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Old World Chronology #14
Bloodsport: An Old World Tale
During the events of Old World War, Sashi and Will Brighton have a close encounter with forces working against Colorado's cardinal vampire, Maven. To avoid becoming collateral damage, the couple take an impromptu trip to Las Vegas, where Sashi hopes to repair her relationship with their daughter, Grace, a newly minted healing witch.
There's just one problem: they didn't have time to notify Las Vegas's cardinal vampire, Silvio. Somehow, though, Silvio's newest employee is waiting for Sashi at the airport: her estranged father, Lucius Noring. Silvio has decided to pit Sashi's healing magic against her father's – and if she refuses, he'll use Grace instead.
There's just one problem: they didn't have time to notify Las Vegas's cardinal vampire, Silvio. Somehow, though, Silvio's newest employee is waiting for Sashi at the airport: her estranged father, Lucius Noring. Silvio has decided to pit Sashi's healing magic against her father's – and if she refuses, he'll use Grace instead.
- GenresUrban FantasyFantasy
229 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 14, 2025
67 people are currently reading
72 people want to read
About the author
Melissa F. Olson
42 books1,740 followersMelissa F. Olson is a writer and film professor. Her work includes the comic ARCHAIC, the feminist horror novel The Other Frankenstein, and more than 20 urban fantasy novels and novellas, including the Scarlett Bernard series and the Boundary Magic novels. Her journalism and academic work has been published in The International Journal of Comic Art, the compilation Images of the Modern Vampire, Tor.com, and the Everyone's Gone to the Movies series.
Melissa has been a writing teacher, English professor, and TEDx presenter, but she now divides her time between writing and conventions, where she speaks about issues related to genre, feminism, writing, and parenting. Read more about her life and work at MFOlson.com.
Melissa has been a writing teacher, English professor, and TEDx presenter, but she now divides her time between writing and conventions, where she speaks about issues related to genre, feminism, writing, and parenting. Read more about her life and work at MFOlson.com.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
February 13, 2025
*Source* Kindle Unlimited
*Genre* Urban Fantasy
*Rating* 3
*Thoughts*
Bloodsport: An Old World Tale by Melissa F. Olson is the 14th installment in the author's Old World Chronology. This story takes place concurrently with the Old World War, featuring Scarlett Bernard and Allison "Lex" Luther. Although you don't have to read that book, I highly recommend doing so because things are still fluid. With the blessing of Colorado's Vampire Cardinal Maven, Sashi (a thaumaturge witch who just happens to be pregnant) and her husband, former Alpha Werewolf Will Brighton, have escaped Colorado, hoping to spend time with their daughter Grace, a newly minted healing witch.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
*Genre* Urban Fantasy
*Rating* 3
*Thoughts*
Bloodsport: An Old World Tale by Melissa F. Olson is the 14th installment in the author's Old World Chronology. This story takes place concurrently with the Old World War, featuring Scarlett Bernard and Allison "Lex" Luther. Although you don't have to read that book, I highly recommend doing so because things are still fluid. With the blessing of Colorado's Vampire Cardinal Maven, Sashi (a thaumaturge witch who just happens to be pregnant) and her husband, former Alpha Werewolf Will Brighton, have escaped Colorado, hoping to spend time with their daughter Grace, a newly minted healing witch.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
February 24, 2025
3.5 stars
Been awhile since I read the "Old World" universe from Olson (the last book was three years ago). And this one featured Sashi and Will - whom, I admit, weren't as interesting as Scarlett/Jesse or Lex. Although I DO like Will, and I am always curious to read his "new" life since he is no longer a werewolf (and now married to Sashi). Sashi, on the other hand, is a bit detached for me.
This was pretty much a show-off of Sashi's power as a healing witch. Apparently she could do even MORE than she thought she could (). Nobody thought she could do it!
This was also a progress of mother-daughter relationship betwen Sashi and Grace.
It was enjoyable enough...
Been awhile since I read the "Old World" universe from Olson (the last book was three years ago). And this one featured Sashi and Will - whom, I admit, weren't as interesting as Scarlett/Jesse or Lex. Although I DO like Will, and I am always curious to read his "new" life since he is no longer a werewolf (and now married to Sashi). Sashi, on the other hand, is a bit detached for me.
This was pretty much a show-off of Sashi's power as a healing witch. Apparently she could do even MORE than she thought she could (). Nobody thought she could do it!
This was also a progress of mother-daughter relationship betwen Sashi and Grace.
It was enjoyable enough...
April 8, 2025
I love this series and its characters, but this one needs more help. The editing isn’t good- and it jumps from chapter 30 to 20 in kindle. And suddenly it’s over- like there was a deadline to meet and she had to rush the ending :/
January 29, 2025
(4.5 stars)
“Bloodsport: An Old Tale” is a part of The Boundary Witch series This is Sashi, the healer and her husband, Will’s adventure.
Sashi has been estranged from her daughter, Grace for several months now since they had a massive fight. After Sashi heals a man and his daughter, Lex, the Cardinal Vampire thinks it’s a good idea for both Sashi and Will to get away for a few days. So, Sashi decides to go see Grace in Law Vegas.
Upon arrival at the McCarran airport, they are greeted by a driver whose mission is to bring Sashi to see the Cardinal vampire of Vegas, Silvio. The driver is not the only surprise facing Sashi because he wanker of a father shows his face as well. Because she is 12 weeks pregnant, Sashi is able to negotiate a delayed visit to see Silvio in the evening.
Will and Sashi head off to see Grace who is none too happy to see her parents. They soon discover Grace is not ready to talk.
Silvio pretends to be offended that Sashi has entered his territory without proper planning or acknowledgement. He forces Sashi into a deal to heal some fighter in his latest money making scheme. He is threatening to force Grace to work for him and her father if she doesn’t agree. Well, he doesn’t know who he is messing with but he is about to find out. All if not what it seems in Vegas and Sashi, Will and even Grace will have to work together if they are going to make it through this visit unscathed.
This was a fun read in a series that I truly enjoyed. The characters were colorful and we were able to find out more about Sashi’s past as well as her parents. There was plenty of subterfuge and powerful alliances were formed. I cannot wait to see what other stories are in the works for these and other characters.
“Bloodsport: An Old Tale” is a part of The Boundary Witch series This is Sashi, the healer and her husband, Will’s adventure.
Sashi has been estranged from her daughter, Grace for several months now since they had a massive fight. After Sashi heals a man and his daughter, Lex, the Cardinal Vampire thinks it’s a good idea for both Sashi and Will to get away for a few days. So, Sashi decides to go see Grace in Law Vegas.
Upon arrival at the McCarran airport, they are greeted by a driver whose mission is to bring Sashi to see the Cardinal vampire of Vegas, Silvio. The driver is not the only surprise facing Sashi because he wanker of a father shows his face as well. Because she is 12 weeks pregnant, Sashi is able to negotiate a delayed visit to see Silvio in the evening.
Will and Sashi head off to see Grace who is none too happy to see her parents. They soon discover Grace is not ready to talk.
Silvio pretends to be offended that Sashi has entered his territory without proper planning or acknowledgement. He forces Sashi into a deal to heal some fighter in his latest money making scheme. He is threatening to force Grace to work for him and her father if she doesn’t agree. Well, he doesn’t know who he is messing with but he is about to find out. All if not what it seems in Vegas and Sashi, Will and even Grace will have to work together if they are going to make it through this visit unscathed.
This was a fun read in a series that I truly enjoyed. The characters were colorful and we were able to find out more about Sashi’s past as well as her parents. There was plenty of subterfuge and powerful alliances were formed. I cannot wait to see what other stories are in the works for these and other characters.
January 24, 2025
Guilty Pleasure
Melissa F Olson's books are my guilty pleasure. While certainly not classic literature, they're FUN! Converted werewolves, witches of many kinds, and vampires fighting to the death are a few of the characters and events in this book alone. When Will & Sasha visit Las Vegas on a quick in & out to see their daughter, Grace, they are met at the airport by Lucius, Sasha's j estranged dad, who's in the employ of the head vampire. And he wants Sasha to help him make a lot of money in a boxing event using young vampires to participate in illegal bouts, where they will perform under a vampire's "press" to try to kill each other.
The cardinal, Silvio, forces Sasha to help him by kidnapping her husband, Will. Grace is still fighting the mother/daughter celebration rites & doesn't want to speak to her parents, so none of them is able to help another. The plan to fight back couldn't possibly work....
Melissa F Olson's books are my guilty pleasure. While certainly not classic literature, they're FUN! Converted werewolves, witches of many kinds, and vampires fighting to the death are a few of the characters and events in this book alone. When Will & Sasha visit Las Vegas on a quick in & out to see their daughter, Grace, they are met at the airport by Lucius, Sasha's j estranged dad, who's in the employ of the head vampire. And he wants Sasha to help him make a lot of money in a boxing event using young vampires to participate in illegal bouts, where they will perform under a vampire's "press" to try to kill each other.
The cardinal, Silvio, forces Sasha to help him by kidnapping her husband, Will. Grace is still fighting the mother/daughter celebration rites & doesn't want to speak to her parents, so none of them is able to help another. The plan to fight back couldn't possibly work....
February 25, 2025
Great addition
Great story. I love Sashi and Will and have from the very first Old World introduction. It’s fun to see side characters step forward and to get a peek at what else was happening during the war. I wouldn’t start with this book if it’s your introduction to Olson‘s world because too much has to be understood but I just reread every book and story in the order found on Olson‘s website and as a body of work? She really deserves to be more well known as a writer. She’s really that good. My only quibble with this book was some copyediting goofs where there were some missing words. It’s minor though and doesn’t wreck the story.
Great story. I love Sashi and Will and have from the very first Old World introduction. It’s fun to see side characters step forward and to get a peek at what else was happening during the war. I wouldn’t start with this book if it’s your introduction to Olson‘s world because too much has to be understood but I just reread every book and story in the order found on Olson‘s website and as a body of work? She really deserves to be more well known as a writer. She’s really that good. My only quibble with this book was some copyediting goofs where there were some missing words. It’s minor though and doesn’t wreck the story.
February 2, 2025
Really good story, love this world and the characters, but there was a pretty big editing error - quite a few of the chapters were repeated. So, I am reading along thinking I am only about 2/3 of the way through the story, but it feels like it would be closer to the end, and then all of a sudden the next chapter I read is the same as a chapter I read previously, and it continues repeating quite a few chapters, so I was a lot farther along that it appeared once I skipped all the chapters that I had previously read.
January 15, 2025
ok
Wasn’t this the book was uninterest it was it’s almost like she’s trying to create a new story art with a new main character when there’s already several interesting arcs and main characters in this universe, she might need to start partnering with fanfiction authors for a fan of the series to keep them coming out quickly enough to appease readers one more story a solo author may be a bit much
Wasn’t this the book was uninterest it was it’s almost like she’s trying to create a new story art with a new main character when there’s already several interesting arcs and main characters in this universe, she might need to start partnering with fanfiction authors for a fan of the series to keep them coming out quickly enough to appease readers one more story a solo author may be a bit much
January 18, 2025
I'm kind of sad, I really love Melissa's work, but this felt rushed. The story and new characters weren't as filled out as in her previous books, and I know it's because it's a short story, but a good 80 of those pages, we're repeated from earlier in the book.
Also, the volume of spelling, grammar and editing issues was shocking, as I mentioned 80 pages are repeated out of nowhere towards the end.
It wasn't a bad story, it just really needs more time focused on it.
Also, the volume of spelling, grammar and editing issues was shocking, as I mentioned 80 pages are repeated out of nowhere towards the end.
It wasn't a bad story, it just really needs more time focused on it.
April 17, 2025
Sorry to say that I found this rather whiny
I love this magic world and system that Melissa has built and allowed us to visit but I wasn't very happy with this book. I found Sashi whiny and frankly, playing up her pregnancy WAY TO MUCH! She's a healing witch and only 3 months along or so. I get using it as a cover excuse later in the book but the rest is over-the-top in concern. I really wanted to love it but...well....not this time.
I love this magic world and system that Melissa has built and allowed us to visit but I wasn't very happy with this book. I found Sashi whiny and frankly, playing up her pregnancy WAY TO MUCH! She's a healing witch and only 3 months along or so. I get using it as a cover excuse later in the book but the rest is over-the-top in concern. I really wanted to love it but...well....not this time.
November 29, 2025
While Lex and Scarlett are busy dealing with the events of Old World War, Sashi and Will are off on their own little adventure in Las Vegas.
A quick read that is entertaining enough for fans of the series, but felt a little rushed and didn't exactly have me at the edge of my seat.
A quick read that is entertaining enough for fans of the series, but felt a little rushed and didn't exactly have me at the edge of my seat.
January 25, 2025
Another terrific installment in Olson's Old World megaverse. I love Sashi, Will, and Grace... but then again I like most of Olson's main characters in the books.
This doesn't affect my rating, but I do need to mention the need for editing. There were quite a few typos, but most glaring was the duplication of a whole bunch of chapters.
This doesn't affect my rating, but I do need to mention the need for editing. There were quite a few typos, but most glaring was the duplication of a whole bunch of chapters.
January 27, 2025
Glad to have the Old World back!
I’ve missed reading a Melissa F. Olson story. This was a great return to the Old World Series. I highly recommend any of the other books in the series. I’m disappointed in the formatting of the book with several chapters repeating and the lack of proofreading is distracting.
I’ve missed reading a Melissa F. Olson story. This was a great return to the Old World Series. I highly recommend any of the other books in the series. I’m disappointed in the formatting of the book with several chapters repeating and the lack of proofreading is distracting.
March 26, 2025
Knocked off a star for the appalling editing
Olson knows how to write a great story...but what the hell on the editing job?! This isn't even a small error or two, but great chunks of paragraph cut off and spliced together! That's something that should never make it to publication, especially under a seasoned author. Whoever did that to her brand should be fired.
Olson knows how to write a great story...but what the hell on the editing job?! This isn't even a small error or two, but great chunks of paragraph cut off and spliced together! That's something that should never make it to publication, especially under a seasoned author. Whoever did that to her brand should be fired.
June 20, 2025
A perfectly good book. For my taste, underpowered heroes taking on kind of mediocre villains doing a bad but not epically bad thing can only be so good. But it does set up various features that might feed into stories in the future. Easy to recommend for anyone invested in the Old World books. Readability 7. Rating 5.
January 17, 2025
Welcome return to the Old World
Glad to read more of your excellent books. This was a pre-order that lived up to its promise of a fast entertaining read. Will wait eagerly for the next installment.
Glad to read more of your excellent books. This was a pre-order that lived up to its promise of a fast entertaining read. Will wait eagerly for the next installment.
February 2, 2025
Great story, lousy editing
I loved this one but was really stunned when at the beginning of Chapter 32 the text reverted to chapter 20 and repeated all 12 chapters before it finally let me find out what happened to Sasha!
I loved this one but was really stunned when at the beginning of Chapter 32 the text reverted to chapter 20 and repeated all 12 chapters before it finally let me find out what happened to Sasha!
April 13, 2025
Found a couple if errors
It is strange for me to find errors in the English language since it's not my birth language so If I could find them anyone can
It was just a couple of frases repeating no big deal
It is strange for me to find errors in the English language since it's not my birth language so If I could find them anyone can
It was just a couple of frases repeating no big deal
June 2, 2025
I have really enjoyed following Sashi and Will in these short stories, so I was really happy to find that there was one more installment.
And Sashi really had a chance to shine here.
Fun. I love Olson's Old World Scarlet and Lex connected series.
And Sashi really had a chance to shine here.
Fun. I love Olson's Old World Scarlet and Lex connected series.
January 16, 2025
weird format issue
Enjoyed the story but had to scroll past chapter 20 on when the appeared again near the end of the book. Hope the resolve that in the digital edition
Enjoyed the story but had to scroll past chapter 20 on when the appeared again near the end of the book. Hope the resolve that in the digital edition
January 20, 2025
A welcome return to Melissa F. Olson’s Old World. I thoroughly enjoyed becoming reacquainted with the lives of Saskia, Will and Grace - revisiting Las Vegas, plus, both hearing about and hearing from other key characters in the Old World saga.
It is unfortunate that there was a formatting issue with the Kindle version that severely disrupted the story in the final chapters. Hopefully this will be resolved swiftly.
It is unfortunate that there was a formatting issue with the Kindle version that severely disrupted the story in the final chapters. Hopefully this will be resolved swiftly.
January 24, 2025
This felt really rushed and the ending was underdeveloped. Many typos and a large section was repeated. This needs another pass from a proofreader.
February 6, 2025
I think I would have enjoyed this book better if I liked Sashi. I was annoyed almost every time she talked. I've always liked Will so I enjoyed his chapters.
February 14, 2025
About three quarters thru the book starts to repeat
The book repeats what I already read
for the last third of the book. Don't know how it really ends.
The book repeats what I already read
for the last third of the book. Don't know how it really ends.
May 10, 2025
Solid story, poor editing.
July 4, 2025
Really enjoyed stepping back into The Old World meeting new & old characters alike. Am hopeful for the future and look forward to reading any of the authors upcoming books
July 10, 2025
DNF due to boredom at end of sample.
February 9, 2025
What a flightworthy five-star read. I have loved this author and the way they have created the old world, the characters that you absolutely adore, they will just grab your attention and not let go. Sashi and Will are just couple goals, (I mean they got there in the end!!) This story will just hook you, and you will be wishing you could jump a flight to Vegas to go stand behind the fighters and be part of the story, its so good. Go get yourself a slice of the old world, and get to grips with the dark side of the world, and enjoy Sashi fighting for what she needs and deserves.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews