Here are a selection of reviews for Twelve.
"Are there any good stories left to be told about vampires? After reading Twelve, my answer is an unequivocal yes."
"Jasper Kent writes with a subtlety which evokes his themes more effectively than page after page of breathless description."
"Twelve convinced me to the core."
A thoughtful review here from Black Gate.
"An accomplished, entertaining blend of historical fiction and dark fantasy."
"These vampires are not the smoothies beloved of romantic novelists."
For those of you who missed the review in the January 3rd 2009 edition, it's available online.
"Proof that, in the right hands, the vampire novel isn’t dead, or undead, but flourishing."
"Rich and detailed."
"Leaks Russia from its very pages."
The review is available in the printed addition and online here.
"Good vampire-hunting fun."
The review is not available online, so you'll have to go out and buy issue #178.
The first US review is available at Publishers Weekly.
Kent's sprawling historical horror debut, the first of a quintet, brings blood-gushing brutality back to vampire fiction. As Napoleon's army nears Moscow in 1812, four Russian spies meet with a dozen uncanny marauders who agree to harass the French. By the time Aleksei realizes that the fiends are literally bloodthirsty, the 12 have begun feeding on Russian civilians. Aleksei instinctively despises the vampires, while his friend Dmitry insists they can be useful allies, and his mistress is tempted by endless youth. Aleksei's sometimes plodding self-examination doesn't impede densely detailed, hard-driving action as winter and the vampires drive the invaders from the ravaged city. The novel's earnest conviction saves it from being mere ghastly melodrama, and the vampires are genuinely scary villains, more vivid than most of the living characters. With no romantic yearning or teen angst in sight, this is just a bloody good tale. (Sept.)
"Rich historical insight and compelling storytelling."
"A compulsively readable adventure."
Waterstone's Books Quarterly has this to say, by Xavier Aldana.
"Progeny of Tolstoy or Pasternak, with a Stokerian twist."
"Bloodily fantastic."
Read the full review at SFFWorld.
"I couldn't put it down."
"The background research, evocation of the whole period and the occupied city are beautifully rendered."
"It called to mind some of the relevant passages in 'War And Peace' and diaries of the time."
This from Vikki Green at SF Crowsnest.
"Wonderful writing and storytelling."
"One of the best books of the year."
Click here for the full review.
"Rich, detailed and enjoyable ... a real page-turner."
"A great read and a breath of fresh air."
The full review is at Fantasy Book Review.
Here are the reviews so far for Thirteen Years Later. Come back regularly for more.
"Very scary."
"The bar is raised again."
Following up from last's years review of Twelve here's Mark's review of Thirteen Years Later.
"You will love Jasper Kent for all eternity. I sure do."
"Kent's ability to lend some much needed freshness to the vampires themselves is so refreshing."
"Some of the creepy stuff Kent pulls off is simply astounding."
The guys at Elitist Book Reviews give Thirteen Years Later a very precise 9.7 out of 10. Read the review here.
"Detail is skilfully woven into the narrative."
"A masterpiece of alternative Russian history."
"One of the most convincing psychopaths in fiction."
An insightful review from Vikki Green at SF Crowsnest.
"Accessible and appealing."
"A polished and engaging story."
"Settings ... superbly brought to life."
Click here for full details at Fantasy Book Review.
"One of the best villains to have been introduced in literature in the past few years."
"Brilliantly weaving together history and family drama with supernatural horror, political intrigue, espionage and suspense."
"Jasper Kent’s writing is once again first-rate."
Following on from his praise for Twelve, a very complimentary review from Robert Thompson. Read the full details at at Fantasy Book Critic.
"These are the vampires you grew up fearing. Beautiful and deadly."
"A wonderful job of making you feel as if you really have been transported back in time."
You can find State of Review's thoughts here.
"Jasper Kent lives up to the promise generated by his debut and demonstrates that he is for real."
"The author's flair and his eye for historical details create an evocative narrative"
Pat's Fantasy Hotlist gives Thirteen Years Later eight out of ten.
"If you thought the 'bad guys' from the first book were nasty, just wait till you meet Dr Cain."
"A perfectly planned twist at the end."
"I for one am already impatient to see what happens next."
What's scarier than a vampire? Little Red Reviewer has the answer.
"A strong and worthy follow up of Twelve."
"Kent seems to have outdone himself with much of Thirteen Years Later. "
"Sure to please fans of this wonderful series."
Here's Bookworm Blues' take on Thirteen Years Later.
"If you enjoyed Twelve then you will find no disappointment in this sequel."
"Another spectacular ride through 19th century Russia."
"Kent does an incredible job of weaving all these plot threads together."
LEC Book Reviews gives Thirteen Years Later 5 out of 5. Read the full review here.
The first reviews for The Third Section are in. Here's a selection:
"Each of the characters [is] superbly drawn, soliciting our sympathy and contempt in equal measure."
"This book is a pure and unqualified delight."
"The twists and turns of the plot never ceasing to delight and surprise."
"Kent is taking things to a whole new level and I recommend his work unreservedly."
"Kent gives us one of the most compelling portraits of what it would be like to be a vampire yet committed to the page."
A wonderful review from Peter Tennant in issue 25 of Black Static. The review's not available online, so you'll have to go buy it.
"The way Kent handles the historical facts is awesome."
"Blew me away."
"The action is terrific. The pacing is great."
Is The Third Section even better than Twelve? Elitist Book Reviews thinks it's a possibility. Find out why here.
"A perfect storm of psychological horror and suspense."
"One of the most thrilling villains I have ever met."
"These are characters I can’t bear to leave behind, in a place I don’t want to leave."
"More twists and turns than a switchback mountain road, more cliff hangers than your favorite season of 24."
Little Red Reviewer likes The Third Section even more than the first two novels of The Danilov Quintet. Full details here.
"The author's flair and his eye for historical details create an evocative narrative that never fail to dazzle the eye."
"An intriguing blend of Russian historical fiction and paranormal fiction."
"This series deserves the highest possible recommendation."
An excellent review from Pat's Fantasy Hotlist.
"A web of misunderstanding and deliberate deceit of Shakespearean proportions."
"A gripping read."
"Twists aplenty, almost all the way to the last page."
Keith West at Adventures Fantastic compares The Third Section to Shakespeare and Tolkien. Full details here.
"A very good book."
"Jasper Kent’s prose and characterization remain top-notch."
"A captivating villain."
Robert Thompson at Fantasy Book critic takes a third dip into The Danilov Quintet. read the full review here.
"Dmitry and Tamara quickly emerge as captivating characters."
"Iuda ... is thoroughly delightful in his villainous role."
"Immersive setting and solid prose."
LEC Book Reviews has an early review of The Third Section. Read the full article here.