Blood Moon by Alyxandra Harvey

Title: Blood Moon

Author: Alyxandra Harvey

Publisher: Bloomsbury

Published: July 2012

ISBN: 978 14088 31908

Rating: 4.5/5

The cover reflects the title and storyline beautifully with its blood red moon and bats hovering nearby.

I’ve enjoyed each and every book I’ve read by Alyxandra Harvey, and this one is no exception.  I could have kept reading, but too soon it came to the end of the book and once again I’m left wanting more as I’m on the edge of my seat!

Lucy shows her true friendship with Solange and Solange finds out more about the prophecy surrounding her which then dictates some of her actions.  Solange becomes impulsive and out of control as she is over taken by a mysterious voice in her head who gains control of her body.  Nicholas has to choose between his sibling and his girlfriend.  Some parts of this don’t seem too clear and I came away with a sense of not knowing what (or rather who) had happened to Solange.  It is still packed with butt kicking action.  My favourite character in this is Lucy, who must make some very quick and hard decisions in situations.  Another must read :)

Book synopsis:

When the vampire tribes convene for the rare Blood Moon ceremonies, Solange’s fight with her feral nature, a mysterious stranger, family secrets and forbidden magic put all of the Drakes in danger.
And when Nicholas Drake is torn between saving his little sister, Solange, or his girlfriend Lucy, who will he choose?

Source – Many thanks to Bloomsbury, a copy was received in return for an honest review.

Stolen Away by Alyxandra Harvey

Title: Stolen Away

Author: Alyxandra Harvey

Publisher: Bloomsbury

Published:January 2012

ISBN: 978 1408811320

Price: £6.99

Rating: 4/5

The cover on this has a good range of colours associated with mystical things, so from the cover alone you get a feel for what is to come.  The cover also has delicate wings and scroll detail on which I like.

Eloise Hart is mortified when a good looking guy carrying a sword kneels at her feet.  What follows is an unravelling of her life as it has been, and an adventure which helps shed light on exactly why she is stalked and then stolen away from her family and friends.  I enjoyed the relationship between Eloise and her friends Jo and Devin, as they try and find out what they should do. 

As with previous books by Alyxandra Harvey, we don’t get to know the full plot in advance, so as readers we are taken on an adventure of discovery just as the main characters are, which I think is done really, really well.

I enjoyed the telling of this story, and finding out more about Aunt Antonia and the world of Fae.  My favourite character is the mysterious Eldric who has a dark side to him.  I found this a really quick read which I devoured in one sitting. 

An excerpt from Stolen Away:

Source – Many thanks to Bloomsbury, a copy was received in return for an honest review.

Out For Blood by Alyxandra Harvey

Title: Out for Blood

Author: Alyxandra Harvey

Publisher: Bloomsbury

Published: 1^st Nov 2010

ISBN: 9781408807064

Rating: 4.5/5

The cover on this is dark, with blue ink dripping from a pendant to make petals.  It’s a very simple cover and pleasing on the eye, with the title having a shadow of blue also.

Hunter Wild is in her last year at the Helios-Ra Academy,  she’s one of the top vampire hunters from the academy.  She has a crush on Quinn…but Quinn is more than just a vampire – he’s also one of the Drake’s who are considered vampire royalty.

I really enjoyed the friction between Drake and Hunter.  It’s a seemingly impossible attraction which sees Hunter being cut off from Grandfather, her only living relative who was a hardcore vampire killer and still has old time hunter values.

Hunter senses there is something wrong at Helios-Ra and she and her friends try to solve the problem.  I didn’t see the culprit coming!  A brilliant twist to the story, as i believed I knew who the person was...I was wrong...

Alyxandra Harvey is already on my Top List for authors – this one has just re-affirmed her place, as I thoroughly enjoyed it.  It was an easy read, and one that I could see myself reading again.

Book synopsis:

Hunter Wild just wants to get through her last year at the secret Helios-Ra Academy. To do so, she'll have to betray her grandfather, date a vampire and possibly take down the entire League - all before the end of term.

Source – Many thanks to Bloomsbury, a review copy was received in exchange for an honest review.

One to read - Haunting Violet by Alyxandra Harvey

Title: Haunting Violet
Author: Alyxandra Harvey
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Published: 4th July 2011
ISBN: 978 1408811313


Author's website




Rating 5/5 with merits (only the second book this year to join my Top 5 books!)


I love the cover on this!  This is the UK cover version - and it is released today!!!  I think the cover visually shows you just how haunting you can expect this book to be, with wisps of mist and dark shadows.  I've got my copy of this to giveaway - see the end of this post (UK entrants).


For me, this book had everything.  A fantastic historical background, where chaperones, ladies and classes fitted in.  Violet is one of her mother's unofficial servants.  Her mother is an overbearing woman, who is self obsessed.  She loves being the centre of attention and at the heart of social gatherings....most of all she is a fraud.  She is a renowned clairvoyant....however it soon becomes a apparent that Colin and Violet have to set the scenes for all her work to take place.  I found the way in which Violet's mother acted towards her very ruthless - to the point that I wondered if she was in fact a blood relative.


Whilst on one of her Mother's work expeditions, things shift, and Violet is left disorientated, trying to grasp what is happening to her - she doesn't want this gift - she doesn't want to see dead people and be plagued by their experiences as they try to convey what they want from her.  This is in complete contrast to Violet's Mother, who is a charlatan.  The whole story had me with goose bumps and the hair on the back of my neck standing up as Violet shares her experiences and desperately tries to catch a murderer so that she is free from this particular ghost.   The mystery is really well done, and kept me guessing.



There's also romance in the wings of this...so, so sweet!  Violet must eventually choose who she should be with, although part of the decision is made for her.  Xavier comes across as a really dependable bloke up to a point.  I just loved how this book flowed and how Violet's friends were there for her when she needed them.


Without being to gushy....this has without a doubt made it into my Top 5 reads of this year, along with The Mayan Conspiracy.  Haunting Violet is a extraordinary story of a girl's struggle with clairvoyance and her eventual acceptance of her abilities.


Book synopsis:
Violet Willoughby doesn't believe in ghosts...but they believe in her.


Violet has spent years taking part in her mother;s elaborately faked seances, putting the rich and powerful in touch with the dead, and their success has brought them a life of luxury they could only have dreamed of and Violet the prospect of a society marriage.


The last thing Violet expected was to start seeing and hearing the dead for real.  But now she is haunted day and night by the ghost of a drowned girl who won't let her rest until her murderer is uncovered.  


Violet must use her talents to unravel the mystery surrounding the girl's death - and quickly before the killer strikes again....


Enter to win my copy of Haunting Violet (Freedom Giveaway Hop)


To celebrate the release of Haunting Violet, Bloomsbury are offering one lucky winner the opportunity to win an incredible iPad 2, along with a signed copy and goody bag for 10 runners up. Head to the Facebook page to find out how to enter:
Haunting Violet Competition