Blood Angel

By Justine Musk

Roc 2005

Release the boy. That’s what Jess hears whispered to her in dreams that aren’t quite dreams. She’s an artist, you see, and her work is catching the attention of people that matter. In particular, her series based on a boy she’s never met. There are dreams, and then – there are dreams. Most of us wish that somewhere deep inside, we were something more than we appear to be. Hell, most of us probably believe that. For Jess, it’s truer than she could ever have realized, and though she gains allies and receives guidance along the way, there’s not much time for her to reach that inner power – or to learn how to use it – or maybe she’ll just remember.

Meanwhile, there’s a new band in California with a singer who is hot, sensual, strange, and able to do things with her voice that her fans can’t resist, understand, or explain. They are drawn to her, the first of them more powerful than those who follow. And it isn’t just the humans being drawn. Everyone wants a piece of the song. Some have waited longer than others – some are hungrier than the rest – all of them are drawn.

There’s an ancient ritual. There was an ancient battle. There are forces beyond comprehension and problems so intimate and personal that only young hearts could possibly contain or understand them. All of these and more stain the pages of Justine Musk’s debut novel, Blood Angel. This is a riveting story, culturally hip and stylistically powerful. It reminds me of all that was best in John Skipp and Craig Spector’s THE SCREAM – it has all the trappings of Joss Whedon with a sharper edge.

Simply put, it’s nearly impossible to believe this is the author’s first published novel. It is followed by the sequel, LORD OF BONES, and I can only hope that the second book continues to expand on the promise of the first.

This book is highly recommended, particularly to fans of Poppy Z. Brite, Caitlin Kiernan, and Skipp & Spector.  If I have caught your interest, click the cover above and head over to Amazon.com to buy the book!

DNW