Borne in Blood: A Novel of the Count Saint-Germain (St. Germain) (Hardcover)

~ (Author)
Key Phrases: liver sorrels, Chelsea Quinn Yarbro, Chelsea Quinn Yarhro, Herr Kleinerhoff (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

If Anne Rice is the celebrity journalist of vampires, Yarbro is their domestic chronicler. The meticulous 20th entry in her Count Saint-Germain saga (after 2006's Roman Dusk) finds her 4,000-year-old hero in the Swiss countryside of 1817, helping the struggling locals recover from the Napoleonic wars and severe winters. By this period, Saint-Germain is a cultured and compassionate figure, occupied with the spread of knowledge through publishing and the child custody struggles of his lover, Hero Corvosaggio. His greatest threats come from discharged soldiers turned bandits and an abused debutante turned murderer, whose blood-obsessed guardian he lectures on the difference between heredity and destiny. Monsters are made, he knows, not born. Yarbro piles on the historical detail, giving an intimate look at the households of early 19th-century Europe and the commerce and travels of its inhabitants. Letters, with headnotes on their delivery methods and times, litter the text, adding to the period feel. Intimate, too, describes Saint-Germain and Hero, whose relationship is explored in fine-grained emotional as well as physical terms.
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Review

"This book should be savored like fine wine."

--Publishers Weekly (starred review) on Roman Dusk

 

"Quinn Yarbro is one of our finest writers and craftpersons, incapable of a slack paragraph, or a fuzzy thought.  Everything is perfectly focused, everything is expertly accomplished.  The Count remains a vibrantly original character, one of the greatest contributions to the horror genre."

--Peter Straub

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Product Details Hardcover: 368 pages Publisher: Tor Books (December 10, 2007) Language: English ISBN-10: 0765317133 ISBN-13: 978-0765317131 Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.1 x 1.5 inches Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies) Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews) Amazon.com Sales Rank: #304,239 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books) Popular in these categories: (What's this?) #2 in  Books > Literature & Fiction > Authors, A-Z > ( Y ) > Yarbro, Chelsea #2 in  Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Authors, A-Z > ( Y ) > Yarbro, Chelsea-Quinn

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Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
liver sorrels

Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Chelsea Quinn Yarbro, Chelsea Quinn Yarhro, Herr Kleinerhoff, Comte Franciscus, Uncle Wallache, Madame von Scharffensee, Château Ragoczy, Lake Geneva, Eclipse Press, Saint-Germain Ragoczy, Otto Gutesohnes, Magistrate Lindenblatt, Swiss France, Rhenish Prussia, Château Ragoczv, Reinhart Olivier Kreuzbach, Madelaine de Montalia, True Death, Rose Room, Fraulein Hyacinthie, Ilerr Kleinerhoff, Great Hall, Graf von Scharffensee, Blood Bond, Herr Thorbern

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What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

	68% buy the item featured on this page: Borne in Blood: A Novel of the Count Saint-Germain (St. Germain) 4.5 out of 5 stars (12) $5.44
	14% buy Roman Dusk: A Novel of the Count Saint-Germain (St. Germain) 3.9 out of 5 stars (14) $11.21
	6% buy Saint-Germain Memoirs 3.8 out of 5 stars (6) $10.17
	6% buy Out of the House of Life: A Novel of the Count Saint-Germain (St. Germain) 4.8 out of 5 stars (8) $22.99

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Customer Reviews

12 Reviews 5 star:  (7) 4 star:  (4) 3 star:  (1) 2 star:    (0) 1 star:    (0)           Average Customer Review 4.5 out of 5 stars (12 customer reviews)		Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews 6 of 6 people found the following review helpful: 4.0 out of 5 stars Quiet Yet Compelling, December 28, 2007 By  Bonnie G. Papini "Gattina" (Dayton, Ohio) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)    I always await Yabro's next installment in the St. Germain saga with great anticipation. Some of her novels are full of big historical events that nearly overwhelm her vampire hero. The Chinese invasion of Genghis Khan and the decline of classical Rome fall into this category. Others are set in quieter times and give an impression of what normal problems a four thousand year old entity can face and how he addresses them. Of course, St. Germain has extra abilities that make his problem solving unique. This latest chapter in St. Germain's long "life" is set in a period between tumultuous events, shortly after the defeat of Napoleon. Consequently, no battle scenes interrupt Yarbro's exploration of the vampire's efforts to connect with the humanity he lost four millennia ago. 6 of 7 people found the following review helpful: 3.0 out of 5 stars You've Read This Book Before, March 13, 2008 By  Penny Dreadful (Under Your Skin) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    You've Read This Book Before Sure you have. Except for its setting it is exactly like all previous Saint-Germain novels. Same oppressed damsel in distress, same altruistically rescuing yet personally imperiled alchemist-vampire count, same resolution, even several lines more or less lifted from past exploits in this decades-long series. As I've said before, Ms. Yarbro definitely needs to vary her plots. (Her stories need new blood, ha-ha.) The reason I keep reading her books is for the fact that few other fiction writers active today can match her ability to truly give the past so much multi-dimensional clarity. When you read her works you come away knowing almost everything about a time period. You know what challenges people of the age had to overcome in order to survive, you know what they were thinking, what frightened them, what they hoped to achieve, what they ate, drank, wore, believed, what was happening in the world in terms of climate. When you read a Saint-Germain book you even come away understanding what a particular time and place smelled like. All that is brilliant. It is so brilliant, in fact, that it pardons much that is less impressive about Quinn's novels, and has kept me reading for many years now when I've sometimes wondered if I shouldn't abandon the series. I have asked before, though, why does this author have so much difficulty in varying her plots? They are all as formulaic as A+B=C. Every time! I'm not joking. In every novel it's: unjustly tormented women meets heroic vampire figure who delivers her from evil. End of story. And this book was no exception. Surely someone with Chelsea Quinn Yarbro's creativity and intellect knows this about her books, so why can't she make things a little different? I did enjoy Borne In Blood's setting, its exploration of emerging modern science, the lengths to which Napoleon Bonaparte was deservedly vilified for the ongoing disastrous impact his megalomaniacal ambitions had on Europe long after he himself was dead, and it was also nice to check in on old friends and see, well, what the heck the Count was up to in the 1810's. I'm not emptily picking on this author. Ms. Yarbro can write. She also utilizes her exhaustive research well in weaving her stories. If only I could find some variety in her plotlines, I'd hail her as a genius, instead of a fine historian masquerading only moderately successfully as a novelist. About 3 ½ stars, mostly because she does history so well. 2 of 2 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars Borne in Blood , January 14, 2008 By  Merlin D. Bear (Norcross, GA) - See all my reviews This is another in a fine series by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro - for those already familiar with St Germaine, it is a must have, for those unfamiliar with the character but interested in vampire romance, bear in mind it's not Anita Blake. Written on a number of levels, historical, romance and horror, it illuminates a period of St Germaine's life previously hinted at in previous works by the author, and referencing previous works. Definitely a must have.		Most Recent Customer Reviews 4.0 out of 5 stars St. Germain: The Historical Vampire I've enjoyed reading Yarbro's historical fiction novels about the legendary Count St. Germain for several years. In Yarbro's work, St. Germain is portrayed as a vampire... Read more Published 8 days ago by Lee Marshall 5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting post-Napoleonic setting As a fan of Yarbro's St. Germain series, I'm happy to enjoy the similarity of these novels, enjoying the setting and the small differences of character and plot. Read more Published 3 months ago by Anne McKenzie Hunter 5.0 out of 5 stars Borne in Blood This item arrived in excellent condition and before the date specified for delivery. An excellent experience! Published 8 months ago by NR. Osborn 4.0 out of 5 stars Twenty fifth in the Saint Germain series. Or twentieth, if you don't count the spinoff novels centering on two of Saint Germain's vampiric "childer", Madeline de Montalia & Atta Olivia Clemens. Read more Published 11 months ago by James Yanni 5.0 out of 5 stars It's nice to catch up with an old friend Borne in Blood is Chelsea Quinn Yarbro's 20th entry in her Saint Germain series. I've been reading the counts adventures from the beginning. Read more Published 17 months ago by Mythadventures 5.0 out of 5 stars Borne to Excellence Borne in Blood: Count Saint Germain #20 The life of Count Saint Germain is extraordinary. Read more Published 19 months ago by Tim Lasiuta 4.0 out of 5 stars another enjoyable read, but not the best As always, I really enjoyed this entry into the St Germain series, but I dont think it was CQY's best effort. Read more Published 21 months ago by Jo Jeweler 5.0 out of 5 stars Another winner for Yarbro Yes, I have read all of the St. Germain books and conclude that this gem belongs at or near the top of the list. Read more Published 21 months ago by Jackie Lynn 5.0 out of 5 stars Yarbro does it again I have been a big fan of this series for years. I envy those who haven't yet discovered St. Germain. They are in for a treat. Read more Published 22 months ago by MaryMaryQC Search Customer Reviews Only search this product's reviews

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 368 pages
• Publisher: Tor Books (December 10, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0765317133
• ISBN-13: 978-0765317131
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.1 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #304,239 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #2 in	Books > Literature & Fiction > Authors, A-Z > ( Y ) > Yarbro, Chelsea
  #2 in	Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Authors, A-Z > ( Y ) > Yarbro, Chelsea-Quinn

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Quiet Yet Compelling, December 28, 2007

By	Bonnie G. Papini "Gattina" (Dayton, Ohio) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I always await Yabro's next installment in the St. Germain saga with great anticipation. Some of her novels are full of big historical events that nearly overwhelm her vampire hero. The Chinese invasion of Genghis Khan and the decline of classical Rome fall into this category. Others are set in quieter times and give an impression of what normal problems a four thousand year old entity can face and how he addresses them. Of course, St. Germain has extra abilities that make his problem solving unique. This latest chapter in St. Germain's long "life" is set in a period between tumultuous events, shortly after the defeat of Napoleon. Consequently, no battle scenes interrupt Yarbro's exploration of the vampire's efforts to connect with the humanity he lost four millennia ago.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars You've Read This Book Before, March 13, 2008

By	Penny Dreadful (Under Your Skin) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

You've Read This Book Before

Sure you have. Except for its setting it is exactly like all previous Saint-Germain novels. Same oppressed damsel in distress, same altruistically rescuing yet personally imperiled alchemist-vampire count, same resolution, even several lines more or less lifted from past exploits in this decades-long series. As I've said before, Ms. Yarbro definitely needs to vary her plots. (Her stories need new blood, ha-ha.)

The reason I keep reading her books is for the fact that few other fiction writers active today can match her ability to truly give the past so much multi-dimensional clarity. When you read her works you come away knowing almost everything about a time period. You know what challenges people of the age had to overcome in order to survive, you know what they were thinking, what frightened them, what they hoped to achieve, what they ate, drank, wore, believed, what was happening in the world in terms of climate. When you read a Saint-Germain book you even come away understanding what a particular time and place smelled like. All that is brilliant. It is so brilliant, in fact, that it pardons much that is less impressive about Quinn's novels, and has kept me reading for many years now when I've sometimes wondered if I shouldn't abandon the series.

I have asked before, though, why does this author have so much difficulty in varying her plots? They are all as formulaic as A+B=C. Every time! I'm not joking. In every novel it's: unjustly tormented women meets heroic vampire figure who delivers her from evil. End of story. And this book was no exception. Surely someone with Chelsea Quinn Yarbro's creativity and intellect knows this about her books, so why can't she make things a little different?

I did enjoy Borne In Blood's setting, its exploration of emerging modern science, the lengths to which Napoleon Bonaparte was deservedly vilified for the ongoing disastrous impact his megalomaniacal ambitions had on Europe long after he himself was dead, and it was also nice to check in on old friends and see, well, what the heck the Count was up to in the 1810's.

I'm not emptily picking on this author. Ms. Yarbro can write. She also utilizes her exhaustive research well in weaving her stories. If only I could find some variety in her plotlines, I'd hail her as a genius, instead of a fine historian masquerading only moderately successfully as a novelist.

About 3 ½ stars, mostly because she does history so well.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Borne in Blood , January 14, 2008

By	Merlin D. Bear (Norcross, GA) - See all my reviews

This is another in a fine series by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro - for those already familiar with St Germaine, it is a must have, for those unfamiliar with the character but interested in vampire romance, bear in mind it's not Anita Blake.
Written on a number of levels, historical, romance and horror, it illuminates a period of St Germaine's life previously hinted at in previous works by the author, and referencing previous works.
Definitely a must have.