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3.05 AVERAGE
3.05 AVERAGE
This is my first take on the Vampire Masquerade series. I never play the RPG or play the PC Games. I understand that this series (Vampire Masquerade) is probably where True Blood , Underworld among other Vampire media grab it's origins.
This is a fast pace reading, even I which sometimes don't read that fast , made me read page after page since every chapter is only a couple of pages long. All of the novel is set in Atalanta (some other instances we jump to New York but very brief).
We've got a war going on between Anarch & Camarilla. We are mainly told (very few action scenes) and by the end we've got the intervention of Sabbat. Since this was the first book there are hints here and there of things that I understand will come to fruitation later on like per example the Eye of Hazimel. There are hints also of Blood Curse that swept the land, of Malkavian sects but all was really high level - again I deduce going to be told in the later novels.
In this novel we follow first Leopold (a Toreador artist) who is trying to live his life among humans and vampires but not really getting involved in anything. Is also trying to find out who his sire is. He believes it's Victoria Ash (another Toreador) but he has yet to confirm and she is the main protagonist on the second half of the novel after the gathering of all participants in a Elysium (a place where all vampires can be in peace - even warring ones).
We are introduced to other characters like Rolph the nosferatu, Hannah the Tremere who made Leopold make a sculpture of her (when he even says he can sculp Kindred), Theo the Brujah (Anarch), Benjamim the Ventrue, We've got also The Prince Beninson, his wife Eleanor or the General. There is also a Setite (Vegel) which I don't think there is a book for them and couple of others and Benito Giovanni (The one in New York) and I didn't understood his purpose on this tale.
Now, is this a good book or bad? Well, It's a good introduction to the Vampires and I didn't felt lost per se. There were some questions I had but it made me search youtube videos which is always nice. I think the book is very much on the "Telling" side than showing and sometimes it's feels that you are reading a sourcebook which kind makes sense since Stewart is one of the creators. I am going to give this book 80/100. Next month, second novel - Clan Tzimisce.
This is a fast pace reading, even I which sometimes don't read that fast , made me read page after page since every chapter is only a couple of pages long. All of the novel is set in Atalanta (some other instances we jump to New York but very brief).
We've got a war going on between Anarch & Camarilla. We are mainly told (very few action scenes) and by the end we've got the intervention of Sabbat. Since this was the first book there are hints here and there of things that I understand will come to fruitation later on like per example the Eye of Hazimel. There are hints also of Blood Curse that swept the land, of Malkavian sects but all was really high level - again I deduce going to be told in the later novels.
In this novel we follow first Leopold (a Toreador artist) who is trying to live his life among humans and vampires but not really getting involved in anything. Is also trying to find out who his sire is. He believes it's Victoria Ash (another Toreador) but he has yet to confirm and she is the main protagonist on the second half of the novel after the gathering of all participants in a Elysium (a place where all vampires can be in peace - even warring ones).
We are introduced to other characters like Rolph the nosferatu, Hannah the Tremere who made Leopold make a sculpture of her (when he even says he can sculp Kindred), Theo the Brujah (Anarch), Benjamim the Ventrue, We've got also The Prince Beninson, his wife Eleanor or the General. There is also a Setite (Vegel) which I don't think there is a book for them and couple of others and Benito Giovanni (The one in New York) and I didn't understood his purpose on this tale.
Now, is this a good book or bad? Well, It's a good introduction to the Vampires and I didn't felt lost per se. There were some questions I had but it made me search youtube videos which is always nice. I think the book is very much on the "Telling" side than showing and sometimes it's feels that you are reading a sourcebook which kind makes sense since Stewart is one of the creators. I am going to give this book 80/100. Next month, second novel - Clan Tzimisce.
I had rather high hopes for this one; I was quote enjoying it...then it abruptly ended. I think my main concern is that this is obviously part of some larger plot; characters are set up, knocked down, then the book finishes. Sure, I know there's a whole series of these (the inclusion of chapters for another two of them rather bludgeon one into noting it) but by itself this isn't particularly satisfying.
Still, as I say I was enjoying it. It certainly manages to (mostly) avoid the laboured feel from which a lot of White Wolf fiction can suffer when trying to crowbar game mechanics and/or lexicon into proceedings.
Still, as I say I was enjoying it. It certainly manages to (mostly) avoid the laboured feel from which a lot of White Wolf fiction can suffer when trying to crowbar game mechanics and/or lexicon into proceedings.
Ahhhh I debated giving this a 3 star because it was REALLY slow at the start. And it almost got a 3 star because it didn't resolve very well in my opinion.
This is the first of the series. And it shows. But Victoria Ash, Julius, and Leopold keep it pretty fresh. And the last bit is a nice little blood bath!
This is the first of the series. And it shows. But Victoria Ash, Julius, and Leopold keep it pretty fresh. And the last bit is a nice little blood bath!
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I love Vampire: The Masquerade, so I'm probably very biased on this matter, but I definitely enjoyed this book. Sure, it was written in the 90s, and it definitely shows: the tone and language of the book is very edgy, filled with brooding characters and mature themes that were woven into the story with the subtlety of a jackhammer.
But still, the story is interesting enough that I wanted to see it to the end and it definitely manages to incorporate the most important themes of Vampire: personal horror and political intrigue. It's probably easier to appreciate if you already like the source material, but if you are willing to forgive some 90s cheesiness, it's worth a read.
But still, the story is interesting enough that I wanted to see it to the end and it definitely manages to incorporate the most important themes of Vampire: personal horror and political intrigue. It's probably easier to appreciate if you already like the source material, but if you are willing to forgive some 90s cheesiness, it's worth a read.
came for the mid prose, stayed for the rape and racism.
well, i didn't, but you get what i mean.
well, i didn't, but you get what i mean.
Honestly a much better book than I anticipated. Decently written, adult themes, and I found myself Googling a series of classic sculptures as important events happened in their presence. Who would have thought that would be the result of a V:TM offshoot novel?
Another read as I dip back into the world in preparation for Bloodlines 2.
Another read as I dip back into the world in preparation for Bloodlines 2.
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I run a Vampire: the Masquerade chronicle and two of my players enjoy writing short stories inspired by our sessions. Reading their work made me crave books set in this universe. Little did I know such novels already existed! Born in 1991, I completely missed out on these early 2000s gems. While the writing quality isn’t always the best, they’re incredibly entertaining to read and offer a great way to dive deeper into the setting, clans, sects, and lore of Vampire: The Masquerade.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes