Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
New York : Tom Doherty Associates, c1990.
Description
Rock band Wanderlust is about to hit it big, guitarist Dave Kendall is sure of that. They're playing better venues, in front of bigger crowds-and the people showing up at the after parties are increasingly good-looking and cool. Some even radiate power, like "Master" Jeffries, the tall, saturnine man who seems to have some sort of weird control over Dave's fellow bandmates. But Dave's too tired to pay much attention to Jeffries. He's tired a lot, lately, and making music isn't as much fun as it used to be. Probably he's just working-and partying-too hard. Luckily, Dave has a friend who takes what's happening to him very seriously. Diana Tregarde is a practicing witch and a Guardian of the Earth. It's her job to keep an eye on innocents like Dave and make sure they stay out of trouble and don't become someone's lunch. Jeffries has been on Diana's hit list since she first spotted him pursuing a young Romany. Di wasn't fast enough to stop him, but the Rom have their own protector-a dashing, charming, very attractive vampire named Andre Le Brel. Together, the witch and the vampire face Jeffries and his evil minions in a battle for the soul of rock 'n' roll... inChildren of the Night by Mercedes Lackey.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member salimbol
Reasonable supernatural mystery/paranormal romance/urban fantasy that checks off all the obligatory attributes for a female protagonist (a teensy-weensy, tough-as-nails yet emotionally-scarred, music-loving martial artist who gets involved with a vampire). However, as this book was written in the
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early 90s and is therefore probably one of the series responsible for making those things into tropes, I forgive it :-). The early stages feel a bit wallowing, but it picks up the pace towards the end, and certainly it had a very gripping climax. Show Less
LibraryThing member laranth
Diana Tregarde is a Guardian, a member of a group dedicated to protecting people from the harmful influences of the supernatural. Practicing witch and talented psi, she's taken an oath to help all those who call on her in need. When the need comes as a Talented gypsy teen who is being Hunted, she
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finds herself drawn into a dangerous game, where psionic vampires Hunt in the night of the city. Show Less
LibraryThing member Darla
This started off slow, & the gratuitous use of italics nearly made me stop reading, but after the first chapter, I was totally hooked.
LibraryThing member swimr23
This book is about a lady who is a Guardian, a member of a group dedicated to protecting people from the harmful influences of the supernatural. Practicing witch and talented psi, she's taken an oath to help all those who call on her in need. When the need comes as a Talented gypsy teen who is
I loved this book, I read it a couple of years ago and thought it would be great for this section. This book really hit home for me because I love magic and witches. They are my favorite things and the characters in this book related to me in a lot of ways.
I would use this book with older children and maybe have them read it during halloween, seems to fit that occasion. I would also use this book when doing a science fiction chapter and explain to them that what is happening in the book is not real.
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being Hunted, she finds herself drawn into a dangerous game, where psionic vampires Hunt in the night of the city.I loved this book, I read it a couple of years ago and thought it would be great for this section. This book really hit home for me because I love magic and witches. They are my favorite things and the characters in this book related to me in a lot of ways.
I would use this book with older children and maybe have them read it during halloween, seems to fit that occasion. I would also use this book when doing a science fiction chapter and explain to them that what is happening in the book is not real.
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LibraryThing member jasmyn9
Diana Tregarde is a guardian who is sworn to protect those who ask for her help. She finds herself caught up in a complex series of what at first appears to be coincidence, but with the help of her friends and a man she just met, she puts the pieces together to find that many of the strange things
Diana experiences every possible emotion in this book and Lackey is there to show them to us in a detailed way that leaves the reader grinning at her jokes, wishing we could give her comfort as she cries, and wanting to go hide in the corner with her fears.
Overall, quite a good book. The story was engaging from the beginning and had enough twists and turns to keep you interested without confusing or muddling the chain of events. Personally, I would have liked to see the characters of Lenny and Keith, who in their own way played quite an important, if small role, expanded on a little more as they seemed a bit flat. At times the story began to turn towards a romance novel, but before it could get to far Lackey reigned it in and got back on track.
