Review: Commedia Della Morte by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro

Tor, 2012
ISBN: 0765331047
Available: Hardcover & Kindle

Commedia Della Morte is the twenty-fifth Count Saint Germain book, but readers shouldn’t worry. While there is some continuity, the books are quite readable as stand alones as well. In this novel the Count must answer the pleas of his dearest love, the vampire Madeline who has been imprisoned by the revolutionaries of eighteenth century France. Determined to rescue Madeline, while also balancing the unsure affections of a theater troupe leader and her jealous, angry son, Saint Germain must also keep his own identity under wraps since the resentment of the populace could easily turn on even an ″exiled Hungarian noble″.

Commedia Della Morte is a lush, sensuous historical tale, much heavier on the historical rather than the horror. Despite ghouls and vampires running amok it’s the people who are the real terrors (as always with Yarbro’s books.) The tension is excellent, but not threaded throughout the whole story. Yarbro’s characters are, as always an enchanting strength. Still, this book won’t be popular with more impatient modern horror fans. Recommended for collections avoiding the extreme side of horror, or with readers who have more of a love of historic detail and vivaciousness than gore and terror.

Contains: Sex