A crazy mystery thriller horror story along the veins of The Last Templar but mixed together with Koontz & no set happy ending. Read as a horror thriller this is fine but a few things to point out. Roma [known to many as Gypsies which they don't like the term] have always been fodder for horror movies & stories. Another trope both alike & different than the Native American ones/. Originally from northern India I would say where the Rajasthan province is now their language is a form of Sanskrit whose closet know dialect, I think, would be completely different but closet to Punjabi. The deepest vein of horror that was used here was the primal fear of revenge from people that have been persecuted & it has been used for some time against Blacks in the US. There is no renegade of Rom band that is involved in Kali Ma type blood sacrifices or everyone's favorite wild orgies. Nor do they wish to destroy all people. The author did have a certain amount of knowledge & facts he put down here but including Eastern Europe think that the deaths immediately pre & during WW2 went far beyond the nazis into other fascist groups in that area where the death toll could easily be more than just 1 in 4 Rom dead. Part of that was because many would try to go back into areas of persecution to save family members. Another persecuted group in Africa due to their differences

There was a lot to like about Gypsy Blood. I hadn't read anything written by Jeff Gunhus before, but I think I am going to have to check out his middle grade/YA books now. There was such a deep background and rich detail in this book, and you can tell the author takes pride in setting such an intricately detailed scene. I've always been fascinated by Paris, in general, and the Paris catacombs in particular, so I was geeking out the whole time. I really enjoyed learning about the Romany, too. I could relate to the grief and desertion of inspiration explored in the book, and I got caught up in the battle between the two rival factions. I wouldn't really classify Gypsy Blood as a horror novel, though there is some graphic violence and gore. This book is a good time, and will appeal to a wide ranging audience.
3.75 stars

This was a good beach read with just enough supernatural horror elements to keep you guessing. I will keep an eye on this author.

I loved this book. It was such a fun ride. I have visited the Catacombs beneath Paris, so I could relate to the narrator’s shock, horror, and fascination toward them. It created a fabulously creepy backdrop to the story. I also enjoyed the interesting info about the Romani people, as well as the folklore surrounding Albinos. It was such an interesting amalgam of mythologies. This was an extremely fun book that didn’t take itself too seriously. It is classified as horror, but I would label it paranormal with really gruesome bits thrown in for a little shock value.

This book was a bit of a slow burn at first--almost too slow--but once it takes off, it's a madcap rush of insanity that will rock your world. Jeff Gunhus' attention to detail is unrivaled in the realm of dark speculative fiction and his ability to ramp up the tension, set your teeth to grinding, and push your ass to the edge of your seat is nothing short of remarkable. I've seen Gunhus compared to King and Koontz but I think that's an unfair assessment. Like those two authors, Jeff is original and unique in his own right and the comparison, in my thinking, ends right there. Don't read him because he's like someone else, read him because he's like nobody else.

What an interesting book! I found it reminiscent, in a sense, of the Mummy. I know this sounds ridiculous, but the sort of possession element with old magic and so on. It was a really great book! The originality was evident, as well as the great writing. I am sure that many people will enjoy it if they are fond of Stephen King and such. It's difficult to write more, it seems, without giving the plot away - So read it and enjoy!

The very first chapter of this one had some attention-grabbing phrases that sucked me right into the story to see what was going to happen. A couple of chapters in and there was some graphic violence that challenged my squeamishness, but there was also a spooky aspect to the situation that made me want to know what was going on too much to let a little grossness put me off.

The story develops into a sort of supernatural mystery-thriller. Corbin Stewart is a writer having a hard time with finances and writer's block. He goes to Paris and finds himself caught up in some sort of war between a mysterious cloaked albino cult and the local Roma after his blood is tainted while trying to help an old man being attacked in an alley. A woman who says she works for his publisher is somehow involved.

There was a constant stream of surprises in this one. Just when I started to think I knew what was going on, another twist would throw a wobbler into the mix. It all became clear except which side certain characters were on. There was a certain amount of keeping the reader guessing on that one until the very end.

I can't help wondering if genuine Roma people might take offence at the way the group in the book are portrayed, but the story had plenty of action and a supernatural aspect that kept it interesting. The violence and grossness would return, but at least it wasn't a constant and only came in where the story was moved forward by it.

A couple of things were overly convenient but overall I really enjoyed the story and would definitely read more from this author.

The story is told by alternating characters. It has a complicated plot that focus on the duality of good and evil, and how difficult it is to know in which side are we on according to our point of view and deep desires.

3 1/2 stars...Mesmerizing and Disturbingly Eerie at the same time! Gypsies, Albino’s, an Author with writers block and sadistic psycopaths...an unusual cast of characters. The Gypsies peaked my interest, but this book didn’t grab my attention like I expected. Not sure if I wasn’t in the mood for this type of book or if it just wasn’t my cup of tea. It’s well written and interesting, so if you like horror you might find this a good read.

Thank you to NetGalley for the reading opportunity, in exchange for my honest opinion.

I loved this! What a unique premise (hard to find these days), and so well written. You immediately felt connected to the lead characters, which only helped to keep you riveted and needing to know what happens next. Highly recommend this book to anyone who requires top-notch characterizations and plot.

This is the second Jeff Gunhus book (Resurrection America) I have read, they are very different stories but both equally as good. This book follows Corbin Stewart, a writer trying to escape the world, after the death of his daughter. After trying to do the right thing and protect a man being beaten, Corbin, is dragged into a long running vendetta war. Neither side seems to be deserving of victory, as both have committed violent attacks with no regard to any innocents. Corbin is a likeable character and the opposing factions, although evil to the core, are also nicely developed. This is a good read, that moves at a nice pace throughout.

Pretty good book about the battle between two warring factions. Not my favorite book from Jeff Gunhus, but worth a read.

Thrillers aren't usually my go-to book but Gunhus is a fabulous writer and pulls me in every time. I had no idea where this book would take us but it was exciting and unusual. We hear from multiple view points as we get down to the nitty gritty of this gypsy revenge plot in Paris. It is a horror/thriller so if you get woozy reading about blood or violence I'd try something different. Because there is blood and lots of it. The story moves quickly and captivated my interest early on so I just kept reading. I received my copy through Netgalley and wrote my review voluntarily.