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Sonja Blue #3
Paint it Black
Red Blood, Black Night
Vampire and vampire-hunter Sonja Blue has faced many monsters, but none compare to the Other, the demonic alter ego inside her. Now, as her world grows darker still, her vampiric “grandfather” Pangloss returns. Could he show her the way to redemption? Or is he here simply to drive her further into the abyss?
About the Author
Nancy A. Collins is the author of Sunglasses After Dark™, Darkest Heart™ and Dead Roses for a Blue Lady™. She is a past recipient of the Bram Stoker and British Fantasy Iecarus Awards, and a nominee for the 2003 Stoker and International Horror Guild Awards.
Vampire and vampire-hunter Sonja Blue has faced many monsters, but none compare to the Other, the demonic alter ego inside her. Now, as her world grows darker still, her vampiric “grandfather” Pangloss returns. Could he show her the way to redemption? Or is he here simply to drive her further into the abyss?
About the Author
Nancy A. Collins is the author of Sunglasses After Dark™, Darkest Heart™ and Dead Roses for a Blue Lady™. She is a past recipient of the Bram Stoker and British Fantasy Iecarus Awards, and a nominee for the 2003 Stoker and International Horror Guild Awards.
198 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1995
14 people are currently reading
437 people want to read
About the author
Nancy A. Collins
337 books671 followersNancy A. Collins (born 10 September 1959) is a United States horror fiction writer best known for her series of vampire novels featuring her character Sonja Blue. Collins has also written for comic books, including the Swamp Thing series, Jason Vs. Leatherface, Predator: Hell Come A Walkin and her own one-shot Dhampire: Stillborn.
Collins was born in McGehee, Arkansas, United States. She lived in New Orleans, Louisiana in the 1980s; after time in New York City and Atlanta, Georgia she settled in Wilmington, North Carolina in the late 2000s.
Collins has written twenty novels since 1989, many of which refer to and directly include races of creatures the author calls Pretenders, monsters from myth and legend passing as human to better hunt their prey.
Collins has also written a number of highly acclaimed Southern Gothic short stories and novellas, most of which are set in Seven Devils, Arkansas, a highly fictionalized version of her hometown.
Most recently, she has focused her attention onto the Golgotham urban fantasy series,published by Penguin. Golgotham is the 'supernatural' ghetto of New York City, where creatures from myth and folklore--including witches,shapeshifters,leprechauns and centaurs--live and work in uneasy alliance with mankind.
Collins was born in McGehee, Arkansas, United States. She lived in New Orleans, Louisiana in the 1980s; after time in New York City and Atlanta, Georgia she settled in Wilmington, North Carolina in the late 2000s.
Collins has written twenty novels since 1989, many of which refer to and directly include races of creatures the author calls Pretenders, monsters from myth and legend passing as human to better hunt their prey.
Collins has also written a number of highly acclaimed Southern Gothic short stories and novellas, most of which are set in Seven Devils, Arkansas, a highly fictionalized version of her hometown.
Most recently, she has focused her attention onto the Golgotham urban fantasy series,published by Penguin. Golgotham is the 'supernatural' ghetto of New York City, where creatures from myth and folklore--including witches,shapeshifters,leprechauns and centaurs--live and work in uneasy alliance with mankind.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
January 6, 2023
character development definitely regressed in this one. it was weirder than the previous two. at the end of the day i still really like how collins writes about the mundane paranormal. but i don’t like incest and the sex club stuff in this book was even more triggering than it usually is. that’s just a personal thing but i’m probably gonna stop with this series, because whilst i like the concepts - i don’t really like the execution.
October 13, 2019
I feel very conflicted about this book on one note is a very good continuation to the last book, but in others it just goes on stampede wrecking every bit of character development from the first two book out the window in place of unnecessary drama, then it gets back in track and ends the book in a very good way, but god that first half nearly destroyed my interest in the rest of the series, for me i would delete the whole b plot with Judd, and not make her break up with Palmer because we need that sweet drama. I would give the first half 2.0 stars and the second half a solid 4.5. The total score here i will give 3 stars because it was entertaining but that first half, GOD.
January 16, 2018
Much better than the previous books, we actually get some feeling for the character of Sonja herself and see her find out who and what she truly is. Still has some editing issues since it was updated but was less than the other books.
A good third entry for the series and rewards those who stuck with it this far, would have been nice if this kind of story happened earlier in the series but oh well.
A good third entry for the series and rewards those who stuck with it this far, would have been nice if this kind of story happened earlier in the series but oh well.
August 7, 2020
The third book in the Sonja Blue series. This book begins with Palmer looking after Lethe and Sonja on the hint for Morgan who somehow survived the last battle. The hunt for Morgan and the killing of The Wretched Fly was entertaining. There is action and blood to keep the pages turning.
Sonja again goes back and forth within herself with what she wants to do and who she is and this ends up changing the story in a very dramatic way. At least for me. We are introduced to Judd at some point and he could have easily been forgotten and moved on and kept the drama with Palmer and raising Lethe while hinting Morgan or figuring out her other self but instead we get the rape of Judd and this guilt trip of Sonja hating herself. This causes a shift in the story where Sonja begins losing it again and Palmer begins to lose it as well.
We lose a lot of monstrous vibes, lets herself off guard way more than she should as such a strong vampire. Pangloss and his loss was interesting and really puts into perspective death and the purpose of life. The idea of living forever and immortality may seem like the greatest thing but in a way it takes away our mortality. We lose sight of any goals and ambition and only watch other come and go with no real purpose. The purpose of life cannot be measure by time or power but with being present.
Throughout this story Lethe has grown sleeps with Palmer and jumps on a quest to sleep with 25 other qualified men to start a new race of beings balancing the races between supernatural and human. I can see how this adds more to the story; it definitely opens up space for more books. But I found this part lacking. I would have enjoyed more detail and dialogue from Lethe. She just kind of cocooned, Palmer lost it, Sonja lost it and then she starts preparing for a new race. It just seemed a little rushed,
Finally we arrive at the final battle. The creator himself Lord Morgan. With the advantage of manipulating Sonja while she is lost within herself, he has a pretty good opportunity to take the upper hand. I was kind of disappointed at how easily he was able to over power her and not really see to much action between them. The fight between Sonja and the Other was great. Seeing the other for the first time and in turn watching Sonja transform herself was detailed and exciting. The ending was rather another bittersweet disappointment leaving me wanting more action.
Sonja again goes back and forth within herself with what she wants to do and who she is and this ends up changing the story in a very dramatic way. At least for me. We are introduced to Judd at some point and he could have easily been forgotten and moved on and kept the drama with Palmer and raising Lethe while hinting Morgan or figuring out her other self but instead we get the rape of Judd and this guilt trip of Sonja hating herself. This causes a shift in the story where Sonja begins losing it again and Palmer begins to lose it as well.
We lose a lot of monstrous vibes, lets herself off guard way more than she should as such a strong vampire. Pangloss and his loss was interesting and really puts into perspective death and the purpose of life. The idea of living forever and immortality may seem like the greatest thing but in a way it takes away our mortality. We lose sight of any goals and ambition and only watch other come and go with no real purpose. The purpose of life cannot be measure by time or power but with being present.
Throughout this story Lethe has grown sleeps with Palmer and jumps on a quest to sleep with 25 other qualified men to start a new race of beings balancing the races between supernatural and human. I can see how this adds more to the story; it definitely opens up space for more books. But I found this part lacking. I would have enjoyed more detail and dialogue from Lethe. She just kind of cocooned, Palmer lost it, Sonja lost it and then she starts preparing for a new race. It just seemed a little rushed,
Finally we arrive at the final battle. The creator himself Lord Morgan. With the advantage of manipulating Sonja while she is lost within herself, he has a pretty good opportunity to take the upper hand. I was kind of disappointed at how easily he was able to over power her and not really see to much action between them. The fight between Sonja and the Other was great. Seeing the other for the first time and in turn watching Sonja transform herself was detailed and exciting. The ending was rather another bittersweet disappointment leaving me wanting more action.
November 9, 2018
Loved this. We’re going back to the gritty edginess and darkness of the first book. I disliked the second book, so this was picking up the pieces and had it make sense and kind of nullified whatever I didn’t like about the second book.
Spoilers
She finally killed Morgan! Yesssss!!!!! Finally. Very cathartic and everything I wanted. Descriptions and imagery were great. Love the characters!!!!
Also there was some awkward exposition with Jen that I simply found awkward and unrealistic (taking time to explain as he broke into her house and she threatened to kill him????what???)
But over all if you didn’t like the second but liked the first you can def read this. You could even skip the second. This book made it so you could pick it up and read it without the others. There was enough info about what happened prior to this book that even if you read this out of order you would have a good idea of what was going on.
