Rating: 
Summary: Food for thought, and parallels with the modern world
Review: As of Dec. 2000, this is the newest book in the series about the almost-immortal vampire St. Germain. Those who already know that they like vampire novels, anything at all that features a vampire, can skip this review, and likewise, those who hate the whole idea of vampires can skip it. But for those trying to decide whether or not to read more of this genre, or whether the one vampire novel you've already read was a fluke, it may help to have some ways to categorize these novels. Thus: BunRab's Standard Vampire Classification Guide. First, most authors of vampire novels approach from one of the main genres of genre fiction; thus their background may be primarily in romance, or in science fiction/fantasy, or in murder mysteries, or in horror. Second, many vampire novels come in series; knowing whether this is one of a series, and where in the series it falls, may be helpful. Then we have some particular characteristics: - Is the vampire character (or characters) a "good guy" or a "bad guy"? Or are there some of each? - Are there continuing characters besides the vampire, through the series? - Are there other types of supernatural beings besides vampires? - Can the vampire stand daylight under some circumstances, or not stand daylight at all? - Does the vampire have a few other supernatural characteristics, many other supernatural characteristics, or none other than just being a vampire? (E.g., super strength, change into an animal, turn invisible) - Does the vampire have a regular job and place in society, or is being a vampire his or her entire raison d'etre? - Does the vampire literally drink blood, or is there some other (perhaps metaphorical) method of feeding? - Is sex a major plot element, a minor plot element, or nonexistent? - Is the entire vampire feeding act a metaphor for sex, part of a standard sex act, or unrelated to sex? - Is the story set in one historical period, more than one historical period, or entirely in the present day?- Does the story have elements of humor, or is it strictly serious? - Is the writing style good, or is the writing just there to manage to hold together the plot and characters? Chelsea Quinn Yarbro's series about the vampire St. Germain starts from the historical romance genre (although Yarbro is equally well known as a science fiction writer), and is a continuing series. St. Germain is definitely a good guy, using the knowledge he's gained in several thousand years of living to help others. There are a few characters that continue from book to book besides him: the women he turns into vampires, and his "servant," Roger, who is a ghoul. Ghouls are the only other supernatural characters who appear in these books. St. Germain can stand daylight with the right preparations. He has unusual strength, but not limitless, and unusual wisdom, and is an "alchemist" but there are no other overt magic powers. In most of the series, he has an occupation of being an aristocrat, inasmuch as that was a full-time occupation through most of history; in some books he has another "job" as well. St. Germain does not usually literally drink blood; he feeds on emotions, usually during erotic experiences, but sex is nonetheless only a minor plot element, rare and very discreet. Drinking blood is a substitute for when he can't get the emotional nourishment he prefers. The series 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 (this book, however, is the exception). 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. Come Twilight breaks somewhat from the pattern of the series by covering a span of several hundred years, from about 650 CE to 1117 CE (AD) in four leaps. The book is set in Spain, before it was Spain; the periods covered include the Visigothic (when many of the natives still worshipped older religions, and Catholicism had scarcely made a dent); the Moorish, which lasted for hundreds of years, and finally, the beginnings of the Catholic re-taking of Spain and the emergence of Spain as the beginning of a unified <i>pais</i>. Since the Moslem Moors are a much stronger power than the Catholics, they get to be the "bad guys" through much of the book. Yarbro's distaste for the Roman Catholic church in some of the series is more accurately a distaste for religions with too much worldly power and corruption. In this period, Islam was more powerful, and more corrupt, than Christianity, so it gets more criticism. (The Jews, always something of a wild card in history, play a small but significant role in this book.) Other reviews will tell you about the plot; let me point out the strong themes that Yarbro brings out here that have not been as prominent as in earlier books: the uses of actual blood; the part emotional nourishment plays in the development of any whole person, alive or undead, and the horrible effects of a lack of emotional bonds - you may compare this to some of the studies of children or monkeys deprived of emotional and physical contact with their mothers, and how stunted they are as adults. And a strong ecological message, where the deforestation of early Spain in order to build pieces of technology (ships, in this case) and to graze food animals, may serve as a warning for what is happening now in South America and other fading forest areas. Pardon the pun, but: this book provides much food for thought!
Rating:
Summary: Terrifying & Thrilling Saint-Germain book
Review: Come Twilight is one of the most powerful Saint-Germain novels that Yarbro has written to date. As usual, her writing and historical research is top-notch; the reader feels like they are part of Spanish history, be it the 7th, 8th, or 12th century. This book is darker, bloodier, and more disturbing than many of Yarbro's, but given the long history of what is now Spain, nothing seems out of place. My favorite part of the book was the character of Csimenae, and seeing how she grew from a strong-willed woman to an utterly evil vampire. This character is probably one of Yarbro's most terrifying creations. I also liked how we more about Roger in this book, as well as other parts of Saint-Germain's long, undead life. We also see Olivia through the letters; another great character. I hope Yarbro will have another Saint-Germain book out soon!
Rating: 
Summary: Saint-Germain at his finest
Review: Early in the seventh century, a religious upheaval in his part of Hispania compels Sanct' Germain (Saint-Germain), accompanied by his loyal servant Rogerian, to flee to the nearby mountains. The nasty wintry weather forces the two undead to take shelter in Mont Calcius, a village with one occupant. Apparently, the villagers abandoned their homes leaving behind a pregnant Csimenae. Feeling sorry for the young woman, Sanct' Germain helps her give birth to a son. When a boar fatally injures Csimenae, he ignores his instincts and ironically saves her life by converting her into a vampire. Over the ensuing centuries, Sanct' Germain learns one of history's more painful lessons that no good deed goes unpunished. Defying all of Sanct' Germain's warnings on survival, Csimenae becomes a mother to a vampire horde that heeds her every word as if she were a goddess. Realizing the danger to his kind, Sanct' Germain knows he must stop Csimenae before she exposes the existence of vampires to the fundamentally religious right and the supernaturally fearful masses. COME TWILIGHT, the latest Germain tale, is quite insightful when it provides a rapid but scintillating look at Spain between the seventh and twelfth centuries. Sanct' Germain retains his charm when he enables the audience to focus on the upheavals in Spain. Csimenae is a spry character who enhances Sanct' Germain's personality during their mentor-student relationship. However, when conflict enters the story line, the tale seems to lose some of its momentum. Sanct' Germain fans will bite into this well written novel in one sitting, but other readers will believe that long running vampire series seem to need some blood donations. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: Another fun vampire romp in early Spain.
Review: Even though the protagonist of this, Yarbro's latest in her Chronicles of Count Saint-Germain, is indeed a vampire and, like all of its companion titles, contains a pleasantly horrific tale of the undead, this work, again like its siblings, is much more. Ms. Yarbro's greatest skill, among considerable others, is her ability to accurately and believably set her bloodsuckers against richly and lavishly wrought historical settings. This one takes place in northern Spain near the French border and ranges in time from 7th to 12th centuries. The research is meticulous and superbly displayed. Of course, her characters, particularly the astounding and ancient Count himself, his servant-companion, and the deliciously vile female vampire he creates are vividly portrayed against the often bleak milieu. Yarbro is too often decried as a pale Anne Rice knockoff. This and her other works simply put the lie to any such criticism. Great vampire stories, most definitely; but finer historical fiction just is not being written.
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Summary: Enjoyed the different format
Review: I enjoyed the fact that novel spanned several centuries, although in some ways I wish it had been split into two or three novels. I still want the details on how Saint-Germain ended up as a slave, and then had half the Islamic army after him. Csimenae was an interesting character, very much an anti-hero to Saint-Germain's "hero". I also thought it was interesting that the prohibitions against leaving native earth and enduring sunlight were much worse for her get. As far as Saint-Germain's decision in making her? We've all got to have a few truly spectacular screw-ups. Most of us just don't have our mistakes haunt us for centuries.
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Summary: The return of the Count.....
Review: I found this newest edition of the Saint Germain series ALL that is great from Ms. Yarbro. She makes me feel that I'm "THERE" in the time & places she is writting about. I enjoyed my latest visit with the Count & Roger. The history covered was exceptional. I am a FAN, & couldn't put this book down! I found it sad, scary & a wee bit sexy, certainly glad I live in these "enlighten" times. Blessed be, L
Rating: 
Summary: Not one of my favorites
Review: I have a been a longtime fan of Yarbro, and have the entire Ragoczy series, but somehow this one failed to fully engage me. The ghoul Rogerio seemed somehow out of character, complaining and disagreeing more that usual with Ragoczy. Or perhaps this is supposed to reflect his earlier character. Perhaps because Ragoczy's relationship with Csimenae was so unusual, not as intimate as usual, I failed to care much about her character. Works by Yarbro that don't earn a 5-star rating from me are rare, so I'm looking forward to the next one.
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Summary: Somebody Open a Window!!!
Review: I've been a fan of CQY since reading Hotel Transylvania when it was first published. I own every SG book in hardcover and read them repeatedly. So why is it that I'm having trouble getting past chapter five--and it was an effort to get that far--in her latest effort, Come Twilight? From the start, there's little there to hold the reader's attention. The characters we've grown to know so well are presented as pasteboard cut-outs, and characters specific to the book have even less dimension. The dialog is stilted and the narrative voice does a great immitation of Charlie Brown's teacher. I find myself skimming even the high action scenes with my brain reading the first three words of each sentence and filling in the rest with "blah blah blah." I hope this is just a fluke. Try again, Quinn; this one bites.
Rating: 
Summary: Not Her Best Work
Review: I've been a Yarbro fan since the 1970s and have every Saint Germain book in hardback. This one doesn't even come close. It almost seems like an attempt to become "Anne Rice-like." I don't want to give away the plot, but it drags. Yarbro's normal wonderful historical aspects are all but missing. If you want an excellent Yarbro novel of Saint Germain I highly recommend her earlier work, "Out of the House of Life."
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Summary: Of Interest to St. Germain Completists, But Not Of the Best
Review: If, like me, you've read all of the St. Germain Chronicles, you will want to read Come Twilight, but if you're just starting to read Yarbro's vampire books, I don't recommend you start with this one. Since the St. Germain books range through time from ancient Egypt to the outbreak of World War II, it is understandable that Yarbro has some difficulty in creating narrative tension concerning St.Germain, when she writes about his life during an earlier period of history. Nevertheless, there is less narrative tension here than in many of the books in the series. It is true, as mentioned in the review printed with this book, that Yarbro does not ascribe to historical persons 21st century attitudes. It is also true that this can be a weakness, as well as a strength, in her work. It can become tiresome to read about female characters with no scope for change in their lives, or people, such as Csimenae (the female vampire character in this book), who are incapable of learning or experiencing emotional growth and intellectual change. Even St. Germain and his relationship with Roger can
sometimes become just so much rote behavioral habit. Come Twilight made me long for the passion and fire and narrative drive of the earlier books in the series, such as Roman Blood, Path of the Eclipse, and Tempting Fate. Since we know that St. Germain will survive into the 20th century, the narrative drive has to come largely through the supporting characters in the novels. The supporting characters in this particular novel, however, were just not sufficiently compelling to make me care about their survival.
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