'Chaos' Nilsson has it a successful career in the music industry, fame, money, the girl. He also has a monkey on his back, brought about by the visions that plague his mind and haunt his every waking moment; visions that will only be quietened when he numbs himself with generous amounts of alcohol and drugs. After an accident that nearly costs him his life, he embarks on a journey of self discovery, in search of his roots and the secret to the blood coursing through his veins
"As soon as I learned my ABC I was writing stories."
Ruth Miranda is a Portugal born and raised author who feels more comfortable around words than people, especially if those words happen to be in English, a language she once taught for a living - amongst other varied jobs. She started making up stories in her head as a child, to put herself to sleep, but the stories kept growing with her, so eventually, they needed to be put to paper. Her published work includes The Preternatural Series and Blood Trilogy, as well as the romance novel Danseur and the Byanamese Romance series. You can find her being social on Instagram under the handle @ruth__miranda, where she shares snippets of upcoming and published work, and on her Patreon, where she posts thoughts on writing, deleted scenes, and an online novel. Find it here https://www.patreon.com/RuthMiranda
Blood by Ruth Miranda is a paranormal novel full of thrills, suspense and mystery!
Vampires? Fey? Visions? This book is hitting every notch on the fantastical belt of epicness!
I truly found this book intriguing and couldn't put it down. It starts off as a character study, following Caius (also known as Chaos), who is in a big band and is uber famous. Now, that's all fine and dandy but he's been having visions of a boy and he's dead. Oh, did I mention there was an accident involving his girlfriend? His life is tricky, and slowly it unravels. Once we get past the short character study in a psychiatrist's office, Cai is out looking for Marcus who is supposed to be dead. Slowly, Cai learns more about himself and his family roots on his fantastical journey.
The book is addicting - normally I take my time and take breaks when I'm reading, but this book demanded my attention! When you add in the insanity of the plot and how quick it moves, you've got yourself a real winner! Keep in mind, it is fast moving and has lots of paranormal aspects to it - so if you like a simple, clean cut story this might not be for you! It's full of plot twists that might not be easy to follow if you're not fully into the book whole-heartedly.
This novella is a fun read, but it almost felt too short! It ended so abruptly! Luckily, this is a series so we'll be getting more from these characters soon! I wouldn't recommend reading this book if you solely like books that stand alone. The story doesn't fully close, so you will need to read the next book to know the final ending or have some closure.
Overall, this book has incredible themes and deep topics that will pull adult readers in to feel for these characters. The fantasy sides of this story also bring action and adventure to keep you hooked and gliding along with the story. I think this book will be great for fantasy readers or adults looking for something a little more than just some fantastical fun!
Four out of five stars!
I received a free copy of this novella from the author Ruth Miranda in exchange for an honest review.
I went into this novella blind, not having a clue what to expect, but having read material written by the author previously was confident I was in for a gripping read. Boy was I not disappointed. Right from the start, you are thrown into a dark world of visions, death and blood. But don't think this is just a gorefest, far from it. No, Blood is a sophisticated and clever little tale of blood ties and family connections, of secrets bubbling up from the past and revenge turned sour.
The main character is believable and likeable, and I enjoyed that he was portrayed as so much more than a shallow rock star, selfish and self-focused. Instead, he's a troubled and lonely young man, grieving the death of his fiance, and wondering just what exactly he has become.
We follow him on his journey, as he discovers more of his family history, the mystery of his origins only deepening with each new revelation.
It's a novella, but there is still depth and complexity in the story, the author taking the time to explore each new character, giving even minor players a backstory. There's also a pleasing richness to the tale, as layer upon layer of plot is carefully and expertly applied. Each layer pulling you deeper into the tale.
If I have one criticism, it is that is was over too soon, and I certainly hope the author has a sequel planned because the cliffhanger is unforgivable if there is no follow up to come.
Overall, a thought-provoking and gripping read, that leaves the reader wanting more.
I thought I knew what this book was about when I started to read it, but it delivered a much deeper story than the novella length that it is. The main character, Caius Nilsson, is a rock star, but a man plagued by brutal visions he doesn't understand, combined with guilt after the death of his girlfriend. The title, Blood, may make you think this is some kind of gore fest, but think again. It's about family and what runs in our veins, about what we're running from, and what we will do to protect those who share that blood. A clever, character driven story, that sets the groundwork for the other books in the series (which I will definitely be reading).
"So i just finished reading it. Despite it not being my typical genre of read I can honestly say i have not read anything similar before. I kind of guessed what might be at the core but it wasnt a strong guess. So it kept me intrigued to sort out what the heck was going on and it is an interesting world you created. It was a good read." By authorjsocha
This is a dark, intriguing novella. When I first started reading it, I thought it was a psychological thriller: a man talking about his life in a therapist's office, reminiscing and recovering from past heartbreak. We learn he's been having visions - terribly real visions - and he begins a journey to discover exactly what the visions mean.
As the story progresses, I was thrust deeper into the story. The supernatural elements were so skilfully added: subtle at first, and then taking centre stage to form the bulk of the novella. But the way the supernatural elements were sprinkled throughout, particularly in the early parts of the novella, immediately hooked me. What is Cai? Clearly he knows more than he's letting on, at least in the beginning.
But then Cai has his own mystery to solve, and I was fascinated by the revelations and connections. The pacing was on point and I easily read this in a single sitting. A great start to the Blood Trilogy.
Caius "Chaos" Nilsson has a carefully managed life. As the front man for a popular rock band, every move he makes is public, and it is due to his uncle Leif and his management that Caius (Cai) has been able to even have his career after a tragic accident took the life of his best friend and forever changed his. But things aren't what they seem, and Cai is haunted by horrific visions of a life not-so-charmed; a life of beatings and terror- a life suddenly cut short in an act of gruesome violence. Despite all of his uncle's best efforts, the disturbing visions are becoming more real and threatening to break though into his own life. The dual themes running throughout Blood are those of a man possessed by the guilt of having the blood of his friend on his hands; and also possessed by unfamiliar things that he has inherited in the blood which flows in his own veins. His quest to find the truth about the visions and his birthright lead him to a very unexpected discovery. I hope the author revisits this very well-written novella and expands the story to include how Cai integrates his newfound knowledge into his very public existence.
I bought Ruth Miranda's Blood Trilogy and am reviewing each novella after I read it to keep it simple. In Blood, you come into a world equally as real as our own. But then reality begins to bend and shift in these twisty little ways, and I love how she does this. The majority of the novella is told from Cai's pov and in his voice, and this works well because you learn what drives him through his actions and in the meanings between the lines. There is a duality to his view of blood that multiplies by the end -- the blood on his hands, the blood that binds, the blood that gives life, the blood that takes, etc. It's an interesting concept furthered by magical/mythological additions still set within a very real and gritty reality. By the end of BLOOD, I was ready to open Scars and keep going! If you're a manga fan, there's a mythology in the Vampire Knight series regarding vampire hunter twins that I kept wondering about as I theorized. But, no spoilers from me. :) This first part is short, but it does its job quite nicely to start the trilogy. <3
This short but exciting book had me wondering what was going to happen next. I enjoyed the suspense and twists that lead up to the reveal of vampires, fey, and crazy witch magic. This was my first time reading one of Ruth Miranda's books and it was such a delightful story. The flow of Ruth's writing is so smooth and easy to read. I doubt it could be a disappointment. I will want to know what happens next to these fun characters.
"I died on that car along with Elise... When the car crashed she was thrown through the wind-shield, died immediately. I felt her die. I was not so lucky. I didn't lose conscience straight away. I saw her, the blood, HER BLOOD, then mine. My neck was pierced by a sharp something, it hurt, but not that much. What I COULD feel, very clearly, was the blood oozing out, life ebbing out of me. I DID die. I didn't just faint. And yet, here I am. For some fucked up reason, I lived again and she didn't." -Blood by Ruth Miranda
‘Sometimes I wonder if I even exist.’ A lovely poignant moment right out of the gate and of course I had to read on. I liked the switch in perspective. Nice use of the visit with the psychiatrist to get across details of Cai’s visions and his relationship with lost love, fiancé and heart of his band, Elise. Pretty much the whole back plot is revealed in Dr. Millers office. The plot gathers real momentum very quickly after that and you have to have your wits about you to keep up. This, the first in the series does feel a lot like an instalment. It's very much used as an introduction to the main characters, Cai being more than the usual vacuous rock-star; and with such a cliff-hanger ending to make you eager for more. Blood is clearly a building block for the sequels to follow. Of course I'll read the next one.
I wanted a dark thrilling book with plenty of thrills to grab my attention and Blood did exactly that! Written very cleverly it starts out reading like a psychological thriller but leading into a paranormal story with lots of twists, turns and surprises.
There were moments when my heart was racing, I was shouting at my kindle and moments of sadness. I became invested in the main characters, hanging on for more of their lives and becoming part of their story.
This is a novella that I read in super quick time. It is short but fast paced and full of surprises. A great plot with good characters and the rightbpace throughout, this is a page turner
The book has two stories happening at the same time. And it shows that they are somehow connected. Both have trauma, sadness, deep feelings and just makes you want to understand why the two stories are coexisting inside the same Book. It got me wondering, thinking about it when I was able to put the book down. It is not a typical fantasy story because Ruth gave so many interesting twists and turns that I was at first overwhelmed by them, and after glad it was like that because it brings something new to the table. A great read about the fantasy and supernatural realm. Thank you!
I'm not too sure what I expected, but I think the cover threw me off!
Caius is a great character, it's impossible not to feel for him. A rock star, he appears to have it all, but he's deeply troubled. So begins his journey of discovery, unraveling the mysteries piece by piece.
A curious and suspenseful tale, I couldn't put it down. Looking forward to more.
This is a interesting world and story. I don’t know how to say much about the story without giving anything away, but I was surprised at the reason for the visions. The author has a knack for making characters feel real in a short amount of time.
There is so much in this novella that I wished was explored more. Plus, I want to know what happens next! That ending. Woo.
I really enjoyed Blood. It was intriguing and surprising in equal measure, as elements of a thriller merged with something like a supernatural detective case. Especially towards the end of the novella, I really enjoyed how the theme of 'blood' deepened from one understanding to another (no spoilers!) I was also sweetly surprised by Marcus, and his involvement in the story. If you're looking for an original take on Fey, witches and vampires, I would highly recommend the Blood trilogy!
There's been a flood of vampire novels that romanticise and transpose bloodsucking to a family concept, which is a long way from Dracula or Nosferatu. This is not one of those.
Writing with a refreshing spin on urban culture, Miranda has produced an altogether more bloody and, in my opinion, interesting narrative, grounding it in broken, scarred characters. Even the brave choice of cover photograph is a slap in the face to Twilight dewy eyes.
The opening is clever, drawing the reader into its harsh world whilst providing an air of brutal mystery. The ending left me in no doubt that they wouldn't be posing for a family portrait any time soon.
A well written compelling page turner. Highly recommended.
The first half of this novella seemed like an introspective look at Caius’ life - a very captivating tale of a real, heartfelt set of struggles and fears. But in the second half the story takes an unexpected turn toward the supernatural and becomes a gripping suspenseful tale of entirely, well, other. In a short space you are introduced to an intricate world of enigmas and mortal peril, all in the midst of the main character’s self-discovery and uncovering family ties. With no lack of action and twists, I thoroughly enjoyed this read and look forward to the next installment in the series.
Blood was a new adventure for me from an author I had never read before. I completely fell in love with the twins and really enjoyed the new take on what makes the modern day vampire. I just bought book 2 and am hoping that it delves more into Marcus’s mind. An amazing book, I couldn’t recommend Ruth Miranda more.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This is the first series I’ve read by Miranda and I was shocked once I got into it. I had this idea of how the story line was going to go and was quickly thrown into something much bigger. It was fast paced and before I realized it the first book ended and left me wanting to jump into the sequel. Happily surprised by these characters, I can’t wait to see what happens next.
This book was not what I was expecting. It was gripping and full of twists and turns that kept me on my toes. I have read a lot of vampire books, but never one quite like this. I loved the deep insight given into the characters, their struggles, and their lives.
On the outside, Caius ‘Chaos’ Nilssen revels in success. He has fame, money, the girl and talent. Underneath however, he struggles with violent visions, their horror driving him to alcohol and drugs until a life changing moment urges him to face his demons.
I read Blood and its sequels, Scars and Marianne back to back because after finishing Blood, there was no way I was waiting to find out what happened next. Miranda’s three novellas form a gripping, tightly paced trilogy blending Vampires, Fey and Witches into a tale of mystery, family secrets and startling revelations. This is not a fluffy hot vampire guy tale—far from it. It’s brutal in parts with violent and dark themes that explore the fallout of two brothers separated at birth and their subsequent struggles to reunite as family.
What’s unusual about this trilogy is how Miranda occasionally retells what the reader has just read, but as seen by one of the brother’s perspectives. Reading their version adds to each character’s development as we get a more in-depth understanding of their emotions. This approach isn’t one I’d experienced as a reader before, and while I felt it was unnecessary at first, I soon realised it was adding an extra layer to the story.
Miranda writes with efficiency which moves the story along at a good clip and adds to the building tension. Each character has an intriguing backstory and although the novellas don’t allow for a lot of elaboration, the author built enough backstory to allow me use my own imagination to draw conclusions.
Speaking of conclusions, you’ll either love or hate the ending of this trilogy. No spoilers, but be prepared for a wallop of frustration at the end. I had a moment of wanting to fling my kindle across the room, but once I got over myself, appreciated Miranda’s reasoning. I can now only admire her for such a ballsy move.
In summary, this is a dark, brutal and yet somehow heart-warming trilogy. I enjoyed all the characters, good and bad, and despite the fantasy elements never felt the plot got too fantastical. There are adult themes contained within, so be warned of rape, addiction and self-harm triggers. Overall a satisfying read that absolutely left me wanting more.
What a story! I could not put this book down. I went in expecting a straight up vampire read but what I got was so much more.
The story follows Cai, a rich, hot, rockstar who seemingly has it all. His reality however is quite a different tale. He is a lonely tormented soul plagued by the darkest of visions which lead him to question his past. As he untangles the web of lies within his family layer upon layer of detail unfolds and leads him to discover who he truly is.
I must say I read chunks of this with tears in my eyes. The abuse and pain conveyed through the pages is very real but not overdone. It’s brilliantly written.
If you're looking for an enthralling page turning psychological thriller meets paranormal read then I highly recommend grabbing yourself a copy of Blood.
I enjoyed this book I did, it was the most interesting read for me. This started off really strong then what came next was a twist I didn't see coming. It was a weird transition because it didn't feel like there was any indication of fey being in this novella till you hit that twist.
Here I was getting into the psychology of the main character and how he was struggling with the death of his girlfriend. Honestly bless her because she was a gem even though the amount of criticism she faced while being in the public eye and watching her high school crush/sweetheart having to fall in love with other women before her. Along with helping the band become famous and helping our MMC with his visions.
Later on in the book it turned kinda Supernatural/The Vampire Diaries with the brothers aspect that was really cool I felt a bit of that vibe going on with later meeting a character towards the end giving them the Winchester Brothers type mission that was cool with their connection almost like the Salvator Brothers which also thought was kinda cool.
However I did enjoy this really short read it was very interesting and I do recommend reading it if you come across this book.
This book has potential, the concept is good though I don’t feel it’s very well executed. Some scenes seem to drag on, especially in the beginning, and others feel rushed, especially in the end. There’s several typos, but they aren’t too distracting.
This was my first time reading one of Ruth's older works, and while I didn't know what to expect, it kept me quite entertained all along. I was quite invested in Chaos Nilssen's story, and the subplot regarding the mysterious boy from his visions kept me on my toes! My only complaint would be that, at times, the story jumped from one event to the next one, which made it hard for me personally to know exactly what was going on. Nonetheless, I enjoyed this story, and will be continuing the series.