bookishbrunette

The Vengeance of the Vampire Bride was a MUCH lighter read than it's predecessor, but just as amazing and gorgeously written! Glynis still totally rocked my face off! Frater easily and instantly transports me back into a world of gothic beauty and haunting memories.Glynis has completely submerged herself into the role of Countess Dracula, and I loved her total take-charge attitude. She even titles her journal entries as Countess Dracula, instead of Lady Glynis Wright as she did in the first book!Her loneliness and despair hits me like I'm experiencing it myself, rather through a character... Without the companionship of her vampire sisters (who are at 'home' at the castle in Transylvania), combined with the loss of her family... her isolation taunts her.Preparing to return to Buda, the Fallen Angel Astir has sent her his most trusted servant, Adem, to warn Glynis of the vicious vampire attacks currently occurring in Buda and that it's no longer safe for her to go there. She's stuck in Bistrita and Glynis decides to search for her lost sister Erzsebet (Vlad's first wife, damned to an immortal life in captivity for disobedience), with Adem in tow on their first search, they end up in a bloody battle with ghouls looking for fresh blood! *shivers*After only barely escaping the ghouls, Adem then decides to teach Glynis to defend herself properly in the face of danger. Their training is quite hilarious... especially when she rips her dress!The news is brought that it is safe for them to return to Buda and Glynis is thrilled beyond measure. Only their house in Buda had been burned down since their last visit and she must stay with *ahem* Vlad's mistress... The dreadfully, horrid Baroness.Vlad has relentlessly haunted her dreams, or rather nightmares, since she left the Transylvanian castle- horrifically assaulting her and threatening her and those important to her... She is lulled into a false sense of security after having the ring Vlad gave her cursed, so now he can no longer come to her in her sleep... but the same is not true of those around her.There are forces at work beyond her already slim knowledge of the vampire world and a war of sorts rages between the vampires in Buda, right under Glynis' nose. Astir has told her to behave as a mortal Countess would and all will be fine... That works great- until it DOESN'T. Astir comes to her in warning and prophesy, "All I see around you is death."~AstirNow, to tell you anymore, would be to rob you of the amazing unraveling of this tale AND the secrets of the first book if you haven't read it... But what happens will shock you! Forbidden love, vampire rulers, bloody battles... and Vlad.There are several secondary characters in this book that completely blew me away. Percy, an Englishman and a very close ally in the end. Laura probably ended up being my favorite and most surprising of the characters in this book! Magda, oh how I LOOOOVE her and her 'Do what I say, and don't ask questions' attitude. Astir... AMAZING, that is all I can say...The Vengeance of the Vampire Bride is a MUST read for any Rhiannon Frater fan! This book is an awesome sequel to The Tale of the Vampire Bride, and I can't wait for the next one! The ending completely took my breathe away! I was dying!!