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Goddess with a Blade #7
Bad Blood
Trouble never takes a vacation in Bad Blood , the seventh installment in the epic Goddess with a Blade series by New York Times bestselling author Lauren Dane.
After spending the last two years locked in one deadly struggle after the next, Rowan Summerwaite deserves delicious meals, excellent sex and uninterrupted sleep on high-quality linens. But when two separate investigations converge in unexpected ways and a new threat to the Treaty blows into town, there’s no rest for the wicked.
And she’ll need help.
Genevieve Aubert, a seven-hundred-year-old witch from a powerful familial line, has become more than a formidable ally. To Rowan, she’s become a friend. To Darius, a Dust Devil from the Trick, where she’s now a priestess, she’s the key to unlocking his magic. The pretty flower to his motorcycles and bruised knuckles.
Soon, the dangerous reality becomes clear. It isn’t just wayward witches. It isn’t just egotistical Vampires. What’s brewing in the desert will take a witch, a Dust Devil and a human vessel to a goddess to save those they’ve sworn to protect.
Goddess with a Blade
Book 1: Goddess with a Blade
Book 2: Blade To the Keep
Book 3: Blade on the Hunt
Book 4: At Blade's Edge
Book 5: Wrath of the Goddess
Book 6: Blood and Blade
Book 7: Bad Blood
After spending the last two years locked in one deadly struggle after the next, Rowan Summerwaite deserves delicious meals, excellent sex and uninterrupted sleep on high-quality linens. But when two separate investigations converge in unexpected ways and a new threat to the Treaty blows into town, there’s no rest for the wicked.
And she’ll need help.
Genevieve Aubert, a seven-hundred-year-old witch from a powerful familial line, has become more than a formidable ally. To Rowan, she’s become a friend. To Darius, a Dust Devil from the Trick, where she’s now a priestess, she’s the key to unlocking his magic. The pretty flower to his motorcycles and bruised knuckles.
Soon, the dangerous reality becomes clear. It isn’t just wayward witches. It isn’t just egotistical Vampires. What’s brewing in the desert will take a witch, a Dust Devil and a human vessel to a goddess to save those they’ve sworn to protect.
Goddess with a Blade
Book 1: Goddess with a Blade
Book 2: Blade To the Keep
Book 3: Blade on the Hunt
Book 4: At Blade's Edge
Book 5: Wrath of the Goddess
Book 6: Blood and Blade
Book 7: Bad Blood
352 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 27, 2023
48 people are currently reading
158 people want to read
About the author
Lauren Dane
112 books5,000 followersLauren Dane has been writing stories since she was able to use a pencil, and before that she used to tell them to people. Of course, she still talks nonstop, and through wonderful fate and good fortune, she’s now able to share what she writes with others. It’s a wonderful life!
The basics: Lauren is a mom, a partner, a best friend and a daughter. Living in the rainy but beautiful Pacific Northwest, she spends her late evenings writing like a fiend when she finally wrestles all of her kids to bed.
The basics: Lauren is a mom, a partner, a best friend and a daughter. Living in the rainy but beautiful Pacific Northwest, she spends her late evenings writing like a fiend when she finally wrestles all of her kids to bed.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
September 30, 2023
If Eve Dallas had set her cap at being police commissioner instead of refusing more rank in order to continue to do the job she does best, she’d be a lot more like Rowan Summerthwaite than she already is. And they most certainly already are sisters under the skin – even though Rowan takes down criminal vampires while Eve catches criminals of the more humanly monstrous variety.
But Rowan has moved, not exactly ‘up’ in her world, but into a position where she’s stuck dealing with political crap instead of just kicking ass and taking names to put on gravestones. For those of her enemies that are human enough to still require such things, that is.
(I’m not really digressing this time around. I’ve always thought that Rowan and Dallas would get along like a house on fire – especially if some of their enemies were righteously roasting in said fire!)
Getting back to Rowan, however, there’s an element of each book in the series where Rowan begins the story in the process of dealing with the fallout from the last clusterfuck she had to fix. And that’s certainly true in Bad Blood.
