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Blood for Blood: A Historical Vampire Romance
What if a vampire got saved?
Calandra, an evangelist's daughter, is amazed to watch as Raven, a century-old vampire, develops faith. As Raven ceases to drink blood and becomes more human with each passing day, Calandra cannot deny her growing attraction to him even though she is being courted by another man.
Raven's newfound salvation is both a relief and a burden, as he encounters multiple vampire taboos and must overcome them. Just when Raven begins to get the hang of his new lifestyle, Calandra is attacked by bandits.
Will Raven revert to his old vampiric ways to save Calandra from certain death? Or will he rely on his faith in God to help him ransom Calandra from a new brand of evil more horrifying than he ever was as a vampire?
Calandra, an evangelist's daughter, is amazed to watch as Raven, a century-old vampire, develops faith. As Raven ceases to drink blood and becomes more human with each passing day, Calandra cannot deny her growing attraction to him even though she is being courted by another man.
Raven's newfound salvation is both a relief and a burden, as he encounters multiple vampire taboos and must overcome them. Just when Raven begins to get the hang of his new lifestyle, Calandra is attacked by bandits.
Will Raven revert to his old vampiric ways to save Calandra from certain death? Or will he rely on his faith in God to help him ransom Calandra from a new brand of evil more horrifying than he ever was as a vampire?
360 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2014
4 people are currently reading
64 people want to read
About the author
Ben Wolf
99 books120 followersAt the age of nine, Ben Wolf slayed his first dragon.
As the dragon perished, it bequeathed a measure of its power to Ben.
It told him, "You now have the ability to lie more creatively than any other being on this planet--except for politicians. Use this power wisely."
The dragon died with one final puff of smoke from its lungs, but Ben Wolf lived on.
For years, Ben honed his craft. At the age of twelve, he lied to his sister about having thrown darts at a poster of her favorite boy band.
At the age of sixteen, he lied to a policeman who'd pulled him over for speeding, and it got him out of a ticket.
At the age of eighteen, he lied to himself about what a good decision it was to go to Bible college and major in Pastoral Studies (that one has come back to haunt him several times).
Given the unique power he'd inherited from the dying dragon, Ben Wolf had expected his life to look very different from how it did when he turned twenty-three.
Then the dragon's words regarding his power returned to him: "Use this power wisely."
The truth was, Ben hadn't been using the magnificent power wisely. He'd been using it for personal gain, and to dig himself out of bad situations (or, in the case of Bible college, to get himself into them).
So he asked himself, "What would be a wise way to use this power?"
At that very moment, a bus drove past the street in front of him. On its side was emblazoned the phrase, "You should write a novel!"
Having graduated from Bible college a year earlier, Ben took it as a divine message. What's more, he'd already written one novel at that point, and he'd enjoyed it, so he figured he might as well write a few more.
That was 2009. Now, more than ten years later, Ben has written north of ten books, including an award-winning children's book and an award-winning novel.
Awards are great, but what Ben has found even more reassuring is the consistently great feedback he's gotten from readers. They've raved about his work and told him he was the best, most creative liar they'd ever heard of.
So now Ben is on the cusp of making serious headway with his lying skills. His debut fantasy saga, the Blood Mercenaries series of dark/epic/sword & sorcery novels, is raking in tons of stellar reviews from readers everywhere.
And now you can be a part of his creative lying journey. If you've read Ben Wolf's work, love him as a person, or plain old just think he's a handsome guy (he is, and he is now making it known that it wasn't him who wrote this (but it was actually him)), then please review his books here and on Amazon.com.
Ben, who we swear didn't write this, thanks you.
As the dragon perished, it bequeathed a measure of its power to Ben.
It told him, "You now have the ability to lie more creatively than any other being on this planet--except for politicians. Use this power wisely."
The dragon died with one final puff of smoke from its lungs, but Ben Wolf lived on.
For years, Ben honed his craft. At the age of twelve, he lied to his sister about having thrown darts at a poster of her favorite boy band.
At the age of sixteen, he lied to a policeman who'd pulled him over for speeding, and it got him out of a ticket.
At the age of eighteen, he lied to himself about what a good decision it was to go to Bible college and major in Pastoral Studies (that one has come back to haunt him several times).
Given the unique power he'd inherited from the dying dragon, Ben Wolf had expected his life to look very different from how it did when he turned twenty-three.
Then the dragon's words regarding his power returned to him: "Use this power wisely."
The truth was, Ben hadn't been using the magnificent power wisely. He'd been using it for personal gain, and to dig himself out of bad situations (or, in the case of Bible college, to get himself into them).
So he asked himself, "What would be a wise way to use this power?"
At that very moment, a bus drove past the street in front of him. On its side was emblazoned the phrase, "You should write a novel!"
Having graduated from Bible college a year earlier, Ben took it as a divine message. What's more, he'd already written one novel at that point, and he'd enjoyed it, so he figured he might as well write a few more.
That was 2009. Now, more than ten years later, Ben has written north of ten books, including an award-winning children's book and an award-winning novel.
Awards are great, but what Ben has found even more reassuring is the consistently great feedback he's gotten from readers. They've raved about his work and told him he was the best, most creative liar they'd ever heard of.
So now Ben is on the cusp of making serious headway with his lying skills. His debut fantasy saga, the Blood Mercenaries series of dark/epic/sword & sorcery novels, is raking in tons of stellar reviews from readers everywhere.
And now you can be a part of his creative lying journey. If you've read Ben Wolf's work, love him as a person, or plain old just think he's a handsome guy (he is, and he is now making it known that it wasn't him who wrote this (but it was actually him)), then please review his books here and on Amazon.com.
Ben, who we swear didn't write this, thanks you.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
January 2, 2015
When I read the blurb for this novel, I instantly thought, "This is one novel that definitely defines what Edgy Speculative Christian fiction is all about."
Edgy, due to it being a taboo Christian subject and one that is one associated with the demonic and occult and the majority of Christians are either scared of this area ignorant of it or are discouraged from knowing about it for fear of being lured into it, or they are frowned upon by their Christian peers if it is discussed, and then there is the attitude that "Do vampires exist?"
Speculative, due to the question that Wolf raises, What if a vampire got saved? And it is this that this novel addresses and I believe shows that the Gospel of Christ and His death on the Cross is for all, no exclusions.
Christian, due to the the Gospel being presented to Raven and him being transformed into a new creature as mentioned in 2 Corinthians 5:17,
Whoever is a believer in Christ is a new creation. The old way of living has disappeared. A new way of living has come into existence.
Fiction well, we all know what that means!
To read more, go here:
http://christianfictionreviewguru.blo...
Edgy, due to it being a taboo Christian subject and one that is one associated with the demonic and occult and the majority of Christians are either scared of this area ignorant of it or are discouraged from knowing about it for fear of being lured into it, or they are frowned upon by their Christian peers if it is discussed, and then there is the attitude that "Do vampires exist?"
Speculative, due to the question that Wolf raises, What if a vampire got saved? And it is this that this novel addresses and I believe shows that the Gospel of Christ and His death on the Cross is for all, no exclusions.
Christian, due to the the Gospel being presented to Raven and him being transformed into a new creature as mentioned in 2 Corinthians 5:17,
Whoever is a believer in Christ is a new creation. The old way of living has disappeared. A new way of living has come into existence.
Fiction well, we all know what that means!
To read more, go here:
http://christianfictionreviewguru.blo...
December 12, 2014
I didn't know what to expect heading into this book. Vampire books have been overdone recently thanks to Twilight, and vampires in Christian fiction are hard to pull off. So I was pleasantly surprised reading this debut by Ben Wolf.
Raven Worth (great name) is a reluctant vampire. He's been a vampire so long that he has resolved himself to it, believing he has no other choice until a tent revival preacher offers him a chance.
This book explores whether anyone is too far gone to be saved. If vampires existed, would Jesus' blood be enough or would they be damned beyond redemption? Just asking the question begs the answer, but how this is accomplished is well worth the read. It's the Pharisees vs. Jesus in vampire land. And there are even a few surprises at the end.
Well-written, engaging, with classic vampire lore. Grab your garlic and wooden stake and hunker down to enjoy.
Raven Worth (great name) is a reluctant vampire. He's been a vampire so long that he has resolved himself to it, believing he has no other choice until a tent revival preacher offers him a chance.
This book explores whether anyone is too far gone to be saved. If vampires existed, would Jesus' blood be enough or would they be damned beyond redemption? Just asking the question begs the answer, but how this is accomplished is well worth the read. It's the Pharisees vs. Jesus in vampire land. And there are even a few surprises at the end.
Well-written, engaging, with classic vampire lore. Grab your garlic and wooden stake and hunker down to enjoy.
April 4, 2016
Blood for Blood was a delightful read. The protagonist gripped me right from the beginning. Raven, a vampire motivated by his next feeding of blood, was placed on the page with depth and just enough flaws to stir my empathy. His motivation changed as the story progressed, providing the reader with a glimpse at his inner journey and a reason to genuinely feel connected to him.
The story question, "What if a vampire got saved?" kept me turning the pages and before I knew it, I'd fallen in love with a Christian family that really did minister as Jesus would want us all to. The message was refreshing without being preachy, which is not an easy task to accomplish.
Wolf placed tension on every page and he did a wonderful job torturing his characters. His humor was timely and I found myself laughing out loud a number of times. His plot twists were brilliant. And as far as the kind of predicaments a Christian vampire could face, Wolf left no wooden stake unturned.
I came away with a new appreciation for what it means to love the unlovable. I always cherish books that change my view of life and enlarge my ability to love others. Blood for Blood has done both.
The story question, "What if a vampire got saved?" kept me turning the pages and before I knew it, I'd fallen in love with a Christian family that really did minister as Jesus would want us all to. The message was refreshing without being preachy, which is not an easy task to accomplish.
Wolf placed tension on every page and he did a wonderful job torturing his characters. His humor was timely and I found myself laughing out loud a number of times. His plot twists were brilliant. And as far as the kind of predicaments a Christian vampire could face, Wolf left no wooden stake unturned.
I came away with a new appreciation for what it means to love the unlovable. I always cherish books that change my view of life and enlarge my ability to love others. Blood for Blood has done both.
December 6, 2014
I felt for the main character, a tormented soul, and I loved the romance. Best of all I loved the themes and the positive message. This is a well written story that carried me away to a different place and only released me when I finished reading the book.
March 5, 2022
I was intrigued by the premise of this book¬—Raven, a vampire for over eighty years—stumbles upon an evangelical tent meeting one dark night and is compelled to answer an altar call. I wasn’t aware going in that the book is set in the 1800s but that made it even better. Through the course of the story, the reader is treated to Raven’s gradual conversion, his struggles with conscience, and the very real struggles of fitting into a regular world. Toss in a gang of bandits, Raven’s developing feelings for the daughter of the preacher who saved him, her jealous suitor, and becoming part of a family again, and this story is filled with both adventure and matters of the heart.
The Christian theme is light and there are some true surprises tacked onto the end. I really wasn’t sure how things would play out, but one of the plot threads took me completely by surprise. I also liked the look back at how Raven became a vampire, and what happened to him in the years immediately following his change. I picked this book up second-hand at a library sale, but am so glad I took a chance on it. I thoroughly enjoyed it, cover to cover!
The Christian theme is light and there are some true surprises tacked onto the end. I really wasn’t sure how things would play out, but one of the plot threads took me completely by surprise. I also liked the look back at how Raven became a vampire, and what happened to him in the years immediately following his change. I picked this book up second-hand at a library sale, but am so glad I took a chance on it. I thoroughly enjoyed it, cover to cover!
September 4, 2017
I don't watch vampire movies and normally don't read books about them. I saw a post about this book and thought I'd give it a try. My hesitation is because I know two 9 year olds who have watched the twilight movies. They think the movies are so romantic. This breaks my heart.
Well, I loved this book. It wasn't pretty but the message was great. Christ's blood can cover any sin. No one is beyond redemption.
To the author, great job.
Well, I loved this book. It wasn't pretty but the message was great. Christ's blood can cover any sin. No one is beyond redemption.
To the author, great job.
December 9, 2014
This book had my interest piqued before I even started reading. The premise alone was enough to make me want to dive in and see what all the fuss was about.
I was not disappointed!
Ben Wolf dared to ask and answer a frightening and exhilarating question: "Can a vampire be saved?" In doing so, he created a story that is not only believable, but has themes that ring true in all of our lives. Guilt. Loneliness. Love. Loss. Redemption.
The tale of the vampire Raven Worth draws you in with characters that are engaging and evoke extreme emotions, and then keeps you fully invested with a story like none other I have read. Raven, Calandra, Luco, Maria, Garrett, Harry, and the Marshall find their lives intertwining in unexpected ways and the result is brilliantly tumultuous.
Familiar lore and new revelations collide and then hold you captive. The twists and turns will have you gasping, laughing, and crying like a little girl.
Gritty and raw, yet somehow still delicate and beautiful, 'Blood for Blood' will grab your attention from the first action-packed words. In my opinion, it is the epitome of what Christian Speculative fiction should be. It has a strong message while still being relatable. It is honest. It doesn't shy away from the difficult subjects but it isn't brash or gratuitous. Most of all, it dares to take you places that no Christian book that I'm aware of has taken us before.
Ben Wolf takes the question "What if?" and runs with it, ending the race with amazing results.
I was not disappointed!
Ben Wolf dared to ask and answer a frightening and exhilarating question: "Can a vampire be saved?" In doing so, he created a story that is not only believable, but has themes that ring true in all of our lives. Guilt. Loneliness. Love. Loss. Redemption.
The tale of the vampire Raven Worth draws you in with characters that are engaging and evoke extreme emotions, and then keeps you fully invested with a story like none other I have read. Raven, Calandra, Luco, Maria, Garrett, Harry, and the Marshall find their lives intertwining in unexpected ways and the result is brilliantly tumultuous.
Familiar lore and new revelations collide and then hold you captive. The twists and turns will have you gasping, laughing, and crying like a little girl.
Gritty and raw, yet somehow still delicate and beautiful, 'Blood for Blood' will grab your attention from the first action-packed words. In my opinion, it is the epitome of what Christian Speculative fiction should be. It has a strong message while still being relatable. It is honest. It doesn't shy away from the difficult subjects but it isn't brash or gratuitous. Most of all, it dares to take you places that no Christian book that I'm aware of has taken us before.
Ben Wolf takes the question "What if?" and runs with it, ending the race with amazing results.
November 4, 2014
Blood for Blood the debut novel of Ben Wolf is not the sort of book I would normally read. But its unusual premise intrigued me. Psalms 23:3 He restoreth my soul is the theme verse for this new adult novel. (Adults in their 20s). This novel set in the 1800s isn’t focusing on any old body’s soul but a vampire. That part gave me pause I don’t read horror and never followed Twilight or any of the TV shows available today that feature vampires. But in the pages of Blood for Blood I found so many wonderful examples of the redemptive work of Christ. Reminders of how Christians judge the validity of someone’s salvation based on the level of sin in their former life.
Evangelist Zambini believes God can restore anyone’s soul and when he draws the soulless vampire Raven Worth toward the truth of God’s word interesting things happen. This author researched the folklore of vampirism and used his findings as a great foundation for the struggles of his protagonist. Those struggles parallel our very human Christian walk as Raven grows in faith and out of his vampire life.
There were surprise plot twists and the villain was not who I expected. Well-written and captivating. If you enjoy D L Koontz and Ted Dekker you will enjoy Blood for Blood. Even if you are an anti -horror reader like me you will find this story compelling and entertaining. If you are paying attention you’ll probably find a few choice nuggets of truth to meditate on as well.
Evangelist Zambini believes God can restore anyone’s soul and when he draws the soulless vampire Raven Worth toward the truth of God’s word interesting things happen. This author researched the folklore of vampirism and used his findings as a great foundation for the struggles of his protagonist. Those struggles parallel our very human Christian walk as Raven grows in faith and out of his vampire life.
There were surprise plot twists and the villain was not who I expected. Well-written and captivating. If you enjoy D L Koontz and Ted Dekker you will enjoy Blood for Blood. Even if you are an anti -horror reader like me you will find this story compelling and entertaining. If you are paying attention you’ll probably find a few choice nuggets of truth to meditate on as well.
February 20, 2015
With the exception of the Twilight series, I don't read vampire books. True vampire-ists agree that Twilight doesn't depict accurate vampire lore, so before reading Blood for Blood, I was wary of gruesome bloodlusty behaviors, overtly violent scenes, and needing a crash course on vampires to understand the book.
I worried for nothing.
Ben Wolf beautifully explains they "whys" and "ins-and-outs" of vampirism, simultaneously fulfilling the needs of seasoned fans of this genre, and allowing newbies like me to feel like an expert as well. The story pulls you in from the beginning. Life kept interrupting my reading, but the book was never far from my side.
Can a vampire be redeemed? It's an intriguing question and Ben spins a story so rich and well-rounded that you can't stop until the last page. While a few scenes were a little too fast and I wanted more information, the twists and surprise ending (no spoilers!) made this a 5-star review.
It's a book that lingers...you'll love it.
I worried for nothing.
Ben Wolf beautifully explains they "whys" and "ins-and-outs" of vampirism, simultaneously fulfilling the needs of seasoned fans of this genre, and allowing newbies like me to feel like an expert as well. The story pulls you in from the beginning. Life kept interrupting my reading, but the book was never far from my side.
Can a vampire be redeemed? It's an intriguing question and Ben spins a story so rich and well-rounded that you can't stop until the last page. While a few scenes were a little too fast and I wanted more information, the twists and surprise ending (no spoilers!) made this a 5-star review.
It's a book that lingers...you'll love it.
November 3, 2014
Blood for Blood
There seems to be a trend of these vampires who become Christian books out there, but there are only three that I read that make you stop and say WOW! This is one of those book. What happens when a Vampire decide to give his life to Christ? What struggles will be have to endure? Blood for Blood tells the story of Raven Worth and how he changes from immortal damned to immortal saved and full of light and life.
Ben Wolf, I love Luco, you have to write his story.
There seems to be a trend of these vampires who become Christian books out there, but there are only three that I read that make you stop and say WOW! This is one of those book. What happens when a Vampire decide to give his life to Christ? What struggles will be have to endure? Blood for Blood tells the story of Raven Worth and how he changes from immortal damned to immortal saved and full of light and life.
Ben Wolf, I love Luco, you have to write his story.
May 10, 2017
As a Christian, I was hesitant to read a book about vampires. This well-written book captured my attention from page 1. There is a bit of gore at the beginning of the book. Once you get past that, you are in for the ride of your life. I highly recommend this book, Ben will change your mind about God and His desire to save even the vilest of sinners.
November 24, 2021
Wow!!!!
I’ve had this book for quite awhile and just now got around to reading it. The story and characters are phenomenal. I loved the whole idea of what if a vampire got saved. The story did not disappoint at all. I loved all the characters. Will definitely check out more from this author.
I’ve had this book for quite awhile and just now got around to reading it. The story and characters are phenomenal. I loved the whole idea of what if a vampire got saved. The story did not disappoint at all. I loved all the characters. Will definitely check out more from this author.
August 10, 2017
I'm not a big fan of vampire books in general, but I really liked this one. It was such a cool concept: even a vampire can find redemption. And I really wasn't expecting the ending! Well-done :)
February 15, 2016
Raven is a vampire, which, contrary to the popular belief of modern YA readers, is a bad thing. When he encounters a preacher, he finds hope. The blood of Christ may be able to restore his soul.
I'm the type of person who avoids books involving vampires. I'd recieved a free PDF version of this book, and I'd met the author at the FCWC, so I decided I'd give the book a try.
Note on ratings:
* Horrible.
** Below average
*** Average. Not good or bad.
**** Above average
***** Above and beyond
Content: *** (Content based off my personal level of squeamishness.)
Quite a bit of violence, not surprising considering it is a vampire story. People get their blood drained, staked, shot, and have bones broken in fights with vampires.
There's also an attempted rape. It is stopped by above-mentioned violence.
H--- may have been used as a swear word a few times.
Originality and world building: ****
The concept is very original. There aren't many Christian stories dealing with vampires, that's for sure. I did feel the worldbuilding was slightly confusing. From what I gathered, vampires sleep in the same place every day. They also need to consume a person every night. Granted, vampires can travel long distances, but can they really travel far enough in a night that no-one notices a person is vanishing every night? It wouldn't be that strange in a city like New York, but this story seemed to take place in a more rural area where hundreds of missing people in the same year would attract notice. (It was mentioned that some people weren't fully drained, but it didn't seem very clear to me.)
Characters and their Arcs: ****
It's easy to feel sorry for Raven and the other characters, at least the good ones, are likable, though the main female character did a few things I was quite annoyed with. (She's called out for them.) I do think the POV jumped around a bit more than I'd like, so it was sometimes hard to keep track of whose head I was in.
Writing style and Pacing: *****
The pacing is really good and drew me in. There was a spot near the middle where I wasn't sure what the conflict would be, but the conflict returned pretty quickly.
What I liked:
Even if I'm not into vampires, I enjoyed reading something that was unlike anything else I'd read. This book certainly stands out from the crowd.
What I didn’t like:
The romance was a bit annoying. I didn't really understand why anyone would want to marry Garret in the first place. Of course, I'm not a fan of romance to begin with.
Is it worth reading?
Yes, as long as you don't mind lots of blood. Of course, if you don't like blood, you probably wouldn't be picking up a book that used the word "blood" twice in the title.
October 30, 2016
WHAT WORKED
Everybody knows Raven is a vampire. There’s no hidden burden, no stalling for time until the big reveal, no mysterious pretty boy. Everybody just goes, “Yep, there’s a vampire.” Some fear him, some accept him, some disbelieve, but there’s no playing games. Can I just tell you what a breath of fresh air that is?
Actually, the whole book is like a pleasant breeze. It has that X-factor that makes it enjoyable. Even beyond all the artistic ups and downs, the mere act of reading this book is enjoyable. Simple, but not empty. Brief, but not short. An easy read, but not a brain drain.
The story is a clever take on Psalm 23 with God literally restoring Raven’s soul piece by piece, and tackling bizarre rhetorical questions not usually seen in Christian fiction, or in novels in general. Can vampires go to Heaven?
Author Ben Wolf takes old materials and gives them new life, even outside the Christian themes. At the three-quarter mark, we see a new spin on the “liar revealed” and “boyfriend-walks-in-on-guy-kissing-his-girl” tropes, making them entirely new, and entirely unrepeatable. Plus, there’s a plot twist near the end that I honest-to-goodness did not see coming. In fact, I thought it was the other guy…
The characters work, the vampire lore makes sense, the preaching is totally natural (gasp!), the action sequences are exciting, the tension is…well, tense, and the technical details are tight. Translation: it’s a good story that’s well written.
WHAT DIDN’T WORK
The pacing stumbled from time to time. At some points we jump surprising lengths of time with only a summary of the changes happening. While this isn’t too bad on its own, the problem comes when one character later mentions how he and Raven would talk about this and that, but we don’t see much interaction at all, so it loses impact at a critical moment.
There’s also a point when Raven tells his story in flashbacks which go on just a hair too long, and while they’re still well-written and interesting, they don’t really contribute much to the overall story.
FINAL VERDICT: 4/5 Stars–Buy this book.
Blood For Blood is still an enjoyable read. It’s a fresh take on the vampire myth and a fresh topic in Christian fiction. But the best part is that it’s not just a neat concept, it’s a good book. The execution is solid and the writer doesn’t nix the artistry for a message. Perhaps the best praise I can give it is that it’s been a long time since I had a Christian novel I couldn’t put down.
And don’t think I didn’t catch that “Ron Chaney” joke at the end.
Everybody knows Raven is a vampire. There’s no hidden burden, no stalling for time until the big reveal, no mysterious pretty boy. Everybody just goes, “Yep, there’s a vampire.” Some fear him, some accept him, some disbelieve, but there’s no playing games. Can I just tell you what a breath of fresh air that is?
Actually, the whole book is like a pleasant breeze. It has that X-factor that makes it enjoyable. Even beyond all the artistic ups and downs, the mere act of reading this book is enjoyable. Simple, but not empty. Brief, but not short. An easy read, but not a brain drain.
The story is a clever take on Psalm 23 with God literally restoring Raven’s soul piece by piece, and tackling bizarre rhetorical questions not usually seen in Christian fiction, or in novels in general. Can vampires go to Heaven?
Author Ben Wolf takes old materials and gives them new life, even outside the Christian themes. At the three-quarter mark, we see a new spin on the “liar revealed” and “boyfriend-walks-in-on-guy-kissing-his-girl” tropes, making them entirely new, and entirely unrepeatable. Plus, there’s a plot twist near the end that I honest-to-goodness did not see coming. In fact, I thought it was the other guy…
The characters work, the vampire lore makes sense, the preaching is totally natural (gasp!), the action sequences are exciting, the tension is…well, tense, and the technical details are tight. Translation: it’s a good story that’s well written.
WHAT DIDN’T WORK
The pacing stumbled from time to time. At some points we jump surprising lengths of time with only a summary of the changes happening. While this isn’t too bad on its own, the problem comes when one character later mentions how he and Raven would talk about this and that, but we don’t see much interaction at all, so it loses impact at a critical moment.
There’s also a point when Raven tells his story in flashbacks which go on just a hair too long, and while they’re still well-written and interesting, they don’t really contribute much to the overall story.
FINAL VERDICT: 4/5 Stars–Buy this book.
Blood For Blood is still an enjoyable read. It’s a fresh take on the vampire myth and a fresh topic in Christian fiction. But the best part is that it’s not just a neat concept, it’s a good book. The execution is solid and the writer doesn’t nix the artistry for a message. Perhaps the best praise I can give it is that it’s been a long time since I had a Christian novel I couldn’t put down.
And don’t think I didn’t catch that “Ron Chaney” joke at the end.
June 25, 2024
#BookReviewFriday
#2024readingchallenge
#9speculativefiction
Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
# 9 Speculative Fiction
Book: Blood for Blood
Author: Ben Wolf
I had to write this review the minute I closed this book because I have so many thoughts and feelings about it. I know this sounds harsh, but I thought I would hate this book. I thought I would hate it because 1) I'm always leary when God and the supernatural as defined by the culture. (i.e, vampires, zombies etc) are combined and 2) Tosca Lee recommended this book (the only author I've ever given a one star review). I gave it a chance because in my mind, I saw the parallel, if Jesus can restore our souls from any sin, then a vampire should be no exception. All that to say, five stars, this book surprised me. Let me explain how I got there.
At the beginning, this book was entertaining enough to keep my interest, but I wasn't fully invested or engaged. The writing was a bit amateurish and although Luco is a preacher who should want to save souls, I didn't really get his obsession with saving this vampire or how Duke's story from the beginning fit in.
Enter the 23 Psalm and I began to get interested. The only way this could go down as acceptable for me is if Raven turned his life over to God and his soul was restored. In that respect the author did a great job. This may sound like an oxymoron, but Raven's deliverance was scripturally based, that made it real and believable to me. His vampirism was shown and dealt with as if it were any other struggle with sin such as adultery, alcoholism, porn etc. In this regard, Mr. Wolf got me and I was invested.
It was honestly just a different story than I'm used to reading all around. The writing gave me the impression of just having a conversation, there were moments of humor, and the author successfully tied all these little things that seemed innocuous together in an explosive and surprising ending, I was quite blown away. Everything mattered. Even the title of the book is symbolic.
Also, he displayed something I have never really encountered in a CF book that added a level of depth and made me really respect him. Organically integrated in to the story is what it looks like when "seasoned" Christians fail our brothers and sisters new to the faith.
Overall I was impressed, I even loved his acknowledgments, how his appreciation of Jesus' sacrifice led him to write this book. I would highly recommend Mr. Wolf and this book.
Check out my reading challenge
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#9speculativefiction
Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
# 9 Speculative Fiction
Book: Blood for Blood
Author: Ben Wolf
I had to write this review the minute I closed this book because I have so many thoughts and feelings about it. I know this sounds harsh, but I thought I would hate this book. I thought I would hate it because 1) I'm always leary when God and the supernatural as defined by the culture. (i.e, vampires, zombies etc) are combined and 2) Tosca Lee recommended this book (the only author I've ever given a one star review). I gave it a chance because in my mind, I saw the parallel, if Jesus can restore our souls from any sin, then a vampire should be no exception. All that to say, five stars, this book surprised me. Let me explain how I got there.
At the beginning, this book was entertaining enough to keep my interest, but I wasn't fully invested or engaged. The writing was a bit amateurish and although Luco is a preacher who should want to save souls, I didn't really get his obsession with saving this vampire or how Duke's story from the beginning fit in.
Enter the 23 Psalm and I began to get interested. The only way this could go down as acceptable for me is if Raven turned his life over to God and his soul was restored. In that respect the author did a great job. This may sound like an oxymoron, but Raven's deliverance was scripturally based, that made it real and believable to me. His vampirism was shown and dealt with as if it were any other struggle with sin such as adultery, alcoholism, porn etc. In this regard, Mr. Wolf got me and I was invested.
It was honestly just a different story than I'm used to reading all around. The writing gave me the impression of just having a conversation, there were moments of humor, and the author successfully tied all these little things that seemed innocuous together in an explosive and surprising ending, I was quite blown away. Everything mattered. Even the title of the book is symbolic.
Also, he displayed something I have never really encountered in a CF book that added a level of depth and made me really respect him. Organically integrated in to the story is what it looks like when "seasoned" Christians fail our brothers and sisters new to the faith.
Overall I was impressed, I even loved his acknowledgments, how his appreciation of Jesus' sacrifice led him to write this book. I would highly recommend Mr. Wolf and this book.
Check out my reading challenge
https://www.facebook.com/share/3WYas3...
June 15, 2015
First off, let me just say I am not a Twilight fan. I love vampire stories but I don’t need the teen angst. And don’t break the rules by making up your own vampire folklore.
So when I picked up Ben Wolf’s Blood for Blood, I was skeptical. Especially with the cover art that smacked of self-publishing. Sorry Mr. Wolf, but I hate it. Every time I returned to read another chapter I winced at that awful artwork. But don’t judge a book by it’s cover people. It was in fact, the back cover that promised me something new….What if a vampire became born again? Wait, whaaaat!!??
Being a passionate Christ-follower myself, I had to buy it. So glad I did.
It didn’t take long to suck me in (excuse the pun). I fell in love with the characters and the plot. Wolf keeps the writing clean without sounding cheesy. There aren’t many books I can’t put down, but Blood for Blood had me turning pages and consuming the book faster than any I’ve read in a long time.
Wolf also does a great job on setting up cliffhangers at the end of each chapter. Not everyone can pull that off.
Yes ladies, there is romance, but not so much drama that it drives male readers away. I tend to want a bit more gore than Wolf gives us, but he remains true to his Christian readers and the action made up for the lack of blood.
I started following this author on social media and recently noticed he made a comment about the book…that the relationship between his vampire and some of the other characters in the book loosely represent the church and converts coming from a gay lifestyle. I loved that! What a great way to both remind today’s believers of God’s ability to transform lives and also to reach out to those in the LGBT community, offering them hope, acceptance and patience during their own spiritual transformation.
You can feel the tension rising as you near the climax. I had to stop my plans for the evening because I refused to stop reading. The ending was perfect. I closed the book with a satisfying sigh. My wife is now sinking her teeth into it.
Mr. Wolf, I await your next book with anticipation. Well done Sir.
~Tez Brooks
Author, The Single Dad Detour
So when I picked up Ben Wolf’s Blood for Blood, I was skeptical. Especially with the cover art that smacked of self-publishing. Sorry Mr. Wolf, but I hate it. Every time I returned to read another chapter I winced at that awful artwork. But don’t judge a book by it’s cover people. It was in fact, the back cover that promised me something new….What if a vampire became born again? Wait, whaaaat!!??
Being a passionate Christ-follower myself, I had to buy it. So glad I did.
It didn’t take long to suck me in (excuse the pun). I fell in love with the characters and the plot. Wolf keeps the writing clean without sounding cheesy. There aren’t many books I can’t put down, but Blood for Blood had me turning pages and consuming the book faster than any I’ve read in a long time.
Wolf also does a great job on setting up cliffhangers at the end of each chapter. Not everyone can pull that off.
Yes ladies, there is romance, but not so much drama that it drives male readers away. I tend to want a bit more gore than Wolf gives us, but he remains true to his Christian readers and the action made up for the lack of blood.
I started following this author on social media and recently noticed he made a comment about the book…that the relationship between his vampire and some of the other characters in the book loosely represent the church and converts coming from a gay lifestyle. I loved that! What a great way to both remind today’s believers of God’s ability to transform lives and also to reach out to those in the LGBT community, offering them hope, acceptance and patience during their own spiritual transformation.
You can feel the tension rising as you near the climax. I had to stop my plans for the evening because I refused to stop reading. The ending was perfect. I closed the book with a satisfying sigh. My wife is now sinking her teeth into it.
Mr. Wolf, I await your next book with anticipation. Well done Sir.
~Tez Brooks
Author, The Single Dad Detour
April 5, 2016
I rarely read speculative fiction, and NEVER read vampire books.
But the author sat across from me at a conference and threw out the challenge, “Would you read about a vampire?” My answer was an emphatic, “No.” He leaned in and asked, “What if the vampire got saved?”
Hmm, an intriguing premise. Would God love a vampire?
It’s strange to think of a vampire as a good guy, but the glimpse into his life makes him irresistible—and not in the cliché, “I’ve got you under my spell” way. The protagonist, Raven, suffers guilt, fear, and loneliness.
He asks himself heart-wrenching question that boil down to, “How could God love me after what I’ve done?”
I love the message that no one is past God’s love.
The story was well researched, had good pacing, and included several plot twists, one of which TOTALLY caught me off guard.
I wish the book had been longer to flesh out the characters further. But the book won a Cascade Award for Best Speculative Fiction, so it might just be me.
SPOILER ALERT:
I became so infuriated with Calandra at one point that I put the book down and emailed this to the author in the middle of the night:
“I'm reading Blood for Blood, and Calandra just threw Raven to the dogs. How could she do that???? I understand her fear and embarrassment at being caught in a compromising situation, but I'm furious with her.
Raven might be a vampire, but Calandra is an ice-veined monster. I'm too angry
with her to read any more tonight.
AAARGH!
Jeanie”
I’m glad I finished the book because the end twist made up for Calandra’s disloyalty.
But the author sat across from me at a conference and threw out the challenge, “Would you read about a vampire?” My answer was an emphatic, “No.” He leaned in and asked, “What if the vampire got saved?”
Hmm, an intriguing premise. Would God love a vampire?
It’s strange to think of a vampire as a good guy, but the glimpse into his life makes him irresistible—and not in the cliché, “I’ve got you under my spell” way. The protagonist, Raven, suffers guilt, fear, and loneliness.
He asks himself heart-wrenching question that boil down to, “How could God love me after what I’ve done?”
I love the message that no one is past God’s love.
The story was well researched, had good pacing, and included several plot twists, one of which TOTALLY caught me off guard.
I wish the book had been longer to flesh out the characters further. But the book won a Cascade Award for Best Speculative Fiction, so it might just be me.
SPOILER ALERT:
I became so infuriated with Calandra at one point that I put the book down and emailed this to the author in the middle of the night:
“I'm reading Blood for Blood, and Calandra just threw Raven to the dogs. How could she do that???? I understand her fear and embarrassment at being caught in a compromising situation, but I'm furious with her.
Raven might be a vampire, but Calandra is an ice-veined monster. I'm too angry
with her to read any more tonight.
AAARGH!
Jeanie”
I’m glad I finished the book because the end twist made up for Calandra’s disloyalty.
January 20, 2016
Hmm... how to talk about this book without spoiling the plot... Well, a vampire comes to prey at a tent meeting (see what I did there ;) ) and, well, things progress from there as stated in the "back of the book" copy.
The closest book I can think of to this in terms of plot is "The Difference between Night and Day", by Melissa Lee. Both books central concept revolve around what happens when Christianity and Vampirisam clash. Night and Day, however, is paranormal romance, while Blood for Blood is philosophical action/adventure.
The characters are well-rounded, and fun to hang out with (well, except one, who's a jerk and does something really, really, really, really stupid... but that's getting into spoilers.)
Some readers are likely to complain that the book is too preachy, but I think it flows well with the story. It's set in the 1800's when tent meeting revivals were sweeping the nation, and one of the main characters is a preacher. There is a lot of theological content, but given the book's premise, that's to be expected, and it's done in a consistent way that blends with the story.
Overall, I really enjoyed the story. Four stars!
The closest book I can think of to this in terms of plot is "The Difference between Night and Day", by Melissa Lee. Both books central concept revolve around what happens when Christianity and Vampirisam clash. Night and Day, however, is paranormal romance, while Blood for Blood is philosophical action/adventure.
The characters are well-rounded, and fun to hang out with (well, except one, who's a jerk and does something really, really, really, really stupid... but that's getting into spoilers.)
Some readers are likely to complain that the book is too preachy, but I think it flows well with the story. It's set in the 1800's when tent meeting revivals were sweeping the nation, and one of the main characters is a preacher. There is a lot of theological content, but given the book's premise, that's to be expected, and it's done in a consistent way that blends with the story.
Overall, I really enjoyed the story. Four stars!
August 21, 2016
Can vampires be saved? Blood for Blood is one of those books that made me think, "I wish I wrote this". I'm a fan of vampire stories and lore from Bram Stoker to the sparkly kind. As I've read about these pale bloodsuckers, I contemplated that very question. What if vampires had the chance at eternity rather than immortality?
Raven Worth's story is so compelling. He's a vampire who needs to feed. What better place than a tent revival to find victims? Raven goes to feed his thirst and finds just that - the promise of not blood but living water.
Raven's journey to find his long lost humanity and the faint glimmer of hope that vampires might too have a soul and a chance of redemption. The story is both dark and light. He's romantically drawn to Calandra, the revival preacher's daughter. Along the way, he develops a relationship with the family especially the preacher with whom he shares a special bond.
The story combines the Gothic vampire setting with that of a western complete with bad guys worthy of their black hats.
There are so many layers to this story that goes beyond the question, "can vampires be saved?"
Raven Worth's story is so compelling. He's a vampire who needs to feed. What better place than a tent revival to find victims? Raven goes to feed his thirst and finds just that - the promise of not blood but living water.
Raven's journey to find his long lost humanity and the faint glimmer of hope that vampires might too have a soul and a chance of redemption. The story is both dark and light. He's romantically drawn to Calandra, the revival preacher's daughter. Along the way, he develops a relationship with the family especially the preacher with whom he shares a special bond.
The story combines the Gothic vampire setting with that of a western complete with bad guys worthy of their black hats.
There are so many layers to this story that goes beyond the question, "can vampires be saved?"
June 7, 2016
Calandra watches a vampire become a Christian. As Raven changes and becomes more human with each passing day, Calandra becomes attracted to him, even though she’s engaged to be married.
My Thoughts
I’m not a fan of vampires. Never have been. However, I’ve liked the writing of Ben from Splickety magazines. Moreover, I heard him speak at a Writer’s Conference in Florida. Therefore, I thought I’d give Blood for Blood a read.
I’m glad I did because I enjoyed this book. Throughout the entire story, there was never a dull moment. The suspense kept me going all the way to the end. And what an ending. Wow!
Tweetable: What if a vampire got saved? Review of Blood for Blood by Ben Wolf. (Click to Tweet)
The question, “What if a Vampire got Save,” intrigued me. I had to know more. As I learned, I met all types of people, saved, real Christians and fake Christians and everyone in between.
I loved the book.
My Thoughts
I’m not a fan of vampires. Never have been. However, I’ve liked the writing of Ben from Splickety magazines. Moreover, I heard him speak at a Writer’s Conference in Florida. Therefore, I thought I’d give Blood for Blood a read.
I’m glad I did because I enjoyed this book. Throughout the entire story, there was never a dull moment. The suspense kept me going all the way to the end. And what an ending. Wow!
Tweetable: What if a vampire got saved? Review of Blood for Blood by Ben Wolf. (Click to Tweet)
The question, “What if a Vampire got Save,” intrigued me. I had to know more. As I learned, I met all types of people, saved, real Christians and fake Christians and everyone in between.
I loved the book.
July 12, 2023
I’m not religious but I am a fan of vampire stories, and this one was really quite unique and interesting. Basically, Christianity saved Raven’s soul, and he gradually (through good deeds and faith) became human again. Physiologically, not sure that makes a whole lot of sense, but I guess the physiology of vampires doesn’t make sense in general. I was pleasantly surprised that the romance between Raven and Calandra was so chaste throughout, especially when romance is often a central component of vampire stories. The plot twist of Luco turning out to be a vampire didn’t surprise me as much as it ought have. I think I had a sneaking suspicion that he was or had experience with vampires given his patience with and faith in Raven. I think Luco turning out to be a vampire actually dampened the story a bit at the end for me. I know it’s the shocker and that Luco turned Duke’s wife, but still…Garrett was definitely a jerk. The writing kept me engaged throughout.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 1, 2015
Blood for Blood is something I've been excited about since I first heard about it. The premise of the book is radical: someone beyond mortality faced with the chance at redemption?! Brilliant! Mr. Wolf handles the horror aspects of the story in a way that does not detract from the underlying message.
The way that Ben Wolf spools out the plot drew me in and kept me in the story. His prose is smooth and the surprises he hides throughout it are subtle enough to make you go back and re-read. Then they hit with a pleasant wallop! This phenomenal spec fic piece is well worth having on your shelf!
The way that Ben Wolf spools out the plot drew me in and kept me in the story. His prose is smooth and the surprises he hides throughout it are subtle enough to make you go back and re-read. Then they hit with a pleasant wallop! This phenomenal spec fic piece is well worth having on your shelf!
August 9, 2016
This book answers the question I didn't even know I needed answered; can vampires love God? I like that it has all the normal elements of a good vampire book (neck biting, wooden steaks, and of course romance) without being super gory or creepy. It was a page turner. I didn't know what would happen next!
January 3, 2017
A very unique spin on vampire lore: what if a vampire's soul could be saved? Blood for Blood was a page-turner with a variety of well-balanced genres including horror, action/adventure, light romance, historical, and inspirational fiction. Readers of all backgrounds and beliefs will enjoy the novel thanks to Wolf's deftly sprinkled analogy to a person's growing relationship with God.
March 10, 2015
Blood for Blood is like a roller coaster. For the first 50 pages you're climbing; it's interesting, but not thrilling. Then you reach the top and WOOOSH! You just go, go, go, and it's great.
Wolf did a good job combining vampires with Christianity. A wonderful "What if?"
Wolf did a good job combining vampires with Christianity. A wonderful "What if?"
August 10, 2015
Blood for Blood isn't my genre, but when I read it, I was fascinated! Ben's attention to detail was incredible and the story line moved smoothly. I highly recommend this to readers who enjoy fantasy.
August 8, 2022
Anyone can be redeemed
What a fantastic read. Anyone can be saved if they believe in Jesus Christ and ask for forgiveness. He redeems even a vampire. Great job!
What a fantastic read. Anyone can be saved if they believe in Jesus Christ and ask for forgiveness. He redeems even a vampire. Great job!
October 30, 2015
Nicely done! It took me a few chapters to acclimate, but I really enjoyed this.
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