A gruesome, heartbreaking, and amazing tale of revenge! Willie's journey is not an easy read (check your triggers!) but it is an immensely rewarding one, and so, so earned. Can't wait to see Markus Redmond's author career take off!!! I am here for it.

Did not finish book. Stopped at 45%.

I wanted to love this. I was so excited to read Black vampires getting revenge on the slave owners. But it takes so long to even get to the vengeance that I just cannot do it.

I’m almost halfway through the book but this book seems to be less about the ancient vampire tribe and more about spotlighting the grotesqueness that happened during American slavery. I swear, there were so many SA scenes, whippings, etc that I almost forgot this was supposed to be a story about vengeance with vampires. I feel like it was supposed to set up the reasons for why each character would want to become vampire/get revenge but yeah, no. It was too much and I don’t think they were handled with care. It felt there just to be there and perhaps, shock value. I hate when authors show violence like this just for the sake of it and after the first few scenes, that’s what this felt like.

The vampire tribe could have been cool if we saw more of them. Rafazi could have been a cool character as well but he takes an backseat to the other characters.

All that to say, I’m very disappointed. Don’t go into this for the vampire lore. You will be sorely disappointed. Instead, check content warnings and expect a very slow build up to the vengeance.

Thank you the publishers for sending me an eARC through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

There were times while reading this novel that I had to close my eyes and breathe while bearing witness to the atrocities our beloved characters were subjected to. And then there were the times, more and more as I reached the end, of rage-filled rebellion and bloody vengeance that had me brimming with pride and sporting a grin so feral I could’ve been counted among the Ramangans. I was so enraptured by the story, and felt so many emotions while reading it. I found Willie/Kwadzo’s character development particularly compelling in how he allowed his anger at the injustice of his and his fellow slaves’ treatment to outweigh his fear of the Barrows’ retaliation, and how he became more sure as time went on that the definition of what was good isn’t so black and white when they would never be rewarded for that goodness. When he said “She could do good. He would do right.”, it was that moment where I think he really drew a line in the sand, where he truly understood that in order to not only survive, but to actually claim a life of freedom, he and his fellow slaves would have to set their own terms of what was good and right, and that what might be seen as a monstrous change does not actually make you a monster. I think it was very understandable that Gertie had reservations about the Ramanga and what it would take to truly be free. At times I was frustrated with her for condemning Willie/Kwadzo for having opinions and making decisions against her beliefs, though I could see why it would be a daunting realization to come to that instead of holding on to hope and waiting for grace to fall upon you, that you will need to instead demand that salvation for yourself by means you’ve always regarded as evil or wicked. You do not need to allow how others have utilized or abused their power to dictate how you wield that power should you come to possess it. Self determination I feel is an overarching theme present throughout the narrative, and you can see it play out in Gertie’s character arc, as well as in Irene’s wrathful transformation, Rafazi’s vow to redeem himself from his past cowardice, Willie/Kwadzo’s reclamation of his true name and establishing himself as a leader for his people.

Redmond stated in his opening author’s note that he sought out to write “a badass vampire novel”, and I can attest that he achieved that and so much more with Blood Slaves. I find myself feeling almost possessive of it, because though I did not write this novel, I felt the narrative becoming a part of me the further on I read. The characters became my family, my ancestors. The plantation owners and overseers became my enemies. I was Willie/Kwadzo, Gertie, Rafazi, Irene, Charlie, Fanna, Rosanna, and Tussy. This story was my pain, my fear, my hope, my love, and all of my rage. This story was written for me, for all of my fellow Black readers. It belongs to us, and we belong to no one.

Never again.

Thank you so much to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC, and I cannot wait to sink my teeth into the next installment of the Blood Saga.

I wanted to like this so badly but unfortunately, I am not the audience for this. I was expecting a horror story that focused on vampires and violence in that way and not what was actually the content of this book. Granted, there are trigger warnings at the beginning but I don't even think the warning was enough lol.

This book heavily focuses on physical and sexual abuse/violence as a way to show how terrible slavery was and I think that it veered too far into unnecessary territory. I know the horror of slavery was a core part of this narrative, but I don't think we needed on page sexual violence in almost every chapter? There are at least 5 explicit rape scenes in this story and every time it came up I was wondering why. We can deduce that slave owners were evil! I don't know if we need to see a grown man raping a child??? Like, who is that for? How does that serve the narrative?

In addition, the n word is used 138 times in the story. This is a 400 page book. You do that math. It was just overkill for me. Like I got it! They're racist (beyond) and think of black people as animals. I don't think we needed to see the hard r 3x on every page.

There wasn't enough exploring of the actual lore of the Ramanga for me. The book starts off so well and makes you think you're about to get the entire background, but then it switches up and you don't even see a vampire until like halfway in! The first 50% of this story is violence against slaves and the second half is like 25% more violence against slaves and 25% actual uprising with no lore.

Once you get into the Ramanga stuff....the choices were odd. For example, there's a very clear language difference between how the slaves talked and how the white people talked obviously, but once the slaves become vampires, they talk "properly" because they absorb language as their brains get bigger or something like that. Weird choice. Some people also get more powers than others, but it's not clearly explained. Again, needed more lore.

There were just a lot of elements in this that I didn't enjoy. Violence and language aside, the primary romance between Willie and Gertie felt off. Willie basically disrespected her at every turn and I get both of their motivations for feeling the way they felt, but the romance didn't add to their characters in any positive way. It just made them both unlikable.

Watching the slaves get their lick back wasn't even satisfying for me either. That was also dragged out and bordering on ridiculous. Like, these people turned into vampires and the slave owners are still calling them the hard R and telling them they're property?? It went from grossly evil to ridiculously evil.

The tone changed into one that didn't really mix with the overall premise of the book and overall idk! It just left me feeling weird??

I think ...this book wasn't for me and it sucks because I have been anticipating reading this for months. I think the bones of the story are good and the idea is great but the execution left a lot to be desired for me. It definitely needed WAY LESS sexual violence and more backstory on the vampires. More time showing them plotting the rebellion and less time showing them being physically abused! Like over half of this book was day to day torture with nothing else going on?? I don't want to see that!

I think it's irresponsible for people to recommend this for fans of Sinners and I recognize that it's because it's about black vampires but that is the only similarity. I don't know if I'd read the following books.....I know this is a series and I want to support this idea but this book sort of felt anti-black in a way and I feel that it's more for white readers to feel pain and disgust more than anything else. Knowing that it was written during 2020 sort of emphasizes that for me.

Again, I hate that I didn't enjoy this and I suppose I'll keep tabs on the series to see how it pans out but sheesh. This disturbed me in a way I wasn't expecting and in a way that was not enjoyable.

I received an arc from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you NetGalley, Kensington Publishing and Dafina!

This is not an easy book, and I braced myself after reading the thorough content warning list at the start of the book. The true historic horrors of slavery are worse than than the vampire horrors, and this book does not shy away from any graphic description. As a non-Black reviewer, I encourage others to go read reviews by Black folks for a more informed opinion. Overall, I found the revenge plot to be a slow build, but it was worth seeing the enslavers die bloody deaths at the end. The characters were multidimensional with various approaches and mindsets, and I found that added depth to the story. The book sets up for a sequel, and overall the book was well done. A huge thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for a chance to provide my honest thoughts in exchange for an eARC!

Humans are scarier than vampires. I will never yield from this opinion and this book is a testiment to my argumentation. I really liked this and I'm thrilled it's part of a series. I'm looking forward to the next part.

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

Ahhh, this was incredible. I was sold from the tagline: “What if nobody ever freed the slaves…because they freed themselves – 150 years before the Civil War?” What a great concept. I am glad this is only the first book in a series because this is only the beginning. I can’t wait for more.

This is a revenge story that spends such an integral amount of time showing exactly WHY the revenge is justified, brutally so. While you start to get this emotional connection with the book and the characters, we see the two different types of horror form: the paranormal and the human.

We follow Willie, among others, as they are faced with a decision. Rafazi, an old slave who keeps away from everyone approaches Willie with a curse that could be their salvation. He is the last of his tribe, roaming for centuries… and in Willie he sees something. To him, the answer is easy, but to others, not so much.

In their new form, they will get the revenge they so rightly deserve, but at what price? I found this book to be so engaging. The story jumps off the page and you really get an in depth insight into these characters. I am so desperate for more.

When I say revenge was the motive it was taken lightly on how they got their revenge. I loved the vampire addition to the story. It was a great read especially if you have seen Sinners in theaters and looking for something similar in book form.

I decided to DNF this as it was not for me. As an enjoyer of horror and someone who is generally not affected by trigger warnings or violence, this felt like glorified torture porn with very little plot (of revenge and vampires).

First, thank you, @netgalley and @kensingtonpublishing for the e-arc and the opportunity to read and review this book. I’m probably in the outlier and going to get flack for this, but I did not enjoy this.😩 I could not connect with the majority of the characters, and the only character that I found likable was Irene, who was interesting, fierce, and badass. I could not get behind Kwazdo/Willie as this badass character or even take him seriously as a leader, due to his hyper-fixation with Gertie. Also, I would have loved more background about the Ramanga tribe and how they came to be. I would have also enjoyed an explanation of what the plague was and just more background or a focus on Rafazi, especially those years he spent in the States before meeting Willie.

In conclusion, although this wasn’t the book for me, I will acknowledge that it is highly and positively rated, so if it looks interesting you may want to give it a try.

I came across Blood Slaves after seeing it recommended for fans of Sinners, and I was immediately intrigued. This story doesn’t stick to just one lane—it blends fantasy, historical fiction, thriller, and a gritty sense of gothic tension that makes it stand out.

Set on the Barrow plantation, the story follows Willie, an enslaved man willing to do whatever it takes to claim freedom—even if it means embracing a dark and dangerous power. The stakes are high, and the choices are never easy.

What really shines here is the immersive worldbuilding. Markus Redmond paints such a vivid, emotional landscape that you can practically feel the heat of the sun on the fields and hear the hushed whispers in the shadows. The themes around power, survival, and the cost of freedom are powerful and thoughtfully explored from multiple points of view.

That said, this is a heavy read—raw, intense, and unflinching in its portrayal of the time period. The content warnings are important, and I definitely recommend taking them seriously. If you’re in the headspace for something dark, complex, and layered with meaning, Blood Slaves is worth the dive.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Django Unchained Meets Vampires!!!!!!

What an absolute knockout! From the very first page, I was hooked. It’s gritty, bold, and unapologetically fierce—like Django Unchained got bitten by a vampire and came back with a vengeance. The blend of historical tension and supernatural horror is masterfully done, and Redmond doesn’t pull any punches.

The characters are vivid and unforgettable, the pacing is relentless, and the atmosphere is thick with danger and dark allure. Every chapter had me devouring each word like I was the one with a thirst for The Blood. It’s rare to find a book that balances action, emotion, and social commentary so seamlessly, but Blood Slaves nails it.

If you’re into stories that are as thought-provoking as they are thrilling, this one is a must-read. I loved every second of it.

"For readers of Victor LaValle, Tananarive Due, Stephen Graham Jones, and Colson Whitehead's The Underground Railroad, this ingenious reimagining of the vampire origin story set during the early days of American slavery blends alternate history with supernatural horror, as the last surviving member of an ancient African vampire tribe meets a slave desperate for freedom, and together, they lead an army of enslaved people in a cinematically blood-soaked battle for freedom and revenge.

What if nobody ever freed the slaves...because they freed themselves - 150 years before the Civil War?

In the Province of Carolina, 1710, freedom seems unattainable for Willie, for his beloved Gertie, and for their unborn child. They live, suffer, and toil under their brutal master, James "Big Jim" Barrow, whose grand plantation was built by the blood, sweat, and tears of the enslaved. To flee this hell on earth is be hunted and killed. Until one strange night Willie is offered a dark hope by Rafazi, an enigmatic slave with an irresistible and blood-chilling path to liberation.

Hailing from the Kingdom of Ghana, Rafazi is the lone survivor of the Ramanga, an African vampire tribe rendered nearly extinct by plague. Rafazi has roamed the world for centuries with an undying desire to replenish the power that once defined his heritage. In Willie, Rafazi has found his first biddable subject to be turned and to help in a hungry revolt. And Willie desires nothing more than to free his people from malicious bondage. Whatever it takes.

One by one, as an army of blood slaves thirsting for revenge is gathered, the headstrong Gertie fears that no good can come from the vampiric legacy that courses through Rafazi's veins. Willie knows that only evil can fight evil. And when the woman he loves stands between the reemergence of the Ramanga and the justified slaughter of the oppressors, Willie must make an irreversible decision. Only one thing is certain: on the Barrow plantation, and beyond, blood will spill.

Part historical drama, part supernatural horror, and part alternate history, Blood Slaves is an ingenuous and defiant new creation myth of the vampire, one rooted in both justice and the sometimes - violent means necessary to achieve it."

That cover illustration so perfectly captures the essence of this book. You know what you're about to read.

I discovered Blood Slaves through a recommendation for fans of Sinners, and it did not disappoint! This book has a little bit of everything: fantasy, thriller, romance and blends them seamlessly into a dark, compelling story that feels hauntingly real.

Set against the brutal backdrop of the Barrow’s plantation, Willie is an enslaved man who is determined to claim freedom. When offered an unthinkable choice, he embraces a dark power that could shatter his chains, but at a cost that may haunt him forever.

What truly stood out to me was how Markus Redmond crafts a world with his words, the storytelling is truly immersive; you can see the plantation and every character and can feel the emotion and danger. Another thing you’ll love is how the book tackles the cost of power, survival, and what it means to be free from multiple POVs.

A quick note: this story doesn’t shy away from difficult themes, and the content warnings are there for a reason. Be mindful of the period the story is set in and take care with some of the heavier moments. But if you’re up for it, the payoff is well worth it.

Great book and first read for me from this author!

1st Gertie aggravated every nerve in my body !! Cus realistically I would have volunteered with the quickness, or even if I didn’t I wouldn’t be against their mission.

I like the lore of the Ramagans and the vampiric elements that were exhibited it didn’t seem too outlandish or off the wall. I thoroughly enjoyed and would recommend!

Thank you to Kensington Publishing and Markus Redmond for the eARC for a very anticipated release of mine.

What if the Vampire Remmick had been a black slave himself when he came to offer his cursed help?

This story follows Willie, a Black slave in 1710 in the Province of Carolina, who is struggling beneath the lash of his cruel master and his overseers. Life on the plantation is bleak, cruel, and made even more desperate when his beloved Gertie, who is carrying his unborn child, catches the wicked eye of their master James “Big Jim” Barrow. In a desperate attempt to flee, he is captured and introduced to Rafazi, another slave, as a punishment. But Rafazi is anything but another slave, he is the last Ramanga, an African Vampire hailing from Ghana, who has waited hundreds of years to find progeny that can continue the Ramanga line. He is willing to fight against their white captors and Willie desires nothing more than to free his people from their malicious bondage. Whatever it takes.

This book is dark, very dark. Triggers include: graphic violence, graphic torture, graphic depictions of SA/rape and multiple slurs. Redmond did an excellent job of both showing and telling. His descriptions painted a picture in my mind that was easy to follow and sucked me in. The action scenes were jam packed and the violence against the slavers had my heart racing (equally, the violence against the slaves turned my stomach at time).

This was a wonderful take on the vampire genre. I loved the descriptions of the changes the newborn Ramanga went through, the lore about the type of blood consumed (i.e. animal vs human (both from those that love you and those that hate you and how it can differ in the effects)) and learning about where the Ramanga came from and why they died off. Rafazi was interesting, and I enjoyed reading how he taught his progeny and his redemption.

My biggest gripe was, what I felt, was unnecessary descriptions of violence against the black slaves, particularly the women. I believe the author did this so we would support them killing the overseers and slavers, but I was already on their side from the drop. It came off as trauma porn which I did not like. Because the author spent so much of book describing the brutality, the ending of the book felt rushed. I wanted to read more about how they were going to go and free the other slaves on other plantations.

Was it entertaining? Yes!
Did reading about the slaves brutally killing their slavers bring me joy? Yes!
Do I recommend this book? Yes, but check for your triggers!
I gave this book 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.

Loved the way this book was written I would definitely warn people who have triggers but over all this was a 5 star read for me

This is the best representation of “I mean they’re not right but they’re also not wrong”. Definitely heed the trigger warnings because this book is heavy! I could see everything playing out as a show/movie which is always a good sign. I really appreciated getting the motivation and background on so many of the characters. The author had a great mix of showing & telling! Sometimes authors focus on doing one or the other OR keeping it brief. Speaking of brief, I don’t know if it was so good I went through it quick or if it’s on the shorter end honestly. The pacing was good and nothing felt forced to me especially at the end. The way different themes were used in this was just chefs kiss. The battle between good vs bad, the questioning and exploitation of religion, and found family >>. Movies and books, such as this one, make you want to believe it’s an overdramatized but no…slavery, racism, and colonialism were likely worse than anyone could imagine + there’s proof! I loved how much choice was valued amongst the decision making of the characters. It made me chuckle (not funny haha, funny sad) that you can’t label majority of the characters as Black Americans because it’s 1710 and they were directly stolen from their lands. Overall, super well done book. Shout out to NetGallery!!

the actual action is fantastic. there are a few oddities though, like the protag switching out of AAVE when he becomes a vampire for some reason and the FMC's legitimate concerns being treated as nonsense throughout, but the big thing for me is how little actual action we get, despite how little buildup there is. i feel like there either needed to be more buildup and mystery or more action and drama. 3.5 stars, rounded up. tysm for the arc.

Thank you Netgalley and Kensington Publishing for an ARC of this book.

In this book we follow Willie. Willie is a slave on the Barrow Plantation in 1710. When he was caught trying to escape with his friend Charlie, who is killed by bloodhounds, he is forced to work in the shit barn where he meets Rafazi, who is the last of the Ramanga tribe. Once he learns from this, Willie, who is born leader, plans to revolt and take down the Plantation to free the fellow slaves, along with his love, Gertie.

This book was absolutely ravishing. As someone who loves Vampires and loves learning all about different cultures of vampires,this book is a historical guide.

What if this happened and all the Colonizers were killed and saved them all. While there are plenty of Jim Barrow's and Monroe's in this world, this was amazing. I will recommend this book over and over again.