Gangrel

This book defines it well. Goes into what it takes to become a Gangrel. Excellent book.

Hoo boy. Got one of those Goth type friends who really wants to be a vampire? Want to annoy them? Give them THIS BOOK. This has to be one of the grimmer, most discouraging portrayals of vampiric existence I have ever read. This is one of the books in the CLAN NOVEL series with a strong main character focus rather than a panoramic view of the struggle between the Camarilla and the Sabbat. A problem with this type of book is that the larger sweep of the action may seem to have come to an abrupt halt. Because of the tight focus, it's often difficult to recognize at first that the more dramatic events in these books may have significance for the series as a whole. If you're following the series and especially playing the game VAMPIRE: THE MASQUERADE make no mistake: what happens in this books turns out to be VERY IMPORTANT for the Gangrel later on.The strengths of the more character driven books in the series are that these books stand alone better (you don't have to know or care what's happening in the series generally in order to appreciate the story) Here, the main character, Ramona, is a Gangrel neonate who has been abandoned by her sire to fend for herself and learn the realities of vampiric existence in the process. It tells the story of her struggle with her lost humanity and just to survive. A problem with books in this series is that they can get so caught up with sect politics that they lose track of the harsh realities of more basic things like feeding. Sometimes, it almost seems that the characters might just as well not be vampires but some other sort of powerful, scheming supernatural being. Not so here.The more character driven books, because of their clearer focus, tend to do a much better job of emphasizing the title clan. This books also deals with Ramona's first encounter with her sire since her Embrace and her first encounter with other members of her clan. The justicar Xaviar even puts in an apprearance as do many other interesting Gangrel characters. Overall, it's a somber but fascinating portrait of the Gangrel and their culture. The Gangrel aren't lay about philosphers, so there's plenty of action as well.

This book finally gives this clan justice. Not only do you get the feel of what it is like to see the World of Darkness from an outsider's point of view (and that is what the Gangrel are), but it deals with the soul. The other books, while good, focused so much on power that it left me asking for more. This book had emotion, and all the other series books I have read make me cheer for Gherbod, the best author yet in the series!

Ramona the Gangrel and main character shows the characterization of a member of the clan who has for two years had no sire to show her the way a Gangrel act as she fights to save the humanity she has left Her sire Tanner comes back to retrieve her without being much help.She must contend and learn that in this new life which is refreshing not to have her become adjusted to the ways of the Kindred or the Ways of the Gangrel easy,She continues to struggle with the fact of her immortality and that the world outside is now only meant for sustenance,If you loved Kindred:The Embraced You'll love this book and if your a fan of other vampire novelists like Rice,and Wiecker you Will enjoy this book.The actions of Ramona will surprise you as they surpise her.I hope the others are as Good if not better than these.can't wait for Setite