Customer Reviews

True Blood (The True Series, Book 1)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Officer Danna MacFadyen of the League of Planets has the supernatural ability known as "psychometric skills". If a person touches an object while having strong emotions, the emotions leave an imprint upon the object. Danna's ability allows her to hold an object and read those imprints. Danna feels, senses, and sees it all in a mind void she labels "dreamscape". Emotions have colors and Danna interprets them. This ability comes in handy when she is assigned to investigate the explosion of a space freighter within League space. The hardest part of the assignment will be working with a Korcian Enforcer named Cullon Gavriel.

Commander Cullon Gavriel already knows the explosion was terrorism. Someone killed forty-five innocent people in cold blood, simply to assassinate one Korcian prince who was traveling incognito aboard it. This was the third True Blood assassinated recently. Only five more live, including himself. To find out who is killing Korcian True Bloods, Cullon needs Danna's help. But he never expects to fall for the lovely Terran.

The explosive puzzle pieces begin to fall into place and the two realize they have uncovered a conspiracy that stretches across the galaxy. The entire Empire is at risk.

**** A terrific blend of futuristic sci-fi and romance. Author Patricia Waddell seems to have found her true writing genre. Perfect for readers, such as myself, who enjoy a bit of romance with their sci-fi. Recommended. ****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

Ok, so that's a little cheesy. But I really, really, REALLY want you to buy this book, read it, and be waiting in breathless anticipation for future episodes in the series. The story seems to be simple--in the future there are two powers in the universe: The League of Planets(to which Earth belongs) and the Korcian Empire(which I hope took poor little dwarf Pluto under its wing). There has been an explosion on a spaceship in League space--but a member of the Korcian royal family was aboard. Accident? Murder? A tribunal is formed to investigate that includes one Korcian, one League representiative, and a third, impartial party acceptable to both powers. The League representative is Danna MacFayden, an earth woman with a special skill--she can read emotional imprints of inanimate objects, and 'see' what happened the last time it was held, worn, or in other form of contact with the owner. The Korcians send Cullon Gavriel, a trained warrior and also a member of the royal family. Other 'true bloods', as they are called, have been killed on his home world, and he is positive this death is connected. The story unfolds as he and Danna investigate the clues left behind.

This is an engrossing read. The elements of mystery and suspense are there--as you get deeper into the book, and think you have it figured out, the author throws a curve into the plot that you didn't see coming. It changes everything you thought you knew up to that time. She takes you to vividly drawn alien worlds, Earthlike planets, and sets you spinning--almost literally--in the darkness of space. The relationship between Danna and Cullon progresses vividly as well--they are opposites: he a man of war and action and she a woman of diplomacy and words. Each feels their way is the only way, but they learn that nothing is black and white. Each brings skills to the story that work together and create a bond with the characters, even as they bond with each other. (And other things. Very, very HOT other things! This is a romance novel, after all!) It will hold your interest until the very end, and then leave you wanting more. This is definitely a keeper!

League Territory: The Korcian Interstellar cargo ship Llyndar is destroyed, after leaving Ramora for Earth, killing forty-six passengers. No cause has been determined; however, a fuel leak causing the engines to explode is the suspected cause. Six hours after Ramora was notified of the incident, the Korcian government issued the ultimatum, `deliver the perpetrators or else'.

Danna MacFadyen is on Ramora and has been called in to diplomatically negotiate a call to arms before the League of Planets and the Korcian Empire start blowing each other to smithereens. This is the first serious assignment Danna has received since joining the Ramora Embassy and she's determined to stop the impending war before it begins. Danna's gift and use of psychometric skills have been of a great help to her job and once again she's going to need them to help find the cause of the explosion.

Commander Cullon Gavriel, Korcian Enforcer and a direct descendent of one of the eight Kings, is a True Blood and the one man that was sent into League territory to find out what happened to the Llyndar. Although not a diplomat, he has become one part of the Tribunal that has been charged to find the truth - was the explosion of the Llyndar an accident or was it an act of terrorism?

Danna is instantly attracted to the Korcian Commander but has to keep her distance so that she can retain her objectivity. It's been a long time since she's taken a lover, but now isn't the time to pursue one; she needs all of her concentration focused on her duty, a galactic war has to be stopped before it is started. Cullon finds Officer Danna MacFadyen attractive, strangely she's somehow gotten under his guard and although he wants her, and only her for the time being, he can't strip her of her clothes and make slow love to her as he wishes. He always took women between assignments before, but this time Danna is his assignment and because of that, she is off limits...but can he keep out of her bed? He has to find who is killing the True Bloods, not only is it his duty as an Enforcer, he could very well be next.

True Blood by Patricia Waddell is an experience to be savored. From first page to last, I was drawn into a world that is amazing, captivating and believable with characters that were easily brought into my head and heart. Danna and Cullon are strong, independent and perfect for each other. Although both lived lives totally in contrast, they complimented one another in every way, different enough to add spice and excitement, yet with enough in common to build a relationship to withstand time. The mystery of who was eliminating the True Bloods was a pleasure to follow and although the clues led me to the killer, there were enough red herrings to make me totally unsure of who it is. I am now a fan of Patricia Waddell and I will be getting more of her work!! I highly recommend True Blood to lovers of mystery, science fiction and romance. True Blood is a book NOT to be missed.


Lyonene
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

The plot is hackneyed; the love story is a cliche, and the whole book just seems "phoned in."

Furthermore, the number of grammatical errors is appalling. Don't writers use editors these days?

There are good authors in this genre, but I won't be purchasing any more books by Patricia Waddell.

A sweeping saga set in a universe with two major powers and one group trying to overcome them, we are fasinated by the interactions of one Earthling and one Korcian.

Danna MacFayden is an under-ambassador for the League of Planets on the planet Ramora. She has a psychic ability to read from the objects held by others. She is a loner. Danna has worked for the last eight yrs to become an ambassador. Now her unique abilities put her in place to help when a ship is destroyed in space and the Korcians and the League of Planets might come to blows.

Cullen Gavaril is an Enforcer for the Korcians, he is also a True Blood like the one killed on the spaceship. He needs Danna to read some objects to determine if the explosion was caused by an accident or terrorists. Cullen is a loner, who likes to be able to just go in and do the job, whatever it is. With Danna along he must follow the rules.

The story takes us from Ramora to the hallowed halls of Korcia and uncovers a plot to destroy all true bloods. There is danger and romance at every turn. Conspiracies and traitors abound.

I liked the book, although it was slow in some parts.

This is near the beginning of what looks like a planned new series dealing with alpha males, dumb females and a well-constructed
interplanatary system complete with good guys/bad guys, customs, culture, etc. The world building is solid and consistent throughout and makes this book easy to recommend. The male characters, from the lead to the villian, have depth,individuality and skills, make good decisions and are a joy to follow. The lead female is not quite "to stupid to live" TSTL, but pretty darn close. Her major skill is use of psychic powers that are vague and uncontrollable. Her ambition is to a major career in galactic
diplomacy and yet, she essentially throws a tantrum to get her way to worm her low-skilled self into a highly complex and dangerous situation. Then she continues to insist on being involved when she has very little to offer other than distracting the male lead and risking lives. I don't get these broads sometimes--I mean stay down, stay out of the way or stay home! Good space adventure, good attention to important details--let's just get some better female characters, please!

The League of Planets and the Korcian Empire are the two largest powers in the universe. Since the Treaty of Vuldarr was signed, the two powers have peacefully coexisted. Now they are at the brink of war, unless Danna MacFadyen can diffuse the situation.

Danna is a Terran diplomat assigned to the Ramoran Embassy. When the space freighter Llyndar, registered to the Empire, explodes into stardust in League airspace on a routine mission from Ramora to Earth , she is assigned to the Tribunal as the representative for the defense. Danna has psychometric skills. By taking significant articles into her hands she can enter the past through dreamscapes. It is through these skills that Danna hopes to prove the explosion to be a tragic accident.

A Japolean dwarf represents the neutral party. The Korcian representative, Cullon Gavriel, is a surprise however. He is no diplomat, but an Enforcer, a warrior to the marrow, and a gorgeous one at that. He intrigues Danna, but she is suspicious of his motives and is determined not to allow him to deter her from her goal. It is not until the Tribunal convenes for the night that Danna discovers the Korcian's ulterior motive.

Danna is informed that a True Blood, a member of one of the original Korcian royal families, had been traveling incognito on the destroyed ship. Space exploration had diluted the Korcian blood leaving few who could claim to be a True Blood, Two other True Bloods had recently been murdered. Cullon, a True Blood himself, is working under the assumption that the explosion is part of a Fundamentalist plot. The Tribunal is merely a smoke screen. He requires Danna's skills to lead him to the murderers. He plans to take the information she provides him and continue the investigation alone.

Danna agrees to cooperate but on the condition that she be allowed to follow the process through to its conclusion. She feels responsible for the entire crew of the freighter not just a single True Blood. Although he hates being thwarted, the attraction between the two is undeniable. Cullon agrees to take Danna with him. Danna skills lead the pair on a chase through the galaxy, back into the very heart of the Korcian Empire. What they discover will shock them both. Can their feelings for each other survive what they find there?

Like Korcian True Blood Cullon Gavriel, Miss Waddell's futuristic romances are rare, spectacular, and well worth waiting for. TRUE BLOOD explores the depths of human idealism, shows how it can twist the soul until it is virtually unrecognizable, and contrasts it with pure light of faith, hope, optimism, and love that lies in the hearts of Danna and Cullon. This story is a mix of mystery, dark suspense, science fiction, and hot romance that will have a broad appeal to many readers. TRUE BLOOD is a futuristic story that make the reader think - Is the turmoil that rocks our world today so very different? What can we do to change it?

Reviewed by Leslie Tramposch for PNR Reviews

I can forgive the cliché romance part. I'm all for a little mental cotton candy when I want to relax but I can't forgive the poorly written part. I stopped reading after about 4 chapters because I just could not get into the story. Every few sentences I'd be completely distracted by the poor grammar and 8th grader sentence structures. Don't waste your money. I gave it 2 stars instead of 1 because surprisingly, I've read worse.

Danna is bland and Gavriel is your typical "alpha male" jerk. These two are trying to figure out who's killing a bunch of inbred aristocrats. Excruciatingly dull political dreck and so many proper names it's difficult to keep all of the various people in this book straight don't help the fact that the main couple have nothing in common but the need to bump uglies. The number of times Gavriel's eyes were described, discussed, mentioned, made it seem like they were his only interesting or redeeming feature. Oh, wait. They were.

The already shaky truce between the League of Planets and the Korsican Empire collapses when a ship containing people from the latter is blown up killing all aboard. War seems imminent, but cooler heads on both sides try to prevent hostilities by forming a joint investigating team to determine the cause.

The League of Planets sends diplomat Danna MacFayden, a psychometric adept; the Korsican Empire assigns Enforcer Cullon Gavriel as their representative. As they work together distrusting one another and the attraction between them, they quickly learn that one of the innocent victims was a royal though the throne no longer exists. As they ponder whether a cold terrorist would kill innocent people to murder one person, they find clues to support this as the root cause for the mass murder terrorism, but both wonders if something even more devious is afoot?

TRUE BLOOD is a superb romantic science fiction tale inside a strong mystery. The story line is action-packed and makes believers of readers that Waddell worlds exist. However, the key to this terrific thriller is the relationship between the representatives who initially mirror their side, but begin to wear the other person's shoes as they soon understand the opponent's perspective. Patricia Waddell provides a superb outer space whodunit.

Harriet Klausner