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Danilov Quintet #4
Halkın İradesi
Türkmenistan, yıl 1881. Gök Tepe Kalesi'nin zindanında bir tutsak var. İki yıldır bağlı olduğu sandalyeden kalkmamış, elli yıldan uzun süredir gün ışığını görmemiş biri. Şehir, Rusların kuşatması altında, çok geçmeden de düşüyor. Rus ordusundaki bir albay, çok özel bir nedenle burada bulunuyor. Albay Otrepyev kalenin mahzenine iniyor. Ne var ki, onun gelişi tutsak için özgürlük anlamına gelmiyor; albay sadece yeni bir zindancı, üstelik eski bir dost, yeni bir düşman. İkisi birlikte daha da eski bir düşmanla buluşmak için Rusya'ya dönüyorlar.
St. Petersburg'da başvampir Zimeyeviç, her zamanki gibi pusuda bekliyor. Çar II. Aleksandr'a gücünün yetmeyeceğini biliyor ama yeni çareviç için durum farklı. Otrepyev tutsağı ona getirince, Zimeyeviç ihtiyacı olan her şeyi elde etmiş olacak. Geriye sadece çarın ölmesi kalıyor. Ne var ki Gök Tepe'den gelen yalnızca Otrepyev'le tutsağı değil. Peşlerinden gelen subay, ne çarı ne Otrepyev'i ne de Zimeyeviç'i umursuyor. O kendi ailesinin intikamını almaktan başka bir şey düşünmüyor.
Bu arada çarın halka tanıdığı birtakım özgürlükler, halkın daha fazlasını istemesine yol açıyor; bazıları ise mutlak özgürlüğün diktatörün ölümüyle gerçekleşeceğine inanıyor. O inançla 1 (13) Mart 1881 günü Çar II. Aleksandr'a yaptıkları suikastle Rus tarihinde önemli yeri olan Halkın İradesi (Narodnaya Volya) örgütü, dünyadaki terörist örgütlerin ilk örneklerinden biri.
1812'de Rus tarihinin en kara dönemi sayılan Napoléon işgali sırasındaki gerçek olayları çarpıcı bir vampir öyküsüyle harmanlayarak başlayan "Danilov Beşlisi", bir yandan Danilov ailesinin, diğer yandan Romanov Hanedanı'nın korkulu rüyası olarak tam yüz elli yıl sürüyor ve çarlığın düşmesi, Danilov ailesinin son üyesinin de o korkulu rüyayı bitirmesiyle sona eriyor. Beşlemenin dördüncü kitabı olan Halkın İradesi de diğerleri gibi bir solukta okunan sürükleyici bir roman.
St. Petersburg'da başvampir Zimeyeviç, her zamanki gibi pusuda bekliyor. Çar II. Aleksandr'a gücünün yetmeyeceğini biliyor ama yeni çareviç için durum farklı. Otrepyev tutsağı ona getirince, Zimeyeviç ihtiyacı olan her şeyi elde etmiş olacak. Geriye sadece çarın ölmesi kalıyor. Ne var ki Gök Tepe'den gelen yalnızca Otrepyev'le tutsağı değil. Peşlerinden gelen subay, ne çarı ne Otrepyev'i ne de Zimeyeviç'i umursuyor. O kendi ailesinin intikamını almaktan başka bir şey düşünmüyor.
Bu arada çarın halka tanıdığı birtakım özgürlükler, halkın daha fazlasını istemesine yol açıyor; bazıları ise mutlak özgürlüğün diktatörün ölümüyle gerçekleşeceğine inanıyor. O inançla 1 (13) Mart 1881 günü Çar II. Aleksandr'a yaptıkları suikastle Rus tarihinde önemli yeri olan Halkın İradesi (Narodnaya Volya) örgütü, dünyadaki terörist örgütlerin ilk örneklerinden biri.
1812'de Rus tarihinin en kara dönemi sayılan Napoléon işgali sırasındaki gerçek olayları çarpıcı bir vampir öyküsüyle harmanlayarak başlayan "Danilov Beşlisi", bir yandan Danilov ailesinin, diğer yandan Romanov Hanedanı'nın korkulu rüyası olarak tam yüz elli yıl sürüyor ve çarlığın düşmesi, Danilov ailesinin son üyesinin de o korkulu rüyayı bitirmesiyle sona eriyor. Beşlemenin dördüncü kitabı olan Halkın İradesi de diğerleri gibi bir solukta okunan sürükleyici bir roman.
512 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
6 people are currently reading
415 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 - 21 of 21 reviews
August 9, 2017
You're going to have to take my review with a grain of salt - for some moronic reason I thought that this was the fifth and last book (I'm gettin old or something) and it didn't exactly ruin the book, BUT I confess it this had been the finale, it would have disappointed.
Which is not to say The People's Will is a bad installment of the quintet, its actually a solid adventure tale, balancing intrigue, mythology, action and Russian politics very very well.
My only problem with #4 is I think I really only had attachment to Lyosha and by book forth we're dealing with his children, (and children's children) and I felt like at this point the character I could remember the best was the villainous Iuda!
It also did feel like one mythological aspect of the classic vampire (no spoilers but it's pretty obvious) mythos was very much shoehorned into the story for 'wow' value without adding much to the ongoing saga which I usually have found balances nation shocking events with down to earth character struggles well. It's pretty hard to tell where the series will end up, and I'm worried I won't care to much about the remaining characters but I do look forward to the conclusion as I have a soft spot for the series Twelve being one of the first book I ever reviewed online.
Which is not to say The People's Will is a bad installment of the quintet, its actually a solid adventure tale, balancing intrigue, mythology, action and Russian politics very very well.
My only problem with #4 is I think I really only had attachment to Lyosha and by book forth we're dealing with his children, (and children's children) and I felt like at this point the character I could remember the best was the villainous Iuda!
It also did feel like one mythological aspect of the classic vampire (no spoilers but it's pretty obvious) mythos was very much shoehorned into the story for 'wow' value without adding much to the ongoing saga which I usually have found balances nation shocking events with down to earth character struggles well. It's pretty hard to tell where the series will end up, and I'm worried I won't care to much about the remaining characters but I do look forward to the conclusion as I have a soft spot for the series Twelve being one of the first book I ever reviewed online.
May 27, 2013
The People's Will is the fourth of five instalments of the Danilov Quintet in which a section of Russian history is given a different slant. The first novel, Twelve, started in 1812 with the Napoleonic invasion of Russia where we were first introduced to a band of mercenaries called the Oprichniki. Ruthless and devoid of conscience they have been enlisted to cause chaos amongst the French troops. However, it soon becomes apparent that these ruthless mercnaries have a different agenda. They are Voordalak, creatures of the night, or, as they are more commonly known, Vampire. Twelve was followed by Thirteen Years, The Third Section and now The People's Will. If you haven't read the first three novels in the series, firstly, I really recommend you do so - unless you're a bit queasy - and secondly, probably best to stop reading now for the avoidance of spoilers from the previous novels. Also, don't be put off by the fact that these novels contain elements of the supernatural. I think this is one series where the author has succeeded in writing history with a twist. This is not YA and in some respects not for the faint hearted but it is gripping, interesting, full of adventure, dark and twisted.
For the avoidance of doubt I will start this review by saying I loved this instalment. It's an action packed tale of revenge and on top of this it takes us back in time to look at the past of one of, what I consider to be, the best villains I have read about, Iuda.
As with previous instalments the People's will takes us forward a number of years and starts in 1881. The action starts in Turkmenistan with the rescue of a prisoner who has been held captive for the past two years beneath the Citadel of Geok Tepe. The Russian Officer responsible for this mission, Colonel Otrepyev is in league with another and the rescue is not really a bid for freedom for the prisoner but simply more another form of imprisonment.
Meanwhile we are introduced to a left wing terrorist organisation called The People's Will, who are planning the assassination of the Tsar Alexandra II and who will play a large part in the story.
The jump forward in time means we have again moved on to different characters, at least in human terms. Tamara no longer plays a role but her son Mihail, reared on a diet of revenge, takes over the role once played by Alexsei (his grandfather). Of course, the vampires themselves have not aged at all and are still circling each other in their strange game of power and revenge. Iuda is his usual menacing sociopathic self, Zmyeevich still an expert in playing the long game and Dmitry, relatively young and inexperienced in terms of vampires.
I don't really want to delve into the plot. There is the whole seeking for power and revenege side to this played by Zmyeevich, we have a number of the key players seeking to kill Iuda for the purposes of revenge and then we have The People's Will hoping to instigate an uprising following the assassination of the Tsar. All of the threads are inextricably linked with more than one character playing a double role. To quote Blackadder the plot twists and turns like a twisty turny thing and Kent brings it all together seemlessly.
The writing is again flawless. The events of the story an expert weave of truth and fiction. The historical detail is just enough to give you a flavour without overwhelming the story with a flood of detail and trivia that would dilute the impact. The real hook with these stories is the characters themselves. The author manages to pull you in to their story and keeps you involved even with the family members who are no longer involved. I found myself thinking again of Alexsei, who I had misgivings about at the very start but ended up really enjoying reading about - his legacy still lives on here with his son and grandson standing on different sides of the fence. I really enjoyed finding out more about Iuda and gaining an insight into his past - what a delightfully despicable character he is to read, no cardboard cut out villain here. I hope that we will be given a similar insight into the all powerful Zmyeevich who, although plays more of a secondary role here, certainly displays just how incredibly powerful he really is.
Again, there is an element of horror, these vampires take us back to the old school style of writing. They are evil, they have no compassion or feelings, they smell of rotting flesh - they have no inner conflict whatsoever about taking human life and in fact enjoy the chase and the fear they inflict as much as the feed itself. And, not only are the villains ruthless but so too is the author! I certainly didn't see some of these twists coming and must confess my jaw dropped more than once. Plus, can I also say that thank goodness Kent has chosen to channel his activities into writing - the means of vampire torture and death that he has come up with alone are enough to make you shudder. His imagination seems to know no bounds!
On top of this I really admire the overall scope of the series and the historical content that has been brought into play here. For me this shows real imagination and creativity at its finest. Kent has taken a particular period in history and twisted a number of the key events to give it a more sinister meaning. I think I can see where this is probably going to lead next and I admit I can't wait to read the final instalment.
If you enjoy historical fiction where the story includes an element of something different, a touch of horror and a look at the lengths to which people will go to try and seek revenge then definitely check out this series.
I have no hesitation in recommending Jasper Kent's Danilov Quintet.
For the avoidance of doubt I will start this review by saying I loved this instalment. It's an action packed tale of revenge and on top of this it takes us back in time to look at the past of one of, what I consider to be, the best villains I have read about, Iuda.
As with previous instalments the People's will takes us forward a number of years and starts in 1881. The action starts in Turkmenistan with the rescue of a prisoner who has been held captive for the past two years beneath the Citadel of Geok Tepe. The Russian Officer responsible for this mission, Colonel Otrepyev is in league with another and the rescue is not really a bid for freedom for the prisoner but simply more another form of imprisonment.
Meanwhile we are introduced to a left wing terrorist organisation called The People's Will, who are planning the assassination of the Tsar Alexandra II and who will play a large part in the story.
The jump forward in time means we have again moved on to different characters, at least in human terms. Tamara no longer plays a role but her son Mihail, reared on a diet of revenge, takes over the role once played by Alexsei (his grandfather). Of course, the vampires themselves have not aged at all and are still circling each other in their strange game of power and revenge. Iuda is his usual menacing sociopathic self, Zmyeevich still an expert in playing the long game and Dmitry, relatively young and inexperienced in terms of vampires.
I don't really want to delve into the plot. There is the whole seeking for power and revenege side to this played by Zmyeevich, we have a number of the key players seeking to kill Iuda for the purposes of revenge and then we have The People's Will hoping to instigate an uprising following the assassination of the Tsar. All of the threads are inextricably linked with more than one character playing a double role. To quote Blackadder the plot twists and turns like a twisty turny thing and Kent brings it all together seemlessly.
The writing is again flawless. The events of the story an expert weave of truth and fiction. The historical detail is just enough to give you a flavour without overwhelming the story with a flood of detail and trivia that would dilute the impact. The real hook with these stories is the characters themselves. The author manages to pull you in to their story and keeps you involved even with the family members who are no longer involved. I found myself thinking again of Alexsei, who I had misgivings about at the very start but ended up really enjoying reading about - his legacy still lives on here with his son and grandson standing on different sides of the fence. I really enjoyed finding out more about Iuda and gaining an insight into his past - what a delightfully despicable character he is to read, no cardboard cut out villain here. I hope that we will be given a similar insight into the all powerful Zmyeevich who, although plays more of a secondary role here, certainly displays just how incredibly powerful he really is.
Again, there is an element of horror, these vampires take us back to the old school style of writing. They are evil, they have no compassion or feelings, they smell of rotting flesh - they have no inner conflict whatsoever about taking human life and in fact enjoy the chase and the fear they inflict as much as the feed itself. And, not only are the villains ruthless but so too is the author! I certainly didn't see some of these twists coming and must confess my jaw dropped more than once. Plus, can I also say that thank goodness Kent has chosen to channel his activities into writing - the means of vampire torture and death that he has come up with alone are enough to make you shudder. His imagination seems to know no bounds!
On top of this I really admire the overall scope of the series and the historical content that has been brought into play here. For me this shows real imagination and creativity at its finest. Kent has taken a particular period in history and twisted a number of the key events to give it a more sinister meaning. I think I can see where this is probably going to lead next and I admit I can't wait to read the final instalment.
If you enjoy historical fiction where the story includes an element of something different, a touch of horror and a look at the lengths to which people will go to try and seek revenge then definitely check out this series.
I have no hesitation in recommending Jasper Kent's Danilov Quintet.
January 6, 2014
The People's Will is the fourth installment of Jasper Kent's expansive, epic alternate history fiction series The Danilov Quintet.
It had been a long time since I had read the previous book, so I was initially wary but when two characters were reunited Kent used this as a clever way to remind the reader of previous events.
The People's Will focuses on three descendants of the original Alexei Danilov; his son Dmitry and his grandsons Mihail and Luka (Dmitry's nephews). But also provides an insight in Iuda's childhood and turning, which challenges much of what you were led to believe in the first three novels.
I found the intricacies of Russian politics and military strategy a bit laboroius and difficult to grasp. I also found myself getting bored in the latter part of the book, which is the reason for the minus 2 stars.
Forget the Twilight craze of recent years, The Danilov Quintet is vampires for adults, a worthy successor of the original Dracula legend.
It had been a long time since I had read the previous book, so I was initially wary but when two characters were reunited Kent used this as a clever way to remind the reader of previous events.
The People's Will focuses on three descendants of the original Alexei Danilov; his son Dmitry and his grandsons Mihail and Luka (Dmitry's nephews). But also provides an insight in Iuda's childhood and turning, which challenges much of what you were led to believe in the first three novels.
I found the intricacies of Russian politics and military strategy a bit laboroius and difficult to grasp. I also found myself getting bored in the latter part of the book, which is the reason for the minus 2 stars.
Forget the Twilight craze of recent years, The Danilov Quintet is vampires for adults, a worthy successor of the original Dracula legend.
September 30, 2022
This is the fourth book in this excellent series and while there are numerous references to previous stories it would work as a standalone story, though my advice read the whole series.
Completely entertaining from first to last page, not so much violence in this story, but still enough and occasionally gruesome to get your teeth into if you will pardon the pun. Clever descriptive imaginative with a real feel for time and place and terrific characterisation.
Ends with the normally terrible To be continued, but fortunately I already have the next and last book in the series.
Completely recommended.
Completely entertaining from first to last page, not so much violence in this story, but still enough and occasionally gruesome to get your teeth into if you will pardon the pun. Clever descriptive imaginative with a real feel for time and place and terrific characterisation.
Ends with the normally terrible To be continued, but fortunately I already have the next and last book in the series.
Completely recommended.
March 17, 2023
Unfortunately this was the weakest of the series so far. It wasn't a bad book but it certainly didn't live up to the last three books. It started off strong and ended strong but the 3rd quarter of the book became a chore which I struggled to read. I wasn't a big fan of the background fluff and the people will become a bit repetitive. Overall not a lot happened and sadly I feel the story should have ended on book three.
December 5, 2017
Vampires
This is the fourth of five books and they are absolutely great. Mixing the historical with some horror. Right from the first book I have been hooked, now for the last book and see who triumphs the evil vampire or the good vampire killer
This is the fourth of five books and they are absolutely great. Mixing the historical with some horror. Right from the first book I have been hooked, now for the last book and see who triumphs the evil vampire or the good vampire killer
January 5, 2018
Agony brought strength. Pain brought malice. Absence brought growth. Misery brought the desire for revenge.
August 20, 2017
I liked it. This book is a rollercoaster, but Kent does a great job at keeping events interesting. Looking forward to reading the last instalment of this series :)
December 31, 2019
He's finally dead! Man was he hard to kill! Won't say his name for spoiler purposes but those of you who've read the series know who I'm talking about. A great character!
May 1, 2015
I've been saying it for the last couple of years, but no one appears to be listening to me! Vampire stories are a dime a dozen in this day and age, most of them with nothing original to differentiate them from the rest of the pack. Yet by mixing his own tale with Russian historical fiction, with the Danilov Quintet Jasper Kent created something truly unique, compelling, and thoroughly enjoyable!
The People's Will is the fourth installment in the sequence, and Kent continues to write with aplomb, pushing this story forward toward a grand finale which should be terrific! Once again, the author delivers on all fronts!
Here's the blurb:
Part historical adventure, part vampire thriller — the fourth dark and dazzling novel in Jasper Kent's 'Danilov Quintet'.
Turkmenistan 1881: Beneath the citadel of Geok Tepe sits a prisoner. He hasn'’t moved from his chair for two years, hasn'’t felt the sun on his face in more than fifty, but he is thankful for that. The city is besieged by Russian troops and soon falls. But one Russian officer has his own reason to be here. Colonel Otrepyev marches into the underground gaol. But for the prisoner it does not mean freedom, simply a new gaoler; an old friend, now an enemy. They return to Russia to meet an older enemy still.
In Saint Petersburg, the great vampire Zmyeevich waits as he has always waited. He knows he will never wield power over Tsar Aleksandr II, but the tsarevich will be a different matter. When Otrepyev delivers the prisoner into his hands, Zmyeevich will have everything he needs. Then all that need happen is for the tsar to die.
But it is not only the Otrepyev and his captive who have returned from Geok Tepe. Another soldier has followed them, one who cares nothing for the fate of the tsar, nor for Zmyeevich, nor for Otrepyev. He has only one thing on his mind – revenge. And it'’s not just Zmyeevich who seeks the death of the tsar. Aleksandr’'s faltering steps towards liberty have only made the people hungry for more, and for some the final liberty will come only with the death of the dictator. They have tried and failed before, but the tsar’'s luck must desert him one day. Soon he will fall victim to a group that has vowed to bring the Romanov dynasty to a violent end — a group that calls itself The People’'s Will.
More than two decades have elapsed since the events chronicled in The Third Section. This time, the historical backdrop for this novel is the period during which the People's Will, a group of revolutionaries, sought to bring the dictatorship of the Tsar to an end. Unlike its predecessor, in which the Crimean War acted only as a set-up to get certain characters into play, in The People's Will the brewing revolution takes center stage and influences basically every plotline and protagonist. Once again, Jasper Kent's flair and his eye for historical details capture the minutiae of the day-to-day life in Russia during that particular epoch and create an evocative narrative that never fails to dazzle the eye.
It was interesting to see the evolution and character growth in Dmitry's POV. To say that his life has changed would be an understatement, so it was great to see events unfold through his eyes. The most fascinating point of view, however, has to be Iuda. Through his POV and backstory, we learn so much about vampires and how/why he became the man who has left such an indelible mark in the series thus far. Mihail was another interesting addition to the cast, which now spans generations. It's captivating to realize just how all the threads that comprise this grand historical tapestry are all woven together. And the Zmyeevich POV was a treat, if only to discover more about this vampire's history. Characterization has always been a highlight in the Danilov Quintet and it's certainly no exception with The People's Will.
Both Thirteen Years Later and The Third Section occasionally suffered from pacing issues. Not so with this fourth volume, whose rhythm never falters from beginning to end. The more the story progresses, the more you need to find out what's going to occur next. I went through this one in a few sittings and now I can't wait for the final installment to be released!
I mention this in every single review: if you are looking for an intriguing blend of Russian historical fiction and paranormal fiction, Kent's Danilov Quintet is definitely what the doctor ordered. If you want to read something different, this series deserves the highest possible recommendation. Indeed, this should intrigue and satisfy even the most jaded genre fiction readers!
Hard to put down.
For more reviews: www.fantasyhotlist.blogspot.com
The People's Will is the fourth installment in the sequence, and Kent continues to write with aplomb, pushing this story forward toward a grand finale which should be terrific! Once again, the author delivers on all fronts!
Here's the blurb:
Part historical adventure, part vampire thriller — the fourth dark and dazzling novel in Jasper Kent's 'Danilov Quintet'.
Turkmenistan 1881: Beneath the citadel of Geok Tepe sits a prisoner. He hasn'’t moved from his chair for two years, hasn'’t felt the sun on his face in more than fifty, but he is thankful for that. The city is besieged by Russian troops and soon falls. But one Russian officer has his own reason to be here. Colonel Otrepyev marches into the underground gaol. But for the prisoner it does not mean freedom, simply a new gaoler; an old friend, now an enemy. They return to Russia to meet an older enemy still.
In Saint Petersburg, the great vampire Zmyeevich waits as he has always waited. He knows he will never wield power over Tsar Aleksandr II, but the tsarevich will be a different matter. When Otrepyev delivers the prisoner into his hands, Zmyeevich will have everything he needs. Then all that need happen is for the tsar to die.
But it is not only the Otrepyev and his captive who have returned from Geok Tepe. Another soldier has followed them, one who cares nothing for the fate of the tsar, nor for Zmyeevich, nor for Otrepyev. He has only one thing on his mind – revenge. And it'’s not just Zmyeevich who seeks the death of the tsar. Aleksandr’'s faltering steps towards liberty have only made the people hungry for more, and for some the final liberty will come only with the death of the dictator. They have tried and failed before, but the tsar’'s luck must desert him one day. Soon he will fall victim to a group that has vowed to bring the Romanov dynasty to a violent end — a group that calls itself The People’'s Will.
More than two decades have elapsed since the events chronicled in The Third Section. This time, the historical backdrop for this novel is the period during which the People's Will, a group of revolutionaries, sought to bring the dictatorship of the Tsar to an end. Unlike its predecessor, in which the Crimean War acted only as a set-up to get certain characters into play, in The People's Will the brewing revolution takes center stage and influences basically every plotline and protagonist. Once again, Jasper Kent's flair and his eye for historical details capture the minutiae of the day-to-day life in Russia during that particular epoch and create an evocative narrative that never fails to dazzle the eye.
It was interesting to see the evolution and character growth in Dmitry's POV. To say that his life has changed would be an understatement, so it was great to see events unfold through his eyes. The most fascinating point of view, however, has to be Iuda. Through his POV and backstory, we learn so much about vampires and how/why he became the man who has left such an indelible mark in the series thus far. Mihail was another interesting addition to the cast, which now spans generations. It's captivating to realize just how all the threads that comprise this grand historical tapestry are all woven together. And the Zmyeevich POV was a treat, if only to discover more about this vampire's history. Characterization has always been a highlight in the Danilov Quintet and it's certainly no exception with The People's Will.
Both Thirteen Years Later and The Third Section occasionally suffered from pacing issues. Not so with this fourth volume, whose rhythm never falters from beginning to end. The more the story progresses, the more you need to find out what's going to occur next. I went through this one in a few sittings and now I can't wait for the final installment to be released!
I mention this in every single review: if you are looking for an intriguing blend of Russian historical fiction and paranormal fiction, Kent's Danilov Quintet is definitely what the doctor ordered. If you want to read something different, this series deserves the highest possible recommendation. Indeed, this should intrigue and satisfy even the most jaded genre fiction readers!
Hard to put down.
For more reviews: www.fantasyhotlist.blogspot.com
May 27, 2013
The fourth in the Danilov Quintet series by Kent.
You will have to strap your extra memory cells on for this because it is packed full of names, dates and places set in Russia. That means at least triple names for every character or reference to a person in history. At times I thought this was to the detriment of the story, because the reader spends half their time reading one name after the other, and I am sure first names would have sufficed after a few chapters.
Then the who is related to whom and family friends saga, which also took up a good quarter of the book.
Hidden in the midst of all this is a vampire story linked to the historical events of the group called the People's Will. The group that planned and succeeded in the assassination of Alexander II of Russia.
I should say that the vampire story is one that has taken place over the last four parts of the series and the various characters are linked to different events throughout history. This one just happens to enfold around the events of the group The People's Will.
As I mentioned before, I felt there was far too much explaining of who is what to whom and why. It burdened down the vampire plot, which had its moments, especially when it came to escape and survival techniques of the vampire. This was also the case when it came to the secondary plot of the assassination. It just sank into obscurity amongst all the explanations about subsequent family relationships.
I would like to read a Kent without the main focus being who is and instead I would prefer what is.
I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley.
You will have to strap your extra memory cells on for this because it is packed full of names, dates and places set in Russia. That means at least triple names for every character or reference to a person in history. At times I thought this was to the detriment of the story, because the reader spends half their time reading one name after the other, and I am sure first names would have sufficed after a few chapters.
Then the who is related to whom and family friends saga, which also took up a good quarter of the book.
Hidden in the midst of all this is a vampire story linked to the historical events of the group called the People's Will. The group that planned and succeeded in the assassination of Alexander II of Russia.
I should say that the vampire story is one that has taken place over the last four parts of the series and the various characters are linked to different events throughout history. This one just happens to enfold around the events of the group The People's Will.
As I mentioned before, I felt there was far too much explaining of who is what to whom and why. It burdened down the vampire plot, which had its moments, especially when it came to escape and survival techniques of the vampire. This was also the case when it came to the secondary plot of the assassination. It just sank into obscurity amongst all the explanations about subsequent family relationships.
I would like to read a Kent without the main focus being who is and instead I would prefer what is.
I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley.
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 28, 2013
Part historical adventure, part vampire thriller, The People’s Will is the fourth installment of the Danilov Quintet. The year is 1881 and the Tsar Aleksandr II’s steps towards liberty have made the people more hungry for more, and that includes the death of the dictator. And as his life is threatened by the group that calls itself The People’s Will. But they are not the only ones who want to get rid of the Tsar, Zmyeevich, the one and only Count Vlad Dracul, or more commonly known as Dracula wants the blood of the royal family, but one child of the Romanov and Danilov bloodlines wants revenge against Iuda and will kill all those who stand in his way...
Full review here:
https://cynsworkshop.wordpress.com/20...
Full review here:
https://cynsworkshop.wordpress.com/20...
October 21, 2015
İlk üç kitapta nefretimizi kazanan ve her kitapta farklı bir isim (Yuda, Cain, Yudin, Çernetskiy) kullanan ve son kitapta belasını buldu diye ümit ettiğimiz Yuda (dediğine göre favori ismi bu), yine karşımızda. Ama bu sefer eski havasından eser yok. Türkmenistan da bir kalede tutsak edilmiş. Onu kurtarmaya gelen biri var ama kurtarıldığına pek sevinecek halde değil. Zira kurtarıcısı üçüncü kitapta son dakikada hepimize "Yürü be Dimitriy" diye naralar attıran, aşkı uğruna vampir olan, son anda her nasılsa Yuda'ya karşı çıkan Dimitriy Aleksiyeviç Danilov. Ancak kitabın başında Dimitriy'in isyanının asıl sebebinin baba sevgisi olmadığını öğrenince içimiz bir parça burkuluyor. http://ucalisan.blogspot.com.tr/2014/...
January 6, 2014
This was the most enjoyable book in the Danilov Quintet so far. I enjoyed getting a look at Iuda's past and there were some great twists and turns as things moved along. I'm looking forward to the final book and am hoping that a certain character might finally have a chance at redemption.
August 15, 2013
Didn't think this was as good as others in the series
July 29, 2013
Reviewed at Upcoming4.me
June 29, 2015
A lot of action right from the get-go :)!
A worthy protagonist who keeps us itching for more...
Love how it links in with the historical facts so seamlessly!
A worthy protagonist who keeps us itching for more...
Love how it links in with the historical facts so seamlessly!
December 12, 2016
Sanırım serinin en güzel kitabıydı.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 2, 2024
I love this series!!
July 5, 2014
serinin diger kitaplari gibi, bu da son derece surukleyiciydi.
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