Susan Squires, The Burning

The Burning

Susan Squires

By 1822 anyone in England especially in the Wiltshire area who knows of Ann Van Helsing assumes she is insane as she avoids human contact as if everyone else suffers from the plague. However, Ann's shunning of human contact is actually self-preservation; when she touches someone; she immediately learns everything about that person even their deepest desires hidden from themselves. Thus Ann hides at her uncle's estate, but principally in the nearby woods and caves.

In Transylvania his arrogance led to his making an evil action that placed his world on the brink of extinction; his punishment is a millennium as a hunter. Thus vampire Stephen Sincai roams Europe searching and destroying those abominations made by others of his species. However, his last prey has left Stephen severely injured and bleeding in the woods frequented by Ann. When she finds him seemingly near death, she cannot stop herself from touching him. Now she knows his frightening history including that he is a vampire who has been cursed by his people for what he wrought back in the twelfth century. Instead of being repelling, Ann is attracted to Stephen, who though it is ataboo taboo reciprocates her feelings. As they fall in love, his evil transgression is near ready to destroy her creator and his beloved.

The third Susan Squires' historical vampire romance (see THE COMPANION and THE HUNGER) is a terrific tale due to the full blooded lead couple. The storyline is action-packed with readers anticipating a high noon (make that midnight) showdown between the hero and the malevolent one. Still this tale belong to the fine lead pair whose forbidden love is a double edged sword as the most powerful tool in their repertoire and their most vulnerable Achilles' Heel when the confrontation occurs.

St. Martin's, Apr 2006, $6.99

ISBN: 0312998554

Harriet Klausner