BOOK REVIEW: The Vampire Nacise By Colleen Gleason

Mira (Harlequin) May 24 2011

384 pages by Colleen Gleason

BLURB ON BACK OF BOOK:


Skilled in the seduction of men, both mortal and immortal, Narcise Moldavi is the greatest weapon in her twisted brother's war among the Dracule. Until she falls for Giordan Cale.Her first searing encounter with Giordan seals their fierce connection for their eternal lives. But Giordan's vow to help Narcise escape her brother's rule is followed by a betrayal more agonizing than sunlight.
Wounded but determined, Narcise ensnares vampire hunter Chas Woodmore in her quest for revenge and to reclaim her life. He wants her, worships her, will kill for her. And the Dracule never forget a wrong— nor do they forgive.


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This book was so different in tone and narrative from Voss and Dimitri, it kind of threw me for a bit. But I soon got into the flow and time line of the story.

Probably my only complaint is the book stays exclusively in Narcis POV, which is correct, the book is titled with her name. I prefer the hero POV I admit, and was dying to know more of Giordan Cale's thoughts. Or of Chas, the vampire hunter.
Talk about your tragic hero, my gut clenched for Cale. It is hard to review without giving away too much of the plot, only Giordan sacrifices all, debases himself, all in the name of love. Tragic on so many levels.

This is not a light-hearted read, dark and disturbing in a lot of respects. Narcise is kept captive by the villain of this trilogy, her vampire brother Cezar Moldavi. a skinny, lisping, dangerous vampire who both loathes and adores his sister. He fights her in sword duels against opponents for his entertainment, if she loses, she is dragged off and sexually abused. Some heavy stuff in this. No wonder Narcise is damaged, closed off. She is also very dangerous.

Enter Giordan Cale. Handsome, passionate, and he falls for Narcise immediately, as she is quite beautiful. The way he approaches and ultimately woos this broken woman is wonderful. Narcise lets down her guard, and begins to feel. She has fallen in love with Cale. Now, how to get her away from the iron grip of her sick brother?

 Cale enters into a bargain, and the whole thing blows apart. Narcise rejects Cale, misunderstandings abound, so much for love.

Ten years pass, and we find out how she met Chas Woodmore the dark, desirous human vampire hunter who ultimately rescues her from her brother. They enter into a physical relationship as shown in the previous books. The heat level was certainly ramped up in this book from the previous ones, fine with me!  Chas is appealing on a lot of levels as well.
Cale and Narcise meet up again, and it is not pretty. She still carries her loathing over his supposed betrayal. A lot of tensions in this love triangle with a lot of messed up people.
An ultimate showdown is brewing between the Dracule and Moldavi, and it takes some twists you can't even imagine.
I am still scratching my head over the ending, I found it muddled, either that or I am thick. But ultimately this is about the sacrifice one makes for the one they love, and forgiveness. A searing, emotionally raw conclusion to this trilogy, I recommend all three books heartily!

3.5 out of 4 stars for the book