Dark Ages Lasombra

So we're back and we're here to follow on from where Nosferatu left off. What with all the losses the Lasombra as a clan took when the city fell its no suprise that new stars start to rise. We see Lucita of Aragorn again who's so famous from modern age novels and the introduction of the malkavain Anatole who seems to get a personality make over in the coming books and is more of a warroir monk in this one. I liked this book but it was lacking in some areas. I was looking for something of an insight into the abyss and the occultism that comes with it but that side of the clan seemed to be left aside for more political manuverings which is fine but we get plenty of that later on. So it was close to a 5 but no cigar

Lasombra reintroduces us to one of the clans that played a large part in the original Clan series and one of the more interesting members of that clan - Lucita of Aragon, an agent of Cardinal Moncada in the city of Constantinople. Things have gotten no better in the conquered city, and, in many ways, they have gotten far worse. Not only have the denizens become lost in internecine squabbling and intrigue, and Byzantium hovers at the brink of other wars at the hands of the Latins and Bulgars. Lucita is drawn to the power vacuum in Constantinople, but knows full well that for her the path to that power must be through favor and connection rather than possession of a prince's crown. She decides the Bishop Alfonzo is the vampire best suited to her own plans and sets about working to bring him to power. This will put her at odds with Gabriella, another contestant, and threatens her relationship with Moncada. But, if she does her work right she will have gained much in the dark courts of the vampires. At the camps around Adrianopolis rumors run like wildfire. Caine has been seen walking, the cultists of his dread sister Calomena seem to have regained their strength, and Malachite has returned from his search for Dracon. In the chaos many are ready to flee from all remembrance of the Dream. Change threatens from every side. Wilson's story is just a bit too dry for me, a little too focused on politics and speeches. But there's plenty of action as well to carry the reader over the bump parts. The novel plays a vital part in setting the scene for the rest of the series and bringing the reader up to date on the bigger picture of unlife in Byzantium. We also get glimpses of some of the European factors in the vampire world, all packed in digestible, easy to read format. For all that this is the Lasombra volume, and almost all the major characters are Lasombra, there is little of the traditional Lasombra antics until the action reaches a complex. I would have liked to see more of th emajor mojo for the simple reason that I really read vampire stories for the thrills and the scary parts. When there is too much political documentary I start contemplating a switch to werewolves. Only for a short moment, though.

I've been following the Dark Ages series since DA:Nosferatu and this latest installment is wonderful. It continues the saga of the War of Princes set in the tumultuous times following the sacking of Constantinople and the fall of Michael the Patriarch. In the aftermath, various factions of the Lasombra clan are maneuvering for ascendency in lieu of the vacuum left by the Toreador Methuselah's destruction and the disappearance of the Dracon. The Nosferatu elder, Malachite is reluctant to step forward and shoulder leadership of New Rome, so it is left to Scions of Matrid, Venice, and Genoa to execute their own moves from within the shadows. Intrigue is a classic tool of the clan better known as The Keepers. We are introduced to some new characters from other clans, who no doubt will factor prominently in future installments of this clan series set in the Middle Ages. David Niall Wilson is an excellent writer of this genre of fiction and does not disappoint in this latest endeavour. I highly recommend this book, as well as the Grails Covenant Trilogy - also written by David Niall Wilson. To read about human history seen from the perspective of vampires is very intoxicating and White Wolf has a coterie of authors that will dazzle you with their ability to enfold each tale with exquisite mastery and adherence to WoD canon. Get this book!