Scan barcode
kathydavie's review against another edition
4.0
Third in the House of Comarré urban fantasy series revolving around Chrysabelle LaPointe and Mal set in an alternate Florida.
My Take
Whoa...there is a lot going on in this installment. The baby. The outing of the othernaturals to the city powers. What we learn in New Orleans. Chrysabelle's ordeals and the problems that crop up between her and Mal.
Oh man, I did enjoy Mal's response to the mayor. She did ask for it. She has no right to complain if she gets what she requests.
It was just too easy with the witches. Although, Doc did come up with a pretty creative way to evade the compulsion!
Oh, now the bit about why New Orleans---Ville Éternelle Nuit---is so attractive to vampires was an excellent inspiration! There is some mystery about Mortalis. Painter is hinting around with the comments from Mortalis and Loudreux. And Mortalis certainly has a point with his comment about "Taking bribes bothers you but assassinations are fine? So long as the greater good is served?". "As long as [Loudreux] doesn't get his hands dirty."
The Story
Creek's in trouble. He was found, covered in blood, holding the fake comarré. The mayor's daughter. With the world about to explode on Halloween and the threat of being thrust back into prison, Creek needs to relate the facts of this new world to Mayor Diaz-White. Facts she resists. Facts she uses against Creek.
Chrysabelle also has a problem. Only the Aurelian can tell her where to find her brother. The identity of her brother. But she can no longer reach her without the signum on her back. For that she needs Dominic's help. A help she must pay for with asylum. Then there's the sacred gold required to replace her missing signum. And Chrysabelle can only think of one source---the ring of sorrows. The same ring that is being held for ransom by the fae.
It seems the Preacher has a child. A half-human, half-vampire child whose blood will be desired by all: the witches, the vampires, Castus, the grandmother, and the Kubai Mata. And it's Doc's weakness to be whole again that makes it all possible.
The compact is broken. There is nothing to protect humans against the othernaturals. It could be worse. The bad guys could have the ring of sorrows.
The Characters
Chrysabelle LaPointe is no longer a comarré, technically, for she has been disavowed and stripped of the tattoos on her back. A woman bred for the deliciousness of her blood, schooled in how to please her master---as well as how to protect herself from anything. But she stepped outside the accepted boundaries and now she's paid a price. A price she will pay again to talk to the Aurelian, to find her brother. Velimai is a Wysper fae. She is mute and communicates with her hands, but her voice is a killer. She holds household for Chrysabelle.
Malkolm "Mal" Bourreau is anathema. Formerly a noble vampire, he has been struck down for his "impertinence". He has fallen in love with Chrysabelle and will do anything to help her survive, achieve her desires, even at the cost of his miserable existence. Thomas Creek is part of the Kubai Mata. Enhanced, he is tasked with killing demons and finding the ring of sorrows. A task at which he is failing. On purpose. Both Mal and Creek want Chrysabelle. Argent is a dragonshifter and Creek's boss in the Kubai Mata.
Maddoc "Doc" has regained his ability to shift into a panther after the witch Aliza helped Fiona come back to life (see Flesh and Blood). Fiona is one of Mal's victims who became a ghost and then returned to life with a solid body before being killed again. A spell from Aliza brought her back partially. Sinjin is the leader of Doc's old pride. The leader who threw Doc out. Seems he's had a much more sinister agenda. And at completely the wrong moment, Doc discovers Sinjin was married.
Dominic is a vampire who was declared anathema by his House for enticing Maris to invoke libertas; he has since become the owner of Seven and a drug lord. Atticus is a signumist, the artist who creates signum on comarré. Real and the fake. Mortalis is a shadeux fae who also works for Dominic. Amery is Mortalis' cousin and the driver he hires to convey their small party about New Orleans. A comarré and a comar, Saraphina and Damian, have taken refuge with him and Dominic needs them out of Seven.
Hugo Loudreux is a cypher fae, a very demanding one about to learn his limitations. Never threaten a comarré. Especially one named Chrysabelle! Blu is a shadeux fae. And Mortalis' sister. She's also Loudreux's bodyguard. Sklar is the smokesinger fae Guardian of New Orleans. An ineffective mayor of sorts who must be removed from office. Augustine is another shadeux fae. A fairly randy one if I'm interpreting the implications correctly. And another of Mortalis' siblings. Olivia Goodwin is a hoot! A former film star with a trace of power---one-eighth Haerbinger---and cheeky besides! Khell is a fae who actually desires the guardianship. I kind of get the impression that Loudreux did not have Khell in mind...
Lola Diaz-White is the mayor of Paradise City, formerly known as Miami. A very hard woman. Harder with the murder of her daughter Julia. With the discovery that Julia gave birth. John Havoc is one of her bodyguards, a wolfshifter. His brother Lucas Havoc is hired later. Police Chief Vernadetto is extremely reasonable for what he has to deal with.
Preacher is a former Marine and now a vampire. One not turned properly allowing him to walk in daylight. He has lost the fake commaré, the mayor's daughter, with whom he had a baby. A half-human, half-vampire baby. The first such and thus one whose blood is very valuable.
Samael, the head of the Castus Sanguis, the creator of vampires is trapped by the witches, forced to hunt for the ring of sorrows. Aliza is the leader of her coven. It was her spell that prevented Doc from shifting completely as revenge for what happened to her daughter Evie (see Blood Rights). Both are witches, both are evil. Slim Jim runs the marina where Aliza docks her boat when coming to the mainland, where anyone heading out into the water hires a boat. And guns.
Tatiana's plans are coming along. With Lord Ivan dead, she has her chance at becoming Dominus of the House of Tepes. Octavian has become the perfect vampire underling, supporting her completely, earning her trust. Laurent and Daciana Bracey are eager to get within Tatiana's good graces. Rennata is the head of the Primorus Domus. Chrysabelle's former House.
The Cover and Title
This complements the first two covers with its elaborately carved black frame with, this time, red skulls in the center of the sides, top and bottom of the frame and the bottom of the lower brocaded panel. In this one, Chrysabelle has her gold tattoos back and she's clothed in armor to match the frame, her long white hair loosely braided with the elaborate filigreed hair clasp on the side as she prepares for action with a sword in each hand, jeweled and armored bands rising up her right arm, the sword in her right hand floating red, figured-silk ribbon.
The title is a reference to Chrysabelle's Bad Blood, the aid she received from Mal. Of course, it could also refer to Aliza and Eve as we know how bad they are. Or perhaps it's the obvious issues which exist between Mortalis and the rest of his family...
My Take
Whoa...there is a lot going on in this installment. The baby. The outing of the othernaturals to the city powers. What we learn in New Orleans. Chrysabelle's ordeals and the problems that crop up between her and Mal.
Oh man, I did enjoy Mal's response to the mayor. She did ask for it. She has no right to complain if she gets what she requests.
It was just too easy with the witches. Although, Doc did come up with a pretty creative way to evade the compulsion!
Oh, now the bit about why New Orleans---Ville Éternelle Nuit---is so attractive to vampires was an excellent inspiration! There is some mystery about Mortalis. Painter is hinting around with the comments from Mortalis and Loudreux. And Mortalis certainly has a point with his comment about "Taking bribes bothers you but assassinations are fine? So long as the greater good is served?". "As long as [Loudreux] doesn't get his hands dirty."
The Story
Creek's in trouble. He was found, covered in blood, holding the fake comarré. The mayor's daughter. With the world about to explode on Halloween and the threat of being thrust back into prison, Creek needs to relate the facts of this new world to Mayor Diaz-White. Facts she resists. Facts she uses against Creek.
Chrysabelle also has a problem. Only the Aurelian can tell her where to find her brother. The identity of her brother. But she can no longer reach her without the signum on her back. For that she needs Dominic's help. A help she must pay for with asylum. Then there's the sacred gold required to replace her missing signum. And Chrysabelle can only think of one source---the ring of sorrows. The same ring that is being held for ransom by the fae.
It seems the Preacher has a child. A half-human, half-vampire child whose blood will be desired by all: the witches, the vampires, Castus, the grandmother, and the Kubai Mata. And it's Doc's weakness to be whole again that makes it all possible.
The compact is broken. There is nothing to protect humans against the othernaturals. It could be worse. The bad guys could have the ring of sorrows.
The Characters
Chrysabelle LaPointe is no longer a comarré, technically, for she has been disavowed and stripped of the tattoos on her back. A woman bred for the deliciousness of her blood, schooled in how to please her master---as well as how to protect herself from anything. But she stepped outside the accepted boundaries and now she's paid a price. A price she will pay again to talk to the Aurelian, to find her brother. Velimai is a Wysper fae. She is mute and communicates with her hands, but her voice is a killer. She holds household for Chrysabelle.
Malkolm "Mal" Bourreau is anathema. Formerly a noble vampire, he has been struck down for his "impertinence". He has fallen in love with Chrysabelle and will do anything to help her survive, achieve her desires, even at the cost of his miserable existence. Thomas Creek is part of the Kubai Mata. Enhanced, he is tasked with killing demons and finding the ring of sorrows. A task at which he is failing. On purpose. Both Mal and Creek want Chrysabelle. Argent is a dragonshifter and Creek's boss in the Kubai Mata.
Maddoc "Doc" has regained his ability to shift into a panther after the witch Aliza helped Fiona come back to life (see Flesh and Blood). Fiona is one of Mal's victims who became a ghost and then returned to life with a solid body before being killed again. A spell from Aliza brought her back partially. Sinjin is the leader of Doc's old pride. The leader who threw Doc out. Seems he's had a much more sinister agenda. And at completely the wrong moment, Doc discovers Sinjin was married.
Dominic is a vampire who was declared anathema by his House for enticing Maris to invoke libertas; he has since become the owner of Seven and a drug lord. Atticus is a signumist, the artist who creates signum on comarré. Real and the fake. Mortalis is a shadeux fae who also works for Dominic. Amery is Mortalis' cousin and the driver he hires to convey their small party about New Orleans. A comarré and a comar, Saraphina and Damian, have taken refuge with him and Dominic needs them out of Seven.
Hugo Loudreux is a cypher fae, a very demanding one about to learn his limitations. Never threaten a comarré. Especially one named Chrysabelle! Blu is a shadeux fae. And Mortalis' sister. She's also Loudreux's bodyguard. Sklar is the smokesinger fae Guardian of New Orleans. An ineffective mayor of sorts who must be removed from office. Augustine is another shadeux fae. A fairly randy one if I'm interpreting the implications correctly. And another of Mortalis' siblings. Olivia Goodwin is a hoot! A former film star with a trace of power---one-eighth Haerbinger---and cheeky besides! Khell is a fae who actually desires the guardianship. I kind of get the impression that Loudreux did not have Khell in mind...
Lola Diaz-White is the mayor of Paradise City, formerly known as Miami. A very hard woman. Harder with the murder of her daughter Julia. With the discovery that Julia gave birth. John Havoc is one of her bodyguards, a wolfshifter. His brother Lucas Havoc is hired later. Police Chief Vernadetto is extremely reasonable for what he has to deal with.
Preacher is a former Marine and now a vampire. One not turned properly allowing him to walk in daylight. He has lost the fake commaré, the mayor's daughter, with whom he had a baby. A half-human, half-vampire baby. The first such and thus one whose blood is very valuable.
Samael, the head of the Castus Sanguis, the creator of vampires is trapped by the witches, forced to hunt for the ring of sorrows. Aliza is the leader of her coven. It was her spell that prevented Doc from shifting completely as revenge for what happened to her daughter Evie (see Blood Rights). Both are witches, both are evil. Slim Jim runs the marina where Aliza docks her boat when coming to the mainland, where anyone heading out into the water hires a boat. And guns.
Tatiana's plans are coming along. With Lord Ivan dead, she has her chance at becoming Dominus of the House of Tepes. Octavian has become the perfect vampire underling, supporting her completely, earning her trust. Laurent and Daciana Bracey are eager to get within Tatiana's good graces. Rennata is the head of the Primorus Domus. Chrysabelle's former House.
The Cover and Title
This complements the first two covers with its elaborately carved black frame with, this time, red skulls in the center of the sides, top and bottom of the frame and the bottom of the lower brocaded panel. In this one, Chrysabelle has her gold tattoos back and she's clothed in armor to match the frame, her long white hair loosely braided with the elaborate filigreed hair clasp on the side as she prepares for action with a sword in each hand, jeweled and armored bands rising up her right arm, the sword in her right hand floating red, figured-silk ribbon.
The title is a reference to Chrysabelle's Bad Blood, the aid she received from Mal. Of course, it could also refer to Aliza and Eve as we know how bad they are. Or perhaps it's the obvious issues which exist between Mortalis and the rest of his family...
eszyinspired's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
lilycobalt's review against another edition
I read this book because I wanted to read the book about Theranos, but the library had this one instead, and a sense of morbid curiosity kicked in.
amym84's review against another edition
5.0
I really love the world that Painter created in Blood Rights [b:Blood Rights|9571401|Blood Rights (House of Comarré, #1)|Kristen Painter|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1307380042s/9571401.jpg|14458226] book #1 in the House of Comarre series. There were your typical "otherworld" creatures (vampires, fae, shifters, etc.) but Painter put a nice new spin on everything making it all very fresh.
Bad Blood is book three of the series (I don't know how many books are planned) with book four coming out sometime in 2012. Like the second novel Flesh and Blood [b:Flesh and Blood|9571407|Flesh and Blood (House of Comarré, #2)|Kristen Painter|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1307379881s/9571407.jpg|14458232] the story picks up eight days after Mal healed Chrysabelle. She's refused to see both him and Creek for putting Mal's blood in her in order to save her life after her signum were cut out of her back.
One of the first things I must acknowledge is Painter is a master at writing a book where not too much happens, just enough to answer a few questions and keep the readers riveted throughout. I think she does this with the use of the changing POVs throughout the story. In the first book we had our main characters Mal, Chrysabelle, Doc, Fi, and Tatiana. With this book and Flesh and Blood we've only added more POVs to keep track of. Painter does a wonderful job going back and forth which makes me wonder if she writes everyone's POVs as a whole and then chops the story up in editing (hmm interesting). Anyway, I can't say that I mind the chaning POVs, but I will say that I mind more and more characters being added to this list. She does a great job ending scenes just before events happen that we've been waiting for (ahem! Mal and Chrysabell) and not picking them back up for a couple more chapters, thereby forcing readers to continue until they come to that point again.
In this book we get Chrysabelle on a quest to get her signum reapplied in order to go back to the Aurelian to find out more information about her brother. In order to accomplish this, she needs the Ring of Sorrows that we haven't seen since the first book and was almost all but forgotten in the second book. This is one of the things that bothered me about the book. I like Chrysabelle as a character. I thought in the first book that she was wonderful to be able to take care of herself, yet she was vulnerable to the new world she escaped to. In this book, she seems much more stubborn. There were multiple times that I was frustrated with her because she wouldn't listen completely to what people were telling her and basically jump without looking. I don't like this version of Chrysabelle and I can only hope that this is possibly a side effect of events that took place in book two and this book. In Bllod Rights, I really liked that she's a very kind-hearted person. Not that she's lost it completely, but it seems that she is too focused on what she thinks of as her "mission" to find her brother. There were times where if se would have stepped back and recollected herself maybe she could have avoided certain situations.
I really loved Mal in this book, however, and by extension I loved the interactions between Mal and Chrysabelle. Their scenes to gether show Chrysabelle as we first see her. Someone who is very capable with a caring heart. I like that they become closer in this book and we can basically rule out the worthless love triangle storyline that was brought up in Flesh and Blood. But on that note as well, I like the path the the triangle took. Creek showing that he would be man enough to step aside without ego and pride getting in the way because obviously she doesn't feel the same for him as she does Mal. A lot of authors think that a love triangle needs to show the males fighting (in some form) over the female and honestly why? Either the woman loves you or she doesn't, if she doesn't, fighting with the guy she does love will not change her mind.
In order for Chrysabelle to retrieve the ring that Mortalis hid she needs to go to New Orleans. I liked the change of local for this book. Since this book takes place in the future, it's interesting to see another part of America and what the landscape is like. This book definitely focues more on the Fae and we get to learn more about Mortalis which I liked because I really do like him as a character.
So in the vein of the other two books things happen, but the ultimate goal is still a bit of a question for me. At this point, I'm hoping that Painter is not a cruel author that makes her charcaters suffer until the very last pages of the last book, and then they find happiness. It's like they get so close only to have something come and pull it a little farther away. Oh well, I still can't get enough of the series and I can't wait for book 4. I will say that even though Painter tends to end the series on a big "!?" they haven't been really bad cliffhangers. I feel satisfied enough that I'll be ok for the months until the next book comes out. Until Then!
Bad Blood is book three of the series (I don't know how many books are planned) with book four coming out sometime in 2012. Like the second novel Flesh and Blood [b:Flesh and Blood|9571407|Flesh and Blood (House of Comarré, #2)|Kristen Painter|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1307379881s/9571407.jpg|14458232] the story picks up eight days after Mal healed Chrysabelle. She's refused to see both him and Creek for putting Mal's blood in her in order to save her life after her signum were cut out of her back.
One of the first things I must acknowledge is Painter is a master at writing a book where not too much happens, just enough to answer a few questions and keep the readers riveted throughout. I think she does this with the use of the changing POVs throughout the story. In the first book we had our main characters Mal, Chrysabelle, Doc, Fi, and Tatiana. With this book and Flesh and Blood we've only added more POVs to keep track of. Painter does a wonderful job going back and forth which makes me wonder if she writes everyone's POVs as a whole and then chops the story up in editing (hmm interesting). Anyway, I can't say that I mind the chaning POVs, but I will say that I mind more and more characters being added to this list. She does a great job ending scenes just before events happen that we've been waiting for (ahem! Mal and Chrysabell) and not picking them back up for a couple more chapters, thereby forcing readers to continue until they come to that point again.
In this book we get Chrysabelle on a quest to get her signum reapplied in order to go back to the Aurelian to find out more information about her brother. In order to accomplish this, she needs the Ring of Sorrows that we haven't seen since the first book and was almost all but forgotten in the second book. This is one of the things that bothered me about the book. I like Chrysabelle as a character. I thought in the first book that she was wonderful to be able to take care of herself, yet she was vulnerable to the new world she escaped to. In this book, she seems much more stubborn. There were multiple times that I was frustrated with her because she wouldn't listen completely to what people were telling her and basically jump without looking. I don't like this version of Chrysabelle and I can only hope that this is possibly a side effect of events that took place in book two and this book. In Bllod Rights, I really liked that she's a very kind-hearted person. Not that she's lost it completely, but it seems that she is too focused on what she thinks of as her "mission" to find her brother. There were times where if se would have stepped back and recollected herself maybe she could have avoided certain situations.
I really loved Mal in this book, however, and by extension I loved the interactions between Mal and Chrysabelle. Their scenes to gether show Chrysabelle as we first see her. Someone who is very capable with a caring heart. I like that they become closer in this book and we can basically rule out the worthless love triangle storyline that was brought up in Flesh and Blood. But on that note as well, I like the path the the triangle took. Creek showing that he would be man enough to step aside without ego and pride getting in the way because obviously she doesn't feel the same for him as she does Mal. A lot of authors think that a love triangle needs to show the males fighting (in some form) over the female and honestly why? Either the woman loves you or she doesn't, if she doesn't, fighting with the guy she does love will not change her mind.
In order for Chrysabelle to retrieve the ring that Mortalis hid she needs to go to New Orleans. I liked the change of local for this book. Since this book takes place in the future, it's interesting to see another part of America and what the landscape is like. This book definitely focues more on the Fae and we get to learn more about Mortalis which I liked because I really do like him as a character.
So in the vein of the other two books things happen, but the ultimate goal is still a bit of a question for me. At this point, I'm hoping that Painter is not a cruel author that makes her charcaters suffer until the very last pages of the last book, and then they find happiness. It's like they get so close only to have something come and pull it a little farther away. Oh well, I still can't get enough of the series and I can't wait for book 4. I will say that even though Painter tends to end the series on a big "!?" they haven't been really bad cliffhangers. I feel satisfied enough that I'll be ok for the months until the next book comes out. Until Then!
bookishvice's review against another edition
2.0
After the ultimate showdown in the Everglades on the last book, the witches haven't had enough. This time they're back for revenge, and they already have to unwilling minions to carry it out. Tatiana seems to have forgotten about the Ring of Sorrows, right now she just wants Chrysabelle's head on platter. Her evilness and cunningness are as always boring, and I ended up skimming all of her POVs. The witches were pretty silly too, I was always cheering the demon to get free of the stupid aquarium tank they'd sealed him in.
Chrysabelle has recuperated beautifully, but her anger about how it was done is a bit uncalled for. I mean, he saved your life and you're alive. Who cares if your blood is tainted now!? Her anger quickly dissolves because now she has a goal. She'll go to any lengths to find her brother, including (but not limited to) manhandling/threatening/persuading others, and having molten gold tattooed on her. Luckily Mal will be there for her, but sadly there's not a lot of romance in this third book, which was kind of disappointing. That one hot massage chapter didn't satisfy my expectations on their relationship.
Meanwhile the secondary characters are all running around with problems of their own. Creek gets dragged into the murder investigation of the mayor's daughter, who was one of Dominic's fake comarré. He'll have to find the real murderer, or else the Mayor Lola will pin it on him. Doc and Fi have some very interesting news for Mal, if only they could get a hold of him. Once again, I felt that there were too many POVs. And while I've grown to love some secondary characters like Creek and Fi, I'm just not that interested in hearing Tatiana's or even the Mayor's side.
Overall for me the series has lost its initial steam and allure. Like I've said before, I started reading this series because of Chrysabelle and Mal and now they've just become another one in the bunch of characters. I could just read their chapters and be done with it, because it's all the interests me. The short preview of Out for Blood (House of Comarré 4) after the ending just made me chuck my book at the nearest wall. (Rant: For shit's sake Chrysabelle, stop being unreasonably angry at Mal. Whose idea was it to use THAT gold for the tattoo, huh? Yours! That's right! Not Mal's!) I'll probably buy it, only because I don't like leaving series half-way.
Chrysabelle has recuperated beautifully, but her anger about how it was done is a bit uncalled for. I mean, he saved your life and you're alive. Who cares if your blood is tainted now!? Her anger quickly dissolves because now she has a goal. She'll go to any lengths to find her brother, including (but not limited to) manhandling/threatening/persuading others, and having molten gold tattooed on her. Luckily Mal will be there for her, but sadly there's not a lot of romance in this third book, which was kind of disappointing. That one hot massage chapter didn't satisfy my expectations on their relationship.
Meanwhile the secondary characters are all running around with problems of their own. Creek gets dragged into the murder investigation of the mayor's daughter, who was one of Dominic's fake comarré. He'll have to find the real murderer, or else the Mayor Lola will pin it on him. Doc and Fi have some very interesting news for Mal, if only they could get a hold of him. Once again, I felt that there were too many POVs. And while I've grown to love some secondary characters like Creek and Fi, I'm just not that interested in hearing Tatiana's or even the Mayor's side.
Overall for me the series has lost its initial steam and allure. Like I've said before, I started reading this series because of Chrysabelle and Mal and now they've just become another one in the bunch of characters. I could just read their chapters and be done with it, because it's all the interests me. The short preview of Out for Blood (House of Comarré 4) after the ending just made me chuck my book at the nearest wall. (Rant: For shit's sake Chrysabelle, stop being unreasonably angry at Mal. Whose idea was it to use THAT gold for the tattoo, huh? Yours! That's right! Not Mal's!) I'll probably buy it, only because I don't like leaving series half-way.
amrenina's review against another edition
5.0
I was stuck between the desire to read, read, read and not reading at all out of fear that the pages will end.
fayebo's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 for nostalgia, have been waiting to finish this series since I was like 15 so my inner teen is loving life
bl0ndekitten's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I liked this book, it didn't have the silly love triangle of the last book. The only reason it isn't four stars is that I wasn't as invested in the plot of this book compared to the first book in the series.
ch_jars's review against another edition
2.0
I think... I hope.. That this one was unnessesary bad because of the translation.
liviiemarie's review
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
A little more action packed than the other books, and ending on a good cliffhanger.