Nosferatu [Mass Market Paperback]

The historical setting of Nosferatu is a good place to begin this series. The sack of Constantinople marks a turning point in history and marks the end of an era, for both Cainite society and human civilizations. Refugees flee the burning city, while a new power supplants the old. Thus is introduced Malachite, leader of one of the scion families formerly of the Triumvirate, which has fallen with the loss of Michael and the disappearance of the Dracon.
Malachite attempts to salvage what is left of The Dream and believes the key to this lies in finding the Dracon. We are introduced to some important characters who will be central in novels following Nosferatu in the series. The telling of Malachite's embrace and the independent scenes involving examples of savagery and heroism are well written and create vivid pictures with words. If you removed the vampire element, this book would still be an engaging book to read ~ the fact that the characters are vampires give them additional depth and afford the author creative latitude in weaving a wonderful tale that is worth the telling.
Get this book and begin a journey that will leave you wanting to learn more about many of the things introduced on each page. You won't be disappointed.

The basis for this series is the idea that Constantinople was a city largely owned and run by vampires. Vampires far more focused on creating a 'civilization' than the modern clans are, i.e., the have a dream of their own. Religion plays an unexpectedly large part. It drives the decisions of Malachite, who was a bishop while alive, and an intensely worshipful Nosferatu in his undeath. The worship has been displaced, however onto Michael on of the rulers of the city, who is a true elder.

But the city of the dream has come to naught. In 1204 the invasions of the crusades come to the walls of Constantinople, and Christian knights, Turks, and even pagan barbarians overrun the city. Malachite, entering the city to find Michael and try to save the dream must face the horror of invading kine and kindred come to kill and plunder. Malachite's quest for understanding is the sum of the story, as Fleming uses him to introduce the themes that will haunt this series.

As a character, Malachite has some shortcoming. He is a 300 year old vampire in the service of one of the rulers of the city, and all he seems to be able to think of is finding someone who will set things right. That and worry on perpetually about the state of his scions. I would have preferred some stronger at the center of the story rather than someone who is always looking under a rock (or a tomb) for what to do. He also shares a common trait of Camarilla vampires - a tendency to mourn his state as a fallen creature.

No doubt Fleming will make something more of Malachite before the series ends. The purpose of this book is to outline the focus of the series, and set a scene where mysticism, insanity, and betrayal are the great themes. And while the book starts very slowly, it eventually accomplishes exactly that as it picks up speed. The world is divided into those who will want to read this series no matter what (like me), and those who, if they read this, will go no further. Being a vampire never seems to be any fun anymore.

This is the first of the dark ages saga and the first actual clan novel ive ever managed to get through. I tried, many years ago to read the modern age clan novels without much luck. Having recently gotten back into the obession that is the World of Darkness ive started to, upon reading this novel, buy any and all dark ages vampire i can get my greedy mits on.

I find this particular novel a great start to the series starting with the fall of constantiople and its Nosferatu elder Malachite and his Leper knights. Its all ways best to start a vampire novel series with blood slaughter and burning of a pretty city. What i find fascinating about it is, from a roleplayers point of veiw, actually getting into the mind of a member of the clan and the different ways of using certain disciplines. Like using Auspex to read if someone is lying to you. Little things like that made me turn the page. One downfall of this clan novel is that i felt the writer wanted to explore characters of other clans but obviously couldnt cuz these would be touched on at a later date so it often left me feeling that the other characters from the other clans where just 2 dimential and not really important. I guess i must just be paitent! Will look forward to the rest.