Blood Challenge (World of the Lupi #7) by Eileen Wilks

Reviewed by Tori

Favorite Quote: “Giving me a chance to object is not the same as asking permission. Your used to telling people what to do. That’s works with those guards your in charge of. You’re not in charge of me. You have to ask.”

“It’s more efficient my way.”

“If your primary goal in life is efficiency, you should just die."

When Lily Yu and Rule Turner announced their engagement, there were some that were not wishing the couple congratulations. Namely the Humans First group. Lily becomes the target of harassment with hate mail, death threats, and vandalism.

When Rule’s brother Benedict catches a lovely intruder sneaking around the Nokolai clanhome and a Lupi goes berserk and kills, Lily realizes that she will not be able to deal with the increasing chaos using her badge. As Lily’s loyalties are stretched to the breaking point, she will have to trust those around her when an old enemy joins forces with a new enemy to declare war on all Lupi.

In Eileen Wilks newest installment, Blood Challenge, Lily and Rule have become formally engaged. Unheard of when Lupi aren’t known to be monogamous. Once this becomes public knowledge, Lily gets harassed by those who feel humans and the supernatural shouldn’t mix. It eventually escalates into violence when Lily is shot and her Lupi bodyguard is killed. While Lily is recuperating in the hospital, more trouble is brewing for the Lupi when an intruder is caught sniffing around the clanhome. When Benedict catches Arjenie, he thinks she is a spy for the Human First group. Arjenie is not a spy, but she does have secrets and they will soon bring the humans and the supernaturals to the edge of war.

I love the world Eileen Wilks has written for us. A rich, dark, and action packed Urban Fantasy that blends old world fantasy with modern day intrigue to create a world that captivates and enchants you. Magic and crime fighting go hand in hand as Lily Yu straddles the line between her world and the supernatural world. If you haven’t read the first in this series, Tempting Danger, I highly recommend you start at the beginning. The storyline develops and changes with each new installment and you lose a lot by not starting from the beginning. In this installment we not only divulge more into the emotional turmoil of Lily and Rule’s life but also the lives of the other supernaturals which enhances and elevates the arc to new and devious levels.

Lily and Rule’s engagement stir up bad feelings not only in the human community but also the Lupi community. We see the true love they share for each other that transcends the mate bond. We are given more understanding into the hard time Lily has with losing some of the control she has over herself (the mating bond requires mates to stay within a certain distance of each other) and the fine line she has to maintain between her position as a law enforcement officer and keeping the secrets of the Lupi.

Benedict, Rule’s brother, plays a larger part in this story as he is given a gift that not only surprises but causes him dismay. I enjoyed this story line a lot as Benedict is much different from Rule and I’ve always wanted to see him play a larger role in this series. We go deeper into his back story and develop a greater understanding for the man he is today. He really steals the show in this book. I do hope Ms. Wilks continues to keep Benedict in the forefront.

The in-depth look at the Lupi life style and day to day activities is interesting as it adds an intimate tone to the book. Seeing the individuals of the other clans interact with each other keeps the arc fresh and evolving. There is a lot going on in here and while we see many familiar faces, we are also introduced to some new players as we get closer to the prophecy that has been alluded to through out the series.

I did find some parts involving Lily to be a bit redundant. Her need for control and paranoid attitude can make for some slow times in the story as you wait for her to figure it all out.

The ending is fast and furious as we are left poised on the brink of a revelation that promises major changes for the Lupi and those involved with them. I highly recommend Eileen Wilks World of the Lupi if your a fan of action packed, fast paced, romantic Urban Fantasy that keeps you on the edge of your seat with each passing page.

Rating: B+

Recent Reviews:
The Good, The Bad and The Unread – A
Paranormal Haven – 4/5
Wicked Little Pixie – 5/5
Fiction Vixen – 5/5
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