This is the best Vlad book in a long time
357675
So referential to gothic literature. This is the best Vlad book in a long time. Highly recommended.
45089
I'm a history professor who's teaching a course on Dracula next semester. I've already ordered Florescu's Prince of Many Faces and McNally's In Search of Dracula as required reading. I've attempted to read everything in English on Dracula.
I then found Treptow. From the very first page he avoids the tendency to sensionalize Vlad III. He avoids using documents that are suspicious, like other historians. He tells us how he came to the conclusion that they are not trustworthy. He attemps to set Vlad's action within their proper context. When I finished the book, I knew that I had read the best biography on Dracula now in existence.
2019507
This was one of the best in the angelbound series. It was great to have Myla-la back and I absolutely love Lincoln. They have son now little Maxon who sounds just as mischievous as his mother.
The book is well written and the story take you on ride that is truly awesome. Christine Bauer tells the story so well I just couldn't stop reading. I finished this book in just 2 days and the only reason that happened was because i needed to sleep. The action and characters were amazing, its a book that made we smile, laughing at Lincoln's humour and loving Myla's crazy plans.  There were quiet a few typos and errors, I know it is allowed as this is not the final version. All i can say is Christina Bauer is a genius.
4358814
Vlad ( The V Games, #1) Ker Dukey and K
 Webster is a cool story of a group of elitist mob families who participate in games of mayhem,  debauchery and murder. The winner of the games bring honor, prestige and social standing to their family. Vlad's family is the head of all the other families and he intends on keeping it that way. In their life it is all about the power moves and there are plenty of them to be made.
 In this game allegiance to family doesn't mean anything. Vlad has decided to strengthen his family's standing so he has decided to marry Diana from another high standing family but it is her younger sister Irina Vlad really desires. This story had me hook, line and sinker. I was captivated from the first page to the last. The book didn't not ease me into the story but grabbed me straight out the gate. I love dark and twisted. Check!  I love nasty, dirty sex. Check!  And I love a well told story with some twist and turns.  Check, check check!!!!!. So looking forward to many more V games!!!!!!! The next book can't come fast enough. Looking forward to what the newest first family has in store for the rest of the other families. I know it is going to be dirty, bloody and marvelous. I give this 5 stars. Vlad is all that and with his queen, there is nothing they can not do together. Long live the Vasilievs!!!!!!!!!!!
4125742
I browse many books before I decide to purchase and The Historian was no exception.  I had never read any "Draculya" novels since blood suckers remind me of what I swat in my back yard after a good rain.  However, after browsing Barnes & Noble's shelves on several different occasions, my attraction to the hardcover edition got the best of me.  After reading Ms Kostova's book I got Bram Stoker's Dracula (both the book and the movie, from Amazon) and discovered there was, after all, good literature (and a great movie) about Dracula.  Then I discovered Anne Rice (Amazon) and came to conclude that I had exhausted anything "Dracula" worth my time, with the possible exception of more historical reading.  Ms Kostova's intelligent treatment of Vlad the Impaler and the "historical Dracula," and the great character development and geographical descriptions as the plot deploys makes it worth reading many times, whereas Bram Stoker's will probably be read only once.  "The Historian" is worth every bit of 5 stars, and it was a page turner throughout.  I bought the hardcover edition about a year ago now, if ever I could have her sign it ...
4733679
Vlad's a winner. The atmosphere is truly goth and dark and I'm really glad we're having more of this series because truly what gets to me is the way Ms Frost's books end... As if we're going to watch the next episode next week. It'll be a year! The endings should be somewhat smoother. Hence, the four stars...
4547716
I like Steven Brust, I really liked all of the Vlad books I have read.  This book has been waiting for me to read for a couple of years, I have only once or twice in my life not finished a book that I have started, this may be number 3.  If I knew that I did not need this in order to get into 500 years after this book would be gone. The language is just does not work for me.  Good luck.
3721614
This is the best book I've read in a long time. I mostly ready fantasy, and steampunk is very similar. Most fantasies have male characters as the main lead - even if other leads are female - so I really enjoyed having a strong, female lead. I enjoyed her quirk of wanting to straighten things and clean things. But it is very fast paced, full of action, and the two other main characters are male, so I think male readers will still find it appealing. There is a little bit of gore - but it's not over the top and less than you encounter in many fantasy novels. (I'm very sensitive to gore, and I could stand it.)

I look forward to reading the rest of the series!
381242
I picked up this book because I thought it would be a story about Vlad III Tepes of Wallachia, not about Vlad as Dracula, let alone Count Dracula. Only a few chapters in, and you know there's a vampire on the loose. You only hope that it's high-jacking the legend that it's not HIM again. Well, off we go into the modern-day descendant of Dracula who find she can't escape the family curse till she finds grandpa and kills him--again.

 I'll say one thing for this book. It did clear up one question I'd always had about Vlad. Who was the King of Hungary? And what was his beef with Vlad? The King in question was Mathias I Corvinus (1443-1490). Americans don't know who he is but in Hungary, he's their George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and Teddy Roosevelt all rolled into one. He brought the concept of codified law, a standing army, standardized coinage, to Hungary. He sleeps under one of the Carpathian Mountains and, one day, he will rise again when Hungary has need of a hero. He's also beloved in Romania, where he was born in Transylvania. He's mentioned in the Romanian National Anthem along with another of Vlad's frenemies, Stefan of Moldavia.

 So what was the beef between Corvinus and Vlad? It was visceral, it was personal, it was family, it involved misplaced loyalties and, yes, the Order of the Dragon. Both Vlad II Dracula and John Hunyadi, Corvinus father, were members of the Order of the Dragon, sworn to protect the Holy Roman Emperor or the King of Hungary from being assassinated by the infidels, read Turks. When Vlad II made a truce with the Turks and sent his two young sons, one of whom was our hero, to Turkey, Hunyadi felt that the old man had violated his vow as a Dragon Knight and had also betrayed Hungary. Hunyadi had Vlad II assassinated and killed. The feud was on.

 No good feud lacks a heroine, and there was one here. Vlad's second wife, who isn't named in Kostova's book but you get a big fat clue because her descendant is named Helen. It was Ilona Szilaghy, Matthias' half-sister or cousin, depending on how you splice the family tree. She may have been related to the Bathorys (now there's a fine, upstanding bunch). She also was deeply in love with Vlad, probably the only person in the world who did love him. My point is, there are hints throughout the book of this rich backstory based solidly in history, yet the author chose to go down the well-worn path of Dracula the Vampire. Why?!?
4578837
Let me just say that I don't think there is anyone out there who was looking forward to reading this one more than I was. I'm pretty sure that Nikki Worrell has put me on some sort of "watch-for-stalker-behavior" list. I stalked the heck out of this book release. I even woke up early  to check Amazon for it. Early. Me. Willingly giving up an hour of sleep on a Monday morning.

I'll tell you why I was so excited about this book. First of all, in the Enforcer (the first book of the series) we are introduced to and fall in love with Vlad...yes, and Zoe, too. Second of all, the conflict between Vlad and Zoe is already set up and AWESOME. I LOVE the forbidden love. It so teeth-gnashingly delicious. Oh the want! Oh the need! Unethical? Immoral? Yes, please. Come on, romance novels have been based on much less conflict than that. Thirdly, Vlad is a hot hockey goalie. Need I say more? I was positive This. Would. Be. Epic.

When you read a lot of romance novels like I do there's not many surprises, you know? There's tons of cliches, tropes, character motivations that are all tried and true. And that's fine. If I didn't like that, I'd read mystery or something. But lately I'm on a roll of being surprised by books. Nikki Worrell sort of surprised me. And I have to give her props for it. I'm not here to give spoilers, but I can say that you're not going to read this and have a gasping shock of a surprise. But the story is going to meander down a path that you (at least I) didn't imagine.

I'm giving her props because I can see how the predictable could have caused some to say "I just wanted them to get over it already!" Or maybe start to bash on Zoe for being stupid and saying "no" so much.

I really liked this story. And I'm in love with Vlad. But I'm withholding that 5th star because toward the end there it wasn't so much the Vlad-and-Zoe-story, but more like the Vlad story. I know this won't make sense until you read it, but Zoe almost felt like a secondary character for a while. That doesn't mean that I, in any way, disliked it. It was a moving and entertaining read. I was pissed when real life kept interrupting me. It was a page-turner for sure. It just was missing the sexual tension and sigh-worthy romance that I had built up in my brain.

One thing that I love about this series is that the heroines are likeable. There's not a moment where I think, "Lose this b*#ch, dude, you can do so much better" (And I think those things a lot when I read romance). I'm an unapologetic heroine-basher. They aren't perfect, they are real and relatable and I appreciate that.

So I will anxiously await Cage's story and I will stalk the heck out of that release, too.
1035099
What an amazing and mind gripping take on the story of Elizabeth Bathory. In this author's take Elsa is a full fledged vampire, the blood daughter of Vlad and Elsa is trying to rectify the horrible deeds she committed when she was still a human by being a sort of avenging angel and rescuing females who are in dire need.

This fast paced story line is horrifyingly exciting with compelling characters that are riveting and captivate you from the beginning until the very end. This is the first book I've read written by Mr. Ogden and I look forward to reading many more of his books.
1797147
Her Russian Beast, I been trying to get Theodore  books for a while now and now that I get to read her book for the first time I never going to go back to other books that was different.  This book had me in my seat and I was so into this book that I going to reread it again  and I'm going to read it again
4961220
This is an omnibus volume containing both books 8 and 9 in the Dragaeran Empires series, featuring Vlad Taltos.

"Dragon" happens during the time Vlad is still part of the Jhereg guild, and covers his first visit to Castle Black's hidden portal tower. Vlad takes a job from Morrolan, regarding a hoard of Morganti weapons. In the process, he gets involved in the battle of Barritt Hill (referenced in other Vlad Taltos books), in the middle of a Dragonlord war. Loiosh comes with him.

"Issola" is one of the best stories in the Dragaeran chronicles, the Jenoine, an inscrutable race more powerful than gods, are attacking the Dragaeran Empire from across dimensions. Vlad is summoned from his 'on the run' location by Sethra Lavode via Lady Teldra. He is a key player in events. His first task is to rescue Morrolan and Aliera, who have been taken and imprisoned in another world. Loiosh provides humor in contrast with the serious events, making the story into something I enjoyed.
4300047
Wow! What an exciting and gripping start to a new series.

I love all books from both these authors, so together it's no surprise that I absolutely loved Vlad.

Vlad is intense, unpredictable hot and exciting.

Family, honour, lies, deceit, betrayal, arranged marriages, it's all going on.

A bit about the plot;
Irina is the younger sister of Diana, Diana is a strong Character and runs her father's business but she is to be married to Vlad to strengthen their family ties and businesses.

Irina is nicknamed Shadow she is a girl in the background to her older and beautiful sister, she paints and does the family's accounts were Diana has the role of boss in a man's world.
Irina has always from a little girl had eyes for Vlad who is now to be Wed to Diana and all Irina can do is sit back with heartbreak that the man she has crushed on secretly for years is to marry her sister.

Vlad is hot!!! powerful, Dark and dangerous he is the male version of Diana but more intense.
Vlad has watched and been fascinated with Irina since she was a girl and now the marriage of two family's are announced he makes it part of the deal that when Diana moves to his home Irina comes too.
Vlad's secret plan is to still be close to Irina and if he can't have Irena no other man can either.

"Irina blinds me. Weakens me. Destroys me with her sweetness and I can't look away.
I'm no longer Vlad, the great Russian mobster who plays the game better than anyone.
I'm hers".

With Twists, turns and threats of vengeance, Vlad really is a brilliant mafia read and I am looking forward to more in the series having had a taster at the end of this book with Diana's pov.

Told in first person dual pov and leads to a hea.

Arc gratefully received for review purposes
586059
Immensely enjoyed reading this book.  Different from the old Vlad the Impaler Dracula tale.  I love history and this tale had a lot of historical references.  Can't wait for the sequel.
3418917
This book has everything: plot, characters, romance (spice), action, and fantasy.

The lead character is a well written, strong but sensitive woman, surrounded fully developed characters, both friends and foes. The other characters, even the mythological ones, have depth, interesting personalities (including personal quirks) and believe-abilty. Also, the dialogue is extremely well done. I love an author who can make her characters sound like real people, saying things that people would actually say.

The story, while hopefully only the first in a long series of Gracy Chronicles, is a complete story arc. (I mention this because it is one of my pet peeves, when authors sell you a "book" that is really only part of a story.) Near Midnight tells a complete and exciting adventure for Gracy and friends. Of course, at the end there are plenty of open doors for the characters to walk through into other stories, but you are satisfied at the end about this particular adventure.

The plot is tightly structured and perfectly paced. You are swept along from the first sentence to the last with not one dull moment.

The romance is well integrated into the story, adding to the texture and experience of the tale. Warning, this book is NOT rated PG. No prudes allowed.

And of course, there are the vampires. This author takes some of the usual vampire lore, but adds more of her own vision and version of vampires, their origins, and how they fit into our world and in relation to other mythical creatures, like the Djinn.

I highly recommend this book, and beg Harper Rush to get busy on the second Chronicle!
1199508
I never read a vampire book, until I read this one. Traci Slatton is such a brilliant writer, I trust her implicitly and if she writes it, I know I'll want to read it. Luckily for me, I was drawn in from the very first paragraph, and within the first two pages I knew I'd been transformed: now I read vampire books. I have told all my book club friends (and all my other friends!) that this is the best book I've read in years. It's exciting, tender, terrifying, fun, and wholly engaging. Laila, the main [human] character just a delicious and wonderful person; I'd love to be her friend. She is very much a unique character, with a particular voice. I find myself thinking about her, long after I finished the book.

The story is thrilling, and there were pages I nearly had to look away, I was so caught up in the action and afraid something was going to happen. That's the mark of a great story, I think -- the world is so real, the people so familiar, you the reader are right there, your heart pounding along with theirs.

I have my fingers crossed that there's another book to come, featuring Laila Cambridge. As I do with all my friends, I strongly encourage you to read this one, and as soon as possible!