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For those unfamiliar with the series, the Saint-Germain series is a series of historical "horror" novels (although the horror element is tenuous at best, based purely on the fact that the main characters are vampires, and "vampire fiction" is considered a subgenre of "horror fiction"; actually, "historical romance" is closer to accurate) in which the main character is the vampire Saint-Germain, who has lived as a vampire since roughly 1500-2000 BCE. In this book, however, as in the last, the main character is Atta Olivia Clemens, who as a lover of Saint-Germain's, became a vampire when she died, back in the time of Nero in Imperial Rome (in the third book of the series, "Blood Games").
This book is set in the late twelfth Century, during the time of the third Crusade.
As with "A Flame In Byzantium", the previous book featuring Olivia as the main character, I found this book somewhat disappointing, mainly because Olivia's power as a vampire is radically downplayed. Mostly, the only indication we have of her vampiric nature is her disabilities: her susceptability to light and water, her inability to eat normal food, etc. Her power is DISCUSSED, but never seen. Granted, there are more episodes in this book than in the last in which she is shown acting intrepidly, but never really in any way that could not have been accomplished by a reasonably heroic mortal woman. In the books that feature Saint Germain, we invariably see him demonstrating surprising power for his diminutive frame, or in some other way showing the reader his vampiric power (always subtly enough not to tip his hand to other characters, of course.) And certainly, Yarbro paints Olivia as a sufficiently independant-minded and resourceful woman that one cannot easily accuse her of the intention of writing female characters that are helpless damsels waiting to be rescued. So the question is: WHY do we never get to see Olivia use the "exceptional strength" that we keep hearing that she has? Just as it has been, in previous books, quite cathartic to see short, dapper Saint Germain beat the stuffing out of, say, five proto-Nazis each of whom had eight inches and eighty pounds on him, in this book there were several situations in which it would have been quite satisfying to see Olivia do something similar, and it could easily enough have been arranged. Instead, the author very carefully arranges the circumstances so that when Olivia has to fight, it is without the advantage of her powers. Just once, I'd like to see her demonstrate the ADVANTAGES of being a vampire.
This is a well-written book, excellent if what you want is a historical novel of the time period. But as a vampire novel, it's more than a little bit lacking.
Chelsea Quinn Yarbro's series about the vampire St. Germain starts from the historical romance genre, and is a continuing series. Olivia, the heroine of this book, is a woman of ancient Rome whom St. Germain has turned into a vampire; this book is one of several written about her rather than about St. Germain. St. Germain and Olivia are definitely good guys, using the knowledge they've gained in hundreds of years of living to help others. There are a few characters that continue from book to book besides these two. Ghouls are the only other supernatural characters who appear in these books. Olivia can stand daylight with the right preparations. She has unusual strength, but not limitless, and unusual wisdom, but there are no other overt magic powers. Olivia has an occupation of being an aristocrat and landowner, insofar as that was a full-time occupation through most of history. Yarbro's vampires do not literally drink blood; they feed on emotions, usually during erotic experiences, but sex is nonetheless only a minor plot element, rare and very discreet. The series as a whole covers 3000 years, from ancient Egypt to the modern day; each book is set in a span of a particular period, usually 20-30 years. The writing is serious, but not self-important; the writing quality is excellent, and Yarbro's abilities as an author qualify these books as literature rather than "merely" genre fiction.
Crusader's Torch is set in 1189 C.E., more than a millenium after Olivia has first entered the life of a vampire. The scenes include the Middle East during one of the Christian Crusades; the orders of the Knights Hospitaler and Knights Templar are major players in the story. The gist of the story is Olivia's struggle to get out of Tyre and back to Rome. Women are not held in high regard in this period, and Olivia's independence offends a highly placed Hospitaler; among the "good guys" are a Templar who gets thrown out of his order on suspician of leprosy. We catch a glimpse of an offshoot Christian sect, as we do in some of the other St. Germain novels, one based on absolute love and acceptance. Someday I would like to see Yarbro write an alternate history in which that is the main path the Catholic Church took... meanwhile, the details of sin and penance as conceived of in the 12th century provide a story that everyone who likes the series will enjoy, and those who haven't read the rest of the series will nonetheless find this a fine historical novel.
For those unfamiliar with the series, the Saint-Germain series is a series of historical "horror" novels (although the horror element is tenuous at best, based purely on the fact that the main characters are vampires, and "vampire fiction" is considered a subgenre of "horror fiction"; actually, "historical romance" is closer to accurate) in which the main character is the vampire Saint-Germain, who has lived as a vampire since roughly 1500-2000 BCE. In this book, however, as in the last, the main character is Atta Olivia Clemens, who as a lover of Saint-Germain's, became a vampire when she died, back in the time of Nero in Imperial Rome (in the third book of the series, "Blood Games").
This book is set in the late twelfth Century, during the time of the third Crusade.
As with "A Flame In Byzantium", the previous book featuring Olivia as the main character, I found this book somewhat disappointing, mainly because Olivia's power as a vampire is radically downplayed. Mostly, the only indication we have of her vampiric nature is her disabilities: her susceptability to light and water, her inability to eat normal food, etc. Her power is DISCUSSED, but never seen. Granted, there are more episodes in this book than in the last in which she is shown acting intrepidly, but never really in any way that could not have been accomplished by a reasonably heroic mortal woman. In the books that feature Saint Germain, we invariably see him demonstrating surprising power for his diminutive frame, or in some other way showing the reader his vampiric power (always subtly enough not to tip his hand to other characters, of course.) And certainly, Yarbro paints Olivia as a sufficiently independant-minded and resourceful woman that one cannot easily accuse her of the intention of writing female characters that are helpless damsels waiting to be rescued. So the question is: WHY do we never get to see Olivia use the "exceptional strength" that we keep hearing that she has? Just as it has been, in previous books, quite cathartic to see short, dapper Saint Germain beat the stuffing out of, say, five proto-Nazis each of whom had eight inches and eighty pounds on him, in this book there were several situations in which it would have been quite satisfying to see Olivia do something similar, and it could easily enough have been arranged. Instead, the author very carefully arranges the circumstances so that when Olivia has to fight, it is without the advantage of her powers. Just once, I'd like to see her demonstrate the ADVANTAGES of being a vampire.
This is a well-written book, excellent if what you want is a historical novel of the time period. But as a vampire novel, it's more than a little bit lacking.
