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Princeps Venator #2
Be My Valentine
It’s Valentine’s Day and the people of New York City, alive and undead, are celebrating romantic love and overpriced roses, but for one young woman the evening is to end in death rather than romance.
The Valentine Killer made his name in Los Angeles, but now he has come to Dione’s city and she is determined to stop him this time. Dione and Mike must cross the continent in search of information, and soon discover that they are not the only agency searching for the murderer. As the bodies pile up and a trail of destruction going back more than a decade is uncovered, someone seems to be trying very hard to slow the investigation down and unrest among the vampires rises. Amid betrayal from a most unexpected source, Dione and Mike must fight to keep the secret of the existence of vampires, as well as saving a friend and bringing a killer to justice.
The Valentine Killer made his name in Los Angeles, but now he has come to Dione’s city and she is determined to stop him this time. Dione and Mike must cross the continent in search of information, and soon discover that they are not the only agency searching for the murderer. As the bodies pile up and a trail of destruction going back more than a decade is uncovered, someone seems to be trying very hard to slow the investigation down and unrest among the vampires rises. Amid betrayal from a most unexpected source, Dione and Mike must fight to keep the secret of the existence of vampires, as well as saving a friend and bringing a killer to justice.
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First published October 28, 2016
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About the author
Niall Teasdale
73 books292 followersI was born in the vicinity of Hadrian's Wall so perhaps a bit of history rubbed off. Ancient history obviously, and border history, right on the edge of the Empire. I always preferred the Dark Ages anyway; there’s so much more room for imagination when people aren’t writing down every last detail. So my idea of a good fantasy novel involved dirt and leather, not shining plate armour and Hollywood-medieval manners. The same applies to my sci-fi, really; I prefer gritty over shiny.
Oddly, then, one of the first fantasy novels I remember reading was The Dark Is Rising, by Susan Cooper (later made into a terrible juvenile movie). These days we would call Cooper’s series Young Adult Contemporary Fantasy and looking back on it, it influenced me a lot. It has that mix of modern day life, hidden history, and magic which failed to hit popular culture until the early days of Buffy and Anne Rice. Of course, Cooper’s characters spend their time around places I could actually visit in Cornwall, and South East England, and mid-Wales. In fact, when I went to university in Aberystwyth, it was partially because some of Cooper’s books were set a few miles to the north around Tywyn.
I got into writing through roleplaying, however, so my early work was related to the kind of roleplaying game I was interested in. I wrote “high fantasy” when I was playing Dungeons & Dragons. I wrote a lot of superhero fiction when I was playing City of Heroes. I still loved the idea of a modern world with magic in it and I’ve been trying to write a novel based on this for a long time. As with any form of expression, practice is the key and I can look back on all the aborted attempts at books, and the more successful short stories, as steps along the path to the Thaumatology Series.
As of 2015, I have thrown in my lot with writing. After thirty years of being a computer programmer I am making enough money to quit the day job and write full time. Dreams, occasionally, come true. My favourite authors are Terry Pratchett, Susan Cooper, and (recently) Kim Harrison. Kim’s Hollows books were what finally spurred me to publish something, even if the trail to here came by way of Susan, back in school, several decades ago.
Oddly, then, one of the first fantasy novels I remember reading was The Dark Is Rising, by Susan Cooper (later made into a terrible juvenile movie). These days we would call Cooper’s series Young Adult Contemporary Fantasy and looking back on it, it influenced me a lot. It has that mix of modern day life, hidden history, and magic which failed to hit popular culture until the early days of Buffy and Anne Rice. Of course, Cooper’s characters spend their time around places I could actually visit in Cornwall, and South East England, and mid-Wales. In fact, when I went to university in Aberystwyth, it was partially because some of Cooper’s books were set a few miles to the north around Tywyn.
I got into writing through roleplaying, however, so my early work was related to the kind of roleplaying game I was interested in. I wrote “high fantasy” when I was playing Dungeons & Dragons. I wrote a lot of superhero fiction when I was playing City of Heroes. I still loved the idea of a modern world with magic in it and I’ve been trying to write a novel based on this for a long time. As with any form of expression, practice is the key and I can look back on all the aborted attempts at books, and the more successful short stories, as steps along the path to the Thaumatology Series.
As of 2015, I have thrown in my lot with writing. After thirty years of being a computer programmer I am making enough money to quit the day job and write full time. Dreams, occasionally, come true. My favourite authors are Terry Pratchett, Susan Cooper, and (recently) Kim Harrison. Kim’s Hollows books were what finally spurred me to publish something, even if the trail to here came by way of Susan, back in school, several decades ago.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
December 24, 2020
3.5 stars for this second novel in the series.
Be my Valentine starts with the holiday from its title on february the 14th. New York police cop Mike and his vampire partner Dione are one their next case. A fanged serial killer has selected NY as his new hunting ground and it's up to them to investigate and catch this killer. Except they aren't the only ones looking for him.
In this novel Teasdale continues to expand his vampire world and introduces us to a bit of the wider world. The novel takes the same format as it's predecessor and follows multiple investigations interspersed with short interludes. The characters remain interesting and compelling and the plot is reasonably developed, add some action and you get a good novel. Overall this second novel lacks the freshness of the first in the series, but it stays interesting.
I'll be reading the third novel in the series.
Be my Valentine starts with the holiday from its title on february the 14th. New York police cop Mike and his vampire partner Dione are one their next case. A fanged serial killer has selected NY as his new hunting ground and it's up to them to investigate and catch this killer. Except they aren't the only ones looking for him.
In this novel Teasdale continues to expand his vampire world and introduces us to a bit of the wider world. The novel takes the same format as it's predecessor and follows multiple investigations interspersed with short interludes. The characters remain interesting and compelling and the plot is reasonably developed, add some action and you get a good novel. Overall this second novel lacks the freshness of the first in the series, but it stays interesting.
I'll be reading the third novel in the series.
November 2, 2016
Awesome!
Another great book by Niall Teasdale, good second in the Princeps Venator serie. Now we just need the next Unobtainium book and I'll be happy (happier...)!
Another great book by Niall Teasdale, good second in the Princeps Venator serie. Now we just need the next Unobtainium book and I'll be happy (happier...)!
August 9, 2017
Not as good as some of Niall's stuff. But it passes the time on a long journey.
April 26, 2020
Like I mentioned in my review of Hunter's Kiss, I've read this book far more times than the two listed on my Goodreads.
I loved this story and the chance to dive back in to Dione's world but there was always something that annoyed me about this book and I finally figured it out today... it's too damn short! Hunter's Kiss, the prevous book, weighed in at 269 pages for the Kindle version while Be My Valentine only scrapes in at 173 pages for the Kindle version. Good though this story is, I can't help but feel like I had some of my time with Dione, Mike and the crew stolen from me...
Anyway, that's my biggest grievance with this book, though two characters from the previous book all but disappear (Mark and Andy, the other two pre-med students) and Mike's mother doesn't get much more than a tangential mention either.
The storyline expands the setting further, with the friction between elements of the US government and vampire society being further fleshed out and the partnership between Mike and Dione becoming further fleshed out.
In terms of editorial quality the book's well done and no spelling, punctuation or grammar issues jumped out at me or pulled me from my immersion.
So in summary, another fun book in one of Niall Teasdale's universes; albeit one that feels more snack-sized than a full-fledged novel. Worth it if you enjoyed the first book in the series but I can't quite warrant the full five star rating due to the shorter length...
I loved this story and the chance to dive back in to Dione's world but there was always something that annoyed me about this book and I finally figured it out today... it's too damn short! Hunter's Kiss, the prevous book, weighed in at 269 pages for the Kindle version while Be My Valentine only scrapes in at 173 pages for the Kindle version. Good though this story is, I can't help but feel like I had some of my time with Dione, Mike and the crew stolen from me...
Anyway, that's my biggest grievance with this book, though two characters from the previous book all but disappear (Mark and Andy, the other two pre-med students) and Mike's mother doesn't get much more than a tangential mention either.
The storyline expands the setting further, with the friction between elements of the US government and vampire society being further fleshed out and the partnership between Mike and Dione becoming further fleshed out.
In terms of editorial quality the book's well done and no spelling, punctuation or grammar issues jumped out at me or pulled me from my immersion.
So in summary, another fun book in one of Niall Teasdale's universes; albeit one that feels more snack-sized than a full-fledged novel. Worth it if you enjoyed the first book in the series but I can't quite warrant the full five star rating due to the shorter length...
November 5, 2016
Brisk
Everything moves at a solid pace. There isn't any lengthy introspection or monologuing, which is good, but I feel it also leaves something out of the story. It's very matter-of-fact. Maybe too clinical?
To be clear, I did like it. It is a pleasant read and doesn't get overly graphic in sexual situations. The mystery flows solidly and the police work is consistent and effective. There is just something missing...something that would make it more memorable.
I will still likely buy the next in the series, as it is clever in some ways. The writing is solid, the proofing is excellent, and the logical flow of the plot is not tangled by overt deus ex.
Everything moves at a solid pace. There isn't any lengthy introspection or monologuing, which is good, but I feel it also leaves something out of the story. It's very matter-of-fact. Maybe too clinical?
To be clear, I did like it. It is a pleasant read and doesn't get overly graphic in sexual situations. The mystery flows solidly and the police work is consistent and effective. There is just something missing...something that would make it more memorable.
I will still likely buy the next in the series, as it is clever in some ways. The writing is solid, the proofing is excellent, and the logical flow of the plot is not tangled by overt deus ex.
November 16, 2016
Be My Valentine
Niall Teasdale does it again! I have yet to read a title by this author that does not satisfy to the point of making it difficult to put the title down and get back to the real world! Thank you Niall! ^.^
Niall Teasdale does it again! I have yet to read a title by this author that does not satisfy to the point of making it difficult to put the title down and get back to the real world! Thank you Niall! ^.^
November 9, 2016
Love the hunter.
This was another very good read. Di is a very interesting individual. I look forward to reading the next one.
This was another very good read. Di is a very interesting individual. I look forward to reading the next one.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews