Demon’s Blood Series by Shari Sakurai
The stories are best read in the following order:
Demon’s Blood (Demon’s Blood #1)
Never Change (Demon’s Blood short story)
Demon’s Life (Demon’s Blood #2)
Genres: Paranormal/vampires, LGBTQ, gay fiction
Overall Heat Rating for the series: 1 flame
Publisher: Farnhurst Publishing
Cover Artist: Farnhurst Publishing
BOOK 1
Book Title: Demon’s Blood (Demon’s Blood universe #1)
Author: Shari Sakurai
Length: 302 pages
Release Date: January 23, 2014
Buy Links – Available in Kindle Unlimited
Blurb
Immortal blood is precious and Kokawa Taku’s makes him especially unique.
After vampire hunters force them to flee Tokyo, Taku and his lover, Thane, try to make a new life for themselves in England. But three months later Thane is still tormented by nightmares of the fire that almost cost them their lives. This leads to carelessness and the discovery of one of his victims.
When faced with threats from all sides Taku tries his best to protect them although his actions are met with disapproval and anger from Thane. Unknown to his lover, Taku is also struggling to keep hidden the truth of what really happened three months ago.
However, it is only a matter of time before Taku’s past and bloodline catches up with him.
BOOK 2
Book Title: Never Change (Demon’s Blood universe short story)
Author: Shari Sakurai
Length: 47 pages
Release Date: December 1, 2018
It is part of the Demon’s Blood universe, but can be read as a standalone.
Buy Links – Available in Kindle Unlimited
Blurb
Thane’s arms curved around his back and he felt the younger vampire trembling as he rested his head on Taku’s shoulder. So easily broken, Taku often forgot what it had been like in the beginning. For him things had been different, he reminded himself. He had already known what it felt like to take a life.
With Nagasaki in the grip of a bitter winter, two vampires struggle to hunt in the challenging conditions. When an opportunity to feed from a dying man presents itself, Taku insists that they take advantage of it. Yet his newly turned lover is left feeling devastated by their actions. Seeing Thane so distraught is more than Taku can bear and so he makes a decision to shield Thane as much as he can from the darker side to their existence. However his desire to protect Thane might one day cost him everything.
Never Change is a short story set in the Demon’s Blood universe.
BOOK 3
Book Title: Demon’s Life (Demon’s Blood universe #2)
Author: Shari Sakurai
Publisher: Farnhurst Publishing
Length: 322 pages
Release Date: November 4, 2019
Buy Links
Blurb
Out of respect for the relationship we once had I will spare your life. However, if you try to obstruct me again then I will kill you
Vampires are now an endangered species. Possessed by the demon Kurai, Kokawa Taku has sworn to eradicate all those whom he deems inferior.
Determined to free Taku from the demon’s corruption, Thane seeks help from Taku’s sire, Takata Koji. Thane’s search for answers takes him to Hong Kong where he learns the devastating truth. That in order to save Taku, Thane may have to kill him.
Refusing to accept this, Thane makes a decision that places the fate of all vampires in the balance. However Thane is unaware of the betrayal around him and that his actions will either save Taku or destroy him.
With only his thoughts for company, Taku was aware of the dangerous fragility of his situation. Kurai had already tried to break him once, and the half-truths that the demon had confronted him with continued to go round and round in his mind. It was these that had caused Taku to lower his guard and become trapped. He would not make this mistake again.
Thane was never far from his thoughts and Taku wondered what he was doing. Was he still in Norfield or had he left? A part of him hoped that Thane had put as much distance between himself and Kurai as he could. For months he had felt it. Kurai’s abhorrence directed at all of their kind. It would kill them all now that it had the chance. Yet despite this, Taku couldn’t help clinging to the faintest hope that Thane could help him.
Taku got up from his bed and made his way to the window. Placing a hand on the glass, Taku felt the vibrations from the rain. He closed his eyes, allowing his forehead to press against the pane. He was reluctant to acknowledge just how frightened he was. That there might not be a way out of this. Even the thought of remaining here, trapped for eternity, was terrifying, and Taku crushed this before it could manifest. He had to remain strong. It was his only defence now. To stay strong and wait for an opportunity.
Then he felt it. A change in the atmosphere. The darkness surrounding him grew oppressive. Feeling it closing in, Taku steeled his composure as he turned back around.
Thane stood in the doorway. He was learning against the frame with his arms folded across his chest. He smirked as their eyes met. Taku was not naïve enough to think that it was actually his lover before him. The smugness in the gaze gave the demon away, even were it not for its ochre eyes.
“Don’t use that form!” Taku practically growled as he took a step away from the window. He wasn’t foolish enough to try and rush Kurai. The demon had proved itself stronger and any kind of reaction like that would result in it leaving. Taku did not want that. Its presence was proof that despite everything Kurai could not simply abandon him here. Even buried deep in the demon’s subconscious, Taku still concerned it. This was a potential weakness that he could exploit if he was smart enough. And Taku was smart enough. Kurai may be stronger, but the demon had gravely underestimated him.
“Does it really bother you that much?” Kurai queried as it stepped fully into the room. The door remained open, the demon standing between Taku and the darkness beyond.
“No,” Taku denied. “It’s irritating that you think that you can break me so easily. I know you’re not him.”
“Is it the eyes?” the demon mocked as it took a step closer. Its amber gaze shimmered momentarily before slowly fading into brilliant emerald green. Taku winced despite himself.
“You can cast that illusion for as long as you like, but you will never fool me,” Taku warned angrily.
It shrugged its shoulders at this, however its form remained the same.
“Do you like your prison?”
“It’s far from imaginative.”
“Such arrogance. Should I will it I could crush your consciousness into oblivion with a mere thought.”
“Then do it,” Taku challenged. It couldn’t. They both knew the truth. One body and two minds. It was merely a battle of wills. Kurai might think that it had the upper hand, but it was Taku who would finally prevail. He had beaten it once, and that was why Kurai was here. Despite its strength, Kurai still feared him.
Shari Sakurai is a British author of paranormal, horror, science fiction and fantasy novels that almost always feature a LGBTQ protagonist and/or antagonist. She has always loved to write and it is her escape from the sometimes stressful modern life!
Aside from writing, Shari enjoys reading, watching movies, listening to (loud!) music, going to rock concerts and learning more about other societies and cultures. Japanese culture is of particular interest to her and she often incorporates Japanese themes and influences into her work.
Shari loves a challenge and has taken part and won the National Novel Writing Month challenge eleven times!
Author Links
Enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway for a chance to win
one of three ebooks from Shari’s backlist
Follow the tour and check out the other blog posts and reviews here