Bloodlover

Power of the Blood #4

by Nancy Kilpatrick

It's London, England, in the 1960s and anything goes. Julien has been around for almost 500 years, and most of that time he's been alone. To Jeanette, in her shallow world, Julien is just another man to be manipulated. Two of the most popular characters in the vampire series "Power of the Blood" meet in this novel of passion and violence, intrigue and revenge.

Genres: Vampires, Fantasy, Horror, Fiction, Romance, Paranormal Romance, Supernatural

276 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2000

About the author

Nancy Kilpatrick was a Canadian author who wrote stories in the genres of dark fantasy, horror, mystery, erotic horror, and gothic subculture.
She is most known for her vampire themed works.

Reviews

[Cristina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Julien, il ritorno di un vampiro bastardo dopo un Andrè indimenticabile !

E' vero, non lo avrei mai letto dopo quanto accaduto nel libro con Karl ma visto che i commenti erano accettabili e si prospettava un ritorno a mo di miraggio di Andrè mi sono lasciata trasportare dei ricordi e alla fine l'ho preso e letto.
Non è andata poi cosi' male...certo è un prequel antecedente gli altri tre libri e racconta di una dei vamp più antichi della comunità della Kilpatrick che negli altri libri ha lasciato poco palrare di se ma che assieme alla sua compagna ha dato un segno importante nel tradizionalismo quasi "religioso" di questo gruppo di sangue.
Julien, con un passato intenso ma soporifero ricorda per la sua brutalità e per il suo impatto senza mezzi tempi Andrè ma poi scompare dalla scena eclissato dalla sua futura compagna Jeanette la quale da una dimostrazione concreta di quelli che sono i malesseri della trasformazione e della pazzia societaria dei Vamp e dell'uomo comune...dove gli amici non sono sempre tali, dove quelli della tua razza a volte sono contaminati dalla loro stessa natura e ti rovinano inesorabilmente, o dove i rimpianti e la vendetta possono lasciar trasparire quello che è il vero animo nascosto e il punto cruciale della propria ricerca personale di vita. Questa è Jeanette in tutto il suo dolore e la sua cecità...che solo alla fine, con la costruzione di un futuro per se e per chi detiene il suo cuore, anche in modo egoistico, comprende quali siano i mezzi reali non per vivere e ferire ma per vivere nella morte senza ferire il prossimo che l'accomuna.
Certamente dopo un anno molte cose erano andate perse come la comparsa dei "figli futuri" Cloude e Susan ma un pò di piacere c'è stato, certo non quanto ricercato ma un lascito di tutto rispetto per una serie piccola ma che se fosse stata realizzata meglio ne avrebbe giovato di più!

[Pam Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bloodlover is book 4 in the Power of the Blood series and continues our exploration into the lives of Kilpatrick's extended family of vampires. In this one we're travelling through the years with Julian, one of the longer lived vampires in the series.
Vampires are by nature solitary creatures, living and hunting alone, but sometimes our group come together and catch up on each others lives. Julian finds he loves these times and would love to find someone to be with for eternity. He meets Jeanette and decides if he can successfully turn her, she is going to be part of his life, the only thing is convincing her.
As usual Kilpatrick's vampires get under your skin and it's lovely to learn more about them, with each book concentrating on different members of the group.
If you like your vampires with a heart then Kilpatrick's books are for you.

[Sarah Jensen]

Book Review: Bloodlover (Power of the Blood #4) by Nancy Kilpatrick

Overview

Bloodlover is the fourth installment in Nancy Kilpatrick’s Power of the Blood series, a compelling blend of supernatural elements and dark themes set within a richly imagined world. Building on the foundation laid in the previous books, Kilpatrick continues to explore the intricate relationships between her characters and the moral dilemmas they face in their pursuit of power, love, and survival.

Plot Summary

In Bloodlover, the narrative revolves around the consequences of choices made by the main characters, particularly as they navigate love and betrayal in a universe dominated by vampire lore. The story delves into the psychological complexities of the characters, revealing their deepest desires and fears. As alliances shift and new threats emerge, the characters must confront the harsh realities of their existence and the true nature of their desires, leading to a gripping exploration of what it means to be human—or something more.

Themes

Desire and Obsession: Central to Bloodlover is the exploration of desire, both in its romantic and darker, obsessive forms. Kilpatrick skillfully examines how desire can drive individuals to make dangerous choices, leading to profound consequences for themselves and those around them.

Identity and Transformation: The characters grapple with their identities as they evolve in response to their experiences. Kilpatrick adeptly portrays the tension between their humanity and vampiric nature, prompting readers to reflect on the broader implications of identity and transformation.

Power Dynamics: The novel intricately weaves themes of power—both personal and relational—through its character interactions. Kilpatrick investigates how power can corrupt and the ways in which characters seek control over their own lives and those of others.

Writing Style

Kilpatrick’s prose is evocative and immersive, pulling readers into her darkly enchanting world. Her vivid descriptions and intricate character development contribute to a strong sense of atmosphere, making Bloodlover a gripping read. The pacing is well-balanced, intertwining moments of tension with quieter, introspective scenes that allow for character growth and emotional depth.

Conclusion

Bloodlover is a captivating addition to the Power of the Blood series, further establishing Nancy Kilpatrick as a master of horror and supernatural fiction. Through a blend of sensuality, moral complexity, and rich world-building, Kilpatrick invites readers to explore the darker sides of human desire and the nature of love. Fans of the series will find much to appreciate in this installment, while newcomers will be drawn into a world that challenges conventional understandings of vampirism and humanity. With its profound themes and engaging narrative, Bloodlover is a compelling read that resonates long after the final page is turned.

[Caro Soles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anyone who loves richly textured, tightly plotted vampire tales will know the writing of Nancy Kilpatrick. However, if you are a Johnny-come-lately, you have a treat in store for you!

The action of Bloodlover slides from the sexy sixties to flashbacks to the past life of the 500 year old Julian. Pay attention here because these glimpses give the reader clues to what’s going on in the present and directly affect the outcome. I was glad to discover this story of the relationship between Julien and Janette, two prominent vampire characters in this 4-book series. Nancy Kilpatrick has created a wonderful, engaging and unique series and if you love vampires, you need to read the whole series! Highly recommended!

[Carley Lord · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not for the faint hearted! Book 4 in the series shared with us the story of Julian and Jeanette whom we have met previously but this is a whole new level. I as always enjoyed the descriptive scenery and the torment and anguish of the emotional issues faced by Julien. It was particularly tough to face some of his demons but the relationship between him and Jeanette was amazing so powerful and exhilarating. Absolutely amazing story and I will be recommending this series to any vampire lovers out there.

[Natasha du Plessis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love any vampire book written by Nancy Kilpatrick. This was book 4 in the series and it was like picking up an old friend. We get to know Julien and Jeanette in this book and how the children came about. This is a different Julien that I got to know in the previous books and I struggled a bit to reconcile the 2 versions with each other, that being said I really enjoyed the book and would recommend this series to all lovers of Vampire.

[Beccy Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 4 in the series so definitely start at the beginning
This book was different to the previous 3, still good still a perfect vampire read but there was just something different not bad I hasten to add!
Nancy has pulled another blinder out of the bag with this book and I’ve loved it, a cracking vampire read for the grown ups

[Theodore · Rating 1 out of 5]

I suppose I appreciate the shift in writing which leaves behind the overarching plot from the other books making this truly an erotica focused novel, but I think that the strange racist themes and lack of follow through in what could've been a very satisfying ending make this possibly the most disappointing book of the series

[Dorothy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this a dark selfish story totally different to others in the genre. As in life death, we all want someone to love, to be part of, and Julien is no different. His methods of obtaining that are somewhat more brutal.

[Sue Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bloodlover by Nancy Kilpatrick. This is book 4 of power of the blood series.
I did enjoy this book. I like this series and would like more to come. Great story and characters. 4*.

[Mery Carbutti]

Sarò io che non ho capito questi libri a sto punto...

[Brooke Penney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this MANY years ago. It was in a box that was "lost", I wish I still had this series. It's what originally turned me on to paranormal reading.

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

If I had to pick one word to describe my feelings at the end of Bloodlover, it would be...indecisive. I classify this book as paranormal romance because it's about a relationship that develops between two paranormal people, but it's definitely not mainstream in its tastes, in its writing, or in its presentation of some common themes. If the fighting in Twilight is violent in your eyes, then you need to put this book down and walk away, right now. There were a few parts that had me blinking. Do you see the Scandalous Books designation? Ye be warned.

This sword cuts both ways- on the one side, there's nothing wrong with a book that's dark, waaaay dark, or that presents the paranormal in a way that's more in keeping with Dracula than Bella and Edward. One of my favorite things about the paranormal genre is that there are literally endless possibilities when it comes to plot and character configurations, or to incorporating rules and elements from previous works. The author does a nice job with this, taking common tropes of the vampire genre (the garlic thing, conversion, the relationship between a made vampire and the sire, etc.) and presenting them in a way that I certainly hadn't seen before.

On the other side, I felt that this book spent a lot of time trying to be something that the length, the characters, and the story development did not support. Not everybody likes their vampires vegetarian and empathetic and living happily ever after, and I totally support that; however, I felt like I spent a lot of time flipping through mini-treatises on what vampires are supposed to be and sections that felt like they were there just for shock value instead of getting to know the characters and feeling something for them.

Julien is a textbook example of an anti-hero. He's dark (and not in a good way), brooding, selfish, spoiled, and totally okay with using violence as a way to control the people around him. Changing someone against their will is a common element in PNR, but Julien takes it to a new, violent place that was borderline squicky, which is where the horror designation came in for me. All of it stems from Julien believing that no woman would ever want to be with him unless he forced her to submit; the conflict of the story evolves from him having to come to grips with the fact that Jeannette might actually want to be with him voluntarily.

Oh, Jeannette. She evolves from being a total bubblehead at the beginning of the book to being calculating and shrewd at the end; what starts off as a revenge trip to stick it to Julien for changing her against her will goes awry when, unsurprisingly, she falls for him. Neither of them will admit it, though, and the second half of the book is a whole lot of wandering and meandering and loathing and ruminating and not a whole lot of plot developing. Julien and Jeannette find their way, and they find a lifestyle they both can live with, but I wish we'd gotten to that point a lot sooner.

There were also a lot, and I mean, a lot, of typographical errors and formatting mistakes. I realize that this is not always in one person's control, but it definitely detracted from my reading experience and was frequent enough to be very noticeable.

There are certainly some exciting and redeeming parts of this story, and as I read I was anxious to find out how it all worked out, but even after writing this review, I cound myself as indecisive still.

Overall Grade: C

Check out more reviews at What Book is That?

[Mathieu Fortin · Rating 4 out of 5]

La Passion du Sang

Ce tome est celui de Julien. En visite à Londres, Julien découvre Jeannette et en tombe amoureux. Pour lui, l’amour doit être un don de soi complet, sans limites. Cependant, Jeannette n’est pas de la même époque que Julien et ne comprend donc pas les exigences de ce dernier. Il la transforme en vampire, mais sans lui expliquer ce que cela implique. Parfois c’est lui qui la cherche, mais parfois c’est le contraire. Ils finissent tout de même par se trouver et ils décident en plus de former une famille, transformant deux jeunes adultes en vampires.

Je l’avoue d’emblée, ce tome est celui que j’ai le moins aimé lire, bien que cette tendance se soit un peu renversée vers la fin. C’est bien écrit, ça se lit bien, mais le résultat n’est pas à la hauteur de ce qu’on pouvait espérer : avoir Julien, vieux de 400 ans, comme personnage principal, voilà qui semblait prometteur, qui apportait de la profondeur. Oh, il y a bien des révélations/explications relatives aux vampires, mais elles tombent à plat, contrairement à celles du tome 3 où les recherches de Karl avec le sang apportaient quelque chose de neuf. C’est peut-être là ma plus grande déception par rapport au tome 4 : la personnalité de Julien fait que toute son expérience de vie ne transparaît pas. Il est juste « vieux jeu ». Reste qu’il change vers la fin du volume, et c’est là le point le plus positif : même s’il est ancré dans ses habitudes depuis 400 ans, il réussira à changer pour l’amour. C’est beau, c’est classique, et ça sonne bien dans les circonstances.

Le Pouvoir du Sang est une série vampirique enlevante, plaisante à lire, avec beaucoup d’action et une description d’une société parallèle très intéressante. Dans l’ensemble, plaisir garanti.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

As I unconsciously dance the hustle and wonder how the Jefferson’s still crack me up, I realize I still have a space in my heart for some golden oldies. Kilpatrick’s tale may have been told countless times, but with a new beat and some new vocals, she rocked my world. What started out as detachment and boredom quickly took off to wrap me up once more in that bloody grasp we all fear and secretly hunger for. Which reminds me, Sorry Kiddies, this material is bubble wrapped PG17.

There is no requirement to read the three preceding books in her vampire series to understand this one; for that I whispered a prayer of thanks. With a plot full of passion and violence, the story weaves the old and the new seductively. The pace in the book crawls along until chapter seven, then suddenly takes off. The book needed more speed in those first few chapters, I started this book three times and put it away twice until finally surrendering. The atmosphere comes across as a drug-induced haze filled with atonement and a dramatic ecstasy.

The style of writing was overly elaborate, weighing you down with too many descriptions and removable history. On the other hand, Kilpatrick has a flare for the theatrics, adding an elevated tone to the story; I loved it. The characters were the highlight of the book with a cast that resonates. Each with their own problems, regrets and personality, they lure you into their journey.

My rating? I give it a 3 . Even though this book was a fun read for a guilty pleasure, I wouldn't go out of my way to aquire the previous volumes. Still, you might want to keep your eye on this author, I have a feeling she’ll keep her eye on you.

-As reviewed for Horror-Web.com

[Serena · Rating 3 out of 5]

TRAMA: Londra, anni Sessanta. Julien vaga nel mondo dei vivi da più di cinquecento anni, quasi sempre in totale solitudine, quando incontra Jeanette. Per lei, abituata a una vita patinata e superficiale, Julien è soltanto un altro uomo da manipolare. Ma la passione esplode, travolge le loro esistenze e sgretola ogni certezza.
Quarto volume della serie Il potere del sangue. Ricco di passione sfrenata e di violenza, abbonda di intrighi e vendette, sesso e potere . Una miscela sensuale e ammaliante sebbene i primi capitoli siano un po’ lenti. Il protagonista principale è Julian e in questo libro si parla di lui,del suo triste passato,della sua trasformazione ,delle vicissitudini che lo hanno reso quello che è. Janette all’inizio mi è sembrato un personaggio odioso,piena di sé e irrispettosa di tutto. Priva di sentimenti. Ho fatto fatica a capire perché Julian ha voluto donarle l’immortalità e tenerla accanto a sé. Leggendo mi è sembrato facile inquadrare la storia in diverse parti. La prima è forse quella che mi è piaciuta di più. L’incontro fra i due ,la cattiveria e l’ostinazione di lui nel voler trasformare lei contro la sua volontà. La seconda parte è decisamente più noiosa. Racconta della vita di Julienne accanto agli umani dopo la trasformazione,la sua determinazione a vivere lontano da Julian in giro per il mondo. Una terza parte decisamente più romantica li riporta a ritrovarsi e vediamo i due ammorbidirsi fino a riconoscere di non poter fare a meno l’uno dell’altra. Un finale shock che ci permette di comprendere quale effettivamente sia la natura dei vampiri e la loro effettiva dannazione.

[Asahi88 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mi piace molto lo stile della Kilpatrick, i suoi vampiri, il lato erotico in ogni sua storia.
E devo dire che neanche questo libro mi ha deluso, adesso praticamente mi mancherebbe solo il terzo. (è quello che fin'ora mi ispirava meno) Devo essere sincera però, questo senz'altro mi è piaciuto di più del secondo, ma il primo non lo batte nessuno.
All'inizio Jeanette non me l'ero immaginata in questo modo, forse troppo presa dal ricordo del primo libro. E devo dire che il suo cambiamento mi è piaciuto molto. L'unica cosa che forse ho trovato un po' fastidiosa è nel finale dove vuole colpire Julien con la spada. Forse perchè ero fiduciosa in un perdono non detto. Per il resto l'ho divorato come gli altri.

opinione scritta il 05\07\11

[Roberta · Rating 2 out of 5]

Il libro precedente era stato esasperatamente lento; questo, troppo veloce.
Julien e Jeanette non mi hanno entusiasmato per niente, anzi: le loro reazioni sono incomprensibili e molte parti del libro sono estremamente noiose.
Jeanette è una pazza psicopatica e Julien l'abbandona circa 1000 volte senza motivo.
E vogliamo parlare della scena finale?!
Perchè lei tenta di ucciderlo? E perchè lui, che non aveva mai perdonato, la perdona?
...per amore...ma se lo amava, perchè ha tentato di ucciderlo?
Inspiegabile!
Dov'è finita la Kilpatrick dei primi due libri?

[Christine Steendam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was a good book, but out of the four in the series I'd say it was the worst of the lot.
Still a good read but lacked the excitement and flow of the other three. If you like Nancy Kilpatrick's stuff or just enjoy Vampires and are looking for something darker and more adult than Twilight I'd still recommend this book in a second.

[**Sognatrice di libri** · Rating 4 out of 5]

storia narrata a sè in confranto agli altri libri ma con i personaggi che abbiamo già incontrato julian e jeanette innamorati da sempre ma che per stare insieme dovranno affrontare varie difficoltà.

[Vanlilith · Rating 3 out of 5]

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