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Blaire Thorne #1
Ulysses Exposed
Alternate cover edition of ASIN B07VR5LJXW
A woman wakes in an alley, alone, in the dark and dying from her wounds. She doesn’t know her name, has no memory of what happened to her, who attacked her or why.
Three men discover her and offer her help. One of her rescuers is a master vampire, and everybody knows their kind can’t be trusted. The other two are were-animals capable of ripping her apart. Before she can protest to their aid, she passes out from blood loss.
When she wakes, she is lying in a bed between two strangers she doesn’t recognize and has healed from her near-fatal wounds.
Can she trust the vampire who saved her from death and offers her his protection?
Can she put her life in the hands of a were-animal as they race to understand their night together, and how she is ultimately connected to the vampire?
A woman wakes in an alley, alone, in the dark and dying from her wounds. She doesn’t know her name, has no memory of what happened to her, who attacked her or why.
Three men discover her and offer her help. One of her rescuers is a master vampire, and everybody knows their kind can’t be trusted. The other two are were-animals capable of ripping her apart. Before she can protest to their aid, she passes out from blood loss.
When she wakes, she is lying in a bed between two strangers she doesn’t recognize and has healed from her near-fatal wounds.
Can she trust the vampire who saved her from death and offers her his protection?
Can she put her life in the hands of a were-animal as they race to understand their night together, and how she is ultimately connected to the vampire?
236 pages, ebook
First published July 26, 2019
193 people are currently reading
234 people want to read
About the author
N. Gray
48 books170 followersN Gray is a USA Today Bestselling Author, and lives in Cape Town, South Africa with her daughter.
She's an analyst and provider profiler for a medical insurance company during the day.
At night, she types on her curved keyboard creating fictional characters some may love, and others you want to kill yourself.
She writes in four genres; thriller, urban fantasy, horror, and paranormal romance, with a series out in each.
She's an analyst and provider profiler for a medical insurance company during the day.
At night, she types on her curved keyboard creating fictional characters some may love, and others you want to kill yourself.
She writes in four genres; thriller, urban fantasy, horror, and paranormal romance, with a series out in each.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
July 10, 2022
🆗❌ Plot
🆗❌ Characters
❌ Dialogues
DNF at 31%
I was intrigued by this book, the synopsis sounded good, but it fell short.
The initial plot is intriguing, but I didn’t care at all for the bland uni-dimensional characters. The poor dialogues, and weak plot didn’t help. I couldn’t get into this story, everything felt forced and some parts didn’t make much sense. The girl has no memories at all, she almost died, but sure, why not go to a club with the hot guy she just met two days after her horrible ordeal…
I just stopped at 31% because I didn't care at all what happened to the characters, and I had no motivation to continue reading this book, when I could be reading something much more interesting.
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🆗❌ Characters
❌ Dialogues
DNF at 31%
I was intrigued by this book, the synopsis sounded good, but it fell short.
The initial plot is intriguing, but I didn’t care at all for the bland uni-dimensional characters. The poor dialogues, and weak plot didn’t help. I couldn’t get into this story, everything felt forced and some parts didn’t make much sense. The girl has no memories at all, she almost died, but sure, why not go to a club with the hot guy she just met two days after her horrible ordeal…
I just stopped at 31% because I didn't care at all what happened to the characters, and I had no motivation to continue reading this book, when I could be reading something much more interesting.
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February 3, 2022
Well things happened, and there was a plot.
However, I don't know if it is just me and my brain drain right now affecting my enjoyment- but it felt like there was no connection going on in the story. Like the emotions and events of the book didn't feel like a fluid story or it was pretty flat? Don't know how to describe it really.
Like one moment someone tried to kill the h and she can't remember anything, then theres a secret organization reveal and dead body, then the strange empty romance vibes (?) between the 2 leads, then the strange powers, then the vampire attack x 2, then her colleagues are just...there, then the witches drama, then the blood curse, then the mummy, then the stones, then the dreams, then the jealous vamp/council randomness, then then then.... it was like a roller coaster of flat plot lines.
Also
So overall, maybe it just me and I'm in a weird reading mood-but its on KU so if you're looking for a vamp, were, witch story with mystery then maybe check it out and you might have a better experience that me!
However, I don't know if it is just me and my brain drain right now affecting my enjoyment- but it felt like there was no connection going on in the story. Like the emotions and events of the book didn't feel like a fluid story or it was pretty flat? Don't know how to describe it really.
Like one moment someone tried to kill the h and she can't remember anything, then theres a secret organization reveal and dead body, then the strange empty romance vibes (?) between the 2 leads, then the strange powers, then the vampire attack x 2, then her colleagues are just...there, then the witches drama, then the blood curse, then the mummy, then the stones, then the dreams, then the jealous vamp/council randomness, then then then.... it was like a roller coaster of flat plot lines.
Also
So overall, maybe it just me and I'm in a weird reading mood-but its on KU so if you're looking for a vamp, were, witch story with mystery then maybe check it out and you might have a better experience that me!
March 18, 2021
Attention!!
Rarely have I read a book that held my attention so completely. The characters are dynamic. The story is thrilling. And the ending--is a cliffhanger (of sorts).
Rarely have I read a book that held my attention so completely. The characters are dynamic. The story is thrilling. And the ending--is a cliffhanger (of sorts).
January 27, 2021
A novel for fans of the early Anita Blake books.
A woman close to death is rescued by a vampire and two Weres. The attack has caused amnesia and now the woman needs to figure out how she is connected to the vampire and his allies.
The pace and prose of the book are good. The amnesia is an interesting literary device to avoid having to info-dump on the reader as the woman can ask questions of her supernatural host to fill in the reader about everything. It also allows the author to hide things from the reader which is usually difficult to do well in a novel written in first person.
The novel is similar in style to Laurell K. Hamilton’s writing and her Anita Blake series, maybe a little too familiar at times. If you are waiting for the next Anita Blake novel to drop, this series will certainly scratch that itch while you wait.
A woman close to death is rescued by a vampire and two Weres. The attack has caused amnesia and now the woman needs to figure out how she is connected to the vampire and his allies.
The pace and prose of the book are good. The amnesia is an interesting literary device to avoid having to info-dump on the reader as the woman can ask questions of her supernatural host to fill in the reader about everything. It also allows the author to hide things from the reader which is usually difficult to do well in a novel written in first person.
The novel is similar in style to Laurell K. Hamilton’s writing and her Anita Blake series, maybe a little too familiar at times. If you are waiting for the next Anita Blake novel to drop, this series will certainly scratch that itch while you wait.
May 8, 2022
While I did skim through to finish it because the plot was interesting, I disliked all of the characters. In addition, I found the dialogue very stilted, which continued to throw me out of the story.
February 20, 2023
(FYI I tend to only review one book per series, unless I completely change my mind on a series, so want to change my scoring down a lot. -- I tend not to read reviews until after I read a book, so I go in with an open mind.)
Liked the basic idea, not the execution. Didn't like any of the characters.
Given the era the book was set in, I found the dialogue to be 'off' because contractions were not used when it would make sense. Even though I tried to read things as we'll, not we will, we're not we are, etc. it didn't really help.
Even when time was short, the author still didn't use contractions, like a normal person would do to quickly convey their message! I don't mind not using contractions in historical fiction or if its a character or a species thing, but when its not the case it takes me out of the book. I keep thinking that the author is doing it to hit word count, because the characters do not sound natural but stilted.
First time read the author's work?: Yes
Will you be reading more?: No
Would you recommend?: No
------------
How I rate Stars: 5* = I loved (must read all I can find by the author)
4* = I really enjoyed (got to read all the series and try other books by the author).
3* = I enjoyed (I will continue to read the series)
or
3* = Good book just not my thing (I realised I don't like the genre or picked up a kids book to review in error.)
All of the above scores means I would recommend them!
-
2* = it was okay (I might give the next book in the series a try, to see if that was better IMHO.)
1* = Disliked
Note: adding these basic 'reviews' after finding out that some people see the stars differently than I do - hoping this clarifies how I feel about the book. :-)
Liked the basic idea, not the execution. Didn't like any of the characters.
Given the era the book was set in, I found the dialogue to be 'off' because contractions were not used when it would make sense. Even though I tried to read things as we'll, not we will, we're not we are, etc. it didn't really help.
Even when time was short, the author still didn't use contractions, like a normal person would do to quickly convey their message! I don't mind not using contractions in historical fiction or if its a character or a species thing, but when its not the case it takes me out of the book. I keep thinking that the author is doing it to hit word count, because the characters do not sound natural but stilted.
First time read the author's work?: Yes
Will you be reading more?: No
Would you recommend?: No
------------
How I rate Stars: 5* = I loved (must read all I can find by the author)
4* = I really enjoyed (got to read all the series and try other books by the author).
3* = I enjoyed (I will continue to read the series)
or
3* = Good book just not my thing (I realised I don't like the genre or picked up a kids book to review in error.)
All of the above scores means I would recommend them!
-
2* = it was okay (I might give the next book in the series a try, to see if that was better IMHO.)
1* = Disliked
Note: adding these basic 'reviews' after finding out that some people see the stars differently than I do - hoping this clarifies how I feel about the book. :-)
May 6, 2020
This book starts fast and furious with the heroine having amnesia and not knowing her name or anything about herself. It is definitely a paranormal mystery with violence and assorted vampires and were-types. The vampires actually save the heroines life--then bits and pieces start to come back to her--
Will she totally regain her memory and will she be able to reconcile who she is with the fact that the vampires saved her--at least some of them!!
Definitely not a book for young readers as the author says below!! I have to admit it kept me reading!!
Will she totally regain her memory and will she be able to reconcile who she is with the fact that the vampires saved her--at least some of them!!
Definitely not a book for young readers as the author says below!! I have to admit it kept me reading!!
September 3, 2021
Memory lost
New to this author.I liked the storyline a little different for supernatural but there was times it was all over the place.I was unsure who her love interest was ment to be there was there plus the father of her child? Did she love him or is he really not the father just a guard.I felt sorry for seb in the end he was nothing but kind to her.I have a question why did the stones not give her memory back? I'm interested to see what happens now so I'm off to read book two
New to this author.I liked the storyline a little different for supernatural but there was times it was all over the place.I was unsure who her love interest was ment to be there was there plus the father of her child? Did she love him or is he really not the father just a guard.I felt sorry for seb in the end he was nothing but kind to her.I have a question why did the stones not give her memory back? I'm interested to see what happens now so I'm off to read book two
August 19, 2023
a great read
Wow! What a read…
I loved this book and it’s characters…
And Blaire, the main character, talk about a bad day, week, month….
The drama and roller coaster of events would keep anyone on edge… and the twists and turns, what can I say except WOW!
A really great read that keeps you entertained, intrigued and involved….
I will definitely follow this series…..
Wow! What a read…
I loved this book and it’s characters…
And Blaire, the main character, talk about a bad day, week, month….
The drama and roller coaster of events would keep anyone on edge… and the twists and turns, what can I say except WOW!
A really great read that keeps you entertained, intrigued and involved….
I will definitely follow this series…..
February 21, 2025
More of a mystery...boring
This was more of a mystery than an actual romance. No chemistry or characters development. Lots of procedural telling on how a 30 year old human female almost died who was divorced and the ex ran off with her kid. Boring storyline and the writing style was not for me.
This was more of a mystery than an actual romance. No chemistry or characters development. Lots of procedural telling on how a 30 year old human female almost died who was divorced and the ex ran off with her kid. Boring storyline and the writing style was not for me.
May 31, 2020
Good series start
If you’re interested in a pleasant paranormal read, and like series, this book’s a great start! It leaves a lot of questions unanswered, but that’s what series do....drag you into the next book whether you want to go or not! I’m all in.
If you’re interested in a pleasant paranormal read, and like series, this book’s a great start! It leaves a lot of questions unanswered, but that’s what series do....drag you into the next book whether you want to go or not! I’m all in.
June 6, 2021
Good story
I enjoyed this story about an assassin who has lost her memory, and left for dead. She is rescued by a group of supernaturals who try to help her piece together her past.
I enjoyed this story about an assassin who has lost her memory, and left for dead. She is rescued by a group of supernaturals who try to help her piece together her past.
September 13, 2021
Different.
But does our heroine need rescuing, a LOT.
No she's not a damsel in distress, the folks around her out her in the firing line.
Though she does get saved by hot brothers 😉
But does our heroine need rescuing, a LOT.
No she's not a damsel in distress, the folks around her out her in the firing line.
Though she does get saved by hot brothers 😉
October 31, 2021
Interesting characters and universe
These were interesting characters in an interesting universe. I enjoyed the story and the way the backstory was introduced. There was action, some magic, vampires and were creatures. I liked this story and recommend it.
These were interesting characters in an interesting universe. I enjoyed the story and the way the backstory was introduced. There was action, some magic, vampires and were creatures. I liked this story and recommend it.
August 9, 2025
Dnf 50%
Tried to get past the stiff writing and dialogue, but it just can't be done.
I don't know if Blaire's behavior starts to make sense later, but she behaves in such a ridiculous manner for at least half the book that it was confusing rather than intriguing.
Tried to get past the stiff writing and dialogue, but it just can't be done.
I don't know if Blaire's behavior starts to make sense later, but she behaves in such a ridiculous manner for at least half the book that it was confusing rather than intriguing.
August 1, 2021
2.5/5
Five things:
- Dark urban fantasy with minimal romance (this was a plus to me!)
- Amnesia
- Were-animals and vampires
- Assassins
- Auras
Five things:
- Dark urban fantasy with minimal romance (this was a plus to me!)
- Amnesia
- Were-animals and vampires
- Assassins
- Auras
November 17, 2019
This was a fun thriller with a bit of romance. A very small bit. There is a fair amount of swearing and one somewhat explicit scene. The chemistry between Blaire and Sebastian is a slow burn which is somewhat refreshing. Too many shifter books jump straight to sex. I like how their relationship is developing. I'm interested to see what happens in the next book.
January 4, 2020
A woman wakes up in a dark alley, with wounds she doesn't recall getting and no memory of who she is. If not for the strangers that happen to be walking by she would surely die - but will they help her and if they do, do they have other insidious intentions?
The story is easy reading with an average to interesting plot, twists and turns. I specifically enjoyed that it didn't follow simple and plain vampiric lore (yes, there are vampires and many other wonderful things in this book). There are a few places where you are bombarded with information, people and excessive description but other than that I really enjoyed it. If it weren't for the swearing I would also recommend to the younger crowd, but anywhere from teenagers upwards should be fine.
There are a couple faux pas's in the beginning, but most readers won't even notice them. It is understandable as this is the author's is a first time full length book.
If you are looking for an easy quick-reading urban fantasy novel, then I recommend this. I read it in a couple hours and thoroughly enjoyed it, I am probably going to go read the sequel now.
( P.S - The book doesn't end on a cliffhanger, so it can be read on its own - even though it does have a sequel, but I am sure in order to answer the myriad of questions that are asked throughout - the sequel should probably be read too.)
The story is easy reading with an average to interesting plot, twists and turns. I specifically enjoyed that it didn't follow simple and plain vampiric lore (yes, there are vampires and many other wonderful things in this book). There are a few places where you are bombarded with information, people and excessive description but other than that I really enjoyed it. If it weren't for the swearing I would also recommend to the younger crowd, but anywhere from teenagers upwards should be fine.
There are a couple faux pas's in the beginning, but most readers won't even notice them. It is understandable as this is the author's is a first time full length book.
If you are looking for an easy quick-reading urban fantasy novel, then I recommend this. I read it in a couple hours and thoroughly enjoyed it, I am probably going to go read the sequel now.
( P.S - The book doesn't end on a cliffhanger, so it can be read on its own - even though it does have a sequel, but I am sure in order to answer the myriad of questions that are asked throughout - the sequel should probably be read too.)
Read
August 15, 2019More like 2 1/2 stars. The initial plot and idea for the story was intriguing and I was excited to see how it developed. Unfortunately the writing style didn't enable the reader to lose themselves in the story. I find myself rereading paragraphs because it didn't make sense how it was written at times.
As much as I wanted to like the characters they fell flat and at times flip-flopped completely.
I think there's potential here, but this isn't a book I'd suggest.
As much as I wanted to like the characters they fell flat and at times flip-flopped completely.
I think there's potential here, but this isn't a book I'd suggest.
August 2, 2019
I had high expectations for this book after reading the synopsis but it ended up just being ok for me.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews