Customer Reviews

Toreador (Clan Novel, No. 13)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Well, I am a bit disappointed on how the Clan Toreador just comes out as completely weak. I could have sworn that white wolf clan book claimed the clan to be potentially the most dangerous clan of them all. However and on the bright side, the series does start with a very interesting plot, the book does not completely focus on the clan Toreador. Probably because the author wishes to introduce the series. I have read till Setite before I wrote the reviews, I think the book is good over all.

It's a very interesting book. Some readers will be upset by depictions of graphic violence and the like, but that should be expected, a big part of Vampire is that their society is very violent and the Kindred risk death just by waking up every night. My biggest problem with it was the ungodly amout of typos and grammatical errors. At least one on most pages. Another slight problem is the unresolved plot threads. For "a series in which each book will stand alone, but tie into the larger story presented in all 13 novels," this left a LOT of loose ends that just wouldn't be acceptable in a stand-alone novel. So many, that my rating would be 2 stars, but I'm guessing that the plots will be resolved in future clan novels. One of the most interesting subplots in this novel involves the Toreador Primogen of Atlanta, Victoria Ash, inviting a Brujah Archon (who's black) and the Malkavian Prince of Atlanta to the same party. The catch is that the Prince was a confederate soldier in the Civil War. This could have led to some very interesting scenes, but, unfortunately, it is too underplayed.

I find it amazingly depressing how easy it is for a book on Amazon.Com to get five stars. All too often these reviews aren't even reviews of the book, but simply 'I read another book by this guy, and it was really good, so I'm looking forward to this one.' (Disagree? Read the first eighty or so reviews of A Path of Daggers by Robert Jordan.) In the previous review of this book, one for five stars, the person didn't even read the whole book. My goodness. There's a trustworthy source.

Clan Novel Toreador was no _To Kill a Mockingbird_. It was no _The Catcher in the Rye_. It was no _Catch 22_. It was no _The Grapes of Wrath_. Now these are all books I'd give five stars. Hopefully at least one of them on the previous list is one that you would too.

Similarly, Clan Novel Toreador is not _Interview With the Vampire_, _Jurassic Park_ or _The Firm_. All books I would give three or four stars.

I am a fan of the Vampire role playing game, but I still recognize trash when I see it. Now and again there is an excuse for trash. Pulp fantasy. Romance novels. Still, having an excuse for trash does not make it anything more. Sadly, not having an excuse for trash makes it something much less.

With depressingly shoddy writing, a laughable plot (complete with annoying subplots and obvious plot-twists) and characters deserving of hate, this book deserves one star. Especially loathesome are the writer's sad attempts at erotica. The only thing that got hard while I was reading this book was attempting to continue reading this piddling example of literature.

I give it two stars because it is what it is. Game fiction. There isn't much out there in the genre of fiction based on RPGs (or television shows, really) that rises above the bottom half of any scale. So I give this a two, signifying that it is unadulterated mediocrity, but that such tripe is readily acceptable in a genre that is, itself, utterly mundane.

For my $ and a few hours reading, this is a good start to what is quite an epic series about vampires. No doubt, this is not an instant classic, but that's not what I expect from a short pulpy book that's the first of 13. It has character sketches of two Toreadors (one "real" artist and one "poser"), it shows the two main sides of White Wolf's vampire faction (the Camarilla and the Sabbat, and even tosses in some of the independent groups, like Setites) and it gets the action of the series underway (the Eye of Hazimel, the Sabbat attacks, etc.). The sex is not erotic, but these are undead we're talking about. There are some scenes that drag a bit, but there are some interestingly unsettling ones as well (a vampire coming out of frenzy licking dried blood off a road, a vampire kissing a bust he sculpted, etc.). My advise is either expect to read the entire series or don't pick up the first book at all. Judged by itself it may not be what YOU want it to be. But as part of the series, I think it succeeds just fine.

After hearing a couple reviews from friends in person, as well as the enthusiastic applause it received from the readers here, I expected quite a bit more from 'Clan Novel: Toreador' than I received from the first of the 13-book series. Not that it was a bad book, or that it occupied countless volumes of my time. Rather, it was an easy read, one that went by quickly but did not leave many lingering afterthoughts in its wake.

As would be the fashion, bits and pieces of this book are to be incorporated in the following 12, each overlapping a small amount. I initially ordered the first six of the series and intend to read through them; I hope that the intrigue grows, or even, appears. Like other books of a series, though, I'm hoping this is just a lead-in to much better material.

CN Torrie was an interesting book needless to say, but in the whole grand scheme of things I didn't like it. The char's were cardboard cutout's with a few execptions. Mainly the Nosfuratu.

All in all, if you are a White Wolf fan you are going to buy the book. If not, I say don't bother.

I just hope CN Tzimece is better.

The story in and of itself is somewhat interesting, yet it's nothing to really look forward to. It's fairly basic, showing most of what Kindred do, not just Toreador. The other downside of the book, is the length. It's so short that nothing really goes into much depth, and you get a little overview of everything, but never get into anything. It's a good book if you're bored and have nothing else to do.

Clan Novel Toreador, the first of a thirteen novel series, provides readers with the foundations for a massive story. The novel introduces us to two main characters in the overall meta-plot, the Toreadors Victoria Ash and Leopold.

The novel, as all others of the series, is divided into three main parts. The first part of Toreador centers on one of the most important characters in the series, Leopold. Author Stewart Wieck gives is a nice starting point, a vampire filled with self-doubt, too close to his emotions to understand them in context with what he now is. Along the way, we get glimpses of other strange events...the disappeaance of a powerful Giovanni, infighting amongst the Camarilla of Atlanta (specifically the Brujah Theo Bell and Prince Bennison, a Malkavian. We are also given a substantive look at signature Toreador, Victoria Ash, a sensual beauty who is as covert in her mechanations as she is attractive. We are also introduced to a Setite named Vegel and a Nosferatu named Rolph.

The story finally goes into high gear as the Sabbat attack a place where the Camarilla of Atlanta has gathered. The violence and destruction is enormous and powerfully written. The final two pages provides the necessary bite and twist that will bring readers back for more.

By necessity, Clan Novel Toreador spends time setting up the meta-plot. Author Wieck is to be commended for his ability to give us a group of characters that are interesting and typical of their clans. A fantastic, easy and engaging read. Highly recommended.

I used to play Vampire the Masquerade, and when I found out about these books I was ecstatic. Wow! was I dissapointed when I read this book. The whole point of the rpg is character development, which this book had none of! The characters were weak to say the least. I found my mind wandering throughout this book, it did not hold my attention at all! I am sure any rpg gamer will agree with me that this book was lacking in many ways. I am afraid to even attempt to read the others!

Basically it's a book to set up the 12-book plot. Only a very few of the mainly peripheral characters are interesting. If you're looking for a better White Wolf vampire novel, try the Masquerade of the Red Death trilogy. I'll admit that there were some good scenes though, but for what was told it should have been cut down to a short story. I'm just hoping the series gets better.