Genre: Paranormal, Gothic, Historical, Romance, Vampires
LGBTQ+ Category: Gay
Reviewer: Maryann
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About The Book
When vampires and humans mix, there will be blood…
“Really, his conscience was too much. Istvan had taught him well.”
In the dark hours, shell shock still claims vampire Sam for its own. He’s lonely and afraid of his new world, still tormented by flashbacks of the Somme. Once so close to his human friend, Stephen, he now feels isolated as he watches Stephen’s evolving love affair with the vampire Istvan.
When Sam meets Janos, a human with a death wish who likes to play with vampires, it’s instant lust that soon becomes more.
But who is Bela, the new vampire on the scene, and is the past dead and buried for good?
A dark, steamy m/m tale of blood lust and vampire power games.
Previously published. Revised and extended with brand new covers.
The Review
Samuel “Sam” Bevan was made a vampire by Istvan Blasko in 1916, during the German and France war in Somme. Sam was dying in the ‘no man’s land’. Istvan knew it was wrong to make Sam a vampire, but there was no other way he would survive. Istvan made the decision to change Sam, even though Sam wasn’t who he craved.
Five years later, Sam is on his own. He does well for himself in Budapest, Hungary and owns a secondhand bookshop with a dedicated English section. He’s never around in the daytime, but often helps his manger, Imre, in the evenings. He no longer has a secure connection with Istvan or his once-friend, Stephan, the human that Istvan had always craved. Sam still sees them both, but not often.
Sam is still a young vampire at five years. He is naive and has to be careful of his self control. He goes out on his own in the evenings, looking for the right victim to feed from. One night he sees someone on his usual route to the Basilica. He can sense that the young man had been drinking, and alcohol is not such a good thing for vampires.
After a little conversation, the man takes Sam by the arm and leads him to his residence. Things happen quickly – Sam feeds from the young man, but when he almost goes to far, he pulls back. There’s something intriguing about the young man, so Sam carries him to his own apartment and makes sure the he is safely in bed.
The next evening, Sam is still thinking about him, but he’s interrupted of his thoughts as Istvan requests his presence. When Sam gets there, he senses something different – another vampire – as Stephan is the only human. Istvan introduces Bela to the wary Stephan and Sam.
Bela is condescending and smarmy. Sam is very leery of this new vampire. On leaving Istvan’s, Bela lures Sam to have a nightcap, and takes him to a dark secretive club filled with debauchery between humans and vampires, which could be a place where he could quench his thirst and not think of the fascinating human he met.
Sam goes to the club alone, and is surprised to see the young man – Janos Kovacs – there, and even more so when Janos rejects him. Until one night when he enters the dark dungeon room and witnesses the unspeakable. Janos is there being attacked, and Sam is ready to defend him. But things get way out of hand when Janos holds his own against the vampires.
Sam is called out by Istvan and blamed for the trouble at the club in front of Bela, Stephan and even Serverine and Nikolas, who were supposed to be in Vienna. Sam wonders what is wrong with Istvan – he’s changed, becomimg hypocritical and destroying his connections with everyone around him, especially Stephan.
But there’s hope for Sam as his connection grows with Janos. They become closer and learn more about each other and Sam promises never to hurt him. Then a meeting is called at the club. Something evil has taken place, and Vampires and humans will find themselves facing a terror beyond the grave.
Blood Wine is the third installment of the “Dark Blood” series by Scarlet Blackwell. This book is exceptionally good. It focuses on Sam Bevan’s and his plight as a young vampire, his hidden strength, and how he learns to adjust to being alone. And how meeting Janos brings out his loyalty and love.
There was less darkness and erotica than in the second book, Blood Tears. Sam struggles to hold onto his humanity, and seems to be smarter than the others. The story also offered a different look at Istvan and his relationship with Stephan. It showed Istvan in a different light, how the cruelty of his words could cause so much pain.
There is a smattering of history here too about Hungary and the Basilica, where many came to observe the right hand of St. Stephen which was kept in a crypt. The author provides many colorful descriptions of Budapest and its culture.
I recommend the “Dark Blood” series by Scarlett Blackwell, a fascinating take on the vampire culture in historical Europe – entertaining, unique and filled with historical color. The series should be read in order.
The Reviewer
Hi, I’m Maryann, I started life in New York, moved to New Hampshire and in 1965 uprooted again to Sacramento, California. Once I retired I moved to West Palm Beach, Florida in 2011 and just moved back to Sacramento in March of 2018. My son, his wife and step-daughter flew out to Florida and we road tripped back so they got to see sights they have never seen. New Orleans and the Grand Canyon were the highlights. Now I am back on the west coast again to stay! From a young age Ialways liked to read.
I remember going to the library and reading the “Doctor Dolittle” books by Hugh Lofting. Much later on became a big fan of the classics, Edgar Alan Poe, Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker and as time went by Agatha Christie, Ray Bradbury and Stephen Kingand many other authors.
My first M/M shifter book I read was written by Jan Irving the “Uncommon Cowboys” series from 2012. She was the first author I ever contacted and sent an email to letting her know how much I liked this series. Sometime along the way I read “Zero to the Bone”by Jane Seville, I think just about everyone has read this book!
As it stands right now I’m really into mysteries, grit, gore and “triggers” don’t bother me. But if a blurb piques my interest I will read the book.
My kindle collection eclectic and over three thousand books and my Audible collection is slowly growing. I have both the kindle and audible apps on my ipod, ipads, and MAC. So there is never an excuse not to be listening or reading.
I joined Goodreads around 2012 and started posting reviews. One day a wonderful lady, Lisa Horan of The Novel Approach, sent me an email to see if I wanted to join her review group. Joining her site was such an eye opener. I got introduce to so many new authors that write for the LGBTQ genre. Needless to say, it was heart breaking when it ended.
But I found a really great site, QRI and it’s right here in Sacramento. Last year at QSAC I actually got to meet Scott Coatsworth, Amy Lane and Jeff Adams.
