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Vampire Hunter D #21
Vampire Hunter D Volume 21: Record of the Blood Battle
D accompanies a convoy delivering a vampire Noble to face public trial for his crimes against humanity. However, the Noble’s enemies have targeted the men and women of the convoy, and they are out for vengeance! Can D bring himself to kill humans in order to protect the Noble under his charge?
160 pages, Paperback
First published May 31, 2004
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
May 29, 2025
This one was too goofy and comedic for my taste.
2.5.5
2.5.5
February 26, 2015
This volume of the long-running series features yet another member of the Nobility. But, far from being the fearsome threat of most Nobles, Baron Alpulup Macula is more of a vaudeville joke.
He’s survived for over five millennia. He can walk in daylight. But his ability to walk in daylight came at a severe cost. He’s easily hurt and howls like a whipped puppy when he’s injured. He’s short, fat and hairy. While he blusters, brags and threatens, he doesn’t drink a drop of human blood during the entire novel. His vicious deeds lie about 5,000 years in the past and he’s dismayed and humiliated by the changes in the world around him.
The book manages to be a string of rescues, abandonments and chase scenes as D hunts the baron for the bounty, loses him, finds him again, saves him from enemies and the baron’s own long-forgotten instruments of death that got loose while the Noble was interred in a colossal egg. In short, this D novel strikes a somewhat humorous tone, making the baron little more than comic relief, like a sort of vampiric Lou Costello or damsel in distress.
The humor isn’t raucous or ribald or even laugh-out-loud funny. But the novel’s light-hearted tone makes it very different from the other D novels. Not that there aren’t battles in this novel. Far from it—D’s attempts to bring the baron in for sentencing give him plenty of opportunity for the usual gory battles that typify the Vampire Hunter novels.
So fans of D may be puzzled by the shift in gears but they might also appreciate the change from the dreariness that often accompanies the dhampir’s exploits.
He’s survived for over five millennia. He can walk in daylight. But his ability to walk in daylight came at a severe cost. He’s easily hurt and howls like a whipped puppy when he’s injured. He’s short, fat and hairy. While he blusters, brags and threatens, he doesn’t drink a drop of human blood during the entire novel. His vicious deeds lie about 5,000 years in the past and he’s dismayed and humiliated by the changes in the world around him.
The book manages to be a string of rescues, abandonments and chase scenes as D hunts the baron for the bounty, loses him, finds him again, saves him from enemies and the baron’s own long-forgotten instruments of death that got loose while the Noble was interred in a colossal egg. In short, this D novel strikes a somewhat humorous tone, making the baron little more than comic relief, like a sort of vampiric Lou Costello or damsel in distress.
The humor isn’t raucous or ribald or even laugh-out-loud funny. But the novel’s light-hearted tone makes it very different from the other D novels. Not that there aren’t battles in this novel. Far from it—D’s attempts to bring the baron in for sentencing give him plenty of opportunity for the usual gory battles that typify the Vampire Hunter novels.
So fans of D may be puzzled by the shift in gears but they might also appreciate the change from the dreariness that often accompanies the dhampir’s exploits.
February 18, 2015
First, a minor nitpick with Goodreads, the book is 187 pages, not 160.
So back in the future world of the Vampire Hunter known as D. A village in the Northern Frontier has discovered the ruins of a Noble castle and, in those ruins, a mysterious sphere which seems to defy scientific explanation. At least for humans.
D finds himself stuck escorting Baron Apulup Macula, a Noble who has spent the last five millenia in stasis, to the circuit court which will decide his fate on charges of genocide dating from the time of his going into hibernation.
While this isn't my favorite D novel, it is a really fun one. Baron Macula is probably the most colorful Noble in the series, and not because of the usual. He's short, fat, bald, and a scientific genius which just keeps getting him and D into trouble on their journey. The driving force of Record of the Blood Battle isn't the hunt perse, but the questions that swirl around a character who doesn't live up to any of the vampiric folklore, and is still a compelling villain.
So back in the future world of the Vampire Hunter known as D. A village in the Northern Frontier has discovered the ruins of a Noble castle and, in those ruins, a mysterious sphere which seems to defy scientific explanation. At least for humans.
D finds himself stuck escorting Baron Apulup Macula, a Noble who has spent the last five millenia in stasis, to the circuit court which will decide his fate on charges of genocide dating from the time of his going into hibernation.
While this isn't my favorite D novel, it is a really fun one. Baron Macula is probably the most colorful Noble in the series, and not because of the usual. He's short, fat, bald, and a scientific genius which just keeps getting him and D into trouble on their journey. The driving force of Record of the Blood Battle isn't the hunt perse, but the questions that swirl around a character who doesn't live up to any of the vampiric folklore, and is still a compelling villain.
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June 28, 2016Excellent!
A good read and the author never fails to excite the reader. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to read this book.
A good read and the author never fails to excite the reader. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to read this book.
October 6, 2023
A Noble by the name Macula wakes up after 5000 years. Unfortunately for him he has a warrant out for his arrest. Also many people would pay to get their hands on a Noble so Baron Macula's plate is full. Who can bring Macula to court successfully? Your first 2 guesses don't count.
I actually enjoyed the character Baron Macula. He was sensible and ridiculous all at the same time. I would say this was more his book than D's. No real complaints about the book. It was interesting seeing things through the eyes of a Noble.
I actually enjoyed the character Baron Macula. He was sensible and ridiculous all at the same time. I would say this was more his book than D's. No real complaints about the book. It was interesting seeing things through the eyes of a Noble.
May 14, 2024
It's been a long time since I've read a VHD novel. It took a minute to get back into the swing of it. While I've got to say, I like that D--and Left Hand--both speak more here in the later volumes... the villain of this one was... annoying to me? Like, it was really funny watching D deal with him, but him alone made me want to scream. Not my favorite of the series... but not my least favorite either.
November 27, 2024
D and his hand being more chatty is throwing me off tbh.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews