Blood's Song Kindle Edition

I love this author's stories. They are always well written with characters that carry you long a great journey. I just couldn't get past the character staying a young age.

4.25 out of 5 stars

Blood's Song is the start of a new young adult urban fantasy/paranormal series.

Anya is a centuries old vampire but she's not your normal drains blood from humans type of vampire. She only takes blood from animals and considers humans to be protected and precious and not a source of sustenance. She's also unaware of her past as she's lost her memory somehow. Neither she, nor her guardian, Star know what happened to cause her to lose her memories. Then one day she meets Nicholas, who she knew and was close to before she lost her memory. He, and his family, are also like Anya, and do not feed off of humans. However, unlike Anya, they tend to keep their distance from humans.

Anya has decided that since she lives among humans, and that she looks like a teenager, that she should attend high school with them. She even has developed close friendships with some of her classmates. Which is a slight risk to triggering her desire to feed off humans, but she believes she can control that side of her completely and takes the risk. She's also trying to not use the powers she has from being a vampire, as those powers, her 'voice', can make others bend to her will.

Now the biggest reason I picked up this book is that it's from a favorite m/m romance author.. the reason I KEPT reading it, is that it's a solid story with intriguing characters. While I didn't go too into the synopsis or storyline, Anya and Nicholas aren't the only main characters. This story features other characters, including Declan, who is an integral part of the storyline. These secondary characters enhance the storyline and also give depth to the main characters by showing they're not just centuries old, teenage appearing vampires.

This is the first book in the series, so does contain a lot of world building, and has what sci-fi/fantasy writers/readers would call info-dumps. Meaning that there is a lot of telling of the mythology of the vampires in the story, a lot of backstory, and a lot of set up storyline. Because after all a first book in a series SHOULD set up the world, and the characters so the reader can 'see' them as important parts of the story. Also, to draw the reader into the world and the mythology to keep them coming back to read the next book in the series.

Blood's Song does just that and gives you that pull into the world to make you anticipate the next book in the series featuring these characters and their continuing story. Yes, this is a young adult style book, there is a lot of sexual tension build up, but nothing explicit on screen between Anya, Nicholas, and Declan. Will there be in future books, I don't know. However, it's not necessary for the on screen explicit for this series, as it's the storyline and characters that are driving the story.

If you're a fan of Tempeste O'Riley's m/m romance stories, I encourage you to pick up this series and give it a try as it features many of her fantastic story telling elements and characters. Otherwise I highly encourage those that love urban fantasy and/or paranormal stories to pick up Blood's Song as it's a worthy book to give a weekend or longer to reading.

REVIEWED BY: LINDA TONIS
MEMBER OF THE PARANORMAL ROMANCE REVIEW TEAM
Anya Millar is a teenager but not an ordinary teenager she is a vampire living with her adoptive mother Star and having absolutely no memory of her past. Anya does not drink from humans but only from animals and since she is living in a human world she has decided to join their world by attending high school. Her friends are human, Skye, Declan and his twin siser Kayla. She has strong feelings for Declan but they are feelings she cannot put into action since he is human and has no idea of what she is.

When she is visited by Nicholas Young everything begins to change. Nicholas and his family are also vampires but they like Anya only drink from animals. Nicholas has known Anya from the past and she has been missing from his life for thirty years. Thirty years ago she went to look for her sire and never returned and like him she also has no idea where she went or what happened to her. She also has strong feelings for Nicholas and she found out that they had a blood bond meaning there is a very strong connection between the two and although she doesn’t remember him she feels that connection.

Anya becomes close to Declan who confesses his feelings for her and she knows that before he continues a relationship with her he has to know what she is. Anya is very strong, her voice alone can kill and although I will not reveal some of what happened to her I will say that she was wanted for her gift with the hope of making her a weapon. She discovers that those who once had her are now still looking for her and this puts those she loves in danger especially Declan and her two human girlfriends.

Declan is unable to touch Anya without going into a trance and only by bonding with him through blood will he be able to. Another reason she has to divulge what she is and hope he can accept her in spite of her being a vampire. The connection between Declan and Anya also is felt by Nicholas because Nicholas also had a blood bond with Anya.

There are alot of surprises and some tense moments but it was a beautiful story about vampires and humans learning to live together. The characters were amazing especially Anya who through everything always remained as human as a vampire can be, well that would not be fair to her because we all know that humans can be just a evil as vampires so I will just say that she never loses her inert goodness.

Anya is a vampire with amnesia. She isn't sure how old she is, but she will always appear to be around sixteen. She is fascinated with humans and uninterested in killing them, so she decides to attend high school and befriend a particular trio of humans. Don't let that fool you into thinking this is a Twilight wannabe. This story is very original - and I'm hopeful that it's the beginning of a new and exciting series.
I love the idea of the triad formed between Anya, vampire Nik, and human Declan. Each brings something special into the relationship. And the bond Anya shares with each man quickly evolves into a bond between the men as well. This book doesn't have any explicit scenes, but the passion is palpable without them.
There is so much love, anger, worry, fear, and rage; but there is also humor and friendship. All the characters are drawn beautifully by a talented author. Anya's amazing power is impressive, and I appreciate that she is afraid of it herself. I wasn't sure when I began the story whether or not I would like it, but I was quickly immersed and rooting for the group made up of Anya's trio and the vamps and humans supporting them. This is a great book!