3.5 Stars

Kathryn R. Blake

Mortal Illusions

New Concepts Publishing

ISBN 1-58608-408-9

2003

Beginning with the provocative premise of a wealthy vampire seeking an actress to play Lucy in his production of a theatrical musical of DRACULA, this novel brings together Germaine St. Justine, transformed during the French Revolution, and aspiring actress Claire Daniels, coincidentally the daughter of Germaine's former lover, now dying. In the past Germaine has used his blood to recall Claire's mother from the brink of death, but he refuses to make her a vampire. He becomes emotionally and sexually involved with Claire, who figures out the truth about him soon after her mother's death. Although Claire's attraction to Germaine is real, she also has an ulterior motive; she wants him to save the life of her brother Robert, an AIDS victim. The vampire community, ruthless in punishing those who violate its laws, complicates their relationship. Determined to preserve her independence, Claire frequently clashes with Germaine over what she perceives as the arbitrary cruelty of the vampire council. Harry, an old friend of hers and would-be fiance, tries to separate her from Germaine, and Germaine's long-time enemies among the undead want to use her to strike at him. Claire manages to pressure Germaine into curing Robert, at considerable pain and risk to both men, but this decision precipitates further conflict within the council and between the lovers.

This is a dark as well as sensual romance. Germaine, although alluring, comes across as clearly dangerous. He treats Claire in an arrogant, demanding manner softened only by the obvious affection he shows for her. Only her stubborn insistence on her freedom of will keeps their relationship from becoming irreversibly unbalanced, and some readers may find Germaine too dictatorial even so. Readers who object to a mild tinge of S/M should approach this story with caution. Blake does a good job of portraying vampirism in both frightening and attractive terms simultaneously. The world of the undead holds hazards that a mortal cannot escape simply by becoming one of them, even when transformation is allowed, not always a foregone conclusion. One facet of Germaine's character that exasperated me through most of the novel was his refusal to subject anyone else to the horrible, cursed, tainted, etc. existence he suffers. This attitude reminded me too much of the conventional remorseful vampire who, like Angel in BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER, spends centuries "honing his brooding skills." Eventually Germaine reveals his personal history to Claire, explaining his negative feelings about converting others to vampirism. Although fairly convincing, this revelation came too late in the story for me. When a vampire has obviously adjusted well enough to unlife and appears to lead a fulfilling, mostly enjoyable existence, yet insists it's too horrible to inflict on anyone else, I tend to want to give him a good shaking and tell him to get over it. Other than this reservation, I found MORTAL ILLUSIONS to be a strong narrative of passion, suffering, and hard-won fulfillment.

Reviewed by Margaret L. Carter