Well, I broke all kinds of personal rules when I bought this book. I usually will try to borrow a library book by a new-to-me author, or wait for a freebie, or go off a trusted recommendation. With Born in Blood, nope, none of that...I bought it because of the cover and the sample. I mean, look at that cover! Gorgeous, the way he is holding her so protectively. And the sample made me want to know more about Duncan, our hero, and Callie, our shero.

I've been reading PNR since before it was ...

Well, I broke all kinds of personal rules when I bought this book. I usually will try to borrow a library book by a new-to-me author, or wait for a freebie, or go off a trusted recommendation. With Born in Blood, nope, none of that...I bought it because of the cover and the sample. I mean, look at that cover! Gorgeous, the way he is holding her so protectively. And the sample made me want to know more about Duncan, our hero, and Callie, our shero.

I've been reading PNR since before it was a category, but somehow, I have never read any of Ms. Ivy's work. I think I had her confused with an author I had read and not enjoyed. I can tell you categorically I have been missing out. Her world building skills are excellent, the prose is concise yet descriptive and the dialog rings true. There are funny moments, nail-biting moments and oh, so hawt moments. All well written, flowing seamlessly from one scene or POV to the next.

Callie is a diviner, able to communicate with the dead. She lives with other high-bloods in Valhalla, and is called in to help the police when they suspect magical influence in a crime. Duncan is a by-the-book detective who is struck stupid by his attraction to Callie. Oh, so much fun to watch Duncan fall for the lovely, feisty Callie. Not that Duncan fought his feelings, really. No, he leapt feet first into relationshipville. Most of the tension in their being together comes from the prejudices held from the normal for the high-bloods. And vice versa. Callie is a strong female lead, without being nasty or mean. No TSTLisms here.

Briefly, there is a murder, a missing body, a missing coin, another murder, a creepy bad guy and his witchy accomplice, some monks and a little magical traveling. Ever so interesting and fresh. Even though we know the who, we don't really get the why and how the bad guys are going to work their bad @$$ery until near the end of the book. The arc of the story kept me intrigued until the very end.

I liked the feeling of brotherhood and connectedness between the Sentinals, the protectors of Valhalla. The family feeling from the inhabitants of Valhalla was a highlight.

There is plenty of fodder for multiple stories in this world. Serra, Callie's best friend, and Fain, Callie's protector, have chemistry that shoots off the page. The mysterious girl in the monastery, dying to know her story. The Mave, ruler of Valhalla, and Turk, head of the Sentinals, seem to have a history...Which leads me to the biggest rule I broke in buying this book. I don't like to start a series when the first book comes out. I am an impatient reader, and now I have to wait for the next novel...No question I will buy the next one, and the next, and the next...

Bottom line - Born in Blood was a very readable, enjoyable book and I am anxious for the next installment. In the meantime, I will be devouring the Guardians series!

Born in Blood is the first full-length book in her Sentinels series. I am an Alexandra Ivy fan and have read her Guardians of Eternity series so I was excited to start a new series by this author. I really enjoyed this new world and look forward to future books.

The story is about a world where supernaturals are "out" to the humans. The humans know witches, psychics, necromancers, and sentinels (which are the warriors/hunters of the supernatural) all exist. They live in a domed city called...

Born in Blood is the first full-length book in her Sentinels series. I am an Alexandra Ivy fan and have read her Guardians of Eternity series so I was excited to start a new series by this author. I really enjoyed this new world and look forward to future books.

The story is about a world where supernaturals are "out" to the humans. The humans know witches, psychics, necromancers, and sentinels (which are the warriors/hunters of the supernatural) all exist. They live in a domed city called Valhalla and usually stay fairly separate from the humans unless they are "needed".

In this book a human is found dead without a heart but with no wounds. When a crime such as this happens, the police work with the supernatural (in this case a necromancer). Callie is a necromancer and in this world a necromancer is able to get into the mind of the dead and witness their last moments to find out how they died. Callie is working with Sgt Duncan who has his own secrets he's been hiding.
Duncan has always been attracted to Ivy and unlike other humans he isn't afraid or disgusted by the "freaks" as the humans call them or the "highbloods" as they call themselves. Callie is also attracted to Duncan but she is far more reticent about getting involved with a human.

First of all, I loved the concept of this book. I liked the world building and although it wasn't a brand new idea it was very well done. I liked Callie's character and although she isn't a kick-butt warrior she was strong in her own way. I like to see some female characters who aren't all warriors and Callie was intriguing. Necromancers are the supernaturals who most freak out the humans and who don't even quite fit in with other supernaturals. They are assigned a sentinel to protect them as they are vulnerable when they are delving into the minds of the dead. Duncan is a cop through and through. He has a sarcastic sense of humor and he's a bit arrogant. He was spoiled as the youngest in a large family and he knows he's good looking. However, his arrogance isn't over the top and he is actually quite charming. He accepts Callie for who she is and even when he wants to lock her away and keep her safe he knows that she is independent and can make her own decisions.

Callie's sentinel Fane plays a fairly large role in this book as well and I really liked him. Obviously Duncan and Fane don't get along and they have a lot of who's the "biggest man" moments. Fane comes across as the strong and silent type opposed to Duncan's in your face personality and it made for some good moments between two of them.

The plot of this book surrounds another very old necromancer who has abilities that other necromancers don't have and he plans to build an army of the dead. He is working with a powerful witch who doesn't mind doing black magic. We get quite a bit of info from their POV as well in this book. I enjoyed it but I wish that the bad guy wasn't so easily defeated at the end and would have maybe even carried over through more of the series . The villains were interesting and I liked knowing quite a bit about them, where they came from and what they wanted.

There are some twists and turns and a secret or two that are revealed that keeps the story interesting. The romance happens a bit quickly in my opinion and a little more backstory between the two of them would have made it more realistic but other than that it was well written. They are both a little afraid of what is happening between them but willing to put themselves out there.

Overall, a very enjoyable start what looks like it will be a great paranormal romance series.