Black Blood

The last of this year's Halloween readalongs with Marian. Unfortunately, I found it to be a bit of a low note on which to end our annual trip down memory lane, though Pike definitely writes better vampires (even dumb vampires) than the SVH ghosties ever could.

2.5 stars rounded up. My main issue with this book was the antagonist, Eddie. He's way too powerful, but doesn't have the personality or background to match it. At least in the first book, Yaksha was an interesting rival for Sita. Eddie is just gross. The first half of the book is very violent, and Sita spends most of her time wondering how the hell she's supposed to defeat this guy. I also really hated that Ray was basically dispatched as soon as was possible, given that he is show more likely a reincarnation of Ramna, Sita's husband. That seemed unnecessarily cruel. The story picked up for me about halfway through, when Sita rescues what remains of Yaksha and delves back into the spiritual themes of the novel in her pursuit of how to kill this new foe.

I read The Last Vampire over a year ago and unfortunately lost quite a bit of the backstory, so it was nice to have a refresher and a resurfacing of Krishna (and some of Sita's past) in this story. I enjoyed her history far more than her current battles with Eddie, the police, and Joel the FBI agent.

Unfortunately, Sita goes back to being unsure of herself and her tactics and basically gives up during the Final Battle here, which made for a majorly anticlimactic ending. And what was the point of turning Joel? He is basically a complete bystander. I see from the blurb of the next book that his fate is likely to be the same as Ray's in this one, which - ugh. Why should I care?

I think Pike is at his best in this series when he is worldbuilding and exploring the nooks and crannies of a 50-century-long life. The sequel series turns more fantasy, and for good reason: the idea of basically having the same fight over and over again gets really old, really fast. I don't have high hopes for Book #3 at this point. show less

If you're the type of reader that worries about the sequel not being as good as the original---don't. Black Blood does not disappoint. The plotting is solid and proceeds at a pretty rapid clip. Christopher Pike knows what he wants to accomplish, and like Sita, he doesn't waste time doing it. I don't know about you, but I like a writer who knows what he's about.

As a character, Sita is as complex as ever, but here she becomes much more expansive as she encounters different obstacles and opponents. Pike puts her through the ringer in Black Blood, and we see her run through the entire spectrum of emotions. She loves. She triumphs. She despairs. She rages. Of course, this is a kind of oversimplified explanation of the really labyrinthine show more nature of emotion---especially as far as a 5000 year old vampire is concerned, but I find that this is what appeals to me most about Sita.

She's not just this one dimensional character strutting around without ever evolving. She struggles, and she gets her ass kicked, but keeps right on going. There's this real hunger for life, this burning desire to continue, that makes Sita seem very human and even...vulnerable.

The rest of the cast is enjoyable as well. Ray has this sad serenity about him that tugs at the heartstrings. Seymour makes you wish that you had a best friend who was that wise. The villain is not someone you would want to encounter in a dark alley. Krishna is as enigmatic as ever. All very well drawn characters that make it easy to suspend your disbelief.

So, if you haven't already, go to the bookstore---go now---and pick this one up. It's a fast, easy, and engaging read that will leave you eager for the next installment. show less

In Black Blood, Josh discovers that the legendary vampire Cheng Wei Wu—or “the Last Vampire”—is still alive and losing control. As bloodlust threatens to consume him, Josh must unravel the monstrous secrets behind this ancient being before irreversible destruction strikes. Pike delivers a haunting mix of teenage angst, supernatural terror, and will-they-won’t-they tension in this suspenseful sequel.

Continues pretty much where the first book left off. This one ends on a cliffhanger too. It makes me wonder if this was one massive story that was chopped up into six smaller books.

I like Sita. She's kick ass. I like her character arc so far, even though it seems that it peaked at the end of this book. I'm not really sure how this story can fill up four more books? I guess we'll see.

Still amazing. Sita thought she was the last vampire on earth...but suddenly there are very strange killings in Los Angeles, that could only be the work of another vampire.

What strikes me about these books is that they have some very adult content in them (a little language, a lot of reference to sex) either I didn't pick up on it when I was younger, or it is much more obvious to me now that I'm a teacher, I'm not sure.

Still amazing. Sita thought she was the last vampire on earth...but suddenly there are very strange killings in Los Angeles, that could only be the work of another vampire.

What strikes me about these books is that they have some very adult content in them (a little language, a lot of reference to sex) either I didn't pick up on it when I was younger, or it is much more obvious to me now that I'm a teacher, I'm not sure.

I really loved The Last Vampire, first book in the 5 book, Thirst Series. Sita is a 5,000 year old vampire with a kick-butt attitude that delivered action, wit, romance as well as so much more. So reading the next book Black Blood was a no-brain'er. I started the book right away as the last book (The Last Vampire) ended on a hanger so I was itching to know what happens.

Black Blood started off so well, a promising story line of Sita and her lover Ray not being the last vampires. As these rouge vampires roamed the streets killing. Sita was hunting them,tracking them down at all cost to make sure the vampire secret was safe, great right. Well not so much the story was good but somewhere, Sita lost herself all of a sudden she becomes a show more depressed vampire. I mean you would think she has loved and lost for the last 5,000 years. What is so different about this time around. Besides being kind of depressed in some parts are OK but get over it!

Krishna took a huge chuck of the book. You might be saying well who is Krishna? In the ancient world people believed Krishna too be God.

I personally am religious but not so much when I'm reading a book that is described on the cover as a vampire with HUMAN URGES, FATAL CONSEQUENCES about a kick butt 5,000 year old vampire. Seems as though the author Pikes had to fill up space.

I can see Krishna playing a part but come on, up until the end Sita was basing every move she made on her "going toward Krishna," news flash Sita you are a killing vampire, demon if you say. Damned nation is all you have, own it girlfriend!

Black Blood wasn't all bad it had some really good moments. We learned some interesting things about Sita's passed which is long considering her being 5,000 years old. Pike threw a few little twist in. All to say an ending that looked very similar to well, lets just say the last book!

I give Black Blood by Christopher Pike 2/5 smacks I will not be reading Black Blood again however I'm going to complete the 3rd book Red Dice. Let's see how it goes. Come on Pike don't leave us disappointed this time!!! show less