The Ouroboros Cycle; A Cautionary Tale for Young Vampires

Synopsis

The year is 1888 and a madman is terrorizing the East End of London. But Doctor Varanus Shashavani has far more pressing concerns to worry about than a lunatic in Whitechapel. Her charitable hospital is under siege by gang lords, her English cousins are threatening to steal her inheritance, and her best friend has become obsessed with Gothic novels. To make matters worse, her son Friedrich is associating with an American who talks endlessly of wellness and yoghurt, while her bodyguard is pestering her to return home to Georgia, half a world away. It seems that everyone--friends, enemies, and "Saucy Jack" alike--have conspired to interrupt her work. But Varanus did not obtain immortality just to have mad killers and distant relations get in the way of scientific progress. Though supernatural conspiracies and all-too-human monsters confront her at every turn, Varanus will stand firm against all odds. After all, she is accustomed to fighting for what is rightfully hers

Review

In book two we find Babette know known as Varanus, living in London with her best friend Ekaterine and Lukas her body guard. She’s waiting to meet with her English relatives over her grandfather & father’s will, meanwhile she’s opened a small clinic in the East End of London in one of the poorest areas to treat the locals for free. Unfortunately the clinic is constantly undermined and under siege by local gangs and Varanus decides to do something about it.

Varanus has transformed not only name but in what she does as well, having being a vampire a number of years she uses her new found skills to deal will the local criminal element. Varanus has become more lethal, despite her diminutive size she can certainly deal with men far larger than her, leaving them shocked and usually dead in her wake. I really like the new Varanus, as well as being an intelligent forward thinking women not of her time she certainly can look after herself as well. Varanus’ vampiric tendencies are surprisingly subtle in the books, and to look at her they aren’t apparent, as she comes across as a normal person, except for the fact that she can do far more than a normal human being.

Ekaterine is the perfect best friend for Varanus, being of the same mind as far as women’s role in the world, she takes care of Varanus ensuring she comes to no harm etc. Although she is Shashavani she isn’t immortal like Varanus but she still lives under ‘The Shadow of Death’ with the added perks of quick healing and ageing extremely slowly. Ekaterine takes to English life and fashion like a duck to water, yet still completely refuses to wear corsets, much to the chagrin of Varanus, as they stop her being able to fight.

We also meet Varanus’ son once again, this time he’s in the company of a rather dodgy American doctor who expounds the virtue of wellness and yogurt. Varanus is most displeased to find him in London and not back home in Fushberg where she’d sent him, and it’s great to see how the mother and son relationship develops. I like Fredrick especially the sometimes desperate way he chases Ekaterine and he also provides some humour in the book as well.

The back ground of 18^th century London in the story, depicts how poor life was in the east end of London, where life was very cheap and murder an everyday hazard for the locals. I liked how the author weaved the story of Jack the Ripper into the book when Lukas ends up in a police cell on suspicion of being Jack just because he’s a foreigner. The way the small alleys and rat runs are described, the whores on every street corner plying their trade, certainly brings to life 18^th century London.

When Varanus and Ekaterine visit the English cousins, we are once more drawn into the mystery of the scions and their relationship to both sides of Varanus’ family. She once again tries to unravel the mystery and find out more, with little avail, and we are once again left with the suspicion that Fredrick may also be scion as well, but this is all left hanging with lots of questions unanswered, which hopefully will be picked in later books.

Overall I enjoyed this book more than the first which is unusual as second books in series sometimes are a let-down, but no fear with this one. Although I’m not into historical/period books, the 18^th century London background felt real to me, with little artistic manipulation. I must admit it really added to the story in this book, and the Ripper twist was great. If you’ve read book one then I’d definitely recommend continuing on with book two. Once again I can’t finish the review without commenting on the fantastic art work that features throughout the book, loved it.

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