Victoria Gardella Grantworth de Lacy, Marchoiness of Rockley, was still a relatively inexperienced Venator, or vampire slayer when she lost her husband due to Lilith the Vampire Queen.  She mourned for a year and has now decided that she is ready to return to the fight. 

Worryingly, fellow Venator Max Pesaro has disappeared.  Even worse, there are indications that the enemy has regrouped under Lilith’s son Nedas and have gotten their hands upon a powerful object that will tip the balance decidedly in their favor.  With the ability to call and control the souls of the dead, a massacre the likes of none before will become more than a nightmarish possibility. 

In a bid to stop the vampires before the chance is lost, Victoria travels to Italy to infiltrate the nest of vipers known as the Tutela who wish to see the undead succeed.  While going about in society there she comes across her missing colleague but helps does not seem to be forthcoming from that quarter.  Curiously, it is the mysterious Sebastian Vioget who appears time and again to offer aid.  But can she really trust him? 

This is the second installment in an exciting series.  Readers will enjoy the fast pacing, period details, heart pounding battles and exquisite sensuality of the writing. 

In the midst of turmoil, Victoria and the ambiguous Sebastian further their relationship.  He is a self serving charmer albeit one who acts with his own code of honor.  Unfortunately, he is not forthcoming with information in general and when this is coupled with his suspicious role in difficult situations, not always working for the benefit of the heroine, readers may wonder why she keeps letting her guard down around him.  Cryptic comments by this man and our heroine’s lack in pressing for real answers grows exasperating. 

We also learn more about the mysterious Max and his history.  He is a fabulous tortured soul in this story and readers will undoubtedly become more intrigued with this character.   

Victoria has matured under the experiences in The Rest Falls Away and in the last year of mourning.  We continue to admire her resolve in carrying the Gardella legacy as a Venator.  It is a difficult and sometimes heartbreaking task.  She continues to be expected to assume the position of head of the Venators from her Aunt Eustacia.  Still there is strangely a lack of basic information for her eventual role being passed on to the heroine and one notices her surprise and unprepared state in a range of situations.  Not the way one would imagine training a protégé. 

This book certainly keeps readers on their toes.  Surprises abound and even with the frustrations as stated above, RISES THE NIGHT makes one anxious for the next offering in this great series.

For those new to the series, it would be best to begin at the beginning.  Knowledge of the previous story and particularly the male characters is necessary to appreciate the complexity of the relationships in this pivotal book.

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