RISEN by Cole Gibsen

Risen (Blood Eternal #1)

by Cole Gibsen 

My aunt has been kidnapped by vampires, and it’s up to me to save her. Only…I had no idea vampires existed. None. Nada. I’m more of a reader than a fighter, and even though I’d been wishing to escape my boring existence in the middle of nowhere, I’d give anything to have it back now if it meant my aunt was safe. 

Then there’s the vampire Sebastian, who seems slightly nicer than most of the bloodsuckers I’ve run into so far. Yes, he’s the hottest being I’ve ever come across, but there’s no way I can trust him. He swears he’s helping me get answers, but there’s more to his story. Now I’m a key pawn in a raging vampire war, and I need to pick the right ally.

But my chances of surviving this war are slim at best, when the side I choose might be the one that wants me dead the most.

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What I thought: 

When I saw that this was a vampire story, I couldn't say yes fast enough. Add that it's a different take from the usually folklore and I was doubly intrigued. 

I loved the way it started out. Very atmospheric, with a nice creepy-make-the-hair-on-the-back-of-your-neck-stand-on-end scene. And the action was non-stop from there. 

The pace was super-fast, which is always a plus for me, and I kept turning pages. But something was missing for me. I liked Charlie well-enough. I liked Sebastian. But the story itself fell a little flat. The dialog was a little too on-the-nose. The characters connections felt sort of rushed. 

There were some really great moments that totally sucked me in, and I read this in a single day, so it definitely wasn't boring. I guess I wanted Charlie to have more agency in her own story. There were a few elements that made the story feel too predictable for me, but overall a good, fast read. 

If you love vampires and action and romance with a sprinkling of blood, then 
this one might be for you. It does end with a bit of a cliffhanger. But I'd definitely give the next book in the series a try.

Rating: ** (2 1/2 stars)

And there's a giveaway:  (Update: the giveaway is over)

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About Cole Gibsen: 

Growing up, Cole Gibsen couldn’t decide what she loved more—dogs or books. Rather than choose, she decided to devote her life to both! Dog trainer (wrangler) by day and author by night, she’s the author of more than ten books with more on the way. www.colegibsen.com