C. Vonzale Lewis's Lineage is a paranormal thriller infused with magic. In the first book in the Blood and Sacrifice Chronicles series, the story opens with Nicole Fontane standing outside the Tribec Insurance office building. Nicole needs a job, and she has run out of options since she needs to pay rent in two weeks. When she enters the building, she notes the Egyptian decor, the high level of security, and the odd smell of blood. During her interview, Mrs. Delaporte seemed evasive about answering her questions. She meets with Dr. Ronald Stewart, who happens to be one of the owners of Tribec Insurance. When she goes into training, she runs into one of her estranged friends, Marta, and they rekindle their friendship. Nicole’s father practices Earth magic, and she notices that the training room arrangement is a power circle used to channel energy. After being frightened by the feeling of being watched and Marta’s sudden disappearance, Nicole is desperate for answers but is afraid of what she may find.

Lineage is a chilling story. C. Vonzale Lewis did an effective job of developing a story with a well-crafted plot. Along with Nicole, I was frightened by some of the things she encountered. I felt bad about how she treated her neighbor Wade, especially when it seemed he was just looking out for her well-being. She had built her life on indulging her vices with alcohol, promiscuity, and using an offensive attitude toward authority figures. I would have followed my intuition that something was severely wrong if I had smelled blood when walking into a building before an interview. I also felt that Dr. Stewart’s willingness to over-explain his answers to Nicole should have told her to stay away from him. The suspense in the book builds in intensity, and I found I couldn’t pry myself away from the story. I recommend to anyone that likes a paranormal thriller infused with magic to read Lineage. I had to check my locks and keep a light on after reading this book, and the open ending definitely leaves the door ajar for anything to happen in the sequel.

Lineage is the first book in The Blood and Sacrifice Chronicles by C. Vonzale Lewis. An urban fantasy that will keep you up at night, the story follows Nicole Fontane. She has little luck keeping out of trouble, but she tries her best. She can’t hold a job, and she refuses to work for her father at the apothecary shop. While her father is happy using his Earth Magick, she isn’t, and Nicole tries her best to avoid her magick at all costs. However, that isn’t easy as magick is as common as breathing on Tulare Island. Broke and with no prospects, Nicole reluctantly accepts a job at Tribec Insurance run by the Stewart Family. However, before long, she finds out that the Stewart family has a secret that can destroy the whole community living on Tulare Island. The only way to stop them is by practicing her magick, joining a vigilante team, and running against time. Easy, right?

Wow! The action is intense in Lineage, and the narrative style is perfect. Urban fantasies can be a tad bit boring, but not this one. The pace is fast, the language used is engaging, and the descriptions are on point. I love how Nicole is depicted. She is independent, strong, and level-headed. Her journey of accepting her magick, mastering it, and then using it is believable as well as relatable. Nicole is unapologetic, opinionated, and very much a woman that we all have encountered and admired in our lives. The situation regarding the Stewart family and their illegal activities drives the story forward. Yet, author C. Vonzale Lewis never takes the attention away from Nicole and her journey of self-discovery. All of this is accompanied by suspense, action, and intense drama to make it even better.