Rating: 
Summary: A dangerous conspiracy threatens Nighthawk authority
Review: Susan Sizemore has carved a wonderful little niche for herself in the vampire genre with her Laws of the Blood series. Heroes, the fifth book in the series, begins to blend what has come before into a new concoction full of future possibilities. Up until this point, each novel had concentrated on different vampires in different cities, with the predominant focus being on the Enforcers charged with overseeing vampire law in each area. In Sizemore's fictional universe, vampires are subject to a set of laws put in place centuries ago by the Strigoi Council: a vampire cannot kill another vampire, no vampire should mess around with another vampire's human companion, no vampire can reveal the group's existence to humans, etc. Vampires can be a pretty unruly lot, and that is why each area falls under the jurisdiction of an Enforcer, a sort of supervampire of the Nighthawk line. The Enforcer decides when and whom local vampires can hunt, metes out justice on those vampires who refuse to obey the Laws, takes care of any strigoi (lone vampires) that happen on to his/her territory, etc. Enforcers not only can destroy vampires, they draw their strength from the ingested hearts of those they kill. These Laws of the Blood have existed for many centuries, and more and more of the new generation of vampires oppose them - this increasing dissatisfaction with the old ways is basically the central theme in the books of this series.Heroes features a mini-convention of characters from the first two books of the series. First, we have Char, a young Enforcer still breaking in her Nighthawk claws, and her companion Jebel Haven, a mortal vampire hunter with whom Char has yet to share her blood. Then there is Valentine and her vampire companion Geoff Sterling. Valentine is an ancient, agoraphobic, and increasingly mysterious vampire who, not so long ago, came very close to making a motion picture revealing the true existence and history of her kind (a definite no-no in the vampire world). Both Char and Valentine disapprove of certain Laws of the Blood but do not seek the kind of revolution many other vampires yearn for. All of these characters now come together in Las Vegas, where they soon find themselves battling to save vampirism as they know it. Ibis, a truly ancient vampire, has built a hotel and casino modeled on an ancient vampire city and has stocked a special museum with mysterious vampire artifacts. A young local vampire is determined to break the yoke of the Laws, and the translation of an ancient scroll purportedly telling the truth about the Nighthawks stands at the center of her plans. As the plot develops, the very existence of Nighthawks is challenged, and we learn that there is much, much more that Susan Sizemore has to teach us about these main players in her thrilling Laws of the Blood novels. Overall, I found Heroes a little less satisfying than the third and fourth Laws of the Blood books, but this novel holds a crucial place in the series. For every new truth we discover, we seem to acquire two new mysteries, opening up untold numbers of doors through which Sizemore may choose to take us in succeeding books. There is plenty of action and excitement in these pages, culminating in a fight far removed from any we have yet encountered - and it take something special to outdo vampires, demons, and werewolves. Then, just when you think the book is finished, you find thirty more pages yet to go; it is here that Sizemore brings all of the plot points together and prepares the reader for what is to come in the future. Susan Sizemore has managed to breathe new life into the vampire genre and shows no signs of slowing down. Each succeeding novel in the series delves deeper into vampire society and the mist-enshrouded origins of vampirekind, sating our own thirsts for vampire action and excitement while beckoning us onward toward bigger and better things to come. Sizemore's characters are also very well drawn; not only do they differ from your Dracula or Nosferatu style of vampire, they possess great life, character, and believability. Any lover of vampire fiction would be well advised to sample Susan Sizemore's wares for himself/herself.
Rating: 
Summary: Least Likable in the series
Review: Susan's other Laws of the Blood books were much better and worth while reading. I was very disappointed to read this story after waiting for it to come out. Char deserved better, obviously we will be hearing more about her, Haven and Gregory in the next installment. I rather liked that each series was independent of each other.
Rating:
Summary: Least Likable in the series
Review: Susan's other Laws of the Blood books were much better and worth while reading. I was very disappointed to read this story after waiting for it to come out. Char deserved better, obviously we will be hearing more about her, Haven and Gregory in the next installment. I rather liked that each series was independent of each other.
Rating: 
Summary: A virtuoso of creativity
Review: The Council makes the laws that govern vampire security and the Enforcers make sure that all Strigori follow the rules if they want to live (in an undead fashion). All Enforcers come from the Nighthawk line of changed nosferatu, but many other vampires feel that these are no longer of their species and must be destroyed. Martina, a vampire who works at Vegas' Six Road Hotel and Casino, wants to see the Nighthawk line die out and she will use any means at her disposal to see that is happens. Nighthawk Enforcers Char McCairn, and her human lover Jebel Haven arrive in Las Vegas to attend the wedding of a former vampire companion to a mortal. Reclusive Nighthawk Valentine and potential Enforcer Geoff Sterling arrive in Las Vegas to check out their investment. All four of these people get caught up in the rogue vampire's scheme and know that if they survive each one will come away from the encounter changed in ways they can not imagine. Susan Sizemore has created a believable vampire community participating yet hidden within human society. In that environs reside sympathetic characters that believe that it is possible to live a good life without harming mortals. LAWS OF THE BLOOD: HEROES builds on previous books in the series and has a fascinating cliff hanger ending that will make readers want to purchase the next book in this exciting series as soon as its published. This gripping chiller with a touch of romance will really sink its teeth into the minds of the audience. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: A virtuoso of creativity
Review: The Council makes the laws that govern vampire security and the Enforcers make sure that all Strigori follow the rules if they want to live (in an undead fashion). All Enforcers come from the Nighthawk line of changed nosferatu, but many other vampires feel that these are no longer of their species and must be destroyed. Martina, a vampire who works at Vegas' Six Road Hotel and Casino, wants to see the Nighthawk line die out and she will use any means at her disposal to see that is happens. Nighthawk Enforcers Char McCairn, and her human lover Jebel Haven arrive in Las Vegas to attend the wedding of a former vampire companion to a mortal. Reclusive Nighthawk Valentine and potential Enforcer Geoff Sterling arrive in Las Vegas to check out their investment. All four of these people get caught up in the rogue vampire's scheme and know that if they survive each one will come away from the encounter changed in ways they can not imagine. Susan Sizemore has created a believable vampire community participating yet hidden within human society. In that environs reside sympathetic characters that believe that it is possible to live a good life without harming mortals. LAWS OF THE BLOOD: HEROES builds on previous books in the series and has a fascinating cliff hanger ending that will make readers want to purchase the next book in this exciting series as soon as its published. This gripping chiller with a touch of romance will really sink its teeth into the minds of the audience. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: not like the rest of the series
Review: This book was not like the rest of the series. First of all I think Valentine should be staked along with Geoffrey. Second of all i think Char should of had a better time of it in the book and actually bite her boy friend.This book was just way off track with the rest of the series. If your going to make this big of a change in the story line you should do it gradually. My advice is to read the first books but skip this one and read the next one to see if it is any better. The first books in this series were really good but this ones not even worth burning. Susan your way off with this one. Go Back to your original story line. That was really good.
Rating:
Summary: What to do when your heart is in their mouth...
Review: This is Susan Sizemore's fifth volome in what has become one of the more interesting vampire series. Her basic premise is that vampire 'culture' is ruled by a council with a set of behavioral laws. These are intended to control some of the innate violence in vampire kind, and to ensure the survival of a dwindling company of creatures who are both powerful and vulnerable. The council's 'enforcers' are a specialized line of vampires called nighthawks. These feed on vampires in the same fashion that vampires feed on use. Possibly with even less constraint. All of Sizemore's books focus on these enforcers, but this is the first volume that is actually a sequel to the previous volume. Even so, most of the relationship is due to a common group of characters - Char McCairn and her lover Jebel Haven, Valentine and her childe Geoff Sterling, and verious others who have made appearances or honorable mention in previous volumes. For the most part this volume can be read independently of its predecessors. The story takes place in Las Vegas, which has a large vampire population, including those who have become addicted to the neon light that is a permanent feature of Las Vegas life. Char is drawn by curiosity over a vampire owned hotel (Silk Road) that she has invested in. Valentine is drawn by many of the unique artifacts that are collected under a casino designed to imitate an ancient vampire city. What neither knows is that a revolution is brewing in the city - one that seeks to steal control from the enforcers. Throw in a dragon and a large group of vampires running amok and you have a fairly good picture of the plot. While Sizemore isn't entirely original, she takes various components and builds an intriguing picture of what vampire society might actually be like. Despite also being a wirter of rimance novels, she keeps the love interest and sex play at a steady simmer rather than a full boil, which allows characters to develop unexpectedly. She has opened enought threads that it is difficult to predict what she will do from volume to volume. The books are quick reads with a good mix of mystery, intrigue, and violence. Dive in anywhere, I think you will find this series more than just acceptible.
Rating:
Summary: What to do when your heart is in their mouth...
Review: This is Susan Sizemore's fifth volome in what has become one of the more interesting vampire series. Her basic premise is that vampire 'culture' is ruled by a council with a set of behavioral laws. These are intended to control some of the innate violence in vampire kind, and to ensure the survival of a dwindling company of creatures who are both powerful and vulnerable. The council's 'enforcers' are a specialized line of vampires called nighthawks. These feed on vampires in the same fashion that vampires feed on use. Possibly with even less constraint. All of Sizemore's books focus on these enforcers, but this is the first volume that is actually a sequel to the previous volume. Even so, most of the relationship is due to a common group of characters - Char McCairn and her lover Jebel Haven, Valentine and her childe Geoff Sterling, and verious others who have made appearances or honorable mention in previous volumes. For the most part this volume can be read independently of its predecessors. The story takes place in Las Vegas, which has a large vampire population, including those who have become addicted to the neon light that is a permanent feature of Las Vegas life. Char is drawn by curiosity over a vampire owned hotel (Silk Road) that she has invested in. Valentine is drawn by many of the unique artifacts that are collected under a casino designed to imitate an ancient vampire city. What neither knows is that a revolution is brewing in the city - one that seeks to steal control from the enforcers. Throw in a dragon and a large group of vampires running amok and you have a fairly good picture of the plot. While Sizemore isn't entirely original, she takes various components and builds an intriguing picture of what vampire society might actually be like. Despite also being a wirter of rimance novels, she keeps the love interest and sex play at a steady simmer rather than a full boil, which allows characters to develop unexpectedly. She has opened enought threads that it is difficult to predict what she will do from volume to volume. The books are quick reads with a good mix of mystery, intrigue, and violence. Dive in anywhere, I think you will find this series more than just acceptible.
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