#BlogTour The Lazarus Child by Jay Raven

 Today it's my turn on the BlogTour The Lazarus Child by Jay Raven.

About the Author

Jay Raven is the author of Gothic chillers and historical horror reminding readers that the past is a dangerous place to venture, full of monsters and murderous men. He blames his fascination with vampires, witches and werewolves on the Hammer Horror films he watched as a teenager, but living in a creepy old house on the edge of a 500-acre wood may have something to do with it.

If you would like to be informed of new releases, enjoy free short stories and access exclusive giveaways and competitions, please subscribe to Jay's monthly newsletter on his website at www.jayraven.com

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About the book

To save his missing daughter a distraught slayer must venture deep into the heart of darkness

Legendary vampire hunter Anton Yoska is on the edge, tormented by the rumour that the precious child he once thought dead is still alive and lost in a world of monsters.

One creature alone knows for sure what happened to Gretchen, but Terek Modjeski won’t divulge his secret - revelling in the twisted power over his long-time foe.

Despairing and drinking heavily, Anton stumbles from near disaster to near disaster as he puts his team in jeopardy, testing their friendship and loyalty to snapping point.

Only one diabolical solution is possible - to confront Terek in his maximum security cell and force the bloodsucker to end his game of cat and mouse. But making the cunning infernal talk will mean employing brutal methods that go against every code Anton has ever lived by, forcing him to become as much of a demon as the leeches he hunts.

Face to face with the evil, taunting vampire, the desperate slayer takes a decision that will change his destiny forever - sending him hurtling into danger to confront a terrifying truth about his lost child that risks not only his sanity but the future of mankind.

Review

The last sentence... I mean really? It just conjures up all kind of images.

This is the third book in the Blood Riders series, it can be read as a standalone novel, however I would suggest reading the others to get the gist of the characters and their journey.

I think it's fair to share that the Anton we experience in this book is not the Anton we met in the first. Gone is the determination, the soul and the essence that separates him from the monsters he is slowly disintegrating into. He has become a liability to his team, a risk to himself and people are starting to perceive him differently.

The author shows the way his main character is slowly stripped of his humanity, as he navigates the pain and guilt he carries around with him. Each story shows how he inches towards the decline. It gives this supernatural story a bit of an edge. The hunter becomes what he both hates and fears the most.

This story has a load of potential, even three books in. I still maintain that the team element, and the characteristics and personalities of said team, is what drives this series. Not necessarily the sub-plots. Sometimes contemporary trumps niche from an audience perspective, which means the more speculative creativity can be hindered a wee bit. Open up the gates.

The Lazarus Child at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Buy at Amazon com. 

Reap the Wind by Karen Chance

Well this book is certainly a whirlwind, I don't think the main character managed to stop and have a break for even a minute. 

It was non-stop fast-paced action. 

Faster than Chance's usual pace that's for sure. She usually gives us some drawn out moments of passion or touchy feely scenes.

If you have been following the life and troubles of Cassie Palmer since the beginning then you will understand the difference between the two of them when you read this book and this Cassie, as opposed to the Cassie of the first book.

Chance has kicked up the erotic scenes a notch. Easing slowly towards a romantic relationship between Pritkin and Cassie. She spends a lot of time reflecting upon the why of her relationship with Mircea. Is it love, is it lust or is it just compulsion? If so, has she possibly been ignoring a real connection between her and Pritkin all this time?

It seems as if Cassie spends all her time in the buff, in a towel or in general with no clothes in her general vicinity. She also seems to have an unfortunate amount of bathroom, shower and bedroom incidents. Old Cassie used to do all her stunts and crazy missions with clothes on, she also never used to spend half her time playing hole in one with her flavour of the month.

It is almost as if Chance is bowing down to the pressure of appealing to a mass audience and using the quick thrills to keep them captivated, instead of sticking to her unique style of writing and creativity.

In my opinion Chance is still quite underrated as an Urban Fantasy writer. She certainly deserves more recognition than she gets, especially for her Dorina Basarab series. She spins the worlds of vamps, fey, shifters and magic together like a well-constructed spider's web, and combines all of it with her feisty characters and charming wit.

I received a copy of this book via NetGalley, courtesy of Penguin Berkley/Signet.

Buy Reap the Wind on Amazon UK or go to Goodreads for Amazon.com or for any other retailer.

Read Ride the Storm by Karen Chance

A Secret to Die For by Sierra Dean

The end of  Secret McQueen, as we know her, and I  for one am sorry to see her go. This Urban Fantasy series has to be one of the most underrated in the ocean of books. It deserves to be right up there with the big guns.

It was an unexpected ending. In a way  it was almost a let down. Not exactly the atypical Secret exit. It felt as if Secret was at ease because the end solution gives her perhaps what she wished for all along.

I find that odd and not exactly realistic when you take her friends, lovers and comrades in arms into consideration. How is she supposed to fit in and function or be respected by the supernatural after that?

Apparently Dean is planning a spin-off, so I am sure we will hear from Secret again if only in a side character capacity.

Everyone turns up for the last stand against evil. All the favourites characters and more are there to support Secret. Not everyone gets out of this spectacular meltdown alive. Dean actually swings the great author sword of the main character cull, so expect to be both surprised and perhaps even upset by the demise of one person in particular.

Unlike other reviewers I didn't feel this was a perfect ending to an admittedly very good series. I believe it was far too sugary sweet and goody two shoes to do Secret justice. However I also think Dean wrote it in a way that leaves a back-door for Secret to return. Why? Because of Aubrey and what he intends to and will do with his newly gained advantage.
I received a copy of this book via Netgalley.

Without Shadows by Olivia Owens

This is second book in the Soulless series by Olivia Owens.

One of the points I made about Nick in my review for the first book Windows of the Soulless,was his constant internal battle with himself. Instead of being without a soul I believe he lives with two, which is why his behaviour is very erratic and it can often seem as if the reader is reading about two completely different people.

There is the ruthless killer, who has no conscience and acts like an animal hunting human prey. He is insensitive, rude and lacks any kind of endearing quality. Then there is the other side of Nick, the humane and caring side. The side that makes sure a young Jane Doe feels safe in an extremely difficult situation.

Although these two sides of Nick inhabit the same body I am not sure if he is aware of the almost multiple personality like quality he is exhibiting.

The conflict between the werewolves and the vampires is heating up and possibly heading towards a climax and boundary issues.
The relationships and complicated hierarchy of the vamps is strained almost to breaking point, especially when Nick finds out that the monster who ended his previous life is connected to his present in a most unfortunate way.

There was a lot going on in this book, perhaps a sort of interim leading up to the next, because it lacked a little of the plot structure the first book had. Nevertheless this is still a series with lots of potential and room for scope.
I received a copy of this book courtesy of the author.

Windows of the Soulless by Olivia Owens

The author portrays the main character as someone who has two distinct personalities within him and he is fighting to control both. Each of those personalities is trying to gain the upper hand at all times.

One personality represents the humanity left within him. The person who doesn't want to kill and allows himself to show mercy towwards others. The other personality is the vampire, the hunter, the killer and the one that will destroy at the mere smell of blood.

Obviously this also means that the people who surround the main character are never quite sure who they are dealing with. It also explains how he can seem to be caring in one second and then utterly without a conscience the next minute.

I didn't feel this was about loving a person he is not allowed to have. For me it was about that fight within him. Depending on whether the ruthless part of him wins also dictates the fate of those he supposedly cares for.

At this point I would also like to say kudos to the author for the twist in the plot during the hospital melee. It was completely unexpected, both how it came about and the way it was planned.

The book takes a complete U turn about halfway through into a deeper plot involving shifters. The setting of the book is Germany during WWII so the inevitable German military villain turned up.

Whether it was done on purpose or not and I would to think yes, there was a certain element to the villain Ulrich. Without revealing a spoiler I think his experimentation and enjoyment of said experiments were a subtle reference to the sadism which was a huge part of the horror that took place during that era. All in the name of science, as they liked to say.

Overall this was both an entertaining and well written story.
I received a free copy of this book for my review.