Blood of the Wicked: A Dark Mission Novel

Blood of the Wicked

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New Seattle was built on the ruins of old Seattle after a major earth quake that split the city in two. There is a huge trench in the middle of the city. It feels very urban, yet this is futuristic. I was more interested in the city than Jessie at first. He hunts witches, and kills them for a living. Her whole very sad history was formed by people like Silas.

So when she starts to think about what is under his clothes, it makes me grind my teeth a little. This feeling changes over the course of the novel. Later on I found myself glued to the pages hopeful for things to work out. The best part of the novel for me was the anticipation.

It is his job to kill witches. That one fact kept me turning the pages. The scenes between them get hot and heavy, which only made the anticipation that much worse. I am picky with my lead men and Silas grunts to often for my taste. He tends to keep his head in the game or try to, but he came across as a little dense. My dissatisfaction also stems from the end. Everything is wrapped up well, but his character seemed very different.

Blood of the Wicked is a typical Paranormal Romance with an awesome back drop. Although the story is typical, it still reeks with anticipation to keep the reader involved. I was not a fan of Silas or his grunting, but did like the two of them together, and the steamy scenes between them. It is a fast paced read. The action is intense, and it does a great job of keeping the reader in the book. I look forward to more from this witch hunting city!

Jan 05, Hbeebti rated it liked it Shelves: Oh Silas how I wanted to smack you upside your pig head, narrow minded head! Who cares that you are hot! You were an ass! Since Jessie didn't see fit to let you have it at the end of this book , I will!! You were mean and cruel and sooooo very very stupid! I don't know that I forgive you since you never said you were sorry for hurting my girl Jessie.

I don't know if I even like you. You are nice to look at, soooooooooo I guess I just.. Here's the thing love the drama. Love that he Oh Silas how I wanted to smack you upside your pig head, narrow minded head!

Love that he was an ignorant , arrogant ass. Love stories like that. But for me I need some closure. I need some ass kissing , I am so damn sorry , please forgive me crap! I was seriously just ready to throttle Jessie at the end. I mean hello all of a sudden he saves you and you are like "Oh baby I m so glad you're ok". Oh I'm so sorry about your brother People screw up in real life. But I was raised that you at the end of the day make it right, that is if you know you messed up.

It was clear that he knew he screwed up.

Ok that rant is over. Now I enjoyed the book until that part at the end. I was on the fence about Jessie's brother. Since her book is next I am kinda nervous. Pretty good first book to a new series. Like the idea that witches are to blame and wrongly at that , for all world disasters. The way they are treated and killed is horrible and sad. I enjoyed the world building and will continue on and see where this goes. Look forward to what may happen with the witch hunters and the witches.

View all 4 comments. Wow, was a bummer. I really wanted to like this book. This story takes place in an alternate world where earthquakes killed millions of people. Who's fault are the earthquakes? Okay, I'll accept that. The solution to the problem: He's looking for Jessie, the sister of a known witch Caleb, involved with a deadly coven.

I lo Wow, was a bummer. Neither were developed enough for me to really care what happens later. Jan 10, Katrina rated it liked it. Until- Silas Smith finds her in a New Seattle strip club. Silas has believed his whole life, that witches must die, and that they are all bad news, him being a witch Hunter who travels society for murderous witches ARC REVIEW Jessie Leigh has spent her whole life on the run, living life one day at a time, trying to blend in amongst the havoc and despair among the drudges in the rebuilt city. Silas has believed his whole life, that witches must die, and that they are all bad news, him being a witch Hunter who travels society for murderous witches who threaten what is left of their world.

Jessie his next target, to find Caleb a witch who murders in cold blood. Silas is drawn to Jessie, her sex and whisky aroma- her long legs; he finds her the most sensuous woman he has ever met, but what he does not know she is his enemy. The order that Silas works for figures that Jessie is their bait, what better way to find him then through his own blood, his sister.

But all is not what it seems … Is blood thicker than water or power!!! Caleb Leigh belongs to the coven of the Unbinding, a group of witches whom follow Curio and who seek out power and payback. Silas finds out that Jessie is not who he thought she was and her life is once again in the hand of the prophecy. Certainly an intriguing refreshing new storyline from Karina Cooper.

Mystery and murder filled with lush, steamy sexual scenes to give it that little bit of heat, but certainly not the main factor in this story. Enough heat and romance to keep you flipping frantically, but also mystery and intrigue to keep you on the edge of your seat wandering.

Initially I found it hard to get into the first pages, A little slow paced at first , but After that it was full bore ahead - steady and fluent, until the very end ,I was defiantly eager to find out the ending to this suspensful story. Karina created her characters, idealistically, Silas the hero we all love in a paranormal romance, definitely not indestructible but the opposite, a warrior that soldiered on like the true missionary he was.

He was a determined character, right till the end, kick arse and buff. I liked the way he took charge!! Jessie, was timid in her own ways, forthcoming with most issues except on telling Silas her true background, but for all else she was caring and honest to herself. Believing in what she saw, and willing to do what it took to save her brother despite his hurt and betrayal towards her.

The exposition flowed fluently, all main characters relating and very idealistic. Climax was fast paced, giving us that edge of excitement and intrigue needed for that edge. Questions left unanswered, and still room for growth and potential in book 2.

Secondary characters played their part well, important factors to the storyline, present and recognizable. Overall, Blood of the Wicked was an enjoyable, romance-paranormal filled with action, suspense, murder, mystery, steamy love scenes, and an ending you could would not predict. I look forward to book two. That was a hot book!! The story takes place in a post-apocalyptic Seattle, when the witches have been accused of destroying the world with a series of earthquakes, tsunamis and all types of natural disaster.

Now, That was a hot book!! She was trying to hide from the hunters but now she is with the one who wants her brother dead. But can these two fight against all the odds and have something good?

Blood of the Wicked - A Dark Mission Novel

Silas is totally badass. Brave, with a past full of fights and many regrets for bad decisions, finds himself to want this woman without knowing why. I loved the development in his character through the book and all his fight with his inner demons. Jessie is a strong woman without being badass. She has survived many things.

She wants Silas so bad, although she knows why he wants to find her brother and that makes it real for me. I was so sad in a scene in which Silas is cruel with her, because she has done nothing wrong. Of course not all witches are bad and she is the best example for this. Apr 29, Darcy rated it did not like it Shelves: This book is another one where the premise sounded good, the cover really drew me in, but didn't come through in the story. I made it as far as page It was at that point that I realized that I was bored while reading it.

Jessie was on the run, apparently being a witch could get you killed. Silas was after her, not sure why yet, but had to do with her brother. Silas seemed to get roped into helping more than he wanted and Jessie found out through her powers. This is where I gave up. Like I sa This book is another one where the premise sounded good, the cover really drew me in, but didn't come through in the story. Like I said I was pretty bored, didn't really care who these people were that were forcing Silas and Jessie to find Caleb.

In the end this one just wasn't for me. May 25, Feistygodwin rated it it was ok. It wasn't a bad book, but it wasn't great either. The biggest problem with this book was that I was pretty annoyed with the female heroine by the end of the book. She supposedly has all of this power that the church and coven want her for, but she doesn't use it to help herself out of the dangerous situations that she finds herself in. She just accepts whatever is thrown at her and hopes for the best.

ARGH- this was an extremely frustrating book to read! Jan 26, Sophia rated it really liked it Shelves: This one hooked me when I read the blurb and decided to give it a whirl. I am a sucker for unique backdrops and world-building which is what drew me to the genres who specialize in this. This book did not disappoint in that area. But there was also the additional draws of romance, intrigue dystopian, and paranormal elements. This story was interesting in that the background introductory information was left until after the story got into full swing and then the information was trickled as needed This one hooked me when I read the blurb and decided to give it a whirl.

This story was interesting in that the background introductory information was left until after the story got into full swing and then the information was trickled as needed instead of one massive info dump. In the end, there were still portions that were left vague- purposefully I think as I saw hints that there are big revelations to come. Now, about the story- Simon Smith has been a witch hunter for a long time.

He is more Lone Ranger in his hunting style. He has a bitter attitude times ten on this particular night fueled by the pain from his deteriorating body and because he has been called back to his home turf to which he would have avoided forever if given a choice. He has been assigned to find and bag the sister of a witch so that she can be used to find her brother.

Knowing that he will be deceiving the girl to get her to cooperate in something that can only lead to her brother's death does not set well with him though he is committed to the notion that all witches must die. Simon is part of an universal church organization that sprung up after the devastating earthquakes along the main fault lines that left the world particularly that of New Seattle as it is now. Witches were held responsible for this natural disaster and the witch hunts of old are back in vogue.

Simon's group or missionaries as they are called actively seek out witches and put them to death.

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Now a powerful coven of witches has sprung up in New Seattle and this Caleb Leigh, brother of Jessica Leigh is their only lead. New Seattle is an ironic name for something that is not all that is pristine and new. If you live in the soaring skyscrapers and world of light above as the wealthy do, it is like that, but if you are poor or average you live in the dark and dingy world built on the rubble of the old city beneath that never really sees the daytime sky and you must scrape for survival.

And even lower than this are the dangerous and truly dark unstable levels of the original city and the areas near the great chasm where the fault opened- where people go and never return. Simon finds his prey, Jessica Leigh, and he is harsh with her because of his own inner uneasiness about the assignment and because he can see that she is full of light and goodness and this will all devastate her.

He tries to remain detached with the 'get her, give her over to the mission and get out' plan. But instead, he is ordered to continue to use her and he himself is under scrutiny. By now, Simon is quite the opposite of detached and does the unthinkable- he starts to care. Jessie has been on the run all her life because she is a witch. She hides what she is and hides well, but the witch hunter finds her and keeps her from escaping him.

Editorial Reviews

He doesn't want her; he wants Caleb. Jessie lost track of Caleb, but can't believe he is involved in a dark coven or all the ritual killings that Simon accuses him of being. Stuck with no other alternative, Jessie partners with Simon to find Caleb planning to deal with escape when she can get to her brother. But things start happening.

Witches are after her and most terrifying of all a tentative relationship springs up between her and the witch hunter that would see her dead if he knew what she was. It was a mad rush from beginning to end with that whole Sword of Damocles feel to it as Jessie waits to see if she will escape with Caleb before or after Simon learns that she is a witch. Both of them are well aware that their relationship doesn't stand a chance. For Simon, its because he's going to kill her brother and leave her behind. I loved the feeling of reading along about Simon and Jessie's adventures with the rare dip into what is going on with Caleb and knowing that there are bigger things going on in the shadows than any of them really know.

Even when the story finished with its slam bang finish, I was aware due to the foreshadowing throughout the book that bigger stuff is yet to come. Yes, it is a heady feeling going into a new series that leaves me jittery and eager like that. The characters were great. I loved them even though Simon's behavior with Jessie was parts jerk and pig.

Let's just say Simon's character had the biggest growth arc of all and it was fascinating following along as he did slowly, but surely grow. Jessie was a strong and solid character from the get-go. She was my hero. That girl had a real tough row to hoe and she just did it without whining or whoosing out. The secondary characters which amounted to members of Simon's team, the mysterious character who rescued Simon and Jessie won't say more about this individual for spoiler reasons , Caleb and the bad guys were all of interest in their own ways.

I have a feeling I will meet many of them again. Caleb was a character for which I felt conflicted much like Jessie. I really couldn't give him over to being a complete villain, but yet he wasn't hero-stuff either. I am definitely eager to read more of this series and that's the best compliment I can give this story. I think this has a wide range of appeal because of the way it crosses a few different genres- paranormal and dystopian romance along with a dash of romantic suspense.

Jan 11, Jennifer M rated it really liked it. One disaster changed the world, and created a divide not only in Seattle, but in society itself. The danger and desperation found in layer after layer of the forsaken remnants of the sunken Seattle make it an incredible, tangible background for this story. Jessica and Caleb Leigh were born into culture of hate and persecution. Silas Smith is called back into the Order after some self imposed time away. The story is filled with half truths and deception from the very beginning. Both Jessie and Silas are sharing only parts of their true intentions with the other, and understandably so.

The intensity of the situations they find themselves in, both of their own making, and against outside forces, is a catalyst for very raw emotion. The harshness that embodies the bulk of the story makes the times that they almost accidentally have sweet moments that much better. It seems like everyone in this world is wearing a mask of some sort. I really enjoyed this book. There were many times where it was a bit darker than what I normally read. Karina still owes me for a half a box of tissues! The imagery and worldbuilding in this story is really interesting and the characters just feed off of each other.

Luckily, the publisher is fast-tracking the release of the second book in the series, Lure of the Wicked, which will be available on June 28th. Karina Cooper has given us a fascinating debut. Mar 23, Sophie rated it liked it Shelves: I'm not sure how to go about rating this one. I enjoyed it quite a bit, but the story itself had some problems that required a lot of complicity from me as a reader to be so ready to suspend my disbelief. I loved her prequel novella hoping that the small problems in there would be addressed in the novel.

Unfortunately this is not the case. Same problems, just on a bigger scale. The world building is fractured at best and there's only a very nebulous connection between witches and the post-apocal I'm not sure how to go about rating this one. The world building is fractured at best and there's only a very nebulous connection between witches and the post-apocalyptic world. There's no explanation about why Witches were singled out to shoulder the blame for the Cataclysm.

Yes, PNR and UF often just drop magical folk on you, but the good ones tell you how they came to be and how they interact with the world and how the world interacts with them. Cooper sets up this post-apocalyptia and we must take it in faith that it all works. And it does, if you accept the premise wholeheartedly. So for the sake of enjoying the story, I did.

What I loved about the novella I love in this book too. Cooper has very immersive writing, which helped me forget some greater plot holes, because she is amazing at setting up the bleak tone and mood of the distopic world and managed her characters so well. We spend allot of time in Jessie and Silas's heads, we get to know them inside and out. Her writing is also very intense, lots of anger, lots of grief, lots of tension filled sex.

Though, I will say that I was weirded out by the quick pacing and backwardness of the romance. Not so a novel. They timidly get to know each other later in the novel, after they spend the first six or so chapters lusting after each other. I had noticed this about her novella as well. She gratifies you first then gives you the slow building love after. I'm generally used to this being the other way around. The sex scenes themselves are eloquently graphic, intense and brief. I have to admit, however that I'm not an expert on PNR and tend to read more on the UF side of the spectrum, so maybe this backwardness is typical?

After a good romance I like to linger on the finer moments of the lovers tale, but at the end of Blood of the Wicked I found myself pondering all these questions I had set aside to enjoy the love story. Some of these questions are spoilers, so if you're very curious: How is the Mission organized? Just what is the extent of a witch's power? How come Silas doesn't automatically assume Jessie's a witch? Heck, why doesn't Jessie? And nevermind that it's weird how the major conflict seems overly convoluted when in my humble opinion that the whole thing could have been solved with a single gunshot.

I will keep reading the series and hopefully these world building problems will improve. May 04, Ali Hougland rated it it was amazing. Blood of the Wicked is a post-apocalyptic romance that showcases a very possible scenario of how the remnants of human race would react after facing Armageddon. Fear and bitterness drive the persecuted witches, while righteousness and vengeance drive the followers of the Holy Order. This story showcases the extremes of primal human emotion when faced with dire circumstances and a bleak setting.

Strip club bartender Jessie Leigh is a woman who is a master of disguises and, more critical to her continued survival, running. Jessie is a witch, but her power does not lie in combat or destruction; her gift is sight. She has been trying to track her younger brother Caleb, a witch who can see the future, but he has somehow managed to block her sight. He left her a year ago after a cryptic prophecy that would ultimately result in her death — a prophecy that begins to unfold the night a soldier of the Holy Order comes into the club searching for her. Silas Smith has reluctantly re-entered the fold of the Holy Order of Saint Dominic, a zealous organization that capitalized on the post-apocalyptic chaos and established itself as the power in the new world.

The initial attraction between these two is purely driven by outside events. Near misses, murder attempts, frustration, and fear cause Silas and Jessie to come together in a sort of frantic affirmation of life and emotion. There is physical attraction, but they are very much using each other in the beginning. Blood of the Wicked is probably one of the darkest paranormal romances I have ever read.

It was similar to my reaction after watching the first television episode of The Walking Dead - I was taken aback, shocked and horrified in some areas, but completely riveted by the characters and plot. Four and a half stars. May 22, Sharon rated it liked it Shelves: Jessica Leigh is a witch in hiding, living off the grid and working in a strip club as a bartender; she has spent her life on the run or in hiding from the Holy Order, a group of Mercenaries who hunt witches.

Her first instinct when she sees Silas sitting in the bar is to change her disguise and run! Silas Smith is a witch hunter and has been ordered to find and exterminate Caleb Leigh, wh http: When Silas first sights Jessie, he has no idea at all she is a witch; they are instantly attracted to one another and need to find a way to work together in order to find Caleb, both of course for their different reasons. I found the world building to be interesting; witches have been blamed for an Armageddon of sorts and hunted and killed for almost 50 years, witches in this book are mostly portrayed as dark and deathly, Jessie seemed to be in the minority.

The different parts of the city had my mind reeling; I for some reason kept imagining a shopping mall with numerous levels — top being for rich down to the lower level slums. The prophecies he had seen were interesting but no excuse for what he was doing. As first novels go, this one was pretty good. Book 2, Lure of the Wicked will be released June 28th You may also read my review here: When Agent Smith eventually trac You may also read my review here: Agent Smith is a witch hunter, and Jessie is a witch, so why in the heck is she so attracted to him too?

I loved Blood of the Wicked. Humans have rebuilt, but vast wastelands still remain, and the lower levels of Seattle remain full of danger. Cooper provided just enough world building to whet the appetite, but she has plenty of material to mine in future novels. Jessie is smart and tough, but is still very vulnerable from years of living off the grid to avoid persecution.

Silas is a perfect foil, an agent passed his prime, certain this will be his last mission, and doing his best to avoid the undeniable feelings that he has for Jessie. I loved his single minded dedication to the mission, and also to protecting Jessie. Fans of urban fantasy as well as paranormal romance will love this exciting new series, and Ms. There was a lot to love for this reluctant paranormal romance reader, and Karina Cooper paints a gritty, violent picture of the future, which I'll look forward to returning to again and again!

Feb 20, Vanessa theJeepDiva rated it really liked it Shelves: So much of Blood of the Wicked caught me by complete surprise. Nothing was as I assumed it would be. Motives were far different from what I imagined. Cooper has created a gritty dark, bordering on violent world and I like it. I love dark and twisted tales. The Dark Mission series seems promising in the delivery of plenty more dark and twisted. Je So much of Blood of the Wicked caught me by complete surprise.

Jessie has lived her whole life off the grid and out of the sights of the Order. The Order has one goal, kill all witches. Jessie knows what is in her blood. Running, constant changes of jobs and places to sleep have kept her alive. She used to run with her brother until his prophecies of her death made him flee from her side. Now she just wants to find him and make sure that his prophecies never come to pass.

He is a witch hunter for the Order. I would have loved to have known if there was something in his past that led him to this profession. He is merciless when it comes to the eradication of witches. Is there something in his past that made him this way? His current mission Operation Echo Location has him searching for a witch that will hopefully help him bring down an entire coven of what he sees as pure evil.

Silas was not an easy hero to like. Actually every member of the Order left me wondering who team evil is and who is team good in this world. I loved the fact that every action kept me guessing at motives with this book. He sees things in a hard definitive black and white. I think Matilda should have had the black and white conversation with him. I loved Matilda and hope to see more of her in this series. Interesting World Building Blood of the Wicked has some very interesting world building.

The world is fifty years after California dropped into the ocean and the world has gone to hell in a hand-basket. New Seattle is the last major city and it is ruled by the 'Church' whose missionaries go about hunting down witches and killing them. As witches and their magic is pure evil and the zealots see them as having destroyed the world. Not all of this is clear. Pretty black and white. The author does an good job of throwing a witch in hiding Jessie, and a sexy missionary Silas together.

Only problem being that both of these characters lie to each other throughout the book. Jessie lies to save herself and brother. Silas lies because his Church follow the won't suffer a witch to live philosophical slant. Now for a missionary he sure does take the lord's name in vain a lot. He even has sex in a ruined church. Missionary is a term for sanctioned killer. I honestly did see any good guys in this tale, except Jessie and Matilda who are just trying to survive. I didn't like the character of Silas, but I don't have to like a character to really applaud the world building and plotting.

I do want to know more about the Church and it's beliefs, the author defiantly hooked me. Jun 01, Paris rated it really liked it Shelves: I won a copy from the author in a contest last year when the book was released and I kept looking at it, and looking at it. And man I am mad that I waited so long to read it.

I loved this book. The world was exactly the type of dark and gritty world that I usually enjoy and the characters were exactly the dark and twisty and secret-ridden type of characters that I love. She was feisty and fresh given her circumstances. She gave as good as she got.

One thing that bugged me was the fact that Silas was completely blown away by the fact that Jessie was a witch. It was mentioned more than once that it was genetically likely that since her brother was a witch, she would also be a witch, yet he was flabbergasted by the revelation. I really enjoyed this first book and I look forward to reading the rest of the series which is already on my Kindle waiting for me to make it happen.

Jul 11, Ellie rated it liked it. Ummm, am I missing something here? Most series don't require you to read the novellas to understand what is going on To Walk the Night. Bound To Seduction Firebrand 1. Blood Lust The Preternaturals Book 1. A Touch of Greek Out of Olympus 1. Spirit of the Witch. Shapeshifter Romance Boxed Set. For the Love of a Goblin Warrior.

Deliver Me from Temptation. Blade to the Keep. Falling for the Billionaire Wolf and His Baby. Demon Hunting in Dixie.

Paperback Editions

Kiss of the Goblin Prince. Dead on the Delta. The Kraken King Part V. A Scent of Greek Out of Olympus 2. Blade on the Hunt. Diamonds and Dirt Roads. That Old Black Magic. Rescued by the Wolf. Book Six of The St. No Rest for the Witches. How to write a great review. The review must be at least 50 characters long. The title should be at least 4 characters long. Your display name should be at least 2 characters long.

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