Customer Reviews

Blood Brothers [Large Print Ed.]

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The Blood Brothers of Hawkins Hollow promises to bring us adventures as the distant past melds with the present day bring the Dark and Light to fight again. This is the first book of the trilogy and it simply wets the appetite, as well as leaving many questions unanswered. All of Nora Roberts characters are well developed and become friends you want to learn more about.

I'm impatiently waiting for book two.

I was not thrilled with the plot line. I am not into paranormal or "otherworldly" stuff, and so the plot left the total Trilogy as unbelievable. The story begins with three boys celebrating their tenth birthday by an overnighter in the woods. The boys come from different backgrounds, but are best friends and proceed with the blood brothers rites--knicking themselves and mixing their blood. They also recite a passage they have created, but while proceeding with this rite, one of the boys blood drips to the ground and unbeknownst to them, begins to sizzle. This sets off a whole chain of events that runs throughout this book and into all three books.

The plot is unbelievable, BUT the characters are believable and absolutely phenomenal--some of the very best Nora Roberts has ever created. I judge quality of a book by how long I remember it. While I didn't like the plot, I did love the characters and the love story, and I do remember this book vividly. That, in my opinion, qualifies this story as a five star.

*** NOTE MY REVIEWS OFTEN CONTAIN SPOILERS ***
Nora Roberts does not disappoint in this opening to one of her newest trilogies. While the setting or story have nothing to do with Celtic roots, it's like being pulled to a tavern in Ireland as you settle into Roberts' familiar cadence and pace reminiscent of a story you'd picture in some cozy Irish tavern. Roberts has a voice distinctively her own and her words are like lyrics or music in the style with which she writes.

I will note however having all three book to this trilogy is advised before ever opening the covers of the first book.

This trilogy drags the reader to a small town in Maryland where a centuries old battle between light and dark still wages every seven years. In 1652 Giles Dent, a source of light, possibly a wizard though his exact title of being is so far unmentioned sent his lover and unborn children away to safety then trapped a demon so deadly none could kill him beneath the Pagan Stone, an alter-like stone deep in the the Hawkins Hollow woods. Before his death in the battle he sacrificed himself, his power to prepare those to come to the war they would someday battle in hopes of finally defeating this evil.

In 1987, three ten year old boys, descendants of Dent and his lover, became blood brothers on a stolen outing at the stone. In the process they released both light and dark onto their tiny little Maryland town and the battle was begun again. Now, for seven days in the seventh month of every seventh year an evil is unleashed on the town that drives its residents to unspeakable acts while the boys are left to try with what gifts they were left by Dent to fight the evil back and protect the innocents the darkness targets.

Now as the third unleashing of evil approaches, three women, unknown descendants of the evil itself have come to fight it back, because this battle will be the last and the winner is as of yet unknown.

This story focuses on the group both coming together, meeting each other and learning to be a team as well as the love story developing between Quinn Black and writer who's there to ferret out the story she's now become a part of and Caleb Hawkins, one of the three to set the story into motion.

Though the ending is slightly disappointing because it feels as though there should be more, another chapter to keep the story into motion, it is not a Roberts novel to be missed. The chilling scenes she creates with vivid clarity are enough to have any reader looking over their shoulder. The way she draws you in to immerse you in history is fascinating in and of itself and of course no one writes romance like Roberts does so that aspect doesn't even bear mentioning, it's a given.

This is why I recommend having all three books before beginning to read this tale as there is more, it's just found in the next book in this exciting trilogy. The Hollow.

While not as engrossing as the Cirle trilogy, this book effectively sets up the characters and background, and leaves you wanting more of the story. Typical NR '3 boys/3 girls' cast complete with the playful bickering while they fall in love, but enjoyable and entertaining nonetheless. Being an audiobook 'reader', the narrater is an important aspect and Phil Gigante skillfully portrays both the male and female characters.

Am waiting for book 2.

i order this book in large print and i rec a hard copy but in regular print very disappointed will not use this site again