Borne in Blood

As a fan of Yarbro's St. Germain series, I'm happy to enjoy the similarity of these novels, enjoying the setting and the small differences of character and plot. Hero is charming and sympathetic, and the Count admits that he cannot feel for her as he does for the great loves of his life, but he nevertheless protects her and improve her situation. The time, just after Napoleon has ravaged Europe, leaving famine and disorder, is not a well-known one. I like it that St. Germain manages in this book to avoid being swept up in great matters of state, instead remaining in a back-county Swiss castle for most of the action, tending to his shipping and publishing interests mostly at a distance. I hope we get to find out in later books what happened to the major and minor new characters in this book. To me this is a successful St. Germain book.

Borne in Blood is Chelsea Quinn Yarbro's 20th entry in her Saint Germain series. I've been reading the counts adventures from the beginning. At this point it feel like I'm catching up with an old friend. Her meticulous attention to detail really helps to visualize the time period of the book. Borne in Blood takes place right after the end of the Napoleonic wars. Saint-Germain has taken as a companion a woman, Hero, widowed by the war. Hero is in a struggle with her father-in-law to have access to her children. Yabro highlights just how few rights women have in this time period. It also shows how women are so used to such treatment that they just accept it without questions. In a sense this is more a story about Hero, than it is the count. As such the threat this time is directed toward Hero, and it is up to the count to rescue her. The ending was predictable, but that didn't bother me. As I said in the beginning, the count seems like an old friend, and I don't always want to see him battered at the end of the book.

Borne in Blood: Count Saint Germain #20 The life of Count Saint Germain is extraordinary. This time, Yarbro sets our sights on the Swiss countryside of 1817. Culturally speaking, the Swiss population is recovering from the Napoleonic wars and very severe weather. By this time period, the printing industry had advanced, and guided by 3800 years of `living' behind him, his wisdom has now firmly been established and now he is able to help spread his knowledge through publishing. His lover, Hero Corvosaggio, was widowed by Napoleon and their 2 sons are being raised by their grandfather. Hero, is a tragic figure, haunted by the loss of her prestige and sons, and yet buoyed by her love for the Count. While this personal relationship blooms, Saint Germain becomes intrigued with Graf Von Ravensbergs' research into blood. Clearly fascinated with the results, Saint Germain keeps abreast amidst the romantic interest of Hyacinthe in him. Love triangles can be dangerous, especially when a vampire is involved and mental instability characterizes Hyacinthe. Like any Saint Germain book, Yarbro has included details that create a `been there' atmosphere. Her research into what actually occurred in a household of that time is extensive and help create an intimacy with the locale. Even the correspondence has the feel of just having been delivered by courier. The Saint-Germain chronicles are more romance than vampire fiction, and it is perhaps that element that is their genius. Why would an `immortal' just exist to drink blood and spread a curse? Over the course of an average life, knowledge and wisdom are copious, how more so over millennia? To say this is `just' another novel would be not enough. Come, enter into the world of 1817, and the existence of Saint Germain, one more time. Tim Lasiuta [...]

Yes, I have read all of the St. Germain books and conclude that this gem belongs at or near the top of the list. Rich in historic detail, the time and place are firmly set and there were heroic figures and contrasting evil doers. In this story the characters are truely odd with complex interactions and flaws; I didn't even figure out who was aiding St. Germain's enemies. Superb action in the climax, too. St. Germain always "lives" to love another day. Just a great read.

This is another in a fine series by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro - for those already familiar with St Germaine, it is a must have, for those unfamiliar with the character but interested in vampire romance, bear in mind it's not Anita Blake. Written on a number of levels, historical, romance and horror, it illuminates a period of St Germaine's life previously hinted at in previous works by the author, and referencing previous works. Definitely a must have.