I adore a book that starts out strong and keeps me turning pages all night long, don’t you? It’s been some time since I had one of those rare books to read, but Wend Petzler’s Blood Keep is certainly one of them. The characters are strong with a goodly amount of sizzle and there are plenty of secrets to uncover.

Lady Isabella isn’t just some shrinking violet; she lives alone and manages an army of men quite nicely. Of course, there is the small assistance she receives from the Demon Lord, one of the most revered knights of the realm. But at present he is not around and she is on her own.

Isabella isn’t pleased when Nicolas Drago shows up on her doorstep since she’s in no mood for visitors. Her day darkens when she discovers Drago carries a missive from King Edward announcing that the two of them are to be married. Unfortunately for them both, when a King tells you to marry, you really have no choice.

How is she ever going to keep the mysteries of Blood Keep secret with Drago around? And how will the Demon Lord deal with the news of her betrothal? Only time will tell.

Nicolas Drago isn’t a man who likes to be told what to do, but when the King is the one doing the telling there isn’t much a Knight can do. Drago at least is relieved that Lady Isabella is not some old hag. To the contrary she is a young, beautiful woman with plenty of fire in her spirit – perhaps too much.

Drago can’t abide a wife who dresses in men’s clothing and leads the army of the Demon Lord in his absence. It’s clear to Nicolas that things are different at Blood Keep. The question is, will Isabella and her men accept Nicolas as their leader? And what of the Demon Lord? When will he return and what will happen when he does?

Blood Keep is a well written, highly readable story of a woman of strong will who holds many secrets and the man who is destined to know all there is to know about her.

Wend Petzler has created a clever cast of characters and an enjoyable medieval world for them to play in. You know from the very beginning that things are not as they appear, but the details are enjoyably and agonizingly revealed to the reader little by little. It’s incredibly refreshing to read a story where you don’t know the ending before the first chapter is over.

I highly recommend Blood Keep to those who enjoy spicy medieval romance. It is well worth the reading time.

Reviewed By Sabine Maurier
© July 2008