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happening were really linked together.Diana experiences every possible emotion in this book and Lackey is there to show them to us in a detailed way that leaves the reader grinning at her jokes, wishing we could give her comfort as she cries, and wanting to go hide in the corner with her fears.
Overall, quite a good book. The story was engaging from the beginning and had enough twists and turns to keep you interested without confusing or muddling the chain of events. Personally, I would have liked to see the characters of Lenny and Keith, who in their own way played quite an important, if small role, expanded on a little more as they seemed a bit flat. At times the story began to turn towards a romance novel, but before it could get to far Lackey reigned it in and got back on track.
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LibraryThing member RogueBelle
An excitingly different vampire novel -- Lackey brings her usual flair, not to mention her wonderful heroine Diana Tregarde, to the undead genre, to great effect.
LibraryThing member Kellswitch
I find the characters in this series to be dangerously close to being Mary Sue's, but not so much that I can't stand reading about them. For me this is a fun bit of fluff when i want to read something fantasy related that isn't to challenging or so dumbed down it's insulting.
I also have a weakness
I also have a weakness
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for the urban fantasy genre as a whole and I do like the way she integrates the "real" world with the magical and makes it work for the universe she has created. Show Less
LibraryThing member LisaMaria_C
Before Buffy or Hamilton's Anita Blake or Harris' Sookie Stackhouse, Lackey was writing Urban Fantasy with a strong heroine, Diana Tregarde, starting with Burning Water and also including, besides this one, Jinx High. Diana is a practicing witch and a "Guardian" sworn to protect innocents who get
Of the three novels, I think this is the strongest. I've read the Tregarde novels didn't sell well, and that's why Lackey hasn't written more with this character. I find that a shame--I like these books as much as any by Lackey and more than many an urban fantasy featuring vampires that are bestsellers. I like the vampire character, too, Andre Le Brel, and how well he partners with Diana. This story is actually a prequel to the first published book, Burning Water, so you could start here first.
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caught up in the supernatural.Of the three novels, I think this is the strongest. I've read the Tregarde novels didn't sell well, and that's why Lackey hasn't written more with this character. I find that a shame--I like these books as much as any by Lackey and more than many an urban fantasy featuring vampires that are bestsellers. I like the vampire character, too, Andre Le Brel, and how well he partners with Diana. This story is actually a prequel to the first published book, Burning Water, so you could start here first.
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LibraryThing member dswaddell
Diana Tregarde is a guardian who protects those in need.But when no less then three different types of vampires come to town she may be in trouble. An enjoyable read.
LibraryThing member WingedWolf
A Wiccan Guardian must solve a terrible mystery...what is killing people, and devouring their souls? A friendly vampire, psychic vampires, and comfortable and entertaining characterization make this highly unusual plot an excellent read.
LibraryThing member phyllis2779
I didn't enjoy this one as much as the first two in this series. I found it hard to get into, mainly because for some unknown reason in the first part of the book, Diana was depressed and fearful, which was totally different from the other books. Also, the book didn't seem to fit chronologically
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with the earlier books. Very confusing. There's a third book I own, which I may or may not try. Show Less
LibraryThing member EmScape
Diana Tregarde is a powerful person, which is a good thing, because she's being targeted by some extremely indomitable forces. Fortunately, she also has allies to assist in the fight.
I really don't want to give too much away about this book because it's so impressive how Lackey brings us in to her
I really don't want to give too much away about this book because it's so impressive how Lackey brings us in to her
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supernatural tale, revealing and explaining the particular mythology around Diana's powers and those of her friends and enemies. She turns popular mythology around vampires and witches on their sides and introduces additional strange and fascinating supernatural entities. I also really liked Di as a heroine, particularly considering the time period in which this was published. Diana is tough, no-nonsense, and flawed but also kind, protective and a little bit broken. I look forward to reading more about her. Show Less
LibraryThing member jamespurcell
Could not connect with characters and the storyline was not very compelling
LibraryThing member TheYodamom
This book is filled with magic and Guardians and psychic vampires and yet it has a real feel to it. Di the heroine has a job, bills, friends and a broken heart. She has panic attacks that can impede her in her job. She has unruly hair and does not dress to impress.
People are ending up dead, their
Super French vampire hunk Andre' steps into the picture. He has to preserve his Rom friends he guards. He always works alone, has for 200 hundred years. I liked this version of a vampire, no he does not sparkle.
This is a mystery, and great one with all the right twists and turns. I enjoyed it, it was very well planned out and I was on the edge of my seat the whole story. My only complaint, a few dated words like "foxy" to describe attractive.
People are ending up dead, their
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souls ripped out of their bodies. this triggers memories causing her to have black outs. Her ex is somehow involved in this drudging up too many bad moments. She ha to use all her skills to fight and out think some of the most dangerous and devious evil she has ever encountered.Super French vampire hunk Andre' steps into the picture. He has to preserve his Rom friends he guards. He always works alone, has for 200 hundred years. I liked this version of a vampire, no he does not sparkle.
This is a mystery, and great one with all the right twists and turns. I enjoyed it, it was very well planned out and I was on the edge of my seat the whole story. My only complaint, a few dated words like "foxy" to describe attractive.
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LibraryThing member KevinRubin
After being kind of disappointed with the first Diana Tregarde novel, I only read “Children of the Night” by Mercedes Lackey because I’d already purchased it. However, I’m glad I did, I enjoyed it quite a lot more.
“Children of the Night” opens with Diana living in New York City and
Before long Diana teams up with a real, genuine, blood sucking vampire, Andre, who has taken it upon himself to protect some people.
They have some enemies, psi-vampires who drain energy, but not blood, from people, and a mysterious creature that eats souls. The enemies have teamed up because they found it advantageous to work together.
Diana and Andre also include a couple of Diana’s friends from New York in their team, and have an unexpected ally, an old boyfriend of Diana’s in the psi-vamp team who never wanted to become and doesn’t enjoy being a psi-vampire, and just wants out of it.
This novel also covers how she helped the Romany people in New York so they are in debt to her, which was a plot point in the first Diana Tregarde novel, “Burning Water” that now obviously takes place later than this one.
I can’t figure out when it takes place. When I read the first Diana Tregarde novel, “Burning Water” I assumed it took place around the time it was written, the late 80’s. This one was written in 1990, and at first I assumed it took place around that time. But then Lackey makes passing reference to the Vietnam War and Richard Nixon being president, which would be the first half of the 1970s.
While doing some in-story research, Diana refers to Michael Moorcock’s “Elric” saga and the sword Stormbringer in a way that would indicate time has passed since Moorcock wrote about it, fitting with the story taking place around when it was written, the late 80’s or 1990…. But then there’s mention of a B-grade actor in the governor’s mansion, which would seem more like the late 60’s or early 70’s, whereas if it took place in the 80’s, I’d expect mention of this B-grade actor having ascended further, to the White House.
Overall, though, I quite enjoyed the story, and I’d recommend it.
“Children of the Night” opens with Diana living in New York City and
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helping her friend out by taking over her small magic shop just off 42nd Street. So this already interested me more because I live in New York City, not far from 42nd Street.Before long Diana teams up with a real, genuine, blood sucking vampire, Andre, who has taken it upon himself to protect some people.
They have some enemies, psi-vampires who drain energy, but not blood, from people, and a mysterious creature that eats souls. The enemies have teamed up because they found it advantageous to work together.
Diana and Andre also include a couple of Diana’s friends from New York in their team, and have an unexpected ally, an old boyfriend of Diana’s in the psi-vamp team who never wanted to become and doesn’t enjoy being a psi-vampire, and just wants out of it.
This novel also covers how she helped the Romany people in New York so they are in debt to her, which was a plot point in the first Diana Tregarde novel, “Burning Water” that now obviously takes place later than this one.
I can’t figure out when it takes place. When I read the first Diana Tregarde novel, “Burning Water” I assumed it took place around the time it was written, the late 80’s. This one was written in 1990, and at first I assumed it took place around that time. But then Lackey makes passing reference to the Vietnam War and Richard Nixon being president, which would be the first half of the 1970s.
While doing some in-story research, Diana refers to Michael Moorcock’s “Elric” saga and the sword Stormbringer in a way that would indicate time has passed since Moorcock wrote about it, fitting with the story taking place around when it was written, the late 80’s or 1990…. But then there’s mention of a B-grade actor in the governor’s mansion, which would seem more like the late 60’s or early 70’s, whereas if it took place in the 80’s, I’d expect mention of this B-grade actor having ascended further, to the White House.
Overall, though, I quite enjoyed the story, and I’d recommend it.
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LibraryThing member jjmcgaffey
Very rich - a lot of turning points for Di and others. Growing a new Spook Squad? (No, but it sounds like it in this book). I like Andre - nice guy and neat concept. The psivamps are truly nasty, and the gaki is worse - or at least as bad. Dave does a lot of late growing up, too.
LibraryThing member threadnsong
This installment of Mercedes Lackey's Diana Tregarde series features a young Diana fresh out of college and covering for her friend's occult shop in the early 70's Manhattan. At least I think that's the timeframe - she references Nixon a couple of times, so either it's pre-Watergate or it's an
Diana is becoming a successful romance writer, lives in a lovely brownstone with dancers of several different genres, and helping out at her friend's store during her friend's final stages of pregnancy. Several visitors enter the store who are not among the normal customers, and one is a young Gypsy boy with the Sight.
The concurrent story involves an ex of Diana's who's in a burgeoning rock and roll band. While at a party he takes one of the proffered pills and wakes up a couple of days later with very little memory of the rest of the party evening and a deep and gnawing hunger that just won't go away.
Add in Diana's good friend Lenny from the apartment, Lenny's new boyfriend Keith, and a rather sexy vampire whom Di has no idea if he's the killer of the Gypsy boy or just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, and you've got a pretty good cast of characters.
What made this book lose half a star was the constant inner dialogue, in italics, that gets in the way of the storyline or action or events. Just tell the story already, and let the character's actions determine their intent! Diana's right-turn into her panic attack and how Andre is able to talk her through it seemed more like the author's need to self-reveal than a vital plot point. Plus, and I realize I'm talking about a story that involves vampires and other elements of the strange and weird side of things, being 18 months out of college and already an accomplished brown belt in martial arts and already a signed, successful author does not lend itself to the "realistic" side of Diana's story.
So, it still shows, in the early 90's when it was written, a gutsy heroine who has fears and doubts and still faces them and helps those in need. And has friends among the human as well as the not-quite-human race.
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alternate timeline. I'll go with the former.Diana is becoming a successful romance writer, lives in a lovely brownstone with dancers of several different genres, and helping out at her friend's store during her friend's final stages of pregnancy. Several visitors enter the store who are not among the normal customers, and one is a young Gypsy boy with the Sight.
The concurrent story involves an ex of Diana's who's in a burgeoning rock and roll band. While at a party he takes one of the proffered pills and wakes up a couple of days later with very little memory of the rest of the party evening and a deep and gnawing hunger that just won't go away.
Add in Diana's good friend Lenny from the apartment, Lenny's new boyfriend Keith, and a rather sexy vampire whom Di has no idea if he's the killer of the Gypsy boy or just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, and you've got a pretty good cast of characters.
What made this book lose half a star was the constant inner dialogue, in italics, that gets in the way of the storyline or action or events. Just tell the story already, and let the character's actions determine their intent! Diana's right-turn into her panic attack and how Andre is able to talk her through it seemed more like the author's need to self-reveal than a vital plot point. Plus, and I realize I'm talking about a story that involves vampires and other elements of the strange and weird side of things, being 18 months out of college and already an accomplished brown belt in martial arts and already a signed, successful author does not lend itself to the "realistic" side of Diana's story.
So, it still shows, in the early 90's when it was written, a gutsy heroine who has fears and doubts and still faces them and helps those in need. And has friends among the human as well as the not-quite-human race.
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Language
Original publication date
1990-08
Physical description
313 p.; 18 cm
ISBN
0812521129 / 9780812521122
Local notes
Good portrayals of magic, witchcraft, and occult investigation.