Oh my, what fun! I had tried a Kindle sample of this book right after I finished the unimpressive [bc:Soulless|6381205|Soulless (Parasol Protectorate, #1)|Gail Carriger|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1314020848s/6381205.jpg|6569140] and quickly 'ugh'-ed and kept moving. Thanks to one of my GR friends, I tried it again and even though vamps are the bad-guys (not my thing) I am hooked.

I have added the series to my auto-buy list and am off to buy the next. My only complaint is that for whatever wrong-headed reason, the publisher has turned OFF Kindle Text-to-speech so I can't listen on my daily commute.

Highly recommended--the writing is tight and clear, the characters well thought out and sympathetic--if a bit too black and white at times and the story didn't seem me to be too short or too long.

This totally made up for my up to now lack of reading inspiration this January. ( )

Prelim Review: In a word: love. Sincere, genuine, unadulterated love is what I feel for this book. Its entirely possible I love this book more than I love strawberries--and I adore strawberries.

I wasn't exactly certain what to expect when I began reading this book (a loaner from a friend). Chris McGrath did the cover art--that's always a good thing in my estimation. It has vampires. Steampunk. Its the future but isn't. Strong-willed Princess. Dashing hero. On the surface it sounds like a book I would gobble up. And it is! But its so much more than that.

Adele begins the book as an aloof, determined and willful girl. She's only 19, but she knows that the future of her Empire rests on her shoulders. She is wistful for the ability to just be a girl, but understands the gravity under which she has as the heir to the Equatorian Empire. After the initial attack, the fight and flight from the Vampires, and her capture...so many things happen that shake her. The unknown North, infested with vampires or the knowledge that she doesn't know what happened to those dear to her all plague her, but she absorbs it...and then it doesn't effect her. Fear is the mind killer correct? She takes this principle to heart and makes the vampires daring to chase her bleed for it.

I can honestly not think of a single thing Adele said or did that caused me to frown. A little willful perhaps, definitely stubborn, but the Griffiths don't make her infallible. Just very good at retaining her poise and determination. Without forcing the point they made Adele capable and independent, with a slightly reckless abandon for common sense at times, but a core of iron. Adele understood her duty, her role in life and was willing to forgo what she wanted in order for the greater good. Doesn't mean she still wasn't a relatively young girl, with dreams and hopes though.

The Greyfriar, who you'll figure out who this is rather quickly since its not a secret to the reader, was everything a folk hero should be. Cunning, witty, ruthless even he didn't allow injustice and sought to right things. He's also monumentally stupid at times and a bit thickheaded. He didn't seem to grasp that if he told Adele not to do one thing, she'd do it anyway. Especially if it involved saving herself, protecting those she loved or snubbing her nose at the Vampires.

The Vampires, by and large, aren't 'good'. They are savages, reveling in their debauchery and decadence like Sultans of old. Some want something different, they want to make a peace with the humans since as a species the Vampires can't survive without them so its in their best interests not to glut their bellies until they burst and the streets turn black from rivers of dried blood. Even of those who are different they still see humans as food, just they take better care of them and treat them better. Except for one guy, but that's a different story and a bit spoilery so we won't talk of him.

The ending had me biting my lip because its the sort of painful ending that you don't WANT to happen, but you know it has to. The Griffiths don't promise happy endings or love triumphs over all. They instead focused on the larger battle ahead and the cost of sacrifice. ( )

È un peccato che questo libro sia così sottovalutato. Per essere un romanzo su vampiri e storie d'amore (genere ormai saturo) è scritto bene, non è volgare e non ha personaggi così stereotipati.

A more serious review will come soon, As soon As I'm at the keyboard :) ( )

Final book was pretty predictable, but I still loved it. I love vampire novels, but they tend to be predictable. This book series was a nice change. ( )

The Greyfriar
3.5 Stars

A well written story although the world building is quite dense and requires patience to wade through. The synthesis of post-apocalyptic, steampunk and vampiric elements is compelling as is the original take on vampires rising up against humanity and subjugating those who once oppressed them. The descriptions of the vampires' cruel domination are particularly gruesome and horrifying yet the authors still manage to convey that there are two sides to every conflict.

Unfortunately, most of the characters come across as stereotypical from the obnoxious American war hero hungry for power to the Emperor who puts his duty over the welfare of his children and the senile vampire king under the thumb of his sociopathic son. Nevertheless, the two main characters are not as one dimensional.

Princess Adele is an engaging heroine and the growth and evolution of her character is a significant aspect of her appeal. She starts out a naive and pampered princess but grows into a mature, confident woman understanding that the world is not black and white. It will be interesting to see what happens when she learns about the full magnitude of her power and how to wield it.

The Greyfriar is a fierce fighter for the resistance, however, he has secrets that once revealed add an extra layer of complexity both to his character and to the plot. Adele and Greyfriar have an interesting dynamic that drives the action of the book and their parts are far more entertaining that those focusing on the political machinations of the two warring factions.

All in all, a decent beginning to a promising series and their are enough unanswered questions to keep my interest. ( )