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readelnotdancel's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
pbanditp's review
5.0
“The child reached for the stake in her fathers heart.
‘No Mary,’ said Elizabeth Craven, gently pushing her hand aside.”
Those opening lines of the prologue are how you start a book. You immediately need to find out what is happening.
Blood Kin affected me more than I thought possible for what I assumed was just another vampire book. I became attached to these characters very quickly and I was cursing out the author when even the hint of a threat occurred and I found myself muttering “you better not, you better not…”
This was one of those books that I didn’t want to end but I couldn’t wait to find out what happens. I was concerned for people, they were real to me. I wanted them to hurry up and do what they needed to before the sun when down and would worry that they weren’t going to have enough time; in other words, I was totally invested.
This reviewer is in a Ronald Kelly phase, I just can’t give enough stars to these books and Blood Kin is no exception. I love the characters, I love the setting, I love the tension, I love the friendship, I love the heartache, but mostly I love the compelling story.
‘No Mary,’ said Elizabeth Craven, gently pushing her hand aside.”
Those opening lines of the prologue are how you start a book. You immediately need to find out what is happening.
Blood Kin affected me more than I thought possible for what I assumed was just another vampire book. I became attached to these characters very quickly and I was cursing out the author when even the hint of a threat occurred and I found myself muttering “you better not, you better not…”
This was one of those books that I didn’t want to end but I couldn’t wait to find out what happens. I was concerned for people, they were real to me. I wanted them to hurry up and do what they needed to before the sun when down and would worry that they weren’t going to have enough time; in other words, I was totally invested.
This reviewer is in a Ronald Kelly phase, I just can’t give enough stars to these books and Blood Kin is no exception. I love the characters, I love the setting, I love the tension, I love the friendship, I love the heartache, but mostly I love the compelling story.
biancarosesmith's review
4.0
I'm really enjoying Kelly's writing and Blood Kin was no exception. Blood Kin is what you need if you're after old school Southern vampire horror with lots of gore. If you enjoy these elements then you're going to have a good time!
I loved that this felt like more of a traditional vampire story. There were no strange spins or takes on vampires and it felt I was reading a great 80s horror film. There were certainly unique aspects to this story though, so don't interpret my words as it being boring. It also sets a great pace throughout and there was plenty of suspense.
The story grabs you from the start when it opens to Dud Craven stumbling upon his long lost relative Papa Josiah Craven who has been taking an extended slumber with a stake in his chest. No big deal. Being the good relative he is Dud removes the stake and discovers there may have been good reason for it being there in the first place. Dud as a character had me wondering if there was a brain or any common sense in that head of his. At least it was entertaining!
I'll keep this short and sweet but putting it simply if you enjoy traditional vampire stories such as Salems Lot then you'll love this one. Bonus enjoyment if you read it in Autumn.
Thank you to the author for providing me with a copy of Blood Kin in exchange for an honest review.
I loved that this felt like more of a traditional vampire story. There were no strange spins or takes on vampires and it felt I was reading a great 80s horror film. There were certainly unique aspects to this story though, so don't interpret my words as it being boring. It also sets a great pace throughout and there was plenty of suspense.
The story grabs you from the start when it opens to Dud Craven stumbling upon his long lost relative Papa Josiah Craven who has been taking an extended slumber with a stake in his chest. No big deal. Being the good relative he is Dud removes the stake and discovers there may have been good reason for it being there in the first place. Dud as a character had me wondering if there was a brain or any common sense in that head of his. At least it was entertaining!
I'll keep this short and sweet but putting it simply if you enjoy traditional vampire stories such as Salems Lot then you'll love this one. Bonus enjoyment if you read it in Autumn.
Thank you to the author for providing me with a copy of Blood Kin in exchange for an honest review.
wellwortharead's review
5.0
I first read Blood Kin back in the 90s. When I saw this classic horror had been re-released with a new bonus prequel story at the end I could not pass up a chance to revisit Granddaddy Craven and the hell he brought down on Craven's Mountain.
More than a blood and guts vampire story, there are characters to love, and to hate, and to hope for. There is a family in crisis that I hoped would mend. There is a meddlesome mother-in-law that I wanted to smack! Family bonds and friendships are in peril along with souls.
Josiah Craven was not a good person in life, and being undead did nothing to improve that. When his wife put him in the ground nearly 100 years ago she thought that was the end of it, and for her generation it was. Now all these years later, Dud Craven has unwittingly unearthed Josiah's grave. Josiah is not just starving for blood, he is hungry for power and plans to preside over a congregation of the undead, starting with his family.
Blood Kin is edge of your seat suspense and fang-tastic fun. Over 20 years ago I said it was one of the best vampire novels I had ever read, and it still is, to this day.
5 out of 5 stars
I received a complimentary copy for review.
More than a blood and guts vampire story, there are characters to love, and to hate, and to hope for. There is a family in crisis that I hoped would mend. There is a meddlesome mother-in-law that I wanted to smack! Family bonds and friendships are in peril along with souls.
Josiah Craven was not a good person in life, and being undead did nothing to improve that. When his wife put him in the ground nearly 100 years ago she thought that was the end of it, and for her generation it was. Now all these years later, Dud Craven has unwittingly unearthed Josiah's grave. Josiah is not just starving for blood, he is hungry for power and plans to preside over a congregation of the undead, starting with his family.
Blood Kin is edge of your seat suspense and fang-tastic fun. Over 20 years ago I said it was one of the best vampire novels I had ever read, and it still is, to this day.
5 out of 5 stars
I received a complimentary copy for review.
ericarobyn's review
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.5
Blood Kin by Ronald Kelly is a fast-paced, blood-boiling, and terrifying tale that tests how far individuals will go to ensure their family sticks together, for better or for worse.
Full disclosure: I was given a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my rating in any way.
When this story begins, we learn that a man named Josiah Craven has passed away. The cause is said to have been an accident as he fell and empaled himself through the heart on a bean pole. His wife seems cold at first as we learn that she doesn’t want to have a service, that she wants to bury him on a mountain, in the dead of night. Even with the townsfolk gossiping, she sticks to her plan; the man is buried without any ceremony or marker, and life goes on.
When this story begins, we learn that a man named Josiah Craven has passed away. The cause is said to have been an accident as he fell and empaled himself through the heart on a bean pole. His wife seems cold at first as we learn that she doesn’t want to have a service, that she wants to bury him on a mountain, in the dead of night. Even with the townsfolk gossiping, she sticks to her plan; the man is buried without any ceremony or marker, and life goes on.
Years later, while a descendant from Josiah Craven, named Dudley Craven, is tilling his property in order to plant more crops, he gets caught up on the edge of something in the ground. Thinking it could be valuables that were buried, he digs the box out. He’s shocked when he sees that it’s a coffin and that the bones inside have a bean pole through its ribcage. He thinks back to stories he had heard about his Grandpappy Craven, but isn’t convinced. His curiosity gets the best of him and he decides to try pulling the wood out…
Anyone who has read any vampire tale will be shouting at the pages of this book trying to tell Dud to stop during this scene. But nevertheless, once the pole is removed, Josiah comes back to life and begins to track down his descendants, leaving Dud reeling and regretting his actions.
From there, the story jumps between what is happening with Dudley and Grandpappy Craven, and a family that is trying to get through a rough patch. Of course, this family has a Craven in it. But when Grandpappy Craven comes for them, he has no idea how far the husband will go to protect his own.
Phew, I got so caught up in this tale! I love vampire stories, and this one certainly checked all my boxes! The characters were wonderful people even with their flaws, or they were totally wicked beings. The pacing was quick, but not too fast as the author didn’t hesitate to take a step back to really dive into the meat of the characters lives so the plot was that much more impactful. The action was brutal and wonderfully scripted. And the plot was insane! I was so nervous to see what would happen next and just wanted the best for everyone. Well… Except Blanche Craven. She could go die alone in a hole somewhere. She was the WORST.
All that being said, I really enjoyed the element of family throughout this story. And while there were perfect amounts of terror and love, there was also a lot of frustration. I wanted to reach into the book and smack some people for the things they said or did! But even this frustration really drove the plot and will leave readers thinking about it for a long time to come.
And my last note on the original story is that I just love when a story throws a curveball that I didn’t see coming. If you haven’t read this one yet, but are going to, I can’t wait for you to try to guess which scene I am talking about here!
In the edition that I was sent, it included a short story formatted as journal entries that was called The Wanderer of Twilight Mountain. These entries cover Grandpappy Craven’s disgusting private thoughts, his travels, and how he ended up a vampire in the first place.
My Favorite Passages:
He was beginning to wonder if the butter had slipped off Dud’s biscuit.
The girl was running toward the rear door. He quickly grabbed a chair and heaved it at her. It hit her with an ugly crunch of shattering wood and bone. The force of the chair threw the girl against the jukebox, driving her head through the glass. A shower of blue sparks and smoke sprayed the air. With her air on fire, the blonde slipped from the broken dome and fell to the floor as limp as a rag doll.
She felt on the verge of tears, but for some reason, they refused to come. She suddenly realized what her husband has become and what he had come there to do that night. She had encountered the same scene dozens of times within the pages of her books, as well as horror movies she watched on the sly from time to time. But that has been in her imagination. This was for real. She had actually lived the horror this time.
Fear made people act like that… like hostile, unreasonable assholes.
“You sure you can handle that, old-timer?” Boyd asked, winking at Tammy.
“Old-timer!” bellowed Vanleer indignantly. “Why, you just watch me make tracks up this here mountain! I was climbing stone walls with my fingernails when you were pissing in your diapers, Boyd, and I ain’t slowed down a lick. You’d best hitch up your britches and keep up, ’cause I don’t slow down for now one, male or female.”
“Old-timer!” bellowed Vanleer indignantly. “Why, you just watch me make tracks up this here mountain! I was climbing stone walls with my fingernails when you were pissing in your diapers, Boyd, and I ain’t slowed down a lick. You’d best hitch up your britches and keep up, ’cause I don’t slow down for now one, male or female.”
“Well, this is it,” said Boyd. “Doesn’t look like much, does it?”
“Quicksand doesn’t look like much, either, until you step in it,” said Caleb. “Are we ready to go in?”
“Quicksand doesn’t look like much, either, until you step in it,” said Caleb. “Are we ready to go in?”
My Final Thoughts:
This southern story will sink it’s teeth into you right from page one, leaving you zoned in until the very end. It’s a must read for fans of vampire tales!
I had so much fun reading and can’t wait to return to it again later!
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