ozreus's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I enjoyed it, the book is fantastic up until very near the end where I believe it fumbles a bit. The very, very end though is great! Introducing three new characters with some interesting implications for even greater story in the following books.
Spoiler
I don't think that a love triangle should've been introduced and then, seemingly, abandoned so quickly and easily. The chemistry between Erin and Jordan was enough for me to make the book interesting and I felt like there was enough baggage between the two of them sufficient for a proper romance arc without adding complications with Erin and Rhun's feelings for each other surface.baileyaf_17's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
tense
medium-paced
4.5
rakg7's review against another edition
2.0
With this book I feel like I was hoping for Dan Brown but got Stephenie Meyer.
otherly_garrett's review against another edition
4.0
Wasn't so sure who was writing which bits or if James really contributed that much.
The style was different than most of his other books and wasn't that compelling. It started off great, died down from Part 2 to mid 4 or so. I enjoyed the ending, though.
Overall, its a pretty quick read. I wouldn't judge Rollins on this one; but it could definitely be improved. I enjoyed most of the characters except for the Jordan. He was uninspired.
The style was different than most of his other books and wasn't that compelling. It started off great, died down from Part 2 to mid 4 or so. I enjoyed the ending, though.
Overall, its a pretty quick read. I wouldn't judge Rollins on this one; but it could definitely be improved. I enjoyed most of the characters except for the Jordan. He was uninspired.
inescapable1's review against another edition
3.0
Story was interesting enough. I'll probably read the next one.
Too many awkward sexual tension scenes.
It didn't need to be as long as it was, some parts dragged on.
***Possible spoiler ***
Like... if we're in the middle of a giant battle with evil killing machines all around, how are we taking 10 minutes to cuddle on the ground and create awkward sexual tension about his breath on your neck. Inappropriate and cringey as heck.
Too many awkward sexual tension scenes.
It didn't need to be as long as it was, some parts dragged on.
***Possible spoiler ***
Like... if we're in the middle of a giant battle with evil killing machines all around, how are we taking 10 minutes to cuddle on the ground and create awkward sexual tension about his breath on your neck. Inappropriate and cringey as heck.
nmichelangelo's review against another edition
5.0
I wasn’t sure what to expect reading the description but I am glad to have found this series. It’s a fun ride spanning from the middle east to the heart
Of Rome with great pacing that keeps the story moving forward through multiple twists and turns through religious mythology. Erin Granger and Jordan Stone feel more developed than typical protagonists than you expect from fiction of this type and are a fun pair to follow. If you like the historical fiction and action written by authors like Dan Brown or Steve Berry you’ll enjoy this novel.
Of Rome with great pacing that keeps the story moving forward through multiple twists and turns through religious mythology. Erin Granger and Jordan Stone feel more developed than typical protagonists than you expect from fiction of this type and are a fun pair to follow. If you like the historical fiction and action written by authors like Dan Brown or Steve Berry you’ll enjoy this novel.
jaxboiler's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
This is apparently the first ina series. Overall it was decent. The beginning was a little slow but as it went along it got better.
mferrante83's review against another edition
4.0
I’m pretty sure I pulled this off a list at the HWA website (it’s down at the moment so I can’t check right now) The Blood Gospel is a supernatural tinged thriller from NYT bestelling author James Rollins and Rebecca Cantrell (an up and coming author best known for her Hannah Vogel noir series). It should be warned that this book leans heavily on Biblical knowledge and some previous knowledge of Catholicism; particularly the belief in transubstantiation. The novel opens with a flashback to the siege of Masada (around 73 CE) delving straight into the novel’s more fantastic elements with a scene straight out of The Exorcist (though not nearly as terrifying). Fast forward several thousand years to present day when an earthquake in Masada reveals a strange tomb. The sudden appearance of the tomb brings together the novel’s three heroes the mysterious priest Father Rhun Korza, the smart archaeologist Dr. Erin Granger (she escaped from a radical Christian sect in her youth and holds tight to her skepticism about all things religious as a result), and the brave Sergeant Jordan Stone (who works in military forensics).
What unfolds of over the course of the novel is a historical mystery and globe-trotting adventure full of strange and horrific creatures. The Blood Gospel isn’t a heavy read by any means, this is a light, action packed thriller with a strong thread of the supernatural horror running throughout. I’d hesitate to call this a horror novel though as the novel’s primary focus isn’t fear but action. The Blood Gospel as about as much horror as The Underworld series of films is. By and large The Blood Gospel is a taught novel tuned to catapult you through the plot. The novel’s only major stumbling block involves a young man who survives the opening earthquake, though with some rather strange side effects. This plot thread isn’t wholly developed here and doesn’t really offer any major benefit to the novel. The Blood Gospel is the first in a series and I have no doubt we’ll get deeper into this part of the story but it just felt a little out of place here. While the characters aren’t wholly original and fall into specific archetypes (amusingly enough this is touched upon in the plot) the author’s still manage to infuse them with a sense of individuality that leads to at least the beginnings of emotional attachment. For fans of action and the supernatural The Blood Gospel is a must-read.
I’ve been pretty cagey about the supernatural elements of The Blood Gospel. The last bit below the jump might spoil that some so read on if you don’t really care.
While reading the The Blood Gospel I was struck by how it takes on the notion of vampires in a way that is almost completely opposite of Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan’s The Strain (I’ve only read the first novel so I can’t say this will continue). Whereas The Strain focuses on the notion of vampires as something akin to an epidemic and the science that applies to that The Blood Gospel examines, and expands, the religious elements that are often seen hand in hand with vampire stories. Both expand upon the vampire myth in interesting ways and are likely to appeal to different types of readers. I like both for different reasons (though The Strain leans on its horror tropes far more than The Blood Gospel) and think both mark excellent takes on the vampire genre. I’m definitely looking forward to seeing where the Order of Sanguinnes series take us.
What unfolds of over the course of the novel is a historical mystery and globe-trotting adventure full of strange and horrific creatures. The Blood Gospel isn’t a heavy read by any means, this is a light, action packed thriller with a strong thread of the supernatural horror running throughout. I’d hesitate to call this a horror novel though as the novel’s primary focus isn’t fear but action. The Blood Gospel as about as much horror as The Underworld series of films is. By and large The Blood Gospel is a taught novel tuned to catapult you through the plot. The novel’s only major stumbling block involves a young man who survives the opening earthquake, though with some rather strange side effects. This plot thread isn’t wholly developed here and doesn’t really offer any major benefit to the novel. The Blood Gospel is the first in a series and I have no doubt we’ll get deeper into this part of the story but it just felt a little out of place here. While the characters aren’t wholly original and fall into specific archetypes (amusingly enough this is touched upon in the plot) the author’s still manage to infuse them with a sense of individuality that leads to at least the beginnings of emotional attachment. For fans of action and the supernatural The Blood Gospel is a must-read.
I’ve been pretty cagey about the supernatural elements of The Blood Gospel. The last bit below the jump might spoil that some so read on if you don’t really care.
While reading the The Blood Gospel I was struck by how it takes on the notion of vampires in a way that is almost completely opposite of Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan’s The Strain (I’ve only read the first novel so I can’t say this will continue). Whereas The Strain focuses on the notion of vampires as something akin to an epidemic and the science that applies to that The Blood Gospel examines, and expands, the religious elements that are often seen hand in hand with vampire stories. Both expand upon the vampire myth in interesting ways and are likely to appeal to different types of readers. I like both for different reasons (though The Strain leans on its horror tropes far more than The Blood Gospel) and think both mark excellent takes on the vampire genre. I’m definitely looking forward to seeing where the Order of Sanguinnes series take us.
melissapalmer404's review against another edition
5.0
Book #72 Read in 2014
The Blood Gospel by James Rollins and Rebecca Cantrell
This book was sort of a merge between The DaVinci Code and The Strain. It was action-packed and had short chapters, along with an army of bad vampires and an order of vampires that are a sort of religious order. This is the first in a series and while almost 500 pages long, was an amazingly quick read. The main characters are Rhun (a "good" vampire), Erin (an archaeologist) and Jordan, a soldier. They are given the task of finding a book called The Blood Gospel, believed to be written in the blood of Jesus. Of course the bad guys all want the book too.
This book was well-written and kept me engaged. The characters were interesting and complex. I will continue on with the series.
http://melissasbookpicks.blogspot.com
The Blood Gospel by James Rollins and Rebecca Cantrell
This book was sort of a merge between The DaVinci Code and The Strain. It was action-packed and had short chapters, along with an army of bad vampires and an order of vampires that are a sort of religious order. This is the first in a series and while almost 500 pages long, was an amazingly quick read. The main characters are Rhun (a "good" vampire), Erin (an archaeologist) and Jordan, a soldier. They are given the task of finding a book called The Blood Gospel, believed to be written in the blood of Jesus. Of course the bad guys all want the book too.
This book was well-written and kept me engaged. The characters were interesting and complex. I will continue on with the series.
http://melissasbookpicks.blogspot.com