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Thicker Than Blood #2
Beneath Blood and Bone
It is the end of the world…
They call him Eagle. Like the grand and beautiful animal that symbolizes freedom. And during these dark times, when humanity is full of nothing but suffering, a man with such a powerful name should be a beacon of hope.
He is anything but.
Her name is Autumn. Though she hasn’t said this name, or much of anything else, in the four years since the fall of civilization. A shell of her former self, and living wild in a cave at the bottom of a ravine, Autumn is accustomed to being alone. She prefers it actually, especially when her only other options for company are either trying to kill her, or worse, lock her up inside their walls.
Captured by Eagle’s people Autumn is suddenly thrust back into the land of the living, though she would hardly call it living. The community of Purgatory is full of sinners, the most evil of which seem to have set their sights on her.
In an act born of anger and defiance, Eagle becomes Autumn’s unexpected savior forcing these two solitary people into one another’s broken worlds. Neither knows quite what to make of the other, but one thing is certain.
To survive Purgatory, they will need to learn how to rely on each other; a feat that could quite possibly teach them how to live again.
They call him Eagle. Like the grand and beautiful animal that symbolizes freedom. And during these dark times, when humanity is full of nothing but suffering, a man with such a powerful name should be a beacon of hope.
He is anything but.
Her name is Autumn. Though she hasn’t said this name, or much of anything else, in the four years since the fall of civilization. A shell of her former self, and living wild in a cave at the bottom of a ravine, Autumn is accustomed to being alone. She prefers it actually, especially when her only other options for company are either trying to kill her, or worse, lock her up inside their walls.
Captured by Eagle’s people Autumn is suddenly thrust back into the land of the living, though she would hardly call it living. The community of Purgatory is full of sinners, the most evil of which seem to have set their sights on her.
In an act born of anger and defiance, Eagle becomes Autumn’s unexpected savior forcing these two solitary people into one another’s broken worlds. Neither knows quite what to make of the other, but one thing is certain.
To survive Purgatory, they will need to learn how to rely on each other; a feat that could quite possibly teach them how to live again.
356 pages, Paperback
First published August 2, 2015
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August 10, 2015
5+++ Stars
Holy shit. This fucking book was phenomenal, I'm speechless. Unique and gripping, I could not stop reading. This series is full of complex, flawed characters, each struggling to live in what is left of the world. Beneath Blood and Bone is Eagle's story, I was weary of delving into into his mind - because although he left an impression in the first book, it was a mixed one. I had no idea what to expect from this terrifying character. Can I just say, his story exceeded my highest expectations. Eagle is a strong, resilient man, feared by those around him, his detachment has helped him survive.
The world was broken now and so were we, all of us haunted by the lives we once lived, by the people we once were, by the losses we'd taken. We were damned to suffer through the savage lives we were now forced to live.
Autumn has been separated from society for years, managing to stay alive by hiding, using her own filth as camouflage from the biters. When she finds herself taken captive and entering Purgatory, she's terrified. Her father's last warning was to trust no one, especially men.
In an act of defiance, Eagle decides to look after the feral young woman. This decision forces these two people who have successfully kept others at a distance, to learn to trust again, to rely on each other. It also gains the attention of one the most brutal residents of the community.
But the truth was, I didn't want to survive on my own anymore. I didn't want to do any of this on my own. And as I stared into his dark eyes, I could see that he didn't want to either.
Will these two be able to survive Purgatory, to face the nightmares of their past and find a way to regain their humanity?
"I don't want to fix him," I said quietly. The thought had never even occurred to me. I just wanted to be with him. To be strong and sturdy and survive by his side.
Pre-release excitement
Oooh, this cover!!!! I can't wait!
Am I scared of this book...
Yep!
Will I still read it???
OF FUCKING COURSE!!!!
August 10, 2017
5***Breathtaking Survivor Stars
*****SPOILERS*****
Type: Dystopia/Romance/Zombie Apocalypse
Series:Companion series Book 2 of 3
POV:Dual
Adler aka Eagle short for “E”, a thirty-six years old man who was broken and alone; the zombie apocalypse happened and his life went to hell. Everyone’s life had changed since the zombie infestation took over. He was surviving by blocking away his previews life; blocking his wife and two children that he once had and were now gone. He had so much guilt; he believed that if he would of never left them they would still be alive. However, the ugliest of the world continued and he just had to do whatever to stay alive. His heart was broken and was frozen cold; there was nothing for him to look forward to just survive but for what?! He did not know. He lost Evelyn on book one, he let her get away she had opened up feelings he couldn’t understand. “Wildcat” reminded him of his now dead wife, her looks were so similar he wanted to keep her. However; she left and now he was more angry and mad than ever. Eagle and Jeffers had built the “PURGATORY” when all hell broke loose; they set up the rules of the “safe place” the way they felt it had to be. Now, E was having second thoughts about everything he had done. He hated himself for not carrying or doing enough to help he was so broken he just didn’t care anymore. Everyone in the purgatory feared him; they knew never to mess with him.
Autumn, a nineteen-year old girl; lived outside the Purgatory for over four years on her own. She survived in the wild after she was forced to kill her father when he got bitten and infected. She stayed hidden in a dark “CAVE” away from people. Surviving the best she could by eating anything and everything she could find and by making sure she was covered with her own filth; in other words “Poop” so that she would not attract the infected. The worst you smelled the less you will attract the zombies; they won’t even know you were near. Yeah picture that! Lol
She ran out of food and was desperate to find something to eat; she went out on a search and made the mistake of getting too close to the Purgatory and got caught. She was scared out of her mind; they were going to keep her and make her prostitute and use her. Somehow she managed to escape; however she got hurt during her escape and if it wasn’t because “E”; who was out hunting for food and found her she might have not survived. Eagle did not understand why on earth he decided to saved this girl when he never cared about anyone anymore. The entire situation was pretty funny; she was from the “wild” and had been isolated for so long that it was too funny to watch her and E. He was getting fed up with her growling like a squirrel and kept on shitting on herself to keep safe from the zombies. She did not want them to bath her. However, she had no choice when her life was in line; “E” took care of her and again he wasn’t sure why and could not explain it. I loved the way their relationship started to build up little by little. She started to become used to having a human body close by to protect her and she started to trust him. He branded her with his “EAGLE” tattoo so that no one would touch her; however there was one person that was not happy about this entire situation. “Olivia” she was together with Jeffers and was sleeping with E behind his back, she only wanted Eagle but he didn’t want her so she took whatever he would give her. He hated her, he hated himself for it but he only did it to cause pain and to receive pain he didn’t care about her or himself. I had so many mixed emotions about these two. I hated both of them for it, I really did.
Eagle and Autumn’s relationship was different for sure. She felt safe with him and he felt lighter with her around. He didn’t hear as many voices in his head when she was with him. He felt that he could change with her, be the person he once was before. Their first kiss was WOW! it left me breathless I was in heaven, it was just so beautiful. That one kiss changed the relationship fast, she wanted him and he wanted her; there was no going back. He did everything and anything to keep her safe. She had the opportunity to escape back to her CAVE but once there she knew she no longer wanted to be alone, once she felt his kiss she wanted more. So she returned to him. He found out she was out and had the chance to leave he was beside himself and oh how much I enjoyed that scene haha I loved it.
Life started to get easier and becoming a nice routine for Autumn and Eagle but they both knew it wouldn’t last. They tried to make the best of each day as if it was their last they wanted to enjoy each other’s company and the steamy scenes were amazing. I loved their chemistry and their silent understanding of each other’s pain. Olivia was so jealous that Eagle just didn’t want anything to do with her after he met Autumn. She did anything to get Autumn away from Eagle and tried to get her killed. The events that happened had me literally on the edge of my bed, I was freaking out and nervous. My belly hurt so much not knowing what was going too happened next. I was basically freaking out the entire time. Secrets came out, lots of angst and desperation; and the ending I was so happy this book ended the way it did. I think if it would have ended differently I would have literally lost it. I defiantly recommend this book and I will be reading the next one in the series even if I don’t understand why there will be a book of a character I absolutely despise so much I just hope that these two amazing authors are plotting her death on book three lol. The lord is truly testing me right now.
"ARC Kindly provided via author blog tour, in exchange for an honest review."
Book Series Order:
AMAZON PURCHASE LINK
For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:
*****SPOILERS*****
Type: Dystopia/Romance/Zombie Apocalypse
Series:Companion series Book 2 of 3
POV:Dual
”We are no more than skin, blood and bone. When you take that away, nothing is left…I believe that beneath the blood and the bone, there’s a soul.” Eagle
Adler aka Eagle short for “E”, a thirty-six years old man who was broken and alone; the zombie apocalypse happened and his life went to hell. Everyone’s life had changed since the zombie infestation took over. He was surviving by blocking away his previews life; blocking his wife and two children that he once had and were now gone. He had so much guilt; he believed that if he would of never left them they would still be alive. However, the ugliest of the world continued and he just had to do whatever to stay alive. His heart was broken and was frozen cold; there was nothing for him to look forward to just survive but for what?! He did not know. He lost Evelyn on book one, he let her get away she had opened up feelings he couldn’t understand. “Wildcat” reminded him of his now dead wife, her looks were so similar he wanted to keep her. However; she left and now he was more angry and mad than ever. Eagle and Jeffers had built the “PURGATORY” when all hell broke loose; they set up the rules of the “safe place” the way they felt it had to be. Now, E was having second thoughts about everything he had done. He hated himself for not carrying or doing enough to help he was so broken he just didn’t care anymore. Everyone in the purgatory feared him; they knew never to mess with him.
”The world was broken now and so were we, all of us haunted by the lives we once lived, the people we once were, by the losses we’d taken. We were damned to suffer through the save lives we were now forced to live.” Eagle
Autumn, a nineteen-year old girl; lived outside the Purgatory for over four years on her own. She survived in the wild after she was forced to kill her father when he got bitten and infected. She stayed hidden in a dark “CAVE” away from people. Surviving the best she could by eating anything and everything she could find and by making sure she was covered with her own filth; in other words “Poop” so that she would not attract the infected. The worst you smelled the less you will attract the zombies; they won’t even know you were near. Yeah picture that! Lol
”Play dead, hide, stay away from others, and avoid the biters. Hush, hush, must keep quiet or they’ll hear you.” Autumn
She ran out of food and was desperate to find something to eat; she went out on a search and made the mistake of getting too close to the Purgatory and got caught. She was scared out of her mind; they were going to keep her and make her prostitute and use her. Somehow she managed to escape; however she got hurt during her escape and if it wasn’t because “E”; who was out hunting for food and found her she might have not survived. Eagle did not understand why on earth he decided to saved this girl when he never cared about anyone anymore. The entire situation was pretty funny; she was from the “wild” and had been isolated for so long that it was too funny to watch her and E. He was getting fed up with her growling like a squirrel and kept on shitting on herself to keep safe from the zombies. She did not want them to bath her. However, she had no choice when her life was in line; “E” took care of her and again he wasn’t sure why and could not explain it. I loved the way their relationship started to build up little by little. She started to become used to having a human body close by to protect her and she started to trust him. He branded her with his “EAGLE” tattoo so that no one would touch her; however there was one person that was not happy about this entire situation. “Olivia” she was together with Jeffers and was sleeping with E behind his back, she only wanted Eagle but he didn’t want her so she took whatever he would give her. He hated her, he hated himself for it but he only did it to cause pain and to receive pain he didn’t care about her or himself. I had so many mixed emotions about these two. I hated both of them for it, I really did.
Eagle and Autumn’s relationship was different for sure. She felt safe with him and he felt lighter with her around. He didn’t hear as many voices in his head when she was with him. He felt that he could change with her, be the person he once was before. Their first kiss was WOW! it left me breathless I was in heaven, it was just so beautiful. That one kiss changed the relationship fast, she wanted him and he wanted her; there was no going back. He did everything and anything to keep her safe. She had the opportunity to escape back to her CAVE but once there she knew she no longer wanted to be alone, once she felt his kiss she wanted more. So she returned to him. He found out she was out and had the chance to leave he was beside himself and oh how much I enjoyed that scene haha I loved it.
Life started to get easier and becoming a nice routine for Autumn and Eagle but they both knew it wouldn’t last. They tried to make the best of each day as if it was their last they wanted to enjoy each other’s company and the steamy scenes were amazing. I loved their chemistry and their silent understanding of each other’s pain. Olivia was so jealous that Eagle just didn’t want anything to do with her after he met Autumn. She did anything to get Autumn away from Eagle and tried to get her killed. The events that happened had me literally on the edge of my bed, I was freaking out and nervous. My belly hurt so much not knowing what was going too happened next. I was basically freaking out the entire time. Secrets came out, lots of angst and desperation; and the ending I was so happy this book ended the way it did. I think if it would have ended differently I would have literally lost it. I defiantly recommend this book and I will be reading the next one in the series even if I don’t understand why there will be a book of a character I absolutely despise so much I just hope that these two amazing authors are plotting her death on book three lol. The lord is truly testing me right now.
"ARC Kindly provided via author blog tour, in exchange for an honest review."
Book Series Order:
AMAZON PURCHASE LINK
For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:
November 14, 2021
5 PLUS Stars!
”Welcome to Purgatory,”… “Last stop on the road to hell.”
Madeline Sheehan and Claire C. Riley KICKED ASS with this second book in the series! The story takes place in a world where the Val Fever has destroyed all humanity and left two races: the biters and those who hide from the biters. The story was so very realistic and that credit goes 100% to the TOP NOTCH WRITING because the story never seemed far-fetched and is hauntingly realistic.
In the first book of the series, the characters went to a place called Purgatory. Purgatory is a compound and/or a society unto itself, barricaded from the zombie threat but poses its own threats behind the guarded gates.
Jeffers, Liv, and Eagle run Purgatory. The three make all the rules until Eagle makes a move in the last book that has Liv and Jeffers questioning his loyalties. Eagle’s world of hate sex, fighting, and fixing machinery is changed even further when a girl is brought into Purgatory covered in her own feces.
Eagle not only hides Autumn, but he protects her in Purgatory. The two learn to trust one another and Autumn works to live around others outside of her hidden cave and rely on Eagle. Eagle battles the horrors of his past and finds what he had lost all these years within Autumn… his humanity.
There is drama in the form of biters outside the gates, Liv's vicious jealousy, and the question of whether or not anything but ugly can survive in this world among these forgotten people.
Overall, this story could be read as a standalone if you were so inclined. Madeline and Claire gifted fans of this series with the splendor of their talents set on full blast!
I'm going ahead and calling this book...
”To anyone who has ever lost their way; you know that home is not a place, but a feeling. This story is for you.”
”Welcome to Purgatory,”… “Last stop on the road to hell.”
Madeline Sheehan and Claire C. Riley KICKED ASS with this second book in the series! The story takes place in a world where the Val Fever has destroyed all humanity and left two races: the biters and those who hide from the biters. The story was so very realistic and that credit goes 100% to the TOP NOTCH WRITING because the story never seemed far-fetched and is hauntingly realistic.
In the first book of the series, the characters went to a place called Purgatory. Purgatory is a compound and/or a society unto itself, barricaded from the zombie threat but poses its own threats behind the guarded gates.
Jeffers, Liv, and Eagle run Purgatory. The three make all the rules until Eagle makes a move in the last book that has Liv and Jeffers questioning his loyalties. Eagle’s world of hate sex, fighting, and fixing machinery is changed even further when a girl is brought into Purgatory covered in her own feces.
Eagle not only hides Autumn, but he protects her in Purgatory. The two learn to trust one another and Autumn works to live around others outside of her hidden cave and rely on Eagle. Eagle battles the horrors of his past and finds what he had lost all these years within Autumn… his humanity.
There is drama in the form of biters outside the gates, Liv's vicious jealousy, and the question of whether or not anything but ugly can survive in this world among these forgotten people.
Overall, this story could be read as a standalone if you were so inclined. Madeline and Claire gifted fans of this series with the splendor of their talents set on full blast!
I'm going ahead and calling this book...
”To anyone who has ever lost their way; you know that home is not a place, but a feeling. This story is for you.”
August 17, 2015
5 stars!
Reading primarily romance, sometimes I want a book thats different. A book thats completely raw and brutal. A story that keeps me on the edge of my seat and makes my heart beat faster. When I read Thicker Than Blood earlier this year, I found just that. After meeting Eagle in TTB, I was a little leery to read his story. He was not a good man. But in a time when the world has been infected and completely changed, it’s not surprising. There aren’t many good men left. After reading Eagle’s whole story in Beneath Blood and Bone, I can say with certainty that he is a good man and completely redeemed himself in my eyes.
Autumn is a young woman who has been out in the wild alone for far too long. She’s captured by the people at Purgatory and she just wants to go back to where her home was. Eagle, wanting to rebel, decides to take her and look after her. Clean her up, protect her and keep her safe. This is so out of character from the man he’s become, but its’s something he feels he needs to do.
Keeping and protecting Autumn, Eagle starts to regain something he thought was long gone. His humanity. His ability to feel, not just survive. Just surviving was what they were both doing for far too long, and they were both doing it alone. Now, they think just maybe there could be more to it than that.
Eagle and Autumn have a hard time communicating at first. Autumn doesn’t trust him at all, and for good reason. But with time, she see’s what he’s been trying to hide. The real E. There are many obstacles these two have to overcome. Their time in Purgatory is far from easy. It’s messed up, intense and made my heart hurt many times. These books really bring out the feelings. They make you feel things you don’t expect to feel for these characters. I love these survival books, the gritty and real feel they have.
Madeline Sheehan and Claire C. Riley’s collaborative writing is flawless. I was amazed how they were able to turn Eagle into a real redeemable character and keep him true to who he is. They didn’t make him soft or anything, but learning some about his past, and his actions toward Autumn actually made him likable.
Once again, the ending wasn’t your traditional HEA, but I was completely satisfied with the place it ended. After reading the sneak peek for the next book, my first reaction was HELL NO- I am not reading about Liv. There is no way she can be redeemed, she’s terrible! But then I saw that the book was also about Adam, so now I have to read it! This is one series you won’t want to miss out on! Highly recommended!
Reading primarily romance, sometimes I want a book thats different. A book thats completely raw and brutal. A story that keeps me on the edge of my seat and makes my heart beat faster. When I read Thicker Than Blood earlier this year, I found just that. After meeting Eagle in TTB, I was a little leery to read his story. He was not a good man. But in a time when the world has been infected and completely changed, it’s not surprising. There aren’t many good men left. After reading Eagle’s whole story in Beneath Blood and Bone, I can say with certainty that he is a good man and completely redeemed himself in my eyes.
Autumn is a young woman who has been out in the wild alone for far too long. She’s captured by the people at Purgatory and she just wants to go back to where her home was. Eagle, wanting to rebel, decides to take her and look after her. Clean her up, protect her and keep her safe. This is so out of character from the man he’s become, but its’s something he feels he needs to do.
Keeping and protecting Autumn, Eagle starts to regain something he thought was long gone. His humanity. His ability to feel, not just survive. Just surviving was what they were both doing for far too long, and they were both doing it alone. Now, they think just maybe there could be more to it than that.
The truth was, I didn’t want to survive on my own anymore. I didn't want to do any of this on my own. As I stared into his dark eyes, I could see that he didn’t want to either.
Eagle and Autumn have a hard time communicating at first. Autumn doesn’t trust him at all, and for good reason. But with time, she see’s what he’s been trying to hide. The real E. There are many obstacles these two have to overcome. Their time in Purgatory is far from easy. It’s messed up, intense and made my heart hurt many times. These books really bring out the feelings. They make you feel things you don’t expect to feel for these characters. I love these survival books, the gritty and real feel they have.
Madeline Sheehan and Claire C. Riley’s collaborative writing is flawless. I was amazed how they were able to turn Eagle into a real redeemable character and keep him true to who he is. They didn’t make him soft or anything, but learning some about his past, and his actions toward Autumn actually made him likable.
Once again, the ending wasn’t your traditional HEA, but I was completely satisfied with the place it ended. After reading the sneak peek for the next book, my first reaction was HELL NO- I am not reading about Liv. There is no way she can be redeemed, she’s terrible! But then I saw that the book was also about Adam, so now I have to read it! This is one series you won’t want to miss out on! Highly recommended!
October 30, 2015
4-4.5 Eagle + Squirrel stars!
After reading and loving, Thicker Than Blood, I was highly anticipating more from Eagle, the rough man who seemed to rule Purgatory. This is the story of what happens to him after Wildcat and her friends escaped with his help. This also gives us a little background to what he lost when the infection had begun.
As one of the initial founders of Purgatory, a community confined within gates from the rotters/biters that roam about, Eagle is well known and respected. No one dares cross him. His tough, cold, and angry personality will make you regret it if you do.
Following her fathers advice for approximately 4 years, Autumn has been surviving on her own. For being so young, she has outsmarted the infected by staying hidden in a cave and covering herself with anything and everything repulsive as to not be detected. She has steered clear from all human contact as well. Living as a feral woman, she finds herself drawn to the community that is miles from her dwelling. Even though it goes against everything she's learned and been told, she is starving and very desperate.
When she is pulled into the confines of Purgatory, she immediately regrets it. The people, especially the men, are lacking humanity. She fears she would have had better luck being on her own, even if it meant death.
For reasons he cannot explain, Eagle comes across the squirrelly female, and feels he must save her.
What will happen when both worlds collide?
With humanity hanging by a string, no one can be trusted, and soon the pair will need to fight for their lives.
This was another fantastic adventure written by these two talented authors. I hope they continue to collaborate more with this series, or anything else for that matter. I will be sure to eat up whatever they come up with.
Like the first book, this was pretty gritty and intense. You couldn't help but feel as if you were in the book itself from all the descriptions. I felt the fear, the anxiety, and eventually the bond the MC's shared. Hell, I even think I could smell the foul odors that were described.
I loved both Eagle and Autumn/Squirrel as both individuals and a couple. They were both strong in different ways, and I thought they made a great match amongst their surroundings. The storyline was done exceptionally well and overall was a great read.
The reason I didn't rate this 5 stars, is totally due to my inability to move on from the first. The two stories are like comparing apples and oranges. The tone of both are different though they have common roots. Even though I was intrigued and invested in this one, the story didn't really pick up until the last 20-25%, whereas the first book kept me on the edge of my seat throughout its entirety. Even though I also loved all of the characters, the friendship of Leisel and Evelyn, and the story in general of Thicker Than Blood, was on a completely different level of emotions than this one. So in a nutshell, Beneath Blood and Bone was a complete winner, but when you take it in context to the first book, there is no way this held a candle.
If you know much about me or the books that I like, you'd know that this genre of books is a little out of my comfort zone. I'm so glad I took the plunge and tried something different, because these stories will stay with me.
Really enjoyed/loved, and would highly recommend.
I believe that beneath the blood and bone, there's a soul.
After reading and loving, Thicker Than Blood, I was highly anticipating more from Eagle, the rough man who seemed to rule Purgatory. This is the story of what happens to him after Wildcat and her friends escaped with his help. This also gives us a little background to what he lost when the infection had begun.
As one of the initial founders of Purgatory, a community confined within gates from the rotters/biters that roam about, Eagle is well known and respected. No one dares cross him. His tough, cold, and angry personality will make you regret it if you do.
Following her fathers advice for approximately 4 years, Autumn has been surviving on her own. For being so young, she has outsmarted the infected by staying hidden in a cave and covering herself with anything and everything repulsive as to not be detected. She has steered clear from all human contact as well. Living as a feral woman, she finds herself drawn to the community that is miles from her dwelling. Even though it goes against everything she's learned and been told, she is starving and very desperate.
When she is pulled into the confines of Purgatory, she immediately regrets it. The people, especially the men, are lacking humanity. She fears she would have had better luck being on her own, even if it meant death.
For reasons he cannot explain, Eagle comes across the squirrelly female, and feels he must save her.
What will happen when both worlds collide?
With humanity hanging by a string, no one can be trusted, and soon the pair will need to fight for their lives.
This was another fantastic adventure written by these two talented authors. I hope they continue to collaborate more with this series, or anything else for that matter. I will be sure to eat up whatever they come up with.
Like the first book, this was pretty gritty and intense. You couldn't help but feel as if you were in the book itself from all the descriptions. I felt the fear, the anxiety, and eventually the bond the MC's shared. Hell, I even think I could smell the foul odors that were described.
I loved both Eagle and Autumn/Squirrel as both individuals and a couple. They were both strong in different ways, and I thought they made a great match amongst their surroundings. The storyline was done exceptionally well and overall was a great read.
The reason I didn't rate this 5 stars, is totally due to my inability to move on from the first. The two stories are like comparing apples and oranges. The tone of both are different though they have common roots. Even though I was intrigued and invested in this one, the story didn't really pick up until the last 20-25%, whereas the first book kept me on the edge of my seat throughout its entirety. Even though I also loved all of the characters, the friendship of Leisel and Evelyn, and the story in general of Thicker Than Blood, was on a completely different level of emotions than this one. So in a nutshell, Beneath Blood and Bone was a complete winner, but when you take it in context to the first book, there is no way this held a candle.
If you know much about me or the books that I like, you'd know that this genre of books is a little out of my comfort zone. I'm so glad I took the plunge and tried something different, because these stories will stay with me.
Really enjoyed/loved, and would highly recommend.
January 6, 2016
4 Redemption stars
Beneath Blood and Bone could be a standalone and is part of the Thicker Than Blood series. I highly recommend you read the first book, Thicker than Blood, because it gives you a lot of insight to the main character, Eagle.
Eagle WAS NOT my favorite character in Thicker Than Blood. He had to make tough choices and unfortunately they weren’t the choices I would have made. Anyhow, I went into Beneath Blood and Bone with a semi-hatred towards him, but that doesn’t mean he couldn’t redeem himself.
Beneath Blood and Bone continues where Thicker Than Blood left off. This book is only about Eagle, Autumn and the people in the compound he lives with, other than that, none of the previous characters are part of this story.
This book takes a different direction in the sense that the main focus is the life within the compound. I wasn’t sure how I would handle it, since I really liked the characters in the woods, experiencing various problems, but there are plenty of problems to face within the compound.
Autumn is found roaming around the compound looking for food. She is very dirty. She has masked her human scent by putting dirt, feces and other things on her body. She’s feral, wild and doesn’t want to be taken in by the people. Eagle is to handle her.
What I really enjoyed MOST about this story is Eagle’s back story. We get a better understanding how his “man” came to be. Why is he is so harsh? Why does he treat women the way he does? There are mini-flash backs of his past and be ready to be gutted.
Eagle doesn’t want anything to do with Autumn but for some reason he feels like he wants to help her, he even goes the extra mile, which is something he doesn’t do. I love the inner struggle Eagle has towards Autumn, he tries very hard to fight his old self, the good self that is buried deep within.
Like, I said Autumn is wild and it’s hard to get into her mind sometimes because she is so crazy. She gets scared easily and keeps on getting herself dirty. She has to always mask her scent and it was kind of driving me bonkers, but you feel for the girl, considering she has been living on her own for a long time.
The book is pretty lengthy and plenty of action happens. The thing that I love about the series is that it pushes boundaries and people’s characters. I love how raw and emotional the book is. It’s one of reasons why I gobble up dystopian books and heck, you throw in zombies, well I’m a happy camper.
The author lets you get a sneak peek of the next book and I’ll be honest, I’m not sure if I could read it. There’s not a lot of zombie books out there, but book three will test my patience and will. As much as I like to give secondary characters second chances, I’m just not sure. I will have to think about it.
Beneath Blood and Bone could be a standalone and is part of the Thicker Than Blood series. I highly recommend you read the first book, Thicker than Blood, because it gives you a lot of insight to the main character, Eagle.
Eagle WAS NOT my favorite character in Thicker Than Blood. He had to make tough choices and unfortunately they weren’t the choices I would have made. Anyhow, I went into Beneath Blood and Bone with a semi-hatred towards him, but that doesn’t mean he couldn’t redeem himself.
Beneath Blood and Bone continues where Thicker Than Blood left off. This book is only about Eagle, Autumn and the people in the compound he lives with, other than that, none of the previous characters are part of this story.
This book takes a different direction in the sense that the main focus is the life within the compound. I wasn’t sure how I would handle it, since I really liked the characters in the woods, experiencing various problems, but there are plenty of problems to face within the compound.
Autumn is found roaming around the compound looking for food. She is very dirty. She has masked her human scent by putting dirt, feces and other things on her body. She’s feral, wild and doesn’t want to be taken in by the people. Eagle is to handle her.
What I really enjoyed MOST about this story is Eagle’s back story. We get a better understanding how his “man” came to be. Why is he is so harsh? Why does he treat women the way he does? There are mini-flash backs of his past and be ready to be gutted.
Eagle doesn’t want anything to do with Autumn but for some reason he feels like he wants to help her, he even goes the extra mile, which is something he doesn’t do. I love the inner struggle Eagle has towards Autumn, he tries very hard to fight his old self, the good self that is buried deep within.
Like, I said Autumn is wild and it’s hard to get into her mind sometimes because she is so crazy. She gets scared easily and keeps on getting herself dirty. She has to always mask her scent and it was kind of driving me bonkers, but you feel for the girl, considering she has been living on her own for a long time.
The book is pretty lengthy and plenty of action happens. The thing that I love about the series is that it pushes boundaries and people’s characters. I love how raw and emotional the book is. It’s one of reasons why I gobble up dystopian books and heck, you throw in zombies, well I’m a happy camper.
The author lets you get a sneak peek of the next book and I’ll be honest, I’m not sure if I could read it. There’s not a lot of zombie books out there, but book three will test my patience and will. As much as I like to give secondary characters second chances, I’m just not sure. I will have to think about it.
August 15, 2015
5++ Stars!
OMG! What an amazing book! I've been anticipating this release since finishing Thicker Than Blood in January. Thicker Than Blood was the first book of the year to hit my 6 star shelf & was also the first book on my Best of 2015 shelf. Beneath Blood and Bone had some very big shoes to fill ... I'm very happy to report that it totally lived up to my expectations.
There are just so many things that I want to say about this wonderful story ... but, I promise not to get carried away with this review.
The most important thing to express is how much this book made me feel. The authors manage to hit a very wide range of emotions ... and despite the dark and brooding nature of the characters and story, I found the whole thing to be quite uplifting ... I'd even say, hopeful.
The characters are so flawlessly written. I think Eagle may very well be one of the most alluring men I've ever read. Turning him from villain to hero ... well, I always have had a thing for the bad boy, I guess it's no wonder he had my heart racing in this book. There are some parts of his psyche that are seriously messed up (with good reason) and I fell in love with all his damaged pieces.
It's hard to explain how a zombie apocalypse story can be so romantic, without actually romanticizing the environment or the people within it ... this book does provide a serious commentary on the destructive and sadistic nature of humanity ... yet, despite all the ugliness there is true beauty at it's heart.
I promised to keep this review short, so I'll sum it up by saying ... I want to go back to the start and read it all over again! It really is that amazing! If you haven't read Thicker Than Blood, that's ok, this book can definitely be read as a standalone ... but you'd be crazy to miss out on all the awesome world building & set up for this book ... I highly recommend you read them both ... back to back is probably inevitable ;)
OMG! What an amazing book! I've been anticipating this release since finishing Thicker Than Blood in January. Thicker Than Blood was the first book of the year to hit my 6 star shelf & was also the first book on my Best of 2015 shelf. Beneath Blood and Bone had some very big shoes to fill ... I'm very happy to report that it totally lived up to my expectations.
There are just so many things that I want to say about this wonderful story ... but, I promise not to get carried away with this review.
The most important thing to express is how much this book made me feel. The authors manage to hit a very wide range of emotions ... and despite the dark and brooding nature of the characters and story, I found the whole thing to be quite uplifting ... I'd even say, hopeful.
The characters are so flawlessly written. I think Eagle may very well be one of the most alluring men I've ever read. Turning him from villain to hero ... well, I always have had a thing for the bad boy, I guess it's no wonder he had my heart racing in this book. There are some parts of his psyche that are seriously messed up (with good reason) and I fell in love with all his damaged pieces.
It's hard to explain how a zombie apocalypse story can be so romantic, without actually romanticizing the environment or the people within it ... this book does provide a serious commentary on the destructive and sadistic nature of humanity ... yet, despite all the ugliness there is true beauty at it's heart.
I promised to keep this review short, so I'll sum it up by saying ... I want to go back to the start and read it all over again! It really is that amazing! If you haven't read Thicker Than Blood, that's ok, this book can definitely be read as a standalone ... but you'd be crazy to miss out on all the awesome world building & set up for this book ... I highly recommend you read them both ... back to back is probably inevitable ;)
Want to read
October 9, 2015
November 14, 2017
I'll need to bathe in holy water for two weeks after this book, but it's not bad at all.
ACTUAL RATINGS 3.5 /5
ACTUAL RATINGS 3.5 /5
July 11, 2017
I freaking loved this one. Loved.
Book one, Thicker Than Blood gutted me. It is one of my top books this year. I was so scared to return to Purgatory and its evils, but I was also curious to how this one was going to play out. And holy crap, I cannot believe that Madeline and Claire made me feel this way about Eagle! I loved the journey that E and Autumn take in this book. I couldn't even tell that there were two authors who wrote this. I cannot wait to buy the paperback, the cover is gorgeous.
Book one, Thicker Than Blood gutted me. It is one of my top books this year. I was so scared to return to Purgatory and its evils, but I was also curious to how this one was going to play out. And holy crap, I cannot believe that Madeline and Claire made me feel this way about Eagle! I loved the journey that E and Autumn take in this book. I couldn't even tell that there were two authors who wrote this. I cannot wait to buy the paperback, the cover is gorgeous.
August 9, 2015
***Non-spoiler review***
Some say that Purgatory is a temporary place for mankind who are destined to go to Heaven, but times have changed and Beneath Blood and Bone (BBB) shows us that Purgatory is the gateway directly into Hell. Do not pass GO, do not collect $200. It is so suspenseful at times, that I found myself trying to read between my fingers covering my eyes. This series began with pandemic vs. man, then man vs. man, and now it a battle of soul vs. existence.
It's the tale of Eagle and Autumn, two strangers managing to survive the past four years through the unthinkable, and under layers of dirt, betrayal, guilt, loss, bloodshed, shit, and lies are two hearts that have been dormant for years. Is it possible for a heart to begin beating years after it was shut down?
People who say that the sequel is never better than the original, have not been introduced to books by Sheehan and Riley. 'Thicker Than Blood' (TTB) showed us how a disease may have wiped out the majority of mankind, but that it was ultimately the survivors who had destroyed civilization. Amongst the worst of those survivors, walked Eagle; we see the monster that he has become. I found Eagle deplorable and unredeemable in TTB, which was like waving a red flag or issuing a challenge to Sheehan. Like with her other books, there seems to be no such thing as an unredeemable or unforgivable character. Over and over again she's allowed her readers to find a character deplorable and vile, only to later prove them wrong, forcing them to open their mouths and eat their own words.
I have no proof of which character was written by either author, but I’m betting that Eagle was written by Sheehan; Eagle carries a copious amount of Sheehan’s alpha male DNA, the biggest giveaway to me was this simple line:
“I wasn’t giving Liv jack shit, especially not squirrelly shits-her-pants”.
With this one line, Sheehan may as well have pissed on Eagle because he is covered in her scent. Other proof:
“Frowning at Daniel—a skinny, ugly, useless son of a bitch, even more useless than a woman without a pussy."
“But fucked up had become my drug of choice these days, and Liv was the best damn dealer in town."
