The Mark of the Blood called my name when I saw it on the screen. Sounds strange that a book can call you, doesn't it? But it did. I blame my Irish heritage for it. Of course, I blame that for many things, not just for my choice of reading material.

Mark of the Blood lightly covers some of the Celtic gods and goddesses, but one of the main players in the story is The Morrigan, who is the goddess of battle, strife, and fertility. She is also represented by the three faces of the goddess, the Maiden-Goddess-Crone trio. Niam Maraigh, a Marauder by night and a psychotherapist for trauma victims by day, is one of nine brothers that were cursed by The Morrigan when they accidentally caused the death of her mortal child. The brothers were Druids and now are cursed to live through the ages until they find their anamachara, their soul mates. The Morrigan stipulated that the soul mate must be one of her daughters and that the woman must know the truth of his existence and still love him anyway.

Kristie Blake just finished her first year studies as a Druid, and is preparing for her first Beltane. After finishing her night work out, she is heading for her car in the lot when she is attacked from behind. Niam rides to the rescue and then leaves her without satisfying the kick of lust they both feel.

They're thrown back together when one of Kristie's friends becomes the victim of a violent rape and Kristie takes her to see Niam for therapy. Kristie finds out that Taranis is doing his best to come to earth and finish what he started against The Morrigan all those years ago when he slaughtered her child.

Unlike some books that base themselves on mythology and Celtic pantheons of religion, Ms. Tregarth went that extra step to actually explain what everything meant and who everyone was. Even the Gaelic she uses is self-explanatory, and with the context she uses it in, there is never a misunderstanding.

The thing I loved the most was she took a different twist on vampirism. Many books today follow the Dracula stereotype, making vampires into blood-drinkers who can only come out during the nighttime. Instead of a bloodsucker, Ms. Tregarth has given us a psi-vamp that not only feels for humanity, he protects them as well.

This is a promising start to what is sure to be a scorching series!

Reviewed By Marissa
© January 2005

This review refers to a previously published version of this book.