Most Helpful Customer Reviews
121 of 124 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Make Room For Victoria, August 8, 2001
Tanya Huff has been turning out fine fantasy work for some time now. "Blood Price," an early effort from 1991, is the first volume of a vampire series that focuses on three main characters. The first of these is Victoria Nelson, once a homicide inspector with the Toronto police, she has been forced to retire by the start of retinitis pigmentosa. Tough and intelligent, Vicki refuses to be beaten by the disease and has set up as a private detective. Mike Celluci was Vicki's partner on the force and her lover as well. Anger over Vicki's decision to leave the police force has separated the two lovers, but sparks still fly when they are together. Their bickering disguised a deeply held mutual affection. A sudden rash of hideous killings, throats torn out and blood drained, brings Vicki and Mike back together. As the body count mounts Vicki begins to suspect that the killer is not quite human. The newspapers warn of a vampire, but Mike refuses to believe that any such creature can exist. Vicki is not so sure. When she manages to be present at the next killing she discovers Henry Fitzroy at the death scene. Henry, a handsome, intelligent writer of romantic novels, manages to convince Vicki that he is not the killer. But to do so he must reveal that he is a 450 year old vampire, the illegitimate son of Henry VIII, no less. Henry realizes what Vicki does not. The killer is not a rogue vampire, but a demon, called into service by someone in the city. But the creature serves two masters, the human who called him and one of the greater demons of hell. By using the killings to spell the name of the greater demon across the Toronto landscape, this evil force intends to open the way for a reign of terror on the earth. All Vicki and Henry have to do is identify which of the greater demons is trying to cross over, catch the lesser demon, and stop the human mage who is casting the summonings. Piece of cake. The three investigators, separately and together are challenged to a race against time. Hampered by Vicki's night blindness, Henry's vampire hours, and Mike's refusal to consider an inhuman killer, it will take all of their energy and a fair amount of luck to track down the elusive magic user. There are lots of plot twists, some hair-raising brushes with death, and very satisfying conclusion. This is a fine start to what will develop into an exciting series. Inevitably, the reader will make comparisons between Vicki Nelson and Hamilton's Anita Blake. They have much in common. Their personalities are similar, but Vicki doesn't quite have the attitude that Blake does. Of course, Anita has far more powers than Vicky does. And Henry, while attractive, is no Jean-Claude. All of Huff's characters, even while they are squabbling, have far better manners. Hamilton is a stronger author, but saying so is unfair to Huff, who is hardly lacking in writing skills. If readers are willing to judge this fine series on its own merits I think no one will be disappointed. If you are looking for a new Anita Blake, seek elsewhere.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
72 of 73 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Marvellous Mix of Mystery, Fantasy, and Romance!, October 4, 2002
"Blood Price" by Tanya Huff is the first book in a five book series revolving around Vicki Nelson, an ex-policewoman turned Private Investigator because of a degenerative condition that is slowly causing her to go blind. Add in Henry Fitzroy, a 450-year-old vampire romance writer and bastard son of Henry VIII and Mike Celluci, Vicki's ex-partner on the force and sometime lover, and you have the recipe for a compelling, exciting, and fun story. Huff has created an intriguing group of main characters and set them in the midst of a suspenseful and well-written mystery. Sure to please readers of fantasy, mystery, and even romance genres, "Blood Price" is one great read. Something is stalking the streets of Toronto at night, tearing out throats and draining bodies of blood. After Vicki discovers the first body in a subway station, she is reunited with Mike Celluci, the primary homicide detective on the case, who she hasn't seen in the eight months since she resigned from the force. These two can't seem to talk to each other for long without yelling, but underneath all the anger, they still hold a deep affection for one another. Vicki quickly begins to believe that the killer is far from human, but Mike stubbornly refuses to believe in a supernatural possibility. The media has started crying vampire, which is where Henry Fitzroy comes in. He has long since learned to survive without killing, and happily co-exists with the 3 million citizens of Toronto. However, the vampire frenzy the media has created is exactly what Henry doesn't want, for it is more than likely to bring about his demise. Vicki and Henry meet under less than ideal circumstances when Vicki comes across Henry leaning over the newest mutilated body. In order to convince her he's not the killer, Henry reveals his secret to Vicki, who he immediately feels drawn to. It's not long before these two team up, and start hunting the killer together. Henry knows just what it is, a demon, being called into service by an unknown human. And what's worse is that this lesser demon is the minion of a greater demon, and the killings are writing the name of that greater demon on the city of Toronto. Once the name is complete, it will open the doorway to Hell on Earth, and the start of Armageddon. And the world's only chance lies in the hands of one vampire, who can't work days, and a night-blind ex-cop. But Henry and Vicki make a great team, and they aren't about to give up without a fight. The chemistry Huff develops between Vicki and Henry is electric, and I can't wait to see what develops between them in later books. Vicki is a wonderful heroine, she's got plenty of vulnerabilities but she's still very tough and very determined. I adore Henry; he is a refreshingly different kind of vampire, and a fascinating character. The flashes of his past are expertly handled and really help the reader understand him better. Mike Celluci is also well drawn, and his interactions with Vicki are often humorous and always interesting. The story effectively builds to a thrilling climax and Huff provides readers with a satisfying conclusion. "Blood Price" is a hugely entertaining and tightly plotted book. The story is filled with suspenseful brushes with death and chilling scenes of undiluted evil, but Huff skilfully blends these with some very funny moments to keep the tone from getting too dark. "Blood Price" is just an all-around excellent read, sure to amuse, intrigue, and entertain readers everywhere. It's a book you don't want to miss and I most definitely recommend it!
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
55 of 59 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good book in the Anita Blake genre..., March 17, 2001
I'm not usually a sci fi/fantasy/horror reader (I usually read mysteries), but I got hooked on one subgenre after reading the first Anita Blake novel by Laurell Hamilton (I have since read the entire Anita Blake series as well as the opening novel for the Merry Gentry series). Perhaps that is because Hamilton's novels, as well as the "Blood" series by Tanya Huff, are real-world mysteries with fantasy/horror elements added as a twist. Tanya Huff's "Blood" series is set in present day Toronto and features ex-Homicide detective Vicki Nelson, current Homicide detective Mike Celluci (Vicki's former partner and sometime lover), and Henry Fitzroy, 450 year old vampire (illegitimate son of Henry VIII, romance writer, and potential lover of Vicki's). This unlikely trio, who do not always like or understand each other, must work together to stop Evil (in the form of killer demons, etc.) and keep Toronto safe, while keeping secret from everyone the fact that there really ARE vampires, demons, werewolves, etc. While, in my opinion, Laurell Hamilton is the best writer of this subgenre, Tanya Huff is a close second. I read the first 4 of the "Blood" series within a week and will be sorry to finish the series after reading "Blood Debt". However, I have just discovered Huff's newest series, "Summoning", so I can't be too sad. The only problem is, there were 3 years between the first "Summoning" book and the second (which just came out in paperback this year), so I may have to wait awhile for the third!
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
|
|
Most Recent Customer Reviews
|
