β Scribed by Jasper Kent
No coin nor oath required. For personal study only.
On 12th June 1812, Napoleon's Grande Armee forded the River Niemen and crossed the Rubicon - its invasion of Russia had begun. Charged with delaying the enemy's inexorable march on Moscow, a group of Russian officers summon the help of the oprichniki, a band of mercenaries from the outermost fringes of Christian Europe.
As rumours of a plague travelling west from the Black Sea reach the Russians, the Oprichniki - twelve in number - arrive. Preferring to work alone, and at night, they prove brutally, shockingly effective against the French. But one amongst the Russians, Captain Aleksei Ivanovich Danilov, is unnerved by the mercenaries' ruthlessness...and as he comes to understand the true, horrific nature of these strangers, he wonders at the nightmare they've unleashed in their midst...
This is the American edition of Kentβs 2009 debut novel, a superb treatment of NapolΓ©onβs invasion of Russia, and it stands out among vampire tales. Shortly after their flight from Smolensk, four officers of the irregular forces meet in a tavern in Moscow. One of them reveals that he has sent for the Oprichniki, warriors from the south who can turn NapolΓ©on back. When the Oprichniki arrive, Captain Alexei Danilov is uneasy, but his friend Dmitry insists that theseβbeingsβcan help save Russia. By the time Alexei realizes exactly what they are, winter has arrived, and the vampires are feeding on fleeing French soldiers and Russian civilians alike. Kent has blended fantasy and history to produce an awesome picture of the battles from Smolensk to Berezina. The characters fit the action, although with so many (in that respect it is a Russian novel), their quality varies. Twelve is definitely high-quality reading. It is also the first of a planned quintet. --Frieda Murray
"An accomplished, entertaining blend of historical fiction and dark fantasy."
β The Times
Library : Horror
Universes : The Danilov Quintet [01]
Formats : EPUB
ISBN : 9781407041100
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