I like chazs ghost. I like the denim she makes deal with, mal. I was hoping more would become of him being able to take on Judds appearance. Why didn’t anything happen with that? Or maybe just not yet?
This was written years ago. So there’s still some awkward racist stuff in here. And so much rape in the narrative????? But still a really entertaining read. I absolutely love Sonja.
Spoilers
She finally killed Morgan! Yesssss!!!!! Finally. Very cathartic and everything I wanted. Descriptions and imagery were great. Love the characters!!!!
Also there was some awkward exposition with Jen that I simply found awkward and unrealistic (taking time to explain as he broke into her house and she threatened to kill him????what???)
But over all if you didn’t like the second but liked the first you can def read this. You could even skip the second. This book made it so you could pick it up and read it without the others. There was enough info about what happened prior to this book that even if you read this out of order you would have a good idea of what was going on.
I like chazs ghost. I like the denim she makes deal with, mal. I was hoping more would become of him being able to take on Judds appearance. Why didn’t anything happen with that? Or maybe just not yet?
This was written years ago. So there’s still some awkward racist stuff in here. And so much rape in the narrative????? But still a really entertaining read. I absolutely love Sonja.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 5, 2022
I struggled between a three and a four with this one. Collins' books seem to move at a breakneck pace sometimes I feel the plot/character development suffer because of it. However, there were some interesting elements at play and a few key scenes which were spectacular. I just wish some of the writing had been shaved down (sometimes she uses two or three metaphors in just a few sentences to describe an image and, consequently, it becomes muddled). Then again, that might have made an already short, quick book even shorter and quicker (though the prose would be more readable). Fans of the series or vampire fiction will probably enjoy Paint it Black, in spite of its flaws. It makes sense to me that Nancy A. Collins also writes comic books and I have a feeling her writing translates better in that medium.
February 20, 2024
PAINT IT BLACK is the third novel of the Sonja Blue series. Sonja Blue is a living vampire that hunts other vampires but is a lot darker than your typical urban fantasy fair. Sonja wants to be good but occasionally ends up hurting the innocent and there's a strong Gothic Punk vibe that is lacking from more romantic views of the undead. This book deals with her finally having her big confrontation with her sire, Morgan, and also dealing with her split personality between the Other, herself, and Denise Thorn.
A fantastic finale for the series that didn't really end the series. I hate what the author did with her relationship with Palmer, though.
A fantastic finale for the series that didn't really end the series. I hate what the author did with her relationship with Palmer, though.
November 21, 2019
Compelling
This is a very compelling series. The storyline is strong and very different from the Urban Fantasy I've read before. Grittier, less "fluffy", and characters are a bit more complex. I'm torn because the series is well written but poorly edited. Missing words, wrong words, typos in general pepper the novels. That is why I prefer it to have 3.5 ☆'s instead of 4.
This is a very compelling series. The storyline is strong and very different from the Urban Fantasy I've read before. Grittier, less "fluffy", and characters are a bit more complex. I'm torn because the series is well written but poorly edited. Missing words, wrong words, typos in general pepper the novels. That is why I prefer it to have 3.5 ☆'s instead of 4.
April 18, 2021
The books of Nancy Collins's Sonja Blue series are like potato chips -- can't eat just one.
February 19, 2025
Worse than the first two. How is this possible?
I survived
I survived
Read
November 12, 2025After picking up and putting this book down for months, I’m giving up. I just can’t get into it. DNF
March 8, 2014
This installment brings to a close the developmental stage of Sonja Blue's undead life. She's still looking to kill off Morgan, still in love with Palmer and still helping to guard Lethe, the baby seriph Lethe who was the unexpected result of Morgan's genetic engineering experiments. She doesn't know it, but she's given Morgan more than a twisted and scarred face during their last battle. She has taken part of his avatar, the chimera, and left him in love with her.
Not that love is going to stop Morgan from destroying her if he can. He hones his skills and feeds his new obsession by role playing with street prostitutes and drug addicts. Sonja has her own problems - she's destroyed a life by letting the Other loose on an innocent young man. Mentally wounded from the experience, she retreats to the Yucatan, where Palmer and Lethe make their home. Lethe has grown an astonishing amount in the few years she's been alive. Her seriph guardian still keeps watch over her, awaiting the time when Lethe's final transformation will begin. Neither Sonja or Palmer know that Lethe has a special purpose - one that will tear their small family apart.
Each of these novels has been different from the rest. While Sonja's vendetta against Morgan remains the connecting thread between them, there is always a hitch in her plans, a change of direction, and multiple character points of view to keep the reader hooked. This 3rd novel's brings both resolution and new purpose to Sonja's existence.
Not that love is going to stop Morgan from destroying her if he can. He hones his skills and feeds his new obsession by role playing with street prostitutes and drug addicts. Sonja has her own problems - she's destroyed a life by letting the Other loose on an innocent young man. Mentally wounded from the experience, she retreats to the Yucatan, where Palmer and Lethe make their home. Lethe has grown an astonishing amount in the few years she's been alive. Her seriph guardian still keeps watch over her, awaiting the time when Lethe's final transformation will begin. Neither Sonja or Palmer know that Lethe has a special purpose - one that will tear their small family apart.
Each of these novels has been different from the rest. While Sonja's vendetta against Morgan remains the connecting thread between them, there is always a hitch in her plans, a change of direction, and multiple character points of view to keep the reader hooked. This 3rd novel's brings both resolution and new purpose to Sonja's existence.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 28, 2015
Since I don't normally write reviews unless I have something specific to say, here's the break down of how I rate my books...
1 star... This book was bad, so bad I may have given up and skipped to the end. I will avoid this author like the plague in the future.
2 stars... This book was not very good, and I won't be reading any more from the author.
3 stars... This book was ok, but I won't go out of my way to read more, But if I find another book by the author for under a dollar I'd pick it up.
4 stars... I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be on the look out to pick up more from the series/author.
5 stars... I loved this book! It has earned a permanent home in my collection and I'll be picking up the rest of the series and other books from the author ASAP.
January 22, 2013
This is a lot more darker (if such a thing can be said) and more complex then the other Sonja Blue novels. Lethe is living with Palmer and Auntie Sonja. That is the occasional times when Sonja Blue visits. Sonja's obsession with finding her sire and destroying him has taken her over completely. Sonja Blue and the Other are fighting more and more for control of her body. Lethe is growing at an extraordinary rate and seems to have a destiny of her own. But what about Sonja Blue's destiny? Can she face and destroy Morgan? Or will the Other take over completely?
I didn't love this one as much as the other books in the series. That said, it was still an excellent read. Three and a half stars.
I didn't love this one as much as the other books in the series. That said, it was still an excellent read. Three and a half stars.
March 3, 2022
I would love for Sonia to go on conscious and let her personality merge it together and I want to see her Real biological father comes and ask her questions of what went down and how it was happened she was turned into this and I would love to see to make Sonia immortal like she can never die and on her father side he’s part fairy he never knew that The supernatural world exist and I think he should become immortal to to spend time with his daughter and she should get a boyfriend and stop killing them like have a vamp boyfriend who really loves her and she interacts with different supernatural creatures .
October 31, 2019
2019-10-31 Re-read: Man, I know I read this (and the fourth one) before, but I can't finish this. I'm about a third of the way through it, . I have no desire to read more to see if that gets better or not. I'm done.
I'm leaving the three stars I gave it the first time because apparently I stuck with it and liked it overall, but this isn't something I want to keep reading, now.
I'm leaving the three stars I gave it the first time because apparently I stuck with it and liked it overall, but this isn't something I want to keep reading, now.
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September 29, 2019I remember reading the first book Sunglasses After Dark back in the 90s. I loved everything about it. I vaguely remember reading the next two, and enjoying the world. More than 20 years later I found this next book and was so excited... maybe it was due to poor editing , or I got a sham ebook copy or my memory was just plain wrong. I got thru almost half and just could not continue. Sonja is no longer a badass, just another monster that makes no sense. There were moments when I could see a bit of what I expected, but that just made the rest so obviously lacking.
Read
August 22, 2008Paint It Black (The Sonja Blue Series) by Nancy A. Collins (2005)
June 9, 2009
Really enjoyable vampire fiction.
February 21, 2010
I had a hard time figuring out which book comes next, and I read this one out of order. Still a great character, and more compelling subplots than the first Sonja Blue book. Loved it.
November 2, 2014
Disturbing, disgusting, depressing, DNF.
February 12, 2014
started out good, not your typical vampire read, but it lost me toward the end. didn't really like where it ened up.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews