Rises the Night

Rises the Night Colleen Gleason 2007 In this, the second volume of "The Gardella Vampire Chronicles", author Colleen Gleason seamlessly continues her poetically elegant tale -- any (oft-suggested) shades of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" are soon forgotten in her Venators -- slayers -- these books are utter class and sophistication. A year has passed since the death of Victoria's husband, and while she continues to grieve, there is a new undercurrent forming in the waters of vampire society: Victoria's mourning will have to be set aside in favor of combating a rising new evil. Nedas, son of Lilith, the vampire queen met in "The Rest Falls Away", begins an ambitious scheme to gain immeasurable power -- and perhaps even more damagingly, sets old friendships and loyalties astray. Aside from her unusually deep, thoughtful heroine, Gleason offers readers a plethora of interesting, compelling supporting characters. The long-standing relationship between Victoria's trainer, Kritanu and her aunt Eustacia is one of the most touching and interesting I've come across in my readings. And while I was very much endeared to Victoria's husband of the first book, Phillip, I would also like to mention that the transition to the Venator's new romance, Sebastian Vioget (which was more than foreshadowed in "The Rest Falls Away") is one of the most natural I've read. Yet another stunning book from an outstanding author. Utterly superb.

Colleen Gleason's series, The Gardella Vampire Chronicles, is not your average paranormal romance. It's heavier on the paranormal rather than the romance and is multi-layered, textured, and a cut above the pack. Her stories are so much more then girl meets vamp, vamp bites girl, struggle ensues (i love him, but I shouldn't), vamp saves girl from outside evil and they all live happily ever after. The big thing, and the thing that might drive average paranormal romance readers crazy in this series, is that each book will not necessarily tie up with a happily ever after. In fact, more likely than not, a story arch is continuing throughout the entire series and a reader finds they'll have to wait to get a little romance, if that's what they're looking for. That isn't to say that romance, and even a bit of sex, isn't there, but it isn't a necessity. No, these stories rely on the art of the storytelling. In the end, it's my gut feeling that if these books were marketed a bit different, they might find the audience it justly deserve. But then again, I could be wrong on that, because despite the art of the storytelling and the excellent world building I find in her books, it's the romance (or hope of it!) that keeps me coming back. Rises the Night is the second in Colleen Gleason's Gardella series. In the first, The Rest Falls Away, Victoria has just discovered she is the next in a long line of vampire slayers, Venators in Gleason's world. She's young, practically baby faced in her immaturity. By the end of the first book however, things are taking a turn. She, with the help of those around her, have defeated Lilith the evil Vamp queen, and, Victoria has lost a husband in the fray. (See, she thought she could have love and keep her job separate. Wrong, wrong, wrong Victoria!) In Rises the night, Victoria emerges from her year of mourning, better, stronger faster. She wears the pants now, literally, and can hold her own in the martial arts. She's on the trail of some Vamps and the loyal group who protect them called the Tutela. A trail that leads her, her beloved Aunt- ex venator Eustacia-, her servants and, of all people, Sebastian- the ambiguous man who once seduced Victoria in a carriage only to promptly ditch her when she needed him most, straight to the foot of Rome where prophecy has it, the golden age of the Venators will end. But first, they discover the Tutela are up to something. It seems Lilith's son, Nedas, is after an object, an object that would create a zombie-like army that he can control. Once in Rome, Victoria finds she must place herself in the heart of the dark Tutela to get close to Nedas so that she can stop him. But she quickly learns the danger is far greater than she assumed- for both her and her loved ones- and that someone she once trusted is there, already in the middle of them. In Gleason's world, the Vamps are not the sexy heroes. They are the bad guys, (as well they should be!) Spawned by Judas the betrayer, they are

The only problem I had with the first book in the series is that the action was a little slower, due to needing to develop the characters, and let Victoria learn to be the vampire hunter that she was destined to be. Well, that problem is completely gone with Book 2. The story picked up after a year of mourning for Victoria, where all the vampires had pulled out of London following the fight at the end of Book 1. After Victoria starts to return to her hunting rounds, finds a vampire and demon at the former Silver Chalice run by Sebastian, and upon dispensing them, discovers a little disc of some kind. The adventure ensues with travels to Italy and the uncovering of a new plot to unleash evil onto the world. Victoria and her cast of supporting characters returns to help her out. Book 2 is filled with suspense, lots of action of the fighting kind ... and a little of the romantic kind as well. If you were iffy about the first in the series, you may want to pick this one up to see if it can enthrall you as much as it did me. It's a definite keeper.

When I first bought "The Rest Falls Away" I was reluctant to start the novel. Truthfully, I only picked it because there was a comment by J.R. Ward on the cover. Even when I started the novel I was reluctant. But suddenly I was completely hooked to where I couldn't put it down! I went through the same thing with "Rises the Night". Again I was reluctant, but for different reasons. I was emotionally exhausted after TRFA and I was worried something would happen to a character that I had grown to care for. But on the flip side I wanted to read more about Sebastian. Yummy! So I dove into RTN and I was once again stuck on a rollercoaster that I wished would never end! The novel was heart pounding and riveting! I loved it! But I hope Ms. Gleason is not going to make a habit of offing characters in every book. I was heartbroken...again after RTN but I would still re-read the story again and again. This series will definitely remain on my keeper shelf and I'm looking forward to "The Bleeding Dusk". Thank you Ms. Gleason for your wonderful novels.

Prepare yourself for one of the best rides of the year with this book. Rises The Night, the second novel in Colleen Gleason's Gardella Vampire Chronicles series is phenomenal! I hate to say that I was surprised by this book, because that typically has a negative connotation. Colleen's writing was fabulous in her first book in the series, The Rest Falls Away, but with Rises The Night, her writing has improved immensely. Everything is grander in this book. The scene is more epic, the battles are bigger, the passion is more intense, the bites are bloodier, the plots are more complex, and the emotions are heavy. This book had my heart pounding at times and Colleen goes places that you think are off limits. This book really becomes a suspense/thriller at times. I'm hooked on this series and I'm thrilled that we're promised three more books. I'm just upset that now we have to wait until February for The Bleeding Dusk, the third installment. Rises the Night takes place a year after the events of The Rest Falls Away. An ancient evil has been discovered and brings our heroine to the city of Rome in the early 19th century where she once again must use her skills as a Venator, a vampire killer, to protect humanity. Sebastian fans will be pleased with this book as he gets much more time in the pages of this book. As I said before about The Rest Falls Away, Rises the Night is one of the best books I've read this year. So much fun and a ride that anyone can enjoy. I'm hooked on this series and don't want to see it end any time soon. Colleen Gleason is a fresh voice in the horror genre (I'd rather call it horror than paranormal romance as a guy ;) and one that I look forward to reading for a long time to come. Extremely well written, always surprising, heart stopping at times, and always suspenseful. Give me more!