Count Saint-Germain, known in this time period as Rakoczy,
Sidi Sandjer'min, has been utilizing his medical skills to
aid a Coptic monastery. Unfortunately, the rising tensions
between the Christian Crusaders and the warriors led by
Jenghiz Khan have made the monastery a place of uneasiness
rather than sanctuary for the vampire, Rakoczy, and his
ghoul, Ruthier. Rakozcy offers to accompany a group of
pilgrims in their spiritual journey. What dangers will
Rakoczy and Ruthier encounter as they make the difficult
pilgrimage?
NIGHT PILGRIMS is the 26th book in Chelsea Quinn Yarbro's
longstanding series about the Count Saint-Germain. However,
it is easily read as a standalone story. There are a few
references to characters and past tales but it is not
necessary to have knowledge of them to appreciate NIGHT
PILGRIMS.
NIGHT PILGRIMS is billed as historical horror but reads more
like straight historical fiction with only a few
vampire/ghoul references thrown in. In fact, the Count's
very nature is almost incidental to the story as it is the
lushness of the time period that is explored instead. I
thoroughly enjoyed seeing the dangers the pilgrims
encountered as they made the somewhat treacherous journey
deemed necessary by their faith. Of particular interest to
me were the roles of the women in the pilgrimage, as we see
very different women with Margrethe, Lalagia, and Sorer
Imogen.
NIGHT PILGRIMS is a carefully crafted historical tale that
takes readers on a journey through the tensions of the
Middle East in the year 1225. Chelsea Quinn Yarbro does a
marvelous job at bringing this time period to vivid life, as
every moment is fraught with danger for the pilgrims.
Chelsea Quinn Yarbro's first Saint-Germain novel, Hotel
Transylvania, was recently nominated as Vampire Novel of
the Century. Her Saint-Germain cycle, now comprised of
more than twenty-five books, is a masterwork of historical
horror fiction. The vampire Count Saint-Germain has
crisscrossed the world many times, seeking love and the
blood of life and seeing humanity at its best and
worst.
In Night Pilgrims, Saint-Germain is
living in a monastery in Egypt when he is hired to
guide a group of pilgrims to underground churches in
southern Egypt. The vampire finds a companion in a
lovely widow who later fears that her dalliance with the
Count will prevent her from reaching Heaven.
The pilgrims begin to fall prey to the trials of
travel in the Holy Lands; some see visions and hear the word
of God; others are seduced by desires for riches and
power. A visit to the Chapel of the Holy Grail brings
many quarrels to a head; Saint-Germain must use all his
diplomacy and a good deal of his strength to keep the
pilgrims from slaughtering one another.
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