Customer Reviews

Blood Moon

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Regency couple cursed with vampirism journeys to mysterious land to find a cure - what a great plot! And what horrible execution. I've seldom come across such one-dimensional characters. The husband, John, is so bland he might as well be named "Upright Moral Hero." The wife, Cassandra, is so stupid that, although she's perfectly aware of how much danger they're in, she makes a habit of keeping vital information from her husband to prevent him from worrying. I never felt like these characters even knew each other that well, let alone were passionately in love.

As far as the writing goes, I have never wanted so much for an author to have picked up a thesaurus. Constant mentions of "lady-wife" and "tiny hands" are irritating enough (just how tiny can this grown woman's hands be, anyway?) but the worst offense is the word "frock." Here's a little example of how bad it gets:

"She had changed her soiled frock and torn petticoat, choosing a white sprigged muslin morning dress sprinkled with dainty roses from among her frocks he had repurchased at the open market, and was tugging it into place. How lovely she was in that frock."

And that's just half of one paragraph. This is constant, throughout the book, the same words repeated over and over. It's tough to get through. Although the worst part for me is the scene in which Cassandra transforms into an animal and her husband muses that he finds her even more sexy that way. Um, ew. (By the way, this is not a spoiler; they change into animals in the first chapter.)

If you're looking for a vampire romance with multidimensional characters and sparkling writing, check out Kresley Cole's hot, funny "Immortals After Dark" series or Nora Roberts's incomparable Circle trilogy.

Very slow read. Made me long for better Vampire books like Anne Rices' series. It lacked intimacy and believability. The story unfolded slowly with a build to nothing very climactic. I bought but don't know if I will read the sequels. Disappointing.

All of Jon Hyde-White's hopes and dreams were shattered when he and the woman he loves became infected with vampirism. Once, he dreamed of being a holy man, now the church considers him unholy, despite the fact that unlike the conventional vampire, he can freely enter consecrated ground. Because for both him and for Cassandra, his lady love, life is unbearable, they decide to follow a wise man's offer of hope, that in Moldavia there might be a cure. Neither is a full vampire, merely infected, so perhaps there is a chance. Yet, when they reach foreign soil, all the couple finds is that they are caught between evil vampires and vampire hunters. Their sole ally is a centuries old gypsy vampire who does know of a way to change them so that evil is not predominant. They just have to survive and stay out of the hands of their maker long enough to try the method.

**** Though this is a first book in a trilogy, the opening pages felt as if you were entering the story some time after the beginning. That aside, Ms. Thompson has reinvented vampirism in a most imaginative way. The idea that there are differnet levels of the infection, as it is called here, is intriguing, as is the notion that a rite could allow vampires who are not totally gone over to evil to adapt to society better. ****

Reviewed by Dr. Phil Rhyne for Huntress Reviews.

Dawn Thompson has written a phenomenal and intriguing paranormal rich in historical detail which will captivate you in a thrilling ride from page one to an exciting and provocative ending leaving you clamoring for more!

Set in Cumberland, England 1811, the second son of an Earl, Jon Hyde-White had not only found his calling in the church as a vicar, but the woman of his dreams, Cassandra Thorpe. What looked to be a rosy future with fairytale ending was quickly turning into a nightmare of gigantic proportions when Jon is attacked and bitten by the mesmeric evil vampire Sebastian Valentin. To make matters worse, his beloved Cassandra is also bitten. While Jon and Cassandra have not completely `changed over' Jon races against time to discover IF there is a cure for the malady before it is too late to control and fight off the beginnings of an insatiable blood lust. Rather than the scent of meadowsweet and lilies of the valley that once attracted Jon to Cassandra it was now the sound and smell of her thick rich blood pounding in her veins that was driving him to the depths of madness. It would be imperative for Jon to get them both safely to Moldavia where vampires roamed and rumors of a mysterious Blood Moon ritual might be able to save them.

With great imaginative flair and originality Ms. Thompson has created an intriguing and different type of vampire tale that puts to rest a lot of the pre-conceived notions I had of a vampires abilities. It also opened up a new train of thought on some uniquely original aspects of both fighting and living as a vampire. Surprisingly, I was totally thrilled with the way the author was able to maintain her voice in the Regency time period and still keep the feelings of drama and danger completely at the forefront. In keeping up the haunting and relentless dangers that dogged Jon and Cassandra's every step Ms. Thompson still managed to evoke a couple of chuckles here and there while Cassandra became miffed that Jon was overlooking "her" new-found gifts and capabilities.

Milosh was created as another intriguing character as the mysterious Gypsy who rescues and comes to Jon and Cassandra's aid. He became their guide and mentor in how to deal with their condition while trying to teach them how to use the powers of the Blood Moon to live and love once again. Jon and Cassandra, are remarkably well drawn characters whom the reader will immediately come to care for as they battle to live a new way of life rather than become victims and slaves to the very evil vampire Sebastian Valentin. After finishing BLOOD MOON I personally can hardly wait for the next volume to this new paranormal series (THE BROTHERHOOD due out for a September 2007 release). I sincerely hope to see Milosh again as well as possibly catching up on Jon and Cassandra's new life. With this highly imaginative story as the start of her new series I predict Ms. Thompson will ride straight to paranormal stardom!

Marilyn Rondean, RIO - Reviewers International Organization

What a wordy piece of crap. If i ever encountered some one who spoke like this woman writes, i might have to slap them on principal.

Everything about this book, was average to me. There was nothing in it that had enough of a hook (depth) to keep my interest. I made it only eight pages in.
If it had more depth to it and the characters, it could have been a really good book.
I'd recommend Kim Harrison, Kresley Cole, Keri Arthur, or Sunny.

Vampire. Revenant. Nosferatu. Vampir. There are many words to describe the undead Sebastian. The deadly corpse had once been an Orthodox Auxiliary Bishop of Moldovia. The greatest prize for any necromancer, demon, or vampire is to corrupt one of the Lord's anointed. This is probably why Sebastian bit Jon Hyde-White. Sebastian's intent was to kill Jon because of his clerical calling. Jon is the third son of the Earl of Breckenridge and has just met the lady he wants to marry. Her name is Cassandra. She is a lady's companion. But, somehow, some way, Sebastian did not finish draining Jon. However, that did not mean Sebastian did not intend to finish the job of killing Jon. Being centuries old, Sebastian gets little entertainment from un-life these days. So Sebastian goes after Cass, intending to drain her dry and raise her as one of his many female companions. But, once again, Sebastian is interrupted before he can finish the job. This time, though, it is okay. Through his bite, Cass has been "infected", just as Jon is.

Jon and Cass currently live in a half-state. They are still alive, but the infection will slowly transform them into undead beings. Jon's clerical calling gives him a bit more power over the infection than Cass. His infection is halted by his will, at least for a little longer. Cass has no such defense. Jon has already learned to change into a wolf form and back into his human form. He knows when the blood lust is coming upon him and can race out to feed on rodents and animals, instead of Cass or any other unsuspecting soul. And as our story opens, Cass has morphed into her animal form, involuntarily, for the first time ... as a black kitten, totally vulnerable to any and all predators. The blood lust is just beginning to happen within her and she has no control over it at all.

In hope of a cure, Jon and Cass travel from London to Romania. Rumor has it that the holy men of a Moldovian priory, on the far west side of the Carpathian Mountains, may be able to save them from a future as vampires. Unfortunately, Sebastian follows them. Worse, not only did the rumor turn out to be false, but Sebastian is now on his own turf. Sebastian's ancestral home, Castle Valentin, sits high in the Romanian side of the Carpathians and is full of Sebastian's minions.

Local villagers learn of Jon and Cass. They are rescued from death by Milosh, an enigmatic Gypsy who is also infected by Sebastian. For over three hundred years Milosh has resided in the half-state. Milosh begins to teach the new pair about their untapped powers and about the Blood Moon Rite they must perform to halt the infection. The rite will not cure them. They, just like Milosh, will always be vampire, but they would no longer age, need blood, or become undead. It is two weeks before the blood moon rises. During that time, Jon and Cass must learn to trust Milosh, learn how to use their new powers, and travel to the place in which they can perform the rite. But each time Cass changes into animal form, there is proof that the infection is spreading rapidly within her. The kitten is slowly maturing into a black panther. Time is of the essence, but now there is hope. Now they have a new calling. They will become vampire hunters. They will free the undead souls held captive by Sebastian and his ilk and give them back to God.

***** The story begins with Jon and Cass already infected and on the run from Sebastian. It grabbed my attention from the very first sentence. But for the first thirty or so pages, I was a bit confused as to just what was going on. My heart pounded at the drama unfolding and I wanted to know NOW! I am used to mysteries and thrillers beginning this way, but not vampire books, so it threw me for a few pages. However, I, as the reader, was not left hanging for long at all. Author Dawn Thompson let me follow Jon and Cass, learning everything as they did. The story has the flavor of Bram Stoker's horror "Dracula", meaning a vampire hunts a lady while her man tries desperately to save her, but also of a dark romance.

Bedroom scenes are rare since the main couple has no idea what any child they conceive may inherit. Therefore, men will totally enjoy this book as much as women will. The story flows smoothly and is very well written. In fact, I have hopes that someday Hollywood will discover this gem and bring it to the big screen. Horror, love, drama, gore ... this book has it all. Outstanding! *****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

Blood Moon is rife with those infected with the disease and those fighting the curse. Dawn Thompson adds new layers to classic vampire lore. Young lovers Jon Hyde-White and Cassandra Thorpe are attacked and infected by Sebastian an evil vampire lord. Fighting the disease in all its shape-changing, blood thirsty manifestations, the couple travels from England to Moldavia in search of the cure they've heard can be wrought beneath the Blood Moon.

Thompson's description of Sebastian's lair is particularly vivid and yields a frightening depth to her story of good and evil. Blood Moon is the first in Thompson's paranormal historical romance series. Its sequel, The Brotherhood, is due out in June. Thompson also writes Regency romances as Dawn MacTavish.

Cumberland, England, 1811
Jon Hyde-White's future had been carefully planned out, only seven short days ago, he knew exactly who he was and where he was going. He was to assume the role of Vicar of All Saints Parish. He'd even met the girl of his dreams and had been preparing to press his suit. Everything abruptly changed due to a vampire called Sebastian who attacks Jon and Cassandra but is interrupted before fully turning them into creatures like himself.

Cassandra Thorpe had been a paid companion to Lady Estella Revere when she met Jon. The attraction had been immediate and they'd begun to meet in secret because of the Revere's desire to see him matched with Estella. It was because of these secret meetings that Cassandra was alone and vulnerable and all too easy a mark for Sebastian. Jon arrived in time to prevent the vampire from draining Cassandra but there are other effects of a vampire attack which they'll soon discover.

Following Sebastian's attack on Cassandra, Jon makes the decision to bring her to his home and enlist the help of his friend and confidant, Vicar Clive. Jon doesn't understand what is happening to him and Cassandra or why they're able to trend on consecrated ground, surely the changes wrought by Sebastian's attack would result in God forsaking them. It soon becomes apparent that Sebastian is determined to finish what he started and intends to make slaves of them. Jon refuses to allow this to happen. He's determined to destroy Sebastian along with his minions - the men and women whom he's infected and now are his to command.

While Jon and Cassandra struggle to come to grips with the changes in their own lives, they travel abroad in search of answers and help while evading Sebastian and the horrifying trials and tribulations which he evokes in an attempt to get them to drop their guard. Is there any hope that Jon and Cassandra can defeat a centuries old evil? Will Jon and Cassandra ever be able to come together as a couple without bloodlust threatening to overcome them?

Dawn Thompson's BLOOD MOON is a spectacular tale which is sure to thrill paranormal readers everywhere. I was captivated by the storyline from the very beginning and couldn't help but feel compassionate toward Jon and Cassandra's plight. Their love for each other shines through the pages and practically brought me to tears at several points. Ms. Thompson brings this story to life in vivid details with characters that will live on in your memory long after you've reached the last page.

BLOOD MOON is the first book in what should be an exciting series from Ms. Thompson. Since there are several characters that I am extremely curious and want to know more about I'll definitely be on the watching for the follow up books.

Chrissy Dionne (courtesy of Romance Junkies)

I bought this based on the good reviews but was disappointed with the book. The concept was good, but I found the prose to be boring overall. I rarely have a difficult time finishing a book but this one took me a while.

The relationship between the main characters was lacking. The author didn't give me much reason as to why these two were in love with eachother. The reader is just left to take for granted that they love eachother. I don't like that in a romance. When I read a romance I want to know why the characters fell in love, and what they love about eachother. I don't want them to be together simply because they are the main characters in the book!

There were no real nail-biting moments in the story for me. I expected this story to not only be romance, but to be scary too! Since it is set in a time period when men and women actually believed in these creatures I was hoping for a bit more suspense then the book actually delivered. Confrontations and fights were pretty much written out as "there was a struggle," or "they struggled."

Overall, I don't think I'll read any more from this author.