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Everly Abbott #2
Blood of the Wicked
I once worked for vampires. I’d never thought I’d be one.
My throat is always on fire. My mouth is always dry. The only thing that helps?
Human blood.
As much as vampires need it, it is also our curse. Blood can drive us mad if we’re not careful. That madness breeds a wickedness as the need for blood reigns supreme. We revel in it, desiring the power and vitality it gives us. When we drain someone, we get high; it’s a rush that some vampires love to chase once they cross that line. Vampires will do anything to get it and there’s nothing that will stop them from killing hundreds. Our humanity slips away the more we indulge the need and there is no way to regain it.
Alexius makes it his duty to kill any vampire that loses control and I’ve promised to help him. After months, I get to help on my first case, just like I wanted to the night I woke up as an immortal.
I thought I knew what sort of vampires we’d be stopping. I didn’t think about how bad things could get.
My name is Everly Abbott...
And the wicked really do know no bounds.
My throat is always on fire. My mouth is always dry. The only thing that helps?
Human blood.
As much as vampires need it, it is also our curse. Blood can drive us mad if we’re not careful. That madness breeds a wickedness as the need for blood reigns supreme. We revel in it, desiring the power and vitality it gives us. When we drain someone, we get high; it’s a rush that some vampires love to chase once they cross that line. Vampires will do anything to get it and there’s nothing that will stop them from killing hundreds. Our humanity slips away the more we indulge the need and there is no way to regain it.
Alexius makes it his duty to kill any vampire that loses control and I’ve promised to help him. After months, I get to help on my first case, just like I wanted to the night I woke up as an immortal.
I thought I knew what sort of vampires we’d be stopping. I didn’t think about how bad things could get.
My name is Everly Abbott...
And the wicked really do know no bounds.
315 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 15, 2022
211 people are currently reading
218 people want to read
About the author
K.N. Banet
36 books721 followersAuthor of the Jacky Leon series, Kaliya Sahni series, and Everly Abbott series, along with standalones that belong in the same world as all of them!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 117 reviews
April 2, 2022
This is second in a series and a lot of setting and character setup happen in the first. I recommend reading them in order, but recognize that the first is kind of a drag*.
Well, it's a total relief to see Banet deliver the goods with this story. I like what she has done with her other series, so it's not really a surprise. Interestingly, the flow of this one is similar. We get an initial build up that establishes Everly's normal with steady interruptions that escalate into the true plot that ramps to a satisfying climax and new normal.
Only this time, I found it all extremely interesting. I was fully engaged with Everly and her struggle to gain control as a new vampire. And trying to get a grip on a mentor relationship with professional aspirations with Alexius at the same time was beautifully portrayed. Neither is in a place for romance, though you can see that they're both interested if they can get to a point where it's feasible (not that either realizes it about the other, and I mean that in a good way).
The plot, when it happens, is mildly underwhelming and is clearly a setup to a wider series arc. This actually didn't bother me much because I really liked developments with Everly and Alexius that happened as a result. Seriously, Banet's character game is strong and made being with them a pleasure, whatever they were up to.
So I'm giving this 4½ stars that I'm rounding up because it was such a relief that this series is becoming another strong showing for the milieu. I'm definitely looking forward to the next.
A note about Chaste: There is some off-page sex by others that intrudes a bit, but there's nothing terribly graphic. And Everly is trying to figure her new situation out and has zero cycles to waste on a relationship and isn't a casual sex kind of woman. So I consider it pretty chaste, particularly for the "vampire-flavored UF" genre.
* I originally recommended starting the first at chapter seventeen. My new and improved recommendation, if you care, is to read the first until it gets too dreary and then skip to chapter seventeen.
Well, it's a total relief to see Banet deliver the goods with this story. I like what she has done with her other series, so it's not really a surprise. Interestingly, the flow of this one is similar. We get an initial build up that establishes Everly's normal with steady interruptions that escalate into the true plot that ramps to a satisfying climax and new normal.
Only this time, I found it all extremely interesting. I was fully engaged with Everly and her struggle to gain control as a new vampire. And trying to get a grip on a mentor relationship with professional aspirations with Alexius at the same time was beautifully portrayed. Neither is in a place for romance, though you can see that they're both interested if they can get to a point where it's feasible (not that either realizes it about the other, and I mean that in a good way).
The plot, when it happens, is mildly underwhelming and is clearly a setup to a wider series arc. This actually didn't bother me much because I really liked developments with Everly and Alexius that happened as a result. Seriously, Banet's character game is strong and made being with them a pleasure, whatever they were up to.
So I'm giving this 4½ stars that I'm rounding up because it was such a relief that this series is becoming another strong showing for the milieu. I'm definitely looking forward to the next.
A note about Chaste: There is some off-page sex by others that intrudes a bit, but there's nothing terribly graphic. And Everly is trying to figure her new situation out and has zero cycles to waste on a relationship and isn't a casual sex kind of woman. So I consider it pretty chaste, particularly for the "vampire-flavored UF" genre.
* I originally recommended starting the first at chapter seventeen. My new and improved recommendation, if you care, is to read the first until it gets too dreary and then skip to chapter seventeen.
April 20, 2023
Huh, this second book in the Everly Abbott series is a complete turn-around from the first. That is not a bad thing at all, just… interesting. Whereas, the first book, was incredibly violent, almost horror, this one has virtually no on page violence at all until the very end. It is straight up the line of a murder mystery. There are gruesome deaths but they are all committed off-page and only as part of the mystery Everly and Alexius have to unravel. And that mystery plays into what looks to become the overriding plot-line throughout the rest of the series.
There is a lot of character development within the story, which gives us a great basis for understanding not only Everly and Alexius, but Israel, as well. It was just what a reader needs to really connect and commit to these incredibly interesting characters and to the series, as a whole.
There is a lot of character development within the story, which gives us a great basis for understanding not only Everly and Alexius, but Israel, as well. It was just what a reader needs to really connect and commit to these incredibly interesting characters and to the series, as a whole.
April 20, 2023
Well, given how meh I was about book 1, I am shocked at how much I loved this one - *4.5 stars* !!
I feel like we got to really see who Everly is in this one - whereas in book 1 she was just a traumatized ball of stress trying to survive - and I really liked her. I also really liked the complicated friendship (with hints of more down the road) that she is growing with Alexius - they compliment each other so well, in so many ways.
I enjoyed getting to meet Isaiah too (the Tribunal Master vampire), and through him and Alexius we get more of a look at vampire society. Hearing how they evolved from their beginnings was fascinating, especially hearing how they fought to build a structured society, a community.
A couple things I want to touch on in this review.
Firstly, hindsight on book 1 - I think it was such a struggle to see Everly do nothing and occasionally angst about not hurting the "good vampires" because we've never seen a good vampire. I mean, never. So it just made her look dumb. Jacob was this mythically good vampire, but he died before the start of the book (more on him later), so we never interacted with him and honestly, we have no way of knowing whether he was good or she was just fooled. Because the other "good vampire" in the book was Lauren, and it was revealed that she was just using Everly to get the info she needed to get herself out of this dangerous nest, and planned to leave Everly behind to face the music for supplying info to Lauren (i.e., to die).
So the only "good vampire" we get to meet in book 1 (Lauren) is a selfish, manipulative asshole...excepting Alexius, of course, though he enters the game only in the last 1/3 and while we think we like him, we can't know if he's also just using Everly. After all, he's sending her out to the front lines to risk her life while he stays in the shadows. How much does he care about her, or any human? Impossible to say. Yes, he lashed out in defense of his human butler, but that could be as much about his status as it was about care. We just don't know.
So Everly seemed like a completely vapid dumbass for not just exposing the vampires in book 1. That's part of what made that book such a struggle.
Now let's talk about Jacob. It's interesting that both this series and Jacky's series have this apparently-beloved character that died long before book 1 starts, but looms so large over the series. They're a little different - Jacob apparently meant a lot to vampire-kind as a whole, whereas Liza was more of a family princess who seemed to not have much to do with anyone outside Hasan's family - but they both fill a similar role in the narrative: this too-good-for-this-world person that the leads of both series are inevitably held up against for comparison. In this book, someone refers to Everly as Jacob's replacement, for example. They were both the motivation for their reclusive mentor-figures to step back out into the world from a self-imposed isolation after the loss of The Perfect One. I'm not bringing it up because it feels repetitive, though - it doesn't to me. It's just interesting to see the parallel themes in the two series.
And the last thing I want to talk about is: what is The Nefarious Plan?
On the top-level, it looks like some old asshole vamps want to be free to do what they want - life with no rules, eat whoever they want whenever they want, blah blah blah. Basically, the only law would be the survival of the fittest, in their ideal world. So they are orchestrating this big plan to knock down the two pillars that seem to keep the vampire society structured: Alexius and Isaiah. Kill Jacob - Alexius's son and Isaiah's lover - and not only have you wiped out this guy who seems to have led vampire society to be their best selves and away from their monstrous instincts, but in the doing, you also make these two ancient powerhouses look weak (look, someone you loved got murdered, essentially). It makes me wonder why they worked so hard to keep Jacob's death looking like a suicide, though, if that's really their plan. Doesn't it play better if the world knows that they wiped out someone beloved to the two big bads of vampire-dom (the Tribunal Master and his enforcer, essentially, given what we learned in this book about the role Alexius played in beating the asses of vampires who resisted society and structure. I mean, Alexius basically was Isaiah's Hisao).
Anyway, if this is their plan, how does it play out? Like, okay, say they succeed. Kill Isaiah, kill Alexius, vampire society crumbles and it is the wild west, eating people and leaving messes everywhere. This leads inevitably - and probably almost immediately - to vampires being discovered by humanity, who would be deeply unamused. So how does that play out? A fucking disaster, honestly. Humanity would view them as super-powered Jack the Rippers, basically, and rightfully so given what we saw in books 1 and 2. Vampires would be public enemy #1, and wiping them out would become a modern-day crusade. The rest of the supernatural world would immediately try and side with humanity to wipe out the vampires, in order to preserve their own safety. They'd go to humans in charge with some story about how they tried, long ago, to wipe them out but they breed too easily, spread too easily (and this is true, it's what Jabari told us in Jacky book 2). So instead they forced Law on them ... but that now structure has been overthrown by vampire fanatics and so, with human help, they hope to end vampires once and for all.
It would be believable, and humanity would take the help. They might turn on the supes later, who can say, but in the meantime the other races would be safe. And the vampires would be WRECKED in a war with humans + all the rest of supernatural society. Maybe a few power-hungry old ones from other races would side with the vampires (but really, why, when they'd do better if they just kept their heads down?), but it wouldn't be enough to withstand the tide. They'd lose and lose horribly.
Which means that if this is the plan, the bad guy is dumb. That's okay though - villains are frequently dumb, because their narcissism blinds them to reality.
However, what if that's a red herring, and there's a much smarter plan actually going on below the surface?
In this book, we learned that Maria - Tribunal Mistress of the Vampires - is not really an ally of Isaiah. They have differing ideas of what is best for vampires, and frequently work against each other (though of course they make sure to appear united on the Tribunal, to not expose any weaknesses to the other races). So say Maria, or someone high up in vampire power like her, is actually working this plan. NOT because she wants it to succeed, but because she wants it to do damage ... killing some of Isaiah's support (Jacob, already dead ... Alexius seems to be a target). She could passively, behind the scenes, fuel the evil fire, let it spin up chaos, look like it is on the verge of succeeding as she uses it to take down some of her more powerful opponents. And then right at the 11th hour, she steps in and stomps them down, looking like a hero, saving vampire society and seizing power unilaterally.
It would be goddamn brilliant.
Either way - or neither way - it's a fun puzzle to watch unfold. I've already jumped into book 3.
I feel like we got to really see who Everly is in this one - whereas in book 1 she was just a traumatized ball of stress trying to survive - and I really liked her. I also really liked the complicated friendship (with hints of more down the road) that she is growing with Alexius - they compliment each other so well, in so many ways.
I enjoyed getting to meet Isaiah too (the Tribunal Master vampire), and through him and Alexius we get more of a look at vampire society. Hearing how they evolved from their beginnings was fascinating, especially hearing how they fought to build a structured society, a community.
A couple things I want to touch on in this review.
Firstly, hindsight on book 1 - I think it was such a struggle to see Everly do nothing and occasionally angst about not hurting the "good vampires" because we've never seen a good vampire. I mean, never. So it just made her look dumb. Jacob was this mythically good vampire, but he died before the start of the book (more on him later), so we never interacted with him and honestly, we have no way of knowing whether he was good or she was just fooled. Because the other "good vampire" in the book was Lauren, and it was revealed that she was just using Everly to get the info she needed to get herself out of this dangerous nest, and planned to leave Everly behind to face the music for supplying info to Lauren (i.e., to die).
So the only "good vampire" we get to meet in book 1 (Lauren) is a selfish, manipulative asshole...excepting Alexius, of course, though he enters the game only in the last 1/3 and while we think we like him, we can't know if he's also just using Everly. After all, he's sending her out to the front lines to risk her life while he stays in the shadows. How much does he care about her, or any human? Impossible to say. Yes, he lashed out in defense of his human butler, but that could be as much about his status as it was about care. We just don't know.
So Everly seemed like a completely vapid dumbass for not just exposing the vampires in book 1. That's part of what made that book such a struggle.
Now let's talk about Jacob. It's interesting that both this series and Jacky's series have this apparently-beloved character that died long before book 1 starts, but looms so large over the series. They're a little different - Jacob apparently meant a lot to vampire-kind as a whole, whereas Liza was more of a family princess who seemed to not have much to do with anyone outside Hasan's family - but they both fill a similar role in the narrative: this too-good-for-this-world person that the leads of both series are inevitably held up against for comparison. In this book, someone refers to Everly as Jacob's replacement, for example. They were both the motivation for their reclusive mentor-figures to step back out into the world from a self-imposed isolation after the loss of The Perfect One. I'm not bringing it up because it feels repetitive, though - it doesn't to me. It's just interesting to see the parallel themes in the two series.
And the last thing I want to talk about is: what is The Nefarious Plan?
On the top-level, it looks like some old asshole vamps want to be free to do what they want - life with no rules, eat whoever they want whenever they want, blah blah blah. Basically, the only law would be the survival of the fittest, in their ideal world. So they are orchestrating this big plan to knock down the two pillars that seem to keep the vampire society structured: Alexius and Isaiah. Kill Jacob - Alexius's son and Isaiah's lover - and not only have you wiped out this guy who seems to have led vampire society to be their best selves and away from their monstrous instincts, but in the doing, you also make these two ancient powerhouses look weak (look, someone you loved got murdered, essentially). It makes me wonder why they worked so hard to keep Jacob's death looking like a suicide, though, if that's really their plan. Doesn't it play better if the world knows that they wiped out someone beloved to the two big bads of vampire-dom (the Tribunal Master and his enforcer, essentially, given what we learned in this book about the role Alexius played in beating the asses of vampires who resisted society and structure. I mean, Alexius basically was Isaiah's Hisao).
Anyway, if this is their plan, how does it play out? Like, okay, say they succeed. Kill Isaiah, kill Alexius, vampire society crumbles and it is the wild west, eating people and leaving messes everywhere. This leads inevitably - and probably almost immediately - to vampires being discovered by humanity, who would be deeply unamused. So how does that play out? A fucking disaster, honestly. Humanity would view them as super-powered Jack the Rippers, basically, and rightfully so given what we saw in books 1 and 2. Vampires would be public enemy #1, and wiping them out would become a modern-day crusade. The rest of the supernatural world would immediately try and side with humanity to wipe out the vampires, in order to preserve their own safety. They'd go to humans in charge with some story about how they tried, long ago, to wipe them out but they breed too easily, spread too easily (and this is true, it's what Jabari told us in Jacky book 2). So instead they forced Law on them ... but that now structure has been overthrown by vampire fanatics and so, with human help, they hope to end vampires once and for all.
It would be believable, and humanity would take the help. They might turn on the supes later, who can say, but in the meantime the other races would be safe. And the vampires would be WRECKED in a war with humans + all the rest of supernatural society. Maybe a few power-hungry old ones from other races would side with the vampires (but really, why, when they'd do better if they just kept their heads down?), but it wouldn't be enough to withstand the tide. They'd lose and lose horribly.
Which means that if this is the plan, the bad guy is dumb. That's okay though - villains are frequently dumb, because their narcissism blinds them to reality.
However, what if that's a red herring, and there's a much smarter plan actually going on below the surface?
In this book, we learned that Maria - Tribunal Mistress of the Vampires - is not really an ally of Isaiah. They have differing ideas of what is best for vampires, and frequently work against each other (though of course they make sure to appear united on the Tribunal, to not expose any weaknesses to the other races). So say Maria, or someone high up in vampire power like her, is actually working this plan. NOT because she wants it to succeed, but because she wants it to do damage ... killing some of Isaiah's support (Jacob, already dead ... Alexius seems to be a target). She could passively, behind the scenes, fuel the evil fire, let it spin up chaos, look like it is on the verge of succeeding as she uses it to take down some of her more powerful opponents. And then right at the 11th hour, she steps in and stomps them down, looking like a hero, saving vampire society and seizing power unilaterally.
It would be goddamn brilliant.
Either way - or neither way - it's a fun puzzle to watch unfold. I've already jumped into book 3.
March 15, 2022
4.25.
As I say the start of every review of her books Banet is one of my auto buy authors, who's books I adore. The Tribunal series are so wide spread and full of suhc good world building that's its always fun to jump into the different series in this world.
Things ended pretty dramatically in Book 1, and Book 2 starts a few weeks later, with Everley adjusting to her new life and the challenges it possesses. For the protection if others, she's living with Alexius in his underground home and learning about what she now is. While Alexius is caring and looks after her, she feels awkward around him and is trying to grow into her new reality.
However, this gentle easing is interrupted by Alexius having to hunt down a group of vampires who have killed the relatives of a werewolf pack, and Everley is thrown into the deep end by accompanying him.
While i did enjoy this a lot, I still don't feel the level of connection to the characters that made this a 5 star for me. I find Everley herself to be one of the most stilted of Banet's heroines, and Alexius is the same. I found that as the novel progressed both seemed to open up a bit, but I guess I wanted just a bit more from their characters.
This is also a super slow burn. Banet does this so well, particularly in her Jacky Leon series, but I'm not feeling the chemistry as much with Everly and Alexius, although there are a few moments where you can see it's there. I love a good slow burn, but I do need something to tide me over in the chemistry department, and if that had been there this would have been a 5 star read.
However, Banet writes some of the best Urban Fantasy out there at the moment and I highly recommend this series and any of the others set in this world. I loved the development in this book an d ant wait for the next.
As I say the start of every review of her books Banet is one of my auto buy authors, who's books I adore. The Tribunal series are so wide spread and full of suhc good world building that's its always fun to jump into the different series in this world.
Things ended pretty dramatically in Book 1, and Book 2 starts a few weeks later, with Everley adjusting to her new life and the challenges it possesses. For the protection if others, she's living with Alexius in his underground home and learning about what she now is. While Alexius is caring and looks after her, she feels awkward around him and is trying to grow into her new reality.
However, this gentle easing is interrupted by Alexius having to hunt down a group of vampires who have killed the relatives of a werewolf pack, and Everley is thrown into the deep end by accompanying him.
While i did enjoy this a lot, I still don't feel the level of connection to the characters that made this a 5 star for me. I find Everley herself to be one of the most stilted of Banet's heroines, and Alexius is the same. I found that as the novel progressed both seemed to open up a bit, but I guess I wanted just a bit more from their characters.
This is also a super slow burn. Banet does this so well, particularly in her Jacky Leon series, but I'm not feeling the chemistry as much with Everly and Alexius, although there are a few moments where you can see it's there. I love a good slow burn, but I do need something to tide me over in the chemistry department, and if that had been there this would have been a 5 star read.
However, Banet writes some of the best Urban Fantasy out there at the moment and I highly recommend this series and any of the others set in this world. I loved the development in this book an d ant wait for the next.
March 27, 2022
With this book we get to see how the new changes in Everly's life are going. At the start of the book, it seems not so well. Alexius pretty much has her on lockdown, to protect her and humans around her, but you can tell that Everly feels stifled. It only when an old friend of Alexius', who is also a Tribunal head of the vampires that things start to change.
Everly gets an up close view of how most vampires live and the politics they deal with in their everyday life. After a few days things happen and Alexius is called upon to do what he does best, hunt rogue vampires and he is not about to let Everly stay behind or go with his friend, so she ends up on the hunt with him.
Everly brings some fresh ways to look at things on this hunt and they quickly figure out what is going on and some people to target, which brings out some tricky things with the werewolves. In the end things end in a good way, they figure out a larger conspiracy, figure out that Everly can handle and do more than they thought and live changes once again for her, but in a good way.
Everly gets an up close view of how most vampires live and the politics they deal with in their everyday life. After a few days things happen and Alexius is called upon to do what he does best, hunt rogue vampires and he is not about to let Everly stay behind or go with his friend, so she ends up on the hunt with him.
Everly brings some fresh ways to look at things on this hunt and they quickly figure out what is going on and some people to target, which brings out some tricky things with the werewolves. In the end things end in a good way, they figure out a larger conspiracy, figure out that Everly can handle and do more than they thought and live changes once again for her, but in a good way.
March 14, 2022
My Thoughts on Blood of the Wicked
Blood of The Wicked picks up shortly after the first book left off. Everly is now a Vampire, though an orphaned one, made that way deliberately by Alexius, the feared Hunter of the Vampire Nests. It's a complicated situation that just gets more mired when Alexius is called to perform his duties in Alaska, hunting the trail of vampires who are leaving a swath of dead in their wake.
It's dicey, dangerous, and rather epic. Everly is so young that her instincts can kick in and take over in a second, turning her into the killer her blood now says she is. Alexius, on the other hand, is charged with protecting not only her but humans FROM her - a facet that becomes more difficult in the great north.
Fast, bloody, and intriguing, this novel nestles well into this growing Universe, fleshing out the Vampire Mythos while allowing them to become more 'real' in terms of actual characters. The Tribunal Universe introduced them way back in Jacky's first novel, but they were almost formless, a dangerous addition that grew with each installment and gained feet with Kalyia's story. Here, though, they come fully into their own, showcasing a completely new side to this diverse Supernatural World. Book 1 may have created the foundation for the Vampire World here, but Book 2 solidifies it with tidbits and factoids of their long-running past and the potential issues they see for the future.
Of all the different magical species introduced so far in this Universe, I am not certain which one I like best - though I suppose each has its highs and lows. Werecats, werewolves, Nagas, Fae, Vampires - it's lush, incredibly rich and so varied it can't help but pull me in. As for Evely and Alexius? I can't wait to see what they get up to next.
Perspective
First Person, mostly single POV. Limited third person with multiple POV.
Ending Type
HFN
Rating
R for Violence
Romantic Dynamic
Not really present... yet. Otherwise M/F
Character Age Range
28+
My Final Verdict on Blood of the Wicked
A wonderful addition to an ever-expanding Universe. Evelyn is an astounding character who is growing, not only into herself but into the person she is meant to be - now that she is no longer human. Alexius, old and cranky as he is, is a wonderful protagonist that challenges and guides, and had just the right potential for a love interest... eventually. If/When THAT happens, it'll be explosive, and I am so here for it.
Blood of The Wicked picks up shortly after the first book left off. Everly is now a Vampire, though an orphaned one, made that way deliberately by Alexius, the feared Hunter of the Vampire Nests. It's a complicated situation that just gets more mired when Alexius is called to perform his duties in Alaska, hunting the trail of vampires who are leaving a swath of dead in their wake.
It's dicey, dangerous, and rather epic. Everly is so young that her instincts can kick in and take over in a second, turning her into the killer her blood now says she is. Alexius, on the other hand, is charged with protecting not only her but humans FROM her - a facet that becomes more difficult in the great north.
Fast, bloody, and intriguing, this novel nestles well into this growing Universe, fleshing out the Vampire Mythos while allowing them to become more 'real' in terms of actual characters. The Tribunal Universe introduced them way back in Jacky's first novel, but they were almost formless, a dangerous addition that grew with each installment and gained feet with Kalyia's story. Here, though, they come fully into their own, showcasing a completely new side to this diverse Supernatural World. Book 1 may have created the foundation for the Vampire World here, but Book 2 solidifies it with tidbits and factoids of their long-running past and the potential issues they see for the future.
Of all the different magical species introduced so far in this Universe, I am not certain which one I like best - though I suppose each has its highs and lows. Werecats, werewolves, Nagas, Fae, Vampires - it's lush, incredibly rich and so varied it can't help but pull me in. As for Evely and Alexius? I can't wait to see what they get up to next.
Perspective
First Person, mostly single POV. Limited third person with multiple POV.
Ending Type
HFN
Rating
R for Violence
Romantic Dynamic
Not really present... yet. Otherwise M/F
Character Age Range
28+
My Final Verdict on Blood of the Wicked
A wonderful addition to an ever-expanding Universe. Evelyn is an astounding character who is growing, not only into herself but into the person she is meant to be - now that she is no longer human. Alexius, old and cranky as he is, is a wonderful protagonist that challenges and guides, and had just the right potential for a love interest... eventually. If/When THAT happens, it'll be explosive, and I am so here for it.
March 18, 2022
As many others would feel the same, KN BANET could write her grocery list and I would read it, for me it is a given, her writing is so evocative, connective, and emotionally gripping. Her characters are incredibly well thought out and are insightful and have detailed emotional and intellectual psyche.
This couple however, (although display all of the above descriptions), I feel like they do lack chemistry. The true ancient-ness of Alexei and the youngness Everly just doesn’t quiet work. I mean yes this is a slow burn and the action and story’s telling is immaculate, but I guess I would have liked more tension. A little bit more angst or tension just would have amped up the story I think, made it just a bit more suspenseful.
However it is still a 4/5 because of the story telling and the set up and world building.
This couple however, (although display all of the above descriptions), I feel like they do lack chemistry. The true ancient-ness of Alexei and the youngness Everly just doesn’t quiet work. I mean yes this is a slow burn and the action and story’s telling is immaculate, but I guess I would have liked more tension. A little bit more angst or tension just would have amped up the story I think, made it just a bit more suspenseful.
However it is still a 4/5 because of the story telling and the set up and world building.
March 14, 2022
OOO that was fun!
This book was sort of a murder mystery/ who done it/ police procedural type episode. We are still lingering in the overall mystery of who set up Edwin to kill Jacob but set around Everly learning control and coming to grips with her new status as a vampire.
I recently saw someone call Sexual Tension 'Bangxiety' and DANG did this book have it in spades. How does neither of these two realises the other is attracted to them? Although, that said they both have reasonable/rational points against acting on those urges. I did appreciate that from Alexius' POV. The old position of power, can't cross a line whilst Everly doesn't want to cross a line with the guy she relies on to teach her and is her Boss. BUT DANG I LOVE THE Bangxiety.
At the start of book one, I didn't love Everly but I was intrigued and understood her by the end. But this book felt like it changed that for me. I related to Everly, she seems like such an everyday hero. Hates exercise, is a bit nervous, doesn't like to be the centre of attention, wants purpose in her life, doesn't like violence. But there is also such strength there. Everly is relatable because she feels normal, or close to normal. She also isn't a wallflower, and that's what makes her such an interesting character. Everly is not like the usual female characters that Banet writes and that makes her all the more interesting. will she grow into a badass? is Alexius going to teach her how to fight? use a gun? be a ninja? I'm kinda hoping for a training montage next time. But also at the same time, I don't want her to have to change to be the badass fighter chick for everyone to love her.
Can't wait to hear more.
Alexius, don't stop licking, please.
This book was sort of a murder mystery/ who done it/ police procedural type episode. We are still lingering in the overall mystery of who set up Edwin to kill Jacob but set around Everly learning control and coming to grips with her new status as a vampire.
I recently saw someone call Sexual Tension 'Bangxiety' and DANG did this book have it in spades. How does neither of these two realises the other is attracted to them? Although, that said they both have reasonable/rational points against acting on those urges. I did appreciate that from Alexius' POV. The old position of power, can't cross a line whilst Everly doesn't want to cross a line with the guy she relies on to teach her and is her Boss. BUT DANG I LOVE THE Bangxiety.
At the start of book one, I didn't love Everly but I was intrigued and understood her by the end. But this book felt like it changed that for me. I related to Everly, she seems like such an everyday hero. Hates exercise, is a bit nervous, doesn't like to be the centre of attention, wants purpose in her life, doesn't like violence. But there is also such strength there. Everly is relatable because she feels normal, or close to normal. She also isn't a wallflower, and that's what makes her such an interesting character. Everly is not like the usual female characters that Banet writes and that makes her all the more interesting. will she grow into a badass? is Alexius going to teach her how to fight? use a gun? be a ninja? I'm kinda hoping for a training montage next time. But also at the same time, I don't want her to have to change to be the badass fighter chick for everyone to love her.
Can't wait to hear more.
Alexius, don't stop licking, please.
March 16, 2022
Excellent Follow Up
I’d probably give this book 4.5 ⭐️ if I could.
This book is the second in a continuing series. It’s part of a group of series set in the same world but the other books don’t need to be read to enjoy this series. You will, however, need to read the first book in this series to understand this novel. There is no cliffhanger though, just a hook to keep you coming back for more.
Everly is now a vampire, changed by Alexius in a complicated way to make her an ‘Orphan’, which gives her free will in a way most newly made vampires don’t have. Alexius takes Everly into his home to help her acclimate to her new circumstances and to hopefully work with him in his hunter duties, when she gets her hunger in check. This book follows her training and their first hunt.
I really enjoyed this book. Everly is a very interesting character, who suffers from anxiety, from when she was a human and has to learn that the physical responses to her mental state no longer have to affect her. She’s still an introvert, who loves playing with her computers, but she also has a drive to protect others which fits in with working with Alexius. She’s also intelligent and quickly absorbs her mental training. She does, however, shy away from doing any physical training because she hated it when she was a human and wasn’t particularly coordinated. It’s so rare to find this kind of hero in an urban fantasy book, because normally they have leather-wearing, sword-wielding martial artists who destroy demons and bad supernaturals. Everly is a geek. She’s a normal person who has been through extraordinary things that have pressured her beyond belief and she has not only survived, she has found hidden depths to her character.
Alexius is also an interesting character that we get to know more of through the course of this book, as he starts to reveal his history to Everly. He is surprisingly open with her, given his vast age and usually isolationist nature. He doesn’t like being a vampire has feels great shame for how his nature made him act before he met his ‘son’. He understands his nature is violent and solitary and uses his power and skill as a hunter to support the structure and control of the way the vampires are now ruled. I like that though he is attracted to Everly he doesn’t want to impose his desires on her from his position of power and controls himself. This is not your typical vastly ancient vampire turns a young woman and seduces her novel and I really like it because of that.
Most of the world-building for this series has been done in the first book and other series set in the same world, but we are introduced to the tribunal, which is the ruling body for the supernatural world, and it’s activities in this book. There is some interaction with other races as part of the plot, which educates Everly who has really only known about vampires previously.
The plot in this book is intelligent, interesting and action-filled as Everly takes part in her first hunt, across hundreds of miles, alongside Alexius, who is used to hunting alone. Everly’s knowledge of modern technology transforms the way Alexius works and his knowledge and vast experience of hunting dangerous vampires is passed on to Everly as they work. They work together well and their skills and knowledge help to move the story along quickly and competently, despite Everly’s limitations, due to control issues.
This series has become a firm favourite with me and I can’t wait to see what the author does with these characters next, because they fascinate me.
I’d probably give this book 4.5 ⭐️ if I could.
This book is the second in a continuing series. It’s part of a group of series set in the same world but the other books don’t need to be read to enjoy this series. You will, however, need to read the first book in this series to understand this novel. There is no cliffhanger though, just a hook to keep you coming back for more.
Everly is now a vampire, changed by Alexius in a complicated way to make her an ‘Orphan’, which gives her free will in a way most newly made vampires don’t have. Alexius takes Everly into his home to help her acclimate to her new circumstances and to hopefully work with him in his hunter duties, when she gets her hunger in check. This book follows her training and their first hunt.
I really enjoyed this book. Everly is a very interesting character, who suffers from anxiety, from when she was a human and has to learn that the physical responses to her mental state no longer have to affect her. She’s still an introvert, who loves playing with her computers, but she also has a drive to protect others which fits in with working with Alexius. She’s also intelligent and quickly absorbs her mental training. She does, however, shy away from doing any physical training because she hated it when she was a human and wasn’t particularly coordinated. It’s so rare to find this kind of hero in an urban fantasy book, because normally they have leather-wearing, sword-wielding martial artists who destroy demons and bad supernaturals. Everly is a geek. She’s a normal person who has been through extraordinary things that have pressured her beyond belief and she has not only survived, she has found hidden depths to her character.
Alexius is also an interesting character that we get to know more of through the course of this book, as he starts to reveal his history to Everly. He is surprisingly open with her, given his vast age and usually isolationist nature. He doesn’t like being a vampire has feels great shame for how his nature made him act before he met his ‘son’. He understands his nature is violent and solitary and uses his power and skill as a hunter to support the structure and control of the way the vampires are now ruled. I like that though he is attracted to Everly he doesn’t want to impose his desires on her from his position of power and controls himself. This is not your typical vastly ancient vampire turns a young woman and seduces her novel and I really like it because of that.
Most of the world-building for this series has been done in the first book and other series set in the same world, but we are introduced to the tribunal, which is the ruling body for the supernatural world, and it’s activities in this book. There is some interaction with other races as part of the plot, which educates Everly who has really only known about vampires previously.
The plot in this book is intelligent, interesting and action-filled as Everly takes part in her first hunt, across hundreds of miles, alongside Alexius, who is used to hunting alone. Everly’s knowledge of modern technology transforms the way Alexius works and his knowledge and vast experience of hunting dangerous vampires is passed on to Everly as they work. They work together well and their skills and knowledge help to move the story along quickly and competently, despite Everly’s limitations, due to control issues.
This series has become a firm favourite with me and I can’t wait to see what the author does with these characters next, because they fascinate me.
August 29, 2024
Solid 4 stars - much better than the 1st book and I found myself gripped by the story. I understand why the 1st story had to be written the way it was and it gave a good foundation for Everly to jump off from because that is kind of what she is doing in this one. Unfortunate that it may turn off some readers from continuing.
This story starts off slow, adjusting to her becoming a Vampire and living with Alexius and why. Makes sense and is a slow unfolding of what I hope to be a rock solid relationship. They travel to Alaska to stop rampant Vampires on a killing spree and I for one was there for it!
Highlights and Spoilers:
The time changes, hours between darkness/feedings probably was accurate but my tired brain decided not to care :)
Not sure why this was a big deal, being barefoot in her own dwelling, the only thing I could think of was the barefoot, pregnant and in the kitchen reference?
"I flushed, looking down at my feet, which made me realize I was barefoot. Great first impression to make with the ruler of all the vampires. The weird ginger girl Alexius keeps barefoot and locked in his basement. Fantastic."
Yes- I do love that she hates physical activity too.
"There was a massive mat rolled up in the corner by the mirrors. Beside it, on a blank tan wall, was a set of brown cabinets with doors which I assumed held more torture devices.
Like jump ropes or something."
Little peeve- she took to the killing really easily:
"I stopped swinging when I realized I was hitting tile. I straightened and glared at the other vampires in the room, now all in the position to see what I had just done.
“Lesson number one: You can die,” I snarled.
“No… no, no, no,” Stacy was staring down at Jaxson. “NO!” She went to her knees as the others just stared at me, horrified.
“And you will.”
And I like the hints of Everly not liking it when Alexius is too close to another female- yessss!
As with most Banet books, I am reading so quickly that I don't catch a lot to highlight. Just the book/writing style I think. Anyway- started the next book already :)
This story starts off slow, adjusting to her becoming a Vampire and living with Alexius and why. Makes sense and is a slow unfolding of what I hope to be a rock solid relationship. They travel to Alaska to stop rampant Vampires on a killing spree and I for one was there for it!
Highlights and Spoilers:
The time changes, hours between darkness/feedings probably was accurate but my tired brain decided not to care :)
Not sure why this was a big deal, being barefoot in her own dwelling, the only thing I could think of was the barefoot, pregnant and in the kitchen reference?
"I flushed, looking down at my feet, which made me realize I was barefoot. Great first impression to make with the ruler of all the vampires. The weird ginger girl Alexius keeps barefoot and locked in his basement. Fantastic."
Yes- I do love that she hates physical activity too.
"There was a massive mat rolled up in the corner by the mirrors. Beside it, on a blank tan wall, was a set of brown cabinets with doors which I assumed held more torture devices.
Like jump ropes or something."
Little peeve- she took to the killing really easily:
"I stopped swinging when I realized I was hitting tile. I straightened and glared at the other vampires in the room, now all in the position to see what I had just done.
“Lesson number one: You can die,” I snarled.
“No… no, no, no,” Stacy was staring down at Jaxson. “NO!” She went to her knees as the others just stared at me, horrified.
“And you will.”
And I like the hints of Everly not liking it when Alexius is too close to another female- yessss!
As with most Banet books, I am reading so quickly that I don't catch a lot to highlight. Just the book/writing style I think. Anyway- started the next book already :)
March 15, 2022
*** I received an advanced reader copy (ARC) in exchange for this honest review! (Though I automatically buy anything she publishes, so…)***
This book picks up shortly after the first leaves off, so if you haven’t read the first- go do that! There was a lot of explaining in the first part of the book, which I found helpful, having only briefly glimpsed the Vampires in other books set in this world. It is interesting seeing characters I am familiar with from a new perspective. I like that Everly is smart and capable and a bit of a computer nerd. Other heroines in this universe nail the kick-butt-take-names vibe and I thoroughly enjoy it, but it is cool to have a different kind of female protagonist. I like that she is introverted, wants to remain in the background, and uses her brains and computer skills. I find her most relatable, personally, as I too hate exercise and frequently feel out of place.
While the build up was a little slower in this book, I really like the feel of it- sort of crime procedural rather than kick-butt action. I think she and Alexius make a good team, his experience and her technological skills are a good match. Without getting into spoiler territory, I think the plot was solid and made sense. There were no holes in logic that I saw, and it was a solid case for Everly to start with.
Overall, this was a great second book to the series and a solid story. I cannot wait to see more!
This book picks up shortly after the first leaves off, so if you haven’t read the first- go do that! There was a lot of explaining in the first part of the book, which I found helpful, having only briefly glimpsed the Vampires in other books set in this world. It is interesting seeing characters I am familiar with from a new perspective. I like that Everly is smart and capable and a bit of a computer nerd. Other heroines in this universe nail the kick-butt-take-names vibe and I thoroughly enjoy it, but it is cool to have a different kind of female protagonist. I like that she is introverted, wants to remain in the background, and uses her brains and computer skills. I find her most relatable, personally, as I too hate exercise and frequently feel out of place.
While the build up was a little slower in this book, I really like the feel of it- sort of crime procedural rather than kick-butt action. I think she and Alexius make a good team, his experience and her technological skills are a good match. Without getting into spoiler territory, I think the plot was solid and made sense. There were no holes in logic that I saw, and it was a solid case for Everly to start with.
Overall, this was a great second book to the series and a solid story. I cannot wait to see more!
August 11, 2022
As much as I enjoy the writing of K.N. Banet, the Everly Abbott series so far has not been anywhere close to being a favorite. What's wrong? This series needs a little levity, fun and comic relief but so far it has been a doledrum of one series scene after another. Also, there is a hint of an attraction between Everly and her boss Alesius but I just don't feel the chemistry between them as of yet.
In "Blood of the Wicked," Everly and Alexius are on their way to Alaska to investigate the slaughter of the granddaughter of a werewolf alpha as well other family members. Soon they discover that the culprits appear to be young, recently turned vamps. Is this a trap or related to a message sent to Alesius at the end of the previous book.
The mystery behind the killings was interesting but quite honestly the lack of levity was a huge hindrance for me. It definitely wasn't as bad as in the first book but I hope that this trend does not continue to the third installment. If it is not corrected, I will not be going on with the series.
In "Blood of the Wicked," Everly and Alexius are on their way to Alaska to investigate the slaughter of the granddaughter of a werewolf alpha as well other family members. Soon they discover that the culprits appear to be young, recently turned vamps. Is this a trap or related to a message sent to Alesius at the end of the previous book.
The mystery behind the killings was interesting but quite honestly the lack of levity was a huge hindrance for me. It definitely wasn't as bad as in the first book but I hope that this trend does not continue to the third installment. If it is not corrected, I will not be going on with the series.
March 14, 2022
I Devoured this Book!
This is the second book in the Everly Abbott series, and I devoured this book. I love the in depth look we get into how Everly's handling her new life as a vampire. We met and fell in love with Everly as a human, and now she's the same, but also completely changed. Everly is a complex, and unique character, and I just love her.
We also get to learn a lot of the history and laws of the vampires right along with Everly. Which is intriguing and exciting, because I was convinced that vampires were more evil than the other supernaturals in the Tribunal Archives universe. I see now that isn't completely true. The complexity of all Kristen's characters is just jaw dropping. I'm excited to see where Kristen will take us in the next book, and I implore you to read this series along with the other series, novellas, and short stories in this universe. You'll be missing something truly amazing if you don't.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced readers copy (ARC) of this book.
This is the second book in the Everly Abbott series, and I devoured this book. I love the in depth look we get into how Everly's handling her new life as a vampire. We met and fell in love with Everly as a human, and now she's the same, but also completely changed. Everly is a complex, and unique character, and I just love her.
We also get to learn a lot of the history and laws of the vampires right along with Everly. Which is intriguing and exciting, because I was convinced that vampires were more evil than the other supernaturals in the Tribunal Archives universe. I see now that isn't completely true. The complexity of all Kristen's characters is just jaw dropping. I'm excited to see where Kristen will take us in the next book, and I implore you to read this series along with the other series, novellas, and short stories in this universe. You'll be missing something truly amazing if you don't.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced readers copy (ARC) of this book.
March 11, 2022
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I love this series. The action and character building are excellent. As Everly adjusts to being a Vampire a murder case comes up. She scrambles to control her thirst, because of her status as an Orphan she is learning she has a few different issues then most turned vampires. Her and Alexeus are finding their footing with each other. I am enjoying the slow romance. This author does a good job of letting you understand why Alexeus reacts as he does with other vampires, and why he has chosen his career.
Though the beginning is a little slow (which it needed in order for the audience to understand Everly's state of mind). I enjoyed it even though I like things to move fast. This book does not keep you waiting for the action to start. The murder case involves werewolves but takes no time for them to realize there is a sinister conspiracy taking place. I see so many possibilities for Alexeus and Everly and where their partnership can go. Both in the romance department and the job. I finished in one night; cannot wait for the next.
I love this series. The action and character building are excellent. As Everly adjusts to being a Vampire a murder case comes up. She scrambles to control her thirst, because of her status as an Orphan she is learning she has a few different issues then most turned vampires. Her and Alexeus are finding their footing with each other. I am enjoying the slow romance. This author does a good job of letting you understand why Alexeus reacts as he does with other vampires, and why he has chosen his career.
Though the beginning is a little slow (which it needed in order for the audience to understand Everly's state of mind). I enjoyed it even though I like things to move fast. This book does not keep you waiting for the action to start. The murder case involves werewolves but takes no time for them to realize there is a sinister conspiracy taking place. I see so many possibilities for Alexeus and Everly and where their partnership can go. Both in the romance department and the job. I finished in one night; cannot wait for the next.
March 16, 2022
Great second book!
It started off a little slow, which I do think was necessary not only for the story but allowed us to truly feel how Everly feels in the beginning. It did pick up and then I couldn’t put it down. I love Everly coming into her own, her relationship (working and mentorship) progress with Alexius and I love how this storyline connects into the overall mystery of who murdered Jacob. Very excited with how this series is coming along and am looking forward to the next one.
Note- this is the second book of a series and you must read the first to understand what is going on
It started off a little slow, which I do think was necessary not only for the story but allowed us to truly feel how Everly feels in the beginning. It did pick up and then I couldn’t put it down. I love Everly coming into her own, her relationship (working and mentorship) progress with Alexius and I love how this storyline connects into the overall mystery of who murdered Jacob. Very excited with how this series is coming along and am looking forward to the next one.
Note- this is the second book of a series and you must read the first to understand what is going on
March 21, 2022
In which KN Banet knocks it so far out of the park it's long past Pluto YET AGAIN.
Oh my gosh. Yes. I stayed up all night with this one. HOW WILL I WAIT UNTIL SEPTEMBER 22nd FOR THE NEXT ONE?!?!?!??
It's pretty much perfect KN Banet. We've got riveting conflict, a badass heroine who's figuring out her place in vampire society, a long overarching plot that will unfold in the next several books, and a slow slow slow slow slow slow slow burn romance that makes it all the better when something actually happens in book 4 or 5 or 6.
THANK YOU KN BANET!!
Oh my gosh. Yes. I stayed up all night with this one. HOW WILL I WAIT UNTIL SEPTEMBER 22nd FOR THE NEXT ONE?!?!?!??
It's pretty much perfect KN Banet. We've got riveting conflict, a badass heroine who's figuring out her place in vampire society, a long overarching plot that will unfold in the next several books, and a slow slow slow slow slow slow slow burn romance that makes it all the better when something actually happens in book 4 or 5 or 6.
THANK YOU KN BANET!!
April 11, 2022
This book grew on me, but very slowly, by halfway I was beginning to get frustrated with the author’s fixation on Everly’s feeding problems and vampire politics, but eventually it moved on and by the end I quite enjoyed the story.
March 25, 2022
It's fun having this opportunity to view this world from the vampire side. I'm looking forward to what's to come for Everly and Alexius.
April 4, 2022
I love this series
Everly needs to adjust to her new life as a vampire, and an orphan on top of that. Not having a sire makes her a powerful ally or enemy. However, Alexius won't let Everly go out in the world before she's ready, but when a murder drives Alexius and Everly to Alaska, they both need to learn together what their limits are because someone is playing with them and they need to find out who before the dark age of vampires come back.
It's a slow burn, and I can't wait to see how the relationship between Alexius and Everly develops.
Everly needs to adjust to her new life as a vampire, and an orphan on top of that. Not having a sire makes her a powerful ally or enemy. However, Alexius won't let Everly go out in the world before she's ready, but when a murder drives Alexius and Everly to Alaska, they both need to learn together what their limits are because someone is playing with them and they need to find out who before the dark age of vampires come back.
It's a slow burn, and I can't wait to see how the relationship between Alexius and Everly develops.
March 16, 2022
Ah, the Mouse 🐁 and the Hunter 🧛🏽♂️🥷 The story goes like this:
📘
✍🏼🛠️ I have to commend Mrs.Banet for keeping her facts straight and the editing team for their attention to detail (no mistakes). This series, these characters, are going to be VERY interesting to read and watch them evolve. Well done 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 Cheers.
📘
🏷️I'm giving it 3.5 🌟🌟🌟⭐ Not because it was bad, but because as in most of the Tribunal series, the early books are very light on the romance part, almost non-existent. So until shit hits the fan, the first few of the 40+ chapters, are a little boring. But that's just me. Other than that, I loved when during their road trip, Alexius gives Everly his early history (with and without Jacob) and also the lore and facts about that early breed of vampires. We get something new (primitive vamps) within something new (the vamp part of the Tribunal universe and the development of new characters).
✍🏼🛠️ I have to commend Mrs.Banet for keeping her facts straight and the editing team for their attention to detail (no mistakes). This series, these characters, are going to be VERY interesting to read and watch them evolve. Well done 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 Cheers.
March 26, 2022
I loved seeing and learning about the Vampire part of the vampire world from Everly. The book picks up with her trying to figure out how to control her cravings as well as learning history about the vampires. Alexis is such an interesting character, and I looked forward to and loved the scenes from his POV. Seeing him attracted to but also somewhat perplexed by Everly (and technology) was fun. Everly and Alexis are suddenly plunged in a situation that tests Everly. I really love these Tribunal series books!
June 8, 2022
So far this series just doesn't hold up to this author's other work in the same world. It wasn't so bad as to be terrible, but it wasn't all that great either. I can tell that the author's other works aren't without plot holes or just unrealistic incorporations, but somehow, I still enjoy those stories, whereas this one was a bigger struggle to get through.
This book begins with Everly still couped up in Alexius's basement, trying to get control over her new vampire body, while also learning all about her new culture and world. She seems to waffle between a guilt-ridden mouse and impulsive 14 year old. Then there is just the stoic Alexius, who doesn't have much of a personality, despite Everly stating that he does, it isn't shown for the first chunk of the book.
When adventure comes knocking on their door, they book pretty much jump at the chance to get out and catch a killer. They both seem to have bravery in spades, but this book showed both of them to be really reckless. Everly is a bit more excusable since she was just yanked from her old life and thrown into a new one with uncontrollable urges. However, she also goes on and on about how she's terrified of hurting a human, but she doesn't ever seem to think through any possible dangers in her actions, and how they could lead her to be in a position to hurt a human. She came across as dumb and was hard to root for. Alexius, was less excusable. He is beyond ancient and has been around many dangerous new vampires, not to mention he has gone on countless hunts. Now suddenly, he has unfounded confidence in Everly's control and seems to do a 180 from keeping her locked in a basement. Then during the hunt, he is virtually the CSI and the chauffeur as Everly does all the other work. I get the need to have these two find their roles to make future books fall into play, but this just didn't feel real.
I also don't feel any chemistry between the characters, so that makes their dynamics hard to swallow as well. I am glad the author is making their romance a slow-burn, but I still don't love it from the conceptual phase. Everly is young and acts young. She needs a mentor from Alexius not a lover. It just doesn't jive for me.
I am open to reading this next book, but I'm not eager.
This book begins with Everly still couped up in Alexius's basement, trying to get control over her new vampire body, while also learning all about her new culture and world. She seems to waffle between a guilt-ridden mouse and impulsive 14 year old. Then there is just the stoic Alexius, who doesn't have much of a personality, despite Everly stating that he does, it isn't shown for the first chunk of the book.
When adventure comes knocking on their door, they book pretty much jump at the chance to get out and catch a killer. They both seem to have bravery in spades, but this book showed both of them to be really reckless. Everly is a bit more excusable since she was just yanked from her old life and thrown into a new one with uncontrollable urges. However, she also goes on and on about how she's terrified of hurting a human, but she doesn't ever seem to think through any possible dangers in her actions, and how they could lead her to be in a position to hurt a human. She came across as dumb and was hard to root for. Alexius, was less excusable. He is beyond ancient and has been around many dangerous new vampires, not to mention he has gone on countless hunts. Now suddenly, he has unfounded confidence in Everly's control and seems to do a 180 from keeping her locked in a basement. Then during the hunt, he is virtually the CSI and the chauffeur as Everly does all the other work. I get the need to have these two find their roles to make future books fall into play, but this just didn't feel real.
I also don't feel any chemistry between the characters, so that makes their dynamics hard to swallow as well. I am glad the author is making their romance a slow-burn, but I still don't love it from the conceptual phase. Everly is young and acts young. She needs a mentor from Alexius not a lover. It just doesn't jive for me.
I am open to reading this next book, but I'm not eager.
March 15, 2022
Turned and Transformed
Blood of the Wicked begins shortly after Everly is Turned. Uncertainty, confusion, and ultimately shame consumes her.
She doesn’t want to be like them.
She doesn’t want to be a monster.
Alexius is easing Everly into her new life. While he may not be the most experienced when it comes to Turned vampires, he understands the urges. The slow burn of hunger and how it makes you become something you couldn’t imagine.
Their calm and much needed quiet lifestyle is interrupted when Isaiah, the Ruler of all Vampires and a member of the Tribunal shows up, uninvited. As would be expected, Everly’s education speeds up and things get spicy when Alexius is called to duty and both he and Everly head out on Hunter duty.
I like following along as Everly’s confidence grows and her fear of being a monster subsides. It shows in her interactions with other supernaturals as well as in her abilities as professionally and emotionally.
The entire Tribunal Archives world is one that you can get lost in and as a reader and a lover of “series”, K.N. Banet hits all the marks and causes that dull ache when you finish a book and know the waiting is all you have until the next book hits the shelf. But unlike other book series, The Tribunal Archives world has multiple stories awaiting your discovery and can be read in whole or separately.
