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On Tulare Island, Magick is a way of life, but for smart-mouthed Nicole Fontane, it’s a curse to be avoided at all costs. Yet the legacy she was born with and her failure to live up to it isn’t so easy to bury.
With less than two hundred dollars in her bank account and rent looming overhead, Nicole is forced to take a job at Tribec Insurance. Corporate, stuffy, and nothing like what she wanted for herself. It doesn’t help that the company’s proprietors, the Stewart family, harbor a morbid fascination with the Naqada, a mysterious pre-dynastic Egyptian society. Between the eerie atmosphere, heightened security, and the stench of blood wafting through Tribec, Nicole suspects the Stewarts are dabbling in a dark art she never thought she’d
Blood Magick. Deadly. Forbidden. Unnatural.
Despite spending a lifetime avoiding Magick, Nicole unwittingly becomes a pawn in the Stewarts’ nefarious schemes. To save her home and those she holds dear, she must confront her troubled past with Magick and unlock her latent abilities, even if she’s terrified of the outcome and what it might spur.
The way of life Nicole shunned is her only lifeline—one covered in thorns—but it’s all that stands in the way of an Old God’s resurrection.
With less than two hundred dollars in her bank account and rent looming overhead, Nicole is forced to take a job at Tribec Insurance. Corporate, stuffy, and nothing like what she wanted for herself. It doesn’t help that the company’s proprietors, the Stewart family, harbor a morbid fascination with the Naqada, a mysterious pre-dynastic Egyptian society. Between the eerie atmosphere, heightened security, and the stench of blood wafting through Tribec, Nicole suspects the Stewarts are dabbling in a dark art she never thought she’d
Blood Magick. Deadly. Forbidden. Unnatural.
Despite spending a lifetime avoiding Magick, Nicole unwittingly becomes a pawn in the Stewarts’ nefarious schemes. To save her home and those she holds dear, she must confront her troubled past with Magick and unlock her latent abilities, even if she’s terrified of the outcome and what it might spur.
The way of life Nicole shunned is her only lifeline—one covered in thorns—but it’s all that stands in the way of an Old God’s resurrection.
448 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 17, 2019
21 people are currently reading
260 people want to read
About the author
C. Vonzale Lewis
11 books92 followersMy name is Carla Vonzale Lewis and I like my martinis shaken… never stirred.
Carla was born in Georgia, but please don’t mistake her for a Georgia peach. She’s more like a prickly pear. Speaking of being born, someone asked her recently if she remembered her birth. And she had to say, “Yes, I do remember that handsy doctor pulling me out into the cold. Right Bastard!!!”
Despite being born in the South, she grew up in California. Every once in a great while she gets to experience all four seasons. But mostly, it’s just heat.
When not writing, Carla enjoys reading, binge watching shows on Netflix, and trying to convince her husband that getting a dog is a wonderful idea.
And one day, she will discover how many licks it actually takes to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop.
Carla was born in Georgia, but please don’t mistake her for a Georgia peach. She’s more like a prickly pear. Speaking of being born, someone asked her recently if she remembered her birth. And she had to say, “Yes, I do remember that handsy doctor pulling me out into the cold. Right Bastard!!!”
Despite being born in the South, she grew up in California. Every once in a great while she gets to experience all four seasons. But mostly, it’s just heat.
When not writing, Carla enjoys reading, binge watching shows on Netflix, and trying to convince her husband that getting a dog is a wonderful idea.
And one day, she will discover how many licks it actually takes to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
October 12, 2025
This is the first book in the Blood & Sacrifice series by C. Vonzale Lewis and it has a whole vibe. Part thriller/mystery and part fantasy magical world, this one has a lot going on to keep you interested. Our main character is Nicole Fontaine. Nicole… needs to get her shit together. She needs a job and to get her life in order. Which would be achievable if she could be quiet and go with the flow. Only she can’t. Because her mouth starts before her brain does, and her acceptable level of bullshit is precisely zero. Bad decisions are her middle name. Now she’s forced to interview at the last company that pays a decent wage, Tribec. Alarm bells go off even before the interview starts, but what choice does she have if she’s going to make rent? Forced into a place that gives her the creeps and definitely gives off some evil magic vibes, she’s trying to stick it out. Until the weird hits a fever pitch and people start going missing. Throughout the story, we’re following breadcrumbs that lead us to the place where blood, magic, and sacrifice intersect. The only question is where does she draw the line, and will she be willing to do what she must to save her friends, family, and herself.
The 400 page novel covers a lot of ground. Nicole is a very easily relatable character, even when you want to reach through and smack her for making dumb decisions. There’s a few spots where the pacing seems a little off, but it does pick back up fairly quickly. The cliffhanger at the end of book one has me curious where Lewis is going for book 2. Onto the next!
Thank you to author C. Vonzale Lewis and The Nerd Fam for the gifted eARC. #bloodandsacrificechronicles #thenerdfam
The 400 page novel covers a lot of ground. Nicole is a very easily relatable character, even when you want to reach through and smack her for making dumb decisions. There’s a few spots where the pacing seems a little off, but it does pick back up fairly quickly. The cliffhanger at the end of book one has me curious where Lewis is going for book 2. Onto the next!
Thank you to author C. Vonzale Lewis and The Nerd Fam for the gifted eARC. #bloodandsacrificechronicles #thenerdfam
July 2, 2019
Dark. Magick.
Do I have to say more? Okay, LINEAGE is an excellent story that puts the reader right there, at the center of the conflict. The story kicks-off with Nicole Fontane’s applying for a job she doesn’t want, then we jump into her very adventurous love life. In summary, a woman with a strong personality who really knows what she wants. But, she may do things against her will in order to survive or achieve her goals. Great intro and excellent characterization.
Then things goes awry as we move to the gist of the story–what’s really going on in Nicole’s shady job. And what a surprise it is. Here’s where we move from know the very interesting character to this character kicks ass! She investigates. She confronts. She fights. I loved the action scenes! Imagine this: Blood Magick. That blew my mind–so well writing and so unique.
Overall, an excellent novel with a kick-ass protagonist, romance, action, and original magick. I highly recommend it.
