This was a big step up from her last work, though still a bit tedious in a number of places. For the most part the culprit is the dialog--lengthy conversations that repeated the same points until I was ready to scream, "OK, I get the idea already." The story threads never really seem to wind together and a number of things dwelled upon have no bearing on the plot at all. However, the love interest, Tulsi Kil saves the book. Hers is a strong character, searching for herself and only willing to settle for her own mind. Saint Germain seems a bit flat next to her....come to think of it, he's been a bit flat lately in general. SNAP OUT OF IT, SG!!!

A Feast in Exile: This was one of the best books Chelsea Q. Yabro has written. The historical background was excellent reading. Ms. Yarbro always makes St. Germain so human that sometimes you forget he is a vampire. It was also one of the rare books on St. Germain that a woman he loved chose not to become a vampire like him. The funeral pyre scene in the book was really good. You were left wondering at first if he survived and what happened to the girl. I enjoyed it very much.

The best part of a Saint Germain novel by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro is the feeling of being imersed in the time and place setting of the novel. This is done with the counterweight of a familiar protagonist, Saint Germain.

I have been a fan since the 1970s and the first book, Hotel Transylvania. The last book was a major disapointment, but Yarbro is back on track with A FEAST. If you like your vampires of the romantic and gentle nature you will enjoy the book.

For those already familiar with the series, I will only say that this second book improved slightly on a very good first book, "Hotel Transylvania". I'm not entirely sure why I liked it better; perhaps the villain was ever so slightly less cardboard (A medieval religious fanatic, rather than a diabolist) or perhaps the romantic angle was slightly less like a Gothic romance; it seemed more plausible that Saint-Germain's romantic interest was more than a bit nervous about the whole vampire concept, instead of embracing it as whole-heartedly as Madeline did in the first book. But whatever the reason, I enjoyed this book somewhat more than I did "Hotel Transylvania".

For those not yet familiar with the series, an introduction is in order: "The Palace" is the second of on the order of a dozen (so far) novels of Saint-Germain, who is a vampire. He is one of the first of the modern "good guy" vampires, an unequivocal hero rather than an antihero or a sympathetic villain, the more traditional roles for a vampire. At least in these first two books, there is definitely more than a taste of the "historical romance" to the books, so if you enjoy that genre, you should certainly enjoy these (unless you just don't care for vampires, and even then, I'd suggest giving them a try.) Each book is set in a different historical period, and they don't progress in any sort of historical order; the first is set in mid-1700s France; this one, technically a prequel, is set in late 1400s Italy. The history seems to this only moderately informed reader to be extremely good, but it wouldn't take much to fool my knowledge of the period, so I can't say how accurate they actually are. And the writing is quite good, even if I still don't much care for the artifice of beginning and ending of each chapter with a piece of correspondence.

If you are a fan of traditional vampire fiction, you may possibly find yourself disappointed with this series; there are many elements generally found in the vampire genre that are missing from these books: while not without angst, Saint-Germain is remarkably well-adjusted for someone who has seen all the suffering that he has, who has been as alienated as he presumably has been for as long as he has been. There are only a passing few mild "sex/blood drinking" scenes, and less of the mysterious than is usually found in the genre. But if you like historical romance, or even historical fiction generally, and don't object to the concept of a heroic vampire protagonist, you should find this book, and probably most of this series, quite enjoyable.

The Palace, the second novel in the Saint-Germain series, provides a look at the religious and political hardships in Renaissance Italy. The book focuses on the underlying struggles of the Pope in Rome and the renegade priest Savonarola, as well as the political up's and down's of the era. Our hero, the ever-elusive Francesco Ragoczy da San Germano, is caught in the middle of these conflicts to the point where he has to flee the city for his safety.

For those unfamiliar with the series, Saint-Germain is a Vampire, but not in the way we have come to know of them through other books and movies. He shares many of the same characteristics of the Vampires we know but to a lesser degree; without the flash, the magic, and evil we are accustomed to. He comes from a royal background, has a great scope of influence, is very wealthy, has a strong intellect, and due to his kind and caring nature, attracts the ladies of the time.

This novel is rather a sad one, since it focuses around the political and religious pain and torment people had to endure in order to survive. Italy, while in a glorious Renaissance, still was under the strong influence of the Church as well as local changing politics. Being called a Heretic, whether true or not, meant certain death, in a savage and cruel way. It is under these conditions that Francesco Ragoczy has chosen to live and this novel follows several lives within the government, the Church, the local builders, and artists.

If books with historical themes interest you, then you will certainly enjoy this book. If you're already a fan of Chelsea Quinn Yarbro, then you're sure to love the book.

I do not think anyone would really expect that they could live a life such as that of St. Germaine but these books (I have read them all, twice) will certainly transport you to the era in which the story occurs. The writting is vivid, alive with the local color, even smells are there. Having traveled throughout the world and presently living in China, I have been to the places described in these books, all of them. the color is accurate even to present day, only the vile church and the smells are missing, a little anyway. To read these books is to dream a little dream and transport oneself to places been and never been, to places gone and not quite forgotten. It is to become a man such as all men should be and live a life dreams are made of. Keep up the good work Ms. Yarbro.

Roy Browning

I feel sorry for all those readers who discovered St. Germain after 1990. While I liked this book as well as any of the more recent chronicles, I feel like Yarbro is short-changing her audience. Her earlier novels were much more complex and politically savvy than these recent, plodding stories. Unfortunately, Blood Roses is no exception to this new rule.

In this tale, we have yet another story which contrasts our immortal Count's vast compassion and humanity with the vapid, ignorant and unappreciative masses who persecute him despite (or because of) his service to them. This is an old story from Yarbro, one we've heard many times before (Darker Jewels, Mansions of Darkness, Writ in Blood...is there any difference?)

It seems to me that lately, Yarbro has only point (history is ugly, people are ignorant and savage), and it is one we've seen before. Further, Blood Roses lacks the "strong and exceptional" woman who mitigates Yarbro's brutal attention to detail. We've come to expect these women from Yarbro, yet when compared to Oliva or T'en Chi-Yu, Blood Roses' plague-era women are two dimensional and dull. I'm ready for some new Oliva books; I miss her wit and determination, especially when compared to St. Germain's unchanging compassion.

While I'm totally hooked and always will be, I can only hope that this chapter will grow on me with time (as Better in the Dark has done). In the meantime, I'll remember the 80's fondly and return to Yarbro and the Count in those books when I'm looking for real adventure, political commentary, and love...

Let this be a note to Tor: I read everything I can get my hands on by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro, in particular the Saint Germain novels. However, I usually end up borrowing them from the library and buying them used or remaindered because I can't afford a series of $15 trade paperbacks. Please, please print these in mass media paper!

I read the Saint Germain novels because I love his loooong view of history, not because it's horror. If you like to read historical fiction, you will be thrilled to find any of these books!

This latest book on our 3300 year old vampire is set in 1350's France. It begins in Orgon, a small town where St. Germain has been quietly living for 15 years, and accepted by the townspeople. All is peaceful except for St. Germain's growing premonitions that something ominous is on the horizon. Ms. Yarbro's other books on St. Germain have featured powerful, evil villains in opposition to St. Germain's ethical compassion. This book is fascinatingly different in that the "villain" is the Plague, the "Blood Roses" itself--a malevolent force that indescriminately destroys everyone in its path. No one is left untouched. Fear, hysteria, opportunistic greed, bureaucratic rigidity and misplaced religous fervour are the results St. Germain encounters when he changes into Germain le-Compte, the troubador. He sends Rogres to safety, and travels among the people to do what he can without arousing the growing hysteria from the plague against him. This book also tells the story of Hugenout and Jenfra, characters alluded to in other St. Germain tales. This is a faster paced and fascinating story in the continuing St. Germain saga.