I received this book as an advanced copy for an honest review.
Blood of the Wicked begins shortly after Everly is Turned. Uncertainty, confusion, and ultimately shame consumes her.
She doesn’t want to be like them.
She doesn’t want to be a monster.
Alexius is easing Everly into her new life. While he may not be the most experienced when it comes to Turned vampires, he understands the urges. The slow burn of hunger and how it makes you become something you couldn’t imagine.
Their calm and much needed quiet lifestyle is interrupted when Isaiah, the Ruler of all Vampires and a member of the Tribunal shows up, uninvited. As would be expected, Everly’s education speeds up and things get spicy when Alexius is called to duty and both he and Everly head out on Hunter duty.
I like following along as Everly’s confidence grows and her fear of being a monster subsides. It shows in her interactions with other supernaturals as well as in her abilities as professionally and emotionally.
The entire Tribunal Archives world is one that you can get lost in and as a reader and a lover of “series”, K.N. Banet hits all the marks and causes that dull ache when you finish a book and know the waiting is all you have until the next book hits the shelf. But unlike other book series, The Tribunal Archives world has multiple stories awaiting your discovery and can be read in whole or separately.
I received this book as an advanced copy for an honest review.
March 17, 2022
Book two in the third series of the Tribunal Archives. I love it love it lOve it, just like I do every other book here.
This book we get to see Vampire Everly taking her first steps with Alexius standing beside her. I’ll say on the romance scale this is one of the slowest burns I’ve ever seen but if you know me at all, you know slow burns are my jam. There has been absolutely zero romantic moments/ feelings expressed in this book. It’s total focus was Everly trying to lay down the foundation rebuild her life again and that I think is genius. Some might dislike the lack in romance and usually I would be standing there with them but. There is so much potential here for Everly and Alexius and the only author I trust with handling them and bring it to life is Banet. So I will wait, be it three years or four, I will be there the whole way.
JL KS and now, EA. My loves <3
This book we get to see Vampire Everly taking her first steps with Alexius standing beside her. I’ll say on the romance scale this is one of the slowest burns I’ve ever seen but if you know me at all, you know slow burns are my jam. There has been absolutely zero romantic moments/ feelings expressed in this book. It’s total focus was Everly trying to lay down the foundation rebuild her life again and that I think is genius. Some might dislike the lack in romance and usually I would be standing there with them but. There is so much potential here for Everly and Alexius and the only author I trust with handling them and bring it to life is Banet. So I will wait, be it three years or four, I will be there the whole way.
JL KS and now, EA. My loves <3
March 25, 2022
Blood of the wicked
Everly embarks on her journey as a newly fledged Orphan vampire under the tutelage of Alexius. Although being a vampire is not what she originally wanted, she takes to her lessons very well and fills her spare time with computers as usual. Alexius and Everly receive a postcard from Alaska with a small bloodstain and shortly after a tragedy happens in Alaska. They are sent to investigate a vampire attack on the Fairbanks Alpha’s human family and quickly find newly Turned vampires are creating chaos. Everly quickly proves that she is very useful and dedicated to her new job even with limited control over her hunger.
This book was an absolute thrill from beginning to end and I love the dynamic of Everly and Alexius. I cannot wait to read more of this storyline as it is quickly becoming a favorite!!!
Everly embarks on her journey as a newly fledged Orphan vampire under the tutelage of Alexius. Although being a vampire is not what she originally wanted, she takes to her lessons very well and fills her spare time with computers as usual. Alexius and Everly receive a postcard from Alaska with a small bloodstain and shortly after a tragedy happens in Alaska. They are sent to investigate a vampire attack on the Fairbanks Alpha’s human family and quickly find newly Turned vampires are creating chaos. Everly quickly proves that she is very useful and dedicated to her new job even with limited control over her hunger.
This book was an absolute thrill from beginning to end and I love the dynamic of Everly and Alexius. I cannot wait to read more of this storyline as it is quickly becoming a favorite!!!
July 29, 2025
A slow start but settles into the "hunt" and basic turn-around for Everly. She suddenly goes from locked away, clueless, and jonesing for the blood to fully together, investigating, and remarkably in control. It was a whiplash change that was a bit questionable. There was a lapse or two, but nothing to signal she wasn't way far ahead of where she had been the day before. And, Isaiah had said she'd need 3 years? WTH? Plenty of background/history is provided for Jason, Isaiah, and even Alexius during the road trip. Everly does the whole "I will not kill a human" mantra but still has some anger issues to work through. No romance - and actually no sparks beyond look how good looking he is. Some minor sparks from Alexius but he - of course - has decided she is totally not a potential and will hate himself for being attracted. Book 3 - yes, I'll read it.
March 17, 2022
A story that keeps getting better
Everly is learning how to live as a vampire and through her, we learn so much more about vampire history and culture in this world.
I love seeing her grow into her new life and job. Her struggles are realistically portrayed and as a reader I feel like I got to know her better in this book. The best way to describe her is in the words by the author herself: This redheaded mouse was actually a dragon in disguise with fire in her blood.
I really enjoyed watching Everly and Alex working together. Learning more about him was definitely a treat and I am really looking forward to reading the next book in the series. Everly is definitely raising up the ranks of my favorite female leads
Everly is learning how to live as a vampire and through her, we learn so much more about vampire history and culture in this world.
I love seeing her grow into her new life and job. Her struggles are realistically portrayed and as a reader I feel like I got to know her better in this book. The best way to describe her is in the words by the author herself: This redheaded mouse was actually a dragon in disguise with fire in her blood.
I really enjoyed watching Everly and Alex working together. Learning more about him was definitely a treat and I am really looking forward to reading the next book in the series. Everly is definitely raising up the ranks of my favorite female leads
April 18, 2022
Consider this review rounded down to 3.5. This wasn't a bad story, but it felt very short and unfulfilling. It was like reading a short story when you expected a novel. It just... didn't really feel like this story did as much as I was expecting a new book to do to progress the characters or story. I think my biggest issue with it was how quickly I finished it. This wasn't a book I finished in one day because I was laser focused or stayed up too late or anything like that. I started it on my lunch break at work, and took a couple hours after I got home from work. There was still plenty of evening left when I was done. And all I had in my head at the end was... "is that it?" Somehow this book managed to balance not being bad with still being disappointing. Neat trick.
March 15, 2022
Yet another standing ovation for KN Banet! This book captured my whole attention and has me anxiously awaiting the next one!
I enjoy how Banet can enthrall the readers ( I know I am) by putting so much depth into each and every character and the world they live in. Each character isn’t just a name, but they, at some point, will circle back around and blow you away with their stories and their interactions. And being able to see different points of view on almost the entire series is absolutely captivating. The action is intense, the emotion is intense, and it just keeps getting better and better!
I enjoy how Banet can enthrall the readers ( I know I am) by putting so much depth into each and every character and the world they live in. Each character isn’t just a name, but they, at some point, will circle back around and blow you away with their stories and their interactions. And being able to see different points of view on almost the entire series is absolutely captivating. The action is intense, the emotion is intense, and it just keeps getting better and better!
March 16, 2022
The 2nd book in the new series started a little slow for me. However, once it kicked off with solving the mystery and having to leave the safety of the basement, it was nonstop action/excitement. I like the evolution of Everly's character as she finds her own. Alexius is so controlled but there is more reveal as to who he is and how he came to be. The friendship and how it came to be between Alexius, Jacob, and the head of the vampires and the vampire mythos are great. I so enjoy reading in this world that Ms. Banet has created with her 3 different series in it. Highly recommend any of her books.
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