Review: The Vampire Voss by Colleen Gleason

Title: The Vampire Voss
Author: Colleen Gleason
Genre: Historical Paranormal Romance
Series: Regency Draculia, #1
Publisher: Harlequin/Mira
Publishing Date: March 22, 2011
Received By: NetGalley

~ Blurb ~

Regency London - a dizzying whirl of balls and young ladies pursued by charming men. But the Woodmore sisters are hunted by a more sinister breed: Lucifer's own. Voss, also known as Viscount Dewhurst, relishes the sensual pleasures immortality affords. A member of the Dracule - a cabal of powerful, secretive noblemen marked with a talisman that reveals their bartered souls - the mercenary Voss has remained carefully neutral...until Angelica. Angelica Woodmore possesses the Sight, an ability invaluable to both sides of a looming war among the Dracule. Her very scent envelops Voss in a scarlet fog of hunger - for her body and blood. But he is utterly unprepared for the new desire that overcomes him - to protect her

The Vampire Voss is the first book in a new paranormal, historical romance trilogy called the Regency Draculia. Colleen Gleason has shone a new light on the haute ton in the turn of the nineteenth-century Regency London. A world where societal balls and iniquitous red-eyed vampires clash. Where vampires are made to destroy or created to serve; Not protect and care. A world where traditional vampire boundaries are pushed to create room for a few new additions to the creatures to find life -- ironically -- in mortals. 

It’s London, 1804, and to most of the unsuspecting citizens' knowledge, vampires are living anonymously amongst them. Although, just as with humans, some vampires are more civilized than others, some live within that misty gray area, and still some leave a trail of destruction and death in their wake. For human Chas Woodmore, it is his job to 'deal' with those who cause ruination. But, at what price is it worth it?

Ms. Gleason introduces us to the Draculia; Specifically chosen mortal men to be turned vampire (Draculia) by Lucifer. The handful of vampires that are introduced to readers in this first book are all Draculia, and “were the result of Vlad Tepes’s, Count Dracula’s, desire to rule Romania with an iron fist.” And they all bear the mark of Lucifer on their shoulders and ultimately answer to him. This creates an unique spin on the creation of, and specie dynamics, within the Draculia. And, while still maintaining the 'traditional' vampire strengths and weaknesses, Ms. Gleason has also added to this world, an Asthenias; An ultimate weakness unique to each vampire, which can bring about their ultimate undoing. For obvious reasons, each vampire closely hides their personal Asthenia.

But personal weaknesses aren't the only thing the Draculia have to worry about, vampire hunters such as Chas Woodmore can be just as deadly... and final. And, Chas Woodmore has pissed off the wrong vampire. While Chas maintains close, or at least respectable, relationships with some of the Draculia, he slays those that swing to far to the left in terms of civility and deadly destruction. And, now, one of the worst of the Draculia's sister has gone missing -- with Chas Woodmore! Yes, the vampire hunter has run away with the sister of one of the most deadly, unmoral Draculia, Cezar Moldavi.

Knowing that if anything where to ever happen to him, his sisters (under his care) would be in immediate danger, so he places his trust in an unlikely man to assume guardianship and protect the girls at all costs. Lord Dimitri, Earl of Corvindale is that man... and Draculia. 

The arrival of his new charges and his agreement to become their guardian, does nothing to help his cold, distant temperament. Lord Corvindale wants nothing to do with woman -- especially human woman -- but now finds himself in a most uncomfortable situation. Especially since the Woodmore sisters have been kept in the dark about a matter of things; Their brother Chas's occupation is as obscure to them as knowing that vampires are real, none-the-less, now their guardian!

The sisters are none-to-happy with the arrangements either. They don't understand why their brother would place them in the hands of another man when they're old enough to take care of themselves.

But, their protection also stems beyond the prospect of possible vengeance taken by the sinister Draculia Moldavi. Angelica Woodmore has been blessed (or cursed) with the Sight, the ability to see a person at the moment of their death, due to a strain of Gypsy blood she inherited. This is a gift that could be exploited if obtained by the wrong person -- or Draculia.

In swaggers Draculia Lord Viscount Voss Dewhurst.

Voss. Sexy, independent, hedonistic, and reckless; His loyalties lie with no one but himself -- for the most part. His quest and thirst to always obtain and have the most valuable of information amongst his kind has given him one of his newest opportunities, find out who amongst the Woodmore sisters has the gift of Sight -- and exploit it. And his delicate acquaintanceship and strained friendship with Corvindale, permits him the ability to walk in-and-out of the close-knit social circle of Corvindale, allowing for some advantages in this particular instance.

It’s all about the hedonism for Voss; finding pleasure through sex with an abundant number of human woman --some of which know of what he is and some in which he has to manipulate their memories in order to sate his hunger for sex and human blood. Both of which the conservative fellow vampire, Dimitri, Lord of Corvindale, finds he has no use or desire for.

However, despite their extremely fragile acknowledgment of one another, it will take both Dimitri and Voss to protect the Woodmore sisters -- more importantly Angelica -- from Moldavi's vengeful acts of trying to kidnap her for personal use and revenge on her brother.

Along the way, a more disturbing act takes place -- Voss and Angelica start to fall for one another. Voss is constantly fighting his urge to drink from her and sate is need to fully 'have' her, but his growing desire to protect her instead causes a war within him. For Voss and the other Draculia were created to do just the opposite. And poor Angelica is completely naive to the fact that Voss is a vampire! However, when she does find out, she pushes him completely away (which is expected).

But, when Angelica is kidnapped, just as with all romances, her knight in shinning armor comes in the form of the very person she's tried so hard to push away: Her desirable vampire Lord Voss Dewhurst. Voss, who has managed to slowly break down her resolve by his changing attitude and display of protection of her. And soon Voss, himself, finds himself teetering between condemnation and salvation. He may just have one form of sacrifice that could finally sate his quest of securing Angelica for his own.


Ms. Gleason has created a world that is entertaining, echos the voice of the period, and leaves you enthralled by sexy vampires who look to good for their own breaches on the outside, but have a  devil-icious persona on the inside. Throw in a deniable core of vulnerability, the need to battle with themselves and others,  and the disbelief that they could find love... in a mortal? and it makes for a dynamic adventure!

Emotions and actions seemed to flow, leap, and dance across the pages of The Vampire Voss leaving the character-driven reader very happy. And the reflection of period articulation adds to a sense of being transported to the Regency Society of England.

Each of the characters bring something different to the table, yet you can still find an overlapping continuity among them. The conflicts and friendships vary and make for some ups-and-downs within the plot and in conflict resolutions. Both the hero and heroine undergo a change of character, but the hero's is more pronounced and defined. 

One of the key underlying aspects of the hero, Lord Dewhurst, is his obsession with death -- quite ironic coming from a vampire, but important none-the-less. Especially since this plays a critical role in the climax of the story! I think the number one aspect I enjoyed most about this book was the dynamic change in character growth of the hero -- and it was very well written.

The secondary characters were interesting, enjoyable, and ... annoying, which is a good thing because obviously Ms. Gleason did her job in creating an angry hermit of a vampire in the Earl Corvindale, and a bossy, overbearing sister in Maia Woodmore. The interaction between the two borders on purposeful distaste and antagonizing banter.

There where only a couple of minor bumps along the road that felt a little contrived, but I think it was my own personal preference, and they were so minor it seemed to work out in the end anyway. I enjoyed the overall flow and plot of the book, as well as the way the writing demonstrated the constant battle of wills primarily between the protagonists. Obviously, they're most prominent in terms of both physical and emotional desires and conflicts; A vampire is a vampire, and a virgin's a virgin. But, in addition, I also felt like there was an ever-so-slight shift in feelings of the hardened Lord Corvindale. I am anxious to hear his story -- and if there could be anything more between he and Maia Woodmore! His story, The Vampire Dimitri, is up next in the trilogy!! I can't wait!

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