Guest Post, Excerpt & Review: Vampire Elite

Rating: 4 Stars
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Author: Irina Argo Website :: Facebook :: Twitter
Publication Date: June 7, 2013
Buy: Amazon

Summary: A millennia-long war between two immortal races is about to come to an end. Long ago, the Vampire Elite began capturing the immortals called the Amiti, attracted by their unique blood properties. Now most Amiti live in underground cells, forced to serve as vampires’ bloodstock. 

The few surviving free Amiti, preparing a final strike, have declared their Queen a traitor. Her execution makes possible the rise of a new Queen, her young daughter Arianna, who will inherit her mother's mystical powers. 

Working with the Keepers of the Key, Arianna may be able to eliminate the vampires, once and for all, from the face of the earth. The new Queen is the last hope to save her dying race and she's ready to fight to the last drop of her blood. 

But the King of the Vampires has other plans. 

What neither expects is the passion that erupts between them. Vampire Elite is an epic story of a bitter conflict between two immortal races, and the effect of that conflict on everyone living in its grip. The characters are driven to love and betrayal, vengeance and sacrifice in a world without easy black-and-white answers. 

Based on an ancient Egyptian legend, packed with action and intrigue, Vampire Elite will pull you into the entrancing world of immortals and open new portals into their hidden universe. 

I couldn't wait to get my hands on this novel. The story line is unique and captured me from the start. As a lover of all things vampire and Egyptian, Vampire Elite seemed the perfect combination of lore, romance, and creativity, and I wasn't disappointed.

Vampire Elite begins with a glossary of the terms and character types used in the novel. This glossary is comprehensive, but very long, and although useful, not necessary to understanding the story. Being that we couldn't jump run into the story without what I thought was a needed explanation, I was disappointed...until I reached chapter one. With each page turn I was brought into this world of beautiful Amiti, confusing Nightwalkers and then the Vampire Elite. Each character in the story is so easily relatable and quite simply, real.

It was near impossible to put this book down. Every painful decision, romantic encounter, and feeling of despair, hope or safety was portrayed so honestly. I admire that kind of writing and love to read novels where authors who put their characters in unbelievably difficult situations, forcing the reader to constantly change their feelings toward the character in question. Just an emotionally beautiful ride.

Also, the interesting addition of Egyptian lore was refreshing.

Welcome Irina Argo

What makes this book different from other vampire books.

The Amiti

What makes Vampire Elite different from other vampire book is the presence of immortal beings called the Amiti. The goddess Hathor created the Amiti 8000 years ago as a counterbalance to the goddess Sekhmet’s creation of vampires. As Hathor envisioned it, the purpose of the Amiti was to protect humanity by providing a “buffer species” who would mate with vampires and fulfill their need for blood—and in the process, tempering the vampires’ violence by unlocking love in their hearts. Amiti blood has unique properties, including the ability to rapidly regenerate itself, and it is receptive to the will of the Amiti whose body created it. Amiti do not feel depleted when they feed vampires; in fact, they find vampires’ feeding to be an incredibly pleasurable experience, one their bodies were literally designed to enjoy. When a vampire takes a Amiti’s vein, a powerful connection is created called the blood-bond. Within the blood-bond Amiti can command their blood cells in a vampire partner's body to create pleasure or pain, to heal or even bring the vampire back to life, or to kill the vampire. Amiti blood that has been “artificially” drained—via catheter or cutting, for instance—loses these unique qualities, although it retains most of the exquisite taste and scent that makes it desirable to vampires. Legend holds that some Amiti have learned to control their blood even when it is removed from their bodies outside of the blood-bond.

Besides the blood-bond and power over their blood, Hathor granted Amiti the ability to shapeshift, mimicking or impersonating specific humans; a shielding power that allows Amiti to conceal their energies; and a variety of supernatural powers that manifest differently in each Amiti. And yet, in spite of all these powers, the Amiti have so far failed to accomplish their mission. In fact, the majority of the Amiti are now living in underground cells as vampires’ bloodstock, unwilling blood donors who are treated as enslaved livestock.

Among the few embattled Amiti who remain free, the leadership is preparing for a final battle that will eliminate the practice of keeping bloodstock forever—by annihilating the vampires themselves. And the vampires, of course, are doing whatever they can to keep that from happening. Want to know how it all plays out? Welcome to the world of the Vampire Elite. 

And here is an excerpt from Vampire Elite, please enjoy!

As the auctioneer spoke, two Sekhmi in eveningwear—a male carrying an elegant dagger and a female a silver tray covered with glass vials—approached the Amiti girl. 

“She’s barely eighteen, ladies and gentlemen. That’s a good three years younger than the youngest bloodstock you’ll usually come across. Look at her; she’s stunning, simply stunning, and as you can see, we’ve kept her well conditioned, in excellent health.” 

The auctioneer paused as the male Hunter grasped the Amiti’s hand and held it above the tray. The girl showed no resistance, her only display of anxiety the butterfly fluttering of her thick eyelashes. He raised his other hand, and the dagger flashed in the light as with a swift motion he slit the Amiti’s palm. The dark, intoxicating scent of fresh blood filled the room as it poured into the vials. 

Simone’s gums began to itch and burn, and she covered her mouth with her hand so no one would see her fangs punching down. It was considered terribly rude to expose one’s fangs in public, even among other vampires. But she needn’t have worried; everyone’s attention was riveted to the stage and the blood flowing from the girl’s wound. The room vibrated with bloodlust and sexual arousal. 

The female Sekhmi approached Simone’s table, offering the Royal Pride the first of the blood samples. Knowing that all eyes were on her, Simone forced herself not to hesitate and took a small sip—and was immediately flooded with euphoria. 

“For this magnificent specimen, we open the bidding at ten million U.S. dollars,” announced the auctioneer.