Status
Available
Call number
Series
Genres
Publication
Spectra (2011), Edition: Original, Paperback, 384 pages
Description
Fantasy. Fiction. HTML:VAMPIRE FOR HIRE Raylene Pendle (AKA Cheshire Red), a vampire and world-renowned thief, doesn�??t usually hang with her own kind. She�??s too busy stealing priceless art and rare jewels. But when the infuriatingly charming Ian Stott asks for help, Raylene finds him impossible to resist�??even though Ian doesn�??t want precious artifacts. He wants her to retrieve missing government files�??documents that deal with the secret biological experiments that left Ian blind. What Raylene doesn�??t bargain for is a case that takes her from the wilds of Minneapolis to the mean streets of Atlanta. And with a psychotic, power-hungry scientist on her trail, a kick-ass drag queen on her side, and Men in Black popping up at the most inconvenient moments, the case proves to be o… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member silentq
I was reading her blog while she was writing this and the one sentence summary seemed almost nonsensical, but, yes, there really is an OCD vampire thief, an ex-Navy SEAL drag queen and government/military conspiracies. And somehow it all works. I can fairly clearly hear Priest's personal tone of
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voice in this one, but her vampire protagonist has a fairly casual way of telling the story. I was a little uncomfortable with how long she spent on figuring out the pronouns for the drag queen, but she did settle on the sensible matching pronoun to represented gender solution. The action is non stop, they move around the country following leads, being ambushed and moving on to the next clue in her case. I had an inkling how she was being tracked, but liked the eventual twist. I was fairly happy with how she portrayed traceurs in the parkour scenes, though the DC club sounded much more into urban exploration than the New England one actually is. :) I'm looking forward to reading the next book when it comes out. Show Less
LibraryThing member ladycato
I've enjoyed Priest's steampunk books such as Boneshaker and Dreadnought, so I wanted to read her new urban fantasy series. I did have some reservations about it--mainly in that that lead character is a vampire. I've never had much interest in the blood-suckers, but since this was Priest at the
Raylene Pendle was a flapper when she was alive, and still has the haircut to prove it. As a vampire, she's scraped by in the years since by becoming a thief for hire. Her latest case isn't about jewels or fine art: it's about information. A blinded vampire with deep pockets wants her to dig up information about the secret government program that maimed him. As soon as she takes the case, she finds herself the new favorite person of the Men in Black and takes off cross-country to find out what the government is hiding, and how the hell to get them off her back.
I enjoyed Raylene's voice. She's snarky and a tad too profane at times, but she's fun. It's great to read about a neurotic, OCD character, but having a vampire with those issues was great. The plot raced along with lots of twists and turns. The problem I had was at the end. There was a huge build up of, "We're getting the information! We got it!" and then the finale fizzles. Too many subplots are left dangling, and not even the main plot was tied together. As a series, sure, there need to be things unresolved. In this case it felt like things were totally forgotten, and then the way the side characters come together at the end... eh. It's frustrating because I loved the book up till that point. I could forgive a few too-convenient ways she managed to escape nasty scrapes, or the no-chemistry romance that felt forced in. But I want to walk away feeling like the story WORKED. It didn't here.
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helm, I wanted to give it a try.Raylene Pendle was a flapper when she was alive, and still has the haircut to prove it. As a vampire, she's scraped by in the years since by becoming a thief for hire. Her latest case isn't about jewels or fine art: it's about information. A blinded vampire with deep pockets wants her to dig up information about the secret government program that maimed him. As soon as she takes the case, she finds herself the new favorite person of the Men in Black and takes off cross-country to find out what the government is hiding, and how the hell to get them off her back.
I enjoyed Raylene's voice. She's snarky and a tad too profane at times, but she's fun. It's great to read about a neurotic, OCD character, but having a vampire with those issues was great. The plot raced along with lots of twists and turns. The problem I had was at the end. There was a huge build up of, "We're getting the information! We got it!" and then the finale fizzles. Too many subplots are left dangling, and not even the main plot was tied together. As a series, sure, there need to be things unresolved. In this case it felt like things were totally forgotten, and then the way the side characters come together at the end... eh. It's frustrating because I loved the book up till that point. I could forgive a few too-convenient ways she managed to escape nasty scrapes, or the no-chemistry romance that felt forced in. But I want to walk away feeling like the story WORKED. It didn't here.
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LibraryThing member pwaites
Bloodshot might not be particularly deep, but it’s just the sort of fun beach read I was looking for. Raylene, our anti-heroic protagonist, is a neurotic vampire thief. Another vampire, Ian Scott, hires her to retrieve some documents for him after the US army experimented on him and took his
This wasn’t my first time reading Bloodshot, but after a couple of DNFs I was looking for something more reliable. Luckily, I had ebook copies of both Bloodshot and its sequel on hand. The last time I read the book was sophomore year of high school. This time around, there were a few things I noticed more than previously.
Firstly, Raylene is definitely an anti-heroine. If I had to give her a Dungeons and Dragons style alignment, I’d put her at chaotic neutral. She’s a vampire who doesn’t have much compunctions about killing people, and she’s a thief who doesn’t care at all about the rules of law. She actually reminds me some of Cas from S.L. Huang’s Zero Sum Game. While Raylene stays within anti-heroine territory for the entirety of the book, she does become less of a loner as the course of the book (and the series) develops. She also has a casual, snarky voice that makes her an enjoyable narrator.
I mentioned in the opening paragraph that Raylene’s neurotic. She also says that she might have a form of OCD. However, in both these cases I felt like this information was being told instead of shown. For instance, she says a number of times that she feels like she is about to have a panic attack, but there’s not description of what that actually feels like, and she never actually has one.
Something I also noticed more this time around is that other than Raylene, there’s only one other reoccurring female character. And this character’s an eight year old girl without much plot impact. Since I’ve read the sequel, I’ll note that it does introduce a couple more female characters.
While Bloodshot might not be an especially great book, it is fun and entertaining. Bloodshot contains: a female vampire protagonist, government conspiracies, men in black, and a badass Cuban drag queen. I don’t know if I’ll reread it again in the future, but I was glad that I came back to it this time.
Originally posted on The Illustrated Page.
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sight. What follows is a whirlwind hunt across the United States as Raylene discovers more and more about this government conspiracy.This wasn’t my first time reading Bloodshot, but after a couple of DNFs I was looking for something more reliable. Luckily, I had ebook copies of both Bloodshot and its sequel on hand. The last time I read the book was sophomore year of high school. This time around, there were a few things I noticed more than previously.
Firstly, Raylene is definitely an anti-heroine. If I had to give her a Dungeons and Dragons style alignment, I’d put her at chaotic neutral. She’s a vampire who doesn’t have much compunctions about killing people, and she’s a thief who doesn’t care at all about the rules of law. She actually reminds me some of Cas from S.L. Huang’s Zero Sum Game. While Raylene stays within anti-heroine territory for the entirety of the book, she does become less of a loner as the course of the book (and the series) develops. She also has a casual, snarky voice that makes her an enjoyable narrator.
I mentioned in the opening paragraph that Raylene’s neurotic. She also says that she might have a form of OCD. However, in both these cases I felt like this information was being told instead of shown. For instance, she says a number of times that she feels like she is about to have a panic attack, but there’s not description of what that actually feels like, and she never actually has one.
Something I also noticed more this time around is that other than Raylene, there’s only one other reoccurring female character. And this character’s an eight year old girl without much plot impact. Since I’ve read the sequel, I’ll note that it does introduce a couple more female characters.
While Bloodshot might not be an especially great book, it is fun and entertaining. Bloodshot contains: a female vampire protagonist, government conspiracies, men in black, and a badass Cuban drag queen. I don’t know if I’ll reread it again in the future, but I was glad that I came back to it this time.
Originally posted on The Illustrated Page.
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LibraryThing member callmecayce
After a while, I get tired of vampire novels so it was really nice to find one that wasn't really a normal vampire novel. There have been vampire novels involving PIs, but nothing quite like Bloodshot. I'm a big fan of Priest's writing and so I was excited to find she had a new book. The vampire(s)
Priest uses technology extremely well, along with a combination of subverting traditional vampire myth and embracing it. I really hope this is the first in a series, because I really cannot wait to see what kind of adventures are in store.
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in this novel are unlike maybe vampires I've encountered before. In some ways they remind me of the characters in my favorite vampire series (Blood and Smoke books by Tanya Huff), which is definitely a good thing. The plot (PI (who is really a thief) is hired by another vampire to find out what exactly happened to him -- so it can be reversed -- only to discover there's something even weirder lurking behind every corner). Priest uses technology extremely well, along with a combination of subverting traditional vampire myth and embracing it. I really hope this is the first in a series, because I really cannot wait to see what kind of adventures are in store.
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LibraryThing member MargK
I once again find myself having very mixed feelings about a book. Thus, I'm going to break this review down into two parts: Liked and Did Not Like.
Liked:
The thing that made this book worthwhile reading for me was the protagonist, Raylene. Raylene, a vampire and professional thief, is definitely not
Moreover, Raylene's character addresses the nature of a vampire in a interesting "middle ground" sort of way. In other words, vampires are presented as dangerous predators with killer instincts. This includes Raylene, who turns a couple of humans into meals quite efficiently. Nonetheless, as Raylene points out, they're still people who are able to feel pain & emotions--they bleed, they die, they love, they grieve, etc.
I also really like the character of Adrain aka Sister Rose, an ex-Navy SEAL turned drag queen. Yes, you read that correctly. Once again, the way Cherie Priest writes this character is utterly entertaining. One minute he's the typical flamboyant RuPaul persona and the next he's a sexy, kickass macho man. I love his interactions with Raylene, and I think they have great chemistry together.
Did Not Like:
The mystery plot line centering on a secret government experiment involving supernaturals was really not riveting at all in my opinion. Despite lots of action, it also seems kind of underdeveloped and rushed. Plus, there is a certain aspect involving recruitment of civilians that is outright silly to me.
The other important supporting character, turned love interest, is rather dull as well. Unlike Raylene and Adrian, Ian, a blind vampire, comes off very two-dimensional and underdeveloped. And speaking of the romance, it seems completely tacked on...almost as though it was an afterthought. There is really zero chemistry between Raylene and Ian, and I'm unable to see why these two are coupled together aside from fulfilling the purpose of the mandatory romance angle now seen in most urban fantasy books.
Liked:
The thing that made this book worthwhile reading for me was the protagonist, Raylene. Raylene, a vampire and professional thief, is definitely not
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the traditional urban fantasy heroine. In fact, Raylene has no true intention to do or be good. This is not to say that she's evil and goes out of her way to hurt people. However, she's not against stirring up a bit of trouble, and she has no qualms with breaking the law to accomplish her goal(s). I appreciate the way Cherie Priest characterizes Raylene. Raylene has an interesting mix of traits that make her quite likable and memorable. She is snarky and a bit cynical but not in an exaggerated way. She's amusingly paranoid, which given her profession of penetrating other peoples' defenses makes total sense. I also like that she constantly tries to convince herself that she's a lot tougher and uncaring than she really is. Repeatedly she tries to reinforce her "lone wolf" status but there are very visible & significant cracks in that facade right from the start (and these cracks only deepen & expand as the story progresses).Moreover, Raylene's character addresses the nature of a vampire in a interesting "middle ground" sort of way. In other words, vampires are presented as dangerous predators with killer instincts. This includes Raylene, who turns a couple of humans into meals quite efficiently. Nonetheless, as Raylene points out, they're still people who are able to feel pain & emotions--they bleed, they die, they love, they grieve, etc.
I also really like the character of Adrain aka Sister Rose, an ex-Navy SEAL turned drag queen. Yes, you read that correctly. Once again, the way Cherie Priest writes this character is utterly entertaining. One minute he's the typical flamboyant RuPaul persona and the next he's a sexy, kickass macho man. I love his interactions with Raylene, and I think they have great chemistry together.
Did Not Like:
The mystery plot line centering on a secret government experiment involving supernaturals was really not riveting at all in my opinion. Despite lots of action, it also seems kind of underdeveloped and rushed. Plus, there is a certain aspect involving recruitment of civilians that is outright silly to me.
The other important supporting character, turned love interest, is rather dull as well. Unlike Raylene and Adrian, Ian, a blind vampire, comes off very two-dimensional and underdeveloped. And speaking of the romance, it seems completely tacked on...almost as though it was an afterthought. There is really zero chemistry between Raylene and Ian, and I'm unable to see why these two are coupled together aside from fulfilling the purpose of the mandatory romance angle now seen in most urban fantasy books.
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LibraryThing member jshillingford
I enjoy paranormal romance, but I also enjoy straight-up urban fantasy without any angst. I chose this because urban fantasy with vampires is getting hard to find. However, it didn't quite work for me. This genre is a departure for Cherie Priest, who is lauded for her well-written steampunk.
Other reviewers have pointed out, and I concur, that many questions are raised and not answered, and that the "vampire world-building" is lacking compared to other vampire fiction. As this is the first in a series, much of that is likely to be revealed in subsequent books, but I needed something to get me invested now. Bloodshot reminded me a lot of Savannah Russe's Darkwing Chronicles (vampire drawn into government affairs), with a subplot from Demon Under Glass, but better written. Unfortunately, I don't like when vampires get roped into working for, or on the run from, the government. That's strictly a personal preference, and other readers may find it appealing. And though I didn't expect or want any romance in the novel, I did expect the primary characters to have some chemistry. They didn't.
Overall, the series has potential. The main character is interesting, with a lot of potential for humor and anti-hero goodness since she's a thief; and, the idea of a blind vampire who was experimented on is pretty cool. Priest is a talented writer, but the basis for this series just doesn't appeal to me. Recommended to fans of vampire fiction looking for something new, but fans of Priest's steampunk may be disappointed.
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Subsequently, this read like a new author debut, rather than a new book from an established writer. I think perhaps an urban fantasy with a steampunk setting might have worked better; a new twist but not so far out of the author's comfort zone.Other reviewers have pointed out, and I concur, that many questions are raised and not answered, and that the "vampire world-building" is lacking compared to other vampire fiction. As this is the first in a series, much of that is likely to be revealed in subsequent books, but I needed something to get me invested now. Bloodshot reminded me a lot of Savannah Russe's Darkwing Chronicles (vampire drawn into government affairs), with a subplot from Demon Under Glass, but better written. Unfortunately, I don't like when vampires get roped into working for, or on the run from, the government. That's strictly a personal preference, and other readers may find it appealing. And though I didn't expect or want any romance in the novel, I did expect the primary characters to have some chemistry. They didn't.
Overall, the series has potential. The main character is interesting, with a lot of potential for humor and anti-hero goodness since she's a thief; and, the idea of a blind vampire who was experimented on is pretty cool. Priest is a talented writer, but the basis for this series just doesn't appeal to me. Recommended to fans of vampire fiction looking for something new, but fans of Priest's steampunk may be disappointed.
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LibraryThing member Unkletom
Genre-hopping author Cherie Priest has gone from paranormal to steampunk and now is taking a crack at urban fantasy. 'Bloodshot' appears to be just the first of a series of books starring Raylene Pendle, a semi-psychic Seattle-based vampire burglar who is prone to panic attacks and can pass for a
Unfortunately, she did not put nearly as much effort into developing an engaging or original plot. Raylene is hired by a blind vampire to break into a top secret government facility and steal files that may help restore his sight. From there, the story degenerates into alternating rounds of men in black suits storming and trashing her properties and Raylene and friends storming and trashing (and biting) in return. A major eye-roller occurs early on when the aforementioned top secret government facility turned out to be nothing more challenging than a storage barn enclosed by a chain-link fence and some guards. Is that really the most challenging target the government can pit against a vampire? If it is, we are doomed, whether vampires exist or not.
There is definite room for improvement in this series as the foundation is good and Priest is a talented author with a snappy style and flair for dialogue. I expect the next book to be better.
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real estate agent. If this sounds quirky, wait until you meet the six-foot four-inch Cuban former Navy SEAL drag queen. The author has gone all out to give her readers a vast smorgasbord of entertaining and unique characters.Unfortunately, she did not put nearly as much effort into developing an engaging or original plot. Raylene is hired by a blind vampire to break into a top secret government facility and steal files that may help restore his sight. From there, the story degenerates into alternating rounds of men in black suits storming and trashing her properties and Raylene and friends storming and trashing (and biting) in return. A major eye-roller occurs early on when the aforementioned top secret government facility turned out to be nothing more challenging than a storage barn enclosed by a chain-link fence and some guards. Is that really the most challenging target the government can pit against a vampire? If it is, we are doomed, whether vampires exist or not.
There is definite room for improvement in this series as the foundation is good and Priest is a talented author with a snappy style and flair for dialogue. I expect the next book to be better.
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LibraryThing member Kr15tina
This is my 1st book from Cherie Priest and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I liked Raylene, Sister Rose/Adrian, Ian and the squatter kids Pepper and Domino. The book was through Raylene's POV and she was fun, witty and sarcastic and an enjoyable character to follow through her thievery, narrow escapes and
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OCD preparations. I will be looking forward to the next book in the series. It is also a good book to break away from the romance genre and just get some good kick ass action and investigations into government secrets. Show Less
LibraryThing member titania86
Raylene Pendle is a flapper turned accomplished vampire thief who is tired of being hired to steal pornography. Thankfully, an interesting case falls into her lab involving the government experimenting on vampires and leaving her client, Ian Stott, blind for the rest of eternity. After overcoming
This is Cherie Priest's first book in the urban fantasy genre and I enjoyed it very much. I know that the market is overflooded with vampire novels, but this one isn't cliche and tired like so many others. There is no romance to speak of, which is a refreshing change. The only thing that remotely resembles it is Raylene's attraction to two male characters, one human and one vampire, which could have been a super cheesy, typical love triangle. Thankfully, Priest decided to go a different way with the story. Raylene is pretty happy about her existence as a vampire, unlike those Angels and Edwards out there, so angst is in short supply here. The vampires in the novel aren't totally evil baby-eaters, but aren't super annoying goody two shoes either. This one-dimensional view of either side is getting really dull. They are normal people who drink blood and need to stay out of the sun in Cherie Priest's world. These vampires are multifaceted, complex characters.
I like that vampires aren't almost godlike with their powers in this novel. Raylene is stronger and faster than humans, but she does have her limitations. For example, she can take a few bullets, but the pain and blood loss will eventually weaken her severely. Her senses are superior to a human's, but within a logical realm. The ridiculous rules such as crosses or wooden stakes or garlic being fatal have thankfully been dispensed with. She has a little bit of psychic ability, but just a smidge really. It's just enough to feel out someone's intentions and general mood and not much more than that. The vampire powers and rules seem much more logical here, making it much easier to suspend my disbelief and enjoy the novel.
The biggest strength of the book is its colorful cast of characters. Raylene's narrative drew me in immediately. Her inner monologue is full of paranoia, neurosis, and OCD-ness despite the hard-as-nails persona she exudes. She also cares for people much more than she wants to admit to herself. This is best seen with the two kids that live in her abandoned warehouse full of stolen swag. At first, she was annoyed with them and tried to drive them out, but their relationship evolved over time. They have a mutual trust and Raylene feels an obligation to protect them from danger. She even gave them a phone so they can call her in an emergency like a concerned mother. These aspects made her much more human to me. Plus, she infuses her own brand of humor in much of the novel, making her voice memorable and fun to read.
I really liked Bloodshot. It really renewed my interest in vampire novels because it proved to be much different than many of the others out there. This book combined mystery, horror, and action into a compelling, fun story. It's a lot different from Boneshaker, her previous steampunk zombie novel, but Cherie Priest has proven that she can write in different genres really well. I loved the ending and, of course, it's left open for a sequel that will be released in August called Hellbent. I highly recommend this to urban fantasy and vampire readers.
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her shock at knowing that a vampire could be mutilated like that, she takes the case and agrees to steal files detailing what happened to her client in hopes of finding a cure. Not long after that, she is chased by black suited government agents and her secret cache of expensive stolen valuables stashed away in a seemingly abandoned building is raided. Everywhere she goes, she is followed and chased. It eventually gets to be less about the money and more about not allowing such atrocities to happen to other vampires. Can she follow the paper trail fast enough to find what her client needs or will she suffer the same fate as Ian and become a government guinea pig?This is Cherie Priest's first book in the urban fantasy genre and I enjoyed it very much. I know that the market is overflooded with vampire novels, but this one isn't cliche and tired like so many others. There is no romance to speak of, which is a refreshing change. The only thing that remotely resembles it is Raylene's attraction to two male characters, one human and one vampire, which could have been a super cheesy, typical love triangle. Thankfully, Priest decided to go a different way with the story. Raylene is pretty happy about her existence as a vampire, unlike those Angels and Edwards out there, so angst is in short supply here. The vampires in the novel aren't totally evil baby-eaters, but aren't super annoying goody two shoes either. This one-dimensional view of either side is getting really dull. They are normal people who drink blood and need to stay out of the sun in Cherie Priest's world. These vampires are multifaceted, complex characters.
I like that vampires aren't almost godlike with their powers in this novel. Raylene is stronger and faster than humans, but she does have her limitations. For example, she can take a few bullets, but the pain and blood loss will eventually weaken her severely. Her senses are superior to a human's, but within a logical realm. The ridiculous rules such as crosses or wooden stakes or garlic being fatal have thankfully been dispensed with. She has a little bit of psychic ability, but just a smidge really. It's just enough to feel out someone's intentions and general mood and not much more than that. The vampire powers and rules seem much more logical here, making it much easier to suspend my disbelief and enjoy the novel.
The biggest strength of the book is its colorful cast of characters. Raylene's narrative drew me in immediately. Her inner monologue is full of paranoia, neurosis, and OCD-ness despite the hard-as-nails persona she exudes. She also cares for people much more than she wants to admit to herself. This is best seen with the two kids that live in her abandoned warehouse full of stolen swag. At first, she was annoyed with them and tried to drive them out, but their relationship evolved over time. They have a mutual trust and Raylene feels an obligation to protect them from danger. She even gave them a phone so they can call her in an emergency like a concerned mother. These aspects made her much more human to me. Plus, she infuses her own brand of humor in much of the novel, making her voice memorable and fun to read.
I really liked Bloodshot. It really renewed my interest in vampire novels because it proved to be much different than many of the others out there. This book combined mystery, horror, and action into a compelling, fun story. It's a lot different from Boneshaker, her previous steampunk zombie novel, but Cherie Priest has proven that she can write in different genres really well. I loved the ending and, of course, it's left open for a sequel that will be released in August called Hellbent. I highly recommend this to urban fantasy and vampire readers.
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LibraryThing member jlparent
While Priest is mostly known for her steampunk efforts but this is an urban fantasy. Chesire Red is a former flapper turned vampire, who is a professional thief. Vampires in this world are not as cliche as many novels out there, which is refreshing. For example, Raylene (aka Chesire Red) is
Anyway, Red is hired by a blind vamp (unusual and frightening in their world) to steal secret government documents detailing the experiments performed on him and other victims. As her trail leads her on, she is introduced to a human male and I thought...oh no, the inevitable love triangle. Luckily, Priest goes a different direction with it.
In a vague way, there is an element of noir to this world. Raylene talks tough and hails from the 20s, so something about her whole image (to me) projected a black and white, grainy film, interior dialogue kind of feel.
I really enjoy the worlds Cherie Priest creates, and while I am more familiar with her steampunk offerings, Bloodshot is on par with them. Very readable, enjoyable, and will keep me picking up her titles, regardless of the genre.
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superior physically to humans, but only a bit. She has just a smidge of a psychic ability, rather than the the traditional "snare a human in my eyes/mind". Anyway, Red is hired by a blind vamp (unusual and frightening in their world) to steal secret government documents detailing the experiments performed on him and other victims. As her trail leads her on, she is introduced to a human male and I thought...oh no, the inevitable love triangle. Luckily, Priest goes a different direction with it.
In a vague way, there is an element of noir to this world. Raylene talks tough and hails from the 20s, so something about her whole image (to me) projected a black and white, grainy film, interior dialogue kind of feel.
I really enjoy the worlds Cherie Priest creates, and while I am more familiar with her steampunk offerings, Bloodshot is on par with them. Very readable, enjoyable, and will keep me picking up her titles, regardless of the genre.
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LibraryThing member Ti99er
I really enjoyed Priest's book Boneshaker (Steam Punk), but wasn't quite in the mood for a Victorian drama at the time. So I was very pleased to see this new modern thriller written by this talented author.
The story follows story follows the life of a vampire/high end cat burglar. Now before you
Bloodshot is a story with good pacing and was a fun read.
The story follows story follows the life of a vampire/high end cat burglar. Now before you
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are turned off by the mere mention of another vampire story, you need to know that Bloodshot isn't your typical boy meets vampire, vampire meets wolf, wolf pees on vampire's cape story. In fact there were many times within the story that I forgot the heroine was even a vampire at all. Her vampirism is key to the plot, but it isn't in any way over-the-top. Bloodshot is a story with good pacing and was a fun read.
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LibraryThing member cissa
I loved this! A nice twisty plot, great characters, and excellent writing.
I really appreciated the twist on vamps here- I have gotten really bored with vamps in general, but Priest makes it fun again.
I really appreciated the twist on vamps here- I have gotten really bored with vamps in general, but Priest makes it fun again.
LibraryThing member Jammies
I was so excited to have won this on First Reads, and overall, it was quite enjoyable. Ms. Priest does a little too much telling in the first couple of chapters, i.e. having the protagonist describe herself in detail, but once past that bump, when the story got going, it really got going.
Vampires,
Vampires,
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ghouls, black ops, a drag queen Navy SEAL, a venal but somehow appealing museum employee, and lots of fast-paced action overall made this an exciting read. Taken individually, all of the plot elements and most of the characters in this book have appeared elsewhere, but all together they're a thrill ride. I will definitely keep an eye out for the next book! Show Less
LibraryThing member HeikeM
This a a vastly entertaining read, but it is a bit on the light side. While the Boneshaker trilogy showed depth this one is rather skimming the surface. Although the story is thrilling and fun and I sort of like the main character ( a vampire thief cum detective named Raylene ) I was a bit
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disappointed with the writing itself. It felt a bit - well, as if the author did not spent much time on it. If you want a good story, go on and read it, you will enjoy it. If you expect Boneshaker quality turn your expectations down - it is a bed/bath time read. Show Less
LibraryThing member StaceyHH
vacation read #3. Good pool book.
LibraryThing member g33kgrrl
Having only read Priest's Boneshaker series in the past, I wasn't sure what to expect from this book, but I'm glad I took a chance on it. The premise is basically a supernatural mystery story, and as I enjoy both mysteries and the supernatural, this works for me. The narrator is engaging and
The one minor quibble I had with the book is that it didn't quite feel like it knew where the end should be. There's a second book coming out soon, and the place that I thought this book would end and things that would be addressed in the second book felt a bit tacked on to the end of this one after what I thought was a more natural denouement. while just enough was left dangling that I didn't feel that, by resolving those things, there was a complete resolution of the story. Regardless, it's still intriguing, and well-written, and I'm quite excited to read more.
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interestingly self-aware, and the other characters we meet were also quite intriguing. The mystery itself was compelling and held my attention. The heist scenes were fun, the action was easy to follow, and the people you want to see get shown up, do. The one minor quibble I had with the book is that it didn't quite feel like it knew where the end should be. There's a second book coming out soon, and the place that I thought this book would end and things that would be addressed in the second book felt a bit tacked on to the end of this one after what I thought was a more natural denouement. while just enough was left dangling that I didn't feel that, by resolving those things, there was a complete resolution of the story. Regardless, it's still intriguing, and well-written, and I'm quite excited to read more.
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LibraryThing member SunnySD
Smart-mouthed, fast-talking, and a wee bit prone to panic attaches, Raylene Pendle, a.k.a. Cheshire Red, is no stranger to trouble. She's made more than one international most-wanted list for sticking her nose and her fingers where someone else doesn't want them - in fact, she makes her living
No zombies in this one - except for me the next day at work after I stayed up too late finishing. Raylene's commentary is a riot, and the plot doesn't suck. It will definitely be interesting to see what kind of trouble finds the group next.
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doing so. It's a good gig - but retrieving other people's pornographic miss-steps is getting the tiniest bit boring. Her latest client promises to be something more interesting... and there's an old Chinese proverb about interesting times - not to mention being careful what you wish for....No zombies in this one - except for me the next day at work after I stayed up too late finishing. Raylene's commentary is a riot, and the plot doesn't suck. It will definitely be interesting to see what kind of trouble finds the group next.
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LibraryThing member zzshupinga
You want something that's locked up or hard to get to? Files, jewelry...porno videos with you in it? Then Raylene Pendle is the person you want to contact to get it for you. But she isn't your average thief, nope Raylene is the best of the best....and she's a vampire. But this new case sets her on
Here's the biggest problem that I have with the story--in some places it doesn't flow as well as it should and gets overly wordy. I think part of the problem maybe that this is a new world for Cherie and she's trying to figure out how the characters work and she's cramming a lot of backstory into this first volume to set up this new world. That being said it's still a great adventure story and I love the characters, especially Raylene and the fact that she's not some sparkly vampire. She's a kick butt, no holds barred person with real human flaws. She suffers from OCD, is over prepared, and she isn't some lovey dovey goofy person (although she does fall for a character.) In other words she's just like the rest of us. And the story is being told directly from her perspective and it feels like we're talking with her about what went on and not reading it from some cold personal narrator. The characters are entertaining, interesting and different (I mean seriously how do you compete with a former Navy Seal that's a drag queen?)
This first volume is an exciting, kickbutt, no holds barred feature with great characters and an fantastic premise. I look forward to reading future stories in this universe.
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a path that even she couldn't predict. Soon the FBI, the army, and the Men in Black are coming after her all to find out what she knows about this new case. Danger is around every corner, but Raylene meets up with some new folks that just may be able to help her out. And along the way she may solve the biggest mystery she's ever undertaken. Here's the biggest problem that I have with the story--in some places it doesn't flow as well as it should and gets overly wordy. I think part of the problem maybe that this is a new world for Cherie and she's trying to figure out how the characters work and she's cramming a lot of backstory into this first volume to set up this new world. That being said it's still a great adventure story and I love the characters, especially Raylene and the fact that she's not some sparkly vampire. She's a kick butt, no holds barred person with real human flaws. She suffers from OCD, is over prepared, and she isn't some lovey dovey goofy person (although she does fall for a character.) In other words she's just like the rest of us. And the story is being told directly from her perspective and it feels like we're talking with her about what went on and not reading it from some cold personal narrator. The characters are entertaining, interesting and different (I mean seriously how do you compete with a former Navy Seal that's a drag queen?)
This first volume is an exciting, kickbutt, no holds barred feature with great characters and an fantastic premise. I look forward to reading future stories in this universe.
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LibraryThing member aleahmarie
Raylene, known only as Cheshire Red to anyone with a badge, is a thief. She's not just any thief, either. Raylene is a thief straight out of James Bond... she has numerous secret identities, can leap razor wire in a single bound, and navigates maximum security buildings with ease. She's also a
The fact that I enjoyed this book so much came as a complete surprise. What I mistook for another campy, hot vampire with guns trope turned out to be smart and funny. Not to mention that there's a hot vampire with guns! If you like urban fantasy, you'll love this. If you enjoy Charlaine Harris then for the love of all things literary put that down and read this! It's somewhat-psychic vampire done right, with drag queens. I'm a-flutter for book two.
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vampire. Raylenes' most recent case uncovers a creepy government operation that's treating vamps like lab rats, and Raylene is having none of that. She and her ex-Navy SEAL turned drag queen sidekick are on the case to make the world safer for vampires everywhere. Because vampires are people, too!The fact that I enjoyed this book so much came as a complete surprise. What I mistook for another campy, hot vampire with guns trope turned out to be smart and funny. Not to mention that there's a hot vampire with guns! If you like urban fantasy, you'll love this. If you enjoy Charlaine Harris then for the love of all things literary put that down and read this! It's somewhat-psychic vampire done right, with drag queens. I'm a-flutter for book two.
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LibraryThing member sensitivemuse
I’m always very cautious when I pick up an urban fantasy book. For two reasons: 1. I’m not a romance reader, so the moment I see a paranormal/urban fantasy with romance and unexplainable feelings stirring from the loins because there’s a character with bestial urges and dangerous
I am very pleased to say, this book has NONE of the things I was not looking for in this type of book. Actually, in fact, I was pleased with this book overall. I loved the writing style, and what grabbed me after a couple of chapters is Raylene herself.
Raylene is a character so well written, and so filled with wit and charm you can’t help but like her. She’s got an attitude, and her insults are beyond hilarious not to mention, her narration of the story is what really keeps the plot going and interesting. I’m not sure who you would compare her to, as my experience reading in this genre is somewhat limited, but I’d have to say her wit and insults got me laughing out loud at times. Her snide side comments also provide for much of the comic humor that goes on throughout this book.
That is not to say this book is in anyway a light hearted read. The real plot itself is dark and the overall setting and some of the characters are oily, seedy, and awful. So there is a balance between action and humor here that makes the reading certainly ‘feel’ light even though the subject isn’t close to that. What I thought was fun was Raylene seems to attract a small group of followers and she has no choice to accept them. I thought the two orphans showed the ‘softer’ side of Raylene (does she really have one though? maybe!) and the other two followers show potential romances (maybe? although her choice at the end rather surprised me).
The book overall was really good and I had fun reading this. There were moments where the action was so fast paced and almost movie quality reading, and then there’s comedy moments where I found myself laughing out loud. I’m really looking forward to reading Hellbent, the next book that comes after this one. Greatly recommended for urban fantasy fans.
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animal/pheromone attractiveness, it makes me roll my eyes and go for the next book on the list. 2. Inter species fluid swapping makes me cringe. Enough about this I am going off subject...I am very pleased to say, this book has NONE of the things I was not looking for in this type of book. Actually, in fact, I was pleased with this book overall. I loved the writing style, and what grabbed me after a couple of chapters is Raylene herself.
Raylene is a character so well written, and so filled with wit and charm you can’t help but like her. She’s got an attitude, and her insults are beyond hilarious not to mention, her narration of the story is what really keeps the plot going and interesting. I’m not sure who you would compare her to, as my experience reading in this genre is somewhat limited, but I’d have to say her wit and insults got me laughing out loud at times. Her snide side comments also provide for much of the comic humor that goes on throughout this book.
That is not to say this book is in anyway a light hearted read. The real plot itself is dark and the overall setting and some of the characters are oily, seedy, and awful. So there is a balance between action and humor here that makes the reading certainly ‘feel’ light even though the subject isn’t close to that. What I thought was fun was Raylene seems to attract a small group of followers and she has no choice to accept them. I thought the two orphans showed the ‘softer’ side of Raylene (does she really have one though? maybe!) and the other two followers show potential romances (maybe? although her choice at the end rather surprised me).
The book overall was really good and I had fun reading this. There were moments where the action was so fast paced and almost movie quality reading, and then there’s comedy moments where I found myself laughing out loud. I’m really looking forward to reading Hellbent, the next book that comes after this one. Greatly recommended for urban fantasy fans.
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LibraryThing member usagijihen
Guys. GUYS. Two words for you: Vampire. Thief. That's all you need to know going into reading this series. It's so very, very awesome and it blew me away. I think I actually like this series more than Priest's "Clockwork Century" series and I've only read the first book so far. Needless to say, I'm
I loved everything about this book. Priest executed all of the pieces of her plot more or less perfectly. Raylene is a sympathetic, hilarious character that has neurotic pitfalls - making her more human than vampire most of the time (especially with her magical bag of tricks that she carries everywhere with her). I mean, come on. Neurotic vampires? In 99% of urban fantasy (and YA paranormal, though this isn't YA, obviously), vampires are cocky, gorgeous, and utterly sure of themselves with excellent self-esteem. Raylene is pretty and cocky, but not the rest. Her cockiness comes from years and years of experience within the game of thievery and fencing, not out of just being undead. I like that Priest made her that way, because I felt like I could connect to her all the more easily. I'm pretty neurotic myself, so it was nice to see a paranormal creature have some mental issues herself.
And then there's the main plot - government experiments. I love plots with government experiments. And this one just made me hunger for more information, as this book kind of left us on a cliffhanger. Yes, there were some of the questions answered at the end, but the larger ones (how did the government find out that there were vampires, or werewolves, at all, for instance?) were left open. As we're getting a second book soon (and I seriously cannot wait to get my hot little hands on it), I'm hoping we'll get more of these larger answers soon. It looks like the entire cast will be back for book two, which makes me all the more excited.
This, of course, means more ass-kicking ex-Navy SEAL drag queens, of course. Priest, I love you. Seriously. Have my literary babies, won't you? Thieving vamps, government experiments, and drag queens. What a book.
If you're tired of the "chicks in leather pants" stereotype/truth of the urban fantasy genre, try out "Bloodshot" and get some much needed fresh air into you. You definitely will NOT regret it. Definitely one of my picks for the best of 2011 in the urban fantasy genre.
(crossposted to librarything, goodreads, shelfari, and witchoftheatregoing.wordpress.com)
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practically foaming at the mouth for the next book now.I loved everything about this book. Priest executed all of the pieces of her plot more or less perfectly. Raylene is a sympathetic, hilarious character that has neurotic pitfalls - making her more human than vampire most of the time (especially with her magical bag of tricks that she carries everywhere with her). I mean, come on. Neurotic vampires? In 99% of urban fantasy (and YA paranormal, though this isn't YA, obviously), vampires are cocky, gorgeous, and utterly sure of themselves with excellent self-esteem. Raylene is pretty and cocky, but not the rest. Her cockiness comes from years and years of experience within the game of thievery and fencing, not out of just being undead. I like that Priest made her that way, because I felt like I could connect to her all the more easily. I'm pretty neurotic myself, so it was nice to see a paranormal creature have some mental issues herself.
And then there's the main plot - government experiments. I love plots with government experiments. And this one just made me hunger for more information, as this book kind of left us on a cliffhanger. Yes, there were some of the questions answered at the end, but the larger ones (how did the government find out that there were vampires, or werewolves, at all, for instance?) were left open. As we're getting a second book soon (and I seriously cannot wait to get my hot little hands on it), I'm hoping we'll get more of these larger answers soon. It looks like the entire cast will be back for book two, which makes me all the more excited.
This, of course, means more ass-kicking ex-Navy SEAL drag queens, of course. Priest, I love you. Seriously. Have my literary babies, won't you? Thieving vamps, government experiments, and drag queens. What a book.
If you're tired of the "chicks in leather pants" stereotype/truth of the urban fantasy genre, try out "Bloodshot" and get some much needed fresh air into you. You definitely will NOT regret it. Definitely one of my picks for the best of 2011 in the urban fantasy genre.
(crossposted to librarything, goodreads, shelfari, and witchoftheatregoing.wordpress.com)
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LibraryThing member Katyas
Read and reviewed in 2010
Cherie Priest has created a great new character and added a fresh new face to the Urban Fantasy genre with Bloodshot's Raylene Pendle/Cheshire Red. A vampire and a professional thief, Ray is very good at what she does, but she is also highly OCD and prone to panic and
The basic plot is that Ian - the blinded vampire - wants Ray to find and steal the medical documentation kept on him while he was under government control so that he can hopefully have some of the damage reversed. Unfortunately no sooner does Ray begin her research than Men in Black start showing up all over the place to try to run her down.
This is a must-read for anyone who enjoys vampire novels, Urban Fantasy and/or paranormal thrillers. Don't miss it!!
Cherie Priest has created a great new character and added a fresh new face to the Urban Fantasy genre with Bloodshot's Raylene Pendle/Cheshire Red. A vampire and a professional thief, Ray is very good at what she does, but she is also highly OCD and prone to panic and
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anxiety attacks, which makes her much more "real" and likable than many characters in Urban Fantasy that are just all tough with no faults. Ray also tends to collect around herself a rather eclectic and motley crew of characters - a pair of kids that squat in a warehouse that she owns (and stores her ill-gotten gains inside), a fellow vampire who has escaped from a sinister government group that did experiments on supernaturals - leaving him blind, and an ex-Navy SEAL who is also a kicking drag queen! With characters like these, you know the book is going to be great.The basic plot is that Ian - the blinded vampire - wants Ray to find and steal the medical documentation kept on him while he was under government control so that he can hopefully have some of the damage reversed. Unfortunately no sooner does Ray begin her research than Men in Black start showing up all over the place to try to run her down.
This is a must-read for anyone who enjoys vampire novels, Urban Fantasy and/or paranormal thrillers. Don't miss it!!
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LibraryThing member JeremyPreacher
Finally, a vampire book that refuses to take itself seriously. The ultra-casual narration makes otherwise tired tropes fresh, and the ex-Navy SEAL drag queen sidekick is, well, fabulous. I'm totally on board for the next one.
LibraryThing member les121
I must admit, the blurb for Bloodshot didn’t do much for me, but I decided to give it a chance anyway and read the first few pages. Raylene’s narration pulled me in immediately. Although Raylene gets caught an awful lot for a supposedly world-class thief, I have to love a vampire who, instead
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of being all suave, suffers from panic attacks and paranoia. I also enjoyed the supporting characters, Ian, Domino (aka. “the little shit”), Pepper, and of course, ex-Navy SEAL/drag queen Adrian. Overall, some parts are a tad slow, but Bloodshot is just the kind of fun, light-hearted entertainment I was in the mood for. Show Less
LibraryThing member krau0098
I got an advanced reading copy of this book through the Amazon Vine program. I will preface this review by saying that so far I have liked every book that I have read by Priest; I have read all of her Clockwork Century novels and enjoyed them. Although I loved the Steampunk theme to those books, I
Cheshire Red a.k.a. Raylene Pendle is a world renown thief and a vampire. When a mysterious letter appears at her current safe-house with no address, she knows it is from another vampire. The letter is from Ian Stott a vampire who is blind after being kidnapped and forced into biological experiments that the government was doing. Ian wants Raylene to acquire his medical records from the secret government research facility. Easy peesy, right? Well of course not. The convoluted path will lead her through a number cities across the nation as well as throw her a new investigator partner in the form of an ex-Navy Seal drag queen.
This book was wonderful from beginning to end. It was fast-paced, had a plot that kept you guessing, lots of wonderful quirky characters, and great action sequences. This book is a lot lighter than Priest's Clockwork Century series and a lot more fun. Raylene is a bit OCD, snarky, witty, and downright human despite the fact that she, well, really isn't human at all. Ian Stott is another wonderful character as a blind, yet sensitive vampire and I wish that he had been in the story a bit more. Adrian is also a top character; I mean how can you not love a funny, kick-butt, ex Navy Seal drag queen? He is just great.
The plot is an intricate and interesting one that will keep readers on the edge of their seats from the beginning to the end of the story. I especially liked how Raylene did so much travel; we got to read about her in Seattle, Minneapolis, Atlanta, and D.C. It also seemed like Priest did her research on the cities Raylene went too. Although I as a little bit put out at Minneapolis's main descriptor being that it was cold, I really can't deny that since next Monday we will have a daily high of zero oF, so I guess that is pretty accurate.
There isn't a lot of romance in this book, a touch here and there but that is it. I love that since I like my books more towards urban fantasy than paranormal romance. The main story is wrapped up nicely but you can tell there will be a sequel to wrap up some plot points that show up in the end of the story.
How does this compare to Clockwork Century books? Well it is more fun and uses a more informal writing style. It is not necessarily better or worse than the Clockwork Century books, it is just different.
Overall a wonderful new urban fantasy book. I love Priest as a writer and she has once again proven what an excellent writer she is and also how versatile she can be. If you are a fan of the Kate Daniels series, the Jaz Parks series, or the Elemental Assassin series I would definitely pick this book up and give it a read.
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love urban fantasy even more. So I was very excited to see that she had decided to release an urban fantasy novel. This novel was wonderful, I thoroughly enjoyed every second of it and can't wait to read the next book in the series, Hellbent. Cheshire Red a.k.a. Raylene Pendle is a world renown thief and a vampire. When a mysterious letter appears at her current safe-house with no address, she knows it is from another vampire. The letter is from Ian Stott a vampire who is blind after being kidnapped and forced into biological experiments that the government was doing. Ian wants Raylene to acquire his medical records from the secret government research facility. Easy peesy, right? Well of course not. The convoluted path will lead her through a number cities across the nation as well as throw her a new investigator partner in the form of an ex-Navy Seal drag queen.
This book was wonderful from beginning to end. It was fast-paced, had a plot that kept you guessing, lots of wonderful quirky characters, and great action sequences. This book is a lot lighter than Priest's Clockwork Century series and a lot more fun. Raylene is a bit OCD, snarky, witty, and downright human despite the fact that she, well, really isn't human at all. Ian Stott is another wonderful character as a blind, yet sensitive vampire and I wish that he had been in the story a bit more. Adrian is also a top character; I mean how can you not love a funny, kick-butt, ex Navy Seal drag queen? He is just great.
The plot is an intricate and interesting one that will keep readers on the edge of their seats from the beginning to the end of the story. I especially liked how Raylene did so much travel; we got to read about her in Seattle, Minneapolis, Atlanta, and D.C. It also seemed like Priest did her research on the cities Raylene went too. Although I as a little bit put out at Minneapolis's main descriptor being that it was cold, I really can't deny that since next Monday we will have a daily high of zero oF, so I guess that is pretty accurate.
There isn't a lot of romance in this book, a touch here and there but that is it. I love that since I like my books more towards urban fantasy than paranormal romance. The main story is wrapped up nicely but you can tell there will be a sequel to wrap up some plot points that show up in the end of the story.
How does this compare to Clockwork Century books? Well it is more fun and uses a more informal writing style. It is not necessarily better or worse than the Clockwork Century books, it is just different.
Overall a wonderful new urban fantasy book. I love Priest as a writer and she has once again proven what an excellent writer she is and also how versatile she can be. If you are a fan of the Kate Daniels series, the Jaz Parks series, or the Elemental Assassin series I would definitely pick this book up and give it a read.
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Language
Original publication date
2011-01-25
Physical description
359 p.; 8.27 inches
ISBN
0345520602 / 9780345520609