Blood Destiny: Blood Curse Series book 1

By: Tessa Dawn

Narrated by: Eric Dove

Length: 12 hrs and 5 mins

Publisher's summary

He is a lethal vampire bound by an ancient curse. She is an agent of homeland security investigating a dangerous cult. Theirs is a Blood Destiny about to unfold.

Descended from the progeny of celestial gods and humans, Nathaniel Silivasi is handsome, seductive, and powerful beyond measure: a lethal vampire. Belonging to an ancient civilization that sacrificed its females to the verge of extinction, he is also cursed. Like all the sons of Jadon, he is incapable of producing female offspring and required to sacrifice a firstborn son as atonement for the sins of his forefathers. While he belongs to a modern civilization, he is bound by primeval law.

When Jocelyn Levi stumbles upon Nathaniel's pristine mountain valley, she is not prepared for the collision of worlds she is about to encounter. As an agent of the homeland security department ICE, the beautiful, defiant female has an agenda of her own: to stop the ritualistic slaughter of innocent, young women by a human trafficking ring. Little does she know the evil she seeks is unlike anything she has ever witnessed. She has entered a world of warriors, code, and mystery, where the predators are divided only by degrees of light and shadow, and the dark, handsome stranger who has come to her aid is the most dangerous of all.

©2009 and 2012 Terresa York (P)2015 Tessa Dawn

Hands down, one of the best authors out there!

Any additional comments?

HOLY S***! That is all I can say about this book. I am going to say something only because it is absolutely true; this is one of the BEST books I have listened to in my life. It is everything I ever wanted my vampires to be, scary as hell and yet too sexy for your eyes. Now with the exception of a few vampires (Dante, Bones, all of the BDB, etc.), there aren't many vampires that are truly brutal, I mean X-Rated, B-Movie brutal. Well I don't have to look any further, I found them right here in Blood Destiny. Tessa Dawn, you are now in my top five list of kicka** authors. Thank you!


Blood Destiny starts with telling us about the existence of vampires. There are two different kinds of vampires, light and dark. Twin brothers, Jadon (light) and Jaegar (dark) were punished by the blood of the women they killed. But Jadon wasn't the one who spilled blood, it was the vicious Jaegar. But nonetheless, they were both cursed. The light vampires can walk in the sun and have mates. Their mates have been chosen by the gods. Thing is they only have thirty days to marry and have twins with their mate (the vamps only have twin boys) and sacrifice the evil twin. If they don't, their lives will be at risk. The dark vampires do not get a mate which complicates things because when they do, things end badly for the women they take.


Oh my goodness, I loved this book sooooo much. I didn't know what to think of this book when I first heard about it. My favorite thing about it was Tessa Dawn's take on vampire mythology. Honestly, throw out everything you know about vampires because it will not apply to this book. The vampires are scary, truly immortal (only way to kill them is through draining them completely of blood), and they aren't only powerful, they are part gods. Seriously, the things they can do are insane. They can literally control the elements with their emotions. For instance, when Nathaniel found out what happened to his recently deceased brother's, Shelby, wife Dalia, he got so pissed, he caused an earthquake. Even more so, they have abilities they gain that literally takes over a thousand years of education to master. Seriously, do not screw with these guys.


The characters were incredible. The protégé Braden and the Silivasi brothers were a riot especially Marquis, who was the meanest of them all. But he had a heart of gold. Well you don't see that until near the end of the book. Marquis does everything to protect his brothers and being the oldest of them all, he carries a huge weight on his shoulders. I also loved the leading lady, Jocelyn. She had a pair of lady balls for sure. After everything she has seen (and what she tried to do to escape), she fights no matter what. I loved that it wasn't one of those things where she immediately decided to be with Nathaniel. She actually thought about what she was getting into. I loved Nathaniel. He was hot and brutal when he needed to be and loved Jocelyn unconditionally.


Now for the warning. This book will not be for everyone. Do not let the fact that this is part Paranormal Romance fool you. There are some horrific scenes in this book. I mean scenes they wouldn't put in a horror movie. Blood Destiny is very dark, cruel and doesn't hold anything back. If you are looking for sweet little vampires that glitter and sparkle, look elsewhere. If you want vampires that actually belong in a horror movie and will literally rip you to shreds, these are your guys.


I can't think of anything bad to say about this book. The story and history in this book was rich and well-layered. Again, the mythology is super fresh and unique. Do not go into this thinking it is just another vampire book, it is far from it. This is an amazing debut by Tessa Dawn and this is high, very high on my favorites list. The narration by Eric Dove was amazing. I have not listened to his narration before and I clearly should. Apparently he has narrated for a bunch of my favorite authors and I never knew it. I feel so ashamed. But his voice is soothing and enveloping. I easily fell into the story with his voice. By the way, Marquis' book is book 2, Blood Awakening.. So I plan on listening to this one or two more times before then. And many more times after that and I am sure Blood Awakening will be just as re-readable.

I so love this series!!

i so love this series, Blood Destiny is about Jocelyn and Nathaniel and their Blood Moon and having to do their part to fulfill the Blood Curse! this book is gripping and intense, Dark and just downright fun!!! The Narrator does an awesome job on this book! His voice is sexy and I love the way he changes pitches to do different characters!! I would recommend this to anyone who loves their vampires with a little bite!!!!! I can't wait to hear the rest of them on Audio!!!

AN EXTRAORDINARY AND EXCEPTIONAL STORY

If you could sum up Blood Destiny in three words, what would they be?

Remarkable, Breath-taking & Exciting

What other book might you compare Blood Destiny to and why?

Tessa Dawn has her very own unique way of telling and story.Because this book is so unusual and beyond the norm for this genre I would be hard pressed to find any that I could directly compare with it. Yes, there are other very good writers, but I feel that Tessa is very unique in her way of storytelling that a comparison would not be a true statement of her work.,

Which scene was your favorite?

One of my favorite scenes (spoiler) is when Joyceln and Braden have gone into a back room to hide from the werewolves and she discovers that one of the Dark Vampires (her enemy, also) is being held prisoner there and she has to save and join with the Dark Vampire against the werewolves (who are also his enemy) in order to save Braden and herself. The scene explodes as she begins to say to the Dark Vampire over and over "the enemy of my enemy is my friend". Two sworn enemies are drawn together by the very unyielding emotion and desire for self-preservation against a common enemy.

If you could rename Blood Destiny, what would you call it?

The name is the book! I can't imagine any other name as powerful once you have heard the book.

Any additional comments?

I also want to say that the narrator, Eric Dove, is phenomenal. His voice, narration, intonation and presence adds an incredible experience to the book. Next, I would highly recommend Blood Destiny to anyone who loves the genre of Vampires and dark fantasy. It is far beyond what you may imagine.

Sparkly Vampires need not apply

From the first word to the last, this story grabbed me and refused to let go. Blood Destiny was nothing like I expected it to be. I was immediately transported into a story so rich with texture, so incredibly vivid that I felt as though I was there, meeting Nathaniel Silivisai as he comes in contact with the one female that could and would, change his entire world. Watching, as it unfolded before my eyes, there were times I wanted to look away and couldn't.
This story is not for the faint of heart, it's brutal and intense, it will show what evil really is but, do not despair; there is light in this story too, a tale of loyalty, love and honor shines through. Tessa Dawn has the ability to hold you captive in her world until she is ready to release you. She is so incredibly gifted as a story teller and our narrator Eric Dove, brought to life the characters with such precision and depth I had the tingles and shivers more than once. As each character was brought to the surface you felt their personalities, could distinguish their traits. Simply said, between Tessa's amazing story and Eric's delivery, you will not be disappointed.
This first installment to a series that is nothing short of brilliant should not be missed.

Excellent read I would recommend this book

What did you love best about Blood Destiny?

.This book brings new life to a theme that has been around for over a 100 years. It makes you not want to put the book down until it is finished.

What did you like best about this story?

This writer has an extraordinary imagination. She has taken an old subject and given it a new twist. Not only is it exciting and compelling, it is also addictive in that the wait for the next book is almost unbearable. Her attention to detail and attitude of the characters bring them to life and make you feel that they are actually alive

What does Eric Dove bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The reader of this book appears to have an exceptional grasp of the characters and their personalities. His adaptation of the various voices brings the characters to life. I noticed no hesitation or slurring of words, and (which irks me the most in a lot of your readers) the swallowing of spittle or the breaking up of a sentence in the wrong place.
In other words, to make a long story short, the writer and the reader are a perfect match, and the book itself well worth the read.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

This was a book that kept my interest until the wee hours of the morning, long past the time I should have been asleep. And on awakening I wanted to continue where I left off until I finished it. And then I wanted more.

Any additional comments?

Anyone who has been captivated by the Dracula stories will be pleasantly surprised and intrigued by this book, and will anxiously await the next in the series.

Brilliance plus talent equals A GREAT AUDIO BOOK!!

In a world that is full of the "same" vampire story being told again and again (vampire meets girl, they instantly fall in love, and he's scary because he gas fangs) Tessa Dawn's Blood Destiny was beyond refreshing. First, it's original. The entire backstory on the origin of the vampires is completely new and the vampires are real...as in Dracula real! There's nothing watered down about them. The civilization and world building is equally rich and complex and the characters are so clearly fleshed out you can almost reach out and touch them. I would say they're 3D, but they're really 4D since you can almost describe their souls. I thought Tessa's storytelling was amazing, the plot was exciting (pretty hard to put down), and the narrator could not have done a better hob with the brilliant work of fiction he was handed! I will listen again and again!

Exciting, sexy, and riviting!

Would you listen to Blood Destiny again? Why?

Definitely YES! Eric Dove has done an amazing job. The fight scene's - WOW! This is my first audio book because I have always enjoyed reading. however Eric brings so much emotion and character to this series that I am looking forward to more.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I love Marquis! His character reminds me so much of my own Alpha.

Which scene was your favorite?

Chapter 1 - Chapter 33 What's not to love? This is so different from any other vampire book that your are hooked from the first chapter to the end. But If I had to narrow it down it would be the fight scene with the Lycan's. What Nathaniel does to protect Jocelyn is awesome! Plus if you didn't already just love Braden, what he does to help Jocelyn until the cavalry arrives just makes you love him even more. In a motherly way of course.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I would have if I could have ;-)

Any additional comments?

WOW! What an amazing, riveting, suspenseful, articulate book! Could not put it down. It had my attention from the first few minutes all the way to the end. I can't wait to listen to more. If you are looking for a new twist to vampire lore, you have found it and you will not be disappointed. These are not your daughters vampires that sparkle

Blood Destiny Audiobook Exceeded All Expectations

Would you listen to Blood Destiny again? Why?

As my first-ever audiobook, I was absolutely delighted to listen to, and enjoy, BLOOD DESTINY. Tessa Dawn's writing and storytelling is immaculate, engaging and evocative. Listening to BLOOD DESTINY provided an entirely new experience, introducing an almost "3-D element" to the book. Characters came alive; became richer. Scenery "filled out;" became darker. Emotional elements were even heightened. All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed BLOOD DESTINY as an audiobook and as this is book #1 in the superb BLOOD CURSE SERIES, look forward to Tessa's other books coming available on audible.com

What other book might you compare Blood Destiny to and why?

Tessa's writing style is unique, in that I feel as if I'm sitting around a large campfire at night, listening to tales of darkness and light; good and evil; love and revenge; and amidst all of this – loyalty. It's hard to compare Tessa's works with other books as she is a rare gem amongst authors.

What does Eric Dove bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Eric Dove as narrator is absolutely fabulous. His voice, pacing and cadence matches the tone of BLOOD DESTINY in a manner I could not have imagined. He is spine-tingling, seductive, innocent and honest, with words flowing seamlessly from virtual page to virtual page.

If you could rename Blood Destiny, what would you call it?

BLOOD DESTINY as a title, reflects the essence of Tessa Dawn's book. I would not rename it.

Any additional comments?

Thank you, Tessa, for creating a world where magic and mythology; love and loyalty come alive in the most purest of forms. I'm grateful to this author for making BLOOD DESTINY available as an audio book and – as I've done with her print material – plan on listening to it many times.

INTENSE EXCITING EDGY BRUTAL BEAUTIFUL & UNIQUE

Well, it's all been glowingly said before so all I can do is add my own thoughts to the 5 star reviews.... Tessa Dawn has created a whole new race of Vampires in this mesmerising, mind blowing and imaginative story. A curse, a Prophesy, a destined mate revealed by the Blood Moon, Werewolves, good/bad light/dark Vampires, a close loving family of Vampires brothers and an unsuspecting human woman. Jocelyn sees true evil being done, becomes a magical marked mate, gets caught in the middle as two supernaturals fight over her, she's told of mythical legends, sees the impossible become real, witnesses a bloody battle between Vampires and Werewolves, falls in love and finally does the unthinkable..... for Nathaniel, the handsome Vampire she has slowly come to trust and love.

What a mind-blowing story as it hooks you in from the start, throws in terrifying dark scenes that gets your pulse pounding, adds tender and loving ones that'll make you swoon, fills the story with some loveable characters, increases the head count with various evil enemies together with their victims and eventually gives you a touching romance that'll make you smile. It's thrilling, chilling, gritty and violent but there's humor, sex, passion, suspense, twists and a sexy Hero that you too may want to die for.

Eric Dove always gives 100% to the narration which enables you to mentally visualize the bloody, the gruesome, the funny and the tender scenes. He brings the characters to life so you feel their awe, their joy, their anger, their frustration, their heartache and all the other emotions that this awesome creative story called for. And, as the dialogue switches from character to character, there is no doubt who is talking.

Worth a credit? I'm in awe of your imaginative skilled worldbuilding Tessa and thank you for creating a new series that's off to an action-packed, mind-blowingly epic start that was a very entertaining, truly enjoyable and creditworthy listen.

Twilight fans, this isn't for you.

What did you love best about Blood Destiny?

The thing I loved the most about Blood Destiny as a story is I was never bored. I did not want to stop listening. I found myself doing odd chores around the house just so I could keep my ear buds in. The house of Jadon is incredibly honor bound and sexy. The house of Jaegar is so bad. But bad in a great way.
The narrator is perfect. He switched between voices beautifully, and his style of reading really added to the suspense of the overall story.

What did you like best about this story?

I liked the ultimate good versus evil. The thin line between right versus wrong. I liked that the vampires were hot, but not weak sauce. I'm so sick of watered down vampires. I like my vampires fierce. This story delivered, and then some. I loved that werewolves were bad. I hate werewolves. Them being even remotely romantic is just not my thing.
Overall, my favorite part of this story is the emotions. It is hard to find a book that really moves me, or makes me feel for the characters. After this story was over, I felt like I knew all the characters, and I wanted to know more!!

What about Eric Dove’s performance did you like?

Everything. He's got a downright alluring voice. The man could read my car's owners manual (I hate car stuff) and I would be enthralled. He read flawlessly, jumped between voices nicely, scared me a little when he was reading Marquis' voice, and the way his speed ebbed and flowed through the book, it was perfect.

If you could take any character from Blood Destiny out to dinner, who would it be and why?

Hmmm... Probably Salvatore. No guarantees I would survive dinner, but it would so be worth it. What a villain. Pure evil to the core. I adore someone that bad. I would love to hear what makes that maniac tick. Or just to hear his next scheme. Diabolical.

Any additional comments?

I look forward to hearing future books in this series. It was a pleasure.

Loved it!

If you love Christine Fehan you’ll love Theresa Dawn! Very much looking forward to the next in the series!

Tessa Dawn Blood Series book 1

Had to turn it off halfway through the first chapter. The very audible intake of breath by the narrator is very annoying. Shame really as I enjoyed reading the book very much.

A good but not brilliant listen

I love reading/listening to series which is why I brought this book hoping I had found a new one. There are so many good reviews but I not sure if I will be buying more in the series.

At the start of the book we are introduced to Jocelyn Levi who is an agent for Homeland Security. She must have been very poorly trained as she doesn't seem to fight back and she has very little backbone. There is a scene where is is rescuing a child, where I wanted to shout ' don't be a wimp what about using your training'.
She cries too much for my liking - I need my heroines to be assertive and strong not ineffectual and weepie.
This book has yet another explanation as to how Vampires were created and the overall story line is quite strong.
The narrator Eric Dove does a very good job a good variation in tone and accent. I might lookup to see what else he has narrated.
Considering the next book in the series which I see is 'Blood Awakening'. It may be wrong to let one character stop me from read more in the series when she is likely to be just a background character in Blood Awakening.

Not for me

I bought this thinking I would listen to the series . I won't be !
The heroine is a highly trained law enforcement officer but spends all her time making ' poor' decisions , regretting them( with paragraphs of angst ) and then needing rescuing ... Repeatedly.
A very frustrating book I had to listen to the end but it was a struggle .