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Kiss Trilogy #1
Kiss of Night
As Susan Lambert prays at an ancient church while visiting Prague for her beloved grandmother's funeral, she is suddenly confronted by a man who vanishes as quickly as he appeared. She dismisses him as a figment of her imagination, only to meet him again shortly after her cousin disappears with a stranger. His name is Raphael and he claims her cousin is in mortal danger. By accepting his help, Susan finds herself thrust into a world of the supernatural.
Raphael, once a brutal knight who fought during the Crusades, was cursed for his sins to roam the earth as a vampire. Now he claims to need Susan's help in a secret war against a sinister evil. Unsure of a world she could never have believed existed and entangled with forces beyond her control, Susan must trust the mesmerising Raphael to lead her through to the other side safely.
Both Susan and Raphael will be called upon to exercise courage and faith, and in the process, the question What would happen if a vampire truly accepted God? is answered.
Raphael, once a brutal knight who fought during the Crusades, was cursed for his sins to roam the earth as a vampire. Now he claims to need Susan's help in a secret war against a sinister evil. Unsure of a world she could never have believed existed and entangled with forces beyond her control, Susan must trust the mesmerising Raphael to lead her through to the other side safely.
Both Susan and Raphael will be called upon to exercise courage and faith, and in the process, the question What would happen if a vampire truly accepted God? is answered.
292 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
25 people are currently reading
1838 people want to read
About the author
Debbie Viguié
91 books1,040 followersDebbie Viguié is the New York Times Bestselling author of more than three dozen novels including the Wicked series co-authored with Nancy Holder. In addition to her epic dark fantasy work Debbie also writes thrillers including The Psalm 23 Mysteries, the Kiss trilogy, and the Witch Hunt trilogy. Debbie also plays a recurring character on the audio drama, Doctor Geek’s Laboratory. When Debbie isn’t busy writing or acting she enjoys spending time with her husband, Scott, visiting theme parks.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 118 reviews
April 27, 2018
this was an alright book. I had a few problems with the vampires being Christians... ?
don’t know.
don’t know.
September 21, 2012
1,5 stars
Christian fiction meets vampires....
When i buy a book, i expect to love it! Let's face it, money doesn't grow on trees. At least it doesn't on my garden. So i get really upset, when i buy something expecting it to be great, and the "thing" turns out not so great.
First of all, had i known that this was some kind of christian fiction i wouldn't have bought it. My faith is my own, and i don't need nobody's lectures on the degradation of morality in our days. This part of the story really made me laugh. What a character says about this matter:" I believe that modern age has brought with it a sense of moral ambiguity that has created people with no moral compass, no fundamental understanding of right and wrong", Paul on page 217
REALLY???
So, things were better in the dark ages??
Yes, i bet that right and wrong were upholded in those days...
BUT WAIT, according to the same character: "But in the past, even the most evil people had an understanding of right and wrong, good and evil.", Paul on page 217
So let me see if i get this straight, in the past evil people, knew they were being evil, but behaved as evil just the same....and now, people are being evil, because they are too misled by notions of moral ambiguity.??
lol, right....
I think this asks for a question: Mirror, mirror on the wall who's the biggest evildoer of them all??
Thank God, in this matter i am a lot like David....in the part regarding resisting mind control.
Okay moving on... so, i bought this book, because i though: "Hey a crusade turned into a vampire!" This seems interesting...unfortunately, it didn't work like that. Because this book, for me, is in the "insta-story" gender. You know the type, where, characters in two or three pages believe that vampires exist, and the type where a regular person decides to embark on a holy war against EVIL...once again in two or three days. Apparently this is due to having faith. Because if one believes that God exists, one should believe that the same thing happens with monsters.
The pacing and the characters just felt strange and completely dull. The insta-love "thing" regarding one couple just felt ridiculous, and the insta-attraction between the other just felt forced. I never felt any chemistry between the characters.
Then there was the constant praying....
And well for me, that one just nailed this one's coffin.
Christian fiction meets vampires....
When i buy a book, i expect to love it! Let's face it, money doesn't grow on trees. At least it doesn't on my garden. So i get really upset, when i buy something expecting it to be great, and the "thing" turns out not so great.
First of all, had i known that this was some kind of christian fiction i wouldn't have bought it. My faith is my own, and i don't need nobody's lectures on the degradation of morality in our days. This part of the story really made me laugh. What a character says about this matter:" I believe that modern age has brought with it a sense of moral ambiguity that has created people with no moral compass, no fundamental understanding of right and wrong", Paul on page 217
REALLY???
So, things were better in the dark ages??
Yes, i bet that right and wrong were upholded in those days...
BUT WAIT, according to the same character: "But in the past, even the most evil people had an understanding of right and wrong, good and evil.", Paul on page 217
So let me see if i get this straight, in the past evil people, knew they were being evil, but behaved as evil just the same....and now, people are being evil, because they are too misled by notions of moral ambiguity.??
lol, right....
I think this asks for a question: Mirror, mirror on the wall who's the biggest evildoer of them all??
Thank God, in this matter i am a lot like David....in the part regarding resisting mind control.
Okay moving on... so, i bought this book, because i though: "Hey a crusade turned into a vampire!" This seems interesting...unfortunately, it didn't work like that. Because this book, for me, is in the "insta-story" gender. You know the type, where, characters in two or three pages believe that vampires exist, and the type where a regular person decides to embark on a holy war against EVIL...once again in two or three days. Apparently this is due to having faith. Because if one believes that God exists, one should believe that the same thing happens with monsters.
The pacing and the characters just felt strange and completely dull. The insta-love "thing" regarding one couple just felt ridiculous, and the insta-attraction between the other just felt forced. I never felt any chemistry between the characters.
Then there was the constant praying....
And well for me, that one just nailed this one's coffin.
October 10, 2011
"Kiss of Night" is a genre-defying, and boundary-pushing story about vampires told form a Christian perspective. This story is not a watered down tale by any means! The action is intense and non-stop. In fact I was pretty scared during a lot of the scenes.
There are two love stories in the book, and even if they do take a backseat to the action, I enjoyed the romances a lot. Susan and Raphael's relationship was much more intense and a little edgier than most Christian fiction romances, in my opinion. I really felt the chemistry between these two characters. David and Wendy's story was a lot sweeter, but sometimes it felt like too much of an add-on for me to really get into. Still, it was nice to see two very different types of romances represented.
Sometimes, I'm disappointed in the quality of storytelling in Christian fiction, but definitely not here. There's a fully drawn out story with tons of intense action. In fact, I was surprised by how scary and intense some of the story was. The flashbacks to Raphael's evil human years were especially brutal.
I admire the author and publisher for being willing to push boundaries and try something so new. The story may have been a bit scary for me personally, but I would definitely recommend it to fans of vampires and urban fantasy action books.
ARC sent by publisher in exchange for honest review
reviewed for http://inthehammockblog.blogspot.com
There are two love stories in the book, and even if they do take a backseat to the action, I enjoyed the romances a lot. Susan and Raphael's relationship was much more intense and a little edgier than most Christian fiction romances, in my opinion. I really felt the chemistry between these two characters. David and Wendy's story was a lot sweeter, but sometimes it felt like too much of an add-on for me to really get into. Still, it was nice to see two very different types of romances represented.
Sometimes, I'm disappointed in the quality of storytelling in Christian fiction, but definitely not here. There's a fully drawn out story with tons of intense action. In fact, I was surprised by how scary and intense some of the story was. The flashbacks to Raphael's evil human years were especially brutal.
I admire the author and publisher for being willing to push boundaries and try something so new. The story may have been a bit scary for me personally, but I would definitely recommend it to fans of vampires and urban fantasy action books.
ARC sent by publisher in exchange for honest review
reviewed for http://inthehammockblog.blogspot.com
August 10, 2017
Lying within the darkness and the mists of the centuries old, lies a deep and hidden secret. It has been this way for many centuries and as long as there has been good in the world, so has there also been evil.
Now the clock is ticking on a war that is soon to rage, yet there still remains time to train those who will begun warriors and for those who will weld weapons of unknown secrets.
Susan Lambert thought that by taking a trip to Prague, she would be attending her grandmother's funeral. However when she attempts to visit an ancient cathedral her grandmother told her about, she meets a mysterious, tall stranger, with dark hair and the deepest blue eyes, who vanishes before her eyes.
Not knowing if this is just a part of jet lag or simply being too tired and overwhelmed by the history of the town, Susan will be drawn to a man she both fears and trusts at the same time. When her cousin Wendy, meets an unexpected man, she invites Susan to go to a night club with them. Immediately Susan knows that this man is evil and means to harm Wendy if she leaves with him. Excusing herself to change, Susan returns to find her cousin and the stranger have vanished.
Not knowing where to begin searching for her, she finds her tall, dark stranger who identifies himself as Raphael, waiting to help her find Wendy. What he is about to tell her will not only protect her on her quest, but will change her life forever. Vampires still live and not all of them are good. She just isn't sure if his intentions are to harm her or protect her.
David Trent, is visiting Prague for three months for his job research, and who also coincidentally finds himself in the same hotel as Susan. When he hears screaming coming from her room, he rushes in to find a vampire holding down a woman on her bed, and in the next moment finds himself thrown across the room, before blacking out.
In the novel Kiss of Night by Debbie Viguie', Susan and David will join forces with vampires to eliminate an evil threat of war about to be unleashed on the world, by a vampire older than Raphael, whose goal is to rule the world as the one true leader. What Susan and David are about to learn is just what ancient weapons, Susan's grandmother has left them and just what part Raphael's sire, Gabriel, will play in all of this.
I received this novel compliments of Faith Words for my honest review and loved a different take on your traditional vampire stories. This one is written for a Christian audience but anyone who loves Twilight, would be captivated by this one as well. There is an ongoing struggle within Raphael to find the salvation of God even though he served in the crusades as a warrior. He later found greed as his motivation to move up within the ranks and thus when turned into a vampire, maintained that lust for greed. Now he fights internally for the good he sees in Susan and how she is willing to do anything to protect him and keep him from harm.
This novel ends perfectly for a sequel and can't wait to hear about what happens to them in future. This one had me hooked from the first page, must like the Twilight series, and leaves me definitely for a taste of wanting even more. 5 out of 5 stars for this book that will leave you with a completely different take on all the vampire stories out there.
August 20, 2011
Seriously? Such a great idea but very awkward execution.
First of all, I was lured by the cover. That man looks wicked, the clothes are yummy and the font is delicious.
The idea behind the book is wonderful. Vampirism is a curse bestowed upon those who were monsters and didn't have a chance to redeem themselves in the eyes of God during their life. When they are turned to vampires they have centuries to change and become good men.
Raphael is one of them. Turned during Crusades he was a true monster, killing for the sake of killing, - men, women, children, friends or enemies, he wouldn't stop. Fast forward to present, we get flashbacks of his past. Now he fights a war against those vampires who didn't change their wicked ways and who plan to rule the world.
Susan is an American girl who comes to Prague for her granny's funeral. She belongs to the old bloodlines of Bryas, sensitive to vampires and strong in her faith which is her weapon. Although she doesn't know that vampires exist until one of them preys upon her younger cousin Wendy.
David is another American, who comes to Prague for business and gets mixed up in Susan and Wendy's affairs being unfortunate enough to live next door to the girls in the hotel.
Somehow Raphael stalks Susan because he believes that she possesses an artifact which can help him to win the war. Between weird vampire attacks, mysterious Paul, who is a monk and a vampire(!), also a lawyer with his own agenda, Susan and Raphael start to work together to unravel the mystery of the artifact, and David ends up training to be a vampire killer.
This book was AWKWARD. Not enough explanation and background. Although Paul was particularly interesting.
There is an unnecessary attraction between Raphael and Susan. Sorry, I just couldn't believe it. One moment she is terrified of him, next they are passionately kissing each other and admitting their love. There is not enough story to their enemies. Too many things left unsaid for the sequel.
Wendy going back and forth between US and Prague, or Susan flying to France on a whim. No mention of such pesky things like visas or huge amount of money for the tickets across the Atlantic... Locals all speaking perfect English, David deciding not to work but kill vampires... Again, how would he support himself without doing his job?
I know it's all make believe, but make it a bit more real, more difficult for the characters. Again, we have 900 year-old vampire, who just seems... incompetent. Everyone helps him and even saves his butt.
Apart from all this, the book strongly reminded me of The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova which I love.
First of all, I was lured by the cover. That man looks wicked, the clothes are yummy and the font is delicious.
The idea behind the book is wonderful. Vampirism is a curse bestowed upon those who were monsters and didn't have a chance to redeem themselves in the eyes of God during their life. When they are turned to vampires they have centuries to change and become good men.
Raphael is one of them. Turned during Crusades he was a true monster, killing for the sake of killing, - men, women, children, friends or enemies, he wouldn't stop. Fast forward to present, we get flashbacks of his past. Now he fights a war against those vampires who didn't change their wicked ways and who plan to rule the world.
Susan is an American girl who comes to Prague for her granny's funeral. She belongs to the old bloodlines of Bryas, sensitive to vampires and strong in her faith which is her weapon. Although she doesn't know that vampires exist until one of them preys upon her younger cousin Wendy.
David is another American, who comes to Prague for business and gets mixed up in Susan and Wendy's affairs being unfortunate enough to live next door to the girls in the hotel.
Somehow Raphael stalks Susan because he believes that she possesses an artifact which can help him to win the war. Between weird vampire attacks, mysterious Paul, who is a monk and a vampire(!), also a lawyer with his own agenda, Susan and Raphael start to work together to unravel the mystery of the artifact, and David ends up training to be a vampire killer.
This book was AWKWARD. Not enough explanation and background. Although Paul was particularly interesting.
There is an unnecessary attraction between Raphael and Susan. Sorry, I just couldn't believe it. One moment she is terrified of him, next they are passionately kissing each other and admitting their love. There is not enough story to their enemies. Too many things left unsaid for the sequel.
Wendy going back and forth between US and Prague, or Susan flying to France on a whim. No mention of such pesky things like visas or huge amount of money for the tickets across the Atlantic... Locals all speaking perfect English, David deciding not to work but kill vampires... Again, how would he support himself without doing his job?
I know it's all make believe, but make it a bit more real, more difficult for the characters. Again, we have 900 year-old vampire, who just seems... incompetent. Everyone helps him and even saves his butt.
Apart from all this, the book strongly reminded me of The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova which I love.
January 8, 2015
Ever since the Twilight Saga exploded in everybody's faces and kicked off the vampire obsession in media, I've internally cringed at the thought of reading anything that even hinted at the combined words of "vampire" and "romance." I don't have a problem with vampires, you know, when they're the bad guys (Buffy) or when they're actually cool people (enter Simon from City of Fallen Angels...who, sidenote, is the most redeemable character in all of that series). The plot is just too overdone. Yeah, yeah, you've lived for forever. Yeah, yeah, you're a tragic monster. Okay, okay, you love this chick and she probably wants to live forever too...
So, I'll end that rant. I was hesitant on reading this book, but my boyfriend's aunt asked if I wanted to borrow it. (She, btw, is a Twilight fan and we often attack each other on our literary choices only because she thinks Harry Potter might be evil. Yeah, okay.)
There were two reasons why I didn't flat out say, "Nooooo thanks, Edward lover."
1. The author is a Christian? Possibly? I was intrigued. With a raised eyebrow.
2. She didn't love it. Lol. She said it was just okay, and that made me feel like it would be an easy quick read.
So, getting to it. The beginning started off horrendously slow. Main character Girl, what was her name...Susan or something...was really boring. Then I ran into the same issues from The Tiger's Curse where we had some random flat characters that provided information and that's all they were there for. The rushed, clipped dialogue was just painful is all.
The most interesting character was Raphael...the vampire. I know, right? He had history and depth and thoughts and struggles. Everybody else was just...there. Susan was the most Mary Sue-est of women.
The "romance" was so random. Why do so many plotlines involve random and abrupt displays of affection and somehow think that's okay and that it's the beginning of actual, true, I-will-die-for-you love? So weird. This is in the sense that they actually use kissing to get someone to focus? What?
Petty note: Another thing with names! First, there was an abundance of old Romantic names and I kept getting them confused. Armand, Pierre, and two other names that I can't even remember how to spell or who they apply to. I remember Armand the most because he was mentioned twice and I never knew who he was. And again, Susan and Wendy were also the Mary Sue-est of names. I'm done with that petty note.
Also, I got tired of the repetitive use of the word "evil." There are other words you can use, you know? Debaucherous...Lecherous...depraved...immoral, even, if you wanted to go simple. It just seemed cartoony to use "evil" over and over again.
The plot was basic. It took a long time to get to the conclusion, and you did kind of leave the book going, "Hm...that took a long time to get to that point..."
Raphael, you were cool, but your world, not so much.
So, I'll end that rant. I was hesitant on reading this book, but my boyfriend's aunt asked if I wanted to borrow it. (She, btw, is a Twilight fan and we often attack each other on our literary choices only because she thinks Harry Potter might be evil. Yeah, okay.)
There were two reasons why I didn't flat out say, "Nooooo thanks, Edward lover."
1. The author is a Christian? Possibly? I was intrigued. With a raised eyebrow.
2. She didn't love it. Lol. She said it was just okay, and that made me feel like it would be an easy quick read.
So, getting to it. The beginning started off horrendously slow. Main character Girl, what was her name...Susan or something...was really boring. Then I ran into the same issues from The Tiger's Curse where we had some random flat characters that provided information and that's all they were there for. The rushed, clipped dialogue was just painful is all.
The most interesting character was Raphael...the vampire. I know, right? He had history and depth and thoughts and struggles. Everybody else was just...there. Susan was the most Mary Sue-est of women.
The "romance" was so random. Why do so many plotlines involve random and abrupt displays of affection and somehow think that's okay and that it's the beginning of actual, true, I-will-die-for-you love? So weird. This is in the sense that they actually use kissing to get someone to focus? What?
Petty note: Another thing with names! First, there was an abundance of old Romantic names and I kept getting them confused. Armand, Pierre, and two other names that I can't even remember how to spell or who they apply to. I remember Armand the most because he was mentioned twice and I never knew who he was. And again, Susan and Wendy were also the Mary Sue-est of names. I'm done with that petty note.
Also, I got tired of the repetitive use of the word "evil." There are other words you can use, you know? Debaucherous...Lecherous...depraved...immoral, even, if you wanted to go simple. It just seemed cartoony to use "evil" over and over again.
The plot was basic. It took a long time to get to the conclusion, and you did kind of leave the book going, "Hm...that took a long time to get to that point..."
Raphael, you were cool, but your world, not so much.
August 6, 2011
(includes fan art by yours truly)
Susan travels to Prague to her grandmother's funeral, there she visits the wonderful and mysterious city, but she feels watched, and as her roommate cousin is lured away from the hotel she has to trust a stranger to find her. It soon becomes clear she's over her head in a world with vampires fighting over the rule of the world.
David travels to Prague for a job, and finds out that being raised a good man also means that if you burst into unexpected situations your life might be in more danger than one would imagine. As it turns out he's a hard man to put down and isn't afraid to stand for those who can't protect themselves, especially when they happen to be blonde and beautiful collage students just one room over.
Raphael's past is as dark as they get, which is why he's been cursed to roam the earth a vampire to have hundreds of years to get perspective, but as his lone existence now has to include Susan, a human woman, perspective seems to falter. He sure doesn't see developing feelings for a woman a good thing, but it also seems it's not something he can simply ignore, after all he has to keep Susan safe if he wants her help to win over his enemy. But with her he gets more than he bargained for.
The gorgeous medieval and dark city of Prague creates just the right environment for vampires lurking in the shadows, with old buildings and more history than one can count Prague is the perfect place for Raphael's story to entwine with Susan's and produce one dark, but thrilling book.
This story follows three point-of-views Susan, David and Raphael in third person, and each one of the characters is absolute delight to read! As Susan's view ends and David's picks up it doesn't feel wrong or less, but just right. All the characters are created with souls and you can feel how they are different and individual in the story. And none of the characters are flimsy, fake or hollow, but strong in their own ways and a pleasure to get to know.
The story is very interesting, and as I know this is Book 1 in the trilogy all I can say is What an introduction! I can't wait to read the next book out in 2012. Debbie Viguié's vampires are either very bad ( read murderers, killers, psychos even before getting turned ) or slightly to moderately redeemed, none of them turned by accident or mockery, but turned, or as she writes Cursed, only to be punished for their evil actions as humans. Which makes the vampires interesting as they begin to seek faith and redemption.
As I begun this book I knew it was going to be good, but I didn't know it was going to be excellent! This is definitely a series I will follow up on! A wonderful read for Fall days, definitely worth the pre-order.
I'd put this in Urban Fantasy genre with a bit of Paranormal Romance in it, but PG-13.
If you get one vampire book this fall, get Kiss of Night. It's for the lovers of Twilight and Mortal Instruments and those who love the idea of a dark European city with vampires stepping in front of you from a dark alley.
Rating :
☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
Amazing! I'm in Love!
Started Reading : 4th of Aug. 2011
Finished Reading : 6th of Aug. 2011
Music : Goes well with Snow Patrol's Up To Now ( Crack the Shutters http://youtu.be/ANWRhyp-RcM and Run http://youtu.be/AOBs8dU4Pb8 )
Susan travels to Prague to her grandmother's funeral, there she visits the wonderful and mysterious city, but she feels watched, and as her roommate cousin is lured away from the hotel she has to trust a stranger to find her. It soon becomes clear she's over her head in a world with vampires fighting over the rule of the world.
David travels to Prague for a job, and finds out that being raised a good man also means that if you burst into unexpected situations your life might be in more danger than one would imagine. As it turns out he's a hard man to put down and isn't afraid to stand for those who can't protect themselves, especially when they happen to be blonde and beautiful collage students just one room over.
Raphael's past is as dark as they get, which is why he's been cursed to roam the earth a vampire to have hundreds of years to get perspective, but as his lone existence now has to include Susan, a human woman, perspective seems to falter. He sure doesn't see developing feelings for a woman a good thing, but it also seems it's not something he can simply ignore, after all he has to keep Susan safe if he wants her help to win over his enemy. But with her he gets more than he bargained for.
The gorgeous medieval and dark city of Prague creates just the right environment for vampires lurking in the shadows, with old buildings and more history than one can count Prague is the perfect place for Raphael's story to entwine with Susan's and produce one dark, but thrilling book.
This story follows three point-of-views Susan, David and Raphael in third person, and each one of the characters is absolute delight to read! As Susan's view ends and David's picks up it doesn't feel wrong or less, but just right. All the characters are created with souls and you can feel how they are different and individual in the story. And none of the characters are flimsy, fake or hollow, but strong in their own ways and a pleasure to get to know.
The story is very interesting, and as I know this is Book 1 in the trilogy all I can say is What an introduction! I can't wait to read the next book out in 2012. Debbie Viguié's vampires are either very bad ( read murderers, killers, psychos even before getting turned ) or slightly to moderately redeemed, none of them turned by accident or mockery, but turned, or as she writes Cursed, only to be punished for their evil actions as humans. Which makes the vampires interesting as they begin to seek faith and redemption.
As I begun this book I knew it was going to be good, but I didn't know it was going to be excellent! This is definitely a series I will follow up on! A wonderful read for Fall days, definitely worth the pre-order.
I'd put this in Urban Fantasy genre with a bit of Paranormal Romance in it, but PG-13.
If you get one vampire book this fall, get Kiss of Night. It's for the lovers of Twilight and Mortal Instruments and those who love the idea of a dark European city with vampires stepping in front of you from a dark alley.
Rating :
☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
Amazing! I'm in Love!
Started Reading : 4th of Aug. 2011
Finished Reading : 6th of Aug. 2011
Music : Goes well with Snow Patrol's Up To Now ( Crack the Shutters http://youtu.be/ANWRhyp-RcM and Run http://youtu.be/AOBs8dU4Pb8 )
April 6, 2013
My wonderful kid-sister presented this to me at Christmas because she enjoys my incessant eye-rolling at paranormal romance stories like the Twilight Saga, (which I've never seen ;-) and I had to laugh--a Christian Vampire novel???? It was such an insane concept, I had to give it a shot.
The author did offer an interesting spin on the genre: vampires, though evil, are redeemable--once men, they walk the earth in a sort of awful purgatory--they're cursed to indulge in their vices until they sicken of them and repent. I liked that the main vampire, Raphael, lived his life at the time of the Crusades, but wished that I had understood more of his background--why he became so evil, etc.
The Prague setting was nice, I could see it in my mind having been to Czech myself, but wished there'd been a bit more description of the streets and buildings, all the crazy European highway signs, etc. Neither the characters nor the romance really grabbed me, but overall, I think the author did a fine job of writing a Christian-themed story that will appeal to fans of paranormal romance.
The author did offer an interesting spin on the genre: vampires, though evil, are redeemable--once men, they walk the earth in a sort of awful purgatory--they're cursed to indulge in their vices until they sicken of them and repent. I liked that the main vampire, Raphael, lived his life at the time of the Crusades, but wished that I had understood more of his background--why he became so evil, etc.
The Prague setting was nice, I could see it in my mind having been to Czech myself, but wished there'd been a bit more description of the streets and buildings, all the crazy European highway signs, etc. Neither the characters nor the romance really grabbed me, but overall, I think the author did a fine job of writing a Christian-themed story that will appeal to fans of paranormal romance.
July 14, 2011
Great Great book! I cannot wait for the next books! The characters are so captivating! I need more!! The story line is capturing and unique! I read the book in one day because I just could not put it down!! I am so excited to read this series! Great job Debbie Viguie!
September 30, 2011
Aargh! Need. Sequel. NOW! (review will follow soon)
February 7, 2017
"Half an hour before sunset David stood outside the two-story building, duffel bag over his shoulder, hands slick with sweat, holding the key to the door, and wondered if he had completely lost his mind. He couldn't decide which made him crazier; believing that vampires existed or believing that could fight them."
Really enjoyed this. Bonded with the characters and appreciated the plot. I liked the weaknesses of the vampires and how they were explained. It felt real, like, Oh, so that's what they're like in reality. Cool. A lot of aspects took a unique viewpoint, but they all made sense.
The writing wasn't 100% but it was good enough, and I'd definitely recommend this book to others.
"There's just something off about him," Jane said. "He seemed very. . . help me out here, Bob."
Evil? Dark? Old? Intense? Dead? Vampiric?
"Immature."
July 13, 2012
I have never gotten swept up into the vampire book craze, and have never seen a single Twilight film, but I have to say that after reading Kiss of Night I wonder if I've been missing out! This book is certainly on the edgier side of Christian fiction with vampires lusting for blood and fights to the death between vampires and humans. But I have to say that I was absolutely captivated by the story line and the breakneck pace of the book, which largely takes place in the present but also has brief snapshots into Raphael's past. The book has a fascinating premise underlying it, posing the question of whether it would be possible to be a vampire and to also embrace a belief in God. The manner in which the author lays this out makes this an entirely plausible scenario, and also raises an intriguing concept about vampires being cursed because the human had been so wicked that there was no way that in a span of their lifetime they would have been able to be redeemed. Instead, they are cursed to become vampires and basically become immortal (except for a few ways that they can be killed), giving the vampire centuries to come to grips with their evil nature and realize their need for redemption. I loved watching Susan and David discover that vampires existed, and the forbidden love that unfolds between Susan and Raphael is sure to please those craving some romance in the midst of the suspense and the supernatural elements.
By the end of the book, I realized that I had entered a series that was far more epic in scope than I'd anticipated, with the unfolding of the beginning of a classic good versus evil battle unto the end. I came to the end wondering how I'm going to be able to wait for the second installment! The writing is action-packed, the characters are intriguing, and the plot is exciting and superbly crafted. In short, this is a great read, and worthy of 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Book has been provided courtesy of the publisher, Faithwords (Hachette Book Group) for the purposes of this unbiased review.
By the end of the book, I realized that I had entered a series that was far more epic in scope than I'd anticipated, with the unfolding of the beginning of a classic good versus evil battle unto the end. I came to the end wondering how I'm going to be able to wait for the second installment! The writing is action-packed, the characters are intriguing, and the plot is exciting and superbly crafted. In short, this is a great read, and worthy of 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Book has been provided courtesy of the publisher, Faithwords (Hachette Book Group) for the purposes of this unbiased review.
October 3, 2011
It's that time of year again when the trick-or-treaters come knocking on your door and the bitter chill of winter is just around the corner. It's the perfect time of year for spooky stories of the paranormal and supernatural persuasion. This Fall I'm happy to say at least one of the many new releases is worth reading.
I've never read a book by Debbie Viguie but I've seen her names on some pretty well-known titles like Charmed and Crusade. I was a bit skeptical going into this story being as I've only read one Christian fiction vampire story that I liked but I'm glad all the worry was for naught. Kiss of Night is terrific, it grabs you by the throat and doesn't let up (yes this review will be full of vampire cliches). For those of you who don't like "edgy" fiction this probably isn't for you but if you're up for a twist on the traditional vampire story I highly recommend this book. Even readers who aren't fans of Christian fiction but love a vampire tale will be sucked in.
I loved that the author made the vampire into a redeemable character but didn't gloss over that they came from the deepest, darkest depths of human society. There were a few times where I was confused as to how vampires were created but the plot was so fast-paced that I was compelled to keep reading to find out what happened next. There's a hint of romance too that makes Kiss of Night all that more intriguing. I definitely see the potential for romance for both Susan and her sister Wendy. Did I mention that one of these is/could be a forbidden romance? Oo la la! The only thing I didn't like was the ending--SUCH a cliffhanger but I guess that means a sequel is in the works. ;-)
* I received my complimentary PDF from the publisher through Netgalley for the blog tour.*
I've never read a book by Debbie Viguie but I've seen her names on some pretty well-known titles like Charmed and Crusade. I was a bit skeptical going into this story being as I've only read one Christian fiction vampire story that I liked but I'm glad all the worry was for naught. Kiss of Night is terrific, it grabs you by the throat and doesn't let up (yes this review will be full of vampire cliches). For those of you who don't like "edgy" fiction this probably isn't for you but if you're up for a twist on the traditional vampire story I highly recommend this book. Even readers who aren't fans of Christian fiction but love a vampire tale will be sucked in.
I loved that the author made the vampire into a redeemable character but didn't gloss over that they came from the deepest, darkest depths of human society. There were a few times where I was confused as to how vampires were created but the plot was so fast-paced that I was compelled to keep reading to find out what happened next. There's a hint of romance too that makes Kiss of Night all that more intriguing. I definitely see the potential for romance for both Susan and her sister Wendy. Did I mention that one of these is/could be a forbidden romance? Oo la la! The only thing I didn't like was the ending--SUCH a cliffhanger but I guess that means a sequel is in the works. ;-)
* I received my complimentary PDF from the publisher through Netgalley for the blog tour.*
October 6, 2011
My Thoughts:
I was somewhat skeptical about reading this book. Since it portrays a vampire and is listed a Christian genre. Then I read the synopsis and read the vampire, Raphel seeks redemption for his sins. Can vampire be saved by the blood of Christ? I like the story line that evil can be redeemed no matter how vile their sins were.
The author adds a scripture at the beginning of each chapter. You can see how the scripture works into that chapter which was a plus for me. As you get pulled into the book you begin to route for Raphel to be redeemed.
The cover for the book is outstanding. I don't normally comment on the cover of a book but this one is exceptional.
The story begins with Susan Lambert arriving in Prague to attend her Grandmother's funeral. Although her grandmother lived in the states she was born close to Prague. While Susan was in Prague she kept feeling like something dark was following her. Hence, comes Raphel a vampire condemned to wander the earth as a vampire for eternity because of his evil ways. They partner up in quest for the good of all. You will enjoy the other character the author has written into this story.
This book pulls you in and you don't want to put it down. That is what happened to me.
I highly recommend this book.
I give it a 5 out of 5.
I want to thank Debbie Viguie for touring on my blog. I am glad I got the chance to read your book.
Disclosure:
I received a free copy of this book. This review is my honest opinion and in now way was compensated for that opinion.
I was somewhat skeptical about reading this book. Since it portrays a vampire and is listed a Christian genre. Then I read the synopsis and read the vampire, Raphel seeks redemption for his sins. Can vampire be saved by the blood of Christ? I like the story line that evil can be redeemed no matter how vile their sins were.
The author adds a scripture at the beginning of each chapter. You can see how the scripture works into that chapter which was a plus for me. As you get pulled into the book you begin to route for Raphel to be redeemed.
The cover for the book is outstanding. I don't normally comment on the cover of a book but this one is exceptional.
The story begins with Susan Lambert arriving in Prague to attend her Grandmother's funeral. Although her grandmother lived in the states she was born close to Prague. While Susan was in Prague she kept feeling like something dark was following her. Hence, comes Raphel a vampire condemned to wander the earth as a vampire for eternity because of his evil ways. They partner up in quest for the good of all. You will enjoy the other character the author has written into this story.
This book pulls you in and you don't want to put it down. That is what happened to me.
I highly recommend this book.
I give it a 5 out of 5.
I want to thank Debbie Viguie for touring on my blog. I am glad I got the chance to read your book.
Disclosure:
I received a free copy of this book. This review is my honest opinion and in now way was compensated for that opinion.
April 25, 2012
Kiss of Night by Debbie Viguie brings a new refreshing twist in the flooded vampire genre. The story follows vampire Raphael who seeks salvation for his sins. This unique plot naturally pulls the reader in and it just gets more difficult to put the book down as each page is turned. It is quite an exciting read about a vampire that is laced into Christian fiction. The characters are fun and full of personalities. The plot is truly gripping and when the end nears, you will wish that it didn’t.
The character development is brilliant. The flashback of Raphael’s past clearly shows why he was cursed to be a vampire. Debbie’s account of how people turn into vampires is quite different and unique from most vampire tales. The meeting of Raphael and Susan is truly remarkable. It was as if they were meant to find and help each other. The barred feel of the magnetism between them kept my interests high. Debbie’s writing style is brilliant, unparalleled, and on point. It feels like you are there with the characters.
Debbie’s concept of how a person becomes a vampire is truly fascinating. The flow of the writing and how the plot plays from beginning to end is brilliantly crafted. Very fascinating blend of romance, adventure, paranormal, and history. It kept my mind bursting with imagination with its authority and mystery. This very fast-paced, full-of-action, adventure is captivating. I never wanted the book to end but I was devastated when the last page appeared. Nevertheless, with such a huge cliffhanger, it only means a sequel is nearing.
The character development is brilliant. The flashback of Raphael’s past clearly shows why he was cursed to be a vampire. Debbie’s account of how people turn into vampires is quite different and unique from most vampire tales. The meeting of Raphael and Susan is truly remarkable. It was as if they were meant to find and help each other. The barred feel of the magnetism between them kept my interests high. Debbie’s writing style is brilliant, unparalleled, and on point. It feels like you are there with the characters.
Debbie’s concept of how a person becomes a vampire is truly fascinating. The flow of the writing and how the plot plays from beginning to end is brilliantly crafted. Very fascinating blend of romance, adventure, paranormal, and history. It kept my mind bursting with imagination with its authority and mystery. This very fast-paced, full-of-action, adventure is captivating. I never wanted the book to end but I was devastated when the last page appeared. Nevertheless, with such a huge cliffhanger, it only means a sequel is nearing.
April 22, 2017
Would give it zero stars if I could. I paid $4 for this book and still got ripped off.
The writing is clunky and doesn't start picking up until you're more than 200 pages in. The love stories are horribly contrived and ridiculously over the top; while the action was slightly better, it was at best mediocre. The plot attempted to build up to a not-at-all subtly hinted "secret weapon", then failed to reveal anything at all. The religious lectures also took me by surprise, as they were not hinted at anywhere in the blurb or first chapters (I enjoy stories with religious elements; this book includes lectures on modern morality which could only be read as preaching at the reader). Just to top it all off, there is no resolution whatsoever, a trait I cannot stand in series.
Suffice it to say, I will not be reading any more of this and have added this book to my donation pile.
The writing is clunky and doesn't start picking up until you're more than 200 pages in. The love stories are horribly contrived and ridiculously over the top; while the action was slightly better, it was at best mediocre. The plot attempted to build up to a not-at-all subtly hinted "secret weapon", then failed to reveal anything at all. The religious lectures also took me by surprise, as they were not hinted at anywhere in the blurb or first chapters (I enjoy stories with religious elements; this book includes lectures on modern morality which could only be read as preaching at the reader). Just to top it all off, there is no resolution whatsoever, a trait I cannot stand in series.
Suffice it to say, I will not be reading any more of this and have added this book to my donation pile.
September 26, 2011
http://livetoread-krystal.blogspot.co...
Vampires fighting to rule the world? Sounds like a pretty good book to me. The main character, Susan, is inquisitive and intelligent. She can be a little impulsive, she gets herself into a fair amount of trouble in the book.
It is hard to restate the plot without giving anything away, the Goodreads summary does a great job of stating the facts. The events were fast-paced and exciting. There is an undercurrent of fear and mystery for part of the book. The characters were very well-developed and the reader will get to know them and their fears quite well. They were all very likable with the exception of the antagonists. This book is great for Twilight and Cassandra Clare fans.
