Rating: 
Summary: What a long, strange trip it's been....
Review: 4 (by itself) 3.5. (as series conclusion)As the CLAN NOVEL series conclusion, NOSFERATU had lots to cover: the Sabbat-Camarilla war, the Eye of Hazimel, TREMERE and MALKAVIAN's obscurities, the mystery of Leopold, Benito Giovanni and the Tremere antitribu Nickolai. I expected much because Fleming has been the best series author at moving the plot while developing characters and clans well. Primarily, it dealt with the hunt for the Eye and Benito's kidnapping, retelling incidents from a Nosferatu viewpoint- including much from MALKAVIAN. The Nosferatu characters were well drawn and their secret, subterranean network was interesting. Like BRUJAH, I read it in one sitting. However, although Fleming did well, resolving this series in a book this short seems impossible, especially since new issues arose even in TREMERE. Ramona, Hesha, Victoria, Jan (somewhat), Sturbridge and Theo return, but if you hoped Liz, the other Giovanni, Khalil, Fatima or Lucita would reappear, you'll be disappointed. Also, besides Nickolai, there were no Sabbat major characters. The war (New York siege) was mostly a backdrop for Leopold's mysteries. Some things weren't adequately resolved- only more hints about a hidden presence under Manhattan, empowering the Eye, for example. (But see the VtM supplement NIGHTS OF PROPHECY.) NOSFERATU also de-emphasized "the children in the well", giving that far less importance than TREMERE and BRUJAH indicated. If that wasn't important, why was TREMERE placed out of chronological sequence so close to the series conclusion, interrupting the action and frustrating readers? (While I don't hate TREMERE as some do, I admit I rated it too highly. I've got a chronicle using the New York chantry and found TREMERE so useful I missed how serious its failings were.) NOSFERATU does explain Nickolai and some puzzling references from MALKAVIAN ("young wizard" ) but there seemed to be mostly more obscurity about "the children", the Robe of Nessus etc. CLAN NOVEL series review: (Your mileage may vary.) Overall rating: 4 Revised ratings : TOREADOR 2.5 (lower than when originally reviewed), TZIMISCE 5 (the reason NOT to avoid Eric Griffin), GANGREL 5+, SETITE 5+, (good by themselves) VENTRUE 4, LASOMBRA 4, (paired with VENTRUE and set up ASSAMITE well) ASSAMITE 3.5, (I'm ticked about Moncada, OK?) RAVNOS. 5 +, (good by itself) MALKAVIAN 2.5 (lower), GIOVANNI 5, BRUJAH 4.5 (higher), TREMERE 3 (lower. portrays ritual sorcery well but that has very specialized appeal and the ending's a WRECK), NOSFERATU 4/3.5 (Didn't tie up ends clearly. Camarilla only.) Stand alones: GANGREL, SETITE/RAVNOS. Sample the series: TZIMISCE, GIOVANNI. Exceptional clan portrayals: GANGREL, VENTRUE, ASSAMITE, RAVNOS, GIOVANNI, NOSFERATU. Best authors: Fleming, Ryan, Achilli. Honorable mention: Griffin (TZIMISCE). Series strengths: good characters, good action, epic scope, relatively good unity despite multiple authors. Weaknesses: establishes series momentum late (not until VENTRUE, I thought), keeps adding more than can be fully developed or resolved and even authors seem to lose track, some books confusing (MALKAVIAN, TREMERE), some (TOREADOR, TZIMISCE) lack clan focus, books digressing from the main action (GANGREL, SETITE, TREMERE) can be frustrating (but those books often stand alone best.)
Rating:
Summary: A Good Book Overall
Review: Clan Novel: Assamite is a good book and one that stands fairly well on its own, so you aren't *always* left in the dark if you haven't read the previous books in the series. This novel's protagonist, Fatima al-Faqadi, is not exactly a social butterfly, but I actually find her serious, stolid approach rather refreshing for some reason (think of Roland in Stephen King's Dark Tower series and add just a touch of volatile emotion and you'll come fairly close to the sort of person Fatima is). The fact that she isn't obnoxious or sniveling is even better. Anwar, an ambitious young Assamite, is pretty cool, too (if treacherous). However, out of his intense dislike of Lucita, he seems to have an overwhelming desire to try to go to town on her, and I have to wonder about his state of mind over such a Final-Death wish. Something weird I noticed in this book is Lucita's (heightened) attitude (problem): She didn't seem half this rude and uppity in Clan Novel: Lasombra, the book immediately preceding this one (written by a different author, admittedly). Rebelliousness is one thing; pointless barking is another. Lucita's behavior does, however, sorta convey her tense, mixed feelings towards Fatima (and I must admit to nearly laughing outloud at the stunt Lucita eventually pulls in the courtyard just to shock the surveillance crew spying on her). The fact that I don't hate Lucita is why it's so depressing to see her cast in such an unflattering light: She doesn't just behave depressingly but eventually starts getting treated depressingly by her (understandably angry) sire; the two of them certainly make for a nice little dysfunctional "family." Still, against my better judgement, I can't help but like the twisted Monçada - he's brutal and strangely-paradoxically perverted, but he definitely makes for a great villain. This book is one of the consistently better ones in the series. It's compelling (and necessary) in how it focuses on Fatima's inner turmoil: If the circumstances were different, Fatima would carry out her mission with all the detachment and professionalism of any other contract assassin who's had centuries to ply her trade; instead, she must focus on the task immediately before her, else she runs the risk of betraying all that she values. Knowing little more about Fatima other than her clan and profession prior to picking up this book, she proves to have a more interesting emotional landscape than I thought. All in all, a great read.
Rating: 
Summary: At this point the series has become really good.
Review: Clan Ventrue was nicely done, not as awesome as the Setites but great none the less. I do agree with one of the other readers, the clan need to display some awe and dominance of their will. I think the best thing about the book is displaying how much the clan Toreador complicates the unlife of the clan Ventrue.
Rating:
Summary: At this point the series has become really good.
Review: Clan Ventrue was nicely done, not as awesome as the Setites but great none the less. I do agree with one of the other readers, the clan need to display some awe and dominance of their will. I think the best thing about the book is displaying how much the clan Toreador complicates the unlife of the clan Ventrue.
Rating:
Summary: Very detailed, distinct and capturing.
Review: First I'd like to point out to those who haven't started the series, don't let the slow start of Toreador put you down the stories are really good. This novel of the clan Assimite does a very unique job of actually capturing the mind set of the clan. It does a great job showing the elders as true followers of their religion and path. What is even more awesome is the way the background is portrayed for the story. Some mysteries are solved yet even more are evolved. Are the Assimites a tool or are they the users? A very capturing book by Fleming, then again anything less should not be expected from such a good author.
Rating:
Summary: Best of an Uneven Series
Review: Gherbod Fleming has been the salvation of this particular series. I believe he has written 5 of them, and while there are others with flashes of fine writing, Fleming is consistently readable. This volume is one of the best. Confronted with the task of capping off a series that has completely rewritten the vampiric map of the eastern seaboard Fleming has managed to draw many threads together, and pull off a surprise ending. While the book does begin with something of a recap, don't expect to be able to follow the story unless you have read at least some of the preceding books in the series. And don't expect all the mysteries to be resolved either. When I first started reading the books I thought they would be a 13 volume study of the various clans, and they really are not that. They are a history of a very short, but important period in the history of the Masquerade. While they pick up on other themes, do not expect all the peripheral questions to be resolved. Whatever is deep under New York City is still a mystery, and the reason for all the to-do about the Eye of Hazumel is still unclear. These will no doubt be the basis for many new tales. In the meantime, this is a very pleasantly written book, and I greatly enjoyed the Nosferatu viewpoint. You will enjoy this book if you have enjoyed the series at all. --This text refers to the Paperback edition
Rating:
Summary: An interesting look at Gangrel society
Review: Gherbod Fleming's portrayal of the vampires in this book I found to be very close to what I had always envisioned. The book hits a few rough patches early on but it all gels really well about halfway through and you won't be able to put it down.
Rating: 
Summary: Not a good book.
Review: Here's a book that talks about a group of the weakest vampires in the series. One doesn't believe she's a vampire. One starts to. All are 2 years old as undead. Ramona is a totally forgettable character. And she's on every page. ug. All the gangrel in the New York state area die from a vampire that makes the ground shoot up stalagtites. Cheezy fight. This is a stupid book that doesn't do the Gangrel justice. Only one chapter was interesting... descriptions of all the gangrels that were showing up. But it's not enough. Thank god for the rest of the series...
Rating:
Summary: Soooo you wanna be a vampire.....
Review: Hoo boy. Got one of those Goth type friends who really wants to be a vampire? Want to annoy them? Give them THIS BOOK. This has to be one of the grimmer, most discouraging portrayals of vampiric existence I have ever read. This is one of the books in the CLAN NOVEL series with a strong main character focus rather than a panoramic view of the struggle between the Camarilla and the Sabbat. A problem with this type of book is that the larger sweep of the action may seem to have come to an abrupt halt. Because of the tight focus, it's often difficult to recognize at first that the more dramatic events in these books may have significance for the series as a whole. If you're following the series and especially playing the game VAMPIRE: THE MASQUERADE make no mistake: what happens in this books turns out to be VERY IMPORTANT for the Gangrel later on. The strengths of the more character driven books in the series are that these books stand alone better (you don't have to know or care what's happening in the series generally in order to appreciate the story) Here, the main character, Ramona, is a Gangrel neonate who has been abandoned by her sire to fend for herself and learn the realities of vampiric existence in the process. It tells the story of her struggle with her lost humanity and just to survive. A problem with books in this series is that they can get so caught up with sect politics that they lose track of the harsh realities of more basic things like feeding. Sometimes, it almost seems that the characters might just as well not be vampires but some other sort of powerful, scheming supernatural being. Not so here. The more character driven books, because of their clearer focus, tend to do a much better job of emphasizing the title clan. This books also deals with Ramona's first encounter with her sire since her Embrace and her first encounter with other members of her clan. The justicar Xaviar even puts in an apprearance as do many other interesting Gangrel characters. Overall, it's a somber but fascinating portrait of the Gangrel and their culture. The Gangrel aren't lay about philosphers, so there's plenty of action as well.
Rating:
Summary: Very dramatic and gets better as you go deeper into it.
Review: I guess some people are not into reading about weak vampires or new ones. This book is very good, it really displays how a _new_ vampire thinks. Romana does not just suddenly know that stakes will paralyze her or that she can sink into the earth. The character is very real and well thought out. The only reason I rate the book 4 instead of 5 is because I felt that Leopold's description and his changes needs to be clearer.
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