This builds nicely on the first book, still nothing spectacular but a good readable story.  ( )

Fabulous 2nd book in the series, though darker than the first.

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

Colleen Gleason's series, The Gardella Vampire Chronicles, is not your average paranormal romance. It's heavier on the paranormal rather than the romance and is multi-layered, textured, and a cut above the pack. Her stories are so much more then girl meets vamp, vamp bites girl, struggle ensues (i love him, but I shouldn't), vamp saves girl from outside evil and they all live happily ever after.

The big thing, and the thing that might drive average paranormal romance readers crazy in this series, is that each book will not necessarily tie up with a happily ever after. In fact, more likely than not, a story arch is continuing throughout the entire series and a reader finds they'll have to wait to get a little romance, if that's what they're looking for.

That isn't to say that romance, and even a bit of sex, isn't there, but it isn't a necessity. No, these stories rely on the art of the storytelling.

In the end, it's my gut feeling that if these books were marketed a bit different, they might find the audience it justly deserve.

But then again, I could be wrong on that, because despite the art of the storytelling and the excellent world building I find in her books, it's the romance (or hope of it!) that keeps me coming back.

Rises the Night is the second in Colleen Gleason's Gardella series. In the first, The Rest Falls Away, Victoria has just discovered she is the next in a long line of vampire slayers, Venators in Gleason's world. She's young, practically baby faced in her immaturity. By the end of the first book however, things are taking a turn. She, with the help of those around her, have defeated Lilith the evil Vamp queen, and, Victoria has lost a husband in the fray. (See, she thought she could have love and keep her job separate. Wrong, wrong, wrong Victoria!)

In Rises the night, Victoria emerges from her year of mourning, better, stronger faster. She wears the pants now, literally, and can hold her own in the martial arts. She's on the trail of some Vamps and the loyal group who protect them called the Tutela. A trail that leads her, her beloved Aunt- ex venator Eustacia-, her servants and, of all people, Sebastian- the ambiguous man who once seduced Victoria in a carriage only to promptly ditch her when she needed him most, straight to the foot of Rome where prophecy has it, the golden age of the Venators will end.

But first, they discover the Tutela are up to something. It seems Lilith's son, Nedas, is after an object, an object that would create a zombie-like army that he can control. Once in Rome, Victoria finds she must place herself in the heart of the dark Tutela to get close to Nedas so that she can stop him. But she quickly learns the danger is far greater than she assumed- for both her and her loved ones- and that someone she once trusted is there, already in the middle of them.

In Gleason's world, the Vamps are not the sexy heroes. They are the bad guys, (as well they should be!) Spawned by Judas the betrayer, they are dark, malicious, twisted and not the least bit of a turn on. I like this. I like when I can hate a bad guy because they're, well, bad. I don't like having to admire a bad guy's certain qualities because there's something charming about him. I can hate them. And I do indeed loathe the vamps in Rises the Night.

Another favorite part of Rises the Night, besides seeing Victoria's growth, is MAX! Max, my sexy, venator-by-choice, Max! The book really didn't start for me until he showed up. And the ending?? What a nail-biter! Max, it would seem, can't decide which side he's on, much like Sebastian, but one of them is not what he seems and other is exactly who his character has proven him to be- at least to us, the readers, if not to Victoria!

4.5 out of 5 from me! Another triumph for Colleen Gleason! ( )

From the Publisher: In Italy, a powerful vampire is amassing the power to control the souls of the dead. Lady Victoria Gardella de Lacy - a vampire slayer for just over year - races across Europe to stop what could be the most deadly army the Gardellas have ever faced. She is accompanied by Sebastian Vioget, a man as tempting as he is untrustworthy.

But when Victoria discovers that she has been betrayed by one of her most trusted allies, the truth will challenge all her powers as a Venator-and as a woman.

Comments: This is the second novel in Colleen Gleason’s Gardella Vampire Chronicles, the follow up to The Rest Falls Away. Rises the Night begins a year after a terrible tragedy befalls Victoria. She is beginning to pick up the pieces and get back into the life that she has been chosen to lead, that of Venator, one of the few who fights vampires and other creatures of the night.

Victoria leaves behind Victorian London to visit Venice and Rome, hoping to find and assassinate one of the most powerful vampires around. Author Colleen Gleason doesn’t miss a beat adding in the details of the time period and locations referred to throughout the novel. Victoria is as feisty and headstrong as ever and Sebastian as infuriatingly sensual. He is a mystery to Victoria and yet she finds it difficult to resist his charm.

It did not take long for me to get lost in the pages of Rises the Night. The novel is fast paced and chock full of action. For those who find the romantic story line the most appealing part, the book does not disappoint. Colleen Gleason demonstrates her great skill in building suspense and adding in elements of surprise with several unexpected twists. ( )

In Rises The Night, Victoria finds herself in Italy and Rome (I think that the change of venue, from England, made this book many times better than the first). She has to find a way to destroy the Akvan's Obelisk. It has fallen into the hands of Nedas, son of the Vampire Queen, Lillith. The Obelisk has the power to wake the undead and basically cause hell on earth, which would be a draw to any evil vampire bent on destroying all of human kind.

This is one of those books where I don't want to say too much because any little slip can give a major plot away. But I will say that there are a lot of unexpected surprises and twists in Rises The Night. Victoria really comes into her own in Rises The Night and other characters, that were more so just wallpaper in the first book, become three dimensional.

What I love about this series is that Victoria is never idiotic. She thinks out her actions before she takes them. There is never a moment where I want to close the book and roll my eyes. In other words, she is never too stupid to live.

Oh, and let me not forget Sebastian. Love him. Sebastian is a mysterious character who I can't say much about because I don't know much about him. One of his secrets does come out in RTN but Colleen leaves us with so many more. Like why won't he take that shirt off? What more is this mortal man hiding? So many questions, so much more series to go.

While the first book was not as good as the second, both together made a great read. I also love that the books seem to be getting better with time. I'd take that over having a strong first book and a disappointing second, any day. ( )

This is a whirlwind of a read. We hit the ground running from the first page and keep going until the final pages. Victoria travels to Italy and must stop a powerful Vampire from gaining control of the souls of the dead. I have to say I enjoyed this even more than the first book. The romance part is done very well, there are a few sexy scenes but mostly the story focuses on the vampire part of the plot. I stayed up way past my bedtime two nights in a row reading this, each chapter ends in such suspense that I kept needing to read "just one more chapter". My favourite character in this series is Sebastian, he is so swoon-worthy (LOL). The shocking ending was such a surprise and I'm really looking forward to the next book in the series! ( )

I found it disappointing, especially after how much I enjoyed the last one. The plot and pacing were kind of scattered, I wanted Max to have more screentime, and I STILL think Sebastian is really slimy so it was disappointing that he was around all the time. A lot of potentially emotional events were talked out so much that it spoiled the moment. I'll probably get the next one from the library rather than buying it. ( )