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Cassandra Myles, Witch #1
Blood and Loss
If you lost everything that made you who you are could you recover?
Would you be stronger than before or would you crumble under the mountain of grief?
When Cassandra Myles is faced with this question her answer is to do what ever it takes to move on. She rebuilds her life and finds happiness once again. She doesn't do it alone, she has two very special men in her life, who have been there for her while she has recovered.
One is her boss. His name is Quintus and he is a very old and very powerful vampire. He took her under his wing when she needed someone and now she would do anything to repay that debt.
The other is her roommate Declan. He is caring, charming, gorgeous and in her eyes perfect in every way except one. Cassandra feels they are meant for each other and Declan feels he is meant for every woman who walks in his bar.
Life might not be perfect, but it was filled with possibilities and she was going to meet them with strength, courage and when all else fails a huge dose of sarcasm.
Then Quintus comes to her and tells her what was once lost can now be restored. A painful part of her past can be undone. Will this make her life complete or should some things remain buried.
This novel contains several erotic scenes that may cause an increased heart rate and other more pleasant side effects. This novel is not meant for a younger reader.
Would you be stronger than before or would you crumble under the mountain of grief?
When Cassandra Myles is faced with this question her answer is to do what ever it takes to move on. She rebuilds her life and finds happiness once again. She doesn't do it alone, she has two very special men in her life, who have been there for her while she has recovered.
One is her boss. His name is Quintus and he is a very old and very powerful vampire. He took her under his wing when she needed someone and now she would do anything to repay that debt.
The other is her roommate Declan. He is caring, charming, gorgeous and in her eyes perfect in every way except one. Cassandra feels they are meant for each other and Declan feels he is meant for every woman who walks in his bar.
Life might not be perfect, but it was filled with possibilities and she was going to meet them with strength, courage and when all else fails a huge dose of sarcasm.
Then Quintus comes to her and tells her what was once lost can now be restored. A painful part of her past can be undone. Will this make her life complete or should some things remain buried.
This novel contains several erotic scenes that may cause an increased heart rate and other more pleasant side effects. This novel is not meant for a younger reader.
222 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 12, 2012
65 people are currently reading
532 people want to read
About the author
Electa Graham
9 books34 followersI've always loved to read and write. My first paycheck from my first job was spent totally on books. I started writing novels when I was in high school. I never attempted to get them published. One thing led to another yadda yadda yadda 20 something years later I decided to write one more novel and if I thought it was good enough then I would finally get that manuscript published.
Boom! done. I am on my fourth book and loving every part of the process (well except writing this bio :) )
Boom! done. I am on my fourth book and loving every part of the process (well except writing this bio :) )
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
July 18, 2012
Oh it was a 4+ for sure.
Cover - It is ok. Could be better.
Favorite Line - "No wonder i couldn't get anyone to have sex with me, i had bad breath, nest like hair & i smelled like a corpse"
Favorite Character - Cass
This book is awesome, I was surprised by how much i enjoyed it. It was funny, sweet & sexy. I laughed out load quite a few times. It had a great mix of emotions & dialog. I honestly was surprised by how the story turned out as well - it is always a plus to not read a predictable book. The characters were interesting & i was totally draw into the relationships between them.
I would recommend this book & i look forward to reading more in this series.
(http://bookprotagonist.blogspot.co.uk/ - more reviews on F/P/UF/PR/PE)
Cover - It is ok. Could be better.
Favorite Line - "No wonder i couldn't get anyone to have sex with me, i had bad breath, nest like hair & i smelled like a corpse"
Favorite Character - Cass
This book is awesome, I was surprised by how much i enjoyed it. It was funny, sweet & sexy. I laughed out load quite a few times. It had a great mix of emotions & dialog. I honestly was surprised by how the story turned out as well - it is always a plus to not read a predictable book. The characters were interesting & i was totally draw into the relationships between them.
I would recommend this book & i look forward to reading more in this series.
(http://bookprotagonist.blogspot.co.uk/ - more reviews on F/P/UF/PR/PE)
January 21, 2015
A fun read!
I can't help but give Blood and Loss by Electre Graham, a fellow Haligonian, five stars -I really enjoyed the book.
I have to qualify my review with the fact that I don't normally read paranormal adventures. I never read Twilight and never watched the movies, I did, however, read the first Sookie Stackhouse Novel and watched True Blood with a morbid devotion; though, sometimes I felt awkward during the sex scenes, but isn't that what fast forward is for? So, not being a devoted paranormal romance reader and not being the type of person to give a poor rating to a book just because it's not within my normal list of genres I read, which would make the review totally unqualified and pointless, I rated it based solely on my enjoyment factor and not on any substantial experience within the genre.
Being a bit of a prune, I could easily handle the tidbits of erotica that Graham threw at me, which was just that, erotica. The sex in the novel is tasteful and far from porn, making it easy to handle for me.
Well written and easy to read without the overuse and out to lunch similes and metaphors, Blood and Loss is told in first person through the eyes and voice of our Heroine Cassandra Myles, a witch in training. Right at the beginning of the novel, Cassandra faces immense trouble that seems to follow her, placing her in the position of loving, or potentially loving, three men. Right from the beginning, it was a lot of fun to read.
The line I loved: "Yeah! Well, give me a few more days, maybe Stockholm syndrome will kick in."
As soon as I substantially reduce the number of novels sitting at home and waiting patiently to be read, I will be reading the next in the Graham's series.
-Michael Kroft, author of On Herring Cove Road
I can't help but give Blood and Loss by Electre Graham, a fellow Haligonian, five stars -I really enjoyed the book.
I have to qualify my review with the fact that I don't normally read paranormal adventures. I never read Twilight and never watched the movies, I did, however, read the first Sookie Stackhouse Novel and watched True Blood with a morbid devotion; though, sometimes I felt awkward during the sex scenes, but isn't that what fast forward is for? So, not being a devoted paranormal romance reader and not being the type of person to give a poor rating to a book just because it's not within my normal list of genres I read, which would make the review totally unqualified and pointless, I rated it based solely on my enjoyment factor and not on any substantial experience within the genre.
Being a bit of a prune, I could easily handle the tidbits of erotica that Graham threw at me, which was just that, erotica. The sex in the novel is tasteful and far from porn, making it easy to handle for me.
Well written and easy to read without the overuse and out to lunch similes and metaphors, Blood and Loss is told in first person through the eyes and voice of our Heroine Cassandra Myles, a witch in training. Right at the beginning of the novel, Cassandra faces immense trouble that seems to follow her, placing her in the position of loving, or potentially loving, three men. Right from the beginning, it was a lot of fun to read.
The line I loved: "Yeah! Well, give me a few more days, maybe Stockholm syndrome will kick in."
As soon as I substantially reduce the number of novels sitting at home and waiting patiently to be read, I will be reading the next in the Graham's series.
-Michael Kroft, author of On Herring Cove Road
October 14, 2013
Blood and Loss is the first of a series featuring Cassandra Myles, a young witch in training, but due to unforeseen circumstances she never makes the grade at the witch academy. After witnessing the brutal deaths of her parents at the hands of a teenage vampire (this scene was very bloody and full of deep emotions), Cass succumbs to her loss and is even suspected by the police. Being a witch, one would think Cass would be more savvy than most females, but it seems to hinder her and she falls into the same traps big time with an abusive overbearing bully of a man. Not to worry as Cass falls under the spell of the gorgeous, well-muscled Quintus, a vampire of course.
This entertaining tale has witches, vampires and Fae - what is it with Fae, they seem to sneak in when least expected, enough to satisfy any fan of Sookie Stackhouse. And the ending is something I dare any reader to figure out before it comes. I like the way Electa builds the story gradually with just the right pinch of supernatural blended with not-too steamy sex, violence, gore and plenty of humour - some of her lines had me downright bust out laughing.
Although Blood and Loss kicks off with YA it settles quickly into more adult R-Rated and fits quite nicely next to any Sookie novel on the shelf.
I would recommend this 4* supernatural fantasy to all fantasy fans out there.
This entertaining tale has witches, vampires and Fae - what is it with Fae, they seem to sneak in when least expected, enough to satisfy any fan of Sookie Stackhouse. And the ending is something I dare any reader to figure out before it comes. I like the way Electa builds the story gradually with just the right pinch of supernatural blended with not-too steamy sex, violence, gore and plenty of humour - some of her lines had me downright bust out laughing.
Although Blood and Loss kicks off with YA it settles quickly into more adult R-Rated and fits quite nicely next to any Sookie novel on the shelf.
I would recommend this 4* supernatural fantasy to all fantasy fans out there.
January 11, 2018
I just finished the Kindle edition of this book last night, and I have to say I very much enjoyed it. First person isn't usually my cup of tea, but it worked well here. Blood & Loss is one of those books that's damned easy to turn page after page; you don't feel like you're struggling to get through it at all, despite the occasional sense that the story was still finding its feet and dithering slightly.
The character of Cassandra is complex, although I get the feeling that Electa Graham is keeping much of the hinted-at complexity to be revealed in more depth in later books in the series. For me, the story came in two distinct parts, the first being much shorter. I really enjoyed the first part, and I was intrigued to discover which direction the rest of the story was going to go. For much of the second part, the story revolved around the titular character and three secondary characters; one of these was extremely interesting and very likeable; the second was at first annoying, but over time managed to win me over; the third, for me, was unlikeable and annoying from the offset, and my views on that character didn't change right up to finishing the book.
Cassandra's earlier choices were understandable, and the bad ones she made were thankfully turned around (either by her own will or by the intervention of a friend), but a couple of her later choices (again, only from my perspective) were questionable. Especially later in the story, I found myself wanting to yell at her and tell her it was a bad idea to do what she was doing. However, this was rectified in the final chapter when a particular event made me grin and punch the air, thankful that a certain element had (seemingly) been removed from the board.
I'm certainly looking forward to reading the second book in the series, and I hope to see the return of one character who I very much liked but who, in this book, I felt was under-utilised; again, I suspect the best is being kept back for later instalments. For these reasons I'm giving Blood & Loss 4 stars, holding back on that golden 5th just as Electa has held back her strongest cards for this first book of the series. I expect that by the end of the series at least one book will have received that golden number.
A promising start to an intriguing series. Now, where's that second book...?
The character of Cassandra is complex, although I get the feeling that Electa Graham is keeping much of the hinted-at complexity to be revealed in more depth in later books in the series. For me, the story came in two distinct parts, the first being much shorter. I really enjoyed the first part, and I was intrigued to discover which direction the rest of the story was going to go. For much of the second part, the story revolved around the titular character and three secondary characters; one of these was extremely interesting and very likeable; the second was at first annoying, but over time managed to win me over; the third, for me, was unlikeable and annoying from the offset, and my views on that character didn't change right up to finishing the book.
Cassandra's earlier choices were understandable, and the bad ones she made were thankfully turned around (either by her own will or by the intervention of a friend), but a couple of her later choices (again, only from my perspective) were questionable. Especially later in the story, I found myself wanting to yell at her and tell her it was a bad idea to do what she was doing. However, this was rectified in the final chapter when a particular event made me grin and punch the air, thankful that a certain element had (seemingly) been removed from the board.
I'm certainly looking forward to reading the second book in the series, and I hope to see the return of one character who I very much liked but who, in this book, I felt was under-utilised; again, I suspect the best is being kept back for later instalments. For these reasons I'm giving Blood & Loss 4 stars, holding back on that golden 5th just as Electa has held back her strongest cards for this first book of the series. I expect that by the end of the series at least one book will have received that golden number.
A promising start to an intriguing series. Now, where's that second book...?
April 10, 2022
Blood and Loss, the first book in Electa Graham’s Cassandra Myles Witch Series, was a very pleasant and unexpected treat.
Written by a local author, I saw a post on social media that this series turns 10 this year and the author plans to publish books 5 and 6, ending the series. I’m not much of a Kindle reader, but it’s better than reading by flashlight, so with the heavy winds advisory and expected power outages, I downloaded this novel ahead of the storm.
It’s been a while since a read a really good paranormal romance that combined Witches, Vampires, Werewolves, and even the Fae. The book was fun to read, with lots of drama, twists, and turns, so much so that I read the whole thing in one evening. I have already downloaded books 2-4 and fully expect to binge-read them.
Written by a local author, I saw a post on social media that this series turns 10 this year and the author plans to publish books 5 and 6, ending the series. I’m not much of a Kindle reader, but it’s better than reading by flashlight, so with the heavy winds advisory and expected power outages, I downloaded this novel ahead of the storm.
It’s been a while since a read a really good paranormal romance that combined Witches, Vampires, Werewolves, and even the Fae. The book was fun to read, with lots of drama, twists, and turns, so much so that I read the whole thing in one evening. I have already downloaded books 2-4 and fully expect to binge-read them.
December 15, 2012
A lot of what I like about Electa Graham's books can be found right from the get go in Blood and Loss. There is magic and there is danger in this world, but she does not overdo it - basically, anything she can assume her reader will intuit, she leaves out until needed. It allows her to focus on character and pace, both of which are consistent. The 'feel' of the relationships are right. You are meant to fill in the gaps as you go.
Graham not only writes from the first person perspective, but there is a fair bit of 'stream of consciousness' and 'internal monolog' going on. It can be a little distracting to get into, but becomes an effective device as the story progresses. Cassandra's reactions and feelings, often sarcastic, reveal a lot more of her intentions and feelings than straight prose would, and Graham is able to weave her story around this method. Descriptions focus on what is happening in the now, and Cassandra?s internal reactions serve to provide the heft the story requires. Graham does not simply want to take you from horror scene to sex scene and back, she wants to take you on a ride, and a fulfilling one at that, depending on what cup of tea you're looking for that day.
I really hate to use the term 'shades of grey' these days - especially when talking about adult-oriented fiction - but I want to use the term as it was originally intended. There are very few black and white characters here. For every strength a character possesses, there is a frailty, a weakness, something to overcome. That might put some readers off. But you cannot have white without black in an Electa Graham book, and that adds a layer to the characters that elevates it above some of the other books of its kind.
There are a lot of pros to this book, but it comes down to this for me - if you want an enjoyable read that in addition stirs the blood (pun intended), Blood and Loss is worth your time.
If I'm looking for cons, I hope that as Electa progresses in her writing, she is able to incorporate a proofreader, someone with a strong grammar sensibility who sees the things we authors do not when we read our own text, and that others may not be trained to see. But really, that's nitpicking, as it never took me out of the story, and I would hate to see something that would dull the often humorous and sarcastic internal monologues that goes on in her characters? heads. Thoughts are stray, thoughts are random, particularly the more adverse the situation.
4/5
(3/5 if you're a grammar perfection nerd, 5/5 if you're having some 'alone' time. Wink Nudge)
Graham not only writes from the first person perspective, but there is a fair bit of 'stream of consciousness' and 'internal monolog' going on. It can be a little distracting to get into, but becomes an effective device as the story progresses. Cassandra's reactions and feelings, often sarcastic, reveal a lot more of her intentions and feelings than straight prose would, and Graham is able to weave her story around this method. Descriptions focus on what is happening in the now, and Cassandra?s internal reactions serve to provide the heft the story requires. Graham does not simply want to take you from horror scene to sex scene and back, she wants to take you on a ride, and a fulfilling one at that, depending on what cup of tea you're looking for that day.
I really hate to use the term 'shades of grey' these days - especially when talking about adult-oriented fiction - but I want to use the term as it was originally intended. There are very few black and white characters here. For every strength a character possesses, there is a frailty, a weakness, something to overcome. That might put some readers off. But you cannot have white without black in an Electa Graham book, and that adds a layer to the characters that elevates it above some of the other books of its kind.
There are a lot of pros to this book, but it comes down to this for me - if you want an enjoyable read that in addition stirs the blood (pun intended), Blood and Loss is worth your time.
If I'm looking for cons, I hope that as Electa progresses in her writing, she is able to incorporate a proofreader, someone with a strong grammar sensibility who sees the things we authors do not when we read our own text, and that others may not be trained to see. But really, that's nitpicking, as it never took me out of the story, and I would hate to see something that would dull the often humorous and sarcastic internal monologues that goes on in her characters? heads. Thoughts are stray, thoughts are random, particularly the more adverse the situation.
4/5
(3/5 if you're a grammar perfection nerd, 5/5 if you're having some 'alone' time. Wink Nudge)
August 31, 2012
I really enjoyed this story of Cassandra Myles, she made for a fairly strong female lead and had wonderful male leads that she interacted with (Quintus & Lucius), I didn't particularly care for Declan, he seemed from the beginning to be kinda pompus, with good reason as we eventually find out, although it's great to have someone to dislike during a story. I think this is a good start to a series that has great potential. The story was fast paced and kept you page turning to see what happens next. There are some minor grammar error's but nothing that distracts to much from the story, and it does get a little wordy at times. If you are looking for hot steamy love scene's you won't find them in this book, although the "love" portrayed was sweet there just wasn't any sexy smexy to it, seemed like it might have been written for the YA crowd.
All in all I would recommend this book, it was entertaining and kept my attention. I look forward to continuing the adventures of Cassandra Myles as the book does kinda leave you on a cliff hanger. This is my first experience with author Electa Graham, and I am happy to say I look forward to reading more of her stories.
All in all I would recommend this book, it was entertaining and kept my attention. I look forward to continuing the adventures of Cassandra Myles as the book does kinda leave you on a cliff hanger. This is my first experience with author Electa Graham, and I am happy to say I look forward to reading more of her stories.
August 9, 2016
This book was a fantastic delight. A bit of a cliffhanger but hey, first books in a series almost always are. Blood and Loss was funny, sexy, & magical. With vampires, witches, & werewolves this story took me on a ride that I totally didn't expect. With enough romance that I had to keep asking myself, who will Cass end up with? Cass was easy to identify with. She's a witch, who's powers have been stripped by a cruel witch with cruel intentions. Her love interests, two sexy vampires & a little off the wall werewolf. It all came together to make an awesome read & any paranormal reader should love this book as much as I do.
December 31, 2015
I liked the book more than I thought I would. It was a little slow for me in the beginning. When it did pick up it did. A really fun read and now I must continue the series. I need to know what happens in the end.
June 10, 2013
wow, thats all I have to say.....can't wait too see how this one ends.
August 2, 2017
Wow, what a trip down the rabbit hole & back. The cliffhanger ending certainly leaves you wanting to read the next one. And although I saw the death of a certain male coming, it was still a little upsetting. She should have chosen 2 instead of 1 that was so not right for her.
March 7, 2018
Warning: whatever you do, do NOT start reading anything written by Electa Scott Graham at 11:00 at night. It will result in extensive lack of sleep. I was up until after 4:30. It’s literally impossible to stop reading once you start. It needs a warning label.
June 10, 2017
Book 36 complete.
October 20, 2017
Not my kind of book
Not sure why I downloaded this book, it's not something I would ordinarily read. But for those who do like this kind of story, it was well written.
Not sure why I downloaded this book, it's not something I would ordinarily read. But for those who do like this kind of story, it was well written.
September 6, 2019
Would not recommend.
The plot is lacking, and the characters not well developed at all. I Would not recommend this book to anyone.
The plot is lacking, and the characters not well developed at all. I Would not recommend this book to anyone.
September 17, 2019
Not my genre
August 10, 2016
Ever read a book that you know should have had some things written in a bit different way, BUT you keep reading, and you also want to read the next one? That’s exactly what happened with this book for me.
Cassandra is attending a witch college and is getting ready to graduate along with her closest friend and roommate, Lena. She goes home for Thanksgiving, horrible things ensue, and upon returning back to school, she is told that due to her circumstances(not telling!) she must take her final exam that day. Let’s just say, final exams at a witch college aren’t exactly done on paper, or orally for that matter. Cassandra loses something major after this. The story jumps five years. I had a problem with that. During that time, she is meets a vampire named Quintus, who gives her a job. And he really cares about her. I would have liked to have seen how all that came about and then the story could have jumped. On top of that, Lena has been left behind without another word. Really? Best friends and nothing? Made little sense to me and I loved Lena’s character, so I missed her in the rest of the story. Cassandra has a male roommate named Declan; she wants him but he seemingly doesn’t want her. And then there’s Quintus’s only son Lucius, also a vampire, who really likes Cassandra too. Yes, totally team Lucius here. This ramps up the usual love triangle to something more like a rectangle.
This book ends up being about a witch with some really different powers and along the way, vampires, werewolves, and the Fae are introduced into the story. The character of Cassandra, while I liked her a lot in the beginning, ended up being a bit wishy washy at times-jumping around about who she wants to be with, and generally made me want to yell at her at times. The good thing is no, she doesn’t have sex with all of them. All that being said, I found that the author knows how to write a very readable, and mostly enjoyable story-when I wasn’t wanting to yell at the main character. I wasn’t a fan of some of her choices, to say the least!
It seems like I have told a lot of about the story, but no, not even close. I haven’t even touched on the main premise of the story and I am not going to-that involves spoilers way worse then anything I have mentioned. If you like books with all sorts of supernatural beings, sexual situations, but not what I would consider true erotica, some really good characters-Lucius and Quintus in particular-and an interesting premise, then you may want to try this book. Me? I am buying the next one. (3.5 stars on RabidReads.ca)
Cassandra is attending a witch college and is getting ready to graduate along with her closest friend and roommate, Lena. She goes home for Thanksgiving, horrible things ensue, and upon returning back to school, she is told that due to her circumstances(not telling!) she must take her final exam that day. Let’s just say, final exams at a witch college aren’t exactly done on paper, or orally for that matter. Cassandra loses something major after this. The story jumps five years. I had a problem with that. During that time, she is meets a vampire named Quintus, who gives her a job. And he really cares about her. I would have liked to have seen how all that came about and then the story could have jumped. On top of that, Lena has been left behind without another word. Really? Best friends and nothing? Made little sense to me and I loved Lena’s character, so I missed her in the rest of the story. Cassandra has a male roommate named Declan; she wants him but he seemingly doesn’t want her. And then there’s Quintus’s only son Lucius, also a vampire, who really likes Cassandra too. Yes, totally team Lucius here. This ramps up the usual love triangle to something more like a rectangle.
This book ends up being about a witch with some really different powers and along the way, vampires, werewolves, and the Fae are introduced into the story. The character of Cassandra, while I liked her a lot in the beginning, ended up being a bit wishy washy at times-jumping around about who she wants to be with, and generally made me want to yell at her at times. The good thing is no, she doesn’t have sex with all of them. All that being said, I found that the author knows how to write a very readable, and mostly enjoyable story-when I wasn’t wanting to yell at the main character. I wasn’t a fan of some of her choices, to say the least!
It seems like I have told a lot of about the story, but no, not even close. I haven’t even touched on the main premise of the story and I am not going to-that involves spoilers way worse then anything I have mentioned. If you like books with all sorts of supernatural beings, sexual situations, but not what I would consider true erotica, some really good characters-Lucius and Quintus in particular-and an interesting premise, then you may want to try this book. Me? I am buying the next one. (3.5 stars on RabidReads.ca)
September 27, 2013
Blood and Loss is book one of a series featuring Cassandra Myles, a trainee witch who never quite earns her pass certificate. She suffers through some early traumas, one of which would satisfy even the Breaking Bad crowd for the amount of blood spilled, and so Cassandra strikes out on a new and quieter life by rooming with a maniac. When not spending her time with the maniac she likes to hang out with a vampire. We all made decisions of a similar quality when we were young and innocent, what could possibly go wrong?
Of course there's more witchery brewing just around the corner when hot vampire Quintus tells Cassandra he can help her with obtaining her witch's certificate. There’s a chase, some supernatural changes, and even fae. (Fae are like that, they love to get in on stories like this.) Eventually Cassandra is asked to do something she almost can't do, nor wants to, but by this time everything hinges on her and her alone. She has no choice but to try. Can she recover?
This story could so easily have been adapted for a YA audience, but instead the author has gone with a decision to make this a book aimed at 18+ readers by including a dab of eroticism here and there. What looks like a steamy two-way might become a steamy three-way (our Cass does like a bit of variety), although to find out how steamy you'll have to read the book.
Blood and Loss opens with a YA feel, with happy young witches in training to become grumpier older ones, but the themes soon gravitate to a more mature audience. There's not too much jiggery-pokery going on where the supernatural is concerned, just enough to inform the reader and keep the story bubbling along. There is an undercurrent of humour throughout, with some snappy, sassy lines delivered. ("No wonder I couldn’t get anyone to have sex with me. I had bad breath, nest-like hair, and I smelled like a corpse.")
This is an enjoyable scamper through the supernatural world but without the YA frustration and restraint, the pacing is good and there are no dead spots. Good stuff!
Of course there's more witchery brewing just around the corner when hot vampire Quintus tells Cassandra he can help her with obtaining her witch's certificate. There’s a chase, some supernatural changes, and even fae. (Fae are like that, they love to get in on stories like this.) Eventually Cassandra is asked to do something she almost can't do, nor wants to, but by this time everything hinges on her and her alone. She has no choice but to try. Can she recover?
This story could so easily have been adapted for a YA audience, but instead the author has gone with a decision to make this a book aimed at 18+ readers by including a dab of eroticism here and there. What looks like a steamy two-way might become a steamy three-way (our Cass does like a bit of variety), although to find out how steamy you'll have to read the book.
Blood and Loss opens with a YA feel, with happy young witches in training to become grumpier older ones, but the themes soon gravitate to a more mature audience. There's not too much jiggery-pokery going on where the supernatural is concerned, just enough to inform the reader and keep the story bubbling along. There is an undercurrent of humour throughout, with some snappy, sassy lines delivered. ("No wonder I couldn’t get anyone to have sex with me. I had bad breath, nest-like hair, and I smelled like a corpse.")
This is an enjoyable scamper through the supernatural world but without the YA frustration and restraint, the pacing is good and there are no dead spots. Good stuff!
February 23, 2024
The positives of this book are plentiful in number - the storyline is a good one, the pace is fast and punchy, and the characters are well-rounded and mostly likeable. You are kept guessing at various points ABOUT various things which all in all makes it a page-turner.
The biggest negative for me was the 'relationships' that Cass had, and not just the male ones. When all the drama happens at the beginning of the book, it is her best friend, Lena, that is the one that stays by her, comforts her and basically saves her life. Now, I know that it was Lena who herself predicted that Cass wouldn't see her for a while but I wasn't expecting Cass to completely FORGET about her! Which, in my book, basically sucks!
And then there is the relationship between Cass and the males in her life - Quintus, Lucius and Declan. To put it bluntly, I was getting whiplash over which one of these guys she was in love/lust with. And although I like a good steamy section as much as the next person, I was actually getting a bit bored with it. She would literally walk away from Lucius and Quintus and then have sex with Declan.
The ending felt quite rushed too. The whole book builds up to this big climax (pardon the pun) and it's over and done within a couple of pages and off you have to pop to buy the next book. I like cliffhanger endings but not when you feel like you're pushed over the edge instead of being allowed to teeter on it for a while.
On the whole an enjoyable read with some funny moments. Add a bit of steam and there you go. Not sure about getting the rest though.
* Verified Purchase - November 2012 *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Sep 22, 2013
The biggest negative for me was the 'relationships' that Cass had, and not just the male ones. When all the drama happens at the beginning of the book, it is her best friend, Lena, that is the one that stays by her, comforts her and basically saves her life. Now, I know that it was Lena who herself predicted that Cass wouldn't see her for a while but I wasn't expecting Cass to completely FORGET about her! Which, in my book, basically sucks!
And then there is the relationship between Cass and the males in her life - Quintus, Lucius and Declan. To put it bluntly, I was getting whiplash over which one of these guys she was in love/lust with. And although I like a good steamy section as much as the next person, I was actually getting a bit bored with it. She would literally walk away from Lucius and Quintus and then have sex with Declan.
The ending felt quite rushed too. The whole book builds up to this big climax (pardon the pun) and it's over and done within a couple of pages and off you have to pop to buy the next book. I like cliffhanger endings but not when you feel like you're pushed over the edge instead of being allowed to teeter on it for a while.
On the whole an enjoyable read with some funny moments. Add a bit of steam and there you go. Not sure about getting the rest though.
* Verified Purchase - November 2012 *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Sep 22, 2013
October 17, 2015
A cliffhanger- of course. 'Blood and Loss' was an intriguing and exciting read. The storyline was quite unique. I love a good witch story. Even though Cassandra didn't have her magic for most of the story, it was still pretty good. Full of witches, vampires, werewolves and some other paranormal beings. I would have liked to see more of Lena in the story, but I understand the why. I loved her personality and her wit. Cassandra was a great lead. Her sarcasm was top notch. I didn't necessarily agree with her decisions, but in a weird way it made sense for her character. Quintus and Lucius were both sexy and caring. Generous to a fault. Declan was an interesting character. I liked how he cared deeply for Cassandra, but he was also an ass. I look forward to reading more of the 'Cassandra Myles Witch Series'. I need to see what happens next. But, just so you know- it ends on a damn cliffhanger.
May 2, 2018
Edited- I think when I first read this book it was an old un-updated copy that had been on my old kindle for a long time. When rereading it to move forward in the series I’m not noticing any of the issues I had the first time around.
I was pleasantly surprised by this book! I wasn’t expecting much from a free book with the whole supernatural thing going on ,but this has a new twist that really kept me on my toes. The only thing that I had issues with was the typos and grammar. I don’t know if there was a translation issue since the book is set in Canada maybe it was written in French first? But there are quite a few words that are just missing a letter or something like that....kind of annoying. Proofread, people. Proofread.
I was pleasantly surprised by this book! I wasn’t expecting much from a free book with the whole supernatural thing going on ,but this has a new twist that really kept me on my toes. The only thing that I had issues with was the typos and grammar. I don’t know if there was a translation issue since the book is set in Canada maybe it was written in French first? But there are quite a few words that are just missing a letter or something like that....kind of annoying. Proofread, people. Proofread.
June 8, 2014
Buckle Up!
Electa Graham's paranormal fantasy is definitely for the adult reader, as it contains generous helpings of erotica along with witchy magic, vampires and more thrills than you could shake a stick (or wand) at.
Although this is not my usual genre, I enjoyed the moral ambiguity of some of Ms Graham's characters - a refreshing chnage from the black and white stereotypes so often encountered.
The plot rattles along at a fair old lick and you will have to turn the pages quickly to keep up. Fortunately, there are (at least) two more books in this series, so buckle up!
Electa Graham's paranormal fantasy is definitely for the adult reader, as it contains generous helpings of erotica along with witchy magic, vampires and more thrills than you could shake a stick (or wand) at.
Although this is not my usual genre, I enjoyed the moral ambiguity of some of Ms Graham's characters - a refreshing chnage from the black and white stereotypes so often encountered.
The plot rattles along at a fair old lick and you will have to turn the pages quickly to keep up. Fortunately, there are (at least) two more books in this series, so buckle up!
October 21, 2015
This story seems to drag a bit because of the creation of the world and the character history. I think the first and the second book should have been edited into one story. Luckily Kindle unlimited allowed me to read them for free so i moved to the second story.
Anyways I liked Cassandra she was tough and vunerable, which is a hard mix. I find paranormal females are either weak or super powerful. I really liked that she was both.
The only thing tiring about the character is all the men love her and want her it gets old fast
Anyways I liked Cassandra she was tough and vunerable, which is a hard mix. I find paranormal females are either weak or super powerful. I really liked that she was both.
The only thing tiring about the character is all the men love her and want her it gets old fast
May 20, 2014
This was a good story. It kept my attention and gah! I loved the romance! I'm a sucker for love triangles and two sexy men made me wonder who she would pick in the end. Overall, definitely worth the read :)
September 25, 2015
Good stuff!
This one hooked me from the beginning. I got sucked in and loved it. Vampires, werewolves, witches and fae who could ask for more? My only complaint was that I wished it was longer.
This one hooked me from the beginning. I got sucked in and loved it. Vampires, werewolves, witches and fae who could ask for more? My only complaint was that I wished it was longer.
June 17, 2014
The only thing that bothered me about the book is Cass seems to want to fall into bed with every guy she comes in contact with no matter who or what they are
November 8, 2014
I loved the characters in this book. And it's set in Canada which is awesome:) Can't wait to read the next one.
January 28, 2015
Great Start
A great start to this series ! I can't wait to read the next book . . . . .
A great start to this series ! I can't wait to read the next book . . . . .
June 16, 2015
was ok. Don't really remember much
July 6, 2016
Cliffhanger ending -1 star
Stockholm syndrome -1 star
Stockholm syndrome -1 star
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