Shows lots of promise but doesn't QUITE deliver. Three for the story and the characters - solidly okay, without being outstanding - but an extra half for being Georgette with vampires. As this is the first in the series I hope the later books live up to the full potential of the premise. ( )

Absolutely fantastic series!

http://ktleyed.blogspot.com/2009/11/g... ( )

Meet Victoria Gardella, the latest in a long line of vampire hunters. In each generation a Gardella is born with the innate gifts allowing them to hunt and kill vampires. It is up to them is they accept the call. If they do they must first pass a test and kill a vampire. If they succeed they are given a piece of blessed jewellry, a vis bulla, that gives them extra strength, power and healing.

Set in Jane Austen times when girls have coming out debutant parties. Victoria has to balance her vampire staking duties with balls, picking out new gowns and falling in love. Some of the other vampire hunters (Venator's) believe that you can either be a Venator or settle down, marry and have children. Victoria particularly butts head with Max who is a Venator by choice rather than family calling. He lost family members to vampires and has devoted his life to killing them ever since. Victoria has other ideas though and her Aunt thinks the best thing is to let her take her own path.

Think Pride and Prejudice meets Buffy. The setting made it stand out from the many other vampire series out there although it does take a lot of inspiration from Buffy (I love Buffy though so that's not a bad thing!). There is a twist near the end which was not unexpected, but the final ending was. It ends on a sad note and I am glad that the story is not completely romanticised. It made it seem more realistic somehow. ( )

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. ( )