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songwind's review
3.0
The first novel of this 2-book omnibus left me with mixed feelings. I enjoyed it, because it is a good yarn. However, it has a few big weaknesses which kept me from really getting excited about it.
First of all, only Vicky Nelson and Henry Fitzroy are well fleshed-out characters. Celluci was on his way, but didn't quite make it. The villain was a lame collection of stereotypes.
Huff jumps back and forth between viewpoints like she's on a pogo stick. It was distracting and unnecessary. There are also a lot of instances of self-contradictory narrative, where the book says one thing about a character, but then immediately shows it to be untrue.
So, I wouldn't advise against reading this book, but don't expect much out of the writing.
First of all, only Vicky Nelson and Henry Fitzroy are well fleshed-out characters. Celluci was on his way, but didn't quite make it. The villain was a lame collection of stereotypes.
Huff jumps back and forth between viewpoints like she's on a pogo stick. It was distracting and unnecessary. There are also a lot of instances of self-contradictory narrative, where the book says one thing about a character, but then immediately shows it to be untrue.
So, I wouldn't advise against reading this book, but don't expect much out of the writing.
ogreart's review
4.0
This volume has the first two novels in Huff's series. Set in Toronto it chronicles the unlikely partnership of a night-blind female detective and a male vampire. Much better and more original than the TV series. She has some fresh takes on werewolves in the second book.
bergamotandbooks's review
5.0
I got hooked on this series through randomly catching on of its tv spin off episodes 'Blood Ties'. Totally fell in love with the story, the characters and the whole world that Vicki and Henry live in. Im also a thorough fan of the vampires and werwolves idea so to have both in this book was great. Huff portrayed the paranormal creatures in this book as more than just the cliche versions of themselves which was a breathe of fresh air from some of the books out there.
Can't wait to get my hands on the next ones, and read the book series spin off too!
Can't wait to get my hands on the next ones, and read the book series spin off too!
caligirlrae's review
2.0
Really enjoyed Blood Price, wasn't too enthused with Blood Trail. Will have to pick it up and try it again at a later date.
lasairfiona's review
4.0
There isn't anything particularly special about these books. The writing is okay, the characters are fairly one dimensional, and the plots are quite straightforward. However, Huff puts together a pleasant read. Two of the three main characters love to scream at each other and typically lose their temper every other page. How these two could possibly function as cops without a serious list of citations is anyone's guess, but it is quite entertaining to read about how they really, really want to give into their temper and rip someone's head off (I feel like that quite often myself).
These books fall into the urban fantasy category, one that I enjoy as there are a lot of problems that paranormal creatures would have that the genre gets to address (how do you explain that you always sleep during the day without someone becoming superstitious?).
So why four stars if I am not impressed with the writing or any of my usual criteria for a high star rating? Perhaps it is my mood and my enjoyment of reading something where I don't have to think (which is infact a good thing from time to time). Perhaps it is that the stories, while not complex, are quite enjoyable. Perhaps it is that she doesn't overuse commas like many of the books I have been reading lately (I realize the comma conventions have changed but some people really just need to lighten up [/pet peeve rant]). Heck, maybe I will reread it in the future and drop a star off. Who knows. I do know that I enjoy reading Huff from time to time, as long as I mix it up with with my usual, heavier reading.
These books fall into the urban fantasy category, one that I enjoy as there are a lot of problems that paranormal creatures would have that the genre gets to address (how do you explain that you always sleep during the day without someone becoming superstitious?).
So why four stars if I am not impressed with the writing or any of my usual criteria for a high star rating? Perhaps it is my mood and my enjoyment of reading something where I don't have to think (which is infact a good thing from time to time). Perhaps it is that the stories, while not complex, are quite enjoyable. Perhaps it is that she doesn't overuse commas like many of the books I have been reading lately (I realize the comma conventions have changed but some people really just need to lighten up [/pet peeve rant]). Heck, maybe I will reread it in the future and drop a star off. Who knows. I do know that I enjoy reading Huff from time to time, as long as I mix it up with with my usual, heavier reading.
cchellez's review
4.0
I had never read a Tanya Huff book before, and when my friend sent me Volumes 1, 2 & 3 after our discussion of some books I'd just finished reading, I was under the impression it was a romance series.
So not the case!
Still under that impression, I started the book and began to loathe it because I was instinctively waiting for the big romance scenes that were not coming. After I got through Blood Price (and figured out it was more about mystery and drama rather than romance) I actually enjoyed Blood Trail.
I'm not familiar with Canada, more specifically Toronto, but I liked how Huff uses the street names and building references so you get a better idea of the character environment.
The relationship that Vicki and Mike have is priceless. I see a lot of myself in Vicki (minus the eye disease.)I'm still waiting for Vicki and Henry to really hit it off though. They got closer in Blood Trail... but I'd like to see them be more like lovers than business partners... guess thats the romantic in me! :)
So not the case!
Still under that impression, I started the book and began to loathe it because I was instinctively waiting for the big romance scenes that were not coming. After I got through Blood Price (and figured out it was more about mystery and drama rather than romance) I actually enjoyed Blood Trail.
I'm not familiar with Canada, more specifically Toronto, but I liked how Huff uses the street names and building references so you get a better idea of the character environment.
The relationship that Vicki and Mike have is priceless. I see a lot of myself in Vicki (minus the eye disease.)I'm still waiting for Vicki and Henry to really hit it off though. They got closer in Blood Trail... but I'd like to see them be more like lovers than business partners... guess thats the romantic in me! :)
mimsy42's review
3.0
very procedural; an ex-cop tries to find purpose. It was interesting and I liked the characters, but they didn't grab me.
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