The Blood Gospel

The Order of the Sanguines Series

By: James Rollins, Rebecca Cantrell

Narrated by: Christian Baskous

In his first-ever collaboration, New York Times bestselling author James Rollins combines his skill for cutting-edge science and historical mystery with award-winning novelist Rebecca Cantrell’s talent for haunting suspense and sensual atmosphere in a gothic tale about an ancient order and the hunt for a miraculous book known only as . . .The Blood Gospel

I like it

Okay, it's different for James Rollins. He does like history and science, and then to go beyond the bounds. In this one, he goes far afield. I like the idea of vampire priests, the speculation of alternative histories. The story is interesting, and always kept me guessing. It had many surprises, twists, and turns. It is the beginning of a new series, with new characters. They are well developed and likable.

Christian Baskous does a good job with voices and accents. He makes the story believable, and makes it move.

I am already listening to the next one, and hope there are more.

Not Sigma Force...

What did you like best about The Blood Gospel? What did you like least?

The story itself is very interesting, it just didn't draw me in like the Sigma Force novels did, I found myself spacing out and not really paying attention to the story at time. I think the whole premise of the series is good, and I may come back and listen to the next one at a later time.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Maybe one of the reasons I wasn't drawn into the story was I felt a disconnect with the characters. I don't really have a favorite character to be honest.

What didn’t you like about Christian Baskous’s performance?

The narration was good, I don't think it added or took away from the story.

Was The Blood Gospel worth the listening time?

Eh... I won't be reading the second in the series, at least not for a while.

Any additional comments?

Overall not a bad book, maybe the second one will get me more interested!

action from start to finish. characters u can root

action from start to finish. characters u can root for. will read the remaining books in series

It's a Bloody Affair

Any additional comments?

I didn't really know what to expect from this, but I have enjoyed other James Rollins books. In all, it wasn't bad but if the series continued past the third book (as I read all three), I would not.

First, I should say that suspending disbelief is required for most James Rollins reading. It is absolute here for the entire Sanguines series.

Second, this is a warning to select readers: if you are offended by volumes of blood talk and imagery, then you will want to pass over this series. Read other Rollins' books instead. I don't know if a paragraph went by without some mention of blood. If you are deeply religious of most any faith, and you don't like new takes on Judeo-Christian biblical events, then you are better served not reading this series.

I've read varying reviews of Christian Baskous as the narrator but I find him to be pretty good. He has a challenge to voice a number of different accents (Hungarian among them) and genders so he does as well as can be expected.

On the whole, if you like Rollins AND fantasy novels, then you might enjoy this series. There is an adventurous historical romp to this and if you don't take it too seriously, it can be fun.

The DaVinci Code with Vampires...

Is there anything you would change about this book?

The first chapters of this book were exciting, and the book could've taken many interesting directions - but the vampire direction that the book took lost me. I finished the book because it was entertaining enough, but it was definitely a little "out there". I would have definitely kept the first 100 or so pages of this book and then taken the story in a completely different direction, far away from the vampire fad of this decade. I would quickly (and in an oversimplification) sum it up as The DaVinci Code with vampires.

Was The Blood Gospel worth the listening time?

It's entertaining enough, but not fantastic. Though, after you start it, you do want to know how it ends, even if the story is just mediocre.