Eve's Fan Garden

The ultimate battle. The ultimate love.

For the past two years, Jenn has lived and trained at Spain’s Sacred Heart Academy Against the Cursed Ones. She is among the few who have pledged to defend humanity or die trying. But the vampires are gaining power, and the battle has only just begun.

Forced to return home after death takes a member of her family, Jenn discovers that San Francisco is now a vampire strong-hold. As a lone hunter apart from her team, Jenn is isolated—and at risk. She craves the company of her fighting partner, Antonio: his protection, his reassurance, his touch. But a relationship with Antonio comes with its own dangers, and the more they share of themselves, the more Jenn stands to lose.

Then Jenn is betrayed by one who was once bound to protect her, causing her to doubt all she had held as true. To survive, Jenn must find the courage to trust herself—and her heart.

Description from Goodreads.

I have a love hate relationship with vampire books.  I really really love a vampire story when it is done well.  I hate when it is not.  Because of this, I tend to be wary of many new books about vampires.  Will it be cheesy?  Will it be watered down and fluffy?  Am I going to want to stake myself to get away from the plot line?  When I got Crusade in the mail, I was not sure what to expect.  My very first thought was “Ugh, not another book that takes place at a private academy…”  BUT, I decided to give it a go and I am quite pleased that I did.  Crusade is one of those vampire books that is done well, and I truly enjoyed it.

First, the academy in Crusade is very different from the other private schools you might see in books (at least the ones I have read).  At Sacred Heart Academy you train for only one thing, to become a Hunter and kill vampires.  The book centers around Jenn, who has been studying at the academy for two years and has recently become a hunter.  She receives word that a family member has passed and returns home to San Francisco for the funeral only to find that the place she used to call home is now a vampire stronghold, and not only is she in danger but now everyone she loves is at risk as well.  While she is in San Francisco Jenn is betrayed by someone close to her which causes a chain of events that could destroy all that Jenn holds dear.

While Jenn is the main character, there are other characters who are very important to the story, mainly the other hunters from Jenn’s hunting group.  The authors did a fantastic job of creating individual identities for each character and fleshing each one out so they feel real and important to the story.  Eriko, James, Skye, Holgar, Antonio and Jenn  make up what equates to a fierce and dysfunctional family, each with their own back story as to why they came to fight the vampires.  The six hunters are overseen by their master Father Juan who is trying desperately to get the hunters to all see eye to eye and work with each other despite their differences.  Magic runs thick through this book, Father Juan is not only a priest, but he uses magic as well.  Skye is a witch, Holgar a werewolf, and Antonio is a vampire who had once studied to be a priest before he was turned.

Crusade is written in a way that makes the setting real,  the tone is dark and foreboding, the plot engaging and full of action, and the characters relatable.  I am looking forward to reading the next in the series, and also reading other books from these authors as well.

Crusade was released by Simon and Schuster in September, so run out and grab yourself a copy!  I think you will be very happy you did.

To learn more about Crusade and its authors, visit the following links:

Nancy Holder’s website

Nancy’s Twitter

Debbie Viguié’s website

Debbie’s Twitter

Simon and Schuster has donated a copy of Crusade to be given away here on our blog! Please enter the giveaway below, winner will be chosen randomly Friday 10/22.

ETA: This giveaway has ended. Please check the site for other giveaway’s and contests.