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The Vampire the Masquerade Clan Novel Saga is a thirteen-volume masterpiece, presenting the war between the established Camarilla leadership and the growing power of the brutal Sabbat on the East Coast of the United States. Each novel is told from the perspective of one of the thirteen clans, intertwining with the others, and filling in missing pieces artfully as we follow battle after battle, intrigue after intrigue—and the appearance of a strange artifact that falls into the hands of a solitary Toreador sculptor.
Clan Novel Gangrel is the third in the series. Hidden dangers lurk in every shadow. Ramona and her friends have learned this much: What they don't know can kill them... and will, if given a chance. Their watchword: beware!
Beware other vampires—the Sabbat's conscienceless killers. Beware the unknown—a monstrous creature with an oozing, pulsating Eye. Beware supernatural terrors that stalk the wild places. Beware even themselves, for in the blink of an eye their own bloodlust can take control.
Ramona has fought the hunger for two years, and now she can control it for blood... sometimes. She must tame her passions or Zhavon, her last link to humanity, will die. Yet with each struggle against the ravenous Beast, her memories of the old life, of mortality. grow fainter and fainter... and her will to resist goes with them.
This series is a monumental, 13-novel exploration of the forbidden world of the Kindred. What began in Clan Novel: Toreador continues here, and its ending will determine the fate of every human—and inhuman—being in the world.
Clan Novel Gangrel is the third in the series. Hidden dangers lurk in every shadow. Ramona and her friends have learned this much: What they don't know can kill them... and will, if given a chance. Their watchword: beware!
Beware other vampires—the Sabbat's conscienceless killers. Beware the unknown—a monstrous creature with an oozing, pulsating Eye. Beware supernatural terrors that stalk the wild places. Beware even themselves, for in the blink of an eye their own bloodlust can take control.
Ramona has fought the hunger for two years, and now she can control it for blood... sometimes. She must tame her passions or Zhavon, her last link to humanity, will die. Yet with each struggle against the ravenous Beast, her memories of the old life, of mortality. grow fainter and fainter... and her will to resist goes with them.
This series is a monumental, 13-novel exploration of the forbidden world of the Kindred. What began in Clan Novel: Toreador continues here, and its ending will determine the fate of every human—and inhuman—being in the world.
220 pages, Paperback
First published May 14, 1999
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December 17, 2023
https://beforewegoblog.com/review-cla...
It's interesting how re-reading a book can change your opinion of it as well as reveal elements you were blind to on your first read-through. I read Clan Novel Gangrel in June 1999 at the age of 19. I had recently dispersed myself of fundamentalism for liberal Christianity (yes, a fundamentalist Vampire: The Masquerade player) and was only beginning to become aware of the diversity in the world around me.
When I first read the novel, I was primarily absorbed in Ramona's journey through the troubling world of Kindred society. For me, it was an action-adventure novel where a Kindred without knowledge of the Traditions, Clans, Camarilla, Anarchs, or Sabbat did her best to navigate an impossible situation. Ultimately, the book culminated in her confrontation with the newly-transformed Leopold and indirectly led to the events that caused the Gangrel to depart the Camarilla. I was focused on Ramona's status as a Neonate vampire and her journey into becoming a more rounded (anti)heroic figure. Basically, the Heroes' Journey as defined by Joseph Campbell.
It's only now, twenty years later, that I re-read the novel and realize the first half is actually an LGBT romance. I feel like kicking myself for not realizing this and I'm actually quite interested in the storyline presented within. Zhavon is a young African American girl who is out meeting her boyfriend when she's nearly raped and murdered before Ramona comes to her rescue in a decidedly undead Punisher-esque way. Ramona proceeds to start stalking Zhavon afterward as the young woman struggles to process what she witnessed.
As the fact I didn't realize this was a romance originally indicates, this is not a traditional love story. Zhavon and Ramona don't even share more than a few words throughout the story. It certainly does not end with them riding off into the sunset (spoilers). No, it is actually a character exploration of Ramona becoming fascinated with a woman who makes her feel human again. It is love for a woman who reminds her so strongly of her mortal self that there is a deep desire to become closer. A desire that can only end in Ramona either turning her or killing her. Except, Ramona doesn't know how to turn a human into a vampire yet.
The first half of the novel is easily the best part and I wish we could have gotten more of Ramona and Zhavon. The real heart of the story is Ramona trying to get back in touch with her humanity and what reminded her of it but being tempted to destroy that very thing. The Beast only sees food where Ramona sees what she wished she could be. I think Twilight would have been a pretty good horror novella if Edward had eaten Bella in the woods because he couldn't control himself. Stephanie Meyer wouldn't be able to buy her own moon-sized battle station but I think romance, death, and self-destruction are themes V:TM can do well.
The other half of the book is basically Hatchet 2 (Awesome but terrible movie w/ a great lead - Danielle Harris probably has a restraining order against me given my search history about her). It's a monster hunt after an initial encounter with Leopold the Toreador turns into a massacre. I actually regret some of the deaths in the book and that's a sign the author has done a good job in establishing the characters they've chosen to kill off.
Basically, Zhavon is kidnapped for somewhat contrived reasons by Leopold (his insanity has made her his "muse" and at this point I can only assume it is Hazmiel screwing with a couple of Neonates for the evulz). Ramona attempts to rescue her and things go from bad to worse, getting Xavier the Justicar to go after Leopold despite the vampire having the power of an Antediluvian in his "Eye of Vecna"-esque artifact. It's basically a monster hunt with everyone severely underestimating what they're facing.
Random aside: despite Hazmiel being a Ravnos, Leopold actually displays the powers of a Tzimisce with both Vicissitude and Koldunic Sorcery. Then again, Chimestry is basically, "Warp Reality" at higher levels so I suppose it doesn't matter. Either way, it's interesting to read a novel about an all-powerful fantasy artifact in a relatively grounded setting like the World of Darkness. Epic Magical items aren't usually a thing but they are in this series.
The book gives an excellent view of how Gangrel society functions with Ramona being forced to survive on her own while her sire stalks her. It's probably the same relationship she has with Zhavon, only he had the knowledge to make a Gangrel from the person he loved from afar. The supporting cast do their job and it's nice to see Xavier presented as an initially heroic figure only to show the dark underbelly that all Justicars possess.
In conclusion, this is easily my favorite of the Clan Novels so far and one of my favorites in the series as a whole. It's really two different novels, though with the character study of Ramona's hunger to be and be with someone she cannot touch without destroying as the first part while the second is a attempt to destroy the monster Leopold has become. As a teenager, I was much more interested in the second but as an adult, I'm much more interested in the first.
It's interesting how re-reading a book can change your opinion of it as well as reveal elements you were blind to on your first read-through. I read Clan Novel Gangrel in June 1999 at the age of 19. I had recently dispersed myself of fundamentalism for liberal Christianity (yes, a fundamentalist Vampire: The Masquerade player) and was only beginning to become aware of the diversity in the world around me.
When I first read the novel, I was primarily absorbed in Ramona's journey through the troubling world of Kindred society. For me, it was an action-adventure novel where a Kindred without knowledge of the Traditions, Clans, Camarilla, Anarchs, or Sabbat did her best to navigate an impossible situation. Ultimately, the book culminated in her confrontation with the newly-transformed Leopold and indirectly led to the events that caused the Gangrel to depart the Camarilla. I was focused on Ramona's status as a Neonate vampire and her journey into becoming a more rounded (anti)heroic figure. Basically, the Heroes' Journey as defined by Joseph Campbell.
It's only now, twenty years later, that I re-read the novel and realize the first half is actually an LGBT romance. I feel like kicking myself for not realizing this and I'm actually quite interested in the storyline presented within. Zhavon is a young African American girl who is out meeting her boyfriend when she's nearly raped and murdered before Ramona comes to her rescue in a decidedly undead Punisher-esque way. Ramona proceeds to start stalking Zhavon afterward as the young woman struggles to process what she witnessed.
As the fact I didn't realize this was a romance originally indicates, this is not a traditional love story. Zhavon and Ramona don't even share more than a few words throughout the story. It certainly does not end with them riding off into the sunset (spoilers). No, it is actually a character exploration of Ramona becoming fascinated with a woman who makes her feel human again. It is love for a woman who reminds her so strongly of her mortal self that there is a deep desire to become closer. A desire that can only end in Ramona either turning her or killing her. Except, Ramona doesn't know how to turn a human into a vampire yet.
The first half of the novel is easily the best part and I wish we could have gotten more of Ramona and Zhavon. The real heart of the story is Ramona trying to get back in touch with her humanity and what reminded her of it but being tempted to destroy that very thing. The Beast only sees food where Ramona sees what she wished she could be. I think Twilight would have been a pretty good horror novella if Edward had eaten Bella in the woods because he couldn't control himself. Stephanie Meyer wouldn't be able to buy her own moon-sized battle station but I think romance, death, and self-destruction are themes V:TM can do well.
The other half of the book is basically Hatchet 2 (Awesome but terrible movie w/ a great lead - Danielle Harris probably has a restraining order against me given my search history about her). It's a monster hunt after an initial encounter with Leopold the Toreador turns into a massacre. I actually regret some of the deaths in the book and that's a sign the author has done a good job in establishing the characters they've chosen to kill off.
Basically, Zhavon is kidnapped for somewhat contrived reasons by Leopold (his insanity has made her his "muse" and at this point I can only assume it is Hazmiel screwing with a couple of Neonates for the evulz). Ramona attempts to rescue her and things go from bad to worse, getting Xavier the Justicar to go after Leopold despite the vampire having the power of an Antediluvian in his "Eye of Vecna"-esque artifact. It's basically a monster hunt with everyone severely underestimating what they're facing.
Random aside: despite Hazmiel being a Ravnos, Leopold actually displays the powers of a Tzimisce with both Vicissitude and Koldunic Sorcery. Then again, Chimestry is basically, "Warp Reality" at higher levels so I suppose it doesn't matter. Either way, it's interesting to read a novel about an all-powerful fantasy artifact in a relatively grounded setting like the World of Darkness. Epic Magical items aren't usually a thing but they are in this series.
The book gives an excellent view of how Gangrel society functions with Ramona being forced to survive on her own while her sire stalks her. It's probably the same relationship she has with Zhavon, only he had the knowledge to make a Gangrel from the person he loved from afar. The supporting cast do their job and it's nice to see Xavier presented as an initially heroic figure only to show the dark underbelly that all Justicars possess.
In conclusion, this is easily my favorite of the Clan Novels so far and one of my favorites in the series as a whole. It's really two different novels, though with the character study of Ramona's hunger to be and be with someone she cannot touch without destroying as the first part while the second is a attempt to destroy the monster Leopold has become. As a teenager, I was much more interested in the second but as an adult, I'm much more interested in the first.
November 10, 2017
I know many people cite this novella as one of the better in this thirteen book saga, but I unfortunately can't say the same. This novel is certainly more focused on character development than driven by action/plot. However, I didn't find the signature character, Ramona, to be very interesting. To me, the attempt to make her dialogue and internal thoughts "ghetto" or "street" was inconsistent and forced. I honestly have little else to write about Ramona, which must indicate something since she's the focus of 2/3 of the text.
Her story is focused around her being a fledgling Gangrel of unknown sire, Ramona. Romona feels peculiarly drawn to a mortal girl around her own age that she saves from being raped and killed. Even the unastute reader will realize she's just fixated on the mortal's... well, mortality. Otherwise, there's really nothing special about this mortal, and there are never any hints that suggest that this could even be the case. Unfortunately, the story is completely focused on this fixation for a long, long time and the climax of this isn't handled with deft or poetry.
It's a little vexing because how hard is it to enter the realm of poetry when you have an immortal obsessively pondering the fragile existence of a mortal? I mean... moth to flame, short-lived flowers (e.g., cherry blossoms), sunsets, candle flame in the wind, a spark of lightning quickly extinguished, ripe fruit... There's so many easy examples out there to use as a diving board for some decent imagery.
In my opinion it's the inclusions of detail work like this the separate a storyteller from an author... and that the majority of these clans novels are written by people that have talents more suited to writing source books than the art of fiction. I mean... figurative language and narrative devices were things I was learning about as late as 5th grade in a TX rural public school...
There's nothing completely terrible about this book and my critique is merely from the angle of authoring interesting, creative, and perhaps even risky fiction. It seems like such a waste not to try and experiment with the text when this writers likely knew that White Wolf was going to publish whatever the final product was. Why not take a risk? Establish yourself as an author?
To summarize, this book was bland and seemed a little uninspired. Perhaps the publisher's insistence on using Signature Characters from source books lent itself to that?
Her story is focused around her being a fledgling Gangrel of unknown sire, Ramona. Romona feels peculiarly drawn to a mortal girl around her own age that she saves from being raped and killed. Even the unastute reader will realize she's just fixated on the mortal's... well, mortality. Otherwise, there's really nothing special about this mortal, and there are never any hints that suggest that this could even be the case. Unfortunately, the story is completely focused on this fixation for a long, long time and the climax of this isn't handled with deft or poetry.
It's a little vexing because how hard is it to enter the realm of poetry when you have an immortal obsessively pondering the fragile existence of a mortal? I mean... moth to flame, short-lived flowers (e.g., cherry blossoms), sunsets, candle flame in the wind, a spark of lightning quickly extinguished, ripe fruit... There's so many easy examples out there to use as a diving board for some decent imagery.
In my opinion it's the inclusions of detail work like this the separate a storyteller from an author... and that the majority of these clans novels are written by people that have talents more suited to writing source books than the art of fiction. I mean... figurative language and narrative devices were things I was learning about as late as 5th grade in a TX rural public school...
There's nothing completely terrible about this book and my critique is merely from the angle of authoring interesting, creative, and perhaps even risky fiction. It seems like such a waste not to try and experiment with the text when this writers likely knew that White Wolf was going to publish whatever the final product was. Why not take a risk? Establish yourself as an author?
To summarize, this book was bland and seemed a little uninspired. Perhaps the publisher's insistence on using Signature Characters from source books lent itself to that?
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.
September 8, 2025
This is the third book on the series and my first disappointment - or it may be review on what happens on the next books. Allow me to explain.
This book deals with the Gangrel (Shock) and after reading two books that deal directly with the events on Atalanta , I thought that the story would move forward but instead we are introduced with a bunch of 3 Grangrel (plus one human woman) and the discovery of being vampires. True be told, one of them doesn't even believe they are vampires. I mean, if you don't have your sire I can understand that but the main character (Ramona) even hints that they were in the east coast and escape to the west cost (passing through Texas were they found a werewolf) and still they are being hunted. Self-denial or bad writing?
Not knowing Gangrel when I read this, I learn that Gangrel sire will leave their childe for some time until they present themselves. Gangrel is widely known as the most animalist of all clans, often living alone and not in the city centres.
This tale as I explain , talks nada about the great clan war - there is hints of Sabbat and them trying to cast out the three gangrel (which without their knowing belong to the Camarilla). Right until the last 40 pages, the sire does present and after some confrontation with the Toreador (Leopold) as he holds the Eye of Vecna. Many Gangrel attend this gather as the final confrontation awaits them.
The end, again, was rather strange, and I hope to see more of Ramona or else all of this novel was rather pointless.
Yeah I understand that this novel is self-discovery history of Ramona, newly vampire and somekind of fascination of a female human that she looks from afar. Some would say, well it's a LGBT romance, what?? Do you really want to see LGBT romance here? It's not. It's a vampire fixated on life. She saw in this character a resemble of her life. The human doesn't even acknowledge her. There is no hinting of LGBT romance. This is the problem with nowadays society that no longer see potential female friendship and hits of romance lgbt.
Overall the story was good as individual tale of Gangrel BUT in the overall story I don't think it added anything - unless Ramona appears more on later novels and even if it appears, was this necessary? I don't think so.
You can easily skip this one. 49/100
This book deals with the Gangrel (Shock) and after reading two books that deal directly with the events on Atalanta , I thought that the story would move forward but instead we are introduced with a bunch of 3 Grangrel (plus one human woman) and the discovery of being vampires. True be told, one of them doesn't even believe they are vampires. I mean, if you don't have your sire I can understand that but the main character (Ramona) even hints that they were in the east coast and escape to the west cost (passing through Texas were they found a werewolf) and still they are being hunted. Self-denial or bad writing?
Not knowing Gangrel when I read this, I learn that Gangrel sire will leave their childe for some time until they present themselves. Gangrel is widely known as the most animalist of all clans, often living alone and not in the city centres.
This tale as I explain , talks nada about the great clan war - there is hints of Sabbat and them trying to cast out the three gangrel (which without their knowing belong to the Camarilla). Right until the last 40 pages, the sire does present and after some confrontation with the Toreador (Leopold) as he holds the Eye of Vecna. Many Gangrel attend this gather as the final confrontation awaits them.
The end, again, was rather strange, and I hope to see more of Ramona or else all of this novel was rather pointless.
Yeah I understand that this novel is self-discovery history of Ramona, newly vampire and somekind of fascination of a female human that she looks from afar. Some would say, well it's a LGBT romance, what?? Do you really want to see LGBT romance here? It's not. It's a vampire fixated on life. She saw in this character a resemble of her life. The human doesn't even acknowledge her. There is no hinting of LGBT romance. This is the problem with nowadays society that no longer see potential female friendship and hits of romance lgbt.
Overall the story was good as individual tale of Gangrel BUT in the overall story I don't think it added anything - unless Ramona appears more on later novels and even if it appears, was this necessary? I don't think so.
You can easily skip this one. 49/100
June 15, 2018
Full review here:
http://jamesgenrebooks.blogspot.com/2...
While it didn't fill me with the rage it did initially, I still feel that the plot and the main character deserved more attention.
http://jamesgenrebooks.blogspot.com/2...
While it didn't fill me with the rage it did initially, I still feel that the plot and the main character deserved more attention.
September 14, 2022
all reviews in one place:
night mode reading ;
skaitom nakties rezimu
About the Book: Ramona and her two friends barely escape with their unlives, just to end up in a city thriving with life, where death yet again breathes down their necks. From their own kind, to even worse of their kind, the Sabbat. Not least of their problems is Ramona herself, as she soon finds herself obsessing over a mortal teenage girl that is like a highway to absolute hell, and she’s taking more than just herself for a ride on it.
My Opinion: Saying someone needs to earn your respect implies your respect is worth earning. I, personally, believe one can only ever lose respect. And so, Ramona’s arrogance rubbed me the wrong way from the start. Slight to mediocre spoilers ahead, no major plot twists, even though I feel like there weren’t any to begin with: She, and sometimes the other clan-kin of hers, treated one another, friends, acquaintances, like trash, acting respectfully to a degree only towards those whom they deemed in a position to help, and quickly turned their attitude if that proved to be wrong. She’d ask a question, and tell you to shup up before you finished answering, all while not only contributing nothing useful to the overall topic, but additionally misleading her kin with, yet again, arrogant assumption she knew what she was saying, despite having evidence to the contrary, or omitting the truth outright, which likely was the main contributor to majority of deaths. All due to obsession over a mortal teenage girl she and another vampire vied over to a point where they broke her family and her too, for no apparent reason at all. No, really, at the end it was stated the girl really didn’t mean anything.
This plot hole that drove majority of the plot isn’t the only one. Writing, in general, was poor, with a lot of empty descriptors that added nothing to otherwise action-based story-telling. My favorite of this action, though, was the villain’s, just sitting for two or three nights in an empty cave, doing absolutely nothing until they all prepared for a visitation.
So, all in all, a 2 out of 5, for both the writing, and level of story. Strange are the people who think their way of life is the correct one.
night mode reading ;
skaitom nakties rezimu
About the Book: Ramona and her two friends barely escape with their unlives, just to end up in a city thriving with life, where death yet again breathes down their necks. From their own kind, to even worse of their kind, the Sabbat. Not least of their problems is Ramona herself, as she soon finds herself obsessing over a mortal teenage girl that is like a highway to absolute hell, and she’s taking more than just herself for a ride on it.
My Opinion: Saying someone needs to earn your respect implies your respect is worth earning. I, personally, believe one can only ever lose respect. And so, Ramona’s arrogance rubbed me the wrong way from the start. Slight to mediocre spoilers ahead, no major plot twists, even though I feel like there weren’t any to begin with: She, and sometimes the other clan-kin of hers, treated one another, friends, acquaintances, like trash, acting respectfully to a degree only towards those whom they deemed in a position to help, and quickly turned their attitude if that proved to be wrong. She’d ask a question, and tell you to shup up before you finished answering, all while not only contributing nothing useful to the overall topic, but additionally misleading her kin with, yet again, arrogant assumption she knew what she was saying, despite having evidence to the contrary, or omitting the truth outright, which likely was the main contributor to majority of deaths. All due to obsession over a mortal teenage girl she and another vampire vied over to a point where they broke her family and her too, for no apparent reason at all. No, really, at the end it was stated the girl really didn’t mean anything.
This plot hole that drove majority of the plot isn’t the only one. Writing, in general, was poor, with a lot of empty descriptors that added nothing to otherwise action-based story-telling. My favorite of this action, though, was the villain’s, just sitting for two or three nights in an empty cave, doing absolutely nothing until they all prepared for a visitation.
So, all in all, a 2 out of 5, for both the writing, and level of story. Strange are the people who think their way of life is the correct one.
August 10, 2011
Good RPG book. Story is not really well connected with the other of the series, but anyways it goes smoothly. But, if you ask me about the story in details, I could give you only one or two. Not quite printed in my mind.
June 21, 2014
While the main character feels a bit week compared to others so far, the story development keeps me from just putting down the book.
With a mood matching the Gangrel's clan tendency for wild, if captures their spirit pretty well while keeping you wanting more.
With a mood matching the Gangrel's clan tendency for wild, if captures their spirit pretty well while keeping you wanting more.
July 18, 2013
This third book of the clan novel series starts out very slow, building character depth and exploring the humanity of the world of darkness. But the last 1/4 of the book is extremely difficult to set down. Fantastic.
March 2, 2014
For my money, the Gangrel Clan offer the best of both worlds; the resilience of vampires and the ferocity of werewolves. While they couldn't go toe-to-toe against a werewolf, they could give most members of the other vampire clans a run for their money.
February 3, 2019
Książka fajnie trzyma klimat Wampira: Maskarady. Warto przeczytać jeśli ktoś lubi zwłaszcza grać Gangrelami. Obniżam jednak ocenę za to, że nieraz akcja nieco spowalnia.
Want to read
February 27, 2019One of the best in the series, the characters has everything and expands the world an the acknowledge of WoD, the action escenes are truly deep and you can feel the hits and the brouses
December 3, 2025
Okay... so, this is the first book in this series that appears to actually do the assignment given to the gimmick of this series. Well, except it takes place a couple weeks after the incident on the Eastern side of USA
You do get a couple chapters that feature a human, a couple other clans and Leopold... but it is nearly mostly Gangrel
Though, the non-Gangrel chapters seem to act as Shaggy Dog jokes. The human seems like they will become a Gangrel, does not become one. The Tremere magician who discovers the truth of events dies without being able to inform others by an assassin who apparently is too overworked to keep straight what signals he should be using. Leopold is not able to construct his masterpiece despite spending so much time sleeping in truck stops
I have to wonder how many people have clued into what is going on who end up getting assassinated. Like, it seems like this plan is constantly being discovered by various people by accident, and the only reason the bodies are not being noticed is due to the Sabbat going buck wild
This book also drops the "one night that changed vampire society" in the blurbs around it... as well, it clearly wasn't a single night. It was several months of planning different things that were scheduled to happen on or around a specific month in 1999 that went into full chaos due to so many plans fscking over so many other plans
The big issue with this series is it sells itself on a gimmick, that it does not really stick with. Except this one... though this apparently being "the one good one in this series" I have to wonder if that is because the rest do not stick with the gimmick... or they do so in a way that is really poor and just fails to actually cover the events decently
I'd enjoy reading this series without the gimmick being placed on the cover to entice me. As they do not appear to be bad stories. Though, they could use some further editting due to some odd typos all abound. I definitely think the whole selling this series as being around a specific gimmick than not actually sticking to it does more harm than anything else
Though, having a group project where everybody except a single person fscks the pooch _DOES_ decently give the experience of being in a good chunk of ttRPG groups. So... I'm going to say that "good part" is a weird happy accident that comes from the environment these books exist within
You do get a couple chapters that feature a human, a couple other clans and Leopold... but it is nearly mostly Gangrel
Though, the non-Gangrel chapters seem to act as Shaggy Dog jokes. The human seems like they will become a Gangrel, does not become one. The Tremere magician who discovers the truth of events dies without being able to inform others by an assassin who apparently is too overworked to keep straight what signals he should be using. Leopold is not able to construct his masterpiece despite spending so much time sleeping in truck stops
I have to wonder how many people have clued into what is going on who end up getting assassinated. Like, it seems like this plan is constantly being discovered by various people by accident, and the only reason the bodies are not being noticed is due to the Sabbat going buck wild
This book also drops the "one night that changed vampire society" in the blurbs around it... as well, it clearly wasn't a single night. It was several months of planning different things that were scheduled to happen on or around a specific month in 1999 that went into full chaos due to so many plans fscking over so many other plans
The big issue with this series is it sells itself on a gimmick, that it does not really stick with. Except this one... though this apparently being "the one good one in this series" I have to wonder if that is because the rest do not stick with the gimmick... or they do so in a way that is really poor and just fails to actually cover the events decently
I'd enjoy reading this series without the gimmick being placed on the cover to entice me. As they do not appear to be bad stories. Though, they could use some further editting due to some odd typos all abound. I definitely think the whole selling this series as being around a specific gimmick than not actually sticking to it does more harm than anything else
Though, having a group project where everybody except a single person fscks the pooch _DOES_ decently give the experience of being in a good chunk of ttRPG groups. So... I'm going to say that "good part" is a weird happy accident that comes from the environment these books exist within
March 11, 2023
Esta es la primera de las 13 novelas que se separa un poco de la metatrama principal (solo la retoma en la última parte, que por otra parte es impresionante) para contarnos una historia de iniciación vampírica, acompañando a Ramona, la protagonista, en sus primeros pasos como vampira y siendo testigos de como eso pone toda su existencia del revés. Aunque interesante como novela formacional se hace un poco más aburrida que las anteriores y en algunos casos, repetitiva. Necesaria para entender la saga al completo, leela solo si vas a leer las otras doce.
October 16, 2025
4⭐️
This book was pretty good, and made me even more angry at the Toreador book. It makes me realize what a wasted potential it was. They could have done so much but only touched on it...sorry that book keeps catching strays…
For the real review. I really liked this one. Mainly because I think this book is the best so far in capturing the personal horror of the setting in the TTRPG. The MC is a fledgling that is uncertain of what she is, the changes she's experiencing in herself, why she violently craves for blood, as well as why she is clinging on to her humanity. This is often the starting place a new player for the TTRPG game and demonstrates very well the slow decent from humanity toward the monstrous beast.
It also captures the tragedy of the game. When you become a vampire, bad things happen to the people around you that you care about. And it is very difficult to prevent that. And it's pretty unrelenting in this book.
The politics of this world start to be introduced in the end, but does so at the perspective of the new vampire.
Because of this, if there is a novel that I might possibly recommend to a new person to this IP, It would probably be this one. There are asides with other characters that might confuse them but also make them curious to look into the games or other media. If not that, maybe go to the VTM Wiki.
I still think playing the TTRPG or Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodlines (the first one) is more comprehensive an introduction. NOTE: Bloodlines 2 hasn't been released yet of writing this so I don't know if its any good.
As for my own personal feelings. Being a frequent VTM TTRPG Player, my soul has been crushed by many Storytellers already. As such, I was properly guarded against all the terrible things that I predicted could happen (which I was correct), and I didn't feel too bad when they did . That kind of lead me to feel that the dramatic low points in the narrative weren't as impactful. As a result I was considering giving it a 3.5, However, I think I'm the problem here. That being said, I gave it a 4 because it did so many things right. It has so far been the best at capturing the real feeling of the World of Darkness in my opinion. Perhaps the future books will do so even better? 🤞
This book was pretty good, and made me even more angry at the Toreador book. It makes me realize what a wasted potential it was. They could have done so much but only touched on it...sorry that book keeps catching strays…
For the real review. I really liked this one. Mainly because I think this book is the best so far in capturing the personal horror of the setting in the TTRPG. The MC is a fledgling that is uncertain of what she is, the changes she's experiencing in herself, why she violently craves for blood, as well as why she is clinging on to her humanity. This is often the starting place a new player for the TTRPG game and demonstrates very well the slow decent from humanity toward the monstrous beast.
It also captures the tragedy of the game. When you become a vampire, bad things happen to the people around you that you care about. And it is very difficult to prevent that. And it's pretty unrelenting in this book.
The politics of this world start to be introduced in the end, but does so at the perspective of the new vampire.
Because of this, if there is a novel that I might possibly recommend to a new person to this IP, It would probably be this one. There are asides with other characters that might confuse them but also make them curious to look into the games or other media. If not that, maybe go to the VTM Wiki.
I still think playing the TTRPG or Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodlines (the first one) is more comprehensive an introduction. NOTE: Bloodlines 2 hasn't been released yet of writing this so I don't know if its any good.
As for my own personal feelings. Being a frequent VTM TTRPG Player, my soul has been crushed by many Storytellers already. As such, I was properly guarded against all the terrible things that I predicted could happen (which I was correct), and I didn't feel too bad when they did . That kind of lead me to feel that the dramatic low points in the narrative weren't as impactful. As a result I was considering giving it a 3.5, However, I think I'm the problem here. That being said, I gave it a 4 because it did so many things right. It has so far been the best at capturing the real feeling of the World of Darkness in my opinion. Perhaps the future books will do so even better? 🤞
March 15, 2019
I read because my partner is getting me into Vampire: The Eternal Struggle and I'm playing a Gangrel deck. The novel provided a bit of background to some of my cards, but I didn't quite realise a lot of it is hard to understand unless you've read the books before, and much is unresolved by the end. I imagine best read in the entire sequence.
February 9, 2025
Most days I think Gangrel would by clan of choice, but not after this wipe out. You’d don’t a posh life to be an arrogant S.O.B.
Even after listening to Ramona’s and Tanner’s story of horror Xavier still led them into the cave to attack this strange “weak” Toreador.
“I will bring the seven clans to deal with this beast.”
Ah hindsight.
Even after listening to Ramona’s and Tanner’s story of horror Xavier still led them into the cave to attack this strange “weak” Toreador.
“I will bring the seven clans to deal with this beast.”
Ah hindsight.
November 22, 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/2018/11/22/the-c...
It starts here: http://pseudopod.org/2018/10/25/the-c...
And for this book:
http://pseudopod.org/2018/11/22/the-c...
December 16, 2022
Good, but felt more like a filler novel than an introduction of a clan or a continuation of the overarching story.
April 16, 2023
This is one of the best in the series, lovely character development, lovely writing in general, recommended.
July 30, 2024
HAAAAATED this one. Unnecessarily mean novel, even as far as VtM literature goes. Ramona is also written as the most boring Mary Sue in the whole world. Bleh bleh bleh bleh.
June 27, 2025
Hasta ahora el mejor de los tres.
June 14, 2025
The good thing about this is how if introduces the clan Gangrel. Gherbod has some slightly annoying habits, like repeating sentences over and over again for some effect, that doesn't hit home.
Other than that, the books spends most of the time not being very relevant to the story we were being told in the first two books. The human characters is also completely out of place in this story, but might only be there to make the protagonist actually do something. I'll avoid spoilers: but what was "he" doing in that cave for nights on end? It makes no sense for him to be there or stay there.
I hope the story will make more sense later down the line, but I doubt it, as this is "trash" fiction just to sell more for White Wolf.
Other than that, the books spends most of the time not being very relevant to the story we were being told in the first two books. The human characters is also completely out of place in this story, but might only be there to make the protagonist actually do something. I'll avoid spoilers: but what was "he" doing in that cave for nights on end? It makes no sense for him to be there or stay there.
I hope the story will make more sense later down the line, but I doubt it, as this is "trash" fiction just to sell more for White Wolf.
July 29, 2019
very enjoyable
i got up to the fifth book 0f this series, then i got tired
but up to here i was hooked
fast pased and with an incredible atmosphere
i think it borrows a lot from anne rice, maybe that was the reason i was hooked
i got up to the fifth book 0f this series, then i got tired
but up to here i was hooked
fast pased and with an incredible atmosphere
i think it borrows a lot from anne rice, maybe that was the reason i was hooked
August 26, 2020
Great look at the Gangrel clan
What this book does with the series is incredible. It shows one of the clans in a deeper light. It also does a great job with Ramona, one of the more influential core characters of the novel. Things are escalating nicely for the series.
What this book does with the series is incredible. It shows one of the clans in a deeper light. It also does a great job with Ramona, one of the more influential core characters of the novel. Things are escalating nicely for the series.
February 22, 2019
This is turning out to be an interesting undertaking
Want to read
May 4, 2014I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/12396045
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/12396045
November 17, 2015
Super entretenido, pero con un final que dan ganas de tirarlo por la ventana.
Todo lo demás, sin embargo, está bien.
Todo lo demás, sin embargo, está bien.
April 14, 2023
I had high hopes for this series. Very dissapointing :/
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