Customer Reviews

Partners (Laws of the Blood, Book 2)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(4)
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2 star:		(2)
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This is a vampire-lover's vampire book, make no mistake -- blood is shed, blood is savored, and an arsenal of weapons are put to good use, from stakes and silver daggers to shotguns and a chainsaw. Given the right director, this book would make a FANTASTIC action-adventure film!

But more important than the dark and dangerous setting -- Seattle threatened by a demon-led cult -- and more memorable, are the fascinating characters. Char, the young Enforcer, worries about doing justice to her first field assignment. She's confident in her abilities as researcher and scholar, but now she has to go one step further, and fulfill the duty of every Enforcer, when called to defend vampire society and its Laws, to be judge, jury -- and, if warrented, executioner. Jebel, former convict, current crusader against the forces of evil, runs headlong into a conflict between his straightforward defitions of "right" and "wrong" and the much more complicated, and messy, reality of the underworld in which Char lives and works.

Every one of the supporting characters in the book -- a former vampire Companion, Jebel's vampire-hunting buddy, an FBI agent, cult members, a lost vampire fledgling -- is a well-rounded, intriguing individual in his or her own right, people you won't soon forget.

If you enjoy wit and humor and penetrating insight into human nature and our definitions of good and evil, all gleefully intermixed with an exciting horror-mystery adventure, buy this book now! Buy two, and give one to a friend! You'll smile, you'll worry, you'll cheer -- and you'll end up well satisfied by a tale wonderfully told.

In my review for Susan Sizemore's previous book, "The Hunt," I said that she introduced too many concepts without enough explanation, and gave us too many characters without taking enough time to develop them all. I am happy to say that these are not mistakes she makes in her second book--indeed, in almost every way, the second book is a tighter, more focused story--a delight to devour!

A quick note: while this is technically a sequel to "The Hunt," there are very few references between the two--you don't really have to have read the first one to understand the second, though you'll get more out of it for the extra little details you'll notice.

Once again, this is the story of an Enforcer--the judge, jury, and executioners of vampire law. But instead of the experienced Selim of the previous book, we are introduced to Char, a young, bookish, lady vampire who tries to see herself as a superhero who occasionally has to eat people (but finds jokes about such activites in poor, ahem, taste). Because she is new to the job, we learn as she does, giving us a more complete world-view and understanding of what it means to be a vampire, and an Enforcer. Char is sent to Seattle to look for a newly-created vampire who has gone missing. Seattle holds a great deal of memories for the Enforcer, however--it was her home town, when she was human, and it's where she and her lover/sire lived in happier times. Char must come to grips with all these memories and jumbled emotions, while at the same time try and find out what is behind the recent string of horrific murders that have taken place there--is her missing vampire to blame?

On the opposite side of Char, we have Jebel Haven, a vampire hunter whose own origin story sounds like a take-off of the movie "From Dusk Till Dawn." He is approached by a worried FBI agent, who is afraid her son has fallen in with a serial killer. His trail also leads him to Seattle, where he will quickly have to decide if all vampires are monsters that need to be killed--or if there are worse things than vampires to worry about.

Excellent, nicely-paced book--I can't wait for the next one!

Char McCairn is the Enforcer. Her job is to enforce the Laws of the Blood, the rules and regulations all vampires must live by or run the risk of being exterminated. She is approached a nest leader to track down a young renegade vampire. It seems the young vampire hasn't quite learned all the rules of survival and has taken off on his own. Should be an easy job for the Enforcer, but there is one little problem. Char has received orders to get rid of Jebel Haven, a vampire hunter. Why is this a problem? Well, apparently Char hasn't had to enforce the laws before now and isn't quite sure how to go about taking out Jebel Haven. So as any smart woman would do, she sets aside the big problem of Jebel and decides to work on the small problem first to get some experience. Practice makes perfect, right?

Jebel Haven used to be the scum of the earth. You name it, he did it including spending time in prison. A chance encounter with some vampires bent on destruction changed his life. Now he has teamed up with some friends to rid the world of vampires. Unwillingly, but at the urging of his buddy, he has agreed to help track down the runaway son of a FBI agent. This is quite a turn around for our former criminal, working within the law instead of against it.

As fate has an interesting way of intervening, Char and Jebel find out they are looking for the same runaway. The missing teen is now a vampire and someone needs to stop him before he does any more damage. Putting aside differences, (and unknown to Jebel, Char's orders to execute him) the two team up only to become aware they have bigger problems on their hands then they first thought. Something is out there that your worst nightmare doesn't compare to. Jebel and Char have to stop it before it gains control of Seattle, both humans and vampires.

This is my second book by Susan Sizemore, and so happens her second book in the Laws of Blood series (never let it be said I read anything in the proper order since I read the third book first). It doesn't disappoint. While not as hard-hitting or dark as her third book Companions, Partners is just as compelling. I loved the fact that the Enforcer was new to the job and not quite sure how to handle things. Jebel maybe our hero of the book, but let's face it, he definitely not the stuff heroes are made of. While the story is definitely dark and violent, there are some almost lighthearted moments that keeps the story moving. Being a romantic fan, I loved the relationship between Char and Jebel. For those of you who don't like the romance angle, rest assure there is plenty of blood and gore to keep your interest.

"Partners" is the second volume in Susan Sizemore's new series about vampiric Enforcers, the Keepers of the Law as declared by the Strigoi Council. In it we meet Char McCairn, a recently made Enforcer who has been specializing in research rather than munching on her normal prey, bad vampires. Her idyllic life in Portland, Oregon is brought to an end by two events. Helen Bourbon comes to Char to ask her to seek a missing nestling, Daniel, a newborn who was still not in control of his twin thirsts for blood and sex. The other interruption is Istvan, feared head of the Enforcers. He gives Char a special assignment -- kill Jebel Haven, a human vampire hunter who was getting too close to the truth.

Jebel, after spending most of his life as a violent thug has had a defining moment in a bar in Arizona when a whole town came under attack by the primitive but deadly vampires of the American West. Now, in combination with fellow survivors Santini and Baker, Haven spends his time keeping the Wild West vampire free. Lately though, he has discovered the existence of urban vampires and is considering a change in focus. Hence Istvan's concern. Then, unexpectedly FBI profiler Brenda Novak shows up in Haven's office and blackmails Jebel into hunting for her missing son, Daniel.

No surprise, the missing fledgling and the FBI woman's son are one and the same. He has been captured by a demon and a sorcerer who are using him as part of a ritual the will grant them eternal life, and slaughter most of Seattle as a side effect. Istvan, while breaking up a vampire child abuse ring, had to kill or drive away almost all of Seattle's vampires, leaving the city open to the sorcerer's spells, which only Char knows how to combat. Unfortunately, an ancient treaty makes it impossible for her to take on the demon. So Char and Jebel are on a collision course, forced by circumstances to work together in spite of inclination and orders.

As you might imagine, the story takes many twists and turns on the way to its final, surprise conclusion. Expect to be intrigued and delighted by a different kind of vampire story. You will find yourself enjoying a strange mix of characters of whom the vampires are often the most reasonable. The books in the series have so far been unrelated, although there is some character cross-over in the nature of 'guest appearances.' So there is no compelling reason to read the books in any particular order yet. If Sizemore continues her successful efforts this will be a series to remember.

Partners by Susan Sizemore is the second in the Laws of Blood series. I read and enjoyed the first book in the series, but Partners is a much better book than the first, The Hunt. You don't have to read the The Hunt to enjoy this book, but it does give a lot of background on the Stigoi community.

Partners deals with a young enforcer coming to terms with her new powers and a vampire killer with a criminal past coming to terms with his thoughts on 'monsters'. The Hunt is suspenseful, violent, sexy and often funny. If you are a fan of the Anita Blake series by Laurell K. Hamilton, I think you'll LOVE this book. :)

Jebel Haven used to be the lowest scum of the earth until the former con found his true calling of killing vampires and other creatures of the night. He and his compatriots make their kills in a cloak of darkness that keeps other mortals ignorant of their deadly tasks. However, the Vampire Council is well aware of his success rate and fears he could turn into a bigger problem for them. The Chief orders the relatively new enforcer Char now a Nighthawk, to terminate Jebel.

Before she can hunt her prey, a vampire mother visits Char to tell her that one of her nestlings Danny has vanished. At about the same time, FBI agent Brenda Novak coerces Jebel into helping her find her missing son Danny. Eventually Char and Jebel meet in Seattle and each wants to kill the other at first. However despite their mutual distrust of each other, they join forces to find Danny and battle a cult and its demon to the death.

Once again, Susan Sizemore has created a fantastic vampire story that brings fresh life to the Nosferatu legends. The action is intense, but easy to follow, which is a tribute to Ms. Sizemore's storytelling abilities. However, the heart of this work lies in the protagonists, two partners who find themselves in a very shaky business relationship and alliance. These two natural enemies not only are attracted to one another, but are also struggling against a common opponent. The "Laws of the Blood" series is deservedly becoming a cult favorite.

Harriet Klausner

"Laws of the Blood: Partners" is the 2nd in this new vampire series by Susan Sizemore. I personally really enjoed this book/series very much!!

A brand new Enforcer, a tough-guy vampire hunter, a renegade vampire, a run-away teenager, a FBI agent are all heading toward Seattle, and they are all looking for each other.

Two relucant partners; one who has been told to kill the other, the other is more than willing to kill the first, find they have a bigger problem. Something is growing in Seattle, something vampires are not allowed to fight no matter what.

A great job by Susan Sizemore!! Definately worth the reading time!!

Despite the bizarre cover art, I picked this one up and read it. You can't judge a book by its cover apparently. A new vampire has gone missing and a serial killer is operating in Seattle. There seems to be a connection, so Char, a new Enforcer is sent to solve the problem. She is also assigned to kill a vampire hunter by the head Enforcer Istvan. Jebel Haven and his partner were hired by the baby vamp's mother to find him also, so they are also in Seattle. Char finds that she needs his help to kill the demon and sorcerer who hold the vampire, and who are behind the murders. She is not sure that she will be able to kill him when the job is done, and he can't seem to hate her like he hates all the other vampires.

This was a pretty entertaining book. The Enforcer concept is interesting and the novel was full of suspense. Good read.

Partners is the second book in Susan Sizemore's Laws of the Blood series, and while I enjoyed the first novel, The Hunt, I found Partners to be a much more energetic and entertaining read. There is a lot of life in this novel's characters, especially the undead ones, and I felt like an active observer of all the action that takes place in these pages. Partners also significantly expands upon the self-styled vampire mythology that Sizemore is crafting in this fresh and unusual series. Not only do we learn more about vampires, we are also introduced to other supernatural creatures lurking within the shadows of human society.

Vampires are subject to their own special laws in this universe, and Enforcers are the ubervampires charged with the duty to enforce these laws. Vampires can only feed upon mortal flesh in authorized Hunts, for example. Most importantly, they can do nothing that would alert the human population to their presence. When vampires break the law, Enforcers serve as judge, jury, and executioner. Charlotte McCairn is a relatively new Enforcer; in the two years since her transformation from vampire to Hunter, she has spent her time doing research rather than face active duty out on the streets. She calls herself Char because that sounds tough, but she has yet to earn the distinction of the name. That changes when Istvan the dhampir, the baddest Enforcer of them all, sends her out to kill Jebel Haven. Haven is a self-styled vampire killer; even though the vampire-like creatures he has devoted his life to killing aren't actually vampires, the Strigoi Council has decided he poses a future threat to vampirekind and must be eliminated. At the same time, a vampire nest leader comes to Char asking for help - one of her nestlings has disappeared and may be involved in some pretty dark activities (of the sulfurous variety) - a definite no-no in vampire circles. Meanwhile, vampire buster Jebel Haven is coerced into taking a job of his own, hunting the very same vampire Char is searching for. The missing young vampire seems to have gotten mixed up with a demon, and Char and Haven eventually work together in an uneasy, complicated, increasingly close partnership to find him. Char plans to kill Jebel after the search is over, of course, but things get a little complicated along the way.

Char is a fascinating character, learning the ways of the Enforcer before our (and Jebel's) very eyes. There is plenty of action to keep the reader engaged in the story, and the evolving relationship between Char and Jebel is not only interesting but a lot of fun to watch. After all, vampire killer meets vampire charged with the task of killing said vampire hunter isn't your typical romantic pairing. Sizemore does a wonderful job letting the relationship develop, giving us quite a grounding in her vision of vampirology in the process. At the same time, the question of how these two opposites will react toward one another in the end is never far from the reader's mind. All of this makes for an engaging and refreshingly different sort of vampire story and helps establish Susan Sizemore as a bonafide modern craftswoman in the art of vampirology.

This time the setting was in the city of Seattle. Charlotte "Char" McCairn was new to being an Enforcer. While at Starbucks Char heard the dhamphir inform her of her first mission. The Council had decided to kill a vampire hunter named Jebel Haven. Char was chosen to do the deed. Shortly afterward, a nest leader (Helene Bourbon) asked Char to help locate one of her younger vampires named Daniel. Char decided to search for Daniel first.

Jebel Haven was searching for a missing teenager who may have been abducted by vampires. Since Char and Jebel both searched for the same teen, they reluctantly joined forces. Neither were totally honest with the other and both had deadly plans for the other once Daniel was located.

A dark cult had formed in the streets of Seattle. Getting to Daniel was much harder than they believed it would be. The cult had Daniel. The main cult leaders were a sorcerer and a demon. The sorcerer would be no trouble; however, a demon was a child of a lower god. One Law of the Blood read "It is death to any vampire who interferes in the affairs of the children of the lower gods."

** Unlike the first of this series, I found the second difficult to get into. The first half was so slow and the scenes were scattered and choppy. Yet the second half was non-stop action.

By the time I found this series, books 1 - 5 were already published. By reading the back covers I learned that each book was a different city and a different Enforcer. Char and her companion will return in book five. Therefore, I must guess that these main characters will interact with each other some time in the future. You CAN skip book two, but if you intend to read the whole series DO NOT skip it. This book will explain Char and Jebel. Since they WILL be returning in future book(s), this one is worth your time to pick up. But search a used book store first. **

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.