Title: Screaming Spires: The Cavaliers Book II
Author: Georgiana Derwent
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy, New Adult, Vampire
Release Date: April 12th 2013
A Tale of the Posh, the Privileged and the Paranormal...
The Cavaliers are the most elite society at Oxford University - rich, powerful, and beautiful. No one realises that they are no ordinary students, but a group of aristocratic vampires from the English Civil War. For four hundred years they have groomed the most promising students to run the government, police, and finance in the way the vampires wish, granting them eternal life in return for absolute obedience.
In her first year at Oxford University, Harriet French became inextricably tied to the Cavaliers. Now Harriet’s back at Oxford for her second year. Armed with a vampire boyfriend, some great friends and the truth, she’s expecting an easier time. She’s wrong. Her best friend is now a vampire and the Cavalier who turned her to save her life is facing death for the one good deed he’s ever done. Just when it seems that things can’t get any worse, the Cavaliers’ ancient enemies decide to strike at the heart of the society and they’ve got Harriet in their sights.
Screaming Spires continues the story of an ancient vampire conspiracy and the ordinary girl caught in its web begun in Oxford Blood.
The Cavaliers are the most elite society at Oxford University - rich, powerful, and beautiful. No one realises that they are no ordinary students, but a group of aristocratic vampires from the English Civil War. For four hundred years they have groomed the most promising students to run the government, police, and finance in the way the vampires wish, granting them eternal life in return for absolute obedience.
In her first year at Oxford University, Harriet French became inextricably tied to the Cavaliers. Now Harriet’s back at Oxford for her second year. Armed with a vampire boyfriend, some great friends and the truth, she’s expecting an easier time. She’s wrong. Her best friend is now a vampire and the Cavalier who turned her to save her life is facing death for the one good deed he’s ever done. Just when it seems that things can’t get any worse, the Cavaliers’ ancient enemies decide to strike at the heart of the society and they’ve got Harriet in their sights.
Screaming Spires continues the story of an ancient vampire conspiracy and the ordinary girl caught in its web begun in Oxford Blood.
ABOUT THE AUTHORGeorgiana Derwent read History at Oxford University. Aside from the vampires, The Cavaliers Series is an exaggerated but fairly accurate portrayal of her time there. She now works in London and lives with her fiancé. He’s been very supportive throughout the writing of her books, mainly because he likes to claim that all the most attractive characters are based on him.
Georgiana fell in love with vampire novels after reading The Vampire Diaries back in 2000. At the time it was a struggle to find any similar paranormal romances, a situation that it’s fair to say seems to have been rectified in the last few years. She now loves paranormal series, fantasy novels, and modern literary works in roughly equal measure.
Ever since her teens, she wanted to write a vampire series. Ever since going to Oxford she wanted to write a book about her experiences there. During a dull few months between finishing university and starting her graduate job, she had the idea of combining the two and The Cavaliers Series was born.
A_TiffyFit's Review:
This book picks up right where we left off in "Oxford Blood." Harriet is now dating Tom, accepting and yet not accepting of the Cavaliers and vampire culture in Oxford, and basically coming to grips with the fact that her 'best friend' is now a vampire and her other friend, Olamide, is having a hard time recovering from her ex-boyfriend's, Callum, death.
I liked the history of the Cavaliers being presented, was fascinated to learn more about this Fea person, and really wanted to delve more into the depth of the story. Unfortunately, it's not there in this book as it just seems to be laying the ground work for book three. I found Harriet insipid and annoying this time around and the "romance" to be aggravating. Harriet does clean up her act a bit towards the end of this novel, but the first half was frustrating and juvenile. And Tom, too! In the first book, I rooted for Tom over George because I couldn't stand George's overbearing, condescending manner. It is a complete 180 this time around.
We finally get to see the Roundheads and are introduced to more of Augustine's, and therefore The Cavaliers, history. Not enough in my opinion, but the start is there. We also get to see some more immediate, recent history of Adelaide & Harriet's past. Again, I found the reactions of Adelaide to be over the top and juvenile. I felt as if I was suffering whiplash and was confused as to whether I supported her decision or wanted to throttle her instead. This happens twice: once in regards to her daughter, once in regards to her husband. I think most readers will find themselves interacting with this book: snorting, itching to smack characters, cheering them on, etc. In my opinion, this is what makes a good book: your reader gets INVOLVED, even if it's out of frustration as opposed to sighing and oohing/aahing over their favorite characters.
I'm neither Team George or Team Tom. If I had to choose one, I'd go with George, but I'm hoping for a new character to come in Book III and sweep Harriet off her feet while not being condescending and helping her to "get" the vampire culture. I WANT her immersed in vamp society; I don't want her mesmerized out of it.
I liked the history of the Cavaliers being presented, was fascinated to learn more about this Fea person, and really wanted to delve more into the depth of the story. Unfortunately, it's not there in this book as it just seems to be laying the ground work for book three. I found Harriet insipid and annoying this time around and the "romance" to be aggravating. Harriet does clean up her act a bit towards the end of this novel, but the first half was frustrating and juvenile. And Tom, too! In the first book, I rooted for Tom over George because I couldn't stand George's overbearing, condescending manner. It is a complete 180 this time around.
We finally get to see the Roundheads and are introduced to more of Augustine's, and therefore The Cavaliers, history. Not enough in my opinion, but the start is there. We also get to see some more immediate, recent history of Adelaide & Harriet's past. Again, I found the reactions of Adelaide to be over the top and juvenile. I felt as if I was suffering whiplash and was confused as to whether I supported her decision or wanted to throttle her instead. This happens twice: once in regards to her daughter, once in regards to her husband. I think most readers will find themselves interacting with this book: snorting, itching to smack characters, cheering them on, etc. In my opinion, this is what makes a good book: your reader gets INVOLVED, even if it's out of frustration as opposed to sighing and oohing/aahing over their favorite characters.
I'm neither Team George or Team Tom. If I had to choose one, I'd go with George, but I'm hoping for a new character to come in Book III and sweep Harriet off her feet while not being condescending and helping her to "get" the vampire culture. I WANT her immersed in vamp society; I don't want her mesmerized out of it.
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