Book Review: The Well Of Truth

Author: Amber Riley
Title: The Well Of Truth Kindred Blood Book 2
Publisher: iUniverse
Publish Date: Jan 24, 2011
Buy: Amazon
Review Copy Provided By: The author
Book Blurb: Kaden has made a promise to the Iustitia. In exchange for helping the vampire hunters rid Rome of their supernatural infestation, he will never be hunted by the church—assuming he makes it out of the country alive. With a master vampire who is letting the city be terrorized, Kaden must uncover his true motives before it is too late.

Something dangerous is closing in on Kaden, and he cannot afford to be weak. Inside Vatican City, the vampires are more vulnerable than they have ever been. But with his independence on the line, Kaden is breaking every rule in the book, putting everyone’s lives at risk. Worse yet, he is feeling things again—things he has not felt in centuries. He must find a way to completely sever his ties with the past. Unfortunately, in a city that is supposed to be off limits to all vampires, Kaden finds more than he bargained for—and loses even more.

The Well of Truth tells a haunting tale in which a hardened vampire will realize that some secrets are better left in the dark.

Review: My first reaction upon finishing The Well Of Truth is, OMG get me off the cliff that I'm hanging from.  Amber Riley is good for leaving you this way. She did that at the end of The Flash Of The Firefly too

Now I'm eager to see what happens next....more than just eager, a little bit antsy.

For those that haven't read the first book, Kaden is a fantastic vamp, and his friends are too. They are such an ecclectic mix of personalities and it is great fun to watch those personalities clash.  Kaden strikes me as the Lestat type of vampire. He's got guts and a really strong character. The two books are told from his point of view. This is a definite plus for me, because the girls in most vampire stories end up being to wishy washy.

This book is the second in the Kindred Blood series and it is definitely better to have read the first book, The Flash Of The Firefly first so that you can make sense of all the things that happened to bring the vampires to Rome.

The Well Of Truth is still short like the first in the series. It is only 176 pages, but those pages are full of action, that keep the reader turning the pages. You have to find out what happens next and you want answers to the questions that keep cropping up.

1. What the heck has happened to Lyn. (Even though she's becoming increasing difficult to like)
2. What will Tobias do now that he's been set free from under the Vatican!
3. Will Kaden and Co continue to work with Iustitia? It seems like they will but so much has happened that it might not really be possible.

Amber has definitely left her readers with questions...and with a mounting anxiety for Lyn. It is going to make the wait for next book in this series very difficult. Highly recommended!!


Rating: 5 flowers

Book Review: The Flash Of A Firefly

Author:  Amber Riley
Title: Flash of A Firefly
Publisher: iUniverse
Publish Date: July 2010
Rating: 5 Stars
Book Blurb: Trying to put his past behind him, Kaden moves to New York City where he creates a new life for himself. And that isn't easy, considering the fact that he's a six-hundred-year-old vampire who hasn't fed on a human in more than a century. Unfortunately, the past isn't something you can always escape from. When old enemies resurface, they come with a message. His master wants him back and refusing isn't an option. Confronted with losing both his freedom, as well as the human that has captivated him, Kaden struggles to hold onto his humanity while controlling his darker side. He knows the showdown is inevitable. He must find a way to stand his ground.

Review: Amber Riley's debut novel is a fun and fast paced story of vampires, werewolves and one or two mortals. I was so pleased to learn as I read that this wasn't going to be another vampire romance.

Kaden does find himself drawn to a young mortal, but things don't go quite the way of hearts and flowers, because his creator, Phoenix is trying to get him to return to Spain.

There's a lot of action in this book, as Kaden discovers that his creator has sent someone to bring him back. It really keeps you turning the pages to get to a big ole cliffhanger ending that will have you wishing for book 2 in the saga for several reasons.

1. What will happen between Kaden and Phoenix?
2. Will he let Lyn go, or will their relationship progress?

Yes, there are some questions left unanswered, but I think that it is appropriate, so that readers will want the second book, especially as the characters are so well developed and likable. If the vampires wouldn't have you for dinner because you're mortal, you'd really want to hang out with them, especially Flo who is just a little bit crazy. (Fun crazy)

The material is suitable for teens on up, though the characters are mostly in their 20s or were brought across in their twenties.

It is a quick read at 149 pages and my only gripe with it is that it was too short.



*this book was reviewed by the request of the author