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Risen II - The Progeny
Francis Barclay, the vengeful and bloodthirsty vampire resurrected from the dead after 200 years in Risen, has once again returned from the ashes–—and this time he’s not alone! Working his slow and agonizing way back to Alder Lake, Barclay is determined to save Lorna, the vampire child he accidentally sired during his last revenge-fueled visit to town. Kurt Dale, the womanizing detective blamed for his mistress’s death during Barclay’s murderous rampage, is once again in hot water with another woman. This time he does not have his best friend and partner to help bail him out trouble. In fact, there is a new detective in town who wouldn’t mind seeing Dale take a fall. Risen began the tale of Francis Barclay’s return to Alder Lake to avenge the centuries old murder of his family. In this spellbinding sequel, Barclay is determined to save his progeny. Kurt and his wife Amanda are unaware that Lorna, the daughter they love, was made vampire by Francis Barclay all those years before. While they realize she is wise beyond her years, and at times a bit peculiar, they do not know their child’s true nature. When last we left Alder Lake, seven year-old Lorna was waiting patiently by the window for her blood-father’s return. Her wait is now over. She has inherited Francis Barclay’s luminous glowing eyes, as well as his taste for blood. Alder Lake is once again plagued by murder. Only this time, the suspect will surprise everyone!
288 pages, Paperback
First published January 7, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
March 25, 2015
When I first starting reading this I was worried becuase it’s the second book in the series and I hadn’t read the first one yet.
It made no difference as the author wove in the back story seamlessly in all the right places.
Imagine this. Lorna is only seven years old. She doesn’t remember much about her abduction by Francis Barclay, the vampire who wreaked vengeance on the town until he was finally destroyed..
Now she’s changing. She has a craving for raw meat, for blood. Being so small, without the strength to take down victims, she must get creative and get her blood with surprise attacks and while the prey is sleeping. Feeding off her baby brother isn’t enough and he’s so tiny she worries she’ll hurt him. Drinking from the homeless drunks in the park works for a while until something finally goes very wrong and Lorna could be exposed for what she is, or arrested for murder.
Risen from the ashes, and now mostly ash himself, Francis is coming back to rescue his progeny, little Lorna. His time is short and he senses she’s out of control. She’s waiting for him, but it might already be too late.
This book is so good. The writing is excellent, the back story is slipped in without slowing the reading momentum, and the characters are real. You can almost picture them.
Lorna is scary. She’s just a little slip of a girl, but her blood lust makes her a monster. With no guidance, she’s vicious, dangerous. She feels no remorse for what she does to get the blood, and she’s so close to reaching the point of no return.
Her mother notices her starnge cravings for raw meat and her change in character, but hasn’t quite connected the dots yet.
Her father is an adulterer. A real loser. Every time it seems like he’ll follow the right path, his other brain lands him in another affair, risking losing his family. I wouldn’t have minded if Lorna had fed on the loser.
New to Alder Lake, Beatrice moved there and opened a small antique shop, looking for a fresh start after her divorce. She begins a tentative romance with Detective Blaze. and she’s soon drawn into the madness when Lorna shows up at hetr door in the middle of the night covered in blood.
Blaze is lead detective in the murders and sees a connection to Francis Barclay. Could the vampire have risen? Was he back?
All of these characters are connected to each other through the murders that are popping up all over town. Each has flaws, some have secrets, and all of them fear Francis Barclay.
I’m always looking for something new in this genre and I got it. Have you ever heard of a vampire dog? I wonder if they can turn other dogs or humans? Lots to learn.
And the ending. Oh boy, it was a bonus all by itself.
You’d think vampire stories would get old, but not for me. Especially with Risen II. I drained this book in a matter of hours, much like a thirsty vamp, and loved every drop of it!
I received this book for my honest review.
It made no difference as the author wove in the back story seamlessly in all the right places.
Imagine this. Lorna is only seven years old. She doesn’t remember much about her abduction by Francis Barclay, the vampire who wreaked vengeance on the town until he was finally destroyed..
Now she’s changing. She has a craving for raw meat, for blood. Being so small, without the strength to take down victims, she must get creative and get her blood with surprise attacks and while the prey is sleeping. Feeding off her baby brother isn’t enough and he’s so tiny she worries she’ll hurt him. Drinking from the homeless drunks in the park works for a while until something finally goes very wrong and Lorna could be exposed for what she is, or arrested for murder.
Risen from the ashes, and now mostly ash himself, Francis is coming back to rescue his progeny, little Lorna. His time is short and he senses she’s out of control. She’s waiting for him, but it might already be too late.
This book is so good. The writing is excellent, the back story is slipped in without slowing the reading momentum, and the characters are real. You can almost picture them.
Lorna is scary. She’s just a little slip of a girl, but her blood lust makes her a monster. With no guidance, she’s vicious, dangerous. She feels no remorse for what she does to get the blood, and she’s so close to reaching the point of no return.
Her mother notices her starnge cravings for raw meat and her change in character, but hasn’t quite connected the dots yet.
Her father is an adulterer. A real loser. Every time it seems like he’ll follow the right path, his other brain lands him in another affair, risking losing his family. I wouldn’t have minded if Lorna had fed on the loser.
New to Alder Lake, Beatrice moved there and opened a small antique shop, looking for a fresh start after her divorce. She begins a tentative romance with Detective Blaze. and she’s soon drawn into the madness when Lorna shows up at hetr door in the middle of the night covered in blood.
Blaze is lead detective in the murders and sees a connection to Francis Barclay. Could the vampire have risen? Was he back?
All of these characters are connected to each other through the murders that are popping up all over town. Each has flaws, some have secrets, and all of them fear Francis Barclay.
I’m always looking for something new in this genre and I got it. Have you ever heard of a vampire dog? I wonder if they can turn other dogs or humans? Lots to learn.
And the ending. Oh boy, it was a bonus all by itself.
You’d think vampire stories would get old, but not for me. Especially with Risen II. I drained this book in a matter of hours, much like a thirsty vamp, and loved every drop of it!
I received this book for my honest review.
April 4, 2015
This sequel was just as great as the first novel. This time Alder Lake is in danger from Lorna, the seven-year-old daughter of Amanda and Kurt Dale, who was accidentally turned at the end of book one. Lorna does not now what she is, but she knows she has a very special craving for blood. Trying to satisfy that hunger, unintentionally she does some really bad things - deadly things. However, Francis Barclay, her maker, pays one return visit from the dead to make sure his little progeny is taken good care of.
While the book still spills a lot of blood, it also has some soft spots and a happy ending. While it may appeal mostly to female readers, it must definitely not be classified as romance. Again, the writing is superb, the new characters fit in nicely, and the comeback of some old ones is done in an original way. I loved the description of Francis literally being blown apart by the wind and the way Samantha could vanish and reappear in an almost magical way.
While the ending suggests otherwise, I do hope the author may reconsider and let us revisit Alder Lake again some time.
While the book still spills a lot of blood, it also has some soft spots and a happy ending. While it may appeal mostly to female readers, it must definitely not be classified as romance. Again, the writing is superb, the new characters fit in nicely, and the comeback of some old ones is done in an original way. I loved the description of Francis literally being blown apart by the wind and the way Samantha could vanish and reappear in an almost magical way.
While the ending suggests otherwise, I do hope the author may reconsider and let us revisit Alder Lake again some time.
April 9, 2015
Warning: This review may contain spoilers of this book, as well as the first in the series.
I have mixed feelings about this book. I enjoyed the main story of it. The seven year old vampire sired by a murderous centuries dead vampire, waiting as patiently as a young child can for her blood-father to return for her. Said child trying to learn to control her cravings for blood. Then all of the mayhem that ensues when she isn't as successful at it as she'd like to be.
I enjoyed the characters quite a lot, even the unlikable ones. The mom is sure that there is something up with her daughter, but loves her whole-heartedly anyway. The blood-father, Francis, was very interesting to me, trying desperately to make it to his daughter in time. I wish I had read the first book. I think I would have really enjoyed reading about his previously blood-thirsty ways. I really disliked the dad, Kurt. He is a two-timing husband and, I feel, a poor excuse for a man. Every time he turns around, something bad is happening that usually is somehow his fault.
The only thing that I didn't like about the book is that it seemed too busy to me. There were so many things going on that I couldn't just sit back and enjoy it. Murder, kidnapping, investigations, more murder, infidelities, secrets, vampires, and vampire dogs were around every turn! It seemed like not one chapter could just focus on one element of the story. While it never got confusing, it just felt like too much at times. I felt like I was reading a soap opera at times. I really wanted to just dive into the young vampire dealing with her urges and the ensuing mayhem that was the result. I understand that it is all tied together, but I felt like it would have been an even better story if there had been more about Lorna and less about everyone else.
That being said, I give this book about a 3.5 out of 5 stars. I almost gave it lower, as it was really hard for me to get into the story, but then I found that I didn't want to stop reading. I had to find out what happened. Then there was a nice twist at the end. So, while I found the story busy, I also found it engaging. Once it had my interest, it kept it.
Would I read it again? Possibly. If I ever read the first book, I might re-read this one afterwards. I think I would enjoy it more with the back story in place in my mind. There were a few times I had really wished I had read the first one. They brought up the happenings in the first book frequently and I was frustrated by not knowing all that had happened before.
Would I recommend it to anyone? Yes. I think that a lot of people would enjoy it. It is an adult book as there are some sex scenes, intense fight scenes, and murder scenes. I wouldn't recommend this to younger readers, but perhaps older teens that are comfortable with these things. If you like murder, mayhem, and vampires, then you might enjoy this book.
Disclosure: I received the book free in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own. I was not required to leave a positive review.
I have mixed feelings about this book. I enjoyed the main story of it. The seven year old vampire sired by a murderous centuries dead vampire, waiting as patiently as a young child can for her blood-father to return for her. Said child trying to learn to control her cravings for blood. Then all of the mayhem that ensues when she isn't as successful at it as she'd like to be.
I enjoyed the characters quite a lot, even the unlikable ones. The mom is sure that there is something up with her daughter, but loves her whole-heartedly anyway. The blood-father, Francis, was very interesting to me, trying desperately to make it to his daughter in time. I wish I had read the first book. I think I would have really enjoyed reading about his previously blood-thirsty ways. I really disliked the dad, Kurt. He is a two-timing husband and, I feel, a poor excuse for a man. Every time he turns around, something bad is happening that usually is somehow his fault.
The only thing that I didn't like about the book is that it seemed too busy to me. There were so many things going on that I couldn't just sit back and enjoy it. Murder, kidnapping, investigations, more murder, infidelities, secrets, vampires, and vampire dogs were around every turn! It seemed like not one chapter could just focus on one element of the story. While it never got confusing, it just felt like too much at times. I felt like I was reading a soap opera at times. I really wanted to just dive into the young vampire dealing with her urges and the ensuing mayhem that was the result. I understand that it is all tied together, but I felt like it would have been an even better story if there had been more about Lorna and less about everyone else.
That being said, I give this book about a 3.5 out of 5 stars. I almost gave it lower, as it was really hard for me to get into the story, but then I found that I didn't want to stop reading. I had to find out what happened. Then there was a nice twist at the end. So, while I found the story busy, I also found it engaging. Once it had my interest, it kept it.
Would I read it again? Possibly. If I ever read the first book, I might re-read this one afterwards. I think I would enjoy it more with the back story in place in my mind. There were a few times I had really wished I had read the first one. They brought up the happenings in the first book frequently and I was frustrated by not knowing all that had happened before.
Would I recommend it to anyone? Yes. I think that a lot of people would enjoy it. It is an adult book as there are some sex scenes, intense fight scenes, and murder scenes. I wouldn't recommend this to younger readers, but perhaps older teens that are comfortable with these things. If you like murder, mayhem, and vampires, then you might enjoy this book.
Disclosure: I received the book free in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own. I was not required to leave a positive review.
September 8, 2015
Reviewed for Luxury Reading.
When I heard that Risen II was being released I couldn’t wait to read it–I loved the first book, Risen. Risen II is different from the first installment. Francis Barclay has returned but he is not seeking revenge. This time around, he is simply wanting to protect his creation, Lorna. In the first book, he accidentally turned Lorna into a vampire. Lorna is changing and needs to be protected from herself and the town.
Lorna is the daughter of Kurt and Amanda Dale. They have started to notice small oddities about their daughter but they always manage to find ways to explain them away. They are way beyond the state of denial. Lorna knows she is different but doesn’t know that she is a vampire. She just knows that she craves blood and doesn’t mean to hurt people when she drinks from them, until they make her mad. She is a child after all–with temper tantrums and all.
Kurt is up to his adulterous ways as usual and is caught once again by his wife, Amanda, who tries to block it all out and care for their two children. There is a new detective in town, Blaze, who doesn’t care a bit for Kurt, but ends up having to deal with the Dale family more than he thought he would. Everyone in Alder Lake, new and old, has secrets and they are about to find out how connected they are to one another.
When Francis returns from the ashes, he only has a small amount of time to get to Lorna before he literally blows away. I did love how he was dedicated to wanting to help her and protect her. He did all he could in the small amount of time he had. He was even able to bring back Samantha, the vampire dog, that helped with Lorna’s transition.
Overall, I found Risen II to be not as good as the first book. I am not quite sure why I didn’t like it. The story flowed and was well written. Maybe it was that it had a lot of the same plot lines as the first book with Kurt being up to his old ways again and Amanda always in denial. I also thought this story was less chilling and it didn’t grab my attention like Risen did. I had to force myself to continue to read it.
I would recommend this story to those who would like to return to Alder Lake to see what happens next but not to those new to Alder Lake. If do choose to pick up Risen II without reading Risen, you will not be lost as Lawrence does an excellent job of getting the reader up to date on what happened previously.
When I heard that Risen II was being released I couldn’t wait to read it–I loved the first book, Risen. Risen II is different from the first installment. Francis Barclay has returned but he is not seeking revenge. This time around, he is simply wanting to protect his creation, Lorna. In the first book, he accidentally turned Lorna into a vampire. Lorna is changing and needs to be protected from herself and the town.
Lorna is the daughter of Kurt and Amanda Dale. They have started to notice small oddities about their daughter but they always manage to find ways to explain them away. They are way beyond the state of denial. Lorna knows she is different but doesn’t know that she is a vampire. She just knows that she craves blood and doesn’t mean to hurt people when she drinks from them, until they make her mad. She is a child after all–with temper tantrums and all.
Kurt is up to his adulterous ways as usual and is caught once again by his wife, Amanda, who tries to block it all out and care for their two children. There is a new detective in town, Blaze, who doesn’t care a bit for Kurt, but ends up having to deal with the Dale family more than he thought he would. Everyone in Alder Lake, new and old, has secrets and they are about to find out how connected they are to one another.
When Francis returns from the ashes, he only has a small amount of time to get to Lorna before he literally blows away. I did love how he was dedicated to wanting to help her and protect her. He did all he could in the small amount of time he had. He was even able to bring back Samantha, the vampire dog, that helped with Lorna’s transition.
Overall, I found Risen II to be not as good as the first book. I am not quite sure why I didn’t like it. The story flowed and was well written. Maybe it was that it had a lot of the same plot lines as the first book with Kurt being up to his old ways again and Amanda always in denial. I also thought this story was less chilling and it didn’t grab my attention like Risen did. I had to force myself to continue to read it.
I would recommend this story to those who would like to return to Alder Lake to see what happens next but not to those new to Alder Lake. If do choose to pick up Risen II without reading Risen, you will not be lost as Lawrence does an excellent job of getting the reader up to date on what happened previously.
March 18, 2015
"Risen II: The Progeny"
by Krystal Lawrence
4.5 Fangs
I am an independent reviewer for 'Paranormal Romance and Authors That Rock'. I received this book from the author and from 'Paranormal Romance and Authors That Rock'. This is my honest review.
This is a continuation of the horror story. The book is a disturbing look who is really a monster and is the second in the "Risen" series.
Kurt is a detective in a small town who hasn't learned his lesson about being faithful. He tries to be a good father, but lacks the ability to keep away from having affairs. His is one very flawed hero. He's not the only character with issues, quiet a few people have secrets in Alder's Lake that want to keep them hidden from a small town's gossip grapevine.
Francis Barclay is back and worse for his his confrontation with Kurt. He can't seem to keep himself together, literally. He is drawn back to the small town that he hates so much, Alder Lake. This time he's not drawn there by revenge but by Amanda and Kurt's daughter, Lorna, whom he now shares a bond with.
Things are getting strange again for poor Kurt and his family. The detective fights to keep his family safe even when the danger within his very home.
Fear is the the theme of this book. This is not light reading, but an intense psychological horror that will keep the reader on edge. The characters from the first book "Risen" are even more complex and flawed, and new ones are introduced. The author keeps the reader in suspense throughout the story. I recommend you read this one during the day, or at the very least, with the lights on. Enjoy.
by Krystal Lawrence
4.5 Fangs
I am an independent reviewer for 'Paranormal Romance and Authors That Rock'. I received this book from the author and from 'Paranormal Romance and Authors That Rock'. This is my honest review.
This is a continuation of the horror story. The book is a disturbing look who is really a monster and is the second in the "Risen" series.
Kurt is a detective in a small town who hasn't learned his lesson about being faithful. He tries to be a good father, but lacks the ability to keep away from having affairs. His is one very flawed hero. He's not the only character with issues, quiet a few people have secrets in Alder's Lake that want to keep them hidden from a small town's gossip grapevine.
Francis Barclay is back and worse for his his confrontation with Kurt. He can't seem to keep himself together, literally. He is drawn back to the small town that he hates so much, Alder Lake. This time he's not drawn there by revenge but by Amanda and Kurt's daughter, Lorna, whom he now shares a bond with.
Things are getting strange again for poor Kurt and his family. The detective fights to keep his family safe even when the danger within his very home.
Fear is the the theme of this book. This is not light reading, but an intense psychological horror that will keep the reader on edge. The characters from the first book "Risen" are even more complex and flawed, and new ones are introduced. The author keeps the reader in suspense throughout the story. I recommend you read this one during the day, or at the very least, with the lights on. Enjoy.
March 26, 2015
Independent Reviewer for Archaeolibrarian I Dig Good Books.
The boy is back, but he is no longer out for the revenge he was before. He wishes his child, his progency to be safe. But when there are murders in town that dredge up all that happened 5 years ago, Barclay knows that Lorna will need more than just his help.
After Lorna kissed it all better for Barcaly in the last book, she changed. Slowly, subtely and over time. She doesn't think or speak like a 7 seven old should, her thoughts are darker, disturbing, to say the least! But she knows her blood father is coming and she just needs to hang on a little longer.
I didn't find this as scary as book one, Barcaly's sole purpose is to get to Alder Lake and save Lorna. Its Lorna who is the scary one here! Barcaly knows he has much less time than before, and needs to help Lorna before he returns to the ash they made him into before.
A good tale, with some scary-ish bits, a twist I did not see coming, OH I love that Samantha returns too! and the end left wide open. Its like one of those movies, they leave the end open, for a possible next film, but finish the current story arc off, but in a book.
I said for Book one I couldn't stretch to 5 stars for the fact that I didn't get enough of Barcaly. While we do get more here, I still am left with WHY? Why did he rise last time, what caused him to, something must have set him off?? Here, it just says he knew he had to rise for Lorna, but I just needed that little bit more. Just why. Thats all.
4 Stars
**same worded review appears on Goodreads, Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk**
The boy is back, but he is no longer out for the revenge he was before. He wishes his child, his progency to be safe. But when there are murders in town that dredge up all that happened 5 years ago, Barclay knows that Lorna will need more than just his help.
After Lorna kissed it all better for Barcaly in the last book, she changed. Slowly, subtely and over time. She doesn't think or speak like a 7 seven old should, her thoughts are darker, disturbing, to say the least! But she knows her blood father is coming and she just needs to hang on a little longer.
I didn't find this as scary as book one, Barcaly's sole purpose is to get to Alder Lake and save Lorna. Its Lorna who is the scary one here! Barcaly knows he has much less time than before, and needs to help Lorna before he returns to the ash they made him into before.
