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batbones's review against another edition
2.0
I was attracted to the book because of its alternate historical interpretation, so no surprises there that I was more interested in the past than 'present day' sequence of events. Even to the extent of skipping chunks to reach the next block of events.
Found this rather disappointing, apart from the fascinating account of Nazi 'research' which was expertly woven into fiction. I couldn't become accustomed to Dietrich's portrayal which was varied a bit from the impression I gathered from biographies. He might be intimidating at times but I found the general sense of assertiveness the author tried to infuse strange; in my books Himmler isn't that threatening, not overtly, in any case.
The plot struck me as a bit of a stretch. The inclusion of the Collider, though integral to the plot, left me in disbelief. The whirlwind of locations left me a bit bewildered; wanderings, then a secret Shangri-La and now of all places, the Hadron Collider? I probably missed the whole point, not to mention the glaring parallels between the machinery the reader was introduced to in Tibet and the modern invention we have here.
Found this rather disappointing, apart from the fascinating account of Nazi 'research' which was expertly woven into fiction. I couldn't become accustomed to Dietrich's portrayal which was varied a bit from the impression I gathered from biographies. He might be intimidating at times but I found the general sense of assertiveness the author tried to infuse strange; in my books Himmler isn't that threatening, not overtly, in any case.
The plot struck me as a bit of a stretch. The inclusion of the Collider, though integral to the plot, left me in disbelief. The whirlwind of locations left me a bit bewildered; wanderings, then a secret Shangri-La and now of all places, the Hadron Collider? I probably missed the whole point, not to mention the glaring parallels between the machinery the reader was introduced to in Tibet and the modern invention we have here.
tinabaich's review against another edition
4.0
Blood of the Reich follows two parallel stories, one that begins in 1938 with a Nazi expedition to Tibet and the other with a single, cubicle-dwelling woman in present day Seattle. The Nazis are searching for ultimate power in the form of the legendary city of Shambhala. Benjamin Hood, a museum curator and adventurer, races the clock to stop them on orders from the American government thus setting up a battle between good and evil.
This quest for Shambhala reaches out from the past to touch the life of Rominy Pickett. What starts as a completely normal day for Rominy quickly becomes the adventure of a lifetime when a mysterious journalist saves her from a car bomb. Rominy is adopted, but her unknown family history ties her to the events of 1938 and may hold the key to solving the mystery of Shambhala.
William Dietrich’s historical thriller seems well-researched and is definitely imaginative. The expressions of Nazi philosophy were both disturbing and fascinating. Dietrich makes them sound almost logical but with a hint of madness. Though I found myself slightly more interested in Rominy’s fate, both storylines were well-executed and came together artfully. I knew more than Rominy early on in the story and am relatively sure Dietrich meant for that to be the case. There were still surprises along the way though, and I stayed up past my bedtime to finish the last fifty pages.
I’m happy to have been introduced to this author and will definitely be reading more of his work. If you are a fan of historical mysteries and thrillers, I highly recommend Blood of the Reich.
http://iubookgirl.blogspot.com/2011/08/review-blood-of-reich.html
This quest for Shambhala reaches out from the past to touch the life of Rominy Pickett. What starts as a completely normal day for Rominy quickly becomes the adventure of a lifetime when a mysterious journalist saves her from a car bomb. Rominy is adopted, but her unknown family history ties her to the events of 1938 and may hold the key to solving the mystery of Shambhala.
William Dietrich’s historical thriller seems well-researched and is definitely imaginative. The expressions of Nazi philosophy were both disturbing and fascinating. Dietrich makes them sound almost logical but with a hint of madness. Though I found myself slightly more interested in Rominy’s fate, both storylines were well-executed and came together artfully. I knew more than Rominy early on in the story and am relatively sure Dietrich meant for that to be the case. There were still surprises along the way though, and I stayed up past my bedtime to finish the last fifty pages.
I’m happy to have been introduced to this author and will definitely be reading more of his work. If you are a fan of historical mysteries and thrillers, I highly recommend Blood of the Reich.
http://iubookgirl.blogspot.com/2011/08/review-blood-of-reich.html
harishwriter's review against another edition
5.0
I liked everything about the book. Thick plot, rich historical tapestry, well fleshed antagonist (that's the real twist). Eventually good guys win, but way the plot thickens, how it twists and turns gave me goosebumps.
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