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Ghosts of Albion #1
Accursed
Even death could not stop Britain’s greatest defenders.
In 1838, William and Tamara Swift inherit a startling legacy from their dying grandfather, transforming them into the Protectors of Albion, mystical defenders of the soul of England. But the shocked, neophyte sorcerers also inherit unique allies in their battle against the dark forces. Fighting alongside them are the famous–even infamous–Ghosts of Lord Byron, Queen Bodicea, and Lord Admiral Nelson.
When strange and hideous creatures appear in the slums of London, an unholy plague threatens to launch an epic battle that may rage all the way to Buckingham Palace . . . and beyond. Time is running out as William and Tamara must learn whether their friends will stand beside them, or seduce and betray them.
From Amber Benson, known for her dramatic portrayal of Tara in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Christopher Golden, Bram Stoker Award—winning author of The Shadow Saga and Wildwood Road, comes a vengeful tale of demons, vampires, and ghosts set in nineteenth-century London. Based on the smash BBC Web series that took England by storm, Ghosts of Albion is a horror adventure laced with dark humor and darker lusts.
In 1838, William and Tamara Swift inherit a startling legacy from their dying grandfather, transforming them into the Protectors of Albion, mystical defenders of the soul of England. But the shocked, neophyte sorcerers also inherit unique allies in their battle against the dark forces. Fighting alongside them are the famous–even infamous–Ghosts of Lord Byron, Queen Bodicea, and Lord Admiral Nelson.
When strange and hideous creatures appear in the slums of London, an unholy plague threatens to launch an epic battle that may rage all the way to Buckingham Palace . . . and beyond. Time is running out as William and Tamara must learn whether their friends will stand beside them, or seduce and betray them.
From Amber Benson, known for her dramatic portrayal of Tara in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Christopher Golden, Bram Stoker Award—winning author of The Shadow Saga and Wildwood Road, comes a vengeful tale of demons, vampires, and ghosts set in nineteenth-century London. Based on the smash BBC Web series that took England by storm, Ghosts of Albion is a horror adventure laced with dark humor and darker lusts.
385 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
12 people are currently reading
693 people want to read
About the author
Amber Benson
99 books1,634 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
July 5, 2009
This story could have been so much more.
Perhaps it was because there were so many instances of just "saying" instead of "showing" what was going on. Perhaps it was because despite it being the first real book, there's a lot of backstory that can be found online - if you have the patience to watch the poor graphics and irritating voices.
The premise is a relatively common one: brother and sister find themselves entrusted with the Protectorship of Albion (or England,,, or was it the United Kingdom?) way back in Victorian times. They struggle to master their power even as forces of darkness threaten them and their land.
Overall, however, I was bored by most if not all of the characters. None were appealing. Most were rather two dimensional. None resonated with me.
I'm not going to bother with the next book in this series.
After all, I picked this up wanting to see what Amber Benson was up to, and capable of. I'm better off check out her solo writing work - Death's Daughter: hopefully I'll be more impressed.
Perhaps it was because there were so many instances of just "saying" instead of "showing" what was going on. Perhaps it was because despite it being the first real book, there's a lot of backstory that can be found online - if you have the patience to watch the poor graphics and irritating voices.
The premise is a relatively common one: brother and sister find themselves entrusted with the Protectorship of Albion (or England,,, or was it the United Kingdom?) way back in Victorian times. They struggle to master their power even as forces of darkness threaten them and their land.
Overall, however, I was bored by most if not all of the characters. None were appealing. Most were rather two dimensional. None resonated with me.
I'm not going to bother with the next book in this series.
After all, I picked this up wanting to see what Amber Benson was up to, and capable of. I'm better off check out her solo writing work - Death's Daughter: hopefully I'll be more impressed.
May 21, 2008
You know those books that are pretty flawed but there's something about them that keeps you turning the pages? This is one of those. Has moments, though and I like things about the storyline (England's colonization of India comes home to roost in the form of weird demons and evil magic). I'd give it a 2.5 stars if it were an option.
September 11, 2011
I like the characters and the story is really gripping most of the time. But some sections seemed poorly constructed -- a lot of repetitive description. Although that was helpful at the beginning when recounting things that happened during the BBCi web series.
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October 21, 2007http://www.strangehorizons.com/reviews/2006/03/ghosts_of_albio.shtml[return][return]This is the first novel, though not the first joint production, from the team of Amber Benson, who played Tara in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Christopher Golden, author of (I am told) several of the better Buffy novels and much else besides. In this, the first of a promised series of novels picking up the characters and settings from the BBC webcast stories by the same authors, siblings William and Tamara (not, repeat, not Willow and Tara) are the chosen Protectors of Albion, magically gifted teenagers charged with protecting their country from its supernatural enemies (so it is completely different from any other story or TV series you may have encountered). The year is 1839; they have three ghostly allies, Lord Byron, Lord Nelson, and Bodicea; their father, possessed by a demon, is locked in the attic; and they must defeat a sinister force threatening to destroy Britain (I suspect not for the first or last time).[return][return]This probably falls in the category of harmless fun rather than Great Literature, and will no doubt go down well with its target teen-goth audience. One striking point is the positive portrayal of the young female characters, Tamara and Sophia, William's girlfriend, as sexually confident, in comparison with William's repressed insecurity. (There are assertive men in the book, but they are either demonically possessed rapists or dead like Lord Byron and the vampire Nigel Townsend or just embarrassed like Tamara's suitor John Haversham.) It's a refreshing riposte to the Victorian (and later) portrayal of female sexuality as fundamentally irrational and evil.[return][return]Our baddies, on the other hand, are much more conventional. The villain has hit on a method of populating London with demons by transforming her male victims into reptilian creatures which then forcibly impregnate women with their evil spawn, leading to some particularly gruesome scenes. Indeed, in general the descriptive writing is pretty vivid, and the evocation of the atmosphere of 1830s London largely credible, though not always done with great deftness of pacing; furthermore, the American authors are not always successful in their efforts to capture the literary style of the period.[return][return]Having said that the setting is credibly evocative, there are times when it feels curiously divorced from history. It's striking that although Byron and Nelson, two of the three ghostly allies of the Protectors of Albion, had died only a few years before the story is set, they are treated as characters as distantly historical as the misspelt Bodicea. At one point we are told that Tamara reminds Nelson of his daughter, Horatia. If he wants to be reminded of his daughter (who was born in 1801 and lived to be eighty), why not pop down to Tenterden in Kent to visit her and his eight grandchildren?[return][return]But the most jarring notes in the book are struck by our old friends, race and class. The demonic plague infesting London has been hitting Indian immigrants for weeks, but only when it hits their aristocratic social group do our protagonists tackle it. They undertake a brief fact-finding mission to a wholly unconvincingly portrayed India. One senses the authors trying to grapple with the evils of the colonial system but finding their hearts are not in it; much better to stick to fictional and supernatural nastiness. It turns out that the entire plot is a rivalry between a nice Indian mage who is willing to cooperate with his colonial masters and the sinister forces of evil who want to overthrow them and have India rule England instead.[return][return]Let us hope that nobody will believe this book as a historical guide to England's relationship with India, which we are told is "a conquered nation under the rule of British generals" (and properly explaining the errors in that brief sentence would take an article the length of this review). Readers of a more revolutionary cast of mind may wonder why raising an army of supernatural creatures to destroy the British royal family and end colonial rule is necessarily such a Bad Thing. But we are not the target audience. Its intended crowd will enjoy it, and maybe some of them will have their interest sufficiently piqued to read more, and better, books about the period.
December 22, 2008
This book was loaned to me by a dear friend, and I'll admit I was skeptical of it at first. It was co-written by an actress who portrayed the character Tara in Buffy the Vampire Slayer (You Buffy fans out there probably know what this means; I haven't a clue if that's good or bad), which, I suspect, is how my friend found out about it in the first place.
It was quite entertaining. The premise is that there are wizard-ish types out there who are the protectors of the land in which they live, and have some kind of spiritual bond with that place. Someone has a mad-on at the British Empire (1838: could be 75% of the world back then) and has hatched an elaborate scheme to undermine Things, which includes unleashing a horde of semi-possessed reptile men, who run around raping women, causing each of the victims to give violent (and fatal, I'm afraid) birth to a batch of big, ugly frogs. They play this part up for a while, which made me increasingly uncomfortable, then finally they got over themselves after flogging that particular dead horse to death. I mean, as a writer, you don't have to use a metaphor until it bleeds -- or so I've been lead to believe. Once demonstrated, and once or twice hinted at would have sufficed; I got the picture long before they were done showing it to me.
Overall, I enjoyed the book, though they did have a tendency to repeat descriptive themes when talking about the characters -- they repeatedly mentioned that the ghost of Queen Bodicea, a recurring character in the book, and one of the allies of the "good guys," was naked, and ferocious, and carried a spear menacingly. It was quite clear to me they were being paid by the word. :-) Features one or two mildly hot (non-rape) seduction scenes.
Still, the idea was good, even if the execution was a bit lacking in some respects. If this book had been half as long, I might well have thought it brilliant. As it is, (and unpleasantness aside) it is merely a diverting read. Pretty interesting characters, though. I'm leaning towards reading the sequel in the next year. Apparently this first novel is based (or a sequel to) a web comic, or a web serialization - I'm unclear on the specifics - that was a cult hit in the UK.
It was quite entertaining. The premise is that there are wizard-ish types out there who are the protectors of the land in which they live, and have some kind of spiritual bond with that place. Someone has a mad-on at the British Empire (1838: could be 75% of the world back then) and has hatched an elaborate scheme to undermine Things, which includes unleashing a horde of semi-possessed reptile men, who run around raping women, causing each of the victims to give violent (and fatal, I'm afraid) birth to a batch of big, ugly frogs. They play this part up for a while, which made me increasingly uncomfortable, then finally they got over themselves after flogging that particular dead horse to death. I mean, as a writer, you don't have to use a metaphor until it bleeds -- or so I've been lead to believe. Once demonstrated, and once or twice hinted at would have sufficed; I got the picture long before they were done showing it to me.
Overall, I enjoyed the book, though they did have a tendency to repeat descriptive themes when talking about the characters -- they repeatedly mentioned that the ghost of Queen Bodicea, a recurring character in the book, and one of the allies of the "good guys," was naked, and ferocious, and carried a spear menacingly. It was quite clear to me they were being paid by the word. :-) Features one or two mildly hot (non-rape) seduction scenes.
Still, the idea was good, even if the execution was a bit lacking in some respects. If this book had been half as long, I might well have thought it brilliant. As it is, (and unpleasantness aside) it is merely a diverting read. Pretty interesting characters, though. I'm leaning towards reading the sequel in the next year. Apparently this first novel is based (or a sequel to) a web comic, or a web serialization - I'm unclear on the specifics - that was a cult hit in the UK.
February 14, 2021
Retro review*
Content warnings:
I recall feeling ambivalent towards this book when I read it some years ago. Finding it at the library after watching all of the fun little BBC flash animations online (remember those?), I thought that it might be interesting. On the one hand, I felt that the main characters introduced in the web series, such as siblings Tamora and Will and even the ghosts, were very well portrayed in the novel, with their personalities and motivations very distinct and believable, and more or less true to the early 19th century English setting (at least for a silly novel about superhero ghosts). The plot, on the other hand, was so cliched and rather over the top at times it seemed more like the set up for a video game.
While some disturbing and out of place cursed statues led to some grim scenes (to say the least, see content warnings), the monster overload with various beasts from Indian folklore popping up in hoards was a little much, even in a book where ghosts show up all the time. I felt that the main villain could have been interesting, but was left pretty one dimensional. In the end, I felt that the book was a little two sided; on the one hand, the main characters were likable, and the scenes without reference to the main plot were extremely enjoyable. On the other, they weren't able to express themselves much when dealing with the stereotypical monstrous army about to descend on unsuspecting London. Could this have been the result of the two different authors competing for space?
*This was the first book review I posted on the internet back in '06, slightly edited and reposted here.
Content warnings:
I recall feeling ambivalent towards this book when I read it some years ago. Finding it at the library after watching all of the fun little BBC flash animations online (remember those?), I thought that it might be interesting. On the one hand, I felt that the main characters introduced in the web series, such as siblings Tamora and Will and even the ghosts, were very well portrayed in the novel, with their personalities and motivations very distinct and believable, and more or less true to the early 19th century English setting (at least for a silly novel about superhero ghosts). The plot, on the other hand, was so cliched and rather over the top at times it seemed more like the set up for a video game.
While some disturbing and out of place cursed statues led to some grim scenes (to say the least, see content warnings), the monster overload with various beasts from Indian folklore popping up in hoards was a little much, even in a book where ghosts show up all the time. I felt that the main villain could have been interesting, but was left pretty one dimensional. In the end, I felt that the book was a little two sided; on the one hand, the main characters were likable, and the scenes without reference to the main plot were extremely enjoyable. On the other, they weren't able to express themselves much when dealing with the stereotypical monstrous army about to descend on unsuspecting London. Could this have been the result of the two different authors competing for space?
*This was the first book review I posted on the internet back in '06, slightly edited and reposted here.
July 12, 2015
3.5 stars
So apparently there was an online BBC series that began the story of these characters; however I did not find that you needed to have read it to understand and enjoy what goes on here. Two siblings find that on their grandfather’s death they have been appointed the “Protectors of Albion,” mystical defenders of England. 19th century London, feels very Dickensian in its descriptions, but set in Jane Austen’s society world. Ghosts of some of England’s historical heroes (Lord Admiral Nelson, Lord Byron) are their helpers, as well as a vampire (yay!), and Protectors from other lands. Very engaging and personable. So many well-rounded characters, you’re sure to find someone you want to root for. I’ve already got the next in the series waiting in my pile!
(And yes I might have picked this up b/c Amber Benson played Tara on BtVS!)
So apparently there was an online BBC series that began the story of these characters; however I did not find that you needed to have read it to understand and enjoy what goes on here. Two siblings find that on their grandfather’s death they have been appointed the “Protectors of Albion,” mystical defenders of England. 19th century London, feels very Dickensian in its descriptions, but set in Jane Austen’s society world. Ghosts of some of England’s historical heroes (Lord Admiral Nelson, Lord Byron) are their helpers, as well as a vampire (yay!), and Protectors from other lands. Very engaging and personable. So many well-rounded characters, you’re sure to find someone you want to root for. I’ve already got the next in the series waiting in my pile!
(And yes I might have picked this up b/c Amber Benson played Tara on BtVS!)
August 14, 2007
This was a good novel but I didn't really enjoy it. The characters are pretty good, except William, I didn't like his character, too milktoast. It's a continuing story of a brother and sister who become the Protectors of Albion (England) when their grandfather dies. They're kinda thrown into the whole thing and have to learn magic and talk to ghosts and save the world.
I liked the whole part about how the ghosts of famous people helped the duo. But I don't really enjoy the Victorian Age very much, and I think that was the major turn off for me. The writing was good, the story was interesting, but I just don't like reading about manners and protocol. I would read another one if it took place in another time.
I liked the whole part about how the ghosts of famous people helped the duo. But I don't really enjoy the Victorian Age very much, and I think that was the major turn off for me. The writing was good, the story was interesting, but I just don't like reading about manners and protocol. I would read another one if it took place in another time.
October 20, 2014
I don't normally analyze books, preferring to just experience the story, but I couldn't help myself with this one. I slogged through the prologue where the characters all had names like "the young woman" and "the old man" and their blase acceptance of bizarre events completely outside the book's milieu exceeded my suspension of disbelief. The book proper then served up belabored descriptions and blunt shallow characterizations until I realized that I wasn't reading but counting how often the word "had" appeared (averaged more than once per sentence). No matter how hard I tried after that I couldn't get past the awkward prose to find the story flow. Maybe it gets better further into the book...I'll never know. I've shelves full of well written books waiting for me instead.
April 22, 2015
This sounded like my kind of thing - ghosts of famous people, protectors with magical powers, world at risk, demons, drama, excitement - but it didn't work for me.
There were good things about this story. The characters were interesting, and the story was well-written. The pacing was also very well-designed to keep the reader reading. The problem for me was that the underlying tone was extremely dark, with violence that was - for me - just too much. There was also sex that was ugly and disconcerting. All of this made sense within the story the authors are telling, but it was too much for my sensibilities. I found myself wincing a lot, and rather than enjoying the story, I felt uncomfortable.
There's a good story here, it just wasn't the right book for me.
There were good things about this story. The characters were interesting, and the story was well-written. The pacing was also very well-designed to keep the reader reading. The problem for me was that the underlying tone was extremely dark, with violence that was - for me - just too much. There was also sex that was ugly and disconcerting. All of this made sense within the story the authors are telling, but it was too much for my sensibilities. I found myself wincing a lot, and rather than enjoying the story, I felt uncomfortable.
There's a good story here, it just wasn't the right book for me.
September 21, 2016
Accursed by Christopher Golden and Amber Benson is a fantasy novel that is quite an adventure. It was in a 1800s London vibe so reading it made me feel like I was seeing a Sherlock Holmes movie. One thing that I enjoyed about the book was that they didn't spend that much time or very little time on explaining the characters. Also the book wasn't really as long as I thought because once I got really into it I just flew by it. One thing I didn't really like about this book that even though the characters had a good hold the story felt a little rushed to me in a way. I think the way everything turned out was for the best if anything. In the end I recommend this book to anyone and I felt like this book is a sad or great adventure depending on the person.
March 30, 2010
I like a lot of the worldbuilding and the characters here. I just wish they'd had better writing to show them off. The narrative is just bursting with cliches. There's far, far too much exposition, even for a sequel. And I wasn't terribly convinced by the ghosts. Lord Byron wasn't really very Byronesque, though there were hints that he might have been, if the authors had only dared. Admiral Lord Nelson is far too casual about letting people use his given name. And Queen Bodicea? A stereotype barbarian warrior, with breasts.
February 2, 2011
Some people can make a transition from one career to another. From my reaction to this book, I would have thought this particular transition was doomed, however I see from the ratings on her other books that I was wrong. I am baffled. I thought this book was wretched. This bundle of shit contains overwrought prose, cardboard characters, a weak and unengaging plot, and absurd attempts at writing oh-so-witty dialog, as if the author were striving to be Jane Austen, but ending up being even crappier than Poppy Z. Brite. I don't think I can say enough bad about this book, so I'll just stop now.
May 29, 2012
I felt like not enough actually happened in the book, and feel sorry for the ladies stuck in the basement shelter who never really get any resolution. I felt like this is a book that's laying the groundwork for a series, but there just wasn't enough meat in it to get really into it.
In summary, this book was just okay.
In summary, this book was just okay.
September 10, 2007
This was an interesting story from the girl formerly known as Tara. Apparently, Amber Benson and Christopher Golden started this series as a radio show on the BBC and then it grew into a book. I think there is at least one more in the series, but I haven't had a chance to read it.
August 5, 2009
I love the ideas behind this series, that the ghosts of Britain remain its guardians. Nice to know Lord Byron has a life after death! The action is bit horrific for me -- if frogs eating people doesn't bother you, and you like bloody Victorian melodrama, this is good summer read.
May 27, 2013
God, this was dull.....
The premise- the great figures of Britain come back as ghosts when the land is in need- is a good one, but frankly this is a very badly-told story.I really didn't care about what plot there was, & the characters were made of tissue paper....
Best avoided.
The premise- the great figures of Britain come back as ghosts when the land is in need- is a good one, but frankly this is a very badly-told story.I really didn't care about what plot there was, & the characters were made of tissue paper....
Best avoided.
September 26, 2012
Great book, rich english language, very detailed descriptions of places, plants, weather etc. in 19th century London. Highly recommended.
The persons, ghosts and other supernatural beings each have their own past and nature and are very believably written.
The persons, ghosts and other supernatural beings each have their own past and nature and are very believably written.
July 21, 2008
Began reading this last night...not sure if I'm going to finish it though.
Yup, not going to finish it. Never got further than 25 pages in.
Yup, not going to finish it. Never got further than 25 pages in.
Read
August 23, 2008isbn,original
September 28, 2008
creepy, but really really suspenseful
November 9, 2008
This is a must read Amber Benson and Christopher Golden if you've haven't read the ghost of albion series and love supernatural stories then I would suggest reading this one.
July 27, 2009
I really wanted to like this book but the first 100 pages were painful. I skipped forward to the last 150 pages and still, I couldn't get into it.
September 21, 2009
Vivid storytelling- very cinematic. I think this would work better as a movie script than a novel. I heard there was a TV show or something...
October 7, 2009
An interesting Victorian Mysticism setting by a pair of interesting authors. Good enough it inspired a Roleplaying game.
July 10, 2010
Enjoyed this and would like to read more of the Ghosts of Albion -- and watch the BBC.com "movie"
Want to read
July 8, 2010The premise sounds great but the reviews are less-than-stellar....hmm..
April 27, 2011
Just too gory for my taste.
May 27, 2011
Fun horror story (fun in a gross, Lovecraftian sort of way.) Would like to read more in this series, so I'm going to check out the BBC website that started it all.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews