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Featured Story: Joined By Blood

Renee Stevens

Entry posted by Renee Stevens in Featured Stories

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Well, it's the start of another week, and to help start it off right we're going to share a wonderful review that Aditus was kind enough to share with us. This week's featured story is Joined by Blood by...me. Thank you, Aditus, for such an awesome review. Joined by Blood is just one story that can be found in our Premium section. Don't have Premium? You can get it here. You can also try to win a Premium subscription by entering the April Fool's Day Short Story Contest. Hope you enjoy the review!

 


Renee Stevens


Reviewer: Aditus


Status: Complete


Word Count: 79,234

 

As suggested by Timothy M., I’m going with an old favorite of mine this time: Joined by Blood, which can be found in the premium section. Those who know me are probably rolling their eyes when they read ‘vampire’, but hey, a story full of hot, fanged guys–I could never resist those!

The story starts with Damian locked up in a cell and shackled to a wall. He never believed in vampires until they kidnapped him and his baby sister. Ever the big brother, all his thoughts are on escaping so he can save Rebecca. Then he learns she actually instigated their abduction to become a vampire herself, and, on top of that, Damian was the price she readily paid to reach her goal. His world crumbles.

Still reeling from the revelation, Damian thinks he is losing what is left of his sanity when he hears a voice in his head asking him about his injuries. Shortly after, several men defeat his jailers and free him from his prison. But alas, they are vampires too.

Just a few days ago, Damian didn’t know vampires existed beyond fiction; now he learns there are in fact different kinds: those who still have their soul, like the clan who saved him, and those who don’t, like the group his sister joined.

Even then, Damian won’t believe Rebecca is beyond saving. He is fiercely determined to find a way to get his sister back, even though everyone tells him it is impossible.

Soon, Damian finds himself plunged into a war between good and evil. Throw in a sexy vampire prince, a brooding second-in-command from the tall, dark, and handsome variety, a prophecy, love, betrayal, and family issues, and you have the perfect mix for a nice weekend. (In my humble opinion.)

When I first started reading Joined by Blood, I couldn’t wait for Renee to post the next chapter. She wove some evil cliffhangers into her tale of twists and turns, which, even though they no longer matter as the story is complete, still spur the reader on. If you plan on reading the story, make sure you have enough time and there aren’t any trivial things like work, family, pets, or friends that are going to distract you.

 

Category: Fiction Genres: Drama, Romance, Paranormal Tags: vampire, gay, modern Rating: Mature

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13 Comments

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Slytherin

Slytherin 24,491

Posted

This was one of the first stories I read when I was a newbie here on GA and I loved  it ! Read the story, you won't regret it :):2thumbs:  Great Review, Adi !

  • Like 5
spike382

spike382 52,625

Posted

This is a great review adi! I've never actually taken the plunge and read this one. I do have a bit of a love hate relationship with vampire stories. But l may need to check this out.

  • Like 5
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Mann Ramblings

Mann Ramblings 23,119

Posted

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I loved this one and read it at work the first time. (Don't tell my boss.) Vamp stories can be a great read or crash and burn. This is worth taking the time out of your schedule to check out. :)

  • Like 6
Timothy M.

Timothy M. 50,252

Posted

I read this story a long time ago, before I was into writing reviews and leaving likes. So I only left one small rant and rave review on the last chapter. This time around I did a full rant on various characters. :lol: And I still wish there were a few more hot chapters at the end. :P

  • Like 4
Slytherin

Slytherin 24,491

Posted

And I still wish there were a few more hot chapters at the end. :P

Me too ! Why did Renee end the story there :lmao:

  • Like 4
Headstall

Headstall 306,666

Posted

I loved this story too. It was also one of the first ones I read. I remember being so caught up in it at the time. I may have to revisit it at some point. Anyway, I highly recommend it!! :yes:

  • Like 3
Timothy M.

Timothy M. 50,252

Posted

Oh, and I forgot: great review, Adi. :D (but you already know I thought so)

  • Like 3
Aditus

Aditus 28,928

Posted

It's such a great story, so this was easy. I'm glad you all liked the review. Now, go read the story. ;)

And yes, a little more would be nice. I'm with Tim and LBO here.

  • Like 4
Renee Stevens

Renee Stevens 26,952

Posted

Thank you for such a wonderful review, Aditus! I really enjoyed writing this and am glad that everyone enjoyed reading it as well. I think my favorite part of this story was when I was posting it. Readers were threatening to kidnap my characters, primarily Vik and Dante and the culprits were primarily Frostina and Lugh. Outside of the reviews, it was great to see the story have such an impact on my readers. In some ways, I miss Vik, Dante, and Damian. But, I am getting a chance to revisit them as I revisit them and revise the original story in the hopes of publishing it. But don't worry, Joined by Blood will always have a home on GA.

  • Like 3
Renee Stevens

Renee Stevens 26,952

Posted

This was one of the first stories I read when I was a newbie here on GA and I loved  it ! Read the story, you won't regret it :):2thumbs:  Great Review, Adi !

 

Thank you, LBO!  So glad you enjoyed the story and I love it when I hear that it was one of the first stories you read.  Especially as this was the first story I posted after becoming a Signature author.

 

 

This is a great review adi! I've never actually taken the plunge and read this one. I do have a bit of a love hate relationship with vampire stories. But l may need to check this out.

 

 

I agree with you spikey. While I do enjoy vampire stories, sometimes I have a hard time with how authors portray them and I tried to remember all those things I didn't like when I wrote Joined by Blood.

 

 

I loved this one and read it at work the first time. (Don't tell my boss.) Vamp stories can be a great read or crash and burn. This is worth taking the time out of your schedule to check out. :)

 

Reading at work? Naughty, naughty, Mann. LOL. I'm definitely glad that Joined by Blood isn't one that you classify as a "crash and burn" vampire story.

  • Like 4
Renee Stevens

Renee Stevens 26,952

Posted

I read this story a long time ago, before I was into writing reviews and leaving likes. So I only left one small rant and rave review on the last chapter. This time around I did a full rant on various characters. :lol: And I still wish there were a few more hot chapters at the end. :P

 

LOL. There were a few rants by various readers throughout the story. I went back and re-read some of the previous reviews and I had to chuckle from time to time at readers' reactions to some of the things the characters did. But, it's definitely than not getting any reactions at all!

  • Like 2
Renee Stevens

Renee Stevens 26,952

Posted

Me too ! Why did Renee end the story there :lmao:

Well, unfortunately even our favorite stories have to end sometime. That seemed like a natural stopping point as the story had run its course and I didn't want to drag it on. I suppose I could have done a couple more chapters on how things were going

now that the triad was actually formed.

Maybe that's something to look at during the revision, we'll have to see.

 

I loved this story too. It was also one of the first ones I read. I remember being so caught up in it at the time. I may have to revisit it at some point. Anyway, I highly recommend it!! :yes:

So glad you enjoyed it, Gary. I hope you enjoy it just as much if you do decide to go back and re-read.

 

It's such a great story, so this was easy. I'm glad you all liked the review. Now, go read the story. ;)

And yes, a little more would be nice. I'm with Tim and LBO here.

Thank you again for such a great review, Adi. I enjoyed reading your thoughts and yes, sometimes I wonder if I should have kept it going, but it just felt like I would be dragging it out. We'll see what happens with the revision, maybe I'll decide to extend it.

  • Like 4
dughlas

dughlas 109,644

Posted

This is a great story and was one of the first I read on the site. Highly recommend it.

  • Like 1

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