Drop of Blood

City of Blood #1

by Laura Greenwood

The City Of Blood should be a paradise for vampires. But blood runs through the streets and being sent to the Cage Fights is a constant threat.

And I'm in the middle of it. Gaining intelligence and sending it to the vampires outside the city who want to bring it down. If I succeed, the city will be free. If I fail, then people will die...including me.

When the price is a drop of blood, who has to pay?

-
Drop Of Blood is book one of the City Of Blood series, a gritty vampire urban fantasy with a slow burn romantic sub-plot.

Genres: Vampires, Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Audiobook

186 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 16, 2020

About the author

Laura is a USA Today Bestselling Author of fantasy romance and urban fantasy. She lives in the UK, where most of her books are set, with her partner. When she's not writing, Laura can be found exploring worldwide cusine with her partner, drinking tea, and reading fantasy books. Laura specialises in quick reads, featuring healthy relationships and consent-positive moments, regardless of whether she's writing light-hearted romance, mythology-inspired modern fantasy, cozy fantasy or anything in between.

Discover one of Laura Greenwood's most popular series:
- The Apprentice of Anubis (mythology inspired modern/urban fantasy)
- Forgotten Gods (mythology inspired fantasy romance)
- Jinx Paranormal Dating Agency (mythology inspired paranormal rom-com)
- House of Blood and Roses (vampire romantasy)
- Amethyst's Wand Shop Mysteries (urban fantasy murder mystery)
- Scales of Justice (mythology inspired modern/urban fantasy)
- Purple Oak Oasis (cozy fantasy romance)
- Falhaven Castle (cozy fantasy romance)

You can find a full book list and more information on her website, or in her Facebook Reader Group.

Happy Reading!

Reviews

[♥Milica♥ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't know what to do with this book. Did I like it? Yeah. Was it a fast read? Yup. Does it make me want to read the next book in the series? No.

It's just...I don't even know what to say. Not much happens, really.

Chloe is a spy from the outside, but she's not very experienced and often makes mistakes. She's determined to bring the City down with the things she witnesses every day which pushes her to join the resistance. It's there that she meets her future love interest who's as cute as a cinnabun.

Oscar's sweetness probably helped the rating, I can't deny that. I like him and Chloe together. So why don't I feel like I want to read more of them??? I wish I knew.

The book is easy to read all at once and it's pretty exciting. It even ends on a cliffhanger. But maybe that's it? Maybe it's the cliffhanger that's my issue? It's clear what's going to happen :(

[Ayşe · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5 *

[Laura Greenwood]

City Of Blood:
1. Drop Of Blood: books2read.com/dropofblood

You can download Blood Payment, the prequel to Drop Of Blood, here: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/36ragz72e8

Bonus Stories:
1. Story One: Dimitri: https://www.authorlauragreenwood.co.u...
2. Story Two: Catherine: https://www.authorlauragreenwood.co.u...

You can read the first chapter of Drop Of Blood on my website: https://www.authorlauragreenwood.co.u...

You can also join my Goodreads Reader Group for new release alerts, spoiler threads, and more!
==> https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...

[Annette · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been reading a lot of Greenwood books lately and where that usually bores me eventually, that's not the case yet. So, I was thinking that maybe I should see if I could push my luck a little and if reading a third in a row wouldn't be too bad. However, the previous two ones were love stories and although I don't doubt there's a love story in this one too, this is mostly a vampire revolution book and that was something I was really looking forward to!

And with reason, because this might be my favorite Laura Greenwood book I've read so far. Although I love her cute romances, I really love how the romance in this book took a backseat. In this book we really get to see more of the inner workings of the City of Blood. It was sickening and far from the so called Utopia for vampires it should be. I love the influences of history in this sickening world though. The fights, the dictatorship and in some way the timelessness of the city too.

On top of that I really thought this book was exciting and action packed from the very start. I'm not entirely sure what made this book so different, but I've been on the edge of my seat from the beginning. In a way this book is a little darker and a little heavier than Greenwood's other books, but that may very well be why this book felt so great and gave me this nice little adrenaline rush while reading, an adrenaline rush that didn't lessen.

I also really liked Chloe, the main character in this book. As a spy in a dangerous city, she of course needs a certain kind of bravery, but it was very nicely balanced with a portion of fear. She constantly tried to find out if a risk was worth it and really needed and she knew that blowing her cover and doing more than was reasonable could ruin everything she had been working for. It was kind of refreshing to have a not so reckless heroine for once!

I'm really excited about the next book in this series!

[Renée · Rating 4 out of 5]

Drop of Blood by Laura Greenwood is the first book in the City of Blood series.

Chloe has been sent to the City Of Blood as a spy, and her task is rather hard with the cage fights and a Major who needs to be taken out of power, will the resistance be her ticket to do that?

The unexpected and building relationship with Oliver is a great touch.

Great cliffhanger which leaves you wanting the next book - Drought Of Blood.

Side note: the story interconnects characters and locations from other stories by Laura Greenwood, but there is no requirement to have read these books first.

[Scarolet Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Drop Of Blood by Laura Greenwood is a wonderful story to read. This is book number one in this wonderful start to a brand new series that I am hooked and can not wait to read the rest of this wonderful series. I highly recommend this story to everyone who loves reading about vampires, fantasy and paranormal romance.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Cath · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book one of the City of Blood series and follows a prequel which shows the city being created. It is now thirty years later and focuses on the daily life of a young vampire called Chloe, who is working as a spy inside the City of Blood, on behalf of vampire organisations outside of the city. She is undercover and has to be careful not to let anyone know what she is up to, not that any type of friendship is normal in this city where humans and vampires live side by side. There are a huge number of rules and laws to follow, including vampires having to present themselves at the city hall in person every week, which the mayor of the city and its creator, can and does change on a whim. Anyone can be picked up off the streets and forced into cages to fight to the death, or executed in compulsory televised viewing.

Her outside contact somehow manages to get in and out of the city without any difficulty and passes on any instructions for what she needs to look for. Any smoking gun or evidence she can find out about the running of the city and its illegal actions. Any evidence that will help bring its downfall! She gets an invite to one of the cage fight events and is shocked to see what occurs, but also meets a human who catches her attention. Her work colleague in her cover job, passes her information on the cage fight, but then disappears to end up in one herself. Even breathing wrongly seems to get you into trouble, so an offer from this human to join the resistance is definitely something she should refuse. But Chloe has now seen what happens to those caught out or in the wrong place and wants to make a difference, even if she can’t get a message to her handlers about what she is doing.

She now has even more reasons to watch her every step, she is a spy and now a member of the resistance, in a city where anyone can be punished, for even the slightest infraction or whim of the mayor, and she has a lot to hide! A plan by the resistance leader could put everyone, including Chloe and her new friend, in danger. Violence is coming and even a simple drop of blood could get her fangs out and any humans around will become food for the out of control vampires, struck with blood lust. A short read, but starts to give you a view of life in the City of Blood, for both humans and vampires, from Chloe’s viewpoint and daily life. Events are ramping up and leading you to want to read the next book in the series. I’m looking forward to it! I received and ARC copy of this book from BookSprout and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Different view on life of vampires, not one I'd thought of or even thought about really! A city where they are corralled and some are forced to fight to the death for whatever infraction of rules put them there...humans are included in this city and the fights. Not sure if the humans are there by choice or forced but once in you can't get out except by death. So a group on the outside, who I'm guessing want to end the city, place a young female vamp on the inside. Someone who looks like just another vamp plodding along trying to stay inside the box. They cull the vamps and humans by having cage fights to the death....but some of these people are there willingly. Her co-worker ends up in one and it really gets to Chloe. That young vamp, Chloe, is a spy for an outside group and one day her "handler" shows and tells her to go to this party and there everything changes. She meets another vampire, Catherine, who is also wanting to change but in a different way and shortly after meets a member of a in city resistance group. The only thing is this guy is a human!? Catherine doesn't want her to get involved with this resistance but our young vamp decides otherwise and ends up finding out the group is not all that it should be. That leader is a bit off, their planned coup goes wrong and things get out of hand. Her human friend, now very close friend, ends up hurt and the only save they have is to turn him. Very good story! Looking forward to the next book to find out what happens.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kaye · Rating 5 out of 5]

✴️✴️ONE ROUGH N ROWDY RIDE✴️✴️
Fantastic! Laura delivers one skillfully spun debacle, laying out this thrilling unique bent that has this baby rocking harder than the rolling stones, bouncing to its on beat and raising the stakes, wrapping this gem up sleek, shiny and tight. A raging tempest of vexing exigency and perplexing events, observing the formidable trials and hard fought triumphs, stumbling through the deadly twists and wicked turns, testing our characters in ways they could have never envisioned. Traipsing through a minefield of daring drama, widespread deception, damning conspiracy, perilous intrigue, escalating danger and spiraling suspense, maneuvering through the cunning manipulations of vicious iniquity, atrocious deeds and heinous intent, searching evidence, checking allies and dispatching foes, putting our characters through their paces, testing them in ways they could have never anticipated. Restrictions are heightened and stretched, baring all the harsh facts, ruthless deals and fleeting fiascos, igniting a fierce determination with such intensity and vigor, propelling this jewel to a whole new level. The characters, interactions and charged atmosphere along with qualities and traits that add depth and diversity, blending into genuinely amazing personalities. The scenes are abundantly descriptive with colorful details that blend and flow, creating a majestic backdrop that's so rich and lively it feels like you can just reach out and touch it. Remarkable job Laura, thanks for sharing this little guy with us.

[Ketty · Rating 5 out of 5]

- Vampires
- Vampire run city
- Spies and Rebellion
- Slow burn, for a Laura Greenwood book
-Cliffhanger

We are back in the City of Blood, a vampire city run by Mayor Reese with an iron fist. Chloe is a spy working for the vampire den outside the city to try ans find a way to bring it down. With cameos by Dimitri, Bram and Catherine from past titles that are in the universe. Chloe has to navigate her "day" job and her real job while not being entirely sure she made the right decision of being here.

At the end of the Black Fan series we got a glimpse of what was to come in this series. The City of Blood needs to fall and we are here to witness as less-than-actual-spy-material Chloe works to make it happen. Poor thing is a little in over her head and not great at the whole...not wearing her emotions on her face thing, which probably makes her job difficult. Only to be made even more so when her supervisors don't give her all the information she needs.

Chole's slight naivety make her easy pickings for recruitment into the Resistance, a group of humans and vampires alike, working to bring the monster of a mayor down. Oscar, a human, is her partner and becomes her friend as she works to actually *do* something to make the city fall.

The relationship that buds between the two main characters is really sweet and it's pretty slow burn for this author. Her books are short and sweet so her romances tend to go hard and fast. This is a nice change of pace as they both sort of hold back just enough to keep tension going.

It will be interesting to see how it continues.

[Aimee Bower · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chloe is undercover at the City of Blood, trying to get information on the mayor and such. She is getting directives from members outside the wall. She is trying to keep a low profile and do what they ask. She finds out about the cage matches is able to go. She can't believe what she sees. She meets human there. Chloe goes to work to discover her co-worker has not come in, she is worried. She gets a notice of another match is scheduled. Chloe sees her co-workers name. She goes to the match and watches her friend lose her life. She runs into the human again.
She is also sent to the mayor's party with an accessory that almost caused her trouble. She is rescued by a vampire. She helps her in a way she never thought. Chloe will go to Catherine for advice about the resistance that is going on.
Chloe is approached by the human she meet at the cage match. He wants her to meet his boss, he thinks she will be interested. She learns his name is Oscar. Chloe decides to join the cause, maybe she can learn more to forward to the others. She is partnered with Oscar, they start to grow close.

Things get even more interesting from that that point. The story starts off a little slow but will start to move. I am looking forward to the next book to see what happens next after the author ended the book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Mx Phoebe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laura Greenwood has created yet another exciting new world in her new series “City of Blood.” This time the heroine is someone of a surprise as she could be seen as the enemy just as easily. In Drop of Blood, Chloe is an inexperienced woman who volunteers to go undercover in the City of Blood to stop the killings of humans and vampires alike. A deadly assignment as no one really escapes the City.

Greenwood gives us another complex heroine who must overcome her own fears to face down the enemy, the Mayor. Unfortunately for Chloe she must do this as friends and foe are killed around her. Each death has an impact on Chloe and Greenwood takes us through a range of emotions that come with facing your own mortality to try and save innocents.

There are some hints of romance as Chloe meets another person interested in stopping the needless deaths. This is a slow-burn romance as Greenwood focuses on the action and the drama of going up against a mountain lion (so to speak).

Drop of Blood is a sensational kickoff to the “City of Blood” series and I cannot wait for the next one!

I received an ARC of this book and I am writing a review without prejudice and voluntarily.

[Marsha · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the first book that I’ve read from Laura Greenwood. After reading the book synopsis as well as the 4 star reviews I was truly looking forward to this read; unfortunately, I was definitely not impressed. Why? First I have a problem with N.Y. Times best selling authors who don’t have decent proofreading. Somewhere around page six the author writes the character is “board” vs. “bored.” Yes, that might seem nitpicky but it truly bothered me.

Next, but most importantly for the first 60% of this book there is little to no dialogue. How can you write a decent story with pages and pages of the character’s thoughts and very little else. One word for it is ‘boring.’ Also, there is very little action. As the book proceeds and the story picks up I moderately became interested but not enough to continue with this series.

There were so many times I struggled to finish this read. I didn’t like the writer style or the story well enough to suffer through another installment. Needless to say I won’t read the next but and now I am not sure if I will read another book written by this author. Sorry Ms. Greenwood!

[WILMA from the Netherlands · Rating 5 out of 5]

Drop of Blood“ is the first book in the “City of Blood Series” and begins great. It's an melting pot, where only violence dominates the flavor of the day. The unluckily will be sent into the Cage Fights and the lucky ones will simply be executed. None of the male predecessors survived. So they send Cloe a female vampire.Chloe has one clear goal: to infiltrate society and get the major down so that the population is free again. They are sentenced to cage fights for every minor offense (or none at all). It's not an easy task. But Chloe is a really interesting character who, despite the circumstances, has an open mind. When she meets Oscar and becomes aware that even humans are also victims of this brutal regime, they decide to join forces to kill the major and liberate the city.
Will they be able to bring down the mayor or will it go wrong?

For the answer you need to read this book.
I can’t wait to read the next book, because I want to know what is going to happen next with Chloe and Osca

[Anita Hanekom · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those books that once you pick it up you simply cannot put it down. Chloe has gone undercover in the City of Blood, a place where cruelty is the name of the game and anyone can be taken to the fighting cages for any infraction, real or imagined and it is time for it to be brought down. Every single agent that has been sent into the City of Blood before her has disappeared and are presumed dead so for her to go in took guts. The world she discovers is simply unimaginable. When she discovers there is a resistance she decides to get involved despite a warning against doing so. What she discovers is that just because the resistance is fighting the cruel governors it doesn't mean that they were exactly good. I loved the characters and as the start of a new series this book excited me because I simply cannot wait to see how the story evolves going forward.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Rhonda Hicks · Rating 3 out of 5]

'Drop of Blood' is the first book in Laura Greenwood's new "City of Blood Trilogy" and I can't emphasize enough, this is a slow, methodical story through the beginning of the book. It won't pick up until almost the end. You see, Chloe, our heroine, joined the City of Blood trying to act like everyone else and blend in but, in truth, she's an insecure girl, who lacks confidence, who has been trained to be a spy for Dimitri in order to take down the city. You see, the city was supposed to be the perfect sanctuary for vampires to live, but it's not. The goal is to get proof of wrong-doing with the mayor and the higher-ups involved and take it back to Dimitri but Chloe gets pulled in another direction and winds up joining a resistance run by a human. It's an interesting concept but I was left with a lot of questions that I'm hoping book two will answer or at least point me in the right direction. We'll see.

[Anita Fuhrmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG!! This is going to be one epic series and I do not want to miss a single book of it! Is Chloe, our young female undercover vampire spy in way over her head and is there something really sinister going on within the walls of this vamp city she has been sent into? And what about Oscar, the human she has grown so very, very close to while in the city and has had to turn to save his life after he sustains a mortal injury? Will he resent what she felt that she had to do or would he have preferred to die before ever becoming a vampire?? Then there is Catherine...just what is her story and what did she know about the goings-on inside the city that she had not shared with Chloe? I eagerly await the next book to find out!!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like a good vampire story especially when there are evil and good ones.
That is no problem in this story, the first part in this series.

Chloe is in the city of blood with a purpose, helping with bringing down the leader and free the city.
This is a story with some dark sides, like the cage fights and the party at the mayor’s house.
But there is also a little light in it when she meets Oscar and joins his club of humans next to being the spy she already is.

Will they be able to bring down the mayor at the parade?
Or will it go wrong?

For the answer to that you have to read this book.
I can’t wait to read the next book, because I want to know what is going to happen next with Chloe and Oscar.

[Anne Dwyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chloe is a vampire working undercover in the City Of Blood. There are people being forced into cage fights, and when one of her co workers is caught in that trap and dies, Chloe knows how dangerous it is.
She has been warned to stay away from the reistance - but when she is offered a chance to join, she cant refuse the opportunity to fond out more about them from the insede.
Will Chloe survive? Or ill she be caught and executed - or be forced to fight? She has heard that anyone who survives 10 fights will be released, but is that true?

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a NON-SPOILER REVIEW. Drop of Blood by Laura Greenwood is the first book in the City of Blood series. This is a different and interesting take on the vampire culture. I thought it had a splash of the Hunger Games vibe, a dystopian type but not. This is not like other Laura Greenwood reads. The characters are well written and the storyline is interesting, but there was a little disconnect for me. Despite this, I liked the read enough to want to continue reading the series. This quick read is a great Saturday afternoon escape.

This honest and voluntary review was made possible by reading a copy through Booksprout.

[sherri jones-teachout · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the deadliest cities for vampires and she’s a spy. Chloe is undercover looking into the vampires that are forced to cage fight and then if they survive for 10 fights, instead of being released they disappear. Finally she makes a break through when she meets a human who belongs to a resistance group wanting to stop the cage fighting practice. But can she trust them. Anyone can be turned in and forced to cage fight. Relatives have turned in relatives, friends and turned in friends. Chloe now has to work two sides and hopefully they both want the same thing. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review

[Myreadbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to thank Booksprout and the author for allowing me to read this book. I love the cover of this book.

Here in Blood City this was supposed to be a vampire paradise. Except the blood runs in the streets and getting into caged fights is a constant threat. Chloe's being sent to Blood City as a spy. She's supposed to scrape up information and give it to the vampires. If she succeeds, the city will be freed. If she fails, everyone will die.

A book read in one go, so much so that I hooked on the story so captivating, addictive, full of suspense and twists with endearing characters. Can't wait to read the book two.

[Carlynne Toomey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laura Greenwood has done it again! Taken the tried and true and twisted it up so it something altogether new and exciting! With Drop of Blood, you have what at first appears to be just another vampire series, but the author has twisted it up so that you look at them in a new light. Frankly, in a way that I have never thought of before. As usual for one of her books, the characters are well developed and complex, the story world is well detailed, and the writing draws you in. If you like vampire stories and are interested in something new, this book is for you!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Wanda Jewell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a different kind of paranormal. A vampire spy who is forgettable is sent into a Vampire city that is corrupt and cruel to seek information. This is her story. The book is well written and edited. It wasn't my cup of tea as I am not really into spy stories which is why I gave it 4 stars versus 5. It was a good book overall and I would recommend it to those who are looking for more than the usual fluff paranormal story.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Linda Frigault · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an original vampire story, where the MFC is sent to spy and get informations to help bring down the Mayor and free the city.

This one just wasn’t for me though. Sometimes i'll read a book and it just isn’t for me, but it is well written, edited with good characters but i just can't find anything wrong with it to pinpoint the why and thus justify a low review. So this is why it's rated as a 4⭐ review for this book. I will try to read it again at a later
date.

I received a free copy of this ARC via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Ash J · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this vampire story. It was mysterious and exciting. I was not able to guess what was going to happen by the end of the story and I thought the story was really interesting. There was a love story involved but it is a real slow burn and the two did not get very far into their relationship but the things that happened at the end of this story will definitely have a major effect on the two characters relationship in the next story. I can't wait to see what happens next!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Charlotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vampire Chloe (FMC) is an undercover spy working in a dangerous Vampire city. Where Vampires are being sent into cage fights or to be executed for any reason what so ever. Humans and Vampires are all at risk but there are people who want to help. One being the human Oscar but whether or not hes to be trusted is to be seen. Its a refreshing read. A different take on the Vampire genre. It keeps you on your toes thats for sure. A damn great read. Action - packed and fast paced. Cant want for the next book

[Linda (ellsky) Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting idea for a trilogy, this is fairly fast-paced. Chloe is a spy who is trying to bring down the corrupt City of Blood, and the things she experiences are dark and deadly. I do wish there was a little more explanation for the cage fights and why people were sent there, as the randomness seemed a bit unfocused, but it drove home the point of the horrible life and stress that people in this city had to live with. Hopefully Chloe will be able to have some successful plans work in future installments.

[Agata Jędrzejewska · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chloe was implanted in City of Blood on one purpose, to observe, report and hopefully help it fall. She do her best, against her fear and all odds. There is lots of things going in there, dark things. You can got executed for everything and nothing. Despite this all there are still some friendly vampires and humans there. One of them is Oscar. There is something that grows between those two. But there is no calm in this city and blood can be spilled anytime. Interesting read.

[Trina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this story of Chloe and look forward to the next book to see what happens to Oscar and how his relationship with Chloe develops. Having read the prequel to this book gave me more insight into this story. Was pleased to see characters from other novels by Laura make appearances and mentions. There is much happening in this story which kept me enthralled enough that I read it in one sitting.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.