I bought this book at the book fair. Even though the author was not present, it was the opportunity to buy it because I own the book and especially I liked the cover on. I ogled over the past few weeks without really dare not go.
Then I got to know the author via social networks and I found it very nice. We chat a while (which is always the case that matter) and I am saying that I had tried one of his books.
Let's talk about the cover. I find it beautiful and totally mesmerizing. This is what I immediately liked. The colors blend well together and nothing but the image is understood that the man in chains (so Dante) will suffer for centuries.
It is fully in line with the first 100 pages. We feel the pain directly Dante and attaches quickly to the character. We would go so much in the book to save him from this misery he saw every day everyday. Lucrezia, his mistress, is the worst I've seen. It is vile, abhorrent and has no respect for his peers. What she wants is to just have fun.
Before Dante are becoming slave and it is turned into a vampire by the infamous wife, he was a womanizer. He has put shame, Lucrezia decide to take revenge. Over time and abuse that will endure, Dante quickly regret his actions, but it is too late, the slave process has started and Lucrezia is not ready to stop.
The story unfolds in two respects. Dante, a vampire, recounting his past oh experiencing and touching, and Camille, a girl hurt by the secret she hides somehow normal girl behind a mask. A meeting between the two will do everything to change, for better or for worse.
Loved the passages back in time. Certainly Dante really suffered martyrdom, but it was so well told that we believed it. At some point it felt to receive the blows in his place. We winced for him. We trembled for him. They cried for him. They feared for him. We hope that as long as he can escape I came to imagine my own suite, which of course had nothing to do with the final outcome.
The author his pen to her and really doing well. One feels in the story. We feel like the characters in any situation and I find it magical. Feel duplicate feelings, sensations.
Then Camille. Throughout the pages we know what she saw, what she suffers. While this is sad, I was more affected by the terrifying aspect of the life of Dante. I also appreciated the fact that for once it is a male vampire who do abuse. It may be cruel but it changes and it feels good. And Dante has a heart of gold. Behind his mask of "ice" hides a man full of emotions and love. This withdrawal into himself, remains enclosed in him and will very rarely in his publishing house. But above all, it shows anyone. He will not show his face. Indeed, being a vampire and having the same head, he may have some problems later.
Then comes the rapprochement between Camille and Dante. Again a very good point. The author has really taken time to establish a friendly, trusting relationship. Indeed, the two protagonists hate royally. In the words of Camille who makes me laugh "Dante gives her buttons." And it shows and feels! As soon as he is too close to her or she has visio, a grimace of disgust forms on his face. It's pretty funny and I like this way to send things. It changes the vampire stories where the girl falls madly in love with her directly vampire. If it becomes irritating after a while. Here, the author really takes his time.
An event will, in some ways, speed things up. Camille will almost continually live with what Dante closer accordingly. The little moments of sweetness them are really beautiful and it's hard to imagine that they are hated. Dante is very caring with her, not hesitating to do things that will put it at ease. Never has an inappropriate gesture, one word louder than the other (except when he is pissed: p).
Of course, Camille meeting other people like William. Guillaume is a homo, a couple with Karl. It is the first to come to her when she starts her new career. It will make him open his eyes on some things and very quickly became his confidant and best friend. On this side, I'm pretty disappointed because once she knows the truth about Dante, that he's a vampire, is hardly seen, if at all, and that is unfortunate. I was awfully attached to him as a certain freshness was apparent from his behavior that helped a lot Camille.
As I start with the weaknesses, I'll stay on this side. As I said above, the cover is totally the first 100 pages of news. But only the first 100. Indeed, Dante takes his time to explain his day slavery but for me it does not last enough. Certainly, it hurts lol I agree but I do not know ... I was missing something to really shudder. Do not ask me what, I am unable to put the word above> Another "black mark" the end. I find too fast for my taste and not enough developed. I wish I had more fights, research, blood. There, the author quickly dispatches the thing and end up frustrated. I wish also that Camille is a reaction more ... hard about what is happening. Another twenty pages would not have been too much for me, even more. I like when the author takes his time to finish, describes the maximum, passed lots of sensations to the point that does not close the book.
Although I enjoyed this reading and this book reads quickly, the end was a little disappointed in the sense that something was missing.
A final caveat: I thought for a single volume that really missing too much action. A story about vampires is supposed normally have at least one battle, or more. I know the story centers on love but still. A vampire is still a vampire and is normally bloodthirsty (good except that Dante does not like to be so: p) but a bit of adrenalin would not bother me, on the contrary. I wish my heart throbs and bat faster than usual.
In summary, an interesting history even if he would have taken the flesh thing sometimes troubled characters, each with its own history. A relationship born that takes its time (good point for me), a history of different vampires of others. A very nice pen reading. A small lack of action on my part, lack of adrenaline. So I was not entirely in the book, even though I loved the story created and it read faster and the pages paraded themselves.
Justine P.
