What do you think?
Rate this book
Schattengräber.
In idyllic Taparak, young Rayojinni trains and awaits her initiation into the ranks of the soulscapers--the practitioners who heal the mental and spiritual ills of the people.
Far away in glittering Sacramente, the elite artisans of the Eloim live in isolation, hiding their true non-human nature from the public who adore their culture, art and philosophy. But all is not well for the Eloim, who are succumbing to a a disease called "The Fear", bringing death and despair among their ranks for the first time. And no soulscaper is able to help them.
Eloim actress Gimel and her brother Beth decide they need a child, a soulscaper young enough they can be trained to cope with their alien psyches--and they have chosen Rayojinni.
Far away in glittering Sacramente, the elite artisans of the Eloim live in isolation, hiding their true non-human nature from the public who adore their culture, art and philosophy. But all is not well for the Eloim, who are succumbing to a a disease called "The Fear", bringing death and despair among their ranks for the first time. And no soulscaper is able to help them.
Eloim actress Gimel and her brother Beth decide they need a child, a soulscaper young enough they can be trained to cope with their alien psyches--and they have chosen Rayojinni.
543 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1992
3 people are currently reading
223 people want to read
About the author
Storm Constantine
144 books503 followersStorm Constantine was a British science fiction and fantasy author, primarily known for her Wraeththu series.
Since the late 1980s she wrote more than 20 novels, plus several non-fiction books. She is featured in the Goth Bible and is often included in discussions of alternative sexuality and gender in science fiction and fantasy; many of her novels include same-sex relationships or hermaphrodites or other twists of gender. Magic, mysticism and ancient legends (like the Grigori) also figure strongly in her works.
In 2003 she launched Immanion Press, based out of Stafford, England. The publishing company publishes not only her own works but those of new writers, as well as well-known genre writers, mainly from the UK.
Since the late 1980s she wrote more than 20 novels, plus several non-fiction books. She is featured in the Goth Bible and is often included in discussions of alternative sexuality and gender in science fiction and fantasy; many of her novels include same-sex relationships or hermaphrodites or other twists of gender. Magic, mysticism and ancient legends (like the Grigori) also figure strongly in her works.
In 2003 she launched Immanion Press, based out of Stafford, England. The publishing company publishes not only her own works but those of new writers, as well as well-known genre writers, mainly from the UK.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
August 15, 2012
Storm Constantine here creates a dark and fantastical other world where ancient thoughts and races combine with a humanity that is part 18th century nobility and part druidic lore; where monsters in your dreams are as real as you or i. Pre-dating True Blood, Anne Rice and all the interminable Team Edward style horromances, Constantine sets her story in a wild new fantasy world where blood suckers and lay people live side by side in a mutually beneficial symbiosis.
Here the ancient race are sponsored by powerful and wealthy families and create lauded works of immaculate art in return for their regular feeds and occasional sacrifices. Families bask in the reflected glow of these works getting richer and enjoy long lives of indulgence and splendour whilst keeping the dread nature of the 'artisans' a secret.
But now, after centuries, something is killing the immortals, and in ways that scare the vampiric caste to their core, forcing some even to the unthinkable: suicide.
In the petrified woods and forests, trainee healer, soulscaper, Rayojini is plagued by visions she doesn't understand. Her new guardians in the soulscape are somehow more than the bestial avatar she was expecting. Her quiet life and the turbulent, garish world of the immortals are entwined and set to collide.
Burying the Shadow is a dark fantasy and whodunit far more-so than it is horror and Constantine has a coolness and depth that easily shakes off any 'pulp' tag. This is a riveting journey that, although it follows the 'man-on-a-mission' style of many fantasies, also combines enough otherworldliness and genuine innovation to rise above more populist authors in the genre. Her writing is immaculate, dark and sensual and rich with description and her characters are memorable and unique; it is refreshing to have two strong female leads. The world she builds is new and impressive if not exactly one you'd really want to live in, but genuinely fantastical. All her earlier works create beautifully realised, slightly off-kilter, ethereal worlds to enjoy and the lives of both protagonists here feel strange but real and substantial.
This is a wonderful, mature book full of rich details and a thoroughly intricate plot that takes the reader out of themselves. Certainly recommended for those jaded by the Rice/Meyer cabal that currently dominates, but also for anyone that likes fully constructed fantasy more than a little out of the ordinary.
But please, try not to buy a copy with the red and black headed couple on the cover. Ugh!
Here the ancient race are sponsored by powerful and wealthy families and create lauded works of immaculate art in return for their regular feeds and occasional sacrifices. Families bask in the reflected glow of these works getting richer and enjoy long lives of indulgence and splendour whilst keeping the dread nature of the 'artisans' a secret.
But now, after centuries, something is killing the immortals, and in ways that scare the vampiric caste to their core, forcing some even to the unthinkable: suicide.
In the petrified woods and forests, trainee healer, soulscaper, Rayojini is plagued by visions she doesn't understand. Her new guardians in the soulscape are somehow more than the bestial avatar she was expecting. Her quiet life and the turbulent, garish world of the immortals are entwined and set to collide.
Burying the Shadow is a dark fantasy and whodunit far more-so than it is horror and Constantine has a coolness and depth that easily shakes off any 'pulp' tag. This is a riveting journey that, although it follows the 'man-on-a-mission' style of many fantasies, also combines enough otherworldliness and genuine innovation to rise above more populist authors in the genre. Her writing is immaculate, dark and sensual and rich with description and her characters are memorable and unique; it is refreshing to have two strong female leads. The world she builds is new and impressive if not exactly one you'd really want to live in, but genuinely fantastical. All her earlier works create beautifully realised, slightly off-kilter, ethereal worlds to enjoy and the lives of both protagonists here feel strange but real and substantial.
This is a wonderful, mature book full of rich details and a thoroughly intricate plot that takes the reader out of themselves. Certainly recommended for those jaded by the Rice/Meyer cabal that currently dominates, but also for anyone that likes fully constructed fantasy more than a little out of the ordinary.
But please, try not to buy a copy with the red and black headed couple on the cover. Ugh!
March 13, 2023
So beautiful. So packed with poetry and wonder. Wondrous characters, wondrous places which we have only too brief a taste of. The elegant civilization which fallen angels rule from the shadows of their pampered human patrons as vampires and artisans is introduced through Gimel and her sensuous twin Beth. The wild corners of the world where the soulscaper Rayojini walks comes to life through her words as she sees myths born and unfold under her feet and within her mind. For her duty is to help others caught within their own inner landscapes of myth and symbol. Rayo herself, however, is caught, caught at a young age by Gimel and Beth, whom make themselves part of her inner landscape, hoping she’ll save their race. A greater truth lies behind the mysterious sickness stalking the artisans as they stalk their prey. A conflict, a legend, and a passion waiting to be rekindled from ancient story manipulates artisan and soulscaper alike, determining the future for all.
I love the way a story and a myth was buried within a story and a myth, playing out through Gimel and Rayojini’s eyes. The bond between these two women was beautiful, powerful, even if it sometimes mutated and changed, proving to be part of someone else’s bond, making Rayojini’s journey and Gimel’s quest a surreal awakening of the spirit and the senses. I’ve never read a vampire story nor a fantasy journey quite like this fusion of both. It remains the pinacle of ambient fantasy for me, the birthplace of such concepts, even if such terms are strange to their creator herself.
I love the way a story and a myth was buried within a story and a myth, playing out through Gimel and Rayojini’s eyes. The bond between these two women was beautiful, powerful, even if it sometimes mutated and changed, proving to be part of someone else’s bond, making Rayojini’s journey and Gimel’s quest a surreal awakening of the spirit and the senses. I’ve never read a vampire story nor a fantasy journey quite like this fusion of both. It remains the pinacle of ambient fantasy for me, the birthplace of such concepts, even if such terms are strange to their creator herself.
September 2, 2010
Dieses Buch ist selbst nach Jahren noch ein Favorit. Das einzige Manko ist das die Gespräche sehr gestelzt wirken und große Teile der Handlung damit mehr oder weniger ins lächerliche gezogen werden, daher ein Stern Abzug.
May 21, 2016
I read this book several years ago now, but I remember how intrigued I was by the author's take on the vampire mythos.
September 13, 2009
This is my favourite of Storm Constantine's books. It's so original and unusual and just when you think you have a handle on what's going to happen next something even more unusual happens.
December 17, 2009
My first Storm book, and I was a lifelong fan after reading it! Amazing fantasy worldbuilding, a unique vampire fantasy novel that doesn't once mention the word "vampire".
July 13, 2014
This is one of my all time favourite books. I love Storm Constantine's brilliant use of descriptive writing, the author's ability to draw the reader into this realm of fantasy means that you can almost smell, see and touch a new, yet familiar world. I stumbled across this book in a thrift shop and had to buy the following books in this series as a result. I have read this book four times and would love to see this as a movie, what a beautifully dark, magical, new and vibrant twist to the Vampire mythology.
Although I believe this author's books generally need to be approached with an open mind, this, the first in what I found to be a riveting series, is well worth the read. Magic, beauty, power, darkness, light, suspense, this book has it all and more. Our perception of taboo's, in regards to a human world are seen as relatively common place and accepted by this society of Vampires. This also has an ending which leaves you thinking you know how this ends but at the same time you're just not quite sure what they truly are.
Although I believe this author's books generally need to be approached with an open mind, this, the first in what I found to be a riveting series, is well worth the read. Magic, beauty, power, darkness, light, suspense, this book has it all and more. Our perception of taboo's, in regards to a human world are seen as relatively common place and accepted by this society of Vampires. This also has an ending which leaves you thinking you know how this ends but at the same time you're just not quite sure what they truly are.
September 12, 2023
Rayo's parts are unbelievably boring, but I liked Gimel's quite a lot. It's has an interesting world-building, with these half-vampire/half-angels beings called Eloim and a lot of biblical references (the Eloim are akin to fallen angels and follow Sammael, while The Watchers follow Mikha’il, who is the 'good angel'). The biblical fantasy aspect reminded me of Cassandra Clare's The Mortal Instruments
The whole soulscape still confuses me, so I just kinda try to ignore it. The book is a fun beach read. Just enjoy the story (with the erotic bits) and don't try to think much about it.
The whole soulscape still confuses me, so I just kinda try to ignore it. The book is a fun beach read. Just enjoy the story (with the erotic bits) and don't try to think much about it.
November 6, 2009
Des vampires dans un monde tolkienien... une audace réussie. Simplement majestueux.
Want to read
September 9, 2010*note to self.copy from Al.
January 14, 2014
I keep on saying I won't read vampire novels anymore, but I keep on seeing vampire books written by authors I love/authors I'd love to read and I guess promises are made to be broken.
August 15, 2013
The best vampire novel, honestly.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews