Blood Law: Blood Moon Rising #1

❝ “He threatened my man, so I ripped his throat out.”  ❞

Blood Law
Karin Tabke
Blood Moon Trilogy, book one
ebook, 320 pages
Published May 3rd 2011 by Penguin Group
ISBN13 9781101514313

The coming of the Blood Moon will lead two Lycan packs into war, spur two rival brothers into conflict, and spark an act of vengeance so evil that its effects will be felt for generations.

One woman stands at the center of it all…

As undisputed Alpha, Rafael must choose a life mate to preserve the dominance of his Lycan pack. He never suspected, his mate would be a human, the same wounded, girl-woman he seduces from the brink of death. Falon is a dangerous combination of Lycan and Slayer—beings bred to destroy his kind. Even more, she’s a mesmerizing beauty whose sensuality tempts the seasoned warrior to take unnecessary risks. The primal heat between them is irresistible, yet surrendering to it could destroy them both…for a vengeful foe stands ready in the shadows to fulfill what is rightfully his by Blood Law.

I can't help but have some kind of love for a book that opens up with a little bit of fact and noted myth right at the start. It goes to prove that the author has taken the time to do her research and, in most cases, has taken that same bit of care to weave an extraordinary tale.

Brothers Lucien and Rafael have already once suffered a battle to the death, in which they both lost. But through the intervening prayers of a favored healer each was spared- to live and fight another day.

When Rafael finds his mate, three things happen: He saves her life, orders her death, and then proceeds to bring her back from the dead. Now that, for me, is a first. I wasn't prepared for the epic amount of violence and fantastic powers that I found within this book and, oh yeah, I was giddy over every bit of it.

(paperback cover)

This story is about laws meant to be followed and destined to be broken. Oh my damn, the drama! I loved Rafael’s turmoil as he fought between his sense of honor with holding to the laws his people had cherished for generations and the primal demand to protect his mate. One that he claimed for all the wrong reasons.

Fourteen years ago, Rafael, in duty, murdered the woman his twin brother Lucien intended to claim as his mate. The woman was a Slayer and law forbade Lycans to ever pair with their kind. Blinded by what may have been dark magic, Lucien could not see the woman for what she was, forcing Rafael to end her life to spare them all.

According to their laws, though, Lucien is due an eye for an eye. Whomever Rafael takes as his mate, her life is forfeit to Lucien. And so, by chance, Rafael meets Falon, saves her life, and because she is but a mere human, succumbs to his desire for her and takes her as his mate. Her lost life was intended to mean nothing to him. But Falon proves herself a worthy partner and warrior for his pack. She will fight for her life. And Rafael soon discovers himself willing to offer his own in exchange, all in an effort to appease the Blood Law.

I don’t think I’ve ever been so floored by an ending in my whole life. Multiple OMG’s dropped from my lips for long minutes after. Tabke had thoroughly shocked the hell out me. Seriously. Eyes bulging. Jaw dropping. ‘What the hell happens next’ kind of panic erupted.

OMG! What. Happens. Next?! 5 out of 5 stars.

Coming in February 2012