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Sonja Blue #2
In the Blood
Vampire and vampire-hunter Sonja Blue is back, taking out her rage on the demonic blood-drinkers who hide among the living. But her hunt is attracting attention: Morgan, the monster who remade her 20 years ago wants to bring his beloved daughter to heel, and Sonja has found her existence entwined with that of a mortal man. Part of her wants to love him, but when dealing with monsters such as she, where does love end and slavery begin? The answer is in the blood.
208 pages, Paperback
First published January 2, 1992
26 people are currently reading
471 people want to read
About the author
Nancy A. Collins
337 books672 followersNancy A. Collins (born 10 September 1959) is a United States horror fiction writer best known for her series of vampire novels featuring her character Sonja Blue. Collins has also written for comic books, including the Swamp Thing series, Jason Vs. Leatherface, Predator: Hell Come A Walkin and her own one-shot Dhampire: Stillborn.
Collins was born in McGehee, Arkansas, United States. She lived in New Orleans, Louisiana in the 1980s; after time in New York City and Atlanta, Georgia she settled in Wilmington, North Carolina in the late 2000s.
Collins has written twenty novels since 1989, many of which refer to and directly include races of creatures the author calls Pretenders, monsters from myth and legend passing as human to better hunt their prey.
Collins has also written a number of highly acclaimed Southern Gothic short stories and novellas, most of which are set in Seven Devils, Arkansas, a highly fictionalized version of her hometown.
Most recently, she has focused her attention onto the Golgotham urban fantasy series,published by Penguin. Golgotham is the 'supernatural' ghetto of New York City, where creatures from myth and folklore--including witches,shapeshifters,leprechauns and centaurs--live and work in uneasy alliance with mankind.
Collins was born in McGehee, Arkansas, United States. She lived in New Orleans, Louisiana in the 1980s; after time in New York City and Atlanta, Georgia she settled in Wilmington, North Carolina in the late 2000s.
Collins has written twenty novels since 1989, many of which refer to and directly include races of creatures the author calls Pretenders, monsters from myth and legend passing as human to better hunt their prey.
Collins has also written a number of highly acclaimed Southern Gothic short stories and novellas, most of which are set in Seven Devils, Arkansas, a highly fictionalized version of her hometown.
Most recently, she has focused her attention onto the Golgotham urban fantasy series,published by Penguin. Golgotham is the 'supernatural' ghetto of New York City, where creatures from myth and folklore--including witches,shapeshifters,leprechauns and centaurs--live and work in uneasy alliance with mankind.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
February 23, 2018
A wonderfully inventive read, pacy and clever - a dark fairytale salted with pop culture and served corpse cold. Some nice twists on over familiar tropes.
April 9, 2012
I enjoyed this book more than Sunglasses After Dark. I thought it was more tightly-plotted, and it has a happier ending. There's far less of the confusing dream/flashback/trippy stuff from Sunglasses After Dark, which makes more room for plot.
In Sunglasses After Dark, we meet Sonja Blue, a vampire who never died, which is rare and strange. Therefore, she lives with a foot in both worlds, and has the split personality to prove it. She's capable of great violence, but she has pesky human emotions holding her back from being just like every other Pretender (non-human critter passing for human).
In the Blood continues Sonja's story. She's searching for Morgan, the monster who unwittingly created her following a violent rape. She has a private detective following her, set on her trail by the ancient vampire Pangloss. Palmer, the detective, is just out of prison for his supposed involvement in a murder plot, and he's started to see things he can't explain.
This book has a greater variety of Pretenders. There are a few demons Sonja interacts with, there's a kitsune, past lives play a part, and the seraphim make another appearance, with an expanded role. There are also ghosts inhabiting a bizarrely-constructed haunted house, calling to mind Stephen King's Rose Red (doubtless inspired by the same source material). It serves to flesh out the world, and fill the page count with a lot more than disturbing rape and violence and subjugation.
While the climactic battle does take place psychically, as in the first book, I found it easier to follow in this book than in the previous. I also felt more invested in Sonja's success, that the stakes were higher for her failure. Morgan is pure evil, and his every action, every choice within the book reinforces that he deserves to be destroyed. That investment kept me up well into the wee hours, flipping pages to find out what happens next.
This book brings out more of Sonja's human side, but we still see flashes of the monster she is underneath. Palmer is equally attracted and repulsed, and we can't blame him.
I've already added the next book to my to-reads. After the first, I wasn't sure if I could stomach the violence and rape enough to go through the whole series. But, if all of the following books are as good at this one, it's well worth it.
In Sunglasses After Dark, we meet Sonja Blue, a vampire who never died, which is rare and strange. Therefore, she lives with a foot in both worlds, and has the split personality to prove it. She's capable of great violence, but she has pesky human emotions holding her back from being just like every other Pretender (non-human critter passing for human).
In the Blood continues Sonja's story. She's searching for Morgan, the monster who unwittingly created her following a violent rape. She has a private detective following her, set on her trail by the ancient vampire Pangloss. Palmer, the detective, is just out of prison for his supposed involvement in a murder plot, and he's started to see things he can't explain.
This book has a greater variety of Pretenders. There are a few demons Sonja interacts with, there's a kitsune, past lives play a part, and the seraphim make another appearance, with an expanded role. There are also ghosts inhabiting a bizarrely-constructed haunted house, calling to mind Stephen King's Rose Red (doubtless inspired by the same source material). It serves to flesh out the world, and fill the page count with a lot more than disturbing rape and violence and subjugation.
While the climactic battle does take place psychically, as in the first book, I found it easier to follow in this book than in the previous. I also felt more invested in Sonja's success, that the stakes were higher for her failure. Morgan is pure evil, and his every action, every choice within the book reinforces that he deserves to be destroyed. That investment kept me up well into the wee hours, flipping pages to find out what happens next.
This book brings out more of Sonja's human side, but we still see flashes of the monster she is underneath. Palmer is equally attracted and repulsed, and we can't blame him.
I've already added the next book to my to-reads. After the first, I wasn't sure if I could stomach the violence and rape enough to go through the whole series. But, if all of the following books are as good at this one, it's well worth it.
February 18, 2021
I liked this one considerably better than Sunglasses After Dark (which admittedly still had its moments). In the Blood feels a lot less convoluted than its predecessor. The newfound focus helps the narrative and I found I cared more about the main characters. The third act is somewhat rushed, but overall the action was handled well. Nancy A. Collins certainly never allows things to become boring.
January 12, 2024
IN THE BLOOD is the second novel in the Sonya Blue series of Gothic Punk novels. Sonya is a sunglasses after dark wearing rebel who has suffered immensely: going from heiress to prostitute to vampire avenger of the night. However, the thing she wants to do most is track down her sire, Morgan, and destroy him so she can finally know peace. Unfortunately, that proves harder than it sounds since vampires are very good at staying off the radar.
This installment of the series also introduces Palmer, who is a film noir detective trapped in a vampire novel. After a bad case with a femme fatale client, Palmer ends up in jail for life until he's busted out by the mysterious Mr. Pangloss who wants him to find his "granddaughter" Sonja Blue. Well, what happens next is a fascinating story of super vampires, twists, turns, brainwashing, and revenge.
It's every bit as dark, Gothic Punk, and edgy as the original with a fantastic heroine. Plus, I like Palmer as her erstwhile Renfield/love interest. There's a lot of sexual assault via brainwashing and references to the abuse that Sonya suffered, though, so it may not be for the faint at heart. Especially when "Batboy" and the pregnancy from Hell (not Sonja) is involved.
Solid writing and I will forever be a fan of Nancy A. Collins because of this series.
This installment of the series also introduces Palmer, who is a film noir detective trapped in a vampire novel. After a bad case with a femme fatale client, Palmer ends up in jail for life until he's busted out by the mysterious Mr. Pangloss who wants him to find his "granddaughter" Sonja Blue. Well, what happens next is a fascinating story of super vampires, twists, turns, brainwashing, and revenge.
