Blood Lust

The Sentinels are monk-trained warriors who maintain order amongst the High Bloods, that is: witches, healers, necromancers, psychics, and telepaths. Bas Cavrilo is a renegade; he has broken ties with the official organisation to sell his talents to the highest bidder, within reason. Five years before, Cal had had a fateful encounter with the lovely Myst, who left him the daughter she had following that one time. Bas loves his daughter, Molly, with all his heart. Molly had been kidnapped the year before, and when Myst appears at Bas’ door, even though he never forgave Myst, he will do everything in his power to keep them safe, however his heart might be at stake… BLOOD LUST is the third book in Alexandra Ivy’s Sentinels series, and it can easily be read as a standalone, because Ms. Ivy explains everything subtly, concisely, and very clearly so that no one will be lost, and all will be thoroughly entertained. Ms. Ivy is an exceptional worldbuilder and storyteller, and BLOOD LUST is a perfect example of her considerable talents and why she is so successful at what she does. Bas and Myst’s budding relationship is built mostly on instalust, but handled so cleverly that I believed every single minute of it, besides their obvious love for their daughter. Bas is a terrific character: as macho as he is, he has a tender heart and is never pushy. Myst appears a fragile little flower, but she is at least as strong as Bas, and I loved how the dynamics between the two shifted as their relationship bloomed. Every character is exceptionally well fleshed out, and one of the most notable features of BLOOD LUST is the bevy of powerful female characters. I also very much enjoyed watching the shenanigans of a deliciously wicked – and very believable - villain. BLOOD LUST is positively riveting, the plot iron-clad; it’s a fast paced book, and well-balanced all around; everything blends fluidly. Best of all, the more the story progresses, the more gripping it becomes, and there was a fabulous plot twist. Of course everything made even better by Alexandra Ivy’s crisp and eloquent prose. Don’t hesitate for a moment: BLOOD LUST is worth every second of your time! I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

So I totally rationed myself on this book, since I didn't know when the next Sentinels book was scheduled. I was lucky enough to read the other books pretty much back to back. I have to say, this is one of my favorite worlds. Alexandra does an amazing job of creating these rich, complicated and complex characters, and then surprises you every time. You meet Bas in Blood Assassin, where he should have been a Bad Guy, but in reality, just because he has flexible morality for many things, deep down, he is a Sentinel and understands what is important. Once again, the theme of the family make and overcoming less than ideal families is strong in this story. Myst is an interesting character. I wanted her to be silly and frivolous and selfish, but she's none of those things, even from the beginning. Together, Bas and Myst are able to find what they are looking for. And of course Molly, I hope to see more of her too. In addition to Bas and Myst, we get even more insight into Wolfe and Lana. Ivy did a great job of balancing both stories. I didn't feel cheated on either story. AND if we don't get Wolfe and Lana's story soon, ok I don't have threat, but I am hoping we will get it sooner rather than later!

Great read. Kept me involved to the end.