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PREDATOR OR PREY – Are Vampires or Humans the Monsters?

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When a fantasy writer sets out to create a series (especially if it’s urban fantasy where the supernatural is slap-bang in the middle of our ordinary world), then they have to create something unique. Gripping. An idea, which arcs across books, even if they’re standalone.

When I was writing Rebel Vampires, I knew the heart would be this: were vampires the hunters, or the hunted? 

blood-dragons-print-and-iphone fantasy book rosemary a johnsIn Blood Dragons, Light the dark anti-hero of Rebel Vampires, starts as the apex predator:

‘Ruby and I swaggered through the shadowed streets, towards the promenade and Palace Pier – her in crimson silk, me in military Great Coat – two creatures from another world and time, unnoticed by these petty First Lifers because we weren’t painted in the colours of their tribe. We twirled each other round, dancing in the carnage and the flames.’ (Blood Dragons)

Yet Ruby – Light’s Author – teaches him to fear humans, showing him a stuffed gorilla in the Museum of Death, as a warning that they’d be next, if First Lifers ever discovered their existence.blood-shackles-print-and-iphone fantasy book rosemary a johns

In the second book Blood Shackles, Light has been transformed to prey. Ruby hadn’t been wrong to fear because Light has now been enslaved by the human Blood Club.

‘ ‘You really don’t know anything about us Blood Lifers, do you? How we evolved or–’

‘I know enough.’

Surprised, I drew back. ‘As in, only good Blood Lifer’s a dead Blood Lifer?’

You shot me a sharp look. ‘You wouldn’t be here, if that’s what I thought.’

‘Alright then, as in, only good Blood Lifer’s one in shackles?’

Your mouth tightened into a thin line. ‘And what about humans? Do we come in small, medium or large?’

‘In America you can supersize.’ I grinned, but you didn’t return it: some birds have no sense of humour. Of course, Ruby would’ve clocked me for that comment. ‘Look, that’s not who I am now. I’ve been on blood abstention for fifty years.’

Your voice was so cold it could’ve given frost bite. ‘Good for you.’

‘Not asking for a medal, sweetheart. I just wanted you to know I don’t… Not First Lifers. Not for a long time.’

‘Makes no difference to me.’

‘It does to me. You’ve no idea how much.’

‘OK.’ You turned back to your laptop, opening it with an air of indifference. Then there was that blasted clack clacking.

I listened for a moment in silence. Then I couldn’t hack it any longer. ‘What does?’

‘What?’ You didn’t stop typing or look away from the screen.

‘Make a difference to you?’

You didn’t even pause. ‘The profit margin.’ ‘ (Blood Shackles)

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In the third book in the series – Blood Renegades – which is released this June..? You’ll have to wait and see, but maybe it won’t be as simple as First or Blood, hunter or hunted. Maybe working out who’s the predator and who’s the prey? That’ll be part of the game…

To read Blood Dragons and Blood Shackles before the release of Blood Renegades: click here.

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NEW FANTASY BOOK TRAILER LAUNCHED – Bestselling Vampire Series

Fantasy Rebel announces the new book trailer for Blood Dragons: escape into a supernatural world of love, revenge and redemption…

5* Highly recommended: ‘For anyone who is just looking for something a bit different, a bit edgy, something that will amuse you, frighten you and take you on one hell of a journey into love, death, humanity, and monsters’ – Underground Book Reviews

Buy Blood Dragons today here.

The second book in the series – Blood Shackles is out now:

blood-shackles-being-read“When Light is captured, he refuses to lose himself, despite how his captors try to break his spirit. Being sold to Grayse is the ticket he needs out of his cell, even though her father owns the company that enslaves him… Blood Shackles is brutally honest, tragic, triumphant, addictive and somehow hopeful… Johns succeeded in creating a world, characters, and a story that pulled me in until I had to finish reading it… This is a novel everyone should read, along with Blood Dragons” – Readers’ Favorite 5*

It’s a dangerous game to love your slave. When your whole species is enslaved – and it’s the humans who are acting like the monsters – how far would you go to free your family?

Buy Blood Shackles here.

To read about the third book in the series (Blood Renegades), which is released this June, click here.

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VALENTINES DAY SALE – Three of the Best Fictional Lovers

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Happy Valentines Day!

As Light says: ‘Love’s the greatest motivator of all’ (Blood Dragons).

blood-dragons-cover-medium-webSo to celebrate Valentines (although ‘leave out the hearts and cupid’ of course), Blood Dragons is on sale today. It’s reduced by 67% to 0.99.

Click here to buy Blood Dragons in the Valentines Sale.

“In a precarious world where vampires are both predator and prey, Blood Dragons deftly blends elements of paranormal thriller and passionate romance… A character-driven, sizzling-hot saga” – Midwest Book Review

To Light? ‘Everything comes down to the heart’ (Blood Dragons). His love is obsessive, amplified by Blood Life. He’s torn between the savage Elizabethan Ruby and the human singer Kathy in Blood Dragons. In Blood Shackles he reluctantly loves his powerful slaver mistress Grayse.

As it’s Valentines I’ve picked three of my favourite other lovers – who would you have chosen?

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Three of the Best Fictional Lovers

  1. Katherine and HeathcliffeWuthering Heights. The moors, the passion, the dark anti-hero? All right, so this raw love had an impact on me – I’ve never lived in a book more.
  2. Gatsby and DaisyThe Great Gatsby. A complex love but a real love. Just how I like it.
  3. Estella and PipGreat Expectations. A girl who’s been trained to break boys’ hearts? One of the most painful, clever and haunting books ever.

Have a great Valentines and don’t forget to indulge in some dark romance: click here for the Valentines Sale. 

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FIVE FASCINATING FACTS ABOUT AUTHOR SIGNATURES

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I love autographed books: I have a small collection. As a pure reader/fan? They warm me. They’re also the perfect gift. Even more special when they’re personalized. ‘Dear Rosemary…

A special message too? That’s called being inscribed. Those who’ve had books signed by me? rebel-here-yeah-lettering Blood Dragons Rebel Vampires Fantasy QuoteKnow I have several special phrases of my own…

I also love S/L/D books (signed, lined and dated). That’s a line taken from the book, which means something to the author – and reflects the book. It increases the value as well. When requested, I do this with Rebel Vampires.

Autographed books are most valuable when the signature is on the title page.

Here are Five Fascinating Facts about Author Signatures:

  1. There are only 6 copies of Shakespeare’s signature surviving – and they’re all on legal pixaby-shakespearedocuments.
  2. Charles Dickens always signed with a blue fountain pen – so it was hard to forge. Clever bloke.
  3. Harper Lee’s signature is one of the most valuable because she so rarely autographed. A signed first edition of To Kill a Mockingbird can cost over $20,000…
  4. Graphic novelists often sign with doodles, which are art themselves: David Roman’s are blinding.
  5. J. K. Rowling is – no surprises – the 4th most valuable signature to collect. Her handwritten Beedle the Bard sold for $3.98 million…

For the very first time as a Valentines treat Blood Dragons and Blood Shackles paperbacks can be signed and personalized here or through these simple forms: 

blood-dragons-in-shopTo order your signed and personalized copy of Blood Dragons: click here

 To order your signed and personalized copy of Blood Shackles: click here

There’s a limited edition of this first run – so grab your signed, lined or inscribed copies today!

What signed books do you already have? Which are your favourite?

signed-blood-shackles rebel Vampires Rosemary A Johns fantasy author signature

VALENTINES KINDLE UNLIMITED TREAT – Chance to Win $25 Amazon Gift Card

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This being the month of love, romance and (if you’re me!) books… here’s a little treat. Imagine it dipped in warm chocolate and…perfect.

kdp-1Do you have Kindle Unlimited?
Stop over and check out these Featured Books – including Rebel Vampires’ Blood Shackles!

Read a book for free and then fill out the form for a chance to win one of four $25 Amazon Gift cards. Repeat as often as you wish for more chances to win. Closes 28th February. Click here.
~ Blood Shackles ~ Treat Yourself To Some Dark Romance…
kdp-2It’s a dangerous game to love your slave. When your whole species is enslaved – and it’s the humans who are acting like the monsters – how far would you go to free your family?
“Triumphant, addictive and somehow hopeful…this is a novel everyone should read” – Readers’ Favorite

 

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NEW BOOK GROUP – Hot Paranormal Reads

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What does a writer love as much as writing?

blood-shackles-being-readReading.

Writers, book groups, and if you’re me..? Discovering gripping new books, as well as spellbinding old favourites.

This week I started a new Facebook book group: Hot Paranormal Reads.

Vampires, werewolves, shifters, angels, fae…paranormal mystery, thriller and romance, as well as fantasy and science fiction. If it’s a great book? It’s got a place here.

And who wouldn’t want to sink their teeth into these compelling books?

blood-renegadesThe third book in my paranormal series Rebel VampiresBlood Renegades – is released in June.

Readers, bloggers, authors and readers of hot paranormal reads – click here to join.

Who’s your favourite paranormal writer?

To read about Three of the Best Slavery Fantasy Books click here.

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5* HIGHLY RECOMMENDED – Love, Death, Humanity, and Monsters…

underground-book-reviews badge five stars recommended read Blood Dragons fantasy book

When blinding badges are awarded? This one by Underground Book Reviews is near the top… Seriously cute and seriously…serious.

It represents a 5* Highly Recommended and Selected Read. Try saying that fast, five times. blood-dragons-cover-medium-web

It’s just been presented to Blood Dragons, which the review describes as “just a brilliant book“.

Their reviews are held up as best standard on how to write reviews. I agree: well-written, exciting and passionate.

I love Light, so it was interesting to read the reviewer’s take on the main character in Rebel Vampires: “The book jumps from the present day to the past, with the tension and drama building at a faster and faster pace. The plot itself is enough to keep you reading, but I also loved Light and the journey he went on. He’s a brilliant and believable character and his language amused me endlessly.”

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Click here to read the full review.

Underground Book Reviews’ Recommendation:

“A unique book told from the point of view of a vampire addressing his dying wife, whilst looking back on the drama they’ve left behind. Quirky, amusing, frightening and dark, Rebel Vampires, Volume One offers a brilliant story, with plenty of twists and turns, romance and gore. For anyone who already enjoys vampire or supernatural horror style stories or for anyone who is just looking for something a bit different, a bit edgy, something that will amuse you, frighten you and take you on one hell of a journey into love, death, humanity, and monsters, then I highly recommend this book” – Underground Book Reviews

And a cute badge too? What more could anyone want?

To dive into Blood Dragons today click here.

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THREE OF THE BEST SLAVERY FANTASY BOOKS

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Fantasy has long tackled tough subjects, whether set in this world or entirely new ones.

blood-shackles-being-readIn Blood Shackles Light is enslaved by the human Blood Club: click here for the personal story behind the book.

It’s a dangerous game to love your slave…

The issue of freedom: mental, physical, sexual, in society, families and between partners? That’s what allows slavery in fantasy to hold the mirror up to our own world.

As Light says ‘freedom means so little, until you lose it.’

Here are Three of the Best Slavery Fantasy Books:

  1. Fevre Dream: George R. R. Martin. Set in the pre-Civil War South, there’s very real slavery. The clever thing? It’s mirrored in the vampire relationships.  A book about friendship, trust and yeah…steamboats.mechanical
  2. The Mechanical: Ian Tregillis. An alternate universe where the Dutch Empire rules with
    clockwork men…who would be free. A thrilling and original take on free will.
  3. The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms: N. K. Jemisin. Here all slaves are royal. More? The gods are enslaved to the royals and used as weapons…and they’re narked.

The blinding thing? Each book deals with the same ideas but in totally different  – gripping – ways.

In Blood Shackles it’s vampires who have become prey to predatory humans:

blood-shackles-cover-medium-web5* “When Light is captured, he refuses to lose himself, despite how his captors try to break his spirit and force him into submission. Being sold to Grayse is the ticket he needs out of his cell, even though her father owns the company that enslaves him… Blood Shackles is brutally honest, tragic, triumphant, addictive, and somehow hopeful… Johns succeeded in creating a world, characters, and a story that pulled me in until I had to finish reading it… This is a novel everyone should read, along with Blood Dragons” – Readers’ Favorite

The Rebel Vampires Collection has just released an exclusive new item: Light’s S.L.A.V.E. Ring and Keychain

lights-ring-2Naked and defanged, Light wears only one thing throughout Blood Shackles: his S.L.A.V.E. ring. But Light? He won’t be owned. He’ll battle to the end for his family, species and love. The ring? Becomes a symbol of everything he’s both fighting for and against: ‘Unexpectedly your fingers were tracing over my ring – S.L.A.V.E. – as if discovering something dark beneath bright waters…’ (Blood Shackles)

Click here to buy Light’s ring today.

To dive into the dark world of the Blood Club? Click here and prepare yourself for Blood Life…

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THIRD BOOK IN VAMPIRE TRILOGY – First Draft Complete

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Time to break out of the chocolate, crank up the Nirvana and… start typing. Because I’ve finished the first draft of Blood Renegades: the third volume in the Rebel Vampires series. By hand. So now? There’ll be some busy fingers over the keyboard.

Blood Dragons is a story of love. Blood Shackles family. Blood Renegades? Is a story about home.

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Title From My First Draft

Blood Renegades is released in June.

Light has only two weeks to give his witness, on trial for his life for being a ‘Renegade’, before he’s burnt at the stake.

The Renegades are the terrorists of the Blood Lifer world. They’re dedicated to hunting down human slavers, just as they’re hunted by the ruthless Blood Life Council, who believe their leader is…Light.

Here’s a sneak peek at the first line:

‘Betrayal. Death. Hope. Isn’t that how all truly great stories start?’

And if you want to start this ‘great story’ at the beginning before Blood Renegades comes out?

Click here or catch the second volume Blood Shackles here.

blood-shackles-set Rebel Vampires series fantasy books
Buy Here

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