Dominic was the Master Vampire of NYC. Cassidy nearly lost him last week and she actually preferred her life with Dominic in it. Cassidy had completely lost the protection and mental strength of her night blood. Cassidy hadn’t seen Dominic in five nights not since he entranced his name from her mind and confirmed her worst suspicions that she was no longer a night blood. Meredith had been at Cassidy’s when Dominic showed up and Cassidy went on the rooftop to talk to him but when Cassidy went back downstairs Cassidy was gone. Cassidy had several messages from her boss Carter there had been a murder and Meredith had already left to go to the sight waiting for Cassidy but taking her pictures while she waited. As Cassidy was about to leave there was a knock at the door it was Ronnie who she had met when she went to upper N Y and Ronnie had been turned into a vampire against her will. But she looked really bad. Ronnie said her and the others that had been forcibly turned did not know how to use mind control and were starving. Cassidy knew the others also - Logan, Keagan, Theresa, and Jeremy but they needed to learn mind control from someone. But at least Ronnie gave her back Dominic's name. Without night blood Cassidy had no longer had the potential to transform into a vampire. Cassidy no longer had the quality that Dominic held in high esteem he had planned to use as leverage during the Leveling: the one night every seven years that he lost his strength and abilities as Master Vampire to his potential successor allowing a new master to rise to take his place. Without the night blood she couldn’t help him survive the coming battle to keep control of his coven. Cassidy’s best friend Meredith and wing woman at the Sun Accord where they worked. Nathan was her brother and had been monosyllabic and near bulimic since returning to the city. Cassidy hoped Nathan might keep his food down this time. Then they could gradually introduce warm food and protein back into his diet but no such luck. Yet Nathan had said “ It probably would be best to answer the door of your own will ”, then he added “ he’ll make it worse for you otherwise”. If Cassidy didn’t open the door Dominic probably would force her to grant him entrance. Five days and Nathan could not keep anything down but water. Cassidy had a bad relationship with her ex Adam. But if Cassidy didn’t think of something she’ll have to saved Nathan from being damned for nothing to lose him to starvation. Nathan and Cassidy were anything but normal sibling. Night blood ran in their family genes and Nathan was no exception. Unfortunately they had discovered their heritage separately and attempted to stop the rebel vampires in New York without telling each other. Dominic was Cassidy's ally but that didn’t change who and what he was Dominic had forged a metaphysical bond between them and would have died saving her brother without the linking of their life forces. To survive they needed Jillian the vampire who had turned Nathan into being into being damned to take the fall for exposing vampires. As the Day Reapers will come. The day reapers were members of the council - the governing body who rules the Master Vampires ruling their coven. Their law was final and breaking the law was a death sentence. A night blood transfers into a vampire in three days but on rare occasions when it takes longer a Day Reaper is born. They are more powerful, more adept at mind control, and have heightened sources of abilities that other vampires don’t have including the ability to tolerate sunlight making them perfect judges, and executioners of vampire kind. At least Cassidy knew Dominic's name again.
This was an excellent read. I really enjoyed it. All the ups and downs Dominic and Cassidy went through. I loved how three of Dominic's coven stayed loyal to him no matter how weak he got. I also loved how Meredith and Cassidy were co workers but also best friends.I loved how Cassidy stood by Nathan and did whatever she had to for him. But Nathan also stood by her and did whatever he could. The only thing I was a little disappointed with was the end because it was a kind of a cliffhanger in a way. But for some reason it didn’t ruin the story for me and that happens very very rarely!!! So I love the characters and the ins and outs of this story and I highly recommend.

The Leveling Last week, Cassidy DiRocco had some influence over the vampires that stalk the streets of New York City. She was never completely safe, but with her newfound abilities as a night blood and her honed instincts as a crime reporter, at least she had the necessary skills to survive.

Now, thanks to the injuries she sustained while saving her brother from a fate worse than death, she's lost her night blood status just as another crime spree hits Brooklyn. Dozens of people are being slaughtered, and each victim bears the Damned's signature mark; a missing heart.

Cassidy will need the help of all her allies to survive the coming war, including the mysterious and charismatic Dominic Lysander, Master Vampire of New York City. But as his rival's army threatens his coven and his own powers weaken with the approaching Leveling, even Dominic's defenses might not be enough protection.

With nothing left to lose, Cassidy must find the power inside herself to save Dominic, his coven, their city, and survive.




Review:




I liked this story, but this is a case where reading them out of order really hurt my reading enjoyment.




I thought the story and the premise were really good, I just had a hard time because I had not read the first two books in the series.




The story is full of action and violence as the Leveling is approaching (which I figured out after reading enough of the story). I loved Cassidy and Dominic as a couple. Through most of the book the sexual tension is through the roof between these two. I also loved how these two look out for each, sometimes at the risk to themselves. It is a continuing story, so there is a semi-cliffhanger ending. Also, it is told in the first person if that is something that affects your reading enjoyment.




Great story, now to go back and read the other two books that came before.




4Stars




*I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this book provided by the publisher.*

Eternal Reign is written in the 1st person narrative. But that didn’t deter me from reading the book. Eternal Reign is the second book in Melody Johnson “Night Blood Series”.

This book isn’t a stand-alone. I assume this book takes place after what happens in The City Beneath. Because we learn that Cassidy DiRocco doesn’t remember Dominic. But, so often someone would say his name and then the fog on her brain would clear.

With the Leveling taking place in a few days and both Dominic and Cassidy has either lost their powers or losing them, the leveling is going to be one-sided and both our characters will be facing certain death.

It was surprising that I did like this book, outside, the fact that the book just ending abruptly. The plot will have you captivated and the chemistry between Cassidy and Dominic was well-developed.

Would I continue reading this series? Yes, just to find out how the Leveling turns out, also, I am a big sucker for Vampires. (No pun intended) 😊

Eternal Reign,  Melody Johnson

Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews

Genre:  Sci-fi and Fantasy

Cassidy has come such a long way since the first book, yet its only been a few weeks. From knowing nothing about Vampires, she’s now gained so much first hand knowledge and yet still I get the sense she’s far more to learn.
Dominic is facing his levelling, a vulnerable time when usually his second would be there for him but Gillian isn’t, she betrayed him recently and she’s looking set to take over from him.
She’s amassing an army of Damned vampires, fierce, blood thirsty creatures that have little reasoning, just an instinct to kill and feed.
People are dying each night, the police have no idea what they are facing, Cassidy can’t reveal all through her reporter job, much though she’d love to, and if it continues the city will face an onslaught of deaths that makes the current ones look like nothing.
Dominic is losing his powers fast, but having to hide it from the coven, vampires gravitate to the strongest and he needs as much support as he can against Gillian, Cassidy isn't a night blood anymore after her last injuries, and the battle is looming up.

Its another fast paced story, death, blood and gore, but with enough strength in the characters to lift it for me from a horror to something I enjoyed. I can’t take blood and gore if there’s not some way of lightening the story, some romance to balance all the hate.
Dominic clearly has feelings for Cassidy but she’s not admitting hers to him, or even to herself.
Now in this novel she needs to make some hard choices, about her job, her friends, her feelings for Dominic. I love the way Dominic treats her with respect even when he must find her incredibly frustrating – I know I would, with her insistence on “the people’s right to know”....knowing what faces his people if knowledge comes out.
Historically humans have sought to destroy any one, any group they feel aren’t human, looking at what we’ve done to witches in the past, and of course even those of a different religious persuasion and yet she seems to think that nothing bad will happen if vampires are exposed. I can’t decide if she’s deluded, naive or just plain stupid :-)

Dominic has a typical vampire regard for humans, they’re just not important compared to his coven, he’s out to protect them at any cost even if it means killing people.
He doesn’t kill indiscriminately, doesn’t kill to feed for example, but thinks nothing of killing to protect his people if he feels there’s no other option.

There’s so much going on here, the story of the Levelling, the quest for Master of the city, the Damned vampires and now the Daywalker involvement, and among all that there’s the romance that’s slowly developing between Cassidy and Dominic.
Its another story I was glued to, really enjoyed and damn it, that ending...arrgghh...I hate when authors do that. #nocliffhangers

Stars: Five, another terrific read and c’mon, after that ending, I really hope the next book is soon!

ARC supplied for review purposes by Netgalley and Publishers