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It began with the Clan Novel: Toreador....This book, Clan Novel: Ventrue, is the fifth of a 13-book series concerning the Kindred -- the hugest event ever in the World of Darkness.
From small details to grand spectacles, this epic series of over one million words reveals reveal the secrets of this hidden world through the eyes of individuals on both sides of a great conflict. The continued existence of all Kindred, from the youngest neonate to the eldest Methuselah, hangs in the balance.
From small details to grand spectacles, this epic series of over one million words reveals reveal the secrets of this hidden world through the eyes of individuals on both sides of a great conflict. The continued existence of all Kindred, from the youngest neonate to the eldest Methuselah, hangs in the balance.
288 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 8, 1999
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December 20, 2024Anyone that loves anything Vampires should begin reading or grabbing this massive collection of books. A friend got me into vampires of the masquerade quite a few years ago and I loved it! You can also find these on Audible and also in the Kindle area good luck and I hope you enjoy them
December 25, 2023
https://beforewegoblog.com/44036-2/
CLAN NOVEL: VENTRUE by Gherbod Fleming is the fifth novel of the Vampire: The Masquerade Clan Novel series. It is a series published in 1999 and told a thirteen novel story about the conflict between Sabbat (bad vampires) invading the cities belonging to the Camarilla (less bad vampires). A magical artifact called the Eye of Hazmiel was serving as a wild card during it and each new book's protagonist was a glimpse into one of the individual undead's journey. Each book also served as an illustration about what a specific clan was all about.
Clan Ventrue is the vampire clan of nobles, knights, politicians, and executives. Serving as the suave leaders of the Camarilla, they've always been somewhat vanilla compared to other Clans. Many of the great villains of the setting have been Ventrue like Prince Lodin, Hardelstadt the Younger, and Sebastian La Croix. They've also been the protagonists of many works like Prince Julian Luna from the ill-fated Kindred the Embraced. This book does a decent job exploring the contrast of the Ventrue's affable leadership contrasted to their dark entitled self. They may not be as exciting a set of leaders as the Lasombra, Tzimisce, Toreador, or Tremere but they get the job done.
The premise of this novel is that we get a sense of how the Camarilla is responding to the Sabbat's successful invasion of over a dozen cities. The Fall of Atlanta was terrible but it is the fall of Washington D.C. that has caused the Camarilla to panic. Well, perhaps panic is not the best word as the Inner Council sends not even a Justicar to defend the New World's cities but a single representative in Jan Pieterzoon. The city of Baltimore, Maryland becomes the establishment's new headquarters with the arrogant Prince Garlotte as the new defender of "civilized" vampiredom. Jan must work with Prince Garlotte, refugee demagogue Victoria Ash, archon Theo Bell, and the mysterious Prince Marcus Vitel to try to stop the Sabbat onslaught.
A major theme of the book is how the Ventrue appear to be caring leaders but are awful people underneath. Ironically, I think Garlotte actually works better than cover character Jan Pieterzoon in establishing this. Garlotte is a self-absorbed administrator who isn't anywhere near the most powerful Prince in America but threatens to turn the entire defense into his own personal army. Despite this, he's actually fairly lenient with his childer and is humanized in his lust with Victoria Ash as well as genuine desire to turn back the Sabbat. In the end, he has to choose whether he must continue being a soft touch or destroy the things he loves in life for power. Given this is the World of Darkness, his choice shouldn't come as a surprise but somehow does.
Jan Pierterzoon is the protagonist of the books and a character I have mixed feelings on. He appears to be a somewhat ignorant (not believing in the Antediluvians) herald for his sire but one of the least horrible vampires we've met so far. This is subverted when he find out what Jan's feeding restriction (which all Ventrue suffer from) is. He can only prey upon certain types of people and the realization is suitably nightmarish. On the other hand, it feels a bit cheap as well as if they wanted a way to show that Jan had a dark side and went with the most obviously "bad" thing they could. The way he fetishizes trauma victims is also more relevant now when criticizing self-styled "heroes" that we understand things a bit better than the Nineties.
This is an intensely political book with lots of backstabbing, manipulation, and seduction. Surprisingly, this is probably the best book for Victoria Ash of Clan Novel: Toreador. While she plays the role of femme fatale, using her Presence to bring lust back into the hearts of Kindred who have long since abandoned the need for sexual urges, she's also someone trying to recover from torture at the hands of the Tzimisce. This includes her killing some fifteen or sixteen mortals to repair the horrible damage done both internally as well as externally. Not all scars can be healed with the blood, though, and she struggles to regain control over her life. She's a much more interesting character this way and it's a shame the book doesn't have more scenes about her.
There's some strange elements to the book that don't quite jive with the tabletop RPG. For example, Jan Pieterzoon is extremely concerned about needing surgery to reset his leg and other issues but the vast majority of vampires, barring Final Death, just need to spend more blood. He's also a very strange choice to lead the defense of the New World versus any Justicar or someone with military experience. That's part of the point but the reason why they send Hardestadt's errand boy is never made clear. Also, Jan spends much of the book running and injured, which is weird for an Elder who has a superpower specifically related to not getting injured.
I also appreciate the fact that we get insight into Prince Garlotte's brood of childer. Isaac, Fin, and Katrina who add a new dimension to Clan Ventrue. Isaac is the somewhat dull and uninspired but extremely loyal Sheriff. Fin is the romantic vampire teenager deeply in love with his girlfriend Morena but unaware just how much danger he's put her in. Katrina is a lesbian in a polyamorous relationship that was Embraced to be a substitute for the Prince's wife.
In conclusion, I really enjoyed this book but I feel like Jan Pieterzoon is actually the biggest weakness in it. While Garlotte and his brood is fascinating, Jan is somewhat one-dimensionally loyal to the Camarilla with a disgusting weakness. I actually wanted to get back to the Prince and his childer or Victoria Ash's scheming for the majority of the book.
CLAN NOVEL: VENTRUE by Gherbod Fleming is the fifth novel of the Vampire: The Masquerade Clan Novel series. It is a series published in 1999 and told a thirteen novel story about the conflict between Sabbat (bad vampires) invading the cities belonging to the Camarilla (less bad vampires). A magical artifact called the Eye of Hazmiel was serving as a wild card during it and each new book's protagonist was a glimpse into one of the individual undead's journey. Each book also served as an illustration about what a specific clan was all about.
Clan Ventrue is the vampire clan of nobles, knights, politicians, and executives. Serving as the suave leaders of the Camarilla, they've always been somewhat vanilla compared to other Clans. Many of the great villains of the setting have been Ventrue like Prince Lodin, Hardelstadt the Younger, and Sebastian La Croix. They've also been the protagonists of many works like Prince Julian Luna from the ill-fated Kindred the Embraced. This book does a decent job exploring the contrast of the Ventrue's affable leadership contrasted to their dark entitled self. They may not be as exciting a set of leaders as the Lasombra, Tzimisce, Toreador, or Tremere but they get the job done.
The premise of this novel is that we get a sense of how the Camarilla is responding to the Sabbat's successful invasion of over a dozen cities. The Fall of Atlanta was terrible but it is the fall of Washington D.C. that has caused the Camarilla to panic. Well, perhaps panic is not the best word as the Inner Council sends not even a Justicar to defend the New World's cities but a single representative in Jan Pieterzoon. The city of Baltimore, Maryland becomes the establishment's new headquarters with the arrogant Prince Garlotte as the new defender of "civilized" vampiredom. Jan must work with Prince Garlotte, refugee demagogue Victoria Ash, archon Theo Bell, and the mysterious Prince Marcus Vitel to try to stop the Sabbat onslaught.
A major theme of the book is how the Ventrue appear to be caring leaders but are awful people underneath. Ironically, I think Garlotte actually works better than cover character Jan Pieterzoon in establishing this. Garlotte is a self-absorbed administrator who isn't anywhere near the most powerful Prince in America but threatens to turn the entire defense into his own personal army. Despite this, he's actually fairly lenient with his childer and is humanized in his lust with Victoria Ash as well as genuine desire to turn back the Sabbat. In the end, he has to choose whether he must continue being a soft touch or destroy the things he loves in life for power. Given this is the World of Darkness, his choice shouldn't come as a surprise but somehow does.
Jan Pierterzoon is the protagonist of the books and a character I have mixed feelings on. He appears to be a somewhat ignorant (not believing in the Antediluvians) herald for his sire but one of the least horrible vampires we've met so far. This is subverted when he find out what Jan's feeding restriction (which all Ventrue suffer from) is. He can only prey upon certain types of people and the realization is suitably nightmarish. On the other hand, it feels a bit cheap as well as if they wanted a way to show that Jan had a dark side and went with the most obviously "bad" thing they could. The way he fetishizes trauma victims is also more relevant now when criticizing self-styled "heroes" that we understand things a bit better than the Nineties.
This is an intensely political book with lots of backstabbing, manipulation, and seduction. Surprisingly, this is probably the best book for Victoria Ash of Clan Novel: Toreador. While she plays the role of femme fatale, using her Presence to bring lust back into the hearts of Kindred who have long since abandoned the need for sexual urges, she's also someone trying to recover from torture at the hands of the Tzimisce. This includes her killing some fifteen or sixteen mortals to repair the horrible damage done both internally as well as externally. Not all scars can be healed with the blood, though, and she struggles to regain control over her life. She's a much more interesting character this way and it's a shame the book doesn't have more scenes about her.
There's some strange elements to the book that don't quite jive with the tabletop RPG. For example, Jan Pieterzoon is extremely concerned about needing surgery to reset his leg and other issues but the vast majority of vampires, barring Final Death, just need to spend more blood. He's also a very strange choice to lead the defense of the New World versus any Justicar or someone with military experience. That's part of the point but the reason why they send Hardestadt's errand boy is never made clear. Also, Jan spends much of the book running and injured, which is weird for an Elder who has a superpower specifically related to not getting injured.
I also appreciate the fact that we get insight into Prince Garlotte's brood of childer. Isaac, Fin, and Katrina who add a new dimension to Clan Ventrue. Isaac is the somewhat dull and uninspired but extremely loyal Sheriff. Fin is the romantic vampire teenager deeply in love with his girlfriend Morena but unaware just how much danger he's put her in. Katrina is a lesbian in a polyamorous relationship that was Embraced to be a substitute for the Prince's wife.
In conclusion, I really enjoyed this book but I feel like Jan Pieterzoon is actually the biggest weakness in it. While Garlotte and his brood is fascinating, Jan is somewhat one-dimensionally loyal to the Camarilla with a disgusting weakness. I actually wanted to get back to the Prince and his childer or Victoria Ash's scheming for the majority of the book.
March 7, 2014
The Ventrue Clan's arrogance shines through in this story. Miserable sods.
March 26, 2014
Reseña completa en mi blog:
http://drdeadwish.blogspot.com.ar/201...
Los Ventrue no son muy queridos por el público debido a su personalidad. He visto que mucha gente ponía un puntaje bajo a este libro simplemente porque decía "Ventrue" en la tapa. No soy amigo de este clan, pero encontré en este libro una perfecta representación de la forma en que se maneja la Camarilla y los vampiros en general: toda palabra es medida, todo movimiento calculado, no importa que el Sabbat esté sitiando la ciudad, siempre un vampiro va a tratar de sacar ventaja de la situación, por mínima que sea. Y un cainita siempre tratará de evitar a toda costa ceder un milímetro del poder que ya ha ganado. Esto genera una situación muy compleja y muy interesante, y un juego de alianzas y traiciones que nada tiene que envidiar a obras más conocidas como Juego de Tronos, aunque la calidad de los detalles no esté a esa altura.
http://drdeadwish.blogspot.com.ar/201...
Los Ventrue no son muy queridos por el público debido a su personalidad. He visto que mucha gente ponía un puntaje bajo a este libro simplemente porque decía "Ventrue" en la tapa. No soy amigo de este clan, pero encontré en este libro una perfecta representación de la forma en que se maneja la Camarilla y los vampiros en general: toda palabra es medida, todo movimiento calculado, no importa que el Sabbat esté sitiando la ciudad, siempre un vampiro va a tratar de sacar ventaja de la situación, por mínima que sea. Y un cainita siempre tratará de evitar a toda costa ceder un milímetro del poder que ya ha ganado. Esto genera una situación muy compleja y muy interesante, y un juego de alianzas y traiciones que nada tiene que envidiar a obras más conocidas como Juego de Tronos, aunque la calidad de los detalles no esté a esa altura.
February 24, 2015
Excelente libro, toda la acción ausente en el anterior estuvo aquí. Continuando con la guerra Camarilla vs Sabbat que quedó en pausa en la novela del clan Tzimice, podemos ver el otro lado. Los Ventrue son un clan orgulloso de negociadores y genios políticos. Odiados por muchos, en ellos recae la responsabilidad de liderar a La Camarilla. Perdiendo gran parte de su territorio en la costa este de los Estados Unidos a manos de un increíblemente organizado Sabbat, depende del chiquillo de Hardestadt, fundador de La Camarilla, volver todo a la normalidad.
Es una novela de tramas políticas, donde a pesar de las circunstancias, nadie quiere ceder un solo centímetro de poder. Es un libro increíble y amé cada capítulo.
Es una novela de tramas políticas, donde a pesar de las circunstancias, nadie quiere ceder un solo centímetro de poder. Es un libro increíble y amé cada capítulo.
February 14, 2011
This is a fantastic series if you are a fan or player of the Vampire the Masquerade Table Top game. I gave it a 3 because I don't recomend this series to those who are not.
August 31, 2014
Well portrayed political intrigue makes this book the best fit for the Ventrue Clan.
July 12, 2017
One of the most memorable endings in the series. Loved it.
February 4, 2026
Ooookay... well, after the really really entertaining and fun to read... the one is just underwhelming
It is okay, and a bit heavy on the typos throughout the book. It does seem to do a bit better of a job of keeping to the gimmick of this series. That is keeping its focus squarely onto Ventrue for the most part
Though, the first third it seems like, maybe, it might be going back to the bad habits of the first two books
I will note with how the characters Leopold and Victoria are getting placed into events... it kind of further removes the first books ability to claim it is focused on Toreador. Though perhaps from this entire event being a long Toreador thirteen part novel--to a certain degree
The third and fourth books are still my favourites--with me saying book four is the best so far in this series
NOW THE REALLY IRRITATING PART
As I am reading this book, a whole metric fsck tonne of Epstein files just dropped. Showing a completely separate masquerade occurring over a similar period of time as the World of Darkness stuff
Now, we do have 9/11, the rise of school shootings and an increase in "mentally ill young men" (The term "terrorist" only applies to brown people, black people or environmentalists). All of these kind of create a weird dated feeling for this book. As it was written in a different world entirely than the one I am currently reading it within today. Making it feel much more of a fantasy world
I mean, it should not feel like I am reading some story set in the far off mythological land of New Zealand with elves, and singing, and drew drop potions, and dwarfs harrassing balrogs, and wizards doing magic in towers that look similar to ones holding princesses
The whole point of World of Darkness is that it should feel like the world we live in now... but with secret monsters in the shadows stalking the innocent and not so innocent folk
However, the current events happening right now with the Epstein files (on top of the "War on Terror", various CIA schemes completely confirmed, the truth of the war on drugs, etc., etc.)... well... uh... kind of make the world of various entries in The World of Darkness seem like a nice happy cozy friendly secure place. It actually starts to seem much less dangerous of a location
Which... uh... well... is kind of something I haven't quite gotten my head wrapped around when writing this review
I'll presume that the cabal of Pedophiles that Epstein was part of would be just another secret faction hiding from others in the World of Darkness. Along with the Werewolves, Vampires, Mummies, Wraith, Changelings, Mages and what have you. "Pedophiles: the Dentist Chairings" is something that has nearly as bad taste as the addition to the lore that ran under a slur for the Roma
Though, this turns dark my head canon joke that the various masquerades would work to cover up possible leaks from other hidden factions entirely by accident--thinking that it was their own secret faction that accidentally made the leak (but not knowing where/how). Like a bunch of Mummies screw up, and an entire faction of Mages work to cover it up, not knowing it was the Mummies' screw up--not really being overtly aware of the Mummies even being a thing
I dunno... kind of feeling weird how current events are somewhat making The World of Darkness seem like Happy Squiggles Happy Fun Hug Love and Caring and Fun Happy Land... and it is messing with my ability to read the book in a tone that the writer of the book would prefer for it to be written in
I am not going to suggest that the monsters be made worse. No--more monsters in our world should be held accountable, and justice for those harmed should be delivered
... though... it would be funny if the Inquisition just stopped caring to go after Vampires, Werewolves, etc., on the grounds of "yeah... you guys just drain people of blood and walk around as a mockery of somebody who people once loved. Honestly, that is just a Tuesday craigslist post--no, we've decided to focus on something that is actually really evil"...
