The Delicate Dependency

4.5 stars! This book was fantastic!

Set in the Victorian era, this story quietly kicks the crap out of the vampire novels of today. Beautifully written with an intriguing plot and unique characters, I can't say enough about how enjoyable this book was.

Doctor Gladstone, a scientist in London during the Victorian era, accidentally ran over a man who walked in front of his carriage. Due to this man's, (Niccolo's), resemblance to someone Doctor Gladstone once saw in a painting,(and due to his vague suspicions as to Niccolo's true nature), this stranger is invited into Gladstone's home. Before you know it, one of Dr. Gladstone's daughters, Camille, has been kidnapped and the adventure begins.

This is a vampire story, but these are not show more vampires you've read about before. Unlike Rice's or King's, these vamps have been around for millennia. What are their true motives, why have they kidnapped Camille, and what do they plan to do with her? You will have to read this to find out.

With pacing that at times is slow and at other times at breakneck speeds, this story captures the reader and drags them along. Even the slow paced periods were interesting, because the reader is constantly learning new facts, but is unsure as to where they fit into the big picture. Like a jigsaw puzzle with unusually shaped pieces. With fun train and carriage chases, crazy plot twists and flat out "Oh My God" moments, this novel was a real treat.

This is a book of quiet horror. If you are looking for lots of blood and gore, this tome is not for you. However, if you're looking for a literary piece with depth and meaning...look no further.(I would equate this work to the excellent literary horror of the 80's-such as Peter Straub's "Ghost Story", for example.) Well written, (with a vocabulary that forced me to use my Kindle dictionary quite a bit), this book delivers not only a quiet horror story, but also fodder for the mind. I found the concepts that were introduced fascinating and fun to think about. To what would you devote your life if you were immortal?

Lastly, I would avoid reading the introduction until you're finished with the book. I read it after I was finished and was very glad that I did so, because almost the entire plot is laid out there and I think it would have ruined my enjoyment of this tale.

Because I did find the pacing just a tad slow at a couple of points, I deducted half of one star. That is the only negative thing I have to say about this novel. Other than that, it comes with my highest recommendation to fans of dark fiction, gothic horror stories and quiet horror.

*I was provided a free copy of this book from Valancourt Books to honestly review and that is what I have done.* show less

This book is hard to come by. PB copies sell for over $40. I lucked upon one for $5. Michael Talbot weaves exquisite descriptions of 19th century England and of complex characters into a vampire tale unlike any I have ever read. There are many twists and turns in this book, with a MAJOR twist at the end that was so big I immediately wanted to read the book again to appreciate it with a new perspective. Dr. Gladstone (a virologist) is a single father who creates a virus in honor of his late wife. Creepy, no? He even names it after her. He is visited by a vampire (he thinks by accident)that he met in his childhood and this begins a long journey into the world of the vampire. This is a world of hierarchy, of opulence, and of complexity. show more Talbot does well with character development; you find yourself caring about what happens to both human and vampire. I personally think it's worth ferreting out a copy of this paperback, especially if you're a fan of vampiric lit. show less

This was a fun read with (for me) a disappointing conclusion ... I don't care if vampires aren't human, they're people, and people just wouldn't behave like that, it's ridiculous. So a point off for being sillier and sillier by the end.

What you get is a beautifully drawn, completely non-gory/non-scary tale of a relatively uninteresting man plunged into an unusual situation that doesn't make use of vampires at all, really. They could be any secret society with a long life-span and the story would work exactly the same (maybe it started that way, and an editor said "you know, if you make them vampires, the book would sell better.") So if you're really keen on vampires, this will probably annoy you more than it did me--I was just grateful show more it wasn't a particularly sadistic, gory read (which I would have set aside, most likely).

But, despite the pleasantness of the reading experience, the silly ending brings it down quite a bit.

(Note: 5 stars = amazing, wonderful, 4 = very good book, 3 = decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful. I'm fairly good at picking for myself so end up with a lot of 4s). show less

I expect it is rare to have a tome imprint itself onto you in a way that you never forget the title or the author. This is my experience with this next novel. I read The Delicate Dependency in the late 80s early 90s, and I believe that my Aunt Jo gave me the novel. I always remembered that it was brilliant, but over many years I have forgotten many of the details, and in time I lost the copy I had.

The memory of this book would pop up from time to time, and I dreamed it would be wonderful to read it again. However, finding another copy was proving to be hard, so I would give up each time. Then in 2018, I tried again and low and behold I found a digital copy on Amazon! A bonus is that there was also an audiobook version. I could hardly show more contain myself and was very excited about experiencing this fantastic novel again.
The novel transports us to Victorian-era London. The players are Dr. Gladstone, his eldest, Ursula, his youngest, Camille, Niccolo, a youthful-looking man with angelic beauty, and the strange Lady Hespeth. The talented doctor and his daughters find themselves in an exciting and deadly pursuit, navigating the mystical world of the vampire.

This is not like any modern-day vampire novel you have heard about, and I am in agreement with many others that the late Michael Talbot created by far one of the best vampire novels around. It is compelling, spellbinding, and electrifying. Matt Godfrey is an award-winning narrator and does a fantastic job bringing this tale to life. I really enjoyed his interpretation. If you are into young adult vampire stories, then this may not be the novel for you. If you are up for experiencing a true classic, then this is a book you need to read.

Enjoy! show less

This novel is a unique take on the traditional vampire story. Dr. John Gladstone is a London virologist who's research has led him to the discovery of a deadly form of the influenza virus. A seemingly chance encounter with the mysterious Niccolo Cavalanti sets in motion the kidnapping of his youngest daughter Camille and Gladstone's introduction to the world of the Vampire.

There are no bats or "children of the night" in this book but you won't miss them. The writing drags in places: Talbot often gives up and explains events instead of showing them. But the last half of the book is worth the work it takes to get there. An excellent addition to any vampire collection.

One of my favorite "alternate" vampire novels. The vampires are the Illuminati, guardians and guides and inspiration for all of humanity's advances in science and art. It's set in mid-19th century Europe, especially London, and deals with the virtues and vices and hypocrisies of Victorian England, among other things. A nice read.

One of the best vampire books I have ever read. My brother gave this book to me, I read it and loved it, and my sister in law asked to read it. I sent it to her, she gave it to someone else and I never got it back. The book explains the vampire mythology with very believable statements.
Not the usual vampire book. It's difficult to find a copy, but if you get one, don't let it go.