This IS a vampire story though I wouldn't have known it until well into the book except that I read the dust jacket synopsis.

The book paragraphs and chapters are well written, conveying the sense of sytle in the 16th century Vecenzia, Italy, but the plot of the entire books never has any real tension. This is more like the chronicles of a vamp over his 23 centuries and this is just his story from one small two-year segment that had some tame experiences worth minor note.

This is part of a series and I guess if I'd read all the books leading up to this it would have been better. ( )

In the early 16th century Conte Franzicco Ragoczy di Santo-Germano lives a comfortable lifestyle in Venezia, but as the owner of Eclipse Press knows the Church and others spy on him and his mistress, composer Pier-Ariana Salier. What follows is the life of probably the most boring, one-dimensional vampire I've ever been inopportune to read.

Saint-Germain is not portrayed as a typical vampire. He requires blood to live but only a small amount, which many of his "victims" (usually female) offer voluntarily. His other victims are usually visited in their sleep, and he can take their blood without awakening them, leaving them with an erotic dream. Unlike traditional vampires, he is discomforted by direct sunlight and by running water, but is only damaged by them when seriously weakened; keeping a layer of his native earth inside his shoes allows him to navigate these hazards with minimal discomfort, and he always imports his native earth to build the foundations of his many homes. The character was inspired by an actual historical Count Saint-Germain, a mysterious figure in 18th century France.

One might want to brush up on history in order to get the book in context; if you have no recollection whatsoever of when the printing press and movable type burst on the scene, and what the issues surrounding Gutenberg's press were, and don't remember a thing about Martin Luther and the 95 Theses, you might want to find a history-notes web site and refresh yourself on these issues.

One can accustom oneself to a great many things, given time and reason enough; not all of them need be onerous.

Book Details:

Title States of Grace: A Novel of the Count Saint-Germain
Author Chelsea Quinn Yarbro
Reviewed By Purplycookie ( )