Free Short Story Review: Victoria Gardella: Vampire Slayer - Colleen Gleason

A short story introducing readers to the Gardella Vampire Chronicles, a series about a female vampire hunter in 19th century London. Join Victoria as she navigates her way through balls and Society even as she works to rid the world of dangerous, bloodthirsty vampires.

This short story can be read online or downloaded free by clicking this link






The Gardella Vampire Chronicles:
Victoria Gardella: Vampire Slayer (Free Short story)
The Rest Falls Away
Rises The Night
The Bleeding Dusk
When Twilight Burns
As Shadows Fade

For more information visit Colleen Gleason's website

Review:
This short story is a great introduction to the Gardella Vampire Chronicles series by Colleen Gleason.  It highlights the difficulties that Victoria Gardella faces as a young lady making her debut into London society whilst trying to keep her life as a vampire hunter secret.  We are also introduced to 3 of her potential love interests who you will see more of in the books.

I have already read and enjoyed the first book in the series The Rest Falls Away and enjoyed the fact that this is both a historical and urban fantasy series.  If you're already a fan of the series I'm sure you'll enjoy this short story and if you've yet to discover the series this is a great way to get a free taster to see if you want to read more.  I'm looking forward to continuing with this series and following Victoria's adventures.
Source: Free ebook - can be read online or downloaded here

Review: The Rest Falls Away - Colleen Gleason

Beneath the glitter of dazzling 19th-century London Society lurks a bloodthirsty evil...

In every generation, a Gardella is called to accept the family legacy of vampire slaying, and this time, Victoria Gardella Grantworth is chosen, on the eve of her debut, to carry the stake.

But as she moves between the crush of ballrooms and dangerous, moonlit streets, Victoria's heart is torn between London's most eligible bachelor, the Marquess of Rockley, and her enigmatic ally, Sebastian Vioget.

And when she comes face to face with the most powerful vampire in history, Victoria must ultimately make the choice between duty and love.

The Gardella Vampire Chronicles:
Victoria Gardella: Vampire Slayer (Free Short story)
The Rest Falls Away
Rises The Night
The Bleeding Dusk
When Twilight Burns
As Shadows Fade

For more information visit Colleen Gleason's website

Review:
Victoria is a normal young lady looking forward to her debut into London Society - until she discovers she is the latest in her family to be chosen as a Venator or vampire hunter.  She has the choice to accept her calling and become a Venator or to deny it and have her memories of the existance of vampires taken away.  Thinking it will be a big adventure and she will have more freedom than most young ladies she decides to accept her destiny and is given a vis bulla - an amulet that will give her the extra strenght she needs to fight vampires.  She starts her training under the guidance of her Aunt Eustacia and another Venator Max.

She soon finds that it isn't easy to juggle attending balls and other society functions whilst protecting people from the vampires who are prowling amongst them.  As she falls in love with Philip, the Marquess of Rockley, things become even more complicated as she can't tell him the reasons behind some of her strange behaviour and sudden disappearances from social events.

I enjoy reading historical romances, particularly those set in Regency London and I'm a big fan of Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romances so this book appealed to me on several levels.  I found it really interesting to read a Buffy type story set in London Society and thought that Colleen Gleason did a good job of highlighting the particular problems Victoria faced because of the era. 

There were a few twists that I really didn't expect, especially in the first book & I'm looking forward to seeing how things develop throughout the series.  Although there are obviously some surface similarities between this and Buffy I found there were a lot of original ideas too and I loved the Regency spin on the story.  I'll definitely be reading more of this series.

Source: Library

Other Reviews:
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