Customer Reviews

Slave Ring (Vampire: The Masquerade -- Clan Brujah Trilogy, Book 1)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

If you like "Vampire: The Masquerade" then you may like this first in a series about the Brujah clan. We meet Theo, a Brujah archon who was once a slave in the antibellum south, whose method of operations appears to be very traditional until his mortal life memories get triggered by his latest assignment. Some Kindred and some mortals are working together to run a slave ring of mortals for high profit to markets around the world. This ring seems to cut across all lines that exist in the world of Kindred politics or perhaps its just a cover for something more serious. Burdened with a neonate Brujah who is a survivor of this modern slave ring, Theo must balance his duty, his clan, the politics of the Midwest, and his own memories as he searches for other survivors and the leaders of the slavers. The writing is excellent, showing depth to Kindred characters that is often lacking in many RPG groups and in the books themselves on occassion. There is plenty of violence for those just interested in the mechanics of combat but primarily this is a story of lies and coverups discovered by someone with a century and a half chip on his shoulder.

This series was okay. I didn't like how it seemed everyone had dealings with the supernatural, and that there was more than one or two vampires in Aurora. I prefered the more realistic account of the seige of New York, where the punches were thrown by characters you knew, not some ancient evil.

I'd first recomend The Brujha Clan Novel if you want fiction on Theo Bell.

I really wanted to like this book. But it bored me.
It seems like World Of Darkness fan-fiction. Not rotten
fanfic, but still. Its not very gripping, the characters
are thin cardboard (Delfine, the young naive-yet-spunky-yet-
terrified-yet-takecharge vampire is worst, absolutely
unbelievable as a being) and the author doesn't resist the
lure of the 'World Of Darkness as a theme park' - where
anything goes, because there is a new conspiracy or
supernatural power to explain everything. Sheesh.

I loved this book. It was fast, held together well, and really drew me into the action. The characters were fun too. I found it almost impossible to put down.

...This book rocks though. If it wasn't for the logos on the cover, you'd never know it was linked to a game at all. It's a kick-[butt] horror with really great characters -- I could easily fall in love with Delphine -- and some of the best portrayals I've ever found of what vampire existence is like. He really gets in there and takes you into it all. Pick it up as soon as you can. You won't regret buying it.

Theo Bell's character in the 13-book clan series was taciturn and action-oriented. In this weak three-book series, he never seems to shut his mouth and takes a whole lot of guff he would never have accepted as originally written.

Worse, the author invokes the same, tired description of his vision becoming covered with a red haze when he got angry. Yeah, we get it, angry Brujah. Flat, two-dimensional portrayal. Most characters added just to be quickly killed off.

Tremendous disappointment, poor writing.