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Danilov Quintet #3
The Third Section
Russia 1855. After forty years of peace in Europe, war rages. In the Crimea, the city of Sevastopol is besieged. In the north, Saint Petersburg is blockaded. But in Moscow there is one who needs only to sit and wait—wait for the death of an aging tsar, and for the curse upon his blood to be passed to a new generation. As their country grows weaker, a brother and sister—each unaware of the other’s existence—must come to terms with the legacy left to them by their father. In Moscow, Tamara Valentinovna Lavrova uncovers a brutal murder and discovers that it is not the first in a sequence of similar crimes, merely the latest, carried out by a killer who has stalked the city since 1812. And in Sevastopol, Dmitry Alekseevich Danilov faces not only the guns of the combined armies of Britain and France, but must also make a stand against creatures that his father had thought long buried beneath the earth, thirty years before.
479 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
17 people are currently reading
555 people want to read
About the author
Jasper Kent
17 books137 followersJasper Kent was born in Worcestershire, England in 1968. He attended King Edward's School, Birmingham and went on to study Natural Sciences at Trinity Hall, Cambridge, specializing in physics.
Jasper has spent almost twenty years working as a software engineer in the UK and in Europe, whilst also working on writing both fiction and music. In that time, he has produced the novels Twelve, Thirteen Years Later, The Third Section, The People's Will and The Last Oprichnik, as well as co-writing several musicals, including The Promised Land and Remember! Remember!
He currently lives in Hove, with six rats called Olga, Irina, Masha, Star, Bugby and Beau, a dog called Bilbo and a person called Helen.
Jasper has spent almost twenty years working as a software engineer in the UK and in Europe, whilst also working on writing both fiction and music. In that time, he has produced the novels Twelve, Thirteen Years Later, The Third Section, The People's Will and The Last Oprichnik, as well as co-writing several musicals, including The Promised Land and Remember! Remember!
He currently lives in Hove, with six rats called Olga, Irina, Masha, Star, Bugby and Beau, a dog called Bilbo and a person called Helen.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
January 23, 2012
Despite its problems, The Third Section was a really enjoyable read. Perhaps the reason the issues I listed were felt so keenly was because Kent’s books are so high quality and absorbing that the smallest details are more noticeable. The period of history this book takes place in is nothing short of fascinating. While the characters lack and the pacing is a bit slow, The Third Section is a strong installment in a series that has continually blown me away. Yes, it does have issues, but I still loved it. Kent continues to impress me. I’m anxiously waiting to see what comes next in the Danilov Quintet.
Read my full review here:
http://bookwormblues.blogspot.com/201...
Read my full review here:
http://bookwormblues.blogspot.com/201...
July 27, 2012
The third book of the Danilov quintet takes place 30 years after the second book, which means we get new main characters instead of Aleksei. His offsprings continue the fight against the vampires in Russia.
If you look at the timeline at the beginning of this book you can realize the events are strongly connected the tzars, and the new tzars. In 1855 Russia was in a great war against the English and French about ruling the sea-connection to the Black sea. Dmitry met again with vampires during the bloody battles and met with some 'friends' of his fater. While Aleksei daughter try to find the truth about her real parents. Due to the strange coincidences she also met with the voordalakies.
I missed very much Aleksei from the book, because we get a lame Dmitry with very strange decisions. He was acting like a child, however he's about 50 years old that time. I don't understand while he hadn't discovered the oddities with his patron, Yudin...
The book is great. We can easily understand the motives and background of the decisions. At the end of The Third Section we get very great twists in the story. I was a little bit nervous and sad about changing of some events but these makes this book a whole. Jasper Kent did a very great job again! I want to read the 4th book now!
If you look at the timeline at the beginning of this book you can realize the events are strongly connected the tzars, and the new tzars. In 1855 Russia was in a great war against the English and French about ruling the sea-connection to the Black sea. Dmitry met again with vampires during the bloody battles and met with some 'friends' of his fater. While Aleksei daughter try to find the truth about her real parents. Due to the strange coincidences she also met with the voordalakies.
I missed very much Aleksei from the book, because we get a lame Dmitry with very strange decisions. He was acting like a child, however he's about 50 years old that time. I don't understand while he hadn't discovered the oddities with his patron, Yudin...
The book is great. We can easily understand the motives and background of the decisions. At the end of The Third Section we get very great twists in the story. I was a little bit nervous and sad about changing of some events but these makes this book a whole. Jasper Kent did a very great job again! I want to read the 4th book now!
May 12, 2012
Not your Twilight, non-blood drinking, romantic, emotionally tortured vampires. These have all the compassion of a Jack-the –Ripper or a Zodiac killer. They must drink blood to stay alive and they are not kind. Getting the most satisfaction from the extreme emotional states of terror and despair in their victims (even other Vampires). They will plan out a killing, taking hours in performing the act to heighten their own enjoyment. Truly monstrous monsters. Taking place in Russia, based on the historical incidents of 1855, very well researched as to the culture and history of the time (and a more scientific explanation of why vampires have no reflection) covering a switch over from acceptable, practical enslavement, of the peasant population to the freeing of the peasants, eh switch over from the limits of horse power to engines and the end of the war with England and France. A good story with love, loss, betrayal, redemption and an adopted child finding her true parents. Definitely worth the read. © Night Owl Reviews
December 29, 2011
Jasper Kent's first two novels of the planned five were mere practice for The Third Section -- a novel which finally has the pacing and character development that were a bit lacking in the first two books in the series. Here Dmitry is older, a soldier like his father, as ignorant that he has a half-sister as she is of him. But they are both pawns of the battle between the undead and the czars of Russia and the monomania that has vampire Iuda plotting his vengeance on the children of his enemy.
October 21, 2013
Gritty, grown up alternate history with vampires. Nothing like the Twilight's and Vampire Diaries of the world.
Set in 1855, the Third Section is the third installment in the Danilov Quintet. It has been a few years since I read Twelve and Thirteen Years Later (which I believe I read in the wrong order), but as I progressed with The Third Section, main plot arks and characters came back to me. Well written, fast paced and intriguing, I cannot wait for the final two novels in the quintet.
Set in 1855, the Third Section is the third installment in the Danilov Quintet. It has been a few years since I read Twelve and Thirteen Years Later (which I believe I read in the wrong order), but as I progressed with The Third Section, main plot arks and characters came back to me. Well written, fast paced and intriguing, I cannot wait for the final two novels in the quintet.
December 12, 2011
If you'd look at my reviews of Kent's previous two Dannilov novels you would probably assume I wasn't a huge fan of the series, and in all honesty if I didn't have a thing for vampires and russians I most likely wouldn't have continued with these novels.
But I'm glad I did. In Third Section gone are the navel-gazing semi-philosphy rants, the overdose of insight and slightly too cheese shaped action scenes. Kent has trimmed the fat for this novel and it shows.
The plot follows the original protaganist's children - along with our favourite vampire nuisance Iuda (now Yudin) as half of Europe seems to fall on Russia in aggression. The main tension of the plot is in knowing more than the protaganists as a sinister battle rages between the vampires and they almost haplessly fall in the middle of it all.
SPOILER ALERT DON'T READ PAST HERE IF YOU'RE NOT SMRT ENOUGH TO PREDICT THIS ANYWAY
I will express some dissapointment with 3rd section however. Almost too much of the historical part has been trimmed (at least in my opinion) and I felt like the over-arching plot while twisty and high-stakes didn't actually have a significant ending, perhaps suffering from middle child sydrome and being more of a setup for later novels in the series. Also once again THIS IS THE SPOILER IF YOU'RE STILL READING DON'T COMPLAIN IN THE COMMENTS THAT i RUINED EVERYTHING Yudin/Cain/Iuda is left in a 'is he dead?' senario almost definately to return in later books. Realising that Kent wants him as an overarching antagonist - couldn't he supply us with some underlings or lesser baddies to dust in the meantime - or really pushing to make us believe he's dead this time?
Anywho looking forward to the next step of Russian history to be vampirically rewritten.
But I'm glad I did. In Third Section gone are the navel-gazing semi-philosphy rants, the overdose of insight and slightly too cheese shaped action scenes. Kent has trimmed the fat for this novel and it shows.
The plot follows the original protaganist's children - along with our favourite vampire nuisance Iuda (now Yudin) as half of Europe seems to fall on Russia in aggression. The main tension of the plot is in knowing more than the protaganists as a sinister battle rages between the vampires and they almost haplessly fall in the middle of it all.
SPOILER ALERT DON'T READ PAST HERE IF YOU'RE NOT SMRT ENOUGH TO PREDICT THIS ANYWAY
I will express some dissapointment with 3rd section however. Almost too much of the historical part has been trimmed (at least in my opinion) and I felt like the over-arching plot while twisty and high-stakes didn't actually have a significant ending, perhaps suffering from middle child sydrome and being more of a setup for later novels in the series. Also once again THIS IS THE SPOILER IF YOU'RE STILL READING DON'T COMPLAIN IN THE COMMENTS THAT i RUINED EVERYTHING Yudin/Cain/Iuda is left in a 'is he dead?' senario almost definately to return in later books. Realising that Kent wants him as an overarching antagonist - couldn't he supply us with some underlings or lesser baddies to dust in the meantime - or really pushing to make us believe he's dead this time?
Anywho looking forward to the next step of Russian history to be vampirically rewritten.
January 25, 2012
This has been an amazing read. One of my favorite series.
Jasper Kent's writing style can be seen to improve as you progress through each book. He has several tools which he efficiently uses to display an engaging story.
One thing I enjoyed thoroughly in this book, was the way Kent set up elaborate and excitingly complex situations. Often I reveled in the nuanced encounters and the evident ironies that spice up the story. Kent knows how to tell a story.
I did like the portrayal of each character as the story progressed. I couldn't help but notice that, individually, Tamara and Dmitry could never measure up to their father as protagonists. Together (at least until a certain point) they in a sense add up to form what would have been Aleksei. I thought that was a neat progression.
Another thing I enjoyed was that this was one of the few books in which the plot twists really did leave an impression.
The antagonist, Iuda is still more evil than a tea party between Satan, Hitler and Mephisto. Kent gives him creative ways to be just downright sinister.
As for the downsides, it's about vampires. The story's been told before, but Kent still manages to keep me interested.
The ending was a little less inspiring than I'd hoped, but I still got some enjoyment out of it.
And this is just a personal thing, but I'm kinda sad that it feels like no protagonist in this series will ever measure up to Aleksei Ivanovich Danilov.
Will be waiting for the fourth.
Jasper Kent's writing style can be seen to improve as you progress through each book. He has several tools which he efficiently uses to display an engaging story.
One thing I enjoyed thoroughly in this book, was the way Kent set up elaborate and excitingly complex situations. Often I reveled in the nuanced encounters and the evident ironies that spice up the story. Kent knows how to tell a story.
I did like the portrayal of each character as the story progressed. I couldn't help but notice that, individually, Tamara and Dmitry could never measure up to their father as protagonists. Together (at least until a certain point) they in a sense add up to form what would have been Aleksei. I thought that was a neat progression.
Another thing I enjoyed was that this was one of the few books in which the plot twists really did leave an impression.
The antagonist, Iuda is still more evil than a tea party between Satan, Hitler and Mephisto. Kent gives him creative ways to be just downright sinister.
As for the downsides, it's about vampires. The story's been told before, but Kent still manages to keep me interested.
The ending was a little less inspiring than I'd hoped, but I still got some enjoyment out of it.
And this is just a personal thing, but I'm kinda sad that it feels like no protagonist in this series will ever measure up to Aleksei Ivanovich Danilov.
Will be waiting for the fourth.
March 4, 2012
The Third in a series, I felt this started a little slower than the other two, but ended with a very satisfying bang. Best of all, despite it being a series, this book had a nice conclusion to it. Looking forward to the next book.
January 5, 2018
The music seemed to tell him a story of mystery and joy, of adversity and victory, that he could never quite remember once it had ended, like the details of a dream. It was a story of which he was the narrator, but as with his own music, he could not both create it and consume it at the same time.
August 1, 2017
It took me a while - but things got really hot and crazy from page 120.
The ending was good, and I probably would have ended the story there if my friend didn't mention that the next one was even better! Suppose I have to finish the rest of this series now.
Good work, Kent!
The ending was good, and I probably would have ended the story there if my friend didn't mention that the next one was even better! Suppose I have to finish the rest of this series now.
Good work, Kent!
September 17, 2019
Another quality read in this absorbing excellent series.
Well written clever descriptive with superb characterisation and gripping from beginning to end.
Looking forward to book four in the continuing saga.
Well written clever descriptive with superb characterisation and gripping from beginning to end.
Looking forward to book four in the continuing saga.
April 11, 2025
3.5tan hallice 3 yıldız veriyorum. Okuması eğlenceliydi ama biraz gereğinden fazla uzundu bence. Seriye ortadan giriş yapmış biri olarak tam bir deneyim yaşadığımı düşünmüyorum, ona rağmen sürükleyici dili sayesinde okuyabildim.
May 31, 2013
I was very disappointed in this book. I didn't find it near as gripping as the first two, and once the element of homosexuality was introduced I didn't even want to finish it. I think, in terms of any literature that isn't explicitly a romance novel, sex should be used very sparingly and have a reason for it. In his first two books there were also sexual encounters but they were important to the plot and didn't feel contrived and awkward. However, in this most recent installment, it was incredibly awkward and there was really no point to it (I feel), other than to please the homosexual community > "Hey, I'm trapped with another guy and will not be able to be rescued for several hours.. lets have sex!"
That's not a plot point, it's fan service. It even read like the author was uncomfortable writing that scene, and the previous flirtations between the two men. It all seemed very weird and unlike what I have grown used to with this author. I've read through 2/3 of the book and am finally giving up. The mystery isn't there. The excitement isn't there. The son is reliving his father's life and it all feels very predictable. There is nothing in this book that makes me want to overlook the beginning. I get that homosexuality is more mainstream and acceptable these days (Even if I don't personally feel it's ok in any way), but to essentially whore out your characters to possibly gain a few more fans is ridiculous. I'm thoroughly disgusted with the author and do not plan to finish this book, or the series.
That's not a plot point, it's fan service. It even read like the author was uncomfortable writing that scene, and the previous flirtations between the two men. It all seemed very weird and unlike what I have grown used to with this author. I've read through 2/3 of the book and am finally giving up. The mystery isn't there. The excitement isn't there. The son is reliving his father's life and it all feels very predictable. There is nothing in this book that makes me want to overlook the beginning. I get that homosexuality is more mainstream and acceptable these days (Even if I don't personally feel it's ok in any way), but to essentially whore out your characters to possibly gain a few more fans is ridiculous. I'm thoroughly disgusted with the author and do not plan to finish this book, or the series.
January 6, 2025
If you prefer to listen with added extras: YouTube SERIES Review
I adore this quintet... this series of books is without doubt one of the most compelling and beautifully written vampire stories in recent decades. The level of detail, the historical interweaving of the invasion of Russia by Napoleon and the surrounding events and sieges. There is a twist on these Vampires, they are dark and wicked and start as a means to an end, but then our beloved central character and his descendents continue to deal with the fall out of the events in this first book, and their calling upon the Vampires.
P.S. Love bookmarks? Want to print them out and use them as often as you like? Love ephemera and junk journal’s and prints too? Try out my new website The Witchery Woo
I adore this quintet... this series of books is without doubt one of the most compelling and beautifully written vampire stories in recent decades. The level of detail, the historical interweaving of the invasion of Russia by Napoleon and the surrounding events and sieges. There is a twist on these Vampires, they are dark and wicked and start as a means to an end, but then our beloved central character and his descendents continue to deal with the fall out of the events in this first book, and their calling upon the Vampires.
P.S. Love bookmarks? Want to print them out and use them as often as you like? Love ephemera and junk journal’s and prints too? Try out my new website The Witchery Woo
November 2, 2015
http://ucalisan.blogspot.com.tr/2014/...
Her macerası Rusya tarihinde önemli bir olaya paralel ilerleyen bu eser, kesinlikle alınası, okutulası, arşivde saklanası, herkesin duyması gereken bir eser. Allah kısmet ederse ölmeden önce bir kere daha okumak istediklerim arasına kaldırdım. Bu yılki Tüyap'ta ki imza günün kaçırmış olmam en büyük pişmanlıklarımdan.
Her macerası Rusya tarihinde önemli bir olaya paralel ilerleyen bu eser, kesinlikle alınası, okutulası, arşivde saklanası, herkesin duyması gereken bir eser. Allah kısmet ederse ölmeden önce bir kere daha okumak istediklerim arasına kaldırdım. Bu yılki Tüyap'ta ki imza günün kaçırmış olmam en büyük pişmanlıklarımdan.
December 2, 2016
Kitabı serinin ilk ikisine göre daha yavaş bulsam da daha çok sürpriz içeriyor. Favori karakterim Aleksey'in arka plana itilmesi, Dimitry'nin tam bir hayalkırıklığı yaratmasına rağmen, en azından Tamara babasının kızı olduğunu gösterdi.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 21, 2012
Another good entry in the series. The pacing is much better than the last book. A great mix of historical fiction and suspense horror.
October 30, 2013
A great mix of history and horror..
September 28, 2014
Bazı yerlerde akıcılığını yitiriyor ve eski karakterle yenileri arasında bağlantı zor kuruluyor ama serinin sevenleri için tavsiye ederim kötü bir kitap değil.
November 24, 2014
I really enjoyed this book. This one I think was the best so far. Great history of Russia. Loved having vampires involved. Great read.
January 20, 2024
Soooo love this series!
started_finish_later
September 7, 2012ultimately, too much in vampire stuff for my taste
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews