The author has billed her first novel (and soon to be series) as "Buffy the Vampire Slayer meets Pride and Prejudice" and seeing as these are two of my all time favorite stories and settings- I was all over it!

I read it in one sitting, because after the first chapter I had to see how it all played out. Actually, it was around page thirty-about the time Ms. Gleeson laid out her idea of how the vampires came into being. (No Bram Stoker rip off this!) After I read it, I heard that familiar voice inside my head say "Oh, that's good!"- the same thing I always hear whenever I come across a plotline that gets me excited!

As this is the first in the series, I felt it was a good set up for what's to come. I adore Victoria and can't wait to get to know her better. I don't feel like I got the total picture on her yet however, but that can happen when starting a series. And too, Victoria is as new to the world of Gleason's vampires as we are! I look forward to discovering a bit more about her motivations in further stories. ( )

This was an enjoyable read overall. It's a bit of a different take on the idea of the "vampire hunter" with a touch of intrigue, a hint of romance, and some sexiness all rolled in together. I read the second book in the series first, so was a tad disoriented in the beginning of this one but will be checking out the other installments in the Gardella Vampire Chronicles. ( )

The description of this book sounded like Buffy in the 1700's: Every generation one is chosen to fight the vampires and given superhuman abilities etc. Regency Buffy is basically what this book is. And that's not a bad thing.
The book starts off a little slow, and there are plenty of questions that never get fully answered (but this is the first book in a series so that is to be expected). The vampires are, for the most part pretty generic. I would have enjoyed having more of a defined character given to them instead of just vampire #1 etc. My biggest complaint, however,is when modern sensibilities are added to historical settings/characters (the scene in the carriage was ridiculous. That never would have happened.)
Still, I'm interested in seeing how this Slayer (or Venator as they are called in the book) develops and some of the romance elements that were planted turn out in the next book. ( )

I grew up reading historical romance novels, so I’m always love finding ones that also include the paranormal element. When I heard of Coleen Gleason’s Gardella Vampire series, they immediately caught my attention. It took me awhile, but I finally got my hands on the Rest Falls Away, the first novel in this series, and I have to say that I really enjoyed it.

We’re introduced to Victoria Gardella Grantsworth, who is getting ready for her first débutante ball. She is coming out in society and as she is preparing, she learns of another debut she is about to make. Her family has a legacy that has endured for centuries and it all revolves around vampires. They are Venators and they hunt to kill those offspring of Judas Iscariot who are bent on destroying mankind.

Gleason’s vampire mythos is much like that of the movie Dracula 2000; however, the first vampire wasn’t Judas, but his daughter, Lilith, who he turned into a vampire after he was damned by the devil.. The premise isn’t all that new, but it’s still unique in the fact that we’re watching the story unfold in Regency England. At least I think it’s the regency era, I’m not entirely sure since there isn’t any dates mentioned. Regardless, I had no problem getting into the story as Gleason spins the environment in a way that doesn’t draw the reader to those features, but they are there to enhance the story. We’re focused on the character of Victoria Gardella Grantsworth and the decisions she must make as she begins to move in the ton and learning the ropes of being a Venator. I have to say, I am impressed with the development of Victoria. She goes through many emotions as she learns to be a Venator and she has to make a few tough decisions - for instance, does she marry the man she has fallen in love with, even though he can never know about her Venator status? The roller coaster ride she goes through allows her character to mature faster without using any silly gimmicks or writer creativity.

The plot itself of the Rest Falls Away works for the novel. It’s not too flashy, where the heroine needs to be a kick ass fighter or excellent at magic; but instead, it flows around the circumstances Victoria finds herself in. While it’s not action packed, there is still enough action that it keeps the reader interested in what is going to happen next. We know the vampires are planning something, but the subtle way they go about it is kind of refreshing.

Overall, I have to say that I truly enjoyed the Rest Falls Away and I am continuing on with the series. One thing I am curious about is the relationship between Max and Victoria. Max is another Venator who has come to London to help with the vampire problem. Throughout the entire novel, I kept getting this sense that Max starts to develop feelings for Victoria, but since she was engaged to another man, he was being the perfect gentleman and being a complete ass about it. Not an ass in a bad way, but not very giving when it came to teamwork (hopefully you know what I mean). With the conclusion as it is, I’m left with the feeling that something could happen in the future. With that said, I’m off to start Rises the Night, the second novel, to see if I’m right.

http://www.literaryescapism.com/2008/... ( )

In every generation, a slayer Venator is born... This generation happens to be in Regency England. In fact, the cover is impressively descriptive (except for that misleading "romance" on the spine). It's Regency Buffy. Or, as the book trailer says, "Buffy meets Pride and Prejudice."

The vampire slayers in this universe are called "Venators," and it's a hereditary trait that can be accepted or passed on to the next generation. Most Venators are male, but Victoria Gardella Grantworth's great aunt Eustacia is one, and her mother was called, but turned it down. Now it's Victoria's turn.

Unlike Eustacia, who sacrificed having a husband and children of her own for her duty, Victoria is determined to have it all, and accepts her childhood sweetheart's suit. Phillip, now a marquess, loves Victoria, but becomes increasingly concerned about her odd disappearances.

And those disappearances are becoming more frequent, as the vampire Lilith moves into town with her minions, looking for a mysterious book that will give her even greater powers.

In addition to Aunt Eustacia, Victoria is aided by the enigmatic Max, who's also a Venator, though not a hereditary one; and the even more mysterious Sebastian, who owns a vampire bar.

I love Buffy, I enjoy Regencies--it's a fabulous combination. It was so much fun watching Victoria try to merge her two lives, and grow in confidence even as her life becomes more complicated. The action is exciting and suspenseful, and there's just enough worldbuilding to keep me grounded and make things logical, but not so much that it gets overwhelming. The three men in her life: Phillip, Max, and Sebastian, are all interesting and hero-worthy in different ways, and there's plenty of sensuality between them.

But I wouldn't call it a romance, regardless of what's on the spine. The romantic scenes are not the focus of the book at all--the focus is on the paranormal action/adventure and on Victoria dealing with a dual life. Which is just fine, because otherwise, the ending would have been infuriating rather than painful and emotional. Er. Hope that wasn't too spoilery, but I think it's precisely because I wasn't expecting a romance that I enjoyed this book so much. As it turns out, the balance between the subplots worked perfectly--the lack of focus on the romance subplot kept me from expecting (and from being disappointed in the lack of) a romantic resolution, or HEA.

I bought this book after reading descriptions of it on Colleen Gleason's blog, and I'm really glad I did. The second book is in my TBR pile, and the third is on my must-buy calendar for next February. ( )