Review: From Afar by Ava March
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 02 23, 2010
RATING = 3.5 STARSIn From Afar we see two very different kinds of vampires.  There is Raphael who has chosen to live apart from the local vampire clan and their indulgent, violent lifestyle. Because of his choice, he is forced to live a lonely life apart from both human and vampiric society. The clan vampires, all male, live together under the rule of a single female vampire, Katerina.  All but two of the vampires in the clan have been turned by Katerina and therefore they belong to her.  Since Raphael was not turned by the female vampire he has no loyalties to her and although it may be dangerous for him, he chooses loneliness over the clan.When Raphael rescues Aleric from a vicious late night attack in an alley he is torn. Should he allow the man he's loved from afar for years to die as a result of his injuries, or risk his own life by challenging Katerina's authority in turning Aleric into a vampire and dooming him to a life he himself has long suffered?I really felt for Raphael.  His loneliness came through so clearly and when presented with a chance at possible happiness, he was torn between his need for the man he loved and the fear of losing him forever either in death or the chance that Aleric would hate him for turning him into a Vampire.  He was forced to make a choice that would change everything, not knowing if that would be for worse or better.I admit I was distrustful of Aleric early on in his relationship with Raphael. Before being turned, Aleric had not yet fully come to terms with his attraction to men. I worried that he was drawn to Raphael more because of the vulnerability he felt in his new vampire nature and was concerned he would eventually hurt or betray Raphael once he became more at ease with his new life as a vampire. Wondering if he would proclaim his love for Raphael or leave him in favor of clan life kept me on the edge of my seat.My only problem with From Afar was the unexpected ending.  I was engrossed in the story and looking forward to reading about how Aleric and Raphael would overcome their problems with Katerina and the clan vampires and was a little surprised when the story came to an end.Ava March is an author that I will most certainly want to read more from.  Her writing style easily drew me into this paranormal Regency Era romance  from the very beginning. The romantic relationship in From Afar was convincing, tugged at my heart strings, and left me wanting more.