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).