Genre: Horror, MM Romance, Erotica
LGBTQ+ Category: Gay
Reviewer: Maryann
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About The Book
After a century apart, Mack and Jason rediscover their love and lust, but will trying to fit into a modern world keep them together or tear them apart?
When vampire lovers Mack and Jason are reunited after decades apart, they think of nothing but each other’s company. But over time, Mack’s old-world views conflict with Jason’s liberated life, and it throws them into a spiral of confused despair. When Mack seeks solace in the arms of another and Jason’s ex-lover Greg is murdered, their relationship breaks down and Mack flees.
While in solitude, Mack is handed the surprise opportunity to rekindle a relationship with his returned, now-vampire father, Allen. They return to Sydney to introduce him to Jason, but Jason has already sought revenge on Mack’s lover and committed an atrocity of his own. Fractured so soon after their reunion, the three of them travel back to where it all began, in the country town of Wattlebrook.
Warning: horror scenes, violence
The Review
This is the sequel to “Blood of the Land.” The first book introduced readers introduced to Allen, Evelyn, and their son, Mack, who owned a cattle station in Australia. We also met Jason and the evil vampires Bela and Zora, who had made their way to the new world.
Mack had lived his solitary death at the cattle station for one hundred years. Not knowing what to do, he hid himself away and only came out in need of sustenance. For years, the rumors spread about Mack – the worst of which that he had killed his parents.
When Mack faced Zoran for the last time, he made his way to the city and reunited with Jason, but their relationship didn’t go well. Jason told Mack continuously that he would never fit the city lifestyle, and so Mack sought support elsewhere. Misunderstandings and an ex lover brought jealousy between them, and Jason’s anger and accusations drove Mack back to the land.
While trying to find solace, Mack is shocked by a large bird. As the bird transforms, he finds himself face to face with his father, Allen. So many misunderstandings are cleared up when Allen and Mack reunite. Mack finds out that Allen has struggled and suffered at the hands of Zoran, just as Mack had. Allen emerged from all the devastation with more sympathy and understanding because of the love of a women who accepted him for what he was.
Allen agrees to return to the city with Mack, who introduces him to new sites. But when they find Jason, it’s a bloodbath, and Mack’s world is turned upside down again. He runs away from Jason and returns to the place where he feels he really belongs.
What will it take for Jason to see the wrong he’s done? Can anyone help this relationship survive, or will it all come to an end?
Even with the evil and blood letting, Kemp adds a lot of warmth to this dark vampire tale. When Allen and Mack reunite, Allen’s explanations bring happy moments of understanding and care between father and son. I liked how Allen tried to teach and make his son see the world in a better light.
Allen was my favorite character in “Blood of the Land,” and I’m so glad Adrik Kemp brought him back. He was a compassionate, loving, and caring a strong father and husband. I liked Mack too – he was lost and really needed the guidance that his father could only provide.
Jason was still a little too naive and seemed stuck in the controlling world of his former Masters. His courage failed to come through on its own. Once again, Allen had to share his knowledge and love with Jason to make him understand what he needed to do.
Kemp has a gift for worldbuilding, and he really made Sydney and the surrounding lands come to life. “Blood of the Land” and “Blood of the City” are not sweet romantic tales, but they are fascinating depictions of the eerie world of vampires.
The Reviewer
Hi, I’m Maryann, I started life in New York, moved to New Hampshire and in 1965 uprooted again to Sacramento, California. Once I retired I moved to West Palm Beach, Florida in 2011 and just moved back to Sacramento in March of 2018. My son, his wife and step-daughter flew out to Florida and we road tripped back so they got to see sights they have never seen. New Orleans and the Grand Canyon were the highlights. Now I am back on the west coast again to stay! From a young age Ialways liked to read.
I remember going to the library and reading the “Doctor Dolittle” books by Hugh Lofting. Much later on became a big fan of the classics, Edgar Alan Poe, Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker and as time went by Agatha Christie, Ray Bradbury and Stephen Kingand many other authors.
My first M/M shifter book I read was written by Jan Irving the “Uncommon Cowboys” series from 2012. She was the first author I ever contacted and sent an email to letting her know how much I liked this series. Sometime along the way I read “Zero to the Bone”by Jane Seville, I think just about everyone has read this book!
As it stands right now I’m really into mysteries, grit, gore and “triggers” don’t bother me. But if a blurb piques my interest I will read the book.
My kindle collection eclectic and over three thousand books and my Audible collection is slowly growing. I have both the kindle and audible apps on my ipod, ipads, and MAC. So there is never an excuse not to be listening or reading.
I joined Goodreads around 2012 and started posting reviews. One day a wonderful lady, Lisa Horan of The Novel Approach, sent me an email to see if I wanted to join her review group. Joining her site was such an eye opener. I got introduce to so many new authors that write for the LGBTQ genre. Needless to say, it was heart breaking when it ended.
But I found a really great site, QRI and it’s right here in Sacramento. Last year at QSAC I actually got to meet Scott Coatsworth, Amy Lane and Jeff Adams.