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Atta Olivia Clemens #1
A Flame in Byzantium
Atta Olivia Clemens had received St. Germain's darkest gift. Would his love save her from the True Death? "A skillful blend of history and fiction, given added spice by the fact that its heroine happens to be a 500-year-old vampire".--Library Journal.
480 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 15, 1988
8 people are currently reading
539 people want to read
About the author
Chelsea Quinn Yarbro
259 books477 followersA professional writer for more than forty years, Yarbro has sold over eighty books, more than seventy works of short fiction, and more than three dozen essays, introductions, and reviews. She also composes serious music. Her first professional writing - in 1961-1962 - was as a playwright for a now long-defunct children's theater company. By the mid-60s she had switched to writing stories and hasn't stopped yet.
After leaving college in 1963 and until she became a full-time writer in 1970, she worked as a demographic cartographer, and still often drafts maps for her books, and occasionally for the books of other writers.
She has a large reference library with books on a wide range of subjects, everything from food and fashion to weapons and trade routes to religion and law. She is constantly adding to it as part of her on-going fascination with history and culture; she reads incessantly, searching for interesting people and places that might provide fodder for stories.
In 1997 the Transylvanian Society of Dracula bestowed a literary knighthood on Yarbro, and in 2003 the World Horror Association presented her with a Grand Master award. In 2006 the International Horror Guild enrolled her among their Living Legends, the first woman to be so honored; the Horror Writers Association gave her a Life Achievement Award in 2009. In 2014 she won a Life Achievement Award from the World Fantasy Convention.
A skeptical occultist for forty years, she has studied everything from alchemy to zoomancy, and in the late 1970s worked occasionally as a professional tarot card reader and palmist at the Magic Cellar in San Francisco.
She has two domestic accomplishments: she is a good cook and an experienced seamstress. The rest is catch-as-catch-can.
Divorced, she lives in the San Francisco Bay Area - with two cats: the irrepressible Butterscotch and Crumpet, the Gang of Two. When not busy writing, she enjoys the symphony or opera.
Her Saint-Germain series is now the longest vampire series ever. The books range widely over time and place, and were not published in historical order. They are numbered in published order.
Known pseudonyms include Vanessa Pryor, Quinn Fawcett, T.C.F. Hopkins, Trystam Kith, Camille Gabor.
After leaving college in 1963 and until she became a full-time writer in 1970, she worked as a demographic cartographer, and still often drafts maps for her books, and occasionally for the books of other writers.
She has a large reference library with books on a wide range of subjects, everything from food and fashion to weapons and trade routes to religion and law. She is constantly adding to it as part of her on-going fascination with history and culture; she reads incessantly, searching for interesting people and places that might provide fodder for stories.
In 1997 the Transylvanian Society of Dracula bestowed a literary knighthood on Yarbro, and in 2003 the World Horror Association presented her with a Grand Master award. In 2006 the International Horror Guild enrolled her among their Living Legends, the first woman to be so honored; the Horror Writers Association gave her a Life Achievement Award in 2009. In 2014 she won a Life Achievement Award from the World Fantasy Convention.
A skeptical occultist for forty years, she has studied everything from alchemy to zoomancy, and in the late 1970s worked occasionally as a professional tarot card reader and palmist at the Magic Cellar in San Francisco.
She has two domestic accomplishments: she is a good cook and an experienced seamstress. The rest is catch-as-catch-can.
Divorced, she lives in the San Francisco Bay Area - with two cats: the irrepressible Butterscotch and Crumpet, the Gang of Two. When not busy writing, she enjoys the symphony or opera.
Her Saint-Germain series is now the longest vampire series ever. The books range widely over time and place, and were not published in historical order. They are numbered in published order.
Known pseudonyms include Vanessa Pryor, Quinn Fawcett, T.C.F. Hopkins, Trystam Kith, Camille Gabor.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
January 11, 2013
A Flame In Byzantium is the first novel in the Atta Olivia Clemens trilogy by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro. The trilogy is a spinoff of Yarbro's Saint-Germain vampire series, in which Olivia Clemens was one of Saint-Germain's lovers.
I've had this novel and most of the Saint-Germain novels on my bookshelves for years, but for some reason, never placed them high on my reading list. However, I tackled A Flame In Byzantium specifically so I could participate in a reading challenge for the 2013 Monthly Keyword Challenge being hosted at Bookmark to Blog. "Fire" was one of the keywords in January's challenge, so since "flame" is a variation of the word "fire," this is what I chose to read.
A Flame In Byzantium kicks off during Emperor Justinian's reign in the year 545. During this time, Justinian is on a mission to reconquer and claim Italy from the Ostrogoths, who are currently occupying most of the Roman Empire. Olivia Clemens, who resides in Rome, has decided to relinquish her home to Justinian's troops for their use, as she flees to Byzantium, Constantinople to seek safety under the Emperor. Once she arrives in Constantinople, Olivia finds that her Roman culture and lifestyle are being carefully scrutinized, as the Byzantines are just a little more conservative with their views.
While striving to keep her vampirism a secret, Olivia must also find a way to fit in and comply with the city's politics in order to save both herself and her heritage.
Readers who are new to Yarbro or even the Saint-German books can easily read A Flame In Byzantium without being fully caught up with Olivia's back-story. Furthermore, readers who are unfamiliar with this period in history will find themselves feeling comfortable with the era after reading Yarbro's author's note at the beginning, which is a duly helpful history refresher.
For those who despise and avoid the subject of politics at all costs (like me!), don't worry: the political battles in this book are fascinating and actually quite joyous to read about. Olivia is a thrilling character because she is modern. A contemporary. Even the nasty banter between Olivia and the women in the court of Byzantium is entertaining and not unlike conversation between today's women in upper echelons.
Yarbro's historical research into this time period is impeccable, and it shows through her writing. I have no doubt that the rest of her novels that span across various time periods are also accurate, though they may be embellished for fictional entertainment purposes. If anything, I am intrigued and very interested in learning more about Olivia's past: especially about her turning into a vampire and about the centuries she spent with Saint-Germain.
Having been written during the 1980s (way before this crazy vampire reboot phase happening now), Yarbro places the historical fiction element far above the paranormal vampire aspect (which is almost non-existent) in A Flame In Byzantium. The fact that Olivia is a vampire takes a backseat to the rest of the novel, and this book is beautiful for that very reason.
2013 is already off to a great start in regards to good reads! I'm happy to say that I've already got the sequel to A Flame in Byzantium on deck, which is called Crusader's Torch. Following Crusader's Torch is A Candle for d'Artagnan. The first two books in the Saint-Germain series are Hotel Transylvania, and The Palace.
Read more book reviews at http://dreamworldbooks.com.
I've had this novel and most of the Saint-Germain novels on my bookshelves for years, but for some reason, never placed them high on my reading list. However, I tackled A Flame In Byzantium specifically so I could participate in a reading challenge for the 2013 Monthly Keyword Challenge being hosted at Bookmark to Blog. "Fire" was one of the keywords in January's challenge, so since "flame" is a variation of the word "fire," this is what I chose to read.
A Flame In Byzantium kicks off during Emperor Justinian's reign in the year 545. During this time, Justinian is on a mission to reconquer and claim Italy from the Ostrogoths, who are currently occupying most of the Roman Empire. Olivia Clemens, who resides in Rome, has decided to relinquish her home to Justinian's troops for their use, as she flees to Byzantium, Constantinople to seek safety under the Emperor. Once she arrives in Constantinople, Olivia finds that her Roman culture and lifestyle are being carefully scrutinized, as the Byzantines are just a little more conservative with their views.
While striving to keep her vampirism a secret, Olivia must also find a way to fit in and comply with the city's politics in order to save both herself and her heritage.
Readers who are new to Yarbro or even the Saint-German books can easily read A Flame In Byzantium without being fully caught up with Olivia's back-story. Furthermore, readers who are unfamiliar with this period in history will find themselves feeling comfortable with the era after reading Yarbro's author's note at the beginning, which is a duly helpful history refresher.
For those who despise and avoid the subject of politics at all costs (like me!), don't worry: the political battles in this book are fascinating and actually quite joyous to read about. Olivia is a thrilling character because she is modern. A contemporary. Even the nasty banter between Olivia and the women in the court of Byzantium is entertaining and not unlike conversation between today's women in upper echelons.
Yarbro's historical research into this time period is impeccable, and it shows through her writing. I have no doubt that the rest of her novels that span across various time periods are also accurate, though they may be embellished for fictional entertainment purposes. If anything, I am intrigued and very interested in learning more about Olivia's past: especially about her turning into a vampire and about the centuries she spent with Saint-Germain.
Having been written during the 1980s (way before this crazy vampire reboot phase happening now), Yarbro places the historical fiction element far above the paranormal vampire aspect (which is almost non-existent) in A Flame In Byzantium. The fact that Olivia is a vampire takes a backseat to the rest of the novel, and this book is beautiful for that very reason.
2013 is already off to a great start in regards to good reads! I'm happy to say that I've already got the sequel to A Flame in Byzantium on deck, which is called Crusader's Torch. Following Crusader's Torch is A Candle for d'Artagnan. The first two books in the Saint-Germain series are Hotel Transylvania, and The Palace.
Read more book reviews at http://dreamworldbooks.com.
February 5, 2013
The fact that Chelsea Quinn Yarbro's St. Germain/Atta Olivia Clemens novels are still available gives me great hope that the vampire genre hasn't been utterly decimated by daggered brotherhoods driving Escalades and defanged sparkly pretty boy stalkers. Yarbro's books are for the vampire conosseiur (or snob if you will). Yes, her main characters are vampires, but there's an interesting juxtoposition between these monsters and the human ones who tend to be far more horrific and bestial in their actions. It often leads me to wonder just who the real bloodsuckers are.
There are so few female vampire characters in fiction (a sad state of affairs that I don't see being rectified too soon) and Atta Olivia Clemens is one of my all-time favorites. I love her resourcefulness and it's a trait she has to rely upon over and over again given the restrictive worlds she finds herself existing in. This time the widow Clemens--now over five-hundred years old--finds herself in Constantinople, escaping from the predations of the Ostragoths. Little does she know her new sanctuary is far from anything but as she discovers to her dismay that the few freedoms she'd enjoyed as a Roman matron are nonexistent in this highly constrained world. Before she can do anything, she must have a male sponsor to handle her affairs, a situation that she finds barely tolerable save for the fact that her sponsor, General Belisarius, is also a friend.
Yarbro's love for history always shows and I find myself being immersed in the well-crafted worlds of long ago. This is an author who doesn't mind doing the research and it shows. Even the characters based on historical personages, such as the Empress Theordora, read like flesh and blood people (as they were). I had to keep from gritting my teeth at all the impediments put in front of Olivia to just live a quiet life. And the burning of the books in the Libarary of Alexandria. I felt as bad as Olivia's lover Drosos. In fact I cringed, thinking of all that vast knowledge lost forever because of religious intolerance and insanity.
Unfortunately, because she is a friend of Belisarius, who is now disgraced due to a sinister plot that accused him and his fellow soldiers for attempting to overthrow Emperor Justinian, Olivia finds her life and that of her faithful servant Niklos in greater jeopardy every passing day. Even her household slaves are suborned in the task of bringing the brave man and his family down. There is a reason we use the word "byzantine" to describe elaborately nefarious schemes, for poisonings, bribery, intimidation and other venal acts became part and parcel of the power struggle.
