Feb
02
2007
Author: Colleen Gleason
ISBN: 9780451220073
DDC: 813.6
#1 in the Gardella Vampire Chronicles
See also: ColleenGleason.com ; LibraryThing ; SSD review ; Quixotic’s review
His footsteps were soundless, but Victoria felt him moving.
She grasped the bark of the oak, pressing her body into the tree as if it could suck her into safety.
Victoria Gardella has just discovered the secret her family hides; some of them are born Venators or vampire hunters. And she, just about to make her début in C19th London society, is one. Her first choice is whether or not to accept this new life. If she wishes she can give it all up, and be returned to a state of ignorance about the fact that vampires are real. Otherwise her life will be changed forever.
Of course, she chooses to be a Venator, after all, if she hadn’t it would have been a very short book. But once that decision is made she comes to realise that there are more and more choices and decisions she must make, as she tries to balance a living a normal society-lifestyle with staking vampires.
That last sentence should tell you that there is a little bit of Buffy in Victoria. No bad thing and it is more a general similarity rather than any stealing of that programme’s ideas. Victoria, like Buffy, must balance her everyday life, keeping her secret slaying from certain members of her family and friends. But that is about as close to Buffy as this book comes.
I flew through this; started it this morning and finished this evening. It is a very entertaining read, and I grew quite fond of Victoria. Some of the other characters I was less sure of, but that is part of the point, we aren’t meant to know.
Paranormal fantasy/horror books are becoming quite common; this one is different in that it is set in Regency times. I thought that the blending of the horror and the historical elements was done quite well, although I did have to wonder at one point if our Miss Gardella wasn’t a little fast.
If you like vampire stories you should enjoy this one.
Tags:
7 Stars,
813.6,
Britain - Regency,
C19th,
Colleen Gleason,
entertaining,
Gardella Vampire Chronicals,
historical fiction,
series,
sff,
The Rest Falls Away,
vampire hunters,
vampires
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May
07
2006
ISBN: 0515140872
Author: Laurel K Hamilton
Series: Anita Blake #13
DDC: 813.54
It was half past dawn when the phone rang. It shattered the first dreams of the night into a thousand peices so that I couldn’t even remember what the dream had been about.
I’m not really sure why I picked this book up, after the last few turned into nothing but porn I thought I’d give them a miss. But it was only €7, and I’ve read the others so I thought I may as well be a completioniest. But this doesn’t really seem to be the same as the others in the series. Its shorter, and there really isn’t any plot. I mean there is a storyline about raising some fella who died of a heart attack before he could testify to the FBI, but that isn’t what the book is about. It is just the setting Hamilton chose to get Micah and Anita on their own.
In a way this is a character piece. Micah has never really had a strong role in any of the other books, so this is Hamilton’s chance to explain a bit about him, and his background. And there isn’t even that much sex. So little plot, little smut, its all about character interaction and Anita and Micah getting to know each other a little better.
I do have to wonder about the cover though. Honestly look at it and say it isn’t off-putting.
Tags:
813.54,
Anita Blake series,
character study,
horror,
Laurell K. Hamilton,
meh,
Micah,
pornorific,
sff,
vampire hunters,
vampires,
wereleopards,
werewolves
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May
07
2004
dir. Stephen Sommers
* Hugh Jackman - Van Helsing
* Kate Beckinsale - Anna Valerious
* Richard Roxburgh - Count Vladislaus Dracula
* David Wenham - Carl
After seeing the trailer for this film for what seems like years (I’m talking to you to bloody day after tomorrow trailer that just won’t go away), I figured I knew what to expect from this film; cg axn similar to the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, a couple of monsters and hopefully a bit of fun similar to what we got from the first Mummy film. But the more I saw the trailer the less impressed I was. Went into the film without much hope for a good film.
Continue Reading »
Tags:
3 Stars,
cgi,
crap,
David Wenham,
Hugh Jackman,
Kate Beckinsale,
monster movie,
Richard Roxburgh,
sff,
Stephen Sommers,
superheroes,
vampire hunters,
vampires,
Van Helsing
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