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The Vampire's Violin
Listen to its haunting, angelic sound
After centuries of life, the Vampire has just two passions blood and music. The blood of innocents is plentiful and easily attained—it is his other passion that torments him. Many years ago he owned and lost a violin that sang with the voice of the angels. Now this unearthly monster will do anything to press the instrument once more against his neck.
As it summons a hellish creature of the night
Maggie O’Hara was a talented if unremarkable violinist—until the day her grandfather gives her a violin he had brought home from World War II. For fifty years the magnificent instrument sat untouched in an attic, but from the moment Maggie hits the first note, her playing is transformed. With this remarkable violin in her possession, all of her dreams are eerily becoming reality. But she has no way of knowing that a nightwalker is tracking her down—and that he has every intention of taking back, through bloodlust and terror, what is rightfully his. . . .
THE VAMPIRE’S VIOLIN
After centuries of life, the Vampire has just two passions blood and music. The blood of innocents is plentiful and easily attained—it is his other passion that torments him. Many years ago he owned and lost a violin that sang with the voice of the angels. Now this unearthly monster will do anything to press the instrument once more against his neck.
As it summons a hellish creature of the night
Maggie O’Hara was a talented if unremarkable violinist—until the day her grandfather gives her a violin he had brought home from World War II. For fifty years the magnificent instrument sat untouched in an attic, but from the moment Maggie hits the first note, her playing is transformed. With this remarkable violin in her possession, all of her dreams are eerily becoming reality. But she has no way of knowing that a nightwalker is tracking her down—and that he has every intention of taking back, through bloodlust and terror, what is rightfully his. . . .
THE VAMPIRE’S VIOLIN
304 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published April 1, 2003
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
October 5, 2013
It wasn't fine literature, but it is pretty hard for me to not like a book about a vampire violinist, and I will gladly join every character in the book in being in love with the Angel violin. I really appreciated the music details, and while there were a few things I didn't like, I was happy that the story was not predictable.
December 20, 2025
Interesting premise, but rather slow moving, especially at the beginning. I feel as though more interesting things could have been done with Glyndwr's efforts to regain the violin. The depths of depravity could have gone much further. Also, Maggie felt like a bit of a "Mary Sue," especially in the ending.
September 2, 2017
I didn't think any of the characters here were terribly interesting. In fact, the violin was probably the most interesting of them all.
A promising beginning, but the ending was very unsatisfying.
A promising beginning, but the ending was very unsatisfying.
May 11, 2017
The atmosphere was exactly what I was looking for. Unfortunately, the story and character didn't grab nearly as much as I'd have liked.
April 16, 2010
The Vampire's Violin. Michael Romkey. 2003. Ballantine Books. 294 pages. ISBN 0345452089.
The Vampire's Violin is a tastefully written novel about a series of violins that sound so beautiful they are coveted by both vampires and humans alike. Michael Romkey opens the novel in the year 1744, introducing us to blind violin-maker Archangelo Serafino and Welsh vampire and violinist Dylan Glyndwr, who covets the "Angel" violins. Hundreds of years pass while Dylan searches for an Angel violin, and we are brought to present-day Iowa to meet Maggie O'Hara, a college student who inherits her grandfather's Angel violin that fell into his possession during WWII. Dylan pursues his quest for the Angel violin through Maggie.
As a horror novel, The Vampire's Violin is not at all scary; but instead pays an homage to violins, the love of classical music, and the orchestra. The Angel violin does not hold possessive or supernatural powers, but rather instills confidence in the player as they are affected by the instrument's beauty in sound. The book reminds me strongly of the movie The Red Violin.
The Vampire's Violin is written so well and is such a great story that vampires need not even be involved at all; it would have sufficed with just evil and selfish humans chasing the violin. The vampires featured in the novel are not scary or horrifying, and here I'll refrain from revealing any further details.
All in all, Romkey's The Vampire's Violin is an entertaining and eloquent read, and I would definitely recommend it to classical music buffs and fans of the orchestra. Nicely done!
The Vampire's Violin is a tastefully written novel about a series of violins that sound so beautiful they are coveted by both vampires and humans alike. Michael Romkey opens the novel in the year 1744, introducing us to blind violin-maker Archangelo Serafino and Welsh vampire and violinist Dylan Glyndwr, who covets the "Angel" violins. Hundreds of years pass while Dylan searches for an Angel violin, and we are brought to present-day Iowa to meet Maggie O'Hara, a college student who inherits her grandfather's Angel violin that fell into his possession during WWII. Dylan pursues his quest for the Angel violin through Maggie.
As a horror novel, The Vampire's Violin is not at all scary; but instead pays an homage to violins, the love of classical music, and the orchestra. The Angel violin does not hold possessive or supernatural powers, but rather instills confidence in the player as they are affected by the instrument's beauty in sound. The book reminds me strongly of the movie The Red Violin.
The Vampire's Violin is written so well and is such a great story that vampires need not even be involved at all; it would have sufficed with just evil and selfish humans chasing the violin. The vampires featured in the novel are not scary or horrifying, and here I'll refrain from revealing any further details.
All in all, Romkey's The Vampire's Violin is an entertaining and eloquent read, and I would definitely recommend it to classical music buffs and fans of the orchestra. Nicely done!
January 10, 2014
This book was quite simply amazing. I have not read a vampire novel like this in quite some time. Romkey succeeds in painting the picture inside your head, at least for me, and he is capable of sending me to the places he describes. I was almost waiting for the vampire to sink his teeth into my neck on that island.
I was most thoroughly impressed with the way he shows off the obsessive qualities in a vampire; that is something I found wanting in his first novel. I also appreciated how the idea of property owned by a mortal is nothing more than a blink of the eye for a vampire. Anne Rice is honestly the only other author I've ever read that so successfully conveys this aspect of 'immortality.'
My absolute favorite part of this novel was the ending. It was done so well, that I read the pages directly proceeding it a few times just to let it fully sink in. I must admit I am a sucker for endings such as the one found in this novel.
HIGHLY recommend this novel.
I was most thoroughly impressed with the way he shows off the obsessive qualities in a vampire; that is something I found wanting in his first novel. I also appreciated how the idea of property owned by a mortal is nothing more than a blink of the eye for a vampire. Anne Rice is honestly the only other author I've ever read that so successfully conveys this aspect of 'immortality.'
My absolute favorite part of this novel was the ending. It was done so well, that I read the pages directly proceeding it a few times just to let it fully sink in. I must admit I am a sucker for endings such as the one found in this novel.
HIGHLY recommend this novel.
August 20, 2009
Dylan Glyndwr, a centuries old vampire, has only two passions: the blood of innocents, and the music of the violin.
Over many centuries he has owned, lost, and desperately sought to find again a very special violin, built by a master craftsman. This violin sings with the voice of the angels.
The Vampire's quest over two centuries takes him from Italy, around Europe, to an ill-fated sea voyage, to a college town in Iowa. As he searches ruthlessly for this one special violin, the Vampire leaves a trail of drained bodies in his wake.
Michael Romkey's non-series, non-related vampire books are among my favorites. Darker than many vampire books, they are each unique stories with intrigue, drama, and solid plots and characters. No romance in these books to speak of.
I will absolutely continue reading this enjoyable author.
Over many centuries he has owned, lost, and desperately sought to find again a very special violin, built by a master craftsman. This violin sings with the voice of the angels.
The Vampire's quest over two centuries takes him from Italy, around Europe, to an ill-fated sea voyage, to a college town in Iowa. As he searches ruthlessly for this one special violin, the Vampire leaves a trail of drained bodies in his wake.
Michael Romkey's non-series, non-related vampire books are among my favorites. Darker than many vampire books, they are each unique stories with intrigue, drama, and solid plots and characters. No romance in these books to speak of.
I will absolutely continue reading this enjoyable author.
December 26, 2007
i just started this...i've had copies of this series FOREVER and i'm sick of looking at them on my to read shelves. i haven't loved them but since i've had them for YEARS i'm gonna read em and be done with them.
so i've finished. it wasn't bad - not great. although, i think i may have liked this one best of the series. i'm glad i'm done with them.
so i've finished. it wasn't bad - not great. although, i think i may have liked this one best of the series. i'm glad i'm done with them.
August 17, 2010
I read this in highschool, so there is a small chance should I read it again I might feel a little differently about it.I remember it being a little long winded,with too much attention to detail and not enough plot to move the story along at a good pace. It wasn't amazing, but worth reading during a slow week.
June 17, 2015
I loved this book. I loved that it had vampires and music. What could be better than vampires playing music? Nothing lol you can tell I really love vampire fiction and I really love music. I'm just happy that he kinda brought classical music into the vampire world. It was very good I recommend it if you love music and vampires
April 10, 2015
Your typical $1 bin vampire paperback. One of the better ones I suppose. I enjoyed the music aspect of things and found myself actually wishing to hear this angel violin that was so coveted. All in all it kept me entertained during the slow moments at work.
July 30, 2008
Loved this book! Great twist on the story.
August 3, 2011
ive read it twice! and i loved it.
February 22, 2019
Another good installment
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews