BLOOD ROSES
Blackthorn Series #2
by Lindsay J. Pryor
Publisher: Bookouture (April 2013)
Genre: Paranormal, Paranormal Romance, Adult
Format: eBook (398 pages)
Source: Free book from author for honest review
Find It: Goodreads | Amazon Print | Amazon Kindle | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository
Rating: ★☆☆☆☆ (1 star)
“She was supposed to kill vampires, not save them. Those were the rules. That was the lore.”
A rare and powerful witch whose blood is lethal to vampires, Leila has always viewed her serryn abilities as a curse. After seeing her mother slaughtered as a child, Leila longs for a safe, quiet life.
That wish is shattered by Caleb Dehain – a vampire with a dark past and a darker heart. The most feared serryn hunter of his generation, Caleb now needs the help of one of the witches he despises to save his dying brother.
A serryn who has no reason to help him. Except that he has her sister.
Caleb and Leila are each other’s worst nightmare – but the slow-burning spark of attraction between them is undeniable. Will Leila’s blood be his damnation? Or could her kiss be his salvation?
At A Glance
Why? I just don’t understand how Blood Roses can be considered enjoyable. I never read a book that made me this sick to my stomach.
The Good
I will say the writing was good. There was nothing technically wrong with Blood Roses when it came to plotting and structure. This author knows how to write.
The Bad
It was the story and characters that made this book a crash and burn scenario.
Spoilers! I must warn you, there will be spoilers in my review. I have never done this before but I am going through the main points and story elements in this book, including the end, so I can show you how ridicules this story is. I usually don’t condone giving away the story, but there is no other way.
Also, I have not read the first book of the series but this series can be read as a bunch of stand alones because each book has a new couple. So my understanding of this book and world was not hindered in any way from not reading the first book.
Caleb is holding Leila’s sister hostage. Leila must find a spell to save Caleb’s brother from dying or her sister will be killed by Caleb. Leila agrees as long as her and her sister are let go afterward. Leila lives up to her side of the bargain but Caleb does not. Caleb imprisons Leila in a torture chamber once he finds out her secret. Leila is a serryn. Most of her kind hunts and kills vampires, which is easy for them since their blood is a death sentence for vampires. Leila does not practice her heritage. Caleb does not care. He wants all her kind to suffer no matter what. Then Caleb finds out that Leila’s death would mean his kind can rise as rulers and enslave humans as blood cows. He wants this so bad. So he plans to drain Leila and kill her to become the the leader of his kind and make humans bow down to him. That’s the gist of the story.
So this is suppose to be a paranormal romance. So, stupid me, I thought that Caleb was going to realize that he loves Leila more than the need to enslave all humans and give power only to the vampires. NOPE. Not at all. Caleb proceeds to keep Leila prisoner, rape her (oh well, she didn’t say no so that was okay according to Caleb), and constantly mindf**k her into thinking she was the one in the wrong for not wanting to die for his race of slaughters, and that he is the most noble and amazing person in the world. Over and over again Leila is in a position to kill Caleb and end his horribleness, but guess what boys and girls, her special serryn heritage makes her want him no matter her true feelings. Convenient, right? She just craves her torturer/rapist. The vampire who over and over again uses her sister as a bargaining chip. Over and over again he talks about how he will kill all her sisters, torture them just to make her do what he says. How romantic. And every time she let’s him go without killing him in exchange for not going through with the plan to kill her. He, of course, goes back on his word and pretty much says, “Nope, still going to kill you you silly, b*tch. “
By the end, Leila is resigned to let him kill her because we find out the process might kill him too. So at least she is saving the world from enslavement. Caleb stops for about a second before draining her dry, and within that time he finds out he might die too. And guess what? He is MAD at HER for not telling him that when he was brutally killing her, he might die too. OMFG!!!!! But wait, there’s more. This is were Caleb redeems himself. He says, “You know what, babe, I will give you a week to find a different way to help me enslave your people and slaughter humans without killing you. But I give you only a week to do this, or I will kill you anyways. And I will keep your sister as leverage, of course. Awwww, how sweet, right? *vomits*
Is this not the sweetest paranormal romance you ever heard of?
The Snuggly
Vomits!!!! Pukes some more!!!! Bile!!!
Final Thoughts
I can’t help but have strong feelings for this book. I just thought it was disgusting. I know some people will like it and not see it the way I did, and that’s cool. But I wanted to make sure my readers knew what Blood Roses entails before they even thought about reading it. I hope I didn’t offend anyone in spoiling the story. I never, ever do this, but some books make you so passionate (in a bad way) you can’t hold yourself back no matter what. Don’t read this book.
“I’m more than twisted. I’m the worst kind of vampire… But you’re the one who’s craving me, so what does that make you?”
“We die, you die. You die, we survive. I think there’s a pecking order in that, don’t you?”
“I will not be threatened. Do you understand me?’
He leaned closer again, his lips less than a couple of inches from hers. ‘Now try saying it without trembling.”
“Playing the martyr doesn’t suit you, Leila.’
‘Maybe not, but playing the complete and utter bastard clearly suits you.”
Melanie
Ah bummer, another waste of a gorgeous cover. If all the characters are unlikable, then this is definitely not a book for me.
Great review, Jennifer! <33
Jennifer Bielman
Yeah, please don’t read it. lol
Chene Sterckx
Awe so sorry this one didn’t work out 🙁 What a gorgeous cover it had and the blurb sounded great.
Jennifer Bielman
Loved the cover and I agree the blurb was interesting.
Stacey Brutger
Love the cover. Even the blurb sounds interesting. Thanks for the great review. I’ll make sure to avoid it. Too bad. So much potential.
Jennifer Bielman
I know. The over and blurb make you want to read this, but the inside makes you want to throw up.
kimbacaffeinate
Yikes, the cover screams romance but it sounds like this was dark, twisted and downright gritty. Not for me, so sorry this one got you in knots.
Jennifer Bielman
Sooooo twisted. Great word for it.
Jaclyn Canada
I don’t think I’ve ever seen you put ‘Don’t read this book’ in a review before. That’s saying something right there. I can honestly say I have no interest in reading this one after seeing your review. Thank you for sharing your honest thoughts!! Jaclyn @ JC’s Book Haven.
Jennifer Bielman
LOL, I know, but I feel so strongly about this one. I have never had this reaction to a book. It’s weird.
Brandi Kosiner
Aw, so sorry this one was a huge fail. Thanks for honest review.
Jennifer Bielman
Yeah, I’m bummed.