Blood Shadows by Lindsay J. Pryor

Narrated by Anne Flosnik

One of the things I like most about paranormal romance is the world building that goes into it. Vampires, shape-shifters, and the like roam the streets of everyday cities, and it’s up to the author to explain how this came to be. I had heard great things about Blood Shadows, Book 1 in Lindsay J. Pryor’s Blackthorn series. People raved about the incredible setup, and I was eager to listen. Sadly, I wasn’t able to hop onto this particular bandwagon.

Caitlin Parish is a shadow reader for the Vampire Control Unit. With a single touch, she can see inside the souls of any third species being. What is third species? I’m honestly not sure. I think vampires and werewolves are the only species classified this way, but it really wasn’t explained very well at all. Humans are obviously the first of the species, but I have no clue who might be considered second or even fourth. Anyway, I digress.

Caitlin has been tracking vampire Kane Malloy for years. Not only would apprehending him be a nifty feather in her professional cap, but Caitlin also believes Kane has the answer to a question she’s been asking for the past seven years. Who or what killed her parents? Caitlin is sure that whatever it is, it’s coming for her next. Her parents died exactly seven years apart, and the seven year anniversary is less than a week away.

After apprehending Kane illegally, Caitlin finds herself suspended from the Vampire Control Unit. Then, she is asked to work under cover. She jumps at the chance, and waits for Kane to come to her. She’s super attracted to him, but she tries to pretend it’s not true.

For his part, Kane is disdainful of Caitlin. He hates the agency she works for, believing vampires, especially master vampires like himself, should be allowed to make their own laws, rather than being subjected to human morals. I’m not sure exactly what it means to be a master vampire. Maybe you’re just more powerful than the rest of your kind. Again, Ms. Pryor did not explain this well at all.

Despite his feelings of dislike, Kane needs Caitlin. More correctly, he needs her soul. It took me forever to figure out why he needed it, and, once I did understand, I found the reason anticlimactic. Kane abducts Caitlin, keeping her prisoner in one of his dens. He has four days to make her fall in love with him, for that is the only way he can gain possession of her soul. Caitlin is determined to get Kane’s help in defeating whoever is responsible for her parents’ death, something he’s determined not to do.

Anne Flosnik is a very accomplished narrator, and her performance here is proof of her greatness. She possesses the ability to make every character come alive. Her character voices are very appropriate and believable. She infuses the general narrative with just the right amount of emotion. The book contained a fair amount of intense moments, and Ms. Flosnik made me really feel that tension.

I love Ms. Flosnik’s way with steamy scenes. I get the impression that she is fully engaged, without needing to resort to odd sound effects or overly breathy voices. She allows the listener to be fully in the moment, her narration only enhancing what the author has written. In this case, it needed all the enhancing it could get. Kane is a selfish, often cruel lover. Caitlin knows this, but can’t resist his advances. This creates some pretty awkward bedroom scenes, but Ms. Flosnik didn’t seem at all fazed.

Although Blood Shadows is the first in a series, I felt like I came in right in the middle of something. There was talk of things I never understood. Blackthorn is some sort of desolate city, but I have no idea where it’s supposed to be located. The supporting cast had tons of underlying motives that weren’t really explained. All in all, it was a confusing and disappointing listen. Needless to say, I won’t be continuing with the series.

Shannon

Narration:  A-

Book Content:  D

Steam Factor:  For your burning ears only

Violence:  Escalated fighting

Genre:  Paranormal Romance

Publisher:  Tantor Audio

Blood Shadows was provided to AudioGals by Tantor Audio for review.