I received this book for free from the library in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Source: the library
Blood Wyne
by
Yasmine Galenorn
urban fantasy in Paperback edition that was published by Berkley on February 1, 2011 and has 302 pages.
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Other books by this author which I have reviewed include Hexed, Witchling, Changeling, Never After, Darkling, Demon Mistress, Dragon Wytch, Bone Magic, Night Huntress, Harvest Hunting, Courting Darkness, Shaded Vision, Shadow Rising, Haunted Moon, Night Myst, Night Veil, Night Seeker, Autumn Whispers, Night Vision, Night’s End, Priestess Dreaming, Panther Prowling, "Flight From Hell", Flight From Death, Souljacker, Legend of the Jade Dragon, Darkness Raging, Fury Rising, Murder Under a Mystic Moon, Ghost of a Chance, Once Upon A Curse, A Harvest of Bones, One Hex of a Wedding, Starlight Hollow, Moon Shimmers
Ninth in the Otherworld / Sisters of the Moon urban fantasy series rotating between the three sisters’ points-of-view. Based in Seattle, the POV here is from Mennolly.
My Take
Whoa…big changes in this one. It’s a combination of tying up loose ends and setting up new possibilities. I think this is one of the better ones in this series. Of course, it could be because there are so many interesting positives happening with what Roman reveals about his intentions and desires; Erin’s freedom; and, Mennolly, Nerissa, and Delilah’s happiness. Nor were there any huge stupid things happening…yeah! On the other hand, perhaps I’m too quick since we also have to deal with Vanzir’s running out of control, Morio’s life, and the terrifying events happening in Underground Seattle.
Is it possible that Galenorn’s writing is improving? Her characters stayed consistent, no obvious holes or continuity issues…cool.
The Story
A vampire serial killer is on the loose in Seattle, and Sassy is crossing the line, slipping in every way. Enough that Erin takes her courage in hand and comes to Mennolly for help, providing an insight Mennolly hadn’t realized she was missing.
When Mennolly approaches Roman for help with the murders, he has his price: Wade and more. More as in passion, response. Yes.
Nerissa is forced to make some major changes in her life after Andy Gambit’s bigoted story got into print. And with Venus Moon-Child gone, there’s just no point in Nerissa staying with the Pride.
It’s the fight against the shadows in the sunken Seattle, the underground, where everything goes wrong. Morio will die without Mennolly’s help and Vanzir forces Camille. An act that backfires in so many ways.
The Characters
Mennolly D’Artigo is the youngest half-fae, half-human sister, and a vampire who runs the Wayfarer’s Grill, a fae bar. Her primary lover is Nerissa Shale, a werepuma who belongs to the Rainier Puma Pride and, sadly, lost the election. Chrysandra is an FBH, a full-blooded human who works as a waitress at the bar. The girls are about to open the Wayfarer up as an inn for supernatural guests. Katrina‘s (we met her in Harvest Hunting) suggested Derrick Means, a Werebadger, apply for the job as bartender. Tavah is a full-Fae vampire who guards the portal at the bar on weeknights for Mennolly and not at all picky about the blood she drinks; Lucius is Fae and watches during the weekdays while Kendra, an elf, watches on weekends. Tava also quit OIA and joined up with Asteria.
The half-fae Camille, the oldest D’Artigo sister, is married to Trillian, a Svartan; Morio Kuroyama, a Youkai-kitsune demon, and Smoky, a shapeshifting silver-white dragon. Camille is a Moon Witch and a priestess of the Moon Mother about to pledge to Aeval’s court in spite of her father’s threat to disown her. Camille’s bookstore, Indigo Crescent, is being run by Giselle, a martial arts she-demon.
Delilah is half-fae and a were-housecat, panther, and the only living Death Maiden bound to an Elemental Lord. Shade is a shadow walker—half black dragon and half-Stradolan which allows him to work shadow and illusion.
Chief of Detectives Chase Johnson is in charge of the Faerie-Human Crime Scene Investigations (FH-CSI) team and he’s dating Sharah, an elfin medic and Queen Asteria’s niece. The Nectar of Life he drank in Bone Magic is changing him, giving him unexpected powers. Mallen is another med tech. Officer Yugi is one of Chase’s.
Sephreh ob Tanu is their father and Queen Tanaquar‘s advisor and lover. He’s given Camille an ultimatum she can’t abide and all three sisters quit OIA and have gone to work for Queen Asteria. Shamas ob Olanda is the girls’ full-blooded fae cousin and he has been working for the Earthside police. Iris Kuusi is a Talon-haltija (Finnish house sprite) and a Priestess of Undutar who keeps house for the D’Artigo sisters and cares for Maggie, their baby calico gargoyle. She’s stressing about whether Bruce O’Shea, a leprechaun, will ask her to marry him. And she just can’t say yes if he’ll want babies. Vanzir is a dream-chaser demon bound to serve the sisters who lives with Rozurial, an incubus and one of Mennolly’s male lovers, and Shamas in the backyard studio.
Roman, the godfather of vampires, Lord of the Vampire nation, eldest son of Blood Wyne, and heir to the throne, has invited Mennolly to the midwinter vampire’s ball, the Winter Solstice Ball. He’s also Sassy’s friend. Blood Wyne is the Queen Mother of the Crimson Veil, Roman’s sire and human mother. Brett, a vampire, is still on his superhero kick as Vamp-Bat. Wade Stevens, the head of Vampires Anonymous, the group that kicked Mennolly out because she killed her sire (see Darkling), is running for Regent against Terrance from Fangtabula. Serena is a young girl sired by Terrance a hundred years ago. Frederick Corvax will be presented as the new Regent at the ball.
Erin Matthews is Mennolly’s vampire “daughter” whom Sassy Branson is training how to be a vampire. Janet has been Sassy’s lifelong companion, who is now suffering from cancer.
Queen Asteria rules the elves. Trenyth Vesalya is an elfin assistant to Asteria who has arranged extra protection for the D’Artigo girls.
Lance Carver, Mocha Jervis, Teri, Leia, and Jack Riley are humans who hear about the supernatural activity in Greenbelt Park and just can’t resist playing with their Ouija boards. Father Charles Shalimar has sinned and it’s up to the girls and their friends and allies to ensure he sins no more.
Ivana Krask, the Maiden of Karask, is a gifted, not human psychic, Roman recommends for purging super-charged ghosts. Hyto is Smoky’s father and he’s been banished by the dragon council.
Shadow Wing is a demon lord determined to acquire the seals that will unlock the gate between Hell and Earth, and then to Otherworld. Andy Gambit is a bigoted yellow journalist who smeared Nerissa enough that she didn’t win. But neither did his guy!
The Cover and Title
The cover is Mennolly of course with her long hair in its multitude of braids. Wearing a metallic red leather jacket and a tight black T with blue jeans with some kind of tattoo or black ribbon choker around her neck. Mennolly is leaning up against a cinder block wall, splashed here and there with blood.
The title brings in another big bad…whether it’s a bad “guy” or just a mama-in-law…we’ll see what Blood Wyne brings to the table.
