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Triquetra #1
My Heart is Within You
The power of heart and soul holds the key to the survival of the last of the ancient vampires. Kristair is running out of time. His race has faded away, prey to delusion and deterioration, and his only chance to live long enough to find a cure is to bind his psyche to a human vessel in a long forgotten ritual.
Kristair's chosen vessel is Jacob Corvin, a man of passionate stubbornness and fierce loyalty; he has captured Kristair's fantasies so completely that he is both the vampire's greatest strength and most crippling weakness. Drawing upon Jacob's spirit and Kristair's resolve, they each bind a portion of their souls to one other. For as long as Jacob carries Kristair's heart within him, the vampire can continue his quest.
Just when they have hope, their mission is threatened by The Syndicate, a group of younger vampires who attempt to force Kristair to teach them his secrets before he disappears like the rest of the ancients. Battling both The Syndicate's attacks and his unexpected need and love for Jacob, Kristair's strength begins to fade, forcing him to make a decision that will change his and Jacob's lives forever.
Kristair's chosen vessel is Jacob Corvin, a man of passionate stubbornness and fierce loyalty; he has captured Kristair's fantasies so completely that he is both the vampire's greatest strength and most crippling weakness. Drawing upon Jacob's spirit and Kristair's resolve, they each bind a portion of their souls to one other. For as long as Jacob carries Kristair's heart within him, the vampire can continue his quest.
Just when they have hope, their mission is threatened by The Syndicate, a group of younger vampires who attempt to force Kristair to teach them his secrets before he disappears like the rest of the ancients. Battling both The Syndicate's attacks and his unexpected need and love for Jacob, Kristair's strength begins to fade, forcing him to make a decision that will change his and Jacob's lives forever.
Volume 1 of the Triquetra
280 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 1, 2009
9 people are currently reading
429 people want to read
About the author
Marguerite Labbe
39 books128 followersMarguerite has been accused of being eccentric and a shade neurotic, both of which she freely admits to, but her muse has OCD tendencies, so who can blame her? Her husband and son do an excellent job keeping her toeing the line, though. Together with her co-author Fae Sutherland, Marguerite has found a shared passion for beautiful men with smart mouths.
When she's not working hard on writing new material and editing completed work, she spends her time reading novels of all genres, enjoying role-playing games with her equally nutty friends, and trying to plot practical jokes against her son and husband. Her son is learning the tricks too quickly and likes to retaliate. You'd think she'd learn.
When she's not working hard on writing new material and editing completed work, she spends her time reading novels of all genres, enjoying role-playing games with her equally nutty friends, and trying to plot practical jokes against her son and husband. Her son is learning the tricks too quickly and likes to retaliate. You'd think she'd learn.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
January 6, 2010
Where to start? I enjoy when an author adds their own imagination to the vampire myth, putting their own spin on it, so to speak. Marguerite did this winningly!
What kept this from being a 5 star read were some issues I had with Jacob. He was instantly in love, which I would have attributed to Kristair's allure except that Kristair didn't appear to expect it. Also on their second night together, Jacob wondered if the vampire would ever cease to surprise him, like they had known each other for a lifetime. I would have liked to see more of a building in the relationship than an instant one.
Also, Jacob seemed to accept things that were incredible with ease, like having a vampire stalker. But then other things that seemed much easier to accept were cause for panic. His character's personality confused me most of the time.
With these things said, they detracted only a small amount from an otherwise brilliant story. Marguerite kept from offering a cookie-cutter plot with easy resolution. The world she created was interesting and made the reader wish to know more. Thank god, the series continues! :)
What kept this from being a 5 star read were some issues I had with Jacob. He was instantly in love, which I would have attributed to Kristair's allure except that Kristair didn't appear to expect it. Also on their second night together, Jacob wondered if the vampire would ever cease to surprise him, like they had known each other for a lifetime. I would have liked to see more of a building in the relationship than an instant one.
Also, Jacob seemed to accept things that were incredible with ease, like having a vampire stalker. But then other things that seemed much easier to accept were cause for panic. His character's personality confused me most of the time.
With these things said, they detracted only a small amount from an otherwise brilliant story. Marguerite kept from offering a cookie-cutter plot with easy resolution. The world she created was interesting and made the reader wish to know more. Thank god, the series continues! :)
July 6, 2009
3.5 stars rounded up.
This was a really emotional read. I was surprised at how interested in the story I became. I have found vampire stories pretty repetative lately or very unimaginative...that was not the case with this story. It had unique elements, a gripping story, plenty of angst, pretty hawt sex eventually and a lot of true devotion that flowed off the pages to the reader.
I would have given this 4 or 4.5 stars but it is part of trilogy. The last page in this book has no HEA and no HFN. The human lover is steeped in grief and anquish on the last page with just a one sentence tease of hope. We have to wait until the Sept 09 for the next book and 2010 for the last.
This was a really emotional read. I was surprised at how interested in the story I became. I have found vampire stories pretty repetative lately or very unimaginative...that was not the case with this story. It had unique elements, a gripping story, plenty of angst, pretty hawt sex eventually and a lot of true devotion that flowed off the pages to the reader.
I would have given this 4 or 4.5 stars but it is part of trilogy. The last page in this book has no HEA and no HFN. The human lover is steeped in grief and anquish on the last page with just a one sentence tease of hope. We have to wait until the Sept 09 for the next book and 2010 for the last.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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April 21, 2010Kristair is a very ancient vampire who needs to find a human vessel to survive, and since he lives in the United States, who is the perfect candidate? Who is young, strong and handsome more than a college football player? Jacob is the chosen one and from the meeting of an ancient warrior with a modern one, the result is a very balanced couple: where Kris is brooding and too much serious, Jake has all the energy and joy of life of a young college student whose primary purpose is to be a number one athlete and secondary to enjoy as much as possible the frat life.
When Kris picks Jake among the crowd, he decides to give to the young man a bit of space and a slowly but effective courtship starts, with Kris letting Jake know that he is there, ready for him when Jake will decide it’s time, and Jake who enjoys a little bit of teasing of the older man. Yes, even if Kris appears to be the same age or just a little older than Jake, it’s clear that he has a very much older soul, and Jake plays a bit the role of the twink with a sugar daddy; he likes to be wooed, to be cherished like a treasure, and he likes to tease Kris. But when in the end, Jake will welcome Kris in his bed, and body (and not only in the sexual meaning of the word), Jake will reveal a strong core, that is not easily commanded, not even by a powerful and ancient vampire; in bed, between them, it’s not easy to understand who is the Dominant and who is the submissive.
The mood of the story is really dark and gothic, a mood that I would dare to compare to the Anne Rice’s Vampire tales; Kris has a lot weighting on his shoulders, above all knowledge, dangerous knowledge that he has no way to share if not finding his true mate. The bond between Kris and Jake will allow the first to lighten his burden, but nevertheless the story will not loose its darken mood. Even when having sex, even considering Jake’s young age and his previous almost coquettish behaviour, there is always the feeling that something tragic will happen, that these two lovers will not have an easy life together… enough to say that in the end, I’m happy to know that this is only the first book in a series of three with the same characters.
Even if the story is set in Pittsburgh, there is a strange feeling, like a hot and bothered atmosphere, the same thing you experience during hot summer nights. The darkness I told before is not a cold one, as I said it’s like during a summer night, and probably this is due to the two main characters, way different from the usual lean and emaciated vampires: nor Kris or Jake are like that, they are more like football players, hunky and hot, tattoed and strong. So strong is their presence that they affect all the story, spreading their hotness around. And maybe it helps also Jake’s Southern origin, like the author describes him “drawl and quick temper, filled with boldness, strutting around like the cock of the morning”.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1935192701/?...
When Kris picks Jake among the crowd, he decides to give to the young man a bit of space and a slowly but effective courtship starts, with Kris letting Jake know that he is there, ready for him when Jake will decide it’s time, and Jake who enjoys a little bit of teasing of the older man. Yes, even if Kris appears to be the same age or just a little older than Jake, it’s clear that he has a very much older soul, and Jake plays a bit the role of the twink with a sugar daddy; he likes to be wooed, to be cherished like a treasure, and he likes to tease Kris. But when in the end, Jake will welcome Kris in his bed, and body (and not only in the sexual meaning of the word), Jake will reveal a strong core, that is not easily commanded, not even by a powerful and ancient vampire; in bed, between them, it’s not easy to understand who is the Dominant and who is the submissive.
The mood of the story is really dark and gothic, a mood that I would dare to compare to the Anne Rice’s Vampire tales; Kris has a lot weighting on his shoulders, above all knowledge, dangerous knowledge that he has no way to share if not finding his true mate. The bond between Kris and Jake will allow the first to lighten his burden, but nevertheless the story will not loose its darken mood. Even when having sex, even considering Jake’s young age and his previous almost coquettish behaviour, there is always the feeling that something tragic will happen, that these two lovers will not have an easy life together… enough to say that in the end, I’m happy to know that this is only the first book in a series of three with the same characters.
Even if the story is set in Pittsburgh, there is a strange feeling, like a hot and bothered atmosphere, the same thing you experience during hot summer nights. The darkness I told before is not a cold one, as I said it’s like during a summer night, and probably this is due to the two main characters, way different from the usual lean and emaciated vampires: nor Kris or Jake are like that, they are more like football players, hunky and hot, tattoed and strong. So strong is their presence that they affect all the story, spreading their hotness around. And maybe it helps also Jake’s Southern origin, like the author describes him “drawl and quick temper, filled with boldness, strutting around like the cock of the morning”.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1935192701/?...
May 2, 2011
Kristair is a very old vampire who seems to be falling ill. His own creator just disappeared one day and she suffered the same symptoms. He hopes that by putting his heart in the body of another he can somehow stave off the end. He sees Jacob playing football and knows he's the one, but he doesn't want to just enthrall him to do it, so he basically starts stalking him. Jacob is freaked at first, but then adjusts and for several months they chat outside Jacob's window and eventually he invites Kristair in and they get freaky. He also agrees to the magical heart thingy to help him. The problem is some organization called the Syndicate want Kristair, and randomly send attack teams to kill/capture him. I wasn't really sure what was behind that all, and given this is a series I suppose that will come. The Syndicate finally realize Kristair has a lover and they kidnap him, manage to turn one of Jacob's roommates into their minion and the fight is on, with Kristair asking for aid from what I gather are gangster vamps. However when Jacob is shot, Kristair puts his soul in him to save him, the illness attacks and Kristair dies. WTF? How can he die at the end. *sniffle* Okay, it's a series and it's paranormal so you know it's not all that it could be. Anyway, I did enjoy it and kept reading for over 300 pages so I definitely want to know what happens next now that Jacob is alone and really really pissed. Because it's a long book there were a fair amount of secondary characters, Jacob's roommates, Kristair's foster-daughter, the vampire mobsters, they were all interesting and well done. I look forward to the next story in the series.
July 18, 2010
Wow - this was such an emotional read for me. I love vampire books, but generally they don't get me shedding actual tears like this one did. I will admit that I didn't know this was a series before I read it so the tragic ending, threw me for a total loop.
I loved the possessiveness of Jacob and Kristair. I loved their passion and their humor. I loved that the vampire legend was mixed up a little, not so cut and dry as some other vamp books can be. The characters really came off the page for me with all their passion and lust for life and for each other.
The only thing that kept at a 4.5 instead of a 5 star was sometimes I found the writing a little flowery, perhaps too descriptive about things that I really didn't need quite so many descriptions of. In some cases, I skipped entire paragraphs because I just wanted to get to the good stuff. That's probably more a flaw with me than the book, though. ")
I'll definitely be getting the rest of the series because this one fed into my need for angsty, hot, tearful romance and I have to know what happens next.
I loved the possessiveness of Jacob and Kristair. I loved their passion and their humor. I loved that the vampire legend was mixed up a little, not so cut and dry as some other vamp books can be. The characters really came off the page for me with all their passion and lust for life and for each other.
The only thing that kept at a 4.5 instead of a 5 star was sometimes I found the writing a little flowery, perhaps too descriptive about things that I really didn't need quite so many descriptions of. In some cases, I skipped entire paragraphs because I just wanted to get to the good stuff. That's probably more a flaw with me than the book, though. ")
I'll definitely be getting the rest of the series because this one fed into my need for angsty, hot, tearful romance and I have to know what happens next.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 1, 2012
This is the kind of vampire story that I have been looking for. There were many things that I liked about this book. I liked the really DEEP connection that Kristair and Jacob had, the different twist on the vampire world that author portrayed, the plot and mystery surrounding Kristair's declining health all made this a great read.
It was dark and serious. I am usually a fast reader but this book had me taking my time to read slower and make sure I was taking everything in. The ending was fitting for the story but I do see there is a few more books in the series.
Definitely a 5 star read for this genre.
It was dark and serious. I am usually a fast reader but this book had me taking my time to read slower and make sure I was taking everything in. The ending was fitting for the story but I do see there is a few more books in the series.
Definitely a 5 star read for this genre.
February 19, 2011
4.5 Stars
The book started a little slow but DAYUM! once it got going it absolutely did! I really liked the characters: Kristair, the ancient vampire, emotionally coming alive just as he fears his body is being destroyed and Jake, the young, headstrong, football player who captures his eye and his heart.
Well written with a unique view of vampire lore.
The book started a little slow but DAYUM! once it got going it absolutely did! I really liked the characters: Kristair, the ancient vampire, emotionally coming alive just as he fears his body is being destroyed and Jake, the young, headstrong, football player who captures his eye and his heart.
Well written with a unique view of vampire lore.
April 17, 2017
Each paranormal world has its own rules, and the one Marguerite Labbe has created for the ‘Triquetra’ series is sweeping, inventive, unusual, and fascinating. It took me a while to get into the characters and the story, maybe because it was subtly different from the “usual” vampire lore. While not everything is revealed in this first installment, it became clear to me that the history and back story are extensive and that I am likely to discover many more unique details as the series develops. But even in this first book, once I began to “get” what was going on, I already loved all the quirky details.
Kristair is an ancient vampire who is running out of time, threatened by deterioration, fading away, and mysterious voices he thinks he hears. More about this condition is revealed as the story develops, but I don’t want to say too much so I don’t spoil the surprise. Even though Kristair is arrogant and somewhat removed from reality as we know it, I couldn't help but feel for him. And, in the end, he is many centuries old and probably has seen it all, so a bit of superiority is entirely understandable.
Jacob, the man he picks to help him and instead falls in love with, is just the right man for Kristair, even if Kristair has occasional doubts. Jacob may be a young hothead, but he is fiercely loyal and will do anything to try to save Kristair. He is not a puppet to be manipulated by Kristair, but has his own ideas about how he can and should help Kristair. He is stubborn enough to make a few mistakes, just because he does not always listen, but his resilience and ability to think on his feet also become important in unexpected ways.
Needless to say, Marguerite doesn't present the solution to some of the vexing mysteries at the end of this first volume. Instead, I was presented with a breathtaking cliff-hanger. Despite all this, I look forward to "suffering" with the characters for the next two volumes.
If you like paranormal worlds with intricate rules and mysteries to be discovered as you read, if you want to find out more about two stubborn men who each think they know best and are fiercely protective of each other, and if you’re looking for a read that will carry you into an entirely unreal and somewhat scary world, then you will probably like this novel.
Kristair is an ancient vampire who is running out of time, threatened by deterioration, fading away, and mysterious voices he thinks he hears. More about this condition is revealed as the story develops, but I don’t want to say too much so I don’t spoil the surprise. Even though Kristair is arrogant and somewhat removed from reality as we know it, I couldn't help but feel for him. And, in the end, he is many centuries old and probably has seen it all, so a bit of superiority is entirely understandable.
Jacob, the man he picks to help him and instead falls in love with, is just the right man for Kristair, even if Kristair has occasional doubts. Jacob may be a young hothead, but he is fiercely loyal and will do anything to try to save Kristair. He is not a puppet to be manipulated by Kristair, but has his own ideas about how he can and should help Kristair. He is stubborn enough to make a few mistakes, just because he does not always listen, but his resilience and ability to think on his feet also become important in unexpected ways.
Needless to say, Marguerite doesn't present the solution to some of the vexing mysteries at the end of this first volume. Instead, I was presented with a breathtaking cliff-hanger. Despite all this, I look forward to "suffering" with the characters for the next two volumes.
If you like paranormal worlds with intricate rules and mysteries to be discovered as you read, if you want to find out more about two stubborn men who each think they know best and are fiercely protective of each other, and if you’re looking for a read that will carry you into an entirely unreal and somewhat scary world, then you will probably like this novel.
July 9, 2011
Kristair is the oldest of his kind. He is starting to show the same signs as the elders before him did before they disappeared. He is running out of time to find a way to stop the progress of the fading when he finds Jacob. Jacob is from backwater Louisiana on a football scholarship. Hot headed and fiercely loyal, Jacob tried to help Kristair find a way to stop the fading.
This is a plot driven - part suspense, part action-adventure - fantasy. Once I was caught I couldn't put it down. Kristair and Jacob were awesome together. The Syndicate was menacing and I loved it all. I talked about it for days.
This is a plot driven - part suspense, part action-adventure - fantasy. Once I was caught I couldn't put it down. Kristair and Jacob were awesome together. The Syndicate was menacing and I loved it all. I talked about it for days.
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October 1, 2014Умерло естественной смертью на пятидесятой странице...
April 29, 2010
I'll start out with the fact that I hate the cover. I think the fact that All Romance Ebooks was giving this away as part of a promotion is the only reason I got the book. (Pushed me off the fence.) That is despite hearing good things about the book and the author. And even seeing a snippet of a later book in the series and being quite intrigued. There really are some covers that do a huge disservice to a book. (Of course, I've also seen books with beautiful covers and nothing in between. *g*)
As for the book itself. Generally enjoyable. Different take on the vampire mythology, which can be a good thing or a bad thing. We all have our favorite takes on myths and legends. The ability of a vampire to dissolve into mist is usually a trait I'm not fond of, but I can't imagine this book working without it.
The concept of young vamps versus ancients was interesting, as was the hints of what I can only describe as some sort of vampire afterlife. That part is still a mystery. In other words, to be continued.
If you're not fond of cliff hangers, you may find yourself annoyed with the end of the book. This is definitely a series where the books build. That is usually a good thing in my book, but there was a bit too much of a cliff hanger for my tastes.
I'm currently waffling as to whether I'll search out the next book. Looks like there are already two more in print.
The book is written in alternate first person POV between the main two characters. Love first person, but I'm not too fond of the alternating. Even though the alternating was by chapter, with very clear transitions, I still found myself in the middle of a couple of scenes asking myself "who's head am I in now?" That was exacerbated by the fact that the two main characters were literally in each other's heads. (Think telepathy - not getting into the full explanation.)
Jacob I genuinely liked all the way around. Kristair I seemed to like as a person, but I found the physical descriptions of him a bit off-putting. Sorry, I'm not particularly fond of bald guys as sexual objects. Although I'd call this urban fantasy, it's heavy on the romance/eroticism factor, and I think "falling in love" with a character in an erotically charged book requires you to be attracted to him. (If the book isn't so erotically charged, you can fall in love with a personality alone.)
I remember this big discussion about filtering out physical characteristics you dislike. This was one of those books that pounded you with that particular characteristic enough that you couldn't put it out of your mind.
Strangely enough, the idea of the ancient tattoos didn't bother me as much as the bald thing. And usually that many tattoos are "too much" for me.
But I associate "bald" with old or fatherly, not sexy. I even hate military haircuts most of the time. Short doesn't work for me. Bald really doesn't work for me.
Romance to plot: maybe 60/40
Eroticism: slightly on the "too much" side for my personal tastes
/review LOL. That was rather stream of consciousness, wasn't it? *g*
As for the book itself. Generally enjoyable. Different take on the vampire mythology, which can be a good thing or a bad thing. We all have our favorite takes on myths and legends. The ability of a vampire to dissolve into mist is usually a trait I'm not fond of, but I can't imagine this book working without it.
The concept of young vamps versus ancients was interesting, as was the hints of what I can only describe as some sort of vampire afterlife. That part is still a mystery. In other words, to be continued.
If you're not fond of cliff hangers, you may find yourself annoyed with the end of the book. This is definitely a series where the books build. That is usually a good thing in my book, but there was a bit too much of a cliff hanger for my tastes.
I'm currently waffling as to whether I'll search out the next book. Looks like there are already two more in print.
The book is written in alternate first person POV between the main two characters. Love first person, but I'm not too fond of the alternating. Even though the alternating was by chapter, with very clear transitions, I still found myself in the middle of a couple of scenes asking myself "who's head am I in now?" That was exacerbated by the fact that the two main characters were literally in each other's heads. (Think telepathy - not getting into the full explanation.)
Jacob I genuinely liked all the way around. Kristair I seemed to like as a person, but I found the physical descriptions of him a bit off-putting. Sorry, I'm not particularly fond of bald guys as sexual objects. Although I'd call this urban fantasy, it's heavy on the romance/eroticism factor, and I think "falling in love" with a character in an erotically charged book requires you to be attracted to him. (If the book isn't so erotically charged, you can fall in love with a personality alone.)
I remember this big discussion about filtering out physical characteristics you dislike. This was one of those books that pounded you with that particular characteristic enough that you couldn't put it out of your mind.
Strangely enough, the idea of the ancient tattoos didn't bother me as much as the bald thing. And usually that many tattoos are "too much" for me.
But I associate "bald" with old or fatherly, not sexy. I even hate military haircuts most of the time. Short doesn't work for me. Bald really doesn't work for me.
Romance to plot: maybe 60/40
Eroticism: slightly on the "too much" side for my personal tastes
/review LOL. That was rather stream of consciousness, wasn't it? *g*
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 19, 2014
I couldn't get into this book. I couldn't connect with Jacob (he came across so arrogant and impatient it was annoying) and Kristair bored me, they connected so fast I was completely lost and confused. The book jumped between POV and seemingly skipped ahead quite significantly as it did, (in the first few chapters that I read at least), so I couldn't get pulled in like I wanted to be. I lost interest around 15% in. I skimmed through paragraphs after that trying to find something to captivate me but after a while I gave up.
October 24, 2012
Disconcerting and rather trite at times, but still, rather good overall.
It was an interesting new spin on a very old idea, which made it incredibly interesting.
There were parts where there seemed to be awkward jumps in the continuity, but overall, it didn't really detract too much from the overall effect, I guess.
It was an interesting new spin on a very old idea, which made it incredibly interesting.
There were parts where there seemed to be awkward jumps in the continuity, but overall, it didn't really detract too much from the overall effect, I guess.
May 4, 2010
Couldn't even finish this one. Good lord, I just wanted to tell the characters to grow up.
September 18, 2011
Hard to rate.
I liked the concept of the story. Kristair is a vampire, he feeds from the blood and energy of humans, but he is so old that he has more abilities than the rest of the vampires. I don't know if this depends only on his nature or also on his heritage. If I'm not mistaken - I confess I had to skim here and there at a certain point, more about it later - he was a Pict warrior and he was turned into vampires by a Roman lady. The rituals he performs are those of his people and I think there's some magic in him that makes him something more than a vampire. In order to continue to exist he has to find a human vessel. The bond he creates with Jacob, the college student he is attracted to - makes them a unity: they share their feelings and emotions and part of their strengths. Kristair has to fight the dissolution of his sanity, but also the vampires of the Syndicate, who are trying to learn his last secrets before he succumbs to his destiny.
Kristair stalks Jacob, until the young man becomes first aware and then enthralled by his presence. It's a game of seduction both of them play against each other, but the problem is that this early stage of courtship is only hinted at, while I thought it would have been so interesting to delve into it - I like anticipation very much. The book was very slow in my opinion. The narration is in the first person, alternately from the point of view of Kristair and Jacob. While the direct speech clearly identifies the two protagonists, the I-narration is very similar for both and the fact that from a certain point on they begin to share their thoughts through a mental connection didn't give me a strong sense of character. Everything seemed to blur, or worse to become flat. I also think that there were episodes that I could have done without and that's why I began to skim through a few pages .
What also didn't convince me was that Jacob began to call Kristair "love" and to say he loved him too early. They share a bond, a connection, I get it, but this theme wasn't presented as a destined-mate bond, it was something that stemmed from attraction. It's not a problem of Jacob being smitten with Kristair, but "love" really seemed to come out of nowhere, Kristair is hot, a great lover, there's a well of knowledge in him, but at the beginning he doesn't do anything for Jacob that would justify the talk of love, in my opinion.
I liked the book better towards the end, when the action took over the internal conversations. I guess it's difficult to portray the dissolution of Kristair's mind, but it went on for so long that I got tired of it, because it was clear that Jacob was anchoring Kristair, I didn't need the constant repetition of it. That was the problem, the writing was good, but it dragged too long.
Warning: the story is clearly not finished at the end of the book , so you'll have to want to invest in the whole series to have closure. I don't know if this is a book for everyone, because it has a style that may not appeal to everybody. I was a step away from not finishing it, but the concept was so good I thought I had to give it a chance.
I liked the concept of the story. Kristair is a vampire, he feeds from the blood and energy of humans, but he is so old that he has more abilities than the rest of the vampires. I don't know if this depends only on his nature or also on his heritage. If I'm not mistaken - I confess I had to skim here and there at a certain point, more about it later - he was a Pict warrior and he was turned into vampires by a Roman lady. The rituals he performs are those of his people and I think there's some magic in him that makes him something more than a vampire. In order to continue to exist he has to find a human vessel. The bond he creates with Jacob, the college student he is attracted to - makes them a unity: they share their feelings and emotions and part of their strengths. Kristair has to fight the dissolution of his sanity, but also the vampires of the Syndicate, who are trying to learn his last secrets before he succumbs to his destiny.
Kristair stalks Jacob, until the young man becomes first aware and then enthralled by his presence. It's a game of seduction both of them play against each other, but the problem is that this early stage of courtship is only hinted at, while I thought it would have been so interesting to delve into it - I like anticipation very much. The book was very slow in my opinion. The narration is in the first person, alternately from the point of view of Kristair and Jacob. While the direct speech clearly identifies the two protagonists, the I-narration is very similar for both and the fact that from a certain point on they begin to share their thoughts through a mental connection didn't give me a strong sense of character. Everything seemed to blur, or worse to become flat. I also think that there were episodes that I could have done without and that's why I began to skim through a few pages .
What also didn't convince me was that Jacob began to call Kristair "love" and to say he loved him too early. They share a bond, a connection, I get it, but this theme wasn't presented as a destined-mate bond, it was something that stemmed from attraction. It's not a problem of Jacob being smitten with Kristair, but "love" really seemed to come out of nowhere, Kristair is hot, a great lover, there's a well of knowledge in him, but at the beginning he doesn't do anything for Jacob that would justify the talk of love, in my opinion.
I liked the book better towards the end, when the action took over the internal conversations. I guess it's difficult to portray the dissolution of Kristair's mind, but it went on for so long that I got tired of it, because it was clear that Jacob was anchoring Kristair, I didn't need the constant repetition of it. That was the problem, the writing was good, but it dragged too long.
Warning: the story is clearly not finished at the end of the book , so you'll have to want to invest in the whole series to have closure. I don't know if this is a book for everyone, because it has a style that may not appeal to everybody. I was a step away from not finishing it, but the concept was so good I thought I had to give it a chance.
March 20, 2011
3.5 stars
It is hard to find a fresh vampire story these days. I really like the books by Marguerite Labbe (usually writing with partner Fae Sutherland) so I took a chance that I would not be disappointed and I am mostly glad I did.
Thankfully not drowning in vampire lore and lexicon, this is a well-written and interesting story. Kristaire is an ancient vampire quickly coming to what appears to be the end of his long life and/or sanity. Jacob is a college football star that Kristaire pins the last of his idealistic hope on to save himself. This story mixes ancient mysticism and vampiric traits as well as old-fashioned love, hot sex and commitment in the unique way that two strong men relate to one another. It’s not often that a book makes me feel like my heart is breaking with grief along with the main characters but this book managed that.
This story is told from both main characters' POV. Occasionally I had to go back and try and figure out which POV I was getting and who was talking. There were times, especially when more than two characters were in a scene, that I had trouble determining which character was speaking.
This book would deserve 4+ stars if only it hadn’t ended without any resolution. As I crept closer to the end, each time I turned another page, I asked myself how this could possible end well, especially as I was running out of pages to read. The answer was it did not end well. It ended tragically. Fortunately it is part of a trilogy but I still felt much too abandoned at the end of the book to be at all satisfied with the ending.
If I knew then what I know now, I would wait until all three books were released and devour them back to back. I would lose less sleep thinking about the cliffhanger. Assuming the rest of the series is written as well as the first book, this may be a keeper but it is painful to have to wait to see how Jacob and Kristaire are reunited for the Happily Ever After that I read romance/erotica for.
It is hard to find a fresh vampire story these days. I really like the books by Marguerite Labbe (usually writing with partner Fae Sutherland) so I took a chance that I would not be disappointed and I am mostly glad I did.
Thankfully not drowning in vampire lore and lexicon, this is a well-written and interesting story. Kristaire is an ancient vampire quickly coming to what appears to be the end of his long life and/or sanity. Jacob is a college football star that Kristaire pins the last of his idealistic hope on to save himself. This story mixes ancient mysticism and vampiric traits as well as old-fashioned love, hot sex and commitment in the unique way that two strong men relate to one another. It’s not often that a book makes me feel like my heart is breaking with grief along with the main characters but this book managed that.
This story is told from both main characters' POV. Occasionally I had to go back and try and figure out which POV I was getting and who was talking. There were times, especially when more than two characters were in a scene, that I had trouble determining which character was speaking.
This book would deserve 4+ stars if only it hadn’t ended without any resolution. As I crept closer to the end, each time I turned another page, I asked myself how this could possible end well, especially as I was running out of pages to read. The answer was it did not end well. It ended tragically. Fortunately it is part of a trilogy but I still felt much too abandoned at the end of the book to be at all satisfied with the ending.
If I knew then what I know now, I would wait until all three books were released and devour them back to back. I would lose less sleep thinking about the cliffhanger. Assuming the rest of the series is written as well as the first book, this may be a keeper but it is painful to have to wait to see how Jacob and Kristaire are reunited for the Happily Ever After that I read romance/erotica for.
November 25, 2014
So this was a different take on the traditional kind of vampire love story and I enjoyed every freaking minute of it even though it ended on a totally tear-inducing cliff-hanger! I know there are two more books involving this couple and I cannot wait for next payday so I can get them!
The beginning felt a bit stiff to me but once the two MC's actually started communicating I was blown away by the story. The world building was interesting and I'm hoping there is more development in the other two books.
I already have a feeling that a certain someone is going to come back to bite them in the butt at some point in one of the other two books, and not in a pleasant kind of way either.
The end! O.M.G. The end was so freaking sad and tear-inducing and I needed Kleenex, which were in the next room, but I didn't want to take my eyes off my kindle but the tears were hindering that! Even thinking about it a day later and it's literally bringing me to tears! I LOVE books like that!
Highly recommended!
The beginning felt a bit stiff to me but once the two MC's actually started communicating I was blown away by the story. The world building was interesting and I'm hoping there is more development in the other two books.
I already have a feeling that a certain someone is going to come back to bite them in the butt at some point in one of the other two books, and not in a pleasant kind of way either.
The end! O.M.G. The end was so freaking sad and tear-inducing and I needed Kleenex, which were in the next room, but I didn't want to take my eyes off my kindle but the tears were hindering that! Even thinking about it a day later and it's literally bringing me to tears! I LOVE books like that!
Highly recommended!
April 16, 2012
Let me start by saying this is not a perfect book. The pacing feels too fast at the beginning (and through the relationship between Kristair and Jacob as well, although I very much enjoyed their relationship in spite of that), and certain plot points (and ancient vampire powers) feel a little too convenient. There's a fair bit of repetition to the characters' thoughts, and there are moments when Jacob's accent drove me absolutely batty. Yet even still, I found myself completely engrossed. I also thoroughly enjoyed a fresh take on the world of vampires, and the lore here was very different than anything I've read in the past. It also wasn't overdone at all, and I like the hints of vampiric history were presented with. I had trouble putting the book down once I hit the halfway point, and now that I've finished, I'm already itching like mad to get my hands on the next one in the trilogy. So, make of that what you will. ;)
April 11, 2010
A great read for vampire fans. I loved the dominant side of Jacob (he gets country-fied when he's hot or angry) and the possessiveness the pair shared towards one another. The passion these two felt for each other made me wish I was a fly on the wall. At times Jacob's roommates were bothersome and in all actuality seemed to hinder the story rather than add substance to it(until the end). This would have easily been a 5 star read, but I felt that the "peaks" of the story never quiet reached the height for true, heart-pounding excitement, although Jacob's anger problem made me think "it's on now," he would quickly "get over it" when in the presence of his lover Kristair. There is a REALLY sexy part in the book where Kristair acts out one of Jacob's highly erotic fantasies! That scene alone was worth the read. And no, I'm not going to tell you, you have to read it.
September 30, 2022
Kristair is slowly losing his mind, as all previous elder vampires had done over the years; he hopes to slow it down when he shares his heart with a vessel. He has chosen Jacob as his vessel, and as the two start to bond, Kristair also has to deal with the Syndicate, who is trying to get him to teach them his secrets.
I enjoyed this book and this different take on vampires. I wanted Kristair, even if he seemed stuffy at times, but he was pretty ancient, so that could be expected. Jacob was a typical college student, although it seemed like he quickly fell in love with Kristair. Kristair didn't expect that from Jacob, so it made it seem a bit fast for Jacob to fall in love. The ending was a bit of a cliffhanger, so I'll be reading the next book to see what happens next.
I enjoyed this book and this different take on vampires. I wanted Kristair, even if he seemed stuffy at times, but he was pretty ancient, so that could be expected. Jacob was a typical college student, although it seemed like he quickly fell in love with Kristair. Kristair didn't expect that from Jacob, so it made it seem a bit fast for Jacob to fall in love. The ending was a bit of a cliffhanger, so I'll be reading the next book to see what happens next.
May 18, 2010
Or, "tá mo chroí istigh ionat." Which also translates, rather literally, to "I love you."
Take an ancient Gaelic warrior. Make him immortal and toss him into modern-day Pittsburgh, tangle him up with the college's star running back.
At turns humorous and heart-wrenching, this first in the Triquetra trilogy is a beautifully written tale of a whirlwind romance with a temporarily tragic ending. Labbe does a poignantly flawless job of depicting the characters, their emotions and relationships, their loyalties and flaws, and this end result is a powerfully action-packed story that doesn't bother letting up.
If you enjoy gay vamps, this is definitely a must-read. Hands down.
Take an ancient Gaelic warrior. Make him immortal and toss him into modern-day Pittsburgh, tangle him up with the college's star running back.
At turns humorous and heart-wrenching, this first in the Triquetra trilogy is a beautifully written tale of a whirlwind romance with a temporarily tragic ending. Labbe does a poignantly flawless job of depicting the characters, their emotions and relationships, their loyalties and flaws, and this end result is a powerfully action-packed story that doesn't bother letting up.
If you enjoy gay vamps, this is definitely a must-read. Hands down.
November 30, 2015
Wow - this was not what I was expecting, in a good way. Such a unique twist to the supernatural world. Two strong characters who shouldn't make it work but really, really do!
This is the first book in a series of 3 (I don't know if there will be more as the 3rd book seemed pretty final).
This book had an ending but for the full HEA you should plan on reading book 2 right away. That's really where there is some closure for the couple and the 3rd book is the icing on the cake.
This is the first book in a series of 3 (I don't know if there will be more as the 3rd book seemed pretty final).
This book had an ending but for the full HEA you should plan on reading book 2 right away. That's really where there is some closure for the couple and the 3rd book is the icing on the cake.
February 7, 2010
This is a great read. It is not like any other m/m book that I have read. It really is more like the fantasy books that I read. The characters love affair is 2nd in the story line. I really would recomment this to anyone. There are three books that need to be read at the same time. It will keep your attention.
July 16, 2016
I think the reason this remained on my TBR shelf for so long is the cover – it is ugly as all hell and doesn’t entice you to read what is actually a very good story about vampires. This is the tale of the oldest vampire left, the ancient one, and his love for a young college student who holds his heart – literally.
July 14, 2014
i couldn't. put it down. i immediately. after finishing purchased the other two in the trilogy after so many thousands of yrs to find your soulmate knowing your end is near would be a crushing blow to anyone but kristair and jake never let that stop their connection there is action love great sex everything you could want in a book is here a must reaf
April 3, 2011
I enjoyed reading this first book in the Triquerta series. Well-written, interesting characters and plot.
own-it-to-read
October 14, 2014Im accepting that as much as I want to love this book, it never holds my interest. I own it so it's not like I'll throw it away, but it may be a while before I try it again.
Read
October 23, 2010DNF.
September 26, 2016
3rd read and I still love it.
February 5, 2011
Hot damn! This book was good!!!
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