Book 3), Blood Charged (Dragon Blood

Fantastic! Lindsay has done it again. If you haven't picked up any books in her other series, what are you waiting for? She has quickly become one of my favorite authors. She consistently writes great stories with fully developed characters, great story lines, and richly detailed world building.

This series just keeps getting better and better. Sardelle and Ridge are back again and this time they are off to Cofah with a small group of flyers on a mission from Iskandia's King. Tolemek and Ahn are among them as well as Jaxi, Sardelle's sentient sword. Tolemek hopes to rescue his sister with Sardelle's help.

It is becoming more challenging to prevent others from learning about Sardelle's ability to use magic, in part because those abilities are all that stands between their group of allies and certain death. Ridge needs every bit of his skill as a pilot and as a leader on this expedition into the mountains of Cofah. In between fending off attacks from Cofah airships and searching for the source of dragon's blood, Ridge does his best to encourage the other pilots to accept Sardelle and Tolemek as the valuable people that they are.

Naturally there are explosions, near misses and plenty of the excellent non-stop action and adventure those of us who love Lindsay Buroker's writing have come to expect. Getting to know this group of characters better is a real pleasure. Can't wait to find out what comes next . . . and there are solid hints there will be a "next". Please keep writing, Lindsay!!

This review is for a review (e-)copy.

Warning: This is a sequel in a series (#3, as the title puts it). This is not a good place to start the series. #1 or #2 are good places to start the series (#2 is pretty standalone from #1).

In this book, the protagonists both from #1 (Balanced on a Blade's Edge) and #2 (Deathmaker) are united in a new adventure. The dastardly Cofah empire has yet another secret weapon, and Colonel Zirkander (from Book #1) and his squadron (Book #2) are on a secret mission. Some rather interesting dynamics with the crew and situations.

As usual, Lindsay Buroker creates a tight plot--and we're along for a heck of a ride through the adventures. Sparkling and witty dialogue ("...knocked you on your lower cheeks...").

Somewhat cliff-hanger-ish ending.

Highly recommended--BUT--don't buy this yet! First, buy Balanced on a Blade's Edge and Deathmaker. THEN, buy this.

This series keeps on getting ever more exciting with non-stop adventures and our marvellous team of wolf air team lead by Zirkander himself and his girlfriend the sorceress Sardarelle and her very caustic soul blade Jaxi and of course the deathmaker all keeping us the readers on our toes or at the edge of our seats! This time we venture into enemy territory to try and get hold of dragon blood which it seems the cohfra people are using to make weapons. They travel into the jaws of the enemy and the story keeps on becoming really tense till the last few lines. In fact I was sure that this time we would not be seeing a good end to this book but Lindsey Buroker has a way of writing where she manages to tie up the loose ends of the story yet leaves us wanting more as there is so much more that we are dying to get to know!! This is a real fun, must read series, the sarcastic caustic wit of Jaxi is such fun, i love that soul blade!

Things are heating up in Iskandia. The Cofah have harnessed something that could turn the tides of battle and Ridge and his crew can't let that happen. You know, because they like their home and don't want to end up dead or enslaved.

It's a rather motley group that Ridge leads on this mission. Let's just say there's a touch of tension in the ranks and leave it at that. Okay, wait. I'm not going to leave it at that. Tolemek's past puts a wee bit of strain on the working relationships in the squad. Since he's, you know, the Deathmaker. Add in Sardelle and Ridge trying to hide Sardelle's magic from those who have been taught to hate and fear magic and you have some FUN times.

Oh, and the group is also smack-dab in the middle of enemy territory and they're dealing with weapons they haven't seen before.

GLORIOUS!

We got more Ridge and Sardelle (I like those two together!) and more Cas and Tolemek (*fist pump* because absent-minded scientists and the ladies who put up with them make me grin), plus a few more crew to round out their group. The mystery of how the Cofah got their hands on the dragon blood is waiting to be uncovered as well as a rescue mission. I'm ready!

-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

I am a voracious reader and like many I read books for a variety of reasons and to meet a variety of needs. Lindsay Buroker is my favorite go to author for when I just want to escape the craziness of life. She always provides just the break that I need from an often emotionally exhausting life. I love her quirky characters and Blood Charged does not disappoint.

I lived as a wise rebel vicariously through Colonel Ridge Zirkander and felt some of my own desire to rebel, because of course I know better, wash away leaving me a more peaceful citizen.

I reveled in the joking camaraderie of "brothers" wishing that we all experienced more of that in the real world.

I again lived vicariously through Sardelle. Her confidence, wisdom, power, and benevolence in her power. I was feeling a bit out of control in my day to day life and while I fully entrust my life in God's hands it was fun to fantasize a wee bit about being able to mentally drop kick an enemy or two.

The characters always have strong individual personalities but I love it when you get to see them work together as a cohesive team. Teamwork existed in the Emperor’s Edge series but it is much more intrinsically entwined in this series.

It is not always easy to find the perfect escape book but each and every time I pick up one of Lindsay Burokers books I am not disappointed (except for in the fact that while she is an incredibly fast writer she constantly keeps me wanting the next book NOW). I am greatly looking forward to book 4 and learning more about Tolemek’s sister. I wouldn’t mind a whole new series spinning off in that direction (hint hint hint).

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this eBook in exchange for an honest review

This is the 3rd book in the Dragon Blood Series (there will be at least one more – hopefully more). If you have not read Books 1 and 2, I strongly suggest starting out with Balanced on a Blade’s Edge (only 99 cents). While reading the first two books are not required, it does make the story more enjoyable.

In this installment we are back following Ridge and Sardelle with Ahn and Tolemek (And others – Most notable is Jaxi – who doesn’t love Jaxi!) in on the adventure. Jaxi has more to say in this book and I find her wit to be very entertaining.
Sardelle’s secret is getting out, Distrust is still high for Deathmaker and now Ridge is off to Cofah on a very dangerous mission with a team of agents under the command of another. The mission, find and destroy a secret Cofah research facility that is reportedly using dragon blood to make weapons for use in the war.

With the mission taking Ridge, Ahn and Tolemek to the Cofah mainland, this is clearly a good time for Sardelle to make good on the promise she made in book 2 – But can it be done?

Four two-seater flyers, a secret mission, and witty dialog make this book the best of the series thus far. The two groups (Flyers and Agents) have their issues but there is also Sardelle’s secret, history and rumors about Tolemek to contend with plus the new technology to deal with. What this makes is an action packed story that is a blast (no pun intended) to read.

I finished the book quickly and didn't want to put it down. I highly recommend reading the books in order, but this is bar far my fav and I am hoping the next one comes out soon!

ONCE AGAIN< I just love this series. Ridge gets a secret assignment that apparently isn't so secret. The Cofar are using Dragon Blood, so they say, to create all these new and deadly weapons. The King asks Ridge and his team to fly spies into Cofar territory and retrieve a sample. Sounds easy right? Not if the Cofar know they're coming?
Another action packed story with hand to hand battle to fantastic aerial battles. I literally could not put it down at some point. This set was a freebie and I really appreciate it. It got me hooked on another series. I see there are a few more stories that I need to read...

Summary: 5 stars. Recommended for people who like fun and fast fantasy adventures.

Blood Charged is the third book in the Dragon Blood fantasy series, but unlike book 2 you need to read the previous books to understand what's going on. The events build on the characters and plots of the previous two books.

The series world gets even more interesting when Sardelle, Ridge, Cas, Tolemek, and others travel to the Cofah Empire to stop the empire before they can use their deadly new weapons.

There are air battles, explosions, magic, crazy antics, and through it all lots of humor. Like the other books, the story grabs you and never stops moving until the end. It's not a romance like the first two books. It follows the adventures and developing relationships of those two couples.

Witty writing, well-developed characters, and an explosive plot made this book a very enjoyable read. Even through all the danger, it's always lighthearted and fun, never depressing.

I found this book to be highly satisfying, I feel like we are finally getting a good feel for the world in which it takes place, not only do we get to see other parts of the world, but we get to imagine more, and start to see it as a whole picture, not just as iskandia and the rest of it. We also get to see a bit more of the Cofah, no longer are they just a nameless, faceless enemy but a people with goals and drives of their own; however, we do not feel sympathetic towards them at all yet. This story is from the pov of Ridge and Sardelle, but we also get to see a fair bit of Caslin and Tolamek, and both of these relationships have grown and changed since the previous book. Tolamek himself has also changed a fair bit, and I enjoyed his character immensely in this story. Relationships are really just a background to the action in this story though, it's a bit of a nail biter and is fast paced from page one. I had a hard time putting this one down and feel like it ended too soon, but look forward to the next installment.

Once again I found myself happily trying to pace myself to enjoy the book slowly instead of just grab and read as fast as I can. Lindsay makes it very hard for me to do this though. Her characters are warm, funny, crazy, clever and relatable. The science behind the magic, the soul blade assisting everyone as she feels, battling Cofah and their newly discovered dragon blood 'technology', more Tolemek, more Sardelle and Ridge, more Ahn, and just MORE of every thing. The battles are exciting, the banter between the characters is fun, witty, sometimes sad and all around human but with that nudge of fantasy that keeps you immersed in their world and how they all feel or act the way they do. The steampunk and magic intertwining with superstition and 'how'd they do that' moments keep me rapidly reading along and always ready for more!

An impulsive decision maker for a flight commander, a mage healer as his girlfriend, a spying mission to infiltrate the enemy country's secret science facility, deadly weapons supposedly enhanced using dragon blood, apparent existence of dragons after their extinction centuries ago - all these factors make for the fantastic fantasy tale Blood Charged.

The third instalment in the Dragon Blood series brings together the four, or rather five including the soulblade, central characters from the previous two novels who embark on a dangerous mission and face challenging situations with bravery and perseverance. It is always a pleasure to read novels by Lindsay Buroker whose unique style and fantastic tales enchant you. With all the right elements crafted into a page turner, this book lives up to my expectations. What more can a fiction lover ask for? Oh yes, the next book of course..!!

Lyndsay Buroker writes a terrific story in her own unique style. Whether you're a fan of the Dragon Blood series, the steampunk genre or just looking for a tale that packs a punch of romance, humour and adventure; welded together with great characterisation and imaginative world-building to delight any reader, then this book is for you. I thoroughly enjoyed Blood Charged and couldn't put it down (read it in one sitting) and can't wait for book 4. Thank you Lyndsay for never disappointing.

Continuing the adventures of an un-hybernated sorceress, her pilot captain bed friend, and their recently acquired double-date-mates, this installment has more action and less romance thn the last two. Not that our intrepid heroine, Sardelle, isn't often pondering the state of her heart. Just that there is not much time to get mawkish when one is infiltrating enemy territory and using one's magic to break into a lair worthy of a Bond villain.

I like Sardelle and Ridge better than Ahn and Tee, so I enjoyed this book more than Deathmaker. But that's kind of like opining that ice cream floats are better with a stout beer than with root beer. Either way you've got a tasty treat, just like all Buroker's books tend to be.

It's surprising how easily Buroker has moved from the word of Emperor's Edge to her new series, creating characters every bit as memorable and engaging. In Blood Charged, her new cast of characters (including a 400 year old sorcerer, a dashing air commander, an ex-pirate inventor and, most memorably, a sassy spirit inhabiting a magic sword), have word that their enemies have started to harness the power of dragon blood. Which is problematic, since no one knew dragons still existed. Sardelle, Ridge, Jaxi and the rest must travel by air to a secret laboratory, and see if they can unravel the mystery of their enemies' new weapon.

As always, reaching the last page is disappointing, until you realize another book will follow.

Linday does it again with Blook Charged. When she first started the now Dragon Blood series, it was a fun, well written adventure, but now it has grown into a really awesome series.

Loved reading more about Ridge and Sardelle! These are characters you care about and you really are invested in their actions and adventures. The interaction between them is humorous and interesting ... and more Jaxi doesn't hurt either.

If you haven't read Lindsay, give yourself a treat and pick up this series.

I hope this series has a long life! Thanks, Lindsay.

Another Lindsay Buroker book that you can't put down. This is definitely my favorite of the 3 (and I loved the other 2 in the series). I love that is has been left open for a 4th and I really can't wait to see it. I really like that the book has Sardelle and Ridge, as well as Tolemek and Ahn.
Great action, great humour. I recommend to read the other two first so you get the most out of this one.
Thanks for another great read Lindsay.
One of the things I love about Lindsay's books is that they are great reads, but don't break the bank.

The third book in the Dragon Blood series finds all four of the main characters on an adventure together. Airships, hot air balloons, man-made mountains, moving statues, and a little bit of dragon blood make this latest steampunk novel by Lindsay Buroker a must-read!

So, I've reviewed multiple Lindsay Buroker books before, and I don't want to repeat myself...but I am going to anyway. This book was fun, action-packed, and left me impatient for the next installment. I am enjoying watching these characters develop, and I look forward to the continuation of their story lines. If you haven't read the first two in the series, go ye therefor and read them right away! And then go and re-read the Emperor's Edge series because, Sicarious.

Another stellar showing from Lindsay Buroker. Book 3 of the Dragon Blood series delivers all the thrills you have come to expect from the fabulous writer. Please read them in order and you will fall in love with this newest series. A definite A + showing.

I love the strong female characters that Lindsay Buroker creates. This book is a good showcase of those women (Jaxi included!) as they hold their own and keep up with the boys. Without giving it away, I liked the twist toward the end of the book. I am looking forward to the next installment of the adventures of Sardelle, Cas, and the gang.