Customer Reviews:
Terrific.......2006-06-29
Another fabulous installment in the series. As usual, a person is murdered. There are several suspects. The Inspector is baffled. But his household staff jumps into action and starts investigating. It's the same formula in every book, but it does not get boring. The fantastic characters will keep you entertained, as well as the clever twists and setting. This is not a book about Victorian England, so don't read it thinking you'll derive historical knowledge. It just happens to take place in Victorian England, but the way Brightwell describes the scenes, you can just smell the smells and see the sights in your mind.
Mrs. Goodge finds the killer.......2005-09-09
In this book a man is found shot in the head in his home. When Inspector Witherspoon and his staff begin investigating they find that they have an unlimited number of suspects since the man that was killed was so disliked. There's not much mystery here since its easy to guess who the killer is, but we get another visit with Ms. Brightwell's wonderful characters. Don't be fooled. This is a series that is fully on the side of "cozy". There's not much historical detail in the books even though they are set in Victorian England. But the characters are fun and there is humour and warmth within the pages. I enjoy this series.
Another good entry in a series of pleasant time-passers.......1999-05-28
Because of my mother, I grew up on Victorian books. The Mrs. Jeffries series, in spite of details and expressions sprinkled in, has never reminded me of the Real Thing. I don't care. I like this series anyway. The tone reminds me of Miss Seeton. You aren't getting Anne Perry here, although Ms. Brightwell does have some good comments about social ills.
These books are dainty tea cakes that make for a nice afternoon or evening's read. Sometimes that's all you want; and if that IS all you want, this would be a good series to buy. The main characters are sympathetic (although Lutie is a little too much) and the murders aren't ridiculously easy to solve. This particular entry has a few decent red herrings (all right, I'll admit it -- the author had me fooled too long for my comfort).
The covers fit the series well except for one thing: why is Mrs. Jeffries always portrayed with completely grey hair when the books state that her hair has some grey in it? (I think her hair is auburn, but this isn't my computer, so I can't check.) I know it's a minor thing, but the artist is otherwise so close that it's a shame to have that mistake. I've suffered the aggravation of buying books with covers that have nothing to do with the interior so I do appreciate the fact that this artist has put some effort into the assignment.
In short, if you like cozies, you should try Mrs. Jeffries out. You'll probably want to get them all. Ann E. Nichols
A sublime Victorian mystery.......1998-08-24
In Victorian England, many individuals are cruel and abusive towards the servants they employ. Inspector Gerald Weatherspoon treats his employees as his best friends. In return, they adore him. The staff has many London contacts so when the inspector is involved in a murder investigation, they help him. Led by his housekeeper Mrs. Jeffries, his staff gathers information and clues, and expeditiously presents them to Gerald in such a way so that he believes the ideas are his. Thanks to his servants, Weatherspoon is one of the leading inspectors.
Mrs. Jeffries and her sprightly crew spring into action once again when Roland Ashbury is murdered while apparently sharing tea with his killer. Weatherspoon and his invisible assistants discreetly learn that the victim was disagreeable person with many enemies including his business partner, daughter, and son-in-law (an MP). When Roland's wife is also shot, the investigative team knows that time is of the essence before someone else is killed.
Thirteen (as in the thirteenth book) is not an unlucky number for fans of this long running and delightful historical cozy series. Emily Brightwell makes sure that her characters remain fresh and interesting while the story line remains as absorbing as previous novels in the series. The historical detail gives a gothic feel to MRS. JEFFRIES TAKES THE CAKE. Even after all these years, this collection remains one of the best English cozy series on the market today.
Harriet Klausner
A terrific historical mystery.......1998-08-21
In Victorian England, many individuals are cruel and abusive towards the servants they employ. Inspector Gerald Weatherspoon treats his employees as his best friends. In return, they adore him. The staff has many London contacts so when the inspector is involved in a murder investigation, they help him. Led by his housekeeper Mrs. Jeffries, his staff gathers information and clues, and expeditiously presents them to Gerald in such a way so that he believes the ideas are his. Thanks to his servants, Weatherspoon is one of the leading inspectors.
Mrs. Jeffries and her sprightly crew spring into action once again when Roland Ashbury is murdered while apparently sharing tea with his killer. Weatherspoon and his invisible assistants discreetly learn that the victim was disagreeable person with many enemies including his business partner, daughter, and son-in-law (an MP). When Roland's wife is also shot, the investigative team knows that time is of the essence before someone else is killed.
Thirteen (as in the thirteenth book) is not an unlucky number for fans of this long running and delightful historical cozy series. Emily Brightwell makes sure that her characters remain fresh and interesting while the story line remains as absorbing as previous novels in the series. The historical detail gives a gothic feel to MRS. JEFFRIES TAKES THE CAKE. Even after all these years, this collection remains one of the best English cozy series on the market today.
Harriet Klausner
Customer Reviews:
One of the Best (Revised) Clanbooks.......2003-05-01
This is the clanbook I enjoyed reading the most (even long after I knew that I should go to sleep).
Pluses
- The clan's history covers some parts of the world that are either glossed-over or overlooked entirely in other clanbooks. An...intriguing attempt is made at explaining the Brujah/Troile mess
- The book explains the three main pseudo-factions of Brujah (Iconoclasts, Idealists and Independents), and the Brujah antitribu and True Brujah get a mention (albeit a minor one). The typical Brujah social gatherings (various kinds of rants and raves) are explained and sound like chaotic, fun, potentially violent affairs. They're not all like that though, of course, as it's rather silly to try to categorize anything to do with Brujah. (Some "rants" catering to elders sound like they could very well be mistaken for high-society dinner parties without the food.)
- Reading the relatively-informed opinions of a studious Brujah (mistaken for a Toreador by one prince) who discusses the other clans is very amusing (I find some of his statements about the Assamites and the Baali questionable, however)
- The character templates are relatively good (Confederate, Harpy-to-Be and Anarch Ringleader, who seems to have been inspired by the character Tyler in Fight Club)
- Quite a few notable Brujah are detailed (or at least elaborated on) in the back
Minuses
- Besides a few typos and word omnissions here and there, not much other than some of the art being a bit drab
On a side note, I was surprised to see that Christof Romuald (in the Vampire: the Masquerade - Redemption computer game) is mentioned among other prolific Brujah.
The Evolution of the Revolution Continues.......2000-07-19
Back in the days when VtM's atmosphere was first described (and trademarked) as "gothic-punk", the job of upholding the "punk" part fell largely to the anarchic and rebellious Brujah. Quickly, however, there came to be more to the Brujah than mohawks and frenzied head-banging. The clan turned out to have a noble heritage of humanitarianism, philosophy and even a lost utopia. The original CLANBOOK: BRUJAH did a lot to develop this more diverse clan concept as did VAMPIRE: DARK AGES.
This is further developed here. In this new edition of CLANBOOK: BRUJAH, the clan's history has been expanded including recent developments in the Anarch Free States. An insider's view is provided from the perspective of an independent-minded, articulate Brujah ancilla who both states and defies the stereotypes about his clan. (You've got to like a guy who dismisses the Tremere with "Whatever, Gandalf.")
In general, just as the new CLANBOOK: NOSFERATU seemed to make that clan more monsterous, this book seems to portary the Brujah as more humane and rational. The emphasis now seems to be on presenting the clan as the unsung backbone of vampiric society- individualistic, skeptical of rules and authority, often volatile but willing to do the heavy lifting that the more refined and aristocratic clans won't and gifted with an adaptability that enables them to survive when others don't. There is still room left, however, for the more rebellious Brujah we've come to love. The Iconclast/Idealist/Individualist camps presented in the original book are maintained here but made less rigid.
Indeed, despite more conventional graphic design and artwork, this new edition is an improvement over the old one. There are new merits and flaws, new discipline variations (and some old ones), an expanded section on notable Brujah (bigger than in NOSFERATU) and even a sample Brujah coterie. MIND'S EYE THEATRE stats are given for much material. There are all new character templates as well- no more dated pop-music figures and no more white supremacist. (If players want to play one of those, they'll have to think of it themselves.)
An adequate update.......2000-06-29
While this newest clanbook makes a good attempt at explaining how this clan can attempt to hold power in the world of darkness, ultimately it fails at really making a case on how a clan so lacking in planners or diplomats can hold its own against more unified, well liked clans. Yes, individually, they may be more physically powerful then other clans. But the "V:tM" game has already established how little this matters on the grand scale of things. More illustration of Brujah 'long term' thinking should have been presented. Sadly, this clan is still portrayed as the shortest term thinkers of all the clans, and therefore the least formidable. Despite this, an entertaining read and an adequate update.
So much better than the previous Clan Book.......2000-05-31
Welp, If you are looking for reasons to get the book even though you have the old clanbook there are only a couple. First the back of the book has more distinct characters (with stats and all) for you to use in stories. Second, the antitribute are given some examples in the sample concepts of characters. Third the old powers in the old clanbook are modified and made better, plus a couple added more. There is a lot more literature and background for people to read. And I even think it's done better than the revised Nosferatu Clanbook.
Amazing!.......2000-05-08
It started with the revised Nosferatu clanbook and continues with Brujah. New information for the clan that expands our perception of these rebels. This book is a must. I cannot wait for the rest of the revised clanbooks!
Customer Reviews:
Wicked.......2007-04-12
Well it seemed to me that the plot building up over the last 7 books has finally started to bare fruit. *sighs with releif* it seems a long time ago that we left constantinople to get to this point. A point where, in this book, blows up and hits you in the face. Trust the Brujah to get things done! and with style! the brujah character in this book his very likeable showing the reader that as a Clan they used to be nobel and a clan of high standing in Cainite society. My my look how far they have fallen as they have slowing decended into chaos. I liked this aspect rather than the writer just going to a combat oritentated style book. This book is full to the brim with political intridges and manuverings and its totally gripping. I'm very happy as Brujah is one of my faverate clans. Brilliant. And an interesting addition to the list of characters for Tremere antitribu fans.
Death Is The Mirror Of Life.......2005-06-10
That we've made it all the way from Constantinople to the outskirts of Paris is no small wonder. Vampires travel poorly in the light and require good support systems if they are not to alarm the countryside. White Wolf's vampire series tend to ignore the human world that is not in service to the dark, but it is out there, and the wonderful world of light tight hearses and high speed trains is 700 years away. But the pilgrims have made it, Anatole has exposed the heretics, and for now the focus shifts to the world within the gates. There, Alexander rules as prince of the city, the devious Lady Saviarre is his consort, and baroque plots and power plays are the rule of the day.
Prince Alexander may be 1000 years old, but his grip on the city has weakened. Not far from Paris the Queens of Love plot revenge for an old wrong, sending both the Brujah Veronique and the Toreador Rosamund on separate diplomatic missions. This is a deep game played by true ancients and the outcome will shake the night in Paris. Veronique and Rosamund are both pawns in this game aimed at creatng weak points at which others can strike. Veronique is the hardened manipulator who avoids the limelight, and Rosamund fills the part of ingénue, aimed at Alexander's heart.
And below the city in the vaults of the Nosferatu, Mnemach queen of the disfigured and unnerving undead begins to work her own revenge. Veronique treads carefully, but her blood runs with political intrigue. Unlike others of her clan, she has learned to be subtle as well as deadly as she plays for final advantage in the nights of Paris to come.
As this series has moved north, it has become less a vampire story and more a tale of times that were, indeed, a nightmare of political power struggles - human or vampire. In the backdrop living rulers drive crusades in a search for wealth and the Church declares it's own pogrom against the Cathars. Other similar conflicts dot the European landscape, and if vampires didn't have unusual feeding requirements the characters of this story would be indistinguishable from the nobility they imitate.
That is really my sole criticism of this volume and several others in the series. I sometimes get the feeling that the players of the game are trying to turn it into a history game instead of a narrative that is founded on a deep layer of gothic terror. these vampires are too much like there human counterparts. I would like more spookiness, more occult, and just a bit more graphic violence. That said, Myranda Kalis writes well and the ending of the book is almost everything one could ask. My curiosity about the long term goal of the series is aroused as well.
Undead Power Games in the Middle Ages ..........2003-12-21
This book is excellent. You could remove the vampires and it would be the same. Excellent plot with equally well-written characters. The vampire element adds flavour! And the medieval setting is wonderful, because it cloaks everything in a sense of history.
I truly admire the way relationships are illustrated between vampiric characters ( siblings in the blood / vampiric allies ) and vampiric characters and their mortal retinues. Especially the sense of protectorship that the Brujah protagonist harbours for her mortal servants/ghouls. The machinations of various clandestine powermongers and political players is engaging and makes for a substantive read from start to finish.
Like I said earlier ~ the plot could be taken straight from a more mundane story set with exclusively mortal characters within the same time frame and it would be just as compelling. It's truly a well-done piece of storytelling. Bravo!
This novel is yet another in a series of well-written stories in the Dark Ages line. I look forward to Toreador with barely contained anticipation.
Average customer rating:
- Turn About Is Fair Play
- worth reading cover to cover
- Excellent read
- Now this was a great story
- Loved it!!!
|
Clan Novel: Brujah (Vampire: The Masquerade)
Gerbod Fleming
Manufacturer: White Wolf Games Studio
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 1565048253 |
Customer Reviews:
Turn About Is Fair Play.......2004-12-21
In a sanctioned series like this the reader knows that it is only a matter fo time before the Camarilla start to fight back. After all, it wouldn't do to wipe out half the point behind a popular game. And it should no surprise that the Brujah turn up on the front lines of the battle. Archon Theo Bell is an example of what is good about the Brujah clan traits. He is tough, intelligent, subtle when he needs to be, and capable of shocking violence when that is the best solution.
Back against the wall, the prince of the city dead, Baltimore looks pretty much like Sabbat meat. If nothing is done, the Camarilla will lose the east coast entirely. To Bell falls the responsibility for organizing a campaign that will snatch a surprise victory from the fangs of defeat. And he is an expert at his job.
If the Giovanni novel was a vampire version of a mobster novel, Brujah is the war story of the series. Archon Bell must deal with mysterious killings, recalcitrant Justicars, and a host of vampires that would love to see him dead. Betrayal and hidden agendas are the rules of the conflict as one side tries to out-bite the other. As the intensity grows, the action shifts to Manhattan for a series of surprises. Be warned, things get VERY violent.
Arguable, this is Fleming's best book of the series. He's past the point of having to provide collateral details and has focused head down on the story. The result is a tight narrative in a most untypical vampire story. As with Giovanni, the only problem is that is can't be read out of order without giving things away too early. Yes, this sells books, but I would like to see more effort in creating novels that sold the idea of the game better.
worth reading cover to cover.......2002-10-17
I admit that out of the novel this was the first one that i picked up and read. good place to start at huh? I probably should have started at the beginning of the series but, surprisingly enough i wasn't too confused in this novel, without having read the preceeding events that had lead up to it. I liked the author to this book also, more so than the other i have since read. He characterizes the Brujah in the story very well, and even though they are not my favorite clan, this is my favorite novel to the series. But i don't suggest for anyone to just pick up any novel and start, and because otherwise you will just get confused. I know when i started the malkvavian novel, and the lasombra novel out of nowhere i was quickly regretting not having started at the beginning of the series.
Excellent read.......2001-04-07
Gherbod Fleming's Clan Novels are among the best in the series. This is the way they should be written. It felt like it was telling the story of a Brujah, rather than the story of a stereotypical Brujah. Would not recommend the book to anyone who has no experience with White Wolf's World of Darkness... unless of course you were willing to read the Clan Novel series (a fairly good introduction to the gaming universe). I'd also recommend reading The Masquerade of the Red Death trilogy, which is probably an easier introduction to the World of Darkness.
Now this was a great story.......2000-10-16
This book hooked me right from the start. It had great action with enough discription to put you there, but no to much to drag the story down. It also had some good cloak and dagger guessing and reguessing as facts continued to become clear. But over all it was a fast paced ride that never let me down.
Also this book while dealing with other plots from the other books, keeps them in small quantity, and really packs the story from the Brujah stand point.
I had to delete several more things I was going to say as I hate to do spoilers and ruin stuff for others. So please forgive the shortness... 3 more paragraphs had details better left read from an author that paints a scene I would have butchered trying to retell.
I would have to say that this was one of my favorite in the series, and would have to say that no matter what you thought of the other books, you will like this one.
Loved it!!!.......2000-10-01
I read this in about 4 hours all together and then read it agian, slower. Despite some forgivable mistakes, like calling Theo and Gainesmill Malkavians in a paragraph, though they are Brujah, this book is almost certainly the best fantasy i've read in a long time. I will be deffinately getting more books from the clan novel series, as this was my first one. I picked this oen because i've always had a passion for knowing more about the former promethian-turned-rebel Brujah and i was NOT dissapointed. It is also filled with wonderfully deatiled fighting seens, but i would sort of be called a gore-fan so i may be almost alone in my love for the descriptive killing. I learned of a new type of Shotgun and cartridge that i diden't know about and i got wonderful ideas for my own stories, which i post on the internet. All in all, this book is great for anyone above 11, who can appreciate sitting down for an hour or two and reading something superbly written
Customer Reviews:
Eh..........2005-02-04
This series was okay. I didn't like how it seemed everyone had dealings with the supernatural, and that there was more than one or two vampires in Aurora. I prefered the more realistic account of the seige of New York, where the punches were thrown by characters you knew, not some ancient evil.
I'd first recomend The Brujha Clan Novel if you want fiction on Theo Bell.
Great thriller.......2004-08-09
I loved this book. It was fast, held together well, and really drew me into the action. The characters were fun too. I found it almost impossible to put down.
Better Fan-Fiction.......2004-07-11
I really wanted to like this book. But it bored me.
It seems like World Of Darkness fan-fiction. Not rotten
fanfic, but still. Its not very gripping, the characters
are thin cardboard (Delfine, the young naive-yet-spunky-yet-
terrified-yet-takecharge vampire is worst, absolutely
unbelievable as a being) and the author doesn't resist the
lure of the 'World Of Darkness as a theme park' - where
anything goes, because there is a new conspiracy or
supernatural power to explain everything. Sheesh.
Great if you like the game.......2003-05-30
If you like "Vampire: The Masquerade" then you may like this first in a series about the Brujah clan. We meet Theo, a Brujah archon who was once a slave in the antibellum south, whose method of operations appears to be very traditional until his mortal life memories get triggered by his latest assignment. Some Kindred and some mortals are working together to run a slave ring of mortals for high profit to markets around the world. This ring seems to cut across all lines that exist in the world of Kindred politics or perhaps its just a cover for something more serious. Burdened with a neonate Brujah who is a survivor of this modern slave ring, Theo must balance his duty, his clan, the politics of the Midwest, and his own memories as he searches for other survivors and the leaders of the slavers. The writing is excellent, showing depth to Kindred characters that is often lacking in many RPG groups and in the books themselves on occassion. There is plenty of violence for those just interested in the mechanics of combat but primarily this is a story of lies and coverups discovered by someone with a century and a half chip on his shoulder.
Fantastic!.......2003-05-05
...This book rocks though. If it wasn't for the logos on the cover, you'd never know it was linked to a game at all. It's a kick-[butt] horror with really great characters -- I could easily fall in love with Delphine -- and some of the best portrayals I've ever found of what vampire existence is like. He really gets in there and takes you into it all. Pick it up as soon as you can. You won't regret buying it.
Customer Reviews:
Not as good as the first in the series but still pretty good.......2003-11-03
I didn't think this book was as interesting and intriguing as the first even though I was glad that we spent more time with the twins Theo rescued. Not as many flashbacks as in the first book and these read more distant from the plot. There is also several unclear relationships in the book -- for example who are Adam and David? Ghouls, childer, what? Also I'm not sure I buy how easily lend astray the prince of Minneapolis is and her disrespect for an Archon. Maybe some of my questions will be answered in book three.
Wow........2003-10-01
This book is incredible. After the last book, Slave Ring, I made sure I got a copy of Overseer as soon as I could. I haven't been able to put it down. It's incredible. I'm not going to give any spoilers away or anything, but the book sucks you in, and then just blows you away totally. The action is relentless, the characters are great, the story is awesome, and the ending is just wild, man. I can't believe I have to wait to December to get the last book.
Customer Reviews:
best of the trilogy.......2004-02-11
The questions and characters revealed in the first two books of this trilogy further explored in this third entry. A good deal of the book is about fighting and finding allies. Like much of "Vampire: the Masquerade" it is also about using others to get ahead and the effects of doing that on the mind, the emotions and the soul. This time both the effects on Kindred and ghouls are explored. I have a fondness for ghouls and have several players playing these servants in my annual summer tabletop game. Dedopulos does a good job of looking at the newness and horror of newbie Kindred and ghouls both though I wish someone would write more about ghouls in general. I was very pleased to finish this third book. Maybe I'll have good on Theo show up this summer when our rpg group restarts up Vampire.
Pleasantly surprised and very impressed.......2004-01-16
I had always been put off by RPG fiction - usually because the writing was often less than good. But a friend handed me Slave Ring I was really impressed by the way it was written - it had a different feel to it. I then read The Overseer in a day - I really couldn't put it down - it delved more deeply into the story telling and really fleshed out the characters making them more vivid. So I was looking forward to getting my hands on The Puppet-Masters, and I certainly wasn't disappointed. I knew that it was going to be an important book with everything that's happening in the game world, and I thought it successfully tied up a few loose-ends while leaving a few open for later books. It also continued to bring the characters to life and again I couldn't put it down. I am really looking forward to reading more by this writer!
The Final Nights are upon us ..........2003-12-21
This final book to the Brujah (Slave) Trilogy is a good read. I may be wrong, but it's also a nice precursor to the Time of Judgement novel that will bring a close to the World of Darkness (Gehenna). Sorry, if this is a spoiler for some - but I doubt it is ;)
Elements that are hinted at in the previous 2 books are fleshed out and revealed in this one, while others are left unanswered. We meet some notable characters from WoD lore, as well as experience some interesting plot developments that will keep the reader engaged from start to finish.
The Final Nights are upon us ...
Average customer rating:
|
Clanbook Brujah
White Wolf
Manufacturer: White Wolf
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000VHFPGG |
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