Another fabulous read, in a fabulous series!

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There isn't a lot I can say about the plot of this book. If you haven't read the series so far any synopsis would give away information from previous books and if you are a fan of the series you will be reading this book no matter what the plot it. One thing I will say, though, is that the action is back in London, which I enjoyed after the previous two books had been placed in Rome.

The was a quick read and just as readable and fun as the prior books in the series. I am disappointed in the ending even though I did suspect right from the beginning what her romantic decision would be. I had hoped things would turn out differently. I'm also surprised at how tame the ending was. Every other book in the series ended with a shattering blow to the story line with something totally unexpected happening. This one didn't have that and the book just kind of ended on a 'so what' note for me. Of course that won't stop me reading the final installment due out in 2009. I'm addicted to the characters and this series and can't wait to find out how it all ends in the last book. ( )

*Spoilers ahead if you haven't read the three previous books

Lady Victoria Gardella Grantworth de Lacy is a vampire hunter, a Venator. The fact that she lives in London in the 1820's only makes things more interesting. On the one hand she is a lady of the ton with the responsibilities that go with the title. She is expected to dress and act like a lady and attend the various functions of the ton. She is also Illa Gardella, the leader of the Venators. She has the vital task of carrying on the legacy left to her by her Aunt Eustacia who was the previous Illa Gardella. Although she has no plans to remarry she has feelings for Sebastian Voiget and Max Pesaro. Sebastian has been Victoria's lover in the past but it remains to be seen if he will continue to be. There is an attraction between herself and Max but he refuses to follow through on it.

When Twilight Burns picks up where The Bleeding Dusk left off. Victoria is in Rome and has just woken up after being under Beauregard's control. (Beauregard was a master vampire who captured Victoria and try to turn her into a vampire in The Bleeding Dusk.) Her friends and fellow Venators are waiting to find out if she has been turned. Fortunately for Victoria she passes the Holy water test and is deemed free of Beauregard's legacy...or is she? *insert evil laugh*

Once back in London Victoria's mother, Lady Melly, expects Victoria to venture back into the ton and start looking for a husband. Victoria is not at all enthused about this and looks for any reason to forgo attending the various ton functions. Making social calls during the day and slaying vampires at night complicates her life. Then when old enemies emerge Victoria has no choice and must interact with the members of the ton. She must also deal with her late husband's heir who has arrived from Kentucky to take his place in society. Victoria was widowed when her husband, Lord Phillip de Lacy, was turned into a vampire. Even though she loved him it fell to her to kill him.

Victoria and her Venators have the task of finding a vampire who is not only able to walk in the sunlight but can mask his or her presence. A venator can sense the presence of a vampire by a cool chill on the back of their neck. In the case of the daywalker their is no chill, no warning that he is near.

The two men currently in Victoria's life are Sebastian, the seemingly untrustworthy ally and great, great..grandson of Beauregard. And Max, the dark, brooding and deadly Venator. Sebastian had once refused to take sides in the war between the Venators and the vampires. He finally took the side of the Venators when he killed Beauregard. He is now a Venator and Victoria's most ardent suitor. Max is still dark and brooding but is no longer a Venator. He gave up his position when he broke free of the hold the vampire queen had over him. He knows she will be after him and is on the run.

That brings us to the wonderfully evil Lilith. She is queen of the vampires and Victoria's nemesis. Lilith is such a fascinating antagonist. Gleason's description of her is gloriously eerie.

"Lilith was still horribly elegant, still skeletally slender with the whitest skin marked by an occasional blue vein. Her eyelids were onionskin thin, colored bluish-purple, and her lips the gray-blue of someone who cannot get warm." page 216

"Lilith lifted her head from the distended vein of her victim's neck, looking at Victoria. She ate daintily, and even when she smiled a knowing, horrible smile, her teeth gleamed pure white." page 225

Gleason has a way of writing that pulls you into the scene and into the character's head. I've been a Max fan all along but at one point she had me cheering for Sebastian. This was another terrific addition to the series. If you haven't read the previous three books you really should. Then go out and get When Twilight Burns. The fifth and final book, As Shadows Fade, is due out March 2009. ( )

I've been following Gleason's Gardella Chronicles from its inception. A mix of sub-genre's- is it historical romance? PNR? Fantasy? who can say, either way I love the hook of a Venator, (that's vampire slayer to you and me), from Jane Austen's world.

Like many of you following this series as well, the love triangle between Victoria- head Vamp Slayer and Illa Gardella in Gleason's world- and her two men, Max and Sebastian, keeps me coming back as well!

Continuing where Book 3- The Bleeding Dusk- left off, Victoria awakens with those she cares about most hovering over her. Concern over the fact she drank the Vampire Beauregard's blood at the end of the last novel, has left them on pins and needles as to whether Victoria will turn Vamp. It has kept them by her bedside since she slew Beauregard and saved the day once again. But because of the presence of not one, but TWO vis bulla- piercings that give added power to Venators in Gleason world- she was able to hold off the turning that would have happened to anyone else if they had not been she ... at least for now.

Immediately upon her return to London, Victoria is reluctantly thrust back into the world of the ton with her oblivious mother scheming once again to get her married off. But Illa Gardella is not the only one to return to London. The dreaded Lilith- Queen of the Vamps- is back too and she has a plan. A plan that Victoria, Max and Sebastian must uncover and thwart before all of London falls prey to Lilith and her evil horde.

I loved, LOVED, the way this book came together. The beginning started off kind of slow for me, but by the time Victoria- and thereby us- understood why she must remain within London's elite society, I was with her all the way! It was very cool how the author played with history in WTB and I liked that aspect of the plot immensely. (Love alternate history story lines and this one has an edge of it!) I also liked the internal tug of war for Victoria's soul that played out throughout the novel ... and it's eventual resolution. (Because, like the character Wayren, I happen to believe that selfish actions are the seed of all evil as well!)

There were several threads coming together in WTB from the previous novels and I liked how Gleason tied them up- especially the love triangle aspect! Of course the door is always open, and everything in that regard is probably not tied up, but I hope- PRAY- she keeps on with where I think the author is going! ( )