Blood War

Blood Destiny #8

by Connie Suttle

"Tsk, tsk," Erland muttered, shaking his head in mock sympathy. "Perhaps Lissa should raise the topic of Diplomatic Immunity at the Conclave."

"That, my friend, would be inadvisable. She is new and many will be waiting, as vultures do when an ox is dying."

"I know. At times, I feel the need to cover myself in oil, just to slip through the tripe and garbage of Wylend's court. Lissa will have to contend with five hundred times that when she goes to Conclave."

"I fear that no amount of diplomatic oil will keep her from the shock that is coming. She will be snubbed and mistreated by many, I fear. Not only because she is a new monarch, but because there is a price on her head. Most will be placing as much distance between that and themselves as they can get. It is never wise to befriend one who is marked by the Assassin's Guild. That is usually a death waiting to happen."

Death has come to Le-Ath Veronis. A would-be assassin, aiming at Lissa, kills someone close to her instead. A price has been placed on Lissa's head by Black Mist, an assassin's guild who have been paid by a reassembled Solar Red. Throw in a spin-off religion, betrayal, a misguided kidnapping and the Five-Year Conclave for the Reth Alliance, and you have the seeds of war.

Genres: Vampires, Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal, Science Fiction, Werewolves, Romance

216 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 29, 2012

About the author

Connie Suttle lives in Oklahoma with her husband and three cats.

Connie holds an MFA in Fine Art (film production and animation) and taught courses at the university level before moving on to bookstore management. Nowadays, if she isn't writing or editing, she's dreaming up her next book.

Reviews

[Soo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Notes:

At this point, I feel like I've committed to a train wreck and like Lissa enough to see where that wreck is going. I mean, I've rated books low for errors, lack of fleshing out a plot and jumping the shark--all of that happens in this series. ALL of those things.

[Pam Nelson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel like I would just repeat myself for this review. I am a little confused with exactly what the heck is going on.
The ending again has me scratching my head but say la vee.
I am enjoying the books still just again a bit confused.
Glad Roth has gotten his memory back.
Narration is great as usual.

[Kara-karina]

I think unfortunately series lost something when it went into space. I found I can not continue, which is a pity.

[Autumn Miller ~ autumnbookreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars
*WARNING: MAJOR RANT BELOW*
MAJOR SPOILERS THROUGHOUT:
This book was really good. Like the other books, it was fast paced and had plenty of action. While I enjoyed reading it, there were a few times that I had to take a break because it was SO sad. I bawled my eyes out many times during this book.
Every time I think that Lissa can't possibly be betrayed or broken more, Connie Suttle finds some way to make it happen. I have never felt this bad for a main character before. No one should have to go through a thousandth of what Lissa has been through. But her resilience through it all is what really shocks me. She might break, she might cry, but she ALWAYS gets back up. I admire her so much for that alone because I can tell you now I could never go through what she had to in this book alone, and survive. Another thing about Lissa that astounds me, is her compassion to those who have betrayed her and her willingness to forgive them. She is a better person than I am in that as well because I would never forgive Griffin or most of the others for what they have done to her. Lissa has so much heart and it is truly a miracle that she can have it broken so much but be able to put it back together as much as she has. It is really hard to watch what she goes through in each installment and at this point, I just want her to be happy because she deserves it more than anyone.
I NEVER thought I could dislike someone as much as I did Gavin or Merrill for what they have done to Lissa, but I was SO wrong. Griffin... I don't even have words for how much I despise him at this moment. He has done a lot to Lissa in previous installments that I wanted her to forgive him for. But after learning some of the things he did to her in this installment, I can honestly say that NO ONE deserves forgiveness for what he has done. He is the sole reason that Roff lost his memories and Toff being taken away and he did it all FOR WHAT?! After EVERYTHING Lissa has done for him and after what he has done to her, you would think that he would show at least a little sympathy or compassion for what he did. LISSA is the sole reason his son, Wyatt, who he did all this for, is even alive. WHAT THANKS DOES HE GIVE HER? Knowing Lissa could never have a child biologically, Griffin deliberately took her (adoptive) child away from her. That is probably the worst thing a person could do to someone. To take a child away, is cruel and immoral. And to do that to your own daughter... What kind of person are you? That is probably the worst thing I have seen someone (besides a villain) do. Griffin is lucky that I wasn't his daughter because I can tell you right now I wouldn't have given Wyatt's immortality back so easily. I would have made Griffin wait until Toff was an adult and brought back home (which would have been 30 years because that is when he would be considered full grown) before I would restore Wyatt's immortality, and if anything would have happened to Wyatt during that time, oh well. Griffin deserves anything that happens to him at this point and I hope that Lissa doesn't forgive him because he doesn't deserve it and he never really has.
Lissa finding out that Redbird bonded to Toff was one of that hardest things I have ever had to read. I cried so much at the pure injustice of that situation. After everything Lissa did for those people and to get Toff back, for that to happen, it broke my heart. Toff was Lissa's child, and to take him away like that... I honestly don't know how Lissa brought herself back together after that. I sincerely hope that when Toff is older, he understands what happened to him and a big part of me hopes he hates Redbird for it. You would think that Redbird, being someone that couldn't have a child, she would understand where Lissa was coming from. I don't know how someone could do that to a person, knowing what it's like to not be able to have a child of their own. I have no words to describe how selfish and wrong that was. I really hope that Toff leaves her over what she has done when he is old enough to understand. It would serve her right to lose the child that she stole and came to love as she raised it.
I felt like Giff not allowing Lissa to see her child was a low blow. Like, hasn't Lissa been through enough with what happened to Toff? I can't imagine how much that hurt Lissa and I hope that Giff allows Lissa to see the child eventually.
Obviously, I still love this series very much. I will be continuing on with the series because who wouldn't after that cliffhanger? For Lissa's sake, I really hope that she doesn't lose anyone else because I don't know if she could take it. Who could really blame her for what happened at the end causing the giant cliffhanger. Who would honestly want to come back after what has happened to Lissa in this book alone? I am on the edge of my seat to read the next installment and find out what happens to Lissa and crew.

[Hitandmiss · Rating 2 out of 5]

Short review - Very similar to the last book, Lissa goes to fight a mini war on some planet, Helps more races and people and continues to build up the Vampire home world. The problems within this book are problems that were started in the previous books and are just compounded on and grow, to the extent that even minor issues really start to break the plot lines.

***MILD SPOILERS!***
Longer review – Last book I talked about the risk and characters staying dead. I could just copy and paste that here, and most of it would stay true to this book as well. (Bonus! All my predictions came true!), I made a comment about magic/power system, and I’m going to expand upon that for this review, as nearly all of this book is copy pasta of previous books and thus the outcomes are predictable.


So we will be looking at Lissa’s ever evolving and confusing power and ethics system;

She doesn’t like to use her “LOOKING” power (the ability to look into the future/past and get answers, just asking the question in her mind gives her the answers) However she doesn’t like to ask personal questions! Or icky sexy questions about people! ICK!. Due to this Lissa conveniently forgets to “LOOK” at even basic problems,

“Who is trying to kill me?” “Is there any danger in going here?” “Where are the Baddies hiding?” ETC (This could go on for ever, This power pretty much breaks nearly all of the plot lines of the book, unless the baddies are conveniently “blocked” As this power is never really fully explained, I found myself saying “Why doesn’t she just look?” over and over, Whenever the author realises this there’s some convent excuse)

Lissa’s adopted baby is kidnapped and held hostage on the condition that she help resolve a situation, (Poor King being manipulated by Evil priests wants Rich farm land off Green Elfs who took Lissa’s baby) The whole area of Lissa helping Race X because of Solar Red is nothing new, and always resulted in Lissa Killing everything and anyone Solar Red and Relocating the Innocents to a new planet. In this book Lissa decides to live with the army for a few weeks then decides to erect a barrier, when the baddies find a way round the barrier she relocates the innocents. This whole arc is very similar to the last book combined with Wolfs of the last book (Evil king hunting Wolfs, Lissa relocates them all to the Wolf’s home world) The only reason this happens is so that Lissa’s father Griffin can betray her again. (Griffin could of come to Lissa and said “Hey these Elfs need relocating, help them before they are wiped out!” Problem solved and no one is hurt, Instead he chooses to allow Lissa’s child to be kidnapped and ultimately kept by the Elfs and when she learns what he did, his relationship with Lissa is destroyed)

Lissa is angry that the green elfs mind bond (makes Toff believe that his mother is someone else) Lissa’s adopted baby, Lissa is angry. She holds this over the Elfs heads. Consider it from the Elfs POV, They were about to be wiped out, they had no way to save there people unless they kidnap a child. They had no knowledge of Lissa before or anyway to contact her. Lissa would not of known they were about to die. Green Elfs had nothing to be sorry about.

Lissa has a bounty placed on her head….. Everyone forgets to “LOOK” for the answer….

Solar Red (Evil Priests) Red Hand (Evil Priests sub sect) Black Mist (Assassins Guild led by Ra’Ak) are trying to take over the alliance. They are mind controlling world leaders and trying to kill Lissa and her Vamps. Previously Lissa in her God form has been able to Sniff out Ra’Aks and wipe them out over multiple worlds. She has shown the ability to detect evil and good thus allowing her to wipe out the bad and save the good. This whole plot line should have been solved in 1-2 pages by repeating the process she did in the last book.

Female Vampires, early on Lissa calls all of them before her to see if they are under mind control. Instead of dealing with this tactically (separate the females from the males and help them or place compulsion on them all and deal with it) and with concern for the females, she allows the situation to devolve into a fight. Lissa’s skin itches prior to the meeting. Forewarned of the danger she fails to take any immediate action, she’s told not to use her Mist power on camera, Convent excuse, still wouldn’t it be worth using it to save the uber rare females? Or why not use her god powers to relocate the females and destroy the evil vamps. She would have left her body on the throne in plain sight of the cameras.

Saa Thalarr & Spawn Hunters, So the Saa Thalarr and Spawn Hunters can only use their powers when they are threatened or when a God tells them to suit up and fight the Ra’Ak and Spawns. Considering the Ra’Ak constantly cheat at the rules and kill millions of people. So why do the nameless ones who want to preserve life and stop the Ra’Ak not wipe out the Ra’Ak? Why do they wait for the Ra’Ak to build up an army and start killing and murdering a world before they intervene?

These issues are repeats of faults from previous books; I’ve kept reading this series as a lesson on how not to write a power system. The other areas of the book aren’t too bad, but they are tainted by the fundamental flaws of the book, (Power system/Over indulgence of author to give chars happy endings/Martyring Lissa so we love her). These issues are so ingrained that the following books can’t be saved without rebooting the series. The Author plans to write a high demon series and is currently writing a 1/2 Bright Elf child series. Both of these series are set in the same universe and will probably follow in this series in faults. I won’t be reading them.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love these books. Never thought I would be reading what I would classify more as science fiction now rather than urban fantasy but I guess since I have been following it from the beginning it transitioned a little easier. Sometimes the terminology can get a little confusing and there are a couple of small characters that I just don't remember from previous books, but somehow it doesn't matter. Read it in one day, couldn't put it down. I love this series and find it very entertaining! I have to admit I think the only mate relationship I don't get is Roff for some reason, but that is just me.

[Kami · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some reviews from the last book say the series is getting old, predictable, they dont like it, etc etc.
Well I, aparently, am not one of those people. I still enjoy this series. It is a bit weird at times, and is sometimes hard to follow with all the new worlds and people and religions (that is what I docked 1 star for)that sometimes I find myself barely reading some names because I know I wont remember them later.
Overall I still love this series. I cant wait to read the next in the series, hell of a cliffhanger ending with this book.

[Joe Scholes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know I say it somehow with every review, but this book rocks! Blood War is the eighth book by Connie Suttle in the Blood Destiny series, following on the heels of Blood Rebellion by only a couple of months. There's no rest for the wicked, however, and the evil groups in the universes, dealing with mounting frustration at their recurring defeats at the hands of Lissa and company, more than redouble their efforts to eliminate her once and for all. This time, the Ra'Ak throw in with other groups that have a common goal – kill Lissa and conquer the Reth Alliance in order to establish religious dominance throughout the universes, and thereby fulfill their murderous need for human sacrifice and wallow in the lush humanoid feeding grounds.

While the trinity of troublemakers, Ra'Ak, Solar Red, and The Red Hand, join forces with Black Mist, an up and coming assassin's guild, to plot her destruction, Lissa is still struggling with the various love/hate relationships that constantly tug her in multiple directions. As a friend of mine once said, "Life is a continuous series of narrow escapes held together by intermittent sighs of relief." And so it seems in Blood War! Every loving effort on Lissa's part seems thwarted by the evil coalition, her own family, or sometimes just by a tragic set of circumstances. It's no wonder Lissa's mood is ominously dark through most of the book!

I always enjoy it when Lissa goes off on her own, joining some quest, battle, or other worthwhile cause. (If nothing else, it gives Lissa a brief respite from the constant battles with family, friend, and foe alike. And I get just a little satisfaction knowing her disappearances irritate her overprotective mates to no end!) In Blood War, Lissa decides to join the warring forces on Vionn in an effort to determine whether anyone on the planet is worth saving. Her decision is based on the fact that someone close to her is kidnapped by a race of Green Fae, who are threatened with destruction. The non-violent Fae hold Lissa's loved one as ransom in exchange for protection from their attackers. While her first instinct is to find and destroy the kidnappers, Lissa decides to infiltrate the armies marching toward the Green Fae and discover, if she can, the reasons behind the planned invasion, and then decide exactly how to resolve the situation with as little loss of life as possible. And, of course, rescue her kidnapped loved one. Her reasoning is sound. She knows the Green Fae are non-violent and therefore unlikely to do harm to her loved one, but they must also be desperate to go to such lengths to seek protection from an advancing, overpowering force intent on their destruction, so her interest is piqued.

Lissa eventually discovers who is truly behind the planned invasion of the Green Fae lands on Vionn. The subversive elements think they have devised a strategy that will succeed in their plot against Lissa. But Lissa surprises everyone by being as adept at thwarting political intrigue as she is at squashing evil, even when its proponents put all other differences aside to conspire against her. Lissa isn't alone in defense of her beliefs, loved ones, and her home on Le-Ath Veronis. She is constantly buoyed by her mates and residents of Le-Ath Veronis and the palace, and, in the grander moral scheme, staunchly supported by her extended family. That isn't to say things are smooth sailing with her family!

While the events unfolding on the universal stage carry their usual depth in the fight against evil, political intrigue begins to escalate now that Lissa has firmly assumed her role as the vampire Queen of Le-Ath Veronis. Part of that role means representing Le-Ath Veronis as its world leader at the Reth Alliance 5-Year Conclave, a duty Lissa reluctantly, but completely, embraces. And it's fortunate for the Alliance she did!

What I love about Connie's stories is the human connection (even if some of the characters aren't actually human, LOL). While the arcing storyline on the grand scale is invigorating, it's the smaller, more personal moments that draw me in and wring tears from my eyes when I least expect it. Blood War continues this level of emotional involvement, and in fact deepens it. No stranger to loss and betrayal by people she has grown to love, Lissa has almost resigned herself to never being able to trust anyone completely. Yet she extends her heart in love and acceptance, and more importantly, forgiveness, knowing full well that she may suffer from allowing herself to be so vulnerable. But she knows no other way to live, and what has not killed her has truly made her stronger. She is certainly not lacking her share of flawed characters, particularly her father, who manages to spread even more misery with his incessant meddling.

