Thursday, February 15, 2007

New Year's Resolution book



Yay! I love this one!

Here's the blurb:

In every generation, a Gardella is called to accept the family legacy of vampire slaying, and this time, Victoria Gardella Grantworth is chosen, on the eve of her debut, to carry the stake. But as she moves between the crush of ballrooms and dangerous, moonlit streets, Victoria's heart is torn between London's most eligible bachelor, the Marquess of Rockley, and her enigmatic ally, Sebastian Vioget. And when she comes face to face with the most powerful vampire in history, Victoria must ultimately make the choice between duty and love.

Okay. First, yes, while the idea is Buffy-like, the book's not like Buffy. After the first couple of chapters I forgot about the resemblance. Colleen Gleason has created a new and original vampire mythology which promises to be develop in a really unique way as the series goes on. I enjoyed Victoria's attempts to keep her activities secret in a world where keeping secrets was so difficult. And the characters are so alive and interesting. So alive and interesting, in fact, that...

the end made me cry a little.

I think you guys know me well enough by now to know that I am not the type of girl who cries at books very often. In fact, I can only think of a couple of books in my life that have made me cry: when Melanie dies in Gone With the Wind; the entire last few chapters and Epilogue of Sharon Kay Penman's The Reckoning; and sometimes I get a little emotional when Willie hears "When Johnny Comes Marching Home" on the radio in The Caine Mutiny (but then, who doesn't get emotional when they hear that song? It's like "Over There". Seriously. I dare you to listen to that and feel nothing at all.)

I didn't sob at the end of The Rest Falls Away, but I teared up. And that's a big deal.

The book started a little slowly for me--which very well might have been that I was snatching minutes here and there to read--but quickly absorbed me once I focused and the set-up was complete. I would have liked a little more "period" feel--not that the book didn't have that feel, but I was hoping for a little more velvet, smoke, fog, and blood.

Still, we had three handsome, sexy men to tempt our heroine--and I can't decide, so don't ask. That nipple ring and the slight pain fetish hinted at is awfully tempting (although I have never found men with nipple rings appealing, so don't ask me where that came from, I just know it did), but Mr. Kiss-Me-In-The-Coach-And-I-Might-Be-A-Bad-Guy is pretty hot too. And the other one...just...aaaw.

And I can't believe I have to wait until June to read the next one...but you don't have to, because Colleen Gleason is doing an ARC contest over at her website, so go enter!

Seriously. This is a keeper. Go get it.

4 comments:

Robyn said...

Nice review. I'm glad you told us that the story isn't really Buffy; I've read elsewhere that it was. How does she butt-kick in corsets, or is the severe wardrobe described?

Rhian said...

I'm glad you talked about this one - it's been one of those i've picked up and put back on the shelf about a gazillion times, wondering if i should shovel out the dinero for it. So many books, so limited funds. You helped make my mind up to snatch it on my next trip to Borders. Maybe if i'm really lucky Richelle's book will FINALLY be there (since my Borders knows it better get everything i want in 2 weeks BEFORE the release date.)

Camille Alexa said...

Isn't this one on the Debut-a-Debut list?

You make it sound awfully tempting, bytheway...

Stacia said...

Well, Robyn, it is very Buffy-like; I just stopped thinking about it/noticing it once I got a few chapters in. And I forgot to mention, the chapters are titled, which I adore.

Yes, Rhian, definitely pick it up. I did enjoy it!

Not sure, lbl, I think so.