Blood Triad Audiobook

Three bite-sized vampire stories that make for a tasty sampler.

Blood Triad by Raven Belasco is narrated by Bahni Turpin, Tavia Gilbert, and Paul Rogan, and produced by Punch Audio.

This collection of three novellas explores the backstories of peripheral characters from Belasco’s Blood & Ancient Scrolls vampire series. “Teeth are Bones” (previously published in 2022 in Together We Stand Volume 2: A Charity Anthology for Ukraine) is essentially the origin story of Zoraida, a vampire who, as a human, lived in Haiti during the Haitian Revolution in the late 1700s. After she meets a mythical, formerly enslaved freedom-fighter named Kgosi—who turns her into a vampire—they begin a timeless but tragic love story while battling against American occupation of the island. “Blood Brothers” uncovers the gruesome beginnings of Dubhghall and Wulfhram’s friendship. After the two nearly kill each other during a clash between Picts and Vikings in the 900s, they’re turned into vampires and begin an epic friendship that spans centuries. “Abyssinia” (previously published in 2023 in the Adventures in Bodily Autonomy anthology) is set in Prohibition-era Philadelphia and revolves around a factory worker named Palmina who helps other struggling young women receive abortion services. When she meets a woman named Astryiah—who happens to be a vampire—Palmina finds a new way to help women in need. It’s a surprisingly romantic love story that will leave readers with tears in their eyes, and a powerful, timely read. All three stories feature well-developed characters, impressive emotional intensity, and a dark, lyrical writing style. A fight scene from “Blood Brothers,” for instance, is described thusly: “As he rolled, blood spun out and caught in the twilight like a little whirlwind of garnets.” The only criticism is the stories’ overuse, at times, of series-specific terminology: “Maybe it is in the vhoon-anghyaa from Asdrúbal, that none of his frithaputhraish can ever recover from the loss of their patar.” — Kirkus Reviews​​​​​​​

Blood Triad is a must-read for fans of vampire fiction and historical fantasy, especially those who value meticulously researched narratives that deliver immersive world-building, nuanced character dynamics and diverse perspectives, and thought-provoking explorations of love and resilience. — Booklife by Publisher's Weekly

Blood Triad sweeps readers across eras and locations, from the ancient Norsemen and Picts of the 900s, to the turbulent colonial history of Haiti, to Prohibition-era Philadelphia, infusing each of these periods with her unique vampiric lore. Belasco’s action scenes are brisk, and her carefully-researched characters are memorable. Her vampires are so much more than the violence of their history—within their bloody hearts, they retain their humanity. — Tara Campbell, author of City of Dancing Gargoyles and TreeVolution