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The Stress of Her Regard

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The Stress of Her Regard

By: Tim Powers
Narrated by: Simon Vance
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When Michael Crawford discovers his bride brutally murdered in their wedding bed, he is forced to flee not only to prove his innocence but to avoid the deadly embrace of a vampire who has claimed him as her true bridegroom.

Joining forces with Byron, Keats, and Shelley in a desperate journey that criss-crosses Europe, Crawford desperately seeks his freedom from this vengeful lover who haunts his dreams and will not rest until she destroys all that he cherishes.

Told in the guise of a secret history, this tale of passion and terror brilliantly evokes the nineteenth century. The chilling horror and adventure blend to create a riveting romantic fantasy.

©1989 Tim Powers (P)2013 Audible Ltd
Fantasy Fiction Historical Horror Science Fiction Scary Paranormal
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Even fans of Power's work have struggled a little with this weighty tome. The Stress of Her Regard is a fascinating story, combining excellently researched history with fantasy elements typical of Power's writing.
I love that our hero makes connections with the Romantic poets. That they have muses of different kind, that aid their creativity! These so called muses are much more than imagined beings, they exist. And for a price, they allow artists to access realms of creativity others cannot. The price is too high for some.
The biblical Nephilim, creatures that have variously been called fallen angels, or giants, here take on the role of vampire. Power's writes them into the history as to explain what a vampire is, and it's believable.
The descriptions of the creatures, of the cast of characters, and the Italian towns and cities, are all beautifully written.
However, I did find that there was a lot to get through. This may sound like the comment of the ill-read, but I've read more than ten of his books, I love his stories, but sometimes there can be a bit too much telling, and the bigger the story, the more of that there is.
Having said that, this is a cracking story of love, commitment, and poetry.
The narration is excellent, by the way. Simon Vance is perfect for this story. His Byron is wonderful!

'She walks in beauty like the night...'!

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