Rating: 
Summary: If I could give it more than 5 stars, I would -- at least 10
Review: I totally agree with paula k's review but I don't know what the reviewer from New Zealand was looking for. I personally enjoy the romantic relationships in these type stories--or, in this particular case, the "non-relationship" between Istvan and Selena. The mystery ain't bad either. I, too, used to be a fan of the Anita Blake books, also mostly for her relationship with the vampire Jean-Claude. I couldn't have cared less about Anita's mysteries. Unlike Selena's. Now, all I can think of is "Anita who?" (Although there will always be a place in my heart for Jean-Claude.) I loved the witty dialogue between Istvan (Steve) and Selena as well as the sexual overtones. I too have ordered the previous two books and look forward to the next. I can only hope they're all as good as this one.
Rating:
Summary: The best in the series by far
Review: I would have to agree, this is a fantastic book. It made you dive right in and wanting more. I especially love the way one book bonds us (the reader) to the next.
This book gave me what I wanted most, to know more about Istvan.
And I love the way she built his character throughout the series.He is no longer one dimensional, But this reader wants more. And more Istvan too.
I hope this isn't it for the series. I definetly saw this writers growth come to maturity on these pages.
I put her in a class with my most favorite writers to date.
Read it! I promise you won't regret it.
Especially those in the "kindred" genre.
Rating: 
Summary: "Thrilling Vampire Story"
Review: If you are into Vampire stories with mystery as a subplot then, "Companions," by Susan Sizemore, is the book for you. Ms. Sizemore does an excellent job mixing the two genres, her characters are fun and exciting, the dialogue moves along nicely, and the plot is interesting. (Even though this book is part of a series it stands very well on its own which is a plus as far as I'm concerned.John Savoy
Savoy International
Motion Pictures Inc.
Rating:
Summary: "Thrilling Vampire Story"
Review: If you are into Vampire stories with mystery as a subplot then, "Companions," by Susan Sizemore, is the book for you. Ms. Sizemore does an excellent job mixing the two genres, her characters are fun and exciting, the dialogue moves along nicely, and the plot is interesting. (Even though this book is part of a series it stands very well on its own which is a plus as far as I'm concerned. John Savoy
Savoy International
Motion Pictures Inc.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic romantic horror
Review: Istvan was born a dhampire, having been the issue of a vampire father and a mortal mother. When he grew into his powers he became a ferocious vampire hunter killing as many of them as he could. He was turned into a vampire against his will, which made him hate vampires even more. For the next five hundred years he became the Vampire Council's chief enforcer, a lone wolf who let no one get close to him.
In modern day Chicago, he met his soul mate, Selena Crawford and they exchanged blood making her his companion. Not wanting anyone to get too close to him, he left her alone for two years until unsanctioned vampire killings brought them back together. When the killer is brought to justice, Istvan intends to walk away but he doesn't realize that Selena has some powers of her own.
LAWS OF THE BLOOD: COMPANIONS is a juicy and tasty novel that whets the appetite for more works in this dynamite series. Susan Sizemore has created a believable new universe of the supernatural set in modern day America that will appeal to readers who like the works of Laurell K Hamilton and Tonya Huff. This supernatural romantic thriller is guaranteed to leave the reader hungering for the next work in this series. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: Move Over Anita Blake, Here's Selena Crawford
Review: Just when I despaired of ever finding anything to take care of my "vampire fix" that had a strong heroine ready to kick butt (like my favorite Anita Blake), I ran across Laws of the Blood: Companions by Susan Sizemore. What a treat and what a story for a newcomer to this genre of writing such as myself.
Selena Crawford is a homicide detective for the Chicago Police Department. She's tough, she's strong, and she's a regular Amazon. Selena doesn't take anything off anyone except...of course there has to be an exception in this story. It seems that two years earlier, Selena got in a bit of bind when vampires surrounded her and were about to do away with her. To her rescue came our hero, Istvan. Istvan, or Steve, as Selena calls him is the enforcer. He makes sure all the vampires obey their written code or set of laws. In order for Steve to save Selena, he ends up making her his "companion." The last thing Steve wants is a "companion." It ranks right up there with being married. According to vampire law, a companion is a vampire's property. They may do with their companions, as they will. There is one little problem though, Selena chooses to do what she wants, not necessarily what Steve wants. In order to keep from driving each other insane, Steve and Selena see each other as little as possible. Then someone begins killing vampires and leaving their bodies out for the police to find. Selena is naturally called in to investigate. If having dead vampires to deal with wasn't enough to deal with, Selena finds her family sheltering one, and Steve just casually dropping in for a visit. Selena is also secretly talking to other companions on the internet about the way they are treated. This has to be done secretly, or they could all pay the price. I am so glad I found this book. The characters are dynamite, the dialogue is snappy and there is plenty of action. Yes, for you who enjoy a little romance and hot sex, there is plenty of that also. It is my understanding that this is the third book in a series of five. While the storyline continues, the characters don't necessarily show up in each book. I'm impressed enough that I've order the first two (...). For me, if this book is any indication of the two previous books and the two forth-coming books, I'm in for the long run.
Rating: 
Summary: Average
Review: Not good, but not bad. The plot was VERY predictable as soon as the cast of characters was introduced. If you've read one romance novel, you've read them all- male & female protagonists dislike each other, but fall in love ("soul mates"), etc., etc. The book is not particularly coherent, but seems to be some sort of mishmash of somewhat conflicting ideas. I wish the library had had a copy so I didn't have to buy it. I won't buy any more in the series.
Rating:
Summary: My Favorite Of The Series (So Far!)
Review: Other reviewers have given the plot synopsis, so I'll just say that if you're a fan of both vampire and mystery genres, you'll like the books in this series. The stories are well-written and the characters have depth to them. All of the books in the Laws of the Blood series are stand-alones, but the previous two made mention of Istvan, the Enforcer of the Enforcers, always speaking of him in tones of dread. This is Istvan's story and it was interesting to read his point of view. What also made this book enjoyable was the fact that his companion is a strong person in her own right, and is not too happy to find herself in the role of companion. This book also brought back some characters from the previous books, so it was nice to get the update on their stories.
Rating:
Summary: The triumphant third book in the Laws of the Blood series
Review: The first two books in Susan Sizemore's Laws of the Blood series are quite good, but Companions is really something special. The dual protagonists are as dynamic as they are fascinating, the expanded commentary on Sizemore's unique fictional universe of vampires and companions is impressive and illuminating, and the action-packed storyline is a true page-turner. Mention of Istvan has been made in the previous books - whispers of his unparalleled prowess among the Enforcers of the vampire laws - and I must say he lives up to his reputation in spades. In Companions, we learn his remarkable story, but even Istvan, with all of his might, wisdom, and power, pales somewhat in comparison to Selena, the most unusual of vampire companions. Istvan is a dhampir born over five centuries ago - he actually worked for Count Dracula for awhile. He hates vampires and has killed many over the centuries; even though he was turned into a vampire himself (a dangerous mistake rectified in the laws soon thereafter - there is no more formidable vampire killer than a dhampir who has been turned) and works ceaselessly to defend vampire law, he has always kept himself apart from a traditional vampire lifestyle. That includes the taking of a companion, a practice virtually all vampires engage in. A bit of deception, though, brought him together with Selena Crawford two years earlier; he has fought the bloodbond that was forged between the two, however, and pretty much left Selena alone. She herself both hates and likes the situation; while she wants nothing to do with Istvan, the bloodbond is a powerful force that cannot be defeated by even the strongest of personalities - and Selena happens to have one of the strongest personalities you will ever encounter. Now, Enforcer and companion are brought together once again, however, in the search for a vampire killer roaming the streets of Chicago. Selena is a homicide detective, but she knows that a beheaded vampire dumped in an alley falls under a very different jurisdiction than her own. While the local enforcer Ariel and eventually Istvan take over the "case," Selena does plenty of work on her own, identifying the killer and, blaming a particularly despicable vampire for indirectly causing all the trouble, takes the initiative to do something about the evil perp. Companions are not supposed to even know of each other's existence across the different cities of the world, yet there is a cybersecret support group for them, and this connection with others like herself provides Selena the support she needs to stage a mini-revolution among the ranks. In essence, she takes on the role of Enforcer among vampire companions. The story of the killings and the thrilling conclusion of events makes for an engaging read, but it is the relationship between Istvan and Selena that makes this book such a triumph. Selena does not act like a companion; while the heat of the bloodbond keeps driving her and Istvan together in the most physical of ways, she refuses to fawn upon him or allow his actions to go unchallenged. This both antagonizes as well as delights the chief Enforcer of them all. Their sporadic relationship is remarkably human in several ways, boasting the kind of give-and-take you won't find elsewhere in the vampire world. Heck, she even tries to kill Istvan a couple of times, and that is something companions are really not supposed to do. You'll find a lot of humor in these pages alongside plenty of vampire action, but the heart and soul of Companions is the amazingly nontraditional relationship between vampire and companion. If you are tired of the same old vampire plots of old, you would do well to give Susan Sizemore a chance to impress you with her increasingly beguiling reworking of the vampire myth.
Rating:
Summary: The triumphant third book in the Laws of the Blood series
Review: The first two books in Susan Sizemore's Laws of the Blood series are quite good, but Companions is really something special. The dual protagonists are as dynamic as they are fascinating, the expanded commentary on Sizemore's unique fictional universe of vampires and companions is impressive and illuminating, and the action-packed storyline is a true page-turner. Mention of Istvan has been made in the previous books - whispers of his unparalleled prowess among the Enforcers of the vampire laws - and I must say he lives up to his reputation in spades. In Companions, we learn his remarkable story, but even Istvan, with all of his might, wisdom, and power, pales somewhat in comparison to Selena, the most unusual of vampire companions. Istvan is a dhampir born over five centuries ago - he actually worked for Count Dracula for awhile. He hates vampires and has killed many over the centuries; even though he was turned into a vampire himself (a dangerous mistake rectified in the laws soon thereafter - there is no more formidable vampire killer than a dhampir who has been turned) and works ceaselessly to defend vampire law, he has always kept himself apart from a traditional vampire lifestyle. That includes the taking of a companion, a practice virtually all vampires engage in. A bit of deception, though, brought him together with Selena Crawford two years earlier; he has fought the bloodbond that was forged between the two, however, and pretty much left Selena alone. She herself both hates and likes the situation; while she wants nothing to do with Istvan, the bloodbond is a powerful force that cannot be defeated by even the strongest of personalities - and Selena happens to have one of the strongest personalities you will ever encounter. Now, Enforcer and companion are brought together once again, however, in the search for a vampire killer roaming the streets of Chicago. Selena is a homicide detective, but she knows that a beheaded vampire dumped in an alley falls under a very different jurisdiction than her own. While the local enforcer Ariel and eventually Istvan take over the "case," Selena does plenty of work on her own, identifying the killer and, blaming a particularly despicable vampire for indirectly causing all the trouble, takes the initiative to do something about the evil perp. Companions are not supposed to even know of each other's existence across the different cities of the world, yet there is a cybersecret support group for them, and this connection with others like herself provides Selena the support she needs to stage a mini-revolution among the ranks. In essence, she takes on the role of Enforcer among vampire companions. The story of the killings and the thrilling conclusion of events makes for an engaging read, but it is the relationship between Istvan and Selena that makes this book such a triumph. Selena does not act like a companion; while the heat of the bloodbond keeps driving her and Istvan together in the most physical of ways, she refuses to fawn upon him or allow his actions to go unchallenged. This both antagonizes as well as delights the chief Enforcer of them all. Their sporadic relationship is remarkably human in several ways, boasting the kind of give-and-take you won't find elsewhere in the vampire world. Heck, she even tries to kill Istvan a couple of times, and that is something companions are really not supposed to do. You'll find a lot of humor in these pages alongside plenty of vampire action, but the heart and soul of Companions is the amazingly nontraditional relationship between vampire and companion. If you are tired of the same old vampire plots of old, you would do well to give Susan Sizemore a chance to impress you with her increasingly beguiling reworking of the vampire myth.
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