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mel_reviews_in_a_pinch's review against another edition
4.0
Actual rating is 3.5 out of 5 stars.
I’ll freely admit that I love me some supernatural stories. I like other genres, but the supernatural has and will always hold a special place with me. I stumbled across the Preternaturals series a few years ago and then didn’t read it right away.
Blood Lust was interesting right off the bat because it’s really 3 novellas showing very different perspectives of the same overall world. It’s actually in a straight timeline of events too, which was intriguing (a lot of things I’ve read lately jump around). So I’ve decided to separate my review by each novella, since you can buy them separately or as a whole (the whole is called Blood Lust).
Kept – 3.5 out of 5: I enjoyed Kept, but it left me with expectations for more. Dayne and Greta have great chemistry and there’s plenty of action (ha, that works both ways), but it still felt like something was missing. I think the condensed time period had a lot to do with that. It was too close to insta-love for me to really fall in love with the story. I did think it was very interesting that the shapeshifters do keep animal qualities (like going through a heat cycle). I’ve never read a supernatural book that pulled in elements like that.
Claimed – 2 out of 5: I didn’t really care for Claimed. It’s hard to truly enjoy a story when you really don’t like one of the main characters. That’s actually being nice. I didn’t like Anthony, at all. I think this particular perception of a vampire is more realistic than Twilight, but I still didn’t like him. Charlee was less than thrilling. She felt like a weak character at best. They did have chemistry because Zoe Winters can write chemistry like there’s no tomorrow, but I just wasn’t impressed with their story.
Mated – 4.5 out of 5: Holy crap, Mated was definitely my favorite. Cole and Jane were amazing! We meet Jane in Claimed, but I didn’t really have feelings about her character one way or the other. She seemed tougher than Charlee, but that wasn’t exactly difficult. Jane and Cole had electric chemistry, but they also had such sweet moments together that I rooted for them right from the beginning. Their story felt the most complete for me. They had the chemistry and the believable love story, but there was also action to get your heart pumping.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading Blood Lust. It was a very solid start to the series. I’ll be honest with you guys, I’ve already read books 2-4, so be on the look out for those reviews soonish. I know I have the warning at the top, but there is a lot of sex in this series so if that’s not your thing, you’ve been warned. If you’re looking for an adult supernatural romance, I would recommend you take a chance on Blood Lust.
For more reviews, check out Reviews In A Pinch today!
I’ll freely admit that I love me some supernatural stories. I like other genres, but the supernatural has and will always hold a special place with me. I stumbled across the Preternaturals series a few years ago and then didn’t read it right away.
Blood Lust was interesting right off the bat because it’s really 3 novellas showing very different perspectives of the same overall world. It’s actually in a straight timeline of events too, which was intriguing (a lot of things I’ve read lately jump around). So I’ve decided to separate my review by each novella, since you can buy them separately or as a whole (the whole is called Blood Lust).
Kept – 3.5 out of 5: I enjoyed Kept, but it left me with expectations for more. Dayne and Greta have great chemistry and there’s plenty of action (ha, that works both ways), but it still felt like something was missing. I think the condensed time period had a lot to do with that. It was too close to insta-love for me to really fall in love with the story. I did think it was very interesting that the shapeshifters do keep animal qualities (like going through a heat cycle). I’ve never read a supernatural book that pulled in elements like that.
Claimed – 2 out of 5: I didn’t really care for Claimed. It’s hard to truly enjoy a story when you really don’t like one of the main characters. That’s actually being nice. I didn’t like Anthony, at all. I think this particular perception of a vampire is more realistic than Twilight, but I still didn’t like him. Charlee was less than thrilling. She felt like a weak character at best. They did have chemistry because Zoe Winters can write chemistry like there’s no tomorrow, but I just wasn’t impressed with their story.
Mated – 4.5 out of 5: Holy crap, Mated was definitely my favorite. Cole and Jane were amazing! We meet Jane in Claimed, but I didn’t really have feelings about her character one way or the other. She seemed tougher than Charlee, but that wasn’t exactly difficult. Jane and Cole had electric chemistry, but they also had such sweet moments together that I rooted for them right from the beginning. Their story felt the most complete for me. They had the chemistry and the believable love story, but there was also action to get your heart pumping.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading Blood Lust. It was a very solid start to the series. I’ll be honest with you guys, I’ve already read books 2-4, so be on the look out for those reviews soonish. I know I have the warning at the top, but there is a lot of sex in this series so if that’s not your thing, you’ve been warned. If you’re looking for an adult supernatural romance, I would recommend you take a chance on Blood Lust.
For more reviews, check out Reviews In A Pinch today!
lalabristow's review against another edition
4.0
Previously Published on my blog: Welcome to Larissa's Bookish Life
Blood Lust is a compilation of three Paranormal novellas, all part of Zoe Winters’ The Preternaturals Series. Each one tells the story of a couple and their journey into their Happily Ever After. All the stories are set in the same world and some characters cross over between them at times.
I have to say that I was very pleasantly surprised by this book. I tend to enjoy a shorter story now and then but I do prefer full length novels. I feel it is hard to make a HEA work in less than that.
However, I feel that Zoe has done an amazing job in introducing us to these characters, this world and telling their stories. I loved the mix of supernatural races that Zoe has written. We have Vampires, Cat Shifters, Werewolves, Witches, Warlocks, Demons and so much more.
Kept is the story of Greta, a cat therian (shifter), and Dayne, a very dangerous sorcerer. Greta’s life is in danger when she finds out that her tribe plans to sacrifice her because of something she has no control over, Dayne is the only one who can keep her safe. Dayne is HOT and his bad boy reputation gives him the privacy he needs, that is until Greta comes into his life and steals his heart.
Claimed is all about Anthony and Charlee. Charlee is Greta’s best friend and co-worker and for a while she has been flirting almost daily with this very hot man that keeps showing up at the store where she works. Anthony can’t seem to resist stopping by and flirting with Charlee, specially since her blood seema to draw him more than any other person’s blood has. But one night, Anthony loses control and does the imaginable, he drinks from Charlee. Ashamed of what he has done, Anthony erases her memory of the night, but something goes wrong and she wakes up the next day not remembering anything at all. Now, the only one who can help her claim her life back is the Vampire who took it all away in the first place.
We meet Jane in Claimed, when Greta meets her as one of Anthony’s adversaries’ girl. In Mated, Jane is now the being mistreated by another vampire and Cole, the local Werewolf Alpha, saves her by taking her as payment for gambling debts. Jane has been in Vampire’s radars for as long as she can remember, something about her just attracts them, but now she has the chance to leave that all behind. However, she is not sure how safe she is, hiding away in a Werewolf den, where one of them seems to be enjoying human meat.
I really enjoyed all these stories, but my favorite was Mated! I love a shifter and Cole is just a great specimen of the race LOL.
All in all, Blood Lust is a full plate for any Paranormal Romance lover out there! The romance is great, but it never overshadows the story, I think Zoe did a great job in balancing that out and I can’t wait for more books from her!
Blood Lust is a compilation of three Paranormal novellas, all part of Zoe Winters’ The Preternaturals Series. Each one tells the story of a couple and their journey into their Happily Ever After. All the stories are set in the same world and some characters cross over between them at times.
I have to say that I was very pleasantly surprised by this book. I tend to enjoy a shorter story now and then but I do prefer full length novels. I feel it is hard to make a HEA work in less than that.
However, I feel that Zoe has done an amazing job in introducing us to these characters, this world and telling their stories. I loved the mix of supernatural races that Zoe has written. We have Vampires, Cat Shifters, Werewolves, Witches, Warlocks, Demons and so much more.
Kept is the story of Greta, a cat therian (shifter), and Dayne, a very dangerous sorcerer. Greta’s life is in danger when she finds out that her tribe plans to sacrifice her because of something she has no control over, Dayne is the only one who can keep her safe. Dayne is HOT and his bad boy reputation gives him the privacy he needs, that is until Greta comes into his life and steals his heart.
Claimed is all about Anthony and Charlee. Charlee is Greta’s best friend and co-worker and for a while she has been flirting almost daily with this very hot man that keeps showing up at the store where she works. Anthony can’t seem to resist stopping by and flirting with Charlee, specially since her blood seema to draw him more than any other person’s blood has. But one night, Anthony loses control and does the imaginable, he drinks from Charlee. Ashamed of what he has done, Anthony erases her memory of the night, but something goes wrong and she wakes up the next day not remembering anything at all. Now, the only one who can help her claim her life back is the Vampire who took it all away in the first place.
We meet Jane in Claimed, when Greta meets her as one of Anthony’s adversaries’ girl. In Mated, Jane is now the being mistreated by another vampire and Cole, the local Werewolf Alpha, saves her by taking her as payment for gambling debts. Jane has been in Vampire’s radars for as long as she can remember, something about her just attracts them, but now she has the chance to leave that all behind. However, she is not sure how safe she is, hiding away in a Werewolf den, where one of them seems to be enjoying human meat.
I really enjoyed all these stories, but my favorite was Mated! I love a shifter and Cole is just a great specimen of the race LOL.
All in all, Blood Lust is a full plate for any Paranormal Romance lover out there! The romance is great, but it never overshadows the story, I think Zoe did a great job in balancing that out and I can’t wait for more books from her!
morganreadsoccasionally's review against another edition
4.0
This is a first for me. I wasn't sure how I'd like KT's lighter paranormal stuff but it definitely serves it's purpose. There is just enough magic to make these 3 stories feel otherworldly without having to do a deep dive into a magic system that takes forever to explain. The couples were entertaining enough to keep me engaged but I wish I had more time with them. These are novellas that have been packaged together so they're a little on the short side but not short enough to leave you unsatisfied.
audiobookmel's review against another edition
4.0
This book is a compilation of three PNR novellas all by Zoe Winters. The characters do intersect and there is overlap, as you expect in a PNR series. Whether you listen or read this story, you get three romances for the price of one.
Kept is the first novella. It consists of Greta who is a cat therian (another word for shifter), and Dayne, a sorcerer with a very bad reputation. Greta is sentenced to be a sacrifice. Her mother, who is refusing to save her, but helps her to escape and sends her to Dayne for help. Dayne is in a bind because he needs therian blood to go after the head of cat shifter clain, but can't get it from his normal online source. When Greta shows up to his door, Dayne agrees to protect her until the full moon. There are several hilarious moments between the two. There is also many misunderstandings between the two.
Claimed is the second novella in this book. It contains the story between Anthony, a vampire running to be king vampire for the next century, and Charlotte (Charlee) a human friend of Greta. In a drug induced blood lust, Anthony drinks from Charlee and then attempts to wipe her memories, but completely erases her entire memories of herself. Anthony is forced to care for her while trying to win the tournament, to keep it from Lucas who is evil.
Mated is the last story in this book. We meet Jane in Claimed when she is trying to stay alive in the vampire world. She has been able to see vampires for what they really are, which is part demon, since she was a child. Vampires don't like that much. They are also not able to control her mind, like they can with normal humans. Jane is given to the alpha werewolf, Cole, as payment for a debt. We learn a lot about Jane's past, which is truly horrific.
This is a great PNR series. I can't wait to read more. I would highly recommend this series to people who like PNR stories. The sex does exist in these stories, but not to the graphic detail as in many other PNR stories. I don't this this subtracts from the story in anyway.
I listened to this story after reading it. I have to say, it was done well and I enjoyed going back and revisiting the characters. I think the narration is great. He does a great job with not only the different male characters, but the female as well.
Kept is the first novella. It consists of Greta who is a cat therian (another word for shifter), and Dayne, a sorcerer with a very bad reputation. Greta is sentenced to be a sacrifice. Her mother, who is refusing to save her, but helps her to escape and sends her to Dayne for help. Dayne is in a bind because he needs therian blood to go after the head of cat shifter clain, but can't get it from his normal online source. When Greta shows up to his door, Dayne agrees to protect her until the full moon. There are several hilarious moments between the two. There is also many misunderstandings between the two.
Claimed is the second novella in this book. It contains the story between Anthony, a vampire running to be king vampire for the next century, and Charlotte (Charlee) a human friend of Greta. In a drug induced blood lust, Anthony drinks from Charlee and then attempts to wipe her memories, but completely erases her entire memories of herself. Anthony is forced to care for her while trying to win the tournament, to keep it from Lucas who is evil.
Mated is the last story in this book. We meet Jane in Claimed when she is trying to stay alive in the vampire world. She has been able to see vampires for what they really are, which is part demon, since she was a child. Vampires don't like that much. They are also not able to control her mind, like they can with normal humans. Jane is given to the alpha werewolf, Cole, as payment for a debt. We learn a lot about Jane's past, which is truly horrific.
This is a great PNR series. I can't wait to read more. I would highly recommend this series to people who like PNR stories. The sex does exist in these stories, but not to the graphic detail as in many other PNR stories. I don't this this subtracts from the story in anyway.
I listened to this story after reading it. I have to say, it was done well and I enjoyed going back and revisiting the characters. I think the narration is great. He does a great job with not only the different male characters, but the female as well.
audiobookmel's review against another edition
4.0
This book is a compilation of three PNR novellas all by Zoe Winters. The characters do intersect and there is overlap, as you expect in a PNR series. Whether you listen or read this story, you get three romances for the price of one.
Kept is the first novella. It consists of Greta who is a cat therian (another word for shifter), and Dayne, a sorcerer with a very bad reputation. Greta is sentenced to be a sacrifice. Her mother, who is refusing to save her, but helps her to escape and sends her to Dayne for help. Dayne is in a bind because he needs therian blood to go after the head of cat shifter clain, but can't get it from his normal online source. When Greta shows up to his door, Dayne agrees to protect her until the full moon. There are several hilarious moments between the two. There is also many misunderstandings between the two.
Claimed is the second novella in this book. It contains the story between Anthony, a vampire running to be king vampire for the next century, and Charlotte (Charlee) a human friend of Greta. In a drug induced blood lust, Anthony drinks from Charlee and then attempts to wipe her memories, but completely erases her entire memories of herself. Anthony is forced to care for her while trying to win the tournament, to keep it from Lucas who is evil.
Mated is the last story in this book. We meet Jane in Claimed when she is trying to stay alive in the vampire world. She has been able to see vampires for what they really are, which is part demon, since she was a child. Vampires don't like that much. They are also not able to control her mind, like they can with normal humans. Jane is given to the alpha werewolf, Cole, as payment for a debt. We learn a lot about Jane's past, which is truly horrific.
This is a great PNR series. I can't wait to read more. I would highly recommend this series to people who like PNR stories. The sex does exist in these stories, but not to the graphic detail as in many other PNR stories. I don't this this subtracts from the story in anyway.
I listened to this story after reading it. I have to say, it was done well and I enjoyed going back and revisiting the characters. I think the narration is great. He does a great job with not only the different male characters, but the female as well.
Kept is the first novella. It consists of Greta who is a cat therian (another word for shifter), and Dayne, a sorcerer with a very bad reputation. Greta is sentenced to be a sacrifice. Her mother, who is refusing to save her, but helps her to escape and sends her to Dayne for help. Dayne is in a bind because he needs therian blood to go after the head of cat shifter clain, but can't get it from his normal online source. When Greta shows up to his door, Dayne agrees to protect her until the full moon. There are several hilarious moments between the two. There is also many misunderstandings between the two.
Claimed is the second novella in this book. It contains the story between Anthony, a vampire running to be king vampire for the next century, and Charlotte (Charlee) a human friend of Greta. In a drug induced blood lust, Anthony drinks from Charlee and then attempts to wipe her memories, but completely erases her entire memories of herself. Anthony is forced to care for her while trying to win the tournament, to keep it from Lucas who is evil.
Mated is the last story in this book. We meet Jane in Claimed when she is trying to stay alive in the vampire world. She has been able to see vampires for what they really are, which is part demon, since she was a child. Vampires don't like that much. They are also not able to control her mind, like they can with normal humans. Jane is given to the alpha werewolf, Cole, as payment for a debt. We learn a lot about Jane's past, which is truly horrific.
This is a great PNR series. I can't wait to read more. I would highly recommend this series to people who like PNR stories. The sex does exist in these stories, but not to the graphic detail as in many other PNR stories. I don't this this subtracts from the story in anyway.
I listened to this story after reading it. I have to say, it was done well and I enjoyed going back and revisiting the characters. I think the narration is great. He does a great job with not only the different male characters, but the female as well.
7sofia7's review against another edition
4.0
Low 4.0
There is nothing wrong with this collection of novellas. The writing is nice and the world is interesting and you will like them if you like paranormal romance.
The thing is that I did not really connect with the stories and the characters (the exception is the mc of the third novella whose backstory was really sad). This due to being novellas instead of novels: the characters were mostly superficial amd there were both instalust (fine) and instalove (not fine for me). There are some sex scenes but most of them are not described in details.
I have also to agree with what another reviewer wrote: all the female mc are damsels in distress and are forced to relie on a man to protect them (they are not dormats but have no power). The hero has to save the heroine from being murdered in all of the stories and the mcs always find themselves obliged to live toghether, and the hero always has all the power (they are in his home and the heroine is forbidden to leave).
This is probably to be expected but the hero is also much older then the heroine (but young because: magic).
So I did not love these stories but they were pleasant enough for me to keep reading. The author managed to write such compelling first sentences/chapters that keep reading one novella after the other was a no brainer.
Each story had the particular atmosphere of the specie of the male lead (1. Sorcerer 2. Vampire 3. Werewolf) while being in a cohesive world/city. The author introduced seemesly the mc of the next book in each novella and made them interesting.
I really appreciated that the den of the werewolves was actually underground.
CW for mention of previous sexual assault and forced vampiric feeding that read like rape.
Last warning: Zoe Winters writes erotica under the name Kitty Thomas. DO NOT read her erotica of you are not into erotica that is non-con and abuse and that has zero romance.
There is nothing wrong with this collection of novellas. The writing is nice and the world is interesting and you will like them if you like paranormal romance.
The thing is that I did not really connect with the stories and the characters (the exception is the mc of the third novella whose backstory was really sad). This due to being novellas instead of novels: the characters were mostly superficial amd there were both instalust (fine) and instalove (not fine for me). There are some sex scenes but most of them are not described in details.
I have also to agree with what another reviewer wrote: all the female mc are damsels in distress and are forced to relie on a man to protect them (they are not dormats but have no power). The hero has to save the heroine from being murdered in all of the stories and the mcs always find themselves obliged to live toghether, and the hero always has all the power (they are in his home and the heroine is forbidden to leave).
This is probably to be expected but the hero is also much older then the heroine (but young because: magic).
So I did not love these stories but they were pleasant enough for me to keep reading. The author managed to write such compelling first sentences/chapters that keep reading one novella after the other was a no brainer.
Each story had the particular atmosphere of the specie of the male lead (1. Sorcerer 2. Vampire 3. Werewolf) while being in a cohesive world/city. The author introduced seemesly the mc of the next book in each novella and made them interesting.
I really appreciated that the den of the werewolves was actually underground.
CW for mention of previous sexual assault and forced vampiric feeding that read like rape.
Last warning: Zoe Winters writes erotica under the name Kitty Thomas. DO NOT read her erotica of you are not into erotica that is non-con and abuse and that has zero romance.
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual assault
see_sadie_read's review against another edition
2.0
While the writing was passable (though the editing could use a little attention) what the author considers a satisfying romance differs significantly from mine. In fact, I'm fairly sure they're diametric opposites. As a result, I hated the female leads in each of these stories and was wholly disgusted by the situations the author placed them in to be rescued by the heroes. They're all victims who can't seem to control their own impulses. These are the sort of 'romances' I think do nothing more than support an abusive romanticisation of patriarchal norms and expectations, i.e. normalizes control and subjugation of women. Yuck. To each their own, of course, but not at all for me. I've gone ahead and written individual reviews for Kept, Claimed and Mated.
Kept 1✮
Claimed 2✮
Mated 2.5✮
1+2+2.5=5.5÷3=1.83
Kept 1✮
Claimed 2✮
Mated 2.5✮
1+2+2.5=5.5÷3=1.83