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Blood Kin
PRAY FOR THE DAWN — The vampire curse of the Cravens ended over a century ago when Josiah Craven was buried in an unmarked grave and a stake driven through his heart. But tonight, his ancestors have awakened their Great-Grandpa Craven. They're planning a party in the backwoods of Tennessee. And the folks of Green Hollow are in for the night of their lives. The last night of their lives...
A teenage girl is found with her throat torn open and her body completely drained of blood... A young bride sprouts fangs and turns on her husband ...A little girl's pet rat develops a murderous mind of its own ...A preacher goes insane and slaughters his entire congregation before feasting on their blood...
A teenage girl is found with her throat torn open and her body completely drained of blood... A young bride sprouts fangs and turns on her husband ...A little girl's pet rat develops a murderous mind of its own ...A preacher goes insane and slaughters his entire congregation before feasting on their blood...
381 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 1996
About the author
Ronald Kelly
96 books384 followersRonald Kelly was born and raised in the hills and hollows of Middle Tennessee. He became interested in horror as a child, watching the local "Creature Feature" on Saturday nights and "The Big Show"---a Nashville-based TV show that presented every old monster movie ever made ---in the afternoons after school. In high school, his interest turned to horror literature and he read such writers as Poe, Lovecraft, Matheson, and King. He originally had dreams of becoming a comic book artist and created many of his own superheroes. But during his junior year, the writing bug bit him and he focused his attention on penning short stories and full-length novels. To date, he has had thirteen novels and twelve short fiction collections published. In 2021, his extreme horror collection, THE ESSENTIAL SICK STUFF, won a Splatterpunk Award for Best Collection.
He currently lives in Brush Creek, Tennessee with his wife, young'uns, and an ultra-hyper Jack Russel named Toby.
He currently lives in Brush Creek, Tennessee with his wife, young'uns, and an ultra-hyper Jack Russel named Toby.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
August 29, 2020
4.5 Stars. Buddy read this with some friends and the author at Castle Dracula. I was late to the party but some talked to me about it 😉
This book was so damn good! Old school vampire story set in Tennessee. I’m set in Tennessee people 🤣😂. I loved the characters and hated when some died. I loved the atmosphere as well. I would recommend this book to old school horror buffs!
Happy Reading!
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
BLOG: https://melissa413readsalot.blogspot....
This book was so damn good! Old school vampire story set in Tennessee. I’m set in Tennessee people 🤣😂. I loved the characters and hated when some died. I loved the atmosphere as well. I would recommend this book to old school horror buffs!
Happy Reading!
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
BLOG: https://melissa413readsalot.blogspot....
November 19, 2020
Tennessee Shocker! Ancient Vampire Preacher Seeks Converts: "Well, Grandpappy up and bit my throat, now I'm an undead monster!"
A marvelously entertaining and always on point classic vampire horror story. If you enjoyed Stephen King's 'Salem's Lot,' you'll love this book.
Beautifully drawn characters, unapologetic villains, flawed but plucky heroes, and a well crafted plot with balanced pacing and suspense.
Strongly Recommended: 5 'Small-Town Fangers,' Stars.
A marvelously entertaining and always on point classic vampire horror story. If you enjoyed Stephen King's 'Salem's Lot,' you'll love this book.
Beautifully drawn characters, unapologetic villains, flawed but plucky heroes, and a well crafted plot with balanced pacing and suspense.
Strongly Recommended: 5 'Small-Town Fangers,' Stars.
August 3, 2020
Wow! This book was literally awesome! I cannot say enough great things about this book as I was just literally swept away on "vampire wings" as I read the story!
A little backstory for you readers:
Green Hollow, Tennessee is home to Craven's Mountain where Josiah Craven lays in restful slumber in an unmarked grave until Dud Craven accidentally "digs" him up. From that moment forward, all hell breaks loose on the mountainside and the town as Josiah becomes unleashed in full vampire form. When Josiah decides to go after all his "blood kin" is when the story goes into full blown vampire action which sets the pace for the book at full "vampire" throttle!
Without going into too much detail because of spoilers, I will say this about the storyline.
It was a thrilling, edge of your seat, suspenseful and nail-biting tension story that just grabs you from the first page and takes you on a bloody ride into the back hills of Tennessee.
This book just kept me awake and it fueled my insomnia as I could not put this book down! I would stay up at all hours of the night engrossed in the book and I would lay it down for a few minutes thinking I could go to sleep, but my hand would creep over to the book as I wanted to see what would happen next!
When I first picked up the book I was just planning on reading a couple of chapters, but I ended up reading eight chapters in one sitting!
The author, Ronald Kelly, has an amazing writing style that just grabs you and keeps you pinned into the book!
The storyline just flows and I loved all the characters in the book as I became connected to each one as the story moved along. Attachable characters and attachable storyline makes me give this book five "blood bite" stars!
A little backstory for you readers:
Green Hollow, Tennessee is home to Craven's Mountain where Josiah Craven lays in restful slumber in an unmarked grave until Dud Craven accidentally "digs" him up. From that moment forward, all hell breaks loose on the mountainside and the town as Josiah becomes unleashed in full vampire form. When Josiah decides to go after all his "blood kin" is when the story goes into full blown vampire action which sets the pace for the book at full "vampire" throttle!
Without going into too much detail because of spoilers, I will say this about the storyline.
It was a thrilling, edge of your seat, suspenseful and nail-biting tension story that just grabs you from the first page and takes you on a bloody ride into the back hills of Tennessee.
This book just kept me awake and it fueled my insomnia as I could not put this book down! I would stay up at all hours of the night engrossed in the book and I would lay it down for a few minutes thinking I could go to sleep, but my hand would creep over to the book as I wanted to see what would happen next!
When I first picked up the book I was just planning on reading a couple of chapters, but I ended up reading eight chapters in one sitting!
The author, Ronald Kelly, has an amazing writing style that just grabs you and keeps you pinned into the book!
The storyline just flows and I loved all the characters in the book as I became connected to each one as the story moved along. Attachable characters and attachable storyline makes me give this book five "blood bite" stars!
August 3, 2020
Blood Kin by Ronald Kelly is a good old southern vampire tale of fun! It's everything I have come to expect from this author. Great characters, a great story that flows very quickly, great writing. This is a unique and original vampire tale.
1898- We meet the Craven family just as Papa (Josiah Craven) is being prepared for his grave. There's an uproar from his congregation about how his burial is being handled but Mama ain't having none of that. She buries him in secret, in the dead of night.
Then we skip ahead to 1996,modern day for the time this came out. Dud Craven unearths something as he's plowing his land. He unknowingly unleashes evil into all of his family. People start disappearing and dying. A few towns folks are determined to put a stop to all this. You'll have to read to see if they do!
1898- We meet the Craven family just as Papa (Josiah Craven) is being prepared for his grave. There's an uproar from his congregation about how his burial is being handled but Mama ain't having none of that. She buries him in secret, in the dead of night.
Then we skip ahead to 1996,modern day for the time this came out. Dud Craven unearths something as he's plowing his land. He unknowingly unleashes evil into all of his family. People start disappearing and dying. A few towns folks are determined to put a stop to all this. You'll have to read to see if they do!
January 16, 2022
This was my first book by Kelly but it will not be the last for sure. Kelly is a great story teller with his presentation of life in a small Tennessee town (Green Hollow) in the Smoky Mountains. I confess to kinfolk who live up that way and Kelly captured the small town dynamic there to a tee! This was first published in 1996 by Kensington/Zebra when the horror boom was all but over or I am sure this would have had a larger audience.
Our main protagonist, Boyd, is a thirty something carpenter with an estranged wife and two kids (10 and 7). Three months prior to the start of the story, his wife kicked him out when he came home stinking drunk and now he lives in a shitty single-wide on the edge of town. His mother in law-- a fantastic shrew!-- moved in with his wife and does everything she can to ruin their relationship. Meanwhile, a mountain farmer (Dudley or Dud) up on Craven's mountain was plowing a new field when he discovered a coffin; turns out to be his great grandpappy and when he pulls the stake from his skeleton, well, he comes back to life!
Kelly has a way to really make you feel part of the story, or that you know all the characters from way back. Besides Boyd and Dud, we have Caleb, an old Vietnam vet/mountain man, an egotistical preacher and his young, brow beaten wife (who has a thing for horror novels, much to her husband's chagrin), a nosy sheriff and a host of other small town characters.
The vampires here are nothing really new; they must be invited into your home, you cannot see them in a mirror, and they drink their victims dry. A small town setting is also a well used motif, but somehow, Kelly makes it come alive with a dry wit and prose laced with abundant quaint, colloquial phrases that bring this down to earth. Vampires down home style! I suggest reading this with a pint of mule. 4.5 stars!11
Our main protagonist, Boyd, is a thirty something carpenter with an estranged wife and two kids (10 and 7). Three months prior to the start of the story, his wife kicked him out when he came home stinking drunk and now he lives in a shitty single-wide on the edge of town. His mother in law-- a fantastic shrew!-- moved in with his wife and does everything she can to ruin their relationship. Meanwhile, a mountain farmer (Dudley or Dud) up on Craven's mountain was plowing a new field when he discovered a coffin; turns out to be his great grandpappy and when he pulls the stake from his skeleton, well, he comes back to life!
Kelly has a way to really make you feel part of the story, or that you know all the characters from way back. Besides Boyd and Dud, we have Caleb, an old Vietnam vet/mountain man, an egotistical preacher and his young, brow beaten wife (who has a thing for horror novels, much to her husband's chagrin), a nosy sheriff and a host of other small town characters.
The vampires here are nothing really new; they must be invited into your home, you cannot see them in a mirror, and they drink their victims dry. A small town setting is also a well used motif, but somehow, Kelly makes it come alive with a dry wit and prose laced with abundant quaint, colloquial phrases that bring this down to earth. Vampires down home style! I suggest reading this with a pint of mule. 4.5 stars!11
October 31, 2020
This just wasn't my cup of tea. I liked the setting and the unique take on vampires with the shape shifting and the Appalachian mountain man versus vampire but it felt off. The parts with the most tension didn't involve the vampires it involved an over involved in law who was more of a blood sucker than the blood suckers. That was the real horror of this book. Was watching a man whose relationship with his wife crumbles and his kids are slowly dragged along in the pain. That's real horror and it was effective. The vampire portion of the book felt almost like a secondary conflict which was kind of bizarre. Because even though the book is about vampires the relationship is the central conflict that everything else surrounds even the vampires.
Anyway, I liked the characters. I could feel Boyd's frustration and I have to say that one character receiving their comeuppance was one of the most satisfying parts of the book. Like I could read to that part, closed the book and it would have ended right to me. That was my favorite part, I cheered. Some people are overly cruel, and to quote Woodrow Call from Lonesome Dove, "I hate rude behavior in a man. I won't tolerate it." I hold to that philosophy, and I think some people are cruel for the sake of being cruel and there's no need for it. I also enjoyed Caleb. Shocking I know, who'd have thought a guy named Caleb would enjoy a character named Caleb, let alone a mountain man who trails the mountains with his trusty coonhound. Yep that's a character I can get along with.
The prep is what got me. I dont like montages in horror. Seeing the prep for the last stand takes away from the stand off to me. It feels like the horror suffers for it. And it feels like every vampire book has a prep montage so that you know the mains are locked and loaded for battle with the vampires. It's a tired trope for me. I get the significance and the nostalgia in relation to Fright Night and the Lost Boys but it just doesn't work for me anymore. Unless it's a holy hand grenade, I always have time for a holy hand grenade.
By the way some people love the heck out of this book. It is very entertaining, maybe I just wasn't in the right frame of mind to read it. Don't let my review dissuade you from reading this, and as always, I feel richer for the experience.
There it is and there you have it.
Anyway, I liked the characters. I could feel Boyd's frustration and I have to say that one character receiving their comeuppance was one of the most satisfying parts of the book. Like I could read to that part, closed the book and it would have ended right to me. That was my favorite part, I cheered. Some people are overly cruel, and to quote Woodrow Call from Lonesome Dove, "I hate rude behavior in a man. I won't tolerate it." I hold to that philosophy, and I think some people are cruel for the sake of being cruel and there's no need for it. I also enjoyed Caleb. Shocking I know, who'd have thought a guy named Caleb would enjoy a character named Caleb, let alone a mountain man who trails the mountains with his trusty coonhound. Yep that's a character I can get along with.
The prep is what got me. I dont like montages in horror. Seeing the prep for the last stand takes away from the stand off to me. It feels like the horror suffers for it. And it feels like every vampire book has a prep montage so that you know the mains are locked and loaded for battle with the vampires. It's a tired trope for me. I get the significance and the nostalgia in relation to Fright Night and the Lost Boys but it just doesn't work for me anymore. Unless it's a holy hand grenade, I always have time for a holy hand grenade.
By the way some people love the heck out of this book. It is very entertaining, maybe I just wasn't in the right frame of mind to read it. Don't let my review dissuade you from reading this, and as always, I feel richer for the experience.
There it is and there you have it.
February 12, 2014
I don't particularly care for either the south or the vampires, but this book was just so much fun to read. I've read Fear by Kelly before long time ago and I remembered liking it and this book lived up to the memory's expectations. Josiah Craven is the Dracula of backwoods Tennessee. Having been awaken from his involuntary 100 or so year long nap, he proceeds to gather his descendants, his eponymous blood kin, so that they can all become one happy blood imbibing family. Only an alcoholic unemployed carpenter named Boyd stands in his way along with his motley crew of equally southern fried yet surprisingly engaging and kickass characters. Kelly knows a thing or two about pacing, this book sped by, 382 pages in 4 hours. Great ending too. Mindless but very entertaining. Recommended.
January 18, 2020
5.0 stars! One of the greatest vampire novels ever!
Old fashion vampiric tale. Just the way I like it. Scarey, non-stop dread, terror! Who cares if Kelly doesn't add any newfangled angle to vamipire mthyology. The man can tell a story that simaltaneosly startles, alarms, and petrifies you.
Everyman carpenter Boyd fast tracks towards a divorce from a wife and children he loves. Plus, one of the most annoying, intrusive, evil mother-in-laws ever writ in horror literature. In a world before cellphones in a small town bordering the Smoky Mountains. We got all the ingredients for a really scary novel.
Southern colloquialisms like "Someone knocked the butter of his biscuit." pepper the prose.
Kelly masterfully writes relationships gone bad, alcoholism, spousal abuse, social shunning, and unemployment horror. Then, Kelly seamlessly weaves that series of ghastly emotional threads into supernatural cords of blue collar horror. Relentlessly terrifying, Kelly makes all the right choices, avoids cheese, and sustains dread till the end!
Essential addition to any serious horror or vampire book collection.
Old fashion vampiric tale. Just the way I like it. Scarey, non-stop dread, terror! Who cares if Kelly doesn't add any newfangled angle to vamipire mthyology. The man can tell a story that simaltaneosly startles, alarms, and petrifies you.
Everyman carpenter Boyd fast tracks towards a divorce from a wife and children he loves. Plus, one of the most annoying, intrusive, evil mother-in-laws ever writ in horror literature. In a world before cellphones in a small town bordering the Smoky Mountains. We got all the ingredients for a really scary novel.
Southern colloquialisms like "Someone knocked the butter of his biscuit." pepper the prose.
Kelly masterfully writes relationships gone bad, alcoholism, spousal abuse, social shunning, and unemployment horror. Then, Kelly seamlessly weaves that series of ghastly emotional threads into supernatural cords of blue collar horror. Relentlessly terrifying, Kelly makes all the right choices, avoids cheese, and sustains dread till the end!
Essential addition to any serious horror or vampire book collection.
June 5, 2021
I first read Blood Kin back in the 90s. When I saw this classic horror had been re-released with a new bonus prequel story at the end I could not pass up a chance to revisit Granddaddy Craven and the hell he brought down on Craven's Mountain.
More than a blood and guts vampire story, there are characters to love, and to hate, and to hope for. There is a family in crisis that I hoped would mend. There is a meddlesome mother-in-law that I wanted to smack! Family bonds and friendships are in peril along with souls.
Josiah Craven was not a good person in life, and being undead did nothing to improve that. When his wife put him in the ground nearly 100 years ago she thought that was the end of it, and for her generation it was. Now all these years later, Dud Craven has unwittingly unearthed Josiah's grave. Josiah is not just starving for blood, he is hungry for power and plans to preside over a congregation of the undead, starting with his family.
Blood Kin is edge of your seat suspense and fang-tastic fun. Over 20 years ago I said it was one of the best vampire novels I had ever read, and it still is, to this day.
5 out of 5 stars
I received a complimentary copy for review.
More than a blood and guts vampire story, there are characters to love, and to hate, and to hope for. There is a family in crisis that I hoped would mend. There is a meddlesome mother-in-law that I wanted to smack! Family bonds and friendships are in peril along with souls.
Josiah Craven was not a good person in life, and being undead did nothing to improve that. When his wife put him in the ground nearly 100 years ago she thought that was the end of it, and for her generation it was. Now all these years later, Dud Craven has unwittingly unearthed Josiah's grave. Josiah is not just starving for blood, he is hungry for power and plans to preside over a congregation of the undead, starting with his family.
Blood Kin is edge of your seat suspense and fang-tastic fun. Over 20 years ago I said it was one of the best vampire novels I had ever read, and it still is, to this day.
5 out of 5 stars
I received a complimentary copy for review.
July 30, 2021
This was proper old time, small town horror. Really great set of characters and a story that built tension before exploding into a frenzy around the 70% mark. I enjoyed this book and will look for more by this author.
June 11, 2021
“The child reached for the stake in her fathers heart.
‘No Mary,’ said Elizabeth Craven, gently pushing her hand aside.”
Those opening lines of the prologue are how you start a book. You immediately need to find out what is happening.
Blood Kin affected me more than I thought possible for what I assumed was just another vampire book. I became attached to these characters very quickly and I was cursing out the author when even the hint of a threat occurred and I found myself muttering ���you better not, you better not…”
This was one of those books that I didn’t want to end but I couldn’t wait to find out what happens. I was concerned for people, they were real to me. I wanted them to hurry up and do what they needed to before the sun when down and would worry that they weren’t going to have enough time; in other words, I was totally invested.
This reviewer is in a Ronald Kelly phase, I just can’t give enough stars to these books and Blood Kin is no exception. I love the characters, I love the setting, I love the tension, I love the friendship, I love the heartache, but mostly I love the compelling story.
‘No Mary,’ said Elizabeth Craven, gently pushing her hand aside.”
Those opening lines of the prologue are how you start a book. You immediately need to find out what is happening.
Blood Kin affected me more than I thought possible for what I assumed was just another vampire book. I became attached to these characters very quickly and I was cursing out the author when even the hint of a threat occurred and I found myself muttering ���you better not, you better not…”
This was one of those books that I didn’t want to end but I couldn’t wait to find out what happens. I was concerned for people, they were real to me. I wanted them to hurry up and do what they needed to before the sun when down and would worry that they weren’t going to have enough time; in other words, I was totally invested.
This reviewer is in a Ronald Kelly phase, I just can’t give enough stars to these books and Blood Kin is no exception. I love the characters, I love the setting, I love the tension, I love the friendship, I love the heartache, but mostly I love the compelling story.
August 6, 2017
Another entertaining take of Southern horror from Ronald Kelly!
August 26, 2021
This was great! I thoroughly enjoyed Ronald Kelly's writing style. Proper old school horror, with all of the mayhem endorsed by its great setting and a solid cast of characters, each of whom display nicely crafted personas while facing up to real world stife - and that's before Dud Craven unwittingly unearths the remains of the long deceased Josiah Craven. In life, Josiah was a bad, bad man, and things are about to get sticky - and colored red.
May 24, 2021
Grandpa Craven has risen from the grave, unleashing his savage appetite for blood. After all, he is a vampire! In a small town in Tennessee, an ancient vampire has been awakened. Unexplained deaths are happening. People found dead without explanation. Can this evil creature of the night be stopped? Read the book to find out.
Once again, Ronald Kelly writes a page turner about one of my favorite subgenres, vampires! I love vampire stories, movies, you name it. What I liked about this particular vampire tale is that it has a Southern twist. I love how Kelly mixes small town horror in his stories. His character development is always stellar and his Southern drawal sucks you in. Good old Southern fried horror in a way only Ronald Kelly can write it. Kick off your shoes, serve yourself some sweet tea or a little moonshine and read this gem. If you dig vampires like I do, this will quench your blood thirsty appetite. 5 out 5 bloody fangs 🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸
Once again, Ronald Kelly writes a page turner about one of my favorite subgenres, vampires! I love vampire stories, movies, you name it. What I liked about this particular vampire tale is that it has a Southern twist. I love how Kelly mixes small town horror in his stories. His character development is always stellar and his Southern drawal sucks you in. Good old Southern fried horror in a way only Ronald Kelly can write it. Kick off your shoes, serve yourself some sweet tea or a little moonshine and read this gem. If you dig vampires like I do, this will quench your blood thirsty appetite. 5 out 5 bloody fangs 🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸
April 18, 2016
Dudley Craven was plowing some land that he had never used before. Dud's plow struck this wooden object that was buried in the ground. He tried to dig around the object with his hands but it was to big. Dud, went back to the farmhouse to get a shovel. While Dud was digging around the object, it started to look like a coffin. The first thought that ran through his head was, maybe there a valuables hidden somewhere in the coffin. Dud could finally open the coffin and what he saw took him by surprise. It was a skeleton with a stake driven through it's body. Dud heard voices in his head, to pull the stake out of skeleton. At first Dud had a problem but the second time around he got it out. All of a sudden the skeleton had flesh growing on it. Once the transformation took place, the body came alive and spoke to Dud. The creature said that his name is Josiah Craven from Tennessee. He also said that he was Dud grandfather. Josiah, told Dud that his wife had him buried in an unmarked grave on Craven Mountain, about 100 years ago. The undead were about to go on a killing spree in the town of Green Hollow. Josiah, wanted to start his own congregation of the vampires . The congregation, is to consist of family members from Tennessee. Can Josiah and his followers be stop? Kelly does a good job in the development of his characters for this type of story. Kelly is a good writer and a very good storyteller. I plan to checkout other works by this author. I highly recommend this book.
June 17, 2021
I Just Couldn't Sink My Teeth into this One...
No spoilers. 3 stars. I try to avoid vampire and werewolf stories because they're usually all the same story with only character and location changes... this one was no different...
Loner Dudley Craven is plowing the back side of his ancestral mountain when he unearths an old coffin. Bet you can't guess what he found inside when he opened it up...
That's right! Grandpappy Craven who died nearly 100 years ago...
Well, afterward the usual murder and mayhem ensues... Yada, yada, yada...
I won't bother with any more of the plot because you could write the script yourself. I know you can if you've watched Svengoolie on Saturday nights...
I just couldn't sink my teeth into this one...
I gave this novel 3 stars because it wasn't the worst story I've ever read but it certainly wasn't very original. The first half was kinda interesting but the last half was so mundane that I had a hard time finishing.
I recommend reading IN THE VALLEY OF THE SUN by Andy Davidson for a more original vampire tale.
No spoilers. 3 stars. I try to avoid vampire and werewolf stories because they're usually all the same story with only character and location changes... this one was no different...
Loner Dudley Craven is plowing the back side of his ancestral mountain when he unearths an old coffin. Bet you can't guess what he found inside when he opened it up...
That's right! Grandpappy Craven who died nearly 100 years ago...
Well, afterward the usual murder and mayhem ensues... Yada, yada, yada...
I won't bother with any more of the plot because you could write the script yourself. I know you can if you've watched Svengoolie on Saturday nights...
I just couldn't sink my teeth into this one...
I gave this novel 3 stars because it wasn't the worst story I've ever read but it certainly wasn't very original. The first half was kinda interesting but the last half was so mundane that I had a hard time finishing.
I recommend reading IN THE VALLEY OF THE SUN by Andy Davidson for a more original vampire tale.
June 22, 2021
I'm really enjoying Kelly's writing and Blood Kin was no exception. Blood Kin is what you need if you're after old school Southern vampire horror with lots of gore. If you enjoy these elements then you're going to have a good time!
I loved that this felt like more of a traditional vampire story. There were no strange spins or takes on vampires and it felt I was reading a great 80s horror film. There were certainly unique aspects to this story though, so don't interpret my words as it being boring. It also sets a great pace throughout and there was plenty of suspense.
The story grabs you from the start when it opens to Dud Craven stumbling upon his long lost relative Papa Josiah Craven who has been taking an extended slumber with a stake in his chest. No big deal. Being the good relative he is Dud removes the stake and discovers there may have been good reason for it being there in the first place. Dud as a character had me wondering if there was a brain or any common sense in that head of his. At least it was entertaining!
I'll keep this short and sweet but putting it simply if you enjoy traditional vampire stories such as Salems Lot then you'll love this one. Bonus enjoyment if you read it in Autumn.
Thank you to the author for providing me with a copy of Blood Kin in exchange for an honest review.
I loved that this felt like more of a traditional vampire story. There were no strange spins or takes on vampires and it felt I was reading a great 80s horror film. There were certainly unique aspects to this story though, so don't interpret my words as it being boring. It also sets a great pace throughout and there was plenty of suspense.
The story grabs you from the start when it opens to Dud Craven stumbling upon his long lost relative Papa Josiah Craven who has been taking an extended slumber with a stake in his chest. No big deal. Being the good relative he is Dud removes the stake and discovers there may have been good reason for it being there in the first place. Dud as a character had me wondering if there was a brain or any common sense in that head of his. At least it was entertaining!
I'll keep this short and sweet but putting it simply if you enjoy traditional vampire stories such as Salems Lot then you'll love this one. Bonus enjoyment if you read it in Autumn.
Thank you to the author for providing me with a copy of Blood Kin in exchange for an honest review.
June 26, 2015
I really enjoyed this story. It was exciting, fast-paced, and deceptively simple in that it didn't present a misunderstood or conflicted vampire (a format which Kelly denounces in his delightful "Gimme That Old-Time Nosferatu! The Writing of Blood Kin"). This is a black and white, good versus evil tale of a town under siege by a vampire in the classic mold.
It did get clumsy in places. Twice, the author simply stated what a character was feeling and didn't bother to show the reader; it was at this point that the book did seem to be the "juvenile fiction" Kelly's publisher at Zebra labeled his books as. In chapter 42, Kelly loses track of his characters and has Boyd pointing his gun at Tammy, when the confrontation is between Boyd and Joan. And he uses the word "foul" instead of "fowl" in the bonus short story (which is "The Wanderer of Twilight Mountain" and not "Killing Time" as stated in the synopsis of this edition--my bad, and now I can't correct it.)
Kelly's southern setting for this gruesome tale is terrifically atmospheric and reminded me of the trashy horror movies from the 80s I used to watch on late night cable.
It did get clumsy in places. Twice, the author simply stated what a character was feeling and didn't bother to show the reader; it was at this point that the book did seem to be the "juvenile fiction" Kelly's publisher at Zebra labeled his books as. In chapter 42, Kelly loses track of his characters and has Boyd pointing his gun at Tammy, when the confrontation is between Boyd and Joan. And he uses the word "foul" instead of "fowl" in the bonus short story (which is "The Wanderer of Twilight Mountain" and not "Killing Time" as stated in the synopsis of this edition--my bad, and now I can't correct it.)
Kelly's southern setting for this gruesome tale is terrifically atmospheric and reminded me of the trashy horror movies from the 80s I used to watch on late night cable.
November 8, 2022
All around awesome book. Straight up vampire story. 100% authentic. The entire cast of characters is great and the pace moves perfectly. Even comes with a great 30+ page backstory after the epilogue.
October 7, 2020
I read Fear by this author many many many moons ago and was impressed with how original and scary the story was. I don't know why it has taken so long for the follow up by Mr. Kelly but this one has been recommended to me lately by multiple people singing its praises. Blood Kin starts out strongly, and without giving too much away, I liked how the story is not just focused on one vampire and the clan he is growing but multiple vampires with different agendas. I thought some monster showdown was in the works and there was going to be some kind of apocalyptic battle between the three factions (vampire, vampire, human) but the author goes a different direction and the three groups never really meet. A lot of suspension of disbelief with many of the people in town going from not believing in vampires to being like, "okay, there's vampires in our town? How do we kill them?" but I gotta tell you the book is well written, the story flows and is very fast paced, and I absolutely LOVED the epilogue and where the author takes things in the end.
May 18, 2011
Now, the four star rating I am giving this book is directed at people who know what they are getting into. Its a vampire tale set in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee (which bear no resemblance to the rocky snow crested peaks on the Zebra Paperback Original's cover). It was my first Ronald Kelly book and I can say that I enjoyed it very much and it took me by surprise. Kelly has a very laconic, easy going writing style, but his laid back delivery makes the excellent characterizations and heavy emotional impacts that much more powerful. He's got an everyman's voice, and it makes for a great read that resonates well. There are some ludicrous plot twists here and there, but like I said, my 4 star rating is meant for people that know they aren't about to get into some classical fiction here. This is entertaining stuff, but Kelly's great characters and powerful emotional content makes this book a winner. I look forward to reading more of his work. Highly recommended.
July 7, 2021
I have been on a vampire kick this year, so I was ecstatic when Ronald Kelly asked me to read his rerelease of Blood Kin. Who doesn't love a great old school vampire story where villains are actually villains and you want to fight them for killing off great characters?
Set in Tennessee, men of God turn into creatures of the night. Seriously, what's not to love? This book is just the thing I needed to get me back into the reading groove—fast paced and gripping.
Set in Tennessee, men of God turn into creatures of the night. Seriously, what's not to love? This book is just the thing I needed to get me back into the reading groove—fast paced and gripping.
June 4, 2021
Blood Kin by Ronald Kelly is a fast-paced, blood-boiling, and terrifying tale that tests how far individuals will go to ensure their family sticks together, for better or for worse.
Full disclosure: I was given a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my rating in any way.
When this story begins, we learn that a man named Josiah Craven has passed away. The cause is said to have been an accident as he fell and empaled himself through the heart on a bean pole. His wife seems cold at first as we learn that she doesn’t want to have a service, that she wants to bury him on a mountain, in the dead of night. Even with the townsfolk gossiping, she sticks to her plan; the man is buried without any ceremony or marker, and life goes on.
Years later, while a descendant from Josiah Craven, named Dudley Craven, is tilling his property in order to plant more crops, he gets caught up on the edge of something in the ground. Thinking it could be valuables that were buried, he digs the box out. He’s shocked when he sees that it’s a coffin and that the bones inside have a bean pole through its ribcage. He thinks back to stories he had heard about his Grandpappy Craven, but isn’t convinced. His curiosity gets the best of him and he decides to try pulling the wood out…
More here: https://www.ericarobynreads.com/book-...
Full disclosure: I was given a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my rating in any way.
When this story begins, we learn that a man named Josiah Craven has passed away. The cause is said to have been an accident as he fell and empaled himself through the heart on a bean pole. His wife seems cold at first as we learn that she doesn’t want to have a service, that she wants to bury him on a mountain, in the dead of night. Even with the townsfolk gossiping, she sticks to her plan; the man is buried without any ceremony or marker, and life goes on.
Years later, while a descendant from Josiah Craven, named Dudley Craven, is tilling his property in order to plant more crops, he gets caught up on the edge of something in the ground. Thinking it could be valuables that were buried, he digs the box out. He’s shocked when he sees that it’s a coffin and that the bones inside have a bean pole through its ribcage. He thinks back to stories he had heard about his Grandpappy Craven, but isn’t convinced. His curiosity gets the best of him and he decides to try pulling the wood out…
More here: https://www.ericarobynreads.com/book-...
April 2, 2024
Fun pulpy 90s vampiric horror set against a steamy Appalachian backdrop. As vampire stories go it’s pretty standard stuff, but there was enough twists and turns and likeable characters for me to love it, and the concept of a vampire trying to create his own infernal church was pretty badass. Wasn’t my favorite RK book but still a blast. 4 ashwood bullets out of 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
June 6, 2020
I usually do not read vampire books but everything I have read so far of Ronald Kelly’s book. This did not disappoint me at all. It’s a must read. I never saw the ending coming.
July 12, 2021
This book was FANG-tastic!!!
I’m no stranger to Mr. Kelly’s works, reading two novels (Fear and Father’s Little Helper aka Twelve Gauge) and a short story collection (Mister Glow Bones and other Halloween Tales) prior to Blood Kin, and I’m just as impressed by this book then I was with his other stuff I read.
Blood Kin is an amazing vampire story which made me fall in love with its characters, intrigue me with it’s fun plot, and packed an action filled ending that I won’t forget any time soon!
If I were ranking RK’s horror books i’ve read so far, this would definitely be in second place, just behind my favorite book-of-all-time Fear.
So yeah, this was a great story!!! I think if you decide to pick it up, just know you are starting a phenomenal read!
Five stars for this one, and it was well earned!!!
I’m no stranger to Mr. Kelly’s works, reading two novels (Fear and Father’s Little Helper aka Twelve Gauge) and a short story collection (Mister Glow Bones and other Halloween Tales) prior to Blood Kin, and I’m just as impressed by this book then I was with his other stuff I read.
Blood Kin is an amazing vampire story which made me fall in love with its characters, intrigue me with it’s fun plot, and packed an action filled ending that I won’t forget any time soon!
If I were ranking RK’s horror books i’ve read so far, this would definitely be in second place, just behind my favorite book-of-all-time Fear.
So yeah, this was a great story!!! I think if you decide to pick it up, just know you are starting a phenomenal read!
Five stars for this one, and it was well earned!!!
April 6, 2023
Ronald Kelly’s Blood Kin (1996) is an 80s-style vampire romp complete with uncomplicated bloodsuckers who relish their power, stakes galore, and, of course, flashbacks from Vietnam. For a Gen X’er like me, it’s a nostalgic comfort read. Part of this pleasure comes from the novel’s self-consciousness. Kelly makes vampire fiction itself part of the story and represents what happens to those who do not appreciate the genre. As a reader, it feels good to have the correctness of my literary tastes confirmed. More than just a retread, though, Blood Kin revitalizes the vampire tradition by situating it in the Appalachian mountains. The curses of the characters (“Shitfire!”), prevalence of half-ton trucks, and abundance of guns set this tale apart from those based in Europe or the American Northeast.
While plowing his field, Dudley Craven accidentally unearths the casket of his great-grandfather, itinerant preacher Josiah Craven. When he removes the bean pole lodged in the Reverend’s heart, he unleashes an evil that had been contained since 1898, when Elizabeth Craven staked her spouse, ending his reign of terror. Now, Grandpappy Craven seeks to gather all of his kin in a church of the dead. Standing in his way is a motley crew of locals: Boyd Anderson, an alcoholic carpenter; Tammy Craven, a pastor’s wife and reader of horror; and Caleb Vanleer, a mountain man and Vietnam vet. Will the three overcome their foibles in time to stop Craven’s plan?
Though Boyd is the novel’s central figure, my favorite character is Tammy. An emotionally abused pastor’s wife, Tammy must hide her horror novels under the mattress or face the ridicule of her husband, Reverend Wendall Craven. But when her husband is bitten by Josiah and begins his own bloody evangelism, Tammy is the only one in town who has the expertise to stop him. With her big glasses, mousy brown hair, and secret reading habits, she comes from a long line of socially awkward characters whose knowledge of vampire lore ultimately saves the day: Mark Petrie in Salem’s Lot (1975), Charlie Brewster in Fright Night (1985), and the Frog brothers in The Lost Boys (1987). This list could go on and on.
Casting Tammy as a successor to these characters, Kelly transforms her cheap paperback into an almost oracular text that not only prepares her in a general way to fight vampires–use crosses, stakes, holy water, etc.--but also demonstrates a predictive power that borders on the magical. It offers a verbatim account of what is to come. Austin, a character in her novel, runs from a foe whom, he mistakenly believes, is following him on foot. As he looks over his shoulder, a winged and manically laughing vampire attacks unexpectedly from above. This fiction within a fiction is enacted in the next chapter when Dudley Craven runs from Josiah only to see the minister soaring overhead. In Blood Kin, life imitates art. Initially dismissed as low-brow trash, Tammy’s vampire novel is later exonerated as a faithful representation of reality.
The best kind of vampire novels are metanarratives–that is, they are stories about the importance of vampire stories–and Ronald Kelly’s Blood Kin is at the top of this class. It dramatizes the merit of a genre that is often belittled as childish fantasy and celebrates the wisdom of those who enjoy it. In this way, the novel made me feel good for indulging my love of vampire fiction and reminded me that I am part of a community of horror lovers. Reading Blood Kin is like going to a screening of The Rocky Horror Picture Show: Your knowledge of the cultural cues is what makes it so much fun!
While plowing his field, Dudley Craven accidentally unearths the casket of his great-grandfather, itinerant preacher Josiah Craven. When he removes the bean pole lodged in the Reverend’s heart, he unleashes an evil that had been contained since 1898, when Elizabeth Craven staked her spouse, ending his reign of terror. Now, Grandpappy Craven seeks to gather all of his kin in a church of the dead. Standing in his way is a motley crew of locals: Boyd Anderson, an alcoholic carpenter; Tammy Craven, a pastor’s wife and reader of horror; and Caleb Vanleer, a mountain man and Vietnam vet. Will the three overcome their foibles in time to stop Craven’s plan?
Though Boyd is the novel’s central figure, my favorite character is Tammy. An emotionally abused pastor’s wife, Tammy must hide her horror novels under the mattress or face the ridicule of her husband, Reverend Wendall Craven. But when her husband is bitten by Josiah and begins his own bloody evangelism, Tammy is the only one in town who has the expertise to stop him. With her big glasses, mousy brown hair, and secret reading habits, she comes from a long line of socially awkward characters whose knowledge of vampire lore ultimately saves the day: Mark Petrie in Salem’s Lot (1975), Charlie Brewster in Fright Night (1985), and the Frog brothers in The Lost Boys (1987). This list could go on and on.
Casting Tammy as a successor to these characters, Kelly transforms her cheap paperback into an almost oracular text that not only prepares her in a general way to fight vampires–use crosses, stakes, holy water, etc.--but also demonstrates a predictive power that borders on the magical. It offers a verbatim account of what is to come. Austin, a character in her novel, runs from a foe whom, he mistakenly believes, is following him on foot. As he looks over his shoulder, a winged and manically laughing vampire attacks unexpectedly from above. This fiction within a fiction is enacted in the next chapter when Dudley Craven runs from Josiah only to see the minister soaring overhead. In Blood Kin, life imitates art. Initially dismissed as low-brow trash, Tammy’s vampire novel is later exonerated as a faithful representation of reality.
The best kind of vampire novels are metanarratives–that is, they are stories about the importance of vampire stories–and Ronald Kelly’s Blood Kin is at the top of this class. It dramatizes the merit of a genre that is often belittled as childish fantasy and celebrates the wisdom of those who enjoy it. In this way, the novel made me feel good for indulging my love of vampire fiction and reminded me that I am part of a community of horror lovers. Reading Blood Kin is like going to a screening of The Rocky Horror Picture Show: Your knowledge of the cultural cues is what makes it so much fun!
November 13, 2023
First a disclaimer - I'm not really a fan of the vampire genre - finding it predictable and repetitive - but I must say that I enjoyed "Blood Kin" quite a bit. I picked the book up on a whim at our used bookstore because I liked the cover and because I had heard good things about the writing of Ronald Kelly.
The book is about the Craven clan from the Smoky Mountain region of Tennessee. The story begins with the burial of Craven patriarch, Josiah Craven, a well-known, brim-and-firestone pastor who just so happens to be a vampire, or so his wife believes when she has him staked and buried far out in one of the Craven fields. End of story, right? Not so fast... Almost one hundred years later, poor, simple, Dud Craven is plowing one of his fields and strikes something very solid with his plow. Of course, it's the coffin of his great-grandfather, Josiah Craven. Dud can't resist popping open the lid to see who's in there and quickly sees a staked corpse. Not completely understanding the reason for the impalement, Dud pulls the wooden stake out of the corpse, and then, all hell breaks loose and we've got a story.
Once Josiah is revived and active again, he sets out to "free" as many of his descendants as possible by turning them into vampires. Dud is spared that and plays the role of Renfield in the story. The little town of Green Hollow is quickly turned upside down by several disappearances of Cravens.
Protagonist Boyd Andrews is married to a Craven girl, Joan, and has two wonderful children with her. Their marriage is on the rocks though because Boyd has had an issue with drinking and keeping jobs. Boyd and Joan have separated and appear to be heading toward divorce, especially if Joan's mother, Blanche, has anything to do with it. When Joan, Blanche, and the two children become part of the missing in Green Hollow, Boyd is beside himself and begins to look for answers.
Without giving away any more of the details of the plot, let me just say that the book has many exciting moments, some gore, and a satisfying ending. If you're a fan of this genre, you'll enjoy "Blood Kin". Kelly is a good storyteller who's capable of keeping readers enthralled.
The book is about the Craven clan from the Smoky Mountain region of Tennessee. The story begins with the burial of Craven patriarch, Josiah Craven, a well-known, brim-and-firestone pastor who just so happens to be a vampire, or so his wife believes when she has him staked and buried far out in one of the Craven fields. End of story, right? Not so fast... Almost one hundred years later, poor, simple, Dud Craven is plowing one of his fields and strikes something very solid with his plow. Of course, it's the coffin of his great-grandfather, Josiah Craven. Dud can't resist popping open the lid to see who's in there and quickly sees a staked corpse. Not completely understanding the reason for the impalement, Dud pulls the wooden stake out of the corpse, and then, all hell breaks loose and we've got a story.
Once Josiah is revived and active again, he sets out to "free" as many of his descendants as possible by turning them into vampires. Dud is spared that and plays the role of Renfield in the story. The little town of Green Hollow is quickly turned upside down by several disappearances of Cravens.
Protagonist Boyd Andrews is married to a Craven girl, Joan, and has two wonderful children with her. Their marriage is on the rocks though because Boyd has had an issue with drinking and keeping jobs. Boyd and Joan have separated and appear to be heading toward divorce, especially if Joan's mother, Blanche, has anything to do with it. When Joan, Blanche, and the two children become part of the missing in Green Hollow, Boyd is beside himself and begins to look for answers.
Without giving away any more of the details of the plot, let me just say that the book has many exciting moments, some gore, and a satisfying ending. If you're a fan of this genre, you'll enjoy "Blood Kin". Kelly is a good storyteller who's capable of keeping readers enthralled.
May 28, 2021
Over a century ago, Josiah Craven was buried in an unmarked grave, with a stake through his heart. Now, his great grandson has mistakenly disturbed his resting place. Josiah is back from the dead, and wants blood.
Green Hollow is about to relive the horrors of the past. Josiah has come back to gather his blood kin, and give them the gift of immortality, whether they want it or not...
This is my first full length novel by Ronald Kelly. I have loved his short story compilations, which give just enough of a scare but leave you wanting more. In Blood Kin, I have finally been given more then enough of the story to satisfy.
Blood Kin is a vampire story set in the mountains of Tennessee. The characters are not the beautiful and seductive heroines or villians found in more recent vampire tales. Kelly has given us the Craven family, who are a gritty backwoods family that has been around for generations. They cuss, drink moonshine and don't talk about the horrors attached to their name.
Though the vampires are a bit unconventional, everything else is stereotypical. Wooden stakes, crosses, and fire are all used to bring them down, as seen in the last few chapters. It all ends with blood and bodies, a battle of good against evil.
I really enjoyed this book, and Ronald Kelly's unique take on vampires. If it were to be made into a Wes Craven movie it could be fantastic on screen. Something about hillbilly vampires is quite terrifying.
Green Hollow is about to relive the horrors of the past. Josiah has come back to gather his blood kin, and give them the gift of immortality, whether they want it or not...
This is my first full length novel by Ronald Kelly. I have loved his short story compilations, which give just enough of a scare but leave you wanting more. In Blood Kin, I have finally been given more then enough of the story to satisfy.
Blood Kin is a vampire story set in the mountains of Tennessee. The characters are not the beautiful and seductive heroines or villians found in more recent vampire tales. Kelly has given us the Craven family, who are a gritty backwoods family that has been around for generations. They cuss, drink moonshine and don't talk about the horrors attached to their name.
Though the vampires are a bit unconventional, everything else is stereotypical. Wooden stakes, crosses, and fire are all used to bring them down, as seen in the last few chapters. It all ends with blood and bodies, a battle of good against evil.
I really enjoyed this book, and Ronald Kelly's unique take on vampires. If it were to be made into a Wes Craven movie it could be fantastic on screen. Something about hillbilly vampires is quite terrifying.
May 28, 2022
It feels like a lot of vampire literature focuses around the immortal loner. An understandable trope, since part and parcel of being a vampire is outliving anyone you love. Ronald Kelly's Blood Kin subverts this in an interesting fashion, making Blood Kin every bit as much a southern gothic tale about family relations as it is a vampire novel.
Don't get me wrong, Kelly never skimps on the blood and guts, but the family element gives the tale a richer layer to hold all the pieces together. Grandpappy Craven is painted so vividly, he almost jumps off the page and the struggles of one Boyd Andrews suck the reader directly into the pages. As ever, the Tennessee landscape comes to life, lending an air of lived-in authenticity to the background of any Ronald Kelly story. You'll feel oppressed by the humidity and swat the 'skeeters away every time you go to turn a page.
Blood Kin presents an unholy revival of what a vampire story can be, paying homage to, but not simply retreading all the authors who've come before.
Don't get me wrong, Kelly never skimps on the blood and guts, but the family element gives the tale a richer layer to hold all the pieces together. Grandpappy Craven is painted so vividly, he almost jumps off the page and the struggles of one Boyd Andrews suck the reader directly into the pages. As ever, the Tennessee landscape comes to life, lending an air of lived-in authenticity to the background of any Ronald Kelly story. You'll feel oppressed by the humidity and swat the 'skeeters away every time you go to turn a page.
Blood Kin presents an unholy revival of what a vampire story can be, paying homage to, but not simply retreading all the authors who've come before.
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