Karissa E. (ophelia99) reviewed Blood on Silk (Awakened By Blood , Bk 1) on + 2527 more book reviews
I picked this book up a number of years ago because I liked the cover and the synopsis sounded interesting. It ended up being a pretty stereotypical paranormal romance novel. It was okay but not great. This is the first book in a trilogy.
Elizabeth Silk is a Scottish academic researching her thesis in Romania. She is doing research on the folklore featuring vampires and trying to come up with a theory behind these legends. One legend always escapes her theories though; that of Saloman. By a strange set of circumstances she ends up finding Saloman's tomb and accidentally awakens him. Little does Elizabeth know how much danger the human race is now that she has awoken one of the Ancient Ones.
This book started out promising. I liked the idea of an academic woman who is researching all these vampire legends. Unfortunately this skeleton of a story was only there to drive Elizabeth to Saloman and have her fall instantly in love with him.
There are a lot of very typical paranormal elements to this story. Elizabeth is a super frigid woman who doesn't care about sex..until seeing Saloman turns her into a giant raging pulsing hormone of a woman. Even when Saloman is abusing her she is drawn to him and wants him (yawn). Not only that, but Saloman (who is thousands of years old) is completely undone by Elizabeth and falls instantly in love with her.
Saloman is super alpha and uber bossy. Him and Elizabeth can't stand each other unless they are having really hot and spontaneous sex. The sex scenes themselves were fairly ho-hum...I just wasn't feeling the chemistry between these two.
There is some plot about Saloman going up against both other ancient vampires and a group of vampire hunters (that Elizabeth ends up involved with). But really most of the story is Elizabeth and Saloman either trying to kill each other or screw each other.
The writing is decent and the story flows decently as well. I just found most of it to be plain silly and very typical, not at all something creative or new. In the end I was glad to be done with it and had absolutely no need to ever read about Elizabeth or Saloman again.
Overall very typical and predictable paranormal romance. I didn't really enjoy the characters and thought the story was readable but not all that intriguing or engaging. This just wasn't my cup of tea. On top of that there are a ton of vampire paranormal romance books out there to read that are better than this one. Not recommended.
Elizabeth Silk is a Scottish academic researching her thesis in Romania. She is doing research on the folklore featuring vampires and trying to come up with a theory behind these legends. One legend always escapes her theories though; that of Saloman. By a strange set of circumstances she ends up finding Saloman's tomb and accidentally awakens him. Little does Elizabeth know how much danger the human race is now that she has awoken one of the Ancient Ones.
This book started out promising. I liked the idea of an academic woman who is researching all these vampire legends. Unfortunately this skeleton of a story was only there to drive Elizabeth to Saloman and have her fall instantly in love with him.
There are a lot of very typical paranormal elements to this story. Elizabeth is a super frigid woman who doesn't care about sex..until seeing Saloman turns her into a giant raging pulsing hormone of a woman. Even when Saloman is abusing her she is drawn to him and wants him (yawn). Not only that, but Saloman (who is thousands of years old) is completely undone by Elizabeth and falls instantly in love with her.
Saloman is super alpha and uber bossy. Him and Elizabeth can't stand each other unless they are having really hot and spontaneous sex. The sex scenes themselves were fairly ho-hum...I just wasn't feeling the chemistry between these two.
There is some plot about Saloman going up against both other ancient vampires and a group of vampire hunters (that Elizabeth ends up involved with). But really most of the story is Elizabeth and Saloman either trying to kill each other or screw each other.
The writing is decent and the story flows decently as well. I just found most of it to be plain silly and very typical, not at all something creative or new. In the end I was glad to be done with it and had absolutely no need to ever read about Elizabeth or Saloman again.
Overall very typical and predictable paranormal romance. I didn't really enjoy the characters and thought the story was readable but not all that intriguing or engaging. This just wasn't my cup of tea. On top of that there are a ton of vampire paranormal romance books out there to read that are better than this one. Not recommended.
I added this book to my wishlist based on an on-line review and the beautiful cover art, thinking it to be a slightly more mature vampire story than my YA favorites like Vampire Academy. I was fooled. This is a romance novel, the heavy-breathing kind, I think they're called? Usually there would be a heavily-muscled guy on the cover as well......
No judgement from me, I love a good "dirty romance novel" now and then, but I was disappointed in this book.
No judgement from me, I love a good "dirty romance novel" now and then, but I was disappointed in this book.
Stephanie G. (thestephanieloves) reviewed Blood on Silk (Awakened By Blood , Bk 1) on + 241 more book reviews
Elizabeth, a captive of academia, is a no-nonsense woman whose trip to Romania is solely for the completion of her thesis. Elizabeth is wickedly smartsometimes too smart for her own goodbut it is the solid head on her shoulders that has gotten her so far in life. And yet, devastatingly, it is Elizabeth, whom, in the first of Marie Treanor's thrilling Awakened by Blood series, accidentally but fatefully brings Saloman, the last of the Ancient vampires, back from his grave. And this is when her safe, sensible life goes perfectly, disastrously awry.
There are so many things about this book that I loveI'm not even sure where to start! The plot is gripping and fast-paced, and the history of vampires in its wake, fascinating. The premise involving Elizabeth's attraction to Saloman is tragic, but absolutely absorbing. As Saloman's Awakener, especially as an Awakener who is a descendent of one of Saloman's original slayers three-hundred years previously, Elizabeth is a powerhouse waiting to be bitten, and yet, an initial spark of attractiona desperate plea for affectionprevents him from killing her. Lust-crazed, he may bein his past life, he always got what he wanted: sex and bloodbut there's just something about her that keeps him from delaying the prophesied.
The dynamic between Saloman and Elizabeth is charming, witty, and absolutely smoldering! In their first catastrophic encounter, Elizabeth escapes from his clutches by sweet-talking him, and even making him laugh. But after that, it's no longer fun and games; it's power, sweet, succulent power... but in the end, it's desire that consumes them both.
Saloman's quest to take revenge against Zoltán, the evil vampire who has been in rule during his rest, is severely hindered by the distraction that is the naïve and beautiful Elizabeth Silk. During his unpeaceful rest, Saloman had no choice but to be patient, to be dead with his eyes open, but even he knows now it is time for vengeance. Yet the startlingly tender Elizabeththe surprisingly hilarious and clever girl who's smart in all areas, except for those of herselfprevents him from leading a direct path to Zoltán. To me, this was the typical forbidden love story, nothing original, but I loved it nonetheless. What I didn't really favor was how vampires seem really idealized: all of them are attractive, all of the powerful ones have the same clichéd paranormal powers (telepathy, inhuman speed, etc.), which is a bit annoying. But if that's what it takes to create a character like Saloman, a girl can dream, right? LOL.
The fine lines between love and hate, good and evil, and loyalty and betrayal are crossed, then crossed back in Blood on Silk, and the ride itself will leave you squirming in arousal and panting for breath. Treanor's eloquent, sensual writing style definitely enhances the story. This book was hard to put down and definitely hard to let go of.
As for characters, Treanor does a splendid job fleshing them out really well, both primary and supporting. Elizabeth is extremely relatable, in that she's a quiet sort of beauty, who is still insecure in identity and desire. She is contradictory in herself: lonely but self-sufficient, innocent but cynical, solemn but witty, fearful but unexpectedly bold, reserved but entirely passionate. She's torn between the well-researched, highly driven vampire hunters who only want to help her, and the beckoning of true desire and obscured evil; I think any reader will be able to sympathize with her frustratingly mixed feelings. Having brought Saloman back to "life" (because he's still technically dead... or undead), she has the self-determined obligation to save humanity and put him back to rest, but her unbearable attraction to him tampers with her emotions and he in parallel, prevents her from fulfilling her duties as well.
Saloman, on the other hand, is the exact opposite: sexually experienced, mysterious, and quite shady, but an enchantingly complex and deep character. Not much is revealed to readers about him, aside from what he tells Elizabeth, but he's the most powerful vampire in the worldwho are we readers to trust him? I obviously swooned over him... he's such a perfect evil hero! Marie Treanor cunningly and delicately shapes a lovable, devastating vampire, one who's more human than we think. His struggle and greed for power fuels his passion, evil, and destruction, which I think is perfectly portrayed. Saloman is all of alluring, magnetic, and dangerous, and throughout the book, is someone Elizabeth gets to know by heart, but then again, not really much at all. I'm looking forward to discovering more of him in the next book, Blood Sin (review to come!).
Both Elizabeth and Saloman fall for the monster in each otherhe, for the enemy and she, for the eviland in between the throes of passion, both will commit the ultimate act of surrender out of lust. But the question is raised: is it really only lust?
From both characters' perspectives, the shame, humiliation, and lingering insecurity of being in love with someone who may have ulterior motives is so true to life. The torture of Saloman's ever-presence that remains in Elizabeth's mind causes her to behave recklessly, and drives her into an emotional mess... but no one ever said love would be easy. And so readers recognize, love in Saloman was something she did not expect, but to be fair, love in Elizabeth was not Saloman expected, either.
The unworldly and rather reclusive Elizabeth helplessly opens her heart up to Saloman, and he, even more tragically, does the same to her. Treanor magically and precariously sheds light upon the importance of living in the moment, in the name of love, while weaving a heart-pounding, steamy love story about two lost individuals who find each other even under the most extenuating of circumstances.
Pros: Saloman is a perfectly evil, dangerous, provocative, swoon-worthy, marvelous character // Elizabeth is extremely relatable and likable // Witty, sexy banter // Explosive love scenes // Awesome secondary characters that are also well-developed // Forbidden love is heart-wrenching and equally hot // Plot is well-formed, with many facets explored and still unrevealed // Stylistically smooth
Cons: Elizabeth reacts lustily every time Saloman remotely comes near her and Saloman has an erection every time she comes remotely near him // Vampires are way too glamorized
Love: "You really are a bit of a bastard, aren't you, Saloman?"
"Oh no. I'm a complete and utter bastard. One can perfect these things over the millennia."
Verdict: The pages of Blood on Silk are absolutely scorching hot. From the chemistry between the main characters, to the heartbreaking storyline involving a star-crossed encounter and fate, this modern vampire tale combines the mystique of the world's oldest paranormals, with the enamoring backdrop of Scotland, and it's one you don't want to miss. The characterization is strong, the sex hot, and the love powerful in Marie Treanor's Awakened by Blood debut. False hopes, unconquerable desires, and the repercussions of unspoken longings convey a powerful message in Blood on Silk: that when it comes to love, sometimes doing the right thing, isn't always the best thing.
9 out of 10: Loved it! This book has a spot on my favorites shelf.
Source: Complimentary copy provided by publisher, via Bewitching Book Tours, in exchange for an honest and unbiased review (thank you both!)
There are so many things about this book that I loveI'm not even sure where to start! The plot is gripping and fast-paced, and the history of vampires in its wake, fascinating. The premise involving Elizabeth's attraction to Saloman is tragic, but absolutely absorbing. As Saloman's Awakener, especially as an Awakener who is a descendent of one of Saloman's original slayers three-hundred years previously, Elizabeth is a powerhouse waiting to be bitten, and yet, an initial spark of attractiona desperate plea for affectionprevents him from killing her. Lust-crazed, he may bein his past life, he always got what he wanted: sex and bloodbut there's just something about her that keeps him from delaying the prophesied.
The dynamic between Saloman and Elizabeth is charming, witty, and absolutely smoldering! In their first catastrophic encounter, Elizabeth escapes from his clutches by sweet-talking him, and even making him laugh. But after that, it's no longer fun and games; it's power, sweet, succulent power... but in the end, it's desire that consumes them both.
Saloman's quest to take revenge against Zoltán, the evil vampire who has been in rule during his rest, is severely hindered by the distraction that is the naïve and beautiful Elizabeth Silk. During his unpeaceful rest, Saloman had no choice but to be patient, to be dead with his eyes open, but even he knows now it is time for vengeance. Yet the startlingly tender Elizabeththe surprisingly hilarious and clever girl who's smart in all areas, except for those of herselfprevents him from leading a direct path to Zoltán. To me, this was the typical forbidden love story, nothing original, but I loved it nonetheless. What I didn't really favor was how vampires seem really idealized: all of them are attractive, all of the powerful ones have the same clichéd paranormal powers (telepathy, inhuman speed, etc.), which is a bit annoying. But if that's what it takes to create a character like Saloman, a girl can dream, right? LOL.
The fine lines between love and hate, good and evil, and loyalty and betrayal are crossed, then crossed back in Blood on Silk, and the ride itself will leave you squirming in arousal and panting for breath. Treanor's eloquent, sensual writing style definitely enhances the story. This book was hard to put down and definitely hard to let go of.
As for characters, Treanor does a splendid job fleshing them out really well, both primary and supporting. Elizabeth is extremely relatable, in that she's a quiet sort of beauty, who is still insecure in identity and desire. She is contradictory in herself: lonely but self-sufficient, innocent but cynical, solemn but witty, fearful but unexpectedly bold, reserved but entirely passionate. She's torn between the well-researched, highly driven vampire hunters who only want to help her, and the beckoning of true desire and obscured evil; I think any reader will be able to sympathize with her frustratingly mixed feelings. Having brought Saloman back to "life" (because he's still technically dead... or undead), she has the self-determined obligation to save humanity and put him back to rest, but her unbearable attraction to him tampers with her emotions and he in parallel, prevents her from fulfilling her duties as well.
Saloman, on the other hand, is the exact opposite: sexually experienced, mysterious, and quite shady, but an enchantingly complex and deep character. Not much is revealed to readers about him, aside from what he tells Elizabeth, but he's the most powerful vampire in the worldwho are we readers to trust him? I obviously swooned over him... he's such a perfect evil hero! Marie Treanor cunningly and delicately shapes a lovable, devastating vampire, one who's more human than we think. His struggle and greed for power fuels his passion, evil, and destruction, which I think is perfectly portrayed. Saloman is all of alluring, magnetic, and dangerous, and throughout the book, is someone Elizabeth gets to know by heart, but then again, not really much at all. I'm looking forward to discovering more of him in the next book, Blood Sin (review to come!).
Both Elizabeth and Saloman fall for the monster in each otherhe, for the enemy and she, for the eviland in between the throes of passion, both will commit the ultimate act of surrender out of lust. But the question is raised: is it really only lust?
From both characters' perspectives, the shame, humiliation, and lingering insecurity of being in love with someone who may have ulterior motives is so true to life. The torture of Saloman's ever-presence that remains in Elizabeth's mind causes her to behave recklessly, and drives her into an emotional mess... but no one ever said love would be easy. And so readers recognize, love in Saloman was something she did not expect, but to be fair, love in Elizabeth was not Saloman expected, either.
The unworldly and rather reclusive Elizabeth helplessly opens her heart up to Saloman, and he, even more tragically, does the same to her. Treanor magically and precariously sheds light upon the importance of living in the moment, in the name of love, while weaving a heart-pounding, steamy love story about two lost individuals who find each other even under the most extenuating of circumstances.
Pros: Saloman is a perfectly evil, dangerous, provocative, swoon-worthy, marvelous character // Elizabeth is extremely relatable and likable // Witty, sexy banter // Explosive love scenes // Awesome secondary characters that are also well-developed // Forbidden love is heart-wrenching and equally hot // Plot is well-formed, with many facets explored and still unrevealed // Stylistically smooth
Cons: Elizabeth reacts lustily every time Saloman remotely comes near her and Saloman has an erection every time she comes remotely near him // Vampires are way too glamorized
Love: "You really are a bit of a bastard, aren't you, Saloman?"
"Oh no. I'm a complete and utter bastard. One can perfect these things over the millennia."
Verdict: The pages of Blood on Silk are absolutely scorching hot. From the chemistry between the main characters, to the heartbreaking storyline involving a star-crossed encounter and fate, this modern vampire tale combines the mystique of the world's oldest paranormals, with the enamoring backdrop of Scotland, and it's one you don't want to miss. The characterization is strong, the sex hot, and the love powerful in Marie Treanor's Awakened by Blood debut. False hopes, unconquerable desires, and the repercussions of unspoken longings convey a powerful message in Blood on Silk: that when it comes to love, sometimes doing the right thing, isn't always the best thing.
9 out of 10: Loved it! This book has a spot on my favorites shelf.
Source: Complimentary copy provided by publisher, via Bewitching Book Tours, in exchange for an honest and unbiased review (thank you both!)
