Those readers wishing an unspoiled read of this novel, please note that spoilers may be present.
Dark Ages Assamite covers intrigues leading up to what would be a vampiric assault on Egypt, after the sacking of Constantinople during the Fourth Crusade. On the whole, the novel adds little details in way of understanding the ideals of the Fourth Crusade, which had landed to take control after the collapse of the Byzantine Empire—though I will admit that my personal knowledge of the historical events is quite limited.
The novel is set up using a frame story, starting in the modern day we are given chunks of historical information, and then get to see the beginnings of a possible embrace with the vampire starting to tell her story, using the lecture that she told her would-be childe to appear at.
This setup allows the reader a window into the time period, knowing on the basic level that a character is bridging the gap between ages to relate a personal story. However, when the time shifts from chapter one to chapter two, its hard for the reader to follow which character is the main character, and makes me believe that another character had more of a part of the story than he actually did.
Most of this novel doesn’t revolve around the titular Assamites that appear in the story, though their hand directs the story’s conculsion; it reads more about the actions of one demented Venture Templar named Hugh of Clairvaux. The inner story deals with Hugh’s coming to grips with the beast, and how his ideals as a Christian knight are no longer truly a part of him.
Exotic elements of other vampire clans (Giovanni, Lamia) have been added to increase the story’s connectivity to, what I assume, is the overarching metaplot of the Dark Ages Clan Novels, which this book is the second volume.
The details that Petruchia adds to the novel are good, and make it believable that some religions have strained ideals when taken up by vampires in this era. I personally do not know that much about the Muslim or Frankish Christians’ religions during the 1200s to adequately relate to their causes or the way they’re presented in this book.
The modern styling of writing makes it difficult to truly see this as a historical novel of any kind, but as most readers will see this as just gaming fiction, that shouldn’t deter those seeking to pick the book up. I felt that with the modern stylings made the novel suffered in places, as I wanted more accurate details on the ways the people thought and spoke during the 1200s, but that’s me, and some will willingly tirade against that thought.
A bit dry in places, those being the large amount of historical exposition, this novel is a decent read and an enjoyable view on the way Dark Ages: Vampire might be played.
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