More on my blog: https://gerardowrites.wordpress.com/2...
Do I have to say more? Okay, LINEAGE is an excellent story that puts the reader right there, at the center of the conflict. The story kicks-off with Nicole Fontane’s applying for a job she doesn’t want, then we jump into her very adventurous love life. In summary, a woman with a strong personality who really knows what she wants. But, she may do things against her will in order to survive or achieve her goals. Great intro and excellent characterization.
Then things goes awry as we move to the gist of the story–what’s really going on in Nicole’s shady job. And what a surprise it is. Here’s where we move from know the very interesting character to this character kicks ass! She investigates. She confronts. She fights. I loved the action scenes! Imagine this: Blood Magick. That blew my mind–so well writing and so unique.
Overall, an excellent novel with a kick-ass protagonist, romance, action, and original magick. I highly recommend it.
More on my blog: https://gerardowrites.wordpress.com/2...
September 4, 2019
This book had it all: a complicated, sarcastic heroine, great world building, yummy eye candy, and mystery and steam galore!
I liked Nicole’s spunk from the beginning, but I REALLY starting loving her as she grew into her own throughout the book. The added thrill of suspense with what happened at Tribeca, the intricacies of this magical world build within, and all the new concepts of various types of magic hooked me even further. The writing flows, the plot hooks, and honestly you’re left wanting so much more by the end that I can’t wait for the next book!
I liked Nicole’s spunk from the beginning, but I REALLY starting loving her as she grew into her own throughout the book. The added thrill of suspense with what happened at Tribeca, the intricacies of this magical world build within, and all the new concepts of various types of magic hooked me even further. The writing flows, the plot hooks, and honestly you’re left wanting so much more by the end that I can’t wait for the next book!
July 31, 2021
2.5 ⭐ It was OK
This book started off incredibly promising. I really liked Nicole as a character. A little disrespectful. A little bit of a ho. And a lot of feisty-ness. She was fun to follow as a main character.
I really enjoyed the mystery surrounding Tribec Insurance. Are they using magick? Blood magick? Something is off, but what is it? It added a sense of turn the next page to see what happens regularly.
Then about halfway through, the book started falling apart for me. See, there is magick in this world, but it never really explained what it is and nobody really uses it until the end, and even then there isn't much explanation. It's not completely devoid of giving some info but it definitely is not satisfying enough. It's like the mystery turned out to be how the magick works and not surrounding Tribec Insurance.
By the time I got to the end I was almost eye rolling with some of the stuff that was "revealed."
There's a pretty interesting world that could be crafted out of this and a fun main character to follow. But unfortunately it just didn't capitalize on this at the end of the day.
I know this review might seem pretty harsh but is wasn't that bad. I will be tempted to pick up book 2, but that will be highly dependent on what I have planned for my reading at that time.
This book started off incredibly promising. I really liked Nicole as a character. A little disrespectful. A little bit of a ho. And a lot of feisty-ness. She was fun to follow as a main character.
I really enjoyed the mystery surrounding Tribec Insurance. Are they using magick? Blood magick? Something is off, but what is it? It added a sense of turn the next page to see what happens regularly.
Then about halfway through, the book started falling apart for me. See, there is magick in this world, but it never really explained what it is and nobody really uses it until the end, and even then there isn't much explanation. It's not completely devoid of giving some info but it definitely is not satisfying enough. It's like the mystery turned out to be how the magick works and not surrounding Tribec Insurance.
By the time I got to the end I was almost eye rolling with some of the stuff that was "revealed."
There's a pretty interesting world that could be crafted out of this and a fun main character to follow. But unfortunately it just didn't capitalize on this at the end of the day.
I know this review might seem pretty harsh but is wasn't that bad. I will be tempted to pick up book 2, but that will be highly dependent on what I have planned for my reading at that time.
October 29, 2020
When Nicole started yet another new job, she should have trusted her instincts to run. Little did she know, that staying would end up unlocking a blocked past and something powerful inside of her.
Who could be using the most powerful magick to release god knows who or what. Who is manipulating Nicole and her new mage friends?
I honestly can’t wait to find out what happens next!!! This book read like a movie in my mind.
What an amazing story that pulls you in and won’t let go.
Who could be using the most powerful magick to release god knows who or what. Who is manipulating Nicole and her new mage friends?
I honestly can’t wait to find out what happens next!!! This book read like a movie in my mind.
What an amazing story that pulls you in and won’t let go.
April 27, 2020
Disclaimer: I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by The Parliament House. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.
I don’t know if I’ve ever read a contemporary fantasy before but it was pretty interesting! In a world where there is Magick, I always find it interesting when a character refuses to use it when they have the choice. I feel like for me, I’d want to be able to have the option to use magick, but I guess it also depends on what kind of magick it would be. In Nicole’s case, her father uses Earth Magick, which doesn’t seem like it would be inherently evil. I mean, think about Toph with her Earth Bending. Or, just witches that commune with the Earth. Those seem like more positive magicks right?
I guess I could say that I was pretty impressed with her resolve to not work for her dad even though she wasn’t able to hold a job. But then again, some people would have probably felt like she was making things harder for herself. I don’t know yet though. I understand not wanting to feel like you got a handout from your family, but her reason was more because of the magick. But of course, the more you try to run away from something, the more you end up finding a path towards the thing you’re running away from.
I can understand being wary of Blood Magick, especially when it seems like Nicole’s employers are using it for evil. But now Nicole is going to have to figure out how to fight against it, and she may already be at a disadvantage.
This was an interesting novel, and I feel like Barton did a great job with the narration. This is supposed to be the first novel in a new series so I’m really curious to see the rest of it come out, and see what ends up happening with Nicole and everything going on. I also really liked how Lewis was able to combine the contemporary world with the world of magick in a way that didn’t make it that too confusing or over the top.
I don’t know if I’ve ever read a contemporary fantasy before but it was pretty interesting! In a world where there is Magick, I always find it interesting when a character refuses to use it when they have the choice. I feel like for me, I’d want to be able to have the option to use magick, but I guess it also depends on what kind of magick it would be. In Nicole’s case, her father uses Earth Magick, which doesn’t seem like it would be inherently evil. I mean, think about Toph with her Earth Bending. Or, just witches that commune with the Earth. Those seem like more positive magicks right?
I guess I could say that I was pretty impressed with her resolve to not work for her dad even though she wasn’t able to hold a job. But then again, some people would have probably felt like she was making things harder for herself. I don’t know yet though. I understand not wanting to feel like you got a handout from your family, but her reason was more because of the magick. But of course, the more you try to run away from something, the more you end up finding a path towards the thing you’re running away from.
I can understand being wary of Blood Magick, especially when it seems like Nicole’s employers are using it for evil. But now Nicole is going to have to figure out how to fight against it, and she may already be at a disadvantage.
This was an interesting novel, and I feel like Barton did a great job with the narration. This is supposed to be the first novel in a new series so I’m really curious to see the rest of it come out, and see what ends up happening with Nicole and everything going on. I also really liked how Lewis was able to combine the contemporary world with the world of magick in a way that didn’t make it that too confusing or over the top.
June 14, 2021
This review is also featured on Behind the Pages: Lineage
Desperate for a job, Nicole ends up working for Tribec Insurance But something is off about the company. Nicole keeps seeing evidence of magic, yet no one is owning up to using it on the employees. As she starts to investigate the family and the magic they may use, she discovers their roots are steeped in blood magic. And it may be too late for her to escape their plans.
The writing style of Lineage was easy to follow and fast-paced. Though the plot did not focus on magic as heavily as I imagined it would. From the description and the initial story build up, I assumed Nicole would be spending more time at Tribec and diving into the mystery around the company. There were moments of tension as Nicole began to research the possible magic Tribec used, but she never focused on it long. And any time Nicole spent at Tribec was filled with her brooding over how bad the job was and becoming confrontational with every employee she encountered.
Nicole is a fierce and independent woman, but she is also extremely judgmental. When seeing people for the first time she judges them based on their weight and appearance. She is also a shallow person who doesn’t want to be bothered listening to friends when they are having a tough time. She would rather sleep with any available man and continue to embrace bad habits. Between her promiscuity and lack of character development, I did not connect with Nicole at all.
There were many opportunities for the story to ramp up the conflict and tension, but the storyline was a slow burn. And despite many instances where the characters should have seen what was wrong, the writing made them ignore the situations. If there had been more reacting instead of dismissing the danger the story would have kept my attention better. This is not a series I will be continuing.
Desperate for a job, Nicole ends up working for Tribec Insurance But something is off about the company. Nicole keeps seeing evidence of magic, yet no one is owning up to using it on the employees. As she starts to investigate the family and the magic they may use, she discovers their roots are steeped in blood magic. And it may be too late for her to escape their plans.
The writing style of Lineage was easy to follow and fast-paced. Though the plot did not focus on magic as heavily as I imagined it would. From the description and the initial story build up, I assumed Nicole would be spending more time at Tribec and diving into the mystery around the company. There were moments of tension as Nicole began to research the possible magic Tribec used, but she never focused on it long. And any time Nicole spent at Tribec was filled with her brooding over how bad the job was and becoming confrontational with every employee she encountered.
Nicole is a fierce and independent woman, but she is also extremely judgmental. When seeing people for the first time she judges them based on their weight and appearance. She is also a shallow person who doesn’t want to be bothered listening to friends when they are having a tough time. She would rather sleep with any available man and continue to embrace bad habits. Between her promiscuity and lack of character development, I did not connect with Nicole at all.
There were many opportunities for the story to ramp up the conflict and tension, but the storyline was a slow burn. And despite many instances where the characters should have seen what was wrong, the writing made them ignore the situations. If there had been more reacting instead of dismissing the danger the story would have kept my attention better. This is not a series I will be continuing.
June 14, 2019
THIS WAS THE COOLEST, MOST UNIQUE BOOK THAT I’VE EVER READ!!!!!!! IT WAS AWESOME!!!!!!!!!
To think that this is the author’s debut book, it just blows me away!! It is labeled as Fantasy, but it is so much more than that! It has a little bit of everything. The world building - she writes a world so vividly that i could see it in my mind as if I’d been there. The characters, oh my goodness the characters!! I loved them!! Even the bad ones!! They were just sooo real, so believable!!! The growth we see in especially Nicole’s character is so effective, so moving!! The writing was very impressive, plot flowed smoothly, seamlessly & at a nice pace!! The more i read, the more I could not put the book down!! THE ROMANCE, WOW!!!!! I’d say Nicole has found the one! There was A LOT of hot, sexy guys and some hot, steamy scenes.😍 Nicole must wear some nice perfume, because she was getting all the hot men. Her friend Kara wanted one and couldn’t get him. Anyway this is book one in a series, but no big cliff hanger or anything. Thankfully!! BUT I STILL CAN’T WAIT FOR THE SECOND BOOK!!!!!! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK!!!!!!!
To think that this is the author’s debut book, it just blows me away!! It is labeled as Fantasy, but it is so much more than that! It has a little bit of everything. The world building - she writes a world so vividly that i could see it in my mind as if I’d been there. The characters, oh my goodness the characters!! I loved them!! Even the bad ones!! They were just sooo real, so believable!!! The growth we see in especially Nicole’s character is so effective, so moving!! The writing was very impressive, plot flowed smoothly, seamlessly & at a nice pace!! The more i read, the more I could not put the book down!! THE ROMANCE, WOW!!!!! I’d say Nicole has found the one! There was A LOT of hot, sexy guys and some hot, steamy scenes.😍 Nicole must wear some nice perfume, because she was getting all the hot men. Her friend Kara wanted one and couldn’t get him. Anyway this is book one in a series, but no big cliff hanger or anything. Thankfully!! BUT I STILL CAN’T WAIT FOR THE SECOND BOOK!!!!!! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK!!!!!!!
October 30, 2021
It's always great to discover a wonderful new author. As far as I know, this is her first novel (at least published). I discovered Ms Lewis in a 3 novella anthology book (Beyond The Cogs with 2 other authors) & really liked her story.
I went to see what else was available from her & found Lineage. New authors are not supposed to be this skilled. It's in the fantasy action genre, but with both tremendous character development & (for lack of a better word) grit. Other than the violence, I could easily see my self dating her protagonist in my youth.
