Blood Mage

Dark Impulse, Book 1

By: Edmund Hughes

Narrated by: Erin Bateman

Length: 7 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's summary

It’s been 12 years since Jack Masterson last set foot on Lestaron Island. Fresh out of college and lacking a clear direction in life, he’s been asked by his aunt and uncle to travel back to the place he once called home to settle his recently deceased grandfather’s estate. Jack has little to look forward to in regard to his return, outside of a chance to reacquaint himself with Katie, his childhood friend and former crush.

When Jack discovers that his grandfather wasn’t broke after all, as he’d been led to believe, he’s surprised. When he discovers that most of the old man’s monetary assets have been left to him, along with the employment contract of a cute, young maid, he’s virtually dumbfounded.

And when an old enemy of the Masterson family decides to strike in the wake of his grandfather’s passing, Jack is the natural target. After being turned into a monster by a beautiful woman who claims to be his new broodmother, he’s left with a new outlook on life, one that strides a thin line of moral judgment. Dark magic, enthralling powers, and a thirst for blood that just can’t seem to be sated. Would it really be so bad to give in?

Warning: This book contains graphic sex, a slow building harem, and increasingly disconcerting moral dilemmas.

©2018 Edmund Hughes (P)2018 Edmund Hughes

Can hear keyboard and mouse clicks

you can hear keyboard and mouse clicks in the background as well as pops on the p's but other than that ( maybe startup studio?) its great

Good story, decent narration

Hughes brings us a twist on the involuntary vampire scenario and twists in lots of sex driven situations with building tension throughout.

Not what you think.

If that "slow building harem" brought you here, keep moving. No harem here. Just your typical person bitten by a vampire, but instead of embracing it, they despise. Not to mention the typical OVERLY GOOD MC. "Even if they did try to rob, rape, and probably kill this person. Biting them just isn't right." Well letting them go so they can do more bad stuff isn't the RIGHT thing to do either. SMH!

Don't forget the childhood friend you left as a kid, but find out he/she is engaged when you reunite. If you've seen any romcom, twilight, and the vampire diaries. Then you can guess everything that will happen in this book. Oh! Give all the male characters a womans voice while your at it.

small issues but not bad

here's one of my issues the main character is thrown into this world without knowing anything and no one is explaining how to survive really not just that the main character seems like he really doesn't care to learn if I was him puppy learning every fucking thing possible of how to survive my new situation or just be done with it and end it but that's me I do like most of the characters I definitely like the maid she's actually pretty cool or seems like the type that is going to be cool I would have forgot about that fucking friend of his of course like I said that is me to me it would make more sense

suffer through 90%, and you'll be excited for pt 2

this story is completely idiotic. For now, until i do a real review ill leave you with the worst logic breaking idiocy of this book so far. The MC is bullied physically and mentally by his 10 year old crush for hours into the book even though he is in complete control the entire time... waste of a possibly great series i think. (will re-review more thoroughly upon completion of 2nd half.)

Great narration and story

If your familiar with the Wild Wastes and Super Sales on Super Heros then I'd think you'd like this story. The disclaimer of a 'slow building harem' is very apt. Throughout the entirety of the book the main character is only sexually involved with two people, albeit there are many sensual situations.

If you want a book with lots of 'loving' I suggest looking elsewhere, however if you want a real story, this is one of better books in the genre in my honest opinion.

Looking forward to the next book.

A good story to sink your teeth into

It’s so good and when it ended, I wanted more. I anticipate much more but when Mira disappeared, it was a cliffhanger.

A Very Good Start!

The thing I love about Edmund Hughes books is the way he draws you into the characters life. Once again we are introduced to a character whom I find myself interested to learn more about and that I care what happens to him. I find that his problems are not black and white and are not easily solved. I found the mystery intriguing and the antagonists are frustrating and hard to just brush off. I am very interested in the upcoming books and found the narration excellent.

Slow start to a better series

I almost didn't get this audiobook because I felt the cover art was a bit over the top, and the first reviews I saw were pretty negative.

Fortunately, I didn't let those things stop me. A lot of people get interested in these types of books to see a protagonist be the strongest dude and get all the ladies. Starting this series by finding out that the childhood friend and primary love interest is engaged to someone else is going to ruffle some feathers, if you're in that crowd. If you want to read about a "real man" that dudebro's his way to victory, has the emotional capacity of a Bowflex, and makes all the ladies realize that all the other men are beta cucks, there are plenty of other harem books to choose from.

I found the interactions between the protagonist and the childhood to be understandable, even if they don't all go the MC's way. He understandably butts heads with the fiancee, but understands he can't just Chad his way into replacing him in his crush's heart. He also does his best to respect the life she made for herself in his absence—if that makes him a wimp, I'm not terribly interested in reading about "real men." A couple other love interests are introduced, but this first book is mostly about the MC finding his place after learning there is more to the world than he thought or remembered. He doesn't always make the right decisions, but never displays the inexplicable stupidity seen in many indie harem books. And by the end of the book, he has a decent grasp on his abilities.

For those that care, he continues to sort through his personal relationships in upcoming books, gains more power, and finds himself pitted against tougher and tougher adversaries. Even if he makes bad decisions, they tend to be consistent with his character, and ends up standing up for himself and others more often than not, even when we'd understand if he didn't.

I found this book and series better written and more interesting than the vast majority of haremlit. It's not on the same level as, say, Daniel Black or Super Sales, but easily much more compelling than most harem books, particularly the cookie-cutter ones that release monthly and cater to a those that want the same story with a different coat of paint. And if you enjoy this book, you'll like the next books more.

Loved the interaction.

The sexual interaction between Jack and the all the lead female characters was quite erotic.