Chaos and Communion (Book 5 of The Master Chronicles) by Jamie Craig

The fifth book in this series once again deviates a good deal from the format of the first three. We get even more of the back story in this book. We learned a great deal in book four, but book five pretty much tells us everything. I think.

Here is the blurb for the book:

Stopping a murder that happened forty years earlier may be the only way to heal a tortured mind... Six months after Jesse Madding is brutally tortured by Marcus Brooker, he is still experiencing flashbacks, panic attacks, and jumping at his own shadow. His lovers, Gideon Keel and Emma Coolidge, would do anything to help him, but Jesse cannot tolerate the thought of being alone, and refuses to be hospitalized for treatment. Desperate for a change, Gideon and Emma suggest a radical solution. Jesse wants to fix his life. More than anything, he wants to be normal again. He doesn't want to live in fear. He doesn't want to be ashamed of his scarred and mutilated body. He doesn't want to shy away from Gideon's touch. Certain that the holding pattern will kill him, he agrees to Gideon and Emma's proposed solution: travel to an alternative dimension and save Marcus Brooker from witnessing Mary's grisly murder...in order to save Brooker's soul.

The BDSM scenes aren't as intense in this book, but they really can't be, with Jesse's state of mind. There is one intense scene in the book, as well as a not so intense one in Sangre, but compared to previous books in the series this one is pretty tame.

We get to watch Jesse fight to get his life back though, and I'm glad that the author didn't just glance over what Jesse's experience was likely to do to him. And I like that Gideon was willing to do whatever it took to help him heal. We knew Emma would, and I figured Gideon would, but it was nice to see.

The story line is good, and I enjoyed it, though not as much as I enjoyed previous books.

To be honest though, the last two books have been more intense than I was ready for at the time. Too much drama and not enough fun. I usually like drama okay and even appreciate it, but these books just made me tired. The blurb for the next book makes it look like things may get even more intense, and I'm just not up for that right now. Part of the blurb for the next book says "Jesse must convince the vampire who doesn't remember him, or the love the three of them share, to fight for their lives.". I do intend to read the next two books in the series at some point, just not quite yet. I don't want to see Emma possessed, and I don't want to see Gideon lose his memories. Not now, anyway. I like these characters and I don't want to see anything else bad happen to them. Not that bad, anyway.


Heat level: 3 of 5
Book Rating: 8 of 10
Series Rating: 7 of 10 (after reading first five books)



1. Master of Obsidian
2. Unveiled
3. Mosaic Moon
4. Seduction in Black and White
5. Chaos and Communion
6. Dominion
7. A Renaissance In Blood

Seduction In Black And White (Book 4 of The Master Chronicles) by Jamie Craig

The fourth book in this series has our threesome going out of town. It was different from the others. Still a good book, but I didn't enjoy it as much as I enjoyed the others. Too many secrets, too much conflict, too much pain.

And the violence. There is a lot of violence in this book. Non-consensual violence you can't just skim over, as there are important things being said while the violence is happening.

Here is the blurb for the book:

History doesn't always die. Sometimes, it lives on. Discovering it can be too seductive to resist...A chance encounter on their first vacation in years introduces Jesse Madding to Marcus Brooker, a man who claims to have known the woman for whom vampire Gideon Keel abandoned his evil ways to fight for good. Though Jesse would rather get those answers from his lover, Gideon isn't nearly as forthcoming. So Jesse pursues the truth the only way he thinks he can. Gideon agrees to the New York trip, hoping for three weeks of pure pleasure with his human lovers. Pleasure is not all they find...

This book deals with some of Gideon's history. History that's been hinted at in other books, but we begin to get the rest of the story here.

In the other books I've enjoyed watching the characters grow, and watching the relationships grow. We don't really get that in this book, if anything there are too many setbacks to say that anything grows or gets better.

At the beginning of the book we see that the three are more comfortable together, that they've come a ways since the end of the last book, but... that's about it.

I'm not saying that's a bad thing. Uncomfortable books can be just as good as enjoyable books. Part of the problem is probably that I was expecting more of what I saw in the first three, and this one was so different.

If you've enjoyed the characters in the first books then I still recommend this book. Just be aware that it's not quite as much fun as the previous books have been. This one is much more serious.


Heat level: 3 of 5
Book Rating: 8 of 10
Series Rating: 7 of 10 (after reading first five books)



1. Master of Obsidian
2. Unveiled
3. Mosaic Moon
4. Seduction in Black and White
5. Chaos and Communion
6. Dominion
7. A Renaissance In Blood

Mosaic Moon (Book 3 of The Master Chronicles) by Jamie Craig

The third book in this series did not disappoint.

The crime part of the plot in this one is okay, maybe not as good as the plots in other books, but that's okay. There was enough other stuff going on that it's not that important.

Here is the blurb for the book:

Emma Coolidge is accustomed to isolation. Born with the ability to read emotions, Emma reached adulthood without learning how to control her special gift, leading to a life of self-imposed seclusion. Until she meets Gideon Keel and Jesse Madding, a vampire fighting for good and his human lover. Both men befriend her and introduce her to people who can help her create a normal life for herself. Everything is great for Emma for the first time in her life--except for one small problem. She longs to be part of Jesse and Gideon's lives, and their darker games involving bondage and sadism, but believes her desire can be nothing but a private fantasy.

Gideon adores Jesse and wants nothing more than to give him everything he wants. When Gideon realizes Jesse wants Emma, as well, he decides to invite Emma into their games. But a disturbing new crime distracts Gideon from his goal. Jesse and Gideon are forced to investigate a string of grave desecrations that are somehow siphoning power from the most powerful mage in Chicago. They must unravel the mystery of who is stealing Black John's power, why, and how to reverse it before they can devote their time and energy to their mutual desire for a third in their bed.

One of the reasons I enjoy books in a series is that you often get a longer drawn out plot on top of the plots within each book. Plots within plots, and lots to think about. We don't so much have that in this series by the time we reach the third book, but that's okay. Because the other reason I enjoy books in a series is that you get to watch people grow and learn and change. In this book, we see growth and change. And it's a good thing.

We see Jesse and Gideon's relationship growing even more, and we see how they've managed to make hardcore BDSM work into a relationship without it being 24/7. They've gotten comfortable with the transition from equal partner to Master/slave and then back again. And we get it affirmed that no safeword is needed, all Jesse has to do is say "we need to talk" in the midst of a scene and Gideon is instantly saying "okay".

And we get to see Emma grow into her abilities, so she controls them instead of them controlling her.

Heat level: 5 of 5
Book Rating: 9 of 10
Series Rating: 7 of 10 (after reading first five books)



1. Master of Obsidian
2. Unveiled
3. Mosaic Moon
4. Seduction in Black and White
5. Chaos and Communion
6. Dominion
7. A Renaissance In Blood

Unveiled (Book 2 of The Master Chronicles) by Jamie Craig

The second book in this series is just as good as the first book.

Another great plot, still a nice relationship, and still lots of really hot scenes. And by scenes, I'm talking BDSM, of course.

Here is the blurb for the book:

Sequel to Amber Allure Best-Seller, Master Of Obsidian......Beauty is in the eye of the master...Gideon Keel and Jesse Madding have seen dozens of gruesome crime scenes over the years, but nothing compares to the grisly discovery they make in a small apartment above a sporting goods store. The body has clearly been put on display, and clues in the apartment indicate that while the woman was dying, party guests were enjoying rich caviar and expensive champagne. The two men are mystified. They receive help from an unexpected source--a young woman they rescue from an auction at the vampire club, Sangre. Emma Coolidge is determined to save her sister from the same monsters Gideon and Jesse are hunting. While both men are utterly fascinated by her beauty, her intelligence, and her rare talent as an empath, they value her for her friendship. The three plan a sting operation to infiltrate the small group of "art connoisseurs" by sadistically turning Jesse into a living work of art, but will it be enough to save Chicago from more vicious murders in the name of beauty?

Fair warning on the violence in this story, the parties showcase the killing of humans in macabre ways as art, and the brutality of what is done is pretty rough.

But, that is a small part of the book, and it is necessary. For without something that cruel I don't think they would have gone the drastic route of putting Jesse out there as an exhibit in order to get into a party.

I enjoyed watching Gideon and Jesse grow into their relationship, and watching the relationship grow as well.

The addition of the empath was also a good thing, as it helped all parties understand what the others were feeling.


Heat level: 5 of 5
Book Rating: 10 of 10
Series Rating: 7 of 10 (after reading first five books)



1. Master of Obsidian
2. Unveiled
3. Mosaic Moon
4. Seduction in Black and White
5. Chaos and Communion
6. Dominion
7. A Renaissance In Blood

Master Of Obsidian (Book 1 of The Master Chronicles) by Jamie Craig

Gideon is a vampire who was once widely known for his blood-thirst and violence but who now spends his time protecting humans and killing vampires who kill for sport. Like he once did. Gideon has sort of a PI agency set up, and he works for people who pay him, also.

Gideon has an assistant named Jesse. Well, a partner, really, though he started out as an assistant. Jesse is a human who knows how to research obscure subjects and who has a basic knowledge of magic. And who can fight and kill vampires too, when necessary.

The first book is about a drug that affects vampires, known as Obsidian. It is absorbed through the skin and makes vampires lose their inhibitions. It makes them act on their desires without having the willpower or reasoning to keep from doing it. As it turns out, it works out well when Gideon unknowingly gets a dose, because it finally makes Gideon kiss and do... other things... with Jesse. At this point Gideon considers Jesse his best friend and partner and doesn't want to mess that up with sex, so he hasn't. Until he gets some Obsidian in his system.

Once the two of them get together the relationship is one of partners. Except when sex is involved, and then it's a pretty rough BDSM relationship. When they are in their D/s roles there are no safewords, and there isn't much mercy given. There is a lot of pain, and blood. This is a vampire Master, after all. But, perhaps saying there are no safewords isn't entirely accurate. If Gideon sensed anything but desire and want from Jesse then he would back off, so with Gideon's vampire senses in this case safewords probably aren't needed. I usually cringe when there are no safewords, but since Gideon continues on as long as he knows Jesse is enjoying it, and since he'll know the second Jesse isn't enjoying it and doesn't need to be told, it's easier to be okay with the no safeword thing.

The relationship has a foundation of friendship, and the men have built on that and now love each other. Or, I guess, man and vampire love each other. At any rate, I appreciate the relationship, especially the fact that they remain partners and friends and the D/s relationship doesn't extend to all parts of their relationship.

Just about everyone on the planet is afraid of Gideon, except Jesse. He stands up to him and fights for equality in their relationship when they are working. He doesn't let Gideon get away with being bossy or being a jerk, he calls him on it and demands better. He can do that, because he knows Gideon will never hurt him. Or rather, will never hurt him outside of their BDSM relationship.

I loved this book. The vampire parts, the relationship parts, the romance parts, the BDSM parts, and even the plot. 

Heat level: 5 of 5
Book Rating: 10 of 10
Series Rating: 7 of 10 (after reading first five books)



1. Master of Obsidian
2. Unveiled
3. Mosaic Moon
4. Seduction in Black and White
5. Chaos and Communion
6. Dominion
7. A Renaissance In Blood