Here's a very quick plot summary; but the book is so much more than the plot. Nicole is a young adult who hasn't had the most successful life. Loves sex; but afraid of intimacy. She gets a much needed job at an insurance company that somehow really doesn't feel right; but she stays until she learns what's wrong. Also learns she has very potent magic that has been buried & makes some new powerful close friends while fighting evil.
Yes, the plot sounds cheesy, but it isn't. Ms Lewis is a writer, & she really brings this to life. I can't wait for volume 2 in March, & even more I can't wait to see what this author will be gifting us with in 5 years.
Both this & the scheduled follow up Zealot are quite inexpensive if you have an e-reader. There is a huge indie self publishing scene right now; especially in fantasy & romance. The majority of the authors I've read aren't that great, but there are a few exceptions (2 that come quickly to mind are Deborah Harkness ( A Discovery Of Witches) & Juliana Haygert. Ms. Lewis is definitely in that league.
For those who care (I'm totally good with it), there is a significant amount of sex. But it's not X rated, & it's not watered down for teens. Same with violence; it's there & is an integral part of the book, but isn't overdone; it fits the story.
Spend your $1.99; you won't be sorry!
I went to see what else was available from her & found Lineage. New authors are not supposed to be this skilled. It's in the fantasy action genre, but with both tremendous character development & (for lack of a better word) grit. Other than the violence, I could easily see my self dating her protagonist in my youth.
Here's a very quick plot summary; but the book is so much more than the plot. Nicole is a young adult who hasn't had the most successful life. Loves sex; but afraid of intimacy. She gets a much needed job at an insurance company that somehow really doesn't feel right; but she stays until she learns what's wrong. Also learns she has very potent magic that has been buried & makes some new powerful close friends while fighting evil.
Yes, the plot sounds cheesy, but it isn't. Ms Lewis is a writer, & she really brings this to life. I can't wait for volume 2 in March, & even more I can't wait to see what this author will be gifting us with in 5 years.
Both this & the scheduled follow up Zealot are quite inexpensive if you have an e-reader. There is a huge indie self publishing scene right now; especially in fantasy & romance. The majority of the authors I've read aren't that great, but there are a few exceptions (2 that come quickly to mind are Deborah Harkness ( A Discovery Of Witches) & Juliana Haygert. Ms. Lewis is definitely in that league.
For those who care (I'm totally good with it), there is a significant amount of sex. But it's not X rated, & it's not watered down for teens. Same with violence; it's there & is an integral part of the book, but isn't overdone; it fits the story.
Spend your $1.99; you won't be sorry!
June 15, 2019
Lineage: Book 1 in the Blood and Sacrifice Chronicles by C. Vonzale Lewis
Ms. Lewis had a killer debut story about dark magic and corrupted power.
Meet Nicole Fontane. Abrasive, surly, and really desperate to find a job before her money runs out. When she attends an interview for an insurance company, her instincts tell her to run, but rent is due soon. The more time she spends in the new job, the worse the vibes become. Her first clue is the smell of blood within the building. Digging around to explain her feelings, she becomes involved with ancient magic that is controlled by a family of dark mages.
The story is fast-paced with more action and crazy magical duels and I can’t wait to get my hands on the next book in the series. Don’t start reading this on a Sunday night, because you might be tempted to skip work to see how Nicole escapes the evil group.
For transparentcy, I was given an advance reading copy through the publisher..
Ms. Lewis had a killer debut story about dark magic and corrupted power.
Meet Nicole Fontane. Abrasive, surly, and really desperate to find a job before her money runs out. When she attends an interview for an insurance company, her instincts tell her to run, but rent is due soon. The more time she spends in the new job, the worse the vibes become. Her first clue is the smell of blood within the building. Digging around to explain her feelings, she becomes involved with ancient magic that is controlled by a family of dark mages.
The story is fast-paced with more action and crazy magical duels and I can’t wait to get my hands on the next book in the series. Don’t start reading this on a Sunday night, because you might be tempted to skip work to see how Nicole escapes the evil group.
For transparentcy, I was given an advance reading copy through the publisher..
July 24, 2019
This starts as a slow burn, with the feeling something is not quite right. Nicole Fontane hasn't seemed to have found her calling, fired from every job she has ever had. No matter what she refuses to work at her father's apothecary shop because of his practice of Earth Magick. Nicole must settle working for a seemingly boring insurance company as a last resort. This is where the story unfolds. There are plenty of unexpected and dark twist along with smart, fresh writing that make Lineage a must-read. It will have the reader unraveling the mystery along with Nicole.
June 11, 2020
I received this audiobook at no-cost from Audiobookworm Promotions. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.
This was super interesting! Almost like Men in Black minus the aliens. It was a slow build but once it picked up, it was full of action.
I love how Lewis wrote Nicole's character. Not afraid to want sex with whomever she wants, something that society still judges women for. So yes, there are some extra steamy parts.
I need more fantasies like this
This was super interesting! Almost like Men in Black minus the aliens. It was a slow build but once it picked up, it was full of action.
I love how Lewis wrote Nicole's character. Not afraid to want sex with whomever she wants, something that society still judges women for. So yes, there are some extra steamy parts.
I need more fantasies like this
October 7, 2021
Lineage drew me in with the cover and the synopsis. The cover is beautiful and who doesn't love a magical mystery? The blurb on the back is why I applied for the ARC on Netgalley. This book incorporates a lot of lore and magic systems into it. There is a lot of diversity in it that I hope we will see continue into the second book, Zealot.
Nicole is a badass who makes bad decisions in her life and even worse decisions with her partners. She has a zero fucks attitude and a mouth that has no filter. This girl isn't ashamed of who she is or what she has down in her life. She gets involved in Tribec, and then mysteries surrounds her. Once she cannot ignore or walk away from like she normally does. She has a lot going on and the whole book she navigates through the chaos that both has been created by herself, and is thrown in front of her.
I love the other characters, both her partners and her friends. I am definitely in love with the dark and broody Alek. I cannot wait to see what happens in book two. As Nicole sorts out one mystery another arises. Still even after finished reading the book and writing this review, I find myself trying to piece together what happened with where this story is could be going moving forward. I really look forward to coming back into this world with Zealot.