At the same time, Bad Blood feels like, not exactly a ‘fresh’ start, but rather a point in the series where that cleanup has hit a new phase where it’s more preventive than reactive, and it gives the intricacies of the plot a bit of a reset.
Which was absolutely terrific for this long-term reader, because it made it really easy to slip right back into this world without needing to recall all the myriad details of Rowan’s long-running battle to clean up both her ‘Father’s’ rogue vampires AND the human asshats in her own organization, Hunter Corp.
At least, the story begins with an attempt at moving forward, only to discover that not only are the vampires playing more games than usual – including playing games with her Father, the First and their leader – but that the witches’ Conclave is also up to some surprisingly similar crap.
Because Rowan and one of the Conclave’s leaders, Genevieve Aubert, became besties in the previous book in the series, Blood and Blade, Rowan is more than happy to help Genevieve clean up that mess even as Genevieve helps her with the lingering issues in Hunter Corp.
Those issues dovetail neatly – or perhaps that should be messily – or both. Definitely both, as they are the exact same issue, being played out in different arenas. Both the vampires AND the witches think that they are superior to the original recipe humans that surround them – and believe that superiority gives them the right to ‘play’ with humans as they please.
Hunter Corp. is there to stop them both, and to prevent any of these immortal idiots from revealing the existence of the supernatural to those self-same humans. It’s just too bad that a bunch of selfish and self-indulgent idiots are living too deeply in the past to consider all the angles of their ridiculous campaign.
Too bad for them, that is.
Escape Rating A: I have a soft spot in my heart for the entire Goddess with a Blade series. The first book in the series, the Goddess with a Blade herself, was part of the first batch of eARCs I downloaded from Netgalley. I’ve been hooked ever since.
But that first book was OMG TWELVE YEARS AGO. That averages out to a long time between books, which wreaks more than a bit of havoc with remembering all the details with a series as intricately plotted as this one. Every book in the series has been, not just a direct response to the book before it, but a direct response that is still dealing with pieces of a huge plot to undermine Hunter Corp from within – along with various other asshattery that happens in the wake of that big mess.
Bad Blood, while it’s still cleaning up a bit of the previous mess, does read like a bit of a fresh start – even if that’s likely to be a fresh start because of a new and different plot full of asshattery that hasn’t yet fully emerged.
Which means that Bad Blood is a good place to get into – or back into – the Goddess with a Blade series. It’s not exactly a new set of problems, but it feels enough like it is to let someone who hasn’t read or re-read the whole thing recently to get right into the thick of it.
The other thing that makes this entry work as either a start or a fresh start is that the problems this go around feel all too much like real life in spite of the paranormal setting. It’s not just a story of immortal vampires messing with each other because immortality is boring. Instead, what we have are factions in two separate hierarchies that are each oozing with privilege who want a return to the ‘good old days’ that never really were and don’t care how much they have to lie to themselves and cheat and steal from everyone else to make it happen.
And haven’t we all witnessed that before?
It’s that grounding in the real that makes it easy to step into Rowan’s world, and it’s the continued development of Rowan’s personal relationships with her husband, her father and especially her own personal ‘Scooby gang’ that keep us in there with her. And isn’t that just like Dallas and Roarke all over?
In the end, as Rowan gets the ‘bad blood’ among the vampires’ council and the witches’ conclave to behave – at least those that haven’t already gotten dead in the crossfire – it’s clear that this is only the tip of another iceberg of asshattery that thinks it’s going to crash Rowan’s plans. I hope it happens soon, because this series has just gotten fun again and I want more!
Originally published at Reading Reality
But Rowan has moved, not exactly ‘up’ in her world, but into a position where she’s stuck dealing with political crap instead of just kicking ass and taking names to put on gravestones. For those of her enemies that are human enough to still require such things, that is.
(I’m not really digressing this time around. I’ve always thought that Rowan and Dallas would get along like a house on fire – especially if some of their enemies were righteously roasting in said fire!)
Getting back to Rowan, however, there’s an element of each book in the series where Rowan begins the story in the process of dealing with the fallout from the last clusterfuck she had to fix. And that’s certainly true in Bad Blood.
