Darker Jewels

Rating:
Summary: surprise new author!
Review: Darker Jewels is a historical novel featuring a vampire. It's one of the more recently written in a series about this character; there are earlier novels in the series that you might want to read first. 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 if we have some ways to categorize these novels. Thus: BunRab's Standard Vampire Elements. 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; unusual wisdom; and is an "alchemist" but there are no overt "magic" powers. In most of the series, he has an occupation of being an aristocrat, insofar as that was a full-time occupation through most of history; in some books he has another "job" as well. St. Germain does not literally drink blood; he feeds on emotions, usually during erotic experiences, but sex is nonetheless only a minor plot element, rare and very discreet. 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. 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.

Darker Jewels is set in the Russia of Ivan the Awe-Inspiring (or Terrible). Ivan is insane, his son Feodor is retarded, and all the other noble families of Russia are jockeying for power and hoping to take over ruling the country. Into this, St. Germain is sent as an ambassador from Poland. As an alchemist, St. Germain makes jewels in his athanor; since Ivan is obsessed with jewels, St. Germain can make him gifts to win favor for the Polish king. As is usual in this series, the Roman Catholic church provides some villains, in the form of a group of Jesuits, ambitious, narrow-minded, and arrogant (with the obligatory one exception who is flexible, kind, and despised by the rest of the priests). The Eastern Orthodox Church also plays a strong role; the descriptions of Russian Orthodox churches and rituals are fascinating. Another nice touch is the English delegation to Russian, from the court of Elizabeth I. Some nice characters there, and a connection with Olivia Clemens through one of them. (Olivia is a vampire also; you may want to read some of the earlier novels in the series to become familiar with the cast of characters.)

Rating:
Summary: Two Words: Bathtub Scene
Review: I adore Yarbro's sensitive and dark Count Saint-Germain, but found him at his most sensitive and dark in this novel. "Darker Jewels", indeed.

Poignant, erotic and hauntingly beautiful, this novel captures everything there is to love about the Count and more.

As my header already states, two words: bathtub scene.

And look out for a VERY moving scene at the end that helps illustrate just how devoted to his 'master' Roger really is.

You'll enjoy this book. In the words of the Count....

"Believe this".

Rating:
Summary: Seventh in the Saint-Germain series.
Review: Or eighth, if you count "Out of the House of Life", which is primarily a book about Madeline de Montalia, but includes some of Saint-Germain's history. Or eleventh, if you also include "A Flame In Byzantium", "Crusader's Torch", and "A Candle For d'Artagnan", which are almost entirely about Olivia Atta Clemens, and therefore properly a spinoff series of their own.

The series to date (the date of the writing of this book, not the writing of this review) is: "Hotel Transylvania", set in the mid seventeen hundreds in France; "The Palace", set in Florentine Italy in the time of Botticelli; "Blood Games", set in the imperial Rome of Nero (and slightly beyond); "Path of the Eclipse", set around 1200, in China, India, and the middle east; "Tempting Fate", set in Germany between the twentieth century's world wars; "The Saint-Germain Chronicles", a collection of short stories set from 1880-1981; the aforementioned "Olivia" trilogy (Olivia was Saint-Germain's love interest in the book "Blood Games") set respectively in 6th century Byzantium, late 12th century Europe, and 17th century France; the aforementioned "Out of the House of Life", which features Madeline (the love-interest from "Hotel Transylvania") in early 19th century Egypt, with occasional flashbacks to Saint-Germain's days in ancient Egypt, circa 1000 B.C.E.; and this book, in many ways the best of the lot.

This book is set in late 16th century Russia, during the reign of Ivan IV (The Terrible) and that of his son, Feodor. As usual, Yarbro's historical research is impressive; I'm not sufficiently educated on the subject to vouch for any of her books' history, but it certainly feels right, and meshes with what little I DO know from other sources. Also as usual, her plot is excellent and her main characters are a delight. What sets this book apart from most of her previous entries in this series is that her villains are much less cardboard; usually, her villains have been simply blatantly evil, from diabolists in Paris to insane worshippers of Kali the death-goddess in Persia to Nazis in Germany. Now granted, all of these sorts of people existed, but their motives generally weren't as one-dimensional as these stories have generally made them. They were generally more like the villains in this book: a hypocritical Jesuit who resents Saint-Germain for his successes and talents, and for being independant of his authority, and various ambitious nobles looking to improve their own situation at anyone and everyone else's expense.

For those new to the series, Saint-Germain is a vampire who has lived for something on the order of 3500-4000 years, and so each book gives us a look into another period in the life of an immortal. The series is probably more interesting to fans of historical fiction that traditional vampire fans, as the vampiric aspects are much reduced from what one usually sees. The writing is very good, and the main character is a delight.

Rating:
Summary: Saint-Germain at his Finest
Review: This is one remarkable book delving in and around the times of Ivan IV of Russia in the late 1500's. Ferenc Rakoczy, (the Count Saint-Germain) is sent with an embassy of priests representing King King Istvan Bathory of Poland. Their mission is to ally the two countries for future attempts of invasion of the Turks. The Russian Czar is feared to have become mentally unstable after the death of his son and both the Russians and Poles fear the potential dangers this could create.

If you are familiar with Chelsea Quinn Yarbro's Saint Germain books, then you will once again marvel at the historical setting of this tale. One can't help but get absorbed into the life, the struggles, and sorrow of the times.

Ferenc Rakoczy, the close to 4,000 year old Vampire, blends in very well into the development of the story as he is not like Vampires that you'll find in other books. As he is described in this book: "All that death had given him was durability and strength far beyond that of the truly living, a degree of control over animals, superior night vision, and one specific thirst. The rest - the skills, the learning, the music, the compassion - he had acquired for himself in many long years and painful lessons".

This book does an excellent job at depicting the political and religious unrest of the times, the influence of the various European countries, the Orthodox and Roman Catholics, and the Turks. It's easy to get mesmerized with the story as it unfolds. Not only do you get an exceptional novel with a compassionate Vampire, but you are left with a history lesson you may never had the opportunity to discover.

Rating:
Summary: Sometimes contrived and predictable
Review: This is the first book by Yarbro that I have read, so I knew nothing about Count Saint Germain. The novel begins interesting. At first Saint Germain is a refreshing change from the stereotypical self-centered or 'darkly seductive' vampires. However, as the novel wears on, the hero's goodness, compassion and sensitivity become harder to believe, especially when he is surrounded by brutality and mistrust. Saint-Germain is basically a sensitive '90s kind of guy, he seemed out of place in 16th century Muscovy. The villains meanwhile were cliches. Their acts against the hero were predictable. None of them was Saint Germain's equal, which makes the conflicts less interesting. Aside from these weaknesses, Yarbro gives a readable story of 16th century Russia, from an outsider's perspective. Darker Jewels is more a historical novel than a vampire novel. I could recommend this to people who like historical novels, though purists about Russian history might be disappointed by a few errors.

Rating:
Summary: Beautiful History with a touch of Saint-Germain
Review: Yarbro gives yet another winning tale of Saint-Germain for all his loyal followers. Set in the Russia of Ivan the Terrible, Yarbro has done meticulous research to bring the ideas and period to life. Saint-Germain finds his one and only wife, a surprise to all who know the Count and his reclusive ways. His first book as a diplomat, it is beautifully written and looks deep into the minds and hearts of fifteenth century Russia. One of her best to date.