Night Blooming

Summoned to the eighth-century court of Charlemagne to authenticate the kings recently acquired maps, the mysterious Hiermon Ragoczy de Santus Germainium, the immortal vampire Le Comte de Saint-Germain, encounters Gynethe Mehaut, an albino woman who bears the signs of the stigmata and is faced with accusations of witchcraft. 20,000 first printing.

From Publishers Weekly

The prolific Yarbro (Hotel Transylvania, etc.) flawlessly weaves a meticulous historical milieu and enthralling characters with the fantastic in her 15th volume to feature compassionate vampire Ragoczy, Count Saint-Germain. Here known as Hiernom Rakoczy, he travels in A.D. 796 to Tours and later Aachen to advise the Frankish king, Karl-lo-Magne (Charlemagne), who's closely allied with Pope Leo III. Meanwhile, saintly albino Gynethe Mehaut struggles within a church that can't decide whether her stigmatic wounds denote holiness or blasphemy. The white woman and the dark count, still recovering from an ill-fated encounter in Come Twilight (2000), eventually cross paths in Rome, where their passions ignite, though those expecting the high eroticism of Laurell K. Hamilton will be disappointed. The melancholy count regains some joie de vivre when he's reunited with his old friend, the always remarkable Atta Olivia Clemens. Richly rewarding for longtime readers, the novel also provides a good entry point for new recruits with its subtly supplied back story. The eighth century European setting is more accessible than the 14th century India-Asia setting of the previous book in the series, A Feast in Exile (2001). In Yarbro's saga the vampires are honorable, civilized and heroic it's humankind that's horrific. Current popular vampire fiction reflects her influence more than that of the better known Anne Rice, and her noble vampire deserves comparable sales.and Stoker awards.Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

More vampires, this time in the 15th novel in the series featuring Le Comte de Saint-Germain. A sinister stranger in the court of Karl-lo-Magne (that's Charlemagne) has an amazing knowledge of maps perhaps because he's traveled all over the map for centuries. Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Yarbro's vampire hero Saint-Germain continues his wanderings through history, this time in the late eighth century. The great French king Karl-lo-Magne summons Saint-Germain, here known as Hiernom Rakoczy, to his court. On the way, Rakoczy and his entourage meet Gynethe Mehaut, a young albino afflicted with a stigmata and awaiting news of her fate at a convent. Karl-lo-Magne sends Rakoczy back to the convent to examine Gynethe Mehaut. The vampire sympathizes with her sufferings, but he is unable to ascertain her condition, though he suspects it is natural rather than divine in origin. Volunteering to accompany her to the papal court in Rome, Rakoczy soon finds himself haunting his old haunts and falling in love with his charge. But Gynethe Mehaut is in great danger from those who feel threatened by her, and all Rakoczy's efforts may not be enough to save her. Fans of the Saint-Germain series and newcomers to it will all be rooting for Yarbro's wily hero. Kristine HuntleyCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

About the Author

Chelsea Quinn Yarbro lives in Berkeley, California.

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