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Sun Cursed
Magdalene Shelley stands alone between vampires and humanity.
It wasn't supposed to be like this. Magdalene is a warrior from an ancient order of humanity's protectors, but she is no innocent. For past crimes, her order banished her to an enchanted sleep.
But the world will not wait for its savior's penance to end. Vampires flood the streets of London, and she is the only member of her order left who wields the strength to stop them.
Risen early from her prison, she struggles to uncover rays of truth in the hunt for her missing order. With every step she takes, Magdalene is haunted by the crimes of her past…
And stalked by the dangerous romance that lured her to commit them.
***
Shades of Blood is an urban fantasy series with fade-to-black romantic scenes.
- GenresUrban Fantasy
212 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 11, 2019
26 people are currently reading
31 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
July 21, 2020
Sunstriders are the stuff of nightwalker’s nightmares
„Sun Cursed“ by Megan Blackwood adds a new twist to the seemingly eternal (pun very much intended here) tale of vampires and hunters. Set in a version of nowadays London, where the vampires inconspicuously prowl the night in the full view of the public. 😉 Magdalene Shelley is a sunstrider, who wakes up ahead of schedule after over a century in the oubliette (the place where her kind go to oblivion for their crimes), and found herself in the middle of modern London, where the nightwalkers enjoy themselves in the nightclubs, not exactly how things should be…. A quick visit to the one of the clubs shows that nightwalkers live on the open, flirting with humans and even with Magdalene.
As Magdalene finally makes it back to the Sun Guard headquarters the wrongness of the situation is clear, not only has Magdalene woken ahead of her time, the Sun Guard is a sorry shadow of its former self and the members of her own coterie, who should still be slumbering in their crypt, are missing. Magdalene’s assignment has just become a lot more complex.
Megan Blackwood plays with the old vampire vs. hunter myth to create a fresh and interesting story, showing two opposite sides of the myth at war, sunstriders vs. nightwalkers, light vs dark, good vs. evil. Vampires are just different from humans in their physiology, but exactly as humans can be good or evil, sunstriders of nightwalkers, or something in between. Magdalene’s struggle between duty and love makes her all the more relatable. This is a very good book, well-written, fast-paced with a very interesting plot and fantastic characters battling their inner demons while trying to reach happiness.
„Sun Cursed“ by Megan Blackwood adds a new twist to the seemingly eternal (pun very much intended here) tale of vampires and hunters. Set in a version of nowadays London, where the vampires inconspicuously prowl the night in the full view of the public. 😉 Magdalene Shelley is a sunstrider, who wakes up ahead of schedule after over a century in the oubliette (the place where her kind go to oblivion for their crimes), and found herself in the middle of modern London, where the nightwalkers enjoy themselves in the nightclubs, not exactly how things should be…. A quick visit to the one of the clubs shows that nightwalkers live on the open, flirting with humans and even with Magdalene.
As Magdalene finally makes it back to the Sun Guard headquarters the wrongness of the situation is clear, not only has Magdalene woken ahead of her time, the Sun Guard is a sorry shadow of its former self and the members of her own coterie, who should still be slumbering in their crypt, are missing. Magdalene’s assignment has just become a lot more complex.
Megan Blackwood plays with the old vampire vs. hunter myth to create a fresh and interesting story, showing two opposite sides of the myth at war, sunstriders vs. nightwalkers, light vs dark, good vs. evil. Vampires are just different from humans in their physiology, but exactly as humans can be good or evil, sunstriders of nightwalkers, or something in between. Magdalene’s struggle between duty and love makes her all the more relatable. This is a very good book, well-written, fast-paced with a very interesting plot and fantastic characters battling their inner demons while trying to reach happiness.
September 6, 2022
The premise of the book drew me in. I liked the idea of vampires being atypical of the norm/mythology/legend of them. This story has nightwalkers and sunstriders. The nightwalkers would very much like to take humanity's blood and the sunstriders are the good ones who help keep humans safe and eliminate the nasty ones who gain power in the night. The mythology behind the vampires in this story is pretty interesting and well done by the author.
One element that I found particularly enjoyable was all the names Mags had for modern technology/terms. She went to sleep many many moons ago, so she wouldn't be up to date, and her ignorance was quite refreshing and added to her characterization.
Note: there is violence and some swearing.
The book ends one a cliff hanger, but good news! The next one is already out, so no panicking there.
One element that I found particularly enjoyable was all the names Mags had for modern technology/terms. She went to sleep many many moons ago, so she wouldn't be up to date, and her ignorance was quite refreshing and added to her characterization.
Note: there is violence and some swearing.
The book ends one a cliff hanger, but good news! The next one is already out, so no panicking there.
July 16, 2020
A must-read of epic proportions!
**Presented with an ARC via StoryOrigin in exchange for an review.**
As Icarus burned his wings flying too close to the sun, this book has burned itself upon my very soul.
I am in so much love with this book, with Mags and her story, her journey. I will be reading this again in the future. Of that there is no doubt. I will also be hunting down and reading Night Blessed, the next book in Magdalene’s story. There is so much I want to say, but so much that would spoil the love affair for someone else, and so I simply offer this:
A masterpiece of invigorating and immersive storytelling, shrouded in a fight of light against dark, good against evil, and heart against sacred paths. A five-star read that you will want to devour in minutes, but also take as slowly as you dare so not to burn your wings as Icarus did. I recommend this book wholeheartedly and am reeling—spiritually, emotionally, and mentally reeling in such a delicious and stirring after glow. Megan Blackwood, you, my dear, are a goddess among authors!
**Presented with an ARC via StoryOrigin in exchange for an review.**
As Icarus burned his wings flying too close to the sun, this book has burned itself upon my very soul.
I am in so much love with this book, with Mags and her story, her journey. I will be reading this again in the future. Of that there is no doubt. I will also be hunting down and reading Night Blessed, the next book in Magdalene’s story. There is so much I want to say, but so much that would spoil the love affair for someone else, and so I simply offer this:
A masterpiece of invigorating and immersive storytelling, shrouded in a fight of light against dark, good against evil, and heart against sacred paths. A five-star read that you will want to devour in minutes, but also take as slowly as you dare so not to burn your wings as Icarus did. I recommend this book wholeheartedly and am reeling—spiritually, emotionally, and mentally reeling in such a delicious and stirring after glow. Megan Blackwood, you, my dear, are a goddess among authors!
December 6, 2020
This book offers a unique take on vampires. Once I started it I couldn't put it down. There were quite a few surprising twists and turns that kept me hooked. Mags was an amazingly strong heroine and she had an equally strong evil to fight. If you like vampires, the paranormal, surprising plot twists, and cliffhangers this book is for you.
Warning - do not read if you don't like cliffhangers or are looking for a happily ever after.
Warning - do not read if you don't like cliffhangers or are looking for a happily ever after.
January 30, 2021
Sunstriders and nightwalkers. I haven't come across a mythology quite like this. Vampires who have chosen to protect humanity against those who want to feed on it. This first novel is complete in itself while setting up the arc of the trilogy. I liked the characters and the plot kept itself going at a decent pace. There was a good mix of action and character development with a small smattering of world building. It is worth the read.
August 4, 2020
What if some vamps hunted the others?
WOW. What a twist on a familiar theme! I was so impressed by this storyline. Magdalene had been asleep for a couple hundred years, then woke up. How fast can she learn enough to get by and still get her job done?
WOW. What a twist on a familiar theme! I was so impressed by this storyline. Magdalene had been asleep for a couple hundred years, then woke up. How fast can she learn enough to get by and still get her job done?
January 25, 2020
I enjoyed the author Megan Blackwood's writing in her book "Sun Cursed" (Shades of Blood Book 1) it is nicely descriptive but not so much as to make the story stall. It drew me in instantly and kept my attention throughout the story. I am not a big fan of vampire type stories but I like the different concept of the Sunstriders who are also vampires but given strength through the sun and awake during the daytime, being protectors of humans. Their job is to keep the Nightwalkers, also vampires, along with ghouls, demons etc at bay and away from preying on humans. The main character Magdalene, who has been asleep for hundreds of years is the only Sunstrider who has awaken early to a city overrun with Nightwalkers and all kinds of evil. Why is she the only one awake and where are the other Sunstriders. Full of action, mystery, betrayal, it kept me guessing the whole time. I loved it.
November 11, 2019
I love this!
This is something new for me, the start of a new series and a most impressive kickass heroine. The newly risen sunstrider Magdalene or Mags, awakes from a deep sleep, to a chaotic world of encroaching danger and nightwalker threats where she must resume her oath and sworn duty to humanity. An action packed thriller with an intense reconnection between Magdalene and the love of her life Lucien. I loved reading this!
This is something new for me, the start of a new series and a most impressive kickass heroine. The newly risen sunstrider Magdalene or Mags, awakes from a deep sleep, to a chaotic world of encroaching danger and nightwalker threats where she must resume her oath and sworn duty to humanity. An action packed thriller with an intense reconnection between Magdalene and the love of her life Lucien. I loved reading this!
December 29, 2019
Excellent book with a twist on vampires
I enjoyed this book very much. A very different type of "vampire" novel. Sunstriders and Nightwalkers have the same need for human blood, yet both are very different from one another. The conflict between the two seems never-ending. I loved the way the author took the time to develop the characters and environment. I will be reading the rest of this series for sure.
I enjoyed this book very much. A very different type of "vampire" novel. Sunstriders and Nightwalkers have the same need for human blood, yet both are very different from one another. The conflict between the two seems never-ending. I loved the way the author took the time to develop the characters and environment. I will be reading the rest of this series for sure.
January 8, 2020
Dnf'd
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews