Alliance in Blood by Ariel Tachna

[reviews_and_ramblings]

In an urban romance setting, a Paris in which wizards and vampires are simple citizens with more or less power, the wizards need allies.

Renegade wizards who are searching to rule the world using the dark magic are becoming more and more bolder. Marcel, the general of the army of the good wizard seeks alliance with Jean, the master of Parisian vampires. Both men agree to a meeting between a wizard and a vampire in Pere Lachaise cemetery. Alain, a wizard who lost his wife and son to the hands of the dark wizards, volunteers; on the other side the chosen is Orlando, a more than two hundreds years vampire who was turned when he was 23 years old, and so now he has the face of a blond angel, but scars which are so deeply that still marks his behavior. The alliance should implies only that the vampires will help the wizards in their fight, but when Orlando samples Alain's blood, to test his sincerity, the bond between them runs deeply than a simple military agreement.

Even if Orlando is older in age than Alain, he is not emotionally grown. Orlando was raped and enslaved by his sire, and now, even if free by his captivity, he is shy and restrained, with his body and with his feelings. Alain, with his gentle touch and ability to comprehend and soothe, is the right man to ensure Orlando's trust. Alain accepts to deepen their relationship beyond a simple fighting bond, Orlando and Alain become a real life couple; in an alliance that is new and fragile, a so deep relationship is more an obstacle than anything else, since the other vampires and wizards have trouble to understand that it's not necessary to have a sexual bond to tighten a vampire/wizard pair.

Orlando is very "young"; his relationship with Alain is more like that between a master and a pupil than between two equal adults. It doesn't matter that Orlando has lived so long, he has spent two hundreds years hiding and avoiding human contacts. Alain instead has loved and lost his love; more than his wife, he regrets the lost of his son, and, in a way, he has also fatherly feeling for Orlando: he falls so fast for Orlando since the vampire arises in him also protective feelings other than sexual desires.

The story is a bit dark and gothic, but in some points it is almost funny: the scene in the Gare de Lyon, when wizards and vampires meet to find the other match in the pair, reminds me one of those teens party, where boys and girls stand one on the other side of the room not having the courage to mingle, chat and dance.

Another thing that left me pretty impressed in the story, was how vampires are treated in this urban alternative reality: they are shunned and avoided as undesirables, but not as dangerous... a bit like gay in a conservative environment?

http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/currenttitles/bloodseries/alliance/alliancebuynow.htm

Amazon Kindle: Alliance in Blood (Partnership in Blood)

Amazon: Alliance In Blood

Reading List:

http://www.librarything.com/catalog_bottom.php?tag=reading list&view=elisa.rolle

Comments

[arieltachna.livejournal.com]

I had the same thought in mind when I wrote the scene at the Gare de Lyon as you did reading it. I'm so glad it came across clearly.

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

Yes, it was pretty clear :-) Maybe we had the same experience in the past. Elisa

[arieltachna.livejournal.com]

I think we must have. :) Of course, what teenager hasn't had it? Thanks for the review!

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

You are welcome Ariel. I have the sequel in my reading list, and I know that it will as good as this one. Elisa

[pandorasvase.livejournal.com]

ok, I try to write in English again :P

I read this story a few month ago and I just finished the second book. I can't really choose which of the couple I like better, there are very interesting characters and a lot of possibilities.

One thing, I noted, is a little strange compared to other writhing: the point of view.
Usually we see the story through eyes and feelings of the main couple, here the sight changes frequently. It's a bit confusing but also pleasant because you can know almost every character. In fact I am not sure if we have real main characters, we have a group of their!

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

You are right, and in this way also the minor characters becomes interesting. I was, for example, fascinated by Raymond and Jean, and I hope for them to be on of the next pair to have their own book.

Elisa

[pandorasvase.livejournal.com]

After the second book, I believe that the author means to develop the interaction between the pairs with the general plot. More pairs at a time.

>I was, for example, fascinated by Raymond and Jean <

yep *.* and Thierry e Sebastien. I don't want say other names until you'll read Covenant in Blood, I think you don't like spoliers :P

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

:-))))) You are a teaser! Elisa

[kalikahuntress.livejournal.com]

This review reminded me why I loved the first book so much, I can't wait to read the second one:)

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

Thanks. It's also my intention to read it soon. Elisa