Rating: 
Summary: Compelling but it doesn't stand on its own
Review: A word of warning to anyone who might pick up this book - this is a sequel, a fact not acknowledged on the cover, or for that matter anywhere at all on the book.The story moves compellingly between two doctors in two centuries. The historical tale stands on its own but the contemporary one needs more explaining. Frustrated with cryptic references that could only be understood if I went to the first volume, I've stopped reading until I can get a copy of The Plague Tales.
Rating:
Summary: If you liked Plague Tales you'll love this one
Review: and if you hated Plague Tales you'll hate this one too. Ann still writes plodding dialogue, and her characters do bone-head things, but I loved the story. I sat down to read it and didn't get out of my chair till I was finished. Ann tells the stories leap frog style again, which keeps everything hopping along nicely. I wish the supernatural business had been better clarified or eliminated. Give us a solid druid or leave the mystery wind and helpers out. A few loose ends hint towards a third novel in the works: what exactly is so different about Kristina anyway? And does that mutant bug in the "safe house" mutate further? I do hope that in the third novel, if there is to be one, Ms. Benson polishes her dialogue and characters, otherwise there is great potential for this intriguing series to deteriorate into grocery story novels. I would recommend this book as a good read, but not necessairly a well-written one.
Rating: 
Summary: Ann Benson Does It Again!
Review: Ann Benson has written another intriguing book. In continuing the story lines that began in The Plague Tales, the author has given the reader another dose of adventure in the past and future. The Burning Road is every bit as good as her first novel. In this installment, Ms. Benson moves her characters forward 10 years. A lot has happened in those 10 years, but you can bet that more is about to happen. Again, you don't have to be a history buff to enjoy this book. The author makes the story lines very interesting and explains what you may need to know about the different times. Most of the medical thriller plot lies in the future story line this time around. But that doesn't make either less interesting. Ms. Benson does a masterful job of developing characters and plot. She packs the adventure and narrow escapes into this one too. Again, I would recommend this book to any one who enjoys reading.
Rating:
Summary: Easy to pick up but hard to put down!!
Review: As with her previous book, I had a hard time putting it down. The tantalizing events almost forewarn of a sequel. It will be interesting to see what remedies are developed for the newly discovered ailments!! Despite a generally pessimistic attitude I give her five stars!!
Rating:
Summary: Readable fluff
Review: Burning Road is a readable page-turner, which is the best that can be said about it. The twin plotlines intersect poorly, with several highly unbelievable contrivances. The modern-day story fares worse, with a catastrophic derailment in the final act. A main character vanishes abruptly and the resolution is left hanging with no sense of closure. The medieval tale more or less succeeds in a strangely poignant way, however. Still, for a 700-page novel I was expecting a lot more. I honestly can't recommend this book.
Rating: 
Summary: Almost as good as The Plague Tazles
Review: By 1358, the French remain stunned by the recent loss at Poiters to the English and the even more devastating results of the Black Plague. Dr. Alejandro Canches, a Jewish physician accompanied by his foster child Kate, travels in France, trying to help the sick. When Kate meets revolutionary Guillaume Karl, they fall in love. Meanwhile, Alejandro searches even ancient manuscripts seeking a cure for the plague. By 2007, the world tries to recover from the pandemic destruction of DR SAM, a deadly infectious disease. However, a new epidemic appears to be starting. Janie Crowe seeks a cure even contemptuously going back to Medieval manuscripts, including one written by a Dr. Canches. THE BURNING ROAD, the sequel to THE PLAGUE TALES, combines a historical plot with a futuristic story line. The Medieval tale is an interesting scientific romance that readers will relish even if there appears to be several stretched moments. The post-millennium story is also well designed in its own right. However, the two tales blend into one concrete, feasible story line. Ann Benson is clearly a major talent, but her herculean effort falls a bit short as the sum of the parts is greater than the whole. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: Disappointing Sequel
Review: Having read The Plague Tales several times, considering it one of the most intriguing books I've read, I couldn't wait for the sequel. I was very disappointed in the results. While the storyline was still intriguing, the plot was confusing. There were details regarding some of the characters that I didn't understand. I found myself rereading passages to see what those were and still couldn't find reference to them. If there is a third book, it would be much more interesting to use just Alejandro's storyline. I think the "future" storyline has just about fizzled out, which was evident about halfway through the book. My recommendation if you must read this book is go to the library and borrow it. Don't waste your money.
Rating: 
Summary: Perhaps I'm Not Imaginative Enough....
Review: I felt enormouly frustrated at the end of this book, which is unfortunate as I had enjoyed it until then. I wanted Ms. Benson to take me a little further down the Burning Road than she chose to. The critical conversation between Janie and Tom near the end of the book was left completely up to our imaginations, of which perhaps I am lacking. Nevertheless, I didn't want to have to fill in the story as to how Kristina came to be in addition to a few other critical questions. That's the authors job. Sorry, but I went to bed grousing.
Rating:
Summary: An incredible and all too possible tale.
Review: I find it slightly humorous that within a short period of time, say a month, I read The Killers Within which is about the rise of bacteria that are resistant to all antibiotics, read another book about the world created by the Black Plague in the 14th century (which was awful, but gave a basic understanding of life during that time), and then just accidently picked up this book without realizing that it was going to be a fictional work tieing the information of the two above books together. I didn't read the first book in this series, called The Plague Tales. I may well go back and get it so I can see where it started. From the understanding that archeological digs can occasionally release things that have lain dormant for centuries, it is easy to believe that in our quest for knowledge, we release things that would have been better left undisturbed. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The writing was more than adequate, and the plot made significant 'sense' to me. There was enough background provided in flashbacks and other hints to what had happened to bring out the original plague. I belong to a bioethical/disability group that seeks to prevent new genetic technologies being used to discriminate against those with disabilities and differences. So the concern for a large database containing all of our genetic information is extremely valid right now. Since a recent expedition occurred in which attempts were made to find frozen DNA of the original Spanish flu of 1918 (that killed one of my great grandmothers), and many fears were expressed then that the world could once again be exposed to a bacterial killer for which we have no vaccine or antibiothic. As once said by Michael Crichton in one of his books, 'scientists are too often proving they can do something, and they forget to ask whether they should do something!'
This includes cloning of humans who will most often come out with severe disabilities, the ever present threat of assisted suicide/euthanasia for those considered unworthy of life, genetic manipulation of food crops without research into whether those genetic manipulations will have long-term consequences for environmental impact or human consumption. This is definitely one of those books you cannot put down. A lot of research went into this particular piece of fiction. It is not far enough in the future to qualify as science fiction, and there are several plots to keep separate...one historical that has a direct impact on the plot based in the future. I will not waste times on books from authors who I think are unwilling to do the research, to understand the basic sciences behind this type of horrifying scenario. I would find it hard to place this book in any specific genre...what's important is that it is a great read. Karen Sadler,
University of Pittsburgh
Rating:
Summary: Pas Mal
Review: I found Ann Benson's novel The Burning Road rather predictable and poorly written. Throughout the entire novel the dialogue was such that it was hard to believe that the characters were saying such stupid things, it was all very choppy and not natural at all. Also, the transitions between the different time periods were extremely annoying. I found myself considering actually reading through all the chapters of one time period and then going back and reading the others, so as to avoid the disruptions. However, I enjoyed the plot and, despite a few mistakes on Ms. Benson's part, the time periods were written convincingly enough to be enjoyable. The book was entertaining, and when the characters weren't speaking, they were well written. So, read this novel if you are willing to put up with a few inconveniences to enjoy the overall decent book.
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