As said elsewhere, it points the focus away from the ongoing plot in order to show these workings, but it gives this book more merit as something that could stand on its own apart from the series. In fact, this is definetly the novel that could ~best~ stand apart from the series.

CN: Setite was my personal favourite, but this one gave it a run for its money. As with much White Wolf fiction, writing quality falters here and there, but overall it produces a worthwhile read, and the first of the series that I finished in one sitting.


The book was disgustingly Giovanni in all aspects.   June 8, 2000
 3 out of 5 found this review helpful

I will have to say that the book is different. Unbelievable amount of cussing in it and vulgar descriptions which is not a surprise. Justin went out of his way on this one. Storywise, it definately beats the malkavian and toreador novel. Backgroundwise, nice references to the maelstorms and a hint of what is up with cappidocian (don't want to spoil it but read carefully the scenes of Isabella and her grandmother). Plotwise, barely tied to the main plot. Only thing I didn't like was the lack of necromancy. Giovanni were slick mafia people but the majority hardly acted like necromancers. That's very sad and I predict is not gonna be repeated in the Tremere Novel, at least I hope not, I don't want to see Tremeres that barely use Thaumaturgy. One last word, no kid should read this book, well all world of darkness is not for kids but this one is out of question, yes it's that level. Just my opinion.


You Kiss your vessels with that mouth?   June 14, 2000
 3 out of 5 found this review helpful

This book has an odd structure- a mini-trilogy of consecutive plots: the search for Benito Giovanni, negotiations with the Camarilla and Sabbat about control of Boston, and, finally, the rattling of some skeletons in clan Giovanni's closet. I can't say much was accomplished. Even the resolution of the "Benito thing" raised more questions than it answered. The book continued subplots from much earlier books and I had trouble remembering what they were about.

But guess what? I didn't care about any of this because the book was so well written it ceased to matter. Achilli seems to be especially good at writing chilling little vignettes. His Sabbat, for example, are scarier in one paragraph than they were in the two whole books in the CLAN NOVEL series dedicated to them- and one of those (TZIMISCE) is one of the strongest installments in the series.

The book presents the diversity of the Giovanni clan well- especially the differences between the Old World Giovanni with their necromancy and the New World Giovanni with their more mundane mob involvement. It takes a break from the following the larger developments in the series to focus on the story of two Giovanni- the New World mobster Chas and the Old World negotiator Isabel. I've read the previous books in the series but I think I would have been able to enjoy this even if I hadn't.

The first part of the book focused on the brutal, crude and very foul-mouthed New World Giovanni. (Without the profanity it seemed like the book would have been around 100 pages shorter- but there's a reason for it.) Mafia novels don't do much for me and this gave the book a slow start. Still it managed to combine a mob story with a vampire story without seeming silly. Later, there is a look at the venerable necromancer Ambrogino at his work and some creepy glimpses at the ancient past of the Cappadocians. There's some great jungle-rotting decadence set in New Orleans as well. One of the things that the book handles best is the toll which the Giovanni flaw (they cause pain when they feed) takes on members of this clan over time as they strive to maintain their humanity. It's not quite as blatantly bleak a portrayal of vampiric existance as CLAN NOVEL: GANGREL but it's pretty disturbing perhaps because it's so subtle- at least at first.


The Saga Continues   June 3, 2000
 2 out of 3 found this review helpful

In this book readers learn more about the Vampire Clan Giovanni, which by the way are an incestous family of Vampires, that have power over dead as long as they are not Vampires. However, because the Giovanni are an independent Clan they that they are neutral in the on going war between the Camarilla and the Sabbot. But as this book processes it becomes quiet clear that in fact they do sides, well that is any side that helps to push their agenda. In fact we learn that they have plans of their owns so it benifits them to help fan the flames of the war between the other clans in order to accomplish their goals. Anyway, this book is mostly about a Giovanni that was kidnapped in an earlier book of the series and the search for him. Also as we learn more of why he was taken, how this contibutes to the main plot of the Series. And of course we do see, some of our old friends from earlier books. The plot of the seires is picking up and many peices start to fall into place. Yet, still the overall mystery of what we discover in Nosfuratu is still pending.


The Saga Continues   June 2, 2000
 2 out of 3 found this review helpful

In this book readers learn more about the Vampire Clan Giovanni, which by the way are an incestous family of Vampires, that have power over dead as long as they are not Vampires. However, because the Giovanni are an independent Clan they that they are neutral in the on going war between the Camarilla and the Sabbot. But as this book processes it becomes quiet clear that in fact they do sides, well that is any side that helps to push their agenda. In fact we learn that they have plans of their owns so it benifits them to help fan the flames of the war between the other clans in order to accomplish their goals. Anyway, this book is mostly about a Giovanni that was kidnapped in an earlier book of the series and the search for him. Also as we learn more of why he was taken, how this contibutes to the main plot of the Series. And of course we do see, some of our old friends from earlier books. The plot of the seires is picking up and many peices start to fall into place. Yet, still the overall mystery of what we discover in Nosfuratu is still pending.