"terrific vampire slayer historical romantic fantasy"
Her debut season was delayed for the last two years due to
first the death of her grandfather and then the death of
her father. Now Victoria Gardella Grantworth looks
forward to attending the galas and balls. That is until
three weeks ago when she began dreaming of killing
vampires. Turning to her elderly eccentric Aunt Eustace
for guidance, Victoria learns about her family legacy in
which she is this generation's venator, killing vampires. While her aunt oversees her killer training and her mother
oversees her get a ducal spouse training, Victoria worries
about that first kill; that is the vampire not a husband.
She has nowhre to place the wooden stake until Eustace
explains what garters are for. At her coming out party,
her two worlds blend when she meets Lord Phillip de Lacey
and senses a vampire that she must kill. She excuses
herself from Phillip, not easy to do since she is
attracted to him and him to her. She almost stakes the
chief vampire executioner Maximilan Pesaro though she
makes split second mid-course correction to stake a female
vampire as her first kill. Now Victoria understands the
double life she must lead as Phillip courts her while she
practices to become a vampire executioner extraordinaire. Buffy goes regency with this terrific vampire slayer
historical romantic fantasy that will have readers craving
more Gardella adventures. Victoria is a wonderful
nineteen years old heroine, as she lacks confidence yet at
the same time believes she can do anything required of
her. The story line is filled with action that uses the
activities of the Ton to set the time and place and the
trials and tribulations of the newest venator struggling
to keep her two lives apart with one being top secret
(mindful of Silver Age Superman). This fun opening gamut
in the Gardella saga has cross-genre appeal that fans will
enjoy. Harriet Klausner
Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted December 26, 2006
SummaryBeneath the glitter of dazzling 19th-century London
Society lurks a bloodthirsty evil....
Vampires have always lived among them, quietly attacking
unsuspecting debutantes and dandified lords as well as
hackney drivers and Bond Street milliners. If not for the
vampire slayers of the Gardella family, these immortal
creatures would have long taken over the world.
In every generation, a Gardella is called to accept the
family legacy, and this time, Victoria Gardella Grantworth
is chosen, on the eve of her debut, to carry the stake.
But as she moves between the crush of ballrooms and
dangerous, moonlit streets, Victoria's heart is torn between
London's most eligible bachelor, the Marquess of Rockley,
and her enigmatic ally, Sebastian Vioget.
And when she comes face to face with the most powerful
vampire in history, Victoria must ultimately make the choice
between duty and love.
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