The Vampire’s Angel by Damian Serbu is a gay historical fiction set in Paris during the French Revolution. The story’s central character is Xavier, a Roman Catholic priest who has forsaken the amenities of his luxurious aristocratic lifestyle in order to follow his calling to minister in a small parish which services a poor district of the city. One evening he meets a stranger, a traveling businessman from America, and a friendship develops. Xavier’s new friend is Thomas, and this man seems to possess characteristics which both charm and baffle the timid priest.

Although the book is a genuine coming-out story, it is atypical of the classic triumph-over-angst type of gay fiction that is generally associated with this label. Xavier’s struggle encompasses far more than simply gaining acceptance of his homosexual identity and finding approval by his family and by society. He also struggles with reconciling his identity with his faith, and most-interestingly, he confronts the reality that he must come to terms with his identity as a submissive male.

Clearly the author’s objective was to lead the reader into the heart of Xavier and to portray him as a sincere, vulnerable, and intensely emotional figure. In the early chapters of the book, Xavier is presented as an angelic figure who is pure and by all accounts, perfect. His sensitivity is profoundly endearing, and it is nearly impossible not to fall in love in love with this character.

Every characteristic of Xavier speaks to the fact that he is by nature submissive. He is soft-spoken and gentle. He is obedient and non-confrontational. He craves serving others and finds fulfillment in so doing. He is intensely emotional and sheds tears easily and often. He needs a dominant force in his life to shelter him. Prior to Thomas, the Church served to perform this function, but as soon as Xavier found himself in the strong arms of a man he loved, he began to question whether his religion was enough.

Thomas is a relatively young vampire himself, having been transformed merely six decades prior. He is instantly attracted to Xavier, and decides immediately that he wants to court this delicate, young priest to become his mate. Thomas’ character is a stark contrast to that of Xavier’s. The vampire is domineering and confident. He is hot-tempered and prone to violence; yet surprisingly, his priestly lover has an amazing calming effect upon Thomas’ demeanor. The most difficult challenge of Thomas’ quest, though, is to maintain the level of patience necessary to win Xavier over to him. Xavier has so many personal issues to overcome, that Thomas fears Xavier may never be strong enough to embrace his own identity.

Being a very big fan of vampire stories, I was eager to read this book, though admittedly skeptical of its quality. I confess that as an Anne Rice fan, I tend to compare all vampiric tales to her novels, being that she is the author who clearly sets the benchmark in this category. Meyers, Hamilton, Schiefelbein, and others are all marvelous vampire storytellers, but as of yet, I haven’t found one who comes close to being in the same league as Anne Rice. Until now.

Damian Serbu is skilled at exposing the emotion of his characters and leading the reader into their hearts and minds. One could possibly argue that he lacks subtlety in his descriptions, yet it is this raw intensity that struck a chord in my heart. I was deeply touched by Xavier, and yearned to reach out to him and help him through his struggles. I was frustrated by his lack of self confidence and constant need for reassurance, but I realized how precisely accurate this portrayal was. Serbu laid bare the soul of a sub when he wrote Xavier, and he did it absolutely beautifully.

This book is not a high-action, fast-paced thriller. It is a story about evolution. It is about self-acceptance and personal growth. It is about finding the strength to be far more than you ever imagined yourself capable of being. It is a coming-out tale within the setting of a unique historical period. It is a vampiric fantasy and love story. I absolutely loved the book, and I highly recommend this author. I cannot wait to read more of his work. ( )