Blood Price: Blood, Book 1

It surprised me to discover that this novel was originally written in 1991. It has survived the passage of time remarkably well. It's the first novel in a series of five books by Tanya Huff which involve a former police officer-turned private investigator and the vampire son of Henry VIII who solve supernatural crimes together.

It's not a johnny-come-lately on the vampire novel scene; it was one of the earlier prototypes and works well. The private investigator, her former ex-boyfriend police officer, and the vampire who writes bodice rippers team up to solve a string of violent crimes which have been plaguing Toronto.

As a Canadian, I'm pleased to see/hear a series set in Toronto, and though I'm not from Toronto, the depiction is well done.

A series of what appear to be murders by a vampire takes roots in the city, and as the story hums along, it becomes clear that it's actually a demon who's terrorizing the city, and not a vampire. The book is as long as it needs to be.

The story is well written and engaging. It does't feel particularly dated, although the references to a Hibachi and the lack of cell phones make more sense now that I know it was written in 1991.

The narrator is okay but not great. Her attempt to depict male voices often comes off with an odd accent or intonation. She's a breathy narrator, and her vocal intonations are a little irritating. As with many narrators, she pauses in the wrong places and ends up fragmenting the narration. She can probably be forgiven for mispronouncing Manulife, but not for some of the other words she butchers. With a different narrator, this would be an even better book, but it's not bad. To the narrator's credit, she does a very good job depicting the empty-headed university students in the book.

It's certainly well enough done that I have purchased books 2 and 3 in the series. If the other books in the series are as good as this one, it should have a strong following. The ideas are original and inventive, and the dialogue and descriptions are well done.

This is a good book for fans of the supernatural series; it's lighter on romance than some, but that's not a bad thing. It's worth the credit.

Yes. The story is good and if you can deal with the reader, it is fun to hear. I read the series in paperback several years ago and got hooked. If this had been my 1st exposure, not so sure I would have stuck with it.

Unusual composition for the main actors.

Strange sound to her voice. Definition of character voices varies -- same character, but sound is not always the same. Also, and maybe since I'm American, so many Scottish-sounding accents when the story is in Toronto, Canada is weird.

I enjoy the story twists and the interpersonal relationships.

Carefully crafted story and characters. Very believable story line - almost makes you believe in vampires. Tanya Huff is a master at character definition, dialogue and pacing. It makes for an intriguing story that is hard to put down.

The blending of true history and modern fiction.

Her pacing and accents were dreadful. She over-emoted virtually every scene. She gets the award for the best William Shatner scene chewing performance - ever.

I was so overjoyed to see the Blood Books in audio that I bought every one on the same day. I'm hoping I can overlook the dreadful narrator to enjoy these books the way I did when I read them, and not come to rue the economic outlay.

I'm a big fan of urban fantasy, and the seamless melding of a fantasy world with the one I know is a rich and wonderful thing.

I love the story, and I love that the heroine is someone I can identify with. She's someone with real strengths and real vulnerabilities. She's had some heartache and some romance, but her life goes on into new and stranger things.

In my mind, when I've read the books, I've heard a strong and steady voice for Vicki, a deep and manly baritone for Celucci, and a lighter, more amused tone from Henry. Ms. Eyre's performance is spectacularly bad, almost whiny, and she frequently adds a quaver when any of the characters gets excited. Perhaps she's nervous? I think it speaks to the excellence of the story that not even this terrible narration can totally break the whole production... but it was close.

Yes.

characters adventures imagination

Lead character "Victory" Vicki Nelson

No

This series is wonderful. Tanya Huff nailed a fun and entertaining six book series. Yes, the narrator takes half the first book to hit her stride. But from there on, she differentiated the characters and delivered a solid performance. I listened to each book, one after another, through the entire string. I immediately missed the characters when I finished---I was right there with them through all the adventures.

Yeah the narrator.

I would recommend the books to read, because the narrator didn't know what she was doing.

Justine doesn't have a clue about narrating books.

Yes because I like the series on books.

Change the Narrator and you'd have a good series.

The story line was very good, but then I read the book years ago. As I did with the one to follow.

Yes, her voice did not do good thing for the story.

No, I will just reread my books, so I can keep the joy of the story.