We now have Frank Schildiner‘s third novel about “Napolean’s Vampire Hunters”: The Land of Everlasting Gloom. Published by Black Coat Press, these works make use of characters and settings created by Paul Feval (and some others), all reprinted by BCP as well.
This is important as this one features both the vampiric city of Selene, as well as the sinister Brothers Tenebre. We get a very brief intro on Feval’s vampiric works that should help those not familiar with them. I guess I’ll need to get these, as up to now what I know of these characters and situations are from various new stories using them in Tales of the Shadowmen.
For those who missed the prior two novels, our heroes are swordsman Jean-Pierre Severin, the head of the Paris Morgue, who comes from Feval’s The Vampire Countess, and exorcist Franz von Karnstein from Le Fanu‘s Camilla by way of a trio of Hammer films. Joining them are Sylvia Darnia and her father, Bartolomeo, another swordmaster. Sylvia and Franz are now a couple, hoping to be married.
This novel is set shortly after the prior one, in 1806 and starts off in Paris with several storylines. The brothers, Ange and Jean Tenebre, are a ghoul and a vampire, who have been around for 400 years. They are not your typical types, either.
They are under the command of a witch, Strix, who has a bizarre scheme to summon a demon that requires entering Selene. In preparation for that, Strix has them bring noblemen to sacrifice.
Meanwhile, there is a Thuggee priestess, aided by a rouge British lord and former sea captain. She is after ancient parchments that where stolen from her cult to prevent their use. And Severin and Barto, investigating strange deaths, must contend again with the king of beggars in Paris: the Antipope.
Soon the Brothers Tenebre, along with Strix are heading to Selene, with the others in pursuit. Along the way, we learn more about Karnstein, as well as who Strix is and why she is pursuing this path. Who will succeed in the end?
The epilogue sets things up for a possible sequel, as well as a hint to what will be happening with Franz and Sylvia. I look forward to that.
Overall, this is another good work. I do hope we get more in this series. I guess I also need to get Feval’s vampire works soon.
