Customer Reviews

All Souls' Night (Blood Ties, Book 4) (Bk. 4)

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I loved this book as much as I loved the preceding ones. In this book it's not only good against evil, it's also the good guys wondering how evil they are capable to become to defeat the Soul Eater.

Ziggy's coming back, totally changed by his sire's wickedness, now an adult person, darker than ever, and making you wondering at every single page who's side is he going to be, and yet knowing it from the beginning was awesome.
Carrie, becoming more powerful, dangerous and decided than she's ever been, being capable of things no one could expect from her, for one single reason: Nathan.
Nathan, scared not only about his sure fate but about Carrie's, suffering for her more than he ever did when Marianne was dying, not knowing if he'll be able to survive to her sure death. As touchy as always.
And of course, our beloved Max, who's internal fight between his two natures while fighting his way back home has a place in this dark disclosure for the series.

As always Armintrout had rhythm, a wicked imagination that makes you wanna stand and scream in some passages and her particular skill to make you become paranoid, not knowing for sure what's going to happen until it's done.
If you enjoyed the 3 preceding books, you'll feel the same about this one. And yet the end didn't convince me- but I think there was really no proper final for all the darkness and pain they have faced.

Really an extraordinary novel by Jennifer Armintrout.

All Soul's Night is the satisfying conclusion to a series that has reinvented itself with every book. Vampires Carrie and Nathan are taking a breather before the final battle to stop the cunning Soul-Eater whose powers grow with each vampire soul he 'drinks, a battle that they are ill equiped to fight. After withholding his love for three books, Nathan is finally ready to love Carrie, but Carrie is now the one holding herself apart. Frustrated Nathan runs out of patience, calling Carrie on her pettiness and selfishness, forcing a little introspection on Carrie who at long last sees the cost others have paid for her selfinterest. Unfortunately this revelation comes a bit late and Carrie may loose Nathan for good when he willingly walks into a trap baited with his foster son Ziggy - the son who died in Nathan's arms but who is somehow `alive' but tied to Soul-Eater through the fledgling/sire blood tie. Believing his sire's lies, Ziggy delivers Nathan into torture and certain death -- Nathan is intended to be the sacrifice that will fuel the Soul-Eater's transformation into a dark god. Given Armintrout's willingness to sacrifice her characters in previous stories, I was definitely on the edge of my seat for a good portion of the book wondering if Nathan was going to survive the torture that make Armintrout's books fall on the `Horror' side of urban fantasy/ paranormal romance.

Most of the players in the story are ones that we've already met in the series. The magical Dalia who continues to revel in her depravity plays her evil part with glee but pregnant werewolf Bella is mostly on the sidelines. And even though the main thrust of preparing for the battle against the Soul-Eater lies with Carrie, dual natured vampire/werewolf hybrid Max who has his own struggles, Ziggy with his divided loyalties, and newcomer to the series Bill an ex-Marine blood supplier -- the only human amid all the vamps but whose acceptance may help to win Ziggy back his soul -- also play important roles. I could rave on about the character development and the great plot. I was impressed by the way that Armintrout builds the characters up for the final confrontation and actually gives them the skills to have a hope of winning.

I really enjoyed the final journey to Armintrout's Blood Ties world where sacrifices are always required, death is not always permanent and endings are not predictable - who'd have thought that a series so dark could end with a promise of light.

The Turning (Blood Ties, Book 1)
Possession (Blood Ties, Book 2)
Ashes to Ashes (Blood Ties, Book 3)
All Souls' Night (Blood Ties, Book 4)

BAD GUYS GET DEAD - CARRIE GETS WED -SOUL EATER LOSES HEAD.
Thus ends (I think!) Jennifer Armintrout's very excellent 'Blood Ties' quadriligy. I loved everyone of these four books - unending excitement; ongoing suspense and a 'no wasted words' writing style.

And who of us does not relish the 'bad guy' getting his just deserts!?Moreover, our author has the ability to incorporate a dash of humour with all the gore.

With all of the supernatural, paranormal, subnormal and abnormal literature flooding the marketplace, it's great to 'hit' upon a skillfully written series such as this. Sure hope there are more!!!

Publishers Weekly in describing Book 1: 'The Turning': "This fast, furious novel is a squirm-inducing treat." Believe me when I say that this comment could apply to all four of these books.

I found this book a bit unbelievable but I did like the ending and the lack of crying that book two and three unfortunately had in abundance. Ziggy and his mate were hot hot hot, Bella and Max made a great family. I have no idea why Cyrus was even in this book but I enjoyed the ending for Carrie and Nathan. As for the series, I recommend the series if you are into paranormal romance with a ton of emotions and feelings. If you are into the fantasy story like myself, who prefers the romance/sex to be part of the story but not the focal point than this series will be speed reading for you.

At long last, Armintrout's edgy and recalcitrant vampire heroine Carrie Ames faces off against the Soul Eater in the final novel of the series.

This time, Carrie has definitely got more than game going for her. Armed with powers culled from Dahlia's blood (and she'll need more), she might finally have what it takes to crush Jacob Seymour once and for all-and she might actually be able to walk away from it alive (read: undead) or somewhere in between (that's a teaser folks)

But embracing these powers have dire consequences and she will be faced with a decision. Will she become what she is fighting? The usually capricious protagonist ends up with more than her soul bared on the table. The gang tenses as an end is in sight: Ziggy is back alive (okay, undead) and newcomer, Bill the blood pimp, joins the troupe.

For three books, we've questioned her motives and her ambivilent desires between Cyrus and Nathan, and even her abhorrent lure to Jacob. Perhaps it took this long for Armintrout to figure out what direction Carrie was going in-but in "All Souls Night" there is an overwhelming sense of completion. Carrie has finally accepted her otherworldly nature and all the violence that surrounds it. Fans will breathe a sigh of relief.

This kick-booty vamp is finally in a position with all the power and knowledge at her fingertips, to wreak havoc. To become evil. To become as dangerous as the Soul Eater himself. Perhaps to even become a Soul Eater.

Armintrout keeps the fangs sharp for her characters and has the talent of making them exist in those amorphous gray areas. Her characters have never been black or white, faulty to the end, and readers can relate to this unpredictability. This is what makes it so appealing.

All I gotta say is that I chortled LOUDLY (MUAH-HA HA) reading Dahlia getting her comeuppance in a most grisly way. Ding-Dong the witch is dead. That in itself stands for 6 stars!Copyright(c)Nicola Mattos

Although I really enjoyed this series, I was extremely disappointed in the final chapter. I feel like Jennifer just gave up or got tired of writing and plucked the most ridiculous ending for an otherwise great story.

"They didn't have time to get out of the way, and I heard body parts hitting the undercarriage of the vehicle. It reminded me of the way dandelion heads sounded smacking against the bottom of my little red wagon as I'd pulled it through the backyard as a child."

Anyone who has read books one thru three of the Blood Ties books by Jennifer Armintrout (I love her last name, so rememberable!!) knows that they are exceedingly well written. In a genre (paranormal romance/urban fantasy or whatever you want to call it) that is plagued by subpar examples of published writing, they are seriously above and beyond what many have come to expect. The plots are always well-paced, and the characters believable and never one-dimensional. So, when I began reading All Souls' Night, the fourth and final book in the series, it was with high expectations.

I was not to be disappointed. The action in the book immediately picked up in an unexpected way, as the apartment Carrie and Nathan are borrowing is broken into. After a rough little tussle, they realize that their home invader is not what he seems and a new ally is found. As those who are up to date on the series know, book four is all about evading and stopping the Soul Eater, who is on his way to becoming a god and wrecking all sorts of havoc on man (and vampire) kind. Old friends reappear, including some `dead' ones. This book is a shining example of how difficult it really is to kill a vampire for good...

There are surprises in almost every chapter of this book. Perhaps the biggest surprise comes at the very end (don't worry, no spoilers). Armintrout found a very inventive and satisfying way to conclude her Blood Ties series; even the most die-hard fans should be pleased with the way everything wraps up. All in all, this was a really great book, easily four stars. However, do yourself a favor and start reading this series at the beginning. If you try to jump into it in the middle, you are going to be confused and will almost certainly get less out of it.

*****I do feel obligated, as a reviewer, to disclose that there is a very graphic sex scene involving two men towards the beginning of the book. It didn't offend me (although I was pretty surprised at how graphic it was), but in reading other reviews, I have discovered that other readers WERE offended by it, and felt that they should have been somehow warned about it. As I am recommending this book, I thought it appropriate to include this disclaimer*****

I love this series and I can't wait to read more books from this author! The characters in these books don't have happy lives. Events don't just fall nicely into place. There is heartbreak, there is drama, but it's not whiney, nor is it too sad to be enjoyable. The only complaint I have is that I don't know why they decided to bring a certain character back in this book, even if he did play a role which was crucial to the resolution of the story. That said, I'm glad that this story had a happy ending, I wouldn't have been surprised if it didn't though. Jennifer Armintrout goes into my short list of favorite authors. More please!

I love this series, and I'm really sad that it's finally completed. The book was, however, very well written and an apt ending to an excellent book series that I find myself rereading time and time again. The only problem I had was that she doesn't say what happened to Cyrus after the final battle scene. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a take-off series, or possibly a prequel.

In this final entry of the Blood Ties series by Jennifer Armintrout, we have a final showdown with Jacob Seymour, the Soul Eater. The Soul Eater consumes other vampire's blood and their soul. He has every intention of becoming a god. Carrie, Nathan and Max once again re-unite to bring about the destruction of the Soul Eater. I did not realize that this would be the final book. Jennifer, according to her website, is of the opinion that she would like the series to go down in a blaze of glory, not fizzle out. I have to agree that she definitely went down in a blaze of glory with this final installment. She took all the stories from the previous books and melded them into a fantastic last book. Carrie seems to finally come to a final decision as to whom she really loves. It is hard for her to separate the Sire/Fledgling relationship from the Man/Woman relationship. Does she love Cyrus because he sired her and later she sired him? Or does she love Nathan because she is his fledgling? All of the stories throughout the previous three books are nicely resolved. I never saw the ending coming. This book had a captivating story, wonderful action scenes and a touch of humor that I thoroughly enjoyed. I look forward to her new series that will be out August 2009. If it's half as entertaining as the Blood Tie series, it will be good.