In a noir version of the present, a group of immortals known as Olympians engage in an ongoing struggle against a secret cabal of vampires, quasihumans whose evolution paralleled that of Homo sapiens.  Olympian Montgomery Quinn finds himself drawn into an ancient feud between the vampire Callianne and her former lover -- a conflict that draws many occult powers to its battle lines.  Armstead introduces yet another permutation on the portrayal of modern vampires, focusing on political intrigue and personal vendettas.

VERDICT : The evocative prose and mythic underpinnings are likely to appeal to fans of vampire fiction. Suitable for large libraries.