England, the Cumberland Border – 1871

While dancing in the woods, Paloma, a beautiful gypsy girl, is attacked by a wolf who changes into a monster. Seeing that Paloma was bitten by a vampire, her people leave her for fear she will become one of the undead.

Milosh has spent four hundred years hunting for the vampire Sebastian a monster who is cruel and vicious. Milosh, too, is a vampire, and before his turning, called Sebastian friend. But Milosh, with the help of the Blood Moon Ceremony, has been able to rise above the lust for blood and is the leader of the Brotherhood, those who have partaken of the ceremony and now hunt the bloodthirsty monsters of their kind.

Milosh stops at Whitebriar Abbey, a place that was once the home of his good friends but is now no more than a ruin and there encounters a beautiful and terrified young girl. Is she one of the bitten? Will she be able to overcome the bloodlust, or will Milosh be forced to destroy her?

Paloma is terrified when she learns who Milosh is. He is a legend among the gypsies, and she fears if he realizes she craves his blood, he will kill her. Milosh and Paloma form an uneasy alliance; both fight the attraction between them. Paloma is afraid Milosh will discover her dark secret, and Milosh must be on his guard to protect Paloma from Sebastian and to protect his heart from Paloma. But Milosh’s desire for Paloma overwhelms his caution, and it may just cost him his soul. As the hunter becomes the hunted, Paloma and Milosh must avoid the vampires and the Brethren.

THE RAVENING is the third book in the Blood Moon series. Having not read the previous books in the series, I was afraid that I would not be able to keep up with the story line in THE RAVENING. However, that is not the case, the author gives enough background that I never felt lost, though of course my curiosity was piqued to learn about the characters from the previous books who make an appearance in THE RAVENING. With in depth characterization and intense emotion, the author weaves of a tale of betrayal, lust and love that is at times very dark. Milosh has been trying to destroy Sebastian for hundreds of years but has always failed. Now, when he is at his most dangerous, Milosh may finally be able to defeat his enemy. But what price will he pay? And what of Paloma? Is she a soulless devil or an innocent victim?

A novel filled with passion, danger and courage, THE RAVENING is sure to be a winner with fans of paranormal romance. Sadly, even if more books in the Blood Moon series were planned, the premature death of Dawn Thompson put an end to the series. Readers will be happy to know that it appears all of the threads from the previous books have been neatly tied, so while there will be no new books in the series, the ending of THE RAVENING makes the work complete.

Terrie Figueroa