Veena’s review of Blood and Magic (Goddess with a Blade, Book 8) by Lauren Dane
Urban Fantasy published by Carina Press 24 Sep 24
The vampires are acting up as usual, but there also seems to be something going on with the witches. Along with her husband Clive, vampire Scion of North America, her friend Genevieve, genetic witch and conclave senator, and a trick of dust devils who follow Genevieve, Rowan Summerwaite, hunter sworn to keep supernormal secrets from being exposed in the human world, is on the hunt. What she’s going to find is horrific, and it’s going to take one or more books in this series to make the world safer for humankind.
An elite vampire club inserts themselves into Rowan’s business and declares war on her. In conjunction, her friendship and partnership with Genevieve brings her to the focus of genetic witches with an axe to grind. In comes a group of shifters, who attack Rowan in broad daylight on the Las Vegas strip, followed by a magical attack in a parking lot when in company with Genevieve and Darius. Now the perpetrators of these acts are in custody, and following the clues and bringing in some of the folks to justice is going to break open a whole new ball of wax.
As the team of Rowan and Genevieve, supported by their significant others Clive and Darius and their teams start digging, they find evil in the name of business that deals with human trafficking and other coercive use of magic. Rowan continues to grow in magic and ability and so does Genevieve, especially with the magic at her disposal now that she has become priestess to the dust devils and begun a relationship with Darius, the leader of the trick.
With cameo appearances by the First, his five and other members of the hunter and vampire teams, the story moves along at a good clip. I love the glimpses of a possible flirtation between David and Marco, perhaps something the author will develop further in future books. I loved the action and pace and the revelations as the story moved along. I can’t wait to see the shenanigans at the next joint council meeting and what the author has in store for this group.
Grade: A
Summary:
Rowan Summerwaite is many things. She knows how to land a punch but has learned there’s more than one way to solve a problem. She was once a loner, but the family she’s made over the years—including her husband, Clive, the Vampire Scion of North America—mean more to her than she could have ever imagined.
And, with the gifts bestowed upon her from the Goddess Brigid growing stronger with every passing moment, she’s more powerful than ever before.
It’s a good thing, too, because she’ll need every bit of her wits, her family, and her emerging powers as she confronts a new threat facing the Conclave of witches and the Vampire Nation. A threat that will pit Rowan and her friends against the most powerful—and dangerous—families within the magical Senate.
While Rowan Summerwaite may be many things, trusting is not usually one of them. But that’s exactly what she’ll need to do—trust others and, most of all, trust herself—to keep those she loves safe from harm one more time.
No excerpt available.