A special thank you goes out to The Parliament House, & NetGalley for providing me a copy of this book for review!
Nicole is a badass who makes bad decisions in her life and even worse decisions with her partners. She has a zero fucks attitude and a mouth that has no filter. This girl isn't ashamed of who she is or what she has down in her life. She gets involved in Tribec, and then mysteries surrounds her. Once she cannot ignore or walk away from like she normally does. She has a lot going on and the whole book she navigates through the chaos that both has been created by herself, and is thrown in front of her.
I love the other characters, both her partners and her friends. I am definitely in love with the dark and broody Alek. I cannot wait to see what happens in book two. As Nicole sorts out one mystery another arises. Still even after finished reading the book and writing this review, I find myself trying to piece together what happened with where this story is could be going moving forward. I really look forward to coming back into this world with Zealot.
A special thank you goes out to The Parliament House, & NetGalley for providing me a copy of this book for review!
November 9, 2019
Was hard to put this book down! Love the characters, the suspense, and twists and turns!
The author does a great job of mixing humor, drama, mystery, sexy and fun characters, and of course, magic to make an exciting and captivating story! Looking forward to book #2 in the chronicles!!!
The author does a great job of mixing humor, drama, mystery, sexy and fun characters, and of course, magic to make an exciting and captivating story! Looking forward to book #2 in the chronicles!!!
September 18, 2019
This book was intense! A complicated and sarcastic heroine, great world building, magick and hot men. I loved Nicole from the beginning and enjoyed her character grow throughout the book!
September 30, 2025
This is the first book in the Blood & Sacrifice Chronicles and I was immediately intrigued. We start off with Nicole getting a new job at Tribec Insurance and she soon learns that things not quite as they seem.
I really liked all of the mystery surrounding Nicole’s job and everything going on there. It’s what initially drew me in. All of the other elements that kept my attention throughout were learning about the Egyptian society and the dark magic and how it was all woven into the plot.
Our FMC, Nicole, in this story is quite strong and bold. She dives right in to the action and was definitely a force to be reckoned with. She came across abrasive at times, but I still enjoyed following her.
Read this if you like:
✨ Dark magick
✨ World building
✨ Fast pace
✨ Steamy scenes
Excited to continue the series to see where it goes from here.
I really liked all of the mystery surrounding Nicole’s job and everything going on there. It’s what initially drew me in. All of the other elements that kept my attention throughout were learning about the Egyptian society and the dark magic and how it was all woven into the plot.
Our FMC, Nicole, in this story is quite strong and bold. She dives right in to the action and was definitely a force to be reckoned with. She came across abrasive at times, but I still enjoyed following her.
Read this if you like:
✨ Dark magick
✨ World building
✨ Fast pace
✨ Steamy scenes
Excited to continue the series to see where it goes from here.
June 1, 2022
Fantastic world building, amazing story line, absolute page turner!
August 5, 2019
Lineage is a fast-paced novel full of fascinating myth making. I imagine this book won't be for everyone, Nicole can be a difficult character to engage with, but it certainly has a very definite aesthetic and powerful world building that will appeal to a lot of people! Just fair warning - there are explicit (but well written!) sex scenes!
It took some time for me to get into the story, due in large part the aforementioned difficult main character, but once the mystery/thriller aspects of the story started taking hold, I was suddenly super engaged! C. Vonzale Lewis really knows how to blend fantasy, mythology, and mystery in an exciting way! There were a lot of layers and nuance to the magic and myth of Lineage, something that fans of fantasy can really sink their teeth into. The world felt full and real, with true depth that only comes from a thorough investigation of the mythos surrounding it. I loved addition of Egyptian and Creole elements as integral to the story, it felt new and unique.
Lewis has also generated a really exciting web of secondary characters. They all feel important and human (or inhuman). There was a real sense that these people lived in the world and had lives outside of what the main character was seeing when she interacted with them. I never got that feeling that they were sort of standing there waiting for Nicole and the story to show up.
This brings me to Nicole. I really wanted to like her. I love sass and sex positive characters, but something about her just never settled with me during the first half of the novel. This lack of connection made me resistant to her throughout the whole story. I was almost always more interested in the mystery that she was involved in or the dips and drops of the magick that we were learning as she was. I felt colored by that early dislike for her the whole way through. I think it may have been a case of me going in expecting a sassy, smart-mouthed HERO and getting a sassy, smart-mouthed ANTI-HERO. Nicole has had a tough life, and her way to survive it has been to become hard and harsh and not really grow up. I appreciate this about her and I am actually glad that this character exists. I think women in literature should be allowed to have these story arcs. My issues are purely my own, my personal tastes tend to run a little less rough. More Veronica Mars, less Jessica Jones.
I am really grateful to Parliament House Press and C. Vonzale Lewis for the copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I decided to rate Lineage 3.5/5 stars. It took me a while to get into, and I found Nicole a bit much for my taste, but this is a really solidly built and fascinating world with a really engaging mystery!
It took some time for me to get into the story, due in large part the aforementioned difficult main character, but once the mystery/thriller aspects of the story started taking hold, I was suddenly super engaged! C. Vonzale Lewis really knows how to blend fantasy, mythology, and mystery in an exciting way! There were a lot of layers and nuance to the magic and myth of Lineage, something that fans of fantasy can really sink their teeth into. The world felt full and real, with true depth that only comes from a thorough investigation of the mythos surrounding it. I loved addition of Egyptian and Creole elements as integral to the story, it felt new and unique.
Lewis has also generated a really exciting web of secondary characters. They all feel important and human (or inhuman). There was a real sense that these people lived in the world and had lives outside of what the main character was seeing when she interacted with them. I never got that feeling that they were sort of standing there waiting for Nicole and the story to show up.
