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Blood Wine #4
The Dark Arts of Blood
Not yet published
Expected 2 Jan 79The all-new eagerly anticipated fourth instalment of the classic vampire romance series! Perfect for paranormal romance fans that prefer their fiction with a bit more bite!
The Dark Arts of Blood is the long-awaited brand-new fourth novel in the Blood books series by Freda Warrington, following vampires Carl, Charlotte and Violette as they come up against an enemy that threatens their very existence.
The Dark Arts of Blood is the long-awaited brand-new fourth novel in the Blood books series by Freda Warrington, following vampires Carl, Charlotte and Violette as they come up against an enemy that threatens their very existence.
464 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published May 5, 2015
11 people are currently reading
460 people want to read
About the author
Freda Warrington
52 books326 followersFreda Warrington is an award-winning British author, known for her epic fantasy, vampire and supernatural novels.
“The Blood Wine books are addictive, thrilling reads that are impossible to put down and they definitely deserve more attention” – Worldhopping.net
Her earliest novels, the Blackbird series, were written and published in the 1980s. In the intervening years she has seen numerous novels of epic fantasy, supernatural and contemporary fantasy, vampires, dark romance, horror and alternative history published.
Her novel ELFLAND won the Romantic Times BEST FANTASY NOVEL Award in 2009, while her 1997 Dracula sequel DRACULA THE UNDEAD won the Dracula Society's BEST GOTHIC NOVEL Award.
Four of her novels (Dark Cathedral, Pagan Moon, Dracula the Undead, and The Amber Citadel) have been nominated or shortlisted for the British Fantasy Society's Best Novel award. The American Library Association placed MIDSUMMER NIGHT in its Top Ten for 2010.
Recently Titan Book reissued her popular romantic-gothic Blood Wine vampire series set in the 1920s - A Taste of Blood Wine, A Dance in Blood Velvet and The Dark Blood of Poppies - along with a brand new novel, The Dark Arts of Blood. In 2017, Telos Publishing will publish her first short story collection, NIGHTS OF BLOOD WINE, featuring fifteen lush dark tales - ten set in her Blood Wine world, and five others of gothic weirdness.
In 2003, Simon & Schuster published The Court of the Midnight King, an alternative history/ fantasy retelling of the story of King Richard III. To celebrate all the events surrounding the discovery of Richard III's remains in Leicester, The Court of the Midnight King is now available on Kindle and in paperback format. Most of her backlist titles, including the Blackbird series, Dracula the Undead, Dark Cathedral and Pagan Moon, can already be found on Kindle or will be available in the next few months.
Warrington has also seen numerous short stories published in anthologies and magazines. For further information, visit her website Freda Warrington
Born in Leicester, Warrington grew up in the Charnwood Forest area of Leicestershire. After completing high school, she trained at Loughborough College of Art and Design and worked in medical illustration and graphic design for some years. She eventually moved to full-time writing, and also still enjoys design, photography, art, jewellery-making and other crafts, travelling and conventions.
Series:
* Jewelfire
* Dark Cathedral
* Aetherial Tales
* Blackbird
“The Blood Wine books are addictive, thrilling reads that are impossible to put down and they definitely deserve more attention” – Worldhopping.net
Her earliest novels, the Blackbird series, were written and published in the 1980s. In the intervening years she has seen numerous novels of epic fantasy, supernatural and contemporary fantasy, vampires, dark romance, horror and alternative history published.
Her novel ELFLAND won the Romantic Times BEST FANTASY NOVEL Award in 2009, while her 1997 Dracula sequel DRACULA THE UNDEAD won the Dracula Society's BEST GOTHIC NOVEL Award.
Four of her novels (Dark Cathedral, Pagan Moon, Dracula the Undead, and The Amber Citadel) have been nominated or shortlisted for the British Fantasy Society's Best Novel award. The American Library Association placed MIDSUMMER NIGHT in its Top Ten for 2010.
Recently Titan Book reissued her popular romantic-gothic Blood Wine vampire series set in the 1920s - A Taste of Blood Wine, A Dance in Blood Velvet and The Dark Blood of Poppies - along with a brand new novel, The Dark Arts of Blood. In 2017, Telos Publishing will publish her first short story collection, NIGHTS OF BLOOD WINE, featuring fifteen lush dark tales - ten set in her Blood Wine world, and five others of gothic weirdness.
In 2003, Simon & Schuster published The Court of the Midnight King, an alternative history/ fantasy retelling of the story of King Richard III. To celebrate all the events surrounding the discovery of Richard III's remains in Leicester, The Court of the Midnight King is now available on Kindle and in paperback format. Most of her backlist titles, including the Blackbird series, Dracula the Undead, Dark Cathedral and Pagan Moon, can already be found on Kindle or will be available in the next few months.
Warrington has also seen numerous short stories published in anthologies and magazines. For further information, visit her website Freda Warrington
Born in Leicester, Warrington grew up in the Charnwood Forest area of Leicestershire. After completing high school, she trained at Loughborough College of Art and Design and worked in medical illustration and graphic design for some years. She eventually moved to full-time writing, and also still enjoys design, photography, art, jewellery-making and other crafts, travelling and conventions.
Series:
* Jewelfire
* Dark Cathedral
* Aetherial Tales
* Blackbird
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
January 20, 2016
The Dark Arts of Blood is much like the other books in this series: lush, sexy, gothic, and unapologetic about that. The plot and such are more or less the same sort of fare: mythology shaping the world, the world shaping the mythology, the vampires trying to live in peace but being fundamentally at odds with the world because of their need for blood… For the most part, this belated addition to the series works seamlessly with the earlier books; it also doesn’t descend into any kind of nostalgia for the older books. There are consequences. Things happen to characters who we wished were safe. The mythology and magic of the world — and the tumultuous period of history the books are set in — continues to intensify.
One thing which didn’t work for me was the sub-plot with Charlotte and the lamia. It’s much the same kind of conflict she’s already faced, which was resolved in The Dark Blood of Poppies. I didn’t buy that it would resurface like this, especially when other vampires didn’t face similar problems at all with the same stimulus.
Still, the addition of more vampires to the world, going further afield and seeing other countries, is definitely welcome. And despite the fact that they got together in the first book, the relationship between Charlotte and Karl still has the same intensity now. It’s also good that despite the fact that they disagree, there is rarely high drama about it — the second book showed the biggest threat of that, but they worked on it. That is always great to see in romance fiction.
Bottom line? If you like morally ambiguous, often amoral vampires who are actually scary and otherworldly and not just humans with stick-on fangs and extra sex appeal, I do recommend this series. I’m thinking of acquiring the books for myself (I read them all from the library) for later rereading. I never expected to get so caught up, from reading the first book — there’s something so deliciously self-indulgent about them.
Originally posted here.
One thing which didn’t work for me was the sub-plot with Charlotte and the lamia. It’s much the same kind of conflict she’s already faced, which was resolved in The Dark Blood of Poppies. I didn’t buy that it would resurface like this, especially when other vampires didn’t face similar problems at all with the same stimulus.
Still, the addition of more vampires to the world, going further afield and seeing other countries, is definitely welcome. And despite the fact that they got together in the first book, the relationship between Charlotte and Karl still has the same intensity now. It’s also good that despite the fact that they disagree, there is rarely high drama about it — the second book showed the biggest threat of that, but they worked on it. That is always great to see in romance fiction.
Bottom line? If you like morally ambiguous, often amoral vampires who are actually scary and otherworldly and not just humans with stick-on fangs and extra sex appeal, I do recommend this series. I’m thinking of acquiring the books for myself (I read them all from the library) for later rereading. I never expected to get so caught up, from reading the first book — there’s something so deliciously self-indulgent about them.
Originally posted here.
Read
June 12, 20233.5
maybe not my favorite in the series, it just felt really repetitive at times, unnecessary things that I already knew but I enjoyed it enough.
I did liked the new characters, and how their lives were connected to Karl and the rest of the vampires. what happened to Stefan broke my heart (I actually cried) but am glad he came out fine because he's my 2nd favorite.
I'm going to miss these books! :'(
maybe not my favorite in the series, it just felt really repetitive at times, unnecessary things that I already knew but I enjoyed it enough.
I did liked the new characters, and how their lives were connected to Karl and the rest of the vampires. what happened to Stefan broke my heart (I actually cried) but am glad he came out fine because he's my 2nd favorite.
I'm going to miss these books! :'(
July 1, 2022
It was ok
I love Freda Warrington’s books, and I did really enjoy this series, but books 3 and 4 did drag on for a bit. They almost aren’t fully necessary to read if you don’t want to continue on.
I love Freda Warrington’s books, and I did really enjoy this series, but books 3 and 4 did drag on for a bit. They almost aren’t fully necessary to read if you don’t want to continue on.
January 6, 2016
I remember liking the first book of the series (sadly my library has got rid of all the others so I've now only read the first and fourth book), so I had high expectations for this one. Perhaps too high. The first half was rather boring romancy stuff but I was stuck with it as I had taken the book with me for Christmas reading. It was a fast read nevertheless (as I didn't care that much if I skipped some details), and the story picked up after about half way through where something actually started happening. The second half was actually rather enjoyable.
October 28, 2017
I absolutely adore this series and was delighted to discover that there was a book I hadn't read. The vampire genre is a bit dated and cliche since Twilight, but Karl, Charlotte and their friends have an elegance that take these stories way above average. Set in the period between the two wars it shows the decadence of the twenties and early thirties as well as foreshadowing the rise of Germany.
November 26, 2017
If you love Anne Rice please read this series. Freda is amazing at crafting a beautiful, lyrical story. She has the gothic, vampire genre down pat without being cliche. I could read her all day, every day.
September 30, 2017
Fourth in the Blood series with A Taste of Blood Wine, A Dance in Blood Velvet and The Dark Blood of Poppies, the story surrounds a small cast of characters we see develop through the volumes both mentally and physically. In A Taste of Blood Wine, it is 1918 and two vampires have struggled for dominance on the battlefields of the First World War, Karl and his master Kristian. When Karl meets Charlotte, she is drawn to him more than the man she is about to marry. A Dance in Blood Velvet has Karl's former lover decide to take back what she views as hers -- Karl and no Charlotte will stop her from getting what she wants. In The Dark Blood of Poppies, ballerina, Violette has undergone a change that could devastate others while Violette, Karl and Charlotte are faced with a terrible destiny -- to be confronted by those who they have previously fought and killed. Proudly build as "A tale of madness, longing...and blood..." Charlotte and Karl are now faced with a newer problem, Godrick Reiniger, a film-maker who desires more than to make movies.
The Dark Arts of Blood is separated into two parts with several smaller chapters that create an epic feel about it. These vampires seem more sophisticated than, say, the ones from a Stephen King novel. Their settings are bourgeois in their development and the characters never lose their edge. While the other three novels have set the scene and developed the characters, this, the latest in the series, has a twist in the tale of which I am very fond ever since reading Roald Dahl's deliciously disturbing stories. The first part centres on Charlotte wanting to have a life with Karl, one that involved them being left in peace. She no longer needs to be embroiled in the darker side of vampirism in an era of war and death. For the first time in her life, Charlotte is happy, but there is one around who could spoil her happiness.
Within all the mystery and intrigue of vampire existence, an interesting part of it is The Crystal Ring, an otherworld only for vampires that lies among the human world, yet it shows the vampires as they truly are without discrimination. Also there is a downside to it as the Crystal Ring will only allow a certain amount of vampires exist in it at any one time. This alone gives vampires a reason to live in a harmony of sorts, or risk being enemies and die. Vampires in this volume are all things, dark, sinister and beguiling, though thy have a weaker side made more so by the ritual daggers or sakakin. For Godrick, there is one missing out of the many and he is desperate to take it from the one vampire whom he is afraid of.
With an air of the theatrical, Freda Warrington manages to create a luxurious tale that ties up loose ends from the other two novels and leaves fans wanting more of the same. Each character has their own personality, the one they show and the one they try to hide. Godrick pretends to be the dominant, feared man who always gets what he wants but is fearful of the vampires he is supposed to loathe. In the style of those like Anne Rice, Warrington has made a tale that beats convention and shows readers what is more likely to happen to vampires than in many other novels. It is lovely to see that what were once 90s novels have been republished for a fresh audience who have already indulged in the Twilight novels. The cover art for this one and the other three is striking and beautiful in a gothic way and tells a lot about the kind of novels they are. This is for those who want to curl up with a good book, but they might want to first invest in the other three novels, as it is well worth it.
The Dark Arts of Blood is separated into two parts with several smaller chapters that create an epic feel about it. These vampires seem more sophisticated than, say, the ones from a Stephen King novel. Their settings are bourgeois in their development and the characters never lose their edge. While the other three novels have set the scene and developed the characters, this, the latest in the series, has a twist in the tale of which I am very fond ever since reading Roald Dahl's deliciously disturbing stories. The first part centres on Charlotte wanting to have a life with Karl, one that involved them being left in peace. She no longer needs to be embroiled in the darker side of vampirism in an era of war and death. For the first time in her life, Charlotte is happy, but there is one around who could spoil her happiness.
Within all the mystery and intrigue of vampire existence, an interesting part of it is The Crystal Ring, an otherworld only for vampires that lies among the human world, yet it shows the vampires as they truly are without discrimination. Also there is a downside to it as the Crystal Ring will only allow a certain amount of vampires exist in it at any one time. This alone gives vampires a reason to live in a harmony of sorts, or risk being enemies and die. Vampires in this volume are all things, dark, sinister and beguiling, though thy have a weaker side made more so by the ritual daggers or sakakin. For Godrick, there is one missing out of the many and he is desperate to take it from the one vampire whom he is afraid of.
With an air of the theatrical, Freda Warrington manages to create a luxurious tale that ties up loose ends from the other two novels and leaves fans wanting more of the same. Each character has their own personality, the one they show and the one they try to hide. Godrick pretends to be the dominant, feared man who always gets what he wants but is fearful of the vampires he is supposed to loathe. In the style of those like Anne Rice, Warrington has made a tale that beats convention and shows readers what is more likely to happen to vampires than in many other novels. It is lovely to see that what were once 90s novels have been republished for a fresh audience who have already indulged in the Twilight novels. The cover art for this one and the other three is striking and beautiful in a gothic way and tells a lot about the kind of novels they are. This is for those who want to curl up with a good book, but they might want to first invest in the other three novels, as it is well worth it.
March 16, 2018
This one took a little longer for me to read than usual because one, I was slammed with work, classes after work, and volunteering on the weekends and two, I didn't want it to end. I know as of right now this is the last book in the series and I was dreading for it to come to an end because I've never read something so fantastical, lush, and quite honestly brilliant. Charlotte and Karl's relationship continues to inspire me and I can't help but fall in love with them over and over again. Their relationship is beautiful and the strength they have together is wonderful.
I was heartbroken with what happened to Stefan and Niklas but was extremely happy to see Stefan come out of it. I don't know what I would have done if something had happened to him. I was on the edge of my seat screaming "No!" the whole time. (More like the edge of my bed I sat bolt upright and started freaking out.)
We see that Violette is a very warm, generous, and even loving character in this book. It was interesting to see her character development; a new side of her. The more I read about her the more I like her. Its very hard to sway my opinion on a character once I've made up my mind. (I hate Violette in the second book.)
I wasn't moved too much by the new characters. Fadiya didn't really do anything for me. Emil annoyed me often. Godrick was a great villain though. A man possessed with a dark vision he would do anything to see it through. The ending was a twist- as always. Freda always throws in that one good scene at the end to grip you until the last page.
All in all I really enjoyed this book. I'd have to say the first will always be my favorite but I truly enjoyed this and how Karl and Charlotte's relationship and story never swayed. I highly recommend this to anyone who not only enjoys vampires but historical romance and prose. I've never read anything more beautiful and suggest you pick up all four books if you intend to read them because you'll be kicking yourself if you don't. You won't be able to put them down!
(P.S. Am I the only one that noticed that on the goodreads synopsis it says Leyla instead of Fadiya?)
I was heartbroken with what happened to Stefan and Niklas but was extremely happy to see Stefan come out of it. I don't know what I would have done if something had happened to him. I was on the edge of my seat screaming "No!" the whole time. (More like the edge of my bed I sat bolt upright and started freaking out.)
We see that Violette is a very warm, generous, and even loving character in this book. It was interesting to see her character development; a new side of her. The more I read about her the more I like her. Its very hard to sway my opinion on a character once I've made up my mind. (I hate Violette in the second book.)
I wasn't moved too much by the new characters. Fadiya didn't really do anything for me. Emil annoyed me often. Godrick was a great villain though. A man possessed with a dark vision he would do anything to see it through. The ending was a twist- as always. Freda always throws in that one good scene at the end to grip you until the last page.
All in all I really enjoyed this book. I'd have to say the first will always be my favorite but I truly enjoyed this and how Karl and Charlotte's relationship and story never swayed. I highly recommend this to anyone who not only enjoys vampires but historical romance and prose. I've never read anything more beautiful and suggest you pick up all four books if you intend to read them because you'll be kicking yourself if you don't. You won't be able to put them down!
(P.S. Am I the only one that noticed that on the goodreads synopsis it says Leyla instead of Fadiya?)
June 24, 2020
Probably my least favorite in this series. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't as good as the previous ones. The pacing was so. Damn. Slow. It was so slow some parts started to feel repetitive after a while. It felt like the characters's feelings didn't change at all throughout the story, because they basically thought the same things throughout most of the book. Also, there was a lot of little things explaining things that happened in previous books that also got repetitive.
That being said, when the story picked up, it was good. I really liked that they left Europe for once, it was such a nice change of scenery. I liked the new vampire, and I liked that this time the main villain was a human (At least I don't remember that being a thing in previous books. Correct me if I'm wrong). There was a lot going on, and a lot of characters, but there wasn't a perspective I hated, despite the pacing. My main problem was that even when it was good, it read as if it was building up to something bigger that didn't end up happening. I'm only saying this because I'm sure this isn't the last book in this series, but I have no clue if a new one will ever come out, so. That was a little disappointing.
Hopefully the next book comes out soon, and not twenty years from now.
That being said, when the story picked up, it was good. I really liked that they left Europe for once, it was such a nice change of scenery. I liked the new vampire, and I liked that this time the main villain was a human (At least I don't remember that being a thing in previous books. Correct me if I'm wrong). There was a lot going on, and a lot of characters, but there wasn't a perspective I hated, despite the pacing. My main problem was that even when it was good, it read as if it was building up to something bigger that didn't end up happening. I'm only saying this because I'm sure this isn't the last book in this series, but I have no clue if a new one will ever come out, so. That was a little disappointing.
Hopefully the next book comes out soon, and not twenty years from now.
August 25, 2017
Whew, yet another sweeping adventure packed with romance, treachery, mythology, and emotion. There were all sorts of stories and side plots that intertwined and led to an exciting climax and an all around fantastic conclusion. Readers get to see all kinds of new locations and settings, meet new characters and watch them react to harrowing scenarios and emotional trials. While I really enjoyed Charlotte's struggles and Karl's past coming back to haunt him, I was mostly intrigued by Violette's story, particularly when it led to a compelling scene near the end. I also have to say that Godric was a very compelling and complex antagonist and honestly wouldn't mind seeing him coming back somehow. The entire book snared me just as completely as the others have. The writing, as usual, was flowing and beautiful, and utterly entrancing. I can't get over just how amazing these books have been and wish there would be more! All vampire romance lovers definitely need to check these books out as soon as possible!
Read
June 13, 2019I had to DNF this at page 187.
Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed a few things about this book. The whole premise of it was fantastic, I loved the worldbuilding and the idea of the crystal ring. I loved the dynamic between Charlotte and Karl. Violette was an okay character to follow. It wasn’t even the writing that put me off, the writing was really good.
What put me off was Godric and Emil. Godric‘s obsession with using film to embolden Swiss supremacy and his attitude towards women, even his own niece, is disgusting. Emil, on the other hand, is a possessive, obsessive man who’s basically a ticking emotional bomb. He also has a horrible attitude towards women. While I’m aware that these two are very clearly the antagonists, I did not want to continue reading the novel and being revolted with the two of them.
I might come back to it some time down the road since I hate not finishing books, but at the moment this book didn’t do it for me.
Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed a few things about this book. The whole premise of it was fantastic, I loved the worldbuilding and the idea of the crystal ring. I loved the dynamic between Charlotte and Karl. Violette was an okay character to follow. It wasn’t even the writing that put me off, the writing was really good.
What put me off was Godric and Emil. Godric‘s obsession with using film to embolden Swiss supremacy and his attitude towards women, even his own niece, is disgusting. Emil, on the other hand, is a possessive, obsessive man who’s basically a ticking emotional bomb. He also has a horrible attitude towards women. While I’m aware that these two are very clearly the antagonists, I did not want to continue reading the novel and being revolted with the two of them.
I might come back to it some time down the road since I hate not finishing books, but at the moment this book didn’t do it for me.
June 17, 2017
Welcome home
Coming back to this world that Warrington created was thrilling. I purchased her first book in this series from a store when I was about 19. From there, I became totally enthralled in the world of Karl and Charlotte and surrounding vampires. This story was just as beautifully composed. The characters the same and as mesmerising to me. Beauty, darkness, sensuality. So looking forward to more from this world that Warrington has entered back in to.
Coming back to this world that Warrington created was thrilling. I purchased her first book in this series from a store when I was about 19. From there, I became totally enthralled in the world of Karl and Charlotte and surrounding vampires. This story was just as beautifully composed. The characters the same and as mesmerising to me. Beauty, darkness, sensuality. So looking forward to more from this world that Warrington has entered back in to.
June 17, 2017
Stunning. Beautiful. Dark. Enthralling.
February 27, 2020
Cool and scary
November 23, 2021
I really, really wish I had come up with the Crystal Ring in all of its complex and amazing implications.
December 5, 2016
Words cannot describe how excited I was for this book. And no one reads them. WHY?!
It's Blood Wine book 4, people!! And after 20 years? When I started reading the series upon seeing the raving review of a trusted goodreads reviewer, the books hadn't even been reissued and I thought this would be a simple trilogy. I embarked on my Freda Warrington journey, having to date read the blood Wine sequence, Dark Cathedral and its sequel and the standalone Sorrow's Light.
I LOVE Freda Warrington's books. They are unique speshul snowflakes in a landscape of Mary Sues and there are audio versions available through Audible so there's no need to hunt for out-of-rint copies (which I own anyway).
About The Dark Arts of Blood: the beginning, after the ambitious and sprawling climax in book 3, was undeniably a bit slow, as was expected. Fresh and tasty characters were introduced to amuse the readers palate and bring some movement into the happenings.
Emil was a wonderfully vivid scorned lover (I'm a sucker for one-sided love) and his meeting with the mysterious Fadiya was very thrilling, bringing a new flare of middle eastern exotism into the story line.
Flapper Parties, Movies and fascism are also added to spice up my very favorite vampire clique - not that they needed it.
Presented before the backdrop of Switzerland (English authors using Germany/Switzerland/Austria as backdrop are far too few!), it was a simply wonderful reading experience.
Everyone familiar with Warrington's work knows she's incredibly creative in molding traditional lore into captivating storylines, and using old horror tropes in a new light.
In this book, the relevant Doppelgänger motive appeared again and again, in different forms and with the discussion of what different meanings those spectres could have was pure brilliance.
I don't know of another author who so daringly disregards the heteronormative rules of fantasy that seem to dictate what a relationship ought to look like. Karl and Charlotte are real people, not some distracting fantasy. Further, I applaud Warrington for being one of the few authors who write fantasy about relevant topics, as with the hermaphrodite appearing in this installment.
My emotional investment was high in this installment and I was at the edge of my seat while I read the second half of the novel in one sitting. I was heartbroken when .
It was too sad!
Anyway, I recommend this series to everyone. But please start with Book 1 A Taste of Blood Wine or you will be confused.
It's Blood Wine book 4, people!! And after 20 years? When I started reading the series upon seeing the raving review of a trusted goodreads reviewer, the books hadn't even been reissued and I thought this would be a simple trilogy. I embarked on my Freda Warrington journey, having to date read the blood Wine sequence, Dark Cathedral and its sequel and the standalone Sorrow's Light.
I LOVE Freda Warrington's books. They are unique speshul snowflakes in a landscape of Mary Sues and there are audio versions available through Audible so there's no need to hunt for out-of-rint copies (which I own anyway).
About The Dark Arts of Blood: the beginning, after the ambitious and sprawling climax in book 3, was undeniably a bit slow, as was expected. Fresh and tasty characters were introduced to amuse the readers palate and bring some movement into the happenings.
Emil was a wonderfully vivid scorned lover (I'm a sucker for one-sided love) and his meeting with the mysterious Fadiya was very thrilling, bringing a new flare of middle eastern exotism into the story line.
Flapper Parties, Movies and fascism are also added to spice up my very favorite vampire clique - not that they needed it.
Presented before the backdrop of Switzerland (English authors using Germany/Switzerland/Austria as backdrop are far too few!), it was a simply wonderful reading experience.
Everyone familiar with Warrington's work knows she's incredibly creative in molding traditional lore into captivating storylines, and using old horror tropes in a new light.
In this book, the relevant Doppelgänger motive appeared again and again, in different forms and with the discussion of what different meanings those spectres could have was pure brilliance.
I don't know of another author who so daringly disregards the heteronormative rules of fantasy that seem to dictate what a relationship ought to look like. Karl and Charlotte are real people, not some distracting fantasy. Further, I applaud Warrington for being one of the few authors who write fantasy about relevant topics, as with the hermaphrodite appearing in this installment.
My emotional investment was high in this installment and I was at the edge of my seat while I read the second half of the novel in one sitting. I was heartbroken when .
It was too sad!
Anyway, I recommend this series to everyone. But please start with Book 1 A Taste of Blood Wine or you will be confused.
November 17, 2015
Hugely disappointed by this book.
SPOILERS
As far as I'm concerned all of the previous three books in this series have been 5 star books, with the second, A Dance in Blood Velvet being one of my favourite of all time. And what made them such great books was the beautiful, poetic writing, the rich characters, and at least in regards to the second two, the audacious scope of the stories.
This one started out well with an interesting new character in the shape of Emile. A male ballet dancer who becomes obsessed with Violet who is a sort-of god among vampires, and the lead ballerina in her own ballet company. But then coincidences abound to bring two other separate stories into the mix which quickly pull things off the rails.
But that's not the main problem I had with this book. Pretty much from the beginning I kept noticing how Charlotte would keep reiterating her feelings about Karl and their dark passions as vampire lovers, and her acceptance of their nature, and so on. Now that's okay, in a sense, because it is kind of the nature of these books, and later her sub-conscious lack of acceptance of herself does become a sub-plot (Even though it's completely redundant because that was already absolutely an utterly dealt with in the climax of the previous book).
But what really turned out to be the problem was that this process of repeating things over and over quickly extended to every part of the story and all of its characters. After awhile I found myself shouting at the book "Yes, I get it! You guys just went over that two pages ago."
To me what it exposed was a real lack of confidence in the writing. Characters would muse over their concerns, then express them (even though they were already obvious to all and had been dealt with several times previously), and then two pages later they'd talk about them again. It was painful.
And as far as the two interwoven stories are concerned, both littered with coincidences and contrivances to make them happen - well, they were both just weak sauce. Neither really having anything to do with the other and both ending up being kinda silly. There was no real meaning to be taken from them, and believe me it's not like I'm missing something or have misinterpreted their deeper levels, because you can bet your fucking ass that the characters in this book spelled them out several times, and then reiterated them, and thought about them before discussing them again and again and again.
SPOILERS
As far as I'm concerned all of the previous three books in this series have been 5 star books, with the second, A Dance in Blood Velvet being one of my favourite of all time. And what made them such great books was the beautiful, poetic writing, the rich characters, and at least in regards to the second two, the audacious scope of the stories.
This one started out well with an interesting new character in the shape of Emile. A male ballet dancer who becomes obsessed with Violet who is a sort-of god among vampires, and the lead ballerina in her own ballet company. But then coincidences abound to bring two other separate stories into the mix which quickly pull things off the rails.
But that's not the main problem I had with this book. Pretty much from the beginning I kept noticing how Charlotte would keep reiterating her feelings about Karl and their dark passions as vampire lovers, and her acceptance of their nature, and so on. Now that's okay, in a sense, because it is kind of the nature of these books, and later her sub-conscious lack of acceptance of herself does become a sub-plot (Even though it's completely redundant because that was already absolutely an utterly dealt with in the climax of the previous book).
But what really turned out to be the problem was that this process of repeating things over and over quickly extended to every part of the story and all of its characters. After awhile I found myself shouting at the book "Yes, I get it! You guys just went over that two pages ago."
To me what it exposed was a real lack of confidence in the writing. Characters would muse over their concerns, then express them (even though they were already obvious to all and had been dealt with several times previously), and then two pages later they'd talk about them again. It was painful.
And as far as the two interwoven stories are concerned, both littered with coincidences and contrivances to make them happen - well, they were both just weak sauce. Neither really having anything to do with the other and both ending up being kinda silly. There was no real meaning to be taken from them, and believe me it's not like I'm missing something or have misinterpreted their deeper levels, because you can bet your fucking ass that the characters in this book spelled them out several times, and then reiterated them, and thought about them before discussing them again and again and again.
October 24, 2015
Fantastic. There's just no other way to describe this series. Love the action, danger, and deep characterization. I also enjoyed the small recaps that were put in place to keep us reminded of Karl and Charlotte's past. It made me go back and reread parts of the other books. I didn't want the book to end!
tbr
June 3, 2015Won on Goodreads and can't wait to read! Review to come.
December 13, 2019
This is a well-written book, though lagging in some places. I feel that I am growing weary of vampires, though, and plan on taking a short vacation to delve more into other genres.
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