raven_acres's review against another edition
5.0
Loved all of the twists and turns through this book! The author pulls no punches with characters, thoroughly enjoyed it! Diving into the third book tonight!
tashalostinbooks's review against another edition
2.0
If you can't say something nice...I was tickled by the Lovecraft inspired demon names. And I like the gargoyle on the cover.
trish204's review against another edition
4.0
This is the second novel in the Peter Octavian series.
At the end of the first book, Peter Octavian told his friends to find out what they are (the vampires), their true origin. For in this world, the Church has twisted the minds of vampires long ago, which trickled down the generations and altered their own understanding of themselves. And in this book, they finally find out the truth.
It's been 5 years since Peter dragged a certain sorcerer-priest through a gate into hell to save his friends. But now, Mulkerrin is back and more powerful than before (and he has an imaginary friend speaking to him). He's obviously learned a lot in that parallel dimension that we call Hell. Thus, the survivors of Venice not only have to deal with a certain traitorous vampire and some seriously crazy humans, they also have to face dragons and demons and undead spirits that possess human bodies.
While the question of what the shadows/vampires really are promised to be interesting in this different world the author has created, it wasn't enough to carry the entire book IMO.
I did love Cody (Buffalo Bill) and was therefore VERY motivated to find out what would happen to him, but Meghan annoyed the living hell out of me what with her "newborn" perfection.
The ancients were interesting, but I think I was never entirely sold on this version of the vampiric myth (them being everything at once, bloodsuckers and limitless shapeshifters and so much more).
However, the battles were once again very intense, everything happening at once (which is only realistic), and I appreciate the general speed of these stories (not too much baby fat so there is no drag) as well as at least a few of the twists/reveals.
I can't say much to what this book genre was like back in the day when this book was published; my view on the plot and characters is influenced by the other UF books and TV shows I know. Therefore, I don't know how new and revolutionary this or that plot twist or detail in the worldbuilding might have been. What I can say is that I was annoyed with perfect little Meghan and how a love triangle was prevented as it seemed uninspired. There were a few such things both in book 1 and book 2.
Nevertheless, I was entertained. Not enough to continue the series (also because it's only a matter of time until everyone except Peter will be dead), but I do recommend it to fans of the UF genre, vampires and stories full of demons and other nasties.
At the end of the first book, Peter Octavian told his friends to find out what they are (the vampires), their true origin. For in this world, the Church has twisted the minds of vampires long ago, which trickled down the generations and altered their own understanding of themselves. And in this book, they finally find out the truth.
It's been 5 years since Peter dragged a certain sorcerer-priest through a gate into hell to save his friends. But now, Mulkerrin is back and more powerful than before (and he has an imaginary friend speaking to him). He's obviously learned a lot in that parallel dimension that we call Hell. Thus, the survivors of Venice not only have to deal with a certain traitorous vampire and some seriously crazy humans, they also have to face dragons and demons and undead spirits that possess human bodies.
While the question of what the shadows/vampires really are promised to be interesting in this different world the author has created, it wasn't enough to carry the entire book IMO.
I did love Cody (Buffalo Bill) and was therefore VERY motivated to find out what would happen to him, but Meghan annoyed the living hell out of me what with her "newborn" perfection.
The ancients were interesting, but I think I was never entirely sold on this version of the vampiric myth (them being everything at once, bloodsuckers and limitless shapeshifters and so much more).
However, the battles were once again very intense, everything happening at once (which is only realistic), and I appreciate the general speed of these stories (not too much baby fat so there is no drag) as well as at least a few of the twists/reveals.
I can't say much to what this book genre was like back in the day when this book was published; my view on the plot and characters is influenced by the other UF books and TV shows I know. Therefore, I don't know how new and revolutionary this or that plot twist or detail in the worldbuilding might have been. What I can say is that I was annoyed with perfect little Meghan and how a love triangle was prevented as it seemed uninspired. There were a few such things both in book 1 and book 2.
Nevertheless, I was entertained. Not enough to continue the series (also because it's only a matter of time until everyone except Peter will be dead), but I do recommend it to fans of the UF genre, vampires and stories full of demons and other nasties.
justgeekingby's review against another edition
3.0
I read the first book of the series 5 years ago, and over the last 5 years my world view has changed a lot. I've become more aware of a lot of things, including the way female characters are portrayed in literature by male authors. I'm mentioning this because I honestly dont remember whether the first book had as much violence against women. This was written in the 90s so it does not surprise me. But it does ruin the experience for me personally. The mythos and world building I loved in the first book continues but for me it's tainted by the extreme violence to female characters throughout the book.
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