Gravemould and Ectoplasm

James Asher #8.5

by Barbara Hambly

A novelette of 16,000 words, the follow-on to the Asher and Ysidro vampire series. Recently arrived in New York in the closing years of World War One, Lydia Asher and her friend, the "recovering" vampire Don Simon Ysidro, attempt to solve a puzzle that begins with a fraudulent seance, and rapidly veers into revolution and murder.

Genres: Historical, Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery, Vampires, Fiction, Paranormal

46 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 23, 2019

About the author

aka Barbara Hamilton

Ranging from fantasy to historical fiction, Barbara Hambly has a masterful way of spinning a story. Her twisty plots involve memorable characters, lavish descriptions, scads of novel words, and interesting devices. Her work spans the Star Wars universe, antebellum New Orleans, and various fantasy worlds, sometimes linked with our own.


"I always wanted to be a writer but everyone kept telling me it was impossible to break into the field or make money. I've proven them wrong on both counts."
-Barbara Hambly

Reviews

[Galina Krasskova]

Don Simon is my favorite vampire character in contemporary literature but this was a disappointing read. It earned its rating solely because I was happy to see another installment in the series but... I don't like Lydia, finding her tiresome, and i find the redemption arc with Ysidro's character is especially irritating. It grates especially in more condensed stories like this.

I've been disappointed in the last two books though and I remain so here. Hambly notes in an epilogue that she had angst over Ysidro being a "practicing serial killer" and this is a "lightening up" of the series. Um... it's a vampire series. maybe write romance if this is a problem. The whole watering down of his predatory nature really has ruined the series for me.

Also, lydia...my Gods. Can we get any more plebeian with the middle class morality. She's frankly boring.

I would have preferred stories predating Lydia and Asher, more of Simon's backstory rather than the series moving into the late teens and twenties with Lydia the central character.

[Jacqie · Rating 3 out of 5]

It looks like Barbara Hambly intends to keep moving forward with this series in shorter stories.

This one takes place shortly after Lydia and Ysidro settle in New York City in a dilapidated old house that Don Ysidro is already filling with obscure tomes. Ysidro, unfortunately, has become rather tame. Except for having excellent night vision, I'm not sure that he makes any difference to the storyline.

These are turning into quick little mysteries instead of horror. Sadly, Asher is stuck in Europe with the Great War and so it looks like he and Lydia will be separated for quite a while.

With any mystery, the question is "who benefits?" and once enough information is given to find that out, things resolve quickly.

[Lorena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hambly continues the story of Lydia and Don Simon, as they adjust to their new life in NYC during WWI. The notes indicate that this is going to be the focus of the series going forward, what with James still stuck in Europe, working undercover as a German officer. The Russian Revolution has added another level of intrigue among the expat community (and will probably keep James busy even after WWI draws to a close).

[robyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

This short story could honestly have featured two characters from any of Hambly's major series, with a little tweaking for setting; Antryg and Joanna, Ben January and SEVERAL people - it's a cute and somehow generic little tale that reads like a fanfic.

I think the disappointment lies in the fact that Simon seems to suddenly be Lydia's gay best friend or honorary uncle or sidekick; I cannot IMAGINE him doing all the little services for miscellaneous secondary characters that he does in this one, getting them a drink! Showing up at a bad play because Lydia asked him to! Oh Simon, does eternity hang that heavy?

I love that Hambly writes these little shorts; I definitely like seeing more of these characters even though the series is over. I hope the next one feels more like the books used to.

[Kris Sellgren · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is such a pleasure to see that the tale of vampire Don Simon Ysidro and the Ashers will continue after Hambly’s novel “Prisoner of Midnight”. This was a novella set in New York in 1917. Spy extraordinaire James Asher is still trapped in Europe, alas. But Dr. Lydia Asher and Don Simon have finally settled into a comfortable friendship, without the usual angst. This story starts with a seance and soon becomes deadly serious. I look forward to more stories, although I would like to see Jamie and Lydia back together.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely afternoon read

Very much enjoyed reading the further exploits of Lydia and Don Simon. I look forward to further stories, be they traditional novels or short stories such as this!

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not sure how I feel learning that this is kind of a conclusion for the James Asher series. I understand her desire not to write about a mass murdering vampire anymore. And I'm happy that she wants to continue to use the characters to write about other supernatural exploits. But I truly enjoyed this series since I picked up the first book 30 years ago and feel a bit melancholic about this information.

I hope the future books remain as interesting.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Generally I haven’t found Hambly’s novelettes to be quite as good as her novels, but I love the characters so they are still very enjoyable. This novelette is one of the better ones; perhaps Hambly is on the road to perfecting the shorter format.

[Nicole Luiken · Rating 4 out of 5]

Novelette. Well-researched as always. It was fun to catch up with Lydia and Don Simon Ysidro again after the events of the (for now) final book in the series. I'm glad Hambly intends to do more of these as Prisoner of Midnight kind of left James hanging.

[Ghostrunner · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't mind her "lightening the tone" of this series as she mentions in the author's note. I like the characters and their weird, fraught, long distance consensual love triangle.

[Sally Antoinette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good times in NY!

Ok I am so happy to read more about what happened to Don Simon and Lydia. Thank you for this!!!!