Blud, Book 2
Synopsis: The second book in the darkly tempting Blud series, featuring a vampire princess who embarks upon a dangerous journey to claim what is rightfully hers.
When Blud princess Ahnastasia wakes up, drained and starving in a suitcase, she’s not sure which calls to her more: the sound of music or the scent of blood. The source of both sensations is a handsome and mysterious man named Casper Sterling. Once the most celebrated musician in London, Sangland, he’s fallen on hard times. Now, much to Ahna’s frustration, the debauched and reckless human is her only ticket back home to the snow-rimmed and magical land of Freesia.
Together with Casper’s prickly charge, a scrappy orphan named Keen, they seek passage to Ahna’s homeland, where a power-hungry sorceress named Ravenna holds the royal family in thrall. Traveling from the back alleys of London to the sparkling minarets of Muscovy, Ahna discovers that Freesia holds new perils and dangerous foes. Back in her country, she is forced to choose between the heart she never knew she had and the land that she was born to rule. But with Casper’s help, Ahna may find a way to have it all….
Review: I was curious after the first book to know more about Casper and I could not wait to get into this one. My wish has been granted here. On top of that, what a better way than to feature Princess Ahnastasia with him? We all know her story and I admit that this is something that particularly interests me. It was therefore a great surprise to be able to follow her, even if in an alternate world.
We don’t have this time any interactions with the normal world, but it allows us to learn a little more about the world of the author. But what about the story? After many years locked in a suitcase drained and thinking only of her thirst for blood, our young princess is awakened by Casper, and I must say that their meeting isn’t a lovely one. Ahna feels weak and only dreams of killing the human who laughs at her and doesn’t care about her claims. Yet he is the only one who can help her to achieve her goals meaning: taking her home. Indeed, her ultimate goal is to kill the woman who took her place to govern her country and she will do everything to achieve that. But during her sleep, the world has changed a lot and she will have to adapt to this new life. We will have the opportunity to follow our little group throughout their journey to an unknown land. Yes group because with our couple we have the chance to discover a girl, Keen, who is also from our world. It will very difficult for her to accept this Bludwoman, and to share the person she considers as her father.
I really enjoyed learning more about each character. Casper is always complaining about his condition and it’s pretty sad to see the person he has now become. He lost everything and lives in a sort of dreary desolation. But his encounter with Ahna will turns everything upside down and it will give him a goal to pursue, and even a little more than that. Our two heroes are really perfect together. They complement each other and it allows them to have someone to rely on. Ahna will learn that being arrogant and authoritarian is not what will help her to move forward in life and she will have to change gradually to become complacent. It was interesting to see her evolution in this way, even if sometimes her choices are not really clever. I also enjoyed Keen. This is a girl full of resources and ideas. She seems strong, solid and full of confidence when in reality she is fragile as every little girl. It’s pretty sad to see how fate is always difficult to her. But her attitude does not help either. We’re touched or disappointed by her but she is still a highlight in the story. You surely also wonder if we see the characters from the first book? Well yes, but it really takes a few seconds. But it’s not a big deal as our new heroes are important here.
All the novel sfeatures the travel of our heroes and it was really interesting and intriguing to discover some new customs, new landscapes and environment. Everything was fascinating. We always try to see the similarities and differences that can be encountered in this new world and we can only wait with impatience to know what the author has for us.
blodeuedd
I wanna be wicked and read it 😀
Lexxie
I have an ARC of this – I guess I should really get to it, no?
Great review, Melliane 🙂
Melliane
lol maybe? I hope you’ll like it too.
brandileigh2003
Caspar sounds great as well as the world.
Melliane
ys the world is so intriguing, it’s nice to learn more about it
Giselle
This sounds cool I like the alternate world premise! I will have to keep an eye out for the first book in this series. Casper has caught my interest! 😉
Melliane
I reallly liker her ideas, it”s fun to see her ideas about it.
Melissa (My World...in words and pages)
Haha, I like hearing that their meeting wasn’t a lovely one. 🙂 That’s cool. Thank you.
Melliane
yeah, isn’t it? It”s fun to have something like that.
Melissa (Books and Things)
I still need that first book. Really love the way the world sounds in this series. Yep, need to read! 🙂