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Book 12, 2018
Feb. 9th, 2018 09:03 pmI finally finished slogging through The Rest Falls Away, by Colleen Gleason. It's the first book in the "Gardella Vampire Chronicles".
Victoria Grantworth, a London debutante, is descended from the Gardella family of vampire slayers. She is given a choice to assume the mantle of a Venator, a vampire slayer, or to have her memory of such creatures erased and resume the life of a pampered society lady. Victoria chooses to become a Venator, and her first test comes during her own coming-out ball. Not only does she succeed in killing her first vampire, but she also meets, or rather becomes reacquainted with, the Marquess of Rockley. Victoria had met him as a young girl, but she had no idea of his station in life.
As Victoria moves through London's social circles, attending balls and musicales, she must also slip away to kill vampires whenever the need arises. Victoria is able to continue her dual life, until the two collide when the Marquess asks for her hand in marriage.
It was an exciting concept, but the book did not live up to the billing. The characters were two-dimensional at best, and the villains were simply one-dimensional toadies. Fight scenes were simple in the extreme--here a stake, there a stake, poof poof! Thanks to the blurb on the back, which stated Victoria must make a "choice between obligation and love", the ending was boringly predictable.
( SPOILERS AHEAD )
I had to force myself to pick this book up and work on it. It simply did not spark my interest, and I had a difficult time devoting attention to it. Unfortunately, I have a few more in the series on my shelf. I may read one more, and if it's as mind-numbingly boring as this one was, they're all going to the donation bag.
Favorite line: Dancing at balls, attending the theater, stalking vampires.
In short, lackluster. Two stars:
**
Victoria Grantworth, a London debutante, is descended from the Gardella family of vampire slayers. She is given a choice to assume the mantle of a Venator, a vampire slayer, or to have her memory of such creatures erased and resume the life of a pampered society lady. Victoria chooses to become a Venator, and her first test comes during her own coming-out ball. Not only does she succeed in killing her first vampire, but she also meets, or rather becomes reacquainted with, the Marquess of Rockley. Victoria had met him as a young girl, but she had no idea of his station in life.
As Victoria moves through London's social circles, attending balls and musicales, she must also slip away to kill vampires whenever the need arises. Victoria is able to continue her dual life, until the two collide when the Marquess asks for her hand in marriage.
It was an exciting concept, but the book did not live up to the billing. The characters were two-dimensional at best, and the villains were simply one-dimensional toadies. Fight scenes were simple in the extreme--here a stake, there a stake, poof poof! Thanks to the blurb on the back, which stated Victoria must make a "choice between obligation and love", the ending was boringly predictable.
( SPOILERS AHEAD )
I had to force myself to pick this book up and work on it. It simply did not spark my interest, and I had a difficult time devoting attention to it. Unfortunately, I have a few more in the series on my shelf. I may read one more, and if it's as mind-numbingly boring as this one was, they're all going to the donation bag.
Favorite line: Dancing at balls, attending the theater, stalking vampires.
In short, lackluster. Two stars:
**
