Review: Blood Law by Karin Tabke

First let me say that the covers for this trilogy are smokin’.  They are some of the hottest and best covers I have seen in a long time.  So now let’s talk about the actual book.  Blood Law is the first in Blood Moon Rising Trilogy by Karin Tabke.  The story starts by detailing the history of Lycan’s and Slayers.  Lycan’s being the good guys here; Slayers being the fanatical ones created to kill all Lycan’s.

There are three main characters we will follow throughout the trilogy.  Rafael, Lucien and Falon.  Rafael and Lucien are brothers and alphas of the pack after their parents are killed.  One night Rafael walks in on Lucien having sex with a Slayer.  Lucien does not know she is a slayer because she has somehow tricked him.  Because Lucien is about to mark the Slayer and take her as his mate, which is forbidden and brings the penalty of death, Rafael kills the woman while Lucien is still inside her.  Ouch.  Rafael’s actions trigger what is called Blood Law in their society.  Lucien will now be able to take Rafael’s first mate to do with as he wishes.  For that reason, Rafael has resisted taking a mate for many years causing strife in his pack because until he mates and produces children nobody else can mate and produce children.  As a direct result of their conflict, and the battle that followed, the brothers can both be in human form at the same time for only 2 hours a day, right before sunrise and sunset.

Falon is probably my favorite of the three characters simply for the unknown factor we have with her.  Rafael found her in a convenience store while he was out hunting Slayers.  Thinking he has no use for her, he orders her killed only to go back and get her after the fact.  The Slayers were very interested in her and he wants to find out the reason why.  He ends up marking her all the while knowing that he will have to give her to Lucien to satisfy the Blood Law.

So if you think my first two paragraphs there are an overload of information well try reading the book!  The information is given in a very fast paced way but it still leads to half a book of background.  The story is detailed and there is a lot going on.  Most of the details come from just our three main characters.

Rafael is the focus of most of this book.  I am still undecided how I feel about him and several things left me on the fence with him.  He is a good alpha, which is a plus, but there are times he whines a bit too much.  He would go off on many a tangent about how he has sacrificed sooo much for the good of his pack, he hasn’t taken a mate, it was all Lucien’s fault for falling for a Slayer, look at all he has done over the years by hunting Slayers….blah, blah, blah.  Yes, we get it.  But the main reason he never marked someone was because he knew he would have to give them right back up.  And when he does decide to mark Falon it is because he thinks she is a plain, old human and doesn’t care what happens to her.

Lucien is the wronged brother, supposedly.  We don’t see much of his side of the story in Blood Law.  I assume that will be for the next book?  He does share blood with Falon and intrudes on some very intimate moments with Falon and Rafael, if you know what I mean.  Rafael cannot see him during these times so Falon gets the benefit of having two brothers focusing on her with only one knowing about it.  There could be a question of consent in the this scene as Falon clearly does not want Lucien around.

Falon, we know that she is a blend of Lycan and Slayer, but nobody else knows she is Slayer.  Her powers develop at an alarming rate in the book.  It seemed like every other page she was able to pick up a new trick.  She is a huge asset to the brother she is with however who knows which one that will be?  Rafael swears he doesn’t share and Lucien has his own little quirks with Falon so this really could go either way.  For Falon she has shown a clear emotional preference for Rafael but cannot get Lucien out of her, literally or figuratively.  I wasn’t too pleased with the way she just dropped into love with Rafael but maybe that could be explained away by the connecting they have with marking each other?

Whew, so lots of info in this book.  It is still a fast read and has tons (tons!) of hot sex in it.  The info does not seems to bog the story progression down and that is a plus.  You should just be prepared for all that info.  There is a huge cliffhanger at the end with no HEA and if I didn’t have the next book at my fingertips I would be a little cranky this morning!  The book isn’t light or fluffy but very dark and gritty.  Final grade: B

Favorite quote:

“Complicated?” she shrilled. “You hold my life in your hands and all you can tell me is, it’s complicated?” He stood quiet, unable to defend himself.

“I don’t want to die. I will not die because of your Blood Law. If that messes with your day, too damn bad.”

Rating: B
Blood Law by Karin Tabke
May 3rd 2011 by Berkley Trade
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Also reviewed by:
Dark Faerie Tales
A Book Worm’s Haven