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Saint-Germain #26
Night Pilgrims
Chelsea Quinn Yarbro's first Saint-Germain novel, Hotel Transylvania, was recently nominated as Vampire Novel of the Century. Her Saint-Germain cycle, now comprised of more than twenty-five books, is a masterwork of historical horror fiction. The vampire Count Saint-Germain has crisscrossed the world many times, seeking love and the blood of life and seeing humanity at its best and worst.
In Night Pilgrims, Saint-Germain is living in a monastery in Egypt when he is hired to guide a group of pilgrims to underground churches in southern Egypt. The vampire finds a companion in a lovely widow who later fears that her dalliance with the Count will prevent her from reaching Heaven.
The pilgrims begin to fall prey to the trials of travel in the Holy Lands; some see visions and hear the word of God; others are seduced by desires for riches and power. A visit to the Chapel of the Holy Grail brings many quarrels to a head; Saint-Germain must use all his diplomacy and a good deal of his strength to keep the pilgrims from slaughtering one another.
In Night Pilgrims, Saint-Germain is living in a monastery in Egypt when he is hired to guide a group of pilgrims to underground churches in southern Egypt. The vampire finds a companion in a lovely widow who later fears that her dalliance with the Count will prevent her from reaching Heaven.
The pilgrims begin to fall prey to the trials of travel in the Holy Lands; some see visions and hear the word of God; others are seduced by desires for riches and power. A visit to the Chapel of the Holy Grail brings many quarrels to a head; Saint-Germain must use all his diplomacy and a good deal of his strength to keep the pilgrims from slaughtering one another.
416 pages, Hardcover
First published July 30, 2013
4 people are currently reading
249 people want to read
About the author
Chelsea Quinn Yarbro
259 books477 followersA professional writer for more than forty years, Yarbro has sold over eighty books, more than seventy works of short fiction, and more than three dozen essays, introductions, and reviews. She also composes serious music. Her first professional writing - in 1961-1962 - was as a playwright for a now long-defunct children's theater company. By the mid-60s she had switched to writing stories and hasn't stopped yet.
After leaving college in 1963 and until she became a full-time writer in 1970, she worked as a demographic cartographer, and still often drafts maps for her books, and occasionally for the books of other writers.
She has a large reference library with books on a wide range of subjects, everything from food and fashion to weapons and trade routes to religion and law. She is constantly adding to it as part of her on-going fascination with history and culture; she reads incessantly, searching for interesting people and places that might provide fodder for stories.
In 1997 the Transylvanian Society of Dracula bestowed a literary knighthood on Yarbro, and in 2003 the World Horror Association presented her with a Grand Master award. In 2006 the International Horror Guild enrolled her among their Living Legends, the first woman to be so honored; the Horror Writers Association gave her a Life Achievement Award in 2009. In 2014 she won a Life Achievement Award from the World Fantasy Convention.
A skeptical occultist for forty years, she has studied everything from alchemy to zoomancy, and in the late 1970s worked occasionally as a professional tarot card reader and palmist at the Magic Cellar in San Francisco.
She has two domestic accomplishments: she is a good cook and an experienced seamstress. The rest is catch-as-catch-can.
Divorced, she lives in the San Francisco Bay Area - with two cats: the irrepressible Butterscotch and Crumpet, the Gang of Two. When not busy writing, she enjoys the symphony or opera.
Her Saint-Germain series is now the longest vampire series ever. The books range widely over time and place, and were not published in historical order. They are numbered in published order.
Known pseudonyms include Vanessa Pryor, Quinn Fawcett, T.C.F. Hopkins, Trystam Kith, Camille Gabor.
After leaving college in 1963 and until she became a full-time writer in 1970, she worked as a demographic cartographer, and still often drafts maps for her books, and occasionally for the books of other writers.
She has a large reference library with books on a wide range of subjects, everything from food and fashion to weapons and trade routes to religion and law. She is constantly adding to it as part of her on-going fascination with history and culture; she reads incessantly, searching for interesting people and places that might provide fodder for stories.
In 1997 the Transylvanian Society of Dracula bestowed a literary knighthood on Yarbro, and in 2003 the World Horror Association presented her with a Grand Master award. In 2006 the International Horror Guild enrolled her among their Living Legends, the first woman to be so honored; the Horror Writers Association gave her a Life Achievement Award in 2009. In 2014 she won a Life Achievement Award from the World Fantasy Convention.
A skeptical occultist for forty years, she has studied everything from alchemy to zoomancy, and in the late 1970s worked occasionally as a professional tarot card reader and palmist at the Magic Cellar in San Francisco.
She has two domestic accomplishments: she is a good cook and an experienced seamstress. The rest is catch-as-catch-can.
Divorced, she lives in the San Francisco Bay Area - with two cats: the irrepressible Butterscotch and Crumpet, the Gang of Two. When not busy writing, she enjoys the symphony or opera.
Her Saint-Germain series is now the longest vampire series ever. The books range widely over time and place, and were not published in historical order. They are numbered in published order.
Known pseudonyms include Vanessa Pryor, Quinn Fawcett, T.C.F. Hopkins, Trystam Kith, Camille Gabor.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
August 22, 2014
Original review posted at Layers of Thought.
Shellie’s quick take: It’s a stand-alone historical fiction novel that has horror and romance elements with a vampire as the main character. Set in Egypt in the 1200s, the main character (Count Saint Germain assisting as a translator) and a group of European Christian pilgrims are searching for holy sites and relics in the African desert, in hopes of redemption or money.
Shellie’s description: Sidi Sandjer’min (Count Saint-Germain’s name with an Egyptian twist) has been living at a Coptic monastery with his helper and friend Ruthier, assisting the monks and their visitors with their medical needs. He knows many languages and is an apothecary and a physician with knowledge that is advanced for the time.
Due to an edict passed by the ruler of Egypt that forces European inhabitants of the country to leave the land, Sandjer’min and Ruthiers decide their best option to avoid any persecution is to join a band of Christian pilgrims on their travels to visit churches and monasteries, as they are heading into the more remote areas of the Ethiopian highlands away from the main tributary of the Nile river. Set during a time without our modern conveniences, there is ample room for hardships and excitement and the story delivers.
With the faith of the zealous at its core, this is a novel which examines the place of religion in creating the world’s history and political climate during the 1200s.
Shellie’s thoughts: This is my first Count Saint Germain novel even though it is the 26th book in the series. Happily, I was not lost at all by reading this latest novel since the book stands completely alone. And according to Tor’s blog, all the novels in the series are that way; you can start anywhere in the huge collection and not feel lost or slighted.
I devoured this novel in a few days, which is a rarity for me. It was intriguing and has well-developed characters, romance, darkness, intrigue, medical predicaments, historical detail, geographic information and an exciting story line. What may put some readers off is that the main character is a vampire, fearing that there will be all those traditional vampire characteristics that so many readers are bored with. However, the vampire aspect is only a slight part of the story line. I would consider this book foremost a historical fiction book and it’ s really light on the vampire theme. Adding to the interest for me is that Count Saint Germain is an old, wise and kind vampire.
This is an entertaining book that I recommend for historical fiction lovers, horror readers, vampire aficionados (even though it is light on traditional vampire darkness) and anyone looking for a comprehensive and attention-grabbing read. 4 stars for this historical horror novel. I will be reading more from this series and will consider Chelsea Quinn Yarbro a go-to author when I am interested in a guaranteed good read.
Shellie’s quick take: It’s a stand-alone historical fiction novel that has horror and romance elements with a vampire as the main character. Set in Egypt in the 1200s, the main character (Count Saint Germain assisting as a translator) and a group of European Christian pilgrims are searching for holy sites and relics in the African desert, in hopes of redemption or money.
Shellie’s description: Sidi Sandjer’min (Count Saint-Germain’s name with an Egyptian twist) has been living at a Coptic monastery with his helper and friend Ruthier, assisting the monks and their visitors with their medical needs. He knows many languages and is an apothecary and a physician with knowledge that is advanced for the time.
Due to an edict passed by the ruler of Egypt that forces European inhabitants of the country to leave the land, Sandjer’min and Ruthiers decide their best option to avoid any persecution is to join a band of Christian pilgrims on their travels to visit churches and monasteries, as they are heading into the more remote areas of the Ethiopian highlands away from the main tributary of the Nile river. Set during a time without our modern conveniences, there is ample room for hardships and excitement and the story delivers.
With the faith of the zealous at its core, this is a novel which examines the place of religion in creating the world’s history and political climate during the 1200s.
Shellie’s thoughts: This is my first Count Saint Germain novel even though it is the 26th book in the series. Happily, I was not lost at all by reading this latest novel since the book stands completely alone. And according to Tor’s blog, all the novels in the series are that way; you can start anywhere in the huge collection and not feel lost or slighted.
I devoured this novel in a few days, which is a rarity for me. It was intriguing and has well-developed characters, romance, darkness, intrigue, medical predicaments, historical detail, geographic information and an exciting story line. What may put some readers off is that the main character is a vampire, fearing that there will be all those traditional vampire characteristics that so many readers are bored with. However, the vampire aspect is only a slight part of the story line. I would consider this book foremost a historical fiction book and it’ s really light on the vampire theme. Adding to the interest for me is that Count Saint Germain is an old, wise and kind vampire.
This is an entertaining book that I recommend for historical fiction lovers, horror readers, vampire aficionados (even though it is light on traditional vampire darkness) and anyone looking for a comprehensive and attention-grabbing read. 4 stars for this historical horror novel. I will be reading more from this series and will consider Chelsea Quinn Yarbro a go-to author when I am interested in a guaranteed good read.
August 22, 2013
This 26th book in the Count Saint-Germain series takes place in 1225, between Path of the Eclipse and An embarrassment of riches.
Saint-Germain, sometimes prince, count, alchemist, merchant, physician and vampire, is now called Sidi Sandjer’min. He is living in southern Egypt. Forced by circumstances, he accepts the offer to travel with a group of pilgrims, serving as their guide, translator and physician. He is accompanied by Ruthier, his faithful manservant and long time friend!
The pilgrims have their own reasons for their pilgrimage, not all are religious ones! They are bound to the underground churches of Ethiopia.
One of the pilgrims is the noble Margrethe. She is attracted by Sidi Sandjer’min. Her longing for him shows in her eyes, when she sees him, in her attitude when she is near him, but she refuses to accept this for fear of compromising her pilgrimage!
And so Sidi Sandjer’min has to content himself with the blood of horses and asses to survive! Thanks to Ruthier’s cleverness, he can take what he needs in plain sight!
It is a difficult voyage for all of them. Their greatest enemies are the forces of nature, the wild river, the heat and the sand, the burning sun, the wild animals, not to forget the crocodiles!
Some dreadful accidents do happen, and the pilgrimage is coming to an end. They never reach their destination. The pilgrims are going their own way and Sidi Sandjer’min decides to escort Margrethe back home, or so he intends to!
The count’s vampirisme has little or no influence on the story, only for the count himself, and for us, readers. We know, no matter how horrible events are that happen to him, he will get through!
This is another great book in a long going series about historical horror, with only a touch of vampire blood!
Saint-Germain, sometimes prince, count, alchemist, merchant, physician and vampire, is now called Sidi Sandjer’min. He is living in southern Egypt. Forced by circumstances, he accepts the offer to travel with a group of pilgrims, serving as their guide, translator and physician. He is accompanied by Ruthier, his faithful manservant and long time friend!
The pilgrims have their own reasons for their pilgrimage, not all are religious ones! They are bound to the underground churches of Ethiopia.
One of the pilgrims is the noble Margrethe. She is attracted by Sidi Sandjer’min. Her longing for him shows in her eyes, when she sees him, in her attitude when she is near him, but she refuses to accept this for fear of compromising her pilgrimage!
And so Sidi Sandjer’min has to content himself with the blood of horses and asses to survive! Thanks to Ruthier’s cleverness, he can take what he needs in plain sight!
It is a difficult voyage for all of them. Their greatest enemies are the forces of nature, the wild river, the heat and the sand, the burning sun, the wild animals, not to forget the crocodiles!
Some dreadful accidents do happen, and the pilgrimage is coming to an end. They never reach their destination. The pilgrims are going their own way and Sidi Sandjer’min decides to escort Margrethe back home, or so he intends to!
The count’s vampirisme has little or no influence on the story, only for the count himself, and for us, readers. We know, no matter how horrible events are that happen to him, he will get through!
This is another great book in a long going series about historical horror, with only a touch of vampire blood!
September 2, 2013
Night Pilgrims is another excellent addition to the Saint Germain series. Yarbro delivers everything readers have come to expect from her novels: great characters, exquisite prose and plenty of action and passion.
Yarbro's prose is always a joy to read and Saint Germain is, without a doubt, the greatest vampire in literature; he really deserves to be better known and more popular than he is currently. The storyline of this book perhaps did not thrill me quite as much as previous ones, but it was still perfectly executed and a pleasure to read.
I certainly hope a new book is forthcoming again next year. In the meantime, since my tbr pile is now mostly under control, I may consider rereading a few of my favourites from earlier in the series.
For those new to Yarbro's writing, please note that, while occasional references are made to past stories, it is possible to read the books in this series in any order as they are all standalone stories.
Yarbro's prose is always a joy to read and Saint Germain is, without a doubt, the greatest vampire in literature; he really deserves to be better known and more popular than he is currently. The storyline of this book perhaps did not thrill me quite as much as previous ones, but it was still perfectly executed and a pleasure to read.
I certainly hope a new book is forthcoming again next year. In the meantime, since my tbr pile is now mostly under control, I may consider rereading a few of my favourites from earlier in the series.
For those new to Yarbro's writing, please note that, while occasional references are made to past stories, it is possible to read the books in this series in any order as they are all standalone stories.
January 12, 2014
3.5
Full review at Booklikes.
This isn’t the best Count book, but it is not the worse either. It is very reminiscent of the travelogue of Margery Kempe as she went on pilgrimage.
The drawback to any book in this series, at least in terms of a reader who has read more than one book, is that the reader knows the Count is going to survive. Therefore the plot and the supporting characters must carry the suspense and concern of the reader. This book succeeds somewhat.
There really is no sense of urgency or concern. It seems given that most will make it though. Those who fates are not so clear are less well drawn. IN fact, the only supporting characters that seem to have any depth are two of the three women. The male pilgrims all seem interchangeable, and for the most part, when one or two leave you have to figure out who that person was. The third women, the nun, are a type that many readers of this series have seen before. The same is true for the leader of the pilgrims – the typical man in charge rigid and controlling. He is, perhaps, slightly more human than a type than some of the others, but readers have seen his type before. The romance, such as it is, remains understated and is not one of the Count’s grand passions.
The true worth in the reading is the travelogue, and as such it would appeal mostly to students of medieval and renaissance literature. If you haven’t read any of the books in this series before, I would not suggest starting with this one.
Full review at Booklikes.
This isn’t the best Count book, but it is not the worse either. It is very reminiscent of the travelogue of Margery Kempe as she went on pilgrimage.
The drawback to any book in this series, at least in terms of a reader who has read more than one book, is that the reader knows the Count is going to survive. Therefore the plot and the supporting characters must carry the suspense and concern of the reader. This book succeeds somewhat.
There really is no sense of urgency or concern. It seems given that most will make it though. Those who fates are not so clear are less well drawn. IN fact, the only supporting characters that seem to have any depth are two of the three women. The male pilgrims all seem interchangeable, and for the most part, when one or two leave you have to figure out who that person was. The third women, the nun, are a type that many readers of this series have seen before. The same is true for the leader of the pilgrims – the typical man in charge rigid and controlling. He is, perhaps, slightly more human than a type than some of the others, but readers have seen his type before. The romance, such as it is, remains understated and is not one of the Count’s grand passions.
The true worth in the reading is the travelogue, and as such it would appeal mostly to students of medieval and renaissance literature. If you haven’t read any of the books in this series before, I would not suggest starting with this one.
September 13, 2016
My least favorite of the St. Germain books. Almost literally nothing happens in this entire book. Yarbro has clearly done her research, as always, but details of camel-riding, crusades, and 14th century clothing aren't enough to carry a novel. One star.
However, I give it an extra star because one of the reviews on the back cover gave me a new perspective on the entire series. The reviewer points out that all of the books, really, are about women in different eras: how they were treated, what their , what power they had (or didn't have), what degree of freedom they had, the degree to which they were powerful or powerless. Given that the entire series has a male main character, you wouldn't think that, and it certainly hadn't struck me before, but once I read that it seemed completely obvious. I followed this up with a re-read of two of my favorites in the series, Hôtel Transylvania and Out of the House of Life, and I got quite a bit more out of them, looking at them from that angle.
However, I give it an extra star because one of the reviews on the back cover gave me a new perspective on the entire series. The reviewer points out that all of the books, really, are about women in different eras: how they were treated, what their , what power they had (or didn't have), what degree of freedom they had, the degree to which they were powerful or powerless. Given that the entire series has a male main character, you wouldn't think that, and it certainly hadn't struck me before, but once I read that it seemed completely obvious. I followed this up with a re-read of two of my favorites in the series, Hôtel Transylvania and Out of the House of Life, and I got quite a bit more out of them, looking at them from that angle.
August 5, 2013
A good book from CQY, though not my favourite. I am glad she is still writing stories of Saint Germain, but her more recent works seem to be over-heavy on research and historicity, and easy on external plot and conflict.
September 4, 2013
I wish there was a 4-1/2 star option...most of Ms. Yarbro's Rackozy San Germain books are five-star, and I've read all of them over the years, but a small handful aren't quite as good as the others, this one falls in the latter category. Still a great read for both histfic and vampire lovers.
September 16, 2013
3.5 stars - To be reviewed for the Historical Novel Society's November issue. Unusual and interesting setting; Saint-Germain fans will enjoy.
August 9, 2018
An interesting story. I loved the character Rakoezy, Sidi Sandjer'min and the particular vampire characteristics. I also loved how accurate his medicine was (I often read what he was using and it made sense). (I wonder if platonic snuggling while taking blood would work?) Also loved faithful Ruthier. Now the pilgrims were well written and historically accurate but I still wanted to strangle them for most of the book, they were too holier than thou, islamophobic, general suspicious pains in the butt. Again well written and accurate but still cringe-worthy as people.
November 16, 2013
I love everything Ms. Yarbro has written about her character the Count Saint Germain. I've read some of the novels more than once.
This one I had to force myself to finish.
Saint Germain goes off with a band of pilgrims from Egypt into Ethiopia in the 13th cent. Travel is pretty rough and basic, especially through the Nubian Desert.
And that's all they do. Slog through the Nubian Desert (and go up the Nile aways before the Inundation occurs.)
And they ride at night and sleep during the day to avoid the worst of the heat.
And they slog through the Nubian desert.
Do they have adventures? Well, kinda, sort of, avoiding some trackers who they finally confront. Some lions get interested in the horses and asses. Folks on the pilgrimage have some agendas--but nothing special. And a crocodile near the end bites Saint Germain.
Does he find a woman?
Yes... of course. They play cat and mouse until almost the end of the book because she is a chaste woman on a pilgrimage to seek healing for her husband back in Acquataine. But Margarethe is not very compelling.
Do they run across interesting things? Do we actually see the end of their journey--in the land of the Holy Grail? The Monastery of the Holy Redeemer? The whole reason for this trip? Not much--and certainly not anything that couldn't have happened elsewhere.
In the middle of the desert? No.
And there you have it: Nothing really happens in this book.
Yarbro even has a character, a very blond knight who got third degree burns from the sun and they carry him for several chapters and then the poor fellow dies. Why was he in the story? I guess to illustrate what a healer Saint Germain is...even though he lost this patient. There are few struggles...of any kind. The supporting cast is all right.
Darn. This book was a disappointment. I would really only give it two stars---but I like Yarbro's Saint Germain too much.
This one I had to force myself to finish.
Saint Germain goes off with a band of pilgrims from Egypt into Ethiopia in the 13th cent. Travel is pretty rough and basic, especially through the Nubian Desert.
And that's all they do. Slog through the Nubian Desert (and go up the Nile aways before the Inundation occurs.)
And they ride at night and sleep during the day to avoid the worst of the heat.
And they slog through the Nubian desert.
Do they have adventures? Well, kinda, sort of, avoiding some trackers who they finally confront. Some lions get interested in the horses and asses. Folks on the pilgrimage have some agendas--but nothing special. And a crocodile near the end bites Saint Germain.
Does he find a woman?
Yes... of course. They play cat and mouse until almost the end of the book because she is a chaste woman on a pilgrimage to seek healing for her husband back in Acquataine. But Margarethe is not very compelling.
Do they run across interesting things? Do we actually see the end of their journey--in the land of the Holy Grail? The Monastery of the Holy Redeemer? The whole reason for this trip? Not much--and certainly not anything that couldn't have happened elsewhere.
In the middle of the desert? No.
And there you have it: Nothing really happens in this book.
Yarbro even has a character, a very blond knight who got third degree burns from the sun and they carry him for several chapters and then the poor fellow dies. Why was he in the story? I guess to illustrate what a healer Saint Germain is...even though he lost this patient. There are few struggles...of any kind. The supporting cast is all right.
Darn. This book was a disappointment. I would really only give it two stars---but I like Yarbro's Saint Germain too much.
December 14, 2013
Chelsea Quinn Yarbro writes historical novels, most featuring the travails of the count Saint-Germaine, a vampire who lives mainly off sex. In the thirteenth century he settled in an Egyptian monestary under the name of Rakoczy, Sodo San djer’min. Polatics cause him to join a group of Night Pilgrims (hard from Tor), traveling at night because of the heat of the Egyptian and Sudan day, heading towards Ethiopia. Headed by a soldier-knight who mistakenly killed a Christian village, and filled with people looking for redemption, like a woman whose husband lost his senses in a fall. It’s a hard trek, but the group as an easier time than the reports of other pilgrims who fell to bandits, or disease. Each book in this series, like this one, can be read independently and provide a solid look at an obscure part of history.
Review printed in the Philadelphia Weekly Press
Review printed in the Philadelphia Weekly Press
January 17, 2015
Thirty-first in the Saint Germain series, or twenty-sixth if you don't count the spinoffs with Olivia and Madeline as the main characters, this is one of the best of the series so far. The setting gives a marvellous feel for the Sahara and Etheopia of the 13th century, the characters ring fairly true, there is action and adventure enough to rival the early books in the series, and there is a very sweet romance between Saint Germaine and the female lead which neither blossoms into a long-term love (as we know it can't, because we've seen novels set in later periods which do not mention her) nor has her either die tragically nor repudiate Saint Germaine, which are the two easiest and cheapest escapes for an author to use to escape such a situation. Very, very well-done.
April 7, 2014
Love this series. This one is set in north Africa in the 1200s and is an interesting look at those who were pilgrims as well as others who were part of these groups. CQY always does a lot of research into the time and place she is writing about. her use of letters between chapters is a wonderful way of giving us information that helps us understand what is going on in the world at large and how those things can impact the primary story. SAINT Germain is such a wonderful character! I have loved following him in all of his adventures so far and look forward to many more.600iu
April 11, 2014
With 20-odd books in the Saint Germain series, by now one knows what to expect - impeccable historical detail surrounding yet another of the ancient vampire's travels and adventures. I love these books, and Night Pilgrims delivers all of the trademarks of Yarbro's successful blend of the historical and the supernatural.
April 26, 2015
Enjoyable, though not best in this series. As always, rich in historical details, past comes to alive
October 6, 2013
While not as action packed as some Saint Germain novels, Night Pilgrims is full of vivid details. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.
Read
June 7, 2016Saint Germain less a group of pilgrims in Egypt to Ethiopia and their Christian Holy sites in the 1220s.
July 8, 2022
A good three stars not the best but not the worst.The middle section was a bit of a slog to get though.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews