Most Helpful Customer Reviews
|
|
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
WELL WORTH THE WAIT, March 2, 2000
I have loved books since childhood. All books and all topics. As I grew older and moved on to more adult themes, I began to miss having the illustrations that we all had as children to guide us on our way through the story...until now.The other night for the first time in quite a long time, I actually sat down with a book and lost myself to the magic that Cherif Fortin and Lynn Sanders created for us. Not only is this book beautifully written with words that cause your heart to beat faster when you sense the danger that Prince Emric is walking into, but the artwork shows us the full range of human emotions. From beginning to end, each and every picture that Cherif Fortin and Lynn Sanders gave to us tells a story of it's own. From the beautiful, young Lady Leanna, to the proud Prince Emric, to the bold and brash Prince Bran. You can see the passion, feel the love, the anger, the despair, the disbelief, the rage and the fear in each and every piece of art. And as we read further we shed tears over on old soldier, Captain Aelfric, who breathed his last in order to protect his prince and consequently we share the grief with Prince Emric. As this wonderful tale comes to a close, each and everyone of us waits with bated breath for the Lady Leanna to finally understand what true love really is. It is the Passions Blood of our very existence.
|
|
|
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful Unique Presentation!, March 10, 2005
I had this book on order before it was published. I attended the American Bookseller's Show in Chicago and was stunned by the portrait painting Lynn Sanders was doing of Cherif Fortin! Oh yes, I got an autograph from Cherif-and I enjoy having the book and his signed picture on my bookshelf. It was the combination of portrait-quality paintings within a novel, however, that was most intriguing, and it made me rush home and put the book on order! It is absolutely beautiful.
Throughout Passion's Blood, Cherif and Lynn combine a wonderful historical novel with fantastic portrait paintings, quite similar to those old Bible portraits that some of you may remember. Quite simply, I wanted this new, unique book as a keepsake and, what I hope, will be the first in a series of this wonderful step "backward," where the beauty of the printed word is combined with an artistic complement beyond belief. E publishing may be the future; but Passion's Blood shows why we will always cling to the printed book as a unique treasure.
The story is set in the time when property and castles were seized by raising great swords against another. It opens as Lord Gareth and his men fight to save the castle, Gallitain, from Highland warriors. All are killed save the chieftain who is captured by their leader.
Lord Gareth is the father of Lady Leanna, who is betrothed to Prince Emric, younger brother of the Heirs of Kaherdin. And Lady Leanna is with them at Brimhall, when her father and homeland are attacked. Having been sent there for protection, as well as to participate in the Summer Feast, a great event with minstrels and jugglers, Leanna is thrilled to share this time with Emric. But as the festivities begin, she also sees the antagonism and cruelty of Prince Bran as he forces battle with a fellow knight. Leanna is caught and forced to watch this encounter until Emric arrives.
Later, while King Morien shares food with his family, they are disturbed by a representative group of the Deldann warriors, who announce their victory over Gallitain and declare war on the King on behalf of King Lorccan. Knowing there is no way out, the King and brothers prepare for war.
During the ensuing days, King Morien is killed, Lady Leanna is kidnapped, and Prince Emric is forced into battle. But as Emric considers all that has happened, he begins to question exactly who the enemy is and, as he finds that his father has been killed and pursues his murderer and Leanna's kidnappers to free her, he faces the greatest battle he will ever encounter. But Prince Emric is seriously wounded. Can the power of Lady Leanna's love save him? And will Lady Leanna ever see her father again?
Perhaps this historical romance pursues an age-old plot, but the story, with the accompanying illustrations, creates a fresh combination that is well worth your time. Anybody interested in historical fiction will want Passion's Blood as a unique addition to their home library.
|
|
|
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The vanguard for a new category in book illustration, October 22, 1998
By A Customer
Passion's Blood is the vanguard for a new category in book illustration. A well-written first effort, the choice of language, use of illuminated letters to highlight paragraphs, page layout, and breathtaking 35 full color photographic oils all combine to enhance the feel of a medieval adult fairy tale. The story offers all the timeless elements of good drama and romance: love, passion, sex, doubt, filial betrayal, greed, war, suspense, murder. This unique combination of text and visual beauty results from the joint artistic and literary talents of the book's illustrators, who are also the authors - Cherif Fortin (also the model for the book's hero) and Lynn Sanders. Whether or not you are a romance reader is beside the point, although Passion's Blood is definitely a standard-setting entry into a new sub-genre in the romance field. In the hands of Fortin and Sanders (today's internationally recognized master of photographic oils), Passion's Blood becomes a gift book and necessary addition to any collection of modern art/photography, positioning it as a crossover book with enormous appeal to a wide variety of readers. Even more, it is a superb example of 20th century interpretation of a 600-year old painting technique perfected by such masters as Jan van Eyck (Arnolfini's Bride), that was almost lost after the advent of color film for cameras. As the first in a four-book series, Passion's Blood is a collector's item - either by standards of romance readers or art aficionados - and the series should become a must-have for both sets of bibliophiles.
|
|
|
Most Recent Customer Reviews
|
by Gena Showalter
by Gena Showalter
by Gena Showalter
by Gena Showalter
by Gena Showalter
