
Clan Novel Toreador
The Clan Novel Saga, Book 1
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
3 months free
Buy for $19.95
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
-
Narrated by:
-
Kathy Bell Denton
-
By:
-
Stewart Wieck
About this listen
The Vampire the Masquerade Clan Novel Saga is a thirteen-volume masterpiece, presenting the war between the established Camarilla leadership and the growing power of the brutal Sabbat on the East Coast of the United States. Each novel is told from the perspective of one of the thirteen clans, intertwining with the others, and filling in missing pieces artfully as we follow battle after battle, intrigue after intrigue...and the appearance of a strange artifact that falls into the hands of a solitary Toreador sculptor.
Clan Novel Toreador is the first in this series. Among the thirteen clans of the Kindred - vampires who secretly manipulate human events - the Toreador are dismissed as hedonists. They accept this as the price of preserving that which is beautiful...particularly themselves. Yet not all Toreador are so easily ignored. The cunning Victoria Ash makes Atlanta's most famous art museum her venue for plots that could win her control of the city. And though the sculptor Leopold desires only solitude to perfect his art, he is forced to enter the dangerous world of his kin to discover the truth of his pastwith consequences that will change Kindred society forever.
©1999 Paradox International AB (P)2024 Paradox International ABListeners also enjoyed...
-
Clan Novel Gangrel
- The Clan Novel Saga, Book 3
- By: Gherbod Fleming
- Narrated by: Beth Stewart
- Length: 7 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Vampire the Masquerade Clan Novel Saga is a thirteen-volume masterpiece, presenting the war between the established Camarilla leadership and the growing power of the brutal Sabbat on the East Coast of the United States. Each novel is told from the perspective of one of the thirteen clans, intertwining with the others, and filling in missing pieces artfully as we follow battle after battle, intrigue after intrigue—and the appearance of a strange artifact that falls into the hands of a solitary Toreador sculptor.
-
-
lesbian YA fantasy
- By D. Guh on 10-11-24
By: Gherbod Fleming
-
Widow's Walk
- Clan Novel: Tremere Trilogy, Book 1
- By: Eric Griffin
- Narrated by: Cathi Colas
- Length: 7 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Camarilla lost much ground along the East Coast in its recent war with the Sabbat. But the sect claimed one of the greatest prizes in the world control of New York City. Of course, the Camarilla was never entirely absent from the city, but in recent years no clan held so firmly there, among the enemy, as did the Tremere. Now the story of their covert activities and greatest victory is told.
-
-
A Dilemma Worthy of Them
- By undeadcow on 05-23-25
By: Eric Griffin
-
To Sift Through Bitter Ashes
- Grails Covenant Trilogy, Book 1
- By: David Niall Wilson
- Narrated by: Joshua Saxon
- Length: 8 hrs and 40 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Obsessed with the acquiring the Holy Grail for the Lasombra clan, the vampire Montrovant sets out on a quest that leads him through the establishment of the Knights Templar, the lair of an ancient Egyptian evil, and the deserts of the Holy Land. Dark forces are pitted against him, and each ally must be watched in turn, as treachery leads to deceit and back agan in a race against time, the Church, and the mysterious Kli Kodesh, who is more ancient, even than Montrovant's sire.
-
Dark Prince
- By: Keith Herber
- Narrated by: Gary Noon
- Length: 8 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Sullivan was a working stiff, a before-the-mast sailor, when he was taken in by the Family almost 150 years ago. They gave him immortality — and an undying hunger for human blood. Since then, Sullivan has been on the prowl. And what better place for a night creature than modern San Francisco, its streets crowded with runaways, drifters, tourists, violent gangs, and nameless punks? Food is plentiful. Even food for the darkest hungers of the inhuman heart.
-
-
The best of Vampire: The Masquerade
- By C.T. on 06-28-24
By: Keith Herber
-
Walk Among Us
- Compiled Edition
- By: Cassandra Khaw, Genevieve Gornichec, Caitlin Starling
- Narrated by: Neil Kaplan, Xe Sands, Erika Ishii
- Length: 11 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
One of the most popular role-playing properties in the world gets new life with this trio of horror novellas set in Vampire: The Masquerade's World of Darkness by three brilliant talents: Genevieve Gornichec, Cassandra Khaw, and Caitlin Starling.
-
-
Please skip it, boring
- By Anonymous User on 08-22-20
By: Cassandra Khaw, and others
-
Prince of the City
- By: Keith Herber
- Narrated by: Gary Noon
- Length: 10 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
At the height of the American Revolution, Virginia aristocrat Vannevar Thomas fell victim to a rogue vampire. The newly Embraced Vannevar was taken in by a secretive organization of vampires known as the Camarilla and sent to San Francisco in 1849. Here Vannevar found a newborn, vibrant city, ripe for the taking—but other powers also cast covetous eyes on the growing town.
-
-
Vampires Across American History
- By undeadcow on 05-17-25
By: Keith Herber
-
Clan Novel Gangrel
- The Clan Novel Saga, Book 3
- By: Gherbod Fleming
- Narrated by: Beth Stewart
- Length: 7 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Vampire the Masquerade Clan Novel Saga is a thirteen-volume masterpiece, presenting the war between the established Camarilla leadership and the growing power of the brutal Sabbat on the East Coast of the United States. Each novel is told from the perspective of one of the thirteen clans, intertwining with the others, and filling in missing pieces artfully as we follow battle after battle, intrigue after intrigue—and the appearance of a strange artifact that falls into the hands of a solitary Toreador sculptor.
-
-
lesbian YA fantasy
- By D. Guh on 10-11-24
By: Gherbod Fleming
-
Widow's Walk
- Clan Novel: Tremere Trilogy, Book 1
- By: Eric Griffin
- Narrated by: Cathi Colas
- Length: 7 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Camarilla lost much ground along the East Coast in its recent war with the Sabbat. But the sect claimed one of the greatest prizes in the world control of New York City. Of course, the Camarilla was never entirely absent from the city, but in recent years no clan held so firmly there, among the enemy, as did the Tremere. Now the story of their covert activities and greatest victory is told.
-
-
A Dilemma Worthy of Them
- By undeadcow on 05-23-25
By: Eric Griffin
-
To Sift Through Bitter Ashes
- Grails Covenant Trilogy, Book 1
- By: David Niall Wilson
- Narrated by: Joshua Saxon
- Length: 8 hrs and 40 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Obsessed with the acquiring the Holy Grail for the Lasombra clan, the vampire Montrovant sets out on a quest that leads him through the establishment of the Knights Templar, the lair of an ancient Egyptian evil, and the deserts of the Holy Land. Dark forces are pitted against him, and each ally must be watched in turn, as treachery leads to deceit and back agan in a race against time, the Church, and the mysterious Kli Kodesh, who is more ancient, even than Montrovant's sire.
-
Dark Prince
- By: Keith Herber
- Narrated by: Gary Noon
- Length: 8 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Sullivan was a working stiff, a before-the-mast sailor, when he was taken in by the Family almost 150 years ago. They gave him immortality — and an undying hunger for human blood. Since then, Sullivan has been on the prowl. And what better place for a night creature than modern San Francisco, its streets crowded with runaways, drifters, tourists, violent gangs, and nameless punks? Food is plentiful. Even food for the darkest hungers of the inhuman heart.
-
-
The best of Vampire: The Masquerade
- By C.T. on 06-28-24
By: Keith Herber
-
Walk Among Us
- Compiled Edition
- By: Cassandra Khaw, Genevieve Gornichec, Caitlin Starling
- Narrated by: Neil Kaplan, Xe Sands, Erika Ishii
- Length: 11 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
One of the most popular role-playing properties in the world gets new life with this trio of horror novellas set in Vampire: The Masquerade's World of Darkness by three brilliant talents: Genevieve Gornichec, Cassandra Khaw, and Caitlin Starling.
-
-
Please skip it, boring
- By Anonymous User on 08-22-20
By: Cassandra Khaw, and others
-
Prince of the City
- By: Keith Herber
- Narrated by: Gary Noon
- Length: 10 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
At the height of the American Revolution, Virginia aristocrat Vannevar Thomas fell victim to a rogue vampire. The newly Embraced Vannevar was taken in by a secretive organization of vampires known as the Camarilla and sent to San Francisco in 1849. Here Vannevar found a newborn, vibrant city, ripe for the taking—but other powers also cast covetous eyes on the growing town.
-
-
Vampires Across American History
- By undeadcow on 05-17-25
By: Keith Herber
-
Shadowrun Legends
- Never Deal With a Dragon: Secrets of Power, Book 1
- By: Robert N. Charrette
- Narrated by: Tren Sparks
- Length: 13 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The year is 2050. The power of magic and the creatures it brings have returned to the earth, and many of the ancient races have re-emerged. Elves, Orks, Mages, and lethal Dragons find a home in a world where mana, technology, and human flesh have melded into deadly urban predators. And the multinational mega-corporations that run the world hoard the only thing of real value - information. For Sam Verner, living in the womb of the Renraku conglomerate was easy, until his sister disappeared and the façade of the corporate reality began to disintegrate.
-
-
Ready Chummer?
- By Christopher Judd on 04-12-20
-
Flybot
- By: Dennis E. Taylor
- Narrated by: Ray Porter
- Length: 9 hrs and 37 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Physicist Philip Moray is having a good day. He’s chipping away at his big work project. The lunch in the cafeteria is at least edible. And he’s looking forward to his end-of-the-day drink and a soak in the hot tub. Then, a strange device turns up in his office. A piece of technology he has never seen before–and shouldn’t even exist. Suddenly, corpses start turning up, eco-activists go on the attack, random people suffer bizarre symptoms. And every time the authorities get a lead, it traces right back to Philip and his colleague, Celia Hunt.
By: Dennis E. Taylor
-
The Temple
- By: H.P. Lovecraft
- Narrated by: H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society
- Length: 1 hr and 17 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
As the Great War drags on, German Uboats prowl the North Atlantic, torpedoing military and civilian vessels alike. When a shipwrecked man is recovered at sea, he tells a strange and disturbing tale of his experience on a German submarine. Has the experience driven him mad, or did his voyage reveal unseen monstrosities at the bottom of the ocean?
-
-
Great performance strange story direction
- By Nicolas on 03-15-25
By: H.P. Lovecraft
-
Heroes of the Astra Militarum
- Warhammer 40,000
- By: Sandy Mitchell, Steve Lyons, C.L. Werner, and others
- Narrated by: Toby Longworth, Gareth Armstrong, John Banks, and others
- Length: 7 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Imperial Guard are the backbone of the Imperium’s military strength. While the Space Marines get all the glory, it’s the guard that holds back the tide of threats that would soon drown the Imperium by sheer weight of numbers. These audio dramas bring you into their tanks, platoons and trenches to see how ordinary men and women face the horrors of the 41st Millennium.
-
-
Loved it!
- By Anonymous User on 11-29-21
By: Sandy Mitchell, and others
-
BattleTech
- Hour of the Wolf
- By: Blaine Lee Pardoe
- Narrated by: Tren Sparks, Sierra Taft
- Length: 18 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Since the Clan Invasion of 3050 ended in failure, there have been those who have not forgotten Nicholas Kerensky’s ultimate goal: The conquering of Terra, and the rise of one clan above all others…to become the ilClan, and rule over both the rest of the Clans and the Inner Sphere…regardless of what the Great Houses may say about it…
-
-
Really Well Done
- By thenichm on 05-09-25
-
The Temple of Jupiter Ammon
- By: H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society
- Narrated by: H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society
- Length: 1 hr and 15 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Celebrated treasure hunter Count Byron Khun de Prorok leads an expedition into the Libyan Desert in an attempt to find the lost tomb of Alexander the Great at the Temple of Jupiter Ammon. Can the Count succeed where countless others have failed, and recover one of history's greatest archeological finds? Or are some secrets buried with good reason, and those who seek them doomed to be met with madness and disaster?
-
-
Overall, the performance, editing and overall production.
- By alikabok1966 on 03-06-24
-
Lost Souls
- By: Poppy Brite
- Narrated by: Christ Patton
- Length: 12 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
At a club in Missing Mile, N.C., the children of the night gather, dressed in black, look for acceptance. Among them are Ghost, who sees what others do not; Ann, longing for love; and Jason, whose real name is Nothing, newly awakened to an ancient, deathless truth about his father, and himself. Others are coming to Missing Mile tonight. Three beautiful, hip vagabonds - Molochai, Twig, and the seductive Zillah, whose eyes are as green as limes - are on their own lost journey, slaking their ancient thirst for blood, looking for supple young flesh.
-
-
okay
- By VM209 on 06-10-20
By: Poppy Brite
-
The Devils
- By: Joe Abercrombie
- Narrated by: Steven Pacey
- Length: 25 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Brother Diaz has been summoned to the Sacred City, where he is certain a commendation and grand holy assignment awaits him. But his new flock is made up of unrepentant murderers, practitioners of ghastly magic, and outright monsters. The mission he is tasked with will require bloody measures from them all in order to achieve its righteous ends. Elves lurk at our borders and hunger for our flesh, while greedy princes care for nothing but their own ambitions and comfort. With a hellish journey before him, it's a good thing Brother Diaz has the devils on his side.
-
-
Style of writing
- By Justin on 05-14-25
By: Joe Abercrombie
-
Blood and Lies
- Agent of the Throne: Warhammer 40,000, Book 1
- By: John French
- Narrated by: Colleen Prendergast, Steve Conlin, Cliff Chapman, and others
- Length: 1 hr and 6 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
For Ianthe, war is all too familiar. A former soldier in the Astra Militarum, she now serves Inquisitor Covenant as an agent of the Throne. Her first mission sees her investigating a cult called the Children of Eternity. Falling foul of the local Enforcers, Ianthe soon learns that war in the shadows is seldom straightforward and that the local, angry law-keepers are the least of her troubles.
-
-
Good little short story
- By WELSBERN on 04-06-21
By: John French
-
The Vampire Genevieve Collection
- Warhammer Horror Series
- By: Kim Newman
- Narrated by: Antonia Beamish
- Length: 35 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Meet Genevieve Dieudonné. She’s beautiful, powerful, resourceful, courageous, and over four hundred years old. In the crowded cities and dark forests of the Warhammer world, Genevieve and her unlikely companions battle the forces of malevolence and insanity. However, the vampire blood running through Genevieve’s veins means she must constantly fight the urge to surrender to the evil within.
-
-
Some of the best old hammer
- By Zachary Stroup on 11-05-24
By: Kim Newman
-
Ushers
- A Short Story
- By: Joe Hill
- Narrated by: Leon Nixon
- Length: 56 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Martin Lorensen is a twenty-three-year-old counselor for disturbed teenagers. He’s bright, compassionate, attractive, and outgoing. He’s also—and this is the most interesting thing—not dead. Martin has improbably survived not one but two deadly disasters that claimed dozens of lives. The kid is riding one hell of a lucky streak. Two federal agents think there is something darker at play. Now that they’ve arranged to interview Martin, they want answers. Martin is ready to share everything he knows. One thing is for certain: when it comes to escaping death, luck doesn’t figure into it at all.
-
-
Love Short Story Format!
- By Carie C. on 11-12-24
By: Joe Hill
-
Falling Empires
- The Falling Empires Series
- By: James Rosone, Miranda Watson
- Narrated by: BJ Harrison
- Length: 60 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In back rooms around the world…powerful people gather. Will they decide the next U.S. election? From the first page, the intrigue unfurls into a web of strategy, ideology, and tactics which will be played out on a global stage. Cloaked in secrecy, an ancient organization has plans designed to remake the world. What is the Thule Society? Is the next Civil War their plan?
-
-
Great storytelling
- By Dionisio on 09-15-24
By: James Rosone, and others
People who viewed this also viewed...
-
Walk Among Us
- Compiled Edition
- By: Cassandra Khaw, Genevieve Gornichec, Caitlin Starling
- Narrated by: Neil Kaplan, Xe Sands, Erika Ishii
- Length: 11 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
One of the most popular role-playing properties in the world gets new life with this trio of horror novellas set in Vampire: The Masquerade's World of Darkness by three brilliant talents: Genevieve Gornichec, Cassandra Khaw, and Caitlin Starling.
-
-
Please skip it, boring
- By Anonymous User on 08-22-20
By: Cassandra Khaw, and others
-
Clan Novel Gangrel
- The Clan Novel Saga, Book 3
- By: Gherbod Fleming
- Narrated by: Beth Stewart
- Length: 7 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Vampire the Masquerade Clan Novel Saga is a thirteen-volume masterpiece, presenting the war between the established Camarilla leadership and the growing power of the brutal Sabbat on the East Coast of the United States. Each novel is told from the perspective of one of the thirteen clans, intertwining with the others, and filling in missing pieces artfully as we follow battle after battle, intrigue after intrigue—and the appearance of a strange artifact that falls into the hands of a solitary Toreador sculptor.
-
-
lesbian YA fantasy
- By D. Guh on 10-11-24
By: Gherbod Fleming
-
Prince of the City
- By: Keith Herber
- Narrated by: Gary Noon
- Length: 10 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
At the height of the American Revolution, Virginia aristocrat Vannevar Thomas fell victim to a rogue vampire. The newly Embraced Vannevar was taken in by a secretive organization of vampires known as the Camarilla and sent to San Francisco in 1849. Here Vannevar found a newborn, vibrant city, ripe for the taking—but other powers also cast covetous eyes on the growing town.
-
-
Vampires Across American History
- By undeadcow on 05-17-25
By: Keith Herber
-
Dark Prince
- By: Keith Herber
- Narrated by: Gary Noon
- Length: 8 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Sullivan was a working stiff, a before-the-mast sailor, when he was taken in by the Family almost 150 years ago. They gave him immortality — and an undying hunger for human blood. Since then, Sullivan has been on the prowl. And what better place for a night creature than modern San Francisco, its streets crowded with runaways, drifters, tourists, violent gangs, and nameless punks? Food is plentiful. Even food for the darkest hungers of the inhuman heart.
-
-
The best of Vampire: The Masquerade
- By C.T. on 06-28-24
By: Keith Herber
-
Widow's Walk
- Clan Novel: Tremere Trilogy, Book 1
- By: Eric Griffin
- Narrated by: Cathi Colas
- Length: 7 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Camarilla lost much ground along the East Coast in its recent war with the Sabbat. But the sect claimed one of the greatest prizes in the world control of New York City. Of course, the Camarilla was never entirely absent from the city, but in recent years no clan held so firmly there, among the enemy, as did the Tremere. Now the story of their covert activities and greatest victory is told.
-
-
A Dilemma Worthy of Them
- By undeadcow on 05-23-25
By: Eric Griffin
-
To Sift Through Bitter Ashes
- Grails Covenant Trilogy, Book 1
- By: David Niall Wilson
- Narrated by: Joshua Saxon
- Length: 8 hrs and 40 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Obsessed with the acquiring the Holy Grail for the Lasombra clan, the vampire Montrovant sets out on a quest that leads him through the establishment of the Knights Templar, the lair of an ancient Egyptian evil, and the deserts of the Holy Land. Dark forces are pitted against him, and each ally must be watched in turn, as treachery leads to deceit and back agan in a race against time, the Church, and the mysterious Kli Kodesh, who is more ancient, even than Montrovant's sire.
-
Walk Among Us
- Compiled Edition
- By: Cassandra Khaw, Genevieve Gornichec, Caitlin Starling
- Narrated by: Neil Kaplan, Xe Sands, Erika Ishii
- Length: 11 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
One of the most popular role-playing properties in the world gets new life with this trio of horror novellas set in Vampire: The Masquerade's World of Darkness by three brilliant talents: Genevieve Gornichec, Cassandra Khaw, and Caitlin Starling.
-
-
Please skip it, boring
- By Anonymous User on 08-22-20
By: Cassandra Khaw, and others
-
Clan Novel Gangrel
- The Clan Novel Saga, Book 3
- By: Gherbod Fleming
- Narrated by: Beth Stewart
- Length: 7 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Vampire the Masquerade Clan Novel Saga is a thirteen-volume masterpiece, presenting the war between the established Camarilla leadership and the growing power of the brutal Sabbat on the East Coast of the United States. Each novel is told from the perspective of one of the thirteen clans, intertwining with the others, and filling in missing pieces artfully as we follow battle after battle, intrigue after intrigue—and the appearance of a strange artifact that falls into the hands of a solitary Toreador sculptor.
-
-
lesbian YA fantasy
- By D. Guh on 10-11-24
By: Gherbod Fleming
-
Prince of the City
- By: Keith Herber
- Narrated by: Gary Noon
- Length: 10 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
At the height of the American Revolution, Virginia aristocrat Vannevar Thomas fell victim to a rogue vampire. The newly Embraced Vannevar was taken in by a secretive organization of vampires known as the Camarilla and sent to San Francisco in 1849. Here Vannevar found a newborn, vibrant city, ripe for the taking—but other powers also cast covetous eyes on the growing town.
-
-
Vampires Across American History
- By undeadcow on 05-17-25
By: Keith Herber
-
Dark Prince
- By: Keith Herber
- Narrated by: Gary Noon
- Length: 8 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Sullivan was a working stiff, a before-the-mast sailor, when he was taken in by the Family almost 150 years ago. They gave him immortality — and an undying hunger for human blood. Since then, Sullivan has been on the prowl. And what better place for a night creature than modern San Francisco, its streets crowded with runaways, drifters, tourists, violent gangs, and nameless punks? Food is plentiful. Even food for the darkest hungers of the inhuman heart.
-
-
The best of Vampire: The Masquerade
- By C.T. on 06-28-24
By: Keith Herber
-
Widow's Walk
- Clan Novel: Tremere Trilogy, Book 1
- By: Eric Griffin
- Narrated by: Cathi Colas
- Length: 7 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Camarilla lost much ground along the East Coast in its recent war with the Sabbat. But the sect claimed one of the greatest prizes in the world control of New York City. Of course, the Camarilla was never entirely absent from the city, but in recent years no clan held so firmly there, among the enemy, as did the Tremere. Now the story of their covert activities and greatest victory is told.
-
-
A Dilemma Worthy of Them
- By undeadcow on 05-23-25
By: Eric Griffin
-
To Sift Through Bitter Ashes
- Grails Covenant Trilogy, Book 1
- By: David Niall Wilson
- Narrated by: Joshua Saxon
- Length: 8 hrs and 40 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Obsessed with the acquiring the Holy Grail for the Lasombra clan, the vampire Montrovant sets out on a quest that leads him through the establishment of the Knights Templar, the lair of an ancient Egyptian evil, and the deserts of the Holy Land. Dark forces are pitted against him, and each ally must be watched in turn, as treachery leads to deceit and back agan in a race against time, the Church, and the mysterious Kli Kodesh, who is more ancient, even than Montrovant's sire.
long time World of Darkness fan
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Listener received this title free
The premise of Vampire: The Masquerade (and the World of Darkness setting in general) is a familiar one to urban fantasy fans. The world we know is built over a hidden reality where vampires, werewolves, mages, and other supernaturals compete for supremacy. The undead wield amazing powers, financial and otherwise, that protect them from hunters as well as other threats. They control the world and feed on humankind with impunity. Unfortunately, they are their own worst enemy with the vampires divided into 13 clans, multiple sects, and a conflict between elders as well as neonates.
This book begins a 13 novel series that illustrates each of the clans as well as tells an overarching story. Among other things this means that while some of these books are going to be self-contained stories, others will just be open-ended. In this case, Toreador only starts the journey of its protagonists and you’ll have to read the entire thing to see how it all ends up. I did read the original thirteen novels and while some were only so-so, others were great and I recommend it all to readers.
Clan Novel: Toreador follows two members of the Toreador Clan, a clan of artistes and socialites who are the “pretty” vampires. The first, Leopold, is a Neonate who doesn’t remember his past and makes a living as a sculptor who feeds off street kids he seduces into being his models. The second, Victoria Ash, is a sex-obsessed Elder of her clan that is deluded into believing her petty power games are important. Both of them have their immortal ennui-filled lives disrupted by an attack from the Sabbat as well as the discovery of a magical artifact.
The Sabbat, for laymens out there, are the really evil vampires compared to the Camarilla or Anarchs who are just the sorta-evil vampires. They’re a bunch of rampaging psychopath monsters who want nothing more than to feed on humanity openly while the others want to hide. The artifact, the Eye of Hazmiel, is only hinted at being a gamechanger in their world but will not reach its full potential until later books. This book’s appeal is primarily groundwork and explaining the World of Darkness to newcomers.
The treatment of the Toreador clan was very well-done as we get the different sides of the Clan. The artistes are represented by Leopold, who struggles with the amorality of his work as well as his desire to give back to the world by creating beauty. However, he’s unable to create anything original anymore due to the curse afflicting him. He can’t even make sculptures of his fellow Kindred as something blocks his talent. Victoria Ash, by contrast, surrounds herself with art and misses how dark and disturbing all of it is. She also can’t break free from using sex and desire as her only weapons despite the fact most Kindred can barely remember what sex is like since the lust for blood has replaced it.
The book is a bit slow going in terms of both action as well as deep character angst. For the most part Leopold’s story about not remembering his past isn’t as evocative as Louis from Interview with a Vampire’s “I need to kill people to survive.” Likewise, Victoria Ash is very comfortable with her existence as a monster. The action doesn’t begin until the end of the book and then it’s everything going to hell.
My favorite part of the book remains the opening where Leopold describes his night consisting of luring a young woman back to his home, convincing her to model for him, seducing her (with his powers or not), then feeding only to drive them away with a lure of drugs as well as cash. It’s a crass and robotic story that fascinates. We also learn how he makes his money, what he does to secure his haven, and other details that set it apart from other vampire stories.
The narrator does a fantastic job with Victoria Ash, being a sultry and playful tone. Her male characters are fine as well, showing she has a lot of versatility. The book jumps around between a lot of perspectives and this would be a daunting task for a lot of narrator but I really enjoyed her work throughout.
In conclusion, Clan Novel: Toreador has quite a lot going for it. I like both Leopold and Victoria Ash as characters. However, I do think this is a book that should be read primarily by people at least loosely familiar with the World of Darkness. I also think it’s a big commitment because you aren’t going to get the full appeal of the series unless you read the whole 13 novel set.
The narrator does a fantastic job with Victoria As
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Great series, but voice sounds like AI
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
World of Darkness nostalgia
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Really boring until the end.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Slow narrator
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Monotone Narrator
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.