Dark Ages: Nosferatu is the first in a new series, the Dark Ages Clan Novels. These novels will bring the Dark Ages: Vampire game system from the Dark Ages of Europe to the Middle Ages. This new time is known to Vampires as the "War of Princes." This represents the change from Vampire: The Dark Ages (1st Edition) to Dark Ages: Vampire (2nd Edition).

The book starts in 1204 in the city of Constantinople, the home of many powerful Vampires who have attempted to set up their Dream and a kingdom of god on earth. The city is rich with different people, religions, and works of secular and religious art.

As the west launches the fourth Crusade with the intention of reclaiming the holy lands, soldiers of Latin Christianity lay siege to Constantinople, declaring its people heretics for not following the pope in Rome. This seige is driven by the western Cainites, who wish to claim the power of Vampiric Clans based in these regions. As the book begins, the city burns, and monuments, works of art, and religious structures are destroyed before the eyes of those who have walked among them for centuries.

The main character of this book is an Elder Nosferatu named Malachite. He has a stoic belief in Eastern Christianity, the Elders of the city, and "The Dream." The Dream was the creation of the city's Patriarch, Michael, a Toreador who founded the city and guided it for an age. At Michael's death and the destruction of everything that Malachite has ever believed in, Malachite is brought to the brink of despair.

Malachite is a very dynamic character. His personal thoughts drive most of the novel, and the climax of the story comes when he realizes that he must lead the others and provide them with hope and stability, even if he can not provide any for himself.

Through him, we are given a glimpse of the Nosferatu clan as a whole as they struggle to maintain their humanity and their religion, even though they look worse than beasts. We also see more of the Nosferatu clan during Malachite's attempt to save Basil, one of his childer. Basil is one of three boys who seem to have been gifted (cursed?) with powers of prophecy; at the beginning of the book, he is stricken by some sickness and can not wake.

Many other characters are introduced to move the story along, such as a Turkish Gangrel named Verpus. Introduced early on, he showcases the proficiencies in combat, tracking, and survival skills that give the Gangrel Clan its fame. We are also introduced to Alexia and her mortal ghoul. She is a very old Cappadocian with a strange agenda, and adds an amazing plotline to the story. In fact, whenever she appears, you can almost hear the mysterious music in the back of your mind. (At least when you can get the voices to stop...)

This book is very well written. It provides enough combat to make things interesting, but the real highlight is the author's strength in capturing the subtleties in Cainite society and politics. The author places important information in the most unlikely of situations, and just when you think things are going to become predictable…they do a complete 180.

That being said, the book does leave quite a bit to be desired. It represents a major shift in the official White Wolf version of history, and although we are told of the event that triggers the release of the new core book—the fall of Constantinople—the book is completely silent on any of the events leading to this fall. Fans of WW's diverse Vampire series know that nothing ever happens in this world without some Vampire pulling the strings, which only makes the silence leading up to this book all the more deafening.

Overall, I give this book 3 out of 5 doors. It is worth reading; even if you only read it because it begins a new series in the World of Darkness, you won't be completely disappointed. I do feel, though, that the book starts awkwardly. Constantinople is falling... but the implication is that this is both a physical and a spiritual fall, and the only explaination given for both is the Fourth Crusade. There is no doubt that the reader has been left without some crucial information. It is my hope that it was left to be shown to us through another's eyes or visions at some later point in the series. We shall see.