In the Blood: Book Two of the Maker's Song

This book is the second in Adrian Phoenix's The Maker's Song series. The story starts several months from where the first, A Rush of Wings, leaves off and, let me tell you, the rush continues.

In the Blood is a great follow up to the promising start delivered by A Rush of Wings. This time round, we see FBI agent Heather Wallace trying to survive the corruption within the Bureau and keep away from the mysterious players behind the Bad Seed project. Meanwhile, Vampire rock star, Dante, still struggling to remember his painful past and now suffering from not just blinding headaches but seizures, is coming to Seattle with the band. It's supposed to be a to be a concert tour, but you know he's really coming for Heather.

This series provides a fast-paced rush through a darker reality where Nightkind (vampires) and Elohim (angels) exist. Phoenix weaves a great story with strong relationships and robust characters. Dante's cajun dialect (don't worry, there's a glossary at the back) adds true authenticity to his character. Phoenix has captured him so well I can almost hear him coming right off the page. C'est bon!

After being apart for months, Dante Baptiste and Heather Wallace find themselves together again in Heather's hometown of Seattle, with their enemies right behind them. But while fighting the forces determined to control Dante, each of them must also fight their own internal battles.

Heather must decide if it is safer remaining with the FBI or get out before they decide she is a loose end that needs tying up. She also knows she must finally decide which emotion is stronger, her love for Dante or her fear.

Dante still can't remember his past. His migraine attacks have gotten worse and more frequent, and now he also suffers from seizures. While his love for Heather pulls him to her, it also tells him she is safer without him. And Dante isn't ready to deal with the betrayal he feels from Lucien, someone he considered to be his most trusted friend.

Yet, through it all, Lucien is determined to keep Dante hidden and safe. He is willing to sacrifice everything for Dante. Even their relationship and his own life.


In The Blood is even more gripping than Adrian Phoenix's first novel, A Rush of Wings. As the second book in The Maker's Song series, In The Blood provides the reader with a more in depth look at the characters, their relationships, and their past. All the while, Ms. Phoenix's talent weaves the underlying themes of family and hope seamlessly into the story, giving the reader a sense of familiarity and belonging. Even through the fantastical elements the reader can identify with the heroes and heroines, elevating the story to one of the best in the genre. Start off the New Year right and get yourself a copy of In The Blood, available December 30, 2008.