Bloodshot (Cheshire Red Reports)

This review is based on an Advanced Reader's Edition provided as part of the the store Vine program.

This is Cherie Priest's first foray into the world of Modern Dark Fantasy. On the surface, it's pretty typical. Female vampire protagonist. Did I mention she's a thief/private investigator, and hot? It has a few twists. The first is that the client is a vampire, a blind vampire. The other odd thing is that its written from the first person. To be honest, I found this to be pretty refreshing. You get to really experience the story from Raylene's point of view. There are a couple of other real twists to the story, which I really didn't predict.

I really enjoyed this book, and will be looking for future Raylene Pendle novels.

Raylene is a vampire and a thief. She steals art and jewels and she is more that a touch independant. She does not hang out with the vampire crowd and their known associates. She does meet a vampire named Ian who is blind, something that is unheard of in the vampire world. He is the victimof government experiements and is searching for the paperwork of the government tests to find out if anything can be done for him. This is not the kind of thing Raylene gets involved with but something about Ian has touched a chord in her heart.
This well written first novel of a new series by this acclompished author leads me to think that there are many tasty new books to come from this idea and I am waiting for the next.

Genre-hopping author Cherie Priest has gone from paranormal to steampunk and now is taking a crack at urban fantasy. 'Bloodshot' appears to be just the first of a series of books starring Raylene Pendle, a semi-psychic Seattle-based vampire burglar who is prone to panic attacks and can pass for a real estate agent. If this sounds quirky, wait until you meet the six-foot four-inch Cuban former Navy SEAL drag queen. The author has gone all out to give her readers a vast smorgasbord of entertaining and unique characters.

Unfortunately, she did not put nearly as much effort into developing an engaging or original plot. Raylene is hired by a blind vampire to break into a top secret government facility and steal files that may help restore his sight. From there, the story degenerates into alternating rounds of men in black suits storming and trashing her properties and Raylene and friends storming and trashing (and biting) in return. A major eye-roller occurs early on when the aforementioned top secret government facility turned out to be nothing more challenging than a storage barn enclosed by a chain-link fence and some guards. Is that really the most challenging target the government can pit against a vampire? If it is, we are doomed, whether vampires exist or not.

There is definite room for improvement in this series as the foundation is good and Priest is a talented author with a snappy style and flair for dialogue. I expect the next book to be better.

Southern something

Cherie Priest has written herself a pretty good novel. There is much to like. In tapping into the rich literary gothic tradition of the South, she has come up with her own creation. The characters, Eden Moore, her aunt Lulu, stepfather Dave, all seem to come from the New South, a South that hangs out at coffee bars for poetry readings and listens to the B-52s or R.E.M. (or something newer). But Tradition is still there - and characters like Eden's great aunt "Tatie", is like a character out of Faulkner-land. It's a character co-existence that is pulled off nicely by Priest.

The story itself is an occult one, with dark family secrets coming slowly to the surface. Eden, who has a gift for seeing ghosts - especially three friendly but tragic ones, is the driving force of the story, but she herself is ensnared in a fateful web that she only senses the outlines of. But the story is also a mystery in, say, the classic British sense, as Eden crosses the South looking for clues regarding her family history, and the particulars of a brutal crime. Priest is also quite good in describing the geography (a southern writer "must") of Eden's searches. In particular, I enjoyed the description of the abandoned (and haunted) Tennessee hospital, which is a dead ringer for the creepy place I saw once as the subject of Sci-Fi channel documentary. (It also had me thinking of the super creepy movie "Session 9".) I also enjoyed the things quite a bit when Eden made it to the swamps of Florida. Again, great descriptive writing - and one excellent fight scene.

Still, this is a first novel. There at times when I thought it read like the sum of those writers - and styles, that had influenced the writer. I don't necessarily think there's anything wrong with that, because it shows the writer as a serious student. And Priest is certainly that. But the style she has embraced, Southern Gothic, is one that depends on atmosphere. The prose styles of say William Faulkner, Flannery O'Conner, or even Harry Crews, are often as knotty and gnarled as the stories they tell. In contrast, Priest is as polished as it gets. A bad thing? I don't know, but there seems an oil and water mix when I detect Agatha Christie or Nancy Drew when I've been traveling down a road that says House of Usher up ahead. There are times in "Four and Twenty Blackbirds"when atmosphere takes a back seat to mystery novel mechanics. The good news however is that Priest is very good. I have no doubt, as she becomes more seasoned, that the fault-lines in style will fade, and that she will develop a voice that is completely her own. "Four and Twenty Blackbirds"gives ample evidence that she is well on her way.

Wow. Cherie Priest is brilliant! This reader has been devouring the likes of King, Barker, Lovecraft, Saul and Herbert for many years, but Priest is in a class of her own...so listen up, students!
She has a remarkable way of drawing you in, and keeping you there. Readers often picture events taking place in a book, in their head. Cherie has a way of not only doing THAT, but making the reader feel they're actually THERE. Seeing and feeling everything, as it happens.
Her characters are so vibrantly portrayed, and so REAL, one actually feels they KNOW them. Or would at least like to :) But my favorite thing about this book, other than the story, itself...is the nonchalant dropping of bombs :) You'll have to read it, to see what I mean ;) She'll have you blinking and saying, "Huh..WHAT?" before you even realize she's done it. SUPERB story telling, period!!
I HIGHLY recommend this book to anybody who enjoys a good ghost/horror/spooky read. I can't wait to read more from this wonderful, intelligent, and highly talented new author. She REALLY knows her craft!

Cherie Priest shrewdly marketed her first horror novel on her popular blog so that it got a wider readership than most maiden fiction efforts do, and it deserved it. It's one of the most genuinely scary Southern Gothic novels written in years, and while it does at rare times falter in tone a bit or in narrative drive (Priest has difficulty, for example, bringing the heroine Eden plausibly from childhood to young adulthood very quickly) its genuinely scary and atmospheric. Its beginning images--of a trio of ghostly murdered female ancestors warning Eden of dangers to her life--is quite arresting, and it builds quite well to its climax in ancient and haunted St. Augustine, FL. For what it is (basically, a very entertaining scary read), this is quite a fine first work.

Bloodshot was an absolutely delightful book to read. I could tell within the first few paragraphs that this was going to be an entertaining story, and once I got started with it, I just couldn't put it down until the last page was turned. Bloodshot is an incredibly humorous, action-packed modern day vampire thriller that not only kept me on the edge of my seat with just the right amount of suspense, but kept me in stitches as well. The writing style that Cherie Priest put into this novel was just incredibly delicious to read. A vampire horror novel has been so witty and incredibly fun reading as this!

Cherie Priest has written several good novels already so it wasn't much of a surprise to see her go the urban fantasy route. It is one of the most popular sub-genres and the best way to establish a franchise. Bloodshot certainly has the potential to earn that franchise for her. The world she sets up isn't too distinctive but the characters are memorable and the writing and dialogue is crisp. There's less mythologizing then most books of this type and the story leans more towards action and espionage than interplay between supernatural elements. Overall, this was a good subway read, fast paced and well written but not mind blowing.

I just finished this book today and as Vampires are not my thing, I read it on the strength of Cherie Priest's Clockwork series. I immediately wondered if I would have a problem with a female lead character, and I am now glad I gave it a try. It was an extremely fun read. The characters speak like I do to my friends which I thoroughly appreciated. All in all I would say if you are a fan of books by authurs such as Jim Butcher or Simon R Green you will love this book as well. I cannot wait for the next book in this series!

Raylene is the infamous Cheshire Red. Usually a lone wolf in all things work and pleasure, she teams up with a drag queen on a cross country hunt to find a cure for her charismatic client, Ian.

Anyone looking for romance, this is not your book. It is; however, a fun urban fantasy with a quirky supporting cast and an even quirkier heroine.

I enjoyed Raylene's inner monologue and learning about the other characters. There was just enough information to not bog you down and to keep you reading. I will be reading the next installment.

Learning that this was her first published book, I started reading it actually looking for signs that this was a beginner author. I soon became swept up in the story so much that I didn't care who had written it or how many books they had written, I just wanted to find out what happened to Eden, the main character of the book. Like so many of us, Eden discovers that something is different about her family and the mystery surrounding her life becomes her new quest as she tries to find out what secrets lie in the past. This was an excellent story and the author has a remarkable talent. I hope to see more of her works published in the future.

So I had been hearing good things about this novel for a couple years but somehow never managed to pick up a copy until I was fortunate to be given it as a present.

Cherie Priest has a very lush manner of storytelling. Not so overblown as Elizabeth Bear's purple descriptions of place and person, but tightly-written details that enrich each page.

I cared about the characters. I cared about their lives and dreams and understood their motivations clearly. I found their speech patterns spot-on, realistic and witty.

The plot moves quickly but never loses the reader. I especially like how Priest managed to convey the fear and loathing of haunted sites and the struggles of ghosts to avenge their deaths.

Trust me, I won't have any of the delays in purchasing her next book.

I stumbled across Cherie Priest a couple of years ago on Livejournal. When I discovered her book, I decided to check it out. I'm very glad I did. Four & Twenty Blackbirds is an engaging read from beginning to end. Some people might think that Eden Moore isn't engaging or sympathetic, but I think that she's distant and sometime emotionally detached because you almost have to be if you've lived with the ability to see ghosts from very early in life.

Four & Twenty Blackbirds has everything that a good gothic book should have: engaging characters, a strong plot, thrills, and a mystery that's both resolved yet leaves openings for future stories. If you're looking for something new to read, take a chance on this book. I have a feeling that you'll be glad you did.

While I'm relatively new to the urban fantasy scene, I knew Cherie Priest's latest novel about a vampire master thief would be worth checking out. I was not disappointed. With characters ranging from a former marine now professional drag queen to Men in Black dedicated to protecting the secrets of seedy government projects, the plot was fast paced and action packed.
For me, the characters are really what stood out about the story. I'll be honest and say that I didn't like the main character immediately. However, it turned out to be a sign of good writing and character development when Raylene's gritty sense of humor and ethics and her paranoia-ruled personality really grew on me throughout the story.
I highly recommend reading this book. I know I can't wait for more and was excited to learn there would be a sequel out later this year. I can't wait to pick it up!

Four and Twenty Blackbirds is the kind of book that makes you long for a cold, rainy day, a warm bed piled with blankets, and plenty of uninterrupted reading time to pore through it. From the first page, I didn't want to put it down and it kept me captivated until the very end. The author's world - the familiar Old South, layered with lost ghosts and legends which hold grains of truth in them - is compelling, and the story is heavy with atmosphere. The writing is so vivid that it feels like a movie is unfolding before your mind's eye.

All in all, I highly recommend it, and can't wait for the sequel!

I totally enjoyed this book, it was an old fashioned gothic ghost story, and once I started it I couldn't put it down. I am really surprised it is the author's debut novel. But that said, I gave it five stars, and really wanted to give it four and a half, only because I felt like the ending was rushed. I didn't feel as if the explantion to the whole haunting and the ghostly characters was complete enough. But, I gave it five, because even with that, I really enjoyed this book. Ghost story fun, and I really liked the main characters. All in all, a great read.

Bloodshot was a very exciting read. There are vampires, thieves, the military, crazed scientists, inhumane and unethical experiments on vamps, parkour extremists, dependent squatters, and drag queens. As all-over-the-place as it sounds, it all pulls together quite nicely. Raylene Pendle (a.k.a., Cheshire Red) is a loner; she avoids others like herself--vampires. Yet, she is drawn to and agrees to aid Ian Stott (blind vamp) by procuring military, top secret files for him. Though she maintains that she is oh, so careful, she makes many, many mistakes--solidifying her humanity--that keep the reading intense until the very end.

I like ghost stories. When I was eleven, my older and elegantly literate cousin Upshur gave me a collection of ghost stories. I still have the book, sans spine, with cryptic markings in pencil, my work, and crayon, probably the work of one of my troublesome little sisters.

I was eager, therefore, to pick up a new book by a Chattanooga author (imagine that!), Cherie Priest, titled Four and Twenty Blackbirds. It is tremendously satisfying. A wonderfully constructed story combining ghosts, witches, history and decaying southern families with Chattanooga locations and flavor. Not to mention excursions to south Georgia and spooky swamps in Florida.

I liked the characters, especially the protagonist, Eden Moore, who is a strong and sensitive woman determined to unravel a tangled family history, and an ominous lingering threat of supernatural cataclysm.

The story unfolds gradually, with the facts of familial history only gradually revealed to the central character, just in time for the next development of the plot. The ending involves suspense, a sudden revelation of all the interconnecting lines of the story, and leaves you wanting to follow Eden Moore through other quests.

Buy it. Read it. Wait on the next two books in a projected trilogy.

Also check out Priest's Live Journal, Heretic Spire, a Damned Lie.

Couple of negatives give this strong debut novel 4 stars and not 5. With all the crap the main character (Eden) went through, I would have liked to see a bit less wisecracking and a bit more pathos. Also, and maybe this is just me, but I felt there wasn't enough "story" towards the end. Without giving away spoilers, I wanted to learn more about a certain character, and it felt a bit rushed. Also, I was confused at times trying to keep up with the elaborate family tree and who was connected to who. With that being said...this was a very engrossing, suspenseful novel with a number of great scenes that'll be hard to forget - the abandoned hospital, summer camp and the mansion, to name a few. I look forward to reading a lot more of Ms. Priest's novels.

I had very mixed feelings about this book. I really wanted to like it. It's the first thing I've read by Cherie Priest and I know she is an award winning author. The main problem I had was that I found the heroine to be completely unlikeable and not at all sympathetic. We are given too much to flesh out this character. Lines that are meant to be funny came across as snide.

The main character is a vampire. There's bound to be some violence. However, the reader should be able to relate to or understand the character's motivation. Raylene seemed to be a cold blooded killer. Couldn't she just have knocked Trevor out?

NOTE: I wanted to give Ms. Priest another shot and read the sequel to this novel. To my surprise, I enjoyed it and have given it 5 stars. Much more character and relationship development. Better plot.

Cherie Priest is an artist. Her medium is language and the pictures she paints with words are as vivid as if they had been filmed in Technicolor. I could not put this book down until I was finished with it. I drove my friends and family crazy by reading them the parts with particularly well done descriptions. Priest has an excellent understanding of Southern culture and she does an equally excellent job in immersing the reader in that world. I frequently had to remind myself that I live in Texas, not Tennessee. If you're looking for a fast-paced spooky adventure, this is the book for you.

A well-written, mystery story with a female protagonist who sees ghosts.

I have never read a ghost story quite like this. It takes place in the southern United States and many of the main characters are African American or bi-racial. The protagonist, Eden, is a strong character who was used to being different, not just for her ethnicity, but because of her special ability to speak to the dead. I think this made her drive and her strength more believable.

I didn't get into this at first because the story starts with Eden as a child and I was kind of bored. I am so glad that I kept reading! The story quickly progresses through Eden's childhood and the pacing picks up.

I enjoyed the prose and the southern voice in this novel. If she writes another book, I will read it.

Fantastic and engrossing, this book has a rich and inviting narrative that compels the reader to stay by the main characters side through trials and tribulations both horrible and terrifying. Not only is her main character shown to have an unusual upbringing, but as the story progresses we find that her extended family also has quite a few ghosts lurking in the closet, and when it comes to ghosts Eden is no novice.

With three ethereal chaperons the heroine follows a trail of strange connections which lead her down a merry trail of events that would set anyones teeth on edge, and yet she still manages to hold it all together well enough to see some answers brought to light.

This is a delightful story which brings to mind some of the better Lovecraftian stories which weave the audience into a world they cannot soon forget. I for one am looking forward to the next books in this series and hope that Eden's story continues to engross and envelop the reader to its ultimate conclusion

This book is simply one of the most pleasing books to read that I've laid my hands on. It works on all levels, its a crime novel, a horror novel, a thriller, suspense. Whichever genre of book that you enjoy there is something to enjoy here - with a fluid and easy writing style that makes you turn the pages - and means you won't put this book down until you're finished. The well developed characters lead you along a twisting and mysterious path, never quite letting you see the end, but letting you glimpse its shadow through the trees. This is the kind of book that wins awards. Three words - Buy This Book.

From the hills of Tennessee to the swamplands of Florida; Eden Moore, the girl who can talk to spirits chases a hidden family mystery. Ms Priest's first Eden Moore story will grab you and thrill you as the heroine tangles with an aged aunt hiding a family secret, to a mysterious gunman out for her blood.

Alan Place
Author of Chronicles of Mark Johnson
[,,,]

The writing was decent and definitely held my interest. The storyline moved along nicely. Most of the characters well developed, though not always likeable. The only thing I didn't like was the main character, Eden's, attitude. She's kind of a snotty brat and during the action sequences I could almost picture her in a "Buffy, The Vampire Slayer" episode. I don't think she should have been this scared little ingenue but a little sympathy and compassion would have been enhanced her personality.

the book is very entertaining. love the mix of genres and truly appreciated that this wasn't a romance or erotica novel (unlike so many of the other books that have been invading the fantasy genre). Love the authors wit and words. Really looking forward to the third book in the series after scarfing down the first two in a couple of days.

I thoroughly enjoyed this tale of Raylene, a seriously talented female vampire, and her bighunk sidekick in drag Sister Rose. Will be helpful to reader that h/she be familiar with life in America to fully appreciate Priest's humor.

There is violence and death---but it is infrequent, understated and not generally the point to whatever happens on that page. Priest writes to entertain, not shock.

Bring on more Sister Rose!

I checked this out at after reading the back cover of Preist's newest novel. I loved this book. I am a big fan of the Southern Vampire mysteries, and this one stacks up to those - if not better written. The characters are wonderful, and the story is gripping. This is well worth the read. I just ordered the other two books in the series and I cannot wait to read them.

