Blood Lines (World of the Lupi Book 3)

I’m not quite sure how Wilks does it, but her world feels much more unique than those of many of her urban fantasy contemporaries. Maybe it’s the lack of vampires. Maybe it’s all in the details of the structure of lupus society, the nature of magic, and the seriousness of Lily’s job with the FBI. Simply the fact that the main character isn’t a glib, snarky young woman with as much attitude as aptitude makes a real difference. Combined with that, the less unique details (such as magic having returned to the modern world only recently) feel less common.As usual with Wilks’s books, we find out a bit more about how everything works in each new volume. This time it’s sorcery and Cynna’s unusual use of power, as well as the backbone of lupus clan structure and the ways in which demons can interact with the living world. There’s plenty of scheming and backstabbing to keep the plot fascinating and the pacing varied. The characters are fantastic and multi-layered–I really enjoy watching Cullen and Cynna, two very individualistic people, trying to feel their way around what’s happening between them.Generally I take notes while I read books that I plan to review, so I don’t forget all the little details that add up to fascinating patterns. In this case I was so swept up in events that I wrote down almost nothing. On the one hand that makes it tougher to go into a lot of detail in the review, but it also conveniently illustrates how thoroughly I was immersed in the events of Blood Lines.As a final note, Blood Lines starts out with a “dear reader” introduction from Lily that would make it much easier for new readers to the series to get their bearings. I applaud that kind of thoughtfulness in an author, because making it easier for new readers to jump right in also increases the number of people who might enjoy the series enough to dig up the previous books, as I did.

~* 4.5 Stars *~Magical Crimes Division FBI agent and touch-sensitive Lily Yu and her Chosen mate Rule Turner, Lu Nuncio of the Nokolai Lupi clan are in Washington DC as Lily works with the Secret Service to identify potential demon possession following the events of  Mortal Danger (The World of the Lupi, Book 2) . It's been five weeks since Lily got Rule out of Dis and brought dragons back to the world, not that the dragons stuck around once they returned. Rule is still struggling with an imbalance between he and his wolf and dealing with latent emotions over failing and losing the Other Lily, but as Christmas approaches, Lily has sprung an early present on Rule and takes time out of her handshaking duties to take him to the symphony. Cynna Weaver is also in DC, between cases at the moment but driven by a sudden sense of disquiet to get out of her hotel room and wander the cold city streets. Cullen is further away, off...doing whatever it is Cullen does when he's traipsing around the world, but mostly trying to find those ever elusive dragons. He has so many questions!Each of them, and the whole of the rest of the world, are minding their own business, doing their own thing, living their own lives, when a powerful magical wind blows across the planet, surging from the nodes to whirl through and stir up all manner of magical phenomena before disappearing again with nary a whisper. Leaving everything in its wake changed.Before Lily realizes the scope of what's happened, there's a large demon coming out of the shadows intent on killing Rule. A demon that shouldn't be able to be there at all. Soon it becomes clear that surviving the demon attack, while preferable to the alternative, is fraught with its own difficulties, and the four friends will have to come together not only to help out as the world starts to tip out of balance, but to stop Cynna's old mentor Jiri from using the increasingly strong magic winds to power a demonic army against the enemy of She who will not be named, the Lupi.Eileen Wilks continues to amaze and astound with her World of the Lupi series. Fraught with peril, littered with danger, steeped in mythology and history, this series is setting itself far apart and above most in a well-populated genre and doing it with exceptional, twisted, complex plots full of originality and detail, and likable, three dimensional characters who are rich and real and full of culture and personality, driven by fierce pride, love, and honor, and ripe with their own foibles, peccadilloes, and damage.Unlike the first two books in the series which dealt primarily with Lily and Rule, Blood Lines is more evenly balanced between the four characters, with an alternating third person point-of-view narrative that smoothly transitions between scenes and characters. Primary focus for the series are the female leads in the book, and while this one has been touted as more Cynna and Cullen's story, I actually felt that Cynna and Lily both were well represented and saw fairly equal page time, with their individual strengths and independent - though not necessarily mutually exclusive - plot threads supporting them. As in the first two books in the series, Rule and Cullen had scenes in which the narrative focused on them, but they tend to be fewer and further between than those of Lily and Cynna. I love Cullen, though, and beyond Grandmother Li Lei Yu, he's my favorite character in the series, and this book provided more of him than in the one previous, and offered up less damage to him than the first.I continue to admire the blending and masterful weaving Wilks does with her plot threads, and the adept way she continues to define and explore her world for the readers, providing characters who are learning along with the reader and allowing more and more of the mythos and history of her world to come into focus as the story progresses. There were things in this book, plot threads connecting to things I'd forgotten about and accepted as unimportant from the first book, that started to fall into place in this one, issues that I hadn't thought to wonder about now being shown to be important. I LOVED that. It's an amazingly unique and incredibly impressive skill to be able to weave a comprehensive story arc with that much attention to detail and it gives this series a very epic feel - something more often found in high fantasy books than in urban fantasy. Each of these books feel like another step up a giant and as yet not quite fully visualized (for the reader - I get the impression Wilks visualizes it just fine) staircase leading towards the enlightenment of the series arc and as I progress up the stairs, I become more and more anxious to reach the top. Even as I am more and more impressed with the journey and want to slow down to savor it.I still have a few issues with the book and the series. At times the exposition and weighty history of the clans and the explanations Lily and Cynna always ask for (about every little thing) do the pacing of the books a slight disservice. There's so much glorious information and such fantastic culture, spirituality, history, and even religion to impart in these books that it does occasionally overwhelm me as a reader. Wilks is extremely conscientious about her characters, and through them her readers, learning and understanding her created world on a very visceral and real level. I can't say I'd change that, even if I had that sort of mystical power, but it does present moments when I feel almost buried under it all.And I admit, once or twice I wanted to throttle Lily and Cynna and yell at them to shut up with the darn questions and just go with it. Because their questions are always answered. In detail. And they ask so darn many of them.As I mentioned in my review of  Tempting Danger (The World of the Lupi, Book 1)  and now notice as more of a stylistic choice, Wilks tends to delve into the greatest and most minute detail when it comes to information but skims over the action, or cuts away as it commences and returns after it's done, only to explain it to the reader through - again - information exchanges instead of writing it for the readers to experience as it unfolds. My reading preferences lie with reading about it as it happens, so I'll never be totally thrilled with that aspect of this book or the series.I'm more than happy with everything else, though. The characters, the plot, the amazing world building, mythos, and history of it all completely bowls me over every time I pick up a book in the series and start reading. It's not always the most comfortable read, and I can't say I love every little thing about it (beyond what I mentioned above, there are also a few more minor issues that I had with this book) but I deeply admire and respect Wilks for her ability to create it and thoroughly enjoy every delicious hour spent reading it.Note: If you're new to the series, I strongly suggest you not start in the middle. I believe that you could, because certainly enough exposition is given to draw a reader into the series even with this third book. I read the letter to readers at the very beginning of the book, a letter from Lily Yu that reminds readers familiar with the series of the previous events, and also dips new readers into the world with a brief synopsis. A new reader could start here and at least have the facts of the previous books. I wouldn't recommend that, though. These books are full of the sort of details, layers, and connections that can only be truly appreciated if you start at the beginning and savor each piece as you go along, experiencing it with the characters you'll come to love. Trust me on this one.Reviewed for One Good Book Deserves Another.

This book tells a story of a world about to change. Lily and Rule are back from Dis (hell) and have reached a much deeper understanding of each other, despite Lily’s missing memories. She can remember snippets from her other self’s time in Dis, but she doesn’t have complete memories. Whatever she remembers though, is enough to deepen her feelings for Rule. Rule has the memories of the Lily who sacrificed herself for him and sees the Lily who risked everything to rescue him and knows that her feelings are real. Those new feelings are tested as the world around them starts to change.Magic is blowing through the world at levels not seen for centuries. It’s blowing out technology and people’s gifts are going crazy and Lupi are being forced to shift. On top of that demons are coming after the Lupi heirs and Rule is forced to deal with Leidolf, the clan who sent assassins after his father.A lot happens in this book and there are many strands to follow with the action darting between Rule and Lily and Cynna and Cullen. The Lupi world and the world of demon riders come into collision and Cynna is the only one with the knowledge to help. I liked that the focus of the plot line opened up and encompassed different characters. It made it more interesting and gave more in depth insight into previously supporting characters, who are now being thrust into the spotlight. Cynna and Cullen are not taking over in this book but they are stepping front and centre alongside Rule and Lily, which makes sense because when you are fighting a goddess you need more that two people to do it!There were a few moments where I wondered what on earth was going on and the explanation for it wasn’t great, but other than that small item I really enjoyed the book and will continue onto the next one in the series quite happily. I’ve very much enjoying this re-read of a gem I’d forgotten all about.

I thought I'd like this book but I couldn't get into it. Basically, I just don't like the male lead character. He's a macho cardboard cut-out man with a juvenile sense of humour who is irresistible to all women and the sheer unbelievably of that fact ruins the book.I bought the first three books in the series so I shall plough on. Perhaps he'll develop redeeming features?

This is the book where I managed to lose interest in the story, where it just got too repetitive or maybe the characters just didn't seem to move forward

I love these books and have read them all and would recommend them to anyone who likes to read supernatural stories.

Maintenir la qualité d'une série est difficile. Eileen Wilks relève le pari (à mon sens) dans ce 3e tome des aventures de Rule et Lily, qui continuent leur croisade contre Elle, déesse démoniaque.Au niveau de l'intrigue, comme toujours, l'action se met lentement en place avant que les dangers ne se multiplient. Vous aurez encore des démons mais aussi des loups-garous dangereux, des querelles claniques, des humains qui dérapent...J'ai trouvé l'intrigue bien fichue, sans qu'Eileen n'aille non plus dans l'excès de violence ou de super-pouvoirs qui apparaissent.Les personnages de Cullen et de Cynna prennent de l'importance et j'avoue que leurs côtés "cassés" et blessés par la vie, leur solitude me touchent. Quoiqu'il en soit, j'étais tout de même frustrée que Rule et Lily soient un peu oubliés mais Eileen les remet sur le devant de la scène ensuite.Bon, par contre, j'aimerais bien que le pauvre Rule soit un peu épargné la prochaine fois, parce qu'il passe quand même son temps a être blessé et pas au top de sa forme. J'aime bien aussi quand il est indemne et confiant!On s'attache aussi aux personnages qui gravitent autour d'eux : Benedict, la Grand-mère de Lily, le fils de Rule...Souvent, je ne comprend pas le choix des couvertures : cette couverture du dos tatoué d'une femme m'étonne car la seule tatouée du livre est blonde avec les cheveux courts alors est-ce juste pour montrer un dos nu? Le tome suivant expose aussi un corps dénudé alors que les livres d'E.Wilks ne sont pas du tout centrés sur le sexe.