Book Title: Rises the Night The Gardella Vampire Chronicles # 2 Author: Colleen Gleason
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	Format: Paperback ISBN: 9780451221469 Publisher: Signet Publication Date: April 17, 2008

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The glorious nineteenth-century city of Rome gives rise to a new threat from the immortal Undead...

 In Italy, a powerful vampire is amassing the power to control the souls of the dead. Lady Victoria Gardella de Lacy - a vampire slayer for just over a year-races across Europe to stop what could be the most deadly army the Gardellas have ever faced. She is accompanied by Sebastian Vioget, a man as tempting as he is untrustworthy. <p>But when Victoria discovers that she has been betrayed by one of her most trusted allies, the truth will challenge all her powers as a Venator - and as a woman.

Reviews

 
"With its wonderfully witty writing, action-infused plot and sharply defined characters, "Rises the Night," the second in Colleen Gleason's irresistible Regency historical paranormal series, is deliciously dark and delightfully entertaining."  – The Chicago Tribune

 
In Gleason's latest, she returns to the budding career of Venator Victoria Gardella, a Buffyesque vampire hunter living in an Austen-style Regency world. Having spent the last year mourning the death of her husband, slain at the hands of the vampire queen, Lilith, Victoria is desperate for revenge.

Before long, she stumbles on a vampiric plot to seize Akvan's Obelisk, a powerful artifact that will grant its controller the power to command legions of the dead. In order to foil the plan, Victoria crisscrosses Europe, teaming up with a handsome stranger along the way.

A fast-paced carnival ride of a book, the sophomore series entry (after The Rest Falls Away) hits the ground running without any introduction to Gleason's world; for those new to the series, this volume will probably prove confusing.

Those who've read the first title, however, won't be disappointed: Victoria is a more determined, fleshed-out character, having grown wiser, sadder, and more ambiguous about the morality of her mission. Her world, too, expands significantly in this adventure. A tense plot line and refreshingly diverse supporting characters complete the package, giving series fans plenty to sink their teeth into – and plenty more to look forward to.   – Publishers Weekly

 
Lady Victoria Gardella Grantworth de Lacy has been a Venator for a year and a widow for just as long. In that year, Victoria has mourned but now she is itching to get back out on the streets and unleash some of the rage, vengeance and grief that still claim her body. After chasing Lilith back to her mountain home, London's vampire activity has been minimal, but then, Victoria spies a vampire and a demon together. It is unnatural and a definite source of trouble.

The deadly vampire Nedas is coming to power in Italy. His goal is to control the souls of the dead to create his own personal army, an army that could easily eradicate the limited Venators. It is up to Victoria, the Venator most unrecognized in Italy, to try to stop Nedas and his followers, the Tutela. With an unlikely ally, Sebastian Vioget, Victoria has to wonder, is she putting herself in more danger by letting him aid her, or is he trustworthy? With few allies on her side, Victoria has a deadly role to play that may just see her dead, or worse, under the thrall of a vampire. Time is ticking away and the race is on to save not only Italy, but potentially all of humanity.

Though this book had a bit of a slow start, once the characters started taking action and making plans, the pace and my interest greatly increased. Ms. Gleason delves a bit more deeply into the world of the Venator with interesting background information and a few surprise appearances. At the same time, a game of great duplicity and peril is afoot as Victoria tries to infiltrate Italian society in order to find the information she needs. You will see the reappearance of past characters that have greatly changed, making for delicious drama. There is a definite threatening tone to this story because the danger has greatly increased with the possibility of not only vampires, but of a mass army of dead souls. Talk about chilling reading! The sensual tension is also raised as Sebastian and Victoria grow closer. RISES THE NIGHT deftly portrays the dilemmas, moral, personal and intimate, that Victoria faces as she continues her Venator work. Colleen Gleason raises the stakes on this vampire series with a heroine who lets nothing stand in her way, even when the hardest blows are yet to come.   – Romance Junkies

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