All Souls' Night

I really wanted to like these. I love Jennifer Armintrout's witty, sassy blog. But, having faithfully made it all the way to the end, they just didn't really click for me. They have some excellent parts - I love Max and Bella, and the ideas about werewolf-vampire crosses, and Ziggy's relationship with Bill was sweet - and they should have had the perfect ingredients - love! A triangle! Dark evil to be conquered! Torture! A lost love! - but I never really lost myself in them. Also, JA was so snarky at Shades of Grey for unrealistic characters setting bad role models, but then dives down in this last book to 'It was love at first site, I'd known all along he was the only one for me' and 'if my love is dead I must kill myself'. The ending show more felt rushed, after over 1000 pages of buildup, and 'and they all lived happily ever after and dreamed of having babies together' was much twee-er than I'd come to expect from this series... show less

At long last, Armintrout's edgy and recalcitrant vampire heroine Carrie Ames faces off against the Soul Eater in the final novel of the series.

This time, Carrie has definitely got more than game going for her. Armed with powers culled from Dahlia's blood (and she'll need more), she might finally have what it takes to crush Jacob Seymour once and for all-and she might actually be able to walk away from it alive (read: undead) or somewhere in between (that's a teaser folks)

But embracing these powers have dire consequences and she will be faced with a decision. Will she become what she is fighting? The usually capricious protagonist ends up with more than her soul bared on the table. The gang tenses as an end is in sight: Ziggy is back show more alive (okay, undead) and newcomer, Bill the blood pimp, joins the troupe.

For three books, we've questioned her motives and her ambivilent desires between Cyrus and Nathan, and even her abhorrent lure to Jacob. Perhaps it took this long for Armintrout to figure out what direction Carrie was going in-but in "All Souls Night" there is an overwhelming sense of completion. Carrie has finally accepted her otherworldly nature and all the violence that surrounds it. Fans will breathe a sigh of relief.

This kick-booty vamp is finally in a position with all the power and knowledge at her fingertips, to wreak havoc. To become evil. To become as dangerous as the Soul Eater himself. Perhaps to even become a Soul Eater.

Armintrout keeps the fangs sharp for her characters and has the talent of making them exist in those amorphous gray areas. Her characters have never been black or white, faulty to the end, and readers can relate to this unpredictability. This is what makes it so appealing.

All I gotta say is that I chortled LOUDLY (MUAH-HA HA) reading Dahlia getting her comeuppance in a most grisly way. Ding-Dong the witch is dead. That in itself stands for 6 stars!Copyright(c)Nicola Mattos show less

“They didn’t have time to get out of the way, and I heard body parts hitting the undercarriage of the vehicle. It reminded me of the way dandelion heads sounded smacking against the bottom of my little red wagon as I’d pulled it through the backyard as a child.”

Anyone who has read books one thru three of the Blood Ties books by Jennifer Armintrout (I love her last name, so rememberable!!) knows that they are exceedingly well written. In a genre (paranormal romance/urban fantasy or whatever you want to call it) that is plagued by subpar examples of published writing, they are seriously above and beyond what many have come to expect. The plots are always well-paced, and the characters believable and never one-dimensional. So, show more when I began reading All Souls’ Night, the fourth and final book in the series, it was with high expectations.

I was not to be disappointed. The action in the book immediately picked up in an unexpected way, as the apartment Carrie and Nathan are borrowing is broken into. After a rough little tussle, they realize that their home invader is not what he seems and a new ally is found. As those who are up to date on the series know, book four is all about evading and stopping the Soul Eater, who is on his way to becoming a god and wrecking all sorts of havoc on man (and vampire) kind. Old friends reappear, including some ‘dead’ ones. This book is a shining example of how difficult it really is to kill a vampire for good…

There are surprises in almost every chapter of this book. Perhaps the biggest surprise comes at the very end (don’t worry, no spoilers). Armintrout found a very inventive and satisfying way to conclude her Blood Ties series; even the most die-hard fans should be pleased with the way everything wraps up. All in all, this was a really great book, easily four stars. However, do yourself a favor and start reading this series at the beginning. If you try to jump into it in the middle, you are going to be confused and will almost certainly get less out of it.

*****I do feel obligated, as a reviewer, to disclose that there is a very graphic sex scene involving two men towards the beginning of the book. It didn’t offend me (although I was pretty surprised at how graphic it was), but in reading other reviews, I have discovered that other readers WERE offended by it, and felt that they should have been somehow warned about it. As I am recommending this book, I thought it appropriate to include this disclaimer***** show less

Carrie and crew are ready for their final showdown with the Soul Eater. Many people don't escape unharmed and their is carnage and twists aplenty. This story finds a way to wrap up all the loose 'blood' ties and I was completely satisfied with the conclusion. I have wavered with these books and found them to be quite uneven. This book made it worth the entire struggle (sometimes) and joy (sometimes) to get here. Carrie finally gets her head on straight and sees herself and others as they are and how they need to be. She sees what is truly important to her and has to make some tough decisions. The other characters we have seen throughout the series play out their stories to a mostly concrete ending as well. Armintrout really gave her show more characters a chance to stand out and many of her side characters are more exciting and dear to readers (at least to me) than Carrie, Nathan, or even Cyrus. The action really builds and its interesting to see how they prepare for battle physically and emotionally. Its also almost funny at times to see Carrie's powers grow. This is the book that could have blown the whole series for me, but instead, its the book that will ensure that I will not hesitate to recommend it to others. show less

Two Minute Review for “All Souls’ Night” by Jennifer Armintrout

This is the fourth and last installment of the Blood Ties Series with Dr. Carrie Ames, her sire/lover Nathan and their crew out to save the world from the Soul Eater. As always, I find Carrie a little whinny, Nathan a little to martyred to be fun. However, Ziggy and Bill are great unexpectedly passionate heroes and charmed the heck out of me. Max and Bella are not as involved in this story as they where in the third. Despite that little disappointment, I did enjoy this book far more than the other three. It was faster paced, less soap opera scenes, more action based horror. Cool.

This book is what we have all been waiting for! Armintrout finally had our heroine, Carrie face the evil of the Soul Eater. For three books now, we have watched Carrie fight over her feelings for both Nathan and Cyrus and come into her own as a vampire.

We have been with Carrie through out the series. And the others. Nathan, a big strapping vampire, who finally let's go and loves Carrie. Ziggy, Nathan's son, who is now a vampire and we spend the whole book deciding who's side he's on -- the good (Carrie and Nathan's) or evil (the Soul Eater). Max, who has come back for the fight and is now half vamp- half werewolf. Cyrus makes an appearance as he came back from the dead. Dahlia, the snide little witch who just loves to cause problems and show more is now more powerful than ever. And of course, the new guy, Bill, who just happens to stumble into all of the violence and war, while becoming a vamp himself.

Jennifer has certainly given her all in this book to bring closure on the story. *Sighs* She brings together a world where her characters all have their good sides and their evil sides. But just how evil must a good vamp become to bring an end to the war!!!!! Her characters were never just plain and ordinary run of the mill people (okay, vampires) -- they had depth and internal wars going on. That's what makes this series work! Jennifer's writing certainly stands out in this genre! show less

This is the conclusion of the Blood Ties series, and had me guessing up until the very end.

Nathan's sire, the Soul Eater, is building an army and wants to destroy everything Carrie loves. Her relationship with Nathan, and her previous sire, Cyrus, are at the breaking points as she battles with the survival of the love of her life, and her own.

I read the whole series in a week, you just cannot put the books down. They are riveting and if you like vampires, this is a must-read.