Rating: 
Summary: Gritty, hard-core fantasy that has a bite to it!
Review: "Blood & Pearls" is a prequel to the excellent two novel sequence, "Zorachus" and "the Nightmare of God." In "Blood & Pearls" we meet Zorachus' father and high priest of Tschonberg. The plot is tense and well-written. I couldn't put the book down once I started reading it.I especially enjoy how the author wove a consistent cosmology and theology into the novel. In many ways, his writing style resembles C.S. Lewis' or J.R.R. Tolkien's. You can read Mark E. Roger's novel at multiple levels from a purely escapist to a deeply philosophical. The author went beyond his past efforts in this novel and explained how magic works and some of the hierchy of the infernal realms. Look for reprints of his past works too, especially: "the Dead," "Zorachus," "the Nightmare of God," and the Blood of the Lamb triology. My one caution -- these tales are definitely not for the kids. Reader maturity is a must for these novels.
Rating:
Summary: Gritty, hard-core fantasy that has a bite to it!
Review: "Blood & Pearls" is a prequel to the excellent two novel sequence, "Zorachus" and "the Nightmare of God." In "Blood & Pearls" we meet Zorachus' father and high priest of Tschonberg. The plot is tense and well-written. I couldn't put the book down once I started reading it. I especially enjoy how the author wove a consistent cosmology and theology into the novel. In many ways, his writing style resembles C.S. Lewis' or J.R.R. Tolkien's. You can read Mark E. Roger's novel at multiple levels from a purely escapist to a deeply philosophical. The author went beyond his past efforts in this novel and explained how magic works and some of the hierchy of the infernal realms. Look for reprints of his past works too, especially: "the Dead," "Zorachus," "the Nightmare of God," and the Blood of the Lamb triology. My one caution -- these tales are definitely not for the kids. Reader maturity is a must for these novels.
Rating:
Summary: with villains this cool...
Review: ...you might want them to win. But don't worry, that won't happen with this book -- the heroes are even cooler. Everyone is super cool, in fact, but believable; they have reasons for everything they do. The bad guys are as real and as well developed as the good guys are, and you can see why both are the wonderful violent twisted perverts that they are.
Rating:
Summary: All the ingredients of a rousing fantasy novel
Review: Action, adventure, sex, violence, humor, philosophy. All the ingredients of a rousing fantasy novel are present here in perfect proportions. Master fantasy novelist Mark E. Rogers does it again with his latest book set in the world of Zorachus. Blood + Pearls tells the tale of Mancdaman Zancarthus, father of the (in)famous Zorachus. The decadent, depraved city of Khymir comes alive in this book, particularly in the descriptions of the Warrens and the Arena. The Childrens Hour in the Arena is an especially disturbing view of this truly evil place. The fight scenes are vividly described in gory detail, and play like a movie in the reader's mind. For a truly moving experience, read this novel to the soundtracks of 'Gladiator' or 'Conan the Barbarian'. Great work Mark! I can't wait for the next one to see print.
Rating:
Summary: A great, fast paced, high energy story that really ROCKS!!!
Review: An awsome novel. The characters seem to come alive on the paper. The settings make you feel as if you're there. The story keeps your eyes glued to the pages. The philosophy makes you stop and think. This is definatly a novel worth reading, you will not be disappointed. Just as in his other books, this one has way of capturing your attention and imagination and holding them until the end. Having read some of the stories that take place later (Zorachus, The Nightmare of God, and The Blood of the Lamb series) I had some idea how the book might end (or at least who wouldn't die) and I was still fascinated by it enough to read it straight through. Also, the artwork in this book is super. It brings the story even more to life, and best of all and often overlooked, it matches the story. A TRULY EXCELLENT NOVEL and I can't wait for the next one.
Rating:
Summary: Sex and god and blood and pearls
Review: BLOOD AND PEARLS is a great beginning for the series of prequels to Rogers' ZORACHUS and BLOOD OF THE LAMB books. Set in Khymir, the city maintained by Satan as an argument against the creation of the human race, it introduces Zancharthus, a blood-thirsty sorceror with few redeeming qualities...but some. He's sexy, as are several of the main characters as we learn from Rogers' lengthy, vivid, and...quite interesting sex scenes. He's reasonable by comparison with his enemies. Dessicatorius, the leader of the Satanic cult for which Zancharthus works, who sees fluid as the problem and spiders as the solution, is one of Rogers' best bad guys...and that's saying something! And he really wishes things worked better. There's enough there to start the process of salvation. In addition to great characters, wild action, fantastic monsters, and solid philosophy the book has wonderful illustrations...Dessicatorius covered with spiders (p.264) is dementia incarnate and the last picture in the book (p.313)is about the fleshiest piece of cheesecake you're likely to see. There's something for everybody...and then some!
Rating:
Summary: Orgy on Fire!!
Review: Blood+Pearls is a mind-altering drug. What other book features a villain who believes fluids are the root of all evil? Anyway, this crazed novel features fluids of all kinds, bull demons, spiders, and the straightlaced Jagutai Jen-shian, Rogers' sexiest hero yet. It's philosophically stimulating, funny, exhilaratiing and sickening in equal measure. (And remember, don't step on the eight-legged saints!)
Rating:
Summary: first of a kind
Review: Damn spiders, always causing problems. This book was a very good read. I read this book in one day evan though i shouldn't have. definetly a book for mature readers, Full of the good stuff, funny situation, violence galore, and good illustration.
Rating:
Summary: Run Conan, Run!
Review: Epic sword and sorcery will never be the same now that Mr. Rogers has arrived. He has brought his not-too-nice neighborhood of Khymir with him and believe me, you don't want these people for friends! These include Dessicatorius, High Priest for Tchernebog and a madman with a fondness for spiders; Torrisanna, the voluptuous and deadly High Priestess of the Double Goddess; and of course, Mancdaman Zancharthus. Into this unholy Trinity steps Jagutai Jen Shian, the Eyes of the Khan. He has been dispatched to Khymir to vouchsafe the signing of a trade agreement between the Khan and the Guild of Merchants. An unwilling spectator at first, he is drawn into the serpentine schemes and plots that surround and entwine all of Khymir. Jagutai is thrust into the fray as he becomes aware of Zancharthus' plans to overthrow Dessicatorius and take control of the priesthood. Despite his initial doubts, Jagutai sees in Zancharthus something more than just another libertine, that most unusual and rare of Khymirian creatures, a thinking man. The two of them chop at each other in bouts of logic that are as every bit as entertaining as the physical fights, but with far more serious consequences. This book has it all. It is by turns murderous bloodbaths, sorcerous battles, philosophical and theological insights and even a primer for redemption. Imagine if you will, Narnia gone bad. Very bad. Blood + Pearls will keep you entertained from beginning to end but even more importantly it will definitely give you something to think about.
Rating:
Summary: Why haven't you read this book yet?
Review: For all the books I've read, there are a lot of authors who write one really good book. Mark E. Rogers is the author who consistently writes great books.
The dialog in Blood + Pearls kept me riveted, the characters flowing in the pages became real, and the nightmare that is Khymir took life. Blood + Pearls is filled with intelligent characters, gruesome acts, erotic images, and more imagination than several authors put together. The illustrations provided by the author feed his vision directly to you. There's no quibbling about what he means.
This isn't new; he's written 5 books in this universe before, books I am delighted to have read (there are a couple I've even re-read). If you're not familiar with his books you only cheat yourself. I suggest you pick up a copy of Zorachus and start reading. You've got some catching up to do.
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