Blood Call by Lilith Saintcrow
Published by Orbit
Published on: August 4 2015
Genres: Urban Fantasy
Pages: 336
Format: eBook
Source: Purchased
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A brand new thriller with a supernatural twist from New York Times bestselling author Lilith Saintcrow.
Anna Caldwell has spent the last few days in a blur. She's seen her brother's dead body, witnessed the shooting of innocent civilians, and been shot at herself. Now she has nowhere to turn—and only one person she can possibly call.
Since Anna dumped him, it seems waiting is all Josiah Wolfe has done. Now, she's calling, and she needs his help—or rather, the "talents" she once ran away from. As a liquidation agent, Josiah knows everything about getting out of tough situations. He'll get whatever she's carrying to the proper authorities, then settle down to making sure she doesn't leave him again.
But the story Anna's stumbled into is far bigger than even Josiah suspects. Anna wants to survive, Josiah wants Anna back, and the powerful people chasing her want the only thing worth killing for—immortality. An ancient evil has been trapped, a woman is in danger, and the world is going to see just how far a liquidation agent will go...
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I don’t often post DNF reviews. In fact, I’m pretty sure this is the first.
BUT.
Sometimes something happens in a book that there’s no coming back from, and it infuriates me to the point that I MUST DULY INFORM THE MASSES.
I’ve recently decided that when this occurs, I’m no longer going to force myself to finish it.
It doesn’t matter what else happens. I already hate it. The end.
And that is my disclaimer.
DNF at 10%
I used to be more naive about books.
I’d read something . . . something so despicable that I didn’t immediately register what had happened, and when my brain caught up to my eyes, I’d try to rationalize it: surely that didn’t just happen, surely there is some kind of extenuating circumstance that will make the whole situation more palatable and less WTF?!
But I’ve learned that is seldom the case.
Oh, you’re supposed to fall into that trap.
In one book, the heroine was an active participant in a school shooting that resulted in the death of something like 50 or 60 students and teachers, but only b/c her bff was being held hostage.
Like that was supposed to make it okay. That MC sacrificed the lives of 50 or 60 innocent bystanders for the life of one person she happened to know, and she should therefore not have to face any consequences for her actions.
She didn’t want to do-the-thing, she had to do-the-thing.
And some people found that to be a compelling argument.
I thought it was total bullshit. #sorrynotsorry
And similarly, I found the situation I was confronted with here to be total bullshit:
1. Josiah, a “liquidation agent” (<——why can’t you just call him an assassin like a normal person?), got dumped three years ago by the love of his life when she walked out after learning what he did for a living. NOT b/c he told her, but b/c her brother the-investigative-journalist found out and told her.
2. Anna has been on the run for four days after discovering her brother (and various others) dead, and lacking any other options, calls her exboyfriend the assassin liquidation agent. She needs help, and she has money . . . (<——a lesser evil.)
3. It’s made abundantly clear that these two still LOVE each other. So much that Anna admits to herself she wouldn’t have left him, despite his profession, if he’d only been honest with her, and Josiah fully intends to never let her go again now that she’s dropped back into his life.
4.a. When Josiah picks up Anna at their rendezvous spot, she’s in bad shape: blue with cold, beaten up, exhausted, borderline shocky. At his house, he discovers one of her shoes is full of blood.
4.b. As soon as Josiah picks her up, Anna continuously tries to secure a commitment of help from him. A commitment he will not give, finally answering ominously, “Maybe I don’t want money.”
5. She asks him what he wants—again—while he’s starting to help her get cleaned up. He goes to remove her nylons, all the better to attend her BLEEDING FOOT, but gets sidetracked, allowing his hand to wander youknowhere, and informs her that what he wants is SEX. LOTS of it. Oh, and she’d better pretend that she likes it, too.
What. The. Fuck?
I’m not even going to take the time to innumerate all the reasons why that is beyond forgiveness.
And, NO, I don’t give one damn what the reason is. I don’t care if he hasn’t had sex once in the three years since she left, I don’t care if “he’s a man,” with urges, I do. Not. Care. There’s no coming back from that. I’M DONE.
View Spoiler »
Maybe you agree with me, and maybe you don’t. Either way . . . now you know.
Was this review helpful to you? If so, please consider voting for it on Amazon or like the slightly more colorful version on Goodreads!
My name is Jessica and I live in Chattanooga, Tennessee. I’m trying my hand at writing, but mostly I read. My favorite genres are Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Science Fiction, Urban Fantasy, and the YA versions of those genres, but if there is a book of a different color getting lots of buzz, I’ll read it too, just to be informed. If I’m not reading or writing, I’m probably on Goodreads or Pinterest or baking blueberry pies because I love them.
Yeah, I don’t get this. I’ve read several books by this author and they tend to be dark and gritty, but I don’t know that I would’ve liked this one either. I do love the cover. I’m like you and don’t do many DNF finish reviews, but I like how you did this one.
Melanie recently posted…Release Day Review and Spotlight: Two Minutes by Dannika Dark (@Mollykatie112, @DannikaDark, @VivianaIzzo)
You know that is really to bad cause it sounded like a pretty cool read and the cover is just awesome, but ..yeah no. That would have totally turned me off to so thanks for telling me this one is coming off of my wishlist.
Stormi recently posted…Early Review of This Monstrous Thing
I get these review notices in my inbox regularly and usually just pass them by unless they are about a book I have/intend to review myself but a DNF review will always catch my eye and sadly I usually stay away from her books because of what I saw as author bias showing through in another series. There are some solid rules I have about books and I kinda combined several of them below but not sure ANY of them fit what has to be described as a total mess from your review 🙂
The rest of this is just for authors – – I don’t want to hear about your likes/dislikes/political/religious/pet causes/ANYTHING, write the damn book and try to remember that something YOU may dislike, is probably something a LOT of other people like (and they read books)
I have read otherwise good books that made fun/insulted Republicans/Democrats/Christians/Catholics/Jewish/etc (you get the idea) so if you cannot come up with a mythical bad guy that is not inclusive of a real group of people , maybe you should just find another line of work since I find it just another form of racism (painting with a very broad brush here).
BTW: Really enjoyed the review and here is a link to the best review of all time IMHO LOL I hope to write a review this good one day.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/355772527
Well I wrote a long reply that said many things including the fact I enjoyed your review but this interface really sux and it ate it. I won’t write it a second time but sounds like a DNF was the right call.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/355772527
Well it seems to have magically appeared after about 2 minutes, would delete the second one but no potion for that 🙂
Yeah, no. Nope, not touching that book with a ten feet pole! Demanding compliance and sex in order to keep her safe? Abuse of power and nope, not okay with that!
Thank you for the warning Jessica!
Pili recently posted…ARC August: Second Week Recap!
I have never ever ranted like that *side eye—-maybe once, twice, oh what the hell yes every time something like that happens*
I have a feeling I would have thought the exact same thing. Seriously your hand better not go near my twat when I have blood in my shoe. There is no way you are getting the answer you are looking for — especially if you want me to like it.
Felicia GeekyBlogger ( recently posted…Review: All The Ways to Ruin a Rogue by Sophie Jordan
I can totally understand why you DNF’d this. I don’t think this would be the book for me either.
kindlemom1 recently posted…WoW Pick of the Week
I have this one in my to-review pile, let’s see how I do with it. Pretty disappointed by the premise and the character attitudes already though, from the details your DNF review. I tried my first book by Saintcrow earlier this year, didn’t like it. I was hoping to give her work another try with this book and that it would be better.
Mogsy recently posted…Waiting on Wednesday 08/19/15
Thank you for saving me from accidentally starting this book. I’d have stopped too. No way is that okay!
I think it’s fine to quit a book when something you can’t stand happens.
Molly Mortensen recently posted…Nice Dragons Finish Last By Rachel Aaron
It sounds like Anna leaving Josh was just something to start this story off with some drama… and really, she’s bleeding and he wants to sex her up?
I’ve enjoyed other books by this author, but not sure now if I want to try this one. Thanks for sharing your thoughts about why you stopped reading, Jessica!
Lexxie recently posted…Review: Two Minutes – Dannika Dark
Um. Wow. Just no.
Nicole recently posted…Lost World by Kate L. Mary – Review
Oh man, I am sorry you hated it so much, but I did vote and like and will surely pass on this. Too bad, because everything about the book, cover and blurb, appealed to me. Guess they did you too. Shows how important they are to hook us. I am wishing you MUCH better luck on your next read.
sherry fundin recently posted…Who Took Out The Trash? Dead in a Dumpster by B L Blair
I have never read any of her books, I know she is often too dark for my tastes. Thanks for telling me it just means Assassin. I was wondering about that.
Aurian recently posted…Ashlyn Chase – The werewolf upstairs
I am glad I did not request this one
blodeuedd recently posted…Fable: Blood of Heroes – Jim C.Hines
it happens. There have been a few books where something happened and I was like, ok wtf just happned? How can that be ok. I read a little more and it just got worst, so I can understand not finishing.
Mary Kirkland recently posted…Product Review: Faucet Mount Hose Holder by WalterDrake
Yea, I think it would bother me too and the final straw would be mine as well. I’m surprised that this one was so bad. Hm.. I do think I’ll pass on it.
Oh and your spoiler…. ROFL!
Melissa (Books and Things) recently posted…On My Wishlist: The Drafter by Kim Harrison
You know what? I like your DNF reviews. They’re good. And since I also think that a woman’s bleeding foot should be attended to WELL BEFORE a man indulges his sexual desires, I will pass by this book.
Amanda recently posted…Death of a Batty Genius by Angela Pepper {Kelly’s Review}
That’s a good list considering you stopped at 10%.
I can’t get into her writing too. I’ve tried a few of her books and I DNF’d those too, especially this high fantasy she has.
Braine recently posted…When Players Stop Playing: Acts of Creation by Elisabeth Staab
Yeah… I’m not really getting it either. It seems like an inappropriate time to show what he wants… I hope there are some readers who can get past that.
Naomi @ Naomi’s Reading Palace
Naomi recently posted…Hard to Fight by Bella Jewel ~ Review & Swoon Thursday
Holy Hot Mess Batman! So 10% of 336 pages, would be about page 33.Take out the acknowledgements, dedication, title, etc pages and that number goes down to probably about 27-28 pages of actual story. So maybe 2 chapters? I say again, Holy Hot Mess Batman. I have no problem with assassins or anti-heroes, but this guy just sounds like an asshat jerk. I agree – Pass.
Judith recently posted…Review: The Undying Legion by by Clay & Susan Griffith
Sadly, Saintcrow is one author I figured out does not work for me years ago. But this is even more WTF than anything I remember bothering me with the stuff I had tried to read. This would make me rage quit.
Rhianna recently posted…Blog Tour: THE INVISIBLES by Cecelia Galante [+ giveaway!]
Thank you for the honest review. Not many will write a review or say why they DNF a book. I am sorry you did not like it. The book cover and blurb made it sound appealing, but I will be staying away. What you did not enjoy and that was a great list, is something I would not enjoy too.
I totally understand why you DNF-ed this book.
I am reading this at the moment, and I’m really struggling. Josiah is a horrible person, and Anna just puts up with his bullshit. I’ve never put a book down in my life, so I’m compelled to continue, despite how laborious it is.