Thirteen Years Later

Second in a projected quintet, this impressive historical-horror novel continues the action of Kent's Twelve (2010), in which Russian secret agent Aleksei Danilov defeated a band of vampires who were concealing their bloody rampage in the social chaos during Napoleon's 1812 invasion. Now a colonel in the Russian army, Aleksei has infiltrated a club of would-be revolutionaries who threaten the life of czar Aleksandr. Though sometimes verbose and melodramatic, this tale is strong enough to earn its length and passion. In particular, the focus deftly shifts between viewpoints to increase tension: as Aleksei's crafty human nemesis manipulates events, Aleksandr idly wonders who owns the yacht anchored near his vacation palace, and the master vampire rests aboard in his coffin and dreams of possessing all of Russia. Notably widening the first novel's scope, this book is hugely ambitious and largely successful. (Feb.)