Review:
*I received an ecopy of this book from the publisher. This has not influenced my review.*
*This review may contain spoilers for Book 1 in the series.*
I’ll be honest, I wasn’t planning on continuing this series. I had a lot of issues with the first book. But I was also intrigued by a lot of things in the first book. So when the mood to read this one struck almost exactly a year after reading the first one, I decided to read it. I try to just go with my reading moods and not question them.
But the problem with this book, much like the first, was that Txema was one of the most unlikeable and self-centered protagonists I’ve ever read about. When the vampire king asked how she liked her accommodations, in front of all the other vampires as well as the Chinese vampire emperor who was doing them a favor by hosting them, instead of just being gracious, she said they were only decent and complained about not having all the TV channels. She felt betrayed by Peter and Racco, calling them self-centered and thinking of them as deserters, despite the fact that she was cheating or going to cheat on Peter in Book 1; not to mention, the whole reason they weren’t there with her was because they wouldn’t have been safe. She constantly blamed her attraction to men and the fact that she cheated/nearly cheated (can’t remember exactly what happened) on magic or alchemy or anything but her own self. She led Garvan on, knowing she didn’t feel the same way he did. She was also judgmental.
And don’t even get me started on all the reasons Peter deserved someone so much better than her (thankfully they weren’t still in a relationship in this book). In Book 1, he was held in a dungeon while Txema was gallivanting around with Racco and barely even sparing a moment to consider whether Peter and her friends were alive or dead. Peter then had sex with her in front of hundreds of vampires because it was what Txema needed him to do even though it made him uncomfortable, and he wasn’t even her first choice to be the father despite the fact that he was her boyfriend. And one of the things I mentioned in my review of Book 1 was that, even right at the start of the book, it seemed like Txema was only using Peter as a stand-in boyfriend until she could find someone better. But then her feelings toward him in this book seemed all over the place, not seeming to care about him one moment, the next moment thinking about how she was still in love with him and would’ve married him if all this vampire stuff hadn’t happened.
Txema did, however, at least seem to make some better decisions in this book. She still made a few bad ones, but not quite like in the first book. And she managed to show some maturity at times, like when it came to learning from her elders and respecting the culture at the village in Nepal she stayed at for a while. And while she may not have been concerned about Peter’s or Racco’s safety, she was at least concerned about her daughter’s.
Aside from Txema’s character, the book wasn’t bad. I thought there was a bit of a logic flaw in the fact that Txema was only in danger at night (I’m sure Ralu would’ve had human supporters to look for her during the day), and there still too many exclamation points and a slightly unnatural feeling to some of the dialogue, but the story was somewhat unpredictable, there were some interesting and complex backstory/relationships revealed, and the writing flowed well enough.
So, to summarize, the plot was enjoyable to read about, but I just can’t deal with Txema’s self-centeredness, and for that reason, I just don’t see myself continuing the series.
Recommended For:
Fans of Book 1 in Aiden James & Patrick Burdine's Lifeblood Legacy series. Anyone looking for a new adult vampire book with a unique premise and a surprising romance.
More Books in the Series:
Book Review: The Vampires’ Last Lover (Lifeblood Legacy Book 1) by Aiden James & Patrick Burdine
Book Review: The Vampires’ Birthright (Lifeblood Legacy Book 2) by Aiden James & Patrick Burdine
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Nice cover. I like the sound of the Asian setting. Bummer that Txena is so problematic. It is definitely harder for me to enjoy a story if the protag is difficult or doesn’t work for me, and sounds like she has a lot of problems! Sounds like this would have a lot of potential if she was a little more relatable.
I love that these books have lots of settings outside the US. But yeah, it is a bummer that I just couldn’t deal with Txema since the story does have potential.
Oh my goodness! WHAT an unpleasant protagonist! Thank you for a really strong, well written review:).
Yes, definitely not one of my favorite characters! Thanks 🙂
This doesn’t sound like something I could tolerate for long. And since I have trouble DNF’ing (although I am getting better) I try not to start things that seem like they might drag me down. Also, I know it’s very superficial but I don’t know that I could tolerate the name Txerna very long. I enjoyed reading your thoughts though.
I rarely DNF too, so I get wary of some books for that reason too. But idk, the mood for this one just struck, and I’m a mood reader lol. But nope, turns out this series just isn’t for me. They explain in the first book early on or the blurb or something that the name is pronounced like Chema, so that helped lol.
Oh well. At least you gave it another try.
That cover is really beautiful.
For What It’s Worth
Yep, gave it two chances. Clearly it’s not for me. It is a nice cover though.
I hate when protagonists put you off a perfectly ok read. When you can’t find a way to connect with your MC you will always struggle with reading. Just reading about this book is making me dislike it and I’ve not read either book in the series I just could not handle that MC. Don’t you sometimes wish you could transplant different characters into a book to make it more enjoyed able, especially when there is an interesting storyline going on just sucky characters bringing a book down.
Yeah, it was a bummer. I think it depends, I don’t always need to like the protag, but this was too much for me to deal with. She was too frustrating. I’ve never even thought about transplanting different characters into a book lol, but yes, I think that could’ve saved this one!
you never cease to amaze me love! You are such committed bookworm! [taurus of course! no endeavour will be left undone 🙂 ] to continue with a series you were not so sure about and with a self-centered character you don’t totally like… WTG! Proud of you! 🙂
Lol I don’t normally continue series when I give the first book 3 stars. But this one still had potential, and you know how mood reading is. Won’t be continuing any further though because of this character :-/
Eh… I am sorry that the series didn’t really improve with the sequel. It just sounds like the protagonist isn’t really someone who we can connect with and enjoy reading about because of how impulsive and self-centered she is. It’s such a shame :/ Even if she did make some better decisions it seems like her personality hasn’t really developed much :3 I find it really hard to enjoy a book when I hate the main character because I’m such a character driven reader. However, Monty in the Gentleman’s Guide to vice and virtue isn’t really likeable. But he isn’t detestable at all either, because he always intends to do the right thing… so that’s one that is somewhere in the middle?
Sometimes I can still like an unlikeable protag or still enjoy a book regardless. It just depends on the book and the character and how it’s all written. This just wasn’t one of those times. I just couldn’t deal with her. And you’re right, now that you put it that way, she didn’t seem to grow or develop.