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Ema Marx #1
Dark Heirloom
"You're a vampire" is so not what Ema Marx wants to hear when she wakes from a two-day coma in a cryptic yet exquisite castle in northern Finland. Unfortunately, it explains a lot. Like why she's able to see in the dark and walk through solid objects. What she doesn't understand is why the other vampires expect her to have all the answers. It's their fault she turned into one of them...right?
Jalmari's hatred for his old-man intensifies when he's ordered to bring that troublesome girl to their castle. He has a clan to run; there's no time for babysitting newborn vampires no matter how they were converted to their culture. But when a two-thousand-year-old premonition threatens to take the crown and his life, Jalmari sees no other choice than to take out the catalyst, Ema Marx.
Fortunately for Ema, she could also be the clan's only savior. The race to figure out her vampiric origins is on. And maybe she'll get the hang of the blood-drinking gig along the way.
Jalmari's hatred for his old-man intensifies when he's ordered to bring that troublesome girl to their castle. He has a clan to run; there's no time for babysitting newborn vampires no matter how they were converted to their culture. But when a two-thousand-year-old premonition threatens to take the crown and his life, Jalmari sees no other choice than to take out the catalyst, Ema Marx.
Fortunately for Ema, she could also be the clan's only savior. The race to figure out her vampiric origins is on. And maybe she'll get the hang of the blood-drinking gig along the way.
383 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 2012
581 people are currently reading
1350 people want to read
About the author
J.D. Brown
13 books255 followersJ.D. Brown knows that vampires exist because she’s dating one and no, he doesn’t sparkle. Unfortunately, he’s not immortal either (or maybe her standards are too low). A magnet for subcultures and weirdness, J.D. was that socially awkward girl with more fictional friends than real ones. As a child battling a hearing loss and a medical condition with no name, J.D. found comfort in books where strong women always saved the day and got the guy. An obsession with Charmed, Sabrina the Teenage Witch and Buffy the Vampire Slayer led J.D. to believe that her mutated chromosome made her something more, not something less. Thus her stubborn flare to persevere was born. A lover of fine cuisine, coffee, and shoes, J.D. never understood why shoe stores don’t serve Starbucks and soufflé. She resides in Wisconsin were she writes urban fantasy—aka vampires for adults—and has political debates with her dogs. She loves to hear from fans and is active on http://Facebook.com/AuthorJDBrown
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 168 reviews
October 1, 2015
Series Free on Kindle Unlimited. To lots of paranormal reads check out https://www.facebook.com/ParanormalBo...
All up I found this one fairly annoying. The main character isn't too bad, and there's a fair amount of creatively worked circumstances. The fact was it dragged on too long in too many places with information overload, that wasn't truly necessary. This bogged down the story big time. Hence my skimming.
I didn't enjoy this enough to consider going on to the next novel.
All up I found this one fairly annoying. The main character isn't too bad, and there's a fair amount of creatively worked circumstances. The fact was it dragged on too long in too many places with information overload, that wasn't truly necessary. This bogged down the story big time. Hence my skimming.
I didn't enjoy this enough to consider going on to the next novel.
August 24, 2015
ugh...I had good expectations for this one but just seemed to be lacking in too many areas. the romance was basically non-existent. the storyline pretty vague and never really pulled me in. the characters seemed one dimensional. I doubt this will be a series I continue.
September 15, 2025
This was a waste of my time the h/ was TSTL the author had a serious habit of info dumping throughout the book.
June 7, 2013
First let me say I did enjoy this read. My wife (who ironically won't watch zombie or gore movies...like An Incovenient Truth) got me into vampire books more heavily than my casual enjoyment of the Vampire Hunter D animes. They are entertaining for their part, though I'm definitely more of an epic fantasy reader.
The Good
J.D. has a good handle on the technical writing. The story is first person from just a few main characters' points of view. She physically structures her prose to match the story it conveys. The flow, energy, pace, and chapter lengths enhance the readability rather than detract from it.
More importantly, J.D. does some good world building. This is by far my favourite part of books, so this was important to me that she get it right to make sure I did not feel like I was just reading another Twilight clone (sorry folks, like it or not, that's the standard rigt now). She gets past the Stoker rules early on, but I won't spoil the read with the details. Vamps can do some neat stuff, including a couple of oldies that should never have been done away with in the more modern vampire iterations. She also has some interesting foundations to the lore behind the origins of vampires, their role in society, and their goals.
The Okay
I say okay because these parts weren't bad, in the classic sense, just not nearly as strong as her world building.
Character depth was somewhat lacking and predictible. While the vamp abilities and history helped some, strip away the fantasy context and the characters were not very original. Jesu is probably the weakest of the main characters, and he and his brother come across as somewhat clonish of Stephan and Damon from the Vampire Diaries (I've only watched the tv series with the wife). Leena is a bit stronger but still predictible. Ema is about as archtypical as one can get personality-wise. She is what every preteen and teen who reads these kinds of books pretends to be with the attitude. She is definitely not an Elena, though, as she lacks the vulnerability. She reminds me more of the red headed girl from the movie Brave.
I have to be honest though. J.D. and I share this problem as I tend to focus too much on world building to the detriment of my characters. I just have a better excuse...I'm a dude. ;P
The Weird
Toward the end of the novel J.D. put me through a bit of Hell while reading. The story took a very strange turn with the scenery and the identity of the primary villain in the story. The good part is that it was totally unexpected. The not great part is that unexpected doesn't always mean cool. I'll not say more as it will be solely based on my own personal biases as a reader and others may not share this bias and seriously enjoy the devilish bramble she creates for her characters to wade through. Might even turn a few of you upside down for a bit.
The Bad
Disclaimer - the following is based solely on my personal biases and likely does not reflect a large chunk of common readers of dark/vampire fantasy. Feel free to stop reading here if this is you.
First of all, I have no use for profanity. It debases the writing in the most original sense of the word profane.
Second, the harlequin-esque scenes added nothing but gratuitous debauchery to the book lowering the class quite a bit. The first time I endured. The second time was actually more necessary to the story, but I almost stopped reading. Were it not for having given my word to review this, I may very well have.
For me this book was around 2.63 stars, which rounds to 3. Many will enjoy the book, many will not. I think the big problem J.D. faces is that she writes in a style that would fit younger readers, but includes content only adults should be exposed to.
The Good
J.D. has a good handle on the technical writing. The story is first person from just a few main characters' points of view. She physically structures her prose to match the story it conveys. The flow, energy, pace, and chapter lengths enhance the readability rather than detract from it.
More importantly, J.D. does some good world building. This is by far my favourite part of books, so this was important to me that she get it right to make sure I did not feel like I was just reading another Twilight clone (sorry folks, like it or not, that's the standard rigt now). She gets past the Stoker rules early on, but I won't spoil the read with the details. Vamps can do some neat stuff, including a couple of oldies that should never have been done away with in the more modern vampire iterations. She also has some interesting foundations to the lore behind the origins of vampires, their role in society, and their goals.
The Okay
I say okay because these parts weren't bad, in the classic sense, just not nearly as strong as her world building.
Character depth was somewhat lacking and predictible. While the vamp abilities and history helped some, strip away the fantasy context and the characters were not very original. Jesu is probably the weakest of the main characters, and he and his brother come across as somewhat clonish of Stephan and Damon from the Vampire Diaries (I've only watched the tv series with the wife). Leena is a bit stronger but still predictible. Ema is about as archtypical as one can get personality-wise. She is what every preteen and teen who reads these kinds of books pretends to be with the attitude. She is definitely not an Elena, though, as she lacks the vulnerability. She reminds me more of the red headed girl from the movie Brave.
I have to be honest though. J.D. and I share this problem as I tend to focus too much on world building to the detriment of my characters. I just have a better excuse...I'm a dude. ;P
The Weird
Toward the end of the novel J.D. put me through a bit of Hell while reading. The story took a very strange turn with the scenery and the identity of the primary villain in the story. The good part is that it was totally unexpected. The not great part is that unexpected doesn't always mean cool. I'll not say more as it will be solely based on my own personal biases as a reader and others may not share this bias and seriously enjoy the devilish bramble she creates for her characters to wade through. Might even turn a few of you upside down for a bit.
The Bad
Disclaimer - the following is based solely on my personal biases and likely does not reflect a large chunk of common readers of dark/vampire fantasy. Feel free to stop reading here if this is you.
First of all, I have no use for profanity. It debases the writing in the most original sense of the word profane.
Second, the harlequin-esque scenes added nothing but gratuitous debauchery to the book lowering the class quite a bit. The first time I endured. The second time was actually more necessary to the story, but I almost stopped reading. Were it not for having given my word to review this, I may very well have.
For me this book was around 2.63 stars, which rounds to 3. Many will enjoy the book, many will not. I think the big problem J.D. faces is that she writes in a style that would fit younger readers, but includes content only adults should be exposed to.
July 20, 2017
I really did enjoy the story, but there are some things that could be improved in future works that I'd like to point out.
What I did really enjoy was the sense of place and world building. Also the narration was excellent.
What needs to be worked on:
-Character development. They seemed a little flat. And some things they did were absurd for their characters.
-The ending. Too many weird twists popped up in the end. I do like twists, but these seemed to not really connect with the main story.
Overall really enjoyed the story and will read more of Brown's work in the future.
I received an arc of this book and am voluntarily reviewing.
What I did really enjoy was the sense of place and world building. Also the narration was excellent.
What needs to be worked on:
-Character development. They seemed a little flat. And some things they did were absurd for their characters.
-The ending. Too many weird twists popped up in the end. I do like twists, but these seemed to not really connect with the main story.
Overall really enjoyed the story and will read more of Brown's work in the future.
I received an arc of this book and am voluntarily reviewing.
October 26, 2012
From http://readingandwritingurbanfantasy....
2.5 stars
At a Glance
Dark Heirloom was exciting from the beginning then it lagged for the majority of the book and picked up a little at the end. This book had potential that it didn't quite reach.
The Good
Ema is mysteriously turned into a vampire. She is taken far away from her life and pretty much held prisoner for reasons unknown. The master of the house hates her but the brother is nice. The brother, Jesu, starts to teach Ema how to enhance her new vampire abilities as Jalmari, the leader of the clan, just wants to get rid of her by any means necessary.
The beginning of the book starts out with a bang. It's terrifying how Ema is introduced to the vampire world. Jalmari is not a good vampire and he holds nothing back. When Ema is taken to her "prison," which happens to be a creepy but beautiful castle, things keep going downhill. It's obvious Jalmari and his girlfriend do not want her there, but luckily Jesu is friendly. All he wants to do is help Ema with her new...condition. Together they find out that Ema is one powerful vampire. I did like the journey Ema and Jesu went through with all the training. It's nice to see a slow building romance instead of insta-love for once.
Though Ema wasn't one of my favorite characters, I did like Jesu for the most part. He was just adorable with all his blue blushing and shy demeanor. I would still like to learn more about him.
I was scared for Ema most of the time. I just didn't know what Jalmari was going to do with her. He really had no heart when it came to Ema, which made him unpredictable.
The writing was well done and the vampire history was interesting. I am intrigued to see where Brown is going to take this series.
The Bad
First off, I didn't mind the first person POV since many of the books I read are first person, but in this book we get two shifting first person POVs. It shifts from Ema and Jalmari so it was hard to determine who's head we were in each chapter until something significant happened.
The lack of contractions took me out of the story often. There was waaaay too much downtime and I found myself putting this book down often.
I couldn't connect with most of the characters. Most of them were stagnant and others just made odd decisions. Jesu's constant snickerng was childish and made me like him less for it. Ema not believing in the supernatural when it was obvious was tiring.
Simply put, not enough happened for me in this book. I was left with unanswered questions and the ending was completely cut off. It was barely an ending at all.
The Snuggly
The sex was pretty good. It was hot but the characters who had the sex were people I didn't like so it was a little odd. There is a possible rape scene that we do not witness for the most part. Just a heads up.
Overall
This is a fifty-fifty book for me. I like half of the aspects in it while the other half were very disappointing. I am not sure if I would continue the series, but I don't regret reading this book. I would only recommend this book to a few people who like a slower vampire book.
Quote
Pfft. What harm can a mirror do, beside remind me of the bruises on my face? I stole a quick glance in the ancient vanity mirror. I did a double take and gasped. The girl in the reflection was far too pale, her hair too dark, her teeth too pointed. It wasn't my reflection and, yet, it was. My eyes frightened me most. Flecks of dark red colored the black irises. A sheen reflected off the large pupils like cat's eyes in the dark. They were not my eyes. My eyes were brown. These eyes belonged to a monster.
My lips quivered as I ran my fingers over my face and hair. "What did you do to me?"
2.5 stars
At a Glance
Dark Heirloom was exciting from the beginning then it lagged for the majority of the book and picked up a little at the end. This book had potential that it didn't quite reach.
The Good
Ema is mysteriously turned into a vampire. She is taken far away from her life and pretty much held prisoner for reasons unknown. The master of the house hates her but the brother is nice. The brother, Jesu, starts to teach Ema how to enhance her new vampire abilities as Jalmari, the leader of the clan, just wants to get rid of her by any means necessary.
The beginning of the book starts out with a bang. It's terrifying how Ema is introduced to the vampire world. Jalmari is not a good vampire and he holds nothing back. When Ema is taken to her "prison," which happens to be a creepy but beautiful castle, things keep going downhill. It's obvious Jalmari and his girlfriend do not want her there, but luckily Jesu is friendly. All he wants to do is help Ema with her new...condition. Together they find out that Ema is one powerful vampire. I did like the journey Ema and Jesu went through with all the training. It's nice to see a slow building romance instead of insta-love for once.
Though Ema wasn't one of my favorite characters, I did like Jesu for the most part. He was just adorable with all his blue blushing and shy demeanor. I would still like to learn more about him.
I was scared for Ema most of the time. I just didn't know what Jalmari was going to do with her. He really had no heart when it came to Ema, which made him unpredictable.
The writing was well done and the vampire history was interesting. I am intrigued to see where Brown is going to take this series.
The Bad
First off, I didn't mind the first person POV since many of the books I read are first person, but in this book we get two shifting first person POVs. It shifts from Ema and Jalmari so it was hard to determine who's head we were in each chapter until something significant happened.
The lack of contractions took me out of the story often. There was waaaay too much downtime and I found myself putting this book down often.
I couldn't connect with most of the characters. Most of them were stagnant and others just made odd decisions. Jesu's constant snickerng was childish and made me like him less for it. Ema not believing in the supernatural when it was obvious was tiring.
Simply put, not enough happened for me in this book. I was left with unanswered questions and the ending was completely cut off. It was barely an ending at all.
The Snuggly
The sex was pretty good. It was hot but the characters who had the sex were people I didn't like so it was a little odd. There is a possible rape scene that we do not witness for the most part. Just a heads up.
Overall
This is a fifty-fifty book for me. I like half of the aspects in it while the other half were very disappointing. I am not sure if I would continue the series, but I don't regret reading this book. I would only recommend this book to a few people who like a slower vampire book.
Quote
Pfft. What harm can a mirror do, beside remind me of the bruises on my face? I stole a quick glance in the ancient vanity mirror. I did a double take and gasped. The girl in the reflection was far too pale, her hair too dark, her teeth too pointed. It wasn't my reflection and, yet, it was. My eyes frightened me most. Flecks of dark red colored the black irises. A sheen reflected off the large pupils like cat's eyes in the dark. They were not my eyes. My eyes were brown. These eyes belonged to a monster.
My lips quivered as I ran my fingers over my face and hair. "What did you do to me?"
September 21, 2021
I finally found the time to read the first book in the Ema Marx series by JD Brown, and was pleasantly surprised! The first book of a first series often leaves readers flat. What we hope for is that the writer will improve with each subsequent book. But to get us to read the next book, first they have to capture our interest.
And, guess what? Jen did! I love vamps, I mean, who doesn't, right? What made her unusual was, she wasn't bitten against her will. That is getting old, in my opinion. No, she did something different. And it's an unusual twist. I won't give it away because there may be some out there who haven't read this yet, but, suffice it to say, it gives the storyline a little bit of an unusual twist that grabbed my interest and held it throughout.
This wasn't the best one, I'm sure. She was green, a new author finding her footing. But I give her kudos for doing it well enough that I want to read book 2 to see where it goes. Which is where I'm off to now!
Great job for a newbie, JD Brown! I'm really excited to keep on going, which is hard to do for me, so great job indeed! On to Dark Liaison!
And, guess what? Jen did! I love vamps, I mean, who doesn't, right? What made her unusual was, she wasn't bitten against her will. That is getting old, in my opinion. No, she did something different. And it's an unusual twist. I won't give it away because there may be some out there who haven't read this yet, but, suffice it to say, it gives the storyline a little bit of an unusual twist that grabbed my interest and held it throughout.
This wasn't the best one, I'm sure. She was green, a new author finding her footing. But I give her kudos for doing it well enough that I want to read book 2 to see where it goes. Which is where I'm off to now!
Great job for a newbie, JD Brown! I'm really excited to keep on going, which is hard to do for me, so great job indeed! On to Dark Liaison!
October 24, 2019
This book was marvelous! Full of surprises, mystery and vampire’s like you have never seen before. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. As the storyline went on, the more I felt excitement rise in me.
Ema, the main character, basically has an Jersey attitude, smart mouth, sarcastic, and nobody tells her what to do. So what happens when you wake up in a strange place and the last thing you remember is a man and woman trying to kill you? Why you laugh out loud at them telling you that they are vampires and you are too now. What? Ema doesn’t believe in such things.
It get better and better with each turn of the page. I can’t wait to read book 2 !
Ema, the main character, basically has an Jersey attitude, smart mouth, sarcastic, and nobody tells her what to do. So what happens when you wake up in a strange place and the last thing you remember is a man and woman trying to kill you? Why you laugh out loud at them telling you that they are vampires and you are too now. What? Ema doesn’t believe in such things.
It get better and better with each turn of the page. I can’t wait to read book 2 !
August 19, 2017
Enjoyable YA story. Ema becomes a vampire and does not know how it happened. Nice touches of genetics, geneology and history along with vampire lore.
The characters need more development and I am hoping to see this in the next novel
The characters need more development and I am hoping to see this in the next novel
September 11, 2013
With complicated characters, a “How did I become a Vampire” mystery, a few personality conflicts, some “budding romance” moments and a demon entity living within his vampire son’s mind, one would think that being held captive upon finding out you are now a vampire would be a little overwhelming, but Ema is no shrinking violet! So what if she gags at the thought of drinking blood, that is, until she gets a bag or two in her hands. I also wouldn’t call the main character, Ema a completely adorable person, but she has her moments as she learns to shapeshift and tries to beat the vamps at their own game! Which vampire can be trusted? Who has another agenda?
Author J. D. Brown has written a fantastic guide to vampire lore, giving some pretty detailed descriptions of different clans and their abilities. Who knew vampires could be so different? Or that they could blush blue? There is some great detail in most areas, and some mystery still surrounding others. By switching POVs, the author fleshes out the tale well, making the characters more believable in their actions in this “sort of” dark story that even has a castle!
If you like your paranormal reads on the slightly dark side, with a slightly slower pace, but with great twists, and a moment or two of warmth and humor, this could be the start of something great for you!
Publication Date: April 5, 2012
Publisher: MuseItUp Publishing
Series: Ema Marx, Book 1
ISBN: 0615623999 (paperback)
Number of Pages: 396
Genre: Paranormal/Adults
My Rating: 4.5 stars
Available From: Amazon / Barnes & Noble
Connect with the Author: http://authorjdbrown.blogspot.com/
For more reviews check out Tome Tender's Book Blog or find us on Facebook.
Author J. D. Brown has written a fantastic guide to vampire lore, giving some pretty detailed descriptions of different clans and their abilities. Who knew vampires could be so different? Or that they could blush blue? There is some great detail in most areas, and some mystery still surrounding others. By switching POVs, the author fleshes out the tale well, making the characters more believable in their actions in this “sort of” dark story that even has a castle!
If you like your paranormal reads on the slightly dark side, with a slightly slower pace, but with great twists, and a moment or two of warmth and humor, this could be the start of something great for you!
Publication Date: April 5, 2012
Publisher: MuseItUp Publishing
Series: Ema Marx, Book 1
ISBN: 0615623999 (paperback)
Number of Pages: 396
Genre: Paranormal/Adults
My Rating: 4.5 stars
Available From: Amazon / Barnes & Noble
Connect with the Author: http://authorjdbrown.blogspot.com/
For more reviews check out Tome Tender's Book Blog or find us on Facebook.
March 20, 2017
This book was a freebie I picked up on instafreebie. I went into this series with no expectations and was pleased at how good it was. It is the story of Ema Marx and how she went from being a human to finding out she was actually born a vampyre. We see what she goes through as she discovers her powers and hear the prophecy of her future. I am looking forward to the next book.
April 15, 2012
Dark Heirloom is your standard Vampire book. Now I should preface this with the statement that I really enjoy vampire books. The only reason I said this one is standard is because it stays pretty close to the typical vampire lores. Now I did really like the explanation of the different clans and the description of the evolution of the creatures. I especially enjoyed learning about the various powers and abilities the vampire clans have.
Ema is a very strong willed character. I liked her a lot. But one of the main problems I had with this story was that I didn't connect very deeply with Ema. She had her moments where I felt like there was real development and that she was planting roots with the readers, but for the most part she seemed kind of stagnant to me.
I like Jesu the most. He is adorable and so cute. I loved that he turned blue when he blushed! I wanted to learn more about him but he is so closed off that we didn't get to see too much of his insight. I would have loved to see a little bit more of his feelings for Ema and some of his emotions. Maybe there will be more of that in the second book. I am going to be reading the second book more for Jesu than for Ema.
Overall, Dark Heirloom was a good book. It didn't blow me out of the water, but it did hold my interest and the writing was good. I didn't particularly like the ending. I felt like it kind of just cut off. But not in a huge build up kind of way, it just stopped. I would certainly continue the series because I am really interested to see what is going to happen next. Mostly for Jesu. If you like Vampire books, Dark Heirloon might be a good one for you to check out.
Ema is a very strong willed character. I liked her a lot. But one of the main problems I had with this story was that I didn't connect very deeply with Ema. She had her moments where I felt like there was real development and that she was planting roots with the readers, but for the most part she seemed kind of stagnant to me.
I like Jesu the most. He is adorable and so cute. I loved that he turned blue when he blushed! I wanted to learn more about him but he is so closed off that we didn't get to see too much of his insight. I would have loved to see a little bit more of his feelings for Ema and some of his emotions. Maybe there will be more of that in the second book. I am going to be reading the second book more for Jesu than for Ema.
Overall, Dark Heirloom was a good book. It didn't blow me out of the water, but it did hold my interest and the writing was good. I didn't particularly like the ending. I felt like it kind of just cut off. But not in a huge build up kind of way, it just stopped. I would certainly continue the series because I am really interested to see what is going to happen next. Mostly for Jesu. If you like Vampire books, Dark Heirloon might be a good one for you to check out.
March 30, 2016
This is a good beginning to the Ema Marx series!
It's an interesting twist to the same old vampire story.
The characters are well developed. We easily fall in love with the lovable characters and instantly hate the villains.
Ema was being chased by supernaturals all of a sudden wakes up as a vampire and has no idea what happened.
She is brought to a castle by the person she is sure wants her dead. But why?
There she meets Jesu and he instantly takes to her and begins to rest her to see what kind of vampire she is and to which clan she belongs to.
Things are twisted when we find out that Jalmari is possessed by his dad's dead soul.
Fun to see how everything plays out.
The second book is a must!!
It's an interesting twist to the same old vampire story.
The characters are well developed. We easily fall in love with the lovable characters and instantly hate the villains.
Ema was being chased by supernaturals all of a sudden wakes up as a vampire and has no idea what happened.
She is brought to a castle by the person she is sure wants her dead. But why?
There she meets Jesu and he instantly takes to her and begins to rest her to see what kind of vampire she is and to which clan she belongs to.
Things are twisted when we find out that Jalmari is possessed by his dad's dead soul.
Fun to see how everything plays out.
The second book is a must!!
September 14, 2019
I absolutely loved this book! It grabs you from the very first page and sweeps you through to the end. I had a hard time breaking myself away from the story to do that pesky sleeping and working thing, and could have easily read it through in one sitting. J.D. has invented a intriguing vampire history and it certainly made me think of gypsies in an entirely new way. I adored her characters and with the open ending I'm thrilled to know there will be a second book so that I can delve a little deeper into her world. I will certainly be buying a print copy of the second book to go with the first one because this series is a keeper. In my opinion Highly recommended!
August 31, 2012
I absolutely loved this book! It grabs you from the very first page and sweeps you through to the end. I had a hard time breaking myself away from the story to do that pesky sleeping and working thing, and could have easily read it through in one sitting. J.D. has invented a intriguing vampire history and it certainly made me think of gypsies in an entirely new way. I adored her characters and with the open ending I'm thrilled to know there will be a second book so that I can delve a little deeper into her world. I will certainly be buying a print copy of the second book to go with the first one because this series is a keeper. In my opinion Highly recommended!
June 28, 2016
This book is surprisingly very good and well put together. The author touches on things that most authors in this genre forget about and really gets you thinking on how it feels to be in each character's shoes. This book also touches on theories that I've contemplated before about origins of the race. I highly recommend to any new coming readers looking for a refreshing new take on on vampires.
July 15, 2016
Can I give it a minus one star?
February 14, 2019
My notes and highlighted section pretty much sums up how I felt about this book.
Not to be read if you have been a victim of sexual assault, because the author likes to write about it (not graphically, because she passes out), and then have the main character literally say it was “my fault” and actually be cool with waking up without pants/underwear on.
She’s really quite nonchalant about it to be honest. Since were reading it from inside her head, I could understand if she was acting that way in front of people, but in her thoughts maybe she was like “it wasn’t my fault. How did this happen” etc. NO! None of that. Because: victim blaming and also who cares I guess.
This book was like reading a damn 13 year olds tantrum instead of a bloody 23 year olds. It could have been really good. It was not good though.
It was painful. The amount of times I had to put it down and walk away so I didn’t have to through my phone at the petulance of the character was something else!
I had just finished a previous book where the character was in heat 24/7, life and death situations. I think I may have preferred that to be honest.
There were good parts in this book, namely most of the other characters.
The villain was great and a bit of a plot twist for the other characters to find out about. Which was good.
Jesu was my favourite character and I felt a lot of the time that he was given the raw end of the deal.
Jalmari was a good bad (to some degree) guy. At the very end though it makes no real sense what he does.
Marie and Naamah, even though we barely got to meet them were kind and homely - if I can use that to describe people.
Leena. I loved Leena. She was a great character and added that bit extra. Most books the guy comes along and gets with the main character, but in this book Leena was with him already and stated that way. When you think she’ll kill ema, she doesn’t and you have a new respect for her.
The underworld was quite well thought out also. The wolves I liked a lot. I just wish I knew what happened to them.
This book had the potential to be good. It was just mainly the main Character was annoyed and such a dick, and also the way she wrote the rape. Effectively that’s what it was.
If you enjoyed it, sweet. Otherwise if you didn’t, I feel you.
Hopefully you get a better read then I did.
Not to be read if you have been a victim of sexual assault, because the author likes to write about it (not graphically, because she passes out), and then have the main character literally say it was “my fault” and actually be cool with waking up without pants/underwear on.
She’s really quite nonchalant about it to be honest. Since were reading it from inside her head, I could understand if she was acting that way in front of people, but in her thoughts maybe she was like “it wasn’t my fault. How did this happen” etc. NO! None of that. Because: victim blaming and also who cares I guess.
This book was like reading a damn 13 year olds tantrum instead of a bloody 23 year olds. It could have been really good. It was not good though.
It was painful. The amount of times I had to put it down and walk away so I didn’t have to through my phone at the petulance of the character was something else!
I had just finished a previous book where the character was in heat 24/7, life and death situations. I think I may have preferred that to be honest.
There were good parts in this book, namely most of the other characters.
The villain was great and a bit of a plot twist for the other characters to find out about. Which was good.
Jesu was my favourite character and I felt a lot of the time that he was given the raw end of the deal.
Jalmari was a good bad (to some degree) guy. At the very end though it makes no real sense what he does.
Marie and Naamah, even though we barely got to meet them were kind and homely - if I can use that to describe people.
Leena. I loved Leena. She was a great character and added that bit extra. Most books the guy comes along and gets with the main character, but in this book Leena was with him already and stated that way. When you think she’ll kill ema, she doesn’t and you have a new respect for her.
The underworld was quite well thought out also. The wolves I liked a lot. I just wish I knew what happened to them.
This book had the potential to be good. It was just mainly the main Character was annoyed and such a dick, and also the way she wrote the rape. Effectively that’s what it was.
If you enjoyed it, sweet. Otherwise if you didn’t, I feel you.
Hopefully you get a better read then I did.
September 5, 2022
I recently read Darkness Above by the same author, and after I finished it I figured out that it was a spin-off series from this series. I really enjoyed Darkness Above, so my review of this book might be a little biased because I know where the main storyline is headed. It’s still fun to watch it all play out, though.
This book follows Ema Marx, who turns into a vampire following an attack in an alley. Her would-be killer realizes that she is turning into a vampire, and takes her back to his palace in Finland in order to figure out who is responsible for turning her (I’m keeping this vague to avoid spoilers, but the reasons why he is alarmed at her turning into a vampire are central to the main plot).
Once she arrived in Finland, she wakes up at the palace of her attempted murderer (Jalmari) and learns that he is the prince of a vampire clan. She also meets his brother Jesu, who is kind to her and begins teaching her how to control her new powers.
I loved the world building here. There are multiple clans of vampires, and each of them have different powers and royal families. It was interesting to read about some of the ways that vampires have influenced human history. The majority of the book took place at the palace in Finland, except for one particularly cool scene in the underworld 😱
The pacing could be a bit slow at times, as the first part of the book focused mostly on world building and character development. I enjoyed this part since I already know where the story is headed. The romance is a very slow build, so not very much happens in this book as far as the romance goes. I’m expecting things to pick up quite a bit in the next one, given the way that this one ended.
This book follows Ema Marx, who turns into a vampire following an attack in an alley. Her would-be killer realizes that she is turning into a vampire, and takes her back to his palace in Finland in order to figure out who is responsible for turning her (I’m keeping this vague to avoid spoilers, but the reasons why he is alarmed at her turning into a vampire are central to the main plot).
Once she arrived in Finland, she wakes up at the palace of her attempted murderer (Jalmari) and learns that he is the prince of a vampire clan. She also meets his brother Jesu, who is kind to her and begins teaching her how to control her new powers.
I loved the world building here. There are multiple clans of vampires, and each of them have different powers and royal families. It was interesting to read about some of the ways that vampires have influenced human history. The majority of the book took place at the palace in Finland, except for one particularly cool scene in the underworld 😱
The pacing could be a bit slow at times, as the first part of the book focused mostly on world building and character development. I enjoyed this part since I already know where the story is headed. The romance is a very slow build, so not very much happens in this book as far as the romance goes. I’m expecting things to pick up quite a bit in the next one, given the way that this one ended.
July 31, 2017
This book was over the top good. It has depicted the next phase of this series where Apolliyon is supposedly dead. But not all evil dies in a traditional way, and now Jalmari and Jesu are grown men dealing with their own secrets where Ema is concerned. Jesu saw her in a premonition that meant the destruction of his father and Jalmari, but how can that be when his father is already dead. Twists and suspense are strong factors in this story and once again gives you a completely different outlook on vampire vs vampyre. Not all is equal, not all is fair. Ema has no idea why this is happening to her, nor does she want any part of it. She doesn't want to be a part of the plot surrounding her, but she finds she really has no choice but to adapt.
Even as I headed into the ending of this book I knew I wouldn't have closure to how Ema and Jesu would figure out what is next. And the fact that Jalmari still holds all that has gone wrong since Ema came on the scene. His intent is to hunt her down and destroy her. Why is it all her fault when she didn't ask to be included in this song and dance? You must read...but you need to start at the beginning or be lost where some of the other characters here are portrayed.
Even as I headed into the ending of this book I knew I wouldn't have closure to how Ema and Jesu would figure out what is next. And the fact that Jalmari still holds all that has gone wrong since Ema came on the scene. His intent is to hunt her down and destroy her. Why is it all her fault when she didn't ask to be included in this song and dance? You must read...but you need to start at the beginning or be lost where some of the other characters here are portrayed.
October 15, 2024
Ema is a very strong willed character. I liked her a lot. But one of the main problems I had with this story was that I didn’t connect very deeply with Ema. She had her moments where I felt like there was real development and that she was planting roots with the readers, but for the most part she seemed kind of stagnant to me.
I like Jesu the most. He is adorable and so cute. I loved that he turned blue when he blushed! I wanted to learn more about him but he is so closed off that we didn’t get to see too much of his insight. I would have loved to see a little bit more of his feelings for Ema and some of his emotions. Maybe there will be more of that in the second book. I am going to be reading the second book more for Jesu than for Ema.
Overall, Dark Heirloom was a good book. It didn’t blow me out of the water, but it did hold my interest and the writing was good. I didn’t particularly like the ending. I felt like it kind of just cut off. But not in a huge build up kind of way, it just stopped. I would certainly continue the series because I am really interested to see what is going to happen next. Mostly for Jesu. If you like Vampire books, Dark Heirloon might be a good one for you to check out.
I like Jesu the most. He is adorable and so cute. I loved that he turned blue when he blushed! I wanted to learn more about him but he is so closed off that we didn’t get to see too much of his insight. I would have loved to see a little bit more of his feelings for Ema and some of his emotions. Maybe there will be more of that in the second book. I am going to be reading the second book more for Jesu than for Ema.
Overall, Dark Heirloom was a good book. It didn’t blow me out of the water, but it did hold my interest and the writing was good. I didn’t particularly like the ending. I felt like it kind of just cut off. But not in a huge build up kind of way, it just stopped. I would certainly continue the series because I am really interested to see what is going to happen next. Mostly for Jesu. If you like Vampire books, Dark Heirloon might be a good one for you to check out.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 16, 2020
I received this book free for an honest review .
This book is so good I was sad it ended.
Ema is attacked one night and the police advise her to go stay at a friends as all her possessions are lost and they fear her assailant might come after her again. She goes to her Mothers but things don’t work out so she leaves and heads back home where she’s attacked again and she wakes up in a strange castle in another country.
Ema’s life is threatened by an ancient prophecy and she has to come to terms that shifters , vampires and nephilims are all real.
Can Ema stay one step ahead and ensure she’s safe or will the prophecy unfold putting her in danger .
This isn’t your normal run of the mill vampire story and you need to read or listen to it.
MJ Webb was brilliant at the voices and accents and made the book more enjoyable . I am eagerly awaiting book 2 and hoping it’s not to far off.
This book is so good I was sad it ended.
Ema is attacked one night and the police advise her to go stay at a friends as all her possessions are lost and they fear her assailant might come after her again. She goes to her Mothers but things don’t work out so she leaves and heads back home where she’s attacked again and she wakes up in a strange castle in another country.
Ema’s life is threatened by an ancient prophecy and she has to come to terms that shifters , vampires and nephilims are all real.
Can Ema stay one step ahead and ensure she’s safe or will the prophecy unfold putting her in danger .
This isn’t your normal run of the mill vampire story and you need to read or listen to it.
MJ Webb was brilliant at the voices and accents and made the book more enjoyable . I am eagerly awaiting book 2 and hoping it’s not to far off.
August 10, 2021
This one of those unique reads that just does not allow you to put it down. This is definitely not one of the typical vampire novels. Emma, a young woman, who lives on her own in Chicago, is attacked in an ally on her way home from work one evening. While she has turned vampire she continues to show many of her human emotions and abilities. The story takes you on all kinds of twists and turns. And while you as the reader begin to participate in her new life as a vampire you begin to discover that there is a hidden family tree and a whole world of family secrets. The author explores vampire races, abilities, beliefs, and much more. JD Brown has created a vampire world unlike any other. Her writing is supreme., and I want to thank her for sharing her rare abilities with us the reader. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 18, 2017
The writing was good enough, but the story went on and on. I think this author needs an editor. Worse, the main character is not someone you can easily like. She selfish, clueless, and scared throughout the novel. I never really liked her. I don't see the point of reading any more of this series.