Sorry... this was too long of an aside where I've not really sorted out my own feelings on a bit of current events that really interferes with the world building here of "The 1990s, except with somewhat less evil monsters hiding in the shadows" really hitting how it should hit
It is okay, and a bit heavy on the typos throughout the book. It does seem to do a bit better of a job of keeping to the gimmick of this series. That is keeping its focus squarely onto Ventrue for the most part
Though, the first third it seems like, maybe, it might be going back to the bad habits of the first two books
I will note with how the characters Leopold and Victoria are getting placed into events... it kind of further removes the first books ability to claim it is focused on Toreador. Though perhaps from this entire event being a long Toreador thirteen part novel--to a certain degree
The third and fourth books are still my favourites--with me saying book four is the best so far in this series
NOW THE REALLY IRRITATING PART
As I am reading this book, a whole metric fsck tonne of Epstein files just dropped. Showing a completely separate masquerade occurring over a similar period of time as the World of Darkness stuff
Now, we do have 9/11, the rise of school shootings and an increase in "mentally ill young men" (The term "terrorist" only applies to brown people, black people or environmentalists). All of these kind of create a weird dated feeling for this book. As it was written in a different world entirely than the one I am currently reading it within today. Making it feel much more of a fantasy world
I mean, it should not feel like I am reading some story set in the far off mythological land of New Zealand with elves, and singing, and drew drop potions, and dwarfs harrassing balrogs, and wizards doing magic in towers that look similar to ones holding princesses
The whole point of World of Darkness is that it should feel like the world we live in now... but with secret monsters in the shadows stalking the innocent and not so innocent folk
However, the current events happening right now with the Epstein files (on top of the "War on Terror", various CIA schemes completely confirmed, the truth of the war on drugs, etc., etc.)... well... uh... kind of make the world of various entries in The World of Darkness seem like a nice happy cozy friendly secure place. It actually starts to seem much less dangerous of a location
Which... uh... well... is kind of something I haven't quite gotten my head wrapped around when writing this review
I'll presume that the cabal of Pedophiles that Epstein was part of would be just another secret faction hiding from others in the World of Darkness. Along with the Werewolves, Vampires, Mummies, Wraith, Changelings, Mages and what have you. "Pedophiles: the Dentist Chairings" is something that has nearly as bad taste as the addition to the lore that ran under a slur for the Roma
Though, this turns dark my head canon joke that the various masquerades would work to cover up possible leaks from other hidden factions entirely by accident--thinking that it was their own secret faction that accidentally made the leak (but not knowing where/how). Like a bunch of Mummies screw up, and an entire faction of Mages work to cover it up, not knowing it was the Mummies' screw up--not really being overtly aware of the Mummies even being a thing
I dunno... kind of feeling weird how current events are somewhat making The World of Darkness seem like Happy Squiggles Happy Fun Hug Love and Caring and Fun Happy Land... and it is messing with my ability to read the book in a tone that the writer of the book would prefer for it to be written in
I am not going to suggest that the monsters be made worse. No--more monsters in our world should be held accountable, and justice for those harmed should be delivered
... though... it would be funny if the Inquisition just stopped caring to go after Vampires, Werewolves, etc., on the grounds of "yeah... you guys just drain people of blood and walk around as a mockery of somebody who people once loved. Honestly, that is just a Tuesday craigslist post--no, we've decided to focus on something that is actually really evil"...
Sorry... this was too long of an aside where I've not really sorted out my own feelings on a bit of current events that really interferes with the world building here of "The 1990s, except with somewhat less evil monsters hiding in the shadows" really hitting how it should hit
July 12, 2019
4.5/5
CLAN NOVEL: VENTRUE by Gherbod Fleming is the fifth novel of the Vampire: The Masquerade Clan Novel series. It is a series published in 1999 and told a thirteen novel story about the conflict between Sabbat (bad vampires) invading the cities belonging to the Camarilla (less bad vampires). A magical artifact called the Eye of Hazmiel was serving as a wild card during it and each new book's protagonist was a glimpse into one of the individual undead's journey. Each book also served as an illustration about what a specific clan was all about.
Clan Ventrue is the vampire clan of nobles, knights, politicians, and executives. Serving as the suave leaders of the Camarilla, they've always been somewhat vanilla compared to other Clans. Many of the great villains of the setting have been Ventrue like Prince Lodin, Hardelstadt the Younger, and Sebastian La Croix. They've also been the protagonists of many works like Prince Julian Luna from the ill-fated Kindred the Embraced. This book does a decent job exploring the contrast of the Ventrue's affable leadership contrasted to their dark entitled self. They may not be as exciting a set of leaders as the Lasombra, Tzimisce, Toreador, or Tremere but they get the job done.
The premise of this novel is that we get a sense of how the Camarilla is responding to the Sabbat's successful invasion of over a dozen cities. The Fall of Atlanta was terrible but it is the fall of Washington D.C. that has caused the Camarilla to panic. Well, perhaps panic is not the best word as the Inner Council sends not even a Justicar to defend the New World's cities but a single representative in Jan Pieterzoon. The city of Baltimore, Maryland becomes the establishment's new headquarters with the arrogant Prince Garlotte as the new defender of "civilized" vampiredom. Jan must work with Prince Garlotte, refugee demagogue Victoria Ash, archon Theo Bell, and the mysterious Prince Marcus Vitel to try to stop the Sabbat onslaught.
A major theme of the book is how the Ventrue appear to be caring leaders but are awful people underneath. Ironically, I think Garlotte actually works better than cover character Jan Pieterzoon in establishing this. Garlotte is a self-absorbed administrator who isn't anywhere near the most powerful Prince in America but threatens to turn the entire defense into his own personal army. Despite this, he's actually fairly lenient with his childer and is humanized in his lust with Victoria Ash as well as genuine desire to turn back the Sabbat. In the end, he has to choose whether he must continue being a soft touch or destroy the things he loves in life for power. Given this is the World of Darkness, his choice shouldn't come as a surprise but somehow does.
Jan Pierterzoon is the protagonist of the books and a character I have mixed feelings on. He appears to be a somewhat ignorant (not believing in the Antediluvians) herald for his sire but one of the least horrible vampires we've met so far. This is subverted when he find out what Jan's feeding restriction (which all Ventrue suffer from) is. He can only prey upon certain types of people and the realization is suitably nightmarish. On the other hand, it feels a bit cheap as well as if they wanted a way to show that Jan had a dark side and went with the most obviously "bad" thing they could. The way he fetishizes trauma victims is also more relevant now when criticizing self-styled "heroes" that we understand things a bit better than the Nineties.
This is an intensely political book with lots of backstabbing, manipulation, and seduction. Surprisingly, this is probably the best book for Victoria Ash of Clan Novel: Toreador. While she plays the role of femme fatale, using her Presence to bring lust back into the hearts of Kindred who have long since abandoned the need for sexual urges, she's also someone trying to recover from torture at the hands of the Tzimisce. This includes her killing some fifteen or sixteen mortals to repair the horrible damage done both internally as well as externally. Not all scars can be healed with the blood, though, and she struggles to regain control over her life. She's a much more interesting character this way and it's a shame the book doesn't have more scenes about her.
There's some strange elements to the book that don't quite jive with the tabletop RPG. For example, Jan Pieterzoon is extremely concerned about needing surgery to reset his leg and other issues but the vast majority of vampires, barring Final Death, just need to spend more blood. He's also a very strange choice to lead the defense of the New World versus any Justicar or someone with military experience. That's part of the point but the reason why they send Hardestadt's errand boy is never made clear. Also, Jan spends much of the book running and injured, which is weird for an Elder who has a superpower specifically related to not getting injured.
I also appreciate the fact that we get insight into Prince Garlotte's brood of childer. Isaac, Fin, and Katrina who add a new dimension to Clan Ventrue. Isaac is the somewhat dull and uninspired but extremely loyal Sheriff. Fin is the romantic vampire teenager deeply in love with his girlfriend Morena but unaware just how much danger he's put her in. Katrina is a lesbian in a polyamorous relationship that was Embraced to be a substitute for the Prince's wife.
In conclusion, I really enjoyed this book but I feel like Jan Pieterzoon is actually the biggest weakness in it. While Garlotte and his brood is fascinating, Jan is somewhat one-dimensionally loyal to the Camarilla with a disgusting weakness. I actually wanted to get back to the Prince and his childer or Victoria Ash's scheming for the majority of the book.
CLAN NOVEL: VENTRUE by Gherbod Fleming is the fifth novel of the Vampire: The Masquerade Clan Novel series. It is a series published in 1999 and told a thirteen novel story about the conflict between Sabbat (bad vampires) invading the cities belonging to the Camarilla (less bad vampires). A magical artifact called the Eye of Hazmiel was serving as a wild card during it and each new book's protagonist was a glimpse into one of the individual undead's journey. Each book also served as an illustration about what a specific clan was all about.
Clan Ventrue is the vampire clan of nobles, knights, politicians, and executives. Serving as the suave leaders of the Camarilla, they've always been somewhat vanilla compared to other Clans. Many of the great villains of the setting have been Ventrue like Prince Lodin, Hardelstadt the Younger, and Sebastian La Croix. They've also been the protagonists of many works like Prince Julian Luna from the ill-fated Kindred the Embraced. This book does a decent job exploring the contrast of the Ventrue's affable leadership contrasted to their dark entitled self. They may not be as exciting a set of leaders as the Lasombra, Tzimisce, Toreador, or Tremere but they get the job done.
The premise of this novel is that we get a sense of how the Camarilla is responding to the Sabbat's successful invasion of over a dozen cities. The Fall of Atlanta was terrible but it is the fall of Washington D.C. that has caused the Camarilla to panic. Well, perhaps panic is not the best word as the Inner Council sends not even a Justicar to defend the New World's cities but a single representative in Jan Pieterzoon. The city of Baltimore, Maryland becomes the establishment's new headquarters with the arrogant Prince Garlotte as the new defender of "civilized" vampiredom. Jan must work with Prince Garlotte, refugee demagogue Victoria Ash, archon Theo Bell, and the mysterious Prince Marcus Vitel to try to stop the Sabbat onslaught.
A major theme of the book is how the Ventrue appear to be caring leaders but are awful people underneath. Ironically, I think Garlotte actually works better than cover character Jan Pieterzoon in establishing this. Garlotte is a self-absorbed administrator who isn't anywhere near the most powerful Prince in America but threatens to turn the entire defense into his own personal army. Despite this, he's actually fairly lenient with his childer and is humanized in his lust with Victoria Ash as well as genuine desire to turn back the Sabbat. In the end, he has to choose whether he must continue being a soft touch or destroy the things he loves in life for power. Given this is the World of Darkness, his choice shouldn't come as a surprise but somehow does.
Jan Pierterzoon is the protagonist of the books and a character I have mixed feelings on. He appears to be a somewhat ignorant (not believing in the Antediluvians) herald for his sire but one of the least horrible vampires we've met so far. This is subverted when he find out what Jan's feeding restriction (which all Ventrue suffer from) is. He can only prey upon certain types of people and the realization is suitably nightmarish. On the other hand, it feels a bit cheap as well as if they wanted a way to show that Jan had a dark side and went with the most obviously "bad" thing they could. The way he fetishizes trauma victims is also more relevant now when criticizing self-styled "heroes" that we understand things a bit better than the Nineties.
This is an intensely political book with lots of backstabbing, manipulation, and seduction. Surprisingly, this is probably the best book for Victoria Ash of Clan Novel: Toreador. While she plays the role of femme fatale, using her Presence to bring lust back into the hearts of Kindred who have long since abandoned the need for sexual urges, she's also someone trying to recover from torture at the hands of the Tzimisce. This includes her killing some fifteen or sixteen mortals to repair the horrible damage done both internally as well as externally. Not all scars can be healed with the blood, though, and she struggles to regain control over her life. She's a much more interesting character this way and it's a shame the book doesn't have more scenes about her.
There's some strange elements to the book that don't quite jive with the tabletop RPG. For example, Jan Pieterzoon is extremely concerned about needing surgery to reset his leg and other issues but the vast majority of vampires, barring Final Death, just need to spend more blood. He's also a very strange choice to lead the defense of the New World versus any Justicar or someone with military experience. That's part of the point but the reason why they send Hardestadt's errand boy is never made clear. Also, Jan spends much of the book running and injured, which is weird for an Elder who has a superpower specifically related to not getting injured.
I also appreciate the fact that we get insight into Prince Garlotte's brood of childer. Isaac, Fin, and Katrina who add a new dimension to Clan Ventrue. Isaac is the somewhat dull and uninspired but extremely loyal Sheriff. Fin is the romantic vampire teenager deeply in love with his girlfriend Morena but unaware just how much danger he's put her in. Katrina is a lesbian in a polyamorous relationship that was Embraced to be a substitute for the Prince's wife.
In conclusion, I really enjoyed this book but I feel like Jan Pieterzoon is actually the biggest weakness in it. While Garlotte and his brood is fascinating, Jan is somewhat one-dimensionally loyal to the Camarilla with a disgusting weakness. I actually wanted to get back to the Prince and his childer or Victoria Ash's scheming for the majority of the book.
June 27, 2018
Full review here:
http://jamesgenrebooks.blogspot.com/2...
This actually has turned out to be one of the better books in the series, even if the focus is less on the signature character and more on moving along the greater plot. Which is fine, since Jan is a stuffed shirt.
http://jamesgenrebooks.blogspot.com/2...
This actually has turned out to be one of the better books in the series, even if the focus is less on the signature character and more on moving along the greater plot. Which is fine, since Jan is a stuffed shirt.
January 22, 2023
While the overarching story is still a good one, and its for the most part well written, the series doesn't really explain the differences between clans anymore. Its a good book, but I don't see what makes a venture so different from any other vampire.
The other books explained this difference by having you be one of the vampires. That stopped around the novel Setite, and continues here.
The other books explained this difference by having you be one of the vampires. That stopped around the novel Setite, and continues here.
December 5, 2018
I am blogging the reviews to this whole series.
It starts here: http://pseudopod.org/2018/10/25/the-c...
And for this book:
http://pseudopod.org/2018/11/29/the-c...
It starts here: http://pseudopod.org/2018/10/25/the-c...
And for this book:
http://pseudopod.org/2018/11/29/the-c...
January 15, 2021
This is exactly what I would expect from a Vampire: the Masquerade book: action, court intrigues, apocalyptic mystery... Plus five major characters from World of Darkness in one book. Everything's well written and paced. So far this is my favourite clan novel.
July 30, 2024
Oh brother, this guy STINKS!!!!!!!!!!! This one made me give up on the series. I'm gonna come back to it, but holy CHRIST this one was a slog. Vampire literature equivalent of flagellating yourself in an upscale meeting room.
Read
June 25, 2024Intrigue and politics is the main theme of this book.Who is the ally ,who is the fiend?
September 26, 2020
Godfather-style intrigue
The story takes place days after the events of the previous books. It focuses on the Camarilla, Anarchs, and the mob boss-esque Ventrue struggle to put up a defense against the Sabbat. The action is really picking up.
The story takes place days after the events of the previous books. It focuses on the Camarilla, Anarchs, and the mob boss-esque Ventrue struggle to put up a defense against the Sabbat. The action is really picking up.
August 7, 2019
the last one i read from this series
and i dont think i ll ever complete them
for some reason i loved the first three
the other two were just ok for me
i had a good time but i couldnt get invested with either the characters or the plot
decent books tho
and i dont think i ll ever complete them
for some reason i loved the first three
the other two were just ok for me
i had a good time but i couldnt get invested with either the characters or the plot
decent books tho
February 22, 2019
Back with a vengeance thanks to the Ventrue
May 24, 2020
Romance muito bom.
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