Jennifer Lyon


Monday, February 9th, 2009
Review for BLOOD MAGIC

It’s week four of our five week Cyber Launch Party! This week, the prize is a box of paranormal books. The winner will be drawn from all this week’s comments and announced on the weekend.

 Sometimes, I have to get series and actually promote BLOOD MAGIC! Here’s a review I wanted to share with you all:

ByVicky Gilpin, reviewer – Fresh Fiction

Axel Locke is a witch hunter with a curse that can only be softened by sex or the blood of a witch, causing him to lose his soul and become a rogue witch hunter. Darcy MacAlister works in the family’s funeral home and has fought the stigma of being “strange” for years; her own personality has contributed to the label far more than her family’s vocation ever has.

So often, recent publications in the paranormal romance field follow such a contrived pattern that the reader could just read any formulaic romance with the main characters as different paranormal creatures each time and be just as fulfilled, or not, as the case may be. Jennifer Lyon’s BLOOD MAGIC is an excellent reminder that the field still has fresh, uncharted and exciting avenues to explore. Instead of one-dimensional characters who never get more complex than any one-line description can convey, the characters in BLOOD MAGIC are multi-layered, detailed and, most importantly, interesting.

This novel has a carefully woven backstory of intrigue and magic: a rift occurred between the “good” witches and those sworn to protect them, the hunters of “evil” witches, causing a curse to fall upon the witch hunters and leaving both sides suspicious of the other. They no longer work in harmony because the witches fear that the witch hunters are rogues, and the witch hunters fear the witches are curse-bearers. When a witch hunter’s little sister gains a Death Mark in retaliation for his father’s bad acts, he has to fight the desires of the curse and find a witch willing to help him heal her. When Darcy MacAlister is recruited…kidnapped…in order to save Axel Locke’s sister, Hannah, from the Death Mark, there is only one problem: She was adopted and has no concept about her abilities.

While trying to work together, find the truth about her origins, dissuade the curse, unearth forgotten magical teachings and stay safe from the sides trying to hurt them and their friends, Axel and Darcy must also analyze their feelings toward each other and confront the possibility that they may be pawns in some much larger game.

For a thrilling adventure sizzling with passion, intrigue and complexity, pick up BLOOD MAGIC and prepare to be absorbed by a work that far exceeds many current publications in the field.

Okay here’s my question: Do you think paranormal has become formulaic? Or do you think it’s stiff fresh and surprising?

34 comments to “Review for BLOOD MAGIC”

  1. ReadingIsSoMuchFun
    February 9th, 2009 at 2:01 am · Link

    Hi Jennifer!

    I can not wait for Blood Magic to be released ;) Blood Magic sounds really good.

    For me I think paranormal is still fresh & surprising. Maybe because I am just getting into paranormal. I only started to read paranormals about a few months ago but man am I hook on them also I switch up on my genres depending on my mood so I won’t get tired of just one genre. I love that there is different genres for us to read but I do love my paranormals now :)

    Hugssss
    LindaH



  2. Dru
    February 9th, 2009 at 5:58 am · Link

    Because I’m new to reading strictly paranormal novels, the excitement of what is being presented is still there.

    Good review.



  3. Silver
    February 9th, 2009 at 9:06 am · Link

    *passes the apple martinis* Jen! Wonderful review, chica. But…do you really want me to weigh in on the rest? Not that I’m opinionated or anything. *blinkblink*

    Short version: Yes, a LOT of paranormal is cookie cutter and some authors get lazy, simply changing the names to protect the characters, IMHO. That said, YES! There are authors out there with fresh voices, despite the number of books they’ve written – you, Maureen Childs, Eve Silver (no relation *LOL*), Julie Leto, Elissa Wild.

    Is the genre in danger? Lordy, I hope not! I love reading it and I love writing it. Even my straight suspense novels have paranormal elements. Fifteen days! (But my copy is preordered so it may be a few days after. *whimper*)Still can’t wait to read BLOOD MAGIC!



  4. Margaret A. Golla
    February 9th, 2009 at 10:26 am · Link

    Wow! I can’t wait to pick up Blood Magic. That’s a great review.
    In general, paranormal is still opening up, BUT I feel that some authors have become lazy. The sad part of this is those authors are the ones still getting published, while many out of the box writers are still languishing in unpubbed land. And I’m not talking about myself, I tend to judge the paranormal category in many RWA contests and there are many, many excellent writers who can offer ‘something different’ but can never seem to get over the final publishing hurdle.



  5. Jenn
    February 9th, 2009 at 11:36 am · Link

    Linda H, thank you! I switch around my reading too. I’m curious, what got your started reading paranormal a few months ago?



  6. Jenn
    February 9th, 2009 at 11:37 am · Link

    Dru, glad the excitement is still there :-)



  7. Jenn
    February 9th, 2009 at 11:44 am · Link

    Thank you for the apple martini Silver! Although it’s a little harder to think after drinking it, LOL!

    But of course I want your opinion! Thank you for including me in your fresh voice list…I just hope I live up to it.

    I do know that sometimes publishers like the safer cookie cutter version. I happened to get lucky and get an editor who spent some time editing sci fi and she was a huge help to me in the worldbuilding that I think (HOPE) added freshness.

    If you’ve preordered, sometimes the book comes early too :-)



  8. Jenn
    February 9th, 2009 at 11:48 am · Link

    Margaret, you are absolutely right! There are excellent unpublished authors out there! How do we get them noticed? It took me eight years to get published and I did it through the sheer tenacity of writing, submitting, rewriting, etc. (Staying published is even harder!) But still, those fresh, vibrant voices (yours included!) need to have their fair chance!



  9. Quilt Lady
    February 9th, 2009 at 12:18 pm · Link

    I switch around in my reading so I don’t get tired of reading the same thing and I think the paranormal books are still a big thing. Great review by the way.



  10. Silver
    February 9th, 2009 at 12:30 pm · Link

    Jen, all teasing and kidding aside, I do find your voice to be fresh, especially in a subgenre that tends to repeat itself. There are several authors who used to be an automatic buy for me. I’ve cleared their books off my shelves to make room for new (and shinier) writers, you (and your back list) among them.

    I kid about reading voraciously because it’s “market research.” Sometimes it is–which is why I plow through some books that just don’t do it for me. Sometimes, it’s serendipity. I discover an author and her world and I Snoopy Dance(tm) all over the place. Hi, Jen Lyons nee Jen Apodaca! *Snoopy dances*



  11. Mel K.
    February 9th, 2009 at 1:47 pm · Link

    Oh my! What an awesome review. “I’m ready for my close-up, Mr. Deville”.

    I’m going through a paranormal/horror book phaze now and I think for the most part paranormals are still fresh and surprising. Sometimes I want to throw down a bunch of new paranormals I just bought and roll around on them nekkid. *g*



  12. Maureen Child
    February 9th, 2009 at 3:33 pm · Link

    WOW!! Jen, what a FABULOUS review!! That’s fantastic and I think the reviewer is clearly a woman of taste!

    BLOOD MAGIC is going to knock people’s socks off and set you up as the next NYT bestseller!!

    Silver…..my BFF..thanks!



  13. Silver James
    February 9th, 2009 at 4:49 pm · Link

    *blushes* You’re welcome, Maureen. And I meant every word! So…uhm…how many apple martinis is it going to take? *wink*

    Pardon me while I go have a fangirl moment – Jen Lyons, Maureen Child, and Kate Carlisle – *SQUEEEEEE* Okay. All better now.



  14. Teresa W.
    February 9th, 2009 at 5:25 pm · Link

    I’m always looking for new authors and series in the Paranormal genre as it is my favorite! Congrats on the review.



  15. Jane
    February 9th, 2009 at 6:17 pm · Link

    Congrats on the great review, Jenn. I think most of the paranormals out there are still fresh. There’s still a great variety of paranormals for every kind of reader.



  16. Michele
    February 9th, 2009 at 6:47 pm · Link

    What a FANTASTIC review, Jen!! Woo-hoo!!

    But was there any doubt? I think not. ;)

    Congratulations!! And yay… it’s almost the release date!



  17. Jen Lyon
    February 9th, 2009 at 7:06 pm · Link

    Quilt Lady, thanks! Switching around does help keep us from burning out.



  18. Jen Lyon
    February 9th, 2009 at 7:09 pm · Link

    Thanks Silver! (Maureen you can’t hog Sivler as your BFF) So Silver, your book is coming out soon too, right? As soon as I’m done with this revision, I’ll be hanging out at your blog!

    And I’m totally into Market Research!



  19. Jen Lyon
    February 9th, 2009 at 7:12 pm · Link

    Mel K…OMG I so needed that laugh! Rolling around nekkid in books…LOL!!!

    I’m pretty limited in my horror readings, so who do you recommend?

    Thanks on the review! It’s so cool when they are good reviews :-)



  20. Jen Lyon
    February 9th, 2009 at 7:14 pm · Link

    Maureen, wouldn’t that be awesome? NYTs…well a witch can dream, right? And when I do get there, I fully expect to see you there!

    And quit hogging Silver as your BFF! Share!



  21. Silver James
    February 9th, 2009 at 7:17 pm · Link

    I wish mine was coming out soon! I don’t have a date yet. Still doing those pesky pre-production edits. It takes FOREVER! *whine* When I get the date, apple martinis are on me!



  22. Jen Lyon
    February 9th, 2009 at 7:18 pm · Link

    Silver, you are a Five Appletini Friend!



  23. Jen Lyon
    February 9th, 2009 at 7:19 pm · Link

    Teresa, thanks on the review! It’s great to hear that you are always looking for new authors and series in paranormal! The genre obviously rocks!



  24. Jen Lyon
    February 9th, 2009 at 7:20 pm · Link

    Jane, I’ve noticed that paranormal just keeps pushing boundaries too. So while some of the stories might be a little stale, a lot of them are fresh.



  25. Jen Lyon
    February 9th, 2009 at 7:26 pm · Link

    Michele, about that doubt…uh…how many panicked emails did I send you while doing the revisions? 200 or so? LOL! I am made of doubt!

    Thank you on the review :-)



  26. Jen Lyon
    February 9th, 2009 at 7:27 pm · Link

    Silver, dang, I thought I saw a release date on your website. Ah, well, all good things are worth the wait, yes?



  27. Silver James
    February 9th, 2009 at 7:50 pm · Link

    *sighs* Patience is a virtue. Five apple martinis? Yes, please. And I’ll be the designated broom pilot!



  28. Kate Carlisle
    February 9th, 2009 at 8:43 pm · Link

    I agree with Michele….there was never a doubt!! Even so, this is a truly WONDERFUL review!!! Wow, congratulations, Jen! Drinks are on you, right? ;-)

    I’ve already pre-ordered my copy and I’ll also have to buy another copy because I know I’ll be passing this one around!



  29. Sue A.
    February 9th, 2009 at 9:55 pm · Link

    I don’t think it can be formulaic when each author has their own voice. I think it would be interesting to give five different authors the same storyline with sketched out characters. I guarantee the stories will all be unique.



  30. Kimmy L
    February 10th, 2009 at 10:03 am · Link

    I think it’s still fresh and surprising. B/c you can mix any genre into a paranormal. Historical, fantasy, or whatever and the stories are all so different. I love reading paranormals.



  31. ReadingIsSoMuchFun
    February 10th, 2009 at 3:02 pm · Link

    Hi Jenn! What got me started in paranormals was all the word of mouths & my best friend pushing books at me that she had read & loved *g* After reading my first paranormal & fell in love with the genre and had to have more. Now I love me some vampires & witches ;)

    Hugssss
    LindaH



  32. Erika
    February 11th, 2009 at 2:50 pm · Link

    I know I’m chiming in late, but kudos on the excellent review. I am ordering my copy online today.



  33. Mary Otto
    March 5th, 2009 at 3:39 pm · Link

    Just wanted to say that I picked up the book yesterday and stayed up until 1a.m. to finish it. It is a great book…I throughly enjoyed reading it and couldn’t put it down. I am actually on line looking for the next one. I believe this is going to be one of my keepers. I started reading Christine Feehan and this book is right up there with her Carpathian novels. Great job and I can’t wait for the next one.



  34. Jenn
    March 5th, 2009 at 4:11 pm · Link

    Hi Mary and thank you! It’s quite an honor to be compared to Christine Feehan! The next book, SOUL MAGIC will be released November 24th.



Comments are closed.





JenniferLyon.com