Let me just start off by saying I'm white so please take anything I have to say with a grain of salt and go read own voices reviews first. In fact seek out those reviews cause I'm not going to say much. I'm simply going to say this is a pretty heavy book with its subject matter but also the gore. Its hard to say you enjoyed a book like this but I read though it very quickly. I couldn't put it down.

BI loved that Bood Slaves was an interesting concept, blending together vampires and the historical south. There were great descriptions and a lot of memorable scenes.

The author could work on the instances of info-dumping in the first few chapters, and the grammar/syntax issues, such as long, convoluted sentences and filler phrases like "begin to." I could've done without the constant POV shifts as well. Two to three POV shifts are fine. I could even do with three; but, after that it's pretty ridiculous. I also wasn't a fan of how pictorial the sexual assault scenes were. I understood why they were there, I just thought they could use a bit more...care.

Overall, I found the book to be a decent read. I'll most likely buy a copy to support the author, but I do think it still needs some work before it can shine the way it should.

These are my preliminary thoughts since I ran out of time for my review. I plan to post a more detailed/ in depth one with spoilers on my website (www.jaleesamitchell.com) at a later date.

This was okay, but a little too heavy for me at the moment, so I had to quit for now. Will pick it back up later.

Fantastic story, writing, and dynamic characters. This was a unique twist on the typical vampire book. Empowering and scary at the same time.

I enjoyed reading this book. I can think of a few other books I've read about slaves and being a vampire. But this one stands out the most. Markus Redmond did not hold back on the historical part of this book. I see people keep talking about the abuse and trauma but that is exactly what happened and I'm glad they kept it in the book as such because it gives the revenge plot soo much more. The language was fitting and I like the plehtora of characters we get. We get all parts house slave, field slave, masters, overseers, abolitionist, native americans, the one uppity snitching slave, etc and he lets you in on how they each would feel about the revolt. Gertie annoyed me so bad because it's like girl either you want to be free or not. I like how the author intentionally persuades our view of Irene to change. At first when reading you couldn't stand her until she stepped up and when she gave her speech about being mixed. That was an important part too because the way she felt is still how some mixed people feel today and it isnt there fault they are just trying to exist.
Now i did think it took too long to get to the revenge part because we have so much being done to people without Rafazi or Willie doing anything. I wish more would have happened with the Native Americans or seeing them start working together. Although most people will say this gives Sinners mostly because of the vampires. But this is better than Sinners because who doesn't want to see the slavesget revenge. Everyone loves a good revenge story.

I rated this novel 3.5 stars. Although I felt that some of the statements in the Authors Note were extremely questionable, I decided to give this book a chance and I am glad that I did. Blood Slaves had me hooked from the start with its dark energy and intense revenge plot. The characters are layered and flawed in the best way, and the chemistry between them makes the story feel real and addictive. I loved how it balanced emotional moments with dangerous, high-stakes action, definitely one of those books you “just one more chapter” your way through. The messy relationship dynamics and relentless need for revenge kept me glued to the pages, and the emotional hit hard in all the right ways. The book did start slowly, but the pace picked up about halfway in and held my attention.

That said, it lost a star for me because some of the violence and gore felt unnecessary and a little over the top. I would 1000% recommend that readers check the trigger warnings before beginning this book as it discusses heavy topics such as slavery, abuse, and even sexual assault (of both women and children). It didn’t ruin the book, but at times the violence being depicted was so extreme that it distracted me from the powerful character arcs and emotional moments. There were definitely some moments where I had to put the book down for a few days to give myself a break which made it a little more difficult for me to finish the novel.

I also took off half a star because I felt there was so much focus on the violence and brutality of the slave masters that the author missed the opportunity to give the reader the history of the Ramangan people. I found myself wanting to know more about them and their culture. I wanted more background information about the characters. Also, I felt that the excessive use of the n word could have been done without. I wish there was more vampirism and focus on revenge. I love everything supernatural as was obsessed with the idea of abused slaves getting revenge on their abusive masters, however I believe the execution could have been better. Overall, I enjoyed the story, but it was a very difficult read.

Huge thank you to both Netgalley and Kensington Publishing for this advanced reader copy.

I wasn't able to read the last 20% of the book because the time ran out. But of what I read, it is very well written. Once I got used to the way slaves talk, and I must confess that choice surprised me and, at the same time, made so much sense, the story really gets interesting and made me travel to the south of the US. The descriptions were not boring or too much. It was just exact to have the scenery and characters play inside my mind. It has a steady pace, characters are well written and I could feel for the events. Unfortunately I don't know if the end got to be what I was expecting, but I will end it some other time, no doubt. Congratulations to the author!

The book exceeded my expectations. I will say LISTEN TO THE TRIGGER WARNINGS. As an ADOS and someone whose great grandfather was basically a creation of crime (rhymes with grape) I had to pause a lot reading this book. I needed to gather myself and exhale more times than I can count but it doesn’t take away from the literary masterpiece that this book is. It is so well written that it will evoke emotions you didn’t know you could feel. It conjured up things I couldn’t have imagined. The writing is cinematic in nature and if you’re like me you can picture the book like a movie in your mind as you read it. It is a powerful blend of historical fiction, horror, and well deserved revenge rolled into an amazing novel.

I wish there was a bit more of a warning for the graphic and horrible nature of this book. However it was dark and tragic and poignant. The vampires were scary asf and the plot being set on a plantation and being about enslaved people getting revenge is such a good concept.

I couldn’t put this book down! It’s exactly what I expected and lived up to all the hype that others gave it. No notes!

This book is not for the faint of heart.

The pacing of the story is slower than I had expected; whilst we are immediately introduced to vampires in the first chapter, they don't really become a significant part of the story until maybe ~30%. This pacing made the read particularly challenging for me as this is a story of Black pain with even scenes of joy being grounded in moments of sorrow, Without a sense that the slaves would be able to get their vengeance soon, it became really difficult to continue reading.

The level of graphic violence in this book is on a whole other level. Redmond clearly wanted to make the reality for the enslaved characters incredibly vivid so we have multiple scenes of torture and rape as well as continuous dehumanising language throughout. These scenes are painted in such haunting clarity that it felt gratuitous. This is a book that clearly wants the reader to feel uncomfortable but it is ✨a lot✨.

Choosing Willie as the main character / leader did not work for me. I couldn't quite put my finger on why Willie did not work for me as a character but I would have preferred Gertie or Irene to have been framed as the leader of the uprising. Willie's recklessness which resulted more in those around him being hurt was incredibly frustrating and he seemed completely unaware of this character flaw as he was always so unwaveringly sure that he was in the right.

I really wanted to love this book but the ultra-descriptive nature of many scenes combined with Willie because a really difficult-t0-like character made this book a bit of a miss for me. Whilst I get the comparison to Sinners given that it is very much the big thing du jour, there is a crucial absence of Black joy from this narrative which was very much the core of Sinners.

Author: Markus Redmond

Genres: AA Fiction/Supernatural/Fiction

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Summary: Rafazi was the last of his kind, from the Ramanga Tribe of Africa. After a plague wiped out his entire tribe in the 1400s, Rafazi stayed hidden in order to not be captured. After centuries of hiding, too weak to fight back, in 1700, he was finally captured and sent to The Barrow's Plantation and worked as a slave. There he met Willie and a revolution begins.

Tropes and Themes: breaking cycles of slavery, social injustice, revenge, revolution, resilience.

Character: I think one of the most notable characters for me was Irene. I loved her ambition, and she was demonstrated as a leader. Although Gertie may have saw her as inferior, she let everyone know she was not a child. She took control and I loved every minute of each scene.

Thoughts: I requested this as an ARC after seeing the author promoting his book. I was interested and I am glad that I had a chance to read it before it was released. From the very beginning, I was hooked as it starts off with character and cultural development in which we understand how Rafazi came to be. I love how the author creates a space for strong character development, which really enhances the story. Moreover, the story was executed perfectly as it was slow paced in the beginning in order to world build, but it was done in a way that it kept me reading and wanting to know what was going to happen on the next page.

Furthermore, I loved the historical aspect of the book as well. The author brings awareness of suffering not only of African Americans but other people of color, specifically Native Americans. In the same way, I loved the dialect that was utilized in the story. I think I actually know some older people that still speak this way, which made the story more relatable to the historical time of the book.

When it comes to the ending, I have no words! I don't want to spoil the book but when Kwadzo (Willie) consumed fire, I felt chills. Definitely a 5-star read!

** The book has some triggers as it can be painful to read about the excruciating way that people of color were treated. It includes sexual, physical, emotional abuse and neglect of women and minor children. Please check your mental health before reading this.

You know a horror novel’s doing something right when the vampires are the least horrifying thing in it.

Firstly, this book is excruciatingly painful to read. If you plan to pick it up, please take care and be mindful of content warnings. I don’t say this lightly. Nearly every major trigger is present here and it’s depicted on page including sexual violence, abuse and 🍇 against both men and women. This is a confronting depiction of life on plantations that came about due to the transatlantic slave trade and it doesn’t sugarcoat or sanitise the truth.

Reading this hurt and it was supposed to I guess, because pain can be a form of witness. I found myself asking how much horror is too much and who gets to decide that? As the reader, your mileage may vary. My interpretation is that it doesn’t shock for the sake of it but it asks us to remember.

There were moments I wasn’t sure I could finish. I had to put it down multiple times because the content made me feel physically ill. It brought me to tears. And yet, that discomfort stems because it's grounded in truth.

Redmond makes no attempt to dilute the cruelty and perhaps that’s intentional. Because it seems it's more important now than ever to explore how hatred spreads and how white supremacy infects, mutates and persists and why it feels especially relevant in today’s climate.

We're seeing the echoes of these ideologies in politics, in celebrities promoting eugenics through denim ads, people who still have their weddings at plantations and in real-world horrors.

I realise I haven’t told you much about the plot. There is some cool and unique stuff done with the African vampire folklore of Ramanga... If you wanna know more you can just read the blurb.

Just know, there’s catharsis here. Fiction, at least, lets the oppressed fight back.

Blood Slaves is cinematic as hell and someone needs to make it into a horror film immediately.

Do I recommend this book? 100% yes, but only if you’re in the right headspace

This book was amazing! I usually don't read or have an interest in vampires, but this was such an interesting plot and was executed so well.

Set in the time period during slavery in the south, Willie is desperate to gain freedom. His first attempt fails and he is met with a vampire. He's always known about the myth of the Ramangan vampires, but soon finds out they are real. Is this the way to gain freedom at last?

Will evil defeat evil when faced with the extremes of slavery and racism? Is it worth it?

I loved that this premise was the ultimate attempt at revenge. There was so much action and mystery, I didn't want to put it down. I felt so many emotions while reading this book, especially rage for the disgusting and absolutely cruel ways that the slaves were being treated.

The subject matter is extremely graphic and filled with slurs on practically every page, so please take care when considering picking up this book. I feel it is worth it but I can imagine it can be hard for some to get through this, so check trigger warnings. The TW list is very long. I feel this story sends a powerful message about the brutalities of slavery and racism, but satisfying to read of the fight for revenge. Look forward to the next book in the series!

Thank you Kensington Publishing Corp, Markus Redmond and NetGalley for this ARC!

Blood Slaves was an amazing, and difficult, read.

Amazing because of the catharsis that I felt while reading it. It was so refreshing to see the oppressed fight back with everything that they had. Most of the time, people say that violence takes you nowhere, but it does, for better or for worse, it does.

Difficult because there’s so much violence: mental, physical, verbal, sexual. It made my heart ache, but I pushed through because, although fiction, somewhere in the past, someone very real had to live through it.

Irene was my whole heart.

Markus Redmond, that was one hell of a debut.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

On premise alone I was very excited for this book. Vampires and a revolution of slaves looking to take back their lives from their white kidnappers? Sign me up. The first 30-40% of this book was great. We back the background on the vampire lore, the Ramanga tribe of Ghana, of which one of our main characters is the sole survivor. He finds himself on a Carolina plantation where he meets Willie, an enslaved African, whom he wants to convert in order to have a companion again. Willie and Rafazi begin a revolution to turn the enslaved people into more of the Ramanga and take the plantation from the white man who owns it.

This book is a blend of horror and historical fiction. It does not pull punches when it comes to the violence inflicted on slaves during this time period. However, it feels like it's there for shock factor at some points. There doesn't seem to be too much forward momentum with the characters at times but considering this is a book one in a series, I'm wondering if we'll see more in the next book.

I wish there were more interaction with the Native Americans and the slaves after the initial conversations about sharing the land, again who knows, we may see more of this in the subsequent books.

Overall, I just found the writing a little flat and the story left me a little wanting at times. Overall it was enjoyable but not the homerun that I thought it would be.

It is the year 1710 in Province of Carolina on the Barrow Plantation. We follow slave Willie who meets Rafazi an African vampire of the Ramanga tribe from the Kingdom of Ghana. Willie is fed up with the oppression and Rafazi presents him with an opportunity to seek redemption for his people through the Blood.

Together Willie and Rafazi build an army of blood slaves to take back what’s rightfully theirs.

The author states this is not a story about slavery but of a slave. It is still hard to stomach some of the content, but imperative to not forget. It is never easy to relive a small glimpse of what our ancestors had to face. The Whip-Crackers will indeed leave you hot and wanting to throw the book across the room. The authors reasoning for pivoting this story and writing it from the perspective of a slave seeking redemption (as a vampire). Makes me appreciate the story even more (read the introduction). After reading the introduction I already knew the book was going to be 5 stars for me. It was the vulnerability for me.

