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michellewords's review against another edition
4.0
I'm so very glad I continued with the Shadow Saga/Peter Octavian vampire series.
That first book in the series was Golden's first published book and I think it showed a little. I probably would have given up on the series all together if I hadn't already bought the next three books in the series. Also Golden's one of my all-time favorite authors, so I gave him a pass that I wouldn't normally give a series with a poor introduction.
Angel Souls and Devil Hearts draws from the first book a little, but builds it's own story around human villains and vampire villains on both sides of the spectrum. It's very philosophical in the origin of vampires. The world building in this book is absolutely crazy. At times I would wonder about certain aspects as if it were real. That is intense to bury myself in the world so unknowingly.
The book also had quite a few different point of view characters, but I felt like I understood every character, even the ones obviously painted as villains.
This book restored my faith in my old fave. Christopher Golden is one of the most underrated authors of this era. He's right up there with Stephen King for me.
I only hesitate with my recommendation due to some of the graphic sex scenes, which I understand may be a genre choice and not necessarily an author choice, but it still pulled me out of the story every time. There's a way to make it a choice and there's a way to do it just because you can. I felt like this book was more about the latter.
I am so glad I continued the series and I'm interested to find out where it goes. So ya, I'm going to continue eventually.
That first book in the series was Golden's first published book and I think it showed a little. I probably would have given up on the series all together if I hadn't already bought the next three books in the series. Also Golden's one of my all-time favorite authors, so I gave him a pass that I wouldn't normally give a series with a poor introduction.
Angel Souls and Devil Hearts draws from the first book a little, but builds it's own story around human villains and vampire villains on both sides of the spectrum. It's very philosophical in the origin of vampires. The world building in this book is absolutely crazy. At times I would wonder about certain aspects as if it were real. That is intense to bury myself in the world so unknowingly.
The book also had quite a few different point of view characters, but I felt like I understood every character, even the ones obviously painted as villains.
This book restored my faith in my old fave. Christopher Golden is one of the most underrated authors of this era. He's right up there with Stephen King for me.
I only hesitate with my recommendation due to some of the graphic sex scenes, which I understand may be a genre choice and not necessarily an author choice, but it still pulled me out of the story every time. There's a way to make it a choice and there's a way to do it just because you can. I felt like this book was more about the latter.
I am so glad I continued the series and I'm interested to find out where it goes. So ya, I'm going to continue eventually.
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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