The Angry Angel is a mesmerizing tale of a young girl's seduction by the original vampire, Count Dracula. It's also a metaphor for a woman's surrender to male sexuality. Even if Chelsea Quinn Yarbro only intended to write a vampire story, the raw sexual symbolism shines through. The highlight of the book is the slave auction, where Dracula claims his "bride." I've read that passage over and over, I just can't get enough of it. I think it resonates with me because while it's degrading and de-humanizing, Kelene ultimately is claimed by her suitor and is allowed to become something she never dreamed of before. It's a metaphor for the kind of self-discovery we sometimes find in sex.

Yarbro does an excellent job describing an element of Bram Stoker's 'Dracula' that (to my knowledge) heretofore lacks explanation: the three vampire wives or brides residing in Dracula's castle. 'The Angry Angel' depicts Dracula's acquisition of his blond vampire bride, Kelene. Kelene's journey as she follows Dracula's "calling" is riveting, as she and her family are spared few tragedies.

I strongly recommend this book to anyone interested in vampire fiction and lore, particularly those who appreciate a rather graphic tale (in terms of violence, not sex). This subject was one of the missing links in vampire fiction, and Yarbro has done a fantastic job filling this niche. Her characters are convincing and well-developed, and this book is tightly compelling right up to the very last sentence. After reading this, I am anxious to read Yarbro's books about the other two wives of Dracula.

A young girl's gift, visions from her angry angel, protect the family she loves. But with each new vision there is a price to be paid until she finds herself the ultimate sacrifice. The contrast between the worship of God and the corruption of evil was very interesting. The erotic seduction of the young girl was breath taking without being explicit. As usual the historic detail is excellent. This book pulses with passion, action and horror. I couldn't put it down and have now read it three times. It is the best vampire novel in a long time.

Strictly speaking, a prequel to a prequel, this is the third book in the series. The first, "Hotel Transylvania", took place in mid-1700s France; the second, "The Palace", in late 1400s Italy. This one takes place in the first century of the common era, in imperial Rome during the time of Nero and a bit later. There are something over a dozen books in the series all told, plus a few spinoffs of books about Olivia Clemens and Madeline, two of Saint Germain's lovers who become vampires themselves.

The series so far has been quite good; I continue to feel somewhat guilty for not rating the books higher than I do. But there is the continuing stylistic affectation of placing a piece of correspondence after every chapter, which I continue to find minorly distracting, and there is a scene in this book that seems to be simply out of character as it has been so far defined for the main character. We have been given to understand that many of the traditional legends of the weaknesses of vampires, such as the inability to cross running water and the inability to withstand sunlight, are conditionally true in the world of Saint Germain; that is to say, they are true, but can be overcome so long as he stands upon his "native soil", so he has learned to wear special shoes that are hollow and filled with soil from the land of his birth. Yet in this story, when deprived of his special shoes and forced to fight giant crocodiles at midday during a blisteringly hot Roman summer day in the arena, (in water) while constantly commenting on how ill and unwell this makes him feel, he's still able to function well enough to slay several crocs and survive. (It's not giving away critical plot points to reveal his survival, considering that he exists in the previous two books of the series, both of which occur historically later than this one). He doesn't, as near as I can tell, even get a sunburn. This is just so far out of line that I feel the need to dock the book a star just for this one scene; otherwise, the book is quite well written.

If you are a fan of traditional vampire fiction, you may possibly find yourself disappointed with this series; there are many elements generally found in the vampire genre that are missing from these books. But if you like historical romance, or even historical fiction in general, and don't object to the concept of a heroic vampire protagonist, you should find this book, and probably most of this series, quite enjoyable.

Though this is not the first in the series, this is a good introduction to Chelsea Quinn Yarbro's great creation, the Comte de Saint-Germain, a noble, a man of righteousness, and - oh, yes - a vampire who has lived, at the time of this tale, for several thousand years.

I had not read any of Yarbro's tales of Saint-Germain for quite a while and it is a pleasure to come back to them. These stories are a worthy alternative to Anne Rice's tales of Lestat, Louis, Armand, and all the other denizens of her dark world. The world of Saint-Germain is much lighter by comparison, and also contains far more action and intrigue than any of Rice's works (with the possible exception of "The Queen of the Damned"). This does not mean I dislike Rice's books. Quite the contrary, in fact - but Yarbro paints a far less shadowy world than Rice does.

Here we meet one of the great loves of Saint-Germain's long life - Atta Olivia Clemens. She has been horribly abused by her husband, a Senator of the Roman Empire around the time of Nero. To call him a pervert is to make light of his atrocities; in addition he has political ambitions that are almost as sickening as his sexual ones. It is this man, Cornelius Justus Silius, who is Saint-Germain's adversary in this novel, although the two of them do not actually do battle in any true sense of the word - and it is their actions against each other, and events related to those actions, which make up the core of this book.

Along the way Yarbro has much to teach us about vampire lore. There is no mention of the use of a cross - but then again, this novel takes place at the time of Nero, and the Christians were just beginning to make themselves noticed at this time. If Yarbro is correct, vampires are apparently more resilient than both Anne Rice and Bela Lugosi would have us believe. They can live in sunlight, provided they are insulated in in some manner by their native earth. In the same manner, they can cross running water - something I did not know affected vampires until I read it here. And they can create others of their kind, but not just in the way that Rice describes (I leave it to you to read this book to discover how).

At various points in this story there is also mention of Saint-Germain's past. Some are just vague (but intriguing) hints; others are more explicit. There is also some mention of his birthplace, and I would definitely like to know more about that particular part of the Comte de Saint-Germain. He is such a fascinating individual that I will definitely be buying more of Yarbro's tales, to learn more about this worthy vampire and the worlds (plural intended) he lives in.

Blood Games is set in Nero's Rome, in the 817th Year of the City. (about 60 C.E.) The book is the third one written in the series; it is one of the earliest in terms of historical chronology. Despite being the third one written, it is a good one to start with if one is first starting the whole series, because this is the book in which St. Germain acquires his bondsman, Roger, who will be a continuing character in the series. The spectacles at the Circus Maximus form a large part of the book, along with the corruption of Roman politics. The book is well titled; there is a great deal of blood and violence both in and out of the arena. Atta Olivia Clemens is the wife of Senator Cornelius Justus Silius, one of the most corrupt and perverse of the Romans. St. Germain rescues her from his cruelties through bringing her "to his life," that is, turning her into a vampire also. Olivia will be a continuing character in the series for another millenium and a half. An epilogue set in the 855th Year of the City gives perspective, and establishes the pattern of letters between Olivia and St. Germain which is used in future books of the series to set the scene and bring us up to date.

Those who already know that they like vampire novels, anything at all that features a vampire, can skip this review, and likewise, those who hate the whole idea of vampires can skip it. But for those trying to decide whether or not to read more of this genre, or whether the one vampire novel you've already read was a fluke, it may help if we have some ways to categorize these novels. Thus: BunRab's Standard Vampire Elements. First, most authors of vampire novels approach from one of the main genres of genre fiction; thus their background may be primarily in romance, or in science fiction/fantasy, or in murder mysteries, or in horror. Second, many vampire novels come in series; knowing whether this is one of a series, and where in the series it falls, may be helpful. Then we have some particular characteristics: - Is the vampire character (or characters) a "good guy" or a "bad guy"? Or are there some of each? - Are there continuing characters besides the vampire, through the series? - Are there other types of supernatural beings besides vampires? - Can the vampire stand daylight under some circumstances, or not stand daylight at all? - Does the vampire have a few other supernatural characteristics, many other supernatural characteristics, or none other than just being a vampire? (E.g., super strength, change into an animal, turn invisible) - Does the vampire have a regular job and place in society, or is being a vampire his or her entire raison d'etre? - Does the vampire literally drink blood, or is there some other (perhaps metaphorical) method of feeding? - Is sex a major plot element, a minor plot element, or nonexistent? - Is the entire vampire feeding act a metaphor for sex, part of a standard sex act, or unrelated to sex? - Is the story set in one historical period, more than one historical period, or entirely in the present day? - Does the story have elements of humor, or is it strictly serious? - Is the writing style good, or is the writing just there to manage to hold together the plot and characters?

Chelsea Quinn Yarbro's series about the vampire St. Germain starts from the historical romance genre, and is a continuing series. St. Germain is definitely a good guy, using the knowledge he's gained in several thousand years of living to help others. There are a few characters that continue from book to book besides him: the women he turns into vampires, and his "servant," Roger, who is a ghoul. Ghouls are the only other supernatural characters who appear in these books. St. Germain can stand daylight with the right preparations. He has unusual strength, but not limitless, and unusual wisdom, and is an "alchemist" but there are no other overt magic powers. In most of the series, he has an occupation of being an aristocrat, insofar as that was a full-time occupation through most of history; in some books he has another "job" as well. St. Germain does not literally drink blood; he feeds on emotions, usually during erotic experiences, but sex is nonetheless only a minor plot element, rare and very discreet. The series covers 3000 years, from ancient Egypt to the modern day; each book is set in a span of a particular period, usually 20-30 years. The writing is serious, but not self-important; the writing quality is excellent, and Yarbro's abilities as an author qualify these books as literature rather than "merely" genre fiction.

I wasn't expecting these type of stories at all, I thought they would just be romances. I thought Dark Journey was the best, even though I had left it till last, because the premise sounded the worst. The other two stories didn't really impress me at all

I thought this was a wonderful small collection of short stores. For one, I absolutely love Anne Stuart, and for two, dark and sensual gothic romances that are well-written are fabulous reads! I thought Anne Stuart's "Dark Journey" was wonderful. It was dark and sinister and the connection between Laura and Alex was just radiant. The plot was the best part, really, and her writing and use of words was very, very good. Now I thought Chelsea Quinn Yarbro's "Catching Dreams" was pretty good. It was not as good as the other two stories, however, but it was good. The beginning was captivating but as the story goes on, I think that maybe it could have used a little more spunk. But for the most part, the story was good and fun to read and the characters are rich and witty. "Beyond Twilight" by Maggie Shayne I think was my favorite. That is very hard for me to say because I have always been a HUGE Anne Stuart fan, but Ms. Shayne's short story was fabulous. Cuyler's sense of humor was so much fun as she strived to keep from seeing the dark side of things. My heart went out to her so many times in this story. She and Ramsey (though he was sent to destroy her) compliment each other so well with their personalities and connection. I was sad when this story ended. I would have been so happy had the story been a full novel. 5 Stars for "Beyond Twilight." All in all, these three authors are very, very talented, and so very much fun. They really add to the characters of their stories and makes it hard for a reader not to love them. This book is HIGHLY recommended!

Maggie Shayne has a rare gift for turning words into gold. Strangers in the Night, is perfect for someone who enjoys romance with an exciting mix of twists, turns and events. This story is an interesting combination of romance,suspence and the supernatural which has the right combination to appeal to numerous types of readers.

It's "messages" are from a parker brothers game. These teachings are hardly a basis for an ethos. If you need a crutch for introspection and daily existence try "Celestine prophecy" atleast it tells you to eat right and notice the power struggles in everyday conversation, that's something. This books ideas aren't new, it just rearranges them into parker's bros. games as mediums.

This book is compiled from information claimed to be channeled from an entity from a higher plane. Regardless of the source, and whether or not you believe this, the information is difficult to challenge, and has alot of validity. I first read Messages from Michael 8 years ago, and since have read it a couple of times, and referred back to it countless times. I have not found a conflict with any of the information given in any of the four Michael books by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro, and the info works for me, everday. I changed quite a bit after first reading the book, because it made me think so intensely about my beliefs & positions on many ideas. Some of the information presented is: Reincarnation. The non-existence of heaven or hell. The hows and whys of how people relate to each other through many lives. The things that make up your personality, and how they relate to others. And a thousand etc's. I learned very many things about myself since I read it, and I think back upon the info almost daily. I HIGHLY recommend this book, and "More messages from Michael", "Michaels' People", "Michael for the millenium", all by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro, if you are searching for answers that religion does not provide.

I first read this book years ago when my then-boyfriend handed it to me as something to consider. The Ouija board on the cover of the paperback made me skeptical and hesitant to read what I thought would be a book of 'hocus pocus.' I put my skepticism on hold, and was amazed to find a book so useful as I tried and tested some of the information in my day-to-day life. All is chosen. Messages from Michael further explains choice, ramifications of choice, agreements between fragments ('people,' in laymen's terms), The seven essence roles (Warrior, King, Slave, Scholar, Artisan, Sage and Priest), each role's overleaves, their polarities (positive and negative), centering, and modes. All of these aspects affect choice, and depending upon one's overleaves, some choices will be easier than others. Also covered are the seven levels of love and the seven levels of disagreement. Fear and maya are the obstacles to overcome in love, agape. This book has helped me to become more aware of myself, my maya, and the world around me. I highly recommend this book. If you can, also try to get the two books that follow in this series: More Messages from Michael (five stars), and Michael's People (five stars).

As post-appocalyptic fiction goes, Yarbro's "False Dawn" is medicore at best. I felt as if I had entered the story

in the middle of a situation that I new nothing about. It felt like the story started somewhere in the middle and

that I missed out in some previous background history. The story from there deals with mutants, pillaging, rape, as the main characters of Thea and Evan search for a sanctuary. Thea and Evan move from situation to situation as they try to survive one encounter after the other. The appocalypse, though never really explained in any detail appears to be a series of events over a 30 year period, from evironmental disasters, to chemical spills, to limited nuclear war. As quickly as the story starts, does it mysteriously end, as if the author didn't really know how to end the story, or have some sort of conclusion for the characters. Like an elusive sanctuary, there is an elusive ending to Yarbro's story.

I read this book over 20 years ago. I still have the orginial hardcover book. Thea and Evan search for a place of haven,a safe harbor in a world gone wrong. The adventures are excellent and you really find yourself being drawn into their search and hoping they find a place to belong. I really wish another had been written to tell how they ended up.

The story pulled me right inside and I was there next to Thea and Evan. Sometimes brutal, but that is probably what it would be like under such circumstances. I would hope to be as brave. I first read it 20 years ago. I've still got the original copy from then, and I don't save very many books!

Though I was originally drawn to Yarbro's books by my love of vampire lore, I was swept away by her history instead. I love the way she chooses not to show the Christian church in that time as the superstitious religion it then was. Her brutal objectiveness through Saint Germain's character is always refreshing and intelligent, and this book led me to read many more of her novels.

Those who are looking for a quick vampire horror story won't likely appreciate this novel, but those looking for a novel with depth and historical accuracy will no doubt gobble it up and cry out for more! -tk

I had the pleasure of being introduced to le Comte de Saint Germain and Chelsea Quinn Yarbro when I was a sophomore in high school. "Better in the Dark" was the first of Yarbro's novels that I read, and I loved it. I had just recently become deeply interested in all aspects of vampire lore and literature, and was already something of a hobbyist when it came to history. "Better in the Dark" is an excellent novel, both as an introduction to Yarbro's rich style and dynamic characters, and as an entertaining and educational piece of historical fiction. It will always be one of my favorite "firsts," having kindled in me a lasting love for the writing of Yarbro, and I highly recommend it.

Don't let the title, or the awful cover (Who *are* these people? They certainly aren't the characters in the book!), nor the fact that it's a "vampire" novel put you off. This is, quite simply, one of the most enjoyable books I've read this year. Well drawn characters, atmosphere you could cut with a knife, a richly detailed plot, coupled with one of the strongest female leads I've ever encountered in a novel make this for a fantastic read. Add to that a plot which builds to a truly shattering climax and I suspect no purveyor of fine fiction could ever put this book down unsatisfied. While none of Yarbro's Saint-Germain novels are bad, this one stands up and grabs you by the throat, but not in a way so's you'd notice until it's too late. Oh yeah - has one of the most satisfying "just desserts" scenes I've encountered in recent memory.