Blood Redemption

Blood Curse Series, Book 5

By: Tessa Dawn

Narrated by: Eric G. Dove

Length: 12 hrs and 2 mins

Publisher's summary

Some souls are forged in fire. Some hearts are packed in ice. Some elements were never meant to be combined....

Blood Redemption, a journey of elemental darkness and primordial light:

Saber Alexiares is no ordinary vampire. He is like a cruel, fire-breathing dragon. Reared in the bowels of the colony by Dark Ones, he has no conscience, no compassion, and no saving grace. Captured by the enemy, he is sentenced to execution by sunlight only to discover that his body will not burn - he isn't who he thought he was. He was stolen at birth. He was reared by the wrong house. And the sunlight isn't going to kill him because he does have a soul.

Vanya Demir is the very heart of goodness and light, an ancient female from a magical race, the progeny of humans and celestial deities before they were cursed by the blood. With her deep-rooted sense of duty, naive upbringing, and tragic personal history, she has unknowingly packed her heart in ice and dedicated her life to the service of the Vampyr. She is wholly unprepared to face a fire-breathing dragon.

When their paths converge beneath a Serpens Blood Moon, they will each have 30 days to reconcile the irreconcilable, to confront the primordial darkness that threatens to destroy them both. Can a being lost in darkness for 800 years ever find its way to the light? Can a heart that's been buried for as long as it can remember risk the ultimate in betrayal and damnation simply for the hope of blood redemption?

©2013 Tessa Dawn (P)2015 Tessa Dawn

One of the best books I have ever read!!!

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

Holy Hell Twister

Who was your favorite character and why?

Saber, he had so much against him, yet he trys.

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

He brings everything and everyone to life!

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Cried for Saber and his parents.

Any additional comments?

Saber Alexiares is from the house of Jaegar- Dark Ones. Cursed to only walk at night , drink blood and kill, bearing children with the woman dying a most horrendous death. Caught by the house of Jadon and sentenced to die by Sunlight. But he does not die. He is the missing infant 800 years prior. Stolen by Damien and raised with no conscious. Child to Rafael and Lorna Dzuna house of Jadon. Can he overcome 800 years of living as Dark One? Let go of his anger? Nothing worth having is easy, as all are about to have to come to terms with.

Vanya Demir is one of The Originals. One of two who saw what had transpired to cause the curse.
She is Pure of Light. Working in Romania on the old magic , she decides to visit her sister and her nephew. Once there, the Sky revealed Serpens Blood Moon and that she is Saber's Destiny. They have 30 days to convert Vanya and for her to bear him twins or he dies a most horrendous death. But no one not even Vanya wants to get close to the monster in the cell who would kill her with no remorse.
Can her pure white light reach him before it is to late or will Saber come to terms with his origins, being from the house of Jadon.

If you are looking for a light book to read this book is not for you. If you are looking for a book with Grit and Depth than this book is for you!
You know you are reading a book written by a Great Author when your emotions are all over the place.
When you have to put the book down just to get your emotions in check. When you have to put a book down just to get your breathing back to normal.
These Vampyr's are not your run of the mill, there is no other Vampyr book(s) out there that even come close to this book.

At first I really disliked Saber and felt sorry for Vanya. Than I felt sorry for Saber and all that he could have been if he had not been kidnapped. Than I really disliked Saber again. Back and forth I wrestled with my emotions. Very intense writing by Tessa Dawn pulled me into the story and never let me go.
There were some great sayings in this book, some that make you cry and some that you just laugh out loud and your family thinks you are losing it.
*** Spoiler Alert ***
1 - Don't you have a pole to dance around"?
2-"Been there done that tossed the tee-shirt"!
3-"Damn...need attention much?"
4-Buy some Clairol for that hair"!
5-When Saber says, "Be well...mother."
6-When Nachari says, "This is our house..."
7-When Rafael calls Saber on his anger, and he (Saber) asks him why they never searched for him...
The Bar scene is flat out falling off your chair laughing so hard!
This is not a HEA, I mean really 800 years of depravity does not change in 2-3 mnths. The ending is very touching and powerful and I am sure we will see more of these 2 as Saber becomes more humane, with the help of Vanya and their Son and the rest of the house of Jadon.
I give this book 5 Stars, but really one can not count all the stars in the Night Sky, that would be the real amount of Stars I would give this Book.
Patches

SABER'S STORY WAS INCREDIBLE!!

Of all the Blood Curse Series books I think this one might just be the most heart wrenching and powerful. This is not your typical redemption story where someone goes from bad to good overnight or even from bad to good all the way. This character has to fight and claw his way back to his soul, and Tessa brings every moment of that to vivid life. Absolutely amazing! Best in the series so far.

Eric Dove really brought the characters and the story to life! I can't imagine a better narrator for these stories.

Can EVIL truly be Redeemed?

Where does Blood Redemption rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Blood Redemption has to rank first in the audiobook series so far.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Princess Vanya with all her beauty, charm, & royal training discovers that beneath all the trappings of her royal lineage she is first AND foremost a woman. The process of her discovery is amazing to behold.

Which character – as performed by Eric G. Dove – was your favorite?

Eric Dove captured the true essence of the evil dragon Sabre from the beginning through his redemption.

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

If I could have stayed awake to listen to this book in one sitting, I most certainly would have! As it was, I listened to & from work and every available moment during the day!

Any additional comments?

The book Blood Redemption was an amazing read. The audiobook is fascinating to listen to as Eric Dove reads with so much emotion, catching all the subtle and not so sublte nuances so well! I loved, loved, loved listening to this book...and will be listening to it again over & over!

Don't judge too quickly.

Would you listen to Blood Redemption again? Why?

Multiple times. For me, it is rare to find a story that can still shock me with it's plot twists. Even more rare than that, to find a book with such raw emotion. A range of emotions at that.

Besides the actual story, the narrator is outstanding. I would listen to him read all the time.

What did you like best about this story?

I liked the ultimate struggle of good vs evil all in one man. Of all the males in this series of books that I've listened to, Saber has been my favorite to watch develop into who he is.

What about Eric G. Dove’s performance did you like?

I like that his women voices have evolved with this series. I like that he's got a great angry voice. Plus, his natural reading voice is just outstanding. He reads at the perfect speed. He enunciates beautifully.

Who was the most memorable character of Blood Redemption and why?

Saber. Oddly, I usually find lesser roles in books more interesting than the main character. But that was not the case with this story. Saber sucked me in fully, and listening to his anguish, his rage, his hate, his love, his everything made me feel so many emotions while reading. Definitely a character you want to read more about.

Any additional comments?

This book (and series) is beautifully (okay, maybe not the best word for something so dark.) written and narrated. I would highly recommend this book, and series if you like your vampires a lot more graphic and badass, and a lot less, well, sparkly, and super romantic. Sensitive readers, this is not for you.

OMG OMG OOOOMMMMGGGG

Tessa did it again. Wow this book blow my mind. I could not
stop listening to this book and the unreal and incredible transformation and redemption of someone's life. The total rebirth and forgiveness that took place is
OUTSTANDING. Job well done Tessa Dawn!!!

Keeps getting better and better!

Well! I'm happy to say that this series is getting better by the minute! So far each story has been clear and concise enough that, I believe, you can read them out of order and still have full understanding of where you are with each character. So far Blood Shadows: Blood Curse Series, Book 4, Nachari Silivasi, and this book has been my favorite! There is action, romance, and entrege at ever turn. Each story has been exciting and well written. This has caused me to get each consecutive book as soon as I finish the last. Haven't done that with anyone but J. R. Ward and I have not been disappointed! Well worth the listen!

WOW! Amazing story!

Absolutely loved this story. The internal struggle that Saber goes through is so emotional. Saber and Vanya, fire and ice, coming together as fate designed it. True love.

Conflict, complexities,confusion & conundrums!

Where does Blood Redemption rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Blood Redemption rates very high in the series. Tessa continues to give the listener more and more to take in and consider with each character she brings forth.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Blood Redemption?

I think the most memorable moments for me were those between Saber & Vanya. The pairing of light vs. dark and though opposites, there is still hope, and love.

Which scene was your favorite?

The scene with Saber about to be burned up by the sun and the depth of his fear, pain and psychosis in that moment.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Yes, the previous scene elicited extreme reaction. Tessa and Eric's portrayal made one feel as if they were Saber going through that horror themself.

Any additional comments?

Great writing! Wonderful conflict between light & dark, good and evil, love and hate, humanity, and identity.

Compelling, haunting and beautiful

What made the experience of listening to Blood Redemption the most enjoyable?

After reading and listening to Tessa Dawn's four previous titles in her "Blood Curse Series," I knew to expect the same raw and poignant quality in her fifth title, "Blood Redemption."

I was wrong. "Blood Redemption" was FAR BEYOND anything I had ever experienced before, with this title evoking every emotion imaginable as I watched the protagonist, Saber Alexiares, give himself and those around him the greatest gift possible: making peace with oneself.

"Blood Redemption" took my heart and held it in varying degrees of tension, love, lust, blood, guilt, fear, anger – and redemption – throughout the entire audio book. It's hard to imagine anyone so talented a writer, but Tessa Dawn is that person.

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

Look at some of the best authors of this century in each genre, including romance, science fiction, fantasy fiction, horror and history – THIS is how I would compare the level and style of Tessa Dawn's writing. She is incomparable and shines like the brightest and clearest of gems. A story lover's gift!

Have you listened to any of Eric G. Dove’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have, and Eric G. Dove is brilliant in his multifaceted rendering of Tessa's characters. Dove exhibits attitude and I believed him to be each character in his narrations.

Who was the most memorable character of Blood Redemption and why?

Saber Alexiares is an incredible and complex character who journeys through darkness and light to give the greatest gift to himself and those around him: the ability to make peace with oneself. "Blood Redemption" is a phenomenal listen.

Any additional comments?

I am so grateful to have discovered the talent of Tessa Dawn. My life is that much brighter, as I am able to bring joy and inspiration in my day-to-day world, as a result of Tessa's immersive storytelling.

Seeing isn't always believing..

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

Intense, Unpredictable, Extraordinary

What was one of the most memorable moments of Blood Redemption?

Blood Redemption has so many amazing moments it's hard to pick one however, I would say that the scene where Saber begs the Gods for Vanya is a stand out for me.

Have you listened to any of Eric G. Dove’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have heard Eric before and he is without a doubt one of my top 3 narrators. His execution is so dynamic and engaging. And this performance is no different. He has the ability to really connect to the characters and it comes through to the listener.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I had a huge lump in my throat a few times in this story and I was raging mad in others. Blood Redemption has it all. I was on the edge of my seat and had my tissues handy through the whole story.

Any additional comments?

For anyone that loves Dark Fantasy, Vampires that aren't of the sparkly variety and an author with a true gift of story telling, this book..the entire series is for you! Worth every penny.