I was drawn to Blood Slaves, as I am drawn to most things, by the premise. It’s a spectacular one. Vampires at a slave plantation? It’s a recipe for greatness, and Blood Slaves certainly has its moments.

The lore surrounding the vampires is unique, and the story of the Ramanga tribe is one that I really enjoyed. Where it began to fall apart for me was just how often the lore is explained. Here’s the thing about vampires. Almost anyone who has even a basic knowledge of vampire lore can tell you their weaknesses and their powers, so when one takes on the task of writing a vampire novel, one only needs to make passing nods to the lore. Blood Slaves opts instead to go for the total explanation approach. This approach is often jarring and more often than not slows down the story considerably.

The dialogue in Blood Slaves has its ups and downs. At times it is filled with voice and packs a punch, and at other times characters telegraph their thoughts, feelings and actions to an excruciating degree, and it could have benefited from a little bit of trimming. There’s also entirely too much of it. Sometimes things are just better left unsaid.

At its core, Blood Slaves is a power fantasy and it works just fine as one, but it doesn’t really go beyond that. Perhaps that’s the point. There’s definitely merit in reimagining a history where slave owners get some well deserved comeuppance. The action is good and for the most part the novel was enjoyable, I just wished there was more to it.

I enjoyed this book to much. Although I did not like Gertie in the beginning, she grew on me in the end. The way that the book ended, I am hoping this is the start of a series.

Thank you NetGalley & Kensington Publishing for this ARC.

Blood Slaves gripping blend of dark fantasy and horror, with a rich, violent world that feels as dangerous as it does fascinating. The atmosphere is thick with dread, and the story pulls no punches when it comes to survival, power, and control. The writing is sharp, and the pacing keeps you locked in from start to finish.

Content Warning:
This is not a story for the faint of heart, as it contains racial slurs, sexual assault of men, women, and children, and violence.

3.75 stars - Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

Spoiler alert - the whole book is discussed
Spoilers
Spoilers
Spoilers
Spoilers!!!!!!!!!!!!
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
From the cover, I could derive a little bit what this book would be about (which, I love when the cover does that) but I was still pondering which one it could be: “Blood Slaves” as in just vampires, or “Blood Slaves”, indicating enslaved people being vampires. The latter made more sense to me as the cover also holds a building typical to that time in its hand. I didn’t wanna to think too much about it, so I started reading, and my my my was I happy that it wasn’t only Black vampires, but Black VENGEFUL vampires. I was SAT

The book starts very fast with Rafazi's introduction, Charlie and Willie running away and Charlie's brutal murder. Willie gets whipped and not long after, he meets Rafazi who eventually reveals that he's Ramangan, the last of his people. I think it's beautiful how Rafazi sees the strength in Willie and admits he felt like a coward for saving himself all those years ago, but is willing to make it right, through and with, Willie/Kwadzo. I was skeptical of Rafazi at first, but again, glad that he was really for the cause.

Explaining Ramangan history (what that entails, what is now required of the new Ramangan people, etc.) and what was happening at the plantation was a good balance and I was in constant anticipation of them coming after the Barrow family. I do wish there was more training for the new Ramangan people, but time was of the essence, and they had to strike fast.

Willie accepting to become Ramangan did not just come about: his arguments and reasons are very much valid and well explained, which I like. It was also very interesting seeing his reasons in favor of becoming/being Ramangan in opposition to Gertie's, as they were both making valid points, but I found myself still always siding with Kwadzo. I'm not easily convinced when it comes to romance, but the love between Kwadzo/Willie and Gertie is raw, is felt so deeply, and is well explained, I ship the two very hard. Their relationship is of much importance, and I'm glad they did not break up. With Gertie first opposing everything Ramangan, her realization on "being/staying good" not being enough was written well.

The vampire rules were common but also unique (super cool that animals can also be vampires!!!), especially the one where once you drink a certain people's blood a lot, their language and their way of speaking become things you master perfectly (Kwadzo being the exception because he seems to speak languages effortlessly without having to consume a specific people's blood). I must admit, I think this is a bold choice to have them speak like their masters (who they hate). Simultaneously, them speaking AAVE before being Ramanga was great because we kind of see the birth of it, since the story as well as AAVE came to rise in the 18th century.

Some of the new Ramangan people reclaiming their names was beautiful to see and again reveals powerful underlying meanings—reclaiming who you are, accepting it without any guilt that was thrust upon them in the first place, and going back to who they are with no revenge for anyone, except the people that caused the immense pain in the first place. Seeing them get revenge, especially Fanna and Irene, was more than satisfying.

The generational hate passing down was evident in the Barrow kids but also in Callowhill's "daughter" Penelope. The irony of her turning into a vampire (the very thing that ended her real father) was very timely. Unfortunately, this still happens to this day. It's also absolutely crazy that when the Barrows and Callowhills were on the brink of death, they STILL spewed pure hate in the faces of those who had the power to obliterate them.

I was also very happy to see Native American people in this book and I do feel that they could have been a bit more present, because it takes a long time before we see Nez again after his introduction. I'm also very glad that the Ramangan people, the freed people, and the Native American people stood by each other in the end.

A great book!

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Oublishing for this opportunity to read rate and review this arc which is available 7/29/2025!

First off mind those triggers. This book is not a book about slavery. It’s a book about a slave and not once does the author shy from the absolutely horrific experience that is the true life of an enslaved black personal during this time period. Is this a vampire horror book? Yes it is but that’s not the horrific part. It’s the reality and it hit me in my soul and I had to pause many a time because there is no shying from it. So read the trigger warnings provided and decide if you want to continue. Also read the preface. Mr Redmond speaks of George Floyd and why he decided to write this absolute banger of a book

Now into the book and my review.


Holy. Mother. Of God. This was HARD HITTING. It was in your face. Fast paced. Gory. Horrific and at times a bit too much but I am eternally grateful I read it. It is being lauded if you like the movie Sinners then read this book. I will tell you now this book blows Sinners out of the water as a black vampire book. The historical aspects are grim and hard to read but the vengeance? Oh. That is satisfying. I won’t say I had fun because I do not think that is the right emotion for this book. It is a HORROR book. It doesn’t skimp on horror, blood, the human disease of absolute cruelty and treating the different from you as less than. Honestly my emotions are still running high having finished this.

So here is what I will say. Read it. Go out tomorrow when it is available wide or go on KU where it will be available and read it. You won’t regret reading this book. This hard hitting. It is violent. It is so dang good that it will sit in your head for days after you finish it. I am absolutely buying this book. You want a black horror author to read then here you go because nothing I have ever read has horrified me so utterly than this book. This book is phenomenal.

This book was awesome! I loved the blend of supernatural horror and historical fiction. Willie and Gertie's relationship felt realistic. Markus's descriptions of the violence Gertie, Willie and the slaves faced were visceral and raw. Markus does a great job of building tension and characterization in this novel. I loved it!

Blood Slaves had so much potential and I was so excited to read it but for me just fell flat. It had incredibly deep themes that ran throughout the story. It confronted the atrocities of slavery, and while the violence, language and the SA were difficult to read it was historical, and one of those books where the true horror is the parts based in reality, not the supernatural. I think the book stuck to these themes and supported them well. That being said, I really struggled to get into this book because of the writing. I felt like the pacing was off and slow at times, and the book existed in conversations, and telling us what was happening instead of showing. It really frustrated me at times and I found myself skimming from time to time because I felt we weren't making progress in the plot. The characters were all very interesting with clear motivations and determination throughout and caring about them is what kept me reading.

I really enjoyed this book, I don’t usually pick up historical based books but the vampire twist sold it to me. Before you read this please make sure you read the trigger warnings at the start, it is a heavy topic and the author did a great job in not shying away from the details. The pacing felt a little slow in the first half and some of the more violent scenes felt a little repetitive. However the ending was great and I hadn’t realised that this was going to be a series, can’t wait for the sequel! I would love to know more about the background of the Ramangan and Rafazi’s story.

Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the ARC.

Blood Slaves is a powerful story that builds up to a great revenge. The weaving in of African American history and the atrocities that were committed during that time are on full display in this read. Read the trigger warnings and proceed with caution.

I think this is a must read even though it’s not a five star for me due to pacing, character development over the story, lots of showing vs telling, and me personally wanting to read more of a training montage, but even with those things this book had characters you felt for, you could feel the pain come off the page, you feel the anger and rage, the desire to just be free and treated justly which sadly resonates to this day.

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC

4.5/5

The story begins in 1407 with Rafazi, the last of the ancient Ramangan tribe—a once-powerful race of vampires now threatened by a mysterious plague spreading through human blood. Weakened and mistaken for a mere man, Rafazi is captured and shackled, eventually transported to an early American plantation.

There, he meets Willie, an enslaved man burning with a quiet rage and a hunger for justice. Together, they form a dangerous alliance: to transform the enslaved into vampires and rise up against their oppressors. Willie will be the first to turn. But as their power grows, so does the risk. Can they destroy the system of slavery—or will their rebellion doom them all?

Dark, daring, and thought-provoking, this is a vampire tale unlike any other.

Thank you, NetGalley, Kensington Publishing, and Markus Redmond
For sending me “Blood Slaves’ to read.

The main character is Willie, an enslaved person who failed to escape. His escape leads him to a powerful vampire. Rafazi is a powerful vampire from the Ramanga Tribe. The Ramanga existed for centuries until a plague came upon humans, preventing them from drinking their blood. Rafazi is the only one to survive and now lives in South Carolina.

After telling Willie about his tribe and the power of immortality he possesses, Willie produces a plan. Willie thinks that becoming a vampire will let him defeat his master and liberate the other slaves.

There are violent scenes in the book (SA, beatings, murder), which were triggering. However, I completed the book to find out if Willie’s scheme would work. I found the ending to be satisfying.

This book is well-written, and the imagery is memorable. I enjoyed reading this book because of the themes. The theme will allow for discussions. Markus Redmond also does an excellent job of writing about each character. As a reader, I understood each of the life and their motives. The ending is satisfying, but also shows that there may be a sequel. That is why I give the book four stars. It is a book that readers will discuss.

Rafazi given the gift of immortality, a vampire, like the rest of his tribe. Until a plague of human blood of men causing him to flee and retreat from humankind. Until the 1700s, when Rafazi is captured and enslaved to the Barrow Plantation. The Ramanga Tribe was the myth, the story of vampires.

As much historical truth there is to it, it’s always disturbing reading about people referring to people as property, as owning them and this doesn’t hold back. The imagery is so visual, I felt myself engrossed seeing it like a movie. About 35% of the way in, Rafazi and Ramanga feel more integrated and the story starts to take shape. The conflict of morals was interesting as one character in particular brought up the notion of being a vampire is more evil than a white slave owner. But in comparison, one has no choice due to dying if they didn’t do it and one chooses the evil they inflict on a daily basis. But an interesting concept of character belief that perhaps the evil inflicted by the slave owner isn’t a choice to that character either.

With so many characters, the author did a great job of individualizing them so each voice felt like their own. Gertie and Irene’s character growth transitioned well and a fascinating journey to follow.

This does go extremely graphic in certain situations, so check your trigger warnings. And after the first 30%, the story started to find its flow but the pacing felt uneven throughout. I couldn’t put this down around the 65%. Please do not skip the author intro on where the inspiration came from.

Where do I even begin…..?

This book is one of the best books I’ve ever read - and is the vampire novel I’ve been waiting my whole life for.

Rewriting the way we perceive vampires and their origin story to be a brilliant novel about grief, abuse, loss, slavery, and retributions.

This was gory, so visceral and absolutely spine chilling. I was rooting for our main characters the whole way and absolutely loved the way they got revenge in multiple formats! I can’t wait to see where the story goes throughout this series.

Please check your TW’s as this book is very heavy but is most definitely worth your time! I had to take breaks reading it due to the content but it is 100% worth it.

Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the ARC.

Blood Slaves by Markus Redmond is a historical supernatural horror that gives an intriguing perspective on emancipation in eighteenth-century America through a vampire origin story.

This novel is incredibly dark and violent, but justifiably so, building up the suffering of the enslaved through a realistic lens before portraying a revolt on the plantation through supernatural forces. I think the characterisation is one of the strongest points of the novel, especially of Rafazi and Wille. Rafazi and his vampiric origins contrasted against Willie, a man enslaved by white slaveowners working in the field. Willie's strong need for justice and freedom through any means is an interesting plot point of the novel. Especially when the woman he loves, Gertie, brings up the idea of good and evil. I think the way that the violence of the enslaved is shown in this book brings to light how the only way to overthrow oppressors who don't see you as human is through any means necessary. Irene was another interesting character, with her being half-white and half-black, she had a different experience compared to Willie and Gertie as a house slave, but still incredibly traumatising.

The fantasy world-building novel, against the historical background of the 1700s slave plantation perspective, is a refreshing take on vampires that brings African culture into the book and helps the enslaved take back their identities. A couple of issues that I had were that I'd prefer more detail on the Ramanga tribe, along with their origins, and more involvement of Native Americans in the novel.

The action in this novel was very well-written, and the vampiric fight scenes against the white slave owners were very climactic. Overall, Blood Slaves is an intriguing alternate history novel with horror elements, teemed with moral corruption and suffering, and I would like to read a sequel.

Blood Slaves is a brutal blend of historical fiction, horror, and the paranormal that demands your full attention.
We follow Willie, a slave desperate to protect his love, Gertie, and their unborn child. His life takes a dramatic turn when he meets Rafazi, the last of an ancient vampire tribe, igniting a supernatural rebellion.Willie, a reluctant hero driven by desperation, rage, and love, constantly battles the necessity of freedom and its moral cost. Rafazi’s character is steeped in history, and his presence at the plantation underscores the overarching theme of displacement and resilience in the story.
Markus’ writing is deliberate, with scenes that are incredibly vivid and cinematic. The vampire lore and alternate history feel plausible, adding depth to the narrative. Despite the raw and bloody realities of vampirism, Markus doesn’t shy away from showing where the true monstrosity lies. Instead, vampires are portrayed as literal and metaphorical weapons for the oppressed, beacons of hope, and symbols of liberation.
While the book is a tough read at times (please read trigger warnings), the emotions evoked by each character’s suffering, backstory, and love story make you root for their success. When the tide eventually turns, their vengeance is very satisfying.
Blood Slaves is an unforgettable, intense, and thought-provoking read with a richly layered history and a cinematic experience that leaves you both satisfied and thirsty for more. I can’t wait for book two!

I really wanted to like "Blood Slaves" by Markus Redmond. The premise sounded great-enslaved people in antebellum times become vampires and massacre their white masters. Unfortunately, the actual execution of the novel fell flat and I was left disappointed. It isn't particularly well-written; indeed I would have thought it was YA if it wasn't filled with so much violence and sexual assault. The book is a great example of the author telling and not showing and I found a lot of the dialog to be stilted and unrealistic. Honestly, I think it would work better as a graphic novel than a written one. Or maybe as a screenplay.

I read a lot of horror and I love vampire lore, but this book was filled with violence for violence's sake, that is to say much of it didn't really advance the plot in a meaningful manner. It would have been nice if the author had delved more deeply into the Ramangan people and their traditions instead of just the info-dump at the beginning of the book. The characters weren't really three-dimensional and they didn't come alive for me. I get that there is going to be a sequel, but the author definitely needed more character development in the first book of a series.

Finally, did it bother anyone else that, after the enslaved people became vampires, they started speaking like their white slaveowners? Like, now that they are in this "superior state of being" the way they spoke when human was somehow inferior? I'm not Black, but I found this to feed into the racist idea that the anyone who speaks something other than "proper" English is somehow inferior or weak-minded. One of the characters actually says "A stronger mind speaks strongly and clearly." WTF! Who says that the language the slaves used wasn't clear? They certainly could understand each other, the white characters could understand them, and I could understand what they were saying when I read their words. so how can the way they spoke prior to their change not be considered strong and clear? Maybe I'm being too sensitive but this really rubbed me the wrong way.

I won't be recommending this book to any of my friends and I definitely will not be reading the sequel. I appreciate the opportunity to read an advanced copy through NetGalley, but this was definitely not the book for me.

You know I really wanted to like this but I saw some other reviews and as I was reading I just was becoming more uncomfortable. The amount of just violence for violence sake was a lot. And listen I know violence was part of everyday life back then but idk I just expected more story to it.

Markus Redmond you have out done yourself. This book tackles a heavy topic in a way that does not hold any punches. Multiple times I found myself putting the book down only to find I was completely unable to move on because doing so felt disrespectful after the scene I read. The characters felt real and their story is one I'll never get over. I would be surprised if I read anything better than Blood Slaves in 2025..

4.75/5

i received an arc of blood slaves by netgalley and kensington publishing in exchange for my honest review.

first, i would like to preface this review by saying you should absolutely check trigger warnings for physical and sexual abuse, racism and all the bigotry you could imagine for a novel taking place in 1710. this book deals with slavery on a plantation in the colonised lands that are now the usa. so tread carefully if the violence of this time period is triggering to you.

while the violences of slavery including torture and sexual assaults were a lot to read, the fast pace and revenge thirsty characters made this story unputdownable.

it's a reality of western history that is more and more talked about, but it's important to not shy away from such difficult topics.

you could tell that markus redmond worked in the film industry before, because everything was easy to picture as if a movie unfolded in front of my eyes.

if i had one critique, though, it would be this one.

i'm not very qualified to speak on this but i found it a bit strange when the ramanga's could speak an "elevated tongue" after being turned and no longer spoke in the way enslaved people spoke on the plantations. i'm sure there's a reason for this, but it felt a tad colonising to consider the black people's language beneath "proper english".

‼️this next point could be a spoiler so skip the next paragraph if you don't want to get spoilers.‼️

it's not really a critique but i'm almost disappointed at the ending where kwadzo finds himself a little bit overpowered. it will make for a good story, but i don't know if in a story about revolution against discrimination done to an entire population, there is a need for a "chosen/special one" trope.

i had an overall thrilling time reading this reimagined history of black enslaved people fighting by whatever means for their freedom. i had no idea blood slaves was going to be a series, but i can see the potential from a sequel.

<b>Disclosure Statement: I received an e-ARC of this novel to review from the publisher via Netgalley. My opinions of the book have not been influenced by either publisher or author in any way.</b>

<i>Blood Slaves</i> is a vicious book, and that's one of its great strengths. Its violence matches its subject matter, which is in turns thoughtful and rageful, but not unjustified.

In my world literature course from 1650, I focus a lot on the global effects of imperialism, specifically of European imperialism in New World colonies and its impact on indigenous and African communities. One of the texts we read is Aphra Behn's <i>Oroonoko</i>, which, while still problematic by today's standards, has quite a bit to say about the trans-Atlantic slave trade and the treatment of African peoples during the 17th century. It's a particularly brutal text, full of abject trauma and out and out evils perpetrated by white Europeans in the pursuit of dominance and profit.

I find that <i>Blood Slaves</i> shares a lot of common ground with <i>Oroonoko</i>, especially as regards its frequent brutalities and its focus on trauma. This novel is undoubtedly more satisfying in its revenges, but it still drives home a brutalistic view of white imperialism and does not hide its rage and indignity at any stage. There is tenderness in the book, and its anxieties around vampires and vampirism are symbolically interesting, though they often take a back seat to the broader brutal action of the book.

I will say, the prose craft of the book is perhaps its stiffest attribute, and I think it's pretty clear to me that while Redmond is a powerful storyteller, he isn't a prose-first kind of writer, which made some of the book a little more difficult to read and enjoy than other parts. Still, I think this makes a fascinating comparison to early stories of the trans-Atlantic slave trade, with speculative elements that keep the text feeling modern. I appreciate the book's rage, a rage I think is necessary in this particular age as we look at our current historical moment in relationship to the undying sins of our past.