No spoilers. The pace is fast and characters are fleshed out (well) on the run. You will not be able to guess the plot line in advance as you can with so many other genre novels.

It feels like the first of a series and I will continue reading if there are more.

Nice job Cherie!

This book took my breath away. It was the perfect ghost story, and I'm usually not one to enjoy ghost stories. They usually fall flat, but not this book! It kept my heart racing from beginning to end. It didn't take long at all for me to finish this book. It's filled with mystery, suspense, sadness, and old evil. I loved the main character's narration. Highly recommended.

Fun, action, advenure, and vampires, what more could you ask for? I really enjoyed the pace of the novel, and didn't want to put it down. When I finished it, I wanted more. This is the first book by Cherie Priest I have read, and I really like her style! If you enjoy characters with a little quirk, witty writing, and a little mystery, you will enjoy this novel.

I just absolutely love this book. It's so haunting, and addicting, I just couldn't put it down. It's brilliantly written, very deep and dark. Cherie has a wonderful talent and I wish I had her knack for putting my darkest thoughts onto paper. I highly recommend this book.

I really enjoyed this story. I liked Rayelene's ruthlessness, OCD and humor. I liked the conversational tone of the narration. The story was interesting and unique (no vampiric pining or brooding, it was more like a vampiric Mission Impossible story) and I really enjoyed the almost-love-story.

I really enjoyed this story. I liked Rayelene's ruthlessness, OCD and humor. I liked the conversational tone of the narration. The story was interesting and unique (no vampiric pining or brooding, it was more like a vampiric Mission Impossible story) and I really enjoyed the almost-love-story.

Bloodshot is a excellent new urban fantasy from Cherie Priest. I found Raylene Pendle also know as Cheshire Red to be an interesting and nuanced character. She bucks the vampire hierarchy and leads the human authorities on an merry chase. Secondary characters are also quite fun. The end leaves room for further installments but is satisfying enough to be a stand alone book.
Best endorsement I could give it, if she wrote another Raylene book, I would buy it.

Wings to the Kingdom is an entertaining ghost story fashioned around the Civil War battle of Chickamauga, Georgia and old Green Eyes who haunts the battleground. It is also a good mystery story, well-written and esaily read.

Cherie Priest's 'Four and Twenty Blackbirds' is by far this years best horror/fiction novel. The character development is wonderfully orchestrated as she choreographs the evils lurking in the shadows waiting to jump out at you. A must read. She takes you from the wind beaten mountain paths of Tennessee to the mirky eerie depths of the Florida Everglades on a hunt for an answer to a generations old question. Ms. Priest takes your imagination, sculpts it and displays some of our worst fears in the process. I couldn't put it down.

I really enjoyed reading this book. It was fast paced, interesting, and had some very spooky parts. I gave it a 4, however, because I felt that the dialogue was rather stiff and the end was very rushed. Make sure you pay attention to names and relationships, because if you forget by the time you get to the end of the book like I did, it's kinda confusing.

Cherie Priest has written a spectacular first book. The story grabs you in the first chapter and doesn't let up at all. I could not put it down.
The flow of the book is immensely appreciated by me, no where does it drag or get slow, and inversely it does not speed through necessary plot developement and character background.
Having lived in a few of the places covered in this book made it all the more ingrossing!
If you like a good ghost story with plot twists aplenty, READ THIS BOOK!
i only have one complaint...i wish it was longer!
Will we read more about Eden?
I hope so.

For those looking for a wonderful dark addition to their literary collections, this is the book for you!
The flow of visions of this piece of finely written fiction is perhaps one of the best of this past season. I couldn't put it down from the first page until the very last. It was an evening of pure joy as I reached its conclusion.
Fine work, Ms. Priest! I look forward to your next book and all that you put forth for us undying fans to enjoy!

I found this book from up and coming author Cherie Priest hard to resist. It has a beckoning mixture of southern culture, ghosts, and horror.
To put it simply.. read this book.
I can hardly wait for new releases from Ms. Priest.

Very little makes me look over my shoulder anymore, I've become so jaded about the "horror" that is produced currently. But I found myself sucked into this book within a few pages, and stayed up late to finish it. I kept eyeing the dark like something would come out of it. I've really missed that lingering chill that a good story provides, and I can't wait to see the sequels!

Priest pulls you right into the world of Eden, Malachi, and Lulu. This is one of those stories where you have to stop and shake yourself out of the spell she's woven!

Deliciously wicked, and highly reccomended!