Courtney Sloan

3.5 Stars

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After tragedy strikes, it is time for the Vampires to reveal their true nature and in fact they end up governing over the humans, who are forced to donate blood for the vampires to drink. In addition, important vampires can get a Scion, which is like a special blood donor who in return can tap from the vampire's power through a psychic link. Main character Rowan, both Scion and on the lookout for rogue vampires, will do what it takes to protect her little brother from harm.

Most of the time I really enjoyed the novel. I quite liked the scion thing, as it was at least trying to keep the vampires slightly more original, which must be a near impossible job with all the vampire novels out there. However, it couldn't always keep my interest and besides the occasional infodump I also thought it was rather slow at times. Although Rowan is a conflicted and mostly interesting character, she sometimes takes her sarcasm and independence to a level where it becomes more or less annoying.

I've read this is the first book in a new series, and I hope this is indeed true, as the world was quite interesting and there are certainly some questions left to be answered.

Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!… (plus d'informations)

On the surface, Of Scions and Men looks like it could be really cool – a dystopian urban fantasy world ruled by vampires. However, it’s poorly executed and often feels like a collection of little thought out tropes. If I weren’t reading this with the intention to review, I would have quit part way through.

Rowan Brandy is a vampire’s scion – someone who becomes a vampire’s servant in blood bag and gains a psychic link that allows them to use the vampire’s powers. She normally works tracking down vampires who take blood illegally, but then bodies start turning up suggesting that a vampire is trying to make an off the books scion.

The synopsis given makes it look like the plot will revolve around some diplomats from Canada visiting the US. It’s true that these diplomats have a large role in the book, only… I’m not sure why. If they had anything at all to do with the plot or something particularly significant to contribute, I’ve forgotten it in the week since I’ve read the book. In general, the plot felt very weak. The pacing seemed off and it took a while for anything meaningful to happen. The ho hum plot could have been all right if the book made up for it with good characterization. Unfortunately, this wasn’t the case.

I really disliked Rowan. She started off not so bad but it didn’t take long for her to actively annoy me. She feels like the run of the mill “Strong Female Protagonist” you encounter in urban fantasy, complete with the tight fitting leather pants and a dependency on her vampire love interest. I think we’re supposed to admire her independence for mouthing off to authority, but it just makes her look stupid.And she’s constantly smirking! All attempts to give her sarcasm and humor (and I get the feeling she’s supposed to be funny) fall has flat as her overall characterization.

There weren’t even any secondary characters I liked. I either disliked or was indifferent too all the rest. Her vampire master/love interest annoyed me, especially his repeated use of the word “cherie.” There was only one other reoccurring female character besides Rowan, and they never had much of a conversation or relationship. It felt at times that almost everyone surrounding her was a hot dude there to highlight how sexually desirable Rowan was. Except for Lyle, her best friend, who was a walking stereotype and had no characterization or plot line outside of him being gay.

The “vampire dystopian” set up should be interesting, but the explanation for it was incredibly flimsy. Something about Middle Eastern terrorism and some really dodgy economics? The way the world worked now felt either ill thought out or infodumped. A lot of the common paranormal creatures (vampires, werewolves/shifters, and ghosts) are included, but they feel thrown in and not like they are a cohesive part of the same book.

I can’t recommend Of Scions and Men. There was too much that I disliked about it, and almost nothing at all that I did like. If you’re a big fan of the “sexy UF heroine dallying with vampires” you might get something out of it. But if you’re looking for something that rises above the usual, Of Scions and Men isn’t for you.

Originally posted on The Illustrated Page.

I received a free ARC copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.… (plus d'informations)

I would like to thank Curiosity Quills Press for an e-ARC of this book to review. Though I received this e-book for free, that has no impact upon the honesty of my review.

Goodreads Teaser: Geopolitical babysitting while arresting preternatural killers, it’s just the daily grind for Scion Rowan Brady. Brash and sarcastic, Rowan has sold her life, her career and her very blood to the controlling paranormal ruling class of America, all to make sure her kid brother can eat. Now she uses her powers as a scion to kick the ass of any preternatural creature idiotic enough to break the rules and prey upon humanity without a license. All it costs her is her freedom and a pint or two per week to her new Master.

But juggling her job and duties becomes even tougher when she is tasked with keeping a contingency of diplomats from Canada from getting gnawed on. However, negotiations for an International Blood Exchange are interrupted when bodies start showing up. Now Rowan must rely on her talent and wit to defend the society she despises to save the lives she’s sworn to protect. But as she stumbles into the truth, she chances becoming a target of not only these killers, but of her own government. With shifters, ghosts, vampires and psychics all watching her, can she stop the killings before she is silenced?

I stumbled a bit at the beginning, as the story launched into full swing with no real explanations. Obviously that eventually smooths out as the details start to click into place with the arc of the story, creating a more or less cohesive tale. And though the start could use some smoothing out, the overall story is well worth the initial confusion.

Rowan is an engaging and entertaining main protagonist, with a heart of gold for those that survive the tests to make it into her inner circle. A rather exclusive group, but one which has the potential for growth. Her prickly, sarcastic public persona hides a warm, supremely protective devotion to her much younger brother, Will. That devotion drives every decision she's made since the loss of their parents; a loss that left the two alone and adrift in a hostile world. To that end she took a job she hates, but one that provides the safety she wants for Will; safety she could never have supplied otherwise.

Her employer Devon is one of the ruling class, a vampire. Though she is his scion she has very little knowledge about him. He remains a mystery throughout the story, with small tidbits about who he is and how he got to where he is being dropped in every so often. But one thing is crystal clear, his feelings for Rowan. Though he hides them from her those around him are aware of them. In fact Rowan would be if only she took the time to look. But Devon is more of a supporting character for most of this book, rising to the forefront on occasion, then fading into the background again.

While this story has several components common to books of this nature, Ms. Sloan has managed to keep this her story. Her voice is distinct and she never seems to fall back into the trap of playing off things that have already been done. At least not without adding her own stamp to those segments. This opening act is easily strong enough to have left me wanting more. I'm curious to see how her writing matures as the story develops further.… (plus d'informations)