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Saint-Germain #11
Blood Roses
The Comte de Saint-Germain is living in relative peace and prosperity in the village of Orgon in fourteenth-century France. He has won a grudging acceptance from the local populace, who are uneasy with his strange and foreign ways but appreciative of his generosity. But a new threat has upset the precarious balance: Plague has come to France, and the people's fear turns to xenophobia. To avoid the scrutiny that could reveal his true nature, Saint-Germain must flee. However, his travels drive him deeper into the heart of the Black Death--and danger.
384 pages, Paperback
First published August 15, 1998
4 people are currently reading
363 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 - 13 of 13 reviews
October 21, 2020
This is one of the tougher Saint-Germain to get through, since people are dying all over the place, and walking around half-dead. Given the preponderance of zombie narratives nowadays, you can see how a lot of this got imprinted on the mass mind, and lingers in the collective subconscious.
And having been there during the reign of Charles II, I can tell you, it was a mess.
And having been there during the reign of Charles II, I can tell you, it was a mess.
March 31, 2009
Saint Germain flees the Black Plague, poetically named "Blood Roses", in 14th century France. Not that the disease is a personal threat to him, but it's dangerous to be a suspiciously wise foreigner in a land where the authorities are burning heretics, prostitutes and cats in a desperate attempt to drive away the evil of the plague.
Despite his long life, Saint Germain has not lost his compassion for humanity and is incredibly frustrated that his least attempt to help causes only fear and suspicion.
Despite his long life, Saint Germain has not lost his compassion for humanity and is incredibly frustrated that his least attempt to help causes only fear and suspicion.
May 1, 2023
I do enjoy the well researched presentation and I so love the Vampire St Germain
Read
May 30, 2011An excellent book that takes place in the Roman era. Great history in it, and you can tell the author did TONS of research. It also introduces us to Atta Olivia Clemens, a remarkable character. This book also has a very satisfying ending.
It's a good read and I highly recommend it.
It's a good read and I highly recommend it.
February 24, 2018
I was just fascinated by this story. Have started to read more and would like to get through all of them.
April 21, 2023
The continuing story of St Germain, a different type of vampire.
July 26, 2012
Setting: 1345 – 1350 France – Clair dela Luna in Orgav; Marseilla; estate of d’Ais called Mon Gardien.
Theme: plague, death, superstition, man’s life is of God or the devil – not of itself, powerlessness of so many – the serfs, the merchants, the Jews, and women
Characters:
Francois de Saint-Germain, Sieur Ragoczy aka Germain Le-Comte –
In two parts, in the first, Ragoczy has been living peaceably in France… he pays his taxes without complaint (we get a glimpse into the bureaucracy of foreigners, and of taxation, and petty bureaucrats) (which isn’t too difficult as he can create gold in his anthanor)… he pays other nobles for the use of their servants for planting and harvest… and then also pays those servants… mostly he is staying under the radar until the black plague begins… in the second, he takes on a persona of the Germain Le-comte, troubadour and sends Roger to Olivia – there is a notice out for their execution… He ends up in the employ of Heugenet when his medicines (which he reluctantly offers) ease her son’s cough/breathing.
Rogres de Gades and Olivia – Looking out for Rogoczy, connected even though they are separated.
Heugenet da Brabant – a noblewoman – mother to 3 sons and 2 daughters, with a considerate husband (he does not have sex with her since the still born death of their 6th child, he is discrete with his mistresses, he rarely beats her and only at the advice of his confessor, he listens to her opinions and gives them great weight). Her children have all been farmed out, for training and for their safety – to relatives, or to court – except her 2nd son, who has suffered a breathing disorder for most of his childhood. She represents the noblewomen of the time… in her circumstance… and she is intelligent, but formed by her church… she is conflicted over Germain and her feelings for him… dealing with her loneliness, even though she knows she has it better than many… she accepts Germain and his explanation though she has some trouble reconciling it with religion… she enjoys sex with him, but feels some guilt over her husband… and her priority is her son though, and especially with the death of her mother in law and her husband (a twisted ankle that gets infected and takes his life in a week), she wants Germain to ‘turn’ her so that she can be there for her son… and when her son lives a good life (33 years later, an heir, extended estates) and passes, she takes her own True Death as she cannot live without its purposes.
Armand, son of Armandal d’Ais, Duc of Verviers – knows his mother loves him and wants what is best for him… accepts Germain as his tutor, and ultimately becomes Duc – and must utilize much of Germain’s advice on how to navigate post-plague confusion.
Hue d’Ormonde and Jenfra – he is a wealthy merchant who is friends and business partner in some things with Ragcozy … We get a glimpse into how the merchants were raising at the end of the medieval times. He indulges his daughter Jenfra, who is precocious and can see too well how little of a future she has, especially as her father remarries – she tries to manipulate things so that Racozy will be betrothed to her, but it is not to be… Jenfra is the only one to survive the plague, and serves as a nun nursing plague victims – until running into Ragcozy and shortly thereafter succumbing to the plague herself.
Faustino and company – traveling troubadours, who stay as honored guests of Ragcozy when at his home, and who help him when they are running for their lives – staying with Olivia – half of them dying of plague. A glimpse into their lives.
I found this one depressing – so much death… so much of Germain not being able to use his talents and knowledge for fear of being burned as a heretic (he reluctantly uses his talents ad Mon Gardien, helping the peasants and guards, and the son of course, and to protect the household from the blood roses – black plague – with cleaning and bathing of household and people… the powerlessness of women - jenfra & huegenet… the church wielding power that promoted prejudice of innocence (a courtesan burned at the take at the beginning of the plague, to appease god), discouraging education, promoting fear…
Theme: plague, death, superstition, man’s life is of God or the devil – not of itself, powerlessness of so many – the serfs, the merchants, the Jews, and women
Characters:
Francois de Saint-Germain, Sieur Ragoczy aka Germain Le-Comte –
In two parts, in the first, Ragoczy has been living peaceably in France… he pays his taxes without complaint (we get a glimpse into the bureaucracy of foreigners, and of taxation, and petty bureaucrats) (which isn’t too difficult as he can create gold in his anthanor)… he pays other nobles for the use of their servants for planting and harvest… and then also pays those servants… mostly he is staying under the radar until the black plague begins… in the second, he takes on a persona of the Germain Le-comte, troubadour and sends Roger to Olivia – there is a notice out for their execution… He ends up in the employ of Heugenet when his medicines (which he reluctantly offers) ease her son’s cough/breathing.
Rogres de Gades and Olivia – Looking out for Rogoczy, connected even though they are separated.
Heugenet da Brabant – a noblewoman – mother to 3 sons and 2 daughters, with a considerate husband (he does not have sex with her since the still born death of their 6th child, he is discrete with his mistresses, he rarely beats her and only at the advice of his confessor, he listens to her opinions and gives them great weight). Her children have all been farmed out, for training and for their safety – to relatives, or to court – except her 2nd son, who has suffered a breathing disorder for most of his childhood. She represents the noblewomen of the time… in her circumstance… and she is intelligent, but formed by her church… she is conflicted over Germain and her feelings for him… dealing with her loneliness, even though she knows she has it better than many… she accepts Germain and his explanation though she has some trouble reconciling it with religion… she enjoys sex with him, but feels some guilt over her husband… and her priority is her son though, and especially with the death of her mother in law and her husband (a twisted ankle that gets infected and takes his life in a week), she wants Germain to ‘turn’ her so that she can be there for her son… and when her son lives a good life (33 years later, an heir, extended estates) and passes, she takes her own True Death as she cannot live without its purposes.
Armand, son of Armandal d’Ais, Duc of Verviers – knows his mother loves him and wants what is best for him… accepts Germain as his tutor, and ultimately becomes Duc – and must utilize much of Germain’s advice on how to navigate post-plague confusion.
Hue d’Ormonde and Jenfra – he is a wealthy merchant who is friends and business partner in some things with Ragcozy … We get a glimpse into how the merchants were raising at the end of the medieval times. He indulges his daughter Jenfra, who is precocious and can see too well how little of a future she has, especially as her father remarries – she tries to manipulate things so that Racozy will be betrothed to her, but it is not to be… Jenfra is the only one to survive the plague, and serves as a nun nursing plague victims – until running into Ragcozy and shortly thereafter succumbing to the plague herself.
Faustino and company – traveling troubadours, who stay as honored guests of Ragcozy when at his home, and who help him when they are running for their lives – staying with Olivia – half of them dying of plague. A glimpse into their lives.
I found this one depressing – so much death… so much of Germain not being able to use his talents and knowledge for fear of being burned as a heretic (he reluctantly uses his talents ad Mon Gardien, helping the peasants and guards, and the son of course, and to protect the household from the blood roses – black plague – with cleaning and bathing of household and people… the powerlessness of women - jenfra & huegenet… the church wielding power that promoted prejudice of innocence (a courtesan burned at the take at the beginning of the plague, to appease god), discouraging education, promoting fear…
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 21, 2007
A vampire in the middle of a plague to which he is immune is likely to be suspected of witchcraft, even when he uses ancient healing techniques to mitigate the disease and save his neighbors.
My brother has traced our ancestry back to this time and place, and wondered just how that particular ancestor came out of nowhere to become a noble; I had an answer: "The senior heirs died of the Black Plague."
My brother has traced our ancestry back to this time and place, and wondered just how that particular ancestor came out of nowhere to become a noble; I had an answer: "The senior heirs died of the Black Plague."
July 10, 2016
Vampire stuff for history lovers. The author has an mazing knowledge and detail about 14th century Europe, but almost too much of it. As they say in the historical fiction biz, "the notecards are showing." I'm found the characters kind of wooden, and the book isappointing, considering the rave reviews. So in truth, I didn't finish it.
February 18, 2022
I thought this book was a bit better than a feast in exile but still not much plot,the earlier books in the original series seem to have more plot.I liked the time period 14th century,based in and France and a grim look at how the black death raged though europe and the life's it claimed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 5, 2008
The world deals with "Blood Roses", signs of the plague. Wonderful historical background of the 15th century.
October 9, 2008
Very interesting vampire book set in the time of the plague. One of the most interesting women in the series makes her appearance here.
December 3, 2008
Takes place during the time of the Plague.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews