Customer Reviews

The Vampire's Violin

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

 

 

Shorter by several degrees than most of Michael's novels, The Vampire's Violin is not another installment in the much darker David Parker series. It is nevertheless a very Romkey-esque, vividly written tale splashed with history and music and various flawed but still likeable characters. Romkey fans will find Violin to be in a similar vein to his other novels, however this is a quicker and faster-paced read with fewer subplots but just as many moments of quiet beauty. Those who have never read one of Michael Romkey's books and who like their vampire novels dark, convoluted and sinister may prefer to delve into Michael's catalogue beginning with I, Vampire but The Vampire's Violin is a novel that definitely belongs in the library of any serious fan of literary vampires.

I think that Vampire's Violin is Romkey's best book since I, Vampire (little could top it). Romkey's vampire world was starting to get a little stale and then he writes this novel. It's a haunting, beautiful tale. Romkey's use of language is as beautiful as his first half of I, Vampire. It's a story of vampires, music, love, and a violin. And a divine book.

The very best of Michael Romkey's vampire series. The writing is a seamless weaving of fictional history entwined with a twisting plot and set before a background of haunting music.

This latest work seems like a natural for filmakers to explore in the same vein as the "Phantom of the Opera".

I am eagerly waiting to see what this gifted author's fantastic imagination will next create.

Kudos.

The Vampire's Violin is a tastefully written novel about a series of violins that sound so beautiful they are coveted by both vampires and humans alike. Michael Romkey opens the novel in the year 1744, introducing us to blind violin-maker Archangelo Serafino and Welsh vampire and violinist Dylan Glyndwr, who covets the "Angel" violins. Hundreds of years pass while Dylan searches for an Angel violin, and we are brought to present-day Iowa to meet Maggie O'Hara, a college student who inherits her grandfather's Angel violin that fell into his possession during WWII. Dylan pursues his quest for the Angel violin through Maggie.

As a horror novel, The Vampire's Violin is not at all scary; but instead pays an homage to violins, the love of classical music, and the orchestra. The Angel violin does not hold possessive or supernatural powers, but rather instills confidence in the player as they are affected by the instrument's beauty in sound. The book reminds me strongly of the movie The Red Violin.

The Vampire's Violin is written so well and is such a great story that vampires need not even be involved at all; it would have sufficed with just evil and selfish humans chasing the violin. The vampires featured in the novel are not scary or horrifying, and here I'll refrain from revealing any further details.

All in all, Romkey's The Vampire's Violin is an entertaining and eloquent read, and I would definitely recommend it to classical music buffs and fans of the orchestra. Nicely done!

I bought this book after reading I, Vampire. I, Vampire is not a perfect book but presented interesting ideas and showed a lot of promise. I thought that Romkey would develop as an author and the books would get better later in the series. Instead, this book, The Vampire's Violin, is a much poorer novel. Instead of adding more facets to his world, it just repeats the same information. The characters are less interesting, the story more sordid. I, Vampire is about a man's conflict within himself. The Vampire's Violin is less insightful and reads more like a television miniseries. I will note, however, that Romkey's musical knowledge is excellent.

Once there was a violin maker who at the end of his life went blind. Instead for ending his career, God granted him a miracle. His other senses more attune, he continued to make violins using hearing and touch to craft such exquisite instruments they were called Angels. They were almost magical. He only made 13 such violins.

Dylan Glyndwr, a Welsh violinist and a vampire, heard tales of the Angel violins and began his search. Finally after years, he obtained an Angel. The music brought peace to his soul, but only for a short while. Until the violin was lost when the ship he was sailing on was attacked and sunk by the British. Dylan obsessed with the Angel violins searchs for over 200 years for another.

Maggie O'hara is a struggling student violinist. When her grandfather dies, she inherits a violin. Her grandfather bought the violin during World War II from a German officer who sold it cheap. It has laid almost forgotten in an attic for 50 years. When she takes the violin for repair, she discovers a remarkable set of coincidences. The old luthier at the repair shop is familiar with the instrument, having worked on it during the War. He is able to restore the instrument. When Maggie picks up the instrument, all the doubts and fears that have held her back are dispelled and something magical happens. Not only does she pass her recital to get into the conservatory program but wins the coveted place as a soloist for the Mozart concert.

Dylan Glyndwr learns that the Angel has been found and comes to claim his violin even if he has to kill to get it.

THE VAMPIRE'S VIOLIN is the latest in David Romkey series of interrelated Vampire novels. In his world, vampires can be ruthless, cruel creatures. Dylan Glyndwr certainly is, an arrogant, selfish killer. But they are often creatures of great creativity. Certainly many famous names, especially in the area of music, exist among the ranks of Illuminati. But you can't consider David Romkey's stories as a series. Each story is a stand alone. THE VAMPIRE'S VIOLIN focuses on something that greatly interested the author, violins. In his biography, David Romkey says that he plays the violin in band that plays traditional Irish folk music. This love of violins and music certainly shows in the story. It is a gentle read, a character driven story, a story of obsession and passion.

I have never read any other books by this author and thought I would give it a try. I did not like it. The book dragged on and on. What it amounted to was a fictional history lesson. The book was suppose to be about a girl who was given a 'special violin.' That turned out to be a very minor point of the story. Since the book was part of the series I would assume the others have to be better?