Customer Reviews

Blood War (Masquerade of the Red Death #1)

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Robert Weinberg has managed to combine the two most difficult to achieve traits in a V:TM fantasy novel, namely character development and scope, with rapid action and a pace worthy of James Bond. The characters of the Camarilla, their servants and tools, as well as their ancient vampiric manipulators, come alive. We understand them, feel their desperation, revel in their triumphs, but realize how ephemeral is victory within the Jhyad, yet how final are the defeats. By scope I mean that the book reaches back to ancient beginnings, and across many current boundaries and spheres of influence. The book's villains appear in the principal city of the vampire world, pose threats from that vantage which could affect all life on Earth... yet somehow manage to do so without getting preachy or unecessarily artificial... the connections seem possible, and we feel comfortable with the trails ending at the feet of real entities out of vampire and human legend. Few ficititous worlds are so completely well-crafted, even accounting for the advantages of writing within the well-established World of Darkness. Of course, even so skillful a web as Mr. Weinberg has weaved, would be dull if there weren't constant action along with the angst. The World of Darkness is a violent place of sudden death and dangerous creatures. The special effect budget for a movie based on this script would keep several hi-tech firms busy for years. A rare treat for any fiction fans; a must-have for gothic horror fans.

As a previous reviewer noted (and was subsequently punished for via "not helpful" votes), this book tosses a lot of powers around. There is no story of struggle or the steady increase of power, you just see brutally powerful characters fight, and when a new plot twist is introduced, another brutally powerful character appears. It's like playing an D&D and starting at level 20.

That said, the story is entertaining. Weinberg knows how to spin a yarn with fairly intricate plot twists, and this trilogy is certainly more action-oriented than the 13-novel saga that followed it a few years later. However, my main beef is the dialogue, which detracts from the story to the point of distraction.

One of the first things you learn in your junior high/high school creative writing course is to not hand-deliver major plots points via artificial dialogue. It's stupid, and everyone can see what you're doing. This trilogy is brimming with this irritating plot delivery device. The main characters, who have known each other for 6,000 years, will mention in passing their backstory as if the other didn't know. They'll elaborate on things for no apparent reason, such as the history of vampires, and the result is you feeling like the character stops the story, turns and faces you, the reader, and starts explaining things.

Also, the characters are far too chipper for this vampire world. They're so eager to help, they fall in love with humans, they share their emotions without suspicion, they crack jokes in the middle of battle ... it's just not a serious treatment of the genre. It's rather like taking Arnold Schwarzenegger's flippant character from Commando and putting him in the role of Lestat. You simply aren't trying very hard.

3 stars for a fun story, but stupid dialogue and overly-witty nonsense detract. The next two actually get worse, so they get 2 stars for the same reasons.

Bloodwar is one of the best written books I've read. If you're going to read this book find a time when you're not going to be interupted. It grabs you like a snake grabs a mouse.

This book was the begining of a wonderful series. After reading the whole three books in the series I re-read it about two more times in one day just trying to replay over and over the actions that happened. This book is really marvelous. Although, I think it left me wanting to see what happened between Madeline and Elisha who I loved! This series made Weinberg one of my new favorite authors to look for when I want to read a good book! It's not that hard to get into. It doesn't describe to much so that you get tired of hearing discriptions and begin to drift. All the characters are cool

This is possibly one of the best books, and series, which I have ever had the privaledge of reading. Robert Weinberg casts a dramatic tale of violence, mystery and a power strugle that threatens society and all of humankind as we like to think we know it. In a trilogy that turns one way then another, Weinberg keeps you at the edge of your seat wanting more. All of Weinbergs characters are well developed while they maintain the mystery which we all cary within us. This is definately the type of book that you cannot put down

I devoured this book fairly quickly, and came out pleased, but not amazed. No offense, but WOD books aren't exactly known for being best sellers for a reason...however, even though this book isn't great, its not too bad either. Worth a read, for sure. I think that my issues with it were the fact that there were so few humans involved in its plot, and the ending was horrid. The ending was laughably poorly executed. "Blood War" is written fairly well, however its action scenes are a tad boring & slow, not dramatic enough. My favorite character was the Nosferatu living in Paris. I ordered all three in this series, and am very pleased to see that this Nosferatu is one the cover of the 2nd book...hopefully this means that there will be more of him when I start reading it. Anyway, very good as far as WOD books go, just don't come in expecting an Ann Rice.

For the opening of a trilogy, Blood War does a excellent job at bringing the reader into the world and going in depth enough to give fans and newcomers alike a great ride. Character depth and variety, cunning schemes and subversion, brutality and apathy in a World of Darkness that is rarely found in any fiction writing.

For anyone unfamiliar with the World of Darkness and the Vampire The Masquerade game, this series reveals one of the early versions of that game in where the horror and depravity of the denizens of the world were much more vivid. For the fans of the game, it gives a glimpse to the early editions era where the game differed quite a bit from the final third edition setting.

So fans reading it who are only, or more, familiar with the third edition game have to realize where the frame set Weinberg uses comes from. As my favorite setting personally, it's great to see it in novel fashion with such exceptional flair. While newcomers get to see Vampire in all it's sinful glory without the heavy gloss of cover-up.

Strongly recommended for readers who like gothic horror.

Excellent writing and character style. I read this one first and was happy that i wasn't completely lost as can sometimes happen.This is also my first clan novel and i found the story and history intriguing.Horror novels never give me the creeps ,but the characters were so vivid that i succumbed to the fear.

One of the most fantastic books I've ever read. Weinbergs writing style grabs you attention and holds it, and the plots he spins is totally intriguing. Great command of language, man, he has style. And amazing insights into the World of Darkness, the picture he paints is frightening in its realism. You know this is a fantasy, but is it? :)

5 stars for a vampire the masquerade pulp book? I am going to admit that I did enjoy this book, it's a very readable trilogy, far better than the modest 13 novel clan series which I gave up 30 pgs into the second book. By all means, read it, you'll have fun.