Swear

My Blood Approves #5

by Amanda Hocking

Alice has moved on and is settling into a new country with a new career as a vampire hunter. Finally, she’s created a stable, happy life for herself and her family, including her boyfriend Jack. Or at least as stable as her life can be, especially with a dangerous vampire cult resurfacing.

But everything she’s worked for is put in jeopardy when she receives a disturbing message – one that sends her on a quest that delves into a tragic mystery that has haunted Peter for years.

Genres: Vampires, Young Adult, Paranormal, Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Romance, Supernatural

305 pages, ebook

First published November 9, 2016

About the author

AMANDA HOCKING is the author of over twenty young adult novels, including the New York Times bestselling Trylle Trilogy and Kanin Chronicles. Her love of pop culture and all things paranormal influence her writing. She spends her time in Minnesota, taking care of her menagerie of pets and working on her next book.

Several of her books have made the New York Times Bestsellers list. Her zombie series, The Hollows, has been adapted into a graphic novel by Dynamite. She has published over twenty novels, including The Kanin Chronicles, the Watersong quartet, My Blood Approves series, the Valkyrie duology, and Freeks .
For more info about her and her books, here are some other places to check out and ways to contact her:

Website: www.hockingbooks.com
Amazon Author Page: Amanda Hocking
Patreon: Amanda Hocking
Instagram: @amanda_hocking
BlueSky: AmandaHocking.bsky.social
Threads: @amanda_hocking
YouTube: aehocking
Facebook: Amanda Hocking Fans
Etsy: Hocking Books by Amanda
TikTok: @amanda_hocking
Goodreads: Amanda Hocking
Spotify : Amanda Hocking

Reviews

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was worth this long ass wait, and did live up to the hype surrounding it!!

I was team Jack all the way ✌.... I don't want to give too much away but... oh who am I kidding!! I'm biased and my rating pretty much would tell y'all what you want to know!

Go Go Go, Jack fans!!! Peter fans too... although its controversial amongst you, I genuinely think Peter found peace too. This book does NOT disappoint! All my pissy feelings about how long I had wait for this conclusion are gone & all that's left is satisfaction at having my HEA, even if I still would like to change a few things. It's not all predictable either, Hocking truly did a splendid job with this book.

[Shelly Crane]

I can't wait for this book! This has been the longest book to wait for. I wonder is she's writing it now or working on the Watersong series instead.
Oh, please be working on this!! I felt so bad for Peter in the last book. Team Peter all the way!!

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was so happy to finally get the ending to the series. It was bittersweet and basically everything I wanted. I spent most of the series hoping for this but then it made me sad. I love Jack and Alice and it was nice to see things more wrapped up for them. Hard to talk about it without spoilers.












SPOILERS IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THE 4th BOOK!





From Amanda Hocking's Blog

I think I need to clarify the following things. My problems with writing Swear aren't because a lack of ideas, writer's block, or because of my publishers. I know exactly how the book ends. I don't believe in writer's block. And I'm actually in trouble with foreign publishers for not writing it.

I don't know how to explain it to you any better than I already have. I feel completely disconnected from all the characters.

One of the biggest issues I have is the that love triangle is over. It ended at the end of Wisdom. Alice made her choice, once and for all. The fifth book for Swear would be about wrapping up some loose ends. But there is no love triangle. Alice chose very clearly at the end of Wisdom.

Below I am going to offer a SPOILER filled explanation of the love triangle. If you wish not to read it, you have that option. If you wish to, just highlight it.

What about Jack's one? Alice was meant for Peter. - No, she wasn't. Elise was meant for Peter. When Jack was turned into a vampire, he died. He was technically dead. That screwed up everything. The blood bond that was meant for him - namely, Alice's - crossed over to Peter. She was actually always meant for Jack. The whole point of their love story, however, is that Alice and Jack fall in love with each other before the blood bond kicks in. They got to know each other, then fell in love.

This was my intention all along, and the whole point of the series actually was free will. Alice loved Jack because she wanted to, not because of fate. It eventually turns out they were fated anyway, but that's not why she fell in love with him.

But for those of you filled with rage now at this, shouting what? I love Peter! You'll understand why I didn't write the book now. Writing a book is hard work and I put my heart and soul in it. I have no interest in working hard on something to have people send me hate mail.

You may be saying, well, then why don't you just change the ending? Because I can't. That would be a lie. I can't write things I don't believe in, that I don't care about it. You may not like my writing or agree with my choices, but I do. That's what makes it work. I believe in and am passionate about what I write. I knew from the first book that Alice would end up with Jack, and I can't change just because it would make people unhappy

But I also can't bring myself to work so hard on something that I know will only make people unhappy. When I think about it, it makes my chest tight and my stomach twist up. It's made me hate the series and hate all the characters in it, which makes me further disconnected from the story.

That's where I'm at. That's why I'm stuck. And until I can find a way to write a book that I believe in, that lives up to the expectations that people have for the series, that's where I'm at.

[Elena]

To all the fans of Peter: he is a massive arrogant self absorbed jerk, a poncy twat and a bloody pain in the arse!!! His charachter is ridiculously underdeveloped and ghostly, and if in Swear Alice ends up with him by some miracle, I hope this book never comes out!!!

UPDATE



Thank you, the ever loyal members of team Peter&Alice, who had the guts to send hate mail to Amanda Hocking as well as a crapload of messages about how unsatisfied you were with the course My Blood Approves had taken (I mean Alice ending up with Jack). Thanks to your kind and noble effort, Swear might never see the light of day. I thank you, I thank you, I thank you. NOT.

http://amandahocking.blogspot.co.uk/2...

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cant wait! Its so close yet so far away! PeterxAlice! Oh dear god please PeterxAlice if it is not... me and my friend WILL attack the printing company even if they didnt write it... and then make Amanda Hocking fix it so Peter and Alice get together ;D bwuahha!

[Shelby Kane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Peter and Alice all the way! I love Jack, but Peter sends chills up my spine and makes me want to steal him away and keep him for myself(: I don't care if his character is lame or if he's an ass sometimes(: he loves Alice more than he does Elise and that's saying a lot considering he was depressed the whole time over Elise's death until he met Alice. I think Jack is an ass for breaking the bond between her and Peter, Peter didn't deserve that after losing Elise. I love Peter to death<3

[Alex Stephens]

I had no idea there was gonna be another book to the series :) I'm glad there is. I really want it to be Alice and Peter together! He did have her first then Jack took her. Don't get me wrong, I loved Jack but I loved Peter more. 2 more months left!! <3 <3 Peter&Alice all the way

[Grace]

Peter and Alice. Please, just please!

[Alex · Rating 1 out of 5]

I hate writing bad reviews, but someone has to.
I used to love Amanda Hocking, she was a creative writer who wouldn't take no for an answer. She imagined beautiful strong but vulnerable characters who you could watch grow. So it's said when you have waited for years to read this book. Not just sad but very aggravating as well.
I'm not a grammar police or spelling, simply because if the story is good enough you don't notice and I'm not great at it either, but I also don't get paid for my grammar, whatever. My point is that this book was a hot mess and the storyline was so incredibly horrible that you noticed them all and it just made you angrier.
Amanda seemed like she needed some more traction in here career and attention and threw this together one night after drinking cheap wine. The characters were different, the writing was lazy and the plot twist was a big no, no.
Over all a total waste, I don't appreciate being used as a publicity stunt and that's all this book was, trying to get more readers. But and spoiler ahead, peter may have never been "the one" but he was apart of your story and to butcher him out like a piece of fat in the Christmas ham was reckless and evil. Your readers invest time and money into your stories and world, be respectful of that and take the time and energy to show your respect and put it into the book. The characters. The ending. And the freaking editing.
Don't waste your time, or money.
The end.

[Kizzy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can't wait for it to come out! Peter and Alice, Please! it would work out so much better than Jack and Alice.

