Blood Feud Review & Two Contests

Blood Feud

by Alyxandra Harvey

pub: 6/22/10 - Bloomsbury

Teen Fiction

Summary:

The action and romance continue as the Drakes face a new vampire with a 200-year-old grudge. It’s been centuries since Isabeau St. Croix barely survived the French Revolution. Now she’s made her way back to the living and she must face the ultimate test by confronting the evil British lord who left her for dead the day she turned into a vampire. That’s if she can control her affection for Logan Drake, a vampire whose bite is as sweet as the revenge she seeks.

The clans are gathering for Helena’s royal coronation as the next vampire queen, and new alliances are beginning to form now that the old rifts of Lady Natasha’s reign have started to heal. But with a new common enemy, Leander Montmarte—a vicious leader who hopes to force Solange to marry him and usurp the power of the throne for himself—the clans must stand together to preserve the peace he threatens to destroy. 

I enjoyed Alyxandra Harvey's first book in the Drake Family Chronicles, Hearts at Stake (see my review) and always worry that a sequel won't live up to expectations. But once again, Harvey has delivered a fast-paced fun romp full of interesting characters that make you laugh, and a plot that keeps you on the edge of your seat. 

Logan is one of the gorgeous Drake brothers who likes dressing up in vintage clothing - frock coats, frilly lace-cuffed shirts - looking like a dashing character from a romance novel. Along comes Isabeau who just happens to be from times of the French Revolution and been locked up in a coffin for a few hundred years since she was turned at the ripe old age of eighteen.

She's a hard case and a very sympathetic character. Her life as a French aristocrat came crashing down when her parents were guillotined during the Revolution and she is left to fend for herself on the streets posing as a young boy. She becomes adept at stealing and gets enough for a trip to England where she is taken in by her aunt and uncle. Just as she gets back to the good life and is enjoying her coming out ball, the nefarious Greyhaven turns her into a vamp and shoves her underground without a second thought.

Hundreds of years later she is rescued by the Hounds, a rather wild vamp clan that is big on magic. The lady in charge takes her under her wing and then sends Isabeau as her ambassador to forge an alliance with the Drake clan. Helena Drake became the new Queen of Vamps at the end of Hearts at Stake. 

The tale is told in alternating first person point of view between Logan and Isabeau, and then you get several third person chapters when Isabeau is reminiscing about her time in France.

The romance between Isabeau and Logan is entertaining. He's trying to win her over and she's determined not to like him. Typical push/pull thing but it's fun. I enjoy Harvey's snappy dialogue and you get lots of action.

Isabeau is a kick-butt fighter with a spiritual connection to dogs - I love her big hound, Charlemagne - and tough as nails, but Logan brings about her softer side. Logan is dashing, an adept fighter and also comes off as a bit of a goof at times, which just makes you love him more. 

Solange, Lucy, Nicholas and Kieran from the first book make brief appearances but it's fun when they show up. The Drake family is still tight-knit and loving - when they aren't snarking at each other. One gripe I have is that one of my favorite characters, Mama Drake, Helena, isn't in it enough. She is such a crazy, "Let's kill them all and ask questions later," kind of character, I really miss not having her around.

ROMANCE: Okay, so their romance is one of those "Instant in love, Destined to be Together" type of things and all happens very fast but, hey, I still enjoyed it. Call me sappy. There's kissing but no other sexual aspect happening so it's a very clean read. A few curse words but very minimal so I can recommend this to younger readers. 

BOTTOMLINE: This is a fun, light entertaining read full of swashbuckling action, snappy dialogue and all around good times. I know vamps are saturating the book market, but this one is a blast, and a good read for both younger and older teens.

 

THE COVER: I don't like it. I don't care for the models and it doesn't give me any sense of the fun action-packed romantic adventure that's inside the pages. Which is why - if you read further - you'll find a Re-Cover Lover Contest for those of you with the guts and talent to give it a go. 

The Author:

Alyxandra Harvey lives in a stone Victorian house in Ontario, Canada with a few resident ghosts who are allowed to stay as they keep company manners. She loves medieval dresses, used to be able to recite all of The Lady of Shalott by Tennyson, and has been accused, more than once, of being born in the wrong century. She believes this to be mostly true except for the fact that she really likes running water, women’s rights, and ice cream.

 

Alyxandra Harvey on the Web:

Website

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Email

 Re-Cover Lover Contest

We don't like the cover so here's your chance to show off your design talent. Re-do the cover art for Blood Feud! 

!!Fill Out This FORM to Enter!!

- The contest will run until June 27, 2010 Midnight PST -

- Depending on how many entries we receive, we'll either have a one-time voting or break it down into Rounds. We've never done this before so we'll play it by ear and keep you posted.  -

  - We won't be judging - we'll put up the entries and let everyone vote - 

 -The Winner will receive any book they like from Book Depository (or Amazon) up to $15 -

This is open to folks anywhere Book Depository ships

Win Blood Feud Today!

We have two copies of Blood Feud to giveaway TODAY!

!! Fill Out This FORM To Enter !!

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 -The Contest is only open for 24 hours - You must enter by Midnight PST 6/14/10 -

It's international

Winners will be announced tomorrow

Check in tomorrow for the next contest and...

From Sunday's Contest
Remember to enter to win goodies from the ABC Family hits, Pretty Little Liars and The Secret Life of the American Teenager.