Bloodstone (Early Review)
Bloodstone by Nancy Holzner
Deadtown #3
They call it Deadtown: the city's quarantined section for its inhuman and undead residents. Most humans stay far from its borders - but Victory Vaughn, Boston's only professional demon slayer, isn't exactly human...
Boston's diverse South End is known for its architecture and great restaurants, not its body count. So when mutilated human corpses begin turning up in the area, the entire city takes notice. The killer-dubbed the South End Reaper-uses a curved blade for his grisly work. And even though there's no real evidence pointing to a paranormal culprit, the deaths are straining the already-tense relations between Boston's human and inhuman residents.
As the bodies pile up, Vicky, her formidable aunt, Mab, and her werewolf boyfriend, Kane investigate, only to find that the creature behind the carnage is after something much more than blood...
There's a killer on the loose. You wouldn't think that would be such shocking news considering all the "monsters" out there in Deadtown, and yet there's something different about these kills. The bodies are so far brutalized that they are hard recognizable, so of course the humans in Boston instantly start pointing fingers at the residents of Deadtown. But if there is one thing Vicky knows, it's that humans can be every bit as violent as the worst monster, maybe even worse. As the body count grows higher she scrambles to find out anything she can. But when things start hitting way too close to home, even with help, she knows this time it may just be her final curtain call.
While Bloodstone had a slower pace just like the previous installment, it differed in that it didn't feel like things were dragging. The lack of action was easily overlooked as we got to learn so much more about Mab and the past. So many pressing questions were answered that it kept me with the sense of feeling that things were moving, as well as more than keeping my attention. Even the parts of action seemed to be furthering the overall motion of the series rather than only focusing on the task at hand. The reasons and culprits behind the current "mess" were very tied into Mab's mysterious past and as a result made then directly effect Vicky in turn. This pulled me even more into the book, making for a quite enjoyable read.
Although the time between Vicky and Kane was really only brief moments in the book, I couldn't help but to notice that their relationship seems so much more substantial and full of depth. In the first installment they were almost casual acquaintances, despite the fact that they had been "dating" for years. Now, it really feels like each one is a very important part of one another's life and I really enjoyed seeing that. I just happen to be one of those people who think a little romance will always make a book better, so I definitely am a happy camper after reading Bloodstone. Of course others may have complaints about this area because as I mentioned, the time spent together is really rather brief. Yet, they are solidifying things and moving forward, which is good news to me and really all I can ask for at this point based on who they are.
Bloodstone may very well be my favorite installment of the Deadtown series. Things were centered back in Deadtown after spending so much time outside of it previously, definitely a plus. Also there was the relationship progression and the answers to many lurking questions. Finally, with an ending that shows the beginning of a very promising future, and you have one heck of an entertaining book. I for one will be counting down the days to the release of the fourth installment. I cannot wait to see what Vicky gets herself into next!
(Received a copy from the publisher)
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