A Morbid Initiation [Mass Market Paperback]

Phillippe Boulle is a surprisingly good author, which partially explains his position as managing editor at White Wolf Fiction. He manages to skirt the pitfalls of the Masquerade genre while presenting the story of Regina Blake, recently back from a long residence in Egypt with her father James, Lord Blake. In a hectic series of events, Regina's mother Emma dies under suspect circumstances and Regina discovers that a series of secrets that catapults her into the vampire society of Victorian London.

Fortunately, Victoria Ash, who at one time knew her mother, steps in to make Regina her protégé in a society that forgives nothing and is quick to punish mistakes. Now Regina sets out to discover what has happened to her mother, who has disappeared from her tomb. In the meantime, Lieutenant Malcolm Seward, her estranged lover, is becoming enmeshed in a secret military society that also seems to be entangled in the vampire's world.

So far, the story is focused on the machinations of the Tremere clan, which had fallen out of favor under the Prince of London, who had disappeared, leaving a regent in his place. His return offers a new opportunity for maneuvering and mayhem. At present the political element (which is the part I like least about Masquerade novels) is being kept at bay. Instead the primary focuses are Regina, Malcolm, and Victoria. For some reason the presence of a handful of humans (Victoria is a vampire) seems to enliven vampire stories, which otherwise tend to turn into caricatures of themselves. While not totally engaging, this turned out to be an interesting first volume, and I expect to complete the series.

Regina Blake is the beautiful daughter of the Viscount Lord James Blake, who has served in the military in Egypt for most of his career, and nearly all of her life. Lady Blake is ill, and must return to England to be cared for, yet when they leave Egypt, her brother refuses to join them, and father and son are estranged.

In their English manor, Lady Emma Blake dies -- was it murder, which it certainly appears to be, or something far darker. Her mother's family, the Ducheski clan, descends on the estate to bury Emma according to their traditions. In Regina's search for the burial place of her mother, she finds far more than any girl should see.

Regina believes she is in control of her nightly wanderings in London. She can no longer talk with her father, who has turned his anger at his wife's death to the liquor bottle.

Systematically Regina is seduced into a complex relationship with Victoria Ash, who becomes her sponsor and introduces her to the true nightlife in London. Victoria is also the only one who can save Regina's life during the Morbid Initiation.

I cannot begin to reveal the story in a short review -- it is fascinating, dark, delicious, frightening, enlightening, and horrific. It is one of the best books, not just one of the best horror novels, that I have read. The characters are complex, linked through so many levels of society and blood lines, filled with emotions and danger they each are real, not just words on a piece of paper.

This is book deserves five stars.

Victoria Tarrani