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Unsterblich #1

Under the Blood Red Moon

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Cursed with the ability to hear the thoughts of others, beautiful Angelica Shelton Belanov feels most comfortable when hidden away in the library of her father's English country estate. Now family duty requires that she make an appearance at a glittering gala, mingling with the cream of London society in hopes of finding a suitable husband. Assailed by the unwanted “chatter” of many minds, Angelica finds relief in the company of a handsome aristocratic stranger who remains, refreshingly, an enigma.

But Prince Alexander is not like other men. The powerful leader of an Eastern clan of immortals, he has come to London to hunt down a rogue vampire who threatens the survival of his dwindling kind. Angelica can sense that Alexander is dangerous, a mystery to be unraveled at her own peril. Yet desire sears them both—she, the bewitching telepath, and he, the fearless leader who must learn to trust his heart. And unrestrained passion has strict demands that could cost them both their lives...and their souls.

324 pages, Paperback

First published September 18, 2008

40 people are currently reading
662 people want to read

About the author

Mina Hepsen

7 books45 followers
Mina Hepsen was born in Istanbul, Turkey. To her parent`s surprise (and frequently misfortune) she began to speak at 6months old. Soon she was telling stories of crazy monkeys who jumped on people from tall trees. After spending the first ten years of her life in Germany (where she got addicted to pretzels and roasted chicken), Mina`s parents moved her back to Istanbul and she studied there at an International School.

Ten years later Mina was wearing six layers of fleece, two scarves, a hat, mittens and four pairs of socks on top of each other in Boston, Massachusetts. Four years after that (when she had grown truly comfortable with terms like black ice) she graduated from Tufts University with a degree in Political Science and Philosophy. Having had enough of the cold weather, she then moved to Miami, Florida where she was a regular of Books& Books, a store which would open bright and early and make the best fresh lemonades and organic spinach soups.

A year after that, Mina felt it was time to move again and so, after receiving a pop up e-mail in her hotmail account saying "come to Edinburgh!" she decided "Why not?" and moved to Scotland. Currently, she spends her time carting her stuff around various café`s in Old Town, doing a PhD degree in Creative Writing at the University of Edinburgh and trying to convince her two younger sisters not to grow up.

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5 stars
204 (26%)
4 stars
243 (31%)
3 stars
216 (28%)
2 stars
82 (10%)
1 star
25 (3%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 110 reviews
Profile Image for Monty Cupcake ☠ Queen of Bloodshed ☠.
952 reviews254 followers
December 30, 2016
The book wasn't bad, but it wasn't good and won't last at all in my memory. It's about Angelique, a girl in 1871 London, who can hear people's thoughts. She meets a man, Alexander, who can also hear people's thoughts and communicate telepathically, turns out he's a vampire. The plot is about finding Sergey, a crazed vampire who's going about murdering people and working with the vampire slayers.

Angelique didn't bother me and maybe I liked her, but I wanted her to be a stronger person with Alexander. Speaking of him, he's a bastard, and not in a hot way, more in a 'the only reason people talk to you is because you have money, otherwise they'd all kick you.' That's how annoying and douchey this guy is. He had his okay moments, but mostly not.

The flow of the book is choppy. I skimmed a lot. It drags in certain places and there was filler I could've done without. It needed more editing to flow better.

Now for the thing that made me say WHAT THE DUCK! During sexy times, it says Alexander pulls Angelique's nightgown up to her waist and exposes her white cotton panties . Excuse me, this is 1871 , no one is wearing panties, they don't exist yet! They wore combinations or pantlettes and they came to the knee, mid calf area. And she wouldn't be wearing them to bed, people were naked under their nightgowns! This made me want to shred the book. How dare they make it that historically inaccurate. Watch a period movie at least, if you can't be bothered to do the research.

So 1.5 stars because I didn't guess the slayer and it wasn't terrible + the panties error happens almost at the end.
Profile Image for Karla.
1,456 reviews368 followers
August 21, 2016
3.5 stars

A historical with paranormal mixed in together sure made for an interesting read to say the least. I have some mix feeling for this one though, I definitely liked the concept of the story but at times it seemed overwhelming with how fast the story would go.
I like the h Angelica she's a sweet girl who loves to read and just be in her own world. She doesn't like the fact that is is being forced to find a husband. The H Alexander is mysterious an elusive a bit cold at times. His also a vampire slayer or is he? Angelica finds herself in the middle of a war between good and evil and trying to figure out which side Alexander is part of.
Like I said the plot of the story was interesting I just wished Angelica and Alexander would of had more time together and not the random encounters. Loved the twists in this story and the ending wow! Big revaluation.
Regardless it was a likable read and I enjoyed it!

description

Profile Image for Bookwatcher .
746 reviews117 followers
December 19, 2010
Contrasting feelings...

so in this review I will tell the extremes of my opinion.


I adore the vampire topic in an historical romance. It's just perfect! All the balls, the society rules, the extravagant dressing, everything is perfect to a vampire story! Loved it and would be very happy reading more books structured like this one.

I liked the mystery and the surprise end! There is a mystery about who is a slayer and I LOVED it! I wasn't expecting that person... and was very surprised!

I loved all the characters (but the hero, after I'll explain better). All the secondary and the heroine was incredible! Love them all!

NOW, let's start with why this book had my 3 stars

I DESPISED the hero after he had sex with a woman screaming the heroine name in his mind.
That's happen (more or less) at the half of the book and after that I couldn't read about him having "good" internal comments (no, was more like "SLUT", "bastard", and more... worst than that). I'm trying to understand why there was that scene! Quick description (without spoilers): he go to this place, full of vampires, talk with his assistant and then BANG BANG a lady (yeah... he is good, very good and quick... vampires have stamina).
So... please... someone... tell me what the hell that scene was about? I should think "WOW this hero is so virile, he is having sex" or "WOW everyone will see it, and will know how macho he is!"????
that's was not what pass in my mind
I had more "violent" thoughts, like "SLUT!" or "Holy COW! Bastard!" and go on...

what was the objective of such scene is not clear... didn't add something to the story... and certainly made me hate the hero.

5 minutes... give me 5 minutes with this guy... vampire or not, I would kick his ass

And another problem of this book are the quotations... the writer spend a lot of time telling about how Angelica (the heroine) was searching for a husband, the balls, her relantioship with her brother... and EVERY TIME she will be quotation someone. Now now... I like it... and Wikiquote is one of my favorite sites...
BUT THE HEROINE EXAGGERATE QUOTING EVERY SINGLE TIME SHE TALK!

And if all the quotations were not enough what she did?
A quotation contest in a dinner...
...kill me...
...just kill me and put me out of my misery...


3 stars... and I'll not read more if this book will be a serie

Most people are other people. Their thoughts are someone else's opinions, their lives a mimicry, their passions a quotation.
* Oscar Wilde, De Profundis (1905)




Profile Image for Julie (jjmachshev).
1,069 reviews292 followers
October 22, 2008
Really 3.5 stars...it was a bit choppy.
"Under the Blood Red Moon" is Mina Hepsen's debut novel. It's a well-written, medium heat, historical paranormal romance with vampires. Hepsen's take on vampires is a bit different and very interesting. However, there are a few blank spots where some things just seems to appear from nowhere which was a bit bothersome.

Angelica has a couple of problems. The first is that she doesn't particularly want to marry, she'd much rather spend her time reading and enjoying her home in the country. But her aunt and brother keep pushing her to marry. Then there's the fact that she can hear what people think so crowds are a problem for her and especially all the balls and routs required by live among the ton. And lastly, she just received a note from their man of business and it looks like she may have no choice BUT to marry as their finances have taken a downturn. Then she meets the most handsome man she's ever seen...and her mind is at peace near him...and then she realizes that he can also talk in her mind!

Alexander is only in town to kill the vampire that's running amok, killing humans and draining them of their blood. He really doesn't have the time or patience to deal with Angelica even if she is stunning. The problem is that he just can't get her out of his mind and it's interfering with his concentration! Then, Angelica finds out about what he is and vampire law states she must die...can he bear that?

Fairly quick read at 324 pages in trade paperback size. The story kept my attention, even when the pace faltered a bit or random facts/people jumped in from nowhere. I'll keep an eye out for Hepsen's next book as it will be interesting to see if she'll continue in this same vein (HAHAHA) and maybe tie up a few loose ends left toward the end of "Under the Blood Red Moon".
Profile Image for Jean Marie.
200 reviews26 followers
June 24, 2017
I thought this book would be cheesy. Actually I thought it would be laughably cheesetastic, sort of like a pathetic combination of Anne Rice and Stephenie Meyer. Oh, how wrong I was!

This was a total impulse buy, the cover, the title, the blurb on the back made me hand over the $15 for book. It sat on shelf for almost two years before it being read (in honor of Halloween). I was delightfully surprised at how simple, yet well written this novel was. It's very easy to read, while still be a historical, Victorian Era Styled, novel.

The storyline is simple, rebellious to her culture Angelica, a mind reader, would prefer to stay at home and read, play piano, and ride her horse. Looking for a husband bores her until circumstances rise that it becomes necessary to do so. She discovers during one of those hated balls she hears the thoughts of someone else, who apparently is just like her. This turns out to be Alexander, who has a bigger secret than being a mind reader, he's a vampire. And thus the story begins to roll forward at a very fast, fun pace.
I enjoyed Hepsen's charaterizations, especially those of the main stars of Angelica and Alexander. I also loved the famous quotes and the famous stories that are dropped elegantly throughout the novel. (Ms Hepsen is very well read like her heroine). I also loved her take on the vampire mythology. I've read a great deal of vampire novels and I like it when a writer changes up the classic "Dracula-like" mythology, and this novel has probably the most intelligent takes on those myths. And that in an era of thousands of writers doing their takes on vampires is a huge positive for this novel.
Profile Image for Debbie .
548 reviews43 followers
September 17, 2009
Princess Angelica Belanov grew up knowing she was different, she was able to her other peoples thoughts, so she had decided to seclude herself from others to protect herself as well others. Finding that another seemed to have that same gift, gave her hope as a way to control it better. Prince Kourakin was so used to reading other peoples minds that he thought nothing of it, until he realized that the enchanting beauty that had just been in his mind was not of the same race as himself, a vampire. The search for the rouge vampire, the need to track down the newest vampire slayer and now he had to decide how to deal with this human, beautiful as she may be, but still she couldn’t be left knowing about his race.

The added combination of paranormal (vampires) and historical romance (set in 1871) was well done. Vampires and all the legends surrounding them could be summed up as legends, the book, the rituals, the ceremonies, the fight scene all down played (but still very well detailed) so that the romance, the emotion of the characters is what the plot of the story revolved around. That emotional link to the characters kept me reading this book (it should have taken much longer to read), I did not want it to end. I really enjoyed this genre and this writer. Couldn’t resist Angelica’s spirit or Alexander’s (for lack of a better word) - change. I would love to find out if Mina Hepsen has written any of this as a series, to visit or re-visit some of these characters would be fun.
Profile Image for Min.
482 reviews23 followers
December 25, 2008
I have a feeling this book was erroneously filed in the literature section of my local bookstore. It should instead be filed under paranormal romances. It was a bit randy in parts, what with the vampire orgies and such. The romance part was pretty well developed, however the rest of the story was somewhat lacking. It's almost as if the author put the romantic story line together and then decided she better throw in something else to thicken it up a bit - give it some thrills and intrigue. Otherwise it would have just been written porn.

The lead character is supposedly a strong willed beautiful thing who finds herself in the need of finding a husband fast. It is just horrible that she leads on such a nice young man only to leave him heart broken. There are no consequences for her in this action. He offers her everything, and she declines. I mean, she's in love with someone else, that is true, but there should be some kind of consequence for the selfishness the main character exhibits.

Also, I hate books where the female character starts out very strong willed and then succumbs like some ditzy girl to a man who can "protect" her. For that reason alone this book is only worth two stars. If the lead character hadn't gotten all damsel in distress on me, it would have been a three star book. It's too bad too, initially the book had a very interesting premise.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Vanessa (bookfairy.reads).
1,312 reviews143 followers
March 11, 2024
Es ist schon ewig her seit ich dieses Buch gelesen habe, aber ich habe es einfach soo gut in Erinnerung!
Profile Image for Katharina.
37 reviews3 followers
March 29, 2022
Eines der mit Abstand schlechtesten Bücher, die ich jemals gelesen habe. Ich liebe den Mythos „Vampir“, aber was ihm in diesem Buch angetan wurde, ist einfach nur geschmacklos.
Vampire, eine aussterbende Rasse, die erst nach ihrem 500. Geburtstag Babys zeugen können. Babys, ernsthaft? Mit 500 Jahren?! Was ist aus dem guten alten „Ich beiß dich und du wirst ein Vampir“ geworden? Nein, lieber ernähren sich alle von Tierblut und stellen Gesetze gegen Menschenbluttrinker auf. Sorry, laaaangweilig. Noch dazu kommt: Die Charaktere sind durchweg unsympathisch und platt gezeichnet. Man erfährt nichts über ihre Beweggründe. Plötzlich ist eine/r verliebt, wird zum Verräter, Psychopathen oder heldenhaftem Ritter. Viele Andeutungen verlaufen im Sand, viele Handlungsstränge führen ins Nichts und werden nie wieder aufgegriffen. Da ist der Bösewicht Sergej, der erst einen Krieg gegen den Menschen anzetteln will und sich unter Vampiren Verbündete sucht. Am Schluss will er sich aber doch nur mit Ostclan-Alexander duellieren und ihn töten. Warum eigentlich? Dann hüpft plötzlich auch noch die Tante umher, die sich als Vampirjägerin entpuppt, und ihre eigene Nichte meucheln will, die (Surprise, Surprise!) eine auserwählte Halb-Vampirin und noch dazu schwanger ist.
Es macht alles keinen Sinn, ist stilistisch und dramaturgisch unterirdisch und selbst für eine wie mich, die Vampir-Trash mag, kaum zu ertragen.
Profile Image for Maureen Johnson.
83 reviews7 followers
April 27, 2020
TL:DR - if you like trashy supernatural romance, go for it. If you don’t, just take a hard pass. 3/5

Disclaimer: this book was a book club read and I appreciate all the opportunities to read books that I normally wouldn’t have picked up. However, for the sake of a good friend, I gave it chance and I’m glad I did! The setting was Victorian England which is always an excellent time period and the vampires were a different breed who could hide by blending into society. They had spread lies about their true nature so people would never assume these stronger, faster, more powerful beings were living amongst the humans.

The main character, Angelica was alright. She’s a telepath who just wants to be left alone in her library (Amen, sister). She’s a princess without a kingdom living in London and trying to find a husband to save her family from financial ruin. She hates going to balls because she can hear all the men thinking sexual thoughts about her and is basically miserable. In enters, Prince Alexander, head of his clan of vampires. He’s on a mission to stop a rouge vampire who’s trying to start another war. Great concepts, right? Well, that’s where that about ends. Alexander is very one-dimensional - moody, grumpy, etc. Angelica is better but not by much. The best scene was her getting into a battle wits over dinner and sticking a dick of a duke back into his place.

I feel like this book had some great potential and if you like romance novels, you’ll probably really like this one! There was sex, tension, and all that Jazz. Not really my cup of tea, but I gave it a go for the sake of my book club! I probably will not read more in this series but I’m glad I took the time to read it.
Profile Image for Monique.
116 reviews5 followers
July 11, 2018
I haven't read a good book about vampires in a long time. I started to think that it would be impossible to find one again. Thank goodness for this gem.

Yes, I guess some parts come off as sickeningly sweet, but you know what sometimes a girl just wants to read it. The romance is predictable and the plot you see coming from a mile away. However it doesn't take away the fact that the book is well written and has characters that you want to read more about.

This book makes me dream about wearing ridiculous dresses, drinking tea and going home to my very own Dracula.
Profile Image for Kafamdaki Makine.
370 reviews20 followers
March 9, 2018
Konusunu okuduktan ona şans vermeyi çok istedim. Sanırım bu kitaba sıra gelene kadar 10 yıl olmuş. Doğrudur, hak etmiş. İçinde pek bir şey yok, hiç bir yönden bana hitap etmiyor.
Profile Image for Steph.
2,159 reviews305 followers
January 24, 2010
I haven't read many historical romances, but picked this one because (1) the cover (yes, I know ... "don't judge a book by the cover", but in this case it worked) drew me in and so did the synopsis "Cursed with the ability to hear the thoughts of others ..." and "The powerful leader of an Eastern clan of immortals, he has come to London to hunt down a rogue vampire who threatens the survival of his dwindling kind. Of course I would find that intriguing. My gut wasn't wrong. I really enjoyed this book and was sad when it was over. I hope Ms. Hepsen writes more and makes this a series. I, for one, would definitely read them.

Princess Angelia Shelton Belanov lives with her aunt, Lady Dewberry and brother, Prince Mikhail Belanov, whom she adores. All her life she's been trying to deal with her "curse", she can hear the thoughts of others. Her aunt is relentless and insisting she attend balls and parties to find a suitable husband. So, she's forced out of her shell, her library and begins the dreaded search for an "eligible bachelor with {a} good reputation". What keeps her from choosing a husband, when there are many, many men that want her, is that she hears everything they are thinking when they meet her. She's a talented, very intellectual girl who loves to read and often quotes her favorite authors when joking with her brother. "A room without books is like a body without a soul." (Cicero)

Meanwhile, Prince Alexander Kourakin, leader of the Eastern clan of vampires, has come to London from Moscow to deal with a rogue, Sergey and suspected vampire hunters. "There are two crimes for which you {a vampire} will lose your life: the killing of a vampire and the drinking of human blood. For these crimes you will be hunted down, and the life you have abused will be taken from you."

At court, their two paths cross and neither of their lives is the same from that moment on ...

Favorite Quote:
"...what is love? Most people see it as something elusive that radiates from a member of the opposite sex, something they grab with both hands as tightly as they can...love, to my way of thinking, is the emotion one feels when they meet someone who makes them be what they want to be. We feel love toward someone who shows us the light, who pushes us to become what we have always wanted to become but may have never realized. We love the person who makes us love ourselves."
Profile Image for HÜLYA.
1,139 reviews47 followers
April 23, 2013
Kan Kırmızısı Ayın Altında-Mina Hepsen

Arkadaşlarımın tavsiyesi üzerine bu kitabı aldım.. iyi ki almışım..
Mina Hepsen Türk bir yazarmışta..Baştan sona kadar akıp gitti kitap..Fantastik Historical türünde bir kitap bu..
1870 Yıllarda İngiltere'de geçiyor öykü..Başkalarının düşüncülerini okuma yeteneğine sahip olan Angelica Shelton Belanov kenine acil tarafından zengin bir koca bulmak durumunda dır..Çünkü tüm varlıkları 3 geminin de denizde kaybolması ile sıfırı tüketmiştir..Kalp hastsı olan ağabeyinin haberi olmadan bu işi halletmek zorundadır..
İşte bu koca bulmak için gittiği davetlerin birinde Rus Prensi Alexander Kouakin ile sıradışı bir şekilde tanışır..Alexander aynı zamanda vampir ve vampirlerin lideridir..Birbirlerinden ilk gördükleri anda etkilenmişlerdir..
Alexander Angelica'nın zihin okuma yeteneğini farkedince onu ilk önce kendisi gibi vampir zannetsede..Gerçeği sonradan anlar..Kendisi Londra'ya vampirleri öldüren katil Sergiyef isimli vampiri yakalamak için gelir..BU vampir sadece kadınları öldürmektedir..
Konusu kısaca bu..Ben bu yazarı ve seriyi çok ama çok beğendim..Herkese tavsiye ederim..Çok işlenmiş bir konu olabilir..Ama yazar kendi uslubuna göre yazmış ve başarılıda olmuş bence.. 

SERİ:
1. Kan Kırmızısı Ayın Altında
2. Eflatun Şafağın Kokusu
3. Fırtınadan Sonra

Profile Image for Tessa Clare.
Author 2 books51 followers
February 18, 2018
Eh...

I finished it, which is a good thing. It was also only $2.99 at the used bookstore just a few blocks away from my apartment. The storyline bothered me, though. At best, it was predictable; and at worst, it was like Twilight and Interview with a Vampire had a baby.

You know when authors mash a bunch of things together because they think it sounds cool, even though it might not necessarily make sense? That's how I felt about the plot.

Also, Alexander is kind of a d*ck. Team Nicholas all the way.
Profile Image for Büşra Bal.
107 reviews56 followers
Read
August 19, 2012
Ben bu kadının şahane hist yazacağını düşünüyorum. Fantastik kısmı ordan burdan karışık yazılmış gibi,pek özgün bir tarafı yok açıkçası.Ama çok zevkli bir tarihi aşk romanı okumuş gibi hissettim kendimi :D
Profile Image for Amy-chan.
37 reviews
May 19, 2016
Otro libro al montón de "indiferentes". De mitad a final la historia se vuelve menos pesada pero siguió sin convencerme.
Profile Image for Estela Sigala.
411 reviews
December 27, 2025
Angélica Shelton Belanov puede escuchar los pensamientos de la gente que la rodea y es por eso que prefiere mantenerse lejos de los salones de baile, pero cuando le llega una carta en la que le dicen que tres de sus barcos se perdieron y con ello casi toda su fortuna, sabe que la única saluda es encontrar un marido rápido y que su hermano Mijail no se entere ya que esta enfermo del corazón.

Alexander Kourakin es el poderoso jefe del clan oriental de inmortales que viaja a Londres ya que Serguei un vampiro que pertenece a su clan esta matando humanos y sus leyes lo prohíben, asi conoce en un baile a la princesa Angélica y como ella puede leer mentes el la confunde como una de los suyos, es grande su sorpresa cuando se da cuenta que es una humana.

Angélica esta sorprendida de conocer a mas personas que saben leer la mente y cunado Alexander la ayuda a poder bloquear las voces, por fin ella se siente libre, pero como quire conocer mas cosas se mete a escondidas a la casa de Alexander y cuando descubre que son vampiros se queda en impactada para que no la maten Alexander decide acercarse cargo de ella y se tiene que quedar a vivir con el hasta que encuentren a Serguei.

Alexander se siente atraído por Angélica pero sabe que no puede estar con ella ya que su deber es tener descendencia y eso ocurre cuando los vampiros llegan a los 500 años pero se están extinguiendo ya que muchos se suicidan antes de llegar a esa edad, pero según los antiguos testos llegarán los Elegidos que no necesitan vever sangre y a la edad de 20 años podrán tener hijos pero también morir antes.

Angélica y Alexander están juntos y ella cree que se casara con ella pero cuando el le dice que no ella se siente traicionada, hasta que descubre que esta embarazada ya que le aparece una marca de media luna en el vientre y es la señal que se da en los embarazada de vampiros pero no quirer decirle al príncipe ya que no quirer que se case con ella por esta razón.

Pero decide terminar el compromiso que tenía con un joven ya que no lo quirer engañar y cuando Mijail le dice que recuperaron los barcos se da cuenta que ya no tiene que preocuparse mas, pero mientras esta en el jardín es atacada por Serguei pero este no la mata se la deja a Lady Dewberry que es tía de Angélica y esta le confiesa que ella mato a su verdadero padre ya que era un mostró al igual que Angélica y le entierra un cuchillo.


Alexander llega a la fiesta y busca a la princesa ya que quiere decirle que se casara con ella no le importa no tener hijos ya que es la persona que lo a echo volver a ser feliz después de la muerte de su hermana Helena hace 200 años y cuando siente que Angélica lo llama telepáticamente pidiendo ayuda sale en su búsqueda, la encuenta y también es apuñalado por la tía de esta el se saca el cuchillo y se lo entierra a esta la cual cae muerta.

Serguei reta al príncipe a un duelo y Alexander no puede negarce despuede de vencer a Serguei regresa con Angélica y descubren la marca en su vientre asi que Alexander le pide a Mijail que le de de su sangre y después de vever se cierran sus heridas. Ahora los vampiros tiene una oportunidad ya que Angélica les a dado con su llegada la posibilidad de seguir existiendo.

Angélica tiene miedo pero sabe que Alexander estará con ella en todo momento.
Profile Image for Daphne Queens.
196 reviews
April 1, 2024
"Wer bist du?"


Der Schreibstil ist geprägt von Aphorismen und Zitaten, was mir besonders gut gefällt. Es sind so viele interessante Ansichten, die insbesondere Angelica und Alexander in diesem Buch, dass sich schon allein deshalb das Lesen lohnt!
Lebendige, witzige Dialoge und eine große Variabilität in der Wortwahl sorgten ebenfalls dafür, dass sich Lesen hier wirklich wie eine Zeitreise anfühlt.

Ich habe das Buch jetzt schon mehrfach gelesen und finde es wunderbar, wie komplex viele Charaktere gestaltet sind: Angelica beispielsweise ist eine intelligente, starke, leidenschaftliche und auch sture Frau im London des ausgehenden 19. Jahrhunderts. Aber auch die substantiierten Nebencharaktere spielen Schlüsselrollen, was wirklich schön ist.

Angelicas Bruder Mikhail ist einfach zum Liebhaben - mit Ausnahme der Verkupplungsversuche ist er ein sehr sympathischer, beschützerischer jüngerer Bruder.
Wie Angelica sich spontan mit Joanna anfreundet, gestaltet sich eher witzig, wohingegen die erste Begegnung mit Alexander gerade deshalb so eindrucksvoll ist, weil sie durch diese ruhige, bedeutsame Atmosphäre ausgezeichnet wird.

Die Erzählung selbst ist geprägt von tiefer Liebe, Schicksalsgefügen, dem Hiatus zwischen eigenen Wünschen und gesellschaftlichen Erwartungen/Verantwortungen, Aberglaube, individuellen Ängsten und deutlichen Spuren des Feminismus. Das Themenspektrum gestaltet sich folglich denkbar vielseitig.
Der Roman endet zudem der dramatisch, aber schön, wobei insbesondere die letzte Szene sehr eindrucksvoll ist.

[Mehr sag ich nicht, um nicht zu spoilern.]
Profile Image for Luna C.
187 reviews
December 7, 2025
This was a decent read but it was also really confusing to follow at times. I felt like it had such promise and started out so good, but then just went downhill. If that first sex scene Alexander has with those women hadn't occurred, I probably would have been more interested in the book. But that scene really turned me off of his character. And then how he just generally behaves toward Angelica. I was not a fan. And then Angelica just seems constantly angry and irritable when it comes to Alexander. Pretty understandably but it was kind of annoying. heh.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Andrea Ditter.
59 reviews1 follower
February 20, 2025
This was honestly closer to a 3-star book before the final 50 pages. The general idea here wasn’t bad, the characters were tolerable tropes, and the writing was quite readable. However, Hepsen just couldn’t deliver the punches. She rushed through the best parts of the book, refusing to build suspense or develop relationships, and a good idea suffered as a result. Overall, this was just disappointing.
Profile Image for Angela.
731 reviews6 followers
July 7, 2017
There really wasn't anything exceptional about this book. The characters were dialogue driven, the plot seemed like an afterthought, and the writing was sometimes repetitive. If you are expecting a steamy romance, compelling plot, or memorable characters, you will be disappointed. 3 stars because it was an adequate filler for a rainy afternoon.
40 reviews1 follower
September 3, 2019
Happy Surprise

I loved this book! I am always searching for vampire books, and when this one popped up on my feed I thought"why not? " So glad I did! I plan on reading more from this author as soon as possible .
7 reviews
September 25, 2019
Vampire Gothic

I enjoyed this totally new take on vampires very much, I loved the gothic feel and the splendid characterization.
I would love to have another book about these characters and would certainly continue to read this author.
Profile Image for Cursed and Crowned.
32 reviews
February 1, 2025
Bridgerton meets Jack the Ripper but with vampires! 🥀

I did a reread of the Book and think it aged well. I still like it. It’s a short read with a lot of romantic tension and a little bit of spice 🌶️

21 reviews
September 19, 2025
A fun read. At times I wasn't sure what was going to happen. Figuring out the world was interesting and I would have fun. it ended too quickly, wrapping it up neatly. I would have enjoyed something messy more.
Profile Image for Angi.
284 reviews1 follower
March 5, 2017
3-4 the plot itself is not that incredible but the characters and how they challenged each other through clever answers was very entertaining.
Profile Image for Indian.
8 reviews
March 25, 2019
Ich liebe Mina Hepsen 's Schreibstil und ihre Geschichten und bin immer wieder traurig wenn ein Buch zu Ende geht .... Auch dies Story war wieder zum Abtauchen und mit lieben 😘😍😘😍
Displaying 1 - 30 of 110 reviews

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