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sphbrd's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
jennihowell's review against another edition
Enjoyed this book. Trippy and fantastic to not read the same glittering sexy vamps.
sparks_fitz's review against another edition
4.0
Banger!!! Loved this!!! I pulled this off the shelf randomly because I was like "oh vampire mystery with a spy, sounds neat," expecting it to be cheesy and not that good, but I was totally wrong! This is a great depiction of vampires, both original and playing off tropes. They are emotionally complex and extremely intriguing, with some things that even reminded me of Vampire the Masquerade despite coming out before it (perhaps this was even a possible inspiration?). I loved the characters and Asher and Ysidro's growing friendship, some moments drove me crazy. And the early 1900s setting was great, clearly researched and pulling in a lot of lovely small details (and weaving in the setting to the themes, it's not just empty set dressing). Totally recommended, underrated as heck I should be seeing this recced on vampire lists more. And when I found out it was a SERIES?!? I audibly gasped. I'm going to pace myself but I have to read all of these now. Thank you Barbara Hambly for this great book!!!!
posies23's review against another edition
5.0
I read this many years ago, and remembered liking it quite a bit. I decided to reread it after I recommended it to a friend and realizing that I remembered virtually nothing about the plot. The good news is -- I still liked it! I'm really not sure why this book (which is apparently now a series, so I'll need to check that out) doesn't get more attention. It's a nice mix of character and plot, and would appeal both to mystery readers and fans of vampire fiction. It's not overly horrific, but does have a few good, creepy moments. The narrative moves forward at a nice pace, and there's a lot of well-researched history tucked into the narrative as well.
thekeytotheancientlore's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
pvbobrien's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
carriethis's review against another edition
4.0
James Asher and Lydia Asher and Don Simon, HUZZAH!!! If you want an excellent vampire novel, what are you doing reading this review? Read Hambly's books now.
hank's review against another edition
3.0
Really a 3.5 star book. The writing was good, the story was good. Everything tangible in the book seemed only lightly touched on. I would have loved to get a bit more about the Paris vampires. Don Ysidro was developed well but always came across a bit waxy (vampire pun intended). Asher was given the most pages in development but outside of knowing he did a bunch of "bad" deeds, I never got the full impact on his psyche.
Lydia and the brother vampire felt the most 3d and they were somewhat non-major characters. Satisfied but underwhelmed.
Lydia and the brother vampire felt the most 3d and they were somewhat non-major characters. Satisfied but underwhelmed.
pjwhyman's review against another edition
4.0
Very enjoyable. Mixes the sensibilities of a spy novel with historical vampire fiction. Written in 1988. Ahead of its time.
siavahda's review against another edition
5.0
For years, I’ve reread this entire series almost every year. Hambly’s prose is decadently sensual, some of the most beautiful I’ve ever read (this applies to all her books, not just the James Asher series!) while simultaneously being some of the most compellingly readable – Those Who Hunt the Night is one of a small handful of go-to books when I’m ill, in pain, or having a Bad Brain Day, because even when I feel awful it (and the sequels) can always draw me in.
Beyond the prose, it has two huge things going for it: Hambly’s vampires are hands down my favourite in fiction, and secondly, despite it being called the James Asher series, Lydia Asher, his wife, is a major PoV character with an enormous amount of agency. She and James are partners in the truest sense of the word; the first thing James does when he discovers vampires are read is tell Lydia – no lying, no making up stories or trying to protect her from the truth, just pure honesty. And their relationship and trust in each other is so strong that she believes him!
I’ve just never seen a married couple like that in fiction, before or since. I love it so much!
As for the vampires: I get frustrated with vampires who are basically just humans who drink blood. I want to read about vampires who feel completely Other; alien and at least a little frightening, not mindlessly evil but beings I can’t completely understand, either. Hambly nails this; her vampires are still people, but the transformation from human to vampire has affected much more than their diet, and they absolutely feel deliciously and wholly Other. I also adore how James and particularly Lydia (who’s a doctor) speculate as to what vampirism is and how it might work; Hambly points out that it being a series of interlocking viruses would explain quite a few vampiric weaknesses, like their inability to tolerate silver. But there’s still a mystery at the heart of what makes up a vampire that I find absolutely wonderful – there’s still that element of magic and/or horror in the mix, inextricable from the rest.
Strongly recommended, especially for anyone bored with the usual vampire portrayals!
Beyond the prose, it has two huge things going for it: Hambly’s vampires are hands down my favourite in fiction, and secondly, despite it being called the James Asher series, Lydia Asher, his wife, is a major PoV character with an enormous amount of agency. She and James are partners in the truest sense of the word; the first thing James does when he discovers vampires are read is tell Lydia – no lying, no making up stories or trying to protect her from the truth, just pure honesty. And their relationship and trust in each other is so strong that she believes him!
I’ve just never seen a married couple like that in fiction, before or since. I love it so much!
As for the vampires: I get frustrated with vampires who are basically just humans who drink blood. I want to read about vampires who feel completely Other; alien and at least a little frightening, not mindlessly evil but beings I can’t completely understand, either. Hambly nails this; her vampires are still people, but the transformation from human to vampire has affected much more than their diet, and they absolutely feel deliciously and wholly Other. I also adore how James and particularly Lydia (who’s a doctor) speculate as to what vampirism is and how it might work; Hambly points out that it being a series of interlocking viruses would explain quite a few vampiric weaknesses, like their inability to tolerate silver. But there’s still a mystery at the heart of what makes up a vampire that I find absolutely wonderful – there’s still that element of magic and/or horror in the mix, inextricable from the rest.
Strongly recommended, especially for anyone bored with the usual vampire portrayals!