Review: Blood Flows Deep in the Empire by N. Isabelle Blanco

Title: Blood Flows Deep in the Empire
Author: N. Isabelle Blanco
Series: The Szolites #1
Release Date: March 7, 2013
Publisher: The Writer’s Coffee Shop
Genre: Erotic Paranormal 
Rating: 3 1/2 Hoots
Reviewer: Dori
Buy From: Amazon/ Barnes and Noble

Sum It Up! This story is full of rich characters

Summary:

Dyletri, God of Fertility, has locked away his powers. No woman is allowed to touch him, not until he can return his long-dead lover back to life. All he has to do is sacrifice one human girl, a girl who unlocks his powers and rips his dormant lust right out of his body. Trapped by his promise, Dyletri has no choice but to watch Ismini die, no matter how much he wants her.


Yet the darkness of his calling is spiraling within him, demanding he claim the human as his. If he goes back on his promise, the energy of the Fates will cause untold destruction in the Universe. That doesn’t change how Dyletri’s begun exhibiting symptoms that point to more than just lust. How does he allow Ismini to die when she’s come to own him from the inside out?


Desire and torment spiral into something much darker than obsession, more turbulent than an addiction, and something much more brutal than a mere soul-mating. As a war is being rekindled right under his nose, Dyletri will have to come to terms with a destiny eleven thousand years in the making. He thought he’d known what path his future would take, but he’d been wrong. Now the one woman he truly loves might pay the price for his decision.

Blood Flows Deep in the Empire is the first in a series that will pit free-will against Destiny, Destiny against Fate, and love against brutal desire. Everyone likes to think they have a choice as to who they end up with, but as they rise to face the greatest threat they’ve ever known, even the Gods will learn they have to bend to Destiny’s whim to survive (Goodreads)

Review:

I find myself at a lost for words when reviewing Blood Flows Deep in the Empire. This story is full of rich characters, complex plot development, and erotic scenes that would make most of us blush.  Ms. Blanco has taken the realm of gods and prophecy, twisted it until it is no longer recognizable, and leaves you breathless. 

I found the gods fascinating with their unique elements given them along with their names. Yet, I find myself put off by the use of urban language by a centuries old god. The use of urban slang makes an intriguing character seem like a gang banger standing on the corner drink 40 oz trying to pick up girls.  I am sure the use of language was a personal choice of Ms. Blanco but it felt out of place here within the story. I left me to wonder if she was trying to make her gods hip since the story took place in the present time.  Other than the disappointment with the language, I found the story plausible and the ending interesting. With a little more editing, Blood Flows Deep in the Empire would have been an exciting paranormal tale with many stories to follow.