Justine Manzano I picked up A Bargain of Blood and Gold because it was the latest release by my good friend, Kristin Jacques. It happened to share a book birthday with my Never Say Never, and I decided to read it sight unseen. I hadn’t even read the summary. I was just going to try it out and see what I got. I started it toward the end of last month and sped through it enthusiastically. This one was a page turner for sure! But what’s my writer’s view of it? Check it out below.
Book Summary:
A novice hunter with a mission. A five-hundred-year-old vampire with a strong sense of irony. A town plagued by creatures in need of saving.
When Johnathan Newman arrives in Cress Haven, the last thing he expects is for his life to be irrevocably changed. Sent by a clandestine league of vampire hunters to investigate a string of murders, signs point to a vampire lurking amid the townsfolk. Johnathan’s attempt to enlist the locals leads him to an unlikely partnership with Vic, the town’s most eligible, enigmatic bachelor.
As the pair work to solve the mystery, Vic’s secrets come back to bite him. Revealed, the vampire fights his attraction to a man trained to destroy him, while Johnathan’s emotions land him in the middle of forbidden desires. Even if Vic isn’t the murderer, how can Johnathan yearn for his natural enemy?
As Vic leads Johnathan into encounters with terrifying beings straight from children’s nightmares, Johnathan learns that not only is the world stranger than he knew, but that those he once trusted have far darker intentions that will place hunter and vampire at the center of a conflict between realms.
Cress Haven holds more sinister secrets than its resident vampire, a secret so great, it could unleash Hell itself.
What I Enjoyed:
So so very much. Where to begin! For one, I loved the narrative voice of this story, which is perfect for it’s time period (circa early 19th century America). I fell in love with the characters. You’ve got Johnathan, a Prospect, or a hunter working for The Society. He’s thrown into this town and is told to figure his own way through Cress Haven, on the hunt for what he’s been trained for since he was young–killing vampires. But his past is a lot more complex than that of a simple hunter, and his stalwart honor is delightful when played against the people he meets when he arrives. There’s Alyse, a “spinster,” the daughter of a Pastor, and a badass who knows she’s capable of more than the life she’s leading allows. And Vic, the vampire (something that is very fun to say out loud), who is sassy and clever, and is nothing like what Johnathan knows about vampires. He cares about the town he lives in so much, he’s willing to send for vampire hunters to root out the danger–which is definitely not him.
Also a gay romance is always a refreshing find in a story, particularly one that is not viewed as anything surprising to the people around them. It also felt like a natural evolution for their storyline. It was a helluva slow burn, but by the end, I wanted to push them together and yell “Now, kiss!”
There were loads of fun twists and turns in this mystery, and they had me going for a ride. Everytime I thought I had something figured out, something new was revealed, and I realized I’d missed the clues! I haven’t done this in a long time, but I even went to sleep late reading this one. Definitely a wild time with strong descriptions and a strong creep factor. And the end wraps the story while leaving wonderful opportunities for a sequel!
What I’d Avoid:
I really had no complaints here. I really enjoyed this story.
What Can I Learn:
My main takeaway is how important it is to read in the genre you want to write in. It’s clear that Kristin read heavily in the historical genre to capture the manner of the time period, the clothing, the weapons, the modes of transportation. I felt immersed reading it and I loved it. Well-researched and done just well enough to twist some of the elements and make them believable. I was super impressed.
Conclusion:
I’d recommend this story to anyone who loves a good paranormal adventure with romantic elements. The romance is a slow burn, but the paranormal mystery is enough to drive your interest while you’re waiting for the main characters to realize there’s something brewing between them. A lot of fun. I can’t wait for the sequel.