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Vampire: The Requiem #2
Blood In, Blood Out
Blood Calls to Blood
Ever since his Embrace, Duce Carter has been a firebrand among the Kindred of Chicago, fanning the flames of revolution against the city's Prince and its hidebound elders. But when Chicago's Carthians turn on Duce in the wake of a brutal assassination attempt, the only person he can go to for help is none other than Persephone Moore, the Prince's only childe. Is Persephone the friend she claims to be, or is she an agent of the shadowy forces who are out to destroy Duce?
About the Author
Lucien Soulban has authored more than two dozen roleplaying game supplements and developed the award-winning Orpheus miniseries for White Wolf Games. His short fiction has appeared in the anthologies Lucifer's Shadow and Bloody September . Blood In, Blood Out is his first full-length novel.
Ever since his Embrace, Duce Carter has been a firebrand among the Kindred of Chicago, fanning the flames of revolution against the city's Prince and its hidebound elders. But when Chicago's Carthians turn on Duce in the wake of a brutal assassination attempt, the only person he can go to for help is none other than Persephone Moore, the Prince's only childe. Is Persephone the friend she claims to be, or is she an agent of the shadowy forces who are out to destroy Duce?
About the Author
Lucien Soulban has authored more than two dozen roleplaying game supplements and developed the award-winning Orpheus miniseries for White Wolf Games. His short fiction has appeared in the anthologies Lucifer's Shadow and Bloody September . Blood In, Blood Out is his first full-length novel.
276 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
3 people are currently reading
76 people want to read
About the author
Lucien Soulban
64 books28 followersI hate bios - it's the only time I have writer's block - but, in a nutshell, I was:
1) Born in Saudi Arabia
2) Lived there for 12 years
3) Went to school in Hell… er… Houston, Texas for 8 years.
4) Moved to Montreal, Quebec and in doing so, found the glove that fit my hand.
5) I wouldn't want to live anywhere else.
So instead of those dry boring tidbits, I present the Frequently Asked Questions concerning Lucien Soulban. You know you've been waiting for it! The following questions come from the patient folks who frequent my Live Journal as well as some of the questions I've heard in my lifetime.
1) Born in Saudi Arabia
2) Lived there for 12 years
3) Went to school in Hell… er… Houston, Texas for 8 years.
4) Moved to Montreal, Quebec and in doing so, found the glove that fit my hand.
5) I wouldn't want to live anywhere else.
So instead of those dry boring tidbits, I present the Frequently Asked Questions concerning Lucien Soulban. You know you've been waiting for it! The following questions come from the patient folks who frequent my Live Journal as well as some of the questions I've heard in my lifetime.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
April 21, 2017
It's difficult being a fan of the vampire platform and a role-player. Most people fit into one category or another, and most people will criticize your choices for choosing both. I loved this novel not just as a thought-provoking take on the WoD vampire and a furthermost on how to play him/her, but as a stand-alone novel with just enough emotive poignancy to make me mildly cheesed that it took me so long to find its follow-on.
July 29, 2012
Frankly good, especially taking into account that it is a novel based on a RPG and those tend to be a bit cliché. Really liked the exploration of Humanity in Soulban's narrative :P
March 18, 2022
I jumped into the second book of the series right after loving the first one. I really really wanted more. However, I was disappointed with this book. Maybe it's the fact that the author changed. This second book was a bit "meh"... What I hated the most was the book adding real world drama and race-politics.
I am a V5 player (on discord servers rather than table) and I am very unfamiliar with Requiem lore. So I was a bit... lost at times on the inner politics of the book. I even had to look online to get some extra info. But that was me to blame, not the book. It is an entertaining piece if you have nothing else to read. It's easy and short so its perfect to read between long books or as a side easy read, while you are reading a bigger more profound book. On the positive, it is well written and clear and we follow the main character which I liked. I genuily felt sad for the events happening to the main character's friend-mentor. I liked some scenes and the darkness of it all. Persephone shows back again, same with the Bishop. I like them both back here and loved their appearances in the book. However, I felt disappointed with Persephone storyline as just a side-lover character of the protagonist. I thought she loved Maxwell the prince... anyways. It provides with good scenes and that's why I like of the book and why I dont give 2 stars but 3.
But overall, being objective, It was a bit flawed... I did not cared much about some characters and the Vampire the Masquerade setting was just a scenario to use for propaganda. I dont live in the USA so the internal race politics preaching of that country do not resonate with me nor did I care too much about them. I do not agree with how race is view in the US either. This book seemed a bit of a way of trying to convey a racial message and that's what I liked the least about. Focus on vampire stuff please... Not saying it did not had truth in it, just didnt liked how the characters viewed race.
I am a V5 player (on discord servers rather than table) and I am very unfamiliar with Requiem lore. So I was a bit... lost at times on the inner politics of the book. I even had to look online to get some extra info. But that was me to blame, not the book. It is an entertaining piece if you have nothing else to read. It's easy and short so its perfect to read between long books or as a side easy read, while you are reading a bigger more profound book. On the positive, it is well written and clear and we follow the main character which I liked. I genuily felt sad for the events happening to the main character's friend-mentor. I liked some scenes and the darkness of it all. Persephone shows back again, same with the Bishop. I like them both back here and loved their appearances in the book. However, I felt disappointed with Persephone storyline as just a side-lover character of the protagonist. I thought she loved Maxwell the prince... anyways. It provides with good scenes and that's why I like of the book and why I dont give 2 stars but 3.
But overall, being objective, It was a bit flawed... I did not cared much about some characters and the Vampire the Masquerade setting was just a scenario to use for propaganda. I dont live in the USA so the internal race politics preaching of that country do not resonate with me nor did I care too much about them. I do not agree with how race is view in the US either. This book seemed a bit of a way of trying to convey a racial message and that's what I liked the least about. Focus on vampire stuff please... Not saying it did not had truth in it, just didnt liked how the characters viewed race.
May 23, 2021
Another good book in the World of Darkness series. It was definitely a good one about the vampires or Kindred of Chicago.
February 24, 2010
This is the second novel for Vampire: The Requiem.
I must say that I had hoped to see more of the characters from the first novel return since the same location and timeline was involved. I was disappointed that some major movers and shakers from the first book were not even mentioned. Others, including the only major character from the first book to return with a large role seemed to change some aspects of their personality and tastes. I guess one might expect the latter when the authors change.
The politics of the undead remain the same. They all vie for power by making subtle and sometimes hostile moves against one another. Gossip seems the main tool at their disposal, which makes me wonder if I work with a lot of vampires.
This book shifter to a rebellious group of vampires led by a former gang member and their attempts to gain power from the older and more powerful sects.
It seemed to pick up toward the end for me and I might have given it four stars had that pace been maintained throughout the novel.
Alas, I still want to know what happened to the other characters left out. It's a sequel, right?
I must say that I had hoped to see more of the characters from the first novel return since the same location and timeline was involved. I was disappointed that some major movers and shakers from the first book were not even mentioned. Others, including the only major character from the first book to return with a large role seemed to change some aspects of their personality and tastes. I guess one might expect the latter when the authors change.
The politics of the undead remain the same. They all vie for power by making subtle and sometimes hostile moves against one another. Gossip seems the main tool at their disposal, which makes me wonder if I work with a lot of vampires.
This book shifter to a rebellious group of vampires led by a former gang member and their attempts to gain power from the older and more powerful sects.
It seemed to pick up toward the end for me and I might have given it four stars had that pace been maintained throughout the novel.
Alas, I still want to know what happened to the other characters left out. It's a sequel, right?
July 4, 2017
This was the second in a series of novels set in the Wite Wolf Vampire: the Requien game world. It was a popcorn read - a diversion on the plane to keep my mind off of the fact that if anything happened midflight we'd all be dead.
It's a story of two vampires coming from very different places in the society of the Undead, almost a Romeo and Juliet star-crossed lovers tale. It was OK, I suppose it's a good read if you really want to know more about the setting and the way the Vampires of the franchise operate (which was what I really needed it for). Read it if you want a more tawdry, sex-sated vampire story (though vampire sex is pretty goddamned grotesque).
It's a story of two vampires coming from very different places in the society of the Undead, almost a Romeo and Juliet star-crossed lovers tale. It was OK, I suppose it's a good read if you really want to know more about the setting and the way the Vampires of the franchise operate (which was what I really needed it for). Read it if you want a more tawdry, sex-sated vampire story (though vampire sex is pretty goddamned grotesque).
January 12, 2011
Currently reading...husband's friend (Jon) gave us 3 of Soulban's Vampire books. Definately adult books...but the storyline ( a new female vampire has to break ties with her living friends and find her way in the vampire empire of which her "father" is the vampire mayor of Chicago) keeps me reading. Not as weird/kinky as Linda Hamilton vampire books nor as simple and teenagery (?) as the Stephanie Meyers vampire books. If it wasn't for the tiny font it is written in (and the fact I can't find my glasses) I would read these books faster. Again this is an adult book not for the faint of heart.
October 6, 2009
Solid prose from Lucien Soulban, Blood In, Blood Out tells the story of a group of Carthians - a faction of vampires who believe in more democratic rule than the Prince of Chicago is willing to grant - and the web of intrigue that surrounds them and connects them to other vampires in the city. Decent character building, interesting plot, and the author leaves a few conclusions to be drawn by the reader (with hints along the way). I found this book quite enjoyable.
July 9, 2015
Not as good as the first book, and a little disconnected. Some overlap with a few of the major characters but mostly new characters as if the two authors never spoke to one another. Still a good read as an RPG reference for Vampire: the Requiem.
December 30, 2015
Muy buena novela, sobre todo para jugadores y narradores de Vampiro, El Requiem.
Personalmente me ayudó a entender la interacción entre Alianzas y a adentrarme en la visión de Invictus y Cartianos.
Personalmente me ayudó a entender la interacción entre Alianzas y a adentrarme en la visión de Invictus y Cartianos.
February 17, 2015
Surprisingly good! The best of white wolf's new series and this author's writing is really good and 'alive'. Really enjoyed it. I wish there were more books like that in the series.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews