The disease has teeth…but the cure could be deadly. As Investigator for the Lycanthrope Council, Gabriel McCord went above and beyond his official title to keep werewolf kind out of the public eye. Now he has a new challenge as the liaison to the Institute for Lycanthrope Reversal, advocating for humans turned werewolf against their will.
The Institute’s controversial “treatment” is nonetheless generally accepted – until one of the project’s scientists is found murdered at his desk.
The suspect list is long: purists who believe lycanthropism is a non-returnable gift; wolf-borns who want the cure for their own; and the ethereal Selene Rial, an Institute psychologist who’s lost her most precious possession to a secret society dedicated to the annihilation of werewolves.
If Gabriel fails to solve this case, the fragile peace between wizards and lycanthropes could shatter, and his friends’ lives could be ruined. But even if he succeeds, he has to face the consequences of his heart being pulled in a dangerous direction – a woman whose secrets could destroy them both.
Blood’s Shadow is the third book in the Lycanthropy Files, an urban fantasy series with the bite of a medical thriller. Each book is written to be read as a standalone, but you’ll get a fuller experience if you read them in order. If you like hair-raising mysteries, complex characters, and stories that blend science and magic, then you'll love being transported with these transfixing tales.
Note: this is the second edition of Blood's Shadow, which was originally published by Samhain Publishing in December 2014.
Cecilia Dominic became a clinical psychologist because she's fascinated by people and their stories, but she couldn't stop making stuff up. By day, she helps people cure their insomnia. By night, she writes fiction that keeps her readers turning pages past bedtime. Yes, she recognizes the conflict of interest between her two careers, but she prefers to be called versatile, not conflicted. Cecilia has been published in short and novel-length fiction and currently writes urban fantasy and steampunk. She lives in Atlanta, Georgia with her husband and the world’s cutest cat.
✳️✳️ONE HIGH OCTANE ADVENTURE✳️✳️ Busting barnacles boo! Cecilia unleashes one helluva incredibly tantalizing, earth shaking, nailbiting, rock-my-world, kickass rollercoaster with this tumultuous, action packed, hard hitting, heart pounding, pulse racing, adrenaline pumping, block busting thrill ride, skyrocketing this jewel to staggering heights. Caught in a minefield chocked-full of riveting drama, gripping intrigue, underlying threats, ruthless tactics, sinister deeds, explosive danger, electrifying suspense and mind-blowing situations converge, observing the formidable struggles and challenging triumphs, while attentive to the perilous twists and wicked turns unfolding, broken boundaries and sketchy lines solidify as limitations are exhausted and tested, launching this bad boy to life flawlessly. Perception and ingenuity in every thread you unravel with each page, your drawn into this tangled web so securely and precise, booting this jewel into the eye of a hurricane, bursting it into a tailspin with astonishing impacts, fusing this jewel together seamlessly. The characters dialogue, interactions and charged atmosphere along with relatable qualities and individual traits, balance fluidly, adding depth and diversity, transforming into outstanding personalities. The scenes are abundantly descriptive with colorful details that blend and flow, creating a majestic backdrop that's so rich and lively it feels as though you're part of the story instead of on the sidelines, feeling everything the characters feel. Exceptional job Cecilia, thanks for sharing this awesome little gem with us.
An engrossing twining of magic, weres, fairies and powerful combinations of each. The Scottish setting was well rendered...as were the characters. It is so easy to love Gabriel :) This author writes consistently compelling books!
Cecilia Dominic offered a chance to download a free copy of Blood’s Shadow to her newsletter subscribers. Since this is the only book in the series I had not read yet, I claimed my copy. So glad I did! Thought I would share my thoughts about the book with you.
Book 3 of the Lycanthropy Files differs from books 1 and 2 because it is told from a male point of view. Gabriel was a charming character from the first book, so I was glad to see him get his story. He seems at first to be a bit of a loner. He doesn’t have many close friends to speak of.
This gives him plenty of opportunity to act in his position as the investigator for the Lycanthrop Council. There is a great mystery built into the further development of the story of the Lycanthropic Syndrome. Lycans can be born Lycan or they can be created from an infection. The Institute for Lycanthropic Reversal is looking for a cure for people who have been infected. Some people who were born werewolves also want the cure. Others think there should not be a ‘cure’. So there are many who are not happy with the institute’s program and might look to sabotage it, to the point of murder.
As the story goes on, we do get a glimpse of one of Gabriel’s friends. David Lachlan is a bit of a mystery who knows more than he lets on. I would have liked to have got to know him better. At first I did not know if he was friend or foe. The same could be said of all the characters that did not appear in previous books. Friend or foe? There was a lot of speculation and guessing on my part. This is the mark of a good mystery. I want to solve the story right along with the protagonist.
The Fae, Reine, is interesting and seems to want to help, but can you ever really trust a Fae? Not in any book I’ve ever read.
Even Doctor Selene Rial, the lovely psychologist, is acting suspicious. Too bad she is so attractive to our hero. The thing is, I never really connected with her, nor did I feel the romance between her and Gabriel. I think because her character was not as well developed. Also because she was in that ‘friend or foe’ gray area at first.
Leave it to Gabriel to sort friends from foes. Foes to get their due. Friends to remain around for more books!
Read Blood’s Shadow for the mystery and the continuing charm of Gabriel. Read for the further development of the Lycanthopy Files story. Read as an introduction to the author’s book The Shadow Project (come back tomorrow for my review).
Blood's Shadow is the third book in Cecilia Dominic's Lycanthropy Files Series, and although it can be enjoyed on its own, I think it will make more sense and be more fun if you read the entire series in order starting with the first book, The Mountain's Shadow (Lycanthropy Files Book 1). This book features some characters introduced in the previous books and it introduces some really intriguing new characters. The mythology expands and the world in which these books are set gets richer with each new addition to the series, but each definitely builds upon the last.
This is an engaging story filled with paranormal fantasy, mystery, political intrigue, and suspense, along with touches of humor and romance. This book continues to develop the werewolf and wizard mythology introduced in previous books in the series, while adding ghosts, faeries, and other creatures that go bump in the night. The plot definitely included some surprises that I didn't expect, although I found this more compelling for the sometimes charming and sometimes sinister characters than the plot.
The ending ties up the events of this book neatly, but there are plenty of characters I would love to learn more about, and I get the impression that there are still plenty of mysteries to explore in this world.
This book is intended for adults. It includes some swearing, although I didn't find it excessive. There is a lot of drinking and smoking. There were a few references to sexual activity, but most of the action took place "off stage." Similarly, although this book included quite a bit of violence and death, the descriptions were not too graphic.
I received a free copy of this ebook from the author and volunteered to review it. The version I reviewed was cleanly edited and formatted.
This Series Just gets Better and better, I didn't think it was possible to amp up the excitement, mysteries and the thrilling addictiveness in this series but yet again this author has surprised me with this brilliantly imaginative tale.
This storyline gripped me from the first chapter and held on, right up until the last sentence!! I adored how compelling this tale is, you become hooked very quickly and you just want to know more!!! You have mysteries and secrets which are always compelling to read and you want to find out the truth, which keeps you reading, just to find out more. The main reason that this is so good is down to the talent that this author displays, she has the amazing talent of bringing life to the pages, of bringing a warmth to the tales that come from her vivid imagination.
As always she brings the most colourful and unique characters to life!! You once again interact with characters from the previous books which ties the series together and not only Do You meet new characters but you meet new and unknown species of creatures. I loved reading Gabriel’s story, his history, his hopes, dreams and the potential that holds within him. He is passionate and protective of those he cares about, he hates injustice and will always do what he feels is the right thing to do, making him an extremely honourable man.
I adored this book and I can't recommend this author's writing enough, once readers read her work there is no turning back!!!
“Blood’s Shadow” is the third instalment in “The Lycanthropy Files” by Cecilia Dominic, an urban fantasy series that blends police procedural, medical thriller, and werewolf lore into an interesting fast-paced, action-packed story.
Gabriel McCord is an investigator for the Lycanthrope Council, who takes his assignment – keep the existence of werewolves a secret – very seriously. His new position as the liaison officer to the Institute Lycanthrope Reversal constitutes a new challenge. The Institute advocates for those humans, who have been turned against their will, offering a cure for lycanthropy. As a scientist is found murdered, and Gabriel is assigned to the case, he finds himself in the middle of an extremely explosive situation with a long list of suspects. The already frail peace between the fractions is on the line, the case needs to be solved, but solving it can lead to his own ruin.
“Blood’s Shadow” despite being the third instalment in the series, can be perfectly enjoyed as a stand-alone, as the story is self-contained, and all the verse’s pertinent information is given throughout the plot. This is a solid, well-crafted, credible story, with relatable characters and credible world-building.
Blood's Shadow (Lycanthropy Files Book 3) is one of those books you do not want to put down! From page one, you are swept into a gruesome murder mystery, the paranormal type of murder. As with the other two books in the series, The Wolf's Shadow and Long Shadows, the characters are amazingly believable and intriguing. Their paranormal gifts are not what we typically encounter with shifters, wizards, ghosts, the fae, and halflings. There are many surprises in this storyline that keep you guessing what might come next and who really "done it." As the Investigator for the Council, Gabriel has his work cut out for him in this one. He is battling ancient magic and myths from childhood fairytales. He does not know whom to trust but knows he cannot catch this killer solo. Not only does his life depend on it, but the lives of all lycanthropes are also on the line, and he could lose those that he cares for the most. This book is a page-turner with high drama, intrigue, mystery, shocking twists, paranormal action, and romance! I can hardly wait for more from this series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is the third installment of the Lycanthropy Files, and each book has had a different protagonist. In this book, Gabriel, as a liaison between the Lycanthrope Council and the Institute for Lycanthropic Reversal, is sent to investigate the death of a scientist. In the course of the investigation, he learns many secrets, secrets that might be deadly, including secrets about his own family. This series has been getting better and better, and this book was my favorite of them all. Ms. Dominic has really hit her stride with this book, and as always, the book was well-written, had wonderful characters, and an overall great plot. Speaking of the characters, I really liked a couple of the “bad guys,” especially Reine. She wasn’t necessarily an antagonist, but I liked her well enough I’d like to see more about her in the future. This was a great edition to the series, the best so far, and I can’t wait to see more! Highly recommend! Thanks to the author for the e-copy which I voluntarily reviewed.
Blood’s Shadow is a well-paced and interesting addition to the Lycanthropy Files. The action starts from the moment the story begins and the intrigue continues throughout. The romance, though, is more of an understated accompaniment to the overall plot. For the mood I was in when I read it, I could have used a bit more lighthearted flirtation, but if you’ve read the other books in the series, you’re already aware of the action to, erm...action ratio. While, I was not in the best mood for mystery, I couldn’t help getting swept into the story and feeling like one of the players involved.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This book nicely concluded the Lycanthropy Files Trilogy. It was a pleasure to read; as always, the characters were well-developed, the action well-paced, and the overall effect riveting. Gideon and Selene's dangerous game of cat-and-mouse left me on the edge of my seat right up until the end... the intrigue in this one was unreal! The addition of an ancient nemesis was fitting for the setting of this part of the story, and I loved the Scottish scenery, references, and lore. I definitely recommend the entire trilogy for fans of fantasy and all things paranormal!
This is a bit different. The 3rd book in the Lycanthrope series, told from the males point of view. I'm not sure how I feel about it, to be honest. I grew up, the only female, in an all male neighborhood, so I guess I expected a bit more testosterone. I still enjoyed the book, but I think it could have been.... Better?!?!? Can't quite put my finger on it. Read it for yourself, it does explain a lot, all the way up to the end.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The Scottish setting was well written once again. And her character creation is fabulous once again. It is so easy to love Gabriel.
This is the final book in the trilogy and it packs just the right oomph to not only keep you entertained but also keep you engrossed long after you should have gone to sleep at night.
A fabulous ending to a wonderful series. I can't wait to read more from this author!
The disease is deadly but the cure could be worse. He is sent to find out what is going on when a scientist is found murdered. There are many suspects and it is not going to be an easy job. Who is the killer? Can he find him? Will there be more murders? Follow him as he tries to solve the case
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The third book in Lycanthropy Files series a well written story with a very good storyline that kept me turning pages. I enjoyed reading Gabriel McCord and Selene Rial's story filled with suspense, drama, danger, murder, a villain, and romance. Once i started reading this book I was not putting it down. I received a copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Allow two days for this NC17 third book of the Lycanthropy Files, which is an investigative procedural set in Scotland and featuring Investigator Gabriel Stuart McCord. To avoid spoilers, read the series in order.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Blood's Shadow by Cecilia Dominic is an amazing story to read. This is book number three in this amazing series that I am absolutely hooked on and can not wait to read the rest. I highly recommend this story to everyone who loves reading about wolf shifters, thrillers, fantasy and paranormal romance.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I really enjoyed reading this book, and discovering a bit more about what makes Gabriel tick. This book focuses on his life and the work he does as an investigator. I'd recommend this book to fans of paranormal romance.
This feels like a final installment, although it might not be. Gabriel and Selene’s story is fraught with danger, secrets being uncovered, and righted wrongs. A very good read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Can love survive in spite of those going against the Council!
He is falling in love but she has to protect her brother. He comes first! He is not really an active Council member! Would you be a werewolf!? Enjoy this book #3!
I was lucky enough to win a copy of [i]Blood's Shadow[/i] through a Goodreads giveaway. I was also given a copy of the first book in the series, The Mountain's Shadow, after the package for this book arrived empty.
The third book in the series made two things apparent right away. First, the second book introduced a lot of lore to Dominic's lycanthropic world. Not only do we discover that one of the characters from the first book in the series is a member of the Council, which oversees werewolf affairs, but we also have learned that wizards are another force to be reckoned with. The second fact is that Ms. Dominic has grown as a writer. The first book was well-written, but the third book shows that her craft is still developing at a rapid pace.
One interesting aspect of this book is that the first person narrative has switched to a different character in the series, from female to male. This is interesting to me, because most novel series I've read in first person tend to stick to one character's point of view (think Sookie Stackhouse in the works of Charlaine Harris). I can imagine that it's more difficult to write from multiple points of view, but it was well done in this story.