A good tale, with some scary-ish bits, a twist I did not see coming, OH I love that Samantha returns too! and the end left wide open. Its like one of those movies, they leave the end open, for a possible next film, but finish the current story arc off, but in a book.
I said for Book one I couldn't stretch to 5 stars for the fact that I didn't get enough of Barcaly. While we do get more here, I still am left with WHY? Why did he rise last time, what caused him to, something must have set him off?? Here, it just says he knew he had to rise for Lorna, but I just needed that little bit more. Just why. Thats all.
4 Stars
**same worded review appears on Goodreads, Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk**
February 11, 2015
Given To Me For An Honest Review
Risen II - The Progeny by Krystal Lawrence is the sequel to Risen. This book will not only grab you from page one but it will hold you down on the edge of your seat and not let you go until the last page. Those pages will turn and keep turning until the end ... and when you get to the end you would wish it wasn't over. The twists and turns will take you through terror, horror, lust, love and even a little humor. Get ready to expect the unexpected while reading. Francis Barclay is back! This time it's to save his offspring ... The Progeny. You'll find some old characters back along with some new ones. The question you'll be asking yourself, will Francis be able to do the impossible? I don't really ever read books of the Vampire genre. This book is so good, I loved it. I gave this book 5 stars but it needs many, many more. It would make a fantastic gift for a friend or even look great on your bookshelf. I highly recommend this book to everyone, especially those who love urban horror. I look for more from Krystal Lawrence. Excellent writing Krystal.
Risen II - The Progeny by Krystal Lawrence is the sequel to Risen. This book will not only grab you from page one but it will hold you down on the edge of your seat and not let you go until the last page. Those pages will turn and keep turning until the end ... and when you get to the end you would wish it wasn't over. The twists and turns will take you through terror, horror, lust, love and even a little humor. Get ready to expect the unexpected while reading. Francis Barclay is back! This time it's to save his offspring ... The Progeny. You'll find some old characters back along with some new ones. The question you'll be asking yourself, will Francis be able to do the impossible? I don't really ever read books of the Vampire genre. This book is so good, I loved it. I gave this book 5 stars but it needs many, many more. It would make a fantastic gift for a friend or even look great on your bookshelf. I highly recommend this book to everyone, especially those who love urban horror. I look for more from Krystal Lawrence. Excellent writing Krystal.
March 26, 2015
Before I got the chance to read Risen II: The Progeny, I was a little unsure because I hadn't read the first book. This being the second in the series, I was concerned I wouldn't be able to grasp the full plot unless I went back and got caught up. Thankfully, the author painted the events of the first book creatively throughout the story so that I didn't feel as if I missed out on anything.
I enjoyed this story because it was nothing like I was expecting it to be. I thought I had it figured out, but as it turns out I was very wrong. It exceeded my expectations in keeping me intrigued and motivated to continue turning page after page.
To be honest, I think the creepiest aspect of the story is the fact that the culprit is fairly young and unable to control her impulses. This played well with the psychological thriller/urban horror I was hoping for and made it twice as captivating in its complexity.
Definitely recommend to lovers of horror.
I enjoyed this story because it was nothing like I was expecting it to be. I thought I had it figured out, but as it turns out I was very wrong. It exceeded my expectations in keeping me intrigued and motivated to continue turning page after page.
To be honest, I think the creepiest aspect of the story is the fact that the culprit is fairly young and unable to control her impulses. This played well with the psychological thriller/urban horror I was hoping for and made it twice as captivating in its complexity.
Definitely recommend to lovers of horror.
February 19, 2015
Wow.. this one was even better then the first for me. I loved the horror.. the blood.. the gore.. and yet at the same time the good and love and some happiness in this story. This one had some of the characters from the 1st story but also new characters. I loved seeing the ones from book 1 also lol. Some parts were creepy but it all held me on the edge of my seat. I completely loved it. I read this in one sitting it was totally amazing
July 23, 2015
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. I'm not sure if I liked the 1st or 2nd book better. I was really hoping Lorna hadn't changed, but figured it would make for a good story if she did. As in Risen, she is Barclay's weakness. I recommend this to vampire fans. These are not like most vamp books I've read.
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