Synopsis: In Italy, a powerful vampire named Nedas is amassing the power to control the souls of the dead by activating Akvan's Obelisk. Nedas is Lilith's created son. Lady Victoria Gardella de Lacy-a vampire slayer for just over a year-races to Italy to stop what could be the most deadly army the Gardellas have ever faced. She is accompanied by Sebastian Vioget, a man as tempting as he is untrustworthy. But when Victoria discovers that she has been betrayed by one of her most trusted allies, the truth will challenge all her powers as a Venator-and as a woman.Backstory: Lady Victoria Gardella Grantworth de Lacy is a slayer (Venator) and a member of a long line of Gardellas. Her grandmother, Eustacia, is the current leader of the Gardellas, a position that will fall to Victoria once she dies. Victoria lost her husband Phillip to Lilith's vampires. He was turned into a vampire within one month of their marriage and is now no-longer part of the undead. Victoria grieves for her lost love, but knows that she must also go back to her job as slayer. One month after his death, Victoria finds herself wandering the streets of London looking to kill a vampire. Instead, she breaks up a would be rapists attempt at harming another, and it's the first time she's ever attacked another mortal in the line of searching for vampires. A year later, Victoria finds two and knows that something must be brewing. She finds a small medallion in the former Silver Chalice once run by the mysterious Sebastian Vioget, and takes it to her Aunt Eustacia for further research. It evenutally leads her south to Italy where a group calling itself the Tutela's, those who risk their lives to keep the vampires safe and happy with willing blood, and giving themselves and others over to the vampires. Sebastian is definitely the mystery in this 2nd installment of the Gardella Vampire Chronicles. He continually shows up when he is least expected. His passion for Victoria is serious stalking material. But we really don't know what he's truly up to. He knows alot about vampires, and later is it discovered that his grandfather is a vampire.Victoria, in the meantime, has many unanswered questions. Like why is Sebastian helping her? Is it for love or is he leading her into a trap? And, what happened to Maxmilan Pesaro? After Lilith, the queen of the vampires left London for Romania, he disappeared as well. The only one who truly believes in Max, is Eustacia. We do know that Lilith has some sort of thrall on him and her bites will not heal. As Victoria arrives in Italy, she uses the ficticious name of Emmaline Withers to make her way undetected by the vampires. She once again finds herself in deep kimchee when she is attacked by 5-6 vampires after being brought to a meeting of the Tutela's. Barely escaping with her life, yet again, she and Eustacia and troupe travel to Roma where the Gardella Consilium is located and where she bumps into an engaged to be married Max.We also learn that there is also a prophecy in play that basically states that the golden age of the Venator shall end at the foot of Roma. Does it refer to the Venators at whole, or a certain person? Ms Gleason puts Victoria literally through the wringer. She doesn't know who she can trust any longer. So called friends from London, turn out to be Tutela members who will do anything for their vampire masters, including killing Victoria. Sebastian continues to drive her sexual urges, only to find that he drugs her to keep her out of the way from trying to stop Nedas from causing world wide devastation.In the end, Max does what Victoria never saw coming, he kills his mentor and friend Eustacia in order to remain loyal and next to Nedas so he could destroy the Obelisk. Victoria, kills Nedas without her vis bulla and has both Max and Sebastian trying to keep her from harm. Eustacia believed that the prophecy was about her, and thus allowed Max to kill her, and allow Victoria to live and carry on the family name. We also learn that Max was sent to kill Nedas by Lilith herself to break the thrall that she has on him. And, if we want to know more, we need to pick up the next book in the series, The Bleeding Dusk, and read more!I am truly enjoying this series and love the fact that Ms Gleason has used not only London, but also Italy as a settings for her story. Victoria, when she is left to her own devices, is an honest to goodness awesome heroine to read about. Yes, her love life is truly messed up, and you have no clue who she will evenutally end up with...Max, or Sebastian....or could it be another?Two Thums Up!
GizmosReviews
Synopsis: In Italy, a powerful vampire named Nedas is amassing the power to control the souls of the dead by activating Akvan's Obelisk. Nedas is Lilith's created son. Lady Victoria Gardella de Lacy-a vampire slayer for just over a year-races to Italy to stop what could be the most deadly army the Gardellas have ever faced. She is accompanied by Sebastian Vioget, a man as tempting as he is untrustworthy. But when Victoria discovers that she has been betrayed by one of her most trusted allies, the truth will challenge all her powers as a Venator-and as a woman.Backstory: Lady Victoria Gardella Grantworth de Lacy is a slayer (Venator) and a member of a long line of Gardellas. Her grandmother, Eustacia, is the current leader of the Gardellas, a position that will fall to Victoria once she dies. Victoria lost her husband Phillip to Lilith's vampires. He was turned into a vampire within one month of their marriage and is now no-longer part of the undead. Victoria grieves for her lost love, but knows that she must also go back to her job as slayer. One month after his death, Victoria finds herself wandering the streets of London looking to kill a vampire. Instead, she breaks up a would be rapists attempt at harming another, and it's the first time she's ever attacked another mortal in the line of searching for vampires. A year later, Victoria finds two and knows that something must be brewing. She finds a small medallion in the former Silver Chalice once run by the mysterious Sebastian Vioget, and takes it to her Aunt Eustacia for further research. It evenutally leads her south to Italy where a group calling itself the Tutela's, those who risk their lives to keep the vampires safe and happy with willing blood, and giving themselves and others over to the vampires. Sebastian is definitely the mystery in this 2nd installment of the Gardella Vampire Chronicles. He continually shows up when he is least expected. His passion for Victoria is serious stalking material. But we really don't know what he's truly up to. He knows alot about vampires, and later is it discovered that his grandfather is a vampire.Victoria, in the meantime, has many unanswered questions. Like why is Sebastian helping her? Is it for love or is he leading her into a trap? And, what happened to Maxmilan Pesaro? After Lilith, the queen of the vampires left London for Romania, he disappeared as well. The only one who truly believes in Max, is Eustacia. We do know that Lilith has some sort of thrall on him and her bites will not heal. As Victoria arrives in Italy, she uses the ficticious name of Emmaline Withers to make her way undetected by the vampires. She once again finds herself in deep kimchee when she is attacked by 5-6 vampires after being brought to a meeting of the Tutela's. Barely escaping with her life, yet again, she and Eustacia and troupe travel to Roma where the Gardella Consilium is located and where she bumps into an engaged to be married Max.We also learn that there is also a prophecy in play that basically states that the golden age of the Venator shall end at the foot of Roma. Does it refer to the Venators at whole, or a certain person? Ms Gleason puts Victoria literally through the wringer. She doesn't know who she can trust any longer. So called friends from London, turn out to be Tutela members who will do anything for their vampire masters, including killing Victoria. Sebastian continues to drive her sexual urges, only to find that he drugs her to keep her out of the way from trying to stop Nedas from causing world wide devastation.In the end, Max does what Victoria never saw coming, he kills his mentor and friend Eustacia in order to remain loyal and next to Nedas so he could destroy the Obelisk. Victoria, kills Nedas without her vis bulla and has both Max and Sebastian trying to keep her from harm. Eustacia believed that the prophecy was about her, and thus allowed Max to kill her, and allow Victoria to live and carry on the family name. We also learn that Max was sent to kill Nedas by Lilith herself to break the thrall that she has on him. And, if we want to know more, we need to pick up the next book in the series, The Bleeding Dusk, and read more!I am truly enjoying this series and love the fact that Ms Gleason has used not only London, but also Italy as a settings for her story. Victoria, when she is left to her own devices, is an honest to goodness awesome heroine to read about. Yes, her love life is truly messed up, and you have no clue who she will evenutally end up with...Max, or Sebastian....or could it be another?Two Thums Up!
