TEST
In a blog entry made by Teresa Medeiros a short while back, she mentioned how upset she was at finishing The Vampire Who Loved Me. She cried on her bed because she missed Portia and Julian. After a few days of recollection, I have to agree. I miss them, too. This sequel to After Midnight definitely lived up to my Teresa Medeiros standards.
Portia Cabot fell in love with vampire Julian Kane five years earlier when her sister had a romantic adventure with Julian’s brother Adrian. Portia’s infatuation was apparent to all, including Julian. Portia and Julian spent a night together in a dark crypt where Julian was left to die or to drink from Portia. Portia insisted he use her blood in order to save himself and after their rescue he fled in search of his soul. The only way for a vampire to return to the living is to destroy the vampire who created them and take back their soul.
The Vampire Who Loved Me begins five years after the night in the crypt. Murders in the poorer areas of London have a vampire MO. This, along with news that Julian might be in town, has his vampire-hunting brother and Portia on full alert. Adrian is almost fully convinced that Julian, after such a long absence, has turned his back on the fight for his soul and welcomed his darker nature. Portia is more optimistic and wants to help Julian.
Portia finds Julian engaged in a duel before the sun rises one winter morning. He’s drunk and ultimately gets shot, but, being a vampire, this doesn’t really affect him. Now that Portia knows he is in town, she confronts him about the murders later that night in a gambling hell. He neither admits nor denies his involvement and flees when his brother shows up ready to destroy him.
From here we meet the real killer, attend a vampire house party, fall desperately in love with Julian, and watch as Julian tries to capture the beautiful female vampire who stole his soul and now wants his heart as well. While this is a fast paced story, the focus is definitely on Portia and Julian with just enough action to keep you on your toes.
Some might use the F-word when describing Portia Cabot. Yes, she could be considered “feisty”, but Ms. Medeiros has penned some of the best feisty heroines around. Portia is my kind of Regency gal: she likes to dress up in fancy clothes and attend parties, but isn’t held by the restrictions of being a proper lady. She does what she wants when she wants but isn’t inclined to the TSTL moments we often see from feisty femmes.
Julian is fabulous. I haven’t met a Medeiros hero who I haven’t fallen for. She somehow captures all the wonderful qualities we love in men and rolls them up, flaws and all, into a delightful package just waiting for the right woman. Yet all her heroes are drastically different. Julian is a pretty boy – a very masculine, bloodsucking pretty boy – who is full of charm and humor. He also loves Portia and doesn’t spend 380 out of 384 pages trying to figure that out.
I have one issue: I feel that to really capture Portia and Julian’s story, you need to have read After Midnight. To someone who just picks this up at the local bookstore, it might be a bit confusing at first and you will miss the sweet infatuation from the previous book which adds another layer to this book.
But that was my only problem with The Vampire Who Loved Me. I thought it enchanting, lovely, sensual, and funny with a gothic twist. One of the best vampire romances out there – and I’ve read a lot!
Grade: A-
Book Type: Vampire Romance
Sensuality: Warm
Review Date: 29/09/06
Publication Date: 2006/10
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Recent Comments …
Yep
This sounds delightful! I’m grabbing it, thanks
excellent book: interesting, funny dialogs, deep understanding of each character, interesting secondary characters, and also sexy.
I don’t think anyone expects you to post UK prices – it’s just a shame that such a great sale…
I’m sorry about that. We don’t have any way to post British prices as an American based site.
I have several of her books on my TBR and after reading this am moving them up the pile.