Bloodlust Blues (Charley Underwood, #1)

by Luanne Bennett

[Nadz@Totally Addicted to Reading]

"Bloodlust Blues" introduces fans of urban fantasy to the world of Charley Underwood. Charley, a reluctant witch, has the task of unravelling the complexities of Crimson Town, a town filled with humans, shifters, witches, and vampires. The town is plagued by a string of unexplained disappearances baffling Charley and her cohorts. Offering a perfect blend of magic and intrigue, "Bloodlust Blues" is a must-read for fans of the genre.

"Bloodlust Blues" is book one in the Charley Underwood series. Charley, a businesswoman, runs a bar bequeathed to her by her mother. The establishment serves as a haven for Crimson Town's residents, where everyone is welcome provided, they don't cause any disturbances. Besides managing the bar, Charley secretly operates a cooperative, supplying vampire blood to humans as an affordable substitute for prescription medications for various ailments, an endeavor that, unbeknownst to her, may not be as clandestine as she thinks.

Everything was proceeding smoothly until her co-op business partner suddenly became possessed. Meanwhile, some residents have disappeared, and others began acting oddly. And then there's the new business owner across the street—what exactly is his agenda?

This is my first Luanne Bennett novel, and it certainly won't be my last. As I write this review, I've began reading the second book. 'Bloodlust Blues' encounters the common challenges of first books in urban fantasy series entries: an emphasis on world-building and not much character building, setting the stage for the unfolding drama that's to come.

At first, the multitude of simultaneous events made the story challenging to follow, but eventually, it all came together. Unanswered questions remained but hopefully the next installment provides answers. The mystery proved to be underwhelming since it was obvious who was responsible for the disappearances, although Charley and her friends failed to see it. However, determining if the victims were dead or alive provided some redemption to the mystery. The secondary characters are quite intriguing.  I am keen to discover more about Dog the werewolf, Tucker the psychic, and Samuel the vampire. Samuel seems to be emerging as a romantic interest for Charley, and I am interested in seeing how this element of the story unfolds.

The trip to Crimson Town was an enjoyable, magical and chaotic adventure brimming with humorThis review was originally posted on Totally Addicted to Reading