Book Review: Memories of Envy

By Sandy Amazeen Oct 24, 2010, 21:08 GMT

A reluctant predator, Eleisha Clevon is determined to locate all vampires still existing in isolation, so she might offer them sanctuary at her home in Portland-and more importantly, so she can teach them to feed without killing. But the beautiful and delicate Simone Stratford doesn\'t want to be saved. Made into a vampire in the Roaring Twenties, she enjoys playing her own elaborate games with mortals, stoking their passion ...more

Thanks to human Wade Shelfield, Eleisha Clevon’s psychic abilities were wakened enabling the vampire to live according to the old laws and feed without killing her prey. Now Eleisha is attempting to contact the few vampires that escaped Julian’s earlier killing spree and bring them to the safe haven she has created. Julian, who lacks any psychic gifts, launched a long-term vendetta against all vampires who did and toward that end, has been using a ghost to closely monitor Eleisha’s progress in hopes she will uncover more prey.

When Eleisha realizes Simone, the progeny of a dear dead friend is residing in Denver, housemate and fellow vampire Philip sets off to bring her back to their Portland home located in an old church. Instead of bringing Simone back to the fold, Philip falls prey to her games forcing Eleisha to come to Denver as well. Eleisha begins falling for the cunningly laid trap set by Simone who enjoys nothing more then playing with her prey before the kill. Rescue will have to come from a most unexpected direction if Eleisha is to escape from Simone’s web of deceit.

For a vampire, Eleisha appears to be incredibly naive at times and it is this naivety that shapes the basic premise of the story. Simone’s sweet outward appearance hides a black heart indeed and drives home some hard lessons while exposing a problem with Eleisha’s plan to seek out other vampires. It is nice to see all the residents of Eleisha’s underground begin settling into their changed circumstances, especially Wade who, as the only human of the group, frequently feels like odd man out. This is an enjoyable, albeit dark addition to an interesting series.