Product Description
Bodyguard Celia Graves has definitely accepted her share of weird assignments, both human and supernatural. But her newest job takes the cake. Guarding a Prince from terrorists and religious fundamentalists is hard enough, but it seems like the entire supernatural world is after this guy too. When she is betrayed by those she is employed to help, and everything goes horribly wrong, Celia wakes to find herself transformed.
Neither human nor vampire, Celia has become an Abominationsomething that should not existand now both human and supernatural alike want her dead. With the help of a few loyal friendsa sexy mage, a powerful werewolf, and a psychic copCelia does her best to stay alive. On the run from her enemies, Celia must try to discover who is behind her transformation
before it’s too late.
T. Lasco @ 11:56 am
Only one time earlier this year (out of hundreds of books) have I ever been impressed enough to write a review……Until this book. This is my second review ever, and it was because I was so surprised and impressed with it. I won’t go into detail about the book but I will tell everyone that this book is one of my new favorites. I would very much put this book / story / style next to ones like Mercy Thompson, Sookie, Illona Andrews’s series, Friday Night Bites, Jane Yellowrock, and Shelly Laurenston. It was a perfect style, possible romance, fast paced, and felt like a light and easy read but at the same time intense with many twists and changes. It tugged just right. I have already put the next book on my pre-order and have added this author to my list. P.S. The ending does not leave you hanging but it does give you a peek into the next one:)!
E. Garrison @ 12:14 pm
I found this a difficult review to write because there were many things I really loved about this book. Deciding between 3 or 4 was tough. In the end I’ve gone with three, because while the bones are great the flesh just isn’t there.
Celia Graves is a bodyguard in a world where magic parallels technology and the history of magic is taught in college courses. The book gets off to an achingly slow start but quickly gathers steam. If you can get past the first chapter it really does get better. By the second chapter Celia is demonstrating her mixed competence as a bodyguard and getting set up to die. Instead of an untimely demise, she’s turned into an “abomination.”
Celia spends the majority of the book bouncing from one hostile encounter to the next. People want to kill her because she looks like a vampire, or because she’s involved in international political markets, or because she just really frosts every female out there.
Blood Song suffers from a plot that at times is nearly incoherent. There’s just too much that the authors tried to cram in – on occasion with a crowbar. It’s nice that they don’t feel it necessary to force feed you the plot, but very little is actually explained and everything is a mystery. Even by the end, there remain more loose ends then woven threads. You never do discover how the bad guys killed her best friend or even if they did for certain. There are some romantic threads that are picked up but nothing really happens with them. There’s an ex-fiance that Celia can’t move out of will-she-or-won’t-she.
There are too many characters with loosely defined traits and it makes it things a confusing muddle to try and remember whose who. Why do we care about her defense attorney who is in all of six paragraphs or so and has no crucial role in the plot?
Celia herself is an example of the issues that plague the novel. She’s all over the place. She’s a woman who worries about being too girly and feminine, yet she drives a Miata. She doesn’t have one major childhood trauma. She has a bucketful: the queen of pathetic mothers, a murdered sister, an implied sexual assault, and a dead-beat dad – just to get started. She’s a bodyguard, but couldn’t care less about probing into the lives around her. She knows almost nothing about her own supposed best friends. It makes her seem more then a little self-centered, but her actions don’t support this. Celia goes out of her way to save people she’s just met like the kid at the pharmacy. She has no idea how to fight, even though it’s how she makes her living.
The last could be an author/editor snafu. Bad guys are able to draw delicate weapons from beneath coats even though they are in the midst of a brawl. A home gas line that has been broken seconds before is somehow in danger of exploding – even worse the broken line is outdoors where the gas would dissipate faster then it could escape. These are easily explained by authorial mistakes or a lack of research.
On the other hand the authors do some things exceptionally well. The human condition side of the story is very well done and much of the supporting cast shines (when you know which person has that name). There is a lot going on in the book and something for everyone to love. Once the story gets going it rolls right along to the climactic finish. Sadly, the ending is rushed. It’s like the word count had hit its max and any and all connecting fibers of the story needed to be cut to save space.
Jess Haines @ 1:40 pm
An intriguing new urban fantasy, BLOOD SONG is about Celia Graves, a security-guard-for-hire who was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Bitten by a vampire, she undergoes a partial transformation. Hovering somewhere between human and vampire, she gets sucked into a plot that involves vampires, demons, and even a little royalty. She needs to find out who set her up–before she becomes fully transformed, or ends up six feet under.
Cat Adams’ style is clear and easy to read in the first person, though some of the assumptions that you would know what was being discussed (not so much the terminology as the systems for things like magic and supernatural creatures) were a little hard for me to get into at first. A lot is going on in those first few chapters, and answers to any questions you may have about meaning or world-building are peppered throughout the story. Some major plot points about Celia’s background were neatly wrapped up at the end, but there were a couple of things about her past that were never answered. Judging by the ending, I’m assuming that you’ll learn more about her checkered past in the next book.
This was a bit different from the work I’ve seen in the past from the dual authors who make up the Cat Adams team (C.T. Adams and Cathy Clamp). I haven’t read all of their previous books, but some of what I saw of Celia reminded me of a softer, gentler version of their hit-man with a heart in HUNTER’S MOON. The vampires in BLOOD SONG were nothing like the ones in TOUCH OF EVIL, save for that they were clearly evil, unholy creatures. Some of the details of how things work for the supernaturals in this book weren’t completely clear, and I’m looking forward to exploring more about it in the next book.
Overall, this is a solid addition to the urban fantasy genre. Though there are a couple of one-liners, you’ll find this story is more like Laurell K. Hamilton’s Anita Blake series than Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files. Fans of books like Kelly Meding’s Dreg City series, Patricia Briggs’ Alpha & Omega series, and Jeaniene Frost’s Night Huntress series should enjoy this book.
TeensReadToo.com @ 2:49 pm
BLOOD SONG is the work of amazing duo C.T. Adams and Cathy Clamp, writing as Cat Adams.
In this story we meet Celia Graves, a bodyguard to the rich and famous who, although she is a regular human, knows about ghosts, demons, and other types of supernatural beings. While on assignment guarding a prince from a small European country, she is left wounded from a vampire attack.
This attack leaves her as an Abomination, not really vampire but not plain vanilla human, either. Celia must figure out her new limits, as well as destroy her maker before he can gain control over her – although this is the least of her worries.
Action, twists, and turns abound in this wonderful new series. The story flows like magic and the characters are very exciting. Celia Graves is definitely a character to watch.
For readers who are familiar with C.T. Adams and Cathy Clamp, I think they’ll be surprised at this new take on the old supernatural creature story. For those who are not familiar with them, I believe they’ll go back and find their other stories just to get another taste of such wonderful storytelling.
This book is what urban fantasy is all about: fast-paced, mysteries galore, and a main character who is stubborn beyond belief even in the face of stronger creatures. Reading this book was like going on a roller coaster ride where the lever broke off and they can’t find the off switch.
Cat Adams has crafted a story that will have others taking notice and scrambling to craft a story just as good. I think this will be one of the best series we’ll see this year, and I would expect nothing less from the dynamic duo called Cat Adams.
Reviewed by: Breia “The Brain” Brickey
J. Omullane @ 5:31 pm
Blood Song was an action packed Urban Fantasy novel that will keep the readers guessing. I have never encountered a novel with such a wide array of supernatural world included in a single book. Adams has managed creating a story that of depth, but without bogging down the story allowing it to a very enjoyable read.
Celia Graves is a very exciting heroine that is not only a kick ass girl, but Adams also allows for a past and softer side of this character. This is something not found in many books that allows the reader to really know the main character inside and out. This is by far not a romance book, but for the romance lovers it is still there. You will not find a strong single connection in this story, but it is obvious that this author has major plans for this series. With a story including a numerous amount of key players, Adams impressed me by having a story that was so clearly defined and easy to follow. Tread easy though this is not a predictable author, and just when readers think they have it all laid out she has packed bullets that are never seen coming.
This was the BookWhisperer first encounter with the author Cat Adams, and it was not wasted here. This is definitely an author to follow. Having learned after reading Blood Song that this author has other series you can be on the lookout for more from this author here. Adams carries a very light hearted and humorous tone in her writing that is easily enjoyable. Although, don’t underestimate the story line has been carefully mastered story that will enthuse not only that easy readers, as well as, the die hard story line addicts. Resulting in a story that readers easily jump into without much thought.
Blood Song cover is very simplistic, but yet a immediate eye catcher. Dark and mysterious is the cover here, and I find it perfectly fitting to this wonderful storyline. I look forward to seeing what the remainder of this series has to offer. Book 2 Siren Song is scheduled for release September 2010. I will be anxiously awaiting take a dive and see what you think?