The Blood Boss

Black Veil #1

by Davidson King

Vampires, mermaids, and witches…oh, my! Black Veil is full of them all, but at the end of the day, it’s The Blood Boss who has the last word. Ever since The Final War, Vampires rule Black Veil, and with The Blood Boss in charge, peace reigns.

Keeping the vampires under control is a task Cain takes seriously. Humans have accepted his rule, and anyone who seeks to destroy his territory is given swift punishment. His promise to keep Black Veil safe comes with great sacrifice and selflessness; never does he dare hope for more in life. Until one day, a man walks through his front door and changes everything.

Jayce has a happy life. His adopted parents love him, he wants for very little, and he lives every day to the fullest. But when a normal evening turns into a nightmare, and Jayce is forced to come face-to-face with The Blood Boss, the world as he knows it feels like a lie.

Then a great secret is revealed, and nothing is what it seems. Cain and Jayce must work together to stop the forces uniting against the vampires. Life and love are in jeopardy as they fight those who seek to destroy them. Can Cain and Jayce keep Black Veil from crumbling into the sea when every attempt to do so seems impossible?

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

222 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 19, 2021

About the author

Davidson King, always had a hope that someday her daydreams would become real-life stories. As a child, you would often find her in her own world, thinking up the most insane situations. It may have taken her awhile, but she made her dream come true with her first published work, Snow Falling.

She managed to wrangle herself a husband who matched her crazy and they hatched three wonderful children.

If you were to ask her what gave her the courage to finally publish, she’d tell you it was her amazing family and friends. Support is vital in all things and when you’re afraid of your dreams, it will be your cheering section that will lift you up.

Reviews

[SHI · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bland book trying too hard to be interesting

This is the third time I have tried giving this author a try, and everytime I wonder why. For one thing she is basically writing a F/M marketed as M/M. Literally fellow readers Jayce turned into "Jocie the spunky young adult heroine who doesn't know about her powerful birth right" about 13% into the story...ugh!

The author failed at putting any kind of chemistry between the two main characters...heck there really wasn't even a whiff of sexual attraction leading up to the actual moment of one of the main characters saying he had a dream about them doing the horizontal mumbo!! I actually blinked and thought....okaaay, moving on.

And when I say moving on... I mean I put this book down for a week and forgot I was reading it. I had to skim over what I read to refresh my memory because seriously what is written about 50% into the novel isn't memorable at all.

SO, the other half?

Boring...the author tried to make it interesting...bless her heart...and I tried to give a darn about the characters and plot. I even made an effort to not roll my eyes at the "Twilight" like moment the Author thought was a bright idea to use (don't wanna spoil to much for those who are still wanting to give this novel a go) just know you'll be hard pressed not to hum Bruno Mars lyrics at this moment. Lol

Bright side, if u wanna get a bit tipsy take a sip of whine every time you read "dareIsay" or if one the characters "chuckle" .

Now, will I give this author a fourth try....Uh nope. I'm good. I daresay I will leave it up to her fans to carry on the support without me.

[Kaity · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 stars

well that was the most monotonous book i have ever listened/read. the characters were flat and i think if it wasn't for the audiobook i would have dnf'ed real fast. i felt no chemistry between any of the characters, romantic or platonic!

i liked Davidson King's "Haven Hart" series, but this book was just a bucket of boring. oh well you win some you lose some.

[Nix Buttons · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5- stars - This was... disappointing. The story itself had great potential, but the execution was very much lacking.
I didn't feel any of the emotions the MC's supposedly experienced, their connection came out of nowhere and made absolutely no sense. There was no chemistry, no sexual tension or whatever you want to call it. Suddenly they are all over each other and thinking about forever and it just doesn't work.

[Mags · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not as i had hoped

The actual storyline is pretty good and interesting enough, but there was no connection to the two mcs at all. I couldnt see how they worked, it all happened out of the blue with little to no conversation between each other, therefore i the reader couldn't connect with them. The side characters werent interesting and very 1 dimensional. So much more could have been done with Jayces powers or presumed powers but nothing was mentioned in depth

[Marzipop · Rating 2 out of 5]

Every character was TSTL. Every. Single. One.

[Alisa]

DNF @15% because it was terrible. Seriously. Cheesy, sophomoric writing. Everyone who gave this a 5 star rating need to chip in & buy me an audio credit cuz I wasted one on this drivel.

[Dawn Nicole Costiera · Rating 4 out of 5]

Believe it or not, The Blood Boss is my first Davidson King book. This author has been on my to-read list forever. I am so thrilled, I finally had the chance to read their work. I thoroughly enjoyed The Blood Boss! It was fun, fast-paced, and action-packed from start to finish. There was never a dull moment. How could there be, when it has vampires, merfolk, witches, and magic... All are residents of the kingdom of Black Veil. Their fierce leader, Cain is a powerful vampire known as, The Blood Boss. He rules with an iron fist (and a gentle heart). All must answer to him. Everything he does is for the good of his kingdom and humanity. When he seeks retribution for an unpaid debt, little does he know his life is about to change forever...

An unpaid debt paved the way to a new life for Jayce. All that he knew and believed changed the day he met the Blood Boss. Cain and Jayce's slow-burn love story was surrounded by a rich plot filled impending doom. Together they must unite to save life as they know it. I was so riveted by the storyline that their romance came second. Although, halfway through the book is when the love story heated up and I became smitten with them. They both filled a need within each other and are truly a perfect match! Together they were a force to be reckoned with.

The Blood Boss is a great start to the Black Veil Series. I am so excited to see where it goes and what other magical creatures we will meet!

[Cynthia Osborne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jayce is not what he seems and has signed up to do a punishment for his dad with the Blood boss. As the story progresses we find out secrets and see how some wrongs have been committed. It kept me reading until I finished the book. I loved the different types of people and how they are connected in this story.

I did receive an Arc for a review.

[Moon]

DNF @ 39%

I think I'm on a reading slump lately, but for the life of me, I couldn't get into this one. This story held a lot of promise but failed to deliver. I still don't understand why The Blood Boss took Jayce in as an exhange for payment when he ended up having Jayce do absolutely NOTHING. There was no threat of danger from the vampires. The vampires didn't act like vampires... AT ALL. You'd think having someone like Jayce live with them would drive them crazy with blood lust, but no, everything was quite civil and polite. Jayce just sat around in his room until The Blood Boss called him to sit and observe his meetings. But The Blood boss already HAD a personal secretary, so why have Jayce there in the first place? Didn't make a lick of sense. Too bad I couldn't finish this. No rating.

[Kaila · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was everything I didn't know I needed. This author is a favorite of mine because of snow and his world...and I haven't read many vamps over the years but omg I'm glad I read this and can't wait for more of this series. It was amazing and wonderfully written...sexy and curious..kept my attention and made me want so much more! Amazing

[Macky · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️3.5⭐️

[Ashley Carr, LSoR · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic start to a new series!! The characters were well developed in the storyline intriguing, suspenseful and action packed. Jayce just wants to help his foster parents out so when the Blood Boss send his cronies to get repayment for a debt Jayce steps in and takes his father’s place working it off. It was not love at first sight between Cain, the Blood Boss and Jayce. It was a romance they kind of snuck up on them and the readers. Betrayals will be made by Can’s vampires and Jayce is in for a shock of a lifetime because he always thought he was just a run-of-the-mill human. I can’t wait for the series to continue!!

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the first paranormal book by Davidson King, and it was as exciting as I expected. Which is to say, I couldn't put the book down. It has elements of mystery, action, and vestiges of the mafia/crime organization vibes which bleed from the previous books.
The worldbuilding is so cool too. It's a very interesting post apocalyptic concept. Or more almost post apocalyptic? It explains all the differences between the world we live in, how it's going and how to fix it.

[Elisabeth Dreams · Rating 5 out of 5]

FINALLY, AN AUTHOR WHO KNOWS HOW TO WRITE A VAMPIRE. (AND HIS HOUSEHOLD, AND AND AGED CHARACTERS)

No offense to other authors. I have not the privilege to read all the other authors

Age :- age brings wisdom.

And the characters felt they have lived a long life, and knows how to act. Also the innocent of young age.

I loved it....i want more of this.

Also it's a slow burn, no bunny humping the moment the met...THANK THE GOD, AND THE AUTHOR

[Joscelyn Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok...so I'm gonna need some more of this ASAP. Cain and Jayce and the fantastical world they inhabit have me counting the minutes until my next visit. Like any good book it pulled me under right from the beginning and I didn't resurface until the last page was read, book two cannot come soon enough.

*I voluntarily reviewed an Arc of this book*

[Noona [ON theStoryGraph] · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review is for the audio edition: PUBLISHER:
Tantor Audio
RELEASED:
Feb 15, 2022
ISBN:
9781666176766

I really enjoyed this world and am looking forward to the next installment.
I also enjoyed the chemistry between the main characters...it definitely falls into the slow burn category, yet I feel it works and offers a realistic journey for the characters. The development of the relationships between the different characters was also great and unpredictable.

Great narrations by Tim Paige and Declan Winters

[MM Book · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the paranormal starter

The Blood Boss, the first in the Black Veil series, was an excellent and riveting start to the paranormal series. I loved the slow burn between Cain and Jayce. The revelation about Jayce's and Cain's backstories were quite interesting and unique. I can't wait to read more about them in the next book.

[Stacie Streck · Rating 3 out of 5]

If I was actually reading it, I don't think I'd have finished it. Honestly, I wasn't all that fond of the narrators in the audiobook either. I'm glad this was included with Audible because it would have felt like a waste of a credit.

[Mimi · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars

Not what I was expecting from Davidson King! Nice start in the Paranormal genre! She left enough questions for us to anticipate another book but will Jayce and Cain be are only couple???

[Carole Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

[Patricia Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

What happens when mega talented author Davidson King decides to write their first paranormal series? You get a fantastic, gripping, gritty, fascinating, five alarm flaming hot, fast paced, action packed, emotionally charged, thrilling, exciting, wild, crazy, amazing, and totally awesome story. I was hooked from the very first page, ending up with a massive book hangover after reading it in one sitting. I can't wait to get my greedy hands on the next book in this magnificent new series, and would definitely recommend getting it for yourself immediately!

[Monique · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️ 3.5 stars ⭐️

[Duckie Mack · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this unique take on vampires, the romance, and the world it's built in. This was such a fun, addictive read that I couldn't put down. I can't wait to get back to Black Veil again

[Kashonna Shaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

This new series is wonderful. I love this new take on paranormals. Cain, our broody vampire, is the first vampire ever. I loved reading his backstory and how he became what he is. It was so sad, but interesting. It didn't involve the normal ways vampires are made/born and I loved that. The difference was refreshing. Jayce, our resident human, was cute. I loved that he really wasn't this weak human. He didn't cower in the presence of Cain. He didn't go out of his way to be rude, but he also didn't allow Cain or any of the others to walk over him.
I loved the world building! Learning how the paranormals came to Earth was fascinating. It surpised me that Davidson would use that reason for their presence, but I liked it. Learning that each group pretty much stays to themselves was interesting. I would have thought they'd want to mingle with each other, but that's not the case. It was even more mind blowing to see the hierarchy within the communities.
This book was a great intro to the series. We get to see how everything is set up with the communities and characters. We learn that humans still suck, lol. And we get to see what the fall out is when separates species intermingle. All in all, this new series is great and I can't wait to read more.

[Kelly (Maybedog) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

The world building was interesting. The merfolk aspect was a nice addition to an otherwise typical vampire overlord story. Another difference was that Cain was mostly nice from the beginning. The pulling together of multiple mythologies was well done.

The characters were fine except the only dark skinned person was evil and there were no truly good women other than the sweet foster parent mom. (The latter is a yay! A book where foster parents weren’t evil! But there was a reason so not that impressive.) There was a female guard member but she messed up and was branded and basically banished from anything Cain. Her male underling who did a worse thing was basically just sent back to boot training.

As is typical, Jace spoke up when he shouldn’t have and was antagonistic. He was an idiot for how he spoke with the blood boss. Of course it worked out fine.

Overall the story was interesting and pleasant. I’m interested in reading the next one.

The narrators, Tim Paige and Declan Winters, were fairly good. They had a couple of different voices for each gender. The voice of the gruffer one, who I think is Winters, was too pleasant and fatherly for the vampire. He didn’t do the coldness and anger well. One of them gave this slight Eastern European accent to one of Cain’s lackeys but it was so faint and so inconsistent I wasn’t sure it was intentional. The narrator for Jace, who I’m fairly sure is Paige, usually has an odd inflection to his voice which was lesser here than usual which I appreciated.

[Bronwyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars - I had high hopes for this one despite the Blood Boss name. I’m sorry, but I have to roll my eyes every time I see that. All I can picture in my head is Boss Baby and it just doesn’t sit right. I found myself starting to call Cain the Blood King instead.

I was enjoying the first part of the story. Learning the ins and outs of Black Veil was interesting. It was around the 45% mark where Cain and Jayce, each in their own chapter, suddenly decided that they wanted to kiss the other one. I got whiplash! Prior to this, there hadn’t been any indication that they even liked each other. I suppose they had internally expressed an attraction, but nothing of note. Go forward a couple of chapters and Jayce has decided he’s in love with Cain. What? I felt absolutely no connection between the two. It made me sad.

Davidson King’s Haven Hart series was so good!!! I’ve tried to enjoy other stuff by her and it has fallen flat for me. (Even the Haven Hart spin-off.) I was hoping this vampire-and-all-things-mystical-and-magical series would be something I really got into. Sigh. I’ll keep my eyes out for the next one. Perhaps it will get better.

Despite feeling kind of blah about the whole thing, I do recommend people give it a try. It’s been getting great reviews. Maybe it’s just me.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! Can’t wait for the next one!

Absolutely loved this first book in a new series from Davidson King. I am a fan of her Haven Hart series and this has a familiar feel to it. She has created a unique universe her and I look forward to learning more about it.

Main character Jayce is a human who offers himself in place of his father to the vampire boss of all things to repay a debt. (Picture the scene from The Hunger Games…”I offer myself as tribute!”) Cain is the Blood Boss, the leader of all vampires who rules the town of Black Veil. As the two men spend more time together a relationship begins to develop that is greatly impacted when new and startling information is discovered about Jayce.

The world building is well done and the character development coincides with that nicely. The story arc moves well. There are a range of emotions the reader will experience given various aspects of the story. The suspenseful parts are tense and exciting, the relationship elements are sweet and steamy.

There is much to learn and I really look forward to the next book in the series.

[Rishabh Sharma · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the narration, I love the relationship between the main MC's and I like how this book digs into Fantasy land , but I was kinda disappointed by seeing how the writer didn't explored the power of one of the main MC despite giving him so many powers from so many species, it was disappointing because it's a fantasy novel you should have had explored more but yeah still it was good for one time read.

[Meggie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book with a pulling start, weird and mysterious plot and rushed romance. Still I liked both main characters but, found the dramatic part of a story childish. Ending is incomplete, but also acceptable.

[Jooke · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5*

Really like the world build and all the different creatures in this book and would really love to know more about this world. But I feel like I can't rate it higher because it is a bit too short, there is so much more potential ans so much left unsaid...