vesperfire's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
I enjoyed this book overall but it does have a few issues which I find problematic.
Another issue for me was the FMC constantly getting hot and bothered around the MC in the most unrealistic of times when sex would truly be the LAST thing on someone's mind. Unfortunately, that ends up taking you out of the scene entirely.
Despite this, I did find the plot enjoyable and feel like it sets up the series rather well and makes you curious about what's next so I will give the second book a chance.
Spoiler
Namely the gratuitous and graphic rape scene in the first chapter. It doesn't bring anything more to the plot and is thrown at the reader out of nowhere. There is also no mention of sexual assault in the book after that.Another issue for me was the FMC constantly getting hot and bothered around the MC in the most unrealistic of times when sex would truly be the LAST thing on someone's mind. Unfortunately, that ends up taking you out of the scene entirely.
Despite this, I did find the plot enjoyable and feel like it sets up the series rather well and makes you curious about what's next so I will give the second book a chance.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Murder, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Death and Violence
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Suicide, and Abandonment
Spoiler
The first chapter contains a graphic sexual assault between an adult vampire and a 16-year-old. It started consensual but the vampire ended up murdering her. Our MC witnesses this in first person through a psychic link. There is no mention of rape and everyone seems to gloss over that part afterwards. This was a gratuitous scene that doesn't bring anything more to the plot and is thrown at the reader out of nowhere. There is no mention of sexual assault in the book after that.feliciabooks's review against another edition
4.0
YESS badass MC with a good friendship
there is a lot of mystery regarding there past but in the storyline as well.
This is a slowburn and the love interest is nice but with a huge stick up is @ss. hope the next book gets better.
interested where the story takes me!
there is a lot of mystery regarding there past but in the storyline as well.
This is a slowburn and the love interest is nice but with a huge stick up is @ss. hope the next book gets better.
interested where the story takes me!
wetdryvac's review against another edition
5.0
I'm enjoying the world building, but staying for the character building.
atlantiareads's review against another edition
4.0
What a great start to a new series. Keri Arthur has been a long time favorite author of mine and she’s got such a way with creating strong female lead characters and amazing and gripping worlds. Will be immediately picking up book 2!
dmars's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
deeangel85's review against another edition
medium-paced
3.0
Witches, Werewolves and more that go bump in the night....add in a bit of crime fighting and now my brain is really wondering how / where she is going to be getting her money!
b_currently_'s review against another edition
4.0
A few notes I jotted down while reading ‘Blood Kissed’ by Keri Arthur
- I instantly enjoyed Lizzie and Belle as characters. I found their relationship to be
- Keri Arthur has a talent for story and character concepts
- Not every author is overly talented when writing about magic and how it can affect the ‘real’ world but Arthur definitely good
- Arthur definitely hits the sweet spot when it comes to the amount of dialogue in the novel and none of it feels forced or flat
I have never read a fantasy series set in Australia before and boy do I feel like I have been missing out. There is something I really enjoy about reading books set in Australia, wether the location is important to the story line or not. So please if anyone has any recommendations for me, please comment them below or message me.
- I instantly enjoyed Lizzie and Belle as characters. I found their relationship to be
- Keri Arthur has a talent for story and character concepts
- Not every author is overly talented when writing about magic and how it can affect the ‘real’ world but Arthur definitely good
- Arthur definitely hits the sweet spot when it comes to the amount of dialogue in the novel and none of it feels forced or flat
I have never read a fantasy series set in Australia before and boy do I feel like I have been missing out. There is something I really enjoy about reading books set in Australia, wether the location is important to the story line or not. So please if anyone has any recommendations for me, please comment them below or message me.
chllybrd's review against another edition
4.0
Lizzie and her human familiar—and best friend—Belle, are in hiding from her family and living on a werewolf reservation when trouble finds its way to their door. I enjoyed the relationship between Lizzie and Belle. A human familiar isn't something that is normal, but they work so well together and they wouldn't wish it any other way. Although Lizzie was born to a very powerful witch family, it's made clear that her magic isn't very strong. I kinda kept waiting for her to really blow magic out of the water in some way. Like a hidden magical reservoir that has been hiding and shows itself at the most opportune time. Not sure if that will ever happen, but i will keep my fingers crossed in future books.
There is a tad bit of a love interest in BLOOD KISSED—very minor romance. Witnessing the awkward, frustrating and sometimes electric interactions between Lizzie and Aiden was pretty entertaining at times. They were BOTH so frustrated and repelled by each other, but also magnetically attracted to each other and hating it. You could definitely feel the sexual frustration at points. I imagine things will be pretty steamy if they ever get over their issues and hook up.
I enjoyed the setting in BLOOD KISSED. The small town feel was great and there is still so much involved in it being a werewolf reservation. The pace of BLOOD KISSED wasn't always fast, but I was never bored. I do wish that there were more twists involved in the storyline. There was a lot of things that ended up being pretty obvious.
After all was read, I thought that BLOOD KISSED was a nice start to a new series for Keri Arthur and I will keep my eyes open for Lizzie's next adventure.
* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
There is a tad bit of a love interest in BLOOD KISSED—very minor romance. Witnessing the awkward, frustrating and sometimes electric interactions between Lizzie and Aiden was pretty entertaining at times. They were BOTH so frustrated and repelled by each other, but also magnetically attracted to each other and hating it. You could definitely feel the sexual frustration at points. I imagine things will be pretty steamy if they ever get over their issues and hook up.
I enjoyed the setting in BLOOD KISSED. The small town feel was great and there is still so much involved in it being a werewolf reservation. The pace of BLOOD KISSED wasn't always fast, but I was never bored. I do wish that there were more twists involved in the storyline. There was a lot of things that ended up being pretty obvious.
After all was read, I thought that BLOOD KISSED was a nice start to a new series for Keri Arthur and I will keep my eyes open for Lizzie's next adventure.
* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
louiseveie's review against another edition
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0