The heroine, Ema, was attacked by a vampire, but not bitten, and then she turned into a vampire anyway. WEIRD, even from the vampire's perspective. Someone tells the vampire to keep her alive, and he has to obey - taking her home to Finland, but he doesn't like Ema, nor does his girlfriend. His vampire brother does, however. Then there's a lot of stuff I can't spill without spoiling it, and in the end one of them is dead, a dead guy is alive, and Ema is being hunted by several vampires.
The heroine, Ema, was attacked by a vampire, but not bitten, and then she turned into a vampire anyway. WEIRD, even from the vampire's perspective. Someone tells the vampire to keep her alive, and he has to obey - taking her home to Finland, but he doesn't like Ema, nor does his girlfriend. His vampire brother does, however. Then there's a lot of stuff I can't spill without spoiling it, and in the end one of them is dead, a dead guy is alive, and Ema is being hunted by several vampires.
January 26, 2017
First off, I have to say I love this book. It is so descriptive, you can actually feel yourself in the middle of it all. It is written by multiple points of view. Ema Marx is a woman who was nearly murdered by vampyres twice in 24 hours. She is swept up from Chicago and ends up in Europe with vampyres and vampires. They want to know who sired her before they kill her, but she has never been bitten. They kill all Romani offspring they find, but she is not killed on orders of Jalmari, who is possessed by his long dead father Apollyon. This first of the series is so good, I do not want to ruin the whole book by giving away too many secrets. If you like vampire novels, this is a must read.
January 29, 2019
A vampire story with a refreshing, old-fashioned, classic twist.
This is not your modern vampire tale. Ema, the main character, is turned into a vampire against her will but doesn't instantly become some sexy, kick-butt, powerful vamp. For quite some time she can't get a grip on what has happened to her or why, or even where she is. As the story progresses, she slowly comes into her own and her character begins to develop into one that grabs you and doesn't let go just because the book ends.
Get ready to be sucked into this story heart and soul. Like me, you'll be waiting with bated breath for the next installment in the series.
This is not your modern vampire tale. Ema, the main character, is turned into a vampire against her will but doesn't instantly become some sexy, kick-butt, powerful vamp. For quite some time she can't get a grip on what has happened to her or why, or even where she is. As the story progresses, she slowly comes into her own and her character begins to develop into one that grabs you and doesn't let go just because the book ends.
Get ready to be sucked into this story heart and soul. Like me, you'll be waiting with bated breath for the next installment in the series.
September 15, 2025
DNF. I really hate getting halfway through a book and deciding not to finish it because it’s a waste of my time, but this book was not going anywhere. Yeah, it has some really cool aspects with vampire origins and the different clans and their powers and stuff, but the first half of the book is just experimenting with her powers and some cryptic goings on from Jalmari. Ugh. I wasted days on this. I was really trying to give it go but while suffering through another chapter, I thought why in the world am I doing this to myself?
The only thing I do want to know is who the cat was.
OK, I searched the book until I found it. The cat is exactly who I thought it was.
The only thing I do want to know is who the cat was.
OK, I searched the book until I found it. The cat is exactly who I thought it was.
March 23, 2017
J.D. Brown pulls you right in from page 1 with Ema being assaulted in an alley not once but twice back to back days. Then she wakes up in another country! All in the first chapter!
So Ema becomes a Vampire and no one knows which clan she is from. Which I like that there are different clans of vampires and vampyres. Never known of a difference. I feel so bad for Jalmari with Apollyon in his head giving him commands that has to be followed weather Jalmari wants to or not. It gets sketchy in one scene. (you'll have to read it to find out) Jalmari also has a younger brother, Jesu, who is adorable and I want him and Ema to be together :)
Excited to read the next book in the series, Dark Liaison
So Ema becomes a Vampire and no one knows which clan she is from. Which I like that there are different clans of vampires and vampyres. Never known of a difference. I feel so bad for Jalmari with Apollyon in his head giving him commands that has to be followed weather Jalmari wants to or not. It gets sketchy in one scene. (you'll have to read it to find out) Jalmari also has a younger brother, Jesu, who is adorable and I want him and Ema to be together :)
Excited to read the next book in the series, Dark Liaison
May 2, 2017
Dark Heirloom (An Ema Marx Novel, #1)
J.D. Brown
*Disclaimer I received this book as an ARC. This review is my own words and feelings about this book*
This book was a faced paced entertaining story with vampires a little different then the ordinary. That is what I liked best about this supernatural storyline. It was slightly different. Very entertaining and makes you want to read what happens next. It’s not all love and hero’s save the day. It was real, and gritty and not just sunshine and rainbows. Can’t wait to read what happens to Ema Marx in the next book.
J.D. Brown
*Disclaimer I received this book as an ARC. This review is my own words and feelings about this book*
This book was a faced paced entertaining story with vampires a little different then the ordinary. That is what I liked best about this supernatural storyline. It was slightly different. Very entertaining and makes you want to read what happens next. It’s not all love and hero’s save the day. It was real, and gritty and not just sunshine and rainbows. Can’t wait to read what happens to Ema Marx in the next book.
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