| Title | : | 13 Drops of Blood |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 0645073970 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9780645073973 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 317 |
| Publication | : | First published February 14, 2021 |
Thirteen authors tell dark, disturbing, and creepy tales of thirteen apparitions bent on revenge from love gone wrong.
13 Drops of Blood Reviews
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The cover of this book is dark and ominous. I love the flock of black birds. The white print at the top draws the eye to it and then the red lettering beneath it, pulls your eyes in closer to investigate further.
While attending a Live Launch Party, online, for this book, I entered a drawing to receive a free signed copy from the coordinator of the project, Jodi Jensen. I want to extend my thanks to her for it.
I know first hand how (easy or difficult) these collaborative efforts can go and I feel like every author in here deserves a mention of some sort. They all, in my opinion deserve a round of applause. So for each chapter, I am going to include a line or two from their part. A little teaser or enticement to encourage you to purchase your copy.
Prologue by Jodi Jensen: Izobel Gowdie, a witch, performs a spell to bring back a loved one from the dead. “Her heart leapt into her throat as the orbs kept coming. Her gaze flew to the grimoire, landing on a single phrase. A drop of blood…”
Issa, by S.N Graves: “Some kind of magic. Don’t know. I’m dead, not a witch. You murdered me, not sent me to Hogwarts.”
Cedric by J.W. Garrett: “Piper wouldn't do this to him. She wasn't a murderer. She wouldn't follow through. Would she?”
Sarah by Kimberly Rei: “A sneeze sent him nearly running to the corner store for cough medicine, decongestant, and a mystery by the inimitable David Green.”
Jezzelle by M. Sydnor Jr: “With both hands he rubbed the box, tapped his leg, and looked at the beautiful woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with.”
Caleb by Chris Bannor: “What the hell is that?” Caleb asked , even as he stood between Aiden and the thing forming in front of them.
Amanda by Crystal L. Kirkham: “I knew there’d be consequences, but this was a horribly cruel turn of events and it was all my fault.”
Silas by K.T. Tate: “But it seems I am powerless here, trapped behind glass.”
Meera by D.J. Elton: “Fair or foul. I do not care.He must apologise to me and acknowledge what he did.”
Red by Nicole Little: “What on earth was she doing here in the middle of the forest, in the middle of the night?”
Gillian by Maxine Churchman: “He has never kissed me like that, and I feel empty and betrayed.”
Ava by Beth W. Patterson: “Could Ava rise above the anger encoded in her genetics, breaking a toxic chain that had spanned millenia?”
Muse by Jasmine Jarvis: “She looked at me for a moment, making me feel uncomfortable--I was convinced she was reading my thoughts.”
Enzo by Jodi Jensen: “Izzy screamed, fighting to block memories gifted to her by the darkest of dark magic.”
I absolutely loved the entire concept of this story. I enjoyed the way each chapter could stand alone as its own short story, but also was weaved together for a bigger picture. I highly recommend this book.
Wonderful collaborative effort. -
“13 Drops of Blood” is a collection of intricately woven short stories that are delightfully dark and disturbing.
The concept behind this anthology is extraordinary; thirteen writers, each penning their own story but with a common thread tying them all together, in a shared fictional universe. There is a fantastic cohesiveness to these tales, yet each one is unique in and of itself, truly illustrating the creative nature of the authors.
I loved the wide variety of characters, the different settings, and how each author interpreted the challenge – ghosts, demonic spirits, witches, shape-shifters, werewolves are just a few that you will encounter in the weird and wonderful world created in this book.
With a beautiful cover that screams ominous portent, “13 Drops of Blood” is enjoyable for even the most discernable reader of horror or dark fiction. -
Full disclosure, I was lead author on this collection of stories, and the woman behind the curtain, so to speak, for the set-up and theme of this anthology. That being the case, I won't rate my own story. But I wanted to take the opportunity to review the stories from the contributing authors.
Now that's out of the way, thank you for your interest in 13 Drops of Blood! This book is a collection of dark tales of love gone wrong and ghosts bent on revenge after being summoned by a witch.
The opening scene was written by me and details a dark ritual performed by a fledgling witch intended to resurrect the love she accidentally killed.
Let's meet our ghosts, shall we?
Issa—The Rocked Cradle by S. N. Graves - After losing the woman she loved, Shiv finds that being Mom for the little monster Issa left behind is a fresh hell she’s unprepared for. - I loved the way this story unfolded. The attention to detail with just the right amount of horror at the circumstances made this a compelling story to kick off the anthology with. There are some really unexpected elements and a twist I never saw coming. If I were this ghost, I'd want revenge too!
Cedric—Unhinged by J.W. Garrett - When Cedric finds himself back among the living, he picks up where he left off before his life was snuffed out by witches, determined to make his beloved pay. - Hold on tight, this is one rollercoaster of a story! The way the author draws the reader in, sets up such beautiful descriptions, and portrays the gut-wrenching betrayal will have you glued to the page.
Sarah—Forbidden Fruit by Kim Rei - When the past starts to creep into the present, Trevor reaches for his family history for answers. - I loved everything about this story! From the opening setting to the very last line, every word is perfectly creepy and the lesson learned? Always listen to your granny! Always *wink*.
Jezzelle—The Booth by M. Sydnor Jr. - A man must relive the worst day of his life over and over until he accepts responsibility for the death of his girlfriend, Jezzelle. - Imagine your worst day ever, now imagine reliving that day until you go crazy. This is the set-up for this tale of love gone wrong, and the author did an outstanding job of showing one man's yearning and desire to change the past. And his poor girlfriend? All she wanted was him, forever.
Caleb—The Wild Hunt by Chris Bannor - Aiden returns to the scene where he lost the man he loved, but something more than memory haunts him. - This is one of the stories that caught me completely off guard! With more than a few surprises, it'll keep you guessing to the end. Without spoiling, I'll just say, this is the most twisted of love-triangles. Kudos to the author for a story well told.
Amanda—The Madness of Guilt by Crystal L. Kirkham - Convinced she is responsible for Amanda’s death, and not willing to go on without her, Kerri documents her dive into the dark arts to find a way to bring her back. - The approach to this one is so unique and so engaging to read, you feel as if you're going through the experience with Kerri, you're rooting for her, at first, then wishing you could warn her, convince her not to keep following her dark path. A heartbreaking but satisfying read.
Silas—Together Forever by K.T. Tate - Resurrected from the pit, Silas uses his newfound demonic abilities to track down his soulmate and bind them together forever. - Written in deep POV, this story grabs you from the first word and doesn't let go. I loved being fully immersed in the story, discovering right along with the character what it meant for him to be a ghost. This one stuck with me long after I finshed reading it!
Meera—Behind the Fame by D.J. Elton - A need for retribution can go either way, and Meera is determined it will be to her gain and not that of the Svengali-like Alexi. - In Meera, the author has created a character who is so relatable in her feelings, you genuinely want her to get the validation and revenge she's seeking. This story is the perfect example of how a character can drive a plot. Full of desires, betrayal, insecurities and a ghost bent on vengence, you won't be able to stop until the end.
Red—Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf? by Nicole Little - Abruptly returned to the scene of her violent death, Red very quickly realises that fairy tales don’t always have happy endings and that revenge is a dish best served bloody. - A perfectly twisted retelling of a story we all know... but you don't know this one! I loved the author's take on Red Riding Hood, turning her into a ghost and getting her revenge. It's the fairy-tale you didn't know you needed!
Gillian—Eternal Vengeance by Maxine Churchman - After discovering the truth about her death, Gillian seeks revenge, but she gets more than she bargains for. - Ever wonder who your beloved is when you're not around to see? This story follows a woman who uncovers a shocking truth about her husband and develops a thirst for vengence for her untimely death. Full of eerie descriptions, and ghostly horror, it's a fantastic read from start to finish.
Ava—Immortal Despised by Beth Patterson - In her quest to win the attention of a legendary composer, Ava unwittingly plays into the dark machinations of a jealous amateur musician. - Spiral back in time to the days of Beethoven and a lovestruck young woman who pays the ultimate price for the wrongdoings of another. I don't blame her on bit for wanting revenge on her killer!
Muse—The Binding by Jasmine Jarvis - The night she died was the night Isobel found her—through the pain of a human death. - Beautifully told, macabre details, heartbreaking yet visually stunning in its descriptions. Muse is a character you'll fall in love with! This story is the perfect segue to my ending chapter and I loved every word!
And to wrap it all up, here's a line about my chapter - Enzo—The Broken and Bloody Consequence by Jodi Jensen After his accidental death in a summoning ritual, Enzo faces having to kill to save his beloved Izzy.
To those who take the time to read, thank you! You're the reason we tell stories. And for those who take a moment to review, an extra thank you! I think I speak for all of the wonderful authors who contributed to this amazing collection when I say, we appreciate you.