This was a book that enchanted, enthralled, horrified and yet how I never wanted it to end.
There are so few female vampire characters in fiction (a sad state of affairs that I don't see being rectified too soon) and Atta Olivia Clemens is one of my all-time favorites. I love her resourcefulness and it's a trait she has to rely upon over and over again given the restrictive worlds she finds herself existing in. This time the widow Clemens--now over five-hundred years old--finds herself in Constantinople, escaping from the predations of the Ostragoths. Little does she know her new sanctuary is far from anything but as she discovers to her dismay that the few freedoms she'd enjoyed as a Roman matron are nonexistent in this highly constrained world. Before she can do anything, she must have a male sponsor to handle her affairs, a situation that she finds barely tolerable save for the fact that her sponsor, General Belisarius, is also a friend.
Yarbro's love for history always shows and I find myself being immersed in the well-crafted worlds of long ago. This is an author who doesn't mind doing the research and it shows. Even the characters based on historical personages, such as the Empress Theordora, read like flesh and blood people (as they were). I had to keep from gritting my teeth at all the impediments put in front of Olivia to just live a quiet life. And the burning of the books in the Libarary of Alexandria. I felt as bad as Olivia's lover Drosos. In fact I cringed, thinking of all that vast knowledge lost forever because of religious intolerance and insanity.
Unfortunately, because she is a friend of Belisarius, who is now disgraced due to a sinister plot that accused him and his fellow soldiers for attempting to overthrow Emperor Justinian, Olivia finds her life and that of her faithful servant Niklos in greater jeopardy every passing day. Even her household slaves are suborned in the task of bringing the brave man and his family down. There is a reason we use the word "byzantine" to describe elaborately nefarious schemes, for poisonings, bribery, intimidation and other venal acts became part and parcel of the power struggle.
This was a book that enchanted, enthralled, horrified and yet how I never wanted it to end.
April 8, 2009
Not as interesting as the novels that focus on Saint Germain. I liked the interaction between Olivia and Niklos, but I didn't care anything about any other character. The historical details of Olivia's household were interesting, but overall I found the book dull and depressing.
February 23, 2023
The cover/packaging of this book make it look like a historical horror novel. But the blurb on the back accidentally gives note to what this really is when mentioning it's "a skillful blend of history and fiction, given added spice by the fact that its heroine happens to be a vampire..." Because that's the crux of it: the heroine just happens to be a vampire, but aside from that fact, the book is simply historical fiction.
You might be raising your eyebrow, wondering why I'd say this is just a historical fiction novel when at the same time admitting it's about a vampire. Before I'd read the book, I probably would have been doing the same thing. But it's the truth. The fact is, every bit of this book's plot/story could have remained the same if the heroine hadn't been a vampire. You'd take out the few references to her being five centuries old (they don't add anything but backstory, truly), change the few bits that seem to suggest her 'true death' wouldn't be the average person's death, and presto...it would simply be a historical fiction novel.
I'm really not sure what vampirism adds to the book, in all honesty. Perhaps it makes the heroine's confidence and awareness of the world slightly more believable(?), and her friendships more long-lasting, but all of the plotting and tension in the book comes from political and social affairs. I kept waiting for it to really matter that the heroine was a vampire--and perhaps some would argue that it did matter a bit in the end, just for that scene, though I'm not one of them--but as far as I can tell, Yarbro simply wanted to write historical fiction, and because she was known for horror, the book had to be given a horror spin. And 'vampires' mean 'horror'...right? Well, at least in this case, not so much. And all that's fine, but I wish the book didn't present itself as a historical horror, as I imagine it draws in plenty of readers who get knee-deep in it before realizing that it isn't nearly what they meant to sign up for.
If you want to read a historical fiction novel full of political intrigue in the time of the Byzantine Empire, around Year 545, by all means pick up this book. If you're looking for horror or vampires, however, I'd suggest steering clear.
You might be raising your eyebrow, wondering why I'd say this is just a historical fiction novel when at the same time admitting it's about a vampire. Before I'd read the book, I probably would have been doing the same thing. But it's the truth. The fact is, every bit of this book's plot/story could have remained the same if the heroine hadn't been a vampire. You'd take out the few references to her being five centuries old (they don't add anything but backstory, truly), change the few bits that seem to suggest her 'true death' wouldn't be the average person's death, and presto...it would simply be a historical fiction novel.
I'm really not sure what vampirism adds to the book, in all honesty. Perhaps it makes the heroine's confidence and awareness of the world slightly more believable(?), and her friendships more long-lasting, but all of the plotting and tension in the book comes from political and social affairs. I kept waiting for it to really matter that the heroine was a vampire--and perhaps some would argue that it did matter a bit in the end, just for that scene, though I'm not one of them--but as far as I can tell, Yarbro simply wanted to write historical fiction, and because she was known for horror, the book had to be given a horror spin. And 'vampires' mean 'horror'...right? Well, at least in this case, not so much. And all that's fine, but I wish the book didn't present itself as a historical horror, as I imagine it draws in plenty of readers who get knee-deep in it before realizing that it isn't nearly what they meant to sign up for.
If you want to read a historical fiction novel full of political intrigue in the time of the Byzantine Empire, around Year 545, by all means pick up this book. If you're looking for horror or vampires, however, I'd suggest steering clear.
August 10, 2020
Written before the "Interview with a Vampire" and the "Twilight Saga," the Saint Germain Chronicles intertwine layers of rich, well researched history with Yarbro's intelligent, enigmatic, and charming vampire hero. Yarbro challenges the reader to see the darker side of humanity through history against the often compassionate, but monsterous vampire St. Germain as he constantly rebuilds his identity over the years and around the globe. These books do contain sexual situations, violence, and horror and are not recommended for adolescent readers.
October 9, 2008
Another book featuring Olivia. In some ways, the Olivia books are far more tragic in tone than the Count books. Perhaps this is because of the fact that Olivia is an outsider in two ways, as a woman and as a vampire. The Count, for instance, never had to deal with treatment like that which Drosos presents to Olivia.
May 23, 2023
A little repetitive at times (I get it Olivia, you’re from Roma) and the letters at the beginning of the chapters are a bit of a drudge, but it’s an uncommon and interesting historical period to read about.
TW: The rape scene was pretty heavy and felt a little gratuitous. I wish I’d skipped it.
TW: The rape scene was pretty heavy and felt a little gratuitous. I wish I’d skipped it.
June 20, 2016
An OK historical fantasy story. I just don't seem to be a fan of this writer's works. Recommended
May 16, 2021
This was an impulse buy at a thrift store, completely made out of curiosity of a fellow “Chelsea” being published by Tor Horror... The writing was ok, she’d obviously done some research on the time period so I was hopeful despite a kinda generic plot and over-dramatic characters. I got through close to 100 pages before there was an elicit description of poor Drosos’s “organ” and the effect it was having on a very old woman... at which point I realized this is NOT a horror book, but a romance novel posing as one (!!). As such I have no interest in finishing the book. I will continue my lonely search for more impressive Chelsea-authors...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 20, 2022
This is one of the books in the Count de St. Germaine vampire series Ms. Yarbro writes. I enjoyed the book even though it only mentions St. Germaine in letters from Olivia. There is a great deal of history involved, which I enjoyed. There are sections that slow down and lag but that was tolerable because I liked the story.
September 18, 2020
Good, but dark. This one has Olivia trying to deal with the institutionalized bigotry and misogyny in the Byzantine empire-- along with the usual issue of concealing her nature.
December 24, 2020
Interesting "history" of the Justinian period of Byzantium. Not as much vampire action as I expected.
September 15, 2013
This was the very first book I read by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro, when I was in college (circa 1988/9). I had recently completed a couple of history classes regarding Early Western Civilization, including a challenging course called the History of Law and Justice in Early Western Civilization. I was so pleased to read a novel that fit so well into my recently broadened understanding of history. Yarbro's book is well-written, engaging and powerful. It is much more a historical/political fiction with a strong female lead (that happens to be a vampire), not just a vampire novel set in historical context.
It is ironic that this novel with an undead lead brought ancient history so alive to me, but it did. The book is so memorable, that years later (at least 12 years had passed) I went looking for it again and then realized that Yarbro had written many books. After I revisited A Flame, I then searched out her other two books about Olivia, followed by most of Yarbo's St. Germain series books in 2000s. Having access to a strong library system is a must, as the earliest Saint Germain stories were written in the late 70s.
Yarbro writes beautifully and is a skilled researcher. I highly recommend this novel, and not just to fans of urban fantasy. This book can stand on its own, even if the reader hasn't read any of Yarbro's other books.
It is ironic that this novel with an undead lead brought ancient history so alive to me, but it did. The book is so memorable, that years later (at least 12 years had passed) I went looking for it again and then realized that Yarbro had written many books. After I revisited A Flame, I then searched out her other two books about Olivia, followed by most of Yarbo's St. Germain series books in 2000s. Having access to a strong library system is a must, as the earliest Saint Germain stories were written in the late 70s.
Yarbro writes beautifully and is a skilled researcher. I highly recommend this novel, and not just to fans of urban fantasy. This book can stand on its own, even if the reader hasn't read any of Yarbro's other books.
January 12, 2014
"I feel as if all our time is spent in terrible darkness, and that if we are fortunate, from time to time we stumble into a little light. If we are not too frightened of what we see, we huddle around it, like traders in the desert at their fires. But most are terrified or blinded, and they seek the darkness again, preferring that to—" She shook her head. "Forgive me."
The excerpt above summarizes this entire novel - it is the tragic tale of how a female vampire watches the evolution of a patrimonial society around the Church and a divinely appointed emperor.
The excerpt above summarizes this entire novel - it is the tragic tale of how a female vampire watches the evolution of a patrimonial society around the Church and a divinely appointed emperor.
February 23, 2009
I have discovered that I am not such a fan of the books in the St. Germain series that involve the women in his life. With the exception of one, this series within a series is slower reading, and while the historical accuracy is the same, the books are not as driving as the ones concerning the Count alone.
July 1, 2011
This book looks good on the surface, but it felt like a slog (maybe just because I'm sick?) The historical fiction parts were interesting, but I spent the last half of the book thinking that the heroine was stupid because she kept waiting for permission to leave town when it was clear bad things were going to happen. Why not just flee in the night and lose your possessions but keep your life?
November 29, 2016
Olivia's story... 540's AD - she must leave Rome for Constantinople... and the tyranny of a ruler who feels ruled by his devotion to God... but is paranoid, and sees conspiracy where there is none...
she is accused of vampire/witch, she is put to death (drowning in the ocean) but rescued and gets to one of her island homes.
she is accused of vampire/witch, she is put to death (drowning in the ocean) but rescued and gets to one of her island homes.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 14, 2013
This vampire series by CQY is one of my particular favourites and this title is still, for me, the best of the Olivia stories. In fact, this cover was my inspiration for a Chaos Costume at one of the Jersey Eastercons but I developed a raging migraine and couldn't participate!
Read
September 9, 2011I tried this one because I so enjoy the St Germaine series. There wasn't as much detail or character in this one for my taste. Guess I'll have to wait for the next St Germaine.
April 18, 2012
Loved this one as much as the rest of the books. Olivia is one great character. I know the next book about her will be just as good.
Read
September 1, 2013Olivia Book 1
December 3, 2008
A book of St. Germaine's "progeny" Olivia, whom you meet in Blood Games.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews