The Ravening (Blood Moon, Book 3) [Mass Market Paperback]

Dawn Thompson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 2008

The Hundger Boundless...In the moonlit forest, bewitched by a wolf and dancing to the music only she could hear, Paloma was first taken. And though she escaped her attacker, she could not flee her destiny. And It Cannot Be Denied Milosh could sense it: Sebastian-the vampire, his archenemy and the foe of The Brotherhood and all things right and good-was again rising to power. To Whitebriar Milosh traveled, hoping to find his friends the Hyde-Whites, instead he found the abbey in ruins and a terrified waif. The copper-haired beauty stole his heart...and yet she was infected. She burned with bloodlust, burned as did all those who felt the bite of vampyr but not the solace of the Blood Moon-as Milosh himself had once burned. Paloma had the power to make him burn again, and in ways he hadn't felt for centuries. She could make him a ravening beast....which meant the struggle to come would be not against Sebastian alone, but against himself and almost every desire in his darkening heart.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 342 pages
• Publisher: Love Spell (February 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0505527278
• ISBN-13: 978-0505527271
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #762,758 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Historical/Paranormal Author for Dorchester Books - The Ravencliff Bride (2005 RIO Award Winner), The Waterlord & The Falcon's Bride. Highland Press - Blue Moon Magic and Blue Moon Enchantment. Historical Fiction - Odin's Daughter (2005 RIO Award Winner) & Children of the Wind.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars 4 stars, February 28, 2008

By 

AK "Bro" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Ravening (Blood Moon, Book 3) (Mass Market Paperback)

Milosh's visit to his dearest friends comes six months too late as he arrives to find their manor in rubble. Although he knows they still live, at least as much as you can call being a vampire alive, he is still worried. However, his attention is soon taken by a beautiful horse thief who makes off with his vampire steed. When he catches up with Paloma, his anger gives way to his need to help her when he learns of her plight. Soon, the two find themselves on a quest to stop Sebastian, the evil vampire who has been pulling the strings for far too long. Unfortunately, Milosh, one of the few among the vampires who has conquered blood lust, finds himself losing control. Paloma may have to destroy the man she loves unless another way can be found.

**** Ever since he came onto the scene as a supporting player, Milosh has been the most fascinating character in the series. Seeing him featured in his own story is a treat for all of both Ms. Thompson's fans and lovers of vampires. Reading this book makes her loss to the community more poignant. ****

Amanda Killgore

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous Finale To Vampire Trilogy!, March 18, 2008

By 

M. Rondeau (West Springfield, MA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Ravening (Blood Moon, Book 3) (Mass Market Paperback)

After thirty years away from Cumberland, Milosh, Brotherhood vampire hunter and slayer, returned to find his closest friends' manor nothing but a burnt out ruin. According to the vicar of the village, Milosh was six months too late and had no way of knowing whether his friends, the Hyde-White family had escaped. Stabling down his vampire stallion Somnus, Milosh entered the ruins sensing he was not alone. Still, he was not prepared for the young Gypsy woman (Paloma) who escaped the ruins by stealing his stallion. Milosh was stunned to be caught so off guard and after catching Paloma he was further shocked by his physical reaction to her.

Paloma had been bitten by Sebastian, the vampire Milosh had been tracking and trying to kill for over 400 years. When questioned Paloma denied having been attacked thinking that if Milosh knew she had been bitten and suffered the bloodlust, he would kill her. Lust overcame common sense and Milosh, surrendering to his passion, made love to Paloma, who having not fed for days lost control bit and drank of Milosh's blood. The outcome of the bite was Paloma was cured of her bloodlust, and Milosh, who for 400 years had been free of the vampire bloodlust after completing the Blood Moon ceremony, now reverted back to the state of those he hunted.

*** Milosh is one of the original characters that Ms. Thompson introduced and actively employed in the previous books of this trilogy. He was the first to have overcome his ravening for blood (or bloodlust) by discovering the cure of the Blood Moon and acted as mentor, teacher and friend to the Hyde-White family who were infected by his age-old nemesis Sebastian and featured as the main characters in BLOOD MOON and THE BROTHERHOOD. Finally, in THE RAVENING Milosh has his own story - an absorbing, tense, edge-of-the-seat rollercoaster ride of passion and thrills galore!

Everyone must have a soul-mate and after 400 years of wandering Milosh found his in Paloma and their sensual passionate encounter where he let down his guard after all those years almost killed him. Thompson described this terrifying nightmare beautifully as the bloodlust he had avoided in all those years, came back with a vengeance. Thompson expertly described Milosh's agony as he fought the urge to kill the woman he loved as he quickly began a descent into madness. Calling upon the Brotherhood of vampire hunters he had created, he asked them to protect and guide Paloma. When his friends the Hyde-White's finally reappeared, it was a bittersweet reunion - they'd come to do what Milosh had tutored them to do - to destroy the ravening vampire he'd become. Milosh only had one chance to try another Blood Moon ritual to save himself, but before he did that the author brings you on a suspense filled ride as Milosh tries one more time to destroy Sebastian, or die trying.

Ms. Thompson did a wonderful job in giving a vivid image of the evil that was Sebastian; the innocence of Paloma; and the descent into madness that Milosh was fighting. I loved the original creation of Somnus (Milosh's vampire stallion) and the era's depicted as she brought the reader along from the Regency years through the Victorian as reflected in the original dialog cant of the time periods. Her version of good vs. evil in her paranormal world of shape shifting beings was phenomenal.

While this is definitely a stand-alone story with enough back-stepping to bring the reader into the moment and up to speed, I highly suggest that you read all three in sequence and treasure them. Treasure them knowing that as author Dawn Thompson once graced and gifted this world with her lyrical and creative historical romance and paranormal stories, the romance world has lost this shining star.

Marilyn Rondeau

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A ride on the darker side! #3 in the Blood Moon series., January 20, 2008

By 

Detra Fitch (USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Ravening (Blood Moon, Book 3) (Mass Market Paperback)

Set in Cumberland, England, 1871. Milosh has lived over four centuries. He is a vampire-hunter. During this long space of time his name has become legend. Milosh is a vampire, but has no blood lust due to a blood moon ritual. He is alive, not undead. Milosh tracks an age-old nemesis, Sebastian Valentine. Sebastian is a monster able to take the form of a wolf or multiple bats at will. Once again the hunt has brought Milosh to Whitebriar Abbey, home to his close friends, the Hyde-Whites. However, Whitebriar Abbey is in ruins. The place had been destroyed by fire only six months prior. As Milosh takes shelter in the crumbling mound he comes across a young gypsy, Palmona; and for the first time in centuries, finds love. But Milosh lets down his guard for a moment, and Palmona, needing blood, bites Milosh. The result is that Palmona becomes immune to the blood lust and Milosh loses his immunity.

Palmona had been dancing under the moonlight when Sebastian mesmerized her. He would have succeeded in changing her had the members of her caravan not heard her scream and come searching. In fear, the caravan leaves Palmona to die. Palmona flees the call of the wolves and takes temporary shelter in some ruins. There, she meets Milosh. Legend says that Milosh knows a cure for vampirism; so Palmona stays in hopes of getting the cure. At first, Palmona fears the Romanian (with good reason). But it does not take long for the young gypsy to fall in love with Milosh. During a moment of weakness, Palmona gives into the blood lust. It is a moment she long regrets. Other vampires quickly learn that Palmona took the White Wolf's blood and is immune to the blood lust. Palmona is now the target of all the night creatures. Milosh, the vampire-hunter, has become that which he has hunted for four centuries.

Milosh calls upon the Brotherhood to keep her safe, even from him. The Brotherhood obeys Milosh, but call upon the Hyde-Whites to strike the death blow, should it be needed. Milosh and Palmona race to get the ingredients for the Blood Moon ritual. The time of the eclipse draws near. Another will not come for over two years; far too late for Milosh. As the duo race against time, Sebastian and his minions are on their trail, and friends watch in hopes of a miracle.

***** This is the third book in the Blood Moon series. Readers have been waiting for Milosh to get his own story, myself included, and this tale was definitely worth the wait. The author did a wonderful job. There were times in the story that I saw no way for Milosh and Palmona to win. Characters from the two previous books (the Hyde-Whites) eventually enter the story, giving the entire series a more realistic touch. If you have not read the first two books, do not worry; this is a stand-alone story. However, I highly recommend that you pick up the first two titles (Blood Moon & The Brotherhood) and read all three in order. Should you do so, you will get a much deeper emotional impact. And as you begin reading, hold onto the seat of your pants, because you are in for one heck of a ride on the darker side! *****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.