Review: The Nosferatu Conspiracy: The Sommelier by Brian James Gage

Author Brian James Gage pulls back the curtain on another sinister installment of historical horror with The Nosferatu Conspiracy: Book Two, The Sommelier.

Haunted by the specter of Franz Ferdinand, whom he set up for assassination, Kaiser Wilhelm II continues his mad military quest across Europe, desperately seeking the mysterious substance that will grant him and his wife immortality. The first step of the Nosferatu operation hadn’t gone exactly according to plan, although eliminating the Romanov family and destabilizing Russia did have its benefits.

The second objective of Prussia’s ultimate scheme is still within reach, somewhere in Paris, but seizing Dracula’s brother – Radu cel Frumos – is only the first challenge. Securing the blood of the legendary vampire is the true goal, and a necessary step in the Kaiser taking control of the ultimate weapon. First, the Prussian forces must take Arras, the last line of defense for Paris, and the world.

Three centuries earlier, Dracula’s brother had imprisoned Elizabeth Bathory, the Death Witch, in a monstrous form, and trapped her spirit within an impenetrable forest. A coven of her occult worshippers, led by Vago Vakul himself, has finally found a way to release her back into the world, and allow her darkness to spread. By providing the imprisoned Bathory with the body of a purebred witch – a strong enough vessel to contain her power – Bael’s chaotic rebirth may finally be achieved. Kaiser Wilhelm, Hindenburg, and Schmidt are eager to bring the witch’s power into the Prussian fold, combining her magic with the horrors of a vampire army.

These power-mad storylines coalesce in a battle for control of the earthly realm, with supernatural forces on every side, driven by revenge, hatred, terror, and violence. Aside from the epic stakes in this rewritten historical tale, Gage also explores more subtle themes, such as geopolitical disdain for combatant cultures, the cheap price of life in times of chaos, ulterior motives, and the horrific cost of any arms race. Given the current state of the world, this richly imagined slice of historical fantasy feels eerily relevant.

The story weaves fantasy and reality into a remarkable tapestry, which will be thrilling for readers of a wide variety of genres. Some of the more mystical details of this story give the prose a clear ring of fiction, but the author’s insistence on this narrative being the “true” history causes nagging doubt to creep in at the edges, making the suspension of disbelief much easier, in the tradition of Dan Simmons’ classic Carrion Comfort. From massive white widows, mirror-bound spirits, and sinister witches to violent power grabs, political tricks, and epic battles that will decide the future of humanity, this book overflows with thrilling moments and unexpected turns.

On the technical side, the prose is generally well-edited, though there are a few grammatical errors and sloppy sentences. Additionally, the dialogue is sometimes too clever and pointed for the individual personalities of certain characters. Much of the narration is rough and visceral in its language choice, but the conversations can sometimes feel too manicured.

The prose as a whole, however, is enthralling, as is the cast of malevolent characters Gage summons so well in these blood-stained pages, for a gruesome but thrilling work of alternate history.