Review copy was received from Author, Publicity team. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Blood Mosaic by Elizabeth Hunter Series: The Firebird and the Wolf #1
Published by Self-Published on December 17, 2024
Genres: Fantasy Romance
Pages: 458
Format: eARC
Source: Author, Publicity team
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Tatyana Vorona has no idea that she just made a deal with a vampire. When the naïve human bookkeeper offers to help locate embezzled funds for a wealthy CEO, she doesn’t realize she’s being set up as bait.
Oleg Sokolov is a fire vampire as ancient as he is vicious. It’s bad enough that his daughter stole money from him, but now she’s sought refuge with one of his bitter rivals. He wants her back under his control, and he doesn’t mind using Tatyana to draw her out.
But as Oleg spends more time with Tatyana, he begins to want her for more than just revenge. When Tatyana is attacked, Oleg is forced to reveal his true nature to save her. Can he convince her to stay in his bloody world when he’s the reason she’s in danger?
I’m always excited to learn a new part of the Elemental World. The main character is Oleg, another fire vampire. For them being unusual, we know a lot of them. Oleg was involved with Carwyn and Bridget in removing one of their enemies.
Tatyana worked for Zara, the “daughter” of Oleg. He set Zara up in a business and she used it to steal from him. Then Zara didn’t pay Tatyana. So she came to Oleg for wages and ends up helping him to locate the money Zara stole.
I don’t like Oleg very much yet. He saw Tatyana as an asset and a sexual object. He found her pleasing in appearance, similar to his dead mate, and liked her intelligence and strength. He treats her well on his terms, which are controlling and possessive. He goes along with her wishes when it is convenient but he doesn’t see her as a partner.
Tatyana is in a tough spot financially with 6 months of wages not paid. She has herself and her mother to support, along with their farm. Her skills are more marketable and paid in a bigger place like Kyiv. Tatyana is a skilled bookkeeper and computer user, a forensic accountant really. She does not know about vampires but with the danger she is in she learns about them quickly. Her work with Elene, Oleg’s accountant goes well.
Blood Mosaic was a bit first book syndrome for me. It helped already knowing the Elemental World already. For me, the sexual seduction took away from the character building I needed. The plot is just started because this is a series, The Firebird and the Wolf. The feel is decidedly more dark paranormal romance than urban fantasy. It’s more a relationship story than a full world action adventure or mystery .
There is action and plenty for Tatyana to learn and figure out not being part of the vampire world. I felt for Tatyana with the overwhelming changes she had to deal with in her worldviews. She was influenced by vampires who could definitely influence her, erase her memories, were stronger, faster, and more experienced in this world. I’m angry on her behalf.
I look forward to see how she fares in the world going forward. It will be interesting to see how things go with Oleg in the future. She has few reasons to trust him or want to be his property, at his convenience. Sure, she could have great sex and live easy but that is not really who she is. She is smart and more independent, needing challenges for her mind. This romance is not sweet and easy, more likely passionate and hard won.
About Elizabeth Hunter
Elizabeth Hunter is a contemporary fantasy and romance author. She is a graduate of the University of Houston Honors College and a former English teacher.
She currently lives in Central California with her husband, son, very ineffective canine assistants, and a pitifully empty fish tank.
ELIZABETH HUNTER is a ten-time USA Today and international best-selling author of romance, contemporary fantasy, and paranormal mystery. Based in both Central California and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, she travels extensively to write fantasy fiction exploring world mythologies, history, and the universal bonds of love, friendship, and family.
She has published over forty works of fiction and sold over a million books worldwide. She is the author of the Glimmer Lake series, Love Stories on 7th and Main, the Elemental Legacy series, the Irin Chronicles, the Cambio Springs Mysteries, and other works of fiction.
I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
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- 24-COYER
Wonderful that the spinoff lives up to the parent! Great review, Anne💜
Thank you. This will be more of a growth series and dark.
I love romances but there needs to be a good mystery/plot/something as well especially in this genre.
I completely agree. The themes are much darker here and it makes the “romance” harder for me to accept. In fact, it is mainly sex so far not romance.
Interesting start! I wonder if Oleg is going to get a comeuppance once Tatyana gets things figured out when she’s not as desperate.
Probably somewhat. Tatyana is smart but an old vampire has more amnis.
Very nice review. I’ve not read anything by Hunter. I’m glad to know your opinion and to learn it’s in a world already written about. Thank you.
I love her stories and have been reading them more than 10 years.
Oleg doesn’t seem like a good bet for Tatyana. Sounds like an interesting series. Maybe best to start with the series prior to appreciate this one fully?
yes I really like to follow the series from the beginning. This is a spinoff of a spinoff, the latest in a long line of spinoffs from the original. It’s different. Anyway, the author is talented and I would start at the beginning A Hidden Fire and work my way through.
I’ve been delving into this world for a bit now, but I still have many books to go. This one is on my list. Glad to see you liked it.
Blood Mosaic will be near the end of a list with this being the latest one. I hope you enjoy them as much as I have, or more!