The mention of Ms. Harris is apt; Dominic's world is similar (normal people coming face to face with supernatural creatures). The pace of the story is rapid and we're introduced to multiple sects within the werewolf world, as well as parts of the shadowy world of the wizards. The plot weaves a myriad of groups with differing motives and goals, which makes it difficult for our main character to solve the mystery he's tasked with deciphering.
I really enjoyed [i]Blood's Shadow[/i] and would recommend it to any fan of supernatural mystery thrillers.
I was given an ARC by the author in exchange for an honest review.
This is the first time i read anything of Cecilia Dominic and i have to say i am intrigued.
I haven't read the previous 2 books and though as a stand alone this book is really good i have to say that reading the other two would propably give me a better insight on things and characters.
An intresting and well written story with lots of action and some twists and turns in the plot that you won't expect at all.
The plot is really intresting though i have to admit at times i felt lost and other times i felt like i would never get to a conclusion on what is going on (congrats to the author for twisting and plotting so well!)
Though this is the last book of a trilogy i feel all is not said and done and many things are left open.
You will get wizzards,fairies,werewolves and magic.Also scots and lots of food and drinking along with your Alpha male.
A great job and great book! (will have to read one and two)
Gabriel has a full plate dealing with a lot of politics in the paranormal world, deception, murders and strong feelings for another werewolf who may be hiding important secrets. I had not read the other books in the series and it did not take long to understand the background for the story. Gabriel is an investigator and waiting to become a permanent member of the Council. He is trying to get more support for a process for removing the werewolf virus from those who have been infected accidentally. When one of the scientists is murdered, there are plenty of suspects. He just hopes that the scientist he feels so strongly for is not involved. There is also a personal mystery to solve.
The story keeps you guessing. There are a lot of secrets that are revealed as Gabriel continues to investigate. I liked the strong supporting cast. Magic is an important element to the story with warlocks and other mythical beings providing clues to the mysteries.
I received this book from the author and from Paranormal Romance and Authors that Rock. This is an excellent book. This is complex story of werewolf’s and wizards.
This is my first time reading any of Cecilia Dominic's books. It won't be the last. I enjoyed her spin on the werewolf tales.
This book was more of a Werewolf mystery with a dash of romance. The characters were well thought out and complex. Strong writing, hooked me from the start to the end.
The character of Gabriel McCord is an investigator for the Lycanthrope Council, he is a handsome werewolf with the mind of Sherlock Holmes.
He falls for a lovely psychologist who is hiding a secret from Gabriel. While he tries to stop a killer.
The hero of this book, Gabriel, is complex and compelling. He's a man who dreams in "fragments of battles and death," has the ghost of his father follow him, and is teased by a sly, sexy fae named Reine. He can't understand what his father is trying to warn him of, and the only one who might be able to help him is a young clairvoyient child who may or may not be trustworthy.
The third book of The Lycanthropy Files is set in Scotland and the writing is atmospheric. Characters from the previous books are woven into the current story.
Blood's Shadow is book 3 of The Lycanthropy Files trilogy by Cecilia Dominic.
This is the first book I've read of Cecilia Dominic. I haven't read the previous books in the series. How this book can be read as a stand alone for the most part.
It's interesting, action packed, clever and a very good story. There are twists that will surprise you and leave you wanting more. The plot is really intriguing, fresh, and well thought out. The characters are complex and fascinating. I recommend this book to any who like the paranormal.
This review is from: Blood's Shadow (The Lycanthropy Files) (Kindle Edition) **I was gifted a copy of this book by author in exchange for an honest review**
This book had it all! It is the first one I have read by this author but it won't be the last. There was a lot of meat to the story, as in a lot of information. I love that. I also love how it talks about lycanthropy and a cure. It brings out the scientist in me. Lol. I am a lab technologist. This makes it all seem so real. She creates such a fascinating world. Can't wait to read the others
This is a great ending to The Lycanthropy Files trilogy. I was interested in Gabriel from the first book, and I really wanted him to have a happy ending.
This is a great story that ties all three books together, and Gabriel is a great character to do it with. He's super sexy and very witty. The Scottish setting is wonderful and a great place to finish out this story about werewolves, wizards, and all things paranormal.
DNF - I just couldn't get into this. It was just so slow, the pace snailing along until I just didn't want to take anymore. It wasn't the writing per se, and it wasn't the concept, it was simply too boring to continue at the current pace.
These Lycanthropy Files books are a must-read. Start with the first one - still my favorite in so many ways - The Mountain's Shadow. Then, Long Shadows, Finally, today's selection, Blood's Shadow. Or proceed any way you like! Sheer fantasy and more.