Interesting story about life following the human caused apocalypse where science created monsters and traditional monsters (Vampires, Werecreatures, etc.) band together to protect themselves from human directed extermination efforts. The allegiances formed and the strength of non-traditional associations when facing common threats is an activity well worth exploring. I think some people may say that the demonstrated behavior is typical of a human and even monster's behavior have common roots with humanity. Barring that, it is just a good story and even if the monsters have super strength and accentuated senses, it is still possible to feel compassion for them as they are hunted and eliminated and even cheer for their maybe temporary victories. The question of whether we all or monsters or really human is still unanswered. ( )

Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy

There aren’t many books who attempt to straddle multiple genres at the same time, and fewer still that actually succeed. Christine Cody’s Bloodlands trilogy is proving to be one of the rare exceptions that manages to blend paranormal, western, romance, and post-apocalyptic genres together in a way that takes the best from each and shows just how good mixing can be.

BLOOD RULES, the second book in the trilogy, picks up shortly after the ending of BLOODLANDS. Mariah and Gabriel are stuck in an uncomfortable situation mixed with guilt, desire, confusion, and resentment. It’s a very tenuous relationship that really comes to life through the shifting POV’s from each character. I only wish more of the story had stayed focused on them and more progress had been made towards a resolution or otherwise a complete break between them.

Once again the worldbuilding in the Bloodlands series continues to impress and astound. We get to movie beyond the little shapeshifter community we met in BLOODLANDS and venture out into the ravaged post-apocalyptic America. New horrors are revealed like the asylums where shifters are experimented on and studied, we learn about indentured water slaves who sell themselves for the precious liquid, and travel to the necropolis where individuals who were disfigured and wracked by the diseases that rose up when the world broke live in isolation from the ‘Healthies’.

But as impressive as the worldbuilding continues to be, what I appreciated most about BLOOD RULES is the mythology development. Werewolves, vampires, mutated creatures, and all manor of shifters from deer to Gila monsters aren’t just explained away by vague references to magic or freak side effects of the planetary changes. There is a fascinating explanation for their origins that looks to only get more fascinating in the next book.

Second books in trilogies are hard. They often serve as little more than setups to the final book and don’t really stand on their own as complete stories. For the most part, BLOOD RULES avoids this pitfall, but it is necessary to have read BLOODLANDS to fully understand and appreciate what happens in this book. It doesn’t have the same impact as the debut primarily because of the multiple point of views introduced in BLOOD RULES and the fact that in expanding the world and mythology, the intimacy that was developed between the characters is somewhat diminished. Despite those minor complaints, I’m already saddled up and ready to revisit this world when the final book in the Bloodlands Trilogy called IN BLOOD WE TRUST is published on September 27, 2011.

Sexual Content:
A scene of sensuality ( )