When Julia Parker feels a terrifying bloodlust in the woods and is saved by a mysterious, super‑strong stranger, she must face monsters, lost friends, and a psychic’s chilling prophecy that may demand the rescuer’s life. The Talisman series is a clean Young-Adult Paranormal Romance, and fans of Twilight and Vampire Diaries will enjoy this series.
Title: Talisman
Author: Brenda Pandos
Genres: Fantasy > Paranormal > Vampires
Read Format: Kindle Edition
Total Pages: 1,334
Reading Date: 20th February 2026 – 04th March 2026
The reading order – How to Read the Talisman Series by Brenda Pandos
- 1 The Emerald Talisman
- 2 The Sapphire Talisman
- 3 The Onyx Talisman
- 3.5 Out for Blood
- 4 Blood Wars
The Emerald Talisman
To be normal, sixteen-year-old Julia Parker would shed her empathic gift in a second. Life has been difficult since her mother’s mysterious disappearance ten years earlier – an event she witnessed, but can’t remember. Julia’s situation becomes more complicated after a near-death experience from a bloodthirsty stalker.
As high school students go missing, it is clear there is a connection to her own experience–past and present. Someone has to stop the madness, and a chance encounter with a creepy psychic foretells that only Julia is the key to stopping the madness, but it may require the life of the one she loves.
My thoughts…
Sixteen‑year‑old Julia Parker can feel the emotions of everyone around her. An ability she would gladly give up if she could. But the events of that fateful night, when she nearly died, prove that her gift is useful to a certain extent. It acts like a personal radar, alerting her to danger nearby.
The story is told in first person from Julia’s perspective, which makes it easy to follow. The opening is strong; it hooked me immediately and kept me reading as I tried to piece together what led to that dramatic moment.
At first, I really liked the Julia we met in the early chapters. She seems mature, works part‑time even though her father earns good money, and stands her ground when he wants her to quit.
But that’s where my admiration ends. The rest of the story focuses on Julia’s obsession with her mysterious saviour, and it becomes a bit ridiculous. Inhaling her tattered shirt because it still carries his scent? That’s just gross, girl, you’ve only met him once! 😅
I suppose the mystery surrounding Nicholas, combined with the overwhelming calm she felt when he rescued her, is what draws her in. Still, the book never explains why Julia has this special ability to feel other people’s emotions, and that’s something I hope will be explored later.
For that reason, I’ll keep reading the next book to see how the story unfolds. I’m also curious about Enigma, the shapeshifting cat. Is she on Julia’s side, or is she a villain? And what about Alora? What exactly is her connection to Nicholas?
The Sapphire Talisman
With the local vampire coven decimated, Julia and Nicholas try to begin a somewhat normal life together. Bound by secrecy from a shape shifter determined to see Julia’s world-saving prediction come to fruition, Julia isn’t allowed to tell Nicholas the leader survived, ransacking her happiness with guilt. When Alora returns, bent on revenge, the reunion forces Nicholas and Julia to choose what they are willing to live and die for.
My thoughts…
In the continuation of Julia’s story with her hybrid‑vampire boyfriend, the Julia we knew from book one is gone. She’s no longer clingy and less whiny, probably because she’s finally getting what she wants.
But things don’t stay calm for long. The inevitable finally happens, and an unexpected return of a character we all thought was dead shakes everything up. If Nicholas doesn’t recover soon, this newcomer might just shift her feelings. Is this book heading toward Stefan and Damon’s situation? I really hope not.
Although Julia’s behaviour is less annoying this time, I still find her an unlikable character. She comes across as rude, childish, stubborn and ungrateful, especially in the way she treats Enigma.
I desperately need to see her grow into a more pleasant character, and I’m hoping she eventually becomes a badass heroine instead of relying on others to save the day. Right now, she’s still very far from being the saviour of humankind. Maybe in the next book. 🤞
Despite not liking the main character, the story itself is solid. I enjoyed the plot twist. I was pleasantly surprised by it, though Alora’s connection to Nicholas was obvious from miles away. Even so, the book is far from boring. It’s action‑packed, fast‑paced, and constantly moving.
I’m curious to see how the story plays out from here, especially with the prophecy still not fulfilled. How will it all end? Cure, perhaps?
The Onyx Talisman
Alora looked back, and the corner of her lip turned up. “It’s always darkest before the dawn, Julia. Good luck.”
Her words sent chills up my spine as she vanished. Unrest stirs deep in Scotts Valley. Filled with uncertainty, Julia anxiously awaits Nicholas’ return. Phil, hurt and unsure of his place as a sober vampire, holds the pieces of Julia’s fragile psyche together, secretly hoping Nicholas stays away forever. Scarlett bides her time, plotting for the perfect moment to prove herself and earn redemption.
But somewhere in L.A., Alora conspires to reclaim her talisman and strip Julia of everything she holds dear. Little do they know, a war is coming, and more than one vampire would like to see the Prince of Vampires overthrown. As more and more vampires show up from nowhere, addicted to her scent, Julia must pick her allies carefully before it’s too late.
Can Julia bargain with fate? When the time comes, will she even have a choice?
My thoughts…
The key to enjoying the story and understanding the behaviour of the characters is to think like a 15-year-old. Julia’s reaction to Katie is proof of that impulsive decision. Although she felt sorry about it, when presented with a chance to ask Alora about bringing Katie back, she didn’t ask because her love life is much more important to her.
As the story progresses, though, I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by the way Brenda twists the plot. Julia’s dad, in particular, stands out, and the ending is genuinely satisfying. I’m glad Julia matures a little by the end; when she’s faced with several difficult decisions, she finally makes the right choices 👍
Overall, this is the best book in the series so far. I’m curious to see what comes next, because as far as I can tell, this book wraps things up quite neatly. I’m not going to read the book’s blurb, for I want it to be a surprise 😅.
Out for Blood
With the aftermath of being staked by the Prince of Vampires, Phil D’Ella doesn’t find himself enduring an eternity in hell. Instead, he wakes up human with a ton of memories that don’t make sense. Could it have been a dream?
Having just moved to a new town, he knows places and people he shouldn’t. The worst problem is being attracted to a girl who shouldn’t exist, yet does. Neither Julia nor anyone else seems to have had the same experience until a new teacher shows up at school. One that everyone should be afraid of. One who’s out for blood.
My thoughts…
This short novella is told from Phil’s point of view. After waking from what he thinks was a dream, Phil begins to think the dream was real because he recognises people in the new town he’s just arrived in.
However, Julia and Sam don’t seem to know him. Phil almost gives up hope and thinks he’s losing his mind, until his killer turns up at the school as a teacher. What can he do without his vampiric mojos?
You can probably skip this novella unless you’re a die‑hard fan of the series. Out for Blood retells events that appear from Julia’s perspective in the main book, Blood Wars.
If you’re on Team Phil, though, you’ll enjoy it. The novella showcases his determination and frustration, includes his text exchanges with his long‑distance girlfriend, Jess in L.A., and introduces his mum. Scenes you don’t get in the main book.😉
Blood Wars
After just having died while saving all of humanity, Julia wakes up to a world where no vampires exist. Inexplicably, she and Nicholas are the only ones who remember the past. Julia’s wish to be normal has come to pass, and like a gift, they can start their happily ever after. That was until a new teacher showed up.
To everyone else, Mr Cruor is just a good-looking guy with a voice that makes everything sound exciting, including stories of a bunch of dead guys. However, Julia knows Mr Cruor as someone else.
Stuck in his class, she’s afraid that he’s not here to teach her history. He’s here for revenge, and there’s nothing she can do about it. Faces from the past keep popping up at the strangest times, and the motives of their actions become questionable. Do they remember the past, too?
Julia needs to choose allies quickly before the war becomes bloody.
My thoughts…
My first impression was that this is a clever continuation of the Talisman series. An intriguing concept, indeed. I wondered who had the power to create the alternate reality and hoped we would meet whoever was behind it. But that clearly isn’t the book’s intention.
In this altered world, most ex‑vampires remember what happened, yet the world no longer contains vampires, and the big bads are quietly plotting to become one again.
The story is divided into four volumes, and because many scenes in the opening chapters are repeat material I’d already read in Out for Blood (told from Phil’s POV), I skimmed most of them. Of all the volumes, for me, volume three is the hardest to swallow because of what happens there.
Overall, the book contains clever twists that kept me guessing. When the reveal came, it was a pleasant surprise. There’s an alternate romance outcome available on the author’s Wattpad, which is a nice extra for readers who want a different ending.
By the way, the series also reminds me of the duo: Stefan and Damon from Vampire Diaries. It definitely has the vibes, complete with “what if” scenarios. ✌️
