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If there is one city that Scarlett Bernard hates, it's Las Vegas. But when the cardinal vampire of Los Angeles convinces her to go investigate a new vampire-themed stage show, Scarlett quickly finds herself shoulder-deep in sequins, slot machines, and Old World intrigue. The show's creators are vampire celebrities Arthur and Lucy Holmwood, who once inspired characters from the original Dracula. Now, however, they have no qualms about announcing their true status to the human world, show more endangering the secrecy of the Old World and Scarlett's mission to keep it hidden. But before she can begin untangling the Holmwoods' motives, Scarlett also discoveres that their new prodcution has attracted more than just fans: Las Vegas's many vampires are suddenly disappearing, and rumors are flying that actual vampire hunters may have followed Arthur and Lucy to town. Now, without her allies, her bargest, or her frequent partner, Jesse Cruz, Scarlett must navigate a new underworld of secrets and murders in a city where nothing is ever as it seems. And the stakes have never been higher. show lessTags
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"Blood Gamble" continues the walking disaster that is Scarlet Bernard's life as a Null: a human who cancels out the magic of supernaturals in her presence, vampires and werewolves become human and witches' spell bounce off her.
This book takes Scarlet out of LA, where she is supported by people she trusts, and into Las Vegas, a city she has a bad history with and where she has to fall back on her own resources. She is made more vulnerable by the fact that her cover story for being in Las Vegas is to attend her sister-in-law's belated hen-party weekend. This gives her enemies potential targets. It also gives us the fun of her seeing her suffer through various girly rituals that she has no wish to take part in.
It was refreshing to see show more Scarlet in a new environment. I thought the tacky-but-hard-to-look-away-from nature of Vegas was captured well. The plot was original, held a few surprises, gave me a few laughs and made just enough (mostly remote) use of well-loved characters from earlier books to keep continuity.
Scarlet did a lot of growing up in the last book, "Midnight Curse", finally pulling herself out from her victim status and becoming an actor in her own right. She continues that here, for the most part, acting independently and often quite aggressively. She is dragged into her past again by another Null that she met when she was a teenager and who she is sympathetic towards, despite his flaws because she sees that she could easily have become what he now is.
This is a well done, first person account, that works because Scarlet is a mostly ordinary, mostly nice person who keeps finding herself with life and death choices. What could be more engaging than that?
Read this if you're in the mood for an urban supernatural adventure that's heavy on snark and attitude that hides a heart of gold.
I recommend the audiobook version as Amy McFadden is the perfect narrator for Scarlet's books.
Try a sample for yourself by clicking on the link below.
https://soundcloud.com/brilliance-audio/blood-gamble-by-melissa-f-olson show less
This book takes Scarlet out of LA, where she is supported by people she trusts, and into Las Vegas, a city she has a bad history with and where she has to fall back on her own resources. She is made more vulnerable by the fact that her cover story for being in Las Vegas is to attend her sister-in-law's belated hen-party weekend. This gives her enemies potential targets. It also gives us the fun of her seeing her suffer through various girly rituals that she has no wish to take part in.
It was refreshing to see show more Scarlet in a new environment. I thought the tacky-but-hard-to-look-away-from nature of Vegas was captured well. The plot was original, held a few surprises, gave me a few laughs and made just enough (mostly remote) use of well-loved characters from earlier books to keep continuity.
Scarlet did a lot of growing up in the last book, "Midnight Curse", finally pulling herself out from her victim status and becoming an actor in her own right. She continues that here, for the most part, acting independently and often quite aggressively. She is dragged into her past again by another Null that she met when she was a teenager and who she is sympathetic towards, despite his flaws because she sees that she could easily have become what he now is.
This is a well done, first person account, that works because Scarlet is a mostly ordinary, mostly nice person who keeps finding herself with life and death choices. What could be more engaging than that?
Read this if you're in the mood for an urban supernatural adventure that's heavy on snark and attitude that hides a heart of gold.
I recommend the audiobook version as Amy McFadden is the perfect narrator for Scarlet's books.
Try a sample for yourself by clicking on the link below.
https://soundcloud.com/brilliance-audio/blood-gamble-by-melissa-f-olson show less
show more
Which is how I ended up being the only one who could help. As a null, I don’t have any particular magic powers—just the opposite, really. I negate all the magic within a certain radius around me, creating a magic-free bubble that has me as its center. In theory, if Marko stayed within that area, I could keep him human for a short time, and he and his wife could make a baby the old-fashioned way. Assuming, of course, we could all get past the extreme awkwardness that would be involved.
It was weird, but it was far from the weirdest thing I’d done lately. The leaders of the Los Angeles vampires, werewolves, and witches all paid me a retainer to clean up supernatural problems that arose in the city. When things were quiet, as
they’d been for the past couple of months, I was free to pick up freelance work.
Most of the time this involved shepherding vampires around during daylight activities, but two weeks earlier, I had been paid to attend a witch’s beach volleyball tournament so I could make sure her opponent wasn’t using magic to cheat. A few days before that, I’d accompanied a crowd-shy werewolf to a taping of his favorite sitcom, to help him stay calm in the midst of all that teeming humanity. I might have actually enjoyed that outing, except the sitcom was one of those “fat slovenly husband vs. shrill anorexic wife” crapfests. Freelance work could be kind of a gamble.
This series is wonderful.
Scarlett goes to Las Vegas (which is a vampire haven) to look into two vampires flagrantly breaking the Old World rules using their powers to ... put on a Vegas show of all things. And also keep a bachelorette party safe. But it's all for a purpose in the end. One thing leads to another, a bunch of vampires die, and Scarlett has to save the day. And then kill a new friend, because that's what she promised.
I rolled my eyes. Ah yes, Old World politics. You can’t attack someone with a perfectly acceptable story, even if you think they’re lying. It’s not like putting up a controversial Facebook post. Proof is the only thing that matters.
Scarlett remains the big draw of this books, still just as snarky:
“And your solution was ‘violence is never the answer’?” I said, amused.
“Well, it isn’t,” he said defensively.
“Unless the question is, ‘What is never the answer?’” I pointed out.
There was a pause, and then Jesse said, “Did you actually need something?”
And complicated:
Life is funny. Wait, scratch that. People say that all the time, but what they really mean is that life is cruel, tragic, and unfair—but not without a sense of humor about it.
Well worth the read. I totally can guess where the next book is going... show less
Scarlett does not want to go to Las Vegas. No, not even if there are two vampires putting on a show that may reveal the old world. No not even if Dashiel is paying her a huge sum of money. She’s not going
But Vampires don’t take no for an answer and with Dashiel manipulating her sister-in-law into going she has to try and protect them. But there she encounters something far more deadly than Dashiel expected… she could come home, but who but Scarlett will stop the death toll rising?
I would describe the world building of this book as solid and balanced and… disciplined. That seems like an odd word - but so many books have an anything-goes-magical-world and then decide ALL THE THINGS must be included so you can’t even go to the show more local shops without tripping over 2 leprechauns, bumping into a kitsune and dodging a Wendigo.
This book is excellently focused on the three major supernaturals - vampires, werewolves and witches, while clearly having a world with more out there but not allowing those swamp the book - instead we have nice additions without losing the focus
And I like how he implications of Scarlett, a null, fits into that - from alleviating the werewolf curse which is such a relief at times, to vampires being disturbed by actually feeling cold/hunger etc. I like the nuance of it.
What did surprise me about this book is the ending. There are elements I didn’t like - but I will say the whole thing completely surprised me - the twists and turns are completely beyond what I expected. Honestly, the ending and what happened with the characters was definitely not anything I expected as I read along. Throughout the book the plot goes in ways I never expected - the culprits were completely not what I expected. The way Scarlett finds the answers, balancing her friends, the threats and getting to the bottom of things is also a really original unexpected direction.
The plot does have moments where I think Scarlett seems to make some pretty huge leaps at times - like the whole Skinners storyline seemed to come from nowhere. Like we went from not even knowing Skinners existed and then suddenly decided they were a major threat without any real indication that they were present.but suddenly everyone focused on them
That aside the twists really make this plot. There’s action which is really well done, but not a lot mainly focusing on the investigation since Scarlett has a very unique power which isn’t necessarily a combat monster but definitely dangerous, following leads and balancing just how much Scarlett actually wants to be involved in this dangerous investigation.
I like Scarlett’s own development - she has that nice balance between her being duly concerned with her safety and the people she cares for alongside her compassion. I actually kind of like how Dashiel pretty much twists her arm to make her go - yes it’s coercive but we’re not talking a love interest here and, let’s be clear, the Cardinal Vampire of Los Angeles is going to be a ruthless user of people because, hey, master vampires, I don’t expect fluffy fluffy niceness. And Scarlett pretty much recognises this and doesn’t expect more. But I do like that she isn’t going to put herself at risk just because Dashiel says so. I like a compassionate protagonist but being a complete martyr is an overdone trope; especially female protagonists who are often not allowed to seek their own advancement.. Compassion moves her, as does threat and money - and it’s ok for a protagonist to be somewhat self interested. Of course that then falls apart because she’s only gathering a huge amount of money to help pay off her brother’s son’s massive medical bills
Read More show less
But Vampires don’t take no for an answer and with Dashiel manipulating her sister-in-law into going she has to try and protect them. But there she encounters something far more deadly than Dashiel expected… she could come home, but who but Scarlett will stop the death toll rising?
I would describe the world building of this book as solid and balanced and… disciplined. That seems like an odd word - but so many books have an anything-goes-magical-world and then decide ALL THE THINGS must be included so you can’t even go to the show more local shops without tripping over 2 leprechauns, bumping into a kitsune and dodging a Wendigo.
This book is excellently focused on the three major supernaturals - vampires, werewolves and witches, while clearly having a world with more out there but not allowing those swamp the book - instead we have nice additions without losing the focus
And I like how he implications of Scarlett, a null, fits into that - from alleviating the werewolf curse which is such a relief at times, to vampires being disturbed by actually feeling cold/hunger etc. I like the nuance of it.
What did surprise me about this book is the ending. There are elements I didn’t like - but I will say the whole thing completely surprised me - the twists and turns are completely beyond what I expected. Honestly, the ending and what happened with the characters was definitely not anything I expected as I read along. Throughout the book the plot goes in ways I never expected - the culprits were completely not what I expected. The way Scarlett finds the answers, balancing her friends, the threats and getting to the bottom of things is also a really original unexpected direction.
The plot does have moments where I think Scarlett seems to make some pretty huge leaps at times - like the whole Skinners storyline seemed to come from nowhere. Like we went from not even knowing Skinners existed and then suddenly decided they were a major threat without any real indication that they were present.but suddenly everyone focused on them
That aside the twists really make this plot. There’s action which is really well done, but not a lot mainly focusing on the investigation since Scarlett has a very unique power which isn’t necessarily a combat monster but definitely dangerous, following leads and balancing just how much Scarlett actually wants to be involved in this dangerous investigation.
I like Scarlett’s own development - she has that nice balance between her being duly concerned with her safety and the people she cares for alongside her compassion. I actually kind of like how Dashiel pretty much twists her arm to make her go - yes it’s coercive but we’re not talking a love interest here and, let’s be clear, the Cardinal Vampire of Los Angeles is going to be a ruthless user of people because, hey, master vampires, I don’t expect fluffy fluffy niceness. And Scarlett pretty much recognises this and doesn’t expect more. But I do like that she isn’t going to put herself at risk just because Dashiel says so. I like a compassionate protagonist but being a complete martyr is an overdone trope; especially female protagonists who are often not allowed to seek their own advancement.. Compassion moves her, as does threat and money - and it’s ok for a protagonist to be somewhat self interested. Of course that then falls apart because she’s only gathering a huge amount of money to help pay off her brother’s son’s massive medical bills
Read More show less
Blood Gamble by Melissa F Olson and narrated by Amy McFadden is a terrific fantasy book in a series I am hooked on! Vampires, werewolves, witches and Nulls which are rare but are people that cause magic from the other supernatural beings to be cancelled out when the Null is around. Scarlet is tricked into going to Vegas and spying on a pair of showman Vamps. While there she meets a friend who is a Null too. She also pokes around into the disappearance of almost 40 missing vampires. This causes the wrong kind of attention! Great wit, suspense, lots of emotions, and an ending I never expected! Wow! Loved it! Can't wait for the next book now!
The narrator is always so professional and a perfectionist! Wonderful job!
The narrator is always so professional and a perfectionist! Wonderful job!
I am such a sucker for books like this: well-written urban fantasies that juggle werewolves and vampires and humans. Melissa F. Olson does a good job with this one.
If you are to stay alive in the fanged arena, you need special skills. Scarlett Bernard is a "null", a being in whose presence, supernaturals lose their powers. But only when they are within Scarlett's "aura", a radius that can be expanded or narrowed. Scarlett's skill is a useful one and she works part-time for the chief vampire of Los Angeles. She also cleans houses.
Las Vegas is a vastly different place from LA, and it isn't one that Scarlett enjoys, yet she agrees to go on a reconnaissance visit when stories arise about vampires disappearing after attending a stage show show more put on by two ancient and famed vampires. Bloodshed ensues, but also passion, as Scarlett reconnects with another null who has left Manhattan and is now part of the show entourage.
I wish that Ms Olson had kept the epilogue for her blog, but otherwise this book is worth taking a risk on.
I received a review copy of "Blood Gamble: Disrupted Magic, Book 2" by Melissa F. Olson (47North) through NetGalley.com. Although it is Book 2 in the series, it can stand alone. show less
If you are to stay alive in the fanged arena, you need special skills. Scarlett Bernard is a "null", a being in whose presence, supernaturals lose their powers. But only when they are within Scarlett's "aura", a radius that can be expanded or narrowed. Scarlett's skill is a useful one and she works part-time for the chief vampire of Los Angeles. She also cleans houses.
Las Vegas is a vastly different place from LA, and it isn't one that Scarlett enjoys, yet she agrees to go on a reconnaissance visit when stories arise about vampires disappearing after attending a stage show show more put on by two ancient and famed vampires. Bloodshed ensues, but also passion, as Scarlett reconnects with another null who has left Manhattan and is now part of the show entourage.
I wish that Ms Olson had kept the epilogue for her blog, but otherwise this book is worth taking a risk on.
I received a review copy of "Blood Gamble: Disrupted Magic, Book 2" by Melissa F. Olson (47North) through NetGalley.com. Although it is Book 2 in the series, it can stand alone. show less
62 points/100 (3.25 stars/5).
There is a vampire troupe in Vegas, and Dashiel wants Scarlett to look into it, just in case. Quickly, Scarlett finds there is more going on than they could have ever expected.
This was a stronger book than Midnight Curse. It did, however, suffer a bit from middle child syndrome. Olson takes Scarlett out of Los Angeles and brings her to Las Vegas to uncover some trouble to get into. It is a nice change of pace. Scarlett is on her own, she isn't bugging anyone, she isn't really dragging anyone into her daring adventures. She was more tolerable in this book because she couldn't really upset anyone around her, it was just her getting into trouble all by herself.
However, that end. Have you ever spent an hour of show more your life telling an author "Don't do it. Don't you dare fucking do it. I will fucking hate you if you do it. Just say no. You can do it, just say no."? And, then they do it? That happened here with me. I knew that was going to be how the book ends. If you're read this, and you start reading the book, and say "huh, please don't tell me that is going to be how it ends?" I can probably safely say yes, that is how it ends. Because, Olson went and did it. I've been railing for the last ten minutes that she went and did it before I could calm down enough to write this.
Scarlett's not having others to lean on is a positive in this book. She is calmer, she doesn't have as many moments where so rages out because someone is trying to help her, because no one is there. There is almost an entirely new cast this book, I really liked it. This did, however, leave room for a new love interest. A love interest Scarlett really did not need in her life. Her life is already enough of a mess without it. The romance felt out of place, rushed, and like the author had a reason for them being together other than them actually liking each other. That said, Scarlett shows a bit of personal growth as a character by the end of this book, finally. However, she still makes a bunch of terrible decisions.
There was one part of the book that made me roll my eyes, though. Scarlett calls up Jesse looking for some help, and Jesse lays in talking about "I can't believe I have to tell you this" about how Scarlett is a "hero". I'm sorry, Scarlett is not a hero just because she keeps feeding her ego. Scarlett, this entire journey, has gone from one disaster to another believing only she can solve everything as long as she is in the middle of the action. She is in the way half the time, and if she delegated anything at all, half the troubles in this series would be solved way easier than her having to be everywhere doing everything. Really annoying scene.
Since starting the read, starting with Bloodsick, I've always wanted to see more regarding Sashi and Will. This felt like the first step to me getting to see this, so I'm really happy with that. Sashi is a wonderful character. I hope she pulls through in the next book for me. I feel like we're getting closer to a series with Scarlett, Lex, and Sashi as the main characters working together to do something grand.
This was actually a better put together story, though. The story is more internally consistent and follows a logical progression. I wasn't bored or put off by entire sections of the book. I enjoyed the read more in this book than I have in any Scarlett Bernard or Disrupted Magic book to date. show less
There is a vampire troupe in Vegas, and Dashiel wants Scarlett to look into it, just in case. Quickly, Scarlett finds there is more going on than they could have ever expected.
This was a stronger book than Midnight Curse. It did, however, suffer a bit from middle child syndrome. Olson takes Scarlett out of Los Angeles and brings her to Las Vegas to uncover some trouble to get into. It is a nice change of pace. Scarlett is on her own, she isn't bugging anyone, she isn't really dragging anyone into her daring adventures. She was more tolerable in this book because she couldn't really upset anyone around her, it was just her getting into trouble all by herself.
However, that end. Have you ever spent an hour of show more your life telling an author "Don't do it. Don't you dare fucking do it. I will fucking hate you if you do it. Just say no. You can do it, just say no."? And, then they do it? That happened here with me. I knew that was going to be how the book ends. If you're read this, and you start reading the book, and say "huh, please don't tell me that is going to be how it ends?" I can probably safely say yes, that is how it ends. Because, Olson went and did it. I've been railing for the last ten minutes that she went and did it before I could calm down enough to write this.
Scarlett's not having others to lean on is a positive in this book. She is calmer, she doesn't have as many moments where so rages out because someone is trying to help her, because no one is there. There is almost an entirely new cast this book, I really liked it. This did, however, leave room for a new love interest. A love interest Scarlett really did not need in her life. Her life is already enough of a mess without it. The romance felt out of place, rushed, and like the author had a reason for them being together other than them actually liking each other. That said, Scarlett shows a bit of personal growth as a character by the end of this book, finally. However, she still makes a bunch of terrible decisions.
There was one part of the book that made me roll my eyes, though. Scarlett calls up Jesse looking for some help, and Jesse lays in talking about "I can't believe I have to tell you this" about how Scarlett is a "hero". I'm sorry, Scarlett is not a hero just because she keeps feeding her ego. Scarlett, this entire journey, has gone from one disaster to another believing only she can solve everything as long as she is in the middle of the action. She is in the way half the time, and if she delegated anything at all, half the troubles in this series would be solved way easier than her having to be everywhere doing everything. Really annoying scene.
Since starting the read, starting with Bloodsick, I've always wanted to see more regarding Sashi and Will. This felt like the first step to me getting to see this, so I'm really happy with that. Sashi is a wonderful character. I hope she pulls through in the next book for me. I feel like we're getting closer to a series with Scarlett, Lex, and Sashi as the main characters working together to do something grand.
This was actually a better put together story, though. The story is more internally consistent and follows a logical progression. I wasn't bored or put off by entire sections of the book. I enjoyed the read more in this book than I have in any Scarlett Bernard or Disrupted Magic book to date. show less
More reviews at TheBibliophage.com
Like [b:Midnight Curse|31352753|Midnight Curse (Disrupted Magic, #1)|Melissa F. Olson|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1480540192s/31352753.jpg|52032628], Melissa F. Olson’s Blood Gamble is a “popcorn book.” It’s fun in a paranormal sort of way. Our heroine, Scarlett Bernard, is a flawed but lovable character. And the action has good pacing and innovative twists.
But … you knew there was a “but” coming next, right? It’s still just a 3-star read for me. But to me, three stars is a decent if not wildly memorable book. I have no complaints about that.
In Blood Gamble, Scarlett goes to Vegas to check out a new show, partly as a freelance gig and partly on behalf of her city’s cardinal show more vampire, Dashiell. And boy, does he manipulate her in the process. That’s no bueno in Scarlett’s mind (and mine too). Powerful vampires are such annoying baddies. However, the relationship between Scarlett and Dashiell is much more gray than black and white in Olson’s mythos, which adds depth to the story. As much as Scarlett is evolving as the story progresses, so is the way Dashiell relates to her.
In the process of telling this story, Olson fills us in on various parts of Scarlett’s backstory. We learn more about her relationships with family, and with her friend Jameson, who’s also a null. As much as I missed her handsome sidekick Jesse Cruz, I like the new dimensions to Scarlett’s character.
Scarlett honestly doesn’t think she’s a hero or that she acts in heroic ways. Ironic for the heroine, right? And not an atypical conflict for this kind of book, which Olson tells well. I couldn’t help but smile when Jesse tells her she’s a hero and Scarlett reacts with, “The only heroes I’d ever met were scary badasses, like Lex. And I felt about as scary as the average Yorkshire terrier. The teacup kind.”
Terriers notwithstanding, our heroine saves the day—or the night since this is a vampire book. I enjoyed a chance to escape into Scarlett’s stressful world of evil versus good. It makes my life feel a lot less stressful, and I needed that this week.
Thanks to NetGalley and publishers 47North for the opportunity to read the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review. The quote above may be different in the final version of the book. show less
Like [b:Midnight Curse|31352753|Midnight Curse (Disrupted Magic, #1)|Melissa F. Olson|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1480540192s/31352753.jpg|52032628], Melissa F. Olson’s Blood Gamble is a “popcorn book.” It’s fun in a paranormal sort of way. Our heroine, Scarlett Bernard, is a flawed but lovable character. And the action has good pacing and innovative twists.
But … you knew there was a “but” coming next, right? It’s still just a 3-star read for me. But to me, three stars is a decent if not wildly memorable book. I have no complaints about that.
In Blood Gamble, Scarlett goes to Vegas to check out a new show, partly as a freelance gig and partly on behalf of her city’s cardinal show more vampire, Dashiell. And boy, does he manipulate her in the process. That’s no bueno in Scarlett’s mind (and mine too). Powerful vampires are such annoying baddies. However, the relationship between Scarlett and Dashiell is much more gray than black and white in Olson’s mythos, which adds depth to the story. As much as Scarlett is evolving as the story progresses, so is the way Dashiell relates to her.
In the process of telling this story, Olson fills us in on various parts of Scarlett’s backstory. We learn more about her relationships with family, and with her friend Jameson, who’s also a null. As much as I missed her handsome sidekick Jesse Cruz, I like the new dimensions to Scarlett’s character.
Scarlett honestly doesn’t think she’s a hero or that she acts in heroic ways. Ironic for the heroine, right? And not an atypical conflict for this kind of book, which Olson tells well. I couldn’t help but smile when Jesse tells her she’s a hero and Scarlett reacts with, “The only heroes I’d ever met were scary badasses, like Lex. And I felt about as scary as the average Yorkshire terrier. The teacup kind.”
Terriers notwithstanding, our heroine saves the day—or the night since this is a vampire book. I enjoyed a chance to escape into Scarlett’s stressful world of evil versus good. It makes my life feel a lot less stressful, and I needed that this week.
Thanks to NetGalley and publishers 47North for the opportunity to read the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review. The quote above may be different in the final version of the book. show less
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