Title: An Embarrassment of Riches
Author: Chelsea Quinn Yarbro
Publisher: Tor Books
Publication Date: 1st March 2011
Pages: 383
Format: Hardback
Genre: Historical/Paranormal
Source: Bought copy
The 24th release in the Saint Germain series is set in Bohemia in the middle of the thirteenth century. Rakoczy is sent to the court of Otakar II in Praha to make jewels for the Queen, Kunigunde. His fief is in the balance if he betrays the orders of King Bela of Hungary and leaves Otakar's city. Constantly under scrutiny, the Comes' life is put in danger when Rozsa of Borsod, a lady-in-waiting, takes an interest in him, threatening to denounce him if he does not acquiesce to her requests. (My Synopsis)
This latest offering in the Saint Germain series more than lives up to my high expectations. Once more the Comte must carefully weave his way through court intrigues and plots, avoiding exposure of his true nature. There was no 'big romance' with one particular woman in this story unlike some of the others, but I liked how the different personalities of the ladies-in-waiting were shown and how the grip of the church affected their behaviour.
As always, the attention to historical detail is sublime and really draws you into the world of the story. One of the things I most admire about Yarbro's writing is the amount of research she must put in to recreate the various times and places in the series.
Saint Germain himself is as dashing and alluring as ever and he is a character I doubt I will ever grow tired of following.
This series of books will be treasured by readers who like their vampire romances to have more depth and less teenage angst. If you enjoy paranormal, literary fiction and historical fiction, or are looking for vampire books that do not follow the usual clichés, then I can highly recommend the writings of Chelsea Quinn Yarbro.
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