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Legacy
(This book has been republished under the title Rebirth)
Katrine is a seemingly ordinary girl who is suddenly thrown into extraordinary circumstances. When three mysterious women unexpectedly arrive to see her mother, Anastasia, a sinister secret is revealed and a terrifying chain of events is unleashed, leaving the young girl and her mother forever changed. Tormented by violent encounters and chilling dreams, Katrine embarks on a macabre journey to claim her dark and dangerous birthright as the granddaughter of the notorious and bloodthirsty Countess Elizabeth Bathory. She struggles to cope with an unusual transformation and control the new hunger for blood which overwhelms, and finally brings her face-to-face with the Countess. A twist of fate leads Katrine to meet others with similar traits; what is left of her life changes when she joins them and becomes a part of their strangely enigmatic and disturbingly beautiful world. Despite her new beginnings, the frightening past continues to stalk her, leaving her to consider if the Bathory blood running through her veins would ultimately save or destroy her.
Katrine is a seemingly ordinary girl who is suddenly thrown into extraordinary circumstances. When three mysterious women unexpectedly arrive to see her mother, Anastasia, a sinister secret is revealed and a terrifying chain of events is unleashed, leaving the young girl and her mother forever changed. Tormented by violent encounters and chilling dreams, Katrine embarks on a macabre journey to claim her dark and dangerous birthright as the granddaughter of the notorious and bloodthirsty Countess Elizabeth Bathory. She struggles to cope with an unusual transformation and control the new hunger for blood which overwhelms, and finally brings her face-to-face with the Countess. A twist of fate leads Katrine to meet others with similar traits; what is left of her life changes when she joins them and becomes a part of their strangely enigmatic and disturbingly beautiful world. Despite her new beginnings, the frightening past continues to stalk her, leaving her to consider if the Bathory blood running through her veins would ultimately save or destroy her.
296 pages, Paperback
First published April 17, 2012
About the author
Ravin Tija Maurice
16 books41 followersI decided when I was six that I wanted to be a writer and I've been working my way towards that goal ever since. When I was young I would rework books that I'd read, writing myself in as a character and changing around details to make it my own.
I remember walking into a bookstore as a kid with my parents, I'd always had a thing for books but this particular time I remember seeing the name 'Stephen King' on a lot of shelves. At the time, which was the late 80's early 90's he did not take up as much real estate as he does now but it was clear he was important, it was also a name my parents read. I remember seeing the name and knowing that I wanted to be like this ' Stephen King' and made up my mind. At school, when teachers asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I said Stephen King.
I studied Novel Writing at George Brown College where I was able to fine tune my craft, learning how to properly shape a novel and about specific genres like mystery and romance.
I am constantly trying to grow and improve as a writer, and I hope to be always learning and evolving as I grow.
I remember walking into a bookstore as a kid with my parents, I'd always had a thing for books but this particular time I remember seeing the name 'Stephen King' on a lot of shelves. At the time, which was the late 80's early 90's he did not take up as much real estate as he does now but it was clear he was important, it was also a name my parents read. I remember seeing the name and knowing that I wanted to be like this ' Stephen King' and made up my mind. At school, when teachers asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I said Stephen King.
I studied Novel Writing at George Brown College where I was able to fine tune my craft, learning how to properly shape a novel and about specific genres like mystery and romance.
I am constantly trying to grow and improve as a writer, and I hope to be always learning and evolving as I grow.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 26, 2012
Katrine's story is absolutely captivating.
I didn't really know what to expect, and since there are little to no reviews of this book I couldn't look to fellow Good Readers for advice. So I guess it's my turn to leave some.
Firstly, this novel is supernatural fiction.
Secondly, it is historical fiction.
And thirdly, it is damn near impossible to put down once you start it.
This novel opens with a brief story of Kristina, a mid-wife who is charged with raising the bastard daughter of a noblewoman. The story then jumps, super briefly, to that daughter Anastasia. But this novel is really focused on Anastasia's 16 year old daughter and simple Hungarian villager, Katrine.
Katrine is the granddaughter of Countess Elizabeth Báthory (a real person, Wikipedia says she is remembered as one of the most prolific serial killers ever), and in Legacy she has inherited supernatural abilities through her grandmother and mother's bloodline.
Not too much time is spent exploring the supernatural, although there is plenty of it; witches, vampires, werewolves, and things in between.
Instead this story focuses on Katrine's journey to find her family, make a place for herself in the world, and understand what it is she has become.
There are fantastic descriptions of cities, parties, gowns, hair styles, dances/ballets, flirtatious gentlemen, and beautiful women. And all of it is delivered through Katrine's naive and optimistic view of the world she has been thrown into.
I think what I love most about Katrine is how normal she is. She's neither absurdly strong nor weepy/weak. She's naive and embarrassed, confident and clueless, logical and clearheaded, impressed and impressionable, and refreshingly loyal to those who treat her well..
In fact, the only criticism I could have of her is how well she takes to her blood cravings - almost too nonchalant.
There is a little tinge of romance but it is not the focus of the story, and after reading/watching Katrine grow up, I'm pretty okay with that. Following Katrine from her little Hungarian village to her Grandmother's deserted and rather gothic castle, to Vienna and then Paris, you really grow to love her and want her to find herself before she finds love. And she does.
I finished the book all too fast, and thinking about where/how it could end... I honestly don't know how I'll be satisfied. I want to read about her whole life, and all the little mysteries we've been promised will unravel.
I can't wait for the next one novel in the Daughters of Darkness series! We have a LOT more left to learn!
I didn't really know what to expect, and since there are little to no reviews of this book I couldn't look to fellow Good Readers for advice. So I guess it's my turn to leave some.
Firstly, this novel is supernatural fiction.
Secondly, it is historical fiction.
And thirdly, it is damn near impossible to put down once you start it.
This novel opens with a brief story of Kristina, a mid-wife who is charged with raising the bastard daughter of a noblewoman. The story then jumps, super briefly, to that daughter Anastasia. But this novel is really focused on Anastasia's 16 year old daughter and simple Hungarian villager, Katrine.
Katrine is the granddaughter of Countess Elizabeth Báthory (a real person, Wikipedia says she is remembered as one of the most prolific serial killers ever), and in Legacy she has inherited supernatural abilities through her grandmother and mother's bloodline.
Not too much time is spent exploring the supernatural, although there is plenty of it; witches, vampires, werewolves, and things in between.
Instead this story focuses on Katrine's journey to find her family, make a place for herself in the world, and understand what it is she has become.
There are fantastic descriptions of cities, parties, gowns, hair styles, dances/ballets, flirtatious gentlemen, and beautiful women. And all of it is delivered through Katrine's naive and optimistic view of the world she has been thrown into.
I think what I love most about Katrine is how normal she is. She's neither absurdly strong nor weepy/weak. She's naive and embarrassed, confident and clueless, logical and clearheaded, impressed and impressionable, and refreshingly loyal to those who treat her well..
In fact, the only criticism I could have of her is how well she takes to her blood cravings - almost too nonchalant.
There is a little tinge of romance but it is not the focus of the story, and after reading/watching Katrine grow up, I'm pretty okay with that. Following Katrine from her little Hungarian village to her Grandmother's deserted and rather gothic castle, to Vienna and then Paris, you really grow to love her and want her to find herself before she finds love. And she does.
I finished the book all too fast, and thinking about where/how it could end... I honestly don't know how I'll be satisfied. I want to read about her whole life, and all the little mysteries we've been promised will unravel.
I can't wait for the next one novel in the Daughters of Darkness series! We have a LOT more left to learn!
June 4, 2012
This was a story so interesting it was hard to put down!
I originally purchased this book as a gift for my granddaughter since she is a fan of vampire fiction and loves book series like “Twilight” and “The Vampire Diaries”. I heard about this new author and her “Daughters of Darkness” series through Facebook and Goodreads and thought we would give it a try. Well she has yet to read it as I still have it on my nightstand and am reading it for a second time! This is such a great book! It is historically based in the early 1600s and is about a young woman, who is the granddaughter of a Hungarian countess, Elizabeth Bathory, who was accused of being a vampire. Katrine, the main character herself, has been turned into a vampire and her mother, Anastasia, is some sort of shape shifting werewolf. Though the premise is paranormal, this is not a typical vampire novel, the story is beautifully told and actually reminds me of a Philippa Gregory novel. You get a good feel of the time period and the places that she travels to, like Paris, and you get a really good feel for the relationships the characters have with one another. After she tries to find her grandmother, she joins up with a tribe of vampires and learns how to live a glamorous life while still being in the shadows. You will find that there is not a lot of violence or blood or gore in this book but there are some scenes that may take you by surprise. I actually really liked those occasional jarring monster scenes and thought added to the intrigue of the story. Katrine is a great heroine and reminds me a lot of “Bella Swan “as they share many similarities in their looks and personalities and the story is also narrated from her point of view. Like in “Twilight” there is a budding romantic triangle between Katrine and two suitors. One is an older more sophisticated werewolf from England, Lord Charles Westwick, and a young Italian wizard named William of Naples who is also known as the ‘Blue-eyed Demon’. You can tell that these two men love her and will do what it takes to win her over. Both are very charming and romantic and you wonder who she should be with. The end of the book is very interesting and surprising and tells a little more about Katrine’s mother and how her character fits into the story. It ties up some loose ends about the traumatic events that take place in the beginning of the book that take Katrine on the rough journey to find out about her family lineage and seems to set up the premise for the next book to come, which I personally can’t wait to read! So, again if you like books or series like "Twilight", "Vampire Diaries, "Bloodlines", "Dark Shadows", etc., you will love this!
I originally purchased this book as a gift for my granddaughter since she is a fan of vampire fiction and loves book series like “Twilight” and “The Vampire Diaries”. I heard about this new author and her “Daughters of Darkness” series through Facebook and Goodreads and thought we would give it a try. Well she has yet to read it as I still have it on my nightstand and am reading it for a second time! This is such a great book! It is historically based in the early 1600s and is about a young woman, who is the granddaughter of a Hungarian countess, Elizabeth Bathory, who was accused of being a vampire. Katrine, the main character herself, has been turned into a vampire and her mother, Anastasia, is some sort of shape shifting werewolf. Though the premise is paranormal, this is not a typical vampire novel, the story is beautifully told and actually reminds me of a Philippa Gregory novel. You get a good feel of the time period and the places that she travels to, like Paris, and you get a really good feel for the relationships the characters have with one another. After she tries to find her grandmother, she joins up with a tribe of vampires and learns how to live a glamorous life while still being in the shadows. You will find that there is not a lot of violence or blood or gore in this book but there are some scenes that may take you by surprise. I actually really liked those occasional jarring monster scenes and thought added to the intrigue of the story. Katrine is a great heroine and reminds me a lot of “Bella Swan “as they share many similarities in their looks and personalities and the story is also narrated from her point of view. Like in “Twilight” there is a budding romantic triangle between Katrine and two suitors. One is an older more sophisticated werewolf from England, Lord Charles Westwick, and a young Italian wizard named William of Naples who is also known as the ‘Blue-eyed Demon’. You can tell that these two men love her and will do what it takes to win her over. Both are very charming and romantic and you wonder who she should be with. The end of the book is very interesting and surprising and tells a little more about Katrine’s mother and how her character fits into the story. It ties up some loose ends about the traumatic events that take place in the beginning of the book that take Katrine on the rough journey to find out about her family lineage and seems to set up the premise for the next book to come, which I personally can’t wait to read! So, again if you like books or series like "Twilight", "Vampire Diaries, "Bloodlines", "Dark Shadows", etc., you will love this!
June 20, 2012
This novel weaves paranormal and historical fiction into a compelling tapestry that not only features an interesting cast of supernatural characters such as werewolves and "old world" vampires, but also introduces us to fabulous female characters that run the gamut from being strong and stoic to larger than life.
The author bases the story upon a legend about Countess Elizabeth Bathory who was a real historical figure who lived in the late 1500’s through the early 1600’s, and is notorious for being a deranged “vampiric” serial killer who bathed in the blood of young women in order to stay young. The story begins as the Countess gives birth to an illegitimate daughter named Anastasia, who shortly thereafter, is taken away as an infant and raised by the midwife who brought her into the world. The main plot is actually based several years in the future, when Anastasia is an adult and learns the truth about her past. Events follow that suddenly and frighteningly change her life as well as that of her own teenaged daughter, Katrine, who at this point becomes the main character and through whose view the story is narrated. We relate to Katrine as she deals with traumatic and dramatic experiences that not only transform her mother, but also herself. One such experience comes during an amazingly composed scene in which she witnesses a Halloween ritual gone wrong that turns her mother into a werewolf and scars her physically, emotionally and supernaturally. As the story unfolds, we witness a chain of events that ends up sending Katrine on a strange journey to find her grandmother, Countess Bathory, who may be the only person who could give her the answers she needs to help her understand what has happened.
There is a very complex mother-daughter relationship dynamic running throughout the story. This exists between not only Katrine and Anastasia, as they keep their telepathic bond alive through well-timed dream sequences, but also with Katrine’s relationships with Kardoska, the matronly witch who is her companion and caregiver, and the beautiful and dynamic dhampir, Grisela, who becomes Katrine’s mentor. There is also an undercurrent about the emotional struggles about 'fitting in" or being a “misfit” and finding your place in life while trying to overcome adversity. This is played out well by means of Katrine’s dynamic with the young and spoiled vampire Klara von Dores who becomes Katrine’s nemesis. For those interested in the legends behind Countess Bathory and/or those who may be vaguely familiar with her history, this novel, albeit fiction, is a very nice and civilized introduction to her. Rather than focusing on the “blood and gore”, Legacy instead gives the reader a glimpse into the beauty and barbarism of the renaissance. Not to be a spoiler, and I apologize if I am, but fans of the Countess or those who are more familiar with her story will only see a brief appearance of her character in a couple of chapters about a third of the way in. However, her portrayal is well written and she comes off as strong, sensual and a tad bit supernatural, which adds even more depth and intrigue to her role. Luckily, Countess Bathory is mentioned as a running theme through the book and we are also treated to other interesting twists on actual people who were associated with the Countess. We meet characters such as Darvulia, a sinister witch who served the Countess, her cousin Gabor, Voivod of Transylvania, whose demise at a young age is explained as his being turned into a vampire as he later on becomes a part of the storyline. There are some very interesting and entertaining plot twists in this book that open the door for a second book, which I look forward to reading. I highly recommend "Legacy" as an excellent young adult and paranormal fiction novel that gives its readers a refreshing dose of historical and supernatural elements.
The author bases the story upon a legend about Countess Elizabeth Bathory who was a real historical figure who lived in the late 1500’s through the early 1600’s, and is notorious for being a deranged “vampiric” serial killer who bathed in the blood of young women in order to stay young. The story begins as the Countess gives birth to an illegitimate daughter named Anastasia, who shortly thereafter, is taken away as an infant and raised by the midwife who brought her into the world. The main plot is actually based several years in the future, when Anastasia is an adult and learns the truth about her past. Events follow that suddenly and frighteningly change her life as well as that of her own teenaged daughter, Katrine, who at this point becomes the main character and through whose view the story is narrated. We relate to Katrine as she deals with traumatic and dramatic experiences that not only transform her mother, but also herself. One such experience comes during an amazingly composed scene in which she witnesses a Halloween ritual gone wrong that turns her mother into a werewolf and scars her physically, emotionally and supernaturally. As the story unfolds, we witness a chain of events that ends up sending Katrine on a strange journey to find her grandmother, Countess Bathory, who may be the only person who could give her the answers she needs to help her understand what has happened.
There is a very complex mother-daughter relationship dynamic running throughout the story. This exists between not only Katrine and Anastasia, as they keep their telepathic bond alive through well-timed dream sequences, but also with Katrine’s relationships with Kardoska, the matronly witch who is her companion and caregiver, and the beautiful and dynamic dhampir, Grisela, who becomes Katrine’s mentor. There is also an undercurrent about the emotional struggles about 'fitting in" or being a “misfit” and finding your place in life while trying to overcome adversity. This is played out well by means of Katrine’s dynamic with the young and spoiled vampire Klara von Dores who becomes Katrine’s nemesis. For those interested in the legends behind Countess Bathory and/or those who may be vaguely familiar with her history, this novel, albeit fiction, is a very nice and civilized introduction to her. Rather than focusing on the “blood and gore”, Legacy instead gives the reader a glimpse into the beauty and barbarism of the renaissance. Not to be a spoiler, and I apologize if I am, but fans of the Countess or those who are more familiar with her story will only see a brief appearance of her character in a couple of chapters about a third of the way in. However, her portrayal is well written and she comes off as strong, sensual and a tad bit supernatural, which adds even more depth and intrigue to her role. Luckily, Countess Bathory is mentioned as a running theme through the book and we are also treated to other interesting twists on actual people who were associated with the Countess. We meet characters such as Darvulia, a sinister witch who served the Countess, her cousin Gabor, Voivod of Transylvania, whose demise at a young age is explained as his being turned into a vampire as he later on becomes a part of the storyline. There are some very interesting and entertaining plot twists in this book that open the door for a second book, which I look forward to reading. I highly recommend "Legacy" as an excellent young adult and paranormal fiction novel that gives its readers a refreshing dose of historical and supernatural elements.
April 21, 2012
This is just the sort of book I like. Vampires, werewolves, shapeshifters, but not blood and gore.
I was recommended this by my husband's cousin who knows the author. I thought "ok I'll give it a go, be polite", but actually I thoroughly enjoyed it and am looking forward to the next one in the series.
The main character, Katrine, discovers she is an illegitimate granddaughter to Countess Erzebet Bathory (a real person from the 1600s) but after an unfortunate incident with some witches is left injured and thirsting for blood. She is found by a group of other vampires and taken to Paris to live and perform in the Danse Macabre. The spectre of her mother is present as she becomes accustomed to who and what she is.
At times I wasn't really sure where the story was going, but it turns out really to be the the introduction to the cast of characters, as this is the first in a series. I didn't study history so can't say if it is historically accurate but I was drawn in by the descriptions nevertheless. Some interesting characters and relationships.
There was a strange jump in the story, with a "Two Years Later".... heading and no explanation of what happened during that time. There were certain parts of the story before which certainly would have had things happen in the intervening period.
But apart from that I look forward to book 2.
I was recommended this by my husband's cousin who knows the author. I thought "ok I'll give it a go, be polite", but actually I thoroughly enjoyed it and am looking forward to the next one in the series.
The main character, Katrine, discovers she is an illegitimate granddaughter to Countess Erzebet Bathory (a real person from the 1600s) but after an unfortunate incident with some witches is left injured and thirsting for blood. She is found by a group of other vampires and taken to Paris to live and perform in the Danse Macabre. The spectre of her mother is present as she becomes accustomed to who and what she is.
At times I wasn't really sure where the story was going, but it turns out really to be the the introduction to the cast of characters, as this is the first in a series. I didn't study history so can't say if it is historically accurate but I was drawn in by the descriptions nevertheless. Some interesting characters and relationships.
There was a strange jump in the story, with a "Two Years Later".... heading and no explanation of what happened during that time. There were certain parts of the story before which certainly would have had things happen in the intervening period.
But apart from that I look forward to book 2.
May 26, 2012
A very enjoyable read.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews