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The Vampires of Vegas #1
Reign of Blood
Never tease anything that wants to eat you.
My name is April Tate and my blood is the new gold. Vampires and hybrids have overrun my world, once vibrant with life, but now a graveyard of death shrouded in shadows. I fight to survive; I fight for my mother and brother. The journey is full of turns that I am quite unprepared for. And I'm just hoping to make it to the next Vegas sunrise..."
In a post-apocalyptic world, a viral epidemic has wiped out most of the earth’s population, leaving behind few humans but untold numbers of mutated vampires. April is a seventeen-year-old girl who lives in the remains of Las Vegas one year after the outbreak. She has become a ferocious vampire killer and after her family is abducted, she goes searching for them. What she finds is a new breed of vampire, unlike any she has seen before. Unsure of whom she can trust, she discovers that her view of the world is not as black and white as she once thought, and she's willing to bend the rules to rescue her family. But in trying to save them, she may only succeed in bringing her fragile world crashing down around her.
My name is April Tate and my blood is the new gold. Vampires and hybrids have overrun my world, once vibrant with life, but now a graveyard of death shrouded in shadows. I fight to survive; I fight for my mother and brother. The journey is full of turns that I am quite unprepared for. And I'm just hoping to make it to the next Vegas sunrise..."
In a post-apocalyptic world, a viral epidemic has wiped out most of the earth’s population, leaving behind few humans but untold numbers of mutated vampires. April is a seventeen-year-old girl who lives in the remains of Las Vegas one year after the outbreak. She has become a ferocious vampire killer and after her family is abducted, she goes searching for them. What she finds is a new breed of vampire, unlike any she has seen before. Unsure of whom she can trust, she discovers that her view of the world is not as black and white as she once thought, and she's willing to bend the rules to rescue her family. But in trying to save them, she may only succeed in bringing her fragile world crashing down around her.
305 pages, Paperback
First published April 27, 2012
About the author
Alexia Purdy
115 books1,093 followersAlexia currently lives in Las Vegas, Nevada–Sin City! She loves to spend every free moment writing or playing with her four rambunctious kids. Writing has always been her dream and she has been writing ever since she can remember. She loves writing paranormal fantasy and poetry and devours books daily. Alexia also enjoys watching movies, dancing, singing loudly in the car and Italian food.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 423 reviews
December 4, 2012
This review has also been posted on my Happy Indulgence Blog. Check it out for more reviews!
April Tate is a survivor amongst the post-apocalyptic world with a single goal that keeps her breathing – to find her brother and mother. A viral epidemic has sweeped the nations and turned the population into feral, mindless vampires who are solely out for feeding on humans. The feral vampires are very zombie-like in their demeanour, in fact throughout the first half of the novel I had a hard time differentiating them from actual zombies, except for the fact that they are repelled by sunlight.
Reign of Blood is pretty much I Am Legend in the first half of the book. April is a kick-ass, badass lone survivor who decapitates vampires with her machete. I absolutely loved the action and the tense, heart-pounding action here. Like the movie, the author creates a sense of building tension and horror that the zombies/vampires could jump out at you at any time, and that totally resonates with me.
The plot thickens as April discovers a new breed of vampire hybrids who are very human-like in their behaviour and are not affected by bloodlust, like the ferals. She discovers that everything she knew is not as it seems.
While I did love the premise of Reign of Blood, it was the insta-love later that made me grumble. It’s a pet peeve of mine, where there’s absolutely no build up or relationship building whatsoever. Luckily, it wasn’t enough of a focus to detract from the story.
Reign of Blood is not the most original story out there and it doesn’t try and be too complicated. It’s pretty much a survival horror with a twist on the zombie/vampire genre. I thoroughly enjoyed it and recommend that you read it if you love the sound of it!
I received a review copy from the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much for this opportunity, I look forward to reading your other work Alexia!
April Tate is a survivor amongst the post-apocalyptic world with a single goal that keeps her breathing – to find her brother and mother. A viral epidemic has sweeped the nations and turned the population into feral, mindless vampires who are solely out for feeding on humans. The feral vampires are very zombie-like in their demeanour, in fact throughout the first half of the novel I had a hard time differentiating them from actual zombies, except for the fact that they are repelled by sunlight.
Reign of Blood is pretty much I Am Legend in the first half of the book. April is a kick-ass, badass lone survivor who decapitates vampires with her machete. I absolutely loved the action and the tense, heart-pounding action here. Like the movie, the author creates a sense of building tension and horror that the zombies/vampires could jump out at you at any time, and that totally resonates with me.
The plot thickens as April discovers a new breed of vampire hybrids who are very human-like in their behaviour and are not affected by bloodlust, like the ferals. She discovers that everything she knew is not as it seems.
While I did love the premise of Reign of Blood, it was the insta-love later that made me grumble. It’s a pet peeve of mine, where there’s absolutely no build up or relationship building whatsoever. Luckily, it wasn’t enough of a focus to detract from the story.
Reign of Blood is not the most original story out there and it doesn’t try and be too complicated. It’s pretty much a survival horror with a twist on the zombie/vampire genre. I thoroughly enjoyed it and recommend that you read it if you love the sound of it!
I received a review copy from the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much for this opportunity, I look forward to reading your other work Alexia!
October 8, 2018
I just love a good post-apocalyptic tale, one rich in enough detail that I feel like I am there, but not so dark that I can’t believe I couldn’t survive! Starting with the perfect opening one-liner, “Never tease anything that wants to eat you,” I was pretty much hooked as Alexia Purdy introduces us to April and her small family, survivors of a deadly virus that decimated the world while creating mindless zombie-like vampires. Survival is everything and clearly, April and her family have “something extra” that gave them immunity.
When her mother and brother are taken, April finds herself alone and determined to find them, taking revenge on every blood-sucking monster around. What she discovers is nothing short of incredible, but can she trust her new “allies” to help her?
Get ready for Vegas as you never thought it could be in Alexia Purdy’s REIGN OF BLOOD where the most precious commodity could be one teen’s blood and she’s in no hurry to share!
One teen, forced to mature far beyond her years, and vampires that will change everything you thought you about them!
Series: The Vampires of Vegas - Book 1
Publisher: Lyrical Lit. Publishing; 2 edition (April 25, 2012)
Publication Date: April 25, 2012
Genre: Post-Apocalyptic Fantasy
Print Length: 319 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com
When her mother and brother are taken, April finds herself alone and determined to find them, taking revenge on every blood-sucking monster around. What she discovers is nothing short of incredible, but can she trust her new “allies” to help her?
Get ready for Vegas as you never thought it could be in Alexia Purdy’s REIGN OF BLOOD where the most precious commodity could be one teen’s blood and she’s in no hurry to share!
One teen, forced to mature far beyond her years, and vampires that will change everything you thought you about them!
Series: The Vampires of Vegas - Book 1
Publisher: Lyrical Lit. Publishing; 2 edition (April 25, 2012)
Publication Date: April 25, 2012
Genre: Post-Apocalyptic Fantasy
Print Length: 319 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com
June 16, 2012
I finished this in one day and it is sooo good....I HAVE NEVER ENJOYED A BOOK THAT HAS VAMPIRES IN IT THIS MUCH!!! I usually hate reading vampire books but this one is soo different than others vampire books... THIS IS A MUST READ..!!!!! 1000/100
April 27, 2012
I was honored to receive an ARC for review from the Author!
The cover of Reign of Blood drew my eye, the first sentence- "Never tease anything that wants to eat you." snagged my attention, and the book itself kept me glued to my kindle clicking pages, on the edge of my seat, waiting to see what would happen next.
There is just something about a strong young female lead character that never fails to interest me more than a weak, helpless one. April definitely fits into the strong female character role. She has to survive, she has to find her missing family no matter what it takes- even if it takes fighting zombie like vampires alone, blasting vampire ridden Vegas hotels to the ground, or allying herself with an unknown group of vampire hybrids.
Being a teenager has never been easy, being a teenager in a post apocalyptic viral infected world is down right dangerous, but April Tate is one heroine up to the challenge! I am hoping, no PRAYING there will be many more amazingly written books involving one of my new favorite teen protagonists!
Reign of Blood is a fast paced, in your face, heart thumping MUST read!
~Peggy
The cover of Reign of Blood drew my eye, the first sentence- "Never tease anything that wants to eat you." snagged my attention, and the book itself kept me glued to my kindle clicking pages, on the edge of my seat, waiting to see what would happen next.
There is just something about a strong young female lead character that never fails to interest me more than a weak, helpless one. April definitely fits into the strong female character role. She has to survive, she has to find her missing family no matter what it takes- even if it takes fighting zombie like vampires alone, blasting vampire ridden Vegas hotels to the ground, or allying herself with an unknown group of vampire hybrids.
Being a teenager has never been easy, being a teenager in a post apocalyptic viral infected world is down right dangerous, but April Tate is one heroine up to the challenge! I am hoping, no PRAYING there will be many more amazingly written books involving one of my new favorite teen protagonists!
Reign of Blood is a fast paced, in your face, heart thumping MUST read!
~Peggy
February 15, 2016
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for a honest review.
2.5 Stars
This book was kind of so so for me. I can't say I didn't like it because I did but it didn't elicit strong feelings from me either. I think the biggest reason I didn't love it was that I had a really hard time connecting with the main character.
The Good:
- The opening line!
"Never tease anything that wants to eat you"
How amazing is that?
- The concept was great! I loved that it was a dystopian-vampire mix because you don't get that very often.
- The feral vampires. I really liked that they were portrayed as "zombie-like" ie: as mindless eating machines because, again, that is not very common.
- The description. The author is very detailed and paints a vivid mental picture of the "apocalyptic Las Vegas"
The Not So Good:
-Introduction of the "not so mindless" vampires..then it becomes more of your typical young adult novel with good(ish)vampires vs evil(ish) vampires.
-The repetition of certain phrases. If I had heard "Blood and Ichor" ONE more time I may have screamed.
Overall, it was a decent read and I recommend you give it a try for yourself. It has gotten some rave reviews so don't let one opinion stop you.
2.5 Stars
This book was kind of so so for me. I can't say I didn't like it because I did but it didn't elicit strong feelings from me either. I think the biggest reason I didn't love it was that I had a really hard time connecting with the main character.
The Good:
- The opening line!
"Never tease anything that wants to eat you"
How amazing is that?
- The concept was great! I loved that it was a dystopian-vampire mix because you don't get that very often.
- The feral vampires. I really liked that they were portrayed as "zombie-like" ie: as mindless eating machines because, again, that is not very common.
- The description. The author is very detailed and paints a vivid mental picture of the "apocalyptic Las Vegas"
The Not So Good:
-Introduction of the "not so mindless" vampires..then it becomes more of your typical young adult novel with good(ish)vampires vs evil(ish) vampires.
-The repetition of certain phrases. If I had heard "Blood and Ichor" ONE more time I may have screamed.
Overall, it was a decent read and I recommend you give it a try for yourself. It has gotten some rave reviews so don't let one opinion stop you.
April 13, 2012
How lucky can one girl be to get an ARC copy of Alexia Purdy’s book? Whenever I get word that Ms. Purdy is releasing another book, my heart starts beating fast because I know I’m going on a pleasure cruise when her book is released. I have never seen an author put so much detailed description in a book where you can see all the characters and have your own vision of what that character looks like. She never fails me nor does she ever cease to amaze me. I am worse than a little kid in a candy store because there are never enough different flavors to satisfy my cravings when it comes to Ms. Purdy’s work. I just have to have more.
April had survived the virus and was on a mission for supplies any time she could get out and be out in the sun to avoid the vampires. Her mother Helen and her brother, Jeremy were missing after an outing they had planned. Where did they go? Is she going to be able to find them before the vampires find her? How was she going to survive? Another masterpiece from Ms. Purdy.
April had survived the virus and was on a mission for supplies any time she could get out and be out in the sun to avoid the vampires. Her mother Helen and her brother, Jeremy were missing after an outing they had planned. Where did they go? Is she going to be able to find them before the vampires find her? How was she going to survive? Another masterpiece from Ms. Purdy.
August 20, 2019
This was a nice read. It was an apocalypse type world and it sets the story up nice. I liked the idea that there were different types of Vampires. I also liked that April isn't a vampire (not yet) but her blood holds a secret. I liked the fact that she went sort of supernova when her family went missing and that she eventually got them back. I would love to rad more of this story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 14, 2012
I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Alexia Purdy is AWESOME! She wrote an incredible 5 STAR book! I loved the characters, the setting, the action, the romance, the TWISTS! Wow, this book just hasso much everything. I always wanted to check out Alexia Purdy’s work, and let’s just say…I am totally glad I did! I will most definitely check out her other books – they are all going to be on my TBR (to be read) list! So, if you enjoy reading post-apocalyptic books, “Reign of Blood” is for you. It’s different than most though, because the world wasn’t taking over by zombies but by feral vampires! Yup, I said FERAL vampires… not the Twilight kind of vampires.
A virus wiped out the whole world’s human population. A year later, the only known humans were April Tate, her younger brother Jeremy, and her mother Helen. Together, they survive the ruins of Las Vegas, Nevada. They venture out in the day to gather supplies and such because the vampires cannot be in sunlight – they disintegrate into ash. It still is very risky though because the ferals can hide in the shadows of the buildings, which has caused April to fight back and kill them – she is a kick-@$$ vampire hunter. April and her family are usually semi-safe once they make it back to their bunker in the mountains before nightfall.
“…Now nothing but silence and blood reigned once the sun went down (Kindle 70%).”
Everything changed for April when one day her mother and brother disappeared from broad daylight. Nothing made sense or added up as to how they could have disappeared. April spent her days searching everywhere for her family, desperate to find the only two souls that matter to her. Soon, April finds out that there are more ‘beings’ in the city besides the ferals and her family. There are hybrid vampires. These hybrids speak, feed off other vampire’s blood instead of humans, and have reasoning skills – besides the bloodsucking and certain vampiric physical characteristics; they can almost be mistaken for humans. Every time April thinks she knows what is going on and gets a hang of things, another twist is thrown at her. She realizes that not all the hybrids are bad – some are even willing to help her, like Miranda and Rye; others not so much. After not having any social contact with anyone for so long, conversation with anyone can be tempting – especially when said company has information about April and her family. But can April trust the hybrids? Can she so much as become friends with some of them? Or are they just as bad as the ferals, if not worse? Find out these answers and SO MUCH MORE in Alexia Purdy’s “Reign of Blood” now!
Wow! This was an exciting read. I love April; she is such a kick-@$$ heroine! I hope I could be as strong and bad@$$ as her if I were ever a survivor of a vampire apocalypse – or any apocalypse for that matter. I just loved everything about her; I don’t have any complaints for the “Reign of Blood” protagonist. I liked the supporting cast as well; Rye was a favorite of mine. I hope there is a sequel to this book so that I could read more about him. I also wanted to know more about what really happened with April’s family. I was expecting a little more about her family at the end of the book, but if there is a sequel I am sure I will read more about them there! I loved the ending though because it left me satisfied but also aching for more, which is my favorite type of ending to a book. I love this book and I can’t wait for more! Go check out “Reign of Blood” by Alexia Purdy now!
Brianna Lee Book Reviews
http://www.briannaleereviews.blogspot...
Alexia Purdy is AWESOME! She wrote an incredible 5 STAR book! I loved the characters, the setting, the action, the romance, the TWISTS! Wow, this book just has
A virus wiped out the whole world’s human population. A year later, the only known humans were April Tate, her younger brother Jeremy, and her mother Helen. Together, they survive the ruins of Las Vegas, Nevada. They venture out in the day to gather supplies and such because the vampires cannot be in sunlight – they disintegrate into ash. It still is very risky though because the ferals can hide in the shadows of the buildings, which has caused April to fight back and kill them – she is a kick-@$$ vampire hunter. April and her family are usually semi-safe once they make it back to their bunker in the mountains before nightfall.
“…Now nothing but silence and blood reigned once the sun went down (Kindle 70%).”
Everything changed for April when one day her mother and brother disappeared from broad daylight. Nothing made sense or added up as to how they could have disappeared. April spent her days searching everywhere for her family, desperate to find the only two souls that matter to her. Soon, April finds out that there are more ‘beings’ in the city besides the ferals and her family. There are hybrid vampires. These hybrids speak, feed off other vampire’s blood instead of humans, and have reasoning skills – besides the bloodsucking and certain vampiric physical characteristics; they can almost be mistaken for humans. Every time April thinks she knows what is going on and gets a hang of things, another twist is thrown at her. She realizes that not all the hybrids are bad – some are even willing to help her, like Miranda and Rye; others not so much. After not having any social contact with anyone for so long, conversation with anyone can be tempting – especially when said company has information about April and her family. But can April trust the hybrids? Can she so much as become friends with some of them? Or are they just as bad as the ferals, if not worse? Find out these answers and SO MUCH MORE in Alexia Purdy’s “Reign of Blood” now!
Wow! This was an exciting read. I love April; she is such a kick-@$$ heroine! I hope I could be as strong and bad@$$ as her if I were ever a survivor of a vampire apocalypse – or any apocalypse for that matter. I just loved everything about her; I don’t have any complaints for the “Reign of Blood” protagonist. I liked the supporting cast as well; Rye was a favorite of mine. I hope there is a sequel to this book so that I could read more about him. I also wanted to know more about what really happened with April’s family. I was expecting a little more about her family at the end of the book, but if there is a sequel I am sure I will read more about them there! I loved the ending though because it left me satisfied but also aching for more, which is my favorite type of ending to a book. I love this book and I can’t wait for more! Go check out “Reign of Blood” by Alexia Purdy now!
Brianna Lee Book Reviews
http://www.briannaleereviews.blogspot...
May 1, 2012
Hi y'all Anne here to give my review for Reign Of Blood by Alexia Purdy and I only hope that my review is thrill inducing and shocking as this book was for me. Push back Resident Evil and I Am Legend because Alexia is bringing her Wildlings and Hybrids to the party and you might wanna stay in the sun for this show. April Tate, her mother and 6 year old brother are the only humans left in what is now the desolate city of Las Vegas. Traveling fro their mountain hide out is becoming more and more dangerous as the Wildlings that inhabit the shadows are going mad with hunger. Trying to gather supplies and keep her eye on the shadows is becoming natural for April, she chooses to forage the most dangerous places to keep her family out of harms way. Sometimes it's not the things you can see that are dangerous and deadly but the things you don't see. April is a self created warrior, strong and deadly her vengeance is strong and desperate. She will go to any lengths to get back what was taken from her. Hybrids are watching and waiting for the perfect time to show April that there is more to the epidemic that blood crazy beasts she is hunting down. But how can you trust what has destroyed your life and home? April must learn and accept what is to come or suffer the loss.
This book was amazing, I was sneaking a peak at the first few pages and ended up not stopping until I had read it all. I was sucked into a world where shadows have eyes and watch you waiting for the chance to snatch you in and rip your throat out. Alexia has done brilliantly with they character builds.. Even down to the Wildlings, I could see their gaunt faces, eyes hungry for one wrong move and their teeth gnashing as April walks along in the sun light just beyond their reach. Hybrids come next given they play a huge role in this book and they aid April in her search and her choices she must make. They're beautiful, strong, fast and deadly but April won't be taken lightly she will earn her place and do what she must, even if it means trusting the very things that have up turned her entire life. I love this book. The plot was brilliant, characters were brilliant, back drop is brilliant, and last but not least the author is brilliant with so many zombie apocalypses going around I am thrilled to have a Vampire apocalypse that trumps the zombies. I got chills reading the scene descriptions, gasped in the plot twists, wanted to throw things when it was suspenseful and loved every freaking minute.!!!!!! 5 out of 5 stars for Alexia Purdy and Reign Of Blood..
This book was amazing, I was sneaking a peak at the first few pages and ended up not stopping until I had read it all. I was sucked into a world where shadows have eyes and watch you waiting for the chance to snatch you in and rip your throat out. Alexia has done brilliantly with they character builds.. Even down to the Wildlings, I could see their gaunt faces, eyes hungry for one wrong move and their teeth gnashing as April walks along in the sun light just beyond their reach. Hybrids come next given they play a huge role in this book and they aid April in her search and her choices she must make. They're beautiful, strong, fast and deadly but April won't be taken lightly she will earn her place and do what she must, even if it means trusting the very things that have up turned her entire life. I love this book. The plot was brilliant, characters were brilliant, back drop is brilliant, and last but not least the author is brilliant with so many zombie apocalypses going around I am thrilled to have a Vampire apocalypse that trumps the zombies. I got chills reading the scene descriptions, gasped in the plot twists, wanted to throw things when it was suspenseful and loved every freaking minute.!!!!!! 5 out of 5 stars for Alexia Purdy and Reign Of Blood..
July 22, 2013
Originally posted at A Little Bit of R&R Reviews
The story starts off with the aftermath of a viral epidemic. A virus has taken hold of the population, turning them into vampires. These aren't the glamorized kind of vampires, they are mindless blood-sucking fiends. They almost remind me of zombies except they need blood to survive, and they have a kind of hypnotic trance that can trick most humans. April is somehow immune to their tricks and is trying to survive with her mother and brother.
The first few chapters follow their journey. They live in a bunker in the mountains but venture towards the city for food and weapons. On one of their outings, April's family disappears with only one clue: tire treads. April searches Las Vegas for days with no trace of her family. On her journey, she attacks hives of the feral vampires in hopes of finding them. What she doesn't expect is to come across a hybrid vampire who is able to speak and walk in the sun.
April is introduced to the hive of hybrid vampires. She believes that they may be able to help her find her family, but not without a cost. Then there is Rye, one of the hybrid leaders, that is fascinated with April. I won't go into details on that one :-) you have to experience that for yourself.
Will April get the help she needs from the hybrids to find her family?
Or will she die trying...
My thoughts...
This book rocked my world! I have just recently started reading post-apocalyptic novels and this one tops the cake. The imagery is excellent and it felt like I was really there. I have never been to Las Vegas, but I feel like I know the places pretty well from Alexia's description. feel like a lot of YA books nowadays have girls that are just plain annoying or whiny. This was not the case with this book. April is such a BAD ASS and I love her! She is a kick-butt, self taught warrior and I enjoyed reading about her journey. The story has a touch of romance and it's perfect given the circumstances. April was hesitant about her feelings for Rye, rightfully so, considering he's a hybrid. I'm kind of glad that this story didn't end with a huge cliff hanger because I probably would have cussed Alexia out LOL. I cannot wait for the next book in the installment. I hope it will be just as action packed as the first. Of course, I would like to have more April and Rye time :-)
The story starts off with the aftermath of a viral epidemic. A virus has taken hold of the population, turning them into vampires. These aren't the glamorized kind of vampires, they are mindless blood-sucking fiends. They almost remind me of zombies except they need blood to survive, and they have a kind of hypnotic trance that can trick most humans. April is somehow immune to their tricks and is trying to survive with her mother and brother.
The first few chapters follow their journey. They live in a bunker in the mountains but venture towards the city for food and weapons. On one of their outings, April's family disappears with only one clue: tire treads. April searches Las Vegas for days with no trace of her family. On her journey, she attacks hives of the feral vampires in hopes of finding them. What she doesn't expect is to come across a hybrid vampire who is able to speak and walk in the sun.
April is introduced to the hive of hybrid vampires. She believes that they may be able to help her find her family, but not without a cost. Then there is Rye, one of the hybrid leaders, that is fascinated with April. I won't go into details on that one :-) you have to experience that for yourself.
Will April get the help she needs from the hybrids to find her family?
Or will she die trying...
My thoughts...
This book rocked my world! I have just recently started reading post-apocalyptic novels and this one tops the cake. The imagery is excellent and it felt like I was really there. I have never been to Las Vegas, but I feel like I know the places pretty well from Alexia's description. feel like a lot of YA books nowadays have girls that are just plain annoying or whiny. This was not the case with this book. April is such a BAD ASS and I love her! She is a kick-butt, self taught warrior and I enjoyed reading about her journey. The story has a touch of romance and it's perfect given the circumstances. April was hesitant about her feelings for Rye, rightfully so, considering he's a hybrid. I'm kind of glad that this story didn't end with a huge cliff hanger because I probably would have cussed Alexia out LOL. I cannot wait for the next book in the installment. I hope it will be just as action packed as the first. Of course, I would like to have more April and Rye time :-)
June 26, 2012
Wow what a ride. In a genre filled with zombie apocalypse having a book about a vampire apocalypse is so refreshing. I got sucked in from the first line. “Never tease anything that wants to eat you.” If that doesn’t draw you in I don’t know what will.
April, her mom, and her six year old brother are all that is left of the human race living everyday not knowing if it’s their last in the fight with the wildlings. While out one day to get more supplies her mom and brother go missing. April goes crazy trying to find them and in her quest to take out as many wildling vampires she meets a new breed of vampire...a hybrid. April doesn’t know if she can trust Miranda but if she wants her family back than she has to go against everything she believes and trust a hive of hybrid vampires. In doing so she learns so much more about wildlings, hybrids, and herself. For April and her family are not entirely human themselves. April also meets Rye who at first she doesn’t want to trust but she can’t fight the feelings she has for him and she’s not sure she wants to.
I loved every second of this action packed ride Alexia took me on. I found myself admiring April for all her strengths and even her faults. I found myself forgetting at times that she is only seventeen and has seen more death and destruction than most people will ever see. I don’t know how I would react if I was in April’s place having to fight everyday to survive. April is so well written that I could feel all her pain and confusion through out the whole book. The side characters are written just as well. We get to know them just as well. One in particular named Rye . He is so strong and wants nothing more than to protect April and be by her side forever. I found myself falling for him right along with April. I am hoping there will be another book. I want more April and Rye .
If you are looking for a new apocalyptic book then this book is for you. Alexia is defiantly an author to watch out for. She is on my must buy list and she should be on yours.
5/5 bats
~Sabrina
April, her mom, and her six year old brother are all that is left of the human race living everyday not knowing if it’s their last in the fight with the wildlings. While out one day to get more supplies her mom and brother go missing. April goes crazy trying to find them and in her quest to take out as many wildling vampires she meets a new breed of vampire...a hybrid. April doesn’t know if she can trust Miranda but if she wants her family back than she has to go against everything she believes and trust a hive of hybrid vampires. In doing so she learns so much more about wildlings, hybrids, and herself. For April and her family are not entirely human themselves. April also meets Rye who at first she doesn’t want to trust but she can’t fight the feelings she has for him and she’s not sure she wants to.
I loved every second of this action packed ride Alexia took me on. I found myself admiring April for all her strengths and even her faults. I found myself forgetting at times that she is only seventeen and has seen more death and destruction than most people will ever see. I don’t know how I would react if I was in April’s place having to fight everyday to survive. April is so well written that I could feel all her pain and confusion through out the whole book. The side characters are written just as well. We get to know them just as well. One in particular named Rye . He is so strong and wants nothing more than to protect April and be by her side forever. I found myself falling for him right along with April. I am hoping there will be another book. I want more April and Rye .
If you are looking for a new apocalyptic book then this book is for you. Alexia is defiantly an author to watch out for. She is on my must buy list and she should be on yours.
5/5 bats
~Sabrina
December 4, 2013
Awesome new take on vampires
Alexia Purdy just joined my list of favorite authors! The descriptions in this book are so well written that Alexia sucked (pun intended) me in immediately and I fell in love with her characters and her writing.
Vampire/zombie-like creatures roam the streets of Las Vegas after the world is overcome by some viral epidemic. This is a story about April, a seventeen-year-old girl and her quest to find her family. (Hmmm … something familiar about that. LOL If you know me, then you know why I say that. Hint AA)
But there is nothing ordinary or familiar about April’s journey.
This edge of your seat story had my attention from the very first chapter. Though in the beginning, I must admit, when I first started reading this, I was worried how the story would progress, because the first part spends a lot of time with April being by herself and narrated by her without much dialogue. Most books like that would be boring, but Alexia Purdy has managed to pull it off without much of a problem and made it very interesting. Things quickly change as the story continues … I won’t say anymore than that so I don’t give any spoilers.
I’m excited to read the next book,
Disarming (Reign of Blood book 2) because this one was so good and I need to find out how April is coping. She stole my heart in this first one and I’m looking forward to following her further.
Alexia Purdy just joined my list of favorite authors! The descriptions in this book are so well written that Alexia sucked (pun intended) me in immediately and I fell in love with her characters and her writing.
Vampire/zombie-like creatures roam the streets of Las Vegas after the world is overcome by some viral epidemic. This is a story about April, a seventeen-year-old girl and her quest to find her family. (Hmmm … something familiar about that. LOL If you know me, then you know why I say that. Hint AA)
But there is nothing ordinary or familiar about April’s journey.
This edge of your seat story had my attention from the very first chapter. Though in the beginning, I must admit, when I first started reading this, I was worried how the story would progress, because the first part spends a lot of time with April being by herself and narrated by her without much dialogue. Most books like that would be boring, but Alexia Purdy has managed to pull it off without much of a problem and made it very interesting. Things quickly change as the story continues … I won’t say anymore than that so I don’t give any spoilers.
I’m excited to read the next book,
Disarming (Reign of Blood book 2) because this one was so good and I need to find out how April is coping. She stole my heart in this first one and I’m looking forward to following her further.April 17, 2012
I was a littel concerned to sit down and write a review for this book. I was honored to receive an ARC of it from Alexia. I loved Evershade and thought why not. I like her and her writing I will give it a shot. The first few chapters I kept asking myself, why am I reading this book. This isnt like the books I normally read nor like. I am not an end of days type of person. I want to see all the happy frills, not the doom and gloom. I owed it to Alexia to continue to read the book and not give up on it. I think Alexia has single handly changed my opinion on these styles of books. I loved the struggle of her main character April. A teenager that should be worried about normal things such as dating, dancing and growing up. She is faced with trying to save her mother and brother from some really wicked zombified vampires. Then she meets Rye, Blaze and Miranda and everything she thought she knew isnt what she really knew. I am very interested in seeing where Alexia takes her characters in her books to come. She could do anything with them. Great story telling and wonderful writing. Keep it up Alexia! And thank you very much for allowing me the opportunity to read it early!
August 5, 2012
I want to start off by saying, in order for a book right now to garner 5 moons from me, it has to "Wow" me. I'm a writer, and as such, I don't have as much time as I'd truly like for reading. And I've read too many books recently that all start to run together. BUT, Reign of Blood by Alexia Purdy was NO such book! I absolutely fell in love with this innovative, and unique story. The writing style is simple, yet packs a punch for the reader. I felt everything that our main character, April felt. Alexia developed her characters, allowing them to grow with the story. I sat up all night to finish April's journey and I was not disappointed! This is a MUST read for any fantasy lover!
August 27, 2019
3.5 So I wasn't sure what to expect reading this book. I'm a huge obsessor of anything apocalyptic; vampires, zombies you name it I want to read it. Having a kick-@ss heroine helps as well. This was an OK read, it had it's high points but also a bit slow at times. Then again the heroine and her family (mother and brother) are believed to be the only human survivors after the virus. As you can imagine that leaves a lot of alone time for her once her family goes missing. I'm not sure if I will continue the series, this books was good don't get me wrong, I just don't know if I care to read on. Even the vamps themselves weren't anything special, we didn't really get a show of their superish powers and we only got a few scenes where we truly got to see the heroine in her kick ass mode. It ended on an OK note and I'm ok with ending there as well.
August 31, 2019
Rating: 4
November 6, 2012
This is a 3.75 for me. I debated the rating until I realized I do like this quite a bit, but it falls short of wowing me.
WHAT I LIKED
The Premise
I realize there are a lot of post-apocalyptic vampire stories out there right now, but something about the setup in this book just really worked for me. I liked the idea of a young woman facing the end of the world with her mom and her younger brother. I also liked the setting being in Las Vegas. I've been there a few times and I think it's a great setting for a book like this.
The Characters
April is a tough young woman. I believe she's supposed to be in her late teens, or maybe early twenties. Her age didn't really matter because she's already old beyond her years due to the pandemic that turns most of the world into vampires. She also reminds me of my friend April who has a ton of weapons and is ready for the zombocalypse or any other apocalypse. April is the type of person who doesn't give up no matter what. Though I was skeptical about her awesome fighting abilities at first, I was happy to see that a very good explanation was given for her sometimes over-the-top stunts.
I also loved Miranda and really wish she hadn't been pushed aside by the appearance of Rye. I was really bummed because it felt like Miranda and April were connecting in a way that was intriguing. I like seeing people become friends and it felt like these two could end up best friends. I hope there is more Miranda in the future.
The Action
Where the author really shines is the action sequences. Holy cow! Can we say epic? Can we say kick ass? Can we say "OHMYGAWDWHATTHEHELLJUSTHAPPENED?" Seriously....awesome.
The Writing
There are some seriously creeptastic scenes in this book. Shiver-inducing, make sure the light is on, creepiness. I also liked the vivid world-building, the tight descriptions, and the internal dialog of the character. Considering that April is on her own for a lot of the book, I was pleased that it never got boring.
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE
The Love Interest
I honestly don't think the book needed one. April is such a great character on her own and when Rye gets thrown into the mix it just all derailed for me emotionally. We have a huge shift in emotions from April worrying about her abducted mom and brother to this guy she just met. Also, the virus that makes the vampires felt organic and real, but suddenly this soulmate-insta-bond thing happens and we're in the world of the supernatural. Frankly, Rye could have been ejected from the story and it wouldn't have mattered one iota. There is no spark, no chemistry, just...this guy who is good-looking and is her lifemate. I felt Rye detracted from April. In fact, the love interest angle is what made me just "like" the book and not "love it."
The Ending
Most of the book is about April finding her family, but at the end of the book the resolution is told to us, not shown. We don't get the deep emotional punch in the gut I was expecting from how things wrap up. I wish we had more about her mother and brother in the beginning and more at the end.
Overall Thoughts
I came away from the book thinking that it was a good book, but one that needed a firm editor. Not necessarily with the whole grammar and punctuation thing, because I saw maybe one little typo in the whole book, but with content. I really think the writer needed someone to say "Explain this deeper" or "Why are you doing this?" or "Do you really think this is necessary?" or "I think you went off the rails here a bit."
Yet in the end, this book is a very good read. It's exciting, gory, creepy, action-packed, nail-baiting great fun. It's kind of over the top in a way that is just exhilarating. It felt it only bogged down when we were suddenly supposed to care about this hot dude named Rye. I honestly think the book didn't need him at all. April was just so kick ass I believed she could take on the world by herself.
Should you read this book? Absolutely! And you should do it RIGHT NOW.
I'm on board for the second book for sure!
July 11, 2012
** Originally Posted @ ReadingDiva's Blog Rating 5 of 5
**Contains Minor Spoilers**
Review: Whoa, talk about non-stop action and great characters. I came across this book recently and decided to give it a try to make it part of my July Dystopia Month, I am quite happy I did. The result is this review. I struggled a bit trying to come up with the right words to describe how much I enjoyed it.
The post apocalyptic America that Alexia Purdy has created is different from any other dystopia/post-apocalyptic book I read. We are introduced to a family of 3, April, Jeremy & Helen who struggles and fights to survive in a world that no longer belongs to them. April, her brother and mother live in a bunker, in the forest surrounding Las Vegas Nevada. Their world fell apart the day the virus spread turning more than three-quarter of population in America into vampires. However, April and her family were not affected by the virus, at least not in the same way it affected everyone else. This is where the fun starts.
One day during their daily raids Apri’s mother and brother get kidnapped, and April finds herself making alliances with who she least expected. Alexia Purdy’s take on vampires is unique; her creativity is what I find most refreshing. The world Alexia Purdy created can be easily compared to stories such as I am Legend (movie) & The Immortal Rules by Julia Kagawa. I am not implying she has taken ideas from these stories, what sets her apart is the uniqueness and her creativity which breaks the rule that seems to exist in today’s dystopia/paranormal world.
The characters are not very complex, yet they are unique & powerful, they are able to experience emotions and situations that one can easily be drawn to. The drama, the power-hungry villain and the deception are just some of the things that make this story amazing.
The fight for survival makes this such a compelling story, their feelings, their emotions and needs make the characters likeable. The details, the explanations and the characters reasoning makes you want to be part of the story; the author did a great job on these characters. The characters interaction is well-played and their nature well explained.
Alexia Purdy is able to bring unexpected reactions and emotions from readers, I felt compelled to finish the book, and I couldn’t put it down. The mix of human emotions and the paranormal effect makes this a great introduction to what I think will be one of a kind dystopian book/series.
Combine action, a young woman with an unbending attitude, a wish to survive and a thirst for vengeance and what you get is Reign of Blood. Reign of Blood is unique, emotional and fascinating. It certainly leaves you looking forward to more.
**Contains Minor Spoilers**
Review: Whoa, talk about non-stop action and great characters. I came across this book recently and decided to give it a try to make it part of my July Dystopia Month, I am quite happy I did. The result is this review. I struggled a bit trying to come up with the right words to describe how much I enjoyed it.
The post apocalyptic America that Alexia Purdy has created is different from any other dystopia/post-apocalyptic book I read. We are introduced to a family of 3, April, Jeremy & Helen who struggles and fights to survive in a world that no longer belongs to them. April, her brother and mother live in a bunker, in the forest surrounding Las Vegas Nevada. Their world fell apart the day the virus spread turning more than three-quarter of population in America into vampires. However, April and her family were not affected by the virus, at least not in the same way it affected everyone else. This is where the fun starts.
One day during their daily raids Apri’s mother and brother get kidnapped, and April finds herself making alliances with who she least expected. Alexia Purdy’s take on vampires is unique; her creativity is what I find most refreshing. The world Alexia Purdy created can be easily compared to stories such as I am Legend (movie) & The Immortal Rules by Julia Kagawa. I am not implying she has taken ideas from these stories, what sets her apart is the uniqueness and her creativity which breaks the rule that seems to exist in today’s dystopia/paranormal world.
The characters are not very complex, yet they are unique & powerful, they are able to experience emotions and situations that one can easily be drawn to. The drama, the power-hungry villain and the deception are just some of the things that make this story amazing.
The fight for survival makes this such a compelling story, their feelings, their emotions and needs make the characters likeable. The details, the explanations and the characters reasoning makes you want to be part of the story; the author did a great job on these characters. The characters interaction is well-played and their nature well explained.
Alexia Purdy is able to bring unexpected reactions and emotions from readers, I felt compelled to finish the book, and I couldn’t put it down. The mix of human emotions and the paranormal effect makes this a great introduction to what I think will be one of a kind dystopian book/series.
Combine action, a young woman with an unbending attitude, a wish to survive and a thirst for vengeance and what you get is Reign of Blood. Reign of Blood is unique, emotional and fascinating. It certainly leaves you looking forward to more.
May 22, 2012
This review may contain spoilers
This was given to me in ebook form from Confessions of a Bookaholic for review
Summary:
"Never tease anything that wants to eat you. My name is April Tate and my blood is the new gold. Vampires and hybrids have overrun my world, once vibrant with life, but now a graveyard of death shrouded in shadows. I fight to survive; I fight for my mother and brother. The journey is full of turns that I am quite unprepared for. And I'm just hoping to make it to the next Vegas sunrise..."
In a post-apocalyptic world, a viral epidemic has wiped out most of the earth’s population, leaving behind few humans but untold numbers of mutated vampires. April is a seventeen-year-old girl who lives in the remains of Las Vegas one year after the outbreak. She has become a ferocious vampire killer and after her family is abducted, she goes searching for them. What she finds is a new breed of vampire, unlike any she has seen before. Unsure of whom she can trust, she discovers that her view of the world is not as black and white as she once thought, and she's willing to bend the rules to rescue her family. But in trying to save them, she may only succeed in bringing her fragile world crashing down around her.
Review
I am in awe of Alexia Purdy, the detail in Las Vegas, where our story is based, was amazing, I will never look at Vegas again without shivering, The complexity of this story pulled me in from page one, imagine if you will, A world where you were the only human that you knew of with only your mother and younger brother for company, trying to avoid the evil Wildlings, the bloodsucking vampires that had been infected with a virus,(that live in the shadows of the stores where April and her family go hunting for food and essentials) all they want to do is to pull you apart and drink your blood, The Wildlings were scary, very scary, to make matters worse while your out foraging for the goods you need to stay alive, your mother and brother disappear, you don’t want to leave the centre of town, but you know you have to, to stay alive so you can come and look for them again tomorrow, so you spend all your spare time, when it was safe to do so that is, looking for your mother and brother and getting vengeance on any hives of Wildlings that you come across, our story just gets better and better the more you read it, if that was even possible, I am not sure if this is YA so I would read it first to make sure your happy for your teenager to read it, there was quite abit of violence but that is to be expected when your fighting to stay alive against the evil Wildlings, April is our heroine, she is a kick ass seventeen year old, I would want her on my side if the apocalypse ever really happened, that’s for sure, then she meets the Hybrids, a different form of Vampire, I don’t want to spoil it for anyone, so I won’t say too much, but they are truly a different form of vampire, they are friendly well most of them are, they help her when she needs them the most, there is a love interest, but it is a special friendship, as the hybrids mate for life, I felt like I was fighting beside April all through the book, you egged her on and wished she didn’t have to be on her own for those few days, while looking for her mum and brother, the fact that April self taught all her fighting skills while she was holed up in the mountain home with her family was truly awe inspiring, I give this book 5/5, it was amazing, can’t wait to read book 2
This was given to me in ebook form from Confessions of a Bookaholic for review
Summary:
"Never tease anything that wants to eat you. My name is April Tate and my blood is the new gold. Vampires and hybrids have overrun my world, once vibrant with life, but now a graveyard of death shrouded in shadows. I fight to survive; I fight for my mother and brother. The journey is full of turns that I am quite unprepared for. And I'm just hoping to make it to the next Vegas sunrise..."
In a post-apocalyptic world, a viral epidemic has wiped out most of the earth’s population, leaving behind few humans but untold numbers of mutated vampires. April is a seventeen-year-old girl who lives in the remains of Las Vegas one year after the outbreak. She has become a ferocious vampire killer and after her family is abducted, she goes searching for them. What she finds is a new breed of vampire, unlike any she has seen before. Unsure of whom she can trust, she discovers that her view of the world is not as black and white as she once thought, and she's willing to bend the rules to rescue her family. But in trying to save them, she may only succeed in bringing her fragile world crashing down around her.
Review
I am in awe of Alexia Purdy, the detail in Las Vegas, where our story is based, was amazing, I will never look at Vegas again without shivering, The complexity of this story pulled me in from page one, imagine if you will, A world where you were the only human that you knew of with only your mother and younger brother for company, trying to avoid the evil Wildlings, the bloodsucking vampires that had been infected with a virus,(that live in the shadows of the stores where April and her family go hunting for food and essentials) all they want to do is to pull you apart and drink your blood, The Wildlings were scary, very scary, to make matters worse while your out foraging for the goods you need to stay alive, your mother and brother disappear, you don’t want to leave the centre of town, but you know you have to, to stay alive so you can come and look for them again tomorrow, so you spend all your spare time, when it was safe to do so that is, looking for your mother and brother and getting vengeance on any hives of Wildlings that you come across, our story just gets better and better the more you read it, if that was even possible, I am not sure if this is YA so I would read it first to make sure your happy for your teenager to read it, there was quite abit of violence but that is to be expected when your fighting to stay alive against the evil Wildlings, April is our heroine, she is a kick ass seventeen year old, I would want her on my side if the apocalypse ever really happened, that’s for sure, then she meets the Hybrids, a different form of Vampire, I don’t want to spoil it for anyone, so I won’t say too much, but they are truly a different form of vampire, they are friendly well most of them are, they help her when she needs them the most, there is a love interest, but it is a special friendship, as the hybrids mate for life, I felt like I was fighting beside April all through the book, you egged her on and wished she didn’t have to be on her own for those few days, while looking for her mum and brother, the fact that April self taught all her fighting skills while she was holed up in the mountain home with her family was truly awe inspiring, I give this book 5/5, it was amazing, can’t wait to read book 2
October 9, 2012
"Never tease anything that wants to eat you." Words to live by if you wanna survive in a post-apocalyptic world.
Besides her mother and little brother, April Tate seems to be the last human left in Las Vegas after a virus caused serious mutations worldwide, turning humans into vampires. Her family seems to be immune, and being the last ones in the city makes it easy to raid the city for supplies during the daytime. That is until the day April went off to the drugstore alone, and came back to find her mother and brother gone. She immediately suspects the vampires found a way to collect them during the daylight hours and begins a long, exhausting campaign to check every building down the strip in order to find them again. Days later she's blown up several buildings with hives, but has yet to find her family. And the nights are no easier, as a strange group of vampires begin appearing outside her hidden bunker, who almost seem intelligent. When bombing another building, things go awry and April finds herself trying to survive her own blast, only to be saved by one of the vampires that had been stalking her homestead. Dumbfounded that a vampire was able to not only speak, but willing to save her life, she returns to the vampire's homestead when told they know about the whereabouts of her missing family. April slowly learns that nothing is as it seems, including her own mortality.
Reign of Blood isn't exactly a new literally concept, and in fact is strikingly similar to The Weepers and such, but there were a few new twists to the story that kept me intrigued. I was immediately curious as to why April and her family survived. They're nothing special, and the only reason April knew how to fight was because she buried herself in fighting How-To videos and stripped the hunting stores of their weapons once the world went to crap. And she's not the only one surprised by her survival. When a secondary, more intelligent, vampire type saves her life and explains that they are a vampire-human hybrid able to walk in sunlight, they too are curious and want to run tests on April's blood to see if her DNA might hold the key to curing them. Unfortunately for her family, they're being held by a rival group for the same purpose, but they're kept as prisoners whereas April is mostly allowed to roam free at her own risk (cause not every hybrid vampire is glad she's around).
Devising a plan to save her family, April is slightly distracted by Rey, one of the leaders of the hybrids. Maybe it's cause she hasn't seen a hot guy since they all went extinct, but she can't help but feel a smidgen of interest towards him, and him to her. Some might call this insta-love, but really it's cause a lot of the vampires become imprinted on one another, and even married couples split up and go for someone new. But humans don't imprint. And if April is actually imprinting on Rey, then maybe she's not as immune to the virus as she once thought, and just perhaps, there's a more frightening reason why she's managed to survive this long in a post-apocalyptic world full of blood-sucking vampires.
ARC provided by author for honest review.
September 14, 2012
I’ll be the first to admit that one theme I’m growing continuously tired of reading is vampires. Yes, you heard me right. Vampires. I’ve read countless books this year built around the vampire theme and it’s becoming monotonous, predictable, and draining (no pun intended). So along comes Alexia Purdy with “Reign of Blood”, and she completely blows me away with this action-packed, post-apocalyptic novel centered on the vampire theme, but so uniquely different it left me giddy with delight.
I’m absolutely passionate about strong, take-no-nonsense, female protagonists, and it thrills me to no end when they kick butt like it’s going out of style. Once I determined that the heroine wasn’t going to mope and balk at every obstacle she had to face, I relaxed and lost myself in a story where fear and uncertainty is the order of the day for the last three humans alive. April is everything I expect a formidable vampire slayer to be. Her strong points are hand-to-hand combat, a good aim when throwing hand-grenades, using machetes to slice off vampire heads with the same ease we use knives to butter toast, the ability to make Lara Croft eat dust (okay, I just threw that in there), and doesn’t think twice to go after every feral vampire in dead and decaying Las Vegas to find and rescue her mom and little brother.
Of course, if a book begins with the sentence, “Never tease anything that wants to eat you”; it has my immediate, undivided attention. To add to that, I also have a newfound fascination with post-apocalyptic novels, and however much I no longer enjoy reading about all sorts of same-old, same-old vampires, the ones in this story were thoroughly terrifying. One paragraph that had me giggling was the mention of Gotye’s song “Somebody that I use to know”. It was a nice touch and very appropriate in the tongue-in-cheek context it was used.
Kudos to Alexia Purdy for drawing me into a story where the fiery action never ends, the romance isn’t sappy or causes you to roll your eyes in exasperation, and a plot that builds up to an explosive finale with a nice big surprising twist. She deftly sketches a post-apocalyptic Las Vegas in a way that is easy to visualize and makes you feel as though you’re smack dab centre in the fighting scenes, in the midst of the death and decay of this once bustling city.
I hope there will be more books to follow on this one, and I’ll definitely be reading more by this author whose writing had me glued to the pages from start to finish. “Reign of Blood” will satisfy many a bookworm’s appetite – splendid writing, a marvelous storyline, and a read I highly recommend!
I’m absolutely passionate about strong, take-no-nonsense, female protagonists, and it thrills me to no end when they kick butt like it’s going out of style. Once I determined that the heroine wasn’t going to mope and balk at every obstacle she had to face, I relaxed and lost myself in a story where fear and uncertainty is the order of the day for the last three humans alive. April is everything I expect a formidable vampire slayer to be. Her strong points are hand-to-hand combat, a good aim when throwing hand-grenades, using machetes to slice off vampire heads with the same ease we use knives to butter toast, the ability to make Lara Croft eat dust (okay, I just threw that in there), and doesn’t think twice to go after every feral vampire in dead and decaying Las Vegas to find and rescue her mom and little brother.
Of course, if a book begins with the sentence, “Never tease anything that wants to eat you”; it has my immediate, undivided attention. To add to that, I also have a newfound fascination with post-apocalyptic novels, and however much I no longer enjoy reading about all sorts of same-old, same-old vampires, the ones in this story were thoroughly terrifying. One paragraph that had me giggling was the mention of Gotye’s song “Somebody that I use to know”. It was a nice touch and very appropriate in the tongue-in-cheek context it was used.
Kudos to Alexia Purdy for drawing me into a story where the fiery action never ends, the romance isn’t sappy or causes you to roll your eyes in exasperation, and a plot that builds up to an explosive finale with a nice big surprising twist. She deftly sketches a post-apocalyptic Las Vegas in a way that is easy to visualize and makes you feel as though you’re smack dab centre in the fighting scenes, in the midst of the death and decay of this once bustling city.
I hope there will be more books to follow on this one, and I’ll definitely be reading more by this author whose writing had me glued to the pages from start to finish. “Reign of Blood” will satisfy many a bookworm’s appetite – splendid writing, a marvelous storyline, and a read I highly recommend!
July 27, 2012
!!!!Possible Spoilers!!!!
How awesome is the name of this book?? Reign Of Blood, doesnt that just sound super badass!
it took me a few days to actually finish this book but overall i really enjoyed it.
i did have a few problems with a few of the characters and their behaviour or reactions to some things, mainly with the main character April, especially when it came to Rye - i get it there got a "mate" thing going on (im not a big fan of the Mate style of realationship so this might just be me) but i thought she just accepted it and the other vampires way to quickly. also she constantly do really dumb stuff and magically get herself out of it but otherwise she was a pretty fun character to read about. the twist towards the end about her and her family was great, yea you could kinda see something might be up but it was still interesting and her "predator side" was great! super spooky! and i cant wait to see if there are any lasting affects.
also some parts of the book seemed a little... rough.
the storyline in this book was great, i just loved the whole idea. there are a few books rather simular but i thought this one brang just a little extra something something to the mix.
Reign of Blood wasnt to long, which is nice but i wouldnt of minded if it was just a bit longer, sometimes i got the feeling little of details being left out, but if theres a next book im deff going to check it out :)
- i just wanted to thank The Nexus group and the author for giving me the opportunity to read this book
How awesome is the name of this book?? Reign Of Blood, doesnt that just sound super badass!
it took me a few days to actually finish this book but overall i really enjoyed it.
i did have a few problems with a few of the characters and their behaviour or reactions to some things, mainly with the main character April, especially when it came to Rye - i get it there got a "mate" thing going on (im not a big fan of the Mate style of realationship so this might just be me) but i thought she just accepted it and the other vampires way to quickly. also she constantly do really dumb stuff and magically get herself out of it but otherwise she was a pretty fun character to read about. the twist towards the end about her and her family was great, yea you could kinda see something might be up but it was still interesting and her "predator side" was great! super spooky! and i cant wait to see if there are any lasting affects.
also some parts of the book seemed a little... rough.
the storyline in this book was great, i just loved the whole idea. there are a few books rather simular but i thought this one brang just a little extra something something to the mix.
Reign of Blood wasnt to long, which is nice but i wouldnt of minded if it was just a bit longer, sometimes i got the feeling little of details being left out, but if theres a next book im deff going to check it out :)
- i just wanted to thank The Nexus group and the author for giving me the opportunity to read this book
June 20, 2017
2.5/5 Stars
After reading this, I had to sit on it and think of how I truly felt about this book. It is hard for me to rate this, if I'm being completely honest. If I get down to the point, this book has a great premise but lacks in other areas. I truly love the idea behind the plot, even though I felt the plot needed some thickening. The plot felt like very bare bones. It needed some meat. I also noticed some editing errors that bothered me, but could be easily fixed.
My drastically low rating is due to the first 35% or so of the book. It was completely boring. There was a solitary character that was all by herself doing the same things over and over. I mean, seriously. The monotony almost made me close the book and be done with it. I think this part of the book could have easily been condensed.
The characters are not developed as well as I would like. They are barable though. They could use some reworking to make the relationships seem real. For instance, I didn't really connect with the main character at all.
I hate hate hated the instalove. It was shoved in your face, and you just want to shout that love dosen't work that way. It is wholly unconvincing. That part of the story needs some serious reworking.
I know that it sounds like I hated this book, but I didn't. I just gave to be honest about what I'm feeling. I think this book has excellent potential. If reworked, I think that this book could be a best seller. Apart from the very beginning, I liked this book very much. I plan to continue the series and see where the plot goes from here.
After reading this, I had to sit on it and think of how I truly felt about this book. It is hard for me to rate this, if I'm being completely honest. If I get down to the point, this book has a great premise but lacks in other areas. I truly love the idea behind the plot, even though I felt the plot needed some thickening. The plot felt like very bare bones. It needed some meat. I also noticed some editing errors that bothered me, but could be easily fixed.
My drastically low rating is due to the first 35% or so of the book. It was completely boring. There was a solitary character that was all by herself doing the same things over and over. I mean, seriously. The monotony almost made me close the book and be done with it. I think this part of the book could have easily been condensed.
The characters are not developed as well as I would like. They are barable though. They could use some reworking to make the relationships seem real. For instance, I didn't really connect with the main character at all.
I hate hate hated the instalove. It was shoved in your face, and you just want to shout that love dosen't work that way. It is wholly unconvincing. That part of the story needs some serious reworking.
I know that it sounds like I hated this book, but I didn't. I just gave to be honest about what I'm feeling. I think this book has excellent potential. If reworked, I think that this book could be a best seller. Apart from the very beginning, I liked this book very much. I plan to continue the series and see where the plot goes from here.
May 30, 2012
Reign of Blood, the first book in a new series by Alexia Purdy, takes place in a dystopian future Las Vegas where vampirism is a sickness that has ravaged the world and mutated all its inhabitants in some way. A new and interesting take on the vampire genre, this book was phenomenal. I read it in one evening.
The story is told from the point of view of our main character, April, a kick-ass girl with a determination to survive and save her family in a world gone crazy. It's a fast-paced thrill ride told with humor and compassion. The plot is really different from your run of the mill vamp books and it grabs your attention from the very start and never lets go. The action is non-stop and helps to ratchet up the suspense.
I really love the characters in this book, and not just our heroine. Rye, one of the 'new' vampires April comes upon while looking for her family is probably my favorite character from the book. He is what every paranormal male lead should be in my opinion; sweet, protective and lethal all at the same time. April is a survivor, without a doubt, but she's also funny and smart. I really love that even though she is able to take care of herself she isn't too proud to take help that's offered to her, even when it comes from someone she believes to be her enemy.
Action, suspense and romance makes this the perfect book for me. I love Purdy's writing style, it had me engrossed from the very first page. This book is a must read for lovers of the vampire genre!
The story is told from the point of view of our main character, April, a kick-ass girl with a determination to survive and save her family in a world gone crazy. It's a fast-paced thrill ride told with humor and compassion. The plot is really different from your run of the mill vamp books and it grabs your attention from the very start and never lets go. The action is non-stop and helps to ratchet up the suspense.
I really love the characters in this book, and not just our heroine. Rye, one of the 'new' vampires April comes upon while looking for her family is probably my favorite character from the book. He is what every paranormal male lead should be in my opinion; sweet, protective and lethal all at the same time. April is a survivor, without a doubt, but she's also funny and smart. I really love that even though she is able to take care of herself she isn't too proud to take help that's offered to her, even when it comes from someone she believes to be her enemy.
Action, suspense and romance makes this the perfect book for me. I love Purdy's writing style, it had me engrossed from the very first page. This book is a must read for lovers of the vampire genre!
April 15, 2012
Reign of Blood
By
Alexia Purdy
Never tease anything that wants to eat you!
I have told Alexia Purdy that in my estimation, that was perhaps the most compelling first line in the history of literature.
And then, the book REALLY gets going!
Reign of Blood is Ms. Purdy's first foray into the realm of urban fantasy, but you would never know that from reading this awesome story. Alexia’s already proven ability to create forceful new worlds for her books is again proven without a doubt.
Alexia has created an end of world scenario right out of your nightmares, filling this new world with a multitude of mutations and action that will have you willingly falling deeply into the story.
April, the heroine of the story, was your average everyday teenager when this gruesome plague touched her world...changing everything. I fell in love with April from that first gripping line of the book, and she held my love the entire way.
Her machete-wielding solution to the world forced upon her is just the tip of the action-packed adventure that you will experience in Reign of Blood.
I am honored to give this story the highest praises available. It is a must read for every fan of Urban Fiction, Action/Adventure, Paranormal or Fantasy.
It truly has no genre…except AWESOME!
5-Stars!
JT Lewis
By
Alexia Purdy
Never tease anything that wants to eat you!
I have told Alexia Purdy that in my estimation, that was perhaps the most compelling first line in the history of literature.
And then, the book REALLY gets going!
Reign of Blood is Ms. Purdy's first foray into the realm of urban fantasy, but you would never know that from reading this awesome story. Alexia’s already proven ability to create forceful new worlds for her books is again proven without a doubt.
Alexia has created an end of world scenario right out of your nightmares, filling this new world with a multitude of mutations and action that will have you willingly falling deeply into the story.
April, the heroine of the story, was your average everyday teenager when this gruesome plague touched her world...changing everything. I fell in love with April from that first gripping line of the book, and she held my love the entire way.
Her machete-wielding solution to the world forced upon her is just the tip of the action-packed adventure that you will experience in Reign of Blood.
I am honored to give this story the highest praises available. It is a must read for every fan of Urban Fiction, Action/Adventure, Paranormal or Fantasy.
It truly has no genre…except AWESOME!
5-Stars!
JT Lewis
April 13, 2012
Reign of Blood by Alexia Purdy
I was really lucky to receive a ARC of the book Reign Of Blood by Alexia Purdy. Let me tell you it was a absolutely AMAZING book. A vampire epidemic has hit Sin City, Las Vegas and April, her mother, and 6 year old brother seem to be the only humans left????
April is one kick ass teenager who fights zombie like vampires instead of planning her next date or picking a dress for prom. After a unfortunate incident she meets with Miranda, Blaze, and Rye. Together they learn things about one another and try to work together to help benefit one another. What is the secret behind the biological makeup of April that has everyone wanting her. The strength that she shows gives us the promise that in times of adversary we to may have a inner warrior. I for one would definitely love to see more Ito this story. It would definitely be one to be placed on my watch list. This book was a refreshing change of pace from typical vampire books that have come out with the romance taking over the thrill of having a book increase your heart rate and keeping you glued to the pages as the story unfolds without predictability. Please please Alexia continue we this wonderful story. Definitely a 5 star plus book and when it is released I recommend you picking up a copy.
I was really lucky to receive a ARC of the book Reign Of Blood by Alexia Purdy. Let me tell you it was a absolutely AMAZING book. A vampire epidemic has hit Sin City, Las Vegas and April, her mother, and 6 year old brother seem to be the only humans left????
April is one kick ass teenager who fights zombie like vampires instead of planning her next date or picking a dress for prom. After a unfortunate incident she meets with Miranda, Blaze, and Rye. Together they learn things about one another and try to work together to help benefit one another. What is the secret behind the biological makeup of April that has everyone wanting her. The strength that she shows gives us the promise that in times of adversary we to may have a inner warrior. I for one would definitely love to see more Ito this story. It would definitely be one to be placed on my watch list. This book was a refreshing change of pace from typical vampire books that have come out with the romance taking over the thrill of having a book increase your heart rate and keeping you glued to the pages as the story unfolds without predictability. Please please Alexia continue we this wonderful story. Definitely a 5 star plus book and when it is released I recommend you picking up a copy.
April 16, 2015
First paragraph:
NEVER TEASE ANYTHING that wants to eat you. The ravenous eyes that bled death all around and peered from their window, drooling at the sight of us. The buildings loomed above as we rushed across the concrete and asphalt, hurrying to beat the sun as it set. They lurked in every window, shrouded by the shadow from the searing sun. The east sides of the buildings were crawling with vampires. They smirked and sneered their inhuman growls, hissing right at us as we jumped from sunbeam to sunbeam, racing to the awaiting van. Only the light kept them at bay. Only the light kept us from their sharp, gripping fangs.
"Reign of Blood" tells the story of a teenage girl hunting for her mother and little brother in a Las Vegas destroyed by a vampiric plague. After the disappearance of her family, April may be the only human around. She's surrounded by wild, feral vampires, and encounters a new variant, a hybrid vampire that can think and speak.
I enjoyed this story - swift, sharp action, with a heroine who doesn't live with her head in a hole in the ground. Engaging characters. A goodread.
NEVER TEASE ANYTHING that wants to eat you. The ravenous eyes that bled death all around and peered from their window, drooling at the sight of us. The buildings loomed above as we rushed across the concrete and asphalt, hurrying to beat the sun as it set. They lurked in every window, shrouded by the shadow from the searing sun. The east sides of the buildings were crawling with vampires. They smirked and sneered their inhuman growls, hissing right at us as we jumped from sunbeam to sunbeam, racing to the awaiting van. Only the light kept them at bay. Only the light kept us from their sharp, gripping fangs.
"Reign of Blood" tells the story of a teenage girl hunting for her mother and little brother in a Las Vegas destroyed by a vampiric plague. After the disappearance of her family, April may be the only human around. She's surrounded by wild, feral vampires, and encounters a new variant, a hybrid vampire that can think and speak.
I enjoyed this story - swift, sharp action, with a heroine who doesn't live with her head in a hole in the ground. Engaging characters. A goodread.
April 15, 2012
I was so happy I got a chance to get an ARC of this one, lets say it was such a page turner. I fell in love with April from the start and the fight she struggled with every day to stay alive and find her family. She was such a unique girl and someone I have to say I envy. She was so strong for a girl who lived every day not knowing if she will make it because of the crazy vampires that lived in the city below. She would searched for her family everyday, till one day she encounters a new group that becomes part of her life and her hunt to find her family. They also reveal so much about whats happening around her and so much about herself as well, you will be breathless!! I think I was sad at the ending I wanted more, I hope to see it in the 2nd book.( nothing bad you will see once you read, *wink-wink) I am excited to see more of April and her new life and Rye the man I think I fell for as well:)) This is a fascinating read for all ages!
August 19, 2012
I received this book on a read to review basis.
When I first started reading this book my initial thoughts were “this all sounds pretty familiar, just with vampires instead of zombies”, that was until the story got going – then I couldn’t stop reading.
Reign of Blood is an action packed, fast paced post-apocalyptic story full of unique twists and turns that will leave you hooked. The character development grows throughout the entire story, and the descriptions used leave little to the imagination.
The end felt a little rushed after all the detail throughout the book, another chapter on the rescue of the family / April’s reunion with them would have fitted nicely. I also hope book 2 offers more insight into the epidemic, maybe a few flashbacks to the timeline / how it spread.
Overall a great book, and a series to keep an eye on.
When I first started reading this book my initial thoughts were “this all sounds pretty familiar, just with vampires instead of zombies”, that was until the story got going – then I couldn’t stop reading.
Reign of Blood is an action packed, fast paced post-apocalyptic story full of unique twists and turns that will leave you hooked. The character development grows throughout the entire story, and the descriptions used leave little to the imagination.
The end felt a little rushed after all the detail throughout the book, another chapter on the rescue of the family / April’s reunion with them would have fitted nicely. I also hope book 2 offers more insight into the epidemic, maybe a few flashbacks to the timeline / how it spread.
Overall a great book, and a series to keep an eye on.
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