“This goddamn bitch was ruining what was left of my life. It wasn’t much, but it was still mine and she was eating it up for breakfast, lunch and dinner. And here I was, like a fucking junkie needing his fix, allowing her to do it.”
In BBB, we begin to realize that a small piece of Eagle's soul still lies beneath his blood and bones, the only problem is that Purgatory chews up and spits out souls. Is it better for Eagle to merely exist at the the top of cold-blooded food chain, or should we hope that he finds his way back to the man he once was, and then subsequently lose his life in the process?
Autumn has learned to survive while living in the wild, and domesticating her to function in Purgatory is similar to teaching a feral cat to live inside a house. Autumn’s character demonstrates how savage a person can become trying to survive without contact from other humans, and just how desperate she is to survive. There is very little that the gal won’t do to stay hidden, and if you ever invite her over, make sure that you have a can of Febreze available.
Although life in the apocalypse is rough and desolate, there is beauty in this story.There is something about that small piece of contentment found between two survivors that is innocent and not covered in Purgatory’s filth, and yet beauty aside, the reader senses that this slither of contentment will be their downfall and end.
Bottom line: This book is better than the first, and if you love the fuckedupness of Sheehan's UnDeniable series, then you'll want to read Eagle's story. Although, I had trouble getting into Autumn’s character in the beginning, I felt that she began blossoming around the middle.
Worth mentioning is that Sheehan and Riley are also equal opportunists in the villain category. The baddie in Purgatory isn’t the biggest or ugliest male, but rather a tiny punker with pink cotton candy hair who can over-rule and outmaneuver the strongest of men. I fucking loathe Liv and her “wider than a sinkhole in Texas” pussy.
Furthermore, neither is Eagle a hero, but once the reader understands all that he has lost, you’ll understand his anger. Eagle’s flashbacks explains why his heart is as black as his eyes, and, OMG, that drugstore showdown scene is as painful as a scene can get.
In conclusion, and contrary to what Eagle has thought these past few years, Sheehan and Riley show us that beneath blood and bone, there is actually something worth saving.
August 16, 2015
5+++ Shitty Stars
First off, I want to stress that the "shitty" has NOTHING to do with how I felt about the book...if you read it, you will understand what I mean.
I liked the first book in this series, but this one really knocked my socks off ---- Holy Fuck...Eagle?? Wow, getting to know him in this story was intense. What a fractured soul he was and here I thought I wouldn't be happy unless Wildcat came back...Autumn? Never thought it was possible but they worked.
They really worked.
My heart bled for him...so many times I wanted to scream out at the heavens for the unfairness of his life and the torture he psychologically went through ---- thinking not one woman would stay with him. I'm choking up as I'm thinking about this all over again.
These characters flew out of the pages and created a 3D story right in front of the words...this was so freaking descriptive and imaginative that I was there - right along with Autumn as she fought to survive in a world full of noise and smells. I fought right alongside her at the end and felt her fear, triumph and devastation.
There is only 1 thing I would change about this book and that is that I WANT MORE!!!
I want more of Eagle and Autumn....I want more of Jeffers and Liv....I want Adam and all the other characters back for another round!
Madeline and Claire...FAN FUCKING TASTIC!
First off, I want to stress that the "shitty" has NOTHING to do with how I felt about the book...if you read it, you will understand what I mean.
I liked the first book in this series, but this one really knocked my socks off ---- Holy Fuck...Eagle?? Wow, getting to know him in this story was intense. What a fractured soul he was and here I thought I wouldn't be happy unless Wildcat came back...Autumn? Never thought it was possible but they worked.
They really worked.
My heart bled for him...so many times I wanted to scream out at the heavens for the unfairness of his life and the torture he psychologically went through ---- thinking not one woman would stay with him. I'm choking up as I'm thinking about this all over again.
These characters flew out of the pages and created a 3D story right in front of the words...this was so freaking descriptive and imaginative that I was there - right along with Autumn as she fought to survive in a world full of noise and smells. I fought right alongside her at the end and felt her fear, triumph and devastation.
There is only 1 thing I would change about this book and that is that I WANT MORE!!!
I want more of Eagle and Autumn....I want more of Jeffers and Liv....I want Adam and all the other characters back for another round!
Madeline and Claire...FAN FUCKING TASTIC!
April 18, 2018
-----------COULD CONTAIN SPOILERS--------------
"Welcome to Purgatory. Last stop on the road to Hell."
Book #1 Thicker Than Blood is one of my favorites. After finishing that book and discovering that Eagle (the bad guy) would get his own book I was super excited to get my hands on this book. Even though he was this dark/not so nice guy in book 1, I still liked him. I just have a thing for the bad guys. Madeline Sheehan and Claire C. Riley write so well together (it's like magic!). I love Madeline's Undeniable series (I have a thing for bikers) and I love dystopian/zombie books which Claire is best known for. Together they wrote this amazing book. I do believe both writers have an evil side. Some things were really dark, and makes you think how us people would be like if we lived in a zombie infected world.
"The Sadness that had grown so long inside me was now suffocating me with its strangled vines of hope."
Beneath Blood and Bone grabbed my attention from the first sentence on and it didn't let me go until the end of the book. I loved everything about this book, I can't point out anything I would've seen done differently. It was really unpredictable, and that's a part of why I LOVED this book so much.
We finally see why Eagle is the way he is. There were a few flashbacks (they aren't too many or too long, but very essential to the story) that broke my heart. I was crying during those flashbacks, so keep some tissues next to you. Autumn was pretty much a mystery in the beginning, she is a new character who we didn't meet in Thicker Than Blood (at least I don't think so).
I loved the character development for both Autumn and Eagle, they grew both as individuals and as a couple. Especially Eagle, he had to fight his inner demons. Which wasn't easy (those scenes broke my heart!). Autumn brought Eagle back to "life", and gave him a reason to be better. He was very protective of her, which I loved.
"I loved that I could do this to him, that I could make him feel this way. I loved that I could make him feel at all."
Let's talk about side characters. First of all I HATE Liv so much. She was so evil. I wish she died an horrible death, she really deserves to die! Adam, who works with Eagle at the Garage, is a very fun and nice guy, but probably has his own demons. At the end of the ARC there was a prologue and chapter 1 for BOOK 3!! YES PEOPLE THERE WILL BE A BOOK 3!! I am so excited!! However I was really surprised about one of the main characters, I don't know how Claire and Madeline will redeem this person. They do know how to turn an "evil" person into a likable/lovable one. They did it with Eagle (I love him!). BUT the person for book 3 is just plain evil, However I am curious what happened to that person to make them the way they are. I CAN'T WAIT TO GET MY HANDS ON BOOK 3!!
February 8, 2019
This is the anti-hero at his best. A hero who possesses all the characteristics of a villain: There’s a darkness surrounding this man, he is immoral, unethical and has a general lack of care for the well being of others.
His only weakness is the heroine......
He is tall, with a body to die for – well, you would, wouldn’t you after seeing what he looks like.....
I love Dystopian romance, to bad there doesn't seem to be a run of books for grown-ups about navigating a repressive or destructive society.
The unique setting and story line grabbed me right away! It is always interesting to watch a man and a woman under the circumstances, when nothing else in the world matters.There's a lot of darkness in this story, but all that darkness shows moments of light ...
We all pretty much agree that a cheating hero is a deal breaker when it comes to romance novels?
“I thought I was your property,” she whispered. “You said before—”
I cut her off with a laugh. “Are you branded?”
Her mouth snapped closed and I shook my head. “You had legs then, and I was between them when I said it.” Swallowing my fresh drink, I slammed the glass down. “Now you’re just pussy. Nothing more.”
Pushing out of my chair, I stalked across the room, grabbing the neck of a tall brunette who’d been hanging off the arm of another man.
Smirking, I dropped to her level and leaned in close enough to get a hearty whiff of body odor and feces, probably her own. Smart woman . . . the worse you smelled, the less the rotters noticed you.
“Welcome to Purgatory,” I said coldly, lifting my brow. “Last stop on the road to hell.”
I kissed him slow and soft, urging his lips to move. When they did, when I felt him relax beside me, I kissed him harder and faster, telling him without words that I wasn’t going to run.
October 6, 2015
So this book is set in a Walking Dead type post-apocalyptic world with zombies. The zombie apocalypse started about 5 years before when the story was set and most of the story happens in some fortified town that is filled with crazy people. The "hero" is one of the people who helped start the town, he is a mean selfish person who I didn't really like but did one good thing in the book - he saved the heroine when she needed help. The heroine is pretty crazy for at least half of the book, she survived on her own for awhile before being brought to this town against her will. She is paranoid and keeps rubbing herself in her own poop and filth to "keep the bitters away" even though she is in the fortified town. Yes I understand how someone might not be totally sane after the zombie apocalypse but I really don't enjoy reading about a heroine who rubs crap all over herself for whatever reason.
My main issue with the book is that nobody is very likable and most of the people are mean, homicidal jackasses. The "hero" has rough skeevy sex all the time with a total bitch named Liz (also the "heroine" in the next book) who likes to throw people into a ring with walkers and keeps trying to get the heroine killed. Eventually this stops once he and the heroine finally get together so it wasn't cheating but the sex scenes with Liz were off putting because she was such a psycho bitch.
The relationship between the hero and heroine is pretty nice, we see the hero come to care about the heroine despite his very hard personality. That is probably the highlight in the book.
Overall, it's an interesting story but too filled with crazy unlikable people. I want to root for someone and the best I could do was the heroine who was out of her mind pretty often. The ending was HFN which I am okay with because HEA doesn't seem realistic in the zombie apocalypse. I do wish we had a better idea of how the leads were going to survive in the long term, their situation at the end was okay but they would eventually need to find a more livable place with more supplies.
My main issue with the book is that nobody is very likable and most of the people are mean, homicidal jackasses. The "hero" has rough skeevy sex all the time with a total bitch named Liz (also the "heroine" in the next book) who likes to throw people into a ring with walkers and keeps trying to get the heroine killed. Eventually this stops once he and the heroine finally get together so it wasn't cheating but the sex scenes with Liz were off putting because she was such a psycho bitch.
The relationship between the hero and heroine is pretty nice, we see the hero come to care about the heroine despite his very hard personality. That is probably the highlight in the book.
Overall, it's an interesting story but too filled with crazy unlikable people. I want to root for someone and the best I could do was the heroine who was out of her mind pretty often. The ending was HFN which I am okay with because HEA doesn't seem realistic in the zombie apocalypse. I do wish we had a better idea of how the leads were going to survive in the long term, their situation at the end was okay but they would eventually need to find a more livable place with more supplies.
August 10, 2015
Gabi's review posted at Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews
How is it possible? I felt love so deep I hated it. I flt so lost and found, so tired and energized, so alone among people. And all I was doing was reading. I wasn't even in this world?!?
When Thicker than Blood finished I was certain I would hate E's story. I thought he wasn't worth my time. He was a king in the most feared way and I felt he enjoyed it. There would be no redemption for him, he didn't deserve anything from anyone. He was the most hated person in my eyes.
In a world and time I am certain I would not have what it takes to survive, when all feels lost, and feared how is it a writer can make me feel the warmth of love or the spark of hope? How in the darkest coldest of days I can see the other side and small smile will tug at my mouth and I can feel peace? How this is the place I would fear the most and yet I felt as if a small act or a small emotion can remind you there is good and beauty everywhere.
I can't explain the emotions and ties this book held. I can only STRONGLY suggest you experience this life altering roller coaster book and savor each and every line as the emotions will never be repeated.
Review copy provided for an honest review.
How is it possible? I felt love so deep I hated it. I flt so lost and found, so tired and energized, so alone among people. And all I was doing was reading. I wasn't even in this world?!?
When Thicker than Blood finished I was certain I would hate E's story. I thought he wasn't worth my time. He was a king in the most feared way and I felt he enjoyed it. There would be no redemption for him, he didn't deserve anything from anyone. He was the most hated person in my eyes.
In a world and time I am certain I would not have what it takes to survive, when all feels lost, and feared how is it a writer can make me feel the warmth of love or the spark of hope? How in the darkest coldest of days I can see the other side and small smile will tug at my mouth and I can feel peace? How this is the place I would fear the most and yet I felt as if a small act or a small emotion can remind you there is good and beauty everywhere.
I can't explain the emotions and ties this book held. I can only STRONGLY suggest you experience this life altering roller coaster book and savor each and every line as the emotions will never be repeated.
Review copy provided for an honest review.
February 2, 2016
5 FREAKING FANTASTIC STARS!!!
Thank you Claire and Madeline for writing such an amazing ADULT DYSTOPIAN ROMANCE . Books with the dystopian world with romance and danger mixed in are hard to find in the adult genre. I've read a lot of YA dystopian books. It's one of my favorite genre's. I love romance with danger. It's exciting to read! This devastating world that these two authors have created together is both terrifying and unputdownable. Seriously! If you haven't start this series! Do it! Do it now!!!!
Book 2 is told in two POV, Eagle And Autumn. For people who've read book 1, Thicker Than Blood, you know that Eagle is the villain. A true bad guy!!! But sometimes you just have to look a little deeper. In this book you get inside Eagle's head and I could not believe it when I started relating to him and rooting for him. How can that be? After things I read in book 1. But it happened! It really did! That just shows you the skill of these authors to make someone like Eagle likable. Autumn is definitely unusual she has been alone for so long that she's very scared and animal like in ways. Eagle sees an innocence in her he hadn't seen in a long time and never thought he would see again and Autumn doesn't quite know what to make of Eagle except he is keeping her safe from harm.
"How long had it been since someone had looked after me? How long had it been since I had been protected, since I slept with no fear? This man had given me three days of peace and protection."
It is so great and I could not stop reading. This series is one of the most addictive I've read. I love how the authors never hold back. It's gritty at times but somehow still a beautiful love story that unfolds. For all the romance readers out there I encourage you to give books like this a chance. It's refreshingly different. Who doesn't love some danger mixed in with their romance? I know I do! Now to ponder about book 3. I want Adam to have his own story soooo bad! More please!
Jess & Becca's Swoony Reads Blog
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Thank you Claire and Madeline for writing such an amazing ADULT DYSTOPIAN ROMANCE . Books with the dystopian world with romance and danger mixed in are hard to find in the adult genre. I've read a lot of YA dystopian books. It's one of my favorite genre's. I love romance with danger. It's exciting to read! This devastating world that these two authors have created together is both terrifying and unputdownable. Seriously! If you haven't start this series! Do it! Do it now!!!!
Book 2 is told in two POV, Eagle And Autumn. For people who've read book 1, Thicker Than Blood, you know that Eagle is the villain. A true bad guy!!! But sometimes you just have to look a little deeper. In this book you get inside Eagle's head and I could not believe it when I started relating to him and rooting for him. How can that be? After things I read in book 1. But it happened! It really did! That just shows you the skill of these authors to make someone like Eagle likable. Autumn is definitely unusual she has been alone for so long that she's very scared and animal like in ways. Eagle sees an innocence in her he hadn't seen in a long time and never thought he would see again and Autumn doesn't quite know what to make of Eagle except he is keeping her safe from harm.
"How long had it been since someone had looked after me? How long had it been since I had been protected, since I slept with no fear? This man had given me three days of peace and protection."
It is so great and I could not stop reading. This series is one of the most addictive I've read. I love how the authors never hold back. It's gritty at times but somehow still a beautiful love story that unfolds. For all the romance readers out there I encourage you to give books like this a chance. It's refreshingly different. Who doesn't love some danger mixed in with their romance? I know I do! Now to ponder about book 3. I want Adam to have his own story soooo bad! More please!
Jess & Becca's Swoony Reads Blog
May 29, 2020
“We are no more than skin, blood, and bone. When you take that away, nothing is left. Nothing? I don’t believe that. What do you believe? I believe that beneath the blood and bone, there’s a soul.”
This writing team is pure magic. The brilliance behind Sheehan/Riley books is that each one is completely different. They follow different formulas. Each character has a distinct voice. And these ladies can cross genres like no other.
Beneath Blood and Bone is the second book in the fabulous Thicker Than Blood series. The thrills continue with BBB, but they head in a much different direction. Our hero in this book is Eagle, a character first introduced in book one. Eagle has a haunting and heartbreaking story that leaves you shocked to find yourself not only understanding him, but loving him. Having E’s point of view was truly a gift. He really came alive… Or maybe it was Autumn that brought him to life? Autumn was a tough character to crack too. She was a survivor. I loved her. She was so strong and so fragile at the same time. Eagle’s response to her vulnerability and idiosyncrasies was perfect. Not flawless, but perfect.
The feelings this book elicited spanned from despair and hatred to hope and love. How they managed to move me like that, I’ll never know. I loved the way the characters were written. All of them. Combined with the world-building, this series continues to be my absolute favorite of 2015. I am terrified by Purgatory and the world beyond. Even with this story having more of a romantic foundation, I still felt the peripheral danger all around. It was almost beautiful to have so much romance and tenderness in the epicenter of such evil and ugliness.
The biggest thing about this series is that the zombies are not the principal problem. It’s humanity. How we maintain our humanity. Who do we become when faced with the worst? Sheehan/Riley perfectly depicts the many ways a person can turn using the characters in their books. After each book in this series, I am left thinking for weeks. For me, that is the sign of a truly great book.
This writing team is pure magic. The brilliance behind Sheehan/Riley books is that each one is completely different. They follow different formulas. Each character has a distinct voice. And these ladies can cross genres like no other.
Beneath Blood and Bone is the second book in the fabulous Thicker Than Blood series. The thrills continue with BBB, but they head in a much different direction. Our hero in this book is Eagle, a character first introduced in book one. Eagle has a haunting and heartbreaking story that leaves you shocked to find yourself not only understanding him, but loving him. Having E’s point of view was truly a gift. He really came alive… Or maybe it was Autumn that brought him to life? Autumn was a tough character to crack too. She was a survivor. I loved her. She was so strong and so fragile at the same time. Eagle’s response to her vulnerability and idiosyncrasies was perfect. Not flawless, but perfect.
The feelings this book elicited spanned from despair and hatred to hope and love. How they managed to move me like that, I’ll never know. I loved the way the characters were written. All of them. Combined with the world-building, this series continues to be my absolute favorite of 2015. I am terrified by Purgatory and the world beyond. Even with this story having more of a romantic foundation, I still felt the peripheral danger all around. It was almost beautiful to have so much romance and tenderness in the epicenter of such evil and ugliness.
The biggest thing about this series is that the zombies are not the principal problem. It’s humanity. How we maintain our humanity. Who do we become when faced with the worst? Sheehan/Riley perfectly depicts the many ways a person can turn using the characters in their books. After each book in this series, I am left thinking for weeks. For me, that is the sign of a truly great book.
5 stars
September 29, 2016
4.5 Stars!
This book was sooo much better for me than the first. These ladies are some amazing writers for making me fall in love with Eagle after his despicableness in book 1.
And there is a book 3 about Liv?? Bring it on
This book was sooo much better for me than the first. These ladies are some amazing writers for making me fall in love with Eagle after his despicableness in book 1.
And there is a book 3 about Liv?? Bring it on
January 20, 2016
There are so many things I like about this series. The reader never knows what to expect. The storylines follow no patterns, and the books thus far are very different. Even though it's fiction, it's real. The decay and stench of life at it lowest are in vivid technicolor and jumping off the page at the reader's senses. At the same time, sparks of humanity that can't be snuffed out always shine through.
In the first book, E was not the hero, and he still isn't. He's the antihero. He's been through hell (the reader learns of this in flashbacks) and came out the other side. Life has no meaning for him anymore. Full of hate, he's only a shell surviving out of habit.
We don't really know anything about Autumn going into Beneath Blood and Bone. She pretty much appears to be cuckoo for cocoa puffs. Full of fear, she's regressed to a snarling animal surviving on instinct.
Most of the plot in this book takes place in the camp called Purgatory (so many things can be read into that name). It's a place without joy. Day to day survival is how it breaks down. The bold lord over the meek. Liv is the queen bitch. She wants to control everything with E being at the top of the list. It doesn't go over well when he takes an interest in Autumn.
I didn't hate E in the first book. He wasn't a good guy at all, but I still couldn't raise up feelings to hate level for him. Although E compares his likeness to Liv's more than once in this book, I was prepared to slit her throat myself.
Overall, it's a story about the human condition. When is enough, enough? What is the point of living? How far gone can someone come back from? I loved it, muy mucho, and I'm looking forward to more from these authors.
P.S. E did win me over. I don't excuse him for the bad things, but I still can't help loving him either. And that's the way love goes.
August 3, 2015
When I first read Thicker Than Blood, my reaction was this: "What happens when you mix the Queen of Biker and the Duchess of Horror together and they have a baby (albeit a damned gory and bloody baby)...well you get THIS book and OMG am I ever happy they procreated!"
My opinion has not altered much with Beneath Blood and Bone, except the cover is hotter (Franggy I love you!!) and the story is dirtier (if that was even possible) as we are thrown into an even darker story of two completely broken and flawed people and their journey back to some sense of normalcy.
"Welcome to Purgatory...last stop on the road to hell".
If anything, nothing has really changed since a daring escape shook the compound's foundation and made Eagle become someone untrustworthy in his comrade's eyes...and the whole key to survival in Purgatory is being able to trust (as much as you can desperate people) and rely on each other for survival. When Autumn is captured in the wild and brought in (to live a life of servitude on her back), she awakens something in Eagle that he thought was long dead, and it is the beginning of his final downward spiral...the unravelling of whatever thread of conscience that he possessed.
I would describe Autumn as a feral cat...you know the sad, dirty, malnourished little ball of matted fur that you might find growling in an alley. You think you are rescuing a poor victim of abuse, only to get clawed, bitten and scratched while trying to clean it up, feed it and look for injuries. She is mistrustful and terrified of any human contact and the more you push, the more she retreats into herself (and fights back)...leaving you wishing you had just left her to die in that alley.
When Eagle decides to risk it all to help this wild and pathetic creature, it is a gamechanger for both of them and becomes both the beginning and end of life as they know it.
We are treated to and allowed to grieve for Jeffers and Eagle, as we learn the history of where these two allies came from and why they have such a strong bond of friendship, despite Jeffers position in Purgatory and the interference of Olivia...one of the most despicable and disgusting excuses for a woman I have ever read. "Liv" is a skank above all else...a jealous,vindictive piece of garbage who wants Eagle as her plaything while trying to rule the compound from Jeffers' side.
This was truly a love story, with not quite as much undead, biter, zombie gore as the first book, but much more human-based blood and guts propelling the book and I personally loved book 2 even more than the first. It had Sheehan's sexy bad-boy biker stamp all over it and Riley's terrifying, horror stink permeating throughout...a perfect combo of steamy, bloody, angsty shocker of a sequel...and I loved every word (even when I was wanting to beat Liv to death with a club).
If you didn't quite love the first book but are curious in what direction this one woud go in, I urge you to go for it...it was even more poignant and was a complete triumph of human resilience and spirit over evil. Bravo ladies on a job well done!
"Home is not a place, but a feeling"...time to go get there.
I received a free copy of this book for an honest review.
***** 5 ***** "the damaged and the broken" stars
My opinion has not altered much with Beneath Blood and Bone, except the cover is hotter (Franggy I love you!!) and the story is dirtier (if that was even possible) as we are thrown into an even darker story of two completely broken and flawed people and their journey back to some sense of normalcy.
"Welcome to Purgatory...last stop on the road to hell".
If anything, nothing has really changed since a daring escape shook the compound's foundation and made Eagle become someone untrustworthy in his comrade's eyes...and the whole key to survival in Purgatory is being able to trust (as much as you can desperate people) and rely on each other for survival. When Autumn is captured in the wild and brought in (to live a life of servitude on her back), she awakens something in Eagle that he thought was long dead, and it is the beginning of his final downward spiral...the unravelling of whatever thread of conscience that he possessed.