Vampires fighting to rule the world? Sounds like a pretty good book to me. The main character, Susan, is inquisitive and intelligent. She can be a little impulsive, she gets herself into a fair amount of trouble in the book.
It is hard to restate the plot without giving anything away, the Goodreads summary does a great job of stating the facts. The events were fast-paced and exciting. There is an undercurrent of fear and mystery for part of the book. The characters were very well-developed and the reader will get to know them and their fears quite well. They were all very likable with the exception of the antagonists. This book is great for Twilight and Cassandra Clare fans.
September 30, 2011
I requested this galley from netgalley.com because of it's great cover and because I'm almost always up for a good vampire tale. However, I found that the book, while well-written, simply did not engage me as I had hoped that it would. I guess that most books are all about the characters for me and I did not feel any sort of kinship or empathy for Raphael, Susan, David or Wendy. In fact, I felt that I was just watching the action, rather than becoming a part of it in my own mind. I can't imagine joining a war on vampires based on the events or on Raphael's persuasive powers. All in all, I think I would give it 2 1/2 stars at best.
November 8, 2011
I couldn't imagine a Christian vampire series and doubted it would be anything good to read, but was caught up in this book. Susan and her family members go to Prague for her late grandmother's funeral. While there, she meets a vampire and is eventually asked to help him, after many disturbing events happen. He tells her there is an evil vampire who will stop at nothing to gain power. A vampire he has been hunting for decades. With the help of David, another innocent person brought in by the events with Susan, they begin a battle neither will soon forget.
November 6, 2012
I left my comfort zone to read this one because vampire books are not for me. However, Debbie actually writes how the power of God works against vampires and that salvation is available even to them. The story was creepy in some parts, but I really enjoyed how Raphael fights for the humans and how they work together. Debbie really brings a unique story to the myths of vampires in this book and even though the story is really intense, it also offers hope. I got my copy from the library and I'm glad I took a chance with it.
September 18, 2012
I don't know why I let this sit for so long before picking it up this weekend.
One of the questions asked is, "What would happen if a vampire truly accepted God?". It isn't fully answered in this book but the next one comes out in October. It definitely isn't your average Christian fiction read but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
One of the questions asked is, "What would happen if a vampire truly accepted God?". It isn't fully answered in this book but the next one comes out in October. It definitely isn't your average Christian fiction read but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
November 5, 2012
4.5 stars
I liked the concept even though it kind of confused me a bit. The characters were cool. I look forward to reading number two. (which is going to be really soon!) I'm not sure the book answered my question and the question that posed itself on the back of the book. But! Never fear, maybe it shall reveal itself in the next exciting adventure.
I liked the concept even though it kind of confused me a bit. The characters were cool. I look forward to reading number two. (which is going to be really soon!) I'm not sure the book answered my question and the question that posed itself on the back of the book. But! Never fear, maybe it shall reveal itself in the next exciting adventure.
July 17, 2012
Vampires from a Christian perspective. I really liked it. I definitely want to check out some of her other books.
June 13, 2021
I read this series a good 5 years ago and despite being extremely angry at the suspense and twists at the time, I’m STILL thinking about the plot, which means it was a pretty good book series.
Ingenious blend of vampire mythology and Christian doctrine. Definitely worth a read for any fans of the paranormal who are believers
Ingenious blend of vampire mythology and Christian doctrine. Definitely worth a read for any fans of the paranormal who are believers
June 28, 2025
I wanted to like this so badly. I love a good vampire story and I was super intrigued by the idea of a Christian paranormal romance. Our main vampire love interest is a good character but when placed alongside one of the weepiest female leads I've ever read it just makes me roll my eyes whenever they're together.
Would I read another paranormal Christian romance, sure, just not this one.
Would I read another paranormal Christian romance, sure, just not this one.
February 2, 2014
Originally reviewed on
Romancing the Dark Side:
3.5 Stars
A return to the classic vampires!
When Susan Lambert travels to Prague for her grandmother’s funeral, she welcomes the chance to reconnect with her roots and family. What she didn’t plan on was learning about a dark and dangerous supernatural world, then being thrown right into it when she meets the mysterious Raphael! Vampire Raphael has walked the earth for 900 years, cursed to live forever as penance for his blood thirsty days as a knight of the Crusades. He seeks forgiveness and peace but must first hunt his longtime enemy who plans on creating an evil empire of vampires. To fight this upcoming battle, Raphael enlists the help of Susan and David, two mortals whose faith will be tested in a battle of good vs. evil.
Confession: I’m a cover hussy and initially picked up this book because of the Johnny Depp look alike on the cover. Now that that’s out of the way I can continue… Kiss of Night starts off with a lot of promise, vampires, history and the possibility of romance but takes its time getting to the action. Viguié does a wonderful job of exploring Raphael’s past and how vampires came into existence, there is a bit of religion thrown into the mix as well which I found interesting. The vampires in Kiss of Night are reminiscent of Anne Rice’s vampires, they’re beautiful, ruthless predators who have lost most, if not all of their humanity.
I’m not fond of multiple POV’s and was a bit frustrated with this writing style. I feel the hero and heroine’s POV might have been easier to follow. That being said, I think the characters are well developed, each has a distinct personality and charm. Raphael is a flawed hero who has plenty of sex appeal and charisma. I would venture to say that at first glance he seems like an alpha, but I have a hard time calling him that when he constantly gets his ass kicked. I have no problem with a heroine saving a hero, but when you’re a 900 year old vampire and are being saved by a twenty something human girl, I must question your alpha status! Do I hate him? No, but he hasn’t won me over yet either.
Susan is a fun heroine, she can be naive sometimes but she’s smart, confident and handles learning of the existence of the supernatural extremely well. She’s a protector and sees the best in people, including Raphael, which is one of the reasons I connected with her. There are a few things about her character that I feel could have been executed a little more. For one, the importance of her role in the vampire war is constantly mentioned, but never explained and still remains a mystery. Her family has strong ties to the vampires world but once again we don’t exactly know how or why. The romance between Susan and Raphael is a little awkward and I had a hard time believing how one moment she’s lusting over him and the next she’s utterly terrified of him…pick one! There was no real chemistry between the two, I saw them more as friends not lovers.
The real gems in this story are Susan’s bright and bubbly cousin Wendy and David, the recent transplant turned knight in shining armor/vampire slayer. There’s an instant attraction between the two that just works and I wanted to spend more time exploring their sweet romance. We also meet Paul, a vampire monk who also happens to be a lawyer. His motives are not exactly clear and he has a few secrets I want to learn more about.
All in all, Kiss of Night is an engaging introduction to a unique vampire world I want to explore further. I know a lot of readers have labeled it Christian Fiction but I would call it a vampire romance with some christian elements. If you love a plot driven story with vampires, good vs. evil theme and plenty of suspense (including cliffhangers) I’d highly recommend this trilogy.
3.5 Stars
A return to the classic vampires!
When Susan Lambert travels to Prague for her grandmother’s funeral, she welcomes the chance to reconnect with her roots and family. What she didn’t plan on was learning about a dark and dangerous supernatural world, then being thrown right into it when she meets the mysterious Raphael! Vampire Raphael has walked the earth for 900 years, cursed to live forever as penance for his blood thirsty days as a knight of the Crusades. He seeks forgiveness and peace but must first hunt his longtime enemy who plans on creating an evil empire of vampires. To fight this upcoming battle, Raphael enlists the help of Susan and David, two mortals whose faith will be tested in a battle of good vs. evil.
Confession: I’m a cover hussy and initially picked up this book because of the Johnny Depp look alike on the cover. Now that that’s out of the way I can continue… Kiss of Night starts off with a lot of promise, vampires, history and the possibility of romance but takes its time getting to the action. Viguié does a wonderful job of exploring Raphael’s past and how vampires came into existence, there is a bit of religion thrown into the mix as well which I found interesting. The vampires in Kiss of Night are reminiscent of Anne Rice’s vampires, they’re beautiful, ruthless predators who have lost most, if not all of their humanity.
I’m not fond of multiple POV’s and was a bit frustrated with this writing style. I feel the hero and heroine’s POV might have been easier to follow. That being said, I think the characters are well developed, each has a distinct personality and charm. Raphael is a flawed hero who has plenty of sex appeal and charisma. I would venture to say that at first glance he seems like an alpha, but I have a hard time calling him that when he constantly gets his ass kicked. I have no problem with a heroine saving a hero, but when you’re a 900 year old vampire and are being saved by a twenty something human girl, I must question your alpha status! Do I hate him? No, but he hasn’t won me over yet either.
Susan is a fun heroine, she can be naive sometimes but she’s smart, confident and handles learning of the existence of the supernatural extremely well. She’s a protector and sees the best in people, including Raphael, which is one of the reasons I connected with her. There are a few things about her character that I feel could have been executed a little more. For one, the importance of her role in the vampire war is constantly mentioned, but never explained and still remains a mystery. Her family has strong ties to the vampires world but once again we don’t exactly know how or why. The romance between Susan and Raphael is a little awkward and I had a hard time believing how one moment she’s lusting over him and the next she’s utterly terrified of him…pick one! There was no real chemistry between the two, I saw them more as friends not lovers.
The real gems in this story are Susan’s bright and bubbly cousin Wendy and David, the recent transplant turned knight in shining armor/vampire slayer. There’s an instant attraction between the two that just works and I wanted to spend more time exploring their sweet romance. We also meet Paul, a vampire monk who also happens to be a lawyer. His motives are not exactly clear and he has a few secrets I want to learn more about.
All in all, Kiss of Night is an engaging introduction to a unique vampire world I want to explore further. I know a lot of readers have labeled it Christian Fiction but I would call it a vampire romance with some christian elements. If you love a plot driven story with vampires, good vs. evil theme and plenty of suspense (including cliffhangers) I’d highly recommend this trilogy.
March 9, 2016
Book Review #1 Quarter 3
By Tawsha Wohlrabe
Genre: Fiction
The Kiss of Night
By: Debbie Virgue
Personal Response: When I had first started reading The Kiss of Night by Debbie Virgue it had captured my attention spontaneously. It was such a wonderful book that it had only taken me three days to read the entire book. Once I had finished reading the book, I could not stop thinking about it. The book had contained so much of the genres that I love so dearly such as: passion, loss, adventure, mystery, and suspense. The book also had started off by recapping what had happened to Raphael in order for him to become cursed with being a vampire. I loved how Debbie had incorporated Raphael into the story by having him be the only one to help Susan unlock the mystery of her ancestors. In the end Raphael had uncovered the secrets of Susan`s ancestors and a mysterious war that was to take place.
Plot: Hundreds of years ago, Raphael was a tremendous knight who had fought in the Crusades but for his own benefit and earnest to kill. Due to his obsession with killing he was condemned with the curse to wonder the earth as a vampire. His relic that he had possession of during the Crusades had been stolen from a rival vampire who has created an army to spread evil amongst the world. Raphael is destined to battle the rival vampire in Prague. Raphael was accompanied by two companion humans, David and Susan, who had mistakenly landed in the mess of the supernatural world. During their time together Susan falls for Raphael and struggles to keep her feelings to herself. In the end they give up on their feelings and fall even harder for one another.
Characterization: Raphael was once a tremendous knight who fought in the Crusades until his desire to kill had over taken him and a mysterious man had turned him into a vampire to curse him for being so evil. Raphael has been a vampire for over 600 years now. He believes that he is still evil but he does not like to kill people anymore. He ends up falling in love with a woman named Susan. Susan is a 19 year old girl who has long, brown hair and is skinny. She had gone to Prague for her grandmother`s funeral when she had first met Raphael. Susan`s cousin was kidnapped and Raphael had saved her. Susan is convinced that she must unlock the mysteries of her ancestors past with the help Raphael. Susan is also convinced that she must help Raphael win the war that is to come.
Setting: I think that Kiss of Night is a good fiction book because it takes place in the center of an old city in Prague during the 16th century. Prague looks like a giant ancient city that was older than two hundred years old and it can hold well over 800 people. It is also a place where vampires go to when they have nowhere else to go and if they just want to party.
Theme: Theme: Man vs. Man or Vampires vs. Humans. Some of the vampires protect the humans but a large number of vampires want to kill every human that is in their site.
Recommendation: I would recommend this book to seventh graders, twelve year boys and girls and up, because it has some graphic descriptions to the book and some torture scenes as well. With this age the girls and boys will be mature enough to handle the book and understand it at the same time. The book switches from one character to another so I had to watch closely what I was reading or else I had trouble trying to comprehend the book. It switched from present to past frequently as well. Once I had started reading the book, I could not put it down. I think that the book was written well because the characters were described so well. The book did not move too slowly or too fast, it moved just right. It also drew me in like I was Raphael due to how well he was described. In the end the book had surprised me, because within the first chapter of reading the book I had loved it. I give this book five out of five stars.
By Tawsha Wohlrabe
Genre: Fiction
The Kiss of Night
By: Debbie Virgue
Personal Response: When I had first started reading The Kiss of Night by Debbie Virgue it had captured my attention spontaneously. It was such a wonderful book that it had only taken me three days to read the entire book. Once I had finished reading the book, I could not stop thinking about it. The book had contained so much of the genres that I love so dearly such as: passion, loss, adventure, mystery, and suspense. The book also had started off by recapping what had happened to Raphael in order for him to become cursed with being a vampire. I loved how Debbie had incorporated Raphael into the story by having him be the only one to help Susan unlock the mystery of her ancestors. In the end Raphael had uncovered the secrets of Susan`s ancestors and a mysterious war that was to take place.
Plot: Hundreds of years ago, Raphael was a tremendous knight who had fought in the Crusades but for his own benefit and earnest to kill. Due to his obsession with killing he was condemned with the curse to wonder the earth as a vampire. His relic that he had possession of during the Crusades had been stolen from a rival vampire who has created an army to spread evil amongst the world. Raphael is destined to battle the rival vampire in Prague. Raphael was accompanied by two companion humans, David and Susan, who had mistakenly landed in the mess of the supernatural world. During their time together Susan falls for Raphael and struggles to keep her feelings to herself. In the end they give up on their feelings and fall even harder for one another.
Characterization: Raphael was once a tremendous knight who fought in the Crusades until his desire to kill had over taken him and a mysterious man had turned him into a vampire to curse him for being so evil. Raphael has been a vampire for over 600 years now. He believes that he is still evil but he does not like to kill people anymore. He ends up falling in love with a woman named Susan. Susan is a 19 year old girl who has long, brown hair and is skinny. She had gone to Prague for her grandmother`s funeral when she had first met Raphael. Susan`s cousin was kidnapped and Raphael had saved her. Susan is convinced that she must unlock the mysteries of her ancestors past with the help Raphael. Susan is also convinced that she must help Raphael win the war that is to come.
Setting: I think that Kiss of Night is a good fiction book because it takes place in the center of an old city in Prague during the 16th century. Prague looks like a giant ancient city that was older than two hundred years old and it can hold well over 800 people. It is also a place where vampires go to when they have nowhere else to go and if they just want to party.
Theme: Theme: Man vs. Man or Vampires vs. Humans. Some of the vampires protect the humans but a large number of vampires want to kill every human that is in their site.
Recommendation: I would recommend this book to seventh graders, twelve year boys and girls and up, because it has some graphic descriptions to the book and some torture scenes as well. With this age the girls and boys will be mature enough to handle the book and understand it at the same time. The book switches from one character to another so I had to watch closely what I was reading or else I had trouble trying to comprehend the book. It switched from present to past frequently as well. Once I had started reading the book, I could not put it down. I think that the book was written well because the characters were described so well. The book did not move too slowly or too fast, it moved just right. It also drew me in like I was Raphael due to how well he was described. In the end the book had surprised me, because within the first chapter of reading the book I had loved it. I give this book five out of five stars.
October 10, 2011
Kiss of Night puts a whole new spin on the classic vampire story. Vampirism, it turns out, is a curse bestowed on men and women who are so depraved, they need more than a standard lifetime to turn from wickedness and be redeemed. Raphael is one of those men. A crusader who killed everyone in his path, Raphael killed for the joy and thrill of killing. Now a 700-year-old vampire, Raphael wants the help of Susan, descendant from a line of humans who can sense the supernatural, to defeat a group of vampires that have resisted redemption and have only become more evil as they age.
Kiss of Night is good supernatural Christian fiction, a genre that’s relatively new to me but one that I absolutely love. Along with the idea that no one is beyond redemption, the story effortlessly weaves in themes of sacrifice, love and prayer that flows well and is never preachy.
Raphael is swoon worthy and the budding relationship between him and Susan, though a bit quick, is still well done. I was (very pleasantly) surprised that the couple kiss passionately on more than one occasion, you don’t usually find that in Christian fiction. I loved the vampire mythology and Raphael’s flashbacks to times before and after he was turned.
While I enjoyed Kiss of Night, the book does have some minor flaws. The story is told from alternating character perspectives and I found the constant change a bit jarring. Additionally, as I mentioned before, the romances in the story develop quickly.
The story is fast paced, thrilling and leaves mysteries that will hopefully be unfolded in upcoming sequels. The book does end in a wicked cliffhanger but that’s what keeps us coming back, right? I will definitely be reading upcoming books in this series. I recommend this for anyone who is looking for something a little different in supernatural/paranormal fiction.
Content: Kissing and violence.
Kiss of Night is good supernatural Christian fiction, a genre that’s relatively new to me but one that I absolutely love. Along with the idea that no one is beyond redemption, the story effortlessly weaves in themes of sacrifice, love and prayer that flows well and is never preachy.
Raphael is swoon worthy and the budding relationship between him and Susan, though a bit quick, is still well done. I was (very pleasantly) surprised that the couple kiss passionately on more than one occasion, you don’t usually find that in Christian fiction. I loved the vampire mythology and Raphael’s flashbacks to times before and after he was turned.
While I enjoyed Kiss of Night, the book does have some minor flaws. The story is told from alternating character perspectives and I found the constant change a bit jarring. Additionally, as I mentioned before, the romances in the story develop quickly.
The story is fast paced, thrilling and leaves mysteries that will hopefully be unfolded in upcoming sequels. The book does end in a wicked cliffhanger but that’s what keeps us coming back, right? I will definitely be reading upcoming books in this series. I recommend this for anyone who is looking for something a little different in supernatural/paranormal fiction.
Content: Kissing and violence.
November 27, 2012
Christian values, prayer, end-of-the-world type danger, life-changing mysteries, and vampires!
I loved the story in Kiss of Night and will definitely be reading on in the series. I'm thoroughly intrigued by this brimming war and the role the vampire and human characters will play. Will Susan (human) be some sort of key to the whole thing? Will Wendy (human) be of any use whatsoever? Will Raphael (vampire) keep his fangs off Susan long enough to kill some bad-ass, unredeemable vampires? Will Paul (vampire) come up with any more new and awesome ways to kill vampires (hello, cross confetti? Why didn't I think of that?). Will David heal that darned broken rib and be anything more than vampire bait, or will Paul's training hone him into a formidable, Bible quoting warrior?
So many questions, and I can't wait to read the answers!
Kiss of Night is the first in a saga that has caputred my attention and imagination. My only beef with it (reason for 4 stars and not 5) is that it's riddled with new-writer-isms that I found distracting. It could have used a much heavier editing hand to eradicate phrases like "seemed to" and "for a moment" and too many adjectives and adverbs that don't add anything and just bog down the pacing.
I'm looking forward to seeing Debbie Viguie grow in her writing. She's definitely mastered the abilities to tell a phenomenal story and to end chapters with hooks that force the reader to keep going. By far, my favorite thing about her writing is that she's not afraid to write Christian faith on the same page as a steamy kiss. I love the unconventional blend of angst-filled romance and Christian themes. I wish there were more books out there that pushed the bouttoned-up boundaries of inspirational romance.
I will be picking up the second in the Kiss Trilogy soon!
I loved the story in Kiss of Night and will definitely be reading on in the series. I'm thoroughly intrigued by this brimming war and the role the vampire and human characters will play. Will Susan (human) be some sort of key to the whole thing? Will Wendy (human) be of any use whatsoever? Will Raphael (vampire) keep his fangs off Susan long enough to kill some bad-ass, unredeemable vampires? Will Paul (vampire) come up with any more new and awesome ways to kill vampires (hello, cross confetti? Why didn't I think of that?). Will David heal that darned broken rib and be anything more than vampire bait, or will Paul's training hone him into a formidable, Bible quoting warrior?
So many questions, and I can't wait to read the answers!
Kiss of Night is the first in a saga that has caputred my attention and imagination. My only beef with it (reason for 4 stars and not 5) is that it's riddled with new-writer-isms that I found distracting. It could have used a much heavier editing hand to eradicate phrases like "seemed to" and "for a moment" and too many adjectives and adverbs that don't add anything and just bog down the pacing.
I'm looking forward to seeing Debbie Viguie grow in her writing. She's definitely mastered the abilities to tell a phenomenal story and to end chapters with hooks that force the reader to keep going. By far, my favorite thing about her writing is that she's not afraid to write Christian faith on the same page as a steamy kiss. I love the unconventional blend of angst-filled romance and Christian themes. I wish there were more books out there that pushed the bouttoned-up boundaries of inspirational romance.
I will be picking up the second in the Kiss Trilogy soon!
October 10, 2011
What I liked about this book is the different perspective on vampires. Vampirism is a curse given to those who are nonredeemable in a lifetime. The premise is that, given enough time, a vampire, who is immortal, will have time to turn his life around and make better choices. But then, of course, something goes wrong. It seems that a group of vampires really are wicked to the very core and will never change. Instead, they organize themselves to take over the world.
Raphael struggles with the existential questions of God and Christ's redeeming blood. There is also some symbolism in the book of sacrifice, blood, and unconditional love. Definitely more uplifting than other vampire books I've read but still Gothic and dark. Apparently, that's just the way of Prague.
The book sets up the story for the next book. I didn't really connect with any of the characters, although I didn't dislike them. There were some inklings of depth that never quite materialized. Perhaps this will be further explored in future books. For me, it was an interesting read but not one that stands out in my repertoire.
Raphael struggles with the existential questions of God and Christ's redeeming blood. There is also some symbolism in the book of sacrifice, blood, and unconditional love. Definitely more uplifting than other vampire books I've read but still Gothic and dark. Apparently, that's just the way of Prague.
The book sets up the story for the next book. I didn't really connect with any of the characters, although I didn't dislike them. There were some inklings of depth that never quite materialized. Perhaps this will be further explored in future books. For me, it was an interesting read but not one that stands out in my repertoire.
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