Loading ...Rare Vintage by Bianca D’Arc
The second installment in the Brotherhood of Blood series opens immediately after the events of book one. Newly-made vampire Lissa, having just experienced an intense vision about her friend, Kelly, discusses with her husband, Atticus, how they will go about setting up protection for her. Marc, the master vampire in the region, is also staying with the newlyweds while his own house in being renovated. Kelly and Marc have demonstrated that they are attracted to one another, and Lissa worries that Marc may be the vampire who harms her. Marc agrees to aid in Kelly’s defense, also aware that he is a prime candidate as the one doing the attacking.
This novella, almost twice the length of its predecessor, does not live up to the promise of the earlier story with a few problems that mar the reading experience. In the second chapter, Atticus tells Marc that Lissa had her vision about Kelly shortly after they had met, when in fact it had occurred only the night before. Such a glaring error should have been spotted during the editing process, if not by the author. Marc often addresses Kelly as “ma petite,” a phrase undoubtedly associated by readers with Laurell K. Hamilton’s Jean Claude. No follow-up to the unresolved mystery in the previous book materializes, or is even mentioned.
These issues that detract from the novella aside, there are some positive attributes. Having the vampires refer to themselves as “bloodletters” rather than using one of the other more common terms takes a fresh approach. The author does an admirable job of illustrating her underlying concept of “the One,” the destined mate that vampires search for: “…the rare vintage pulsing through her veins and how he suspected it would sooth the hungry ache deep in his soul” (Ch. 8 ).
This reviewer looks ahead to the third volume, hoping to find some of the earlier promise restored.
Book Stats:
- e-book, digital format
- Publisher: Samhain Publishing
- Book Length: Novella
- Language: English
- ISBN: 978-1-60504-381-4
To purchase an eBook copy of Rare Vintage click here.
Books in the Brotherhood of Blood series in the order they should be read:
One and Only
Rare Vintage
Phantom Desires
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