Fifth in the series, and probably better if you start at the beginning. I think this series is better read with a longer period between each book than I've been doing, maybe it would have been better with timing similar to the release dates. That's because there are so many similar scenes each time they begin to get repetitive. How many times can James get held captive and be rescued? I still enjoy reading about the strained relationship between the Ashers and Don Ysidro; James Asher knows that he's almost a "Renfield" to Ysidro, but Ysidro is also helping him destroy others that are even more of a danger to England and even the rest of Europe. Lydia has love for Ysidro, which James knows but accepts, but she also knows that it could be because that's what vampires do...make people love them in order to kill them. But Ysidro really does have feelings for Lydia, and is willing to risk his (eternal) life for her. Hambly still has the plot device of someone searching for vampires in order to deploy them against his enemies - this time it's the subplot though: a wealthy American mogul who wants to break up those annoying unions. I did like his eventual fate, I thought that was a graceful exit for him. The main plot, of the vampire trying to break the hold of his Master, was good. Also liked the ending, Asher is maybe not as forgiving to Ysidro as he has been in the past.

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