2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Playing for Kingdoms, October 7, 2005
This review is from: Ventrue (Dark Ages Vampire, 12) (Paperback)
It amazes me how many times I decide that this series is a total loss, only to find that the next volume actually is a good vampire novel. After the disappointment of Dark Ages: Tremere I was pleasantly surprised that Ventrue actually had a plot, developed characters, and was even well written. It displays the potential that lurks within the White Wolf's series when the books aren't simply being written as game fodder.
Ventrue returns to Jurgen's court in Magdeburg to pick up events after Jervais' not quite successful foray into Livonia. With the Telyavel witches destroyed or scattered, it is time for Jurgen to begin the real invasion of Livonia, expanding his territory and taking revenge for the death of Alexander. This time his expedition will include Rosamund, the Tremere ambassador and focus of his affections as well as Gotzon, a Lasombra priest who has been his confessor since Jurgen was first made. Rosamund enables the usually headstrong Jurgen to seek solutions that he would normally ignore. And Gotzon is an unpredictable religious fanatic whose strength is a valuable asset - most of the time.
The taking of Livonia becomes a set of intricate chess moves, with Jurgen using Rosamund and Gotzon to work is way through the political intricacies that seem to follow vampire society even when they live in some of the most godforsaken (literally) terr
Itory in northern Europe. Non-Christian Tzimisce, Gangrel, and Telyavel are the primary opponents but the Cainite heresy appears as well.
The unvampirelike relationship between Rosamund and Jurgen is the key to this tale. For some, like Gotzon, love between vampires is every bit as much of a heresy as the Cainite beliefs. This the affair creates the kind of conflicts around which characters can develop. And McFarland is quick to make use of this opportunity, turning both vampires into complex characters who are understandable both as both humans and vampires. And it is these characters who, in turn, breath life into the story. There are only a few volumes in this series that stand out, and Ventrue is one of them.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Ventrue!!, May 10, 2007
This review is from: Ventrue (Dark Ages Vampire, 12) (Paperback)
"Those taken in Battle, alive or dead i own and i will claim my tribute!" The rallying cry of a true Ventrue lord! To have a Ventrue Prince who's prey exclusion is to only be able to feed off of those he has bested in battle is inspired. Jurgen will never stop. He is compelled by the blood by his beast to continue sweeping the crusading knights of the Black Cross across the eastern europe. What can i say about this book? it rocks my socks! cant fault it. This is how Ventrue are supposed to be. I hate the board room ventrue of the Camarilla and love the Crusaders of the Sabbat. This is how they should be...filled with blood lust, rightousness, noblity and zeal. Fantastic!
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