Scan barcode
sweetbtothe3's review against another edition
5.0
I think I may like this series better than his sigma force series. I am in love with this book.
inthe_clouds's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
4.75
shu_long's review against another edition
3.0
The premise of this book is very good, an excellent hook and one I found myself drawn into discovering more bits and pieces about. I love history and archeological puzzles. Anyone who can convincingly use history to tangle in a story on two times lines usually gets my attention automatically. On that note, I'd give Blood Gospel four stars. I'd place it in the same subgenre as Da Vinci's Code and an excellent addition to that vein of books.
However, it was difficult for me to get past the one dimensional characters. The authors took pains to create a lot of sexual tension in situations that I simple did not find realistic. I wanted to like them, but I often found the dialog between the three principle characters had a jarring note and I found the suggestive scenes trite. The supporting characters definitely demonstrated that the authors had the ability to create more credulous personalities. I wish they had dropped the blockbuster sex selling story line for something more realistic and believable. I could believe two people being drawn physically together as an affirmation of being alive after everything they went through, but hint after hint about how gorgeousness of the other person is not exactly believable. Those scenes got in the way of the rest of the character attributes.
That being said, it was a rip-roaring, hard paced thriller with lots of questions, answered and somewhat unanswered, leaving plenty of room for a sequel. An entertaining read and anyone who enjoys stories that twist history and take a dark gothic style look at religion will probably enjoy it on some level, especially if you also like Dan Brown. This is a plot driven, not character driven book. Read it for that an enjoy.
However, it was difficult for me to get past the one dimensional characters. The authors took pains to create a lot of sexual tension in situations that I simple did not find realistic. I wanted to like them, but I often found the dialog between the three principle characters had a jarring note and I found the suggestive scenes trite. The supporting characters definitely demonstrated that the authors had the ability to create more credulous personalities. I wish they had dropped the blockbuster sex selling story line for something more realistic and believable. I could believe two people being drawn physically together as an affirmation of being alive after everything they went through, but hint after hint about how gorgeousness of the other person is not exactly believable. Those scenes got in the way of the rest of the character attributes.
That being said, it was a rip-roaring, hard paced thriller with lots of questions, answered and somewhat unanswered, leaving plenty of room for a sequel. An entertaining read and anyone who enjoys stories that twist history and take a dark gothic style look at religion will probably enjoy it on some level, especially if you also like Dan Brown. This is a plot driven, not character driven book. Read it for that an enjoy.
alimo711's review against another edition
4.0
Enjoyable adventure with all the hallmarks of a James Rollins book -- science, history, and religion -- mixed with a bit of supernatural and an interesting twist on the vampire genre. Looking forward to the rest of the series!
shae_purcell's review against another edition
2.0
James Rollins is one of my favorite authors for fast-paced adventure novels. The Sigma Force series and every stand-alone of his that I've read have been page turners from the first page. I like to read them when I'm wanting something quick and fun. I expected this series to be no different, but I was pretty disappointed. I can't say for sure what bothered me so much about it - maybe the narrator or the co-author?
I normally read his books in paperback, but I found the audiobook for this one on Hoopla. Maybe that was a mistake. The narrator was not a favorite. His accents weren't great, in my opinion, and his pronunciation of certain character names changed throughout the book (as did his "voice" for each). It could be a bit confusing.
This also has a co-author, Rebecca Cantrell. Perhaps I don't like her writing style or the way she and Rollins fit together. I've never read anything written by her alone. Or maybe Rollins' books don't excite me the way they once did. It has been a while since I've read one.
Overall, this felt cheesy and predictable. I actually don't mind predictable but make it fun or interesting at least. One of the main characters was pretty unlikeable too, which wouldn't be a big deal except for the fact that I think we are supposed to love them and be pulling for them. This won't stop me from reading more Rollins, but it will definitely keep me from finishing this particular series.
I normally read his books in paperback, but I found the audiobook for this one on Hoopla. Maybe that was a mistake. The narrator was not a favorite. His accents weren't great, in my opinion, and his pronunciation of certain character names changed throughout the book (as did his "voice" for each). It could be a bit confusing.
This also has a co-author, Rebecca Cantrell. Perhaps I don't like her writing style or the way she and Rollins fit together. I've never read anything written by her alone. Or maybe Rollins' books don't excite me the way they once did. It has been a while since I've read one.
Overall, this felt cheesy and predictable. I actually don't mind predictable but make it fun or interesting at least. One of the main characters was pretty unlikeable too, which wouldn't be a big deal except for the fact that I think we are supposed to love them and be pulling for them. This won't stop me from reading more Rollins, but it will definitely keep me from finishing this particular series.
hldonavant's review against another edition
5.0
Ancient tombs, Catholic Church, Jesus, vampires, nazis, wolves, and now Rasputin. All they need is aliens!!!
papidoc's review against another edition
Meh. I read one of Rollins' other books (in the Sigma series, I think?), and felt the same way about it. Something about his writing style doesn't draw me in to the scene, the drama, or the thoughts and experiences of the characters the way other novelists do...Sandford, Koontz (early works), Child, Ludlum, Parker, and a few others. As others have noted, he and Cantrell seem to be trying to capitalize on the wave of interest in vampiric fantasy. I don't necessarily have anything against that, but if someone is going to come late to the game, they need to do it better than the others. This one really doesn't, though it was entertaining enough to get me through a few treadmill workouts.
book_worm_13's review against another edition
4.0
Action, mystery, a little romance, a cliffhanger... looking forward to the next book!