A Morbid Initiation

Victorian Age: Vampire

by Philippe Boulle

Regina Blake believes her mother to be the victim of murder and conspiracy. Forgoing caution and propriety, she tries to uncover the truth and bring the culprits to justice. With every step, however, she uncovers more and more evidence of a secret world of danger, sensuality and sin. With the beautiful Victoria Ash as her guide, she peels back layer after layer of this benighted world, until the true horror of it all stands exposed. Will discovering the truth be worth damning her soul?

Genres: World Of Darkness, Vampires, Horror, Fiction, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Urban Fantasy

284 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published December 1, 2002

About the author

Librarian Note:
Some Spanish language edition has the Author's name mispelled as "Phillipe Boulle"

Reviews

[Gianfranco Mancini · Rating 3 out of 5]

Vote: 3,5

A good start of this "Victorian Age: Vampire" trilogy based on the roleplaying game (RPG) with the same name, a spinoff of the more famous "Vampire: the Masquerade" one, introducing the main characters, the plot and the gothic setting of the late 1880s Britain (with an opening and closing trip to Cairo by Beckett, the Indiana Jones of Gangrel clan vampires).
It was great finding again Victoria Ash, Beckett, Theo Bell, Hesha Ruhadze and Prince Mithras, iconic characters of the game setting,like meeting again a bunch of old undead friends.
Some twists were excellent but in the end I almost lost interest in Regina Blake's morbid initiation and introduction to the Kindreds victorian World of Darkness, but Becketts quest to find out the dark Queen of Thousand Faces and the London Tremere attempt to poison godly Prince Mithras are more than enough to make me want to read next novel of this trilogy as soon as possible.

[Noctvrnal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd say it's a book of a slow start. Not because nothing happens, plenty does, but because at least half of the book has us following a floundering protagonist that is not the most interesting person to follow. However, towards the last third of the book, Regina is coming through as a woman of her own personality and that, truly, what makes the ending of this novel strong enough to pick up the sequel.

[Mathieu · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5 stars upgraded to 4 because this is truly an atmospheric novel which manages to re-invent the classical vampire story and to surprise old-time fans of Vampire: The Mascarade by reminding us how scary, depraved and frightening all these creatures are.

[C.T. Phipps · Rating 5 out of 5]

VICTORIAN AGE VAMPIRE: A MORBID INITIATION by Phillipe Boulle is a spin-off of the popular Vampire: The Masquerade series. It was never as popular as its counterpart but it’s easy to see the appeal of playing one of the undead in the time of Dracula and Carmilla. A Morbid Initiation is the first of three volumes that follow the story of a young woman, Regina Blake, and her initiation (see the title) into the world of vampirism.

The premise is Regina is a spirited young woman with an unusual heritage: partially British aristocracy and partially wealthy Eastern European merchants. Such unions weren’t unheard of but is still something to note marks her unusual. Fans of the roleplaying game will note her last name’s importance, Ducheski, immediately. Regina is impressively normal for a World of Darkness protagonist, eager to marry her cavalry officer beau, and perhaps only slightly more passionate than is proper for a young lady.

Unfortunately, for Regina, her mother, Emma takes ill and ends up dying suddenly. Regina’s family home is flooded with her Slavic relations who have strange customs and are determined to keep the body separate from the day. The secret of what is going on is obvious to readers but something that confuses and troubles dear Regina. She determines to investigate the circumstances of her mother’s death, suspecting something far more mundane than vampires, and gets pulled into the dark underbelly of London Camarilla politics.

Fans of the Vampire: The Masquerade signature characters will be pleased to note there are several of them spread throughout the book. The most prominent being Beckett, Hesha Ruhadze, and Victoria Ash. Victoria Ash, Toreador socialite supreme, forms a secondary protagonist as she takes an interest in Regina before deciding to make her a lover. The queer content of A Morbid Initiation is extremely tame, PG-13 by modern standards, but still surprising for early 2000s White Wolf.

The big question for readers is probably whether someone unfamiliar with the tabletop roleplaying game? I think that this, like Dark Prince, is one of the rare books that can be enjoyed by newcomers to the World of Darkness. Those familiar with vampirism in general will be able to understand the kinds of characters, themes, and ideas conveyed without being lost in the jargon. Obviously, those with a passing familiarity with the Thirteen Clans will get slightly more out of it, especially if they know characters like Ms. Ash or Mithras the Methuselah.

A Morbid Initiation is a book that is heavy on mood, world-building, and character development. As a result, it is far better than the majority of game fiction out there. It functions as a novel first and a adaptation of the tabletop game second. The book is atmospheric and successfully captures an updated Gothic atmosphere with more spice as well as violence than the classics but familiar enough to be enjoyed. It may well be my favorite of the White Wolf novels from the Nineties and I’m glad it’s been reprinted.

[Natalie Cannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

My quest to read more Cuthbert Beckett-centric Vampire: the Masquerade fiction continues! We're onto our first proper novel and I was astounded by the leap in quality and feminism present in this work. My partner was shocked when I babbled to her about the good writing within A Morbid Initiation.

Regina Blake's life is in uproar. When her mother Emma dies after a mysterious illness, her father is swamped in grief, Hungarian relatives invade her home with some very strange ideas about burial rites, and her wedding to the dashing Lt. Malcolm Seward is delayed for years. She is alone in her mourning and in investigating these bizarre relatives, who only come out at night and carve symbols of witchcraft into wood. If the missing body and scratch marks on the coffin are any indication, Emma is not wholly dead. Regina vows to stop at nothing to find out what happened to her mother. At least the alluring Miss Victoria Ash is kind of her....

As a fan and as a writer, I enjoyed A Morbid Initiation. Regina is a brilliant protagonist and dogged, Sherlockian gumshoe. Like any good Gothic vampire tale-spinner, Boulle doesn't shy away from sexuality, decay, death, and corruption. However, whereas lesser writers (*cough, cough* like whoever wrote Revelations of the Dark Mother *cough, cough*) would use this excuse to use, abuse, and de-power Regina, gender minorities, and characters of color, Boulle resists this trend. Even when Regina is under the influence of vampiric powers, she is always herself and as independent and powerful as one can be under the circumstances. Boulle is also brave enough to pose the question of what defines a monster. While none of the vampire characters are saints, the colonialist humans actually committed the atrocities that made me the most squeamish.

While A Morbid Initiation did have hiccups, I still found myself very invested in the plot, characters, and the theme of initiation. Even though I'm in no way new to White Wolf's lore, I was engaged as ever in Regina's journey of discovery. The parallelism between her and her erstwhile betrothed, Malcolm, gripped me like a fever. Beckett does pop in for a few chapters, and everything he does is a tantalizing delight. I can't wait for the next book when his and Regina's journeys converge.

If you're looking for a novelistic entry point to Vampire: the Masquerade, I heartily recommend A Morbid Initiation. I'm very much looking forward to the next book.

[Artur · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had so many mixed feelings about this book. At the beginning it felt like a good cover/mashup/mix of Bram Stoker's “Dracula”. The story isn’t anywhere near Dracula’s, but the setting and overall feeling definitely is, so it feels as if a contemporary musician would take a few famous notes from classical music and create something new. Something decent enough to be entertainable.

Then during the second part I realized that a far better comparison would be “Dr Jeckyl and Mr Hyde”, if you have read it recently. Again, not because of the resemblance of the story, but because while reading you are constantly waiting for the plot twist-reveal… And the plot twist is simply impossible to miss; Actually, if you have been living under a rock for the past 90 years there is a very slim possibility that you would not know the identity of Mr Hyde, but who would ever pick up a book called “Victorian age Vampire” with Vampire the Masquerade logo on the cover while still being oblivious to the fact that it’s about vampires? It’s in the name god damn it! Get it over with! I want to know what happens after the reveal!

And yet, I still enjoyed the journey.

[Kuma Almasy · Rating 4 out of 5]

La primera novela, de las muchas, que giran alrededor del juego de rol Vampire The Mascarade. En esta ocasión, la novela se centra en la época victoriana, con personajes tan influyentes e icónicos como Mithras. Puede ser un problema, al menos a día de hoy, hacerse con las tres partes que componen la novela, pero su lectura es interesante y da una visión cercana de dicha época a cualquiera que deseé usarla en sus partidas. Sin duda, seas fan o no de los juegos de rol, merece la pena.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full review here:

https://jamesgenrebooks.blogspot.com/...

t's fun reading, once you get into it, although it takes its good sweet time getting going. People familiar with the signature characters from the Revised edition will probably get a kick out of the cameos made by people focused on in the Clan Novels, although likely people with no knowledge of the Vampire RPG will be as lost as poor Regina.

[Lena · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too focused on a kine.

This trilogy, thus far, does not have impact and entertainment value of the Clan Novels. Following a boring young aristocratic female kine was uninspiring. There were weeks when I didn't bother to pick this up. That said, it was nice to see younger versions of Victoria and Hesha.

*trigger warning: animal violence

[Rosse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, for a commercial book it's very good written, a very nice atmosphere and iconic characters from white wolf.

[Max Rudd · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting read, especially for a fan of the RPG setting this is based on.

Full review and thoughts here:

https://youtu.be/I9zk_3r6YLU

[Raye Evangelion]

this book owns

[Fionn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mis experiencias con libros franquiciados nunca han sido especialmente interesantes o enriquecedoras. En este caso, estaba preparando una partida de Vampiro: la Mascarada con retazos en la Edad Victoriana y consideré buena idea leer este libro para inspirarme y sumergirme, por poco que fuera, en el siglo XIX del Mundo de Tinieblas.
Como casi siempre que leo un libro de una franquicia "pop", procuro no ser muy rígido en la observancia de la calidad literaria y, por supuesto, lo leo sin esperar gran cosa. Ya he escarmentado con muchos que simplemente usaban nombres populares como reclamo, brindando una historia mediocre, poco elaborada, de la que solamente se puede decir positivamente que cumplía con lo que debía. Así son los mercenarios de la pluma, supongo.

No es el caso de "Una iniciación morbosa". Philippe Boulle es un escritor verdaderamente excepcional, y si algo hay algo que lamento tras haber leído este primer tomo, es que no sea más largo. Mi alivio reposa en la seguridad de que forma parte de una trilogía más extensa.

La manera que tiene Boulle de escribir se me hace, hasta cierto punto, aspiracional. Siempre he albergado la ambición, o por lo menos el sueño, de escribir algo que sea digno de ser contado y que, por supuesto, sea entretenido, atmosférico y evocador: Una iniciación morbosa cumple sobradamente con estos tres pilares y me ha hecho meditar en que ojalá en el futuro pueda madurar un estilo lo bastante diestro en las palabras como para escribir a cómo lo hace Boulle. Su trazo literario me ha logrado transportar por completo a la era de las luces de gas, los cocheros y las veladas nocturnas conquistadas por el instinto político y depredatorio de los Vástagos.

Metiéndonos en agujas, y sin acabar con el afluente de elogios para el autor, hablaré someramente acerca de la trama. Resulta muy estimulante ver el arco personal de la protagonista se nos presenta como una heroína victoriana, tozuda e inteligente, que pronto verá su statu quo y su estilo de vida severamente amenazados por las antiguas rencillas y maquinaciones nocturnas de sus antepasados y mayores; sin que esto sea menoscabo para que ella emprenda sus propias acciones y se resuelva a ser un peón más que activo, sobresaliente incluso, en el tablero de ajedrez del Imperio de Mithras.

Al ser jugador de Vampiro: la Mascarada, este libro me ha aportado muy buenas ideas acerca de cómo puedo conducir mis propias crónicas e historias, aportándome nuevos objetivos como narrador a la vez que me ha ofrecido herramientas y conceptos que me serán muy útiles de ahora en adelante.

En definitiva, ¡mil gracias, Philippe! Au revoir.

---

My experiences with franchised books have never been especially interesting or enriching. In this case, I was preparing a game of Vampire: The Masquerade in the Victorian Age and I thought it was a good idea to read this book for inspiration and immerse myself in the 19th century World of Darkness.

As almost every time I read a book coming from a "pop" franchise, I try not to be too rigid in the observance of literary quality and, of course, I read it without expecting much. I have already suffered reading many book who simply used popular names as a claim, offering a mediocre, poorly elaborated story, of which it can only be said positively that it fulfilled what it should. Mercenaries of the pen, I guess.

It's not the case of "A Morbid Initiation". Philippe Boulle is a truly exceptional writer, and if there is one thing I regret after reading this first volume, is that is not a long book. My relief lies in the knowledge that this book is part of a larger trilogy.

Boulle's way of writing presents to me in a certain extent as something aspirational. I have always harbored the ambition, or at least the dream, of writing something worthy of being told and, of course, something entertaining, atmospheric and evocative: A morbid initiation meets these three pillars and has made me meditate about how hopefully in the future, I can mature a writing style skilled enough to write the way Boulle does. His literary finesse has managed to transport me completely to the era of gaslight, top hats and night parties conquered by the political and predatory instinct of the Kindred.

Without ending my praises to the author, I will speak briefly about the plot. It's very refreshing to see the protagonist's personal arc presenting us as a stubborn and intelligent Victorian heroine, who will soon see her status quo and her lifestyle severely threatened by the ancient feuds and nocturnal machinations of older ancestors and ancient creatures; without this being detrimental for her to undertake her own actions, because she resolves to be a more than a pawn on the chessboard of the Empire of Mithras.

As a player of Vampire: The Masquerade, this book has given me great ideas about how I can run my own chronicles and stories, giving me new goals as a storyteller while offering me tools and concepts that will be very useful to me onwards.

All in all, thank you very much, Philippe! Au revoir.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

For some reason, the only English page I can find says this book has 120 pages, when it actually has 285. I only say this because all three books have 285 pages, which might have some significance, or it might be a limit set by White Wolf when they were written. This is the first book in a trilogy, set in the Victorian era with all the trappings of The Victorian Age: Vampire campaign setting in White Wolf's Vampire: The Masquerade. This book mostly follows Lady Regina Blake, only daughter to Lord and Lady Blake. With the help of vampire Victoria Ash, Regina begins to learn about London's "Night Society", the complex hierarchical society of vampires controlling the city at night, in a desperate attempt to save her mother. I really liked the story, but I'm not much for sex, or romantic story lines, and this book had a bit. Not enough to turn me off the book, but enough I didn't want to read it in public, so as not to embarrass myself. The characters were well written, though, and the Gothic tone was really fun. Several of the vampires mentioned are in the "present day" of the game, so it's cool to see some of their past in this novel. This is a great way to introduce someone to the Vampire role-playing game, especially if you are going to play in this particular setting.

[Laurie · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a good story, but is definitely one in a 3 part series. I was left hanging at the end and have no way, at this time, to get the other 2 books. Oh well.

[Ernesto I. Ramirez · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beutiful representation of victorian society and horror. It also has one of my favorite erotic scenes.

[Nathan Venable · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well-done pastiche of Victorian styling and Gothic suspense with a bit of modern erotica.

[Pöfivonat · Rating 5 out of 5]

A borítò szerintem megtévesztő, félelmetesebb mint a tartalom, de végre egy igazi vámpírregény, különösebb sallang nélkül. :)