Review: The Longest Night - Alyxandra Harvey

Since the Blood Moon battle six years ago, Lucy, and her hot vampire boyfriend Nicholas Drake, have kept the peace between the vampires of Violet Hill and the Helios-Ra hunters. But breaking up fights between rogue hunter Aggie and irresistible rebel Callahan is proving a big challenge; Aggie just can't accept that behind Cal's burning blue eyes, he is in control of his bloodlust. As Lucy's best friend and Nicholas's sister, Solange, return home for the group's Winter Solstice celebrations, Aggie struggles to admit the real reason she finds Cal a threat – and risks far more than her heart . . .

An action-packed tale of dark romance from the author of the bestselling Drake Chronicles series. The perfect way for fans of Stephenie Meyer, L.J. Smith and Rachel Caine to enjoy the long winter nights.

The Drake Chronicles:
Corsets and Crossbows (Novella)
Lost Girls (Novella included in the UK paperback of Blood Moon)
My Love Lies Bleeding (released in the US with the title Hearts at Stake)
Blood Feud
Out for Blood
A Killer First Date (Novella)
Bleeding Hearts
A Field Guide to Vampires: Annotated by Lucy Hamilton (Novella)
Blood Moon
Sound and Fury (Novella included in the UK paperback of Blood Prophecy)
Blood Prophecy
A Tithe of Blood and Ashes (Novella)
The Longest Night (Novella)

Visit Alyxandra Harvey's website for more information

Review:
The Longest Night is a short novella that is set about 6 years on from events in Blood Prophecy and it was absolutely fantastic to catch up with a 23 year old Lucy now she's out of school and doing her own thing.

Never one to settle for an easy life Lucy and Nicholas have opened up their home to take in troubled teenagers, both Helios-Ra and vampires alike. They have spent the last few years building cooperation between the vampires and the Helios-Ra but there will always be some who don't want to abide by the truce and those are the teenagers that Lucy is determined to help no matter how difficult they make her job. One particular teenager is really giving her grief - Aggie is a young girl who lost the sister who raised her in the Blood Moon massacre. She finds it impossible to trust any vampire and is convinced that they are all evil monsters who are just waiting for any chance to attack and she's more than willing to hurt them before they get a chance. Can Lucy persuade her that some vampires are good and sometimes it's the humans who are the monsters?

I loved getting the chance to catch up with older versions of Lucy and Nicholas along with some of the other characters like Solange, Kieran, Hunter and Quinn. I have to admit I wasn't so sure about the newer characters to start with though, Aggie in particular irritated me to start with but she really grows up throughout the story and I liked her by the end. I do think that the events in Blood Prophecy would have a long term effect on all the people who were caught on the sidelines so I enjoyed seeing that side of things explored. It made me sad that there was still so much bad blood between the Helios-Ra and the Drakes though, I had hoped the hunters would have learned their lesson and moved forward a little more.

The Longest Night was a nice addition to the series though, it's not a good place to start if you haven't read the books but if, like me, you're missing the Drakes and looking for another fix then I'm sure you'll enjoy it as much as I did.

Source: Purchased

Other Reviews:
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Kindle:

Review: A Tithe of Blood and Ashes - Alyxandra Harvey

Lucy has survived her vampire best friend's mysterious illness, her first term at the Helios-Ra vampire hunting academy, dating one of the Drake brothers, and an all out vampire-human war.

She considers herself lucky.

But what if something - or someone - else is behind it?

The Drake Chronicles:
Corsets and Crossbows (Novella)
Lost Girls (Novella included in the UK paperback of Blood Moon)
My Love Lies Bleeding (released in the US with the title Hearts at Stake)
Blood Feud
Out for Blood
A Killer First Date (Novella)
Bleeding Hearts
A Field Guide to Vampires: Annotated by Lucy Hamilton (Novella)
Blood Moon
Sound and Fury (Novella included in the UK paperback of Blood Prophecy)
Blood Prophecy
A Tithe of Blood and Ashes (Novella)
The Longest Night (Novella)

Visit Alyxandra Harvey's website for more information

Review:
I love these little novellas that Alyxandra Harvey has written allowing us to revisit the characters from her Drake Chronicles series. Lucy has always been a particular favourite character of mine so I will devour any book or story written from her point of view. A Tithe of Blood and Ashes is set about 2 months on from events in Blood Prophecy so this story will contain spoilers if you're not completely up to date with all the full length novels in the series but it's well worth picking up if you're a fan of this world.

Lucy is in the middle of her exams and more than a little stressed out but things are about to get worse when she discovers she has suddenly become a homing beacon for every Hel-Blar vampire in the area. What she can't work out is why they are being drawn to her and nobody else. Something strange is going on and Lucy won't stop until she's figured out exactly what is going on - and why her parents are keeping secrets from her.

This may only be a short story (around 50 pages) but it has everything I've come to expect from this series, Lucy's trademark snark and sarcasm, plenty of action, the hot Drake brothers (Nicholas in particular!) and of course the Helios-Ra members who are all too ready to fight any vampire, not just the bad ones. I don't want to say too much about the story because it's far to easy to give spoilers for such a short novella but this is a fun read and one I'd definitely recommend to fans of the series.

Source: Purchased

Other Reviews:
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Kindle:

Review: Blood Prophecy + Sound and Fury - Alyxandra Harvey

'It is done.'
She bowed in my direction. 'Hail the queen.'
I cringed, holding the bloody crown in my hands.

Solange Drake will deny her birthright; she will not be queen as vampire tradition dictates. But change always comes at a cost . . .

Consumed by visions, Solange commits heinous crimes against the vampire tribes. Trust is broken and the treaty between the Drakes and the Helios-Ra is threatened. To fight for the fate of the royal crown - and win - Solange must find the strength to unfold time and memory and free herself from the mind of a vengeful twelfth-century witch.

Her destiny, and her heart, depends on it.

The Drake Chronicles:
Corsets and Crossbows (Novella)
Lost Girls (Novella included in the UK paperback of Blood Moon)
My Love Lies Bleeding (released in the US with the title Hearts at Stake)
Blood Feud
Out for Blood
A Killer First Date (Novella)
Bleeding Hearts
A Field Guide to Vampires: Annotated by Lucy Hamilton (Novella)
Blood Moon
Sound and Fury (Novella included in the UK paperback of Blood Prophecy)
Blood Prophecy
A Tithe of Blood and Ashes (Novella)
The Longest Night (Novella)

Visit Alyxandra Harvey's website for more information

Review:
Blood Prophecy is the 6th and final book in the Drake Chronicles series so please be aware that although I won't include spoilers for this book I will be mentioning events from the previous 5 stories. If you're not up to date with the series then you probably shouldn't continue reading so I'll just say that this is a fabulous conclusion to one of my favourite series and I'd highly recommend giving it a try if you haven't already. I love the humour and sense of family loyalty throughout the series and I dare anyone not to swoon over at least one of the Drake brothers! I have to admit that I was nervous about picking up Blood Prophecy, not so much because I didn't think I'd enjoy it (I've yet to come across something written by Alyxandra Harvey that I haven't liked) but because I didn't want the series to end. I have thoroughly enjoyed my adventures with the Drake family and I didn't want to reach the end of the journey. As much as I'm sad that it's over I would prefer to have a series go out on a high than drag on until I'm bored with it so I think it's ended at a good point and it left me feeling satisfied with the outcome.

The story picks up straight after the ending of Blood Moon and is told from the perspectives of both Lucy and Solange with occasional chapters narrated from previous heroines Christabel, Hunter and Isabeau. The Drake family are still reeling from Solange's actions at the end of the last book, they still can't quite believe that Solange took the crown from her mother and has banned the entire family from the Blood Moon ceremonies. They believe that Solange is suffering from blood lust but Lucy is the only one who recognises that something much worse is at play, she knows her best friend better than she knows herself and there is no way Solange would have acted in the way she did of her own volition. Lucy has a theory about what is going on but she must convince the rest of Solange's family that she is correct and then they have to try and figure out a way to help her. At the same time Dawn is still causing trouble trying to set the Helios-Ra and the Drake family against each other and hoping to cause widespread panic by letting the human population learn about the existence of vampires. The Drakes have their work cut out if they are going to keep things together but Solange is also fighting the battle of her life, one that could cost her everything if she loses.

Lucy has always been my favourite character in this series and that hasn't changed, I love her friendship with Solange and her relationship with Nicholas but most of all I love the way she refuses to take a back seat just because she is human. She knows being human puts her at a disadvantage physically but that doesn't stop her training her butt off so that she can fight for those she cares about. I had found myself a little mystified at the changes in Solange in the last book so it was good to uncover the reason behind her attitude. In this instalment she is much more like her old self but she really doesn't have it easy trying to fight an enemy that she can't even see. I enjoyed her part of the story much more this time around and I was impressed with how much her character has grown from the very beginning of the series. I don't really know what else I can say about Blood Prophecy without giving spoilers so I'm just going to tell you that fans of the series won't be disappointed. This book has everything that you'd expect from the series and is an action packed and explosive finale that you won't want to miss out on.

The UK paperback also includes the Sound and Fury novella as an added extra. This story fits into the time line just before Blood Prophecy starts and gives Solange's older brother Duncan his chance to shine. It's a fairly short story at around 30 pages but it was action packed and hinted at a future romance between Duncan and new vampire Sky. It's a cute little story and it was nice to get to know Duncan a little better. I really wish we'd been able to spend more time with him and some of the other older Drake brothers throughout the series so I'm hoping that Alyxandra Harvey will revisit them in the future either as part of a spin off series or just through a series of novellas.

Source: Received from Bloomsbury in exchange for an honest review

Other Reviews:
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Paperback / Kindle:

Review: Blood Moon & Lost Girls - Alyxandra Harvey

'I can still taste his blood, Lucy. I can smell it everywhere. It's in the grass, in the air, on me. I'm not safe.'

When the vampire tribes convene for the rare Blood Moon ceremonies, Solange Drake is plunged into a battle with her feral nature. The Drake brothers have been raised knowing they had to protect their younger sister at all cost. But forbidden magic and a mysterious stranger have put all of them in terrible danger. Nicholas is going to have to make a difficult choice: between his girlfriend, Lucy, and his little sister, Solange - blood, or love?

The Drake Chronicles:
Corsets and Crossbows (Novella)
Lost Girls (Novella included in the UK paperback of Blood Moon)
My Love Lies Bleeding (released in the US with the title Hearts at Stake)
Blood Feud
Out for Blood
A Killer First Date (Novella)
Bleeding Hearts
A Field Guide to Vampires: Annotated by Lucy Hamilton (Novella)
Blood Moon
Sound and Fury (Novella included in the UK paperback of Blood Prophecy)
Blood Prophecy
A Tithe of Blood and Ashes (Novella)
The Longest Night (Novella)

Visit Alyxandra Harvey's website for more information

Review:
This is the 5th book in the Drake Chronicles so please be aware that this review will contain spoilers for previous books. Blood Moon is another fab instalment to a series I love though so if you haven't started it yet grab a copy of My Love Lies Bleeding (called Hearts at Stake in the US) now. If you're not up to date with the series then you should stop reading this review now so you don't pick up spoilers.

Anyone who read Bleeding Hearts was probably as shocked by Solange's behaviour as I was, she was acting very out of character and the ending left me really concerned about her. In Blood Moon she continues to do the unexpected and there were actually times where I found myself not liking the new Solange at all. I'm glad to say that there are reasons for what is happening though, I'm not going to say what or why but by the time you reach the end of the book you'll have a lot of answers. You'll also be left with questions though and this cliffhanger ending was just as bad as the last one! It really is going to be a long wait until the next book.

One of my favourite couples in this series has always been Lucy and Nicholas so it was great that they get to play such a big part of this book. The story is narrated by them as well as Solange but it was by far their parts that I enjoyed the most. Lucy never fails to make me laugh out loud and I just love any scene that contains both her and Nicholas in it. Watching Lucy try to adjust to life at the Helios-Ra school is quite amusing, she has never been one to do what she is told so she finds the strict rules hard to stick to. After the way Solange treated her in the last book I wouldn't have blamed Lucy if she had given up on her friend but Lucy proves her loyalty again and again in this book. She is incredibly worried about Solange and she cares a lot about all of the Drakes so she is determined to get to the bottom of what is going on.

Nicholas finds himself in an incredibly difficult situation as he has to make choices between his baby sister and his girlfriend. Loyalty is tested all around and things will never be quite the same amongst the Drake family after the latest events. I really have no idea how Alyxandra Harvey will resolve things in the next book but I can't wait to find out! Fans of the series will love Blood Moon, it has everything you'd expect from these books - humour, action, romance, family bonds and loyalty.

As an extra bonus the UK paperback includes the Lost Girls novella which tells the story of how Liam and Helena first met. I don't want to say much about the story because it would be too easy to give spoilers but I really enjoyed getting to see them both before they married and had the children. It's easy to see them just as parents in the rest of the series and not think about the lives they had before they met so I liked this extra side to them. It was also great to get a better idea of how and why Helena became the kick ass mum that she is now.

Source: Received from Bloomsbury in exchange for an honest review

Other Reviews:
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Paperback / Kindle:

Quick Review: A Field Guide to Vampires: Annotated by Lucy Hamilton - Alyxandra Harvey

Every new recruit to the Helios-Ra Society is issued this guidebook, with secrets to the inner workings of the League the vampires they are hunting. But when new recruit Lucy Hamilton gets her hands on a copy, she can’t contain her inner snark-especially because she has first-hand knowledge of the various vampire societies that sometimes contradicts the conventional wisdom of her new academy.

The Drake Chronicles:
Corsets and Crossbows (Novella)
Lost Girls (Novella included in the UK paperback of Blood Moon)
My Love Lies Bleeding (released in the US with the title Hearts at Stake)
Blood Feud
Out for Blood
A Killer First Date (Novella)
Bleeding Hearts
A Field Guide to Vampires: Annotated by Lucy Hamilton (Novella)
Blood Moon
Sound and Fury (Novella included in the UK paperback of Blood Prophecy)
Blood Prophecy
A Tithe of Blood and Ashes (Novella)
The Longest Night (Novella)

Visit Alyxandra Harvey's website for more information

Review:
Alyxandra Harvey has recently written several novellas to go along with her Drake Chronicles series, they are all quick reads and available for a reasonable price via Amazon for the kindle. If you don't have a kindle there are options to read the story on your computer or through various apps for other devices.

A Field Guide to Vampires: Annotated by Lucy Hamilton is the guidebook given to all new members of the Helios-Ra but with added snarky comments from Lucy. It does contain minor spoilers for the rest of the series so I wouldn't recommend reading it until after the 4th book (Bleeding Hearts).

The guide includes everything that the Helios-Ra know (or think they know) about the different vampire groups and the Drake family. It also gives you some interesting snippets of the Helios-Ra history and information about some of the most famous vampire hunters since the society was first formed. Considering this is Lucy's personal copy of the guide she obviously hasn't been able to resist adding her own sarcastic comments and I'm sure any Lucy fan will enjoy reading them. Although I enjoyed reading this I have to admit that it was shorter than I expected it to be, I would have liked it to have been longer and had expected to see more of Lucy's comments. It was still a fun read though and worth picking up if you're a major fan of the series.

Source: Purchased

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Quick Review: Corsets and Crossbows - Alyxandra Harvey

Rosalind Wild thinks it's time for the Helios-Ra to give full membership and recognition to the female descendants of the society-after all, it is 1816 and it's time to make room for new traditions. When Rosalind interrupts a plot to assassinate the leader of the Helios-Ra, she sees an opportunity to prove her worth. But she never expected the assassin to be someone so irresistible, and off-limits. Written as a series of letters to a close confidante, this exciting e-novella gives a glimpse of the early days of the vampire hunting society as seen through the eyes of Hunter Wild's feisty ancestor.

The Drake Chronicles:
Corsets and Crossbows (Novella)
Lost Girls (Novella included in the UK paperback of Blood Moon)
My Love Lies Bleeding (released in the US with the title Hearts at Stake)
Blood Feud
Out for Blood
A Killer First Date (Novella)
Bleeding Hearts
A Field Guide to Vampires: Annotated by Lucy Hamilton (Novella)
Blood Moon
Sound and Fury (Novella included in the UK paperback of Blood Prophecy)
Blood Prophecy
A Tithe of Blood and Ashes (Novella)
The Longest Night (Novella)

Visit Alyxandra Harvey's website for more information

Review:
Alyxandra Harvey has recently written several novellas to go along with her Drake Chronicles series, they are all quick reads and available for a reasonable price via Amazon for the kindle. If you don't have a kindle there are options to read the story on your computer or through various apps for other devices.

Corsets and Crossbows is set in the early 1800's so can be read as a prequel to the series or at any other time because it contains no spoilers for the main storyline. The story is told using a series of letters from one of the first female members of the Helios-Ra; Rosalind Wild, to her friend Evangeline. Rosalind wants nothing more than to prove that women can be as good at vampire hunting as men are but although she has been allowed to join the Helios-Ra she hasn't exactly been welcomed with open arms. When she uncovers a plot to assassinate their leader she sees it as the ideal way to prove her worth.

This is an enjoyable quick read and has the same humour to it that the Drake Chronicles books do. Although there is no crossover of characters from the rest of the series it was nice to see a glimpse of Helios-Ra history. Rosalind is an ancestor of Hunter's and it shows that her family has always contained it's fair share of spunky women - you can see where Hunter gets it from! I'd recommend this for any fan of the series.

Source: Purchased

Other Reviews:
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Quick Review: A Killer First Date - Alyxandra Harvey

Nicholas and Lucy have known each other for most of their lives, but now that they've finally admitted their feelings for each other, Nicholas wants to take her on their official first date-away from all the life-and-death drama that has surrounded them lately. Is it too much to ask for just a fun double date at the local carnival with his older brother, Quinn, and Quinn's new girlfriend, Hunter?

The Drake Chronicles:
Corsets and Crossbows (Novella)
Lost Girls (Novella included in the UK paperback of Blood Moon)
My Love Lies Bleeding (released in the US with the title Hearts at Stake)
Blood Feud
Out for Blood
A Killer First Date (Novella)
Bleeding Hearts
A Field Guide to Vampires: Annotated by Lucy Hamilton (Novella)
Blood Moon
Sound and Fury (Novella included in the UK paperback of Blood Prophecy)
Blood Prophecy
A Tithe of Blood and Ashes (Novella)
The Longest Night (Novella)

Visit Alyxandra Harvey's website for more information

Review:
It's no secret that I love Alyxandra Harvey's Drake Chronicles series, these books are just so much fun to read and always have me laughing out loud all the way through! So when I spotted this short story for just 65p on Amazon UK for the Kindle I bought it without even reading the description.

Lucy has been my favourite character ever since the first book - I love her snarky sense of humour and the fact that she is so fearless despite being the only human hanging out with the Drake family - so I was delighted when I realised that this is the story of her first official date with Nicholas. A Killer First Date fits into the series between Out for Blood and Bleeding Hearts and is told from both Lucy and Hunter's points of view as they go on a double date with their respective Drake brothers. Hunter is fast becoming another favourite character in the series and I would have a hard time picking between Nicholas and Quinn so I really enjoyed getting another glimpse of their lives now they are couples.

Although I wouldn't recommend reading this story before Out for Blood you won't be missing out on anything if you decide not to read it at all as it doesn't contain anything important to the series story arc. However I'm happy to recommend the story to fans because it contains everything you'd expect from Alyxandra Harvey. You get humour, action and kissing scenes with characters you love wrapped up in a short story that can easily be read when you don't have much time to spare. It's helped tide me over while I wait for Blood Moon to be released in June!

Source: Purchased

Other Reviews:
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Review: Bleeding Hearts - Alyxandra Harvey

It's not easy being the new girl in town, and Christabel Llewellyn is certainly that.  She's new to Violet Hill, new to country life, and new to vampires.  Which, considering she's Lucy Hamilton's cousin, is going to prove problematic . . . Lucy's boyfriend is one of the Drake brothers, her best friend is a Drake princess, and all of the Drakes are vampires.

But they aren't the only undead to reside in Violet Hill.  The town is infested with a very different and entirely more dangerous type of feral vampire, the Hel-Blar.  And when Christabel is kidnapped by their leader and held to ransom, the Drakes are forced into action.

The Drake Chronicles:
Corsets and Crossbows (Novella)
Lost Girls (Novella included in the UK paperback of Blood Moon)
My Love Lies Bleeding (released in the US with the title Hearts at Stake)
Blood Feud
Out for Blood
A Killer First Date (Novella)
Bleeding Hearts
A Field Guide to Vampires: Annotated by Lucy Hamilton (Novella)
Blood Moon
Sound and Fury (Novella included in the UK paperback of Blood Prophecy)
Blood Prophecy
A Tithe of Blood and Ashes (Novella)
The Longest Night (Novella)

Visit Alyxandra Harvey's website for more information

Review:
Christabel has moved to Violet Hill while her Mum is in rehab and is staying with her cousin Lucy.  She is used to city life and can't understand why her aunt and uncle are so obsessed with curfews and not letting the girls out after dark - surely life in a small hippie community can't be that dangerous? Of course Christabel has no idea about the Hel-Blar vampires that are currently causing havoc in the area, she doesn't even know vampires exist. Lucy is working hard to keep the Drake family's secrets but when Christabel is kidnapped she gets thrown into the vampire world at the deep end. The question is can the Drakes save Christabel from the Hel-Blar who have taken her?

This really is turning into one of my favourite YA vampire series, each book is so much fun to read and they always make me laugh out loud.  Add in the gorgeous Drake brothers and I'm completely hooked! Bleeding Hearts is the fourth book in the series so this review may contain minor spoilers for earlier books. If you're new to the series then I'd strongly recommend starting with the first book My Love Lies Bleeding (or Hearts at Stake if you're in the US) but it's a series you definitely want to be reading. Whether you're a vampire fan or not if you like fun stories with strong characters and a great sense of humour you'll love this series.

Each time I pick up one of these books I change my mind about which brother is my favourite and this was no exception - after all who doesn't love a geeky guy like Connor? Let's face it as a book blogger I'm a bit of a geek myself so Connor definitely did it for me. Connor is used to having people underestimate him because of his geeky status but he is much stronger than they realise "People always assumed I was weak and socially awkward because I liked comics and computers. I used it against them all the time." He may not be a ladies man like his twin brother Quinn but that's more because he hasn't found a girl he is interested in than because the girls aren't interested in him. Connor has the Drake brother good looks, he's charming in an understated way and he has the fighting skills he needs to protect those he cares about.

Christabel is even more book obsessed than I am which is saying something. She spends her whole life with her head buried in one of the classics or quoting poetry that she has memorised and I think any book crazy girl will be able to relate to her. I loved the way she stood up for herself against the school bully (you can tell she's related to Lucy!) but I also liked the fact that she wasn't quite as kick ass as the other heroines from this series. She hasn't grown up in a world of vampires learning to defend herself so it would have been unrealistic if she'd taken to using stakes too quickly. That doesn't mean she sits around waiting to be saved, she does her best but doesn't instantly become a perfect fighter.

I have to admit what I loved most about the story was that we get to read some of it from Lucy's point of view again. She has been my favourite character since the first book and it was great that she had a bigger part to play in this book. Spending more time with her and Nicholas reminded me just how great a couple they are and it was also good to see more of Hunter and the Helios-Ra. While I enjoyed the romance between Connor and Christabel it was the action that had me on the edge of my seat. There were times I was genuinely concerned for the safety of more than one of the characters and I'm not going to confirm if they all make it to the end of the book or not - you'll have to read it for yourself to find out! I will say that the story ends on a killer cliffhanger though and I'm desperate to get my hands on Blood Moon - luckily it is published in the UK in June so there isn't too much longer to wait!

Source: Received from Bloomsbury in exchange for an honest review

Other Reviews:
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Review: Out for Blood - Alyxandra Harvey

"Tell me about the Drake brothers.  Are they as yummy as everyone says?"
"Totally."  I didn't even have to think about that one.  "It was like being in a room full of Johnny Depps."

Hunter Wild, vampire hunter and star pupil at a top secret slayer academy, has a crush on a guy called Quinn.  He's tall, dark and very handsome.  He's also a vampire, and one of the infamous Drake brothers at that.

As if forbidden love wasn't bad enough, something strange is also happening at the Helios-Ra academy. Vampire attacks are increasing, students are mysteriously falling ill and the teachers seem completely clueless.  It's up to Hunter and her friends to put things right . . . that is, if she can get a certain immortal out of her head long enough to think about anything else.

The Drake Chronicles:
Corsets and Crossbows (Novella)
Lost Girls (Novella included in the UK paperback of Blood Moon)
My Love Lies Bleeding (released in the US with the title Hearts at Stake)
Blood Feud
Out for Blood
A Killer First Date (Novella)
Bleeding Hearts
A Field Guide to Vampires: Annotated by Lucy Hamilton (Novella)
Blood Moon
Sound and Fury (Novella included in the UK paperback of Blood Prophecy)
Blood Prophecy
A Tithe of Blood and Ashes (Novella)
The Longest Night (Novella)

Visit Alyxandra Harvey's website for more information

Review:
Hunter comes from a long line of vampire hunters and is one of the star pupils at the Helios-Ra Academy.  Her friendship with Kieran has recently brought her into contact with the Drake family and for the first time she is questioning the Helios-Ra ethos that all vampires are evil and should be destroyed.  Back at the Academy students are suffering from a mysterious illness and Hel-Blar attacks are on the increase.  Hunter is convinced there is something suspicious going on but who can she trust to help her get to the truth?  If she can't trust the other hunters can she really trust a vampire to help her get to the bottom of things?  Does she have any other choice?

It's no secret that I really enjoyed the first two books in the Drake Chronicles series so I couldn't wait to pick up Out for Blood.  This series really does get better with every book as Alyxandra Harvey continually steps things up a gear.  If you're new to the series then I'd highly recommend reading the books in order starting with My Love Lies Bleeding (or Hearts at Stake as it is called in the US) so you don't miss out on the ongoing plot threads.  This is a fabulous series though and one I'd definitely recommend reading!

What can I say about Out for Blood apart from move over Logan and Nicholas I have a new favourite Drake brother in Quinn!  I have to confess I didn't think I'd fall for Quinn as hard as I did, he's a bit of a ladies man and a player which isn't something I would usually go for in a guy but you can easily see why Quinn is such a hit with the girls because there is definitely something irresistible about him.  I loved seeing the tables turned on him, he is used to having girls fall at his feet not falling himself so it was fun to see his reaction to Hunter and his new found feelings.  Hunter was one of my favourite heroines in the series, she is a kick butt warrior who can protect herself and her friends and I love how she stands up to Quinn.  It was also fantastic to learn more about the Helios-Ra from an insider's point of view and I hope we get to see more of her friends from the Academy.

The banter is one of the best things about this series - the banter between each couple but particularly between the Drake family and each of the brothers.  You can feel the love this family has for each other and I really enjoy reading about a happy, supportive family for a change.  It's great that although the focus is on Hunter and Drake we still get to see how the previous couples are getting on.  Lucy still steals the show for every scene she appears in though, I can't get enough of her and Nicholas and she never fails to make me laugh out loud!  As usual for this series there is also plenty of action and a plot that will keep you turning the pages as quickly as possible.  If you're a fan of the series and haven't read this instalment yet what are you waiting for?  Go out and grab your copy now!

Source: Received from Bloomsbury in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Blood Feud - Alyxandra Harvey

'Conversation halted abruptly.
They all turned to stare at us as if we were poisonous mushrooms suddenly growing in a manicured garden.  They were pale and perfect, with gleaming teeth and hard eyes.'

It's been centuries since Isabeau St. Croix survived the French Revolution.  Now she's made her way back to the living, and must face the ultimate test by confronting the evil British lord who turned her into a vampire and left her buried for two hundred years.  That's if she can control her affection for Logan Drake, a vampire whose bite is as sweet as the revenge she seeks.

The Drake Chronicles:
Corsets and Crossbows (Novella)
Lost Girls (Novella included in the UK paperback of Blood Moon)
My Love Lies Bleeding (released in the US with the title Hearts at Stake)
Blood Feud
Out for Blood
A Killer First Date (Novella)
Bleeding Hearts
A Field Guide to Vampires: Annotated by Lucy Hamilton (Novella)
Blood Moon
Sound and Fury (Novella included in the UK paperback of Blood Prophecy)
Blood Prophecy
A Tithe of Blood and Ashes (Novella)
The Longest Night (Novella)

Visit Alyxandra Harvey's website for more information

Review:

I really enjoyed My Love Lies Bleeding (released in the US as Hearts at Stake) so I was looking forward to Blood Feud and Alyxandra Harvey didn't disappoint me.  Instead of continuing the story from Lucy and Solange's perspectives in this installment our narrators are Logan and Isabeau but the time line picks up just after the ending of the first book and we get to find out what is happening with all of our favourite characters.  We already know Logan as the second youngest of the seven Drake brothers and Isabeau was briefly in the first book when she saved Solange's life but it was great to get to know them both better.  I loved the fact that we still got to see plenty of Lucy and Nicholas though - I absolutely love them both and the banter between them was just as good in this installment.  We didn't see as much of Solange and Kieran as I would have liked but if you're trying to focus on too many characters at the same time you often lose focus on the new romance so I'm glad that didn't happen.

Logan didn't quite top Nicholas to become my new favourite Drake brother but he's a close runner up and I did really like him.  His old fashioned values and gentlemanly manners were really sweet and I loved the way he was confident enough to wear old fashioned clothes and show his own sense of style.  We didn't really know much about Isabeau before, she is the Princess of the Hounds and I found it really interesting to find out more about their way of life and the magical abilities they were able to tap into.  Alyxandra Harvey has created a really unique mythology around the different types of vampires in her world and it's something I'm looking forward to seeing more of as the series continues.  Isabeau has suffered a lot and she is determined to get revenge on the one who turned her into a vampire.  I loved the way we get to see flash backs to her past and as you learn what she went through during the French Revolution it is easy to see why she is so wary of everyone now.  She doesn't want to admit her feelings for Logan but he manages to creep his way into her affections even when she is determined to keep him out.

Alongside the romance Blood Feud also has plenty of action.  There are so many different things going on as the Drake family try to deal with the aftermath of the end of the first book (sorry if that sounds vague but I don't want to spoil My Love Lies Bleeding for you if you haven't read it yet), they are trying to sign a treaty with the Hounds and Montmartre is still determined to get his hands on both Solange and the crown.  This really is a great installment to the series and I can't wait to pick up Out For Blood, I love the banter between the Drake siblings and can't wait to get to know Quinn better!  If you're looking for a fun, action packed and romantic read then you can't go far wrong with this series and it's one I would definitely recommend.

Source: Received from Bloomsbury in exchange for an honest review

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Review: My Love Lies Bleeding - Alyxandra Harvey

"They're close," she murmured. "Watching."
"Run?" I suggested.  "Like right now?"
She shook her head.
"If we act like prey, they'll act like predators."

Solange has always known she is a vampire.  And as the only female vampire ever born, not initiated, she is surrounded by danger on all sides - from other vampire tribes who want to take her blood into their lineage, and from the bounty hunters who are set on destroying her and her family.

When she is kidnapped, it's up to her elder brother, Nicholas, and best friend, Lucy, to save her.  But can Lucy save herself from Nicholas, who tempts her with every look - and what will be her own fate if she surrenders her heart to a vampire?

The Drake Chronicles:
Corsets and Crossbows (Novella)
Lost Girls (Novella included in the UK paperback of Blood Moon)
My Love Lies Bleeding (released in the US with the title Hearts at Stake)
Blood Feud
Out for Blood
A Killer First Date (Novella)
Bleeding Hearts
A Field Guide to Vampires: Annotated by Lucy Hamilton (Novella)
Blood Moon
Sound and Fury (Novella included in the UK paperback of Blood Prophecy)
Blood Prophecy
A Tithe of Blood and Ashes (Novella)
The Longest Night (Novella)

Visit Alyxandra Harvey's website for more information

Review:

Solange is the first female vampire to be born in 900 years and because of an ancient prophecy she is surrounded by enemies.  It is believed that she is the one who can unite the various different vampire clans but the last thing she wants is to become queen and there are plenty of people out there who will do anything to stop that happening.  Her best friend Lucy is human but has known Solange and her family since they were children so is aware of the existence of vampires.  When Solange is kidnapped Lucy is determined to save her friend but she is going to need the help of Solange's brothers to have a chance at succeeding.

I've been wanting to start this series for a long time now but for some reason never quite got around to it, I don't know why it took me so long but I have to say I'm glad I didn't put it off any longer.  My Love Lies Bleeding (called Hearts at Stake in the US) was a great start to the series and I'm really looking forward to reading more about these characters.  Alyxandra Harvey has created a detailed vampire mythology with several different factions all working against each other.  I would have loved the book to have been longer so she could have given us more information about the world but there was enough to keep me interested without overloading me with the world building.  That can be a difficult balancing act at the start of a new series!

Without a doubt my favourite characters were Lucy and Nicholas.  As a human Lucy has less physical strength than her vampire friends but she has an inner strength that shines through, she is smart and witty and I loved her interactions with Solange and her brothers.  Nicholas was great and I loved the romance that develops between the two of them, they have known each other for years and you get a real sense of that in the banter between them.  Scenes with the two of them made me laugh and I couldn't get enough of them.  Although I liked Solange I didn't feel as invested in her relationship with Kieran, things developed a little too quickly between them and I could have done with more page time given to them as a couple.  Hopefully we'll get to see more of both couples as the series continues.

The family dynamics were great, Solange has seven protective older brothers and often felt smothered by them.  As much as she understood they were trying to keep her safe I could relate to her need for more freedom.  The interactions between the brothers were fun and it'll be good to get to know them all better in future books. 

My only complaint with My Love Lies Bleeding was that I wanted it to be longer, Alyxandra Harvey could have doubled the page count and I'd have been perfectly happy spending more time with Solange and Lucy.  Having said that it did mean that it was a light hearted, easy read and it was one that I really enjoyed.  The next 3 books are already available and I can't wait to continue the journey.

Source: Received from Bloomsbury in exchange for an honest review

Other Reviews:

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