Customer Reviews

UC Knights of the Blood

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

 

 

I discovered the Deryni novels in the early 80's and eagerly await each one as it is published. I, too, was first attracted to Knights of the Blood on the strength of Katherine Kurtz' name, but immediately noticed that she was credited only as co-creator. I agree that Scott MacMillan's writing is not up to par with his wife's, but that isn't to say that the story is not engaging. I have enjoyed the books, although a globe-trotting millionaire homicide detective on the trail of Nazi vampires can seem a bit much sometimes, especially with his spur-of-the-moment sexual encounter. All-in-all, though, the books are extremely readable and enjoyable, and I have been waiting for book #3 for several years now, along with the next Deryni book. Are the MacMillans listening?

I think that your enjoyment of Knights of the Blood is dependant on two factors: your expectations and whether or not you are familiar with the author's previous work. When I picked up Knights of the Blood, I was completely unfamiliar with either author, and had no expectations other than to be entertained for a few hours, so I ended up fairly happy with the book.

Knights of the blood benefits from an interesting concept, namely an ancient order of Crusader Knights-turned-vampires battling a sinister order of Nazi vampires - what's not to like? I love a good vampire story, and this had the makings of a great one. Unfortunately the book suffers from poor execution. The writing is at times clumsy, the research seems a bit weak, the characters aren't as developed as they could be, etc. Given the subject matter I didn't expect greatness. After all, Salem's Lot and Vampire$ are the exceptions, not the rule. Still, a bit more professionalism would have helped.

In the end, Knights of the Blood delivered exactly what I expected - a fun book to occupy a few hours of my time. If you're into this kind of story, and aren't expecting high literature, you'll probably enjoy the book as well. It's not one you'll find yourself reaching for again, though. This one is strictly a "read it and trade it in" book.

I'm a little bewildered by some of the reviews below. The first review was my first guess that the cup in question was the Holy Grail. I understood it simply to be a sacramental cup from a church. The blood drinking is a very Medieval thing, though a bit pagan in origin (drinking of an enemies blood transfers their power to you).
It's a book that doesn't take itself too seriously...
It's fun, I heartily look forward to the third book in the series.
Maybe it's not for fans of the authors wife , but I think she'd disagree... maybe it is only for those fans who can enjoy a book without a running list of criticisms.

Not being a Katherine Kurtz afficianado I can't compare to previous works, however I have to beg to differ with the previous review. I like Vampires, medieval history, and WWII therefore this hit the spot. Not by any means a horror classic but an enjoyable couple of days reading.

I've read almost all of kurtz's work and am very pleased with almost all of it. This book was written obviously by a protege,a writer she is trying to bring along in her style of writing untill he fully developes his own style. The story is absolutely as good as some of the more successful blood and smut vampire drivel on the market. The story holds together and has good action flow.Scott deserves a better shake than he has been getting,he is not Katherine Kurtz,let his writing be judged by his prowess as an author to gain and hold a readers attention, not Katherines.I read the book,I liked the story,I would like to see a sequel. Jacamo

'Knights of the Blood', by Katherine Kurtz, and Scott MacMillan, finds Detective John Drummond investigating a murder case that begins strange, and gets stranger as he digs deeper. Does the body of the victim, covered in Nazi tattoos and completely drained of blood, really have a connection with an uncaught serial killer from many years before? Or has Drummond stumbled into the middle of an ancient blood feud that is even more deadly?

I found both books to date in this series well written and engaging. They grab you from page 1. The characters are fleshed out and "real". The detail is exceptional. when will more in this series be published?

A major disappointment for Kurtz fans, this book shows none of her excellent characterizations. Unlike her Deryni series, none of these characters inspire a feeling that you want to know these people better. Not James Drummond, the protagonist, who apparently gives up his charmed, bachelor life working for the LAPD. Not the order of crusading knights who somehow felt that the desecration of the Grail Shrine in the Holy Land by vampiric Saracens could be cleansed by nailing the lead vampire to the shrine wall and drinking his blood using the cup of Christ. All in all, the work was clearly a lesson in writing for MacMillan, who got his characterizations down better by the book's end. But it's scarcely worth the read for Kurtz fans

I was quite disappointed with both these books. As others have noted, the characterizations were disappointing, the plot seemed a bit thin ... and while they held up tolerably well for one reading, they have no re-reading value. I also found it rather appalling that the *only* female character in the books exists only to sleep with the male lead, for no reason whatsoever.

As for the vampires ... bah. Badly handled and silly. Read Kurtz's Lammas Night for a real WWII occult thriller, and forget this and its sequel.

I bought this book on the strength of Katherine Kurtz's name. I've loved her Deryni series for years. When I saw she was working with a collaborator for the Adept series, I was sceptical, but have been won over by the well-written stories and excellent characterizations.

I was therefore all the more disappointed in this series. I've read the first two and decided not to waste my time and money on any of the others. The writing style is clunky (I'm really not interested in how the detective's rented Mercedes handles, what he's wearing, etc) and the characters are more like caricatures. I've been a reader of SF/fantasy since I discovered the Ring trilogy in grade school, so willing suspension of disbelief comes easily. However, I found this novel and its successor to be completely over the top. It also seemed more into weapons, gore, and violence than characters and plot development.

In short, except for the occult aspect, this book had none of the qualities I've known and loved in Kurtz's other works. However, if you like books about satanic Nazi vampires, give this book a try.