I loved the slave narrative aspect, from the treatment to the language. It read like a real slave narrative. Of course the vampires, which added an element of excitement. The roots of history mentioned, from African to Native. He did such a phenomenal job with this story. Like Isis stated…

“It’s too bad your vampires can’t go back in time and fix everything from the get-go”

SEND ME BOOK 2, like yesterday. Thanks in advance

What if nobody ever freed the slaves…because they freed themselves – 150 years before the Civil War?--
The last surviving member of an ancient African vampire clan meets a slave in the early days of American slavery and together they lead an army of other enslaved people into a blood-drenched desperate war for freedom.

First of all, I want to express my appreciation for having received an advance reader copy of Blood Slaves by Markus Redmond (which while completely irrelevant, as a Dutch person feels like the perfect name for an author penning vampire stories, as “mond” is Dutch for “mouth”, so you could translate the name to ‘Red mouth’ – or if you take the French translation of ‘mond’, which is ‘world’ and translate it to ‘Red world’ which is also really fitting – it truly feels like this man was born to take on the vampire myth.), which is published by Dafina, an imprint of Kensington Publishing. Considering that this book deals with very, very difficult topics and I am a white reader, I’m appreciative of the opportunity to read this and educate myself further on the transatlantic slavery experience. I have received an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Going into Blood Slaves, I had not checked the trigger warnings, as they were not readily available or mentioned on Netgalley, and so I was not ready for what I was presented with. And honestly, my bad: I should have put in more effort there because this is a horror novel. Redmond, unflinchingly, dives into the absolute horrors of slavery, exposing his readers to all the gruesome abuse that was suffered. For the first one hundred pages it is basically back to back abuse laid out in a very graphic manner and making my way through that was really tough. I will not lay any claim to any of the abuse because as a white person I have no right, but as a sexual abuse survivor, I honestly had to put the book down multiple times because it was too much for me. It does get better after those first hundred pages: the violence is still exceedingly graphic and ever-present, but there is a shift as the rebellion of the blood slaves begins to take form and they begin to fight their way to freedom.

I can honestly see why this is marketed as cinematically written novel, because it is so graphic you can see things unfold right in your mind’s eye, and that is a very powerful tool and an undeniable compliment for Redmond’s writing style – even though it’s also what makes this a hard novel to read.

All in all, I will not be rating Blood Slaves with stars because based on my enjoyment, the rating would not be favorable. I do think, however, that this is a very important novel and a really powerful addition to the vampire literature field, and I truly hope it finds its way to its readers. Be warned though: don’t just go off the ‘for fans of Sinners' when picking this up, because while there are strong parallels for sure, this novel requires a lot more caution before you go in. Take heart, read the content warnings, and if you’re absolutely sure you're okay with those, pick this up and appreciate it for what it is: a powerful piece of supernatural, alternate history horror fiction about Black people fighting for the basic human rights they should have never been stripped off in the first place.

"Blood Slaves" isn't your typical vampire story; it's oh so bloody and bold you surely won't forget it. Set in North Carolina in 1710, we follow Willie, an enslaved young man and Rafazi, A old vampire who offers to help Willie gain his freedom and seek revenge on any and everyone. After suffering horrible beatings and a wife Gertie that was expecting Willie of course chose rebellion.

Thank you to Markus Redmond and Kensington Publishing for this opportunity to read and review this Advanced copy all opinions are my own.

The historical context was beautiful, and the story's extremely raw violence serves a purpose. The graphic imagery was reality for Slaves in that period so I fully understood the need. The writing is vivid and created a rich world with deep emotions. Rafazi is an incredibly intriguing character, a mix of evil and f around and find out. This book is a must-read! I can't wait for more work from this Author.

This novel is INTENSE. There's a lot of graphic violence, abuse of all kinds (verbal, physical, psychological, sexual, you name it), and a level of realism to American slavery that's gut-wrenching, nauseating, and absolutely disgusting.

You've been warned.

In a way, I'm really glad that the author, his editor, and publisher didn't sanitize or censor the realities of the transatlantic slave trade. At times it read like trauma porn, but maybe that was just me trying to justify the need for everything to be written out in explicit detail.

Anyway, if you love/like Sinners, but you want to see Black folks use vampirism to their advantage, then I'd recommend this as a great addition to the horror and supernatural genres. It's a bit of a slowburn, but the ending is definitely worth it. Think Roots, but with African vampires and vengeance.

Thank you to Dafina and NetGalley for this arc.