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Eternal Vigilance #1
Eternal Vigilance
After a century of Sleep, Tynan Llywelyn has awoken to find the world he once knew utterly obliterated by a brutal war of epic proportions. In a new apocalyptic society, bitterly divided by magic and technology, the Tyst Empire has found that a hundred years of global domination is not enough to sate their thirst for power. They have discovered the secret of the vampire race and have designed a plan to seize their own sinister form of immortality with the help of an ancient vampiric god. The Phuree, a rebel uprising that has been engaged in a bloody war with the Tyst since the beginning of the new regime, have obtained the knowledge of Lord Cardone's plans and have allied themselves with the remaining Immortal clan. The powerful Phuree oracle, Nahalo, has had a vision that in Tynan alone lies the power to defeat the vampiric god and the dictatorship. Cast into the midst of a global war between magic and technology, mortals and vampires, in a new world he is still struggling to define, Tynan must make the harrowing decision to save the world he so bitterly detests or stand and watch as humanity is destroyed by a primordial evil beyond all imagining.
240 pages, Paperback
First published April 17, 2008
4 people are currently reading
250 people want to read
About the author
Gabrielle Faust
33 books315 followersAcclaimed horror author Gabrielle Faust is best known for her vampire series ETERNAL VIGILANCE. Her previous work has also included three collections of poetry, BEFORE ICARUS, AFTER ACHILLES, CROSSROADS and THE BEGINNING OF NIGHTS, the novella REGRET, the celebrated dark fantasy adventure novel REVENGE, the HIGH STAKES vampire anthology and the novel THE LINEAGE. Her work has appeared in the sites SciFi Wire, Fatally Yours, Examiner, Doorways Magazine and Fear Zone, as well as various anthologies and magazines. She was the Guest of Honor at the Queen of the Damned Vampire Ball in 2008. In 2009 she was a Special Guest of the Endless Night Festival in New Orleans and was crowned "New Orleans Vampire Royalty" by the Vampire Lestat Fan Club at the Tru Blood & Gold vampire ball alongside Charlaine Harris. Faust is currently a Staff Writer for Gothic Beauty Magazine and owner of both the Nightshade Vmapire Boutique and Nightshade Publications. She was the primary graphic designer for the 2011 World Horror Convention and maintains the position as co-crewchief for the International Housing Program for the SXSW Music Festival. In 2011 Faust was awarded the Texas Social Media Award by the Austin American Statesman. More information about Gabrielle Faust and her work can be found on her website www.gabriellefaust.com.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
November 10, 2012
Reviewed by K. Osborn Sullivan for TeensReadToo.com
A century ago, the vampire Tynan Llywelyn grew so weary of his existence that he sealed himself in a crypt deep underground and cast a spell that he thought would allow him to sleep forever. But he was denied eternal slumber. He awoke after only one hundred years and was shocked to find that the world had spiraled to even lower depths than he could have imagined.
He found that humans around the globe were ruled by a technologically advanced group called the Tyst. They control every aspect of people's lives, turning humanity into helpless sheep, terrified of the torture and death that would follow if they attract the Tyst's attention.
The Tyst is opposed by a faction of rebels called the Phuree. These independent, nomadic people had turned their backs on modern technology, understanding that it is all controlled by their enemy. Their one source of power against the Tyst lies in ancient magic.
Against his will, Tynan finds himself dragged into this struggle between the Tyst and the Phuree. While in the past, vampires had tried to avoid involvement in human wars, Tynan and the other Immortals realize that now things are different, and the survival of their own kind is interwoven with that of humanity.
ETERNAL VIGILANCE: FROM DEEP WITHIN THE EARTH is an interesting combination of a vampire story mixed with post-apocalyptic science fiction, and a bit of magical fantasy thrown in for good measure. In other words, there's something for everyone. Tynan even has a girlfriend (of sorts), and there's a pretty racy love scene near the end of the book. Speaking of the end, it clearly tells readers that this is the first book in a series. This first installment serves largely to introduce the characters, their relationships, and the need for action in the face of terrifying evil.
As a centuries-old vampire with quite a bit of history behind him, Tynan has an intriguing back story that gradually reveals itself as he meets up with old friends and enemies. He is a reluctant, flawed hero, and he is surrounded by characters who are equally imperfect. He has his good points, though, including a nice relationship with a black cat.
While I enjoyed the story itself, I did have some complaints. First of all, it spent a tremendous amount of time explaining Tynan's thoughts, feelings, and movements. Entire pages were devoted to description with limited action or dialogue. I was nearly to the end of the first chapter before any words were spoken at all, and then it was merely a sentence. This is a matter of style and taste, however, and I'm sure there are others who prefer this technique over a heavily dialogue-weighted tale.
My other complaint is probably more universal. As mentioned above, this book introduces the characters and the situation, but then it simply ends there. Little is resolved in this book, and it seems that one must wait for Book 2 for the "real" action to commence. I found that disappointing. Even in a series, each book should stand alone as a complete tale in and of itself.
Overall, this is an interesting addition to the worlds of both vampires and science fiction. Fans of either genre should find something to enjoy here. And those who like finding a new series to explore should be especially pleased.
A century ago, the vampire Tynan Llywelyn grew so weary of his existence that he sealed himself in a crypt deep underground and cast a spell that he thought would allow him to sleep forever. But he was denied eternal slumber. He awoke after only one hundred years and was shocked to find that the world had spiraled to even lower depths than he could have imagined.
He found that humans around the globe were ruled by a technologically advanced group called the Tyst. They control every aspect of people's lives, turning humanity into helpless sheep, terrified of the torture and death that would follow if they attract the Tyst's attention.
The Tyst is opposed by a faction of rebels called the Phuree. These independent, nomadic people had turned their backs on modern technology, understanding that it is all controlled by their enemy. Their one source of power against the Tyst lies in ancient magic.
Against his will, Tynan finds himself dragged into this struggle between the Tyst and the Phuree. While in the past, vampires had tried to avoid involvement in human wars, Tynan and the other Immortals realize that now things are different, and the survival of their own kind is interwoven with that of humanity.
ETERNAL VIGILANCE: FROM DEEP WITHIN THE EARTH is an interesting combination of a vampire story mixed with post-apocalyptic science fiction, and a bit of magical fantasy thrown in for good measure. In other words, there's something for everyone. Tynan even has a girlfriend (of sorts), and there's a pretty racy love scene near the end of the book. Speaking of the end, it clearly tells readers that this is the first book in a series. This first installment serves largely to introduce the characters, their relationships, and the need for action in the face of terrifying evil.
As a centuries-old vampire with quite a bit of history behind him, Tynan has an intriguing back story that gradually reveals itself as he meets up with old friends and enemies. He is a reluctant, flawed hero, and he is surrounded by characters who are equally imperfect. He has his good points, though, including a nice relationship with a black cat.
While I enjoyed the story itself, I did have some complaints. First of all, it spent a tremendous amount of time explaining Tynan's thoughts, feelings, and movements. Entire pages were devoted to description with limited action or dialogue. I was nearly to the end of the first chapter before any words were spoken at all, and then it was merely a sentence. This is a matter of style and taste, however, and I'm sure there are others who prefer this technique over a heavily dialogue-weighted tale.
My other complaint is probably more universal. As mentioned above, this book introduces the characters and the situation, but then it simply ends there. Little is resolved in this book, and it seems that one must wait for Book 2 for the "real" action to commence. I found that disappointing. Even in a series, each book should stand alone as a complete tale in and of itself.
Overall, this is an interesting addition to the worlds of both vampires and science fiction. Fans of either genre should find something to enjoy here. And those who like finding a new series to explore should be especially pleased.
July 8, 2014
Before vampires sparkled but after they were soulless monsters existing to prey on virginal girls in diaphanous white gowns, there was a time when the vampire was a tortured romantic figure. A Byronic hero who did not enjoy the benefits of vampirism but considered it a dread curse.
There's still remnants of this figure in modern vampires but its heyday was a long time ago. A distant mist-enshrouded time when the economy was good, Goths were brooding loners rather than perky scientists on NCIS, and tabletop gaming was a thriving hobby.
Yes, I speak of the Nineties.
Despite being written in 2008, Eternal Vigilance by Gabrielle Faust is a throwback (or homage perhaps) to the days of Louis and Lestat. A book which unironically talks about how being forced to drink the blood of the living, live forever, and look good doing it isn't quite the blessing True Blood has made it out to be.
Being as one of my fondest remembered tabletop gaming characters was an 8th Generation Ventrue businessman cursed by his undead existence, I'm predisposed to like a book which radiates sincere love of pre-commercialized modern Gothic romanticism.
Tynan Llywelyn is an archetypal vampire vampire in many ways. A centuries-old European who, if not a member of the nobility, still oozes Old World style and charisma. Much like the Stuart Townsend version of Lestat, however, immortal life proved too much for him and he decided to opt out.
Using ritual magic, Tynan bound himself to a sarcophagus and decided to sleep forever. That, alone, tells you something about Tynan's personality as he is not the sort of man who could do anything so mundane as commit suicide.
Unfortunately, or fortunately since otherwise there'd be no story, Tynan isn't quite the magician he thought himself to be. Awakening after a mere century of hibernation, Tynan finds the world has well and truly gone to pot. There's robots, cyborgs, and other supertech existing beside grinding poverty and oppression.
A global human empire formed by renegade scientists, financiers, and other Illuminati types called the Tyst. They have plunged the Earth into a decaying death spiral as their rule is too tyrannical to allow true peace. They're opposed by the Phuree (I believe it's pronounced "Fury"), who are back-to-Earth Luddites who want to destroy all that remains of modern civilization. Given I'm a die-hard technocrat at heart, I viewed the latter as just as bad if not worse than the former. The wildcard in this conflict is the vampire Council of Elders, who want to preserve their own power at all costs.
Tynan is a die-hard iconoclast and as much a rebel as Lucifer himself, so one can guess he's not down with any of these groups. I'd tell more but that would spoil the books and I wouldn't deprive readers intrigued by the plot of this novel.
Weirdly, the setting reminded me a great deal of the Keepers, Hammerites, and Pagans from the Thief franchise. On one hand you have the die-hard champions of progress, the other has ecological terrorists, and you have the Keepers in-between. It's just the Keepers are vampires this time around with Tynan taking the role of Garrett the Thief. Given I love the Thief franchise, this isn't a bad thing.
The backstory is a trifle unbelievable with the Tyst starting their rise to power by more-or-less hacking the entire internet. Thankfully, I have a high suspension of disbelief. Gabrielle Faust has taken a great deal of time to develop the world and its mythology, starting from how vampires are created to how their society is set up. It is a moody, decaying, broken world on the verge of a second Dark Age but possibly still salvageable. It, of course, all rests on our hero to save the world or damn it.
When I mentioned Byronic antiheroes, I could have been very specifically talking about Tynan. Tynan is not a traditional protagonist and has no interest in protecting humanity, stopping the Tyst, helping the Phuree, saving vampire-kind or anything at all other than wallowing in his own guilt over various failures. Many readers will find Tynan a frustrating protagonist due to his aggressive refusal of involvement in the plot. He is, in a manner of speaking, an aggressive believer in nothing.
There's another quality some readers might be wary of and that's the fact the majority of the book takes place in Tynan's head. I don't just mean the book is in 1st person, though it is, but Tynan has a habit of describing everything in long florid passages. He often spends a good deal of chapters ruminating on events more than interacting with his fellow cast members (who he uniformly despises--even his supposed "friends").
Readers will either find Tynan's constant mix of self-aggrandizement and angst fascinating or annoying. I found myself reminded of Lestat in a cyberpunk setting, so I lean to the former. Gabrielle Faust is nice enough to remember Tynan's attitude is irritating to others, though, and the times when characters call him on it are always amusing. I'm reminded of managers who have to deal with particularly troublesome rock stars.
In conclusion, Eternal Vigilance is a callback to "traditional" Goth storytelling and attitudes. Had Brandon Lee not had his life so tragically had his life cut short, he was the sort of fellow who'd play an excellent Tynan. If this is your cup of tea, I heartily recommend Eternal Vigilance. If you are put off by almost Lovecraftian-levels of poetic writing or heroes who embrace the punk element of Gothic Punk hard then consider yourself warned.
8/10
There's still remnants of this figure in modern vampires but its heyday was a long time ago. A distant mist-enshrouded time when the economy was good, Goths were brooding loners rather than perky scientists on NCIS, and tabletop gaming was a thriving hobby.
Yes, I speak of the Nineties.
Despite being written in 2008, Eternal Vigilance by Gabrielle Faust is a throwback (or homage perhaps) to the days of Louis and Lestat. A book which unironically talks about how being forced to drink the blood of the living, live forever, and look good doing it isn't quite the blessing True Blood has made it out to be.
Being as one of my fondest remembered tabletop gaming characters was an 8th Generation Ventrue businessman cursed by his undead existence, I'm predisposed to like a book which radiates sincere love of pre-commercialized modern Gothic romanticism.
Tynan Llywelyn is an archetypal vampire vampire in many ways. A centuries-old European who, if not a member of the nobility, still oozes Old World style and charisma. Much like the Stuart Townsend version of Lestat, however, immortal life proved too much for him and he decided to opt out.
Using ritual magic, Tynan bound himself to a sarcophagus and decided to sleep forever. That, alone, tells you something about Tynan's personality as he is not the sort of man who could do anything so mundane as commit suicide.
Unfortunately, or fortunately since otherwise there'd be no story, Tynan isn't quite the magician he thought himself to be. Awakening after a mere century of hibernation, Tynan finds the world has well and truly gone to pot. There's robots, cyborgs, and other supertech existing beside grinding poverty and oppression.
A global human empire formed by renegade scientists, financiers, and other Illuminati types called the Tyst. They have plunged the Earth into a decaying death spiral as their rule is too tyrannical to allow true peace. They're opposed by the Phuree (I believe it's pronounced "Fury"), who are back-to-Earth Luddites who want to destroy all that remains of modern civilization. Given I'm a die-hard technocrat at heart, I viewed the latter as just as bad if not worse than the former. The wildcard in this conflict is the vampire Council of Elders, who want to preserve their own power at all costs.
Tynan is a die-hard iconoclast and as much a rebel as Lucifer himself, so one can guess he's not down with any of these groups. I'd tell more but that would spoil the books and I wouldn't deprive readers intrigued by the plot of this novel.
Weirdly, the setting reminded me a great deal of the Keepers, Hammerites, and Pagans from the Thief franchise. On one hand you have the die-hard champions of progress, the other has ecological terrorists, and you have the Keepers in-between. It's just the Keepers are vampires this time around with Tynan taking the role of Garrett the Thief. Given I love the Thief franchise, this isn't a bad thing.
The backstory is a trifle unbelievable with the Tyst starting their rise to power by more-or-less hacking the entire internet. Thankfully, I have a high suspension of disbelief. Gabrielle Faust has taken a great deal of time to develop the world and its mythology, starting from how vampires are created to how their society is set up. It is a moody, decaying, broken world on the verge of a second Dark Age but possibly still salvageable. It, of course, all rests on our hero to save the world or damn it.
When I mentioned Byronic antiheroes, I could have been very specifically talking about Tynan. Tynan is not a traditional protagonist and has no interest in protecting humanity, stopping the Tyst, helping the Phuree, saving vampire-kind or anything at all other than wallowing in his own guilt over various failures. Many readers will find Tynan a frustrating protagonist due to his aggressive refusal of involvement in the plot. He is, in a manner of speaking, an aggressive believer in nothing.
There's another quality some readers might be wary of and that's the fact the majority of the book takes place in Tynan's head. I don't just mean the book is in 1st person, though it is, but Tynan has a habit of describing everything in long florid passages. He often spends a good deal of chapters ruminating on events more than interacting with his fellow cast members (who he uniformly despises--even his supposed "friends").
Readers will either find Tynan's constant mix of self-aggrandizement and angst fascinating or annoying. I found myself reminded of Lestat in a cyberpunk setting, so I lean to the former. Gabrielle Faust is nice enough to remember Tynan's attitude is irritating to others, though, and the times when characters call him on it are always amusing. I'm reminded of managers who have to deal with particularly troublesome rock stars.
In conclusion, Eternal Vigilance is a callback to "traditional" Goth storytelling and attitudes. Had Brandon Lee not had his life so tragically had his life cut short, he was the sort of fellow who'd play an excellent Tynan. If this is your cup of tea, I heartily recommend Eternal Vigilance. If you are put off by almost Lovecraftian-levels of poetic writing or heroes who embrace the punk element of Gothic Punk hard then consider yourself warned.
8/10
June 10, 2008
Vampire fiction usually doesn't interest me at all, and I picked this up hesitantly at the recommendation of a mutual friend. Needless to say (based on the five-star rating) I was pleasantly surprised.
The first in what I hope will be a successful series, "Eternal Vigilance" avoids the typical vampire cliches and sets up characters and plot well for future installments.
It starts off somewhat slowly, but the pace continues to build rapidly throughout, drawing you in and leaving you wanting more.
If you're already a fan of the vampire sub-genre, I can only assume you'll be wishing there was a six-star option.
The first in what I hope will be a successful series, "Eternal Vigilance" avoids the typical vampire cliches and sets up characters and plot well for future installments.
It starts off somewhat slowly, but the pace continues to build rapidly throughout, drawing you in and leaving you wanting more.
If you're already a fan of the vampire sub-genre, I can only assume you'll be wishing there was a six-star option.
May 19, 2018
Fair warning, since I didn’t realize it until it was over: nothing huge by way of plot happens in this book. The entire thing is a set-up for a future battle, with some flashes of adventure within. I might be grading this book harshly because I haven’t yet concluded the series, and I don’t read much in this particular style/genre. However, I had to power through the first 100+ pages before I felt like I was ‘enjoying’ it, to be honest. There were some exposition-heavy conversations in those first few chapters that drove me bonkers (thinly-disguised info-dumps of backstory). I know it’s hard to write engrossing stories when you’re picking them up halfway through the action and the reader needs some context, but I saw opportunities to weave some of those details into the progression without having the characters talk at each other forever. Once I got to the mansion / Phuree scenes, I was finally engrossed enough to finish the story.
I might be in the minority here, but my favorite parts of this book were the descriptions, emotions, and thoughts of the main character/narrator. The author definitely has a fascinating way with words here, and it’s stronger than her dialogue scenes, I think. It’s also possible that the Kindle formatting of the book is part of the problem, as there were some lines of dialogue that were broken up or squished together awkwardly, so I had to briefly re-read to figure out if it was the same character talking, or a new one. There are a couple of typos in this version (form instead of from, for example), but other than that, it was a smooth read. Now that I’ve finished the story, I can look back and say it’s a good setup for (what I assume) is some increased action in the sequels.
Overall, I really enjoyed the descriptive environment and characterization of our narrator the most, followed by how the plot is gradually layered on the world-building, and then at the bottom of my list, the conversations. (Also, as a minor pet peeve, I do not understand how vampires from modern times and back have such weird names. There is barely one ‘normal’ name in this entire book. And too many of the male characters have T names, makes it hard to keep them all straight. Unless I’m mistaken and this is entirely an alternate universe… There should be at least one “Arthur” or something in here, right?) I haven’t felt compelled to immediately pick up the sequel, but I enjoyed it enough that I probably will eventually. Perhaps that will change my opinion of this book.
I might be in the minority here, but my favorite parts of this book were the descriptions, emotions, and thoughts of the main character/narrator. The author definitely has a fascinating way with words here, and it’s stronger than her dialogue scenes, I think. It’s also possible that the Kindle formatting of the book is part of the problem, as there were some lines of dialogue that were broken up or squished together awkwardly, so I had to briefly re-read to figure out if it was the same character talking, or a new one. There are a couple of typos in this version (form instead of from, for example), but other than that, it was a smooth read. Now that I’ve finished the story, I can look back and say it’s a good setup for (what I assume) is some increased action in the sequels.
Overall, I really enjoyed the descriptive environment and characterization of our narrator the most, followed by how the plot is gradually layered on the world-building, and then at the bottom of my list, the conversations. (Also, as a minor pet peeve, I do not understand how vampires from modern times and back have such weird names. There is barely one ‘normal’ name in this entire book. And too many of the male characters have T names, makes it hard to keep them all straight. Unless I’m mistaken and this is entirely an alternate universe… There should be at least one “Arthur” or something in here, right?) I haven’t felt compelled to immediately pick up the sequel, but I enjoyed it enough that I probably will eventually. Perhaps that will change my opinion of this book.
October 26, 2014
Originally published at Risingshadow.
Eternal Vigilance: From Deep within the Earth is the first book of the Eternal Vigilance series in which beauty, horror and gruesomeness meet each other with an explosive and unstoppable force. It's a powerful beginning to an excellent vampire series that will most likely be considered a classic in the near future.
I have to mention that I'm glad I had a chance to read this vampire novel, because it's something different. It was a pleasure to read this novel. I haven't read anything this good and fresh since I finished reading Freda Warrington's A Taste of Blood Wine a few months ago. I've read a few good vampire novellas, but it's been difficult to find good vampire novels to read.
Before I write more about this novel, I must mention that I'm difficult to please when it comes to vampire fiction, because I expect only the best from my vampire fiction. In my opinion too many authors have written way too many young adult vampire novels and not enough vampire novels for quality-oriented adult readers. I can honestly say that I don't enjoy reading young adult vampire fiction at all, because I dislike reading about teenaged girls who fall in love with vampires and pine after them. If I read vampire fiction, I expect to read a quality novel that has both depth and style in it. That's why it was a relief to find out that this novel turned out to be an excellent vampire novel for adults and had a good and well written story.
Eternal Vigilance: From Deep within the Earth is a beautifully written novel about survival in a new kind of a world where the society has bitterly been divided by magic and technology. It's a totally different kind of a vampire novel, because the author concentrates on writing about how the survival of the vampires is severely threatened by the Tyst and their plans to become immortal.
Gabrielle Faust combines horror, fantasy and science fiction elements in a brilliant and surprisingly fluent and effortless way in this novel, and she has added plenty of depth to the story. It's actually quite amazing that it's still possible to write this kind of original and compelling vampire novels, because many authors have already created their own visions of vampires, but Gabrielle Faust has fortunately succeeded in writing something fresh.
I've read quite a few vampire novels, so I can say that this novel clearly stands out among other novels because of its depth, freshness and genre-bending nature. I personally consider this novel to be one of the best postapocalyptical vampire novels I've read to date. In my opinion this novel differs from other similar novels in terms of beautiful and skillful writing and an original story that has depth in it.
Here's a bit of information about the story:
In this novel the protagonist, Tynan Llywelyn, wakes up from deep sleep and wonders about the new and changed world around him, because he remembers a different kind of a world. He remembers a world full of sounds, but now the world has grown silent and the landscapes have changed over the years. The alien landscapes feel odd to him, but he wants to explore and understand what has happened and what's going on in the new world. Tynan meets an old acquaintance, his maker, Seafra, and discusses with him about what has happened and how humankind has split into two groups: the Tyst and the Phuree. Soon he learns what kind of a role he has to play in the world and he must make a difficult decision...
It's great that Gabrielle Faust spends enough time to build Tynan as a character. She gives him a thorough history and explains what has happened to him and why he feels the way he does about things and other characters. She doesn't rush into action, which is nice, because rushing into action would've ruined the story and its terrifying beauty.
In my opinion Gabrielle Faust does an excellent job of desribing how Tynan feels about the happenings and also about himself. The gracefully and fluently flowing prose highlights Tynan's life, his feelings, his inner struggle and his actions.
I'll briefly mention that I found it interesting that Tynan had a cat called Dune. It was interesting to read about him and Dune.
One of the best things about this novel is that Gabrielle Faust has deserted all the basic clichés associated with vampire fiction and has transported vampires to a well-realized postapocalyptical world where humans fight against each other and where vampires also have to fight for their existence.
There's a beautifully disturbing and tense gothic atmosphere in this novel that almost borders on the line of being baroque in its lushness. The foreboding atmosphere is wonderful and it immediately pulls the reader into the story.
The postapocalyptical world in this novel is delightfully familiar yet exotic enough to attract the attention of readers. The postapocalyptical landscapes, the deterioration of the city and the way the Earth reclaims itself over what man has built are described in evocative and lush details. The author has imagined a stunningly original vision of a postapocalyptical future where mankind has created cyber-organisms and uses elemental powers and spells.
There's plenty of grittiness, eroticism and style in this novel. The author's decriptions of how Tynan lures his victims to himself and feeds on them are both erotic and beautifully lyrical. The violent scenes have been written extremely well.
It's possible to say that Gabrielle Faust belongs to the same league of authors as Anne Rice and Freda Warrington, because she writes good and beautiful prose that resonates among readers who are interested in beautifully written vampire fiction. Although I compare Gabrielle Faust to Anne Rice and Freda Warrington in this review, I must point out that she's a totally different kind of an author than these authors, because she writes postapocalyptical vampire fiction and adds intriguing fantasy and science fiction elements to the story.
I give this novel full five stars on the scale from one to five stars, because it's something different and the prose is very good. Because I've always been fond of good stories, dark fantasy and well written prose, I was very impressed by this novel.
Eternal Vigilance: From Deep within the Earth is a boldly different, beautifully written and captivating vampire novel that offers entertainment for all who enjoy reading dark vampire stories that are full of originality and gothic splendour. It's a quality novel (if you've overdosed on bland and mediocre vampire fiction, this novel is perfect antidote for you, because it's pure quality from start to finish).
My final words are: This novel is excellent, original and beautifully written vampire fiction for adults!
Eternal Vigilance: From Deep within the Earth is the first book of the Eternal Vigilance series in which beauty, horror and gruesomeness meet each other with an explosive and unstoppable force. It's a powerful beginning to an excellent vampire series that will most likely be considered a classic in the near future.
I have to mention that I'm glad I had a chance to read this vampire novel, because it's something different. It was a pleasure to read this novel. I haven't read anything this good and fresh since I finished reading Freda Warrington's A Taste of Blood Wine a few months ago. I've read a few good vampire novellas, but it's been difficult to find good vampire novels to read.
Before I write more about this novel, I must mention that I'm difficult to please when it comes to vampire fiction, because I expect only the best from my vampire fiction. In my opinion too many authors have written way too many young adult vampire novels and not enough vampire novels for quality-oriented adult readers. I can honestly say that I don't enjoy reading young adult vampire fiction at all, because I dislike reading about teenaged girls who fall in love with vampires and pine after them. If I read vampire fiction, I expect to read a quality novel that has both depth and style in it. That's why it was a relief to find out that this novel turned out to be an excellent vampire novel for adults and had a good and well written story.
Eternal Vigilance: From Deep within the Earth is a beautifully written novel about survival in a new kind of a world where the society has bitterly been divided by magic and technology. It's a totally different kind of a vampire novel, because the author concentrates on writing about how the survival of the vampires is severely threatened by the Tyst and their plans to become immortal.
Gabrielle Faust combines horror, fantasy and science fiction elements in a brilliant and surprisingly fluent and effortless way in this novel, and she has added plenty of depth to the story. It's actually quite amazing that it's still possible to write this kind of original and compelling vampire novels, because many authors have already created their own visions of vampires, but Gabrielle Faust has fortunately succeeded in writing something fresh.
I've read quite a few vampire novels, so I can say that this novel clearly stands out among other novels because of its depth, freshness and genre-bending nature. I personally consider this novel to be one of the best postapocalyptical vampire novels I've read to date. In my opinion this novel differs from other similar novels in terms of beautiful and skillful writing and an original story that has depth in it.
Here's a bit of information about the story:
In this novel the protagonist, Tynan Llywelyn, wakes up from deep sleep and wonders about the new and changed world around him, because he remembers a different kind of a world. He remembers a world full of sounds, but now the world has grown silent and the landscapes have changed over the years. The alien landscapes feel odd to him, but he wants to explore and understand what has happened and what's going on in the new world. Tynan meets an old acquaintance, his maker, Seafra, and discusses with him about what has happened and how humankind has split into two groups: the Tyst and the Phuree. Soon he learns what kind of a role he has to play in the world and he must make a difficult decision...
It's great that Gabrielle Faust spends enough time to build Tynan as a character. She gives him a thorough history and explains what has happened to him and why he feels the way he does about things and other characters. She doesn't rush into action, which is nice, because rushing into action would've ruined the story and its terrifying beauty.
In my opinion Gabrielle Faust does an excellent job of desribing how Tynan feels about the happenings and also about himself. The gracefully and fluently flowing prose highlights Tynan's life, his feelings, his inner struggle and his actions.
I'll briefly mention that I found it interesting that Tynan had a cat called Dune. It was interesting to read about him and Dune.
One of the best things about this novel is that Gabrielle Faust has deserted all the basic clichés associated with vampire fiction and has transported vampires to a well-realized postapocalyptical world where humans fight against each other and where vampires also have to fight for their existence.
There's a beautifully disturbing and tense gothic atmosphere in this novel that almost borders on the line of being baroque in its lushness. The foreboding atmosphere is wonderful and it immediately pulls the reader into the story.
The postapocalyptical world in this novel is delightfully familiar yet exotic enough to attract the attention of readers. The postapocalyptical landscapes, the deterioration of the city and the way the Earth reclaims itself over what man has built are described in evocative and lush details. The author has imagined a stunningly original vision of a postapocalyptical future where mankind has created cyber-organisms and uses elemental powers and spells.
There's plenty of grittiness, eroticism and style in this novel. The author's decriptions of how Tynan lures his victims to himself and feeds on them are both erotic and beautifully lyrical. The violent scenes have been written extremely well.
It's possible to say that Gabrielle Faust belongs to the same league of authors as Anne Rice and Freda Warrington, because she writes good and beautiful prose that resonates among readers who are interested in beautifully written vampire fiction. Although I compare Gabrielle Faust to Anne Rice and Freda Warrington in this review, I must point out that she's a totally different kind of an author than these authors, because she writes postapocalyptical vampire fiction and adds intriguing fantasy and science fiction elements to the story.
I give this novel full five stars on the scale from one to five stars, because it's something different and the prose is very good. Because I've always been fond of good stories, dark fantasy and well written prose, I was very impressed by this novel.
Eternal Vigilance: From Deep within the Earth is a boldly different, beautifully written and captivating vampire novel that offers entertainment for all who enjoy reading dark vampire stories that are full of originality and gothic splendour. It's a quality novel (if you've overdosed on bland and mediocre vampire fiction, this novel is perfect antidote for you, because it's pure quality from start to finish).
My final words are: This novel is excellent, original and beautifully written vampire fiction for adults!
September 25, 2025
Lyrical, melancholy, and beautiful; this post-apocalyptic world is experienced by a centuries old vampire; who went underground during our time, only to awaken to a decaying world in the grip of an oligarchy of machines and enslaved humans. Other vampires struggle to survive, hunted like they’ve never been hunted before, coming together with their prey to fight a common foe.
At times, the protagonist seemed too quick to temper and anger for one of his years, yet he was in the company of those centuries older. He felt betrayed by his own kind, a sensation which felt at times like immortal adolescence and at others chillingly accurate. As he calms down, discovering a community and a purpose, along with a certain maturity he’d been lacking; the narrative changed with him, gaining a depth and sympathy, even though his voice was always an eloquent one. This journey is the major plot of the novel, not the battle against the rising enemy. The protagonist has to discover the strength and the will to take part in the battle, along with people he’s willing to fight for.
Beautifully balanced between predator and protector, while struggling against mysterious foces greater than himself, this narrative fulfilled a gothic aesthetic while providing alternately fresh and seasoned eyes in experiencing the landscape the vampire found himself thrust into. The voice which guided readers was a compelling one. I’m intrigued where it may take us next.
At times, the protagonist seemed too quick to temper and anger for one of his years, yet he was in the company of those centuries older. He felt betrayed by his own kind, a sensation which felt at times like immortal adolescence and at others chillingly accurate. As he calms down, discovering a community and a purpose, along with a certain maturity he’d been lacking; the narrative changed with him, gaining a depth and sympathy, even though his voice was always an eloquent one. This journey is the major plot of the novel, not the battle against the rising enemy. The protagonist has to discover the strength and the will to take part in the battle, along with people he’s willing to fight for.
Beautifully balanced between predator and protector, while struggling against mysterious foces greater than himself, this narrative fulfilled a gothic aesthetic while providing alternately fresh and seasoned eyes in experiencing the landscape the vampire found himself thrust into. The voice which guided readers was a compelling one. I’m intrigued where it may take us next.
April 30, 2022
Just finished this book in the audio format read by Joey Cole. I enjoyed it. The deep voice of Joey was a real treat with the main character and the others that are around him. I think that it was one of his first audiobook reading and he did great, bringing the story to life and giving it a unique twist.
As for the story, it was a fun twist on apocalyptic books with vampires and other creatures. From time to time it kinda lost my attention a little bit as some parts were a lot in the main character thoughts and I was waiting for more action. This is the first book of a couple I believe so there’s some world building and anticipation going on and then the book end, making us having to wait to read the other books to continue the story. At the end of the book I was happy to think about reading the next part of the story so it’s a good sign.
All in all, an enjoyable read with a nice voice, I would listen to the other books of the story and probably pick the book to read it at the library if I stumbled on it but I probably wouldn’t go out of my way if I was not able to find the next one around me. It’s probably more accurate to give it a 3.5 star but closer to 4 than 3!
As for the story, it was a fun twist on apocalyptic books with vampires and other creatures. From time to time it kinda lost my attention a little bit as some parts were a lot in the main character thoughts and I was waiting for more action. This is the first book of a couple I believe so there’s some world building and anticipation going on and then the book end, making us having to wait to read the other books to continue the story. At the end of the book I was happy to think about reading the next part of the story so it’s a good sign.
All in all, an enjoyable read with a nice voice, I would listen to the other books of the story and probably pick the book to read it at the library if I stumbled on it but I probably wouldn’t go out of my way if I was not able to find the next one around me. It’s probably more accurate to give it a 3.5 star but closer to 4 than 3!
July 8, 2008
When I know a book is going to be part of a series, it has to be pretty darn good for me to consider forking out for future instalments. Unfortunately, this book doesn’t work so well as a stand-alone novel, and that was disappointing.
Basically, Eternal Vigilance is a vampire Fantasy novel set in 2111. Tynan, a vampire who created and led his own religion, has been asleep for a hundred years. After letting down the vampires who followed him, when his belief in his own faith crumbled, he cast a spell that should have sent him to sleep forever. It didn’t. He wakes to find the world he once knew ravaged by a fierce war, and technology literally evolving on its own.
Tynan is different from other vampires–-every time he kills and feeds he absorbs the pasts of his victims into his own memory. It is this unusual characteristic, as well as the human traits he can’t shake off, which led to his hatred of the world and a battle in which he disgraced himself by killing another vampire.
The first half of Eternal Vigilance deals mainly with backstory, which is necessary but a little tedious. However, when you get through that part, things start to get more interesting. Some of the immortals are not exactly pleased by Tynan’s return, and he fears their reactions. It's obvious Tynan is special, as well as an outcast in the immortal council. The story builds up slowly and delicately, as we gradually learn more about the Phuree, a rebel uprising that believes in ancient magic rather than the new technology favoured by the all-powerful Tyst Empire.
I absolutely loved the cover art, with a moment of “Ooo, shiny!” when I first picked the book up. Very appealing to my goth side. It took me a while to get into the story, and I wasn’t really sure if I was going to like it at first. It’s a bit hit and miss in places, but it’s obvious the author has a lot of good ideas, which I’m really hoping will come through later on.
Tynan is quirky and likeable. The relationship he has with his pet cat Dune is a particularly nice touch. I would have liked all the main characters to be drawn with a little more depth, but as this is only the first part of a series I would expect their story arcs to be pursued later on. I found it a little hard to follow the story in places as some of the characters weren’t distinguished well enough from others. Although Eternal Vigilance can be tough going at times, I still think it’s a pretty good read.
Eternal Vigilance is interesting and poetically written, although the poetic language can get a bit purple in places. I am intrigued to see what will happen in the second instalment--hopefully after such a long build-up there will be a lot more violence and action, and also more explanation of the exciting technology and magic which has appeared only in brief glimpses so far.
Good fun, and slightly camp. A worthy addition to any collection of vampire fiction.
Basically, Eternal Vigilance is a vampire Fantasy novel set in 2111. Tynan, a vampire who created and led his own religion, has been asleep for a hundred years. After letting down the vampires who followed him, when his belief in his own faith crumbled, he cast a spell that should have sent him to sleep forever. It didn’t. He wakes to find the world he once knew ravaged by a fierce war, and technology literally evolving on its own.
Tynan is different from other vampires–-every time he kills and feeds he absorbs the pasts of his victims into his own memory. It is this unusual characteristic, as well as the human traits he can’t shake off, which led to his hatred of the world and a battle in which he disgraced himself by killing another vampire.
The first half of Eternal Vigilance deals mainly with backstory, which is necessary but a little tedious. However, when you get through that part, things start to get more interesting. Some of the immortals are not exactly pleased by Tynan’s return, and he fears their reactions. It's obvious Tynan is special, as well as an outcast in the immortal council. The story builds up slowly and delicately, as we gradually learn more about the Phuree, a rebel uprising that believes in ancient magic rather than the new technology favoured by the all-powerful Tyst Empire.
I absolutely loved the cover art, with a moment of “Ooo, shiny!” when I first picked the book up. Very appealing to my goth side. It took me a while to get into the story, and I wasn’t really sure if I was going to like it at first. It’s a bit hit and miss in places, but it’s obvious the author has a lot of good ideas, which I’m really hoping will come through later on.
Tynan is quirky and likeable. The relationship he has with his pet cat Dune is a particularly nice touch. I would have liked all the main characters to be drawn with a little more depth, but as this is only the first part of a series I would expect their story arcs to be pursued later on. I found it a little hard to follow the story in places as some of the characters weren’t distinguished well enough from others. Although Eternal Vigilance can be tough going at times, I still think it’s a pretty good read.
Eternal Vigilance is interesting and poetically written, although the poetic language can get a bit purple in places. I am intrigued to see what will happen in the second instalment--hopefully after such a long build-up there will be a lot more violence and action, and also more explanation of the exciting technology and magic which has appeared only in brief glimpses so far.
Good fun, and slightly camp. A worthy addition to any collection of vampire fiction.
April 22, 2014
This is undoubtedly one of the most beautifully written books I have ever read. Gabrielle finds words of such magnificence that you hardly notice that nothing much happens as you read. I mean about 50 pages into this book you get two blood-drained humans, one immortal reunion and much contemplation by the protagonist. Granted, some of that contemplation tells you the background of the story but mostly it's emotional rambling. I'm not saying this to put you off the book. Really, if you have a love for language and reading for enjoyment of reading you won't find anything better. Even though the nearing victim takes two pages to describe and a further two pages are just for the process of draining her, the exquisiteness of the language makes these descriptions feel soothing, though unnecessary.
Things don't change as the book progresses. Tynan, the main character, a vampire in his 400s, finds himself the involuntary hero destined to destroy a regime that enslaves humans and vampires alike in an end-of-days scenario reminiscent of The Matrix. And much like the first Matrix movie much time is spent in trying to convince Tynan that he is indeed The One. The super-secret, super-dangerous mission he is supposed to go on never happens within the pages of this book. So it stands to reason that there will be a sequel that finally starts off with the action proper. Well, if it that is as beautifully written as this one I won't mind giving it a try.
Things don't change as the book progresses. Tynan, the main character, a vampire in his 400s, finds himself the involuntary hero destined to destroy a regime that enslaves humans and vampires alike in an end-of-days scenario reminiscent of The Matrix. And much like the first Matrix movie much time is spent in trying to convince Tynan that he is indeed The One. The super-secret, super-dangerous mission he is supposed to go on never happens within the pages of this book. So it stands to reason that there will be a sequel that finally starts off with the action proper. Well, if it that is as beautifully written as this one I won't mind giving it a try.
October 16, 2014
Set in year 2111, a century after Tynan Llywelyn spelled himself to sleep forever, poor man (vampire actually) found himself awake despite it all, and worse, awake in the middle of a war. Like some readers, it was a little hard to get into at first, but perseverance will pay off. He is such a character to read, and sometimes I feel like stabbing his friend Seafra dead myself.
If you are wondering why Tynan wanted to sleep, the book tells a good background story while moving forward in future, where Tynan is dragged kicking and screaming into helping.
Just be warned that this is part of a trilogy.
Worth looking at, look at that gothic cover, the eyes, compelling you to give this a go...
If you are wondering why Tynan wanted to sleep, the book tells a good background story while moving forward in future, where Tynan is dragged kicking and screaming into helping.
Just be warned that this is part of a trilogy.
Worth looking at, look at that gothic cover, the eyes, compelling you to give this a go...
October 26, 2014
The more I read this book, the better it got. Tynan's internal struggle within is gut wrenching. The despair and loneness is at times overwhelming. For an Immortal to be isolated from his own kind, by his own kind is heart wrenching. Tynan's humanity is his weakness, but now when the answers lie within him, his humanity is one of his greatest strengths. Will he loose his sanity or finally find peace? Gabrielle brings all the emotions to the forefront with a lot of questions, and you will want to continue because you want the answers. I give this 4 star rating.
September 4, 2008
My first Gabrielle Faust book but certainly not my last. By the time that I had finished reading the first chapter I knew exactly what my night had in store. Wrapped in a world filled with detail... and such attention to each character in the story I felt as if I was drowning in her darkened vision. I would definitely recommend this dark tale.
February 16, 2009
I didn't find anything really wrong with the writing itself, though it could've been better edited. However, I didn't bother finishing this book because it didn't draw me in. The story was kind of boring, to be honest. Perhaps if so much time wasn't spent inside the narrator's mind and more pages were used describing actual events I would've liked it better.
April 24, 2015
Excellent first book in the Eternal Vigilance series. Beautifully written. Meant to be savored and not merely read. Gabrielle's descriptions of a post apocalyptic world inhabited by mortals and vampires in a struggle between proponents of magic and those of technology appeal to all senses. It is a must read for all fans of fantasy and horror literature. Highly recommended.
January 19, 2009
its deffinettely alot like edger allen poe because it is not a novel so much as poetry its a very very good book
June 3, 2014
An interesting read. Not your topical vampire book.
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