What a wonderful action-packed novel this was. Jonathan Janz has done it again and exceeded the promise of The Raven with part 2, Blood Country. Filled with plenty of action, humorous dialogue and characters you'll cheer and jeer, I can't recommend this novel enough. Highly recommended.

Jonathan Janz is one of the strongest voices in hororr right now and Blood Country is another shining example of his talents. And when he has an idea/story as strong as The Raven and decides to make a sequel? You know you better get on it!

BLOOD COUNTRY, by Jonathan Janz, is the sequel to his novel THE RAVEN. While this does directly follow the events in the first post apocalyptic book, oddly enough, it felt to me as if it could easily be read as a standalone. We pick up with characters from the first book, and a brief update of what happened to the world that brought it into the shape they now find it in. This is in no way an "info dump", more like just enough information to either "remind us", or "inform" (for new readers) of the circumstances. I still suggest reading THE RAVEN first, but more because it's a great book on its own.

As is BLOOD COUNTRY.

We may have the same land and characters, but this story is all its own. This new world that Janz has created makes me think of how many other stories are just waiting to be told from here. There is just so much potential!

BLOOD COUNTRY focuses on an area controlled by vampires. Of course, we come across monsters--both real and human-- of all kinds along the way. The emotional connections felt incredibly strong here, even with the characters I didn't "know" as well. Each character had a distinctive personality, and not one felt like a "background voice" that you'd soon forget. Days after finishing, I could still name all the key players, and most of the others they came across even briefly.

With Janz' writing, you "connect" to these characters. For a while, they do become real--if only in your mind. Personally, I can't think of higher praise to give an author than that.

I am always eager to read anything by Jonathan Janz, and this novel is one you'll want at the top of your pile.

Recommended!

What: a sequel to the rollicking, vampire-apocalypse novel The Raven
About: Dez, English teacher turned ass-kicking survivalist, continues looking for his ex girlfriend who's been taken by the blood suckers.
Features: fun, intelligent action-survival-horror
Assets: acton & vampires aside, Dez's character shines — he has a strong sense of justice, doing what's right, that difficult ethical decisions threaten to tear him apart. His counterpoint character, Iris, is a beautiful balance & influence on Dez.
Obstacles: being a sequel, readers should be familiar with book 1 —- why are you still reading this? Go get a copy of The Raven NOW (and Janz's entire catalog while you're at it).
Who it’s for: action movie junkies looking for something to read — readers looking for a solid action flick in book form.

So I have finally finished this beauty and I can only send my apologies to Anne at Random Things Tours, Flame Tree Press, and of course, Jonathan Janz. My review was due a couple of months ago but with health issues, I got waylaid and boy am I glad I waited. I am now impatiently waiting for book 3!!!

This book will give you The Walking Dead feels (I am sure I said that before), a desolate world where people are infected in different ways. I love Dez, I have always loved this loveable Buffon / rogue. The Raven, as he is known, is so fierce and loyal, and protective of who he knows. His mission with Iris, Michael, and Levi is to rescue Susan, his love, and Cassidy, Iris’s daughter. As you can imagine the story would be pretty boring if it was easy.

So many times my heart was in my throat as I would panic in the situations the group found them in. They had to travel to empty towns…which were so empty or the school and what lurks in there *shudder* let’s just say it might be a while before I go in a swimming pool again -eek

The scary thing is that I worry it could happen. I don’t know how, but it could. I always worry about this, well maybe a zombie apocalypse! It could happen! At least I could be prepared.

This group of people are the ones you want on your side. They are prepared, gutsy, and a family. One of the biggest things I loved is how blurry the lines are beginning to get, and how this is going to twist for us in the future and the next installment. What a shocker we are in for.

So action-packed and I love it. The descriptions of the fight scenes were intense and visceral. I hate the fact I could imagine the scenes and hear the sounds….not always what you want in these types of books! But still at the same time so bloody deliciously satisfying. I couldn’t get enough and it felt like torture when reading the book during these scenes so I had to speed read to make sure the outcome was what I wanted!!

I just can’t tell you how much I love books by Jonathan and how much I love his descriptions and world-building. This is becoming a bit of a love letter lol. But he is an author I love to read, he can apply himself to the dark and gruesome and spin around with the paranormal and terrifying ghosts. I always know it will be a completely wild ride, body parts will be thrown, heads will literally roll and a LOT of blood will be spilled. You will also care so frigging much about the characters and even the ones you really shouldn’t. The affection I now feel for two characters in this book is wrong but I already feel attached to them and dare I say the vampire child words because they are ones not to be messed with.

However, I am staying out of the water just in case Finn is swimming around…..

Blood Country is book 2 of The Raven book series. It tells the story of Dez Mcclane, who along with a group of survivors, is searching for his girlfriend Susan in Blood Country. This is deadly world full of monsters and ruled by vampires. This is obviously an extremely dangerous mission and is full of bloody good action. In the interest of not revealing any spoilers, let’s just say this book is a lot of fun of you enjoy your horror with a mix of action and monsters.

It seemed like a while since I'd read the first book, but I soon remembered the relevant parts. That said, I'm confident you could read and enjoy this book without reading the The Raven first.
Lots of gripping action scenes set around a solid core story, with ethical dilemmas, warring emotions, loyalty and family all being key components. Post-apocalyptic horror with heart.

One of my favorite reads from 2020 was The Raven by Jonathan Janz. It's an action-packed, fun and scary story about rogue geneticists (you can't trust those guys!) who unleash a dormant strand of DNA that literally brings out the monster in everyone.

I just finished the sequel, Blood Country, and our regular-guy/hero Dez is back and this time he's on a rescue mission. Since the first book, vampires have become the dominant monster species (of course!) and they've taken up residence in a school building where they're holding Dez's ex, Susan, and Iris's daughter, Cassidy.

Will Dez and Iris rescue their loved ones or will a four-story building filled with bloodthirsty vampires be too much for them to overcome?

This book was such a great read. I always worry about sequels but this one matches the intensity of the first book and is ideal for a streaming series. Highly recommended!

While I liked the first book in this series, The Raven, this one was better. I got the next part of the story I was hoping for. Action packed and heart stopping. I can't wait to continue this journey.

A vampiric monster thriller that is better read as part of the series. It is book two. Post-apocalyptic with a vampire queen.

4 Stars!

Jonathan Janz knows how to write a bloody story. He never fails to deliver with horrifying stories covered in large doses of blood. Blood Country promised more of the same not only in the title and cover but also as a follow up to The Raven. Janz built a unique world in the first novel, and I was eager to see what he had in store for the sequel.



The world changed three years ago and moved from the domain of man to the domain of monsters. Scientists released a virus that unleashed a mythical side of humanity that turned most people into monsters. Those that did not turn into monsters were quickly slain by the creatures that walked the Earth. The meek were not going to inherit the Earth. They were going to be eaten by it.



Dez McClane was one of the few survivors who did not have any special powers. He managed to survive by banding together with a group of people who seemed to be brought together by fate or circumstance. He slowly grew to love a fellow survivor, Iris, who could not return his love. At least not physically. Iris seemed normal until she was physically aroused and the beast inside was set free. Further complicating matters was the fact that Dez was still pining for his girlfriend who had disappeared in a previous raid. Word reaches the group that Dez’s girlfriend, Susan, was still alive and was with Iris’s lost daughter. The two knew they needed to get their lost ones back. The only problem is that they were living with a group of bloodthirsty vampires that would kill them on first sight. The choice was clear: they had to rescue their loved ones even if the chances of their survival was almost zero.



Blood Country picks up where The Raven left off. Dez and the group of survivors had made a pact to rescue their loved ones no matter what and the opportunity finally arrived. None of them had thought the pact would be so deadly. Janz has created a world that is unique and compelling in the diversity and imagination that he puts into the monsters that inhabit it. There are many that are familiar to horror fans, vampires and werewolves, but there are many others that are even more monstrous that rampage through the story. Janz keeps the story moving along at a breakneck pace that gives the reader very little time to relax. Even with the fast pace of the novel, Janz still brings some background to the story and builds upon the world he has conceived, sometimes with heartbreaking emotion. This is a novel that is full of monsters, but it is not lacking in human emotion either. Dez hits close to home with the emotion and turmoil he experiences throughout the novel so that it is impossible not to cheer for him. He is not perfect. He is not a hero. He is simply a human being trying to survive against monsters who are psychically stronger than he can ever be.



Janz continues to prove that he is a master of horror that is filled with action and walks along the borderline of the extreme. There are some very harsh scenes in Blood Country that is sure to make the weak of heart (and stomach) cringe. The story is entertaining from the first page to the last, and Janz wastes very few words even in this substantial story. What keeps it from reaching its full potential, though, is that I felt like there is still a missed opportunity in this world. I would like to see much more of the menagerie of monsters that inhabit the world, yet Janz keeps this story mostly in the realm of the vampires. Other creatures wander through and there are some thrilling moments, such as the trolls or the creature in the pool, but the story is dominated by vampires in what feels like territory that has been explored before (Brian Lumley, anyone?). It is clear at the end of the book that the story is not done yet which brings the hope that we will see more of these creatures in the future. Overall, though, this is an entertaining and bloody romp through one of the most unique worlds of monsters that has come along in a long time. Highly recommended for fans of Janz and the genre.



I would like to thank Flame Tree Press and NetGalley for this review copy. Blood Country is available now.

BLOOD COUNTRY: The Raven book 2 by @jonathan.janz
I enjoyed this so much. There were so many aspects of this book that brought me joy. How often can you say that about a horror book? First, I just want to say that someone needs to make special editions for this series, with artwork of some of these beasts and the locations. These monsters are exceptional and there are some seriously messed up images in here that would be fantastic on the page.
This type of book I call action horror. There are lots of multiple person battle scenes and Janz does a great job with the descriptions making it flow and easy to follow along.
With all the monsters and action there is still plenty of the human side that will get to you. Little details throughout, like a faded, discarded Thomas the Tank Engine toy, will have you choking up as you think about what may have happened.
The main character, Dez sometimes writes in his journal and while that does not make this an epistolary book, it still felt like a tribute to Bram Stoker’s Dracula. In fact there are several nods to the classic book in Blood Country and that made me very happy.
All of these characters are great. They are unique individuals that all work well together. They are dealing with a lot but they still have fun bantering back and forth like they have been friends for ages. Michael is the greatest. His snarky mouth gets him into a lot of trouble but adore him.
This is a story about overcoming personal fears, doing what is right despite those fears. Taking joy when it comes and keeping hope alive despite the odds.
“How many times, he wondered, could you lose the same person? It was never only once. Each time you replayed it and wondered what you could have done differently, you lost the person again.”-Dez
It is also about doing what you can to open up a can of whoop-ass on some vampires.

I havnt read the first book and i found this book a difficult read as its not my usual type of book. It was extremely well written and descriptive and i did enjoy many aspects of Jonathans writing style.

The Premise: In the Raven series, the world has ended thanks to a group of rogue scientists having released a virus that turned (most) people into monsters of some kind. There are vampires, cannibals, werewolves, sirens, and more. It’s a dangerous landscape, especially for someone like Dez, who is latent (no powers). In the second book of this series, Dez and his companions are heading into Blood Country to rescue Iris’s daughter and Dez’s girlfriend from the vampires. It is basically a suicidal mission, but of course there will be help along the way.

The Review: The Raven was such a good book, I jumped at the ARC for its sequel. Had this been the first book in its series—a story about entering a vampire den to save some loved ones—I might have just skipped it. I’m not a fan of vampires usually. However, because the first book was so good, I was excited to see where Dez took us next. The world presented in this series is excruciatingly dark and dangerous. You’re likely to be torn to shreds every corner you turn! There’s a good many, many things Janz can do with this series, and I do plan on continuing it. That being said, I couldn’t latch onto this book during its first half. I’m not entirely sure why that was—it could have been as simple as my mood, which plays a big factor in my reading—but I found myself skimming a lot of those chapters in the first hundred or so pages. Even the action sequences couldn’t draw me in. However, once they were in Blood Country and preparing to launch their rescue mission at the school, I became hooked! I devoured the second half of the book like a starving vampire feasting on a steer. (Is that an animal with a lot of blood to offer?) Despite my rocky start with this one, I still enjoyed it and I still intend on following Janz into more darkness with Dez at the helm.

Drawbacks: For whatever reason, the first half of the book could not sink its fangs in me. I found the beginning to be very weak and the “catch-up” explanations to come too few and far in between. Though I read the first book only a year or so ago at release, I’ve also read more than a hundred books since and have forgotten things. In Blood Country, the “previously on…” moments were done in such a way that they slipped by me. I couldn’t remember where half the characters came from or who they were, and therefore I had trouble caring about them or their station in the mission. // Janz throws in snarky and corny moments throughout. Sometimes, I don’t mind them. Other times, I was a bit annoyed.

Highlights: The second half of the novel really picks up. By the time the heroes are preparing to break into the school where the vampires stay, the story becomes a lot more engaging and exciting. // There are scattered action scenes throughout, so you’re not waiting around for something to happen; there’s almost always something happening. // The world Janz has depicted is a wonderful one for dark fantasy and horror lovers. The potential is endless. // Dez is an honorable hero. In general, the characters in the Raven series are well-crafted, especially the ones at the forefront (this time being Dez and Iris).

Verdict: 3.5

‘So much blood. So much death.’

When we first met Dez, a Latent in a world of monsters, he was a loner. Now Dez has friends: siren Iris, pyrokinetic Michael and Levi, a fellow Latent who may have a secret. Friends are helpful in this world because maths … increased numbers could mean that you don’t die as quickly because you can surround yourself with literal human shields. However, friends are also liabilities. Caring for anyone means they can be used against you in hostage situations or as bait. Still, you don’t want to travel this world alone.

Dez and co. are currently on a suicide mission to rescue Dez’s girlfriend, Susan, and Iris’ five year old daughter, Cassidy. Susan and Cassidy were taken during the battle at the Four Winds Bar and sold to a horde of vampires.

The stakes are well and truly raised in this book. Well, they would be if they were useful weapons in this world but these are not Buffy’s vampires. They’re super fast, super strong and they’re the biggest Bads in a world almost exclusively populated by Big Bads. Basically, if their head is still attached to their body, you’ve got a problem.

‘“You came at feeding time,” Quincey said. “Thank you for that.”’

There’s plenty of bloodshed in this book, some of which Michael conveniently sleeps through. On their way to Blood Country, Dez and his friends encounter plenty of once upon a humans: cannibals, trolls and, of course, vampires. They’re pretty much everywhere you look.

While so much of the action results in bodies that look like they’ve been through a meat tenderiser, there are some tender moments too.

‘“You came back for me,” she said.
“I always will,” he answered.’

This is a fascinating but deadly world. Some of the other potential nasties to look out for are werewolves, witches and nuckelavee (straight out of Scottish mythology, they’re sort of like a centaur but creepier). There’s also talk of the Children (ten feet tall subterranean creatures) and there’s definitely something lurking in the water.

I didn’t understand why vampires would keep something where they were living that had the potential to harm them but that’s just one question mark surrounded by the exclamation marks that populated my mind every time someone’s insides became their outsides.

While I often find sequels a bit of an ‘are we there yet?’ journey on the way to the big finish of the third book, I actually enjoyed this one even more than The Raven. You could read this book without having read The Raven but you’ll have more fun if you read them in order.

I’m keen to sink my teeth into the next book. There’s something to hope for that previously wasn’t even an option. I like Dez and his friends, new and old, and there’s a vampire child I need to get to know. Bring on the carnage!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Flame Tree Press for the opportunity to read this book.

Hi and welcome to my review of Blood Country!

Blood Country follows up The Raven, which was top-notch dystopian horror, so the second I spotted Blood Country on NetGalley, I hit that request button. Reader, sometimes split-second decisions pay off big time!

Like its predecessor, Blood Country is told from the perspective of Dez – the Raven – McClane, a former English teacher without any kind of supernatural power in a world riddled with people who aren’t quite human anymore. Blood Country picks up where The Raven left off and as such I would recommend reading these books in order, as it will help you understand this brave new world and its inhabitants a lot better, especially since most of the world-building happened in The Raven.

The title is a dead giveaway: circumstances force Dez and his friends into vampire territory, blood country. As a consequence, this reads very much like a vampire story. It had been a while since I read one of those, I don’t devour them anymore like I used to, but I did devour Blood Country.

I loved the dystopian vibe. I loved how, despite its rather gruesome nature, Blood Country is also a sort of study of humankind, in that it shows you very different human reactions and it makes you wonder what you would do in the characters’ stead. And I loved all the action, the action scenes are phenomenal and so vividly written it was easy-peasy to see it all play out. (Which, admittedly, wasn’t always a good thing 😬)

Blood Country is an action-packed, bloodthirsty, high-octane but smooth read that I’d happily recommend to readers who need their vampire itch scratched and/or enjoy dystopian horror.

Blood Country by Jonathan Janz.
Book 2 in The Raven series
Three years ago the world ended when a group of rogue scientists unleashed a virus that awakened long-dormant strands of human DNA. They awakened the bestial side of humankind: werewolves, satyrs, and all manner of bloodthirsty creatures. Within months, nearly every man, woman, or child was transformed into a monster…or slaughtered by one. A rare survivor without special powers, Dez McClane has been fighting for his life since mankind fell, including a tense barfight that ended in a cataclysmic inferno. Dez would never have survived the battle without Iris, a woman he’s falling for but can never be with because of the monster inside her. Now Dez’s ex-girlfriend and Iris’s young daughter have been taken hostage by an even greater evil, the dominant species in this hellish new world:
A really good read. Great story. 4*.

This follow up to The Raven is even better than the first book and I found some echo of one of my favorite book, Matheson's I am Legend.
A gripping, fast paced, and tense story that I thoroughly enjoyed. Good storytelling and plot devleopment.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Wowza! I have no idea how I have not read this author before - intense. Like intense. Though I did not read the first book in this series, I was able to keep up and love this book!
Dez lost his family years ago when the virus first emerged - sending people into hiding from those who experienced serious mutations. Mutations that allow for survival in this new world.
This book deals with a group of vampires - after kidnapping Dez' ex-girlfriend and her daughter, Dez rounds up his friends to help. But will they survive? Or brought into the mutated group?
I love all that Janz is able to cover with this book - addressing inherent differences, remaining open and optimistic, believing in the good of people. Or not.
Highly recommend!

Jonathan Janz is one of my must-read authors in the horror genre. The Siren and the Specter remains one of my favorite re-reads, and I devoured The Raven like it was my job. I was thrilled to receive an arc of the sequel, Blood Country.

From the publisher via Goodreads: Three years ago the world ended when a group of rogue scientists unleashed a virus that awakened long-dormant strands of human DNA. They awakened the bestial side of humankind: werewolves, satyrs, and all manner of bloodthirsty creatures. Within months, nearly every man, woman, or child was transformed into a monster…or slaughtered by one.

A rare survivor without special powers, Dez McClane has been fighting for his life since mankind fell, including a tense barfight that ended in a cataclysmic inferno. Dez would never have survived the battle without Iris, a woman he’s falling for but can never be with because of the monster inside her. Now Dez’s ex-girlfriend and Iris’s young daughter have been taken hostage by an even greater evil, the dominant species in this hellish new world:

Vampires.

The bloodthirsty creatures have transformed a four-story school building into their fortress, and they’re holding Dez’s ex-girlfriend and Iris’s young daughter captive. To save them, Dez and his friends must risk everything. They must infiltrate the vampires’ stronghold and face unspeakable terrors.

Because death awaits them in the fortress. Or something far worse.

Where do I start?

I loved this so much. Writing a sequel is tricky, the possibility high of being bogged down by summary details or failing to live up to the engagement of the first book. Janz avoided both without disconnecting into standalone territory. Could you read this without knowing The Raven? Absolutely (but why would you want to?). There was enough information to grasp the events of the previous book without it feeling like a school report--and while forming a deeper connection with the characters.

And there is literally no shortage of action. This was a cinematic read from page one that will keep you on the edge of your seat the entire time. Dez is a fantastic character, one of the best I've seen in the post-apocalyptic genre, and I couldn't get enough of his journey: the dedication to his quest and loved ones. The clever, steadfast determination to preserve an inch of normalcy from Before.

Bloody Country is the perfect October read. Gore, violence, and expertly-developed characters you won't be able to get enough of, add this immediately to your TBRs.

Huge thanks to Flame Tree and NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for honest review consideration.