I would describe Autumn as a feral cat...you know the sad, dirty, malnourished little ball of matted fur that you might find growling in an alley. You think you are rescuing a poor victim of abuse, only to get clawed, bitten and scratched while trying to clean it up, feed it and look for injuries. She is mistrustful and terrified of any human contact and the more you push, the more she retreats into herself (and fights back)...leaving you wishing you had just left her to die in that alley.
When Eagle decides to risk it all to help this wild and pathetic creature, it is a gamechanger for both of them and becomes both the beginning and end of life as they know it.
We are treated to and allowed to grieve for Jeffers and Eagle, as we learn the history of where these two allies came from and why they have such a strong bond of friendship, despite Jeffers position in Purgatory and the interference of Olivia...one of the most despicable and disgusting excuses for a woman I have ever read. "Liv" is a skank above all else...a jealous,vindictive piece of garbage who wants Eagle as her plaything while trying to rule the compound from Jeffers' side.
This was truly a love story, with not quite as much undead, biter, zombie gore as the first book, but much more human-based blood and guts propelling the book and I personally loved book 2 even more than the first. It had Sheehan's sexy bad-boy biker stamp all over it and Riley's terrifying, horror stink permeating throughout...a perfect combo of steamy, bloody, angsty shocker of a sequel...and I loved every word (even when I was wanting to beat Liv to death with a club).
If you didn't quite love the first book but are curious in what direction this one woud go in, I urge you to go for it...it was even more poignant and was a complete triumph of human resilience and spirit over evil. Bravo ladies on a job well done!
"Home is not a place, but a feeling"...time to go get there.
I received a free copy of this book for an honest review.
***** 5 ***** "the damaged and the broken" stars
August 9, 2015
There is no way I could love Beneath Blood and Bone more than I already do. It is perfect in every way. Once again Madeline and Claire have used their insanely creative imaginations to take us into a unique world that we can’t help but to be sucked into.
We met Eagle in Thicker Than Blood and I didn’t particularly love him. Let’s be honest. Not many people did. My feelings for him completely changed in Beneath Blood and Bone. In Beneath Blood and Bone we learn more about the man underneath the hard, angry, cold exterior and the reasons he is the way he is. And once we do, how can we not love this poor, broken man? Autumn is broken too in her own ways. She is also trying to survive in this crazy world that now exists. She thinks she’s weak but she’s stronger than she realizes.
As we learned in Thicker Than Blood, Purgatory is not a pleasant place. Not many people would choose to live there; it can be hell on Earth. Most people living there aren’t really living. Eagle is used to it; as much as anyone can be. For Autumn, it’s all new. Can these two people- two people who have stopped trusting, caring, and are alone for all intents and purposes- learn to trust again and save each other? I loved both Eagle and Autumn, individually and together. They are two people who seem so different on the outside but have been through similar things.
Anyone can take words and put them on paper. However, some people have a special gift and are able to create magic on paper. Madeline and Claire both have that gift. The characters, the scenes, the writing- everything was all so vivid and detailed. I actually saw the characters in my head and pictured the scenes playing out. Eagle stomping around. Autumn being scared. I don’t want to tell you more of the scenes I saw playing out in my head because I don’t want to give anything away but that is all due to the excellent writing. And the fact that it was written by 2 people boggles my mind. The transition is so seamless. How is it possible after reading so many of their books that I have no idea who wrote which characters?
Beneath Blood and Bone is definitely more of a romance than Thicker Than Blood but it still has all the things we loved about Thicker Than Blood. The action, the suspense, the emotion, it’s there. I was on the edge of my seat at times. As is the character you love to hate- Liv. She’s back and pleasant as always (insert sarcasm).
When all seems lost and hopeless, like life isn’t worth living, maybe it is. Maybe there is hope. Maybe there is love.
Another excellent job by Madeline and Claire. You MUST once click now. Trust me. You WON’T be disappointed.
An ARC was provided for an honest review.
We met Eagle in Thicker Than Blood and I didn’t particularly love him. Let’s be honest. Not many people did. My feelings for him completely changed in Beneath Blood and Bone. In Beneath Blood and Bone we learn more about the man underneath the hard, angry, cold exterior and the reasons he is the way he is. And once we do, how can we not love this poor, broken man? Autumn is broken too in her own ways. She is also trying to survive in this crazy world that now exists. She thinks she’s weak but she’s stronger than she realizes.
As we learned in Thicker Than Blood, Purgatory is not a pleasant place. Not many people would choose to live there; it can be hell on Earth. Most people living there aren’t really living. Eagle is used to it; as much as anyone can be. For Autumn, it’s all new. Can these two people- two people who have stopped trusting, caring, and are alone for all intents and purposes- learn to trust again and save each other? I loved both Eagle and Autumn, individually and together. They are two people who seem so different on the outside but have been through similar things.
Anyone can take words and put them on paper. However, some people have a special gift and are able to create magic on paper. Madeline and Claire both have that gift. The characters, the scenes, the writing- everything was all so vivid and detailed. I actually saw the characters in my head and pictured the scenes playing out. Eagle stomping around. Autumn being scared. I don’t want to tell you more of the scenes I saw playing out in my head because I don’t want to give anything away but that is all due to the excellent writing. And the fact that it was written by 2 people boggles my mind. The transition is so seamless. How is it possible after reading so many of their books that I have no idea who wrote which characters?
Beneath Blood and Bone is definitely more of a romance than Thicker Than Blood but it still has all the things we loved about Thicker Than Blood. The action, the suspense, the emotion, it’s there. I was on the edge of my seat at times. As is the character you love to hate- Liv. She’s back and pleasant as always (insert sarcasm).
When all seems lost and hopeless, like life isn’t worth living, maybe it is. Maybe there is hope. Maybe there is love.
Another excellent job by Madeline and Claire. You MUST once click now. Trust me. You WON’T be disappointed.
An ARC was provided for an honest review.
August 8, 2015
This book. THIS BOOK! This book that I tore through, reading on pins and needles right up until the end. I loved it. It made me mad. It made me tear up. It made me quietly cheer in my seat. It made me think.
Someone asked me when I finished Beneath Blood and Bone if I had forgiven E for what he had done in Thicker Than Blood. I couldn't really answer. I have come to the conclusion that there is no forgiveness because there is nothing to forgive. This book that Claire Riley and Madeline Sheenan have crafted is about a world that is truly Purgatory. Not one of the people in this place that E lives in and Autumn is dragged into is without sin. No one appears to be good because you have to do what is needed to survive. Show no weakness. Ever. I also think that PTSD has made all these people a little nuts. Imagine for a moment that you have had to end the (non) life of your children. Your wife. Your father. I don't think anyone comes out of this unharmed. That also means developing your own coping skills. And sometimes you do what works, even if it’s horrible, until it doesn't anymore.
I don't really know what I was expecting when I started this book. Was it a redemption piece for E? Was I getting a love story? I think what I ended up getting out of this book, aside from some absolutely fascinating character studies (Ugh. Liv. Amirite?!), is you are your own strength. There are no knights in shining armour, because they are just as messed up as the rest of us. So you have only you in the end.
“None of them would help me; I knew that now…”
“I was more than this small, weak body. I was strong.”
I don’t even know if that’s right though. The relationship that develops between E and Autumn is based on need and support given. It also shines hope. Hope in a place where there shouldn’t be any.
I feel like I’ve written a review of my feelings rather than a review about the book. I am going to take that as a sign that this is a well written, carefully nuanced, slow burn of a book. I was on pins and needles while reading but now what I’m doing is thinking. This book has stayed with me and will for a while. I cannot wait for the next one.
Someone asked me when I finished Beneath Blood and Bone if I had forgiven E for what he had done in Thicker Than Blood. I couldn't really answer. I have come to the conclusion that there is no forgiveness because there is nothing to forgive. This book that Claire Riley and Madeline Sheenan have crafted is about a world that is truly Purgatory. Not one of the people in this place that E lives in and Autumn is dragged into is without sin. No one appears to be good because you have to do what is needed to survive. Show no weakness. Ever. I also think that PTSD has made all these people a little nuts. Imagine for a moment that you have had to end the (non) life of your children. Your wife. Your father. I don't think anyone comes out of this unharmed. That also means developing your own coping skills. And sometimes you do what works, even if it’s horrible, until it doesn't anymore.
I don't really know what I was expecting when I started this book. Was it a redemption piece for E? Was I getting a love story? I think what I ended up getting out of this book, aside from some absolutely fascinating character studies (Ugh. Liv. Amirite?!), is you are your own strength. There are no knights in shining armour, because they are just as messed up as the rest of us. So you have only you in the end.
“None of them would help me; I knew that now…”
“I was more than this small, weak body. I was strong.”
I don’t even know if that’s right though. The relationship that develops between E and Autumn is based on need and support given. It also shines hope. Hope in a place where there shouldn’t be any.
I feel like I’ve written a review of my feelings rather than a review about the book. I am going to take that as a sign that this is a well written, carefully nuanced, slow burn of a book. I was on pins and needles while reading but now what I’m doing is thinking. This book has stayed with me and will for a while. I cannot wait for the next one.
August 7, 2015
Claire and Madeline have written another cracker of a book.
In Beneath Blood And Bone the story concentrates on E (Eagle) and Autumn. It's a story of love, pain, hope and letting go.
Both the main characters are seriously flawed by what has happened to them in the past, though they somehow find the strength in each other to stay alive in the hell hole that is Purgatory.
One of the standout things for me in this book was Liv. (It may sound strange but hear me out) She is probably one of the most vile rancid characters I've ever read. As an evil/bad character she is brilliant! I don't think I've sworn at a character or wanted a character dead as much as I did Liv, that says something about the quality of the writing! To bring that sort of emotion out of a reader is difficult and I was pretty much cursing and wishing her dead throughout.
Overall Beneath Blood And Bone is a traumatic ride, which leaves you with hope. When two people really connect, it's a powerful thing. It shows that Beneath Blood And Bone, love and hope survive.
In Beneath Blood And Bone the story concentrates on E (Eagle) and Autumn. It's a story of love, pain, hope and letting go.
Both the main characters are seriously flawed by what has happened to them in the past, though they somehow find the strength in each other to stay alive in the hell hole that is Purgatory.
One of the standout things for me in this book was Liv. (It may sound strange but hear me out) She is probably one of the most vile rancid characters I've ever read. As an evil/bad character she is brilliant! I don't think I've sworn at a character or wanted a character dead as much as I did Liv, that says something about the quality of the writing! To bring that sort of emotion out of a reader is difficult and I was pretty much cursing and wishing her dead throughout.
Overall Beneath Blood And Bone is a traumatic ride, which leaves you with hope. When two people really connect, it's a powerful thing. It shows that Beneath Blood And Bone, love and hope survive.
July 9, 2021
After meeting Eagle in Thicker Than Blood I will admit I was curious about his character. He wasn't a nice guy, he was mean, he was violent, he caused a lot of destruction where the previous three main characters were concerned BUT I do love an anti-hero so I had to read Eagle's story.
This book takes place after the end of Thicker Than Blood. Again I felt the story was a little slow to start but as before the character interested me enough to want to know more and keep me reading. The book is set again in Purgatory and we learn how Eagle goes through his day to day life, how he got their his past history and his relationship to Jeffers and Liv who run Purgatory.
When a girl from the wild (outside of the walls) is brought into camp, Eagle stumbles across her feral and wounded and takes her in. Something about this girl awakens a part of him he thought was lost long ago and seeing him battle with his frustration, anger, loneliness etc when it comes to protecting and caring for this girl made for a compelling read.
Autumn is the heroine, a young girl that has been hiding to survive on her own for almost 4 years. SO now thrust into Purgatory she is scared and overwhelmed with the sounds and smells of society after so long only having herself to rely on. The first chunk of the book for me was driven by Eagle and his POV towards Autumn I found it both amusing and fascinating. When we start to see Autumns personality show through I really liked how she softened Eagle.
Now don't get me wrong he doesn't go soft, he is still mean, he is still callous and is still violent but we see another side to him when he is around Autumn, he begins to live again. What I enjoyed was the juxtaposition between the moments of happiness in the simple life they lead now with the harsh environment they live in, mix in memories of Eagle's past and it makes for a pretty dire story. Yet in many ways these are two characters that really do fight for everything they can get in this book. I hope after how the story came to a close in the epilogue we get to revisit them eventually. Roll on book three!
This book takes place after the end of Thicker Than Blood. Again I felt the story was a little slow to start but as before the character interested me enough to want to know more and keep me reading. The book is set again in Purgatory and we learn how Eagle goes through his day to day life, how he got their his past history and his relationship to Jeffers and Liv who run Purgatory.
When a girl from the wild (outside of the walls) is brought into camp, Eagle stumbles across her feral and wounded and takes her in. Something about this girl awakens a part of him he thought was lost long ago and seeing him battle with his frustration, anger, loneliness etc when it comes to protecting and caring for this girl made for a compelling read.
Autumn is the heroine, a young girl that has been hiding to survive on her own for almost 4 years. SO now thrust into Purgatory she is scared and overwhelmed with the sounds and smells of society after so long only having herself to rely on. The first chunk of the book for me was driven by Eagle and his POV towards Autumn I found it both amusing and fascinating. When we start to see Autumns personality show through I really liked how she softened Eagle.
Now don't get me wrong he doesn't go soft, he is still mean, he is still callous and is still violent but we see another side to him when he is around Autumn, he begins to live again. What I enjoyed was the juxtaposition between the moments of happiness in the simple life they lead now with the harsh environment they live in, mix in memories of Eagle's past and it makes for a pretty dire story. Yet in many ways these are two characters that really do fight for everything they can get in this book. I hope after how the story came to a close in the epilogue we get to revisit them eventually. Roll on book three!
August 7, 2015
“Not many are branded, but they wish they were. And my man E, here, nobody fucks with him. You’re about to become the queen of Hell”
In true Riley and Sheehan form, they beautifully craft a world, that will grab you by the throat and throw you around in the dirt, and then somehow they pick you back up, and dust you off. And once you feel as if you’re pristine and clean again, they pick you back up and toss you around some more.
I want to first, start off saying, that if you have not read Thicker Than Blood, then STOP what you’re doing, and go get that book first. You need to read it before you read this little gem! These two books are about love, and survival. But they strip away everything you know about love, and then builds you back up. Thicker than Blood, speaks about love, but of a different variety. It’s about a friendship that can outlast, even the end of the world that surpasses most of the friendships we find here in the real world, and makes you wish you had that kind of love, that kind of beautiful friendship.
In walks, Beneath Blood and Bone, A book that is completely different than the other, and can stand on its own two feet. BB&B teaches us about love in a different form. It teaches us that even when we lose all of our hope, and humanity, that there is still someone out there…waiting to be found in all of the nastiness of the world. That beneath all of the blood and bones, there’s a soul there, waiting to be redeemed, waiting to be loved again.
Claire C. Riley and Madeline Sheehan made a ballsy move, in my opinion. They took one of the most hated characters they ever could have created, and then made a book about him!!! This could have gone one of two ways. And I think maybe, it wouldn’t have worked for other authors. But they did it in such a way. That you find yourself cursing the likes of this character, and then all of the sudden you feel it in your gut. It doesn’t happen quickly, but slowly. Like the slow burn of a cigarette. You begin feeling a love for this character out of all of the hatred you felt for him in Thicker than Blood. You begin to sympathize with Eagle. You begin to want him to find his happiness too. Even after, all of the horrible things he has done. It’s a feeling that leaves you reeling, and confused. You’re asking yourself, how the hell you developed these kinds of feelings for Eagle. It slaps in the face before you know what’s happening, and then when it does, you realize there’s no turning back!!
Beneath Blood and Bone is about two completely different people who have lost their humanity in this new world that is covered in disease, a world that has brought out the absolute worst in people, and made them do horrible things that they wouldn’t otherwise do in the old world.
Autumn has been living in the “wild” since the very beginning of the collapse of the world. And when she is found she is covered in dirt and shit. She has lost all of her humanity. Not having a clue how to live with other human beings, and not wanting anything to do with them. But as the story progresses, you begin to see her layers being stripped away. You begin to see a girl that has grown into women, with each layer of dirt wiped away, little by little her humanity begins to come to the surface.
Beneath Blood and Bone is well rounded, and thoroughly written. It’s about two people who had lost everything, only to find their essence within each other. And it teaches us that even when it feels as if we have lost everything, including our humanity, the very thing that makes us humans, that there will always be hope and love beneath all the blood and bone.
In my opinon, these books are the best horror books of 2015. The best books, I have read all year long. Yes! They’re THAT good. So buy this book! Just do yourself a favor and GET IT!!!!
In true Riley and Sheehan form, they beautifully craft a world, that will grab you by the throat and throw you around in the dirt, and then somehow they pick you back up, and dust you off. And once you feel as if you’re pristine and clean again, they pick you back up and toss you around some more.
I want to first, start off saying, that if you have not read Thicker Than Blood, then STOP what you’re doing, and go get that book first. You need to read it before you read this little gem! These two books are about love, and survival. But they strip away everything you know about love, and then builds you back up. Thicker than Blood, speaks about love, but of a different variety. It’s about a friendship that can outlast, even the end of the world that surpasses most of the friendships we find here in the real world, and makes you wish you had that kind of love, that kind of beautiful friendship.
In walks, Beneath Blood and Bone, A book that is completely different than the other, and can stand on its own two feet. BB&B teaches us about love in a different form. It teaches us that even when we lose all of our hope, and humanity, that there is still someone out there…waiting to be found in all of the nastiness of the world. That beneath all of the blood and bones, there’s a soul there, waiting to be redeemed, waiting to be loved again.
Claire C. Riley and Madeline Sheehan made a ballsy move, in my opinion. They took one of the most hated characters they ever could have created, and then made a book about him!!! This could have gone one of two ways. And I think maybe, it wouldn’t have worked for other authors. But they did it in such a way. That you find yourself cursing the likes of this character, and then all of the sudden you feel it in your gut. It doesn’t happen quickly, but slowly. Like the slow burn of a cigarette. You begin feeling a love for this character out of all of the hatred you felt for him in Thicker than Blood. You begin to sympathize with Eagle. You begin to want him to find his happiness too. Even after, all of the horrible things he has done. It’s a feeling that leaves you reeling, and confused. You’re asking yourself, how the hell you developed these kinds of feelings for Eagle. It slaps in the face before you know what’s happening, and then when it does, you realize there’s no turning back!!
Beneath Blood and Bone is about two completely different people who have lost their humanity in this new world that is covered in disease, a world that has brought out the absolute worst in people, and made them do horrible things that they wouldn’t otherwise do in the old world.
Autumn has been living in the “wild” since the very beginning of the collapse of the world. And when she is found she is covered in dirt and shit. She has lost all of her humanity. Not having a clue how to live with other human beings, and not wanting anything to do with them. But as the story progresses, you begin to see her layers being stripped away. You begin to see a girl that has grown into women, with each layer of dirt wiped away, little by little her humanity begins to come to the surface.
Beneath Blood and Bone is well rounded, and thoroughly written. It’s about two people who had lost everything, only to find their essence within each other. And it teaches us that even when it feels as if we have lost everything, including our humanity, the very thing that makes us humans, that there will always be hope and love beneath all the blood and bone.
In my opinon, these books are the best horror books of 2015. The best books, I have read all year long. Yes! They’re THAT good. So buy this book! Just do yourself a favor and GET IT!!!!
Shelved as 'maybe'
October 4, 2015 3.5 Stars
Overall Opinion: This was an enjoyable read about a post zombie apocalyptic couple finding comfort in each other. This isn't the happiest subject, but it was different and I enjoyed it. I was worried that I would've needed to read the first book, Thicker Than Blood, to follow along. The reviews for this one convinced me to give it a try. I imagine I would've had a more in depth understanding of what was going on (with the world as well as with Eagle) if I had read it -- but I did just fine.
Storyline: This is Autumn and Eagle's story. The world was infected by some zombie virus and we start the story with Eagle who lives in a colony of survivors called Purgatory, and holds a pretty high position in its hierarchy. They meet when Autumn gets captured when some of the scouts from the colony find her looking for food. She has been living on her own for close to 5 years now, and she is extremely hesitant to be around people or to change her survival techniques (covering herself in excrement so the zombies don't smell her and hiding). She soon realizes that she has no choice but to stay and do what they say (even though she fights the whole way), especially when Eagle ends up taking her under his wing and eventually claiming her as his. The story continues with Autumn's struggles adjusting to living in the colony, as well as them dealing with the other drama that goes along with it (including a pink haired psychopath with a histrionic personality). The romance part of the story took a while to develop. They do have some steamy times, some stronger feelings develop, and they eventually find their HFN at the end.
POV: This alternated between Autumn and Eagle's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Good. I read this pretty quick because there were no parts that felt slow or lagging. This also didn't include instalove.
H rating: 3 stars. Eagle. He was a really damaged man (with good reason), and it took me a while to start warming up to him. I think that is Ms. Sheehan's greatest skill -- taking a hero that we hate but end up rooting for him at the end.
h rating: 4 stars. Autumn. She too was really damaged (but who wasn't -- right?), but I loved how she kept fighting.
Sadness level: Low/moderate. It wasn't a warm and fuzzy type story, but I didn't get teary at any point either.
Heat level: Moderate/low. Not too many scenes, but they were pretty hot.
Descriptive sex: Yes.
Sex scene with OW or OM:
Cheating:
Possible Triggers:
Closure: This actually had some decent closure for an apocalyptic type story. I would still call it HFN, because with what is going on in the world they can't really be truly secure in their future...but it's looking good for them
Worth the $?: Yes. It was $3.99. I feel like it was worth it to get a different type story by an author that I've liked in the past, Madeline Sheehan.
Overall Opinion: This was an enjoyable read about a post zombie apocalyptic couple finding comfort in each other. This isn't the happiest subject, but it was different and I enjoyed it. I was worried that I would've needed to read the first book, Thicker Than Blood, to follow along. The reviews for this one convinced me to give it a try. I imagine I would've had a more in depth understanding of what was going on (with the world as well as with Eagle) if I had read it -- but I did just fine.
Storyline: This is Autumn and Eagle's story. The world was infected by some zombie virus and we start the story with Eagle who lives in a colony of survivors called Purgatory, and holds a pretty high position in its hierarchy. They meet when Autumn gets captured when some of the scouts from the colony find her looking for food. She has been living on her own for close to 5 years now, and she is extremely hesitant to be around people or to change her survival techniques (covering herself in excrement so the zombies don't smell her and hiding). She soon realizes that she has no choice but to stay and do what they say (even though she fights the whole way), especially when Eagle ends up taking her under his wing and eventually claiming her as his. The story continues with Autumn's struggles adjusting to living in the colony, as well as them dealing with the other drama that goes along with it (including a pink haired psychopath with a histrionic personality). The romance part of the story took a while to develop. They do have some steamy times, some stronger feelings develop, and they eventually find their HFN at the end.
POV: This alternated between Autumn and Eagle's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Good. I read this pretty quick because there were no parts that felt slow or lagging. This also didn't include instalove.
H rating: 3 stars. Eagle. He was a really damaged man (with good reason), and it took me a while to start warming up to him. I think that is Ms. Sheehan's greatest skill -- taking a hero that we hate but end up rooting for him at the end.
h rating: 4 stars. Autumn. She too was really damaged (but who wasn't -- right?), but I loved how she kept fighting.
Sadness level: Low/moderate. It wasn't a warm and fuzzy type story, but I didn't get teary at any point either.
Heat level: Moderate/low. Not too many scenes, but they were pretty hot.
Descriptive sex: Yes.
Sex scene with OW or OM:
Cheating:
Possible Triggers:
Closure: This actually had some decent closure for an apocalyptic type story. I would still call it HFN, because with what is going on in the world they can't really be truly secure in their future...but it's looking good for them
Worth the $?: Yes. It was $3.99. I feel like it was worth it to get a different type story by an author that I've liked in the past, Madeline Sheehan.
August 10, 2015
I won an Arc from the authors and this is my honest review.
I started this series last week and since then
I've been consumed by these characters and the awful reality they have now found themselves in.
I'll start by saying this is one of the most amazing series I've read. It tears you apart but then puts you back together in the same breath. The depth of the characters and story means I've now been left with a mass of emotions and I all I know is I want more I need more!
Beneath Blood and Bone is set in purgatory which is where Lei, Eve and Alex escaped from in Thicker than Blood. This is made out to be a safe place from the rotters but behind the closed gates it isn't always safe, everyone is out for themselves and you learn to trust no one. Jeffers and Liv rule it with sets of rules that are meant to protect, but that safety often turns to hell for the ones on the inside and some of them love to watch others pay a price for their own so called freedom!
E (Eagle) is a dangerous man, we first met him when he set his sights on Eve and he seems to be living in a constant nightmare always taking what he wants and not caring how he gets it.
Autumn has been found on the outside living in the wild, she's feral covered in filth, muck and her own shit! but she's survived on her own like this and that says something about her character.
She's a fighter but ends up in trouble within the walls of hell and there is only one way to go when that happens, but E turns out to be an unlikely saviour.
He helps her and in turn we find out so much more about this ticking time bomb of a man.
E has suffered so badly because of the epidemic and he's shut down trying to drown out the voices that plague his sleep every night. He hasn't and can't forgiven himself for the choices he had to make and that is what is destroying him. But he allows a shift to happen when caring for Autumn and those feelings bubble into something else.
This is one of the most powerful sentences I've ever read.....
Me, a broken down man... And a kiss that silenced the world.
This story isn't pretty, it's gory, twisted, dangerous and intense but there are glimmers of light, love and hope.
Home is not a place, but a feeling and in the world they are living in that means more than anything else.
Madeline and Claire are formidable writers blending their words together seamlessly creating a terrifying yet beautiful world.
They aren't scared of shocking you as a reader and I absolutely love that, they take you on a journey one that will filter into your soul and stay forever.
I can't say enough how much I love this book, the writing, characters, storyline all have blown me away if I could give it more than 5* I would.
This series is so much more than the rotters that walk the earth, it's about emotions, heartache and love which we may only have for a moment, but that moment is better than never feeling love again.
I took a chance on this series and I'm so glad I did, I've discovered something very special and I'll be reading these books over and over again x
AMAZING 5++++++*
I started this series last week and since then
I've been consumed by these characters and the awful reality they have now found themselves in.
I'll start by saying this is one of the most amazing series I've read. It tears you apart but then puts you back together in the same breath. The depth of the characters and story means I've now been left with a mass of emotions and I all I know is I want more I need more!
Beneath Blood and Bone is set in purgatory which is where Lei, Eve and Alex escaped from in Thicker than Blood. This is made out to be a safe place from the rotters but behind the closed gates it isn't always safe, everyone is out for themselves and you learn to trust no one. Jeffers and Liv rule it with sets of rules that are meant to protect, but that safety often turns to hell for the ones on the inside and some of them love to watch others pay a price for their own so called freedom!
E (Eagle) is a dangerous man, we first met him when he set his sights on Eve and he seems to be living in a constant nightmare always taking what he wants and not caring how he gets it.
Autumn has been found on the outside living in the wild, she's feral covered in filth, muck and her own shit! but she's survived on her own like this and that says something about her character.
She's a fighter but ends up in trouble within the walls of hell and there is only one way to go when that happens, but E turns out to be an unlikely saviour.
He helps her and in turn we find out so much more about this ticking time bomb of a man.
E has suffered so badly because of the epidemic and he's shut down trying to drown out the voices that plague his sleep every night. He hasn't and can't forgiven himself for the choices he had to make and that is what is destroying him. But he allows a shift to happen when caring for Autumn and those feelings bubble into something else.
This is one of the most powerful sentences I've ever read.....
Me, a broken down man... And a kiss that silenced the world.
This story isn't pretty, it's gory, twisted, dangerous and intense but there are glimmers of light, love and hope.
Home is not a place, but a feeling and in the world they are living in that means more than anything else.
Madeline and Claire are formidable writers blending their words together seamlessly creating a terrifying yet beautiful world.
They aren't scared of shocking you as a reader and I absolutely love that, they take you on a journey one that will filter into your soul and stay forever.
I can't say enough how much I love this book, the writing, characters, storyline all have blown me away if I could give it more than 5* I would.
This series is so much more than the rotters that walk the earth, it's about emotions, heartache and love which we may only have for a moment, but that moment is better than never feeling love again.
I took a chance on this series and I'm so glad I did, I've discovered something very special and I'll be reading these books over and over again x
AMAZING 5++++++*
August 10, 2015
LAWD MERCY! Guys, there were a million things that I absolutely loved about this book but let us start with that cover. It is hot and a little scary and so very sums up Eagle. I adore it! Now, this is the second book in the Thicker Than Blood Series. I would definitely recommend that you read Thicker Than Blood first even though this could probably be a standalone. There are a couple of reasons; one, Thicker Than Blood is freaking awesome and two, being you get introduced to Purgatory and you meet Eagle. Being introduced to Purgatory and Eagle is kind of a big deal because you really get an idea of how bad Purgatory and Eagle are. In fact, I couldn't decide who was worse. But I admit, I was desperate for Eagle's book. Because I love a mean book boyfriend and Eagle really is the meanest of the mean.
I won't go into too much plot detail because I really do not want to spoil this amazing book for anyone and really, everything about it is kind of epic and spoily, if you know what I mean. But I will say that while the first book wasn't really what I would consider a romance in every sense of the word, but this one is. Oh, it so is. And this romance loving girl ate up every bit of it. I could not stop. I read this book in one sitting. I was hooked. I was in Purgatory (hell on earth) right along with Eagle and Autumn and I was falling in love too.
'She was good, a tiny slice of goodness surrounded by filth, and I wanted to be a part of that.'
It is odd how love can still flourish in the most awful of places, in saddest and most terrible of circumstances, but it can. Even to people have lost everything and everyone.
'We weren't prepared, not for this, not for an enemy who wore your wife's face, who had your daughter's eyes, your son's dimples.'
Oh, the feels, guys. At times this book was gut wrenching and miserable and still I couldn't stop because I knew there was the potential for so much and just like these broken characters, I had such hope for the future. When I wasn't overwhelmed by all of the feels, I was engulfed in the inferno of sexual tension between Autumn and Eagle and it seemed to go on and on and man I love a good build up to the sexy time. I love fevered seeming to never end kisses. I love looks of longing and stolen glances of love and this story had so many.
'All I wanted to do was kiss her again, kiss her and touch her, and make the world go quiet.'
I also really enjoyed getting to know some really awesome new characters and revisiting the ones I hate. Yeah, I am talking about you LIV! You are an asshole of epic proportions and I do not know how I will ever get over it.
So, yes, one of my favorite books this year will probably be a sci-fi/fantasy/post-apocalyptic/horror/zombie type of romance. Which sounds absolutely crazy to say but it SO the damn truth. I am already dying of the next one. These stories are just getting better and better!
'Beneath the blood and bone, there was nothing.'
~Amie
I won't go into too much plot detail because I really do not want to spoil this amazing book for anyone and really, everything about it is kind of epic and spoily, if you know what I mean. But I will say that while the first book wasn't really what I would consider a romance in every sense of the word, but this one is. Oh, it so is. And this romance loving girl ate up every bit of it. I could not stop. I read this book in one sitting. I was hooked. I was in Purgatory (hell on earth) right along with Eagle and Autumn and I was falling in love too.
'She was good, a tiny slice of goodness surrounded by filth, and I wanted to be a part of that.'
It is odd how love can still flourish in the most awful of places, in saddest and most terrible of circumstances, but it can. Even to people have lost everything and everyone.
'We weren't prepared, not for this, not for an enemy who wore your wife's face, who had your daughter's eyes, your son's dimples.'
Oh, the feels, guys. At times this book was gut wrenching and miserable and still I couldn't stop because I knew there was the potential for so much and just like these broken characters, I had such hope for the future. When I wasn't overwhelmed by all of the feels, I was engulfed in the inferno of sexual tension between Autumn and Eagle and it seemed to go on and on and man I love a good build up to the sexy time. I love fevered seeming to never end kisses. I love looks of longing and stolen glances of love and this story had so many.
'All I wanted to do was kiss her again, kiss her and touch her, and make the world go quiet.'
I also really enjoyed getting to know some really awesome new characters and revisiting the ones I hate. Yeah, I am talking about you LIV! You are an asshole of epic proportions and I do not know how I will ever get over it.
So, yes, one of my favorite books this year will probably be a sci-fi/fantasy/post-apocalyptic/horror/zombie type of romance. Which sounds absolutely crazy to say but it SO the damn truth. I am already dying of the next one. These stories are just getting better and better!
'Beneath the blood and bone, there was nothing.'
~Amie
August 6, 2015
My favorite book of 2015!
SPOILER FREE REVIEW
I was given an ARC of Beneath Blood and Bone for an honest review.
First let me state that the first book in this series was by far the best book I’ve read in 2015, but this book surpassed it. So please make sure to read Thicker than Blood prior to reading Beneath Blood and Bone. When TTB ended, I had a definite opinion form as to who the good guys were and who the bad guys were. There was nothing in my mind anything redeeming about Purgatory or its inhabitants. Yes, the world had ended, but damn..these people are twisted. Our semi Hero, Eagle, is as twisted as they come. He uses and abuse as he sees fit, and damn anyone who gets in his way. Until he meets Autumn, the little woman from the wild. She’s survived on her own and has learned to survive and protect herself for 4 years. She brings out of Eagle a side that he’d long since abandoned. The sub-conscience conversations he has are heartbreaking. He’s resolved to be the monster he needs to be to survive, but Autumn makes him rethink all he has become. Where E started out as a definite anti hero who had no chance at redemption, he became one of my favorite characters yet. Liv smoothly slid into his place as the villainess ( she's a pink haired nightmare)
BBB’s descriptive imagery was vivid and breath-taking. I found my heart racing at different emotional scenes. As with TTB in BBB the monsters are more than just the infected, they are also the declining human population. Sheehan and Riley are able to propel the reader into this world were danger lurks around every corner.
I am anxiously awaiting book 3!
SPOILER FREE REVIEW
I was given an ARC of Beneath Blood and Bone for an honest review.
First let me state that the first book in this series was by far the best book I’ve read in 2015, but this book surpassed it. So please make sure to read Thicker than Blood prior to reading Beneath Blood and Bone. When TTB ended, I had a definite opinion form as to who the good guys were and who the bad guys were. There was nothing in my mind anything redeeming about Purgatory or its inhabitants. Yes, the world had ended, but damn..these people are twisted. Our semi Hero, Eagle, is as twisted as they come. He uses and abuse as he sees fit, and damn anyone who gets in his way. Until he meets Autumn, the little woman from the wild. She’s survived on her own and has learned to survive and protect herself for 4 years. She brings out of Eagle a side that he’d long since abandoned. The sub-conscience conversations he has are heartbreaking. He’s resolved to be the monster he needs to be to survive, but Autumn makes him rethink all he has become. Where E started out as a definite anti hero who had no chance at redemption, he became one of my favorite characters yet. Liv smoothly slid into his place as the villainess ( she's a pink haired nightmare)
BBB’s descriptive imagery was vivid and breath-taking. I found my heart racing at different emotional scenes. As with TTB in BBB the monsters are more than just the infected, they are also the declining human population. Sheehan and Riley are able to propel the reader into this world were danger lurks around every corner.
I am anxiously awaiting book 3!
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