Blood Bank

I was disappointed when Tanya Huff ended the Victoria Nelson series. It was so nice to see another book, even if it was just short stories. I wish there had been more with Henry in them. I would have liked to see Henry and Vicki come a little closer to conquering that whole "vampires can't share the same territory" thing. It's a much better read for me when all three characters are playing off each other.

I have been a huge Blood Series fan for years, and this was a nice reminder of why I liked them so much. After reading the stories in this collection I dusted off the old books and re read the series. It was nice for a brief instant there to see Vicki Nelson resurrected from the growing mountain of urban fantasy heroines. But, in my opinion, she still glows as one of the brightest as a strong, believably flawed, and smart lead character. So many of these Victory Nelson/ Anita Blake/ Sonja Blue knock offs lack the flavor and presence as main characters. Vicki is a believable character adapting to unbelievable situations, and I loved that. I will say if you can swallow your pride and truck over to Lifetime Channel, the show was not half bad. A lot of the story lines are little more than standard paranormal cop dreck, but the actor's that bring these characters to the small screen do a darn good job.

Most of the stories take place around Huff's Blood Pact and Blood Debt. Also included is a proposed script for the Blood Ties tv show. Exciting, short mysteries laced with humor, made this a fun and easy read. "This Town Ain't Big Enough" is a sequel to Blood Pact, where Vicki has to deal with another vampire encroaching in her territory. Suspenseful and intense, this was probably my favorite short story. "What Manner of Man" takes place in Henry's past, where he tries to track down a spy. This was another fun one with plenty of intrigue, in the Regency era setting. "The Cards Also Say" is another that follows Blood Pact. This time, Vicki hears an ominous message from a psychic. "The Vengeful Spirit of Lake Nepeakea" follows Vicki and Mike to a remote lake that the locals say harbors a monster. This story had plenty of humor surrounding the mystery. "Someone to Share the Night" stars Henry who begins to feel a little lonely, so he takes out a personal ad. "Another Fine Nest" involves Vicki and Mike tracking down blood-sucking underground bugs. This was very suspenseful, with a high "ick factor." "Scleratus" is a darker story, where Henry remembers his bloody past. "Critical Analysis" involves Vicki and Henry trying to solve an impossible murder. These are always my favorite kind of murder mysteries. "So This Is Christmas" throws Vicki into the role of Scrooge for this entertaining holiday tale. In the "Stone Cold" screenplay, readers can compare this script to what eventually made it on the actual television episode. With a wonderful arrangement of diverse stories, from humorous to more dramatic, this was definitely one of my favorite books of short stories. And Blood Bank is a wonderful addition to the library of any fan of the series.

**** Over the years, there have been several short stories following the further adventures of Vicki Nelson and Henry Fitzroy, and readers have had varying levels of success in tracking them down. Now, they have been collected in this anthology that will prove itself to be a great favor for those of us who had just about given up on locating the tales. Henry's past, how he and Vicki cope with life, or unlife, after they part, and how Mike copes with being in love with a vampire are the main focus. An added bonus is the shooting script to one episode of Blood Ties, the series. Blood Bank is a must read for Henry/Vicki fans. There's humor, angst, and passion on every page, making this a worthy continuation of the full length novels. **** Amanda Killgore for Huntress Reviews.