Blood Demands

Blood & Ancient Scrolls Series, Book II

The exhilarating sequel to Amazon Bestseller Blood Ex Libris, book two of the Blood & Ancient Scrolls series.

Picking up from Blood Ex Libris’s ending in an explosive-ravaged cave in the desert, Blood Demands takes Anushka “Noosh” Rossetti and Sandu (the supposedly-reformed Vlad Dracula) back to Romania, where Noosh assumes she will settle down to her archivist job for the am’r (vampires). But after the nightmares start, Noosh’s life is disrupted yet again when she realizes that Bagamil, eldest of the am’r, is communicating to them that something has gone very wrong.

Despite the dangers to one who is only half-vampire, Noosh insists on accompanying Sandu to travel to Argentina, asking the am’r of South America for clues to finding Bagamil. Everything points to Tierra del Fuego, where in a cave system filled with booby traps and two opposing sets of enemies, Noosh must discover how to help a poisoned Bagamil to freedom, and when captured, must somehow outlive her enemies in a melee of revenge-thirsty vampires from South America’s colonial past. Despite intriguing allies and a bond with two of the most powerful am’r, Noosh must find her own way to survive in the brutal netherworld of the am'r.

©2024 Immoral Influence Publications (P)2024 Immoral Influence Publications

Reseñas de la Crítica

“Raven Belasco brings much to the table: a lively writing style, a fascinating take on the undead, a great deal of discreetly hidden scholarship, and a sheer joy in creativity which can sweep the reader along pell-mell. Come to these books for the hot sexytimes; stay for the sheer quality; linger for the quiet intelligence that underlies it all.” — Chaz Brenchley, Author of The Books of Outremer, and the Crater School series

Blood Demands

Blood Demands picks up directly after the events of the first book in the Blood & Ancient Scrolls series, continuing Noosh’s journey deeper into the secretive and dangerous world of the Am’r as she continues her transition from ordinary human into something quite different.

As an Am’r-nafsh, half human and half vampire, Noosh is still figuring out what that actually means. What started as a relatively simple job offer of digitising and cataloguing rare historical texts for vampires quickly grows into something much larger.

Meanwhile Sandu, once known as Dracula or Vlad the Impaler, along with his maker Bagamil, are searching for whoever set them up for the events at the end of the first book.

The story moves across quite a wide stretch of the world this time. From Bucharest, where Noosh begins training in bladed combat (because it’s hard for Noosh to go a couple of hours in the vampire world without something violent happening around her), through parts of South America and all the way down to Tierra del Fuego. The journey clips along quickly and often violently as we see more of how the Am’r world operates.

There is a lot more background revealed about the history of the Am’r, including deeper ties to the Dracula legend and the internal political structure of vampire society. New enemies appear, alliances are tested, and it becomes increasingly clear that this hidden world is both seductive and extremely dangerous.

Like the first book, there are plenty of hot vampire sexy times mixed throughout the story, with various pairings and throuplings among the Am’r. The mix of intense violence alongside moments of tenderness gives the whole thing a slightly strange but interesting emotional balance.

Amber Benson once again does an excellent job with the narration. I cannot say for certain whether every non-English word was pronounced perfectly, but it certainly sounded convincing enough while listening. I suspect the reference material mentioned in the introduction might come in handy if I ever wanted to double check some of the words.

So overall, Blood Demands adds satisfyingly to the series, continuing to build the supernatural world of the Am’r. While the series is primarily supernatural fantasy, the manoeuvring between different vampire factions adds an undercurrent of political tension that occasionally gives the story the feel of a subtle supernatural political thriller. It feels like there’s a heap more of Am’r history waiting for Noosh to discover.

Unexpected Twists

In the thrilling sequel to Blood Ex Libris, Anushka "Noosh" Rossetti and Sandu (a reformed Vlad Dracula) return to Romania, expecting a quiet life—until Noosh's nightmares reveal that the ancient vampire Bagamil is in danger. Their search leads them to Argentina and ultimately to Tierra del Fuego, where they face deadly traps and rival vampire factions while trying to save the poisoned elder. With powerful allies but overwhelming odds, Noosh must navigate the brutal vampire underworld, outwit her enemies, and fight for survival.

The author, Raven Belasco, once again, masterfully expands vampire mythology through a compelling, action-packed narrative. With a perfect balance of tasteful sensuality, creativity, and captivating storytelling, the characters are richly developed and integral to the plot. Unexpected twists and intricate world-building keep listeners engaged, delivering a thrilling and immersive experience.

The narrator, Amber Benson, delivers a captivating performance, infusing each scene with energy and emotion that align seamlessly with the characters and situations. Her clear, enthusiastic delivery is complemented by deliberate pauses and a well-paced cadence, enhancing the depth of the narrative. With precise vocal intonations, she brings intensity and authenticity to the storytelling, making for an engaging listening experience.

This immersive listening experience keeps the audience engaged, making it nearly impossible to pause before reaching its conclusion.

There were no issues with the quality or production of this audiobook.