Review: Dragon Blood by Eileen Wilks

Posted January 7, 2018 by Sophia Rose in Reviews / 16 Comments

Dragon Blood

by Eileen Wilks

Series: World of the Lupi #14
Genres: Urban Fantasy
Published by Berkley
Released on January 2, 2018
Pages: 336
Format: Paperback
Source: Publisher

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The Delight

The last book in the series, Dragon Spawn, left things in a dire, precarious position for Lily and the others. I have been impatient to get my hands on Dragon Blood to learn their fate. The author has a gift for digging deep into the motives, background, and true emotions of her plots and characters while delivering a suspenseful and action-laced story line.

Review

Dragon Blood is the fourteenth installment in the World of the Lupi series. This strongly developed urban fantasy series that feels more like traditional fantasy series in flavor really must be read in order- particularly at this point in the series.

Lily Lu survived the venture into the parallel realm of Dis- just barely. She is now alive and recuperating in captivity in the startling realm of Dragonhome. Gan has brought her, Cynna, and later Rule and Grandmother here where time moves differently so that they are a few weeks ahead of the events they just lived through in earth and Dis- a chance to recover the kidnapped kids and stop their great enemies’ latest plans.

The story shifts between Lily and Rule’s separate stories as they navigate the dangerous situation in Dragonhome with Cynna, Grandmother, and Gan getting narration time, too. There are even side stories introduced into the plot for Rule’s prodigal brother and another pair.

I found this one took a long while building to the point and it was obvious that its both finishing a story arc while continuing on with a series arc. There is a lot of explanation for the new parallel world everyone finds themselves in and it has its own separate story within a story with the history of Dragonhome and more dragon secrets. I found it fascinating on one level, but also felt the need to get on with the story line carrying in from the previous book.

There were some good reveals and it is a strong story in and of itself, but it also felt like an interlude in the middle of an existing story- which it was. I always love when Grandmother Lu plays a bigger role and she did in this one, but it was delightfully unique because it was Grandmother, her granddaughter’s husband,Rule, and Gan the former demon stuck together intent on the rescue of Lily and Cynna who are being held by a new group and then the rescue of the kidnapped children.

On a side note, a pair, Molly and Michael, who got their story in one of the earlier novellas that perhaps people would have skipped are now brought into the main stream of the story so I’m going to suggest that readers have not only read the series in order, but also try to get Originally Human read before this one so their entry into the Dragon Blood story makes more sense.

So, it ends in an exciting place in the story once again leaving me eager for what is to come next. A little slow build, but as fascinating as ever with its deep thoughtful prose and twisting plot threads in the unique and fascinating World of the Lupi urban fantasy series of werewolves, dragons, demons, fae, sorcerers, and more.

My thanks to Penguin Group for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Challenges

Romance Roundabout #342
UF New Release #305
COYER #17

Recommendations

Sophia Rose

I was born and raised near Sacramento, CA. I have read since I was four years old and developed tastes that run the gamut of literature. I went away to college and have a degree in education, a certificate in family history research, and a certificate in social work. I worked for a non-profit agency with low income families for 20 years which included being responsible for the children’s library and promoting/teaching adult literacy. I have lived in Southeast Michigan for the last 18 years and I am currently a book addicted homemaker with a cat and husband who keep me grounded. Recently, I made it a challenge to review each book that I have read as a favor to author friends who said reviews are important. I have done reviews for Good Reads, Amazon, eBay, and Smashwords, but mostly at Goodreads and Amazon.

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Melanie Simmons

I really need to get back to this series. The last book I read was book 10. I feel like I would have to work at least that book again before moving forward with the series.

Melanie @ Hot Listens & Rabid Reads & Books of My Heart
- Sophia Rose
  
  There is so much complexity to these books that I was a little lost from the last book into this one and had to glance through the final chapters just to get up to speed on the new one.
Melliane

wow 14 books and still good? that’s awesome! I tried one or 2 books in this series but I really should try more
- Sophia Rose
  
  Hard to believe its already at book 14. It feels like more since I read all the short stories and novellas in between, too.
Angie Elle

For a book with a slow build, it sure seems like there was a lot going on! I have not read this series yet but I know a lot of people like it. I’m glad it’s keeping its steam for you! 🙂
- Sophia Rose
  
  Yeah, it digs deep. She doesn’t just like to say magic or the paranormal or parallel dimensions exist, but how. It makes for things that dig pretty deep. If there is a philosophical UF series, its this one. LOL
Mary Kirkland

I’ll be putting this series in my wish list. This sounds really good.
- Sophia Rose
  
  Oh good! I hope you like it, Mary. You might try her author page for some of her freebie shorts for some samplings.
  
  http://eileenwilks.com/category/bonus-content/#!/
Lola

Oh I like the sound of that how the author digs deep into the motives, emotions and backgrounds of the characters. Sounds like a nice long running series that keeps going strong. How it switches between the two different stories sounds neat. That’s nice it has some good reveals, even tough it feels a bit like an interlude novel. Great review!
- Sophia Rose
  
  This is one of the few series out there where I’ve never felt like I didn’t understand the why behind things. If anything, she goes too far with the explanations. I don’t mind because there is good action and suspense and character development to balance all that side. 🙂
Lily B

I do love the sound of world building in this one, looks like another series I still need to check out :/
- Sophia Rose
  
  LOL! Sorry to pile on another one for you to try, Lily. But worth it! I love these.
Carole’s Random Life

I don’t remember hearing much about this series but it totally sounds like something that I would read. Great review!
- Sophia Rose
  
  For some reason, it doesn’t get talked up very much, but yet it would be considered a popular one, too. It’s great! I hope you get to try it sometime, Carole.
Lorna

I read the last one and I didn’t like it as much as previous books. I had a hard time getting into it. And you say this was slow to get into so I don’t know. Not sure if I am going to continue reading the series or not. Have to think on it. I am glad that you are still enjoying it though. Thanks for sharing!
- Sophia Rose
  
  Yeah, I can definitely see your dilemma there. It’s tough when you can’t get into the stories anymore. I’ve had a few series that I’ve slid away from like that. Sad, but for the best since they weren’t doing it for me anymore.