In the Blood

The second book in this series is wicked good. It's dark, gritty and oh so brutal (all good things in my book). The author does not pamper the readers with lots of redundant recaps so be sure to read "A Rush of Wings" first. I like how the feel of this book is different from the first in that we no longer have a murder mystery to pull the plot along. Instead, the story is more focused on the characters and how the consequences of their actions are all hurtling towards a climactic end. I really enjoyed the more "normal" and relaxed interactions between Dante and Heather. This makes the characters ring more true and it makes their relationship feel stronger and more real. By the end of the book, I found myself feeling quite choked up and my eyes were definitely misty. This is saying alot since I very rarely cry over books. In the end, the book is really all about Dante and like another reviewer said, he's not my type of guy in the real world but somehow Adrian Phoenix has managed to make me care about this character and root for him and his friends. I'm just sad that there's such a long wait for the next installment.

All I can say is WOW! I am blown away by Adrian Phoenix . I think her charaters are phenominal and the story continues to unfold at a great pace. I don't want all the questions answered I want to wonder and ponder whats to come next for Dante , Heather and Lucien and all the other great characters in this complex story. Thats part of the fun of a series! Dante is such a heroic yet trajic wounded soul you feel his pain . Heather is a strong but not overpowering female herione the two of them are starting to make a great couple . I cannot wait to find out what's become of Lucien and why he left Genevieve to fend for herself ?What's Heather father going to do. Von and Silver and all the other's I cannot wait to read the next book in this series !

I loved this book and unlike some people, the extra characters actually helped me to see what was coming and the effect Dante had on others surrounding him. It also helped me understand more about what he was put through as a child and growing up. I absolutely cannot wait until the next book comes out. The only complaint I have is I wish the books were twice as long and that more focus was on Dante and Heather's developing relationship.

Wow, this installment was fantastic! Heather and Dante reconnect and their bond is stronger than ever! There was a lot going on but everything tied into each other nicely. Turns out, Dante's childhood programming and abuse go all the way to the top. Many people have seen the dvd footage of how Dante "unmade" Joanna Moore in the last book. Several people are now pursuing him for their own devious needs. In the middle of all this, The FBI has decided to capture and study Heather for proof of the healing Dante had performed on her, without using his Nightkind blood. Slowly Dante's fragile mental state is unraveling and he is quickly reaching his breaking point. Heather seems to be the one constant that can calm and focus him. We finally get to meet Annie, Heather's troubled sister. We also learn more about Heather's parents and the death of her mom. The Fallen have captured Lucien and are aware that there is a new Maker on earth. Their goal for the Maker seems to be similar to the humans; captivity, use and torture. Dante's mental wall of pain and confusion seems to be crumbling and he is learning more about his past and those who were party to his programming. I won't go into too much more detail, but suffice it to say, Dante finally get's a chance to wield some revenge. Adrian did a nice job of weaving the different sides of the story into each other. I highly recommend this book and series. I also look forward to the next book Beneath the Skin. I also recommend: Nightwalker (Dark Days, Book 1) Dead Reign At Grave's End (Night Huntress, Book 3) Staked (Void City, Book 1) Magic to the Bone

In New Orleans, vampire rock star Dante Baptiste used his music to save the life of FBI agent Heather Wallace (see A RUSH OF WINGS). However soon afterward, the Nightkind rocker learns a shocker about his origins. Besides being a True Blood born vampire, his father is Lucien a fallen angel. Lucien DeNoir realizes his Fallen brethren probably heard the song played by his son and his band when he saved the Fed; and like him they also realize a new creawdwr was born. His theory proves right as the Fallen ones meet in Gehenna, believing their savior has arrived. Lucien knows who the Fallen believe the savior is and is willing to die to keep that person safe from his peers. In Seattle, Dante and his band the Inferno are performing. Heather, who realizes her beloved FBI is corrupt and evil, is also in town. In the meantime a deep covert government agency wants to kill Dante and Heather as part of their plan to eliminate anyone associated with Project Bad Seed while someone else plans to use the rocker with his feet in two realms as an expendable pawn for avenging a seemingly eternal affront. IN THE BLOOD continues the saga of Dante and Heather and though they have left the south for the northwest, the atmosphere remains dark and gloomy. Betrayal is the norm as the lead pair learns no one has your back because everyone has an agenda whether they are Fallen, Nightkind, Feds, or others. With multiple layers involving various support groups focused mostly on the brooding Dante, he and Heather struggles to survive in Adrian Phoenix's extremely complex well written urban fantasy world. Harriet Klausner