Cocktail Society Book Club Read and Review: Blood Law by Karin Tabke

This month, The Cocktail Society Book Club (from Goodreads) read Blood Law by Karin Tabke, and it’s my turn to host!  Grab yourself a cocktail and join in the book chat!  Blood Law is book 1 in the Blood Moon Trilogy.  This series is a pretty hot paranormal romance series featuring werewolf shifters and some magic.  Blood Law is on the darker, grittier side so this month’s cocktail fits…

Cocktail of the Month:

Jack and Coke (coke zero in my case…)

Blood Law blurb from Goodreads: 

For all eternity, only one thing shall separate them—until the Blood Law is avenged…

The coming of the Blood Moon will lead two Lycan packs into war, spur two rival brothers into conflict, and spark an act of vengeance so evil that its effects will be felt for generations.

One woman stands at the center of it all.

As undisputed Alpha, Rafael must choose a life mate to preserve the dominance of his Lycan pack. He never suspected, his mate would be a human, the same wounded, girl-woman he seduces from the brink of death. Falon is a dangerous combination of Lycan and Slayer—beings bred to destroy his kind. Even more, she’s a mesmerizing beauty whose sensuality tempts the seasoned warrior to take unnecessary risks. The primal heat between them is irresistible, yet surrendering to it could destroy them both…for a vengeful foe stands ready in the shadows to fulfill what is rightfully his by Blood Law.

Published by Berkley Trade, May 3, 2011.

Book Savvy Babe’s Review:

I really enjoyed this book, I like that the werewolf brothers Rafael and Lucian are rough-around-the-edges/bad boy type of guys.  They are twins, both of them alpha males and they are each stubborn to a fault.  They are embroiled in a centuries long war with the Slayers and violence is a way of life for them all. Karin Tabke doesn’t shy away from the violence, the characters are fierce and I love them for it.   Rafael and Lucian are not only in a war with the slayers, but they are also at war with each other.  The brothers split the pack with their fight, but to defeat the slayers the Blood Law needs to be avenged and the werewolves need to come together.

The book centers around Rafael and Lucian’s fight (for the most part).  Lucian believes that Rafael wronged him when Rafael killed someone he loved.  Blood Law states that to right the wrong, Rafael must give Lucian someone he loves to kill in return.  Rafael feels that the kill was justified and he shouldn’t have to pay the blood law.  This is where Falon comes in.  Rafael rescues her, realizes there is more to her than meets the eye, and figures that she might satisfy the blood law.  That’s right, Rafael sets Falon up to be killed by his own brother.

I felt for Falon, the poor girl can’t catch a break.  She spent her life on the run only to be caught by Rafael and her life put in danger.  Plus, the more she is around the werewolves and the slayers, the more her extra abilities act up and grow stronger and no one can give her real answers.  She was understandably confused and lost, but she stands up for herself the best she can.  The heat between Falon and Rafael is very hot and the pair begin to get attached to one another.  Their relationship is not an easy one, it develops slowly which I liked in this book.

I like both brothers a lot as well.  Each brother has his own side to the story, understandable in their own way.  However, I think it is pretty sad that they were so full of animosity that they never took the time to work it out.  It took Falon coming into the picture to make the brothers and the werewolf community take steps to right the wrong.  I didn’t understand why more hadn’t been done to fix the situation when it first occurred.

I have said that I really enjoyed the grittier nature of Blood Law, this book is violent and the werewolves are driven by their base animalistic desires.  The sex is super hot, and it also pushes boundaries and even some taboos.  I found that I was not put-off by the taboos, Karin Tabke makes the story work.  While I don’t think this book was perfect, I enjoyed reading this one and I’m very intrigued by the characters and eager to see what happens next.  The book ends on somewhat of a cliffhanger, so I will likely be picking up book 2, Bloodright, sooner than later.

PS:  I LOVE this book cover.  I wanted to read the book based on the cover alone.  I love the tattoos and the way he is holding the girl.  Fantastic cover!

How about you, did you enjoy the book?  Did Karin Tabke push the taboos too much for your taste?  Which brother would you side with at this point?