From Publishers Weekly
Set in the 1930s, Yarbro's 16th assured Count Saint-Germain adventure takes the 4,000-year-old vampire to the United States. First, however, he must flee an unstable Spain on the eve of civil war, a move that costs him a lucrative airplane manufacturing business and gains him dangerous new enemies. Encounters in Boston and during a cross-country trip with the ever-faithful Rogerio reveal an America gripped by the Great Depression and wary of "foreigners." He's relieved to arrive in San Francisco, where he reunites with the now-mature but still desirable artist Rowena Saxon (first met in Writ in Blood), but his stay there proves less safe-for both himself and his friends-than he had hoped. Vintner Carlo Pietragnelli, sustained financially by the Count through the years of Prohibition, and his neighbors are suffering theft by "midnight harvesters," but a bigger threat comes from the murderous Ku Klux Klan-like White Legion. Meanwhile, a ruthless assassin has followed Saint-Germain from Europe. Though far from fast-paced or action-packed, the novel provides fascinating historical detail interspersed with sensual interludes and enough intrigue to sustain interest. Intelligent parallels with the present provide depth. The difficulties 20th-century life presents for a vampire are well handled by the remarkably consistent author, who is, as always, true to her character. Like its immortal protagonist, this long-running series deserves to live on.Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
Yarbro brings the long-running adventures of the vampire Saint-Germain to Spain in the 1930s, where her ancient hero is living comfortably, running several successful businesses, including an aircraft design and construction company, and enjoying a beautiful noblewoman as his lover. But the coming Spanish civil war encroaches on Saint-Germain when the army eyes his aircraft business, hoping to refit the planes for war over Saint-Germain's objections. Realizing he is fighting a losing battle, Saint-Germain sends his lover to England and then, with his faithful servant, Rogerio, flies to Boston, Chicago, and finally San Francisco, where an old flame, Rowena Saxon, awaits him. But the Spanish insurgents are worried that Saint-Germain will cause trouble for them after they seize his assets, and they send Cenere, a skilled assassin, to track him down and kill him. Slow at points--a whole chapter is devoted to Saint-Germain buying a car--the novel is filled with intriguing period details and, once the pace picks up, a compelling story. Kristine Huntley
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Midnight Harvest FROM OUR EDITORS
The Barnes & Noble Review
Midnight Harvest is the 16th installment in Chelsea Quinn Yarbro's wildly popular Chronicles of Saint-Germain (Hotel Transylvania, The Palace, Blood Games, etc.), the saga that follows benevolent vampire Ferenc Ragoczy, le Comte de Saint-Germain, across the earth as he fights for honor -- and his many loves.
Midnight Harvest takes place in the 1930s. Ragoczy is living comfortably in Spain, where he owns several thriving businesses, including a progressive airplane design and manufacturing company. As the country moves closer to civil war and the fascist military begin commandeering important businesses and imprisoning foreigners, Ragoczy is forced to flee to America. When the vampire arrives in Boston, however, he finds the States in much the same economic predicament. The Great Depression is causing thousands of businesses to close and threatening the livelihood of millions of Americans. When Ragozcy travels to San Francisco to reunite with an old lover, Rowena Saxon, he sees firsthand how the Depression is affecting people. Some disgruntled locals, blaming their fiscal problems on immigrants coming to America, have started a white supremacist group that is intimidating foreign business owners into leaving. The vampire gets involved when one of his business interests is targeted. Meanwhile, an assassin has been sent to America from Spain to kill the vampire once and for all.
Yarbro's Saint-Germain saga flawlessly mixes gothic horror and historical fiction with dark eroticism. And while these novels aren't filled with overly graphic violence and sexuality like some other comparable series, fans of Anne Rice and Laurell K. Hamilton will undoubtedly enjoy this novel, and this series. Paul Goat Allen
FROM THE PUBLISHER
From the Chronicles of Saint-Germain comes Book 16 in the long-running vampire series which brings the Dark Prince to Calif- ornia during the Great Depression. Fleeing Spain at the beginning of their Civil War, the vampire Saint-Germain arrives in Calif-ornia to reunite with the older and wiser Rowena Saxon, who is considering following the Dark Prince into an eternal life. Meanwhile, Saint-Germain is unaware that a ruthless assassin is pursuing him—one of the most charming killers ever to grace the page: Cenere. Unbelievably smooth and utterly inhumane, Cenere has trailed Saint-Germain across oceans and continents, killing anyone in his way, including those under Saint-Germain's protection. But will Saint-Germain finally awaken to the danger that threatens him before all he loves is lost?
Author Biography: Chelsea Quinn Yarbro lives in San Francisco, California.
FROM THE CRITICS
Publishers Weekly
Set in the 1930s, Yarbro's 16th assured Count Saint-Germain adventure takes the 4,000-year-old vampire to the United States. First, however, he must flee an unstable Spain on the eve of civil war, a move that costs him a lucrative airplane manufacturing business and gains him dangerous new enemies. Encounters in Boston and during a cross-country trip with the ever-faithful Rogerio reveal an America gripped by the Great Depression and wary of "foreigners." He's relieved to arrive in San Francisco, where he reunites with the now-mature but still desirable artist Rowena Saxon (first met in Writ in Blood), but his stay there proves less safe-for both himself and his friends-than he had hoped. Vintner Carlo Pietragnelli, sustained financially by the Count through the years of Prohibition, and his neighbors are suffering theft by "midnight harvesters," but a bigger threat comes from the murderous Ku Klux Klan-like White Legion. Meanwhile, a ruthless assassin has followed Saint-Germain from Europe. Though far from fast-paced or action-packed, the novel provides fascinating historical detail interspersed with sensual interludes and enough intrigue to sustain interest. Intelligent parallels with the present provide depth. The difficulties 20th-century life presents for a vampire are well handled by the remarkably consistent author, who is, as always, true to her character. Like its immortal protagonist, this long-running series deserves to live on. (Sept. 24) FYI: In a little-known collection, The Saint-Germain Chronicles (1983), a couple of tales place the vampire in the U.S. as far forward in time as 1981. Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.
Library Journal
This is the 16th novel featuring the vampire Count Saint-Germain, an urbane, cosmopolitan, wealthy, and humanitarian hero. The story begins in Cadiz, Spain, in 1935, where Saint-Germain, the principal owner of an airplane manufacturing company, is struggling in vain to keep the military government from taking over his business. His efforts are fruitless and make him many dangerous enemies in high places. He has no choice but to flee, finding a haven in the United States with dear friend Rowena, a wealthy San Franciscan. In short order, Saint-Germain becomes involved in a situation where a white supremacist group is terrorizing local farmers. But what he does not realize until almost too late is that the Spanish military has sent an assassin after him. Yarbro has constructed an intricate and, at times, interesting story. How unfortunate that the reader must slog through pages replete with irrelevant details and tedious dialog to find it. The earliest works in this series were more tightly written and conveyed an excellent mixture of history and fantasy. Consider for purchase only where the author has a following.-Patricia Altner, Information Seekers, Columbia, MD Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.
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