Devon’s review of First Blood by Susan Sizemore, Erin McCarthy, Chris Marie Green, and Meljean Brook
Paranormal Anthology released by Berkley 05 August 2008

I’m pretty well-read in the Vampire Romance subgenre. That’s what got me reading romance again after a long hiatus. Blog title referenced it and all. It was kind of funny to find myself reading a vamp anthology with so many new to me authors. I’m a Meljean Brook fangirl, but have never read Sizemore or Green, and only one McCarthy novel. While I didn’t love all the entries, they made me curious to check out the authors I was unfamiliar with, so that’s a good thing.

Cave Canem by Susan Sizemore

This novella is part of her “Laws of the Blood” series which I have never read. I think fans of the series will enjoy it most, because some of the concepts were hard to follow. There were characters that were obviously recurring, and significant to the alternate universe of these books. I felt like I was trying to connect the dots and fill in blanks as I went along. There was also a bit too much thrown in. Back story, plot, multiple characters and subplots…it all felt rushed. The primary romance was particularly rushed and unconvincing. I found Dan and Tess’ first sexual encounter rather creepy actually. This was my least favorite story of the bunch, but my curiosity about this “world” was piqued enough to look at the author website.

Grade: C-

Summary:

Susan Sizemore returns to the universe of her Laws of the Blood novels with a sizzling story of the relationship between a vampire enforcer and a werewolf.

No excerpt available.

Russian Roulette by Erin McCarthy

I believe this story is set in the same universe as the “Vegas Vampires” series. I’ve never read any of these books, and I think this might be a another case where those who follow the series will enjoy it most. The heroine, Sasha must have appeared in another book, where her journey from abused trophy wife of an evil vampire to vampire slayer to vampire is more fully explained. I didn’t quite get the timeline on that one. Sasha is rescued from a nasty kidnapping by vampire Alistair. In order to protect her, Alistair moves her in with him and employs her in his bar. The prickly Sasha has had a strange and difficult life, and reading about how she learns to adjust and let her defenses down was the best part of the story. Alistair was bland, as was their romance, and the ending was a bit anticlimactic. An okay story.

Grade: C+

Summary:

Erin McCarthy’s Sasha Checkikov flees the bright lights and dangerous slayers of Vegas for New Orleans, where she is saved by a vampire haunted by his past-and hungry for passion.

No excerpt available.

Double the Bite by Chris Marie Green

Another story related to a series I’ve never read (the Vampire Babylon series). Set against the glittering, decadent backdrop of 1970’s Studio 54, Double the Bite features twin vampires who take an interest in a Texas sheriff, in New York to investigate his brother’s murder. The writing was very atmospheric, capturing the setting well. The vampires are also disturbing, dangerous and creepy, while still being sympathetic. I liked that they weren’t neutered. Ginny, the conflicted one, was very interesting, as was her relationship with her increasingly unbalanced sister Geneva. However the object of Ginny’s attention and later, affection, Ben Tyree, was not all that interesting. Their romance seemed rushed. While I enjoyed the way the story was told, the development of the romance was choppy and unconvincing. Overall, it was an unusual, interesting story that didn’t quite do it for me.

Grade: C

Summary:

Set in the Vampire Babylon world, Chris Marie Green’s story puts the bond between twin female vampires to the test when one of them falls for her prey.

Read an excerpt.

Thicker Than Blood by Meljean Brook

Brook is the author whose work I’m most familiar with, and this entry is further evidence that she is a go-to for well developed characters and romance. This one is not difficult for a new reader to follow, and makes for a good introduction to the Guardians series. It is set in Philadelphia rather than the San Francisco setting we’ve seen before, and it focuses on the city’s vampires, who haven’t been privy to the SF events. It is a story of lovers reunited. After medical resident Annie Gallagher was turned into a vampire she cut ties with her human friends and family. While searching for the young human ward of some friends, Annie comes upon Jack Harrington, the FBI agent she had fallen in love with just before she “died”. Jack is astonished to see the woman he had loved and mourned. Jack’s investigative skills and ability to go out in the daytime can help Annie, and the spark between them hasn’t died, but how can a human and vampire make it work? Meljean Brook writes some of the best characters around: strong, but flawed, and lightened with a sense of humor. And the lovably bitchy Lilith is around. Another solid romance from Meljean Brook.

Grade: B+

Summary:

Annie Gallagher is the only survivor of a demon attack that exterminated every other vampire in her city. But she can’t leave before she finds Cricket, a young human girl whose vampire guardians have been killed. Annie needs help, but the rules of her kind demand that she operate in secrecy.

And when help comes, it’s from the one man she never expected…

Meljean Brook’s vampire Annie Gallagher needs help to save a young human girl, but she doesn’t expect the help to come from the FBI agent she loved-and had to give up- when she was transformed.

Read an excerpt.

This anthology was a mixed bag, but fans of the various authors should check it out.
Overall Grade: C+

Summary:

Four all-new stories of forbidden passion and dark desire.

You never forget your first blood…