.com Author One-on-One: James Rollins and Rebecca Cantrell what is a good novel to read The Blood Gospel: The Order of the Sanguines Series
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Vampires The Vatican- This series was addictingBy BugsI loved this book. I have ended up reading both books in this series, as well as one of the two short stories associated with it- the other one is next on my list!It took me just a bit to get into this book, as it keeps introducing mystery story aspects that I couldn't quite figure out how they were going to relate to the story, but a few chapters in, it became very clear that it WAS all going to fit together to make one heck of a story.The characters slowly develop through both this book, and the next, right along with the story. It's as much archaeological thriller as it is a vampire story, or secret religious organization story, and since I enjoy all those storylines, I guess I couldn't help but fall in love with this fantasy world in which Christianity is more than we ever thought. It's not blasphemous at all, not in my opinion. Though it plays a bit with the New Testament, Christ is even more a savior than ever.The books and short stories are:-----Short Story - City of Screams (Introduces Sergeant Jordon Stone, a main character in both books, and his military team)1 The Blood Gospel-----Short Story - Blood Brothers (Introduces a new character that is in book 2, Christian)2. Innocent BloodI found the world of the Blood Gospel a bit addicting. It had good resolution, but I wanted to go back to the secret world so much that I could not hardly wait to start the second book.7 of 7 people found the following review helpful. Rollins' first collaboration is a fangtastic success!!!By Steven WhiteWow! This book totally blew me away!I've always been a James Rollins fan, since the day I discovered him (ie needed a book for a LONG cross-country drive in a moving van, randomly picked up Map of Bones paperback off the shelf at Target and BAM! LOVE!). He's got great characters, stories spanning centuries and continents, and the fate of the world in the hands of a small group of heroes.I think my favorite part about this book is that James Rollins really stepped out of his "norm" for his adults books. It's not fantasy, like he writes under his other pen name James Clemens, and it's not historical-adventure-techno-secret agent-thriller like his Sigma series and standalones. It's so much more than that. It's like the genius of those with a whole new supernatural element mixed in.For his first ever written collaboration, it seems like a partnership made in Heaven. Rebecca Cantrell and Rollins' writings mesh so well together, you'd never recognize that this was book was written by two authors.The story is masterful -- a "save the world" epic, driven by prophecy, religion, and honor. The characters are likeable, believable, and relatable -- even those who are more than human. Cantrell and Rollins have created a fantastical new world of adventure and populated it with a wide array of new heroes and villains -- and it will suck you in and leave you breathless as you jump from continent to continent.You'll not want to put this book down until you get to the last page. And when you do get to the last page, REJOICE! It's going to be a SERIES! :)1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Loved it.By Robin LandryI'm fairly new to James Rollins having only read one other book by him, but Blood Gospel is a page turner. The collaboration between Rollins and Rebecca Cantrell was seamless. I tried to figure out who was writing when, but I couldn't tell. Just one rip-roaring-science-meets-mythology suspenseful novel. The story starts off with a bang. I group of men imprison a young girl in a cave thousands of years ago, and we don't learn the answer to why, until well into the book. It's a great set up and Rollins/Cantrell use it will as their story hums along at a fast pace.Most everyone knows the story of the mass suicide of Jews during the Roman siege of Masada, and Rollins/Cantrell use it well to give their story firm direction. This is the story of Dr. Erin Granger, a archeologist working on a dig in Caesarea, Israel. An earthquake at Masada brings her, an Army Ranger, and a strange priest to a cave that the earthquake has opened. From there the intrigue sets in and never lets up until the last page of the novel.Who were the men who buried the young girl in the cave so many years ago? Are vampires real and where did they get their start? Blood Gospel answers these questions in a surprising, and seemingly logical way. I do confess that I Googled one of the characters to see the true history of this woman and was surprised to see how the authors weaved her real life story into the novel creating a plausible explanation for one of the most notorious women in our history.This the Twilight Saga for grownups. There's a love story, mild, and very sensual adult content, lots of mythology, and two very different hunks competing for Erin Granger's affections. I love how Granger holds her own with the boys, using her brain as well as sheer guts. I fell in love with both the soldier and the priest, and so does Erin, though they are opposite sorts of men.This novel screams out for a sequel so we can see what happens to all of the characters now that they've opened a Pandora's box of trouble. I will be looking forward to reading more of these intriguing characters.