Story Exploration: Blood for Blood – Plus a GIVEAWAY

My first encounter with Blood for Blood was at this year’s Realm Makers conference. It was in the bookstore and I noticed as I browsed that Ben Wolf had written it. “Oh,” I thought to myself, “He writes novels not just magazines. And Tosca Lee wrote a blurb for the front of it! That’s so cool!” And then I went on my way because my wallet was running on empty.

A few days later, Blood for Blood won the OCW Cascade Contest, and Ben’s excitement was contagious.

 Image used with Permission from Ben Wolf

Not long after that, I was over the top delighted to WIN A COPY IN A DRAWING!!!!!!!!!  Winning things is just thrilling is it not? It just made my excitement to read the story skyrocket. (My excitement levels skyrocket frequently over many things, books being a very frequent contributor.)

It is HERE!

I didn’t really know what to expect when I started reading. But once I stepped on the roller coaster, it swept me away on a wild ride that left me gasping. (Literally. I gasped several times through this book).

Why I Liked It:

Blood for Blood tackles head on the question of whether a vampire can be saved. It doesn’t shy away from spiritual depths, nor is it preachy. The conversion scene is not corny in the least. It is realistic. That is something I really appreciated, because so many people are turned off at the slightest bit of preachiness. Ben handled it with well executed grace.

I loved the characters, the suspense, the plot.  The story is real, and the emotions poured into it really rang true with me. I related to the characters, identified with them. Particularly Calandra. I could relate to some of her guy problems 😛

Raven, the main character, was especially intriguing. Being “inside” a vampire as he’s struggling and changing was, well, thrilling. He had victories and horrible failures. Also, he falls in looooooooooove and it’s so adorable! Just wait until you get to this one scene! *fangirl moment of happy squeals and deep gasps and staggering back in painful, agonizing shock*

This story is strong and powerful with an ending that I never saw coming and all in all I just really think you need to read it.

What I Didn’t Like About It:

This isn’t exactly a dislike, more like a disclaimer. When Raven recounts the tale of how he became a vampire, things get intense. He’s seduced by a female vampire and once she’s got him super close and into passionate kissing, he gets bit.  Ben handles this scene very well in that the emotions and feeling of the scene are painted as wrong. It left me with a heavy, gross feeling. Which was, for the purpose of the story, necessary and I would guess intentional.  It is followed shortly thereafter with another kissing scene, the feeling of which was totally different (truuuue the characters doing it weren’t exactly supposed to be, but I was routing for it the whole time and it was a moment of YES WE HAVE VICTORY!!!!!!)

Along with that disclaimer I’ll give a note that this story is geared more toward New Adult than YA, mainly, I think, because of the disclaimed scene.

So. Sold on reading it? Check it out now on Amazon Kindle for only 99 cents until Saturday, October 24th.

Have you Read Blood for Blood? What were your thoughts? If you haven’t, will you be adding it to your To Be Read list?

AND NOW, THE MOMENT YOU’VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS ENTIRE POST…

*drumroll*

I am very excited to announce to you a GIVEAWAY for YOUR VERY OWN SIGNED AND PERSONALIZED (if so desired) COPY OF BLOOD FOR BLOOD!!!

How do you enter?

Simply leave a comment below telling me one reason you’d like to read Blood for Blood. On Friday I’ll draw a name and announce the winner!

Good luck! 😀

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