Review: Bloodline by Tara Ellis

Posted September 9, 2014 by Lorna in Lorna, Reviews, Science Fiction / 42 Comments

Review: Bloodline by Tara Ellis
Bloodline by Tara Ellis
Series: Forgotten Origins #1
Published by Indie
Published on: February 22, 2014
Genres: Science Fiction
Pages: 240
Format: eBook
Source: Freebie
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Amazon | Book Depo | GoodReads

Sixteen-year-old Alex has always suspected her father’s death wasn’t random, but she never guessed how deep the mystery runs or what it involves. When a rare meteor shower is followed by a highly contagious infection, the people she once knew so well start acting like they have a similar purpose that doesn’t include her. Alex can now only rely on her friend Chris and loyal dog Baxter as she plunges into a strange, new world predestined since ancient times. Wandering the mountains of the Pacific Northwest, deciphering cryptic messages left by her father, desperately searching for a cure-will Alex have the courage and faith to even survive?

Bloodline is the first book of the Forgotten Origins Trilogy.



While on Goodreads yesterday, a writer in one of the groups I frequent, mentioned her book was free on Amazon, and because I am bound and determined to fill up my TBR pile until my Kindle explodes(sarcasm), I went to look for it. I found it, and also saw some good reviews, so I had to download it. I really had no intentions of reading it now, but after finishing another book, started this one in the middle of the night last night, and I literally could not put it down!

Alex is sixteen, and lives in a small town in Washington state with her widowed mother, and ten year old brother, Jake. They go to watch a meteor shower, a once in a five thousand year event. Things get scary, when debris starts hitting earth. The next morning, her mother is deathly sick-like your worse cold multiplied by a hundred, or so. Alex goes out to the store to get cold supplies, and realizes that there’s a run on all the cold supplies, and everyone she sees, seems sick. While out, she runs into Chris, a boy from school, that she kinda knows a little. He’s not sick, but the two compare notes on how many people obviously are. When people start getting better, and obviously are not the same as they used to be, things get pretty scary, and fast.

I really liked the characters of Alex and Chris. They are faced with horrible situations, people in their life dying, or acting strange, and still manage to persevere. Alex is a typical teen when this starts, and while she does break down at times, she becomes a much stronger person by the end. Chris is her rock, the only person she can lean on when the going gets tough, and boy does it get tough! I also really liked Jake, the little brother. He ends up being way smarter then his years at times, but still remains a good young character. Everything might be going to hell in a hand basket,but he still trudges on. And last but certainly not least, I loved the dog. Yep, there’s a wonderful, intelligent, golden retriever, named Baxter, that actually had a big part in the book. And no I can’t help that I totally pictured Lassie at times, and yes I know it’s two completely different kinds of dogs!

In the beginning, I wasn’t sure where this book was going. Was it going to be dystopian? Were there going to be aliens? Was there a government conspiracy? Why did her Egyptian father leave her a book on ancient Egyptian history, and why did he leave her clues? Was her father’s death simply a mugging, or was he murdered? Lots of questions to be answered here for sure!

It ended up being a really fast read, well written, and I have already bought and started the second book in the trilogy. I enjoyed the mystery, the conflicts, the intricate, and well thought out plot, and the friendship between Alex and Chris. It’s young adult, and I would classify it as science fiction, with a hint of a horror vibe. Actually, the more I think about it, it would make for an excellent movie!


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I’m Lorna and I live in Maryland. Since retiring, I spend my time mostly reading and reviewing books. My favorite reads are Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy, and Young Adult. I read a lot of indie books in addition to traditionally published books. Favorite paranormal creature? Vampires, but I am really liking werewolves more everyday.

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42 responses to “Review: Bloodline by Tara Ellis”

  8. Mary Kirkland  

    Oh that sounds interesting. I’m still trying to figure out how to keep all the books straight on my Kindle since I don’t read many ebooks and if I do get one, it’s usually one that I won and get a pdf so I can read it on my computer. But there are so many great free ebooks on Amazon that I’ll never get to them all. Sounds like you found a good one here.
    Mary Kirkland recently posted…What to Do If Your Hamster Gives Birth and Then Dies

  9. miki

    free books sometimes gives up teh opportunity to discover hidden gems. sadly 1° i’m not fond of ebooks ( medical reasons) and… even if i wanted to support teh author by taking it it’s not free internationally.
    i will mark it on my list though in case a print version get available
    thanks for teh discovery ( what can i said^^ i couldn’t resist when there is a dog in it and if you liked the book that much)

    • Lorna  

      I couldn’t put it down, so yes I did like it 🙂 Sorry you can’t do e-readers! I can’t remember the last time I read a regular book even though I keep buying them at used bookstores 🙂

  11. Bookworm Brandee  

    I’m glad this was a surprise great read, Lorna. It sounds really interesting considering all the questions needing answered. And the characters sound wonderful – I always appreciate when there’s so much character growth in a story and it seems as though Alex did some growing. 🙂 Oh, and I love that the dog was such an important character, too. Nice review! And look – you kept one off your tbr. 😉
    Bookworm Brandee recently posted…**New Release Review ~ Girl Nevermore ~ R.A. Desilets**

    • Lorna  

      Yes there was some good characters and actually it’s all told in first person voice of Alex, and I did enjoy that. I do think that there is more to the dog then meets the eye, so I am hoping for more in the next book, which I had to put down to finish another for review. And Thanks!

    • Lorna  

      Me too, although if you have others to review, it’s sometimes hard to do. I had to put the second one down, but will definitely be picking it back up soon, and thanks!