This brings me to Nicole. I really wanted to like her. I love sass and sex positive characters, but something about her just never settled with me during the first half of the novel. This lack of connection made me resistant to her throughout the whole story. I was almost always more interested in the mystery that she was involved in or the dips and drops of the magick that we were learning as she was. I felt colored by that early dislike for her the whole way through. I think it may have been a case of me going in expecting a sassy, smart-mouthed HERO and getting a sassy, smart-mouthed ANTI-HERO. Nicole has had a tough life, and her way to survive it has been to become hard and harsh and not really grow up. I appreciate this about her and I am actually glad that this character exists. I think women in literature should be allowed to have these story arcs. My issues are purely my own, my personal tastes tend to run a little less rough. More Veronica Mars, less Jessica Jones.
I am really grateful to Parliament House Press and C. Vonzale Lewis for the copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I decided to rate Lineage 3.5/5 stars. It took me a while to get into, and I found Nicole a bit much for my taste, but this is a really solidly built and fascinating world with a really engaging mystery!
August 14, 2019
Nicole is starting a new job selling insurance for a company called Tribec; but, immediately upon arriving she begins to notice things are out of place: the Ancient Egyptian decor, the tortured, sickly look on all the employees' faces, the extremely high level of security. In the beginning, Nicole is willing to overlook these misgivings because she needs a job. Eventually, though, it becomes too much and she begins to ask questions. And the answers are much more dangerous than she expected.
Nicole is my favorite part of Lineage; having her as a protagonist absolutely drives this book. She is sassy and witty and impulsive. She screws up a lot, sleeps around, and cannot keep a job if her life depended on it. Nicole is also a loyal friend who would do anything to protect her friends and family. She is a real character who is not afraid to say what is on her mind, and it is her actions that keep this story going.
The magic system is interesting, though I felt like the author could have gone into more detail. We get glimpses of what it does and how it works, but it really only touches the surface. Hopefully the next book in this series gets into the weeds some more on that, and in the end there are some signals that may be the plan.
As for the writing style itself, I thought it was a little choppy at times. I think that may have been a style choice made by the author due to everything being narrated by Nicole and trying to stay in her voice. There are times it could have been smoother to make the story flow a little better. Also, the author fell into the trap of using some of the same phrases over and over ("...the lump in my throat...", as an example).
I also was a not a fan of the ending. It was kind of a cop out to me, almost felt like the author was not sure how to write the end so it just stopped. There is something else that happens right at the end of the story (purposely vague so as not to spoil) that did not really fit to me. The attempt was to bring some things full circle, but it comes off as forced.
Overall, this is a good book. It was a compelling story that kept me interested the whole time and looking to find what happens next. I wish it was a little more polished and had a more complete ending, but I still recommend reading it for fans of fantasy.
Note - there are a few scenes that describe experiences of rape. If that is a sensitive topic to you, please proceed with caution.
Nicole is my favorite part of Lineage; having her as a protagonist absolutely drives this book. She is sassy and witty and impulsive. She screws up a lot, sleeps around, and cannot keep a job if her life depended on it. Nicole is also a loyal friend who would do anything to protect her friends and family. She is a real character who is not afraid to say what is on her mind, and it is her actions that keep this story going.
The magic system is interesting, though I felt like the author could have gone into more detail. We get glimpses of what it does and how it works, but it really only touches the surface. Hopefully the next book in this series gets into the weeds some more on that, and in the end there are some signals that may be the plan.
As for the writing style itself, I thought it was a little choppy at times. I think that may have been a style choice made by the author due to everything being narrated by Nicole and trying to stay in her voice. There are times it could have been smoother to make the story flow a little better. Also, the author fell into the trap of using some of the same phrases over and over ("...the lump in my throat...", as an example).
I also was a not a fan of the ending. It was kind of a cop out to me, almost felt like the author was not sure how to write the end so it just stopped. There is something else that happens right at the end of the story (purposely vague so as not to spoil) that did not really fit to me. The attempt was to bring some things full circle, but it comes off as forced.
Overall, this is a good book. It was a compelling story that kept me interested the whole time and looking to find what happens next. I wish it was a little more polished and had a more complete ending, but I still recommend reading it for fans of fantasy.
Note - there are a few scenes that describe experiences of rape. If that is a sensitive topic to you, please proceed with caution.
Read
July 30, 2019I received a copy of this book via The Parliament House in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! In no way does this affect my rating or review.
DNFing at 40%
Lineage is one of those books that immediately peaked my interest by reading the synopsis. I love the idea of incorporating Egyptian Mythology into a story, and wish to see it more! From the first few pages, I had a sinking feeling as to what path this story would follow. To clarify, that "sinking feeling" wasn't because the premise was bad. It was the main character, Nicole Fontaine, that I really didn't care for. I like some snark in my characters, for sure, but Nicole was all wrong for me.
The main issue for me was that most of Nicole's story focused around sex. I don't know how many times she said that she didn't want to be in a relationship because it was too much work, or that she didn't want to be tied down, or she plainly liked sleeping around. I'm not sex-shaming, but this is something that I really don't care for in a character. Reading almost to the halfway point of the book, Nicole had already made her intentions known with her new employer. Explicit sex-scenes were front and center to the plot, and totally overshadowed other elements in the story. It was just too much for me.
Since this is a DNF read, I will not be assigning a star-review.
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DNFing at 40%
Lineage is one of those books that immediately peaked my interest by reading the synopsis. I love the idea of incorporating Egyptian Mythology into a story, and wish to see it more! From the first few pages, I had a sinking feeling as to what path this story would follow. To clarify, that "sinking feeling" wasn't because the premise was bad. It was the main character, Nicole Fontaine, that I really didn't care for. I like some snark in my characters, for sure, but Nicole was all wrong for me.
The main issue for me was that most of Nicole's story focused around sex. I don't know how many times she said that she didn't want to be in a relationship because it was too much work, or that she didn't want to be tied down, or she plainly liked sleeping around. I'm not sex-shaming, but this is something that I really don't care for in a character. Reading almost to the halfway point of the book, Nicole had already made her intentions known with her new employer. Explicit sex-scenes were front and center to the plot, and totally overshadowed other elements in the story. It was just too much for me.
Since this is a DNF read, I will not be assigning a star-review.
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October 13, 2021
Wow, this book absolutely blew me away! It has multiple parts to love, from evil corporation, to mysterious ancient magic, to a number of very sexy scenes. Not to mention the ending was incredible!
