Love is a curse. Three hundred years ago, Warin lost his humanity. The night he met Thea was the night he lost his soul.
For more than two hundred years, Warin has roamed the wilds with only his blood brother Aleric for company, terrorizing villages and feeding on human life. Sating his dark hunger was all he ever cared for... Until she crossed his path. From the moment he meets his beautiful Thea, her emerald eyes and tender heart call to him like a siren’s song. But she is human, and unless Warin can uncover the truth of their connection, he’ll never be able to possess her the way he so desperately desires. Enlisting the help of the Ancients of his kind always comes with a cost. Especially when Thea is revealed for what she really is: either a gift from the gods… ...or a curse on his bloodline.
I am Nora Ash, and I write a plethora of different romance books. Some of them are really dirty, some of them are only kinda-dirty, some are paranormal, some are contemporary… Basically, I have a rampant imagination and no way of controlling it, except from just writing down whichever idea pops into my head at the time.
The one thing my books always have in common, though? A great story and a guaranteed HEA. If you’re ever in doubt about what you’re about to read, have a look at my book page. It has a flame rating for each series, so you know what you’re getting yourself into!
I’m originally from the cold North (AKA Scandinavia) but these days I live in rainy England with my amazing fiancé and our two pesty cats. When I’m not writing, I’m probably reading, watching Real Housewives of Wherever (reality tv it’s my shameful addiction) or hiking in whatever bit of woodland I can find.
Three fun facts about me
I once ran away with a traveling circus I’m bilingual. Almost-kinda trilingual, but my Spanish is terri-bad these days. I’m a decent rider (English style only, though)
You can (and definitely should!) keep in touch with me via my newsletter or by joining my Facebook group.
No, no, noooooo! I don't want to wait for the next book! Wow was this an addictive, dark, and deliciously seductive story. Vampire 'brothers' Warin and Aleric have hunted for centuries, their dark and twisted desires the driving force behind their endless and ruthless existence. Everything changes when Warin meets Thea . . .
Do soulmates really exist?
Just when I thought I knew what was going to happen . . . Boom! Another shocking twist and surprise. Oh the deception, lies, and betrayal in this book! For a novella this book packed one hell of a punch and I'm dying to know the rest of the story. These characters will stay with you long after you finish. Toss in the sensual heat and romance and you've got a great read that grips you all the way up until the last word.
One of the best PNR books I've read in a long while. Really looking forward to Wicked Soul. Already pre-ordered. Trust me, you don't want to miss this!!!
Characters: 5/5 Plot: 5/5 Word Building: 5/5 Story Flow: 5/5
ABSOLUTELY CAPTIVATING!!! Title: Original Series: Ancient Blood Author: Nora Ash Designation: Book 0.5, Series Prequel, Novella, NOT A STANDALONE, Cliffhanger Ahead #paranormal #fantasy #supernatural #darkromance #vampires #witches Reading Platform: Kindle Edition My Rating: Five Sinfully Delicious Stars***** Oh my! Oh my! Oh my! I'm literally bouncing in my seat with joy! I love, love, love Origin, the prequel to a brand new paranormal/supernatural romance series entitled Ancient Blood by the amazingly talented Nora Ash. I've been a fan since reading her deliciously dark Demon's Mark Series four years ago, which was her first foray into the world of erotic paranormal romance, and have followed her blossoming career as Ash spread her wings and successfully conquered other subgenres. With the release of Origin, Ash has returned to her roots, and I couldn't be happier! Don't get me wrong; I love everything she writes, but no one writes dark paranormal romance like Nora Ash! Now, let me tell you why! Ash is a gifted storyteller and skilled wordslinger who excels at creating spellbinding storylines with vividly depicted worlds, then populating them with compelling characters who literally explode from the pages and capture your imagination as well as your heart. And this book/series is no exception! Origin is a riveting, fast-paced paranormal tale filled to the brim with spine-tingling danger, chilling suspense, sinister machinations, heart-wrenching angst, explosive passion, and seductive romance. The narrative is beautifully written in the third person with multiple perspectives. The dialogue is smart, well-executed, and flows effortlessly. But without a doubt, my favorite component of every Ash story is her intriguing cast of well-developed characters, always flawed but always imperfectly perfect. I was immediately fascinated by the three protagonists and what role each would play in the progression of the story. And again, Ash didn't disappoint! There's nothing better than a well-written antihero, and Ash pens some of the best I've ever read, and that's saying a lot since I'm an old codger whose favorite vampire book of all time is Bram Stoker's Dracula which I've read several times since discovering it 50 years ago. Yeah, I'm that old and still passionate about the written word! As usual, I digress, so to wrap up comments, there are 5 questions I always ask myself after completing a book. First, did I like this story? No, I LOVED it and can hardly wait to read the first book of the series, Wicked Soul, which I've already preordered. And FYI, just a reminder, Origin is not a standalone and does end with a cliffhanger. Second, was there anything I didn't like? Honestly, not a darn thing! Like everyone else, I always want instant gratification and would love to already have the next book of the series in my hot little hands right now. Thankfully, it's scheduled for release February 10, 2018, and I've already preordered my copy. Third, would I recommend this book? You bet and I am, but only for adults. It's novella length, coming in around 150 pages, and a relatively quick read, but it is a dark romance with some violence and explicit sex. Fourth, will I read this author again? I think I've already answered this question but just to be clear - ABSOLUTELY! And finally, was I entertained? Completely! I was glued to my seat, white knuckling my reader with my heart fluttering wildly in my chest as the pages flew as quickly as the time. Fabulous entertainment and an awesome read!
Warin suffered nearly a hundred years of torment and pain at the hands of the Ancient who stole his humanity and made him a vampire. But when his Master embraced another, Warin refused to allow his new blood brother to suffer his fate and saved them both by murdering their Sire. Warin and his blood brother Aleric spent the next 200 years succumbing to bloodlust and answering to no one while sowing a trail of violence, death, and destruction across the continent of Europe with no regret nor remorse. For almost 3oo years, Warin lived with no hope of escaping the darkness, believing it impossible to satisfy the bloodthirsty beast inhabiting his cold, unfeeling body, until one fateful night while raiding a small village and killing its residents, he sensed something he'd never before encountered - something different, something unusual, something he didn't understand, yet something he couldn't ignore. But it wasn't something, it was a someone - an ordinary young woman named Thea who called to him, whose very existence sang to his heart. And for the first time in his almost 300 years, Warin didn't want to drink and kill his prey - he wanted to keep her. But would she be his salvation or his downfall? We'll see!
Merged review:
ABSOLUTELY CAPTIVATING!!! Title: Original Series: Ancient Blood Author: Nora Ash Designation: Book 0.5, Series Prequel, Novella, NOT A STANDALONE, Cliffhanger Ahead #paranormal #fantasy #supernatural #darkromance #vampires #witches Reading Platform: Kindle Edition My Rating: Five Sinfully Delicious Stars***** Oh my! Oh my! Oh my! I love, love, love Origin, the prequel to a brand new paranormal/supernatural romance series entitled Ancient Blood by the amazingly talented Nora Ash. I've been a fan since reading her deliciously dark Demon's Mark Series four years ago, which was her first foray into the world of erotic paranormal romance, and have followed her blossoming career as Ash spread her wings and successfully tackled other subgenres. With the release of Origin, Ash has returned to her roots, and I couldn't be happier! Don't get me wrong; I love everything she writes, but no one writes dark paranormal romance like Nora Ash! Now, let me tell you why!
Ash is a gifted storyteller and skilled wordslinger who excels at creating spellbinding storylines with vividly depicted worlds, then populating them with compelling characters who literally explode from the pages and capture your imagination as well as your heart. And this book/series is no exception! Origin is a riveting, fast-paced paranormal tale filled to the brim with spine-tingling danger, chilling suspense, sinister machinations, heart-wrenching angst, explosive passion, and seductive romance. The narrative is beautifully written in the third person with multiple perspectives. The dialogue is smart, well-executed, and flows effortlessly. But without a doubt, my favorite component of every Ash story is her intriguing cast of well-developed characters, always flawed yet imperfectly perfect. I was immediately fascinated by the three protagonists and what role each would play in the progression of the story. And again, Ash didn't disappoint! There's nothing better than a well-written antihero, and Ash pens some of the best I've ever read, and that's saying a lot since I'm an old codger whose favorite vampire book of all time is Bram Stoker's Dracula which I've read several times since discovering it 50 years ago. Yeah, I'm that old and still passionate about the written word! As usual, I digress, so to wrap up comments, there are 5 questions I always ask myself after completing a book. First, did I like this story? No, I LOVED it and can hardly wait to read the first book of the series, Wicked Soul, which I've already preordered. And FYI, just a reminder, Origin is not a standalone and does end with a cliffhanger. Second, was there anything I didn't like? Honestly, not a darn thing! Like everyone else, I always want instant gratification and would love to already have the next book of the series in my hot little hands right now. Thankfully, it's scheduled for release February 10, 2018, and I've already preordered my copy. Third, would I recommend this book? You bet and I am, but only for adults. It's novella length, coming in around 150 pages, and a relatively quick read, but it is a dark romance with some violence and explicit sex. Fourth, will I read this author again? I think I've already answered this question but just to be clear - ABSOLUTELY! And finally, was I entertained? Completely! I was glued to my seat, white knuckling my reader with my heart fluttering wildly in my chest as the pages flew as quickly as the time. Fabulous entertainment and an awesome read!
Warin suffered nearly a hundred years of torment and pain at the hands of the Ancient who stole his humanity and made him a vampire. But when his Master embraced another, Warin refused to allow his new blood brother to suffer his fate and saved them both by murdering their Sire. Warin and his blood brother Aleric spent the next 200 years succumbing to bloodlust and answering to no one while sowing a trail of violence, death, and destruction across the continent of Europe with no regret nor remorse. For almost 3oo years, Warin lived with no hope of escaping the darkness, believing it impossible to satisfy the bloodthirsty beast inhabiting his cold, unfeeling body, until one fateful night while raiding a small village and killing its residents, he sensed something he'd never before encountered - something different, something unusual, something he didn't understand, yet something he couldn't ignore. But it wasn't something, it was a someone - an ordinary young woman named Thea who called to him, whose very existence sang to his heart. And for the first time in his almost 300 years, Warin didn't want to drink and kill his prey - he wanted to keep her. But would she be his salvation or his downfall? We'll see!
***I received an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest and entirely mine review***
Okay so this book took me by utter surprise, I am not usually a fan of historic time books but this is not the typical kind of course. It had vampires and witches and then some.
I loved Warin and I CANNOT wait to see how his story ends come the first book in the series. This book will leave you hanging but not in the worst ways where you'll curse the author (Lol this has happened to me before) but in a curious "Omg I need to know." kind of way.
It will also leave you wanting to kick Aleric's ass from here to Timbuktu lol. trust me it goes that way. But other than that the book was great, enough violence, enough sexual scenes without being overbearing and enough suspense. And you may cry a few times lol. Or maybe it was just me? I seriously cannot wait for the next book!
Origin: An Ancient Blood Prequel tells the story of Warin, a ruthless vampire who has dedicated the last two hundred years of his undying existence to massacre villages and be the a terror for humans who have the misfortune to get in his way. Along with his friend and blood brother Aleric, Warin sees his existence altered when he meets Thea, a human whose heart emits a melody that calls to him. Warin decides he wants to keep Thea with him, always.
**
Don't let my two-star rating fool you, I liked this story. I liked the way the author portrayed the vampires, their nature and their urges, their need to hunt, to kill and their way of burying themselves under ground to sleep the day away because they can't stay awake during daylight hours. Those were facts I truly liked because in other novels, vampires are these ethereal, elegant creatures that do not sleep or can sleep whenever they want.
Now the romance, that was the thing I didn't love so much. It seemed pretty fast to me. Pretty much insta-love. I understand they were soulmates and that Warin felt that preternatural pull towards her, but I don't understand how she went from 'get away from me, monster' to 'I love you, please fuck me harder'. Sorry.
Of course I understand that all this was necessary to develop the main story in Wicked Soul, and that it was not obligatory to show us a lasting relationship between them because she was going to die and reincarnate many years later... but I can't stand insta-love in any of its forms, lol.
A prequel that has me wanting more. With an ending like that I am captivated.
There are so many vampire stories I find it hard to become invested. The beginning started pretty quickly, straight into the main couple meeting and the reader experiencing the bond between Warin and his brother Aleric but it was the ending that had me in it's vortex. The tragedy that had me needing to know more and where this would go. I want to curiously follow the brothers so much to see what will happen to them.... My second read by Nora Ash, the other a prequel also. So well written to have me craving more from her stories involving genres I would not normally seek out. I'll be chasing those feelings elicited here in this lovely, ever so slightly dark little story...
Warin and Aleric are nightwalkers (vampires). They have a special bond. Clearly something horrible has been done to Warin. They do not specify what. Then Warin finds a girl with whom he is mysteriously bond to. They then try to find out what this bond means. It's very well written. I haven't read the next book "wicked soul" but I do hope we will know more about the characters as I find that the author didn't go into too much depth. I also found the ending very abrupt which can be a good tactic to read the sequel.
Now don’t get me wrong, 2.99 was a bit much for such a short read but I’m kinda a stalker to this authors work so yeah (throws 3 dollar bills) keep the change ;-). Any who even though this book was a short read it had me on such a roller coaster! *spoiler* Toward the end I was screaming all kinds of profanities, fingers crossed that wicked soul deliveries with a HEA.
This was a pretty good prequel. It sets things for the full series up nicely. I want Warin to get his happiness again. I'm ticked off at Aleric for his meddling. He had no right to do any of what he did. I almost hope he finds his soul mate and someone tries to do to him what he did to Warin so he can see how it feels.
I only finished listening to this cause it was so short. It seems very cheesy and MMC doesnt seem to be very dominating / alpha / strong... he seems to be more of a teddy bear.
I'm hooked on these vampires and want the next book now
Warin and his vampire blood brother Aleric have been killing and pillaging across Europe, relishing the chaos and destruction left in their wake as they prey on human battlefields and unwary villagers. They’re monsters and, like all true predators, don’t regret their violence. Their carnage is interrupted when Warin is drawn to a human, Thea.
He’s so smitten that he takes her with them instead of draining her dry. Warin knows this isn't normal, but he can't leave her. He has to find out what this pull is. She calms his monster and makes him want to be better-something more than a sadistic killer.
Alaric’s character isn't played for laughs, but he's tempered with a little low-key cuteness. I love how he’s sort of a vampire wingman and reluctant dating coach and actually has to tell a clueless Warin to clean all the blood and gore off of his body before trying to seduce Thea.
This doesn’t have the author's usual high level of sex and violence, yet it’s still exciting. It’s only the prologue. I’m guessing the series heats up. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Audiobook Review: This is a prequel to the Ancient Blood Series. This story is amazingly dark, well written, and well developed. Warin, Aleric, and Thea are great, strong, and intriguing characters. The world building is original, and the storyline is intriguing, and captivating. This is a great introduction to this Series. David Brenin did a great job with the narration. Now, I need the next book in the Series, Wicked Soul!
We all love a Great telling of Beauty and the Beast. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. I have always believed in getting my kids to read all kinds of things. My daughter always loved the happy ever after stories. My son has always liked the stories that have many twists and turns in it. The author gets you to think it will end one way and it goes another. sometimes my son would come up with a third outcome. Origin is a great novel that can have several endings. They do not give you a specific ending here in this book because it is a beginning to a series but leaves room for many more twists and turns and more happy endings as well. Question here is do we have a soul and can we loose it depending on what we do? Can one soul save or condemn another? What do you think?
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
When I started reading this book I had a whole different picture on how things were going to happen but I was completely thrown off. I love Thea so much even though we only read small little snippets of her personality. She knows when to act and when not to, characters that just act on things with no reason kinda annoys me when I am reading it. I know some people hesitate to pick up a book when there is cliff-hangers but this is really good if not sudden. It just makes me all the more excited for the first book of it's series.
It started as a usual story: the handsome predator sees a fragile beauty and they have to be together. But from that point, it wasn't usual at all :) the plot twisted in many ways, firing my curiosity, what's coming next? Another twist, of course. In this prequel, the characters grew close to me quite quickly, so now I want to know, what the next book keeps for them. I also liked the timing of the prequel, going back to past times and customs from then. If you want something out of the ordinary, give this series a try.
I received the book as an ARC for an honest review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. Great book that kept me hooked all the way through, the ending certainly wasn't what I expected and I can't tell you anymore without spoiling the story as I hate when reviewers give away too much, spoiling it for other readers. I was initially going to give only four stars simply due to the length but then it is a prequel so I relented and gave five as it is a riveting story, that kept me entertained all the way through. And the way it ended, it has me intrigued, what will happen in the next book and I look forward to reading it.
I received a copy of this book from Booksprout and I gladly leave my review. This is the 1st book I’ve read and reviewed for Nora Ash and I absolutely loved it. Fantastic book cover that and the blurb made me want to read this book. I won’t give any spoilers because Nora says it all in the blurb and I don’t think I can explain it any better. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, it had me wrapped up in it from page 1 and right up to the end. This book has everything u want plus more and I definitely recommend this book to anyone that loves the paranormal. It’s definitely worth the read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I have found a new author to love!!
Origin ARC: Ancient Blood, by Nora Ash, begins a torturous love story that will lead to Wicked Soul, and I am very much looking forward to following her series.
Warin and Aleric are blood line brothers. When soulmate, Thea, becomes entangled in the brother’ lives, decisions made by all affect their lives in a devastating way.
Journey with me, as Nora’s pervasive story writing grabs your heart, and you will be, oh, so willing to follow!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. Warin and Eric are old vampires, both coming from the same Sire, are also blood brothers. The story is set in the 1200s, where Warin finds his soulmate Thea. Something they didn't know could happen, but that threatens their brotherhood. I can't wait for the first installment. It promises a great adventure in the vampire world.
A prequel to what seems to be a wicked and hot vampire series. The story starts with death. But what can you expect from two vampires that believe themselves monsters. But it takes only one female to change one of them. What is it about her that is so different? The book begins the story of what could be a great love or a great tragedy. But we will have to wait for the next book to know for sure.
I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of the book.
*voluntarily and honestly reviewed the ARC I received from the author*
You know, I think the cliffhanger made it even better for my reading experience. It was short and very fast paced, but the story was overall enjoyable, and I especially love the idea of this kind of love existing in a prequel, it's like a bit of the history you get to experience first-hand before then reading the series. Pretty fun.
Wow…this was a great prequel story. I loved the interactions of the characters --- was really sad with one of the developments –and was totally angry with the character who caused that curse to manifest even though he thought he was doing the best thing for his older “brother.” After reading this story, I’m sure you will want to read the next book in the series as soon as it’s available.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. This story is intriguing and has left me wanting more. I couldn't stop reading and it went by too quick. The treachery runs deep and close to the heart. An old bond is tested and a new one made. It tugged at my emotions, I went high to low to high again. I will be impatiently waiting for the next book.
Warin and Alaric only have each other until Warin meets Thea and she changes everything. Thea is Warin's soulmate. This story is full of emotion. You can feel Thea's fear, Warin's confusion, Alaric dislike, and of course Thea and Warin's growing affection for each other. Ending with Alaric's heartbreak. I was enthralled by this book and look forward to more of this series.
This book leaves you wishing the next book was coming out now. Great characters Warin and Aleric the 2 "brothers" and Thea. This prologue has set everything up perfectly for Wicked Soul book 1 in the ancient blood series. Definitely recommend this book for an escape from reality. 5 stars
This Is my first Nora Ash book. Warin is very complex character, that I found very intriguing. The journey of finding himself, through Thea, has me looking forward to the first book in the series. Nora’s characters are like a fine wine, full bodied and complex. I would recommend this book as a start into her vampire world. Thank for a lovely read.
This is an interesting look into the beginning of the series. It definitely whets your appetite to see what will happen next. This is a cliffhanger but it gives a good background to the series. I am leaving a voluntary review for an advanced copy of the book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I was pleasantly surprised at how this book played out, and am definitely looking forward to the next installment. I've found myself a new author to follow!