[Sara Lipscomb]

I know this book may never come to being-- I am lost without the ending to Jack's story-- well, Alice and Jack-- I get it, people love Peter-- but he already has his Elise... anyways-- Amanda is terribly busy with her success... so if it never comes to head-- at least I can rest in the know that Alice chose Jack, it will always be Jack. Think I'm actually going to start reading from the beginning again...

[Tina]

I would have loved to see a publication date or expected release date...

[Mk Howard]

I thought the books were great. I read them 3 (count it) three times. I wanted Jack to be with Alice at first, but what others are taking into consideration is that Alice has grown up quite a bit. She knows the rules of the game now. She knows now that there is usually one mate for the vampires.She loves Jack because they grew together through their friendship and her youth. However; she was meant for Peter and he was to blind to see it. He had been holding on to his 1st love so long he had forgotten how to love...sad but true. He lacked maturity in the beginning and was down right rude to Alice when she came to the house. He didn't see what was right in front of him because of the hurt he continued to carry all those years. Jack did all the work ie nurturing their relationship and stood watching from afar. Then realizing what he was passing up, he stepped in to let Alice know his feeling. He loved his brother and stepped aside for him and Alice. But like I said, Alice has a mind of her own and could go either way justifiably. I think she decided to go away and be a vampire hunter to grow and mature some more then make her own decision.

[Therine Easton · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don't think that I have ever written a negative review... Usually I would just keep my view for myself...
And it breaks my heart to have to write this about one of my favourite authors...

But... And this is a huge BUT...

I really really disliked the book! I almost want to use the 4-letter H-word.

SPOILER AHEAD

Amanda should have sticked to her guns and not have written this book. The writing of the book wasn't that bad. It wasn't great either. You could definitely feel that Amanda Hockings heart was definitely not in this book.

I have read that Amanda was so bombarded with negative opinions with how the books ended previously that she decided to write this book.

Now here is what I think happened...

I think Amanda was so mad about all the hate that she got due to the fact that Alice didn't end up with Peter that she decided that she will get her revenge by taking Peter completely away from us. If Elise can't have him then no one will.

This book was in my opinion better off not written.

Close Amanda, but no cigar.

[Lindsay]

Sellout!!! Ms Hocking had no problem banging out this series before being signed with a legit publishing company. They clearly weren't interested in picking up this series so there comes the blog in November saying her heart isn't in it to finish book 5 (read: there's no paycheck for this one). She's a big disappointment. This was a good series minus a few misses but now I'll never read another Hocking book. Quite frankly I found the Trylle Trilogy to be painful to get through with awful character development and only read because of MBA.
Fail, Amanda. But I guess it doesn't matter to disappoint people who made you successful.

[Katie]

According to Hocking's blog she is having some difficulties writing this last book. I recently found this series and have spent the last week reading it. I am now very disappointed to learn I will have to wait who knows how long to have some closure with Alice and her story.

[Jillian Eaton]

213 ratings and an average of 4.2 stars for a book that hasn't been released yet?

*blink blink*

Amanda Hocking, you are one impressive lady. And I envy you. A lot.

[Rachel Seumalo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't wait!! I do believe out of the very very many vampire series I have read, that this is my most favorite! :) Thanks for giving us another book in the series Amanda!!!!!

[Brandy Giles · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read all of the previous books in this series years ago, and finally Amanda Hocking has decided to get around to finishing it. This is probably her worst series, with my favorite being the Trylle trilogy, along with the spin off. My main issue is that the protagonist is annoying and I literally cannot stand her relationship. I feel like I'm reading Twilight all over again and hating Jacob! This was a decent book, but nothing special, and this entire series added nothing at all to the vampire genre. It followed all of the usual tropes, and that makes it hard to get invested because of the sheer predictability.

[Stormy]

I love Peter to death but I really don't care who she's with as long as this series is finished.

WHEN THE HELL IS THIS GOING TO BE OUT? Ever? If not this book should just be erased from GR.

I'M GETTING SICK OF WAITING.

[Book_Worm99]

Why is it that the first 4 amazing books came out all in 2010, and THIS 5th book is taking so goddamn long!? >:(
I swear this book taking over 2 years to write better be worth it.

[Emily · Rating 1 out of 5]

Well shit, I wish I knew about all this writer's block before I started the series :/ I hate not finishing series

[Melissa · Rating 1 out of 5]

With everything in my heart I despised this ending. The book itself was just mildly interesting until the ending which was just so so bad. I regret reading this series. I really do.

[Lara Rico · Rating 1 out of 5]

i hate this monstrosity with my entire soul, and all because of that ending. if you know, you k n o w

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 / 5 stars

[Manon「マノン」 · Rating 2 out of 5]

I finally decided to pick up the last book in the “My Blood Approves” series. I’ve read those books when I was a teenager and I remember being obsessed with it. I’ve read the first book twice which does say something since I never reread books. I really wanted to read the last book in the series even though I knew before I started that I wouldn’t enjoy it as much as I did when I was younger. Finishing the series was clearly the main goal for me because if it was the first book in the series, I would have DNF it.

The first thing that really bugged me was that there were a lot of mistakes, some words were missing. Did no one read the book before? I’m surprised no one noticed this at all and corrected them before it got published.

I think I’ve outgrown the series, that’s why I didn’t enjoyed it as much as I did when I was younger. I’m not interested in vampires anymore and didn’t care about the characters. The only characters that I liked in this book were Ezra and Peter, otherwise the rest of the cast was annoying. The plot was predictable and while the beginning of the book dragged a lot, the end was rushed. The relationship between Alice and Jack was so boring, I just wished that she broke up with him and be with Peter. Speaking of which, What was the point of killing him? Like it made no sense to me and it came out of nowhere.

In the end, I’m glad that I wrapped up the series and the book did help me get out of my reading slumping, so I guess it’s a good thing.

[Keifer Duncan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed finishing Alice's story. I have to say this is one of the series that really kept me reading as a teenager. I can distinctly remember sneaking onto my kindle during an AP government class in the 10th grade to read the first books and falling in love with the characters. That was almost 6 years ago, and I have been waiting patiently to see how Alice's story ends. This book was great and I loved the mystery about it. At one point I felt like I was watching an episode of CSI (and I loved it) and at other times I was on the brink of tears remembering that these characters were a part of my teen years and I was reading their final sendoff. I have to say I was really emotional while I read this book and really took it slow. It was also nice seeing how much Amanda Hocking's writing skill has grown since the first novels. I re-read the entire series before starting on this final book and as a writer, it makes me feel good to see other writers keep working and getting better at their skills. Amanda Hocking has always been one of my favorite writers, but with every book by her that I read, I find myself enjoying her writing even more. Saying goodbye to these characters (especially Alice, Milo, Jack, and Bobby) was bittersweet, but I can't wait to read whatever stories Amanda Hocking will write next.

[Angela Kulig · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm just going to pretend I didn't read this book.

I loved the series, even with its flaws, but it did not age well. I read the other books when they were new, but this one was painful for a whole other reason.

First of all, you could tell Amanda Hocking had worked with editors and made improvements to her writing style before completing this book. That's not to say, old Amanda Hocking who is prone to having 200-300 year old Vampires ask in their best Valley Girl voice if someone would like to, "Come With?" doesn't make an appearance. She's there in spades.

I struggled with rating Swear because I love Amanda Hocking. However, this was the worst ending to a book I have ever read. I had to have a couple of days to cool off before I could even talk myself into giving it 2 stars.

[Stephanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This has got to be one of the biggest ending disappointments I have ever encountered! Waited what seemed like an eternity for this final book and am heart broken at how horribly throw together it was. I advise anyone who loves the first 4 books to just don’t read this one and come up with your own fantasy ending in your head. It’s not like we all didn’t already ready know that Jack was the only choice

[Jane Yang]

OMG PLEZZZZ PETER X ALICE
U can TOTALLY make it work!!!
I mean I was reading other people's comments and I realise that Jack could be better off as a friend!!
And a comrade here has a very good point, if Jack finds the one he's "meant" to be with, then dahell happens to Alice??
He is selfish for breaking the bond between Alice and Peter and who the damn cares that Jack found her first.
Team Peter all the way!!!