Genre: Dark Fantasy
LGBTQ+ Category: Gay, Trans FTM
Reviewer: Maryann
Get It On Amazon
About The Book
Waking up undead was just the start of my bad night.
This night is going from bad to worse. My roommate is dead. My sexy neighbor, who I’ve never worked up the guts to talk to before, is standing in my living room. I have a gold amulet I just stole from the museum hidden in my pocket. Oh, and I’m dead… or undead?
All the myths about vampires, were-wolves, and the like? Turns out, all true. My sexy neighbor claims I’m a vampire now. I don’t quite believe him, but then again, he turned into a coyote in front of me. Jackal, whatever. Plus, you know, my new fangs.
Oh, did I mention my sexy neighbor is an ex-cop? And his cop buddies just knocked down my door. I’m pretty sure this night can’t get any worse… I’m probably wrong.
The Review
I’m excited about this new series “Changing Bodies” already – I can’t wait to see what Roan Rosser has planned for book two, Bloodline of the Ancients.
Everett Boesch is in all types of trouble, some of it he can’t even remember. How did he wind up being mugged and left in a dumpster? He lost his keys to his apartment, and won’t his roommate let him in. And apparently he’s bitten someone? Fortunately for Everett. his neighbor has stopped him from doing anymore damage – until he actually bites him too.
Former cop Jack Smith is a member of PCA (Paranormal Creature Alliance – a secret organization that helps those who become part of the supernatural world and have to stay completely hidden from the human world) and boy does he have a lot to explain to Everett. First and foremost, he’s now a vampire. With the devastation of his apartment, all the stolen artifacts are now gone.
Everett’s not really a bad guy, he’s shy and a little lost and overwhelmed. He’s also looking for a way to make extra money, to get his top transition completed. And his job at the Portland Art Museum has him steeling artifacts for mobster Lady Ann.
Before all the troubles of that disastrous night began, Everett had hidden an amulet in a secret pocke. Now that’s all he has left, and he’s very possessive of it.
And it doesn’t get any easier for Everett from there. Can he trust Jack? Can he trust the PCA? Lady Ann’s mobsters are gunning for him, and he certainly can’t trust the police. There are so many questions about how he became a vampire, and what it all means.
Ritual of the Ancients starts off fast, with all of Everett’s troubles. I wished that the author had introduced them a bit more gradually. At first I thought Everett was going to be a nitwit, but the more I read, the more I was surprised at how things started to change. I also thought it was going to be a humorous book, but there’s serious stuff here too, dealing with new creatures, vampires, werewolves, shifters, mages, investigation, archeology, history of artifacts an interesting amulet, and an ancient book. There’s also lots of action, danger, suspense and a start of a friendship.
I was also glad this was not an insta-love between Everett and Jack. At first I didn’t feel much of a connection between them. It was more of a gradual thing, as both have issues of the heart to deal with. Especially Everett, a trans-man dealing with transitioning, and becoming a vampire – a situation that leaves him with so many questions and no clear answers, and a family who denies who he truly is.
Some interesting characters form The Paranormal Creature Alliance, Vampires Stacy and Ted, and werewolves Zoe, Jack and Dave the mage.
At the end of the novel there’s some bonus concept art by Beleoci of Everett and Jack, and a drawing of the Amulet by Lychgate. The art is fantastic, but I wish it were at the front of the book. There’s also a schedule of the upcoming novels for this new series “Changing Bodies.”
If you like vampires, werewolves and other supernatural creatures, this is a must read. The book (and series) have a lot of potential, and I can’t wait to read book two.
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.