Seraph of the End: Brothers

I read Seraph of the End, Vol. 4: Vampire Reign

I posted a review at the ComicBookBin, which is seeking donations.  Follow me on Twitter or at Grumble.

Book Review: BLOOD INFERNAL

BLOOD INFERNAL
HARPERCOLLINS/William Morrow – @HarperCollins @WmMorrowBks

AUTHORS: James Rollins and Rebecca Cantrell – @jamesrollins
ISBN: 978-0-06-234326-0; hardcover (February 10, 2015)
416pp, B&W, $27.99 U.S., $34.99 CAN

Blood Infernal is a 2015 supernatural adventure novel and suspense thriller by authors James Rollins and Rebecca Cantrell.  “James Rollins” is the pen name of the veterinarian-turned-novelist, James Paul Czajkowski.  Rollins is the New York Times bestselling author of numerous books and is best known  for the SIGMA Force series, which includes the recent, The 6th Extinction.  Cantrell is a New York Times bestselling author known for the “Hannah Vogel” mystery series, which focuses on a crime reporter in 1930s Berlin.

Blood Infernal is the third and concluding novel in Rollins and Cantrell's Order of the Sanguines series.  The novel focuses on three heroes who seek to unravel a supernatural mystery and apocalyptic prophecy.  They are on a mission to stop the gates of Hell from opening, an act that will signal the end of humanity.

Early in Blood Infernal, an escalating number of grisly murders occur across the globe.  Archaeologist Dr. Erin Granger knows that she must decipher the immortal prophecy found in the tome said to be written by Christ, the Blood Gospel.  The shackles of Lucifer have been loosened, and the world crumbles as the Apocalypse looms.  How can one lone human stand against this?

Erin is not alone.  She is the “Woman of Learning,” one of the prophesied heroes who are supposed to stop Lucifer.  There is U.S. Army Sergeant Jordan Stone, the “Warrior of Man,” and Father Rhun Korza, the “Knight of Christ.”  From North Africa to Italy to Hungary to France, this trio chases clues that have come from across centuries, but some of their prizes may already be lost.  The forces of darkness have a mysterious new leader, a demon named Legion.  He has many faces.  His reach is beyond measure, and yeah, he really is more powerful than the heroes.

I am familiar with James Rollins' name, but before Blood Infernal, I had never read one of his books.  Within the last year, I started regularly receiving review copies of books published by HarperCollins imprint, William Morrow, Rollins' publisher.  [William Morrow is also Neil Gaiman's publisher, but I will save that for another review.]

Having missed The 6th Extinction, I was anxious to read something by Rollins, so I jumped at the chance to read Blood Infernal when it was offered to reviewers.  I must say that I am pleasantly surprised on two fronts.  I genuinely enjoyed reading this book, but I had never read anything like it.

Blood Infernal seems like a story that would be the basis of an epic crossover event from Marvel Comics – with the Avengers and Doctor Strange battling the forces of Hell – or from DC Comics – with every member of the Justice League from across time and space battling Darkseid.  Blood Infernal seems like a supernatural thriller version of a Tom Cruise Mission: Impossible film.  It's The Da Vinci Code married to John Constantine: Hellblazer.  [I could do this all day.]

Blood Infernal is a strange beast, but it is a narrative that grabbed me and dragged me along on a mission filled with occult and supernatural madness.  Much of the novel is a claustrophobic worldwide chase for clues, which focuses on a few characters at a time.  The big battle, with its Industrial Light and Magic/Weta theatrics, is saved for the last act of Blood Infernal.

I will give Blood Infernal the highest praise that I can give it:  at $28, it's worth every penny in pure entertainment value.  I didn't want it to end, but since it had to, I may have to go back and read the first two volumes of this trilogy, which I, of course, missed the first time around.

Fans of James Rollins and of Rebecca Cantrell already know to read this book.  Other readers who are looking for a good pot boiler will want to grab the suspense thriller and apocalyptic throw-down that is the novel, Blood Infernal.

A-

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


The text is copyright © 2015 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for syndication rights and fees.

Kamisama Kiss: Out of Time-Turn

I read Kamisama Kiss, Vol. 17

I posted a review at the ComicBookBin, which is seeking donations.  Follow me on Twitter and at Grumble.

Read Webcomic Grumble: Chapter One - Page 23

Page 23 is here: http://www.comicbookbin.com/grumbleone023.html

I Reads You April Showers 2015

It's April 2015.  The year is moving along fast and furious.  Welcome to I Reads You, a ComicBookBin web and sister publication (www.comicbookbin.com).  We write about the things we read:  mostly comic books, comics, and related books.  Sometimes, we’ll write about or link to other topics:  typically books, politics, and entertainment.

All images and text appearing on this publication are copyright © and/or trademark their respective owners.

DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for April 1, 2015

DC COMICS

SEP140315     ABSOLUTE GREEN ARROW BY KEVIN SMITH HC     $99.99
JAN150310     ARKHAM MANOR ENDGAME #1     $2.99
JAN150325     BATMAN AND ROBIN ANNUAL #3     $4.99
JAN150304     BATMAN ETERNAL #52     $3.99
JAN150320     BATMAN SUPERMAN ANNUAL #2     $4.99
JAN150341     BATWOMAN ANNUAL #2     $4.99
JAN150218     CONVERGENCE #0     $4.99
JAN150367     DC COMICS ZERO YEAR TP (N52)     $24.99
JAN158100     DEATHSTROKE #3 2ND PTG     $2.99
JAN150247     EARTH 2 WORLDS END #26 (NOTE PRICE)     $3.99
SEP140317     FLASH A CELEBRATION OF 75 YEARS HC     $39.99
FEB150242     FLASH SEASON ZERO #7     $2.99
JAN150313     GOTHAM ACADEMY ENDGAME #1     $2.99
JAN150337     HARLEY QUINN #16     $2.99
FEB150283     HINTERKIND #17 (MR)     $2.99
FEB150268     LOONEY TUNES #224     $2.99
FEB150285     NAMES #8 (MR)     $2.99
JAN150227     NEW 52 FUTURES END #48 (WEEKLY)     $2.99
JAN150380     NEW TEEN TITANS TP VOL 02     $19.99
JAN150351     SINESTRO ANNUAL #1     $4.99
JAN150294     SUPERMAN WONDER WOMAN #17     $3.99
JAN150296     SUPERMAN WONDER WOMAN #17 COMBO PACK     $4.99
JAN150279     TEEN TITANS ANNUAL #1     $4.99
FEB150289     WOLF MOON #5 (MR)     $3.99
JAN150281     WONDER WOMAN #40     $2.99
DEC140384     WONDER WOMAN HC VOL 06 BONES (N52)     $22.99
JAN150375     WONDER WOMAN TP VOL 05 FLESH (N52)     $16.99

DC COMICS/DC COLLECTIBLES
NOV140354     ARROW DARK ARCHER AF     $24.95
NOV140353     ARROW DEADSHOT AF     $24.95
JUL140294     BATMAN ANIMATED BAS MAN BAT AF     $24.95
JUL140291     BATMAN ANIMATED BAS ROBIN AF     $24.95
JUL140292     BATMAN ANIMATED BAS THE JOKER AF     $24.95
AUG140388     BATMAN BLACK & WHITE STATUE BY FRANCIS MANAPUL     $79.95
SEP140361     DEATH ANKH NECKLACE     $69.95

Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for April 1, 2015

MARVEL COMICS

FEB150721     AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #17     $3.99
JAN150817     AVENGERS #43 TRO     $3.99
JAN150897     AVENGERS EVERYBODY WANTS RULE WORLD PROSE NOVEL HC     $24.99
FEB150693     AVENGERS MILLENNIUM #1     $3.99
DEC140948     AVENGERS RAGE OF ULTRON OGN HC     $24.99
JAN150896     AVENGERS SCARLET WITCH BY ABNETT AND LANNING TP     $24.99
FEB150697     AVENGERS ULTRON FOREVER #1     $4.99
FEB150734     CYCLOPS #12 BV     $3.99
FEB150818     DARK TOWER DRAWING THREE HOUSE CARDS #2 (MR)     $3.99
DEC148710     DARTH VADER #1 GRANOV 2ND PTG VAR     $4.99
DEC148711     DARTH VADER #2 GRANOV 2ND PTG VAR     $3.99
FEB150777     GEORGE ROMEROS EMPIRE OF DEAD ACT THREE #1 Of(5)     $3.99
FEB150750     GUARDIANS OF GALAXY BEST STORY EVER #1     $3.99
FEB150751     GUARDIANS TEAM-UP #4     $3.99
FEB150816     IRON FIST LIVING WEAPON #11     $3.99
FEB150675     KANAN LAST PADAWAN #1     $3.99
APR140751     MMW AVENGERS HC VOL 01 NEW PTG     $49.99
APR140752     MMW INVINCIBLE IRON MAN HC VOL 01 NEW PTG     $49.99
DEC140963     ONCE UPON A TIME PREM HC OUT OF PAST     $24.99
FEB150805     OPERATION SIN #4     $3.99
FEB150808     PUNISHER #17     $3.99
FEB150825     RETURN OF LIVING DEADPOOL #3     $3.99
FEB150744     ROCKET RACCOON #10     $3.99
DEC148712     SPIDER-GWEN #1 RODRIGUEZ 2ND PTG VAR     $3.99
FEB150731     SPIDER-GWEN #3     $3.99
DEC148713     STAR WARS #1 CASSADAY 4TH PTG VAR     $4.99
FEB150762     TRUE BELIEVERS AGE OF APOCALYPSE #1     $1.00
FEB150761     TRUE BELIEVERS MARVEL ZOMBIES #1     $1.00
JAN150809     UNCANNY AVENGERS #3     $3.99
FEB150664     UNCANNY INHUMANS #0     $4.99
JAN150892     WEIRDWORLD TP WARRIORS OF SHADOW REALM     $34.99
FEB150826     WOLVERINES #13     $3.99