Funeral for a Gypsy

Violet, the last of the Portocale gypsies, attends her mother's funeral, already stalked by ghosts only she can see. Her mother's death is mysterious, and Violet is left with more questions than answers. The Portocale bloodline is hunted by a cult, and Violet's only inheritance is a house full of secrets and a lifetime of running. Her only companion is Anna, a pathologically lying ghost, who provides both comic relief and a constant reminder of Violet's isolation. Violet's world is one where the dead never rest, and the living are never safe.

Ghosts and Gypsy Rules

Moving into her mother's house, Violet is forced to confront the reality of her gypsy heritage. She can see and interact with ghosts, a gift and curse of her bloodline. Anna, her ghostly sidekick, is both a friend and a liability, as her presence accelerates her own ghostly decay. Violet learns that gypsy pride and secrecy are survival tools, and that the truth about her family is buried under layers of myth, magic, and lies. The town of Shadow Hills is full of supernatural secrets, and Violet is at the center of them all.

Strange Clients, Stranger Town

Taking over her mother's potion business, Violet is introduced to her most important clients: Vance Valhinseng, Emit Morrigan, Damien Morpheous, and Shera Ward. Each is the head of a powerful supernatural house—vampire, werewolf, or something else entirely. Violet tries to hide her true identity, but her Portocale blood is impossible to disguise. The men are immediately intrigued by her, sensing both her power and her ignorance of the supernatural world's rules. Their interest is dangerous, and Violet's lies only draw them closer.

The Four Monster Houses

The heads of the four houses—Vance (Van Helsing, monster hunter), Emit (werewolf alpha), Damien (immortal illusionist), and Arion (vampire alpha, currently entombed)—meet to discuss Violet. Her ignorance of her own heritage is an anomaly, and her presence threatens the fragile peace between monsters and gypsies. Each alpha is bound by ancient curses tied to the Portocale bloodline, and Violet's arrival stirs old rivalries and new obsessions. The monsters are both protectors and predators, and Violet is the key to their fate.

The Alpha and the Hunter

Violet's attempts to blend in fail as she is repeatedly drawn into the monsters' world. She is attacked by wolves, rescued by Vance, and entangled in the politics of the supernatural houses. Each encounter reveals more about the town's dark history and the true nature of its inhabitants. The alphas are cursed to suffer with every Portocale death, making Violet both their responsibility and their temptation. The lines between ally and enemy blur, and Violet's survival depends on her ability to navigate their dangerous games.

Secrets in the Snow

A freak snowstorm signals a surge in paranormal energy. Violet, seeking answers about her mother's death, ventures into the woods and is attacked by a pack of wolves. She is saved by Vance, who reveals himself as a Van Helsing, legendary monster slayer. The encounter exposes Violet's ignorance and the monsters' obsession with her. The snowstorm is a harbinger of greater threats, and Violet realizes that Shadow Hills is a battleground for forces she barely understands.

Wolves in the Woods

Violet's journey into the woods becomes a test of her abilities and her trust in the monsters. She is forced to use her gypsy magic to survive, healing a wounded wolf and escaping the pack. The alphas debate her significance, recognizing her as a "gypsy freak"—a Portocale who doesn't need to feed on ghosts to survive. Violet's unique gifts make her both a target and a potential savior, and the monsters' interest in her deepens.

The Monster Council

The alphas meet to discuss Violet's role in their world. Each is bound by a curse that ties their fate to the Portocale bloodline. Vance, Emit, and Damien are wary of Arion's impending return, knowing that his resurrection could upset the balance of power. The council is divided between those who want to protect Violet and those who see her as a means to an end. The monsters' history is one of war, betrayal, and uneasy truces, and Violet is the catalyst for a new era.

The Portocale Curse

Violet learns that Portocale gypsies are cursed to die young unless they feed on ghosts, a secret her mother kept from her. The alphas are cursed to suffer with every Portocale death, making Violet's survival essential to their own. Violet's refusal to feed on ghosts marks her as a "freak," but also as a possible key to breaking the curse. The cult that hunts her family is only one of many threats, and Violet's ignorance is both her shield and her vulnerability.

Gifts and Debts

Violet uses her skills as a seamstress and potion-maker to barter with the alphas, offering gifts that bind them to her in new ways. Each gift—cookies for Emit, a mirror for Damien, a pocket watch for Vance—creates a debt, and the monsters find themselves unable to resist her. The exchange of gifts is both a survival strategy and a dangerous game, as the alphas' obsession with Violet grows. The debts she accrues become leverage, but also entangle her further in their world.

The Vampire Attack

Violet is kidnapped and nearly killed by rogue vampires, only surviving through her unique gypsy magic—ribbons that sew her wounds and keep her alive. The attack exposes the dangers of her ignorance and the limits of her power. The alphas investigate, realizing that Violet's blood is a forbidden delicacy and that her survival is crucial to their own. The vampire attack is a warning that the fragile peace in Shadow Hills is breaking.

Resurrection and Betrayal

Seeking a cure for Anna's ghostly decay, Violet is manipulated by "Ace," a ghostly ally who is revealed to be Arion. She performs a ritual that breaks Arion's magical prison, unleashing him on the town. Arion's resurrection is both a personal betrayal and a political disaster, as he immediately begins to settle old scores and assert his dominance. Violet realizes too late that her trust has been exploited, and the consequences are catastrophic.

The Alpha Returns

Arion reclaims his house, massacring rival vampires and reestablishing his rule. He reveals his true identity to Violet, confessing that he manipulated her from the start. The other alphas confront Arion, but his power and cunning make him a formidable foe. Violet is caught between the monsters' rivalries, her own guilt, and Arion's dangerous fascination with her. The balance of power in Shadow Hills is shattered, and Violet's role as the "chapter after the epilogue" becomes clear.

The Monster's Proposal

Arion reveals that the four alphas are all descended from gypsy bloodlines, and that Violet is the key to reuniting them. He proposes that she become the center of a new alliance, ending centuries of war and betrayal. The proposal is both seductive and terrifying, as it would bind Violet to the monsters forever. The other alphas are divided—some tempted, some enraged—and Violet is left to decide whether to accept her role or fight against it.

The Ribbon Girl's Secret

Violet reveals her deepest secret: she cannot die. Like the girl in the old story who wears a ribbon around her neck, Violet's life is held together by magic and willpower. Her mother's lessons and her own ingenuity have kept her alive through countless dangers, but the cost is isolation and fear. The monsters are drawn to her immortality, seeing her as both a prize and a threat. Violet's struggle is to define herself beyond the roles others want to impose on her.

The Ghost's Last Wish

Anna, Violet's ghostly friend, is nearing the final stage of ghostly decay. Violet is desperate to save her, seeking forbidden knowledge and risking her own safety. The bond between Violet and Anna is a rare source of genuine affection in a world of manipulation and betrayal. Violet's promise to help Anna is both a test of her humanity and a symbol of her refusal to become a monster herself.

The Price of Trust

The book ends with Violet reeling from the consequences of her trust—Arion's resurrection, the monsters' obsession, and the looming threat of the cult. She is both more powerful and more vulnerable than ever, caught between her own nature and the demands of the supernatural world. The monsters' proposal of alliance, the unresolved curse, and Anna's fate all hang in the balance. Violet's journey is only beginning, and the price of trust may be higher than she can bear.

Characters

Violet Portocale

Violet is the last of the Portocale gypsies, a bloodline hunted for its power and cursed to die young unless they feed on ghosts. She is fiercely independent, stubborn, and compassionate, but also deeply lonely and traumatized by loss. Violet's unique gifts—her ability to see ghosts, her healing ribbons, and her refusal to feed on spirits—mark her as a "gypsy freak," both an outcast and a potential savior. Her relationships with the monsters are fraught with danger, desire, and manipulation, and her greatest struggle is to define her own identity in a world that wants to use her.

Anna

Anna is Violet's ghostly companion, a former "bad girl" whose lies and antics mask her fear of oblivion. She is both a friend and a burden, her presence accelerating her own decay. Anna's impending death is a source of dread for Violet, and their bond is one of the few genuine connections in Violet's life. Anna's humor and irreverence provide levity, but her fate is a constant reminder of the cost of Violet's choices.

Vance Valhinseng (Van Helsing)

Vance is the head of the Van Helsing family, legendary monster slayers cursed to protect the Portocale bloodline. He is disciplined, principled, and emotionally guarded, but Violet's arrival disrupts his carefully ordered world. Vance is both attracted to and frustrated by Violet, torn between his duty and his desire. His curse compels him to protect her, but his own secrets and the burdens of immortality make him a dangerous ally.

Emit Morrigan

Emit is the leader of the werewolves, a powerful and tormented figure bound by ancient curses. He is physically imposing, emotionally intense, and fiercely protective of his pack. Emit's relationship with Violet is complicated by his own guilt, desire, and the pain of past betrayals. He is both a potential lover and a threat, his loyalty to Violet tested by the demands of his curse and the politics of the monster houses.

Damien Morpheous

Damien is a mysterious and dangerous figure, capable of manipulating reality and emotions. He is both charming and predatory, his own curse making intimacy deadly. Damien's obsession with Violet is fueled by her resistance to his powers and her ability to see through his illusions. He is both a rival and a reluctant ally to the other alphas, his true motives always in question.

Arion (Ace)

Arion is the most dangerous of the alphas, a vampire lord resurrected by Violet's unwitting actions. As "Ace," he befriends Violet as a ghost, only to reveal his true identity and claim her as the key to his plans. Arion is both seductive and monstrous, his love for Violet twisted by centuries of betrayal and loss. He seeks to unite the alphas through her, but his methods are ruthless and his sanity questionable.

Shera Ward

Shera is Arion's right hand, a powerful vampire who enforces his will and manages the House of Arion in his absence. She is both an enforcer and a manipulator, her loyalty to Arion matched only by her ambition. Shera's interactions with Violet are marked by rivalry and grudging respect, and her role in the vampire attack is ambiguous.

The Forsaken Cult

The cult that hunts the Portocale bloodline is a shadowy and implacable force, driven by ancient prophecies and a thirst for power. They are responsible for Violet's lifelong fear and her mother's death, and their presence looms over every decision she makes. The cult's true motives are shrouded in mystery, but their threat is ever-present.

Marta Portocale

Marta is a legendary gypsy huntress whose death sets the story in motion. Her secrets, lessons, and betrayals shape Violet's journey, and her absence is a constant source of pain and motivation. Marta's choices—sending Violet to Shadow Hills, hiding the truth about the curse—are both acts of love and sources of danger.

The Monster Council

The council of monster alphas—Vance, Emit, Damien, and Arion—are both allies and enemies, their relationships defined by centuries of war, betrayal, and uneasy truces. Each is bound to Violet by ancient magic, and their obsession with her is both personal and political. Their fates are intertwined, and Violet is the catalyst for their next chapter.

Plot Devices

Curses and Bloodlines

The narrative is driven by the interconnected curses that define the relationships between the Portocale bloodline and the monster alphas. Each curse is both a source of power and a prison, shaping the characters' choices and destinies. The curses are revealed gradually, using foreshadowing and mythic storytelling to build suspense and deepen the stakes.

Bartering and Debts

The exchange of gifts—potions, cookies, mirrors, timepieces—serves as both a survival strategy and a means of manipulating the monsters. Each gift creates a debt, binding the recipient to Violet and complicating their relationships. The bartering system is a metaphor for the power dynamics at play, and the debts accrued become both leverage and liability.

Unreliable Narration and Misdirection

The story is told through Violet's perspective, but her ignorance and the lies of those around her create a sense of uncertainty and suspense. The monsters' true motives, the nature of the curses, and the history of the town are revealed through misdirection, unreliable narration, and shifting alliances. The reader is kept off-balance, never sure who to trust or what to believe.

Foreshadowing and Prophecy

The gypsy song that recurs throughout the book serves as both a prophecy and a warning, foreshadowing the events to come. The legend of the ribbon girl, the double-dutch chant, and the references to past wars all hint at the cyclical nature of history and the inevitability of Violet's role in the monsters' world.

Psychological Tension and Intimacy

The relationships between Violet and the alphas are charged with sexual tension, psychological manipulation, and emotional vulnerability. The monsters' obsession with Violet is both protective and predatory, and her own desires are complicated by fear, guilt, and the need for survival. The intimacy between characters is used to explore themes of trust, power, and the cost of connection.

Analysis

Gypsy Blood is a dark, witty, and emotionally charged urban fantasy that reimagines the supernatural genre through the lens of trauma, trust, and the search for identity. At its core, the novel is about a young woman's struggle to define herself in a world that wants to use, possess, or destroy her. Violet's journey is both a coming-of-age story and a meditation on the price of survival—how much of oneself must be sacrificed to stay alive, and what it means to be truly free. The monsters are both literal and metaphorical, representing the dangers of desire, the weight of history, and the complexity of human (and inhuman) relationships. The book's use of curses, bartering, and unreliable narration creates a sense of constant tension and uncertainty, mirroring Violet's own psychological state. Ultimately, Gypsy Blood is a story about the power of choice, the cost of trust, and the possibility of forging new paths even in the shadow of ancient wounds. It challenges readers to question who the real monsters are, and whether redemption is possible for those who have been both victim and villain.

Last updated: July 23, 2025