Comments on: REVIEW: The Bleeding Dusk by Colleen Gleason

By: razzle

razzle — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 16:15:40 +0000

I just finished reading Bleeding Dusk and I got to say I’m a huge Sebastian fan. I been reading the Max vs Sebastian debate on many websites and the poster above (Dolly) articulated why I love him: “the book becomes more exciting whenever Sebastian is around”
I read a lot of romance novels especailly regency and what kinda frustrates me is that so many male heroes are like Max (brooding). I’m always on the look out for books with male heroes that are more light, humorous, charming, and witty. One of my favorite male leads from romance novels is Colin from Romancing Mr. Bridgerton by Julia Quinn. And thats why I love Sebastian, even though he tortured inside he still is a character thats FUN (you know that if you were to meet him real life you would enjoy yourself, be entertained and have a good time with him)
I also think that he brings out a different side of Victoria. Max doesn’t really do that.

By: Dolly

Dolly — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 17:22:11 +0000

Sorry for the double-post, but I just wanted to add that the reason I’m so down on Max is probably because I do love Sebastian. And, it seems obvious to me that Max is the one Victoria will end up with. I keep hoping I’m wrong… Sebastian is endearing to me because he is ruled by his heart. It’s true he would love Victoria no matter what she did. But Victoria may need someone who is capable of making the hard choices that Sebastian cannot bring himself to make… It seems that both Max and Sebastian will be different in this next book. It will be interesting to see how they develop. For now, I will continue to root for Sebastian

By: Dolly

Dolly — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 13:39:58 +0000

I love this series – just finished reading The Bleeding Dusk and can’t wait for the next. The book again was full of surprises. Colleen Gleason is a great writer and does an excellent job of creating the world in which her characters live. And they are very real characters. For some reason, I LOVE Sebastian. I was attracted to him in the first two. But now I am in love with him. In fact, now that I know more about him, I am almost sad for him. Because I believe he loves Victoria and that he might suffer for it.

The history between Max and Sebastian has become a bit more clear and I think we will see more of that in books to come. I do not like dour Max and do not want Victoria to fall for him. For me, the book becomes much more exciting whenever Sebastian is around.

By: Dawn

Dawn — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 20:07:19 +0000

Without a doubt these books are remarkably well written. Ms. Gleason is a real talent, with a gift for character and story. Her ability to maintain suspense and keep her readers guessing is downright uncanny.

I am one of those firmly in the Sebastian camp, but I do like Max — I’m just not sure he’s who she needs. Okay, and I’ll admit, I’d like one Scarlett and Rhett to get together :D.

Regardless of my opinion, however, I trust Ms. Gleason’s judgment in the end when it comes to the fate and happiness of her characters. They inhabit her imagination and I have no doubt she’ll do right by them because she understands, reader preference aside, the material must remain true to itself.

By: Jia

Jia — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 19:51:45 +0000

Cory: I definitely agree with your assessment about the Max-Victoria-Sebastian topic. While I don't care for Sebastian and have always been a Max fan, I definitely agree that Victoria needs Sebastian to help her figure what she needs and wants out of life. To help her evolve and grow as a person. I admit Rises the Night made me think the ultimate pairing would be Victoria/Sebastian but it was The Bleeding Dusk that made me think it was actually going to be Victoria/Max. It really is a true sign of Gleason's talent that she was able to create two very different men who are both viable candidates for Victoria's affections, even if they do divide readers into two, very opinionated groups. (But like Jane, I think that's a sign of a great book -- one that invites discussion!)

By: Cory

Cory — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 19:42:29 +0000

Well, I can say I already read the book. My bookstore has had it on the shelf for over a week. I read it at the store and I’ll buy it tomorrow.

I think that this was an awesome installment, and I love some of the stuff we learn about characters, and some of the ways they change throughout this book.

On the Max/Sebastian topic, I started as a Max fan. Then in the second book I became a Sebastian fan. Now, I think that Victoria needs Sebastian now to help her discover who she is. He really helps her to come out of her shell as a person. However, I think that in the end it might be Max that is really right for her. And I think that he definitely needs her!

Colleen – Awesome story! I absolutely loved it, even if I spent three times the cover price in coffee while I was reading it!

By: In Preparation for Super Tuesday: Out and About on the Web

In Preparation for Super Tuesday: Out and About on the Web — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 13:28:24 +0000

[...] up, Dear Author reviewed The Bleeding Dusk over the weekend. A bit of a discussion going on over there, too, about [...]

By: Meriam

Meriam — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 23:19:53 +0000

Thanks, Jia. An Elizabethan setting sounds quite cool. And at least there would be a fresh set of characters to breath life into the series.

The other great thing about limiting it to 5 is that it’s not a daunting number: any higher and I might have to rethink.

By: stephanie feagan

stephanie feagan — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 23:11:23 +0000

Well, Jane, you could do what I did – pick one up, thinking you’ll just check out the first few pages, then get sucked in and stay up half the night.
I’m supposed to be spending free time reading books I can review over at PBR. Instead, I’m reading books that won’t qualify. (It’s that whole not kosher to review a friend’s book thing.)
And okay, maybe I’m prone to be prejudiced when it comes to Colleen and her books, but I’m also a seriously nitpicky reader. If I don’t like something of a friend’s, I just don’t comment at all. If I do, and I have always loved Colleen’s writing, I speak up, even at risk of being called to task for favoritism or crony-ism (is that a word?)
Bottom line: This is an excellent series.
And I can say this in complete honesty because Colleen may have put me in the book, but she’s never bought the drinks…

Just sayin’.

By: Jia

Jia — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 22:48:20 +0000

Meriam: While Victoria’s story ends at book 5, I think Gleason might be setting up another five-book series about another Gardella vampire hunter set in another time period. There’s been a few references to another Gardella hunter in the court of Elizabeth I. But I agree. Self-contained series are rarer these days (and much missed as a result).

By: Meriam

Meriam — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 22:40:22 +0000

Jane, I was going to say the exact same thing before I saw your post – that this discussion is making me want to read the series. Actually, I think I will, but I’m greedy and impatient and hate cliffhangers so I might wait until the fifth one before glomming gleefully.

And can I just say, I think it’s great that this is a self-contained series ending at no. 5. I’ve really come to hate never-ending series.

By: Jane

Jane — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 21:54:40 +0000

Intelligent reader discussion always makes me interested in a book because I think to myself, those people sound smart and thus the book must also be smart. And I like smart books.

By: Jia

Jia — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 21:46:34 +0000

Also, when I take into consideration that Sebastian, unlike Max, has no superhuman strength, I give the guy a break.

Brie, I’m curious to see what your opinion on Sebastian is after reading The Bleeding Dusk then.

Jane: I sympathize. I have a TBR mountain too and sometimes that means missing out on books that sound interesting.

By: Jane

Jane — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 21:33:12 +0000

It’s a bit ironic because I haven’t been interested in reading this series, but discussions like this one (and the one about Tempted) really pique my interest. I kind of wish that my TBR mountain wasn’t five feet high.

By: Holli

Holli — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 21:32:51 +0000

I started out as a Sebastian fan all the way, but Max is slowly winning me over :). I find the ambiguity in Sebastian’s character fascinating, but like Dawn said, he has his own moral code- he might kidnap Victoria and keep her under vampire guard in Rises the Night, but only to protect her.

The real joy of this five book story arc is that Gleason can slowly unfurl the characters and we see them grow as they’re impacted by the events happening around them. I can’t wait to see how it all ends in book number 5!

By: Colleen Gleason

Colleen Gleason — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 21:14:28 +0000

Jia, thank you so much for taking the time to read my book and to review it for DA. I’m glad you enjoyed it!

And thanks to those of you who’ve posted here who’ve read and enjoyed the books as well–it’s always fun to hear from readers, and about the different opinions/perspectives on Max and Sebastian.

Janine, to answer your question about if there’s a Spike-like character in my books: No, there isn’t. Nor is there an Angel character. None of the vampires in my books are good, redeemable or otherwise “hero” material.

But there are two main male characters that figure largely in Victoria’s life, and, as you can see by the comments here, have both supporters and detractors insofar as shipping with Victoria.

Thanks again, Jia and DA, for hosting such a great review here.

By: Brie

Brie — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 20:52:50 +0000

I agree with Dawn, I do like Sebastian. Now, I did not care for him in The Rest Falls Away. He seemed shady and just overall untrustworthy, but by the end of Rises the Night I was really in to him.

What originally bothered me so much about Sebastian was that he seemed to run away in the face of danger, but as we learn more about him we see that he has loyalty’s to both sides in the story, which leaves him toeing the line between good and evil.

Also, when I take into consideration that Sebastian, unlike Max, has no superhuman strength, I give the guy a break. Victoria is even stronger than Sebastian while wearing her vis bulla. Him, facing off against vampires and demons with only his sword and no extra strength is crazy. At least the man knows his limits.

I haven’t read The Bleeding Dusk yet, but I wonder if we find out more about why Max did what he did at the end of RTN? I’m having a hard time taking him seriously as a potential love interest for Victoria because of that. I guess I’m not able to reconcile that he did something so horrible with the reasoning that it was for a “good” reason.

As for the rest of the series I really like it. I appreciate the slow build with Victoria’s character arc as well. It’s good to see her coming into her own more and more with each book.

By: stephanie feagan

stephanie feagan — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 03:00:19 +0000

Best part of this whole book is on pg. 266. That’s where I make an entrance. Along with Avon author Anne Mallory.
No, really. Not kidding.

It kicks ass to be in a book – like, literally. :)

Yay, Colleen! You knocked another one outta the park!

Stef, who was up way too late with this one….

By: Jia

Jia — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 02:08:21 +0000

Janine: While I think Buffy in Regency England is a good description of this series, I don’t think there are clear analogues in terms of the male characters. Max is the sarcastic, experienced vampire hunter and Sebastian is the mysterious man who’s dangerous and somewhat off limits.

Maybe someone else who’s read the series has a different opinion on the matter?

By: Janine

Janine — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 01:19:00 +0000

Is there a Spike equivalent character in this series? If so, I might have to give it a try.