Lewis has a wonderful knack for piecing together many parts into a whole, cohesive world that makes it easy to fall into. She excels at creating multi-faceted characters to the point that you end up cheering for all of them. You fall in love with them without even realizing it. She slowly builds the magic of the world, dripping out piece by piece of information, until all the puzzle pieces come together. The further you get into the book, the more the train starts to build up speed and you have a hard time putting it down! At the end you are fearing for all of them and horrified by the people they are up against. And boy, are the villains in this tale twisted!
Lewis also tackles some dark themes in this book while also exploring the difficulty in dealing with trauma in a realistic way. Just as the magic system slowly evolves, so too does our lead character Nicole, a woman who has been kicked out of so many places of employment that she has to work for the seedy corporation that appears to be the only option left. Her fiery temper and quick wit make her bristle under authority. I absolutely loved her. She is confident and determined to speak her mind, which of course leads her to making some not-so-great decisions. But you understand why she does it because Lewis is so good at making her believable, relatable, flawed, and human.
A wonderful read for anyone who enjoys complex magic systems, a complex love life, detailed world-buidling, and plenty of hot and heavy moments!
Lewis has a wonderful knack for piecing together many parts into a whole, cohesive world that makes it easy to fall into. She excels at creating multi-faceted characters to the point that you end up cheering for all of them. You fall in love with them without even realizing it. She slowly builds the magic of the world, dripping out piece by piece of information, until all the puzzle pieces come together. The further you get into the book, the more the train starts to build up speed and you have a hard time putting it down! At the end you are fearing for all of them and horrified by the people they are up against. And boy, are the villains in this tale twisted!
Lewis also tackles some dark themes in this book while also exploring the difficulty in dealing with trauma in a realistic way. Just as the magic system slowly evolves, so too does our lead character Nicole, a woman who has been kicked out of so many places of employment that she has to work for the seedy corporation that appears to be the only option left. Her fiery temper and quick wit make her bristle under authority. I absolutely loved her. She is confident and determined to speak her mind, which of course leads her to making some not-so-great decisions. But you understand why she does it because Lewis is so good at making her believable, relatable, flawed, and human.
A wonderful read for anyone who enjoys complex magic systems, a complex love life, detailed world-buidling, and plenty of hot and heavy moments!
August 4, 2019
Nicole Fontaine is down on her luck. She's out of money and the rent is due, so she takes a job at Tribec Insurance. From the moment she walks into the building Nicole senses something is not quite right. It's not just the unusual Egyptian theme of the building, or the smell of blood and sand. From the ominous guards to the mandatory on-site physicals, something is definitely wrong. By time she leaves the first day, Nicole's pretty sure she doesn't want to come back, but for some reason Tribec is determined to keep her.
In Nicole's world of Tulare Island, there are four types of elemental magick. Her family practices earth magic, but even though she's familiar with all types Nicole has a serious aversion to all magick. She realizes Tribec is practicing some form of magick, however, and after her friend and coworker goes missing, she is determined to find out what it is.
I don't want to give away any spoilers!
Nicole is every woman's inner smart-ass, giving voice to every suspicion that crosses her mind, and refreshingly open about her sexuality. But Nicole has secrets--secrets she's hiding about herself, and secrets her family is keeping from her. As the mystery unfolds at Tribec, the mystery about Nicole's deeply troubling past unfolds as well. The book contains sex and graphic violence, and is definitely for adults.
"Lineage" is the first in a series, and lovers of contemporary fantasy are in for a treat!
In Nicole's world of Tulare Island, there are four types of elemental magick. Her family practices earth magic, but even though she's familiar with all types Nicole has a serious aversion to all magick. She realizes Tribec is practicing some form of magick, however, and after her friend and coworker goes missing, she is determined to find out what it is.
I don't want to give away any spoilers!
Nicole is every woman's inner smart-ass, giving voice to every suspicion that crosses her mind, and refreshingly open about her sexuality. But Nicole has secrets--secrets she's hiding about herself, and secrets her family is keeping from her. As the mystery unfolds at Tribec, the mystery about Nicole's deeply troubling past unfolds as well. The book contains sex and graphic violence, and is definitely for adults.
"Lineage" is the first in a series, and lovers of contemporary fantasy are in for a treat!
November 9, 2025
From the first chapter this story sucks you in! Nicole's internal monolog is absolutely hilarious, and I love how she thinks. I also like she smokes cigars.
Rachel is my favorite! She's violent, slightly crazy with a perky attitude, and I just absolutely love her.
Nicole is smart mouthed and gets fired from every job she's had. Desperate and in need of funds to pay rent, she takes the only job she can get. But as soon as she walks into the building for her interview, something isn't right there. But Desperate, she pushes through even though every internal warning bell is going off.
There is a sadistic game going on and she gets caught in the middle.
I enjoyed the way Nicole deals with the things going on even though it usually gets her in trouble.
There is lots of mystery, intrigue, and thrilling tension. As she start to unravel what's going and getting herself deeper in trouble. You get to see her build relationships with the crew that's helping her. The Magick and Egyptian Mythology is very well done and wrote, it keeps you wondering and reading.
Rachel is my favorite! She's violent, slightly crazy with a perky attitude, and I just absolutely love her.
Nicole is smart mouthed and gets fired from every job she's had. Desperate and in need of funds to pay rent, she takes the only job she can get. But as soon as she walks into the building for her interview, something isn't right there. But Desperate, she pushes through even though every internal warning bell is going off.
There is a sadistic game going on and she gets caught in the middle.
I enjoyed the way Nicole deals with the things going on even though it usually gets her in trouble.
There is lots of mystery, intrigue, and thrilling tension. As she start to unravel what's going and getting herself deeper in trouble. You get to see her build relationships with the crew that's helping her. The Magick and Egyptian Mythology is very well done and wrote, it keeps you wondering and reading.
January 26, 2022
What a great read!!!
After having read four novellas from C. (Carla) Vonzale Lewis, I went on to read Lineage, the first in The Blood and Sacrifice Chronicles. WOW! Thankfully I started it on a Friday evening after work because I seriously didn't put it down, except for brief bathroom breaks, until I finished it. It was THAT good!
This story got my attention in the first few pages, grabbing ahold and NOT letting go until The End! The action took no time at all to get going and continued, hell bent for leather, right through the entire story - without sacrificing the ever-important world building. The characters were relatable...realistic and in spite of their supernatural quirks they were BELIEVABLE. I am so glad there are more books to come in this series!
Well done!
You gotta read this!
After having read four novellas from C. (Carla) Vonzale Lewis, I went on to read Lineage, the first in The Blood and Sacrifice Chronicles. WOW! Thankfully I started it on a Friday evening after work because I seriously didn't put it down, except for brief bathroom breaks, until I finished it. It was THAT good!
This story got my attention in the first few pages, grabbing ahold and NOT letting go until The End! The action took no time at all to get going and continued, hell bent for leather, right through the entire story - without sacrificing the ever-important world building. The characters were relatable...realistic and in spite of their supernatural quirks they were BELIEVABLE. I am so glad there are more books to come in this series!
Well done!
You gotta read this!
October 2, 2019
I had to have this book when I read the synopsis and saw it had egyptian aspects to it! I was not disappointed. It was so unique and kept me engaged the whole time. I had to know what happened next. My only issue that had given me a little trouble was Nicole's attitude through the book but it seemed to get better as the book went. I loved how the author perfected keeping you on your toes and gave hints along the way but not enough for you to even come close to coming up with what was going to happen. I ended the book with my jaw on the ground and my heart possibly stopped for a little bit before it started back up again.
October 24, 2019
This book was a great read! Nicole seems to struggle with life and holding down a job which is why she takes the offered job at Tribec Insurance, even though something doesn't feel right to her. As she succumbs to her normal behaviour concerning men, she finds herself falling deeper into the mystery. Desperate to unravel it, she realises she needs to admit she needs help and turn to the people she thought were her colleagues...
Nicole is a great character, she's flawed and unashamed and I love that. It also seems she's had a lot of secrets kept from her for a very long time...
Nicole is a great character, she's flawed and unashamed and I love that. It also seems she's had a lot of secrets kept from her for a very long time...
November 10, 2021
Thank you to the publishers, author and NetGalley for the free copy of this book.
I'm very divided on my opinion of this book. On one hand, there were some good moments and a very interesting premise. On the other hand, I felt rather scattered as I was reading this. I really dislike when literally no one will give a straight answer, and this basically summed up the entire story. I may be tempted to continue with the next book just to see what happens.
I'm very divided on my opinion of this book. On one hand, there were some good moments and a very interesting premise. On the other hand, I felt rather scattered as I was reading this. I really dislike when literally no one will give a straight answer, and this basically summed up the entire story. I may be tempted to continue with the next book just to see what happens.
April 11, 2022
Very Different from Most
The brutality in this story is disconcerting but reinforces the horror perpetrated by the villains. As a first book, you need to get through the character development before you reach the actions. It also has quite the ending, and I think we're going to meet some characters again.
The brutality in this story is disconcerting but reinforces the horror perpetrated by the villains. As a first book, you need to get through the character development before you reach the actions. It also has quite the ending, and I think we're going to meet some characters again.
January 18, 2022
Wonderful read
I absolutely loved this book. The characters are rich, the plot is enthralling, the climax is gut wrenching, and the end is amazing. I have access to an ARC copy for zealot, and im going to immediately start it.
I absolutely loved this book. The characters are rich, the plot is enthralling, the climax is gut wrenching, and the end is amazing. I have access to an ARC copy for zealot, and im going to immediately start it.
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September 27, 2024I am currently stuck in my house waiting for my power to be cut back on after hurricane Helene. There is a line down in my front yard and I can't get out of flooded driveway.
What I do have is a ton of batteries, an LED lantern and a pile of unread books. So might as well get cracking while I wait for the power to get turned back on.
Lineage was the first book on the pile so I started it. And stopped reading it after 53 pages.
It is a fairly bog standard supernatural fantasy novel. I wasn't expecting much from it just the hope that it would be mildly entertaining. And yall . . . There is literally nothing else I can do right now except fold laundry in the dark. And somehow that activity was preferable to continuing this book.
I blame the protagonist. She is a very generic grrrl power trope character. She is also dumb as a brick. And I'll admit her stupidity was so amusing that it kept me invested for 30 pages longer than I normally would have been. ' hey guys I'm walking into a call center that has magic runes all over the place and literally smells like the heaviest day of my menstrual cycle. Also there is a hospital in the basement. I sure hope they don't use magic here especially - gasp- blood magic.'
If she had just been stupid I probably could have kept reading just for the laughs. But she is also incredibly judgemental and vile towards every single person she meets. This woman is almost 30 and her inner monologue sounds like she is 16.
So really it's a toss up. The protagonist and plot are hilariously stupid. At the same time the protagonist is extremely judgemental and self absorbed. Others mileage may vary but I could not stand spending any more time with this woman child.
.
What I do have is a ton of batteries, an LED lantern and a pile of unread books. So might as well get cracking while I wait for the power to get turned back on.
Lineage was the first book on the pile so I started it. And stopped reading it after 53 pages.
It is a fairly bog standard supernatural fantasy novel. I wasn't expecting much from it just the hope that it would be mildly entertaining. And yall . . . There is literally nothing else I can do right now except fold laundry in the dark. And somehow that activity was preferable to continuing this book.
I blame the protagonist. She is a very generic grrrl power trope character. She is also dumb as a brick. And I'll admit her stupidity was so amusing that it kept me invested for 30 pages longer than I normally would have been. ' hey guys I'm walking into a call center that has magic runes all over the place and literally smells like the heaviest day of my menstrual cycle. Also there is a hospital in the basement. I sure hope they don't use magic here especially - gasp- blood magic.'
If she had just been stupid I probably could have kept reading just for the laughs. But she is also incredibly judgemental and vile towards every single person she meets. This woman is almost 30 and her inner monologue sounds like she is 16.
So really it's a toss up. The protagonist and plot are hilariously stupid. At the same time the protagonist is extremely judgemental and self absorbed. Others mileage may vary but I could not stand spending any more time with this woman child.
.
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