Review: Bloodlines by Skyla Dawn Cameron

Bloodlines
Book 1 of the Demons of Oblivion series

Author:  Skyla Dawn Cameron
Publisher:  Mundania Press
Genre:  Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy
ISBN:  9781594267116
Release date:  April 12, 2011
Author's website:  Skyla Dawn Cameron
Available to buy at:  Amazon

After three hundred years of unlife, vampire Zara Lain has seemingly done it all, and she's now making a living as a successful thief-turned-assassin. Her newest assignment seems simple enough--kill the aging leader of the O'Connor Coven and his only heir, and she'll have another ten million in the bank. But in the dangerous world of the supernatural, few things are ever "simple." When a massive assault decimates the continent's population of powerful witches and warlocks, and its orchestrator has vampires being hunted down and captured, Zara realizes the tables have turned and now she'll be playing the hero. Forced to join with a smart-mouthed fellow vampire, a demonologist who's also a fan of hers, a recently widowed--and frequently brooding--warlock, and her best friend's mom, Zara's grudgingly willing to do what she can to save the day. If only people would stop ruining all her outfits...

Zara Lain has made a name for herself by being a well sought after assassin. She's very well known for doing her job effectively, and she knows this.  Her best friend Mishka who is a witch, hires her to assassinate the head of a rival coven.  She also wants Zara to assassinate his son, Nathan, his only heir. Zara has reservations about this job, but takes it because she wants the money.  Zara soon finds out that Mishka wasn't completely honest to her and she soon finds herself joining forces with Nathan after they realize that they have been double crossed. During this time, they get the opportunity to learn more about one another and try to find out the truth of the craziness that is all around them.  They both have reservations about each other and the fact that she is a vampire and he is a warlock causes lots of tension between the two of them.

I have to say that Zara rubbed me the wrong way when I first started this book.  She is extremely snarky and it took me a short time to warm up to her. But when I did, I couldn't wait to hear the next snarky comment come out of her mouth!  She is absolutely hilarious!  Zara's life has not been an easy one and as the reader gets to know more about what she went through, you get to see a different side to Zara.  There is a reason for why Zara has to show as if nothing affects her and why she is not afraid to say what is on her mind.  Her story is absolutely heartbreaking and had me tearing up while reading this late at night.  Skyla Dawn Cameron did a wonderful job letting us get to see this other side of Zara.  I also loved how it wasn't all revealed at once, but in bits and pieces.  The true effect of what happened in her life really hits you and it will make you fall in love with this character.   The same can be said of Nathan while he and Zara bump heads throughout the entire book.  Even though he grew up in a rich household, his life was not an easy one either.  Even though their lives followed a different path, these two are more alike that what they think.  Zara is very attracted to Nathan and isn't afraid to let him know that.  Her advances towards him are rejected by Nathan and I have to say that I was glad that he didn't just give into the moment.  She isn't used to that and I think it was good for her to be cut down a notch.  There is something that happens during the book and let me just say that Nate was truly there for Zara and this scene was absolutely wonderful.  Just thinking about it has me holding my breath and because of his honorable actions, I placed Nate on my Book Boyfriend list.  Ok yeah, he's on there because he's also hot, but mainly because through everything, he was the one and only person that Zara can always count on.

I'm giving Bloodlines a rating of:

As you can see above, I truly enjoyed this book.  I thought the beginning was just a tad slow, but once I got past that, I could not put this book down!   Zara is one kick ass heroine that will leave you impressed with her skills as an assassin.  There is so much action in this book that I couldn't wait to see what Zara was going to have to do next and Skyla does such a great job writing these scenes that you feel as if you are actually there. I was introduced to great new characters and a storyline that is filled with intrigue and secrets that left me gasping when the truth is revealed.  I love nothing more than finding a new exciting series and Bloodlines is the start of just that.  I'm very anxious to read what else Skyla Dawn Cameron has in store for her characters and cannot wait to read the other books in this series.  Until then, I will be rereading Bloodlines again because I'm not ready to leave this exciting new world.