Christine Blackthorn

I enjoyed reading this book because there were some subtleties to it I wasn't expecting plot-wise. In addition, she seems to know instinctively how to build her story but keep building her characters. As I said before, I did enjoy reading this book , but -
I felt it was too short. It felt like the story was unfinished at the end. She builds a whole background of elves and politics and enemies hiding in the shadows. And let's it all fizzle, unresolved. She did such a great job of building her story. I simply want to finish reading that story.… (más)

The author has taken time to transport readers to an unknown world. Each detail paints a picture that places you in a “real time” scenario.
I wasn't to keen thinking of reading something vampire related but always up for new adventures. As the stage is set, I fast became aware of sounds, sights, odors, temperature and lighting of the buildings, rooms, personalities, awareness and feelings of the characters. The author's thought process takes writing to a next level of high quality with limited characters.
I started reading this one evening. I finish it the next day on a two hour road trip that seemed like 5 minutes.
By My Choice: A Bloodhaven Novella is a followup to A Variety of Chains by the same author. Although a followup, readers do not have to read one to understand the other but why not?
This was a free for review book.… (más)

I received a copy of this book through LibraryThing Early Reviewers.
This book left me with a lot of conflicting feelings. Although I didn't necessarily agree with everything that happened, I thought it was interesting and I was absorbed by it from start to finish. I liked that it threw you right into the story and gradually allowed you to build up your understanding of the world as the story progressed. If sequels weren't usually so disappointing I would be really looking forward to reading the next book.… (más)

A Variety of Chains is an erotic paranormal fantasy romance. Kathryn McCulsky is an ErGer, a rare supernatural being with the ability to enhance the power of others. After a lifetime running and hiding from those who would use her, she decides to surrender herself to the Vampire Lord of London to save her family. Lucian is a powerful, but fair, Vampire Lord who is facing dangers from both humans and fey. Having an ErGer would give him the power he needs to secure his court. However, a broken and defeated Kathryn is not the partner he needs. Can he rebuild her trust and confidence before he has to make the choice to enslave her?
I was looking forward to reading this book. A new take on the supernatural is always interesting. I wasn’t disappointed in the world-building. The author has created an interesting supernatural world with the creation of ErGer’s and the relationship between the fey and the rest of the supernaturals. The characters are fully developed and interesting. I didn’t mind, as some reviewers have said, being thrown into the story so abruptly and having to fill in the gaps on the nature of the supernatural world and the backstory of the characters as the story unfolds. I find that a more interesting approach than a lot of exposition. I didn’t even object to the explicit sexuality, although it wasn’t quite what I expected from the description of the book. I don’t mind some steamy sex in a novel if there is also an interesting plot and characters.
I had a struggle deciding what I felt about this novel. There is much I liked about it, but I was troubled by some aspects of the BDSM sexuality used in the novel. Although it isn’t really my thing, I don’t object to BDSM, between consenting adults, in otherwise well written books. However, my problem with this novel centres on the concept of “consent”. Given the power differential between the two main characters, I have doubts about the validity of the consent. I dislike the ideas of accepting submission as being the same as learning trust and taking away autonomy as a way to rebuild self-esteem. I was reminded of the old bodice-ripper “heroine falling in love with her rapist/abductor” trope. The author made an effort early on to make the hero’s true feelings and motivations known to the reader and in this way the novel differs from those earlier, darker, examples where the hero eventually discovers he has fallen in love with the heroine and that redeems all of his earlier abusive behaviour.
So, I think I might want to read the next novel in this series. I am curious about the nature and intentions of the fey in this world. I want to know what the humans have planned, and who the London Court’s true enemies are. I am even interested in the developing relationship between Kathryn and Lucian now that Kathryn seems to be reclaiming her power. I read the author’s blog to get a better sense of her views and I want to give her the benefit of the doubt about not meaning to use one of the most objectionable tropes in romance. But I am still a bit uncomfortable.… (más)