It's every bit as dark, Gothic Punk, and edgy as the original with a fantastic heroine. Plus, I like Palmer as her erstwhile Renfield/love interest. There's a lot of sexual assault via brainwashing and references to the abuse that Sonya suffered, though, so it may not be for the faint at heart. Especially when "Batboy" and the pregnancy from Hell (not Sonja) is involved.
Solid writing and I will forever be a fan of Nancy A. Collins because of this series.
October 7, 2017
It has been years since I read the first Sonja Blue novel by Collins so I thought I might have trouble remembering the context, but this works well as a stand alone and I had no trouble getting into it. Sonja is a sort of hybrid vampire who never died. She is looking for her maker with the intention of killing him. He's in the process of trying to develop a new breed of vampires without the restrictions of the traditional ones. Drama ensues. Well worth the read if you're a vampire fiction fan. There are several more novels and stories also.
April 13, 2022
look up content warnings if you are planning to read this!!
August 4, 2023
Cute. The house reminded me of 13 Ghosts.
February 20, 2021
Oh to write like Collins... something to aspire to.
August 7, 2020
This book Sonja Blue is out again and solely focused on finding her creator, the monster who forcibly raped and left her for dead unknowingly creating something with the power to destroy him as well.
With the help of a private detective, Palmer, sent to her by a ancient noble vampire who turns out to be her grandpa in a sense. She is able to learn more about Morgan as well as herself. The journey to the final battle is long and while it is lengthy, it comes quick jumping some gaps in the story that I would have enjoyed more depth in. The world of pretenders and these different beings co-existing under our very noses is such a great concept. We meet very few other pretenders, mostly ogres and the few other vampires that mostly Sonja just kills.
Throughout the book we see Sonja go back and forth with herself, and see her struggle with herself and Palmer slowly accept his place as well. He doesn’t like to admit it but he knows he is a renfield. He finds himself quickly in love with Sonja and I enjoy his story and where he ends up in the end.
Sonja on the other hand, in a way begins to not make much sense. She begins losing her toughness and showing emotion but end up being too much emotion and less action. Towards the end the final battle with Morgan is great, the ending is kind of hmmppphh but I will let you decide for yourself.
With the help of a private detective, Palmer, sent to her by a ancient noble vampire who turns out to be her grandpa in a sense. She is able to learn more about Morgan as well as herself. The journey to the final battle is long and while it is lengthy, it comes quick jumping some gaps in the story that I would have enjoyed more depth in. The world of pretenders and these different beings co-existing under our very noses is such a great concept. We meet very few other pretenders, mostly ogres and the few other vampires that mostly Sonja just kills.
Throughout the book we see Sonja go back and forth with herself, and see her struggle with herself and Palmer slowly accept his place as well. He doesn’t like to admit it but he knows he is a renfield. He finds himself quickly in love with Sonja and I enjoy his story and where he ends up in the end.
Sonja on the other hand, in a way begins to not make much sense. She begins losing her toughness and showing emotion but end up being too much emotion and less action. Towards the end the final battle with Morgan is great, the ending is kind of hmmppphh but I will let you decide for yourself.
October 25, 2018
I preferred the darker atmosphere of the first one, but this was okay. I personally thought there was actually too much drawn-out dialogue that wasn’t always needed.
I don’t really care much for Palmer or the romance between him and Sonja. Seemed kinda forced to me, although the idea of a genuinely horrific creature in love with a human with powers is cool.
I liked the encounter with Morgan. The seraph baby at the end is a good twist. But I also kind of feel like this thing with Morgan is drawn out? I like his character as a villain. But I also just want to see Sonja kill him finally lol.
I don’t really care much for Palmer or the romance between him and Sonja. Seemed kinda forced to me, although the idea of a genuinely horrific creature in love with a human with powers is cool.
I liked the encounter with Morgan. The seraph baby at the end is a good twist. But I also kind of feel like this thing with Morgan is drawn out? I like his character as a villain. But I also just want to see Sonja kill him finally lol.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 15, 2018
Still quite terrible editing but the story is a lot cleaner and better. Her new Renfield is an interesting enough character and we see more of Sonja now than we did in the last book.
It's nice to see some more of the Morgan story and how not everything goes to plan, we also see some more oddities of the Real World with ghosts, demons, Seraphim and some Vampires/Science crossbreeds.
It's a good tale than ends well and leads nicely on to the next book.
It's nice to see some more of the Morgan story and how not everything goes to plan, we also see some more oddities of the Real World with ghosts, demons, Seraphim and some Vampires/Science crossbreeds.
It's a good tale than ends well and leads nicely on to the next book.
November 20, 2019
Intriguing story
The storyline is gritty, strong, and intriguing; keeping you interested through out. Characters are strong and interesting . While I enjoyed the book, the editing was less than stellar. There were words missing,, poor sentence structure and mistakes in the punctuation; but for that, it would have received 4 stars
The storyline is gritty, strong, and intriguing; keeping you interested through out. Characters are strong and interesting . While I enjoyed the book, the editing was less than stellar. There were words missing,, poor sentence structure and mistakes in the punctuation; but for that, it would have received 4 stars
December 3, 2022
Back in my day, vampires were fey dandies, full of angst, fashion sense and longing.
Or they sparkled.
Then, a kickasss, punk rock lady vampire showed up, and reminded us they could be gritty and angry and prowl the back alleys of the urban landscape.
Taken on their own, the Sonja Blue books are decent time wasters, but taken in context of when they came out, they were a breath of fresh air.
Or they sparkled.
Then, a kickasss, punk rock lady vampire showed up, and reminded us they could be gritty and angry and prowl the back alleys of the urban landscape.
Taken on their own, the Sonja Blue books are decent time wasters, but taken in context of when they came out, they were a breath of fresh air.
September 28, 2023
The first two books of the Sonja Blue series didn't really feel like whole books. They felt incomplete. The dialogue didn't feel very realistic and sometimes the characters acted uncharacteristically. And honestly, exclamation marks were way over used which was kind of annoying. I did enjoy the plots and they were easy reads, just not my thing I guess.
August 23, 2019
On to book 3. Compelling series.
October 16, 2020
Definitely a fun romp.
April 18, 2021
The books of Nancy Collins's Sonja Blue series are like potato chips -- can't eat just one.
May 7, 2022
Even on a reread 25 years after I first read this book Sonja Blue still remains one of my favourite vampires.
August 31, 2024
Fun sequel expanding on the world building set up in the first novel. A little bit slower than the first novel but still a fun time.
February 13, 2025
I wish I could quit….
Oh wait
Oh wait
May 26, 2025
Liked this one too! Yay!
March 6, 2014
I like this installment of the Sonja Blue series as much if not more than the first. In this episode she's out to kill Morgan, the vampire who created her. She's attracted a lot of attention for being a vampire killer and she's still on the ancient and evil Pangloss's radar.
Enter Bill Palmer, a PI who was falsely accused of conspiring with a client to kill her husband. Pangloss pulls strings to get him released and turns Palmer loose on Sonja's trail. Though Sonja, he learns of his own psychic abilities. He agrees to help her with the plan to locate Morgan.
Meantime Morgan is carrying out a nefarious plan to create a species of vampire that can't be hurt by silver, sunlight or many of the other vampire weaknesses. However, his plans are secretly being sabotaged by one of his 'servants,' a heroine addicted scientist bent on revenge.
The battle scene between Sonja and her 'father' is pretty epic. The Other makes its appearance again and actually saves Sonja's life. Does it kill Morgan? It depends on whether you're thinking in the human sense or the vampire sense. The plot has more than one very interesting twist, including the final result of Morgan's tainted experiments.
Enter Bill Palmer, a PI who was falsely accused of conspiring with a client to kill her husband. Pangloss pulls strings to get him released and turns Palmer loose on Sonja's trail. Though Sonja, he learns of his own psychic abilities. He agrees to help her with the plan to locate Morgan.
Meantime Morgan is carrying out a nefarious plan to create a species of vampire that can't be hurt by silver, sunlight or many of the other vampire weaknesses. However, his plans are secretly being sabotaged by one of his 'servants,' a heroine addicted scientist bent on revenge.
The battle scene between Sonja and her 'father' is pretty epic. The Other makes its appearance again and actually saves Sonja's life. Does it kill Morgan? It depends on whether you're thinking in the human sense or the vampire sense. The plot has more than one very interesting twist, including the final result of Morgan's tainted experiments.
May 28, 2015
I found this second run of Sonja Blue better than the first book. Now that we know the nitty gritty (and I mean gritty) background of Sonja's "birth", we move forward in her chase of Morgan. I did find it odd, though, that the main POV was from Palmer and not Sonja. I hope it goes back to her as it is her series. :)
PI Palmer gets roped into finding Sonja and delivering a letter. She ends up saving his life and he decides to stay with her to learn about the Real World which has been opened up to him. This is good for both of them. They each need the companionship of someone who (kinda) understands and this brings a little piece of happiness to the story. Sonja finally hunts down Morgan and she discovers two other vampires who are not dead, like her. This makes her so happy that she is not alone. They are a couple and Anise is pregnant. You know this baby is going to be important later on.
PI Palmer gets roped into finding Sonja and delivering a letter. She ends up saving his life and he decides to stay with her to learn about the Real World which has been opened up to him. This is good for both of them. They each need the companionship of someone who (kinda) understands and this brings a little piece of happiness to the story. Sonja finally hunts down Morgan and she discovers two other vampires who are not dead, like her. This makes her so happy that she is not alone. They are a couple and Anise is pregnant. You know this baby is going to be important later on.
January 21, 2013
Palmer is a PI who mistakes the mistake of falling in lust with his client. When she kills her husband, she shoots Palmer in the chest trying to make it appear that he did the deed. The police don't believe her and she kills herself after incriminating Palmer. Palmer is looking at twenty years when he gets an offer from a Doctor Pangloss that is too good to believe, if Palmer will work for him, Pangloss will make everything go away. Palmer agrees and Pangloss asks him for one single thing, to deliver an envelope to his granddaughter, Sonja Blue.
I really liked this story. I felt that you got a lot more feel about what motivates Sonja Blue. The story is well paced and the characters are very intriguing. In the Blood just leaves you wanting more Sonja Blue.
I really liked this story. I felt that you got a lot more feel about what motivates Sonja Blue. The story is well paced and the characters are very intriguing. In the Blood just leaves you wanting more Sonja Blue.
May 28, 2015
Since I don't normally write reviews unless I have something specific to say, here's the break down of how I rate my books...
1 star... This book was bad, so bad I may have given up and skipped to the end. I will avoid this author like the plague in the future.
2 stars... This book was not very good, and I won't be reading any more from the author.
3 stars... This book was ok, but I won't go out of my way to read more, But if I find another book by the author for under a dollar I'd pick it up.
4 stars... I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be on the look out to pick up more from the series/author.
5 stars... I loved this book! It has earned a permanent home in my collection and I'll be picking up the rest of the series and other books from the author ASAP.
July 19, 2016
This is a fantastic read. I thought it was going to be a straight vampire novel but it was so much more. A private investigator has his own bad experience, then starts a supernatural roller coaster meeting vampires, werewolves, ogres, demons, ghosts, elementals and myriad other creatures from mythology and fairy tales. Palmer's dialogue is realistic and funny, Sonja is sufficiently mysterious and deadly to impress and it all hangs together in a fun ride that you'll breeze through quickly and then wish there was more !!!
May 24, 2014
good but like Sunglasses After Dark better. This story had a good plot but liked how the first was darker than this one. I enjoyed the happy go lucky feel bit wanted The Other to show up more. I like the dark part if the story and honestly wanted more if it. The live story between Palmer and Sonja though was nice.
November 6, 2009
This is the second Sonja Blue book and I enjoyed reading it when it first came out. Sonja is a very cool vampire and she is the kind of character that is found more often now in the new urban fantasies.
February 10, 2014
Sonja Blue, the part vampire scourge of the Supernatural is back. Teaming up with a psychic PI, Sonja starts digging for info about her sire, along the way meeting two others like her. Violence galore.
June 14, 2015
Loved it! I read the first book long ago and never had the chance to find its sequels until now! thanks goodread! the story was so good even better than the first one. I wont say much, I don't want to spoile anyone!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews