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Blood Gambit
He never wanted to be a vampire. She doesn't even know they exist.Prinz Sloane is one of the most powerful members of the secret vampire court of Basaravia. He could be king, but he prefers to keep his distance. He doesn't have servants, preferring to get his sustenance from willing one-time donors. His loneliness is lessened only by his regular chess games with his favorite human at the consulate. When she blunders into a political trap, he'll do whatever is necessary to protect her. Even if it means breaking his own rules about getting involved.
Calan finally landed her dream job as a diplomatic assistant to the Basaravian consulate. Sure, hardly anyone has even heard of Basaravia and her boss Nicholas is kind of a jerk. But there are perks, like playing chess with the handsome and mysterious Prinz Sloane. When she tries to intervene to save her friend from an unfair punishment by the queen, her world turns upside down. Everything she thought she knew about Basaravia is wrong.
Calan and Sloane are bound together while Calan serves out her friend's sentence. Behind Sloane's reluctance and Calan's disbelief lies a powerful attraction. But their love is as dangerous as it is beguiling. Can they save each other from the machinations of the vampire court, or will they lose everything when tempers and politics spin out of control?
If you like Christine Feehan, Atlas Rose, and K.F. Breene, this Vampire Romantic Suspense is for you.
"Like Sara J. Maas's A Court of Throne and Roses, but vampire style."
"A classic human amongst vampire nobility story, but with so many amazing and unique characters!"
"Sophisticated vampire plays chess with a sassy human in more ways than one."
Calan finally landed her dream job as a diplomatic assistant to the Basaravian consulate. Sure, hardly anyone has even heard of Basaravia and her boss Nicholas is kind of a jerk. But there are perks, like playing chess with the handsome and mysterious Prinz Sloane. When she tries to intervene to save her friend from an unfair punishment by the queen, her world turns upside down. Everything she thought she knew about Basaravia is wrong.
Calan and Sloane are bound together while Calan serves out her friend's sentence. Behind Sloane's reluctance and Calan's disbelief lies a powerful attraction. But their love is as dangerous as it is beguiling. Can they save each other from the machinations of the vampire court, or will they lose everything when tempers and politics spin out of control?
If you like Christine Feehan, Atlas Rose, and K.F. Breene, this Vampire Romantic Suspense is for you.
"Like Sara J. Maas's A Court of Throne and Roses, but vampire style."
"A classic human amongst vampire nobility story, but with so many amazing and unique characters!"
"Sophisticated vampire plays chess with a sassy human in more ways than one."
228 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 17, 2019
8 people are currently reading
10 people want to read
About the author
T.L. Ryder
9 books15 followersI write SFF & vampires. But not in the same stories! :D
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
March 22, 2020
This book introduces a vibrant culture of vampires. There are those that the vampires feed upon and protect: syn (servants), kyne (someone between a mortal and a vampire--they aren't as powerful as vampires but don't age and can walk in the sun). And then there's the heirarchy of vampires--some good, some evil, and some you can't tell which no matter how hard you try. Our heroine, Calan, finds herself the syn of the Scottish vampire, Sloane. They travel to Basaravia (Sloane packs himself into a large crate that looks much like a coffin which unnerves the airport crew, which is hilarious). This is a story of love, betrayal, and power. I loved it.
February 26, 2020
I really loved this take on a vampire story. Sloane is that perfect classy vampire character but, you feel completely relaxed with him at all times. Not so the Rabia-Yelena (the queen of the undead). Most would love Prinz Sloane to take the reins. Something he is in no rush to do. He, it seems, would rather play chess with Calan, an everyday ordinary girl who just happened to get her dream job in the Basaravian Consulate. At first, I don’t think Calan realises she’s working for a pack of vampires.
Calan and Sloane form a unique and wonderful friendship. The whole time you hope it’s going to turn into something more. Things take a turn for the worse when Calan bravely puts herself forward to save her co-worker. Sloane has to work out a way to protect her without claiming her to be his, a move that would endanger both of them. The underlining game of cat and mouse always has you worrying Calan may not survive her ‘Dream Job’.
This book is full of humour, sexy bits and, some downright scary moments without any blood sucking or raw flesh torn from bone scenes. In fact the gently, gently is much more ominous.
Okay, there’s a little blood sucking but it’s very sensual. ♥♥
The chess in this book goes much further than two players with pieces on a board; these characters are the pieces, playing dangerous games with each other, one move at a time. The question is, who will come out as winner.
A truly wonderful read that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Calan and Sloane form a unique and wonderful friendship. The whole time you hope it’s going to turn into something more. Things take a turn for the worse when Calan bravely puts herself forward to save her co-worker. Sloane has to work out a way to protect her without claiming her to be his, a move that would endanger both of them. The underlining game of cat and mouse always has you worrying Calan may not survive her ‘Dream Job’.
This book is full of humour, sexy bits and, some downright scary moments without any blood sucking or raw flesh torn from bone scenes. In fact the gently, gently is much more ominous.
Okay, there’s a little blood sucking but it’s very sensual. ♥♥
The chess in this book goes much further than two players with pieces on a board; these characters are the pieces, playing dangerous games with each other, one move at a time. The question is, who will come out as winner.
A truly wonderful read that I thoroughly enjoyed.
September 13, 2020
From the first chapter, Blood Gambit immediately intrigues you. It's not like the typical vampire books I've read, the main characters Sloane and Calan's relationship starts out weirdly connected and as their companionship along with their relationship blooms and flourish you can't help falling in love with the pair along with the other supporting cast of this book. Each character has their own story and is well thought out and implacable. Besides the politics and drama that is protrayed in the book you'll love, despise, and admire it all at the same time. Overall, a very good and enjoyable story with a nice glass of wine or cup of tea.
February 16, 2022
An intriguing start.
The vampires of Ryder's book possessed an intriguing lore and the idea of them having their own consulate was unique. The syn and kyne relationships were interesting, and the book definitely picked up once Calan's syn period began. I enjoyed the early chemistry between Calan and Sloane plus that element of when will they that culminated in the trip to the vampire country which seemed an appropriate place. However, things felt slow then rushed after they returned and the tension didn't hit for me in the pages leading up to the big bad confrontation which felt too easily solved. I'd still be interested to read a sequel, though, should Ryder choose to write one.
The vampires of Ryder's book possessed an intriguing lore and the idea of them having their own consulate was unique. The syn and kyne relationships were interesting, and the book definitely picked up once Calan's syn period began. I enjoyed the early chemistry between Calan and Sloane plus that element of when will they that culminated in the trip to the vampire country which seemed an appropriate place. However, things felt slow then rushed after they returned and the tension didn't hit for me in the pages leading up to the big bad confrontation which felt too easily solved. I'd still be interested to read a sequel, though, should Ryder choose to write one.
July 3, 2022
Blood Gambit had some highly intriguing vampire lore with customs and traditions all their own. Granted, just about everything involves blood, but what else do you expect from vampires?
The chemistry between Calan and Sloane came across from the early chess games, though life could have been so much simpler if only people told Calan "hey, you work for vampires". Probably my favorite part of the book was them visiting the vampire country (cannot spell the name!) and the harvest festival. It was so well described and the events flowed into each other while giving more glimpses into Sloane's past.
Definitely a different take on vampires, and I'll be looking forward to book two!
The chemistry between Calan and Sloane came across from the early chess games, though life could have been so much simpler if only people told Calan "hey, you work for vampires". Probably my favorite part of the book was them visiting the vampire country (cannot spell the name!) and the harvest festival. It was so well described and the events flowed into each other while giving more glimpses into Sloane's past.
Definitely a different take on vampires, and I'll be looking forward to book two!
August 1, 2020
Not your usual vampire trope.
Reminiscent of Rice in being far more literate than the usual, but very different in approach. Here the heroine is naive, but strong in ways even she does not imagine. The stage is set for us to learn more of Saint Payne and the sonnet in Book 2.
Reminiscent of Rice in being far more literate than the usual, but very different in approach. Here the heroine is naive, but strong in ways even she does not imagine. The stage is set for us to learn more of Saint Payne and the sonnet in Book 2.
November 28, 2021
4.5
An interesting tale that I quite enjoyed. I am sorry that the second book is not yet out as I would love a HFE ending.
An interesting tale that I quite enjoyed. I am sorry that the second book is not yet out as I would love a HFE ending.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews