BLOOD ON SILK

Author: Marie Treanor ISBN: 9780451231567 9/2010 PARANORMAL Publisher: SIGNET ECLIPSE

While in Romania researching historical superstitions, Scottish academic Elizabeth Silk comes upon the folk tale of Saloman, a seductive prince staked centuries ago, legend's most powerful vampire. Now, in the ruins of a castle crypt, Elizabeth discovers supernatural legends that have come alive. Her blood has awakened him. Her innocence has aroused him. But Elizabeth unleashes more than Saloman's hunger, and it's going to unite them in ways neither could have imagined.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

I first read Treanor's erotic fairy tale retellings she did with Bonnie Dee, and I enjoyed those quite a bit.  When I heard about her paranormal vampire novel, BLOOD ON SILK (first in the Awakened by Blood books), I was interested in seeing how it turned out.  The blurb makes it sound a bit more typical of vampire romance then it really is—there's a definite bite (get it?) to this book, a darker undertone that I appreciated all the more because I knew it wasn't a stand alone.

At times things were a little frustrating between Elizabeth and Saloman.  There was very little discussion between them at first, much of the 'do it this way!' approach from the both of them.  However, little by little, things gave way, and I enjoyed their entanglements.

Saloman's continual threat was felt throughout the novel.  It was always there, no matter what joy they felt, no matter what love or passion.  He meant what he said—he would kill her.  Their conversation in the last chapter is the best indicator for what was truly at stake, their personalities, and possibly my favorite exchange because it was so painfully truthful.

Treanor does give us some levity and humorous moments, such as Elizabeth constantly chiding Saloman and pretty much rolling her eyes at his 'I will kill you!' attitude.  He's mystified by her fearless (almost reckless) disregard for the fact he is so much more powerful then she.  Then there is also the tutoring sessions Saloman undergoes in order to better understand the modern world.  He was entombed three centuries ago, so everything is a marvel to him (and not all in good ways).

In all, this was a dark, intense first entry into a new series I'm intrigued by.  The first chapter excerpt for the second book, BLOOD SIN, was a tease given everything that occurs in the last two chapters.  Here's hoping things look a bit brighter for Elizabeth and Saloman—though truthfully, I can't see how much worse it can get for them relationship-wise.

Alexandra Cenni