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kathydavie's review against another edition
5.0
First in the Lizzie Grace urban fantasy series and revolving around a witch who wants nothing to do with her magical, blue bloodline.
My Take
This was fun! Lots of action and lots of sneaky teases. I'll have to read Hell's Bell to find out how Cat died, if Lizzie's power is stronger than she thinks, what's going on with the wild magic, and where Gabe is…or perhaps it's more about Katie…? Inquiring minds just gotta know!
It's a cozy enough beginning that starts the story crisis up while setting Lizzie and Belle up with their troubled past. Arthur uses first person protagonist point-of-view from Lizzie's perspective, so all that we know is from what Lizzie sees, feels, observes, and thinks. And that is quite a bit. Arthur really does a great job on providing back history and background information (without dumping!) through Lizzie, and her "thoughts" are quite natural without that repetition some authors can't resist.
I love the relationship between Lizzie and Belle, and Arthur provides enough background that I felt as though the girls had grown from their original start. The growth continues with that angry introduction of the werewolf ranger whose own issues Arthur draws on and out until I'm ready to hit someone.
It's truly tricky, because I suspect the reasons for his anger are based in the marvel that Lizzie faces in the park.
God forbid we should only have the story tension with that crazed vampire, so Arthur throws in all of Lizzie's fear of what could happen if her family finds them. Whew, I'm tellin' ya…Arthur has so much material to draw on that the next one oughta be a pip.
The Story
It's a furious mother who insists Lizzie hunt down the bastard who stole her daughter. No matter that witches are banished from the reservation, and the rangers have forbidden Lizzie from interfering, the mother is a powerhouse in town and could make life untenable.
Of course, that's nothing compared to what a blood-magic-using rogue vampire will do!
It’s a hunt that soon becomes personal, and one that is going to take all her skills to survive — that’s if the werewolves, who hate all things witch, don’t get her first.
The Characters
Lizzie Grace, born into the Marlowe blueblood line of witches, has constantly let her family down, as she is so out-of-the-norm and weak in her magic — being strong in psychometry in "not adequate". Cat is the sister who died twelve years ago, and Lizzie and Belle had been on the run ever since. The psychic Isabelle "Belle" Kent (from that lowly Sarr bloodline, although her Gran had some amazing books!) is Lizzie's closest friend and her human familiar with constant access to Lizzie's thoughts. Lizzie's real parents are part of a handful of witches who are the most powerful in Australia. Julius "Juli" is Lizzie's smug brother. Supposedly the psychics, Kate and Lance Grace, are the "parents" of Lizzie "Grace".
Castle Rock is…
…the "witch-free" capital (that is filled with wild magic) of the Faelan Reservation, one of seven werewolf reservations in Australia. Gabe, the last witch, had his residency revoked. He had replaced Tarkan.
The Psychic Café…
…is the business that Lizzie and Belle have opened in Castle Rock, offering psychic readings as well as the usual fare. Penny is a waitress. Mike is the chef. Frank Reuben is the kitchen hand.
Aiden O'Connor is the head Ranger and quite prejudiced. Ciara is his sister and the coroner. Katie was their youngest sister. (The O'Connors were one of the original occupiers of the land.) The Rangers are always werewolves elected by the elders and include Tala Sinclair, Aiden's second-in-command; Duke; Jaz; Mac; and, Byron. Maggie is the receptionist and a ranger-in-training.
Marjorie Banks is an attorney-at-law who wants a reading about her missing daughter, Karen. Jason is Karen's boyfriend. Phillip Banks is Majorie's ex. René Marin is reworking an old gold mine. James Maldoon. Mary Jones had run with a bad crowd back in the day, one that included Marjorie and Morris Redfern (he and his wife, Emma, just buried their sixteen-year-old son, Mason, thirteen days ago). Frieda Andersen is the girl who was bullied. Jenny and John Andersen were her parents. Mrs. Williams is a customer at the café; Freddie is her husband. Rosie has dementia and is confused about which psychic can't find her ring.
The old Richards Road Hotel is now a themed nightclub called Émigré. Zak Marin, a werewolf, is one of the bartenders and works as a handyman during the day. Maelle Defour is the owner and a vampire. Her Defour lineage was cursed by a long-ago witch of the Marlowe line.
The Interspecies Investigations Team (IIT) is…
…something of a paranormal FBI with John Hart and Terry Blume as condescending agents.
The Regional Witch Association keeps…
…an eye on witches in the area. Anna Kang is a TWA representative.
Tomme (Frederick Waverley was his human name) is a vampire using blood magic, unclean and soul-staining.
There are six lines of witches: three are considered royalty (Marlowe, Kang, and Waverley) and the other three commoners (the Sarrs and the Fitzgerald line who are no more than carnival fortunetellers and tricksters are two of the lowly). The government requires that a witch be present on all reservations to serve as the government liaison and rule enforcers. A familiar monitors and protects its witch as well as acting as a lifeline of strength. Witch script is an ancient text that can only be read by blueblood adepts. Witch magic relies on the strength of the witch and the energy of the earth. Wild magic comes from the deeper recesses of the earth. The High Ridge Massacre wiped out an entire town in one night, all due to a wellspring that was sucked into evil.
The registrar is an organization that holds the records of every vampire created and can track them.
Kyle was a mistake in Birdwood. Jake is a surfer in Coolangatta. James Barton had been a baker. Beans and Greens is a small café in Bendigo.
The Cover and Title
The cover is simple yet compelling with a black and blues cloudy night and wisps of wild magic rising up from the dark forest. It's Lizzie in profile with her head of long, wavy, crimson hair thrown back as though she were howling at the full moon that rises behind her. It's a subtle nod to the werewolves as well as acknowledging its own influence on her magic. The author's name is centered at the top in white with white in the title at the bottom, crossing Lizzie's hip. Beneath that is the series information in a light blue.
The title, Blood Kissed, refers to the signs that a person has shared the blood of a vampire.
My Take
This was fun! Lots of action and lots of sneaky teases. I'll have to read Hell's Bell to find out how Cat died, if Lizzie's power is stronger than she thinks, what's going on with the wild magic, and where Gabe is…or perhaps it's more about Katie…? Inquiring minds just gotta know!
It's a cozy enough beginning that starts the story crisis up while setting Lizzie and Belle up with their troubled past. Arthur uses first person protagonist point-of-view from Lizzie's perspective, so all that we know is from what Lizzie sees, feels, observes, and thinks. And that is quite a bit. Arthur really does a great job on providing back history and background information (without dumping!) through Lizzie, and her "thoughts" are quite natural without that repetition some authors can't resist.
I love the relationship between Lizzie and Belle, and Arthur provides enough background that I felt as though the girls had grown from their original start. The growth continues with that angry introduction of the werewolf ranger whose own issues Arthur draws on and out until I'm ready to hit someone.
It's truly tricky, because I suspect the reasons for his anger are based in the marvel that Lizzie faces in the park.
God forbid we should only have the story tension with that crazed vampire, so Arthur throws in all of Lizzie's fear of what could happen if her family finds them. Whew, I'm tellin' ya…Arthur has so much material to draw on that the next one oughta be a pip.
The Story
It's a furious mother who insists Lizzie hunt down the bastard who stole her daughter. No matter that witches are banished from the reservation, and the rangers have forbidden Lizzie from interfering, the mother is a powerhouse in town and could make life untenable.
Of course, that's nothing compared to what a blood-magic-using rogue vampire will do!
It’s a hunt that soon becomes personal, and one that is going to take all her skills to survive — that’s if the werewolves, who hate all things witch, don’t get her first.
The Characters
Lizzie Grace, born into the Marlowe blueblood line of witches, has constantly let her family down, as she is so out-of-the-norm and weak in her magic — being strong in psychometry in "not adequate". Cat is the sister who died twelve years ago, and Lizzie and Belle had been on the run ever since. The psychic Isabelle "Belle" Kent (from that lowly Sarr bloodline, although her Gran had some amazing books!) is Lizzie's closest friend and her human familiar with constant access to Lizzie's thoughts. Lizzie's real parents are part of a handful of witches who are the most powerful in Australia. Julius "Juli" is Lizzie's smug brother. Supposedly the psychics, Kate and Lance Grace, are the "parents" of Lizzie "Grace".
Castle Rock is…
…the "witch-free" capital (that is filled with wild magic) of the Faelan Reservation, one of seven werewolf reservations in Australia. Gabe, the last witch, had his residency revoked. He had replaced Tarkan.
The Psychic Café…
…is the business that Lizzie and Belle have opened in Castle Rock, offering psychic readings as well as the usual fare. Penny is a waitress. Mike is the chef. Frank Reuben is the kitchen hand.
Aiden O'Connor is the head Ranger and quite prejudiced. Ciara is his sister and the coroner. Katie was their youngest sister. (The O'Connors were one of the original occupiers of the land.) The Rangers are always werewolves elected by the elders and include Tala Sinclair, Aiden's second-in-command; Duke; Jaz; Mac; and, Byron. Maggie is the receptionist and a ranger-in-training.
Marjorie Banks is an attorney-at-law who wants a reading about her missing daughter, Karen. Jason is Karen's boyfriend. Phillip Banks is Majorie's ex. René Marin is reworking an old gold mine. James Maldoon. Mary Jones had run with a bad crowd back in the day, one that included Marjorie and Morris Redfern (he and his wife, Emma, just buried their sixteen-year-old son, Mason, thirteen days ago). Frieda Andersen is the girl who was bullied. Jenny and John Andersen were her parents. Mrs. Williams is a customer at the café; Freddie is her husband. Rosie has dementia and is confused about which psychic can't find her ring.
The old Richards Road Hotel is now a themed nightclub called Émigré. Zak Marin, a werewolf, is one of the bartenders and works as a handyman during the day. Maelle Defour is the owner and a vampire. Her Defour lineage was cursed by a long-ago witch of the Marlowe line.
The Interspecies Investigations Team (IIT) is…
…something of a paranormal FBI with John Hart and Terry Blume as condescending agents.
The Regional Witch Association keeps…
…an eye on witches in the area. Anna Kang is a TWA representative.
Tomme (Frederick Waverley was his human name) is a vampire using blood magic, unclean and soul-staining.
There are six lines of witches: three are considered royalty (Marlowe, Kang, and Waverley) and the other three commoners (the Sarrs and the Fitzgerald line who are no more than carnival fortunetellers and tricksters are two of the lowly). The government requires that a witch be present on all reservations to serve as the government liaison and rule enforcers. A familiar monitors and protects its witch as well as acting as a lifeline of strength. Witch script is an ancient text that can only be read by blueblood adepts. Witch magic relies on the strength of the witch and the energy of the earth. Wild magic comes from the deeper recesses of the earth. The High Ridge Massacre wiped out an entire town in one night, all due to a wellspring that was sucked into evil.
The registrar is an organization that holds the records of every vampire created and can track them.
Kyle was a mistake in Birdwood. Jake is a surfer in Coolangatta. James Barton had been a baker. Beans and Greens is a small café in Bendigo.
The Cover and Title
The cover is simple yet compelling with a black and blues cloudy night and wisps of wild magic rising up from the dark forest. It's Lizzie in profile with her head of long, wavy, crimson hair thrown back as though she were howling at the full moon that rises behind her. It's a subtle nod to the werewolves as well as acknowledging its own influence on her magic. The author's name is centered at the top in white with white in the title at the bottom, crossing Lizzie's hip. Beneath that is the series information in a light blue.
The title, Blood Kissed, refers to the signs that a person has shared the blood of a vampire.
yodamom's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 stars Keri Arthur writes characters that I love to read. They are well developed, quirky, off centered, and snarky, just the way I like them. This series has two witches who are in the lower cast of witches just trying to make a living running a bakery in a small town run by a werewolf pack that hates witches. They bake do simple fortune telling and charms keeping under the radar for many reasons. They are semi hiding from their families. All is going well till, something wicked comes to town and the werewolves are forced to work with the witches who say they're really not witches to try to save the town for a blackness. Things go from bad to worse, and it gets dangerous.
There s some sexual tension, life threatening tension some fantastic snark, yummy treats, and a whole lot of fun. I loved the human familiar for the witches. The weres were hot headed, strong, sexy, and mysterious. The book ended with a cliff hanger and I need the next book. I recommend this book to fans of her writing or lovers of witches and weres. it's a good fun story.
There s some sexual tension, life threatening tension some fantastic snark, yummy treats, and a whole lot of fun. I loved the human familiar for the witches. The weres were hot headed, strong, sexy, and mysterious. The book ended with a cliff hanger and I need the next book. I recommend this book to fans of her writing or lovers of witches and weres. it's a good fun story.
godinhoreads86's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
agirlandherlibrarian's review against another edition
3.0
Having just come off a massive re-read of one of my favourite series, I wasn't in the right mind to start a new series... and to be honest I struggled through this book. Usually I finish books in 2-3 days, this took me 15 because I kept avoiding it! But... it was worth the trouble in the end and taking into account, looking back, my state of mind, it cleared 3 stars because of it. I have gone on to love the series, and eagerly await book 7... don't be put off by my 'meh' review here, it's worth a read, even if just to pass a dark and dreary evening, but it sets up the series well and gets you buckled in.
So what's it about? A witch... her human familiar - unusual - and they have newly arrived in the Faelan Werewolf reserve and set up a cafe... It's clear they are on the run from... family, it's clear they love one another and are best friends, it's clear the werewolf head ranger doesn't like witches, but things warp and wrangle and the help of the two girls brings the ranger around.
Like I say, it's worth a read, the rest of the books in the series are much much better, it feels like the author was just finding her groove with this one.
I adored the back and forth telepathy between the girls, it was fun. Didn't like quite so much the writing style, but it did grow on me.
So what's it about? A witch... her human familiar - unusual - and they have newly arrived in the Faelan Werewolf reserve and set up a cafe... It's clear they are on the run from... family, it's clear they love one another and are best friends, it's clear the werewolf head ranger doesn't like witches, but things warp and wrangle and the help of the two girls brings the ranger around.
Like I say, it's worth a read, the rest of the books in the series are much much better, it feels like the author was just finding her groove with this one.
I adored the back and forth telepathy between the girls, it was fun. Didn't like quite so much the writing style, but it did grow on me.
lynguy1's review against another edition
4.0
Blood Kissed by Keri Arthur is the first book in the Lizzie Grace series. The author does a great job of meshing urban fantasy with supernatural suspense. It’s set on the fictional Faelan Reservation in Australia and features Lizzie who is a witch.
Lizzie and her best friend Belle Kent co-own a small cafe. Both are witches but neither wants anything to do with their families. Additionally, instead of relying mainly on magic, Lizzie mainly relies upon her psychic abilities. One unfortunate part to the story is that Belle is also Lizzie’s familiar Therefore, Lizzie can order her and take away her freedom of action and choice. While this only happens once, I felt this story would be better off without Belle being a familiar and having another way for them to share power and communicate. When a woman asks Lizzie to find her missing daughter, Lizzie agrees due to financial concerns. But there’s more going on than just a missing teenager and Lizzie is soon in great danger.
Lizzie and Belle are both likeable characters that are different enough to stand out. With Lizzie’s psychometry talents and Belle’s advice and nudges from the spirit world they have additional capabilities to draw upon than low level magic. Both are strong in their own way. Lizzie is stubborn and wants to do the right thing. But will it be enough to solve the mystery. Aiden O’Connor is the head ranger on the Faelan Reservation and has a deep hatred of witches. However, he and Lizzie learn they need to work together to solve the mystery. How will that work out for them? There are several other characters that play smaller roles, enhancing and rounding out the story. Hopefully, some of them with be in future novels and gain more depth. Of course, there is the main antagonist that supplies the conflict needed to make this novel suspenseful.
A well-written story line with great world-building, fascinating characters, and a good mystery made this novel a fast read. The plot and pacing were good. While parts of the story were a little predictable, I stayed engaged. There are plenty of action scenes as well as a bit of romance to give the story more energy and keep the pages turning. There’s plenty of tension and suspense as well as some humor.
Overall, I enjoyed the book. It was well-crafted and entertaining. I would recommend it to those that enjoy urban fantasy and supernatural suspense. While I’ve read other books by this author, I have only read one other book in this series. I believe reading the books in order would add to the enjoyment of the series.
This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date was May 9, 2017.
Lizzie and her best friend Belle Kent co-own a small cafe. Both are witches but neither wants anything to do with their families. Additionally, instead of relying mainly on magic, Lizzie mainly relies upon her psychic abilities. One unfortunate part to the story is that Belle is also Lizzie’s familiar Therefore, Lizzie can order her and take away her freedom of action and choice. While this only happens once, I felt this story would be better off without Belle being a familiar and having another way for them to share power and communicate. When a woman asks Lizzie to find her missing daughter, Lizzie agrees due to financial concerns. But there’s more going on than just a missing teenager and Lizzie is soon in great danger.
Lizzie and Belle are both likeable characters that are different enough to stand out. With Lizzie’s psychometry talents and Belle’s advice and nudges from the spirit world they have additional capabilities to draw upon than low level magic. Both are strong in their own way. Lizzie is stubborn and wants to do the right thing. But will it be enough to solve the mystery. Aiden O’Connor is the head ranger on the Faelan Reservation and has a deep hatred of witches. However, he and Lizzie learn they need to work together to solve the mystery. How will that work out for them? There are several other characters that play smaller roles, enhancing and rounding out the story. Hopefully, some of them with be in future novels and gain more depth. Of course, there is the main antagonist that supplies the conflict needed to make this novel suspenseful.
A well-written story line with great world-building, fascinating characters, and a good mystery made this novel a fast read. The plot and pacing were good. While parts of the story were a little predictable, I stayed engaged. There are plenty of action scenes as well as a bit of romance to give the story more energy and keep the pages turning. There’s plenty of tension and suspense as well as some humor.
Overall, I enjoyed the book. It was well-crafted and entertaining. I would recommend it to those that enjoy urban fantasy and supernatural suspense. While I’ve read other books by this author, I have only read one other book in this series. I believe reading the books in order would add to the enjoyment of the series.
This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date was May 9, 2017.
tolstoyan_literary_odyssey's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-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? It's complicated
3.5
It was a good start to an urban fantasy series. Unique idea with the witch having a human familiar. The interplay between the shifters on the reservation and the witches was interesting. Love the idea of the wellspring and natural magic coming direct from the earth. Especially since it’s more powerful than spells or charms learned. I would recommend but not highly recommend. Gave it 3 1/2 stars.
mpaolilli's review against another edition
5.0
As always this series is amazing. What’s a little disbelief and dislike? You can’t help the attraction during the action
being_b's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars-- likeable characters, interesting setting and world building that has me curious to learn more.
mirthesportel's review against another edition
3.0
Funny and enjoyable. Loved the aussie voices. Excited to see what else this series will bring. Also enjoyed the witch x familiar plot with just a friendship bond. We need more healthy female friendships in fantasy books!