Blood War continues to paint the action-packed story in broad, sweeping strokes that keep you gripping the edges of your e-reader, while at the same time drawing you in with the most intimate emotional details of some very touching and personal relationships. It achieves a quivering balance on a poignant moral tightrope that sometimes means causing pain, physical or emotional, to someone by helping or protecting someone else.

Enjoy!

[Kira · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great series!

[Rebecca Grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous

Another amazing book in the series. I can't say enough good things about these books, they are a joy to read!

[Thenia · Rating 3 out of 5]

RTC

[Avid · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rife with political intrigue, more personal tragedy, some additional mates, and a major cliff-hanger.

This eighth installment in the Blood Destiny series by Connie Suttle shows Queen Lissa dealing with more assassination attempts, more personal heartache and more mates. After a thwarted uprising among some vampires over prohibiting compulsion for any reason on vampire mates, one of Lissa's mates loses his memory again, and when she moves to adopt his son (whom her mate cannot remember), some interference by someone close to Lissa causes her to lose the child. She resolves the kidnappers' issues only to find out that she won't get her child back. Meanwhile, Lissa is expected to be the level-headed monarch, governing her people and securing the planet's place in the Reth Alliance, grant diplomatic immunity to a royal from another planet in the Reth Alliance who has conspired to kill her, and then attend the Five-Year Conclave where she is vulnerable to the various groups that seek to kill her. It's all a bit much for her, and so we see Lissa have a bit of a meltdown.

This novel has the most political intrigue of any in the series all against a backdrop of ongoing personal tragedy. At one point, Lissa asks if somebody somewhere decided that Lissa needed to be kicked continuously, that her life wasn't complete without crap happening to her constantly. It certainly seems like that is the case. Lissa just can't catch a break, and this novel closes with a major cliff-hanger.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Tsk, tsk," Erland muttered, shaking his head in mock sympathy. "Perhaps Lissa should raise the topic of Diplomatic Immunity at the Conclave."

"That, my friend, would be inadvisable. She is new and many will be waiting, as vultures do when an ox is dying."

"I know. At times, I feel the need to cover myself in oil, just to slip through the tripe and garbage of Wylend's court. Lissa will have to contend with five hundred times that when she goes to Conclave."

"I fear that no amount of diplomatic oil will keep her from the shock that is coming. She will be snubbed and mistreated by many, I fear. Not only because she is a new monarch, but because there is a price on her head. Most will be placing as much distance between that and themselves as they can get. It is never wise to befriend one who is marked by the Assassin's Guild. That is usually a death waiting to happen."

Death has come to Le-Ath Veronis. A would-be assassin, aiming at Lissa, kills someone close to her instead. A price has been placed on Lissa's head by Black Mist, an assassin's guild who have been paid by a reassembled Solar Red. Throw in a spin-off religion, betrayal, a misguided kidnapping and the Five-Year Conclave for the Reth Alliance, and you have the seeds of war.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a welcome return to what I liked about the early books in this series. Yes, it's still laden with characters and Yes, it's still political -- but, in Blood War Connie Suttle reminds us why we love Lissa so much. The politics and the Alliance and the Ra'Ak and Solar Red are all still there but they are the supporting cast to the very human non-human Lissa. She doesn't just want to save the world, she wants to save All the worlds and she makes a pretty good go of it. For some reason, this time around I found it easier to keep track of the huge cast of characters that Connie Suttle manages to juggle. Perhaps it's because I am more familiar with them now, or perhaps it's because I've had a break since reading the last one of this series. But I like to think it's because Ms Suttle knows what her readers want to read, realized she had gone a little off-piste with books 6 & 7 and has very quickly and very subtly ('scuse the pun) nudged the series back on track. It's now back where it should be on my list of books I love to read and Lissa is back to doing what she does best: battling the odds in true kickass fashion!

[Katharina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Spoilers possibel

3,5 stars but
Cliffhangers (and Griffin) are just mean and should be punished.
But that is not my only problem with this installment of Lissa. i dont like the pacing, it was in some parts to fast so that the deepnes of the first books was missing (or is still missing), with all her men /mates I sometimes thought I was in a L.K. Hamilton Anita book, and there are still coming more mates...
Plus i dont understand her problem with "looking" some things could have been avoided if she would just do it. If she would look there would be more time to do. To rule, to reason thigs out and talk and have time with all her mates. So that there wouldn´t be only panic and reaktion but planing. So that i would enjoy the book more with more backround story and less frantic action ;-)

[Vermillionice · Rating 2 out of 5]

Like watching a bad train wreck
It's horrible but you can't tear yourself away.
The author's writing style and the world building are good
The plot is good as well, but I would like more plot and less drama, especially if it isn't plot related at all.
It's just the characters that are so terrible.
The protagonist is all-powerful yet can't manage to do anything and is just created to be so pure and good
And then the writer just had to add Toff getting abducted by the green elves and conveniently making yet another female be spoiled and selfish (excluding Lissa and anyone who has a bajillion mates) and showing Griffin's betrayal again just to martyr Lissa again

[Monica · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did not entirely dislike the book, although I really liked the first books better than the last 3 books, the main character has too much power and too many mates and I quite often found myself slightly confused having to go back to try and understand. At this point I'm not tempted to continue reading the series, maybe in future I will start the series from the beginning and end up reading the whole series.

[Sheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

The further into the series, the more there is to remember character wise. However, it is a fantastic, absorbing story-line. I found it to be a thrill-ride that putting down only made me want to return as soon as possible! (Darn those forces of nature called eating, sleeping, etc) I devoured this book and the next. Now I'm desperately waiting for the next book to see where the thrills and chills guide us.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Exciting and better than the last one

Well this was Much better! I enjoyed this book a lot more than the last and it was really hard to put down once I was reading it. Hope the next is as good. I think Lisa finally was starting to stand up for herself in this one. Not as much as I would and she still has more males falling inline with her, at first sight mind you... but I guess when you're her that happens.

[JadeShea · Rating 4 out of 5]

The 8th book in the series, Lissa has lost someone close to her, and is again having issues with someone trying to kill her. Things have been going crazy for her, and when talks of war is being discussed things get even more crazy.

This book was really good. I enjoyed the plot line, and I really enjoyed the way Lissa acted. However, it was sad at times, and I felt really bad for Lissa.

Other than I really enjoyed the rest of the book, even the cliffhanger ending!

[ObsidianCub · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this series and I will read anything now by Connie Suttle, despite the fact I still can't get over how this series has gone from relutant vampire to space opera. The only thing I find a little difficult is keeping up with all the mates and who they origionally were etc. as there is some time between books I forget.

[Mfreader · Rating 5 out of 5]

While not much of a reviewer, I do want to contribute, to the already glowing reviews, that this series has been amazing. The way it has evolved from a vampire series to a sci-fi/fantasy world that can capture the reader by it's description alone. I'm not sure if many authors could successfully pull off this type of transition. Even after so many books I'm still looking forward to the next one.

[Tia · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is kind of getting pathetic and bad now. I can't say that I am truly impressed with anything int his book. Was it likable and partially enjoyable? Yes. However it constantly felt like we were going backwards. Too many things to deal with, death etc. It was REALLY annoying. I was getting frustrated.

[Maya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the series. Love Lissa, she is very strong to continue functioning after everything that her father did to her.
Merril has redeemed himself in my eyes. I still think he could have handle somethings better but I understand that he was manipulated by Griffin all this time.

[Mark Elmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well worth your time

So far I am on the number nine in the series, they kind of start off as a simple vampire series and they keep evolving. They're a little out there, what can I say I enjoy them a lot

[Antoinette Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Griffin has Disappointed me, he has constantly done things to harm Lissa, whether intentional or not.

She has discovered that in the form of the Nameless Ones she feels no pain; no hatred; no lies. This discovery may cost her mates, her. She may decide never to return to them or her body.

[Dolly Sandor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series. I don't want it to end

My rating: 4.25 Stars

[George]

A very good book.

[Bonnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

3rd read (listened)

[J.L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars