Genre: Urban Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance
LGBTQ+ Category: Bi, Gay
Reviewer: Xanthe, Paranormal Romance Guild
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About The Book
A broken mage. A penitent vampire. Can they put aside the horrors of the past to save each other?
Plagued with erratic. volatile magic, Nicodemus Green focuses his entire life to stop an evil sorcerer who brainwashes or kills anyone in his path to domination. Ten years into this crusade, Nick stumbles upon his former Academy instructor in the Austrian Alps. The strict and pious Byron Domitius has cloistered himself in an isolated manor. Alone and starving, he hates the twisted, damned creature he has become.
A prophecy calls for Nick and Byron to bond by blood to finally bring an end to the sorcerer’s hidden agenda. The two are forced to see beyond their shared past, and Nick finds himself desiring more from his old instructor than just his magic. But are these emotions real, or do they come from the heat of their bond?
The Review
This is my first book by Nat Kennedy and I found Blooded to be an exciting and dramatic urban fantasy romance. There is an interesting array of characters, both friend and foe, as well as strong relationships among the groups.
We start with Nick and his group of friends at what is essentially college for Blooded, those with magical powers, as they reach graduation. Unfortunately, an attack by Wormwood, the second in command of a captured enemy, leaves lasting damage for many. Nick attempted to use a spell against Wormwood but it seems to backfire, leaving him with temperamental magic, and Byron, on the professors and a Celestial, fights them and saves some lives but essentially loses his when he is turned to a vampire.
We then move forward ten years and find that Nick and his best friends, Brett, Beatrice and Jenny, have all been travelling, learning and fighting Wormwood’s supporters, working their way towards defeating him. When they end up in Austria, they stumble across Byron who was sent away to be a lookout for any possible dangers but thought he had been abandoned. A prophecy is heard that then brings a new element to proceedings, saying that Byron and Nick should join in a blood bond that will help them to be stronger together and help to defeat Wormwood who is trying to become a Pure, an immortal and powerful magic user.
The story starts with quite an intensity as there’s a surprise attack which sets in motion the rest of the book and the mission that the Fabulous Four (Nick, Brett, Beatrice and Jenny) set out on. Their friendships strengthen and deepen with everything that they go on to do. There is a depth to all of the main characters involved and I found it easy to fall into how well they come to work together and rely on each other for everything from personal situations to magical fights.
We get to know Byron better after he is sent to Austria and I felt for him as he feels abandoned by his friends and circles the depths of depression, going so far as not feeding for several years which doesn’t work so well for a vampire. When the group stumble across Byron in a huge mansion style house, it comes as quite the shock to all considering the ten years that have passed.
When the prophecy comes out about Nick and Byron sharing a blood bond, it’s a shock to them both but also works in their favour regarding the attraction that they now share. There is a spark that ignites from the first bite and they grow closer in the time that they spend living there whilst also searching to finally end things for Wormwood. The couple work well together, everything that happens feels like a natural progression for them with a good dose of angst regarding everything that has happened in each of their pasts as well as what is currently going on.
The enemy that is Wormwood and the group that follows him is a really interesting and well thought out bad guy. Totally believable in his desire to become Pure and basically take over the world. I enjoyed how we are occasionally reading from his POV but not enough that it completely gives the game away too soon. There are several battle scenes that keep you on your toes, entertained and gripped to see the outcome with the last being an all-out brawl between good and evil.
I found this to be a thoroughly entertaining read. It did take me a minute to get into the story (not including the first battle scene) but with such a world being created, there is a lot to be explained. I enjoyed all of the characters and what they go through throughout. There is a constant test on their endurance, readiness and skills as magical users but also trust and reliance on each other. The author created an amazing world, and a plot that carries you through from start to finish, with a story and characters that I found myself loving. Definitely a recommended read for fans of urban fantasy, magic users, enemies to lovers romance.
I received an ARC and am happily giving a review.
4.5 Stars.
The Reviewer
Hello all, my name is Xanthe and I am excited to be a reviewer for the PRG.
I read a lot, every night for at least 4-5 hours and I love to get lost in the world that an author has created. The best ones leave you wanting more and at a loss for words to describe just how good it is but I’ll try my best.
I live in a small town in South West England, just me and my dog Bonnie. I work part time in administration and really enjoy my job and the people I work with which I am very aware is not always the case!
I’ll read pretty much any sub genre within the mm genre. Since discovering it a few years ago, I rarely read anything else. One thing I won’t touch is horror, a definite no no for me!
Never ask me what my favourite anything is as I’ll have to give you a list of about ten or twenty things. How am I able to pick one food, book or film out of so many that I love?!
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