Blood Ties Book Four: All Souls' Night

BAD GUYS GET DEAD - CARRIE GETS WED -SOUL EATER LOSES HEAD. Thus ends (I think!) Jennifer Armintrout's very excellent 'Blood Ties' quadriligy. I loved everyone of these four books - unending excitement; ongoing suspense and a 'no wasted words' writing style. And who of us does not relish the 'bad guy' getting his just deserts!?Moreover, our author has the ability to incorporate a dash of humour with all the gore. With all of the supernatural, paranormal, subnormal and abnormal literature flooding the marketplace, it's great to 'hit' upon a skillfully written series such as this. Sure hope there are more!!! Publishers Weekly in describing Book 1: 'The Turning': "This fast, furious novel is a squirm-inducing treat." Believe me when I say that this comment could apply to all four of these books.

I just finished All Souls' Night today, and I was quite satisfied with it! I'd rate it 4.5 stars. Carrie is back, packing more power and out for the Soul Eater. Max and Nathan also return, as well as a few characters you might not have expected (unless you read the reviews without spoiler warnings)! Magic plays a bigger role this time around, and I had several moments of surprise, horror, sympathy, anger, and joy. The book is well-written, with maybe only one typo (think it was "laugher" instead of "laughter"). These days, that means a lot, especially considering all the popular UF out there with countless errors ("diety" in a certain popular series, anyone?). Although I enjoyed the content, the changes in point of view were a little uncomfortable sometimes. Although I appreciate Carrie's insights, I almost wish it had been done in 3rd person or omniscient if the other characters' stories were to be included. ***spoiler*** Also, the rising from the dead again and again lessened the impact of certain earlier scenes (in this book and previous ones) for me, but it made a lot in the book possible, including a great HEA. =) ***end spoiler*** Anyway, my only real complaints were the changes in POV and the rising from the dead, which are minor complaints about a well-written, interesting book that grabbed me and didn't let me go. I hope to see Jennifer Armintrout write another vampire series... It was great, and I've recommended it to friends who've never read any vampire books besides Anne Rice's, and they've liked Blood Ties a lot!

All Soul's Night is the satisfying conclusion to a series that has reinvented itself with every book. Vampires Carrie and Nathan are taking a breather before the final battle to stop the cunning Soul-Eater whose powers grow with each vampire soul he 'drinks, a battle that they are ill equiped to fight. After withholding his love for three books, Nathan is finally ready to love Carrie, but Carrie is now the one holding herself apart. Frustrated Nathan runs out of patience, calling Carrie on her pettiness and selfishness, forcing a little introspection on Carrie who at long last sees the cost others have paid for her selfinterest. Unfortunately this revelation comes a bit late and Carrie may loose Nathan for good when he willingly walks into a trap baited with his foster son Ziggy - the son who died in Nathan's arms but who is somehow `alive' but tied to Soul-Eater through the fledgling/sire blood tie. Believing his sire's lies, Ziggy delivers Nathan into torture and certain death -- Nathan is intended to be the sacrifice that will fuel the Soul-Eater's transformation into a dark god. Given Armintrout's willingness to sacrifice her characters in previous stories, I was definitely on the edge of my seat for a good portion of the book wondering if Nathan was going to survive the torture that make Armintrout's books fall on the `Horror' side of urban fantasy/ paranormal romance. Most of the players in the story are ones that we've already met in the series. The magical Dalia who continues to revel in her depravity plays her evil part with glee but pregnant werewolf Bella is mostly on the sidelines. And even though the main thrust of preparing for the battle against the Soul-Eater lies with Carrie, dual natured vampire/werewolf hybrid Max who has his own struggles, Ziggy with his divided loyalties, and newcomer to the series Bill an ex-Marine blood supplier -- the only human amid all the vamps but whose acceptance may help to win Ziggy back his soul -- also play important roles. I could rave on about the character development and the great plot. I was impressed by the way that Armintrout builds the characters up for the final confrontation and actually gives them the skills to have a hope of winning. I really enjoyed the final journey to Armintrout's Blood Ties world where sacrifices are always required, death is not always permanent and endings are not predictable - who'd have thought that a series so dark could end with a promise of light. The Turning (Blood Ties, Book 1) Possession (Blood Ties, Book 2) Ashes to Ashes (Blood Ties, Book 3) All Souls' Night (Blood Ties, Book 4)

I loved this book as much as I loved the preceding ones. In this book it's not only good against evil, it's also the good guys wondering how evil they are capable to become to defeat the Soul Eater. Ziggy's coming back, totally changed by his sire's wickedness, now an adult person, darker than ever, and making you wondering at every single page who's side is he going to be, and yet knowing it from the beginning was awesome. Carrie, becoming more powerful, dangerous and decided than she's ever been, being capable of things no one could expect from her, for one single reason: Nathan. Nathan, scared not only about his sure fate but about Carrie's, suffering for her more than he ever did when Marianne was dying, not knowing if he'll be able to survive to her sure death. As touchy as always. And of course, our beloved Max, who's internal fight between his two natures while fighting his way back home has a place in this dark disclosure for the series. As always Armintrout had rhythm, a wicked imagination that makes you wanna stand and scream in some passages and her particular skill to make you become paranoid, not knowing for sure what's going to happen until it's done. If you enjoyed the 3 preceding books, you'll feel the same about this one. And yet the end didn't convince me- but I think there was really no proper final for all the darkness and pain they have faced. Really an extraordinary novel by Jennifer Armintrout.

At long last, Armintrout's edgy and recalcitrant vampire heroine Carrie Ames faces off against the Soul Eater in the final novel of the series. This time, Carrie has definitely got more than game going for her. Armed with powers culled from Dahlia's blood (and she'll need more), she might finally have what it takes to crush Jacob Seymour once and for all-and she might actually be able to walk away from it alive (read: undead) or somewhere in between (that's a teaser folks) But embracing these powers have dire consequences and she will be faced with a decision. Will she become what she is fighting? The usually capricious protagonist ends up with more than her soul bared on the table. The gang tenses as an end is in sight: Ziggy is back alive (okay, undead) and newcomer, Bill the blood pimp, joins the troupe. For three books, we've questioned her motives and her ambivilent desires between Cyrus and Nathan, and even her abhorrent lure to Jacob. Perhaps it took this long for Armintrout to figure out what direction Carrie was going in-but in "All Souls Night" there is an overwhelming sense of completion. Carrie has finally accepted her otherworldly nature and all the violence that surrounds it. Fans will breathe a sigh of relief. This kick-booty vamp is finally in a position with all the power and knowledge at her fingertips, to wreak havoc. To become evil. To become as dangerous as the Soul Eater himself. Perhaps to even become a Soul Eater. Armintrout keeps the fangs sharp for her characters and has the talent of making them exist in those amorphous gray areas. Her characters have never been black or white, faulty to the end, and readers can relate to this unpredictability. This is what makes it so appealing. All I gotta say is that I chortled LOUDLY (MUAH-HA HA) reading Dahlia getting her comeuppance in a most grisly way. Ding-Dong the witch is dead. That in itself stands for 6 stars!Copyright(c)Nicola Mattos