Blood Shadows Book Tour: Thoughts, Interview, & Preview

Welcome to our stop of Lindsay J. Pryor's Blood Shadows book tour, hosted by Bewitching Book Tours. I have to confess that I haven't technically finished reading this book yet (I know, I'm sorry!), but everything I've read so far I've absolutely LOVED. I'm going to share my first thoughts so far, but I promise that a full review of the novel will be up as soon as possible. First, though, I want to turn it over to the author who I really hope can forgive me since I'm really loving her book!

 

The Interview

1. For those who don't know much about Blood Shadows, how would you describe it?

Blood Shadows is a dark, dystopian and sexy urban paranormal romance said to skirt extremely close to the edge. It’s fast-paced, action-packed and, as I’m told, with twists you don’t see coming.

It’s book one in the Blackthorn series which is set in an alternative reality where the ‘third species’, such as vampires, are controlled by humans who rule over them with an iron fist. Society is divided and the third species are both feared and discriminated against.

Blackthorn is the backdrop for forbidden romances that are going to impact on the fate of both humans and the third species oppressed by them.


2. What was your favorite scene to write in Blood Shadows? Your least favorite?

I don’t have an outright favourite but all the scenes where the hero and heroine, Kane and Caitlin, are bantering were definitely my favourite to write. I love it when I’m writing a scene and the characters take over, especially to the point where I feel as though I’m watching a film and not even I’m sure what’s coming next.

I’m very protective over Caitlin so scenes where she’s having a hard time were emotionally difficult to write.


3. Do you have a favorite character, or do you love all of your children equally?

I have some characters I don’t like, that’s for sure! When it comes to my protagonists though, I love them all equally – flaws and all. Even when my heroes are misbehaving or my heroines are doing something to put themselves in jeopardy, I understand where they’re coming from so still have an inherent respect for them.


4. What is your favorite book/story that you've ever written?

As with favourite characters, I can’t choose one. I only write what I love and believe in, and each book appeals to me for different reasons.


5. Is there anything new that you're working on that you can tell us about?

I’m in the final stages of revisions for Blood Roses (book 2 in the Blackthorn series), which is due out in the spring. I’m also currently working on book 3.

Blood Roses follows on in terms of plot from Blood Shadows, but it’s Leila and Caleb’s story (though Kane and Caitlin do get mentioned because they will be back). Leila is a serryn – a rare and supposedly extinct witch whose blood is poisonous to vampires. Though reluctant to become ‘active’, she’s forced to face her worst nightmares when she’s summoned to Blackthorn in the belief her sister’s life is at risk. There she meets Caleb who, for decades, was the Higher Order’s most proficient serryn hunter. Determined to prove Leila isn’t the exception to the rule, Caleb needs to evoke her true nature before being forced to free her from Blackthorn.

Book 3 will lead on from Blood Roses, with each love story lining up to have a major impact on the outcome of the future of Blackthorn.


6. Did you ever want to be anything other than an author? If so, what? What made you decide to be an author?

Becoming an author was never an active decision. From a young age I basically had the need to spill what was in my head onto paper and it’s never waned. I write first and foremost because I need to and because I love the writing process. I’ve always felt like an author because writing books is how I’ve always enjoyed spending my time. For me, being published is a huge bonus because now I get to share what I’d be doing anyway.

My main turning point towards becoming a professional author was back in 2010 (and I’d been writing for twenty-five years by then) when I entered an online writing competition run by Harlequin Mills and Boon called New Voices. It was an interactive competition where readers commented on uploaded chapters and voted for their favorites. I made it into the final in both 2010 and again in 2011 with two of my Blackthorn books. The amazing response I received gave me a real boost and convinced me I could become published one day. Last year I was approached by my publisher, Bookouture, who knew of my success in New Voices and offered me a three-book deal.

Like most authors I have another job/profession. I qualified as a psychology lecturer and English teacher before moving on to teach children with special needs. I’ve been a teacher for sixteen years, although I’m now part-time.


7. What authors do you look up to?

So many authors for so many reasons! I really admire Emily Bronte, Mary Shelley and Bram Stoker for paving the way to the modern-day gothic romance. I adore Shakespeare – no one writes dialogue like he did. I admire James Patterson for the page-turning quality of his books, Roald Dahl for being a master of twists in the tale and Anne Rice for being a descriptive genius. I also adore Tolkien for his world-building and Stephen King for his characterization. 

This or That

 
Series or Stand-Alone? I tend to read more stand-alone books than series, but I prefer to write the latter.
Chicken or the Egg? I’m a real animal lover so I’ll opt for the chicken.
Prequel or Sequel? Oh, that’s hard! I watch a lot of sequels and prequels, especially as I’m a huge fan of sci-fi. I think I’m going to say prequel though. I love getting back to the root of things.
Happily Ever After or To Be Continued? To be continued! As long as I know it will be happy in the end…
Star-Struck Lovers or Turbulent Relationships? Ha! From my stories I think it’s obvious I prefer turbulent relationships – as long as they’re based on love. Conflict is the driving force to any story and I love to be kept guessing.
Star Wars or Star Trek? Star Wars, hands down. Forgetting for a moment what I said in my answer to ‘Prequel or Sequel’, Episodes I, II and III didn’t do much for me unfortunately compared with the superiority of IV to VI. Episode IV will always be my favourite.

Thanks so much for having me! 

 

My Thoughts

Just give me a moment, I'm still trying to come to terms with the fact that this is only Lindsay J. Pryor's debut novel. I know she said that she's been writing unprofessionally for years, but still. Wow.

First off, I absolutely adore the world she's put into place here. Everything is so well formed with its own history and culture that it really feels like I'm living in Blackthorn whenever I'm reading. Every character has a story to tell (or not to tell if they have anything to say about it), and I love to hear from them all.

My favorite parts of the novel come more from Kane's perspective, even though I feel like I probably shouldn't like him so much. He's extremely manipulative, devious, and follows his own agenda at all costs, but he's a very interesting character to follow, so I love him anyway.

The things about Blood Shadows that I've appreciated the most so far is how invested the author gets into the little details. She won't just skim over the minor plot points and give a little summary and say that this and this and this happened, but it doesn't really matter too much.... Of course it matters! If it's not important, then it doesn't need to be in there at all! The little details really do count when you throw yourself into a story, and I'm really glad that they're not forgotten here.

So you could definitely say that it's so far, so good. Or, so far, so AWESOME! The plot has dragged me around all over the place, and I've been guessing the entire time. I'm still in the midst of trying to figure out exactly what's going on and who's up to what, but there's no way that I'm giving up now. I love the story, and I love the characters, and I really love the world they're living in. If I was rating just what I've read so far, I'd say that five stars aren't nearly enough to even begin to cover it.

 

The Excerpt

Blood Shadows FREE extract by bookouture

 

About the Book

For vengeance - would you trust a vampire?
 
For justice - could you betray your family?
 
For love - are you ready to question everything you believe in?
 
Gifted with the ability to read the shadows of ‘third species’ beings, Caitlin Parish is the Vampire Control Unit’s most powerful agent. Despite that, her mission to hunt down Kane Malloy – a master vampire – comes with a death wish. Many have tried, but few have survived.
 
For Caitlin, tracking Kane is about more than just professional reputation. With her parents both mysteriously killed 7 years apart to the day, Caitlin knows that without Kane’s help she is next.
 
She has four days to make a deal with the wicked, the irresistible, the treacherous Kane Malloy. The vampire who despises everything she stands for.
 
Or die. 

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For When Words Aren't Enough....

 

About the Author

Lindsay J. Pryor is a British Paranormal Romance author who writes dark, intense stories set in the dystopian world of Blackthorn.

Her trademark powerful vampire heroes and utterly combustible sensual romances have earned Lindsay comparisons with both J.R Ward and Sherrilyn Kenyon. A finalist in Mills & Boon’s New Voices competition in both 2010 and 2011, Lindsay has already proved a smash hit with readers.

Comments like “Utterly captivating”, “Jaw-droppingly good”, “Awesome”, “I forgot to blink”, “The sexual tension is off the charts”, “I nearly fainted when he removed her belt”, “I drooled on my keyboard” and even “Tell Kane he can have my soul RIGHT NOW!” convinced Lindsay she just might have what it took to become a published author.

With the launch of Blood Shadows, that dream is now a reality. Her journey to published author though has been a long one.

Lindsay has been creating stories since she was nine years old, when she quickly decided that fantasy was more interesting than reality. She thought she’d grow out of it but hasn’t yet.

Despite years of bashing out stories on an old typewriter, it was the death of her father in 2007 that finally convinced Lindsay to try and become a published author. “One of the last things my dad said to me was to do what I wanted to do in life. After he passed away, I pulled out all my scribbles from over the years and got back to writing what I loved most – paranormal romance.”

If reviews are anything to go by, it was a journey well worth making.

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I hope to see you guys again soon once I have that review finished. You're not going to want to miss out on this book!