Blood Games

The 3rd published in the Saint Germain series, and the 1st of the 3 Olivia books.

From Ancien regime France and Renaissance Florence, we go even further back to Imperial Rome (this is one of the earliest settings Yarbro has used). Covering a span from the suicide of Petronius to the early years of Vespasian's reign, Saint Germain is living in Rome and navigating the shifting sands of Imperial favour and Roman politics. The book starts with Saint Germain's first servants - who die in the arena - and are replaced by Rogerian (who is Saint Germain's servant in all the books written so far). We also meet Olivia Atta Clemens who Saint Germain brings to the vampire life and is referenced in all the other books.

This one is probably less show more formulaic than others in the series - the true villain of the piece is Olivia's husband (a deeply perverted senator), but there are less of the other tropes found in the rest of the Saint Germain series. (From memory, this is true of the other Olivia books as well.) Well-written and well-researched, this is an enjoyable historical fantasy which I enjoyed reading when I first purchased it in the early 80s, and enjoyed as much re-reading the Kindle edition. It certainly kept my attention over the several days it took to re-read on the commute.

For fans of Lindsey Davis, this is a much darker take on the Flavian dynasty - and probably closer to the actual truth. (There's a suggestion that Vespasian and Titus kept their hands clean when on the throne by using other members of the family to do their dirty work. Domitian didn't bother with that - he did his own.) show less

I'm not a fan of vampire books in general. This book did nothing to change my mind.

I understand this is not the first book in the series and I have not read the previous books, so I expected to be missing some of the references to the past. Still, I found the backstory to be almost nonexistent, which means I was even more confused than I had expected to be. Adding to my sense of confusion was the lack of a map of the Roman Empire at the time of the story and a list of the Caesars and key Senators. Both would have helped a lot.

The author uses various types of correspondence at the start of each chapter. This method of telling, or sometimes just hinting at plot developments, takes the place of actually showing us what's going on. While at show more times it serves the purpose of condensing the time frame and action, most of the time it defuses the tension of the story. The author also will use a chapter to set up some intriguing situation, only the start the next chapter at some time later, so we never get to watch the situation unfold.

There are some scenes that are very effectively written--usually the action at the Games in the Circus Maximus and some of the love scenes.

I didn't find myself drawn to any of the main characters, but Tishtry, the charioteer, the Egyptian body servant and his replacement were my favorites.

I will not be seeking out any other books in this series. show less

Blood Games
Author: Chelsea Quinn Yarbro
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Published In: New York City, NY
Date: 1979
Pgs: 458

REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS

Summary:
The Games in the Circus Maximus are afoot. A mad emperor sits upon the throne. Political infighting is the rule of the day. Sadists, perverts, and the cream of Roman society flow through this book. Sometimes, all three are the same people. A foreign noble walks the streets taking in Rome, living her life. Ragoczy Sanct Germain, vampire, Dacian, he only seeks to live, to see life. He finds himself caught between a deviant Senator and his wife, who is more the object of his perversions than a lover. Nero’s Rome is falling. Chaos reigns. Darkness is falling. Vampires love the show more dark.

Genre:
Fiction
Historical fiction
Vampires

Why this book:
I originally read this book while in high school. They didn’t realize what they had in that staid, little, prim, conservative library. What they thought was historical fiction about Rome was a vampire story in the Rome of Nero with a sexually deviant Senator at odds with the vampire Ragoczy Sanct Germain Franciscus of Dacia, at war with one another with Roman beauty Atta Olivia Clemens caught between them. When I originally read it, the story left a mark on my soul. I loved it. And when I saw it in the Irving Public Library, I had to get it and reread it.

It is easy to submerge in this book and lose all track of time.

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Favorite Character:
Ragoczy Sanct Germain Franciscus of Dacia

Least Favorite Character:
Roman Senator Cornelius Justus Silius. He is so slimy from the way he treats his wife vis-a-vis his perversion to his bearing false witness and trying to get others declared traitor in Nero’s Rome which invariably lead to death.

Nero’s Rome. The city and empire...though mostly just the city, is every bit as much a character in this story as the “flesh and blood” characters are.

After Nero, the reigns of INSERT SHORT TERM EMPEROR’s NAME HERE were all characterized by a failure to reform Rome. Effectively, they got rid of Nero and then continued aspects of his reign over the next three or four short timers.

All the fools who listened to Justus as if he were their friend and trusted him both with their secrets and to advise them.

Character I Most Identified With:
Sanct Germain. He spoke to me in these pages.

The Feel:
There are powerful scenes throughout this story. I’m savoring this book. Some scenes, I’ll read and then set the book aside and consider the scene before coming back to the book at a later time and going on to the next.

Favorite Scene:
When Sanct Germain steps in between the Necredes, the master of the bestiari at the Games, who was about to have Germain’s horsewoman, Tishtry, flogged because she refused to drive her prize horses into the Coliseum to be killed by lions. Germain makes an enemy here. Necredes doesn’t realize how lucky he is to have survived the encounter after having lashed Tishtry.

Sanct Germain, Koroszd, and Aumtehoutep discussing the intrigues of Rome in the year that Nero spent in Greece playing in the Games.

Germain’s intimate moments with Tishtry and Olivia are extremely well done. Very hot. Woof!

Sanct Germain versus the crocodiles during an aquatic venation in the Circus Maximus.

Pacing:
The flow of this story is great. The pace drags a bit when we get into the second half of the book, when the story becomes more about the threats that are gathered against Sanct Germain and the plots of Justus.

Plot Holes/Out of Character:
Sanct Germain is a great character. But, in this book, he’s a damned fool. Having lived as long as he has, he should have known the whims of Imperial Roman character. He saw the onrushing storm and chose to ignore it and believe that his preparations were sufficient.

Hmm Moments:
The scenes where Senator Justus Silius is using other men to brutalize his wife as a way for him to attain arousal so that he can “be” with his wife. He uses his perversion as a way to subjugate his wife and provide him with a Roman Empire version of Viagra.

Why isn’t there a screenplay?
There could be. If there were going to be, it seems like the Twilight furor would have been the perfect time. Looks like Lestat and Germain both missed their big chance at a hot vampire movie market.

Casting call:
I would love to see either Sammy Shiek or Mido Hamada as Ragoczy Sanct Germain. Both have the look that I think would be perfect for Germain and the acting chops to do the character justice. Branko Tomovic could fit the role as well.

It’s a shame the Kenneth McMillan isn’t still alive. I think of his Baron Harkonnen, from the movie Dune (1984), and Senator Cornelius Justus Silius sharing a skin. Kevin Spacey could fill the role with enough menace, but I’m not sure he could do slimy to the degree that he would need to.

I would love to see Alexandra Daddario take on the role of Atta Olivia Clemens.

I would love to see Stephen Rea as Nero.

John Malkovich as Galba or Vespasianus.
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Last Page Sound:
Justice was served to everyone except Necredes. Really wish he would have gotten his. Still, a truly lovely book and I would love to re-read it again someday. It’s a wonderful immersive book that draws you into its world.

Author Assessment:
Ragoczy Sanct Germain was Lestat before Lestat was Lestat. Yarbro writes with great feeling. You can feel what her characters feel.

Editorial Assessment:
This story is very well put together.

Knee Jerk Reaction:
real classic

Disposition of Book:
Irving Public Library

Would recommend to:
everyone show less

OK. Not enough story, some gratuitous sex.
Noted during my 1980's attempt to read every book in my small town library.