Gideon Redoak [Hardcover]

Anne Fraser (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 15, 2009

In 1641, Baron Gideon Redoak takes on adult responsibilities at the age of nineteen, following his father’s murder. As the countryside around his estate is terrorized by mysterious deaths, Gideon welcomes an offer of assistance from a charismatic stranger, Etienne Corbeau. But Corbeau has far more sinister objectives when he seduces young Gideon and then kills him. Gideon awakens as a vampire, and the agony of his death is merely the beginning of the hell on earth that Corbeau plans for him. Gideon eventually escapes Corbeau, and only then does he learn the breadth and variety of the shadowy supernatural underworld to which he now belongs. As the decades pass, Gideon and those he loves face hard choices and shattering changes. But despite the loyalty and support of his friends, Gideon knows that his final confrontation with Corbeau is inevitable. Even with magic’s aid, Gideon has no idea whether he can survive that confrontation—and what it will cost him.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. It's a great shame that Fraser (1957–2008) didn't live to see the publication of this impressive dark fantasy debut, which introduces a stirring classic vampire. Baron Gideon Redoak is the gay son of a Puritan living in 1641 Shrewsbury, England. At age 19, he's seduced, turned and abused by Etienne Corbeau, a sadistic vampire who eventually buries him alive (or undead). Evan Jones, a Welshman with superhuman abilities, digs Gideon up at the behest of Le Societé des Gardiens, vampires who don't believe in killing. Over the next several centuries, Gideon learns much of love and grief as he and Evan join a group of druids in battling the evil vampires. Fraser keeps the pages turning with brisk pacing and a thoughtful, sensitive portrayal of Gideon's struggles with Corbeau and his inner puritanical demons. (Aug.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

Gideon Redoak is an epic tale that few books accomplish. I find it very interesting to have a vampire story where we learn of the vampire before his turning, and then a detailed description of his life thereafter. I felt it very reminiscent of Anne Rice's vampire novels in that the story is gothic in nature and the timeline is vast. The romance in this book is very sweet and the sexual encounter described lovingly without explicit detail, which may appeal to a wide variety of readers. Overall, I enjoyed this story. The pacing is a bit disjointed where some parts move very quickly whereas others are slow. Also, many times the story is very dry, but Gideon is an incredibly stoic character. Therefore, the "dryness" may be intentional and I give the author the benefit of the doubt. Unfortunately, Anne Fraser passed away before Gideon Redoak could be published. It is very sad we lost such a promising author before she could hit her prime and tell the stories of several of her other characters. Nonetheless, I recommend this book, especially for lovers of "old school" vampire novels. --Katie Seely-- -- ParaNormalRomance, October 17, 2009

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 220 pages
• Publisher: By Light Unseen Media (August 15, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0979302870
• ISBN-13: 978-0979302879
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,569,512 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Courage of Being, August 21, 2009

By 

Patricia Altner "PVN" (Patricia's Vampire Notes) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gideon Redoak (Hardcover)

Gideon Redoak
by Anne Fraser
By Light Unseen Media, August 15, 2009

Raised by a stern, puritanical father Gideon Redoak considered himself a worthless sinner. Life eased for him somewhat with his father's death. Gideon was now Baron Redoak. He grew closer to his sister and his mother and helped them in ways impossible while his father lived.


"I was very young and didn't know that evil could walk abroad in the guise of a handsome man" [Gideon looking back at his first meeting with Etienne.]


Evil encroached on his happiness. The seductive vampire Etienne Corbeau insinuated himself, telling Gideon how very much he was loved, but Etienne lied. He betrayed Gideon. Turned him into a vampire slave. Tortured and abused him without pity until one day, with the help of Evan Jones and Genevieve de Monet, he is rescued. They gave sanctuary to Gideon, a safe place to heal mentally and physically.


"I see a young man who was cruelly betrayed. I see a fledgling vampire who has learned the darkest possible ways of our kind, who knows only the blood and the killing, but who has not surrendered to them. I see someone who is stronger than he believes, who has survived the unthinkable. I see a wound that needs healing, but a wounded one who is not beyond hope." [Genevieve on first meeting Gideon.]


To Genevieve vampires need not be predators. They can tame their urge and sustain themselves in other ways. She also teaches him how to use his powers and what their limitations are.

Evan introduces Gideon to Le Societe des Gardiens, a movement created to rid the world of monsters like Etienne, and teach vampires that killing is not necessary for survival.

For all the pain Gideon had to endure he never lost his basic decency. He joins the Societe's crusade, eventually journeying to the new world to band with other paranormal inhabitants. Ones that have his ideals.

There were times I forgot I was reading fiction. Fraser constructs characters so real, so believable that I felt like I was right there with them. Her writing has a beautiful poetic rhythm. I've tried to convey that in the quotes above. Of course you have to read everything in context to completely understand.

I would sum things up this way - Gideon Redoak's story of a vampire's perilous existence is a gripping tale told through the poetic writing of Ann Fraser.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent!, November 11, 2009

By 

L. Smith "librarian and vampire aficionado" (Near New Orleans) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Gideon Redoak (Paperback)

Fraser had both a way with words and a way with character development. Gideon is a sympathetic and believable character in his human life at the beginning of the book and as a vampire later on. Through his eyes we experience fear, torture, kindness, love, joy, heartbreak, and a valiant struggle with the nature of good and evil. It's a excellent story, yes, with a satisfying amount of action and occasional plot twists, but it carries deeper meanings about the things we believe about ourselves and how the companions we choose in life can have an impact on those beliefs.

I recommend it highly.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a voice teacher and early music fan (and a paranormal reader), February 5, 2010

By 

George Peabody "Ariel" (U.S.A.) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Gideon Redoak (Hardcover)

"AWAKE THE TRUMPET'S LOFTY SOUND"! (apologies to Handel) : A PARANORMAL BOOK THAT FASCINATES, TITILLATES AND ENGAGES THE READER INSTANTLY AND UNCEASINGLY!

Born on Friday the 13th, Anne Fraser was a prolific and highly original writer of vampire and paranormal fiction. Her spare writing style and unusual characters have won her an enthusiastic following. This is her first novel to be published in print form.

Unfortunately Anne Fraser did not live to see the publication of her impressive dark fantasy debut, which introduces an exciting Classic vampire. Baron Gideon Redoak is the gay son of a Puritan living in 1641 Shrewsbury, England. At age 19, he's seduced, "turned" and abused by Etienne Corbeau, a sadistic vampire, who after many years of torture eventually buries him (Gideon) alive or (undead). Evan Jones, a Welshman with superhuman abilities, digs Gideon up at the request of Le Societe des Gardiens, who are vampires who don't believe in killing.

Over the next several centuries we follow Gideon as he learns much of love and grief as he and Evan join a group of druids battling the evil vampires. Fraser keeps the pages turning for me (as my roast chicken burns to a crisp) with brisk pacing and a thoughtful, sometimes prolonged portrayal of Gideon's struggles with Corbeau and his inner puritanical demons, that at times seem worse than Corbeau's tortures!

QUOTATION BY ELIZABETH MILLER, AUTHOR OF DRACULA:SENSE AND NONSENSE: "Written in a direct and uncluttered style, 'Gideon Redoak' offers a plot developed with craftsmanship and a protagonist drawn with sensitivity...a story about the very human search for meaning and independence".

My joy at finding a book that I actually read all the way through knows no bounds!!!!