gore, more crazy, more... Everything! But I got less gore, less crazy and less everything than I did in the first book.

And the ending? I'm sorry to say but that just really ruined the whole thing for me. This was such a good messed up story about humans going mental and all and Pestolence kinda ruined it? Like, I was hoping it would stay human and that Elijah and Alyx would continue being messed up but I didn't need a demon to be thrown into it cause it just doesn't make sense? 🤦‍♀️

I also really wanted this book to round the story up nicely but instead I'm left with more questions than before 😪

[Breanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blood Ties by Vivian Vandam is a dark and gripping continuation of Alex’s story. After surviving the horrors of the Black Forest, Alex is desperate to reclaim a normal life, but the trauma refuses to let her go. Visions of death, lingering carnage, and the ghost of her best friend blur the line between guilt and something far more sinister.

This book leans heavily into psychological horror, keeping the tension high and the atmosphere unsettling. Vivian does an excellent job exploring trauma, grief, and the lasting scars of survival. The mystery surrounding Alex’s visions kept me hooked, constantly questioning what was real and what wasn’t.

A chilling, emotional read that proves some bonds, and some horrors never truly die.

[Katie Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

And Vivian does it again! Another quick paced horror story with a sprinkle of spice. It’s the second installment in The Black Forest series. It picks off where the first book ended and follows the lives of the victims. To the outside eye, they look like they have processed and moved on from the terrifying events they survived. But a much darker truth is lurking…
Between the gore, the storyline, and the terrifying realization of what is truly going on this book will have you struggling to put it down! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 for me!

[Tina Kroh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a deliciously gory, disturbing, spicy story that was really a wild ride. It has so many different elements all rolled in together to create something truly worthy of the splatterpunk genre. Check the triggers if you need to because it has a bunch. I do think it would have packed more of a punch without the supernatural aspect. I tend to find the evil of man much more horrifying. But I truly enjoyed this book.

[Leighah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn't sure how I would go with this book when I saw the trigger warning list but it wasn't too bad. I also didn't realise it is book 2 of a series. I did enjoy the fact that for a while there I couldn't decide whether the MC was nutso or there was something darker going on. The slow change in attitude was well down. Im thinking I really need to read the first book to understand the back story more fully.

[Ali O · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!!! This is an intense & wild read!
This book is a follow up to The Black Forest. It continues on with some of the main characters after book 1 ended and how their lives are now. I feel that The Black Forest, (Book 1) had more depth to the storyline, but this was a shorter story also. This story is very “spicy” with the sexual content, and there are a lot of unexpected twists and turns. My mouth was hung open in shock for most of the book. (In a good way!)

[destiny byrd · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone dealing with her demons, this book may have had gore and horror aspects. I loved that Alyx finally wanted to feel their power and control. I know from The Black Forest (book 1) shows how Elija played the role as the puppet master. He knows what and how he fucked her mind up. Never thought I enjoyed this genre but if it's written by Vivian VanDam. Take my money.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

what a twist !!!

Okay this author is now on my list ,
The book was still extremely horror , spicy , and twisty !! Gosh I flew through this book in a few hours !
Seriously go read the first then this one !!

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not for everyone!

I read both books in a day- not for everyone, it was a great read, but reader beware: read the warning before diving in! I loved this one!

[Baileigh Conrad · Rating 5 out of 5]

woah crazy, terrifying, descriptive, was not expecting it to take the turn that it did! can’t wait to read more

[Shannon Dougherty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was excited to read the second book bc the first one was so good. Well, this exceeded my expectations!!! I think I liked this one better than the first. So good!

[Leigh.empresselly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was just the chaotic ride I needed! Check triggers! Fast paced and full of horror!

[K · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book! It gave me nightmares TWICE. It kept me hooked from beginning to end. I can't wait to read the second book!

[Jamie Smith · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I really enjoyed the storyline of the first book, I really did not like this one at all. And once again, between the errors and repetitive descriptives, it was really hard to get through.

As always with extreme horror, please read trigger warnings before getting started. There are quite a few in this.