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Blood Pressure: A Vampire Testament
The secret war between vampires and humans escalates and the world will never be the same again…Christopher Jude Miller – fully grown and still human – has returned to New York to seek answers about his past. It is there he meets Joie, a young woman connected to his past, and falls into a twisted love triangle. He and Joie also realize that the magical forces that made both their lives possible have unexpected side effects, as they discover that united they have abilities neither knew of before - including the power to cure vampires.Created after the incidents that brought in the National Guard to contain the vampire zombie plague on the Lower East Side, Clean Slate Global is a covert ops organization formed to rid the world of vampires, run by ex-deputy mayor Jonathan Richmond. But Richmond unleashes an ancient evil with darker motives. It plots to use Christopher and Joie's power to eliminate all vampires from the Earth…with the exception of its own new and improved indestructible army of the undead.
416 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 30, 2010
8 people are currently reading
194 people want to read
About the author
Terence Taylor
25 books29 followersTERENCE TAYLOR is an award-winning children's television writer, whose work has appeared on PBS, Nickelodeon, and Disney, among many others. After a career of comforting young kids, he's now equally dedicated to scaring their parents. His short horror stories have been published in all three "Dark Dreams" horror/suspense anthologies. "BITE MARKS: A Vampire Testament" is his first novel. "BLOOD PRESSURE", second in the opening trilogy of the Vampire Testaments, is due out in April 2010. He lives "
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
May 18, 2014
There was a large span of time between me reading Bite Marks and Blood Pressure. I had only a vague memories of the plot to Bite Marks going into Blood Pressure. That in my opinion was because the first book in this series didn't really stand out in any special way. I remember simply having mixed feeling about it.
I am glad I decided to read Blood Pressure though because it was drastically better. This second book in the series definitely left a memorable impression. With the addition of the high tech paramilitary group Clean Slate the author opened the door for a new intense element action in the story line. At the same time the author did a good job of maintaining the integrity of the plot and not letting it become controlled by the war between Vampires and Clean Slate. It was a decent balance, action, plot and character development.
I actually think the story would have been better if the author had condensed Turner's background story. I appreciate all the research and writing the author put into conveying the scene of the Harlem Renaissance and wanting to share that knowledge. It was just in my opinion kind of overkill and not all completely necessary to the story. I found the chapters pertaining to his background frustrating because I was enjoying the main story so much that Turner's chapters were like literary speed bumps.
I felt that the authors energies would have been better spent expanding on the final assault on the Clean Slate facility. It was a perfect opportunity to throw in a bit more action with some intense fighting. Instead it was all rather abrupt and nondescript. They got in, they found who they were looking for, and they got out. It was kind of anticlimactic for pitting paramilitary against vampires, voodoo, and a family.
With all that being said it is still a great story filled with action, romance, intrigue, and mysteries yet to come to light. I am eager to read the next installment in this series.
I am glad I decided to read Blood Pressure though because it was drastically better. This second book in the series definitely left a memorable impression. With the addition of the high tech paramilitary group Clean Slate the author opened the door for a new intense element action in the story line. At the same time the author did a good job of maintaining the integrity of the plot and not letting it become controlled by the war between Vampires and Clean Slate. It was a decent balance, action, plot and character development.
I actually think the story would have been better if the author had condensed Turner's background story. I appreciate all the research and writing the author put into conveying the scene of the Harlem Renaissance and wanting to share that knowledge. It was just in my opinion kind of overkill and not all completely necessary to the story. I found the chapters pertaining to his background frustrating because I was enjoying the main story so much that Turner's chapters were like literary speed bumps.
I felt that the authors energies would have been better spent expanding on the final assault on the Clean Slate facility. It was a perfect opportunity to throw in a bit more action with some intense fighting. Instead it was all rather abrupt and nondescript. They got in, they found who they were looking for, and they got out. It was kind of anticlimactic for pitting paramilitary against vampires, voodoo, and a family.
With all that being said it is still a great story filled with action, romance, intrigue, and mysteries yet to come to light. I am eager to read the next installment in this series.
February 4, 2011
This was like eating a bag of cookies: enjoyable but not filling.
February 23, 2014
I so enjoyed this book. Mr. Taylor is an incredibly creative writer that I have so much respect for. His vampire tales are so very different than what I have ever read or could ever create. His use of time, scenery, truth, and fiction, blend together in such a marvelous way, the story begins to take a life of its own; making it hard to put the book down. I loved "Blood Pressure" more than "Bite Marks", and I think it's because his tale took place in a past that I have read so much about and is very dear to most Americans. Not only did he take us there, he reintroduced a most beloved figure from that time period. The use of Zora Neale Hurston at a point where she was famous but not already infamous was exactly what this story needed. I loved how he mixed her into "Blood Pressure". Here presence wasn't clumsy or misguided. She flowed into this rich telling, and I'm sure she is very pleased at how she was represented.
The story line was great. The pace was fast, and I can't wait for part 3.
The story line was great. The pace was fast, and I can't wait for part 3.
October 16, 2016
This seems like just an extension of the other book that this book references extensively - Bite Marks. The references make me feel like I'm missing out by not reading Bite Marks, like all the action happened in this other book and this book chronicles the aftermath of that.
I'm not even entirely sure what the climax was; the rescue, the cure(s), or a few other things that happened in between and after. The book was thoroughly anti-climatic, but did have a few interesting scenes. The chapters jumped back and forth through time, explaining things as I read along; it even explained the plot of Bite Marks by the time I was done.
I've never read a book like this. I liked the scenes, but the entire book didn't seem like a book in itself. Like it was an advertisement for Bite Marks rather than a book to be read alone. It confuses me.
I'm not even entirely sure what the climax was; the rescue, the cure(s), or a few other things that happened in between and after. The book was thoroughly anti-climatic, but did have a few interesting scenes. The chapters jumped back and forth through time, explaining things as I read along; it even explained the plot of Bite Marks by the time I was done.
I've never read a book like this. I liked the scenes, but the entire book didn't seem like a book in itself. Like it was an advertisement for Bite Marks rather than a book to be read alone. It confuses me.
September 20, 2010
Terence Taylor, you sick dude, you've done it again! Where do you come up with this stuff?!
Blood Pressure picks up 20 years later from where Bite Marks left off. While it started a little slower than Bite Marks and didn't quite have the gore and creepiness, once it took off, it took off and there was no stopping it! I appreciated the characters that returned from Bite Marks and loved the new characters, especially Turner Creed. I can't wait for your next Vampire Testament!
Thank you Goodreads First Reads for my copy of this book.
Blood Pressure picks up 20 years later from where Bite Marks left off. While it started a little slower than Bite Marks and didn't quite have the gore and creepiness, once it took off, it took off and there was no stopping it! I appreciated the characters that returned from Bite Marks and loved the new characters, especially Turner Creed. I can't wait for your next Vampire Testament!
Thank you Goodreads First Reads for my copy of this book.
July 25, 2010
a sequel that is not disappointing....just finished it! I enjoyed the storyline and will probably read the next one (assuming there is a next one). A weaver of sorts, I loved the way Taylor wove Zora Neale Hurston and the Harlem Renaissance throughout the novel. I have to admit, I did fall in love with Turner Creed and hope he appears in later books. Clean Slate was not clear or satisfying, but sufficed for its purpose. Now onto another summer/supernatural/vampire novel...what should it be? Passages?
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September 15, 2010not saying it isnt a good book, it just wasnt my cup of tea...
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews