The Bleeding Dusk

Not content to repeat herself, Bleeding Dusk continues the evolution of Gleason's Gardella Chronicles series. Here she continues to flesh out her cast as Victoria struggles to fill her aunt's shoes as the new Ilia Gardella, the leader of the venator's, as they fight not only vampires but also demons. There are surprises for us as Gleason gives us more insight into both Sebastian and Max and plenty of action in the more than decent plot set against the background of Rome during Carnivale bringing more pieces of the prophecy together and building to a climatic finish that raises more questions than it answers. This was a great read and I don't know how I can wait until August to find out what's in store for Victoria, Max and Sebastian. If you are looking to start this series don't start here. Though Gleason fills in enough of the past that you will be able to follow along, the thing that really makes this series work is that evolution that I spoke of and the emotional cost that the characters must pay to reach that new place is really what adds the satisfying depth to the series.

I've read the previous two books and devoured the third just as quickly. Things I love: * The fun titles at the beginning of the chapters * The characters. Flaws and all. * That we have viewpoints from most of the characters * How Ms. Gleason has taken actual events and given them a fictional spin. I've really enjoyed this series. The love triangle is intriguing (continues to be so)and there have been so many surprises along the way. As others have said, these books aren't heavy on the romance. Great stories.

Continuing just months after the final climactic battle of Rises the Night in which Victoria, heir to the Venator title- or vampire slayer/chosen one to you and me- loses her beloved Aunt Eustascia, The Bleeding Dusk- the third novel in Gleason's Gardella Vampire Chronicles series- finds Victoria ready and willing to take the reins of leadership over her fellow slayers as Illa Gardella- THE Gardella. She has the renewed strength to do the job- and is no longer the innocent we were introduced to in The Rest Falls Away. In TBD, Victoria is once again thrust into a new and dangerous plot, the demon Akvan- arisen from the events of Rises the Night- is hoping to open the Door of the Alchemists. A door that will lead him to the very thing he needs to be restored to full power. Victoria along with her fellow Venators cannot allow this and it is she who has the key to defeating him. Literally. But other circumstances are swirling around Victoria, and Sebastian is back- along with his Grandfather, the ancient Vampire Beauregard and they have their own plans for Victoria. Per usual, Gleason spins a web of a story that slowly drew me in until I became so absorbed I didn't realize I was almost at the end. Especially when it became obvious the enigmatic Max, venator by choice rather than birth, was about to do the thing I thought he had set aside at the very beginning of the book. (Yes Max lovers, this one's for us!) Gleason throws in a bit of a twist at the end of this one that made the pages fly, and I have to give props to the plotting! How all the threads tied together was just marvelous and I thoroughly enjoyed the ride. Of course, once again, we are treated to the love triangle of Max, Sebastian, and Vicki Venator. Much like in the tv show Lost, I have my idea of who our heroine should find her happily ever after with, though I'm sure others would disagree. But that's the fun of triangles, isn't it? Will they? Won't they? Who will she choose? And that's not the only Will She? Won't She? In this book. Guess you'll have to read to find out! Yep, it's a great little hook- and I'm falling for it. The next in the series, When Twilight Burns, is set to come out in August and I'll be looking forward to it!

As the other reviewers have commented, this book, which is the third in the series is getting better and better. Our heroine has evolved over the course of the series into a tough but vulnerable vampire hunter. This book is heavy on plot and lighter on romance, which I think is a plus. The heroine is caught between our two heroes, Sebastian and Max. I love Max- tall, dark, handsome, and arrogant! Another plus is that Ms. Gleason is very prolific. The next book in the series comes out in August, so that wait between episodes is not interminable.

Colleen Gleason continues to prove to her editors and readers that she is a cut above other mass-market romance fiction novelists. In her latest installment of the Gardella Vampire Chronicles, Gleason has once again shown that she can lay a complex buffet for her readers to feast on. Who else could have come up with the premise of a Regency heroine vampire slayer that is originally and legitimately well done? The Bleeding Dusk takes us to Rome this time, where Victoria must find a way beyond the trauma and chaos of the past year, and delve into her strength to become the new Illa Gardella. Armed with two vis bullae, she, Max, Sebastian and her Venators must prevent the combined dark forces of demons and vampires from opening La Porta Alchemica or the Door of Alchemy. It is path fraught with sacrifice. Gleason is not into pacification. She is not going to give us an easy read where we have the end game in our sights. Gleason deliberately toys with us with regard to Victoria's love interests and more, stops on a dime, and reverses in another direction. In many ways it works. Throughout this entire series, I was strongly reminded of Ken Russell's movie "Gothic" intermeshed with Buffy. And I haven't seen such painstaking attention to detail since Chelsea Quinn Yarbro. Gleason tamps down the romantic element-this series reads stronger as sci-fi/fantasy, not romance (even though its marketed as romance), though there are elements of it-but that won't detract readers by any means. This is how the genre is evolving. Romance seems to be an area of growth for Gleason, and I eagerly anticipate seeing it flourish. Particularly in balancing the romance aspects with suspense. The current conundrum of Sebastian and Max is a bittersweet torment-especially with the sacrifice that Max has to make. The finale...well... it's quite a finale. Grossly enrapturing. Those watching should bear careful consideration: Gleason can only go up from here. Unbelievable that this is a Signet Eclipse...which is a gentle warning to her editors....at this skill level you might not have her for long...Copyright(c)Nicola Mattos