RISES THE NIGHT

Author: Colleen Gleason ISBN: 045122146X 6/2007 HISTORICAL/PARANORMAL Publisher: NAL/SIGNET ECLIPSE
Time Period:

The Gardella Vampire Chronicles continue as the glorious nineteenth-century city of Rome gives rise to anew threat from the immortal undead... Lady Victoria Gardella Grantworth de Lacy has been a vampire slayer for just over a year, balancing her life as a peer of Society with the dangerous role that takes her out on moonlit streets, stake in hand. She has learned brutal and heartbreaking lessons about the sacrifices that must be made in order to save humanity from the evil that secretly preys upon it, but she has not wavered in her vow to fight on. Now, in Italy, a powerful vampire is amassing the power to control the souls of the dead. As Victoria races across Europe to stop what could be the most deadly army the Gardellas have ever faced, her unlikely companion is Sebastian Vioget, a man as tempting as he is untrustworthy. But when Victoria discovers that she has been betrayed by one of her most trusted allies, the truth will challenge all her powers as a Venator—and as a woman....

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

Excuse me for one moment while I give Colleen Gleason a standing ovation. The second book in the Gardella Vampire Chronicles, RISES THE NIGHT, is a superb sequel in a series that is unique, sexy and definitely very intense.

If you haven't read THE REST FALLS AWAY, the first book in the Gardella Vampire Chronicles, you don't know what you're missing. That book should be on every paranormal romance reader's TBR list. It's... Just... That... Good. So is its sequel, RISES THE NIGHT.

RISES THE NIGHT will surprise and shock you with all of its twists and turns! What really impressed me is how emotional and how intense this book is. Just as the previous book, there's no set happy ending and not everything in Victoria's life is coming up roses. She is a strong, courageous and very caring heroine. What she goes through in this book is heart wrenching.

Another Bravo! to Colleen Gleason for giving her readers characters that touch deep into your soul. The characters—especially Victoria, Aunt Eustacia and Max—are written with great passion and depth. Gleason can write characters that move you and draw you into the story.

I do think this book is a bit more Gothic, both in plot and setting. It's a dark story, so therefore don't expect many bright and happy scenes. Victoria is on a mission and there is danger literally all around her. She's at a point in her life where she can't trust anyone except her Aunt. She's about to learn that being a Venator means making sacrifices and those sacrifices can be life altering.

Colleen Gleason's RISES THE NIGHT is a phenomenal paranormal. I highly recommend reading it and not only this book, but also the book that began Victoria's journey, THE REST FALLS AWAY.

Julie Kornhausl