At the same time, Bad Blood feels like, not exactly a ‘fresh’ start, but rather a point in the series where that cleanup has hit a new phase where it’s more preventive than reactive, and it gives the intricacies of the plot a bit of a reset.
Which was absolutely terrific for this long-term reader, because it made it really easy to slip right back into this world without needing to recall all the myriad details of Rowan’s long-running battle to clean up both her ‘Father’s’ rogue vampires AND the human asshats in her own organization, Hunter Corp.
At least, the story begins with an attempt at moving forward, only to discover that not only are the vampires playing more games than usual – including playing games with her Father, the First and their leader – but that the witches’ Conclave is also up to some surprisingly similar crap.
Because Rowan and one of the Conclave’s leaders, Genevieve Aubert, became besties in the previous book in the series, Blood and Blade, Rowan is more than happy to help Genevieve clean up that mess even as Genevieve helps her with the lingering issues in Hunter Corp.
Those issues dovetail neatly – or perhaps that should be messily – or both. Definitely both, as they are the exact same issue, being played out in different arenas. Both the vampires AND the witches think that they are superior to the original recipe humans that surround them – and believe that superiority gives them the right to ‘play’ with humans as they please.
Hunter Corp. is there to stop them both, and to prevent any of these immortal idiots from revealing the existence of the supernatural to those self-same humans. It’s just too bad that a bunch of selfish and self-indulgent idiots are living too deeply in the past to consider all the angles of their ridiculous campaign.
Too bad for them, that is.
Escape Rating A: I have a soft spot in my heart for the entire Goddess with a Blade series. The first book in the series, the Goddess with a Blade herself, was part of the first batch of eARCs I downloaded from Netgalley. I’ve been hooked ever since.
But that first book was OMG TWELVE YEARS AGO. That averages out to a long time between books, which wreaks more than a bit of havoc with remembering all the details with a series as intricately plotted as this one. Every book in the series has been, not just a direct response to the book before it, but a direct response that is still dealing with pieces of a huge plot to undermine Hunter Corp from within – along with various other asshattery that happens in the wake of that big mess.
Bad Blood, while it’s still cleaning up a bit of the previous mess, does read like a bit of a fresh start – even if that’s likely to be a fresh start because of a new and different plot full of asshattery that hasn’t yet fully emerged.
Which means that Bad Blood is a good place to get into – or back into – the Goddess with a Blade series. It’s not exactly a new set of problems, but it feels enough like it is to let someone who hasn’t read or re-read the whole thing recently to get right into the thick of it.
The other thing that makes this entry work as either a start or a fresh start is that the problems this go around feel all too much like real life in spite of the paranormal setting. It’s not just a story of immortal vampires messing with each other because immortality is boring. Instead, what we have are factions in two separate hierarchies that are each oozing with privilege who want a return to the ‘good old days’ that never really were and don’t care how much they have to lie to themselves and cheat and steal from everyone else to make it happen.
And haven’t we all witnessed that before?
It’s that grounding in the real that makes it easy to step into Rowan’s world, and it’s the continued development of Rowan’s personal relationships with her husband, her father and especially her own personal ‘Scooby gang’ that keep us in there with her. And isn’t that just like Dallas and Roarke all over?
In the end, as Rowan gets the ‘bad blood’ among the vampires’ council and the witches’ conclave to behave – at least those that haven’t already gotten dead in the crossfire – it’s clear that this is only the tip of another iceberg of asshattery that thinks it’s going to crash Rowan’s plans. I hope it happens soon, because this series has just gotten fun again and I want more!
Originally published at Reading Reality
November 26, 2023
I don’t like Genevieve’s story mixed with Rowan, but still an interesting instalment.
September 28, 2023
It's amazing the amount of people that are gunning for Rowan and Genevieve in this one. Good that the woman have the support of each other and a good man at their backs for help and to just be there. As the two work through their issues the find out they end up at the same cause root, which makes them more determined than ever to make it go away.
I especially enjoyed Genevieve becoming closer to Darius, glad that each is finding the other a safe place to just be during the downtimes. Rowan and Clive had their own issues to navigate, which they did after a few bumps.
It will be interesting to see how everyone goes after the problem in next book.
I especially enjoyed Genevieve becoming closer to Darius, glad that each is finding the other a safe place to just be during the downtimes. Rowan and Clive had their own issues to navigate, which they did after a few bumps.
It will be interesting to see how everyone goes after the problem in next book.
January 17, 2024
I just love the way new storylines, characters, supernatural beings are constantly being added without feeling overwhelmed. I also love how it's become more than Rowan. Genevieve has just as much of the narrative. What I hate is that it's a bit cliffy and now I know I'll have a binge hangover because I'll miss these characters.
September 24, 2023
This is a series I loved and each instalment is better than the previous. Fast paced, action packed, well rounded characters and intriguing world building.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
October 7, 2023
4 stars
I honestly wasn't expecting more books in this series and it took me a while to get into it because of the new characters POV but overall I enjoyed it and I'll definitely read the next one.
7/10 would recommend
I honestly wasn't expecting more books in this series and it took me a while to get into it because of the new characters POV but overall I enjoyed it and I'll definitely read the next one.
7/10 would recommend
September 26, 2023
I have a feeling that most of the pages were fillers, because the story is really short and easy to solve, except for the countless times when Genevieve reflects on her love towards Darius or Rowan towards Clive and vice versa. The most interesting part remains the complicated, to say the least, relationship between Theo and Rowan/Birgid, but it was little explored in this book, I hope because big things are brewing for the next one....
Ho come la sensazione che la maggior parte delle pagine fossero dei riempitivi, perché la storia é veramente breve e di facile soluzione, se non fossero le innumerevoli volte in cui Genevieve riflette sul suo amore nei confronti di Darius o Rowan nei confronti di Clive e viceversa. La parte piú interessante resta quella del rapporto a dir poco complicato tra Theo e Rowan/Birgid, ma in questo libro é stata poco esplorata, spero perché si stanno preparando grosse cose per il prossimo....
I received from the Publisher a complimentary digital advanced review copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.
Ho come la sensazione che la maggior parte delle pagine fossero dei riempitivi, perché la storia é veramente breve e di facile soluzione, se non fossero le innumerevoli volte in cui Genevieve riflette sul suo amore nei confronti di Darius o Rowan nei confronti di Clive e viceversa. La parte piú interessante resta quella del rapporto a dir poco complicato tra Theo e Rowan/Birgid, ma in questo libro é stata poco esplorata, spero perché si stanno preparando grosse cose per il prossimo....
I received from the Publisher a complimentary digital advanced review copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.
waiting-game
November 25, 2023I was given a copy for Thanksgiving and had to hide it from myself so I could finish stupid family stuff instead of locking myself in a closet to read it. But now I finished chapter one and I realize this is more Genevieve/Darius centric than expected. I'm still very interested, but I'm not going to devour it immediately.
March 12, 2024
Really great story and series. Reread with great delight march 2024
September 26, 2023
The seventh installment of the Goddess with a Blade series is finally here! I am such a fan of Lauren Dane and I loved reading this new book. Bad Blood by Lauren Dane is definitely not a stand-alone read, although the writing is so good that you could read it alone and enjoy the story, but you'll miss out on so many significant details that make this book so good.
One of the things I really enjoyed about Bad Blood was the POV changes. There is a more in depth look at both Rowan Summerwaite and Genevieve Aubert, their struggles and triumphs as they navigate new threats to the Treaty. Oh, and we get to see much more of the Trick!
There are several interesting plot twists in this one (I don't want to give you any spoilers,) plus what I think is some pretty great setup for the next book. Bad Blood kept my constant attention and if that pesky work thing hadn't gotten in the way, I would have read it all in one session. I loved it so much that I also re-read it nearly immediately.
One of the things I really enjoyed about Bad Blood was the POV changes. There is a more in depth look at both Rowan Summerwaite and Genevieve Aubert, their struggles and triumphs as they navigate new threats to the Treaty. Oh, and we get to see much more of the Trick!
There are several interesting plot twists in this one (I don't want to give you any spoilers,) plus what I think is some pretty great setup for the next book. Bad Blood kept my constant attention and if that pesky work thing hadn't gotten in the way, I would have read it all in one session. I loved it so much that I also re-read it nearly immediately.
September 15, 2023
I really enjoyed this story. I had to really pay attention as I had not read the prior books (which I will now do) and had to figure out who was what and how they fit in the story. Rowen was very strong and the Goddess helped her when needed and was married to a very important vampire. Together they were a strength not many could break. She was becoming best friends with Genevieve who was a powerful witch with a romantic interest in Darius. The story revolved around a witch who was obsessed with Genevieve and saw Rowen as in the way so tried to get rid of her. The interaction of the 4 main characters was powerful and very interesting to watch.
I do enjoyed Lauren Dane's writing and have gotten away from paranormal for awhile, but this story peaked my interest again
I got this book from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review
I do enjoyed Lauren Dane's writing and have gotten away from paranormal for awhile, but this story peaked my interest again
I got this book from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review
September 15, 2023
I really enjoyed this story. I had to really pay attention as I had not read the prior books (which I will now do) and had to figure out who was what and how they fit in the story. Rowen was very strong and the Goddess helped her when needed and was married to a very important vampire. Together they were a strength not many could break. She was becoming best friends with Genevieve who was a powerful witch with a romantic interest in Darius. The story revolved around a witch who was obsessed with Genevieve and saw Rowen as in the way so tried to get rid of her. The interaction of the 4 main characters was powerful and very interesting to watch. I do enjoyed Lauren Dane's writing and have gotten away from paranormal for awhile, but this story peaked my interest again I got this book from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review
September 25, 2023
Bad Blood is another great instalment to the Goddess of the Blades series. It has a great balance between love, humour and suspense that keeps the reader from putting the book down until it’s finished. Rowan and Clive continue to be an amazing and quirky couple that work together to protect the ones they love. The addition of Geneiveve, a powerful witch and Darius, a Dust Devil, as a new power couple was fantastic. I really enjoyed watching their connection grow and their chemistry explode, all the while battling several unknown threats to the Joint Tribunal. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series to see how both of these relationships continue to grow and develop in this chaotic paranormal world.
I received an ebook copy of this book from Netgalley for an honest review.
I received an ebook copy of this book from Netgalley for an honest review.
September 17, 2023
I absolutely love this series. The characters are strong, complex yet very likable. The world building is very complex, but well written. I really have enjoy Rowan and Clive relationship and how it has grown since the 1st Book.
I am so glad that we are getting more Darius and Genevieve in this Book. They are a great couple too.
The story is full of drama, danger and a mystery to solve that it pulls you right in.
I strongly suggest that you Read the other Books first to get the full enjoyment out of this one.
Fair warning it does end in A cliffhanger.
I receive a free ARC from NetGallery for my honest review.
I am so glad that we are getting more Darius and Genevieve in this Book. They are a great couple too.
The story is full of drama, danger and a mystery to solve that it pulls you right in.
I strongly suggest that you Read the other Books first to get the full enjoyment out of this one.
Fair warning it does end in A cliffhanger.
I receive a free ARC from NetGallery for my honest review.
September 20, 2023
Last summer, I finally picked up the first book in the series and I loved it. Fast forward to this summer and a lot has happened since we first met Rowan and her now husband, Clive. There is a case to be solved yet vampires are beating their chests to show their dominance. Witches are casting coercive spells. These are all noisy distractions. Why?
To read the rest of my review, click on the image below to see it on my website.
*provided by NetGalley
To read the rest of my review, click on the image below to see it on my website.
*provided by NetGalley
December 3, 2023
I really enjoy the Goddess with a Blade series. I just finished rereading books 1~6 before reading this newest one. One thing that I would like to point out is that the word 'myriad' has been so overused that it's become quite irritating. Love the books Ms Dane, but you really need to start looking for alternative word choices, but please don't change anything else as I love how these are written.
October 29, 2023
LOVED
I loved the point of view Rowan and Genieve. Their lives are led by the safety and protection of others. Trouble is coming and they navigate it with determination and spunk. Do I recommend? Yes. It was so worth the wait.it may have taken me longer to finish. But so good. Will I reread? Absolutely.
I loved the point of view Rowan and Genieve. Their lives are led by the safety and protection of others. Trouble is coming and they navigate it with determination and spunk. Do I recommend? Yes. It was so worth the wait.it may have taken me longer to finish. But so good. Will I reread? Absolutely.
December 2, 2023
Bad Blood (Goddess with a Blade -Book 7)
Lauren Dane has given another masterpiece of a book. It's exciting and humorous with lots of interesting and titillating dialogue. I have read the entire 7 books and will wait impatiently for the next one. It's a must-read if you like vampires, witches and hunters.
Lauren Dane has given another masterpiece of a book. It's exciting and humorous with lots of interesting and titillating dialogue. I have read the entire 7 books and will wait impatiently for the next one. It's a must-read if you like vampires, witches and hunters.
August 20, 2024
Ok..But the worst of the Series by far
I felt like there was too much repeating of info that we already. Also too much explaining every little thing instead of just showing us. Felt like there was not really a need for this book. Especially when there was no closer really to what went on throughout the book.
I felt like there was too much repeating of info that we already. Also too much explaining every little thing instead of just showing us. Felt like there was not really a need for this book. Especially when there was no closer really to what went on throughout the book.
July 21, 2023
Love these characters, and as always the action is nonstop, the snark is on point. But... lots of threads and nothing is really resolved. It felt like a novella, a .5 book in the series rather than the whole story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 28, 2023
I CAN NOT WAIT FOR THE NEXT BOOK!!!!
Amazing. This series gets better and better with each book. I love the character development of Genevieve and Darius. They should be a series as well. Please release the next book soon!!!
Amazing. This series gets better and better with each book. I love the character development of Genevieve and Darius. They should be a series as well. Please release the next book soon!!!
September 28, 2023
This series has really grown as it progresses. I live a strong female main character who doesn't need others to take care of her, but support her strengths. Really enjoy this series, however recommend that you read the others so you know what is going on without having to figure it out.
October 28, 2023
I just love these characters
Always enjoy Rowan and Clyde with all of the other characters woven into this wonderful world. Always ready for another adventure. Anxiously awaiting more.
Always enjoy Rowan and Clyde with all of the other characters woven into this wonderful world. Always ready for another adventure. Anxiously awaiting more.
December 7, 2024
WOW! ANOTHER GRAND SLAM!!
I really like this series and the world in it. The characters personalities in these stories go so well together. The worlds they come from is so imaginative. Tons of romance, comedy, action and suspense in each story.
I really like this series and the world in it. The characters personalities in these stories go so well together. The worlds they come from is so imaginative. Tons of romance, comedy, action and suspense in each story.
December 26, 2024
I have enjoyed this entire series. I love the strength of the main character but also her growth and vulnerability. The family of people she has created around her make this a world that even though there is so much wrong in it you want to visit again and again
March 17, 2025
3.5 stars
I like Genevieve, I do, but I read this series for Rowan so I'm not a huge fan of the interruptions from Genevieve's POV. She deserves either her own series or novellas in between these books.
I like Genevieve, I do, but I read this series for Rowan so I'm not a huge fan of the interruptions from Genevieve's POV. She deserves either her own series or novellas in between these books.
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September 2, 2023Action & Adventure Romance, Urban Fantasy, Vampires
Miniseries
Goddess with a Blade (Book #7)
Miniseries
Goddess with a Blade (Book #7)
September 27, 2023
Sooooo Good
No it cannot end here, I needed more. Hurry and write more. This is a series I highly recommend. This is one of those that you go back to and read again and again!
No it cannot end here, I needed more. Hurry and write more. This is a series I highly recommend. This is one of those that you go back to and read again and again!
October 1, 2023
Wow!!!
October 3, 2023
The two stars is because I’ve missed Rowan and Clive. Felt like nothing happened in this book. Just fillers and then when things did start to heat up, it was done! Whaaaaaat?!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews