What do you think?
Rate this book
Sign of Seven #1
Verbonden door het lot
Elke zeven jaar, gedurende een week in Juli, raken de bewoners van Hawkins Hollow bezeten door een collectieve gekte. Ze doen dan ondenkbare dingen die ze zich achteraf niet meer herinneren. Dit bizarre gegeven lokt journaliste Quinn Black naar het dorpje; ze hoopt er een onderwerp voor haar nieuwe boek te vinden.
Het is pas februari, maar Caleb Hawkins ziet en voelt hoe het kwaad zich al begint te roeren. Nooit zal hij vergeten hoe de verschrikking eenentwintig jaar geleden begon, en hij is vastbesloten het te stoppen. Daarbij roept hij de hulp in van zijn beste vrienden Fox en Gage. Quinn blijkt ook over bijzondere gaven te beschikken die haar binden aan het dorp – en aan Cal...?
Het is pas februari, maar Caleb Hawkins ziet en voelt hoe het kwaad zich al begint te roeren. Nooit zal hij vergeten hoe de verschrikking eenentwintig jaar geleden begon, en hij is vastbesloten het te stoppen. Daarbij roept hij de hulp in van zijn beste vrienden Fox en Gage. Quinn blijkt ook over bijzondere gaven te beschikken die haar binden aan het dorp – en aan Cal...?
349 pages, Paperback
First published November 27, 2007
2933 people are currently reading
21356 people want to read
About the author
Nora Roberts
1,217 books60k followersNora Roberts is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than 200 novels, including Hideaway, Under Currents, Come Sundown, The Awakening, Legacy, and coming in November 2021 -- The Becoming -- the second book in The Dragon Heart Legacy. She is also the author of the futuristic suspense In Death series written under the pen name J.D. Robb. There are more than 500 million copies of her books in print.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,126 reviews
May 29, 2013
So I used to be a book snob. I was an English major so I would only read books considered 'literature'. Even though I mostly read modern lit or southern lit....it had to be 'literature' and certainly not romance novels...OMG...NO! Well, I ended up visiting with some friends out of state and had left the book I was reading at home. I asked where the closed bookstore was so I could go and pick something up. Well, my friend was a reader too....of romance and smut. She couldn't believe as much as I read that I'd never read a Nora Roberts book. She loaned me this series and here I am around 6 years later and I've read over 50 of her books and the majority of what I read could be considered smut :) Thank God I forgot my book that trip! I was missing out on so much!
By the way, this series is good and it has a paranormal twist to it! So not only was I introduced to romance but paranormal as well.
By the way, this series is good and it has a paranormal twist to it! So not only was I introduced to romance but paranormal as well.
October 16, 2011
I'm a Noraholic but I was a bit disappointed with the last NR books I read, the Key trilogy, so I didn't know what to expect from this book. As I've learned the hard way, high expectations can be deadly, so my wariness towards this new trilogy ended up working in its favor as I really enjoyed this first book in the series and I'm definitely going to read the next ones.
Caleb Hawkins, Fox O'Dell and Gage Turner shared the same birthday (July 7th, 1977) and had been best friends their whole lives. On their tenth birthday, they decided to celebrate the date at the Pagan Stone, a somewhat "mystical" place deep in the woods of Hawkins Hollow where an ancient battle of good vs evil had taken place more than three hundred years before. In a typical behavior of ten-year-old boys - well, typical for the PNR world -, they soon came up with the idea of becoming "blood brothers" at midnight, right on time with the moment the seventh day of the sevnth month was born. As we all know, seven is a cabalistic number so it's a sure bet no good deed came from that... When Cal, Fox and Gage joined their cut wrists and mixed their blood, the demon who had been trapped in the aforementioned battle was released and the three boys' lives were changed forever. From that moment on, all hell broke loose in the town of Hawkins Hollow around July 7th every 7 years. Animals attacked their beloved owners, people went crazy, killed each other then themselves, it was mayhem all over town. Now, almost twenty-one years after their blood pact, Cal, Fox and Gage were still trying, with no success so far, to find a way to vanquish the demon they had inadvertently released. Unfortunately, the demon's evil power had grown stronger over the years and, this time around, they had to put a definitive end to this war - or die trying.
Blood Brothers was Cal's book, but Fox and Gage played very strong secondary characters in the story. I loved seeing them interact with each other, and I think NR is a master at writing male-male friendship. I admit I enjoyed reading their scenes together better than I liked seeing Cal with Quinn, and there was my "problem" with this book. Quinn - I hated the name, I had to keep reminding myself it was the heroine's and not some guy's name - was okay but a bit too assertive. I've seen her type before and it's fair to say she was a typical NR heroine, which I usually have no problem with, but something was missing in her character and I didn't connect with her. As a result, the romance part of this book wasn't as exciting as I wanted it to be. Cal and Quinn made a nice couple, but their journey to their HEA was lukewarm and kind of boring. A little bit of angst and conflict in their relationship would have been more than welcome, IMHO.
What saved this book for me was the PNR/suspense part. It was very well done, and I got goosebumps every time the demon made an appearance. Maybe I'm easily scared, but I made sure my bedroom window was tightly shut and the curtains were firmly closed when I went to sleep after finishing this book, LOL. After all the build-up, the ending wasn't as frightening as I was expecting but that was fine considering this was only the 1st book in the series and the "final battle" had yet to happen.
All in all, this was a very good start to the Sign of Seven trilogy and I can't wait to read Fox's and Gage's books. I sense The Pagan Stone, Gage's book, is going to be the best in the series, since he's the most complex and tortured of the three heroes. We shall see...
Caleb Hawkins, Fox O'Dell and Gage Turner shared the same birthday (July 7th, 1977) and had been best friends their whole lives. On their tenth birthday, they decided to celebrate the date at the Pagan Stone, a somewhat "mystical" place deep in the woods of Hawkins Hollow where an ancient battle of good vs evil had taken place more than three hundred years before. In a typical behavior of ten-year-old boys - well, typical for the PNR world -, they soon came up with the idea of becoming "blood brothers" at midnight, right on time with the moment the seventh day of the sevnth month was born. As we all know, seven is a cabalistic number so it's a sure bet no good deed came from that... When Cal, Fox and Gage joined their cut wrists and mixed their blood, the demon who had been trapped in the aforementioned battle was released and the three boys' lives were changed forever. From that moment on, all hell broke loose in the town of Hawkins Hollow around July 7th every 7 years. Animals attacked their beloved owners, people went crazy, killed each other then themselves, it was mayhem all over town. Now, almost twenty-one years after their blood pact, Cal, Fox and Gage were still trying, with no success so far, to find a way to vanquish the demon they had inadvertently released. Unfortunately, the demon's evil power had grown stronger over the years and, this time around, they had to put a definitive end to this war - or die trying.
Blood Brothers was Cal's book, but Fox and Gage played very strong secondary characters in the story. I loved seeing them interact with each other, and I think NR is a master at writing male-male friendship. I admit I enjoyed reading their scenes together better than I liked seeing Cal with Quinn, and there was my "problem" with this book. Quinn - I hated the name, I had to keep reminding myself it was the heroine's and not some guy's name - was okay but a bit too assertive. I've seen her type before and it's fair to say she was a typical NR heroine, which I usually have no problem with, but something was missing in her character and I didn't connect with her. As a result, the romance part of this book wasn't as exciting as I wanted it to be. Cal and Quinn made a nice couple, but their journey to their HEA was lukewarm and kind of boring. A little bit of angst and conflict in their relationship would have been more than welcome, IMHO.
What saved this book for me was the PNR/suspense part. It was very well done, and I got goosebumps every time the demon made an appearance. Maybe I'm easily scared, but I made sure my bedroom window was tightly shut and the curtains were firmly closed when I went to sleep after finishing this book, LOL. After all the build-up, the ending wasn't as frightening as I was expecting but that was fine considering this was only the 1st book in the series and the "final battle" had yet to happen.
All in all, this was a very good start to the Sign of Seven trilogy and I can't wait to read Fox's and Gage's books. I sense The Pagan Stone, Gage's book, is going to be the best in the series, since he's the most complex and tortured of the three heroes. We shall see...
May 14, 2014
Originally posted at The Book Nympho
Quick Summary
Almost 21 years ago, Caleb Hawkins and his two best friends hiked into the woods to celebrate their 10th birthday (they share the same day). What they experienced forever changed them and released a phenomena that affects their town and its residents every seven years. As the the 3rd seven-year anniversary approaches, Cal has agreed to work with paranormal researcher Quinn Black to chronicle the town and its strange history. She gets more than she bargained for and he realizes an extraordinary connection with her.
First impressions
I was prepared for a witch story with the requisite hocus pocus, one reason why I put off reading the series. What I was pleasantly surprised to find was a much richer story that's fairly complex. Yes, there's a hint of witchcraft but maybe a bit more of wizards and demons, dating back centuries. The connection between the three friends is no coincidence but what that is still requires explanation. At first blush, I liked all three who have distinct personalities in spite of their common bond.
The romance
Yet another story where I really liked the heroine. Quinn is smart, witty, confident and has to watch her calories. She and Cal had a great first impression and made no bones about. Such a pleasure to not have to wade through that annoying dance of pretense about their feelings or trying to deny them. They were refreshingly unapologetic about it. I loved their relationship and both characters.
The bottom line
If there was any downside to this story it's that it is part of a trilogy with a continuing story arc. While the romance reaches an apex, the mystery of the strange seven-year phenomena continues on. You do get some answers and an abundance of clues, though. I'm glad I finally decided to read this series and am pretty happy it's much more interesting than my imagination about it. On to the next book!
Quick Summary
Almost 21 years ago, Caleb Hawkins and his two best friends hiked into the woods to celebrate their 10th birthday (they share the same day). What they experienced forever changed them and released a phenomena that affects their town and its residents every seven years. As the the 3rd seven-year anniversary approaches, Cal has agreed to work with paranormal researcher Quinn Black to chronicle the town and its strange history. She gets more than she bargained for and he realizes an extraordinary connection with her.
First impressions
I was prepared for a witch story with the requisite hocus pocus, one reason why I put off reading the series. What I was pleasantly surprised to find was a much richer story that's fairly complex. Yes, there's a hint of witchcraft but maybe a bit more of wizards and demons, dating back centuries. The connection between the three friends is no coincidence but what that is still requires explanation. At first blush, I liked all three who have distinct personalities in spite of their common bond.
The romance
Yet another story where I really liked the heroine. Quinn is smart, witty, confident and has to watch her calories. She and Cal had a great first impression and made no bones about. Such a pleasure to not have to wade through that annoying dance of pretense about their feelings or trying to deny them. They were refreshingly unapologetic about it. I loved their relationship and both characters.
The bottom line
If there was any downside to this story it's that it is part of a trilogy with a continuing story arc. While the romance reaches an apex, the mystery of the strange seven-year phenomena continues on. You do get some answers and an abundance of clues, though. I'm glad I finally decided to read this series and am pretty happy it's much more interesting than my imagination about it. On to the next book!
November 21, 2016
Stephen King recently stated in his Entertainment Weekly column that Nora Roberts is cool. I agree. The woman always surprises me with the directions she takes her stories, and yet she remains consistant - men with good hearts, women who fall in love, and challenges they must face together if they are to win.
In this case there is an evil that was contained under a stone alter several hundred years ago by a wizard. Three ten-year old boys unknowingly do the one thing that releases the evil unto the world and the little town of Hawkin's Hollow. Since then, every seven years evil comes to the town, and people do very, very bad things to each other. Now 31, the boys/men come back together to see what can be done. Meantime there is a lovely writer who has come to town to investigate the story, and also to complicate things.
The story is good and creepy, and the characters ones you'd like to meet in person. My only complaint is that I don't want to have to wait for the next two!
Nora Roberts is very cool!
In this case there is an evil that was contained under a stone alter several hundred years ago by a wizard. Three ten-year old boys unknowingly do the one thing that releases the evil unto the world and the little town of Hawkin's Hollow. Since then, every seven years evil comes to the town, and people do very, very bad things to each other. Now 31, the boys/men come back together to see what can be done. Meantime there is a lovely writer who has come to town to investigate the story, and also to complicate things.
The story is good and creepy, and the characters ones you'd like to meet in person. My only complaint is that I don't want to have to wait for the next two!
Nora Roberts is very cool!
November 20, 2016
Even though I know I haven't read this trilogy before, but because I have read a number of Nora Roberts books it "felt" like I had already read this one.
This is the first book in the trilogy and it spent a lot of time setting the scene for all three books. All six characters (3 couples) have been set up with couple number one being set up with their potential HEA. The other couples/characters are present but not fleshed out and from a couple standpoint they been given their "wait until your book" papers.
Although I liked Cal, I really didn't like Quinn which made it hard to like their story. On top of that this book seemed rather boring with only a couple of scenes that really pulled me in. The ending definitely felt like it ended in the middle of the story and I was left feeling it was incomplete even for the first book of a trilogy.
This is the first book in the trilogy and it spent a lot of time setting the scene for all three books. All six characters (3 couples) have been set up with couple number one being set up with their potential HEA. The other couples/characters are present but not fleshed out and from a couple standpoint they been given their "wait until your book" papers.
Although I liked Cal, I really didn't like Quinn which made it hard to like their story. On top of that this book seemed rather boring with only a couple of scenes that really pulled me in. The ending definitely felt like it ended in the middle of the story and I was left feeling it was incomplete even for the first book of a trilogy.
May 17, 2021
Read this series when it first came out. And I recall my Amazon review did not go well. Just because I pointed out the many many flaws this first book had. Believe me this series should just be a hard pass. It takes all of Roberts tics in writing and somehow made it worse. And the big evil was just pathetic in the end. I really can't say more than that. Reading about a group of special men and women (per usual) who came together to fight evil in the town of Hawkins Hollow was a big raspberry. The hero and heroine were boring too. Not much else to say.
"Blood Brothers" starts off the whole "Sign of Seven" trilogy. Book one follows Caleb Hawkins, a descendant of one of the town's founders. Caleb and his two best friends, Gage and Fox (yeah I don't know about that name either) have done what they could to keep the evil contained that comes back every 7 years but now the 21st year it appears to be bigger, badder, and stronger. A reporter named Quinn Black comes to Hawkins Hollow because she has started to investigate the strange happenings that occur in the town every 21 years.
I can't say much about Caleb and Quinn. I did not care about their romance. Or the history of the town. I just went mmmm a lot while re-reading this one. I have been stopping and starting 6 of Roberts books in fits and starts the past three weeks and just finally rushed through this and the last two books because I want to keep my shelves up to date on all books I have read. This one was a painful re-read. It just doesn't work.
It doesn't help that Roberts does that thing she always does where she brings into focus the other potential couples so there's no real angst about any of them getting together. You already know from book #1 that Gage will get with Layla (and their powers were dumb by the way) and Fox is going to get with Cybil.
"Blood Brothers" starts off the whole "Sign of Seven" trilogy. Book one follows Caleb Hawkins, a descendant of one of the town's founders. Caleb and his two best friends, Gage and Fox (yeah I don't know about that name either) have done what they could to keep the evil contained that comes back every 7 years but now the 21st year it appears to be bigger, badder, and stronger. A reporter named Quinn Black comes to Hawkins Hollow because she has started to investigate the strange happenings that occur in the town every 21 years.
I can't say much about Caleb and Quinn. I did not care about their romance. Or the history of the town. I just went mmmm a lot while re-reading this one. I have been stopping and starting 6 of Roberts books in fits and starts the past three weeks and just finally rushed through this and the last two books because I want to keep my shelves up to date on all books I have read. This one was a painful re-read. It just doesn't work.
It doesn't help that Roberts does that thing she always does where she brings into focus the other potential couples so there's no real angst about any of them getting together. You already know from book #1 that Gage will get with Layla (and their powers were dumb by the way) and Fox is going to get with Cybil.
April 21, 2008
Well, I'm going to be completely honest and just say that this book was pretty boring. It dragged on, and she kept repeating the same concept of the story, over and over! "yes, I get it, now move on with the story!" I know a lot of people like her books, and for me it's a toss up, some I like, and some I don't. Unfortunatly, this is one I did not. I found my mind wandering to other things, and the characters really bothered me. Once again, she's very repeditive when it comes to the story line, some people like that, but for me, just give it to me once and I'm good. Needless to say, this book was one of a trilogy, and I won't be getting book 2.
October 29, 2012
Yay! I finished it!
Thoughts on the Story:
I loved the brotherhood bond between Cal, Gage and Fox. They had been friends for a very long time, and you could see that that bond was titanium and strengthened by their horrific mutual experience and legacy. I liked how they were three very different men, and I could see a distinction in their personalities throughout this book. I loved how the book started in the past, where we see how horrors begin in Hawkins Hollow, but also the three main characters as kids. It made me think of Stephen King's "It", "The Body", and also "Needful Things" and "'Salem's Lot". While I saw sort of an homage to King, I think Nora Roberts distinguished herself very well and gave this story her own stamp.
Additionally, I liked Quinn, Layla (writing this makes me laugh because I always thought of the Black Dagger Brotherhood when I heard their names in the same sentence, which also has a Quinn and Layla, although Quinn is spelled differently), and Cybil. I liked how their characters complemented Cal, Fox, and Gage's characters. While the other characters don't get as much page time, I got a sense for the local color and the world in which the main characters lived, how they related to their friends and family. I am a huge fan of small town fiction, and I think Roberts did a great job with creating this small town which seethes with dark secrets, anguish, but also loving families and friends, who are suffering with a difficult legacy and curse.
One of the best things about this book was the horror element. Roberts spectacularly imbues this book with a dark, horrifying atmosphere. I suppose this is a romance more than anything, but it really stands on its feet as a horror novel. The scary scenes were vivid and quite effective. I won't go into detail because I don't want to spoil anyone, but wow! Stephen King would probably give Roberts a pat on the back.
I have to say that the horror aspect engaged me more than the romance. I liked the romance, but I didn't feel any strong bond or connection to Cal and Quinn as a romantic couple. It could be that I like my romance intense and this wasn't that intense. It was more everyday to me, like when you see your friends meet and get together, and eventually get married. Nothing wrong with that. Just not as enthralling as the horror aspect of this book.
Audiobook Impressions:
I had mixed feelings about the narrator. He made some of the characters sound kind of goofy, but I liked how he made Gage's voice really deep, and how he did Giles' Scottish accent. I didn't like the way he did the female character's voices. They sort of sounded like men in drag. I think I might have connected more with the females if they sounded more authentically female. I think he did a good job of making each character have a different voice, so points there. On the good side, I loved the sound effects and music. It added to the eerie feel of this story. I listened to this at bedtime, late at night, and I had a couple moments where I questioned the rationality of that. Since audio is a good way to get a book read and still stay on my reading schedule, I'll probably get the other two on audio as well.
Overall Thoughts:
I liked this book, but I didn't love it. I think the horror part makes this a higher rated book for me. As I said above, the romance was sort of average to me. Not a big draw in this book. I did love the bonds between the characters and the small town feel, so that's another plus. I want to see how this series concludes, so I'll keep reading. It was a pretty good way to spend some hours listening.
Overall rating: 3.75/5.0 stars.
Thoughts on the Story:
I loved the brotherhood bond between Cal, Gage and Fox. They had been friends for a very long time, and you could see that that bond was titanium and strengthened by their horrific mutual experience and legacy. I liked how they were three very different men, and I could see a distinction in their personalities throughout this book. I loved how the book started in the past, where we see how horrors begin in Hawkins Hollow, but also the three main characters as kids. It made me think of Stephen King's "It", "The Body", and also "Needful Things" and "'Salem's Lot". While I saw sort of an homage to King, I think Nora Roberts distinguished herself very well and gave this story her own stamp.
Additionally, I liked Quinn, Layla (writing this makes me laugh because I always thought of the Black Dagger Brotherhood when I heard their names in the same sentence, which also has a Quinn and Layla, although Quinn is spelled differently), and Cybil. I liked how their characters complemented Cal, Fox, and Gage's characters. While the other characters don't get as much page time, I got a sense for the local color and the world in which the main characters lived, how they related to their friends and family. I am a huge fan of small town fiction, and I think Roberts did a great job with creating this small town which seethes with dark secrets, anguish, but also loving families and friends, who are suffering with a difficult legacy and curse.
One of the best things about this book was the horror element. Roberts spectacularly imbues this book with a dark, horrifying atmosphere. I suppose this is a romance more than anything, but it really stands on its feet as a horror novel. The scary scenes were vivid and quite effective. I won't go into detail because I don't want to spoil anyone, but wow! Stephen King would probably give Roberts a pat on the back.
I have to say that the horror aspect engaged me more than the romance. I liked the romance, but I didn't feel any strong bond or connection to Cal and Quinn as a romantic couple. It could be that I like my romance intense and this wasn't that intense. It was more everyday to me, like when you see your friends meet and get together, and eventually get married. Nothing wrong with that. Just not as enthralling as the horror aspect of this book.
Audiobook Impressions:
I had mixed feelings about the narrator. He made some of the characters sound kind of goofy, but I liked how he made Gage's voice really deep, and how he did Giles' Scottish accent. I didn't like the way he did the female character's voices. They sort of sounded like men in drag. I think I might have connected more with the females if they sounded more authentically female. I think he did a good job of making each character have a different voice, so points there. On the good side, I loved the sound effects and music. It added to the eerie feel of this story. I listened to this at bedtime, late at night, and I had a couple moments where I questioned the rationality of that. Since audio is a good way to get a book read and still stay on my reading schedule, I'll probably get the other two on audio as well.
Overall Thoughts:
I liked this book, but I didn't love it. I think the horror part makes this a higher rated book for me. As I said above, the romance was sort of average to me. Not a big draw in this book. I did love the bonds between the characters and the small town feel, so that's another plus. I want to see how this series concludes, so I'll keep reading. It was a pretty good way to spend some hours listening.
Overall rating: 3.75/5.0 stars.
June 11, 2025
This book was only ok in my opinion. I liked the premise. There was some decent romance but I felt like overall the plot was lacking a little. You have three young boys who go out camping when they are 10. They take a blood oath and it awakens some type of demon. Every seven years the demon comes out and wreaks havoc on the town for 7 days. The three boys now men are immune to its effects and also have some special quirks like never getting sick or injured. The town now has a reputation so a writer named Quinn comes to the town to write about the weird events. She ends up meeting Cal, one of the boys, and sparks fly. Two other women become involved and all six people are determined to stop the demon.
This book wasn't bad and I will read the next two but in terms of the paranormal or romance I've just read so many better books in the same genre that this one was a little lacking.
This book wasn't bad and I will read the next two but in terms of the paranormal or romance I've just read so many better books in the same genre that this one was a little lacking.
February 10, 2025
"Blame and responsibility aren't much different."
January 6, 2016
Re-read (5/01/16) English edition
Kind of meh. Basically what I remember it being...
This light-headed characterization of the characters "Nora Roberts" style is starting to get on my nerves. Their dialogues!
Their very confident dialogues. This isn't people who have any doubts. About anything.
I am starting to think they're all aliens in their absolute perfection.
Original Review:
(English review with some ramblings in Portuguese..)
Not my favourite, but it turned out better that i was hoping, considering how it began.
Or maybe I've just read one too many Nora Roberts books...
The beginning was a little boring, the Portuguese translation didn't help, and I had trouble connecting with the main characters.
Luckily it got better, partly due to the characters witty dialogues.
However when we got to the final pages, things went very...."circle trilogy" on me, if you get what I'm saying... ( it sucks).
I like the romances NR writes. ( I wouldn't mind though, "seeing/reading", something a little different when it comes to the characters, and the way they approach a relationship...)
I may like when NR places a little of paranormal in her stories...but I really mean a little, because I'm afraid that when the author uses too much paranormal elements (by definition the circle trilogy) the story gets filled with clichés...
I'll probably read the following books. I just hope the story gets a different translator, because if I hear/read another connected who gets to be literally translated, to "conectados" over, and over, and over, and over (eu estou conectada, eles estão conectados, nós estamos conectados....qual é o problema de "ligados", uma vez por outra???) I'll freak out!
And please, please, don't literally translate "sensible shoes" to Portuguese any-more!!
O.o
"...e viu uma velhota bem arranjada, de sapatos pretos e sensatos,(...)"pg 79
Are you trying to make us stop buying translated books?
Because it's working!!
I'll probably wait for a promotion to buy it, though.
Kind of meh. Basically what I remember it being...
This light-headed characterization of the characters "Nora Roberts" style is starting to get on my nerves. Their dialogues!
Their very confident dialogues. This isn't people who have any doubts. About anything.
I am starting to think they're all aliens in their absolute perfection.
Original Review:
(English review with some ramblings in Portuguese..)
Not my favourite, but it turned out better that i was hoping, considering how it began.
Or maybe I've just read one too many Nora Roberts books...
The beginning was a little boring, the Portuguese translation didn't help, and I had trouble connecting with the main characters.
Luckily it got better, partly due to the characters witty dialogues.
However when we got to the final pages, things went very...."circle trilogy" on me, if you get what I'm saying... ( it sucks).
I like the romances NR writes. ( I wouldn't mind though, "seeing/reading", something a little different when it comes to the characters, and the way they approach a relationship...)
I may like when NR places a little of paranormal in her stories...but I really mean a little, because I'm afraid that when the author uses too much paranormal elements (by definition the circle trilogy) the story gets filled with clichés...
I'll probably read the following books. I just hope the story gets a different translator, because if I hear/read another connected who gets to be literally translated, to "conectados" over, and over, and over, and over (eu estou conectada, eles estão conectados, nós estamos conectados....qual é o problema de "ligados", uma vez por outra???) I'll freak out!
And please, please, don't literally translate "sensible shoes" to Portuguese any-more!!
O.o
"...e viu uma velhota bem arranjada, de sapatos pretos e sensatos,(...)"pg 79
Are you trying to make us stop buying translated books?
Because it's working!!
I'll probably wait for a promotion to buy it, though.
November 24, 2008
For me, it was pretty much a given that I'd like this book because with maybe one exception, I've enjoyed every Nora Roberts book I read (and I've read almost every single one). And I did like this book. Actually, I loved it. There were maybe one or two things that could have been done a little better, but it didn't ruin the book. I still loved it.
Blood Brothers is the first book in NR's Sign of Seven trilogy. The series focuses on the quaint town of Hawkins Hollow where twenty one years earlier, three young boys went into the woods on their birthday and unwittingly unleashed something evil upon the town. Now, every seven years, for seven days, people go crazy, bad things happen, and then it's like no one remembers. Caleb, Fox, and Gage have never forgotten what they did, or stopped trying to find a way to end the evil.
Now paranormal non-fiction author Quinn Black has come to town, and it's immediately obvious to Caleb that Quinn's not just some woman writer. She's a part of it somehow. And with the additional arrivals of stranger Layla, and Quinn's friend Cybil, the pieces start to fall together. Because this time, it's a showdown between good and evil and it will require all six of them if they hope to succeed.
Maybe I'm a bit biased because I'm a self-proclaimed Nora slut, but this was a great book. And I loved the whole premise for this trilogy - much better than I have the last 3 series she's put out (Circle trilogy, In the Garden trilogy, and Key trilogy). It reminds me a bit of the Three Sisters Island trilogy (which is a favorite of mine); it's got a similar flavor, but the stories are very different.
Roberts really draws you into this story/series with the vivid details of the setting, the people, the situation. It makes you feel like your right there with the characters. Plus there's the romance angle. I could really feel the chemistry between Cal and Quinn. I enjoyed the simple, easy progression of their relationship; a simple fall into love. It's nice to read a romance that way every so often - one that's not based on pure lust or angst.
But one of the things I love most about NR trilogies, this one included, is that all six of the main characters of the series are actively involved in each book in the series. In many trilogies, authors focus on one couple, one set of characters at a time and move on. But NR uses all six characters liberally in all three books of her trilogies. I love that. It gives you a much greater sense of everyone, and really builds the relationships to a deeper level. So that's another reason I really enjoyed this story. All the characters were there and actively involved. Cal and Quinn where the focus, but you got to know the others, at least to a certain degree.
Anyway, this was a great start to the Sign of Seven series. It's a creepy yet interesting tale about good and evil, about family, and about love. I was thoroughly hooked from the beginning. There were maybe two things that I thought could have been done a little better. One was Cybil's arrival in the story and inclusion in the group. She's arriving supposedly as Quinn's friend who is really good at research, but once she arrives, it's like she's suddenly part of what's going on, and has precognitive abilities that were never mentioned before. There was just a leap of logic there that didn't quite work for me. I thought there needed to be a little more build-up to her role in it all, not a flying leap without any precursor.
And the other thing that lacked a little was the end. It came off a smidge rushed and...I don't know, maybe a little out of place. Something about it was just a little off, but I can't really say why.
But both of those were just little things because neither kept me from loving the book. I can't wait to get started on Book 2, The Hollow, which I plan to do very shortly.
Blood Brothers is the first book in NR's Sign of Seven trilogy. The series focuses on the quaint town of Hawkins Hollow where twenty one years earlier, three young boys went into the woods on their birthday and unwittingly unleashed something evil upon the town. Now, every seven years, for seven days, people go crazy, bad things happen, and then it's like no one remembers. Caleb, Fox, and Gage have never forgotten what they did, or stopped trying to find a way to end the evil.
Now paranormal non-fiction author Quinn Black has come to town, and it's immediately obvious to Caleb that Quinn's not just some woman writer. She's a part of it somehow. And with the additional arrivals of stranger Layla, and Quinn's friend Cybil, the pieces start to fall together. Because this time, it's a showdown between good and evil and it will require all six of them if they hope to succeed.
Maybe I'm a bit biased because I'm a self-proclaimed Nora slut, but this was a great book. And I loved the whole premise for this trilogy - much better than I have the last 3 series she's put out (Circle trilogy, In the Garden trilogy, and Key trilogy). It reminds me a bit of the Three Sisters Island trilogy (which is a favorite of mine); it's got a similar flavor, but the stories are very different.
Roberts really draws you into this story/series with the vivid details of the setting, the people, the situation. It makes you feel like your right there with the characters. Plus there's the romance angle. I could really feel the chemistry between Cal and Quinn. I enjoyed the simple, easy progression of their relationship; a simple fall into love. It's nice to read a romance that way every so often - one that's not based on pure lust or angst.
But one of the things I love most about NR trilogies, this one included, is that all six of the main characters of the series are actively involved in each book in the series. In many trilogies, authors focus on one couple, one set of characters at a time and move on. But NR uses all six characters liberally in all three books of her trilogies. I love that. It gives you a much greater sense of everyone, and really builds the relationships to a deeper level. So that's another reason I really enjoyed this story. All the characters were there and actively involved. Cal and Quinn where the focus, but you got to know the others, at least to a certain degree.
Anyway, this was a great start to the Sign of Seven series. It's a creepy yet interesting tale about good and evil, about family, and about love. I was thoroughly hooked from the beginning. There were maybe two things that I thought could have been done a little better. One was Cybil's arrival in the story and inclusion in the group. She's arriving supposedly as Quinn's friend who is really good at research, but once she arrives, it's like she's suddenly part of what's going on, and has precognitive abilities that were never mentioned before. There was just a leap of logic there that didn't quite work for me. I thought there needed to be a little more build-up to her role in it all, not a flying leap without any precursor.
And the other thing that lacked a little was the end. It came off a smidge rushed and...I don't know, maybe a little out of place. Something about it was just a little off, but I can't really say why.
But both of those were just little things because neither kept me from loving the book. I can't wait to get started on Book 2, The Hollow, which I plan to do very shortly.
April 22, 2024
Primer contacto con la autora y hay que decir que ha sido curioso.
Tres amigos que por azares del destino acaban despertando a un ser demoniaco dormido hace siglos, y veintiún años después vuelve con más fuerza. Mientras tres mujeres llegan al pequeño pueblo de Hawkings Hollow y que tendrán mucho que ver en los próximos sucesos.
La trama es interesante y la narración fluida, es un libro que se lee muy bien y te mantiene entretenido. Pero a medida que he ido avanzando en la lectura mi ánimo ha ido decayendo.
Al comienzo los personajes te caen bien a medida que te los presentan, sin embargo Cal, el protagonista masculino en este primer libro, cada vez le fui aguantando menos. Se vuelve sobreprotector con Quinn, hasta niveles de que intenta alejarla de la situación, no de forma violenta o dominante, pero si muy insistente hasta el punto de ser cansino. La relación entre ellos dos también llegó a aburrirme, mucha atracción y sexo pero lo sentí insulso.
Tras más de trescientas cincuenta páginas de lectura, llego al punto de quiebre con este libro. Sin entrar en detalles, se romantiza una violación. Todo sucede de forma que podrías no darte cuenta, pues ambos parecen estar satisfechos con lo ocurrido, pero me pongo a pensar en ese acto en la vida real y desde luego no se sentiría como algo romántico o pasional.
Vamos a dejar claro que si no hay consentimiento es una violación, y si te lo hacen además estando dormida pues ya me dirás tú qué tipo de consentimiento, me da igual explícito o insinuado, das a tu pareja.
En fin, acabé muy enfadada con este libro y a la trilogía le pueden dar morcilla. Cuando se me pase ya pensaré si darle otra oportunidad a la autora.
Tres amigos que por azares del destino acaban despertando a un ser demoniaco dormido hace siglos, y veintiún años después vuelve con más fuerza. Mientras tres mujeres llegan al pequeño pueblo de Hawkings Hollow y que tendrán mucho que ver en los próximos sucesos.
La trama es interesante y la narración fluida, es un libro que se lee muy bien y te mantiene entretenido. Pero a medida que he ido avanzando en la lectura mi ánimo ha ido decayendo.
Al comienzo los personajes te caen bien a medida que te los presentan, sin embargo Cal, el protagonista masculino en este primer libro, cada vez le fui aguantando menos. Se vuelve sobreprotector con Quinn, hasta niveles de que intenta alejarla de la situación, no de forma violenta o dominante, pero si muy insistente hasta el punto de ser cansino. La relación entre ellos dos también llegó a aburrirme, mucha atracción y sexo pero lo sentí insulso.
Tras más de trescientas cincuenta páginas de lectura, llego al punto de quiebre con este libro. Sin entrar en detalles, se romantiza una violación. Todo sucede de forma que podrías no darte cuenta, pues ambos parecen estar satisfechos con lo ocurrido, pero me pongo a pensar en ese acto en la vida real y desde luego no se sentiría como algo romántico o pasional.
Vamos a dejar claro que si no hay consentimiento es una violación, y si te lo hacen además estando dormida pues ya me dirás tú qué tipo de consentimiento, me da igual explícito o insinuado, das a tu pareja.
En fin, acabé muy enfadada con este libro y a la trilogía le pueden dar morcilla. Cuando se me pase ya pensaré si darle otra oportunidad a la autora.
November 15, 2011
This was my first Nora Roberts book, and I picked it up after a friend gave it her highest recommendation. However, I wasn't that enthralled by it. The storyline had potential, but I feel like the characters drug it down. The most interesting part of this book was when the boys were 10, everything after that was a steady line of boring for me.
I don’t know if it is just me, but I couldn’t stand Quinn. Roberts was going for this likeable, pushy, strong character but it was way overdone and after reading a couple of her long dialogues I just wanted her to shut up.
All three of the guys started off really interesting to me. They were all from different backgrounds, and made a great trio when put together. Then they grew up and it seems like Roberts didn’t know how to keep their uniqueness about them. For me they blended too much, and if the characters are bland, then so is the story.
The love….eh. This goes back to me not liking Quinn. I thought she was so brass and pushy, that I couldn’t even enjoy watching her find love. Even trying to over look that fact, I thought the love part was just kinda thrown together.
I do not think I will be picking up the next two books. I’m not interested enough to see the other two couples get together, and I wasn’t pulled into the story enough to care about how they get rid of the demon.
I don’t know if it is just me, but I couldn’t stand Quinn. Roberts was going for this likeable, pushy, strong character but it was way overdone and after reading a couple of her long dialogues I just wanted her to shut up.
All three of the guys started off really interesting to me. They were all from different backgrounds, and made a great trio when put together. Then they grew up and it seems like Roberts didn’t know how to keep their uniqueness about them. For me they blended too much, and if the characters are bland, then so is the story.
The love….eh. This goes back to me not liking Quinn. I thought she was so brass and pushy, that I couldn’t even enjoy watching her find love. Even trying to over look that fact, I thought the love part was just kinda thrown together.
I do not think I will be picking up the next two books. I’m not interested enough to see the other two couples get together, and I wasn’t pulled into the story enough to care about how they get rid of the demon.
February 16, 2008
I don't know why I bother with Nora Roberts anymore, but she is as formulaic and predictable as Roberts and in her guise as J.D. Robb. I think I used to like her, when I was 16. Maybe that's because she actually came up with new ideas back then.
Total yawner, and if you changed the names, you could see any of her other recent trilogies shaping up in this short novel. Six characters, three relationships warming up. It is as if she just changed the setting and the action bits rather than any of the relationship and conversational stuff.
It would be even more boring to reiterate how each of her gambits resembles previous books, so I won't bother doing it. I don't know what compelled me to get this from Amazon. I'm pretty sure it was because I wanted to get the 4 for 3 special and couldn't find a last book.
But despite the fact that my refund will be less than the price of media mail, I'm returning this to Amazon, just so this crappy author won't get another dime because of me.
Total yawner, and if you changed the names, you could see any of her other recent trilogies shaping up in this short novel. Six characters, three relationships warming up. It is as if she just changed the setting and the action bits rather than any of the relationship and conversational stuff.
It would be even more boring to reiterate how each of her gambits resembles previous books, so I won't bother doing it. I don't know what compelled me to get this from Amazon. I'm pretty sure it was because I wanted to get the 4 for 3 special and couldn't find a last book.
But despite the fact that my refund will be less than the price of media mail, I'm returning this to Amazon, just so this crappy author won't get another dime because of me.
September 13, 2024
3.5/5⭐️
This is a re-read for me. I read this back in 2011 I believe. And still think about this series. This was probably the first “adult” romance fantasy type series I had ever read. Think spooky haunted/cursed town in the middle of nowhere. Pagans, demons, lore. Cal, Fox and Gage unleashed a demon on their 10th birthday. And every 7 years, it unleashed bell on their town for 7 days. Quinn is a determined journalist who loves the spooky and haunted, after researching Cals town, she wants to take a closer look and investigate in order to write her next book. Soon they realize that they are connected to the town and each other, and that together (including newcomer Layla and Quinn’s BFF Cybil) they might be able to defeat this evil. I’ll be honest to say, it was better in my mind. There was some odd writing and choices in there. But looking forward to book 2!
This is a re-read for me. I read this back in 2011 I believe. And still think about this series. This was probably the first “adult” romance fantasy type series I had ever read. Think spooky haunted/cursed town in the middle of nowhere. Pagans, demons, lore. Cal, Fox and Gage unleashed a demon on their 10th birthday. And every 7 years, it unleashed bell on their town for 7 days. Quinn is a determined journalist who loves the spooky and haunted, after researching Cals town, she wants to take a closer look and investigate in order to write her next book. Soon they realize that they are connected to the town and each other, and that together (including newcomer Layla and Quinn’s BFF Cybil) they might be able to defeat this evil. I’ll be honest to say, it was better in my mind. There was some odd writing and choices in there. But looking forward to book 2!
December 8, 2014
Doubling up on the brain candy for the holiday weekend.
12.2.14: This book is terrible. I can't stop reading it.
12.5.14: For the love of God, stop having sex and go fight the demon.
12.8.14: Finished this a couple of days ago. It is the worst. THE WORST. It reads like a Lifetime supernatural movie. I thought I'd be able to slog through the rest of the trilogy, but I don't think I'm going to. I will, however, try another Nora Roberts, because you don't get to be as beloved as she is just by writing crap. Maybe she had a bad day when she wrote this one (I'm pretty sure it took 20 minutes to crank out).
12.2.14: This book is terrible. I can't stop reading it.
12.5.14: For the love of God, stop having sex and go fight the demon.
12.8.14: Finished this a couple of days ago. It is the worst. THE WORST. It reads like a Lifetime supernatural movie. I thought I'd be able to slog through the rest of the trilogy, but I don't think I'm going to. I will, however, try another Nora Roberts, because you don't get to be as beloved as she is just by writing crap. Maybe she had a bad day when she wrote this one (I'm pretty sure it took 20 minutes to crank out).
June 4, 2010
'3.5 Stars'
Though a romantic suspense, it was not captivating. Characters were kinda dull at the beginning, and I liked Fox (The Hollow, second book from Sign of Seven's hero.) more than Cal, who's only a small part of the book. Therefore, I look forward to reading the sequel, and hopefully, it’ll have better love scenes than this one had. I’m not disappointed, but I had expected more from a well-known, best-selling author like Nora Roberts.
However, I think one of the reasons why this book didn’t appeal to me as much is that I haven’t been in the mood when I've started it. To be completely honest, I would’ve preferred an historical romance. So I’ll give her another chance by reading its sequel, The Hollow, really soon. Oh, and I already bought Dance Upon the Air too.
Though a romantic suspense, it was not captivating. Characters were kinda dull at the beginning, and I liked Fox (The Hollow, second book from Sign of Seven's hero.) more than Cal, who's only a small part of the book. Therefore, I look forward to reading the sequel, and hopefully, it’ll have better love scenes than this one had. I’m not disappointed, but I had expected more from a well-known, best-selling author like Nora Roberts.
However, I think one of the reasons why this book didn’t appeal to me as much is that I haven’t been in the mood when I've started it. To be completely honest, I would’ve preferred an historical romance. So I’ll give her another chance by reading its sequel, The Hollow, really soon. Oh, and I already bought Dance Upon the Air too.
April 18, 2010
This was a very interesting read and I think I picked a great time to read this book. It was raining and very cold outside and what better to do than lay on the couch covered up while thrown into a good book and drinking hot tea.
The story captured me right away, the characters were awsome and I actually laughed out loud in some parts.
Caleb, Fox, and Gage are 3 young boys who decide to venture out on the eve of their 10th birthday and camp out in the woods by the well known Pagan Stone that everyone warns to stay away from. Not only do they sneak off to do this but they think they are grown up (Men) to try beer, cigerettes, and look at nude magazines. They soon find out that the beer is not all what grown-ups make it out to be and they get sick and pass out. They wake up a couple of hours later and start a fire and start talking about making a pact at midnight and sliced a small portion in their wrist to mingle their blood to become blood brothers.
Little did the boys know, their lives changed, and events started happening and they were given insights/power and a piece of a stone that fit together to make a whole stone, called a blood stone. When they left the woods, every enjury, wound, or illness they had had been cured - for example - Cal wore glasses when he first went into the woods and after the pact and the action of the pagan stone, he could see 20/20.
I don't want to spoil the book but things happen through out the town every 7 years for 7 days, evil things happen and people don't realize it or even remember their actions except for the 3 Blood brothers and some members of their family. Black and White magic is at work or some call it religion and witch craft have a hand in with the sacred ground and the Pagan stone. But somehow, those 3 boys set the black magic loose and now they have to figure out a way to stop it.
Here it is now that the boys are fixing to be 31 yrs old, things get stirred up when Quinn - a writer - comes to town to write and figure out the scoop of strange things happening at Calebs request. Little does Quinn know when she and Cal find themselves in love with each other as the story thickens. Layla and Cybil are added to the equation as their paths are crossed.
In the end, all their paths come together as they learn that they all have blood ties to an event that took place with the Pagan Stone and they must all work together to stop the evil madness before July.
Now I have to read the next book in the series to find out if they - all six of them - find a way to stop the evil.
2nd book in the trilogy is "The Hollow"
The story captured me right away, the characters were awsome and I actually laughed out loud in some parts.
Caleb, Fox, and Gage are 3 young boys who decide to venture out on the eve of their 10th birthday and camp out in the woods by the well known Pagan Stone that everyone warns to stay away from. Not only do they sneak off to do this but they think they are grown up (Men) to try beer, cigerettes, and look at nude magazines. They soon find out that the beer is not all what grown-ups make it out to be and they get sick and pass out. They wake up a couple of hours later and start a fire and start talking about making a pact at midnight and sliced a small portion in their wrist to mingle their blood to become blood brothers.
Little did the boys know, their lives changed, and events started happening and they were given insights/power and a piece of a stone that fit together to make a whole stone, called a blood stone. When they left the woods, every enjury, wound, or illness they had had been cured - for example - Cal wore glasses when he first went into the woods and after the pact and the action of the pagan stone, he could see 20/20.
I don't want to spoil the book but things happen through out the town every 7 years for 7 days, evil things happen and people don't realize it or even remember their actions except for the 3 Blood brothers and some members of their family. Black and White magic is at work or some call it religion and witch craft have a hand in with the sacred ground and the Pagan stone. But somehow, those 3 boys set the black magic loose and now they have to figure out a way to stop it.
Here it is now that the boys are fixing to be 31 yrs old, things get stirred up when Quinn - a writer - comes to town to write and figure out the scoop of strange things happening at Calebs request. Little does Quinn know when she and Cal find themselves in love with each other as the story thickens. Layla and Cybil are added to the equation as their paths are crossed.
In the end, all their paths come together as they learn that they all have blood ties to an event that took place with the Pagan Stone and they must all work together to stop the evil madness before July.
Now I have to read the next book in the series to find out if they - all six of them - find a way to stop the evil.
2nd book in the trilogy is "The Hollow"
October 25, 2020
The prolific Nora Roberts is an author I normally read on recommendation only. This is purely because she written so MANY books it's too hard for me to navigate through her normal books and her fantastic books without a second opinion.
This one, however, was one I found all by myself :-) Okay, I plucked it from Mum's audiobook collection but she had no idea if it was good or not.
Lucky for me, it was great. A paranormal/romantic suspense that centers around a demon terrorising a small American town and the three brothers who are trying desperately to defend their community. It was a really charming opening to her new Sign of Seven Trilogy and left on a great cliff-hanger!
I'm normally a fraidy-cat when it comes to suspense but even though this was creepy at times, I never found my heart beating faster. Seeing as I don't really enjoy being scared, this suited me just fine. If however, you like to be a little spooked, you might find this novel a little on the mild side of thrilling.
Like a true romance author, the demon-chasing comes second to the romantic relationship of the novel's center. And the main characters Cal and Quinn are likeable, slightly quirky people who are fun to watch fall in love. They had a great dymanic but I wouldn't have expected any less from NR. After so many novels, she has got the whole male-female thing pegged.
This is a great filler-book. Read it over a weekend in between your heavy historicals to give your mind a break and your heart the warm and fuzzies. Perfect for the beach or lazy Summer days - I'm saving the sequel The Hollow for a time when I just need to relax!
Watch more LIVE bestselling author interviews and win free books!
In this fun interview series, bestselling novelists reveal the secrets behind their beloved stories…all whilst playing a round of Pictionary with a live audience…YOU!
Subscribe now to ensure you don’t miss an episode!
This one, however, was one I found all by myself :-) Okay, I plucked it from Mum's audiobook collection but she had no idea if it was good or not.
Lucky for me, it was great. A paranormal/romantic suspense that centers around a demon terrorising a small American town and the three brothers who are trying desperately to defend their community. It was a really charming opening to her new Sign of Seven Trilogy and left on a great cliff-hanger!
I'm normally a fraidy-cat when it comes to suspense but even though this was creepy at times, I never found my heart beating faster. Seeing as I don't really enjoy being scared, this suited me just fine. If however, you like to be a little spooked, you might find this novel a little on the mild side of thrilling.
Like a true romance author, the demon-chasing comes second to the romantic relationship of the novel's center. And the main characters Cal and Quinn are likeable, slightly quirky people who are fun to watch fall in love. They had a great dymanic but I wouldn't have expected any less from NR. After so many novels, she has got the whole male-female thing pegged.
This is a great filler-book. Read it over a weekend in between your heavy historicals to give your mind a break and your heart the warm and fuzzies. Perfect for the beach or lazy Summer days - I'm saving the sequel The Hollow for a time when I just need to relax!
Watch more LIVE bestselling author interviews and win free books!
In this fun interview series, bestselling novelists reveal the secrets behind their beloved stories…all whilst playing a round of Pictionary with a live audience…YOU!
Subscribe now to ensure you don’t miss an episode!
October 20, 2021
3.5☆
#RetoRita5 #RitaNorita
#BloodBrothers
No es que haya leído muchos libros de la Roberts, aunque los que leído no han estado mal.
Pero la verdad que este libro me ha gustado mucho y sorprendido para bien.
A ver, esta historia me ha recordado a la película o libro de IT. Y es lo que más me ha tenido enganchada.
Pero casi la mitad del libro, ha estado más centrado en lo que ocurre en el pueblo cada 7 años y en los tres protagonistas, aunque en total son 6.
3 hombres que son amigos desde críos y con la historia que hay detrás de ellos empieza todo y 3 mujeres que están conectadas entre ellas y con ellos.
Ya a mitad del libro se va centrando también en la primera pareja, me han gustado los momentos que ha habido entre ellos. Se nota que tienen química.
Pero quien más me ha llamado la atención es Gage y estoy deseando leer su libro. Jajaja
Tengo que reconocer que hay partes que se me han hecho un poco largas, sobre todo el comienzo. Pero en general me gusta, habrá que leer que pasa en el segundo libro. Por que no don autoconclusivos
#RetoRita5 #RitaNorita
#BloodBrothers
No es que haya leído muchos libros de la Roberts, aunque los que leído no han estado mal.
Pero la verdad que este libro me ha gustado mucho y sorprendido para bien.
A ver, esta historia me ha recordado a la película o libro de IT. Y es lo que más me ha tenido enganchada.
Pero casi la mitad del libro, ha estado más centrado en lo que ocurre en el pueblo cada 7 años y en los tres protagonistas, aunque en total son 6.
3 hombres que son amigos desde críos y con la historia que hay detrás de ellos empieza todo y 3 mujeres que están conectadas entre ellas y con ellos.
Ya a mitad del libro se va centrando también en la primera pareja, me han gustado los momentos que ha habido entre ellos. Se nota que tienen química.
Pero quien más me ha llamado la atención es Gage y estoy deseando leer su libro. Jajaja
Tengo que reconocer que hay partes que se me han hecho un poco largas, sobre todo el comienzo. Pero en general me gusta, habrá que leer que pasa en el segundo libro. Por que no don autoconclusivos
December 16, 2008
Being a N.R.'s fan, I'm a bit disappointed by this one. I like the idea of the story and I like the 3 male characters and their relation to their respective families, which feels real and genuine.
The character I can't relate to is Quinn. I realize this is a very personal opinion but I don't like the way she speaks, acts, I don't like her attitude, her tone, her bossiness. I usually love strong women in the books I read, but I couldn't see it in this one.
The character I can't relate to is Quinn. I realize this is a very personal opinion but I don't like the way she speaks, acts, I don't like her attitude, her tone, her bossiness. I usually love strong women in the books I read, but I couldn't see it in this one.
June 28, 2025
3,5 ⭐️. De todos los libros que tiene Nora Roberts este esta trilogía me había pasado desapercibida y cuando la descubrí gracias a la LC tuve muchas ganas de ponerme con ella. Y aunque la parte misterio/fantasia me gustó, de nuevo me falló la parte romántica y la parte final también se me quedó un poco corta.
Aún así tengo ganas de seguir con el segundo libro para saber cómo continúa la historia.
Aún así tengo ganas de seguir con el segundo libro para saber cómo continúa la historia.
August 25, 2016
Not bad, I liked it. I've liked most of what I've read of Nora Roberts but I'm not a big fan of plotlines that carry through several books. I prefer closure at the end of the book I'm reading. I may continue the series if I can find the books at the library.
Basically, the plot is - three 10 year old boys go camping in the woods to celebrate their birthday. They were all born on the same day. They do something that unleases some kind of evil upon their community of Hawkins Hollow. Now, 21 year later, they are working together, along with three women, to figure out how to stop this evil once and for all. This book tells the romance between Caleb Hawkins and Quinn Black
Basically, the plot is - three 10 year old boys go camping in the woods to celebrate their birthday. They were all born on the same day. They do something that unleases some kind of evil upon their community of Hawkins Hollow. Now, 21 year later, they are working together, along with three women, to figure out how to stop this evil once and for all. This book tells the romance between Caleb Hawkins and Quinn Black
July 26, 2022
Reread July'2022
5+ stars - Horror/Paranormal Romance
This is one of my all-time favorite Nora Roberts series/trilogies. It's like Nora decided to write a creepy Stephen King horror story with romance, and it works.
Original rating/review
5 stars - Horror/Paranormal Romance
5+ stars - Horror/Paranormal Romance
This is one of my all-time favorite Nora Roberts series/trilogies. It's like Nora decided to write a creepy Stephen King horror story with romance, and it works.
Original rating/review
5 stars - Horror/Paranormal Romance
December 3, 2025
Is there anything this woman can’t write? After gobbling up 3 of her romantic suspense books I got a bit burnt out so I thought I would see if she was any good at paranormal. Unsurprisingly, she is.
Robert’s knows how to write interesting and very real characters. We follow 6 main characters who are trying to break a curse that causes everyone in town to lose their minds for seven days every seven years. We get to see a little bit of everyone’s POV but this book focused mainly on Cal and Quinn. Cal was great, responsible, steady and the de facto leader of the group. Quinn was a knockout though. She was confident and self assured, honest about who she was and what she wanted. I love the quirky, funny girl character but sometimes it reads as too much and inauthentic but not Quinn. Possibly my favorite FMC by Robert’s so far.
It looses a star because the curse plotline is a bit convoluted. The town seems to just have accepted that every seven years people go mad and violently attack each other. No one really talks about it and the curse makes the events foggy but people were raped, murdered and some commit suicide. There would be a huge fallout and it’s never really addressed how the town deals with the aftermath. This is book one in a trilogy so hopefully now that the setup is out of the way we can get some answers.
Robert’s knows how to write interesting and very real characters. We follow 6 main characters who are trying to break a curse that causes everyone in town to lose their minds for seven days every seven years. We get to see a little bit of everyone’s POV but this book focused mainly on Cal and Quinn. Cal was great, responsible, steady and the de facto leader of the group. Quinn was a knockout though. She was confident and self assured, honest about who she was and what she wanted. I love the quirky, funny girl character but sometimes it reads as too much and inauthentic but not Quinn. Possibly my favorite FMC by Robert’s so far.
It looses a star because the curse plotline is a bit convoluted. The town seems to just have accepted that every seven years people go mad and violently attack each other. No one really talks about it and the curse makes the events foggy but people were raped, murdered and some commit suicide. There would be a huge fallout and it’s never really addressed how the town deals with the aftermath. This is book one in a trilogy so hopefully now that the setup is out of the way we can get some answers.
June 15, 2020
Esta novela del género romance paranormal, cumple las expectativas, es de fácil lectura y sin pretensiones excesivas, da lo que promete su género, es un poco cliché, pero es una buena alternativa, sobre todo si se quiere digerir lecturas mas densas. Es entretenida con algunos toques de humor. Se disfruta.
March 24, 2008
First book of the Sign of the Seven Trilogy
In the 1600s in the small town of Hawkins Hollow a band of townspeople, led by a fanatical Puritan leader named Lazarus Twisse, entered a wooded clearing where stood a small cabin. They were there to accuse and burn the inhabitants of Witchcraft. What followed caused the deaths of all in the vicinity, left a perfect ring of fire and a smooth stone altar.
350 years later, three young boys, best friends who share the same birthday, camp out in the clearing and celebrate their 10th birthday. They swear a blood pact to be best friends forever. As their blood drips on the stone altar, something is unleashed.
Every seven years, on the 7th day of the 7th month, the inhabitants of Hawkins Hollow endure what a they call "the seven." It is a week where the residents do the unspeakable to themselves and to each other with no memory of what or why afterward.
The three boys, Gage, Caleb and Fox realize they are somehow the cause of the events and seek to understand, help and prevent.
Signs point to fact the third manifestation of the Seven (the year the three men will turn 31) will be cataclysmic. The signs appear earlier and the evil seems stronger. But a new player has entered the scene. Quinn Black, a writer has come to Hawkins Hollow to write a book on the rumors about the town. But once she gets there she realizes that she is somehow connected the the events.
For those familiar with Nora Roberts' other paranormal trilogies such as The Key trilogy and the Circle trilogy, the set up is familiar. Three guys, three gals, each couple gets a book as they all work together to defeat the evil that is happening.
This was a fun, quick read albeit a bit spookier than her other trilogies. This is like Stephen King lite. I almost wanted to classify it horror except on the main, it is largely a romance novel.
She certainly sets a great stage and creates really engaging characters. And as this is the first book of a trilogy, nothing really happens here except the meeting of the six principle players, setting up the backstory,and letting the first couple get together. I look forward to the second and third books of the trilogy.
In the 1600s in the small town of Hawkins Hollow a band of townspeople, led by a fanatical Puritan leader named Lazarus Twisse, entered a wooded clearing where stood a small cabin. They were there to accuse and burn the inhabitants of Witchcraft. What followed caused the deaths of all in the vicinity, left a perfect ring of fire and a smooth stone altar.
350 years later, three young boys, best friends who share the same birthday, camp out in the clearing and celebrate their 10th birthday. They swear a blood pact to be best friends forever. As their blood drips on the stone altar, something is unleashed.
Every seven years, on the 7th day of the 7th month, the inhabitants of Hawkins Hollow endure what a they call "the seven." It is a week where the residents do the unspeakable to themselves and to each other with no memory of what or why afterward.
The three boys, Gage, Caleb and Fox realize they are somehow the cause of the events and seek to understand, help and prevent.
Signs point to fact the third manifestation of the Seven (the year the three men will turn 31) will be cataclysmic. The signs appear earlier and the evil seems stronger. But a new player has entered the scene. Quinn Black, a writer has come to Hawkins Hollow to write a book on the rumors about the town. But once she gets there she realizes that she is somehow connected the the events.
For those familiar with Nora Roberts' other paranormal trilogies such as The Key trilogy and the Circle trilogy, the set up is familiar. Three guys, three gals, each couple gets a book as they all work together to defeat the evil that is happening.
This was a fun, quick read albeit a bit spookier than her other trilogies. This is like Stephen King lite. I almost wanted to classify it horror except on the main, it is largely a romance novel.
She certainly sets a great stage and creates really engaging characters. And as this is the first book of a trilogy, nothing really happens here except the meeting of the six principle players, setting up the backstory,and letting the first couple get together. I look forward to the second and third books of the trilogy.
April 9, 2013
O meu 42º livro de Nora Roberts (…cheira-me a doença...!): Irmãos de Sangue é o (fabuloso) primeiro livro da trilogia Signo dos Sete…E o mais prodigioso é que, em 42 livros, Nora Roberts não me decepcionou a sério uma única vez!
Numa narrativa envolvente e cheia de acção, a autora traz até nós Caleb (o miúdo da classe média), Fox (o hippie) e Gage (o filho do bêbedo) - três meninos de 10 anos que, num juramento que se destinava a cimentar a sua amizade, acabam por libertar algo enorme e horrível que regressa a cada sete anos para transformar a pacata vida na pequena cidade de Hawkins Hollow num autêntico pesadelo - Sete dias de inferno, de sete em sete anos.
Agora com 31 anos estes três homens, três partes de um todo, sentem que algo mudou; o mal que libertaram está mais forte, o desfecho para aquilo a que eles próprios deram início, está perigosamente próximo…E, desta vez, não estão sozinhos: Quinn, Layla e Cybil ajudá-los-ão a procurar as respostas…e algo mais…
Nora Roberts equilibra como ninguém os diversos elementos que se propõe a reunir num livro: suspense, mistério, tensão, romance, intriga, fantasia, paranormal… E se a fórmula com que trabalha os seus enredos é comum entre os seus livros, também o é o requinte com que o faz, a elegância que aplica à sua escrita e a minuciosidade que confere às suas descrições.
Desta vez, e por enquanto, estou fascinada não apenas com a base da trama mas também com todas as personagens intervenientes. As interacções entre os seis e a extensão com que cada personagem está envolvida na história e no desenredamento do mistério aferrolharam-me a este livro e a unidade coesa formada pelos seis, bem como a forma como Roberts lhes dá vida compeliram-me a prosseguir na leitura.
O final, ao contrário do habitual de Roberts, até mesmo nas trilogias em que cada livro acaba por ser uma etapa concluída, não arremata verdadeiramente nada mas aproxima o leitor do cerne do mistério e deixou-me cheia de questões que se traduzem numa inquietante curiosidade para saber o que virá a seguir…
Numa narrativa envolvente e cheia de acção, a autora traz até nós Caleb (o miúdo da classe média), Fox (o hippie) e Gage (o filho do bêbedo) - três meninos de 10 anos que, num juramento que se destinava a cimentar a sua amizade, acabam por libertar algo enorme e horrível que regressa a cada sete anos para transformar a pacata vida na pequena cidade de Hawkins Hollow num autêntico pesadelo - Sete dias de inferno, de sete em sete anos.
Agora com 31 anos estes três homens, três partes de um todo, sentem que algo mudou; o mal que libertaram está mais forte, o desfecho para aquilo a que eles próprios deram início, está perigosamente próximo…E, desta vez, não estão sozinhos: Quinn, Layla e Cybil ajudá-los-ão a procurar as respostas…e algo mais…
Nora Roberts equilibra como ninguém os diversos elementos que se propõe a reunir num livro: suspense, mistério, tensão, romance, intriga, fantasia, paranormal… E se a fórmula com que trabalha os seus enredos é comum entre os seus livros, também o é o requinte com que o faz, a elegância que aplica à sua escrita e a minuciosidade que confere às suas descrições.
Desta vez, e por enquanto, estou fascinada não apenas com a base da trama mas também com todas as personagens intervenientes. As interacções entre os seis e a extensão com que cada personagem está envolvida na história e no desenredamento do mistério aferrolharam-me a este livro e a unidade coesa formada pelos seis, bem como a forma como Roberts lhes dá vida compeliram-me a prosseguir na leitura.
O final, ao contrário do habitual de Roberts, até mesmo nas trilogias em que cada livro acaba por ser uma etapa concluída, não arremata verdadeiramente nada mas aproxima o leitor do cerne do mistério e deixou-me cheia de questões que se traduzem numa inquietante curiosidade para saber o que virá a seguir…
Tem de haver luta, sacrifício e muita coragem. Tem de haver fé. Tem de haver amor.
December 23, 2007
Read 12/17/07
Blood Brothers is the first book in the Sign of Seven Trilogy. Caleb,
Fox and Gage have been friends all of their lives, sworn blood brothers in
the
small town of Hawkins Hollow. Every seven years an ancient horror that
was set loose on their ten birthday breaks free and ravages the town. Now
approaching their 31st birthday, they fear this may be the last battle for
their little town. Sparks fly when intrepid reporter Quinn Black arrives to
research the story and Caleb's reluctant attraction sets a partnership in
motion that may be Hawkins Hollow's last hope.
Likeable characters, an interesting mystery and a nicely drawn portrait of
small-town life meld together to make this book the best Nora I've read in
a very long time. It reminds me of her earlier trilogies that I liked so
much like the Quinn brothers and the Donovan family and the Jewels of the
Sea trilogy. Her books have been hit or miss for me for a few years now,
so I'm happy to report that this one is definitely a hit. I'll be looking
forward to the next installment in May. Recommended.
Number : 106
Title : Blood Brothers
Author : Nora Roberts
Date Began : 12/18/07
Date Finished : 12/18/07
Genre : Romance
Publication : 2007
Rating : 9
Where From : my shelves
Reason : habit
Blood Brothers is the first book in the Sign of Seven Trilogy. Caleb,
Fox and Gage have been friends all of their lives, sworn blood brothers in
the
small town of Hawkins Hollow. Every seven years an ancient horror that
was set loose on their ten birthday breaks free and ravages the town. Now
approaching their 31st birthday, they fear this may be the last battle for
their little town. Sparks fly when intrepid reporter Quinn Black arrives to
research the story and Caleb's reluctant attraction sets a partnership in
motion that may be Hawkins Hollow's last hope.
Likeable characters, an interesting mystery and a nicely drawn portrait of
small-town life meld together to make this book the best Nora I've read in
a very long time. It reminds me of her earlier trilogies that I liked so
much like the Quinn brothers and the Donovan family and the Jewels of the
Sea trilogy. Her books have been hit or miss for me for a few years now,
so I'm happy to report that this one is definitely a hit. I'll be looking
forward to the next installment in May. Recommended.
Number : 106
Title : Blood Brothers
Author : Nora Roberts
Date Began : 12/18/07
Date Finished : 12/18/07
Genre : Romance
Publication : 2007
Rating : 9
Where From : my shelves
Reason : habit
Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,126 reviews