Genre: Paranormal, Romance, Fantasy, Alt History
LGBTQ+ Category: Gay, Pan, Non-Binary
Reviewer: Maryann
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About The Book
In Hiro’s world, youkai are a supernatural story used to scare children into obedience, and to keep men out of back alleys and brothels. Until Sakurai Hideyoshi walks through his door with a fantastical tale of a samurai who had killed a thousand men and drank the blood of his enemies, a man that lived in darkness but sought beauty to keep it at bay.
A story both terrifying and romantic…and completely ridiculous.
Unless it is true.
Convinced something softer lurks behind Hideyoshi’s hard mask, Hiro follows him home. And discovers the story is real.
Only instead of the blood of his enemies, it is innocent blood taken.
Hideyoshi tells him never to return. Yet after Hiro’s mother is mortally wounded, Hiro runs back to the one being he knows with the power to save her. When Hideyoshi can’t, Hiro begs him for the next best thing: the power to avenge her.
As Hiro becomes youkai, he faces a new threat, something darker, older, and far more dangerous. With Hideyoshi at his side, Hiro must decide what he’s willing to sacrifice–and what he’s willing to do–to protect this new life before he loses everything for a second time.
If you like Bella Forrest, P. C. Cast, AJ Tipton, or Anne Rice, you will love this beautiful dark paranormal fantasy romance.
The Review
“Blood Pact” follows Hiro and Hideyoshi and what life is like for those who live the immortality of a Youkai.
Hiro is a geisha. He lives and entertains in the okiya. He was found as a baby by Okaasan, and the okiya is the only home he knows. The okiya was one of the most finest in Shimabara, the Kyoto geisha district, and some of the most beautiful and respected courtesans lived there. Besides Hiro’s mixed heritage, he is special when he sings – he mesmerizes both men and women. Unfortunately, his voice attracts Yamaguchi Tojirou.
Yamaguchi Tojirou is head of the local tekiya, which claims to keep the streets of Kyoto safe. But in reality they are nothing but thugs, extorting high rents from local businesses. And Yamaguichi wants Hiro for himself
Late one, evening Hiro is requested by a mysterious guest who has just arrived from Edo. The rumors of the samurai warrior, Sakurai Hideyoshi, are very disturbing – that he has killed thousands of men, that he drinks their blood and has traded his soul to a demon for immortality. Hiro still attends to Hideyoshi regardless, and sings for him.
Hideyoshi immediately feels how special Hiro is. As time goes on they form a special connection. But hatred and jealousy eventually bring tragedy to the okiya and Okaasan.
When Hiro seeks revenge against Yamaguichi, he has nowhere to turn except for Hideyoshi. Hideyoshi gives Hiro a choice, and once that choice is made, Hiro struggles at times with being a Youkai.
Even though they retain their humanity, the relationship between Hiro and Hideyoshi is very fragile. HIro needs the love and affection that Hideyoshi continues to bury.
Danger and destruction of the Youkai begin to grow. Hiro and Hideyoshi will have to be on their guard. Can they trust: Asagi or Kyo?
Maguire impressed me with “Youkai Bloodlines” series. Blood Pact is book two, and it was a real page-turner. This is the only time I will mention “vampires,” because there are very few similarities.
The Youkai are a very different breed. The storyline is dark, with plenty of fast paced action, danger, suspense and a lot of gore.
There are also heartfelt romantic moments as the bond grows between Hiro and Hideyoshi. Because the story is Hiros POV, Hideyoshi is somewhat of a mystery, and he soon became my favorite character. There is more to him than we see here, and I’m excited to see what develops.
The story is very well-written, with beautiful descriptions of places and sites of Japan. It blenda of myth, historical facts and many Japanese terms. My only issue with this book is the “Glossary of Japanese Terms” – it should have been at the front and the first thing to be read.
Blood Bound, book three in the “Youkai Bloodlines” series, is next – I’m excited to see where it takes Hiro and Hideyoshi!
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.