Title: Blood Rights
Author: Kristen Painter
First published September 1, 2011
381 pages, Paperback
ISBN: 9781841499697 (ISBN10: 1841499692)
Rating: 3.75
Overview
The life of a comarré is full of secrets and deception, and for Chrysabelle, it’s no different. Her body is adorned with intricate gold filigree, marking her as one of the special humans bred to feed vampire nobility.
But when her patron is murdered, Chrysabelle becomes the prime suspect and must flee into the mortal world. There, she meets Malkolm, an outcast vampire cursed to kill every being he drinks from.
Together, they must stop a dangerous plot to merge the mortal and supernatural worlds, or face a catastrophic and unprecedented chaos. Can Chrysabelle and Malkolm work together and save their worlds from destruction?
About the Author
Kristen Painter has a couple of passions in life: shoes and cats. However, she balances these obsessions by creating stories that will make her characters’ lives miserable and keep her readers on their toes.
She’s an acclaimed writer of paranormal romance and cozy mysteries. Before becoming a full-time author, she used to teach English at college.
You can follow her on Twitter @Kristen_Painter, check out her Facebook page at www.facebook.com/KristenPainterAuthor, and read her blog at http://kristenpainter.com/blog/. She enjoys connecting with her readers on social media.
Editoral Review
Kristen Painter’s Blood Rights introduces readers to a captivating and intricate world of paranormal beings struggling for power and acceptance in an alternate version of New Orleans. This urban fantasy novel was first published on September 1, 2011, and is the first book in the House of Comarr series.
Painter’s writing style is engaging and her ability to keep readers invested in the story is a testament to her talent. The plot of Blood Rights follows Chrysabelle, a comarr, a rare individual bred for their blood, who is forced to flee her luxurious life in the vampires’ realm after the brutal murder of her patron.
She finds refuge in New Orleans, where she begins working at a local tattoo parlor owned by Malkolm, a large and dangerous vampire. As Chrysabelle tries to navigate the complexities of her new environment and the brutal power struggles between the paranormal beings, she uncovers a dangerous plot that could threaten not just her life but the entire paranormal community.
Painter’s world-building is exceptional, and she creates a vivid and lush setting that is both dangerous and alluring. The city of New Orleans becomes a character in itself, and Painter’s descriptions bring the city to life, transporting readers to the heart of the action.
The cast of characters is diverse and well-developed, with each character having their own unique backstory and motivations. Despite the strengths of the novel, there are some issues with pacing and plot structure.
Some parts of the book feel rushed, while others drag on, making the pacing uneven. Additionally, some of the plot twists feel predictable, and readers may see certain events coming before they happen, which can detract from the impact of the narrative.
Overall, Blood Rights is an enjoyable and engaging read, and fans of the urban fantasy genre will find much to love in this series. The book is a great introduction to Painter’s talent, and readers will find themselves invested in the story and characters from the very beginning.
While the novel does have some flaws, it is a strong start to a promising series. Readers who enjoy urban fantasy novels with a strong paranormal element and an intricate plot will find Blood Rights to be a great fit for their reading preferences.
Fans of authors like Laurell K. Hamilton and Charlaine Harris will also find much to enjoy here.
I give Blood Rights a rating of 4 out of 5 stars, with the key strengths being Kristen Painter’s world-building, characters, and engaging writing style.
