8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
And the books just keep getting better...., October 31, 2011
This review is from: Flesh and Blood (House of Comarré) (Mass Market Paperback)
Book two in Ms. Painter's series finds Mal and Chrysabelle at odds over her delay in keeping her promise to help him find a way to remove his curse. The Covenant has been broken and the veil between humans and other-naturals is gone. As more and more humans discover the reality of vampires, shape-shifters,fey and fringe, the inevitability of war between them looms. Into this mix comes another group, the Kubai Mata, specifically in the person of Creek, a human ex-con recruited by the KM to recover the Ring of Sorrows. The triangle of Mal, Creek and Chrysabelle seethes with emotions barely held in check and confrontation between Creek and Mal over Chrysabelle threatens their uneasy truce. Meanwhile Chrysabelle is determined to do two things - help Mal to find the cure for his curse, and kill Tatianna, the vampiress who killed her mother. Miss Painter juggles these multiple plot lines like a master, keeping this reader turning pages far into the night. The pacing is excellent and the characters so well-drawn, you'll expect them to knock on your door. (If it's after sundown, don't answer.) I put no spoilers in this review to prepare you for the surprises at the end, but can only suggest you read and enjoy. This vampire series with a twist promises to become one of my favorites. If you haven't read the first book in this series,
Blood Rights (House of Comarré) is more than worth your time and money.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Kristen Painter doesn't disappoint!, January 10, 2012
* If you haven't read Blood Rights, I don't recommend reading this review unless you don't mind spoilers!
I enjoyed Flesh and Blood even more than Blood Rights! Much more! I guess it could be because there was much less explaining of things. Painter just delved right on in.
This book takes place not long after the events of Blood Rights. Chrysabelle is living in her deceased mother's home now, and Mal is still living in his dilapidated barge on the water - with Doc, of course.
Chrysabelle still owes Mal for helping her. She promised him that she would help lift his curse by visiting the Aurelian, and eventually she finds out the only way left for her to do that requires a blood sacrifice: her own blood.
Mal still refuses to drink from Chrysabelle, and neither of them are even sure that he owns her blood rights now that Fi is dead. Not to mention the weird sexual tension going on! These concerns are pushed to the back burner once these two are brought back together for a greater purpose. Not only do they have to make the sacrifice required to go see the Aurelian, but Tatiana has gained more power, and with the covenant broken - she is free to wield it against anyone she wants. Not only that, but issues with Dominic arise, issues that involve Doc.
Doc has problems of his own. Fiona is dead, yet he still sees wisps of her ghostly form floating around the barge, and eventually finds out that she is reliving her death at the hands of Mal every single night. Doc makes it his goal to bring her back, and has to visit the witch (a voodoo witch who lives out in the swamps, eck!) who cursed him to do it. In finding out what she wants in return, Doc is faced with an impossible task.
We also have a brand new character in this book. Creek. Oh, Creek. I love him! He is part of the Kubai Mata, a group that vampires think is nothing more than a myth. Super-human vampire slayers. Creek has been deemed with the task of protecting Chrysabelle and getting the Ring of Sorrows from her. The Kubai Mata claim this ring has always been theirs, and that is must be brought back into their possession. Of course, things are never that easy! Creek ends up having feelings for Chrysabelle - feelings that go way past protection. Soon, we have a love triangle in the mix of this already intricate plot line. Ah, how I love it!
I just loved everything about Flesh and Blood.
SO much happens in this book.
More and more secrets and intricacies in the plot were introduced. It was crazy! I couldn't stop reading, and I am dying for book 3. I need it NOW.
The love triangle was not annoying or obvious, as they frequently are. Creek and Mal - I honestly couldn't decide which I liked more. Most often in love triangles, you automatically count someone out of the game, but that didn't happen here at all. I sort of think these guys will end up sharing (they, in fact, make a sort of agreement along these lines) Chrysabelle. I'd be totally okay with that outcome! They both have things to offer her. Creek is human, for one thing. Chrysabelle has wanted to escape the vampire world for a very long time, so this is a huge deal to her - and the electricity filled moments between them were quite intense... but there is no denying the deep bond between Chrysabelle and Mal - not to mention the fact that he may own her blood rights.
Then we have Doc. Poor Doc. He's so in love with Fiona, and he's determined to do whatever it takes to free her from her prison of deathly torment; maybe even lose his own life in the process. I love him so much. I have to say, he is my second favorite character (after Creek).
Then we have Tatiana with her insanely evil plans. The swamp witch whose trying to manipulate Doc into doing her bidding (the outcome of this is completely unexpected). We have Dominic and the goings-on at Seven. All sorts of crazy things happening here. Katsumi is up to no good, and learns her lesson - that's for sure.
During all of this, everyone is still trying to get the Ring of Sorrows from Chrysabelle. In this book, we finally find out why everyone and their mother wants this thing. It's big.
One thing I am confused about is that this book is categorized as YA/Teen, but it is set an a very adult world. The characters are all at least in their mid-20's, or older. There are very adult ideas, but nothing is graphic AT ALL. I can't decide if this is a YA or Adult series. It's like this odd mixture of the two. I just feel like I should mention that.
If you've read the first book in the series and were "iffy" on reading book 2, you really need to read book 2. I loved Blood Rights, but this book is 10x better. A fantastic follow-up! There's just too much going on to even touch down on all of it in this review. Just read it. I promise you won't be disappointed. :)
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4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
I gave it 3.5 stars, November 5, 2011
This review is from: Flesh and Blood (House of Comarré) (Mass Market Paperback)
I love that these books are being released back to back. Book 1 BLOOD RIGHTS was released Oct 1, and Book 3 BAD BLOOD is scheduled to release Dec 1. I would recommend reading BLOOD RIGHTS before you pick up FLESH AND BLOOD so that you don't miss out on some important back story.
FLESH AND BLOOD picks up shortly after the events of BLOOD RIGHTS. Chrysabelle is back at home and trying to get over the loss of her mom. She has a promise to keep to Malkolm and is finally ready to help him. There is a lot that happens and a lot is introduced in FLESH AND BLOOD your mind will be all over the place taking it all in. The storyline is still very interesting and I really like the world that Painter has written (I almost said painted but thought you might laugh at me). All of the main supporting characters are easy to like and follow. I can not stand Tatiana, she is beyond ridiculous and I can not wait until she gets what she deserves. There are quite a bit of different POVs involved in the book and it can get a little disappointing at times as you will really want to see what someone is thinking and it will switch to someone else. My biggest dislike? The love triangle. I mean WHY? What is the point of it? I think it is completely unnecessary. I really like Chrysabelle and Malkolm and they really like each other, there is a ton of lead up to their relationship so why bring in Creek? Now don't get me wrong I do LIKE Creek I just think the whole love triangle 3 way (yes they agree to share Chrysabelle) relationship is silly. Maybe it will get better in BAD BLOOD? I don't know. Didn't care for it though. FLESH AND BLOOD ends on a gigantic cliffhanger so there is no doubt that you must read BAD BLOOD when it comes out.
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