The British Isles thought the vampire attacks had come to an end after Adele destroyed them all using her geomancy. However, new attacks in London have raised questions as to whether the vampires have returned. Even worse, Adele is questioning her own abilities as the earth in Britain feels scarred, and she can no longer touch the rifts within the land. Meanwhile, a different geomancer is crafting jewelry for vampires that makes them immune to Adele's geomancy. Is there a darker plan afoot? Adele and Gareth will have to travel out of Britain if they hope to save humanity from the vampires.

Clay and Susan Griffith blend the steampunk and vampire genres together to create a richly layered and complex world. I love that we get a look at the vampire politics on the opposing side, particularly as we see the splits occurring with the various factions. However, it was the vampire monastery I like the best as Gareth begins to get a glimpse of other vampires unlike the monarchy he is accustomed to.

And oh, the characters—Clay and Susan Griffith make characters you either love or hate! Gareth and Adele are obviously the focus of the story and their romance would appear doomed...and yet it seems to work. I do wish we'd learned a bit more about Gareth's role as the Greyfriar, but I suspect that was addressed in the earlier books of the Vampire Empire Trilogy. Yidak, however, is a character I hope we meet again because I love the contrast between his bloodthirsty vampire side and the peaceful calm he exhibits most of the time. Yidak is completely unlike the nasty, vicious Hallow, and I couldn't wait to see Hallow get her comeuppance.

THE GEOMANCER is the first book in the Vampire Empire: A Gareth and Adele series and references many of the events of the earlier books in the Vampire Empire trilogy. However, THE GEOMANCER starts a new story arc and Clay and Susan Griffith provide enough of the background history on the past battles between humans and vampires as well as the impact of geomancy on the battles that the reader can jump right into the story and enjoy it. I can't wait to go back and read the earlier books now that I have a taste for this fascinating world!

Book Summary

The first Gareth and Adele Novel, The Geomancer is the start of an ongoing, character-based, urban fantasy series set in the same Vampire Empire universe as the authors’ previous trilogy!

The uneasy stalemate between vampires and humans is over. Adele and Gareth are bringing order to a free Britain, but bloody murders in London raise the specter that Adele’s geomancy is failing and the vampires might return. A new power could tilt the balance back to the vampire clans. A deranged human called the Witchfinder has surfaced on the Continent, serving new vampire lords. This geomancer has found a way to make vampires immune to geomancy and intends to give his masters the ability to kill humans on a massive scale.

The apocalyptic event in Edinburgh weakened Adele’s geomantic abilities. If the Witchfinder can use geomancy against humanity, she may not have the power to stop him. If she can’t, there is nowhere beyond his reach and no one he cannot kill.

From a Britain struggling to rebuild to the vampire capital of Paris, from the heart of the Equatorian Empire to a vampire monastery in far-away Tibet, old friends and past enemies return. Unexpected allies and terrible new villains arise. Adele and Gareth fight side-by-side as always, but they can never be the same if they hope to survive.

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