But guess what? I didn't care about any of this because the book was so well written it ceased to matter. Achilli seems to be especially good at writing chilling little vignettes. His Sabbat, for example, are scarier in one paragraph than they were in the two whole books in the CLAN NOVEL series dedicated to them- and one of those (TZIMISCE) is one of the strongest installments in the series.

The book presents the diversity of the Giovanni clan well- especially the differences between the Old World Giovanni with their necromancy and the New World Giovanni with their more mundane mob involvement. It takes a break from the following the larger developments in the series to focus on the story of two Giovanni- the New World mobster Chas and the Old World negotiator Isabel. I've read the previous books in the series but I think I would have been able to enjoy this even if I hadn't.

The first part of the book focused on the brutal, crude and very foul-mouthed New World Giovanni. (Without the profanity it seemed like the book would have been around 100 pages shorter- but there's a reason for it.) Mafia novels don't do much for me and this gave the book a slow start. Still it managed to combine a mob story with a vampire story without seeming silly. Later, there is a look at the venerable necromancer Ambrogino at his work and some creepy glimpses at the ancient past of the Cappadocians. There's some great jungle-rotting decadence set in New Orleans as well. One of the things that the book handles best is the toll which the Giovanni flaw (they cause pain when they feed) takes on members of this clan over time as they strive to maintain their humanity. It's not quite as blatantly bleak a portrayal of vampiric existance as CLAN NOVEL: GANGREL but it's pretty disturbing perhaps because it's so subtle- at least at first.


Packing Fangs Instead of Guns   December 19, 2004
 4 out of 8 found this review helpful

Clan Giovanni are neutrals in the conflict between Camarilla and Sabbat. In vampire terms that means they are out for themselves and devil take the hindmost. At their best they are the business people of the darkness, at there worst (which is often) they are simple gangsters only slightly smoother than the Brujah. Don't expect a Giovanni to be polite unless they have to be.

Chaz Giovanni Tello, is more goon than smart guy, Even so, he is likable - if you are drawn to people with excess potty-mouth and a huge sadistic streak. Still, his character is alive, and he has a certain flair. Assigned to find the missing Benito Giovanni, Chaz descends on Las Vegas and proceeds to wreak havoc, even if he comes up short on results. His path crosses that of Isabel Giovanni who is in the midst of negotiations with the clans of the Camerilla and Sabbat.

Complications develop immediately as Isabel realizes that wherever Benito has vanished to, there is bad news for her clan. Something dark is hunting them, something even darker that the Giovanni themselves.

While this novel is typical of the series in that it rarely offers an explanation and confuses more than it clears. It is my favorite of the series. Achilli shows a genuine flair for deadpan comedy, especially when he takes Chaz through his paces. Characters seem to pop off the page, and go into action. Undead proof that it is possible to write a Masquerade novel that doesn't have the pace of a textbook. I only wish Achilli has made a stronger effort to make this a completely standalone story. This is a fine example of why the Masquerade has so many fans.


The best of the series in showing the Clan itself   July 25, 2000
 3 out of 5 found this review helpful

Most of the books in this series have been about the overarching plotline, and just happened to have a main character or three of the Clan in question. But in CN: Giovanni, we find ourselves immersed in the workings of the Clan, from the ghouls and grunts in Vegas to the manipulators and movers in Europe.

As said elsewhere, it points the focus away from the ongoing plot in order to show these workings, but it gives this book more merit as something that could stand on its own apart from the series. In fact, this is definetly the novel that could ~best~ stand apart from the series.

CN: Setite was my personal favourite, but this one gave it a run for its money. As with much White Wolf fiction, writing quality falters here and there, but overall it produces a worthwhile read, and the first of the series that I finished in one sitting.


The book was disgustingly Giovanni in all aspects.   June 8, 2000
 3 out of 5 found this review helpful

I will have to say that the book is different. Unbelievable amount of cussing in it and vulgar descriptions which is not a surprise. Justin went out of his way on this one. Storywise, it definately beats the malkavian and toreador novel. Backgroundwise, nice references to the maelstorms and a hint of what is up with cappidocian (don't want to spoil it but read carefully the scenes of Isabella and her grandmother). Plotwise, barely tied to the main plot. Only thing I didn't like was the lack of necromancy. Giovanni were slick mafia people but the majority hardly acted like necromancers. That's very sad and I predict is not gonna be repeated in the Tremere Novel, at least I hope not, I don't want to see Tremeres that barely use Thaumaturgy. One last word, no kid should read this book, well all world of darkness is not for kids but this one is out of question, yes it's that level. Just my opinion.


No payoff   May 8, 2001
 3 out of 5 found this review helpful

After slogging my way through this increasingly disappointing series of books, I had some hope for Clan Novel: Giovanni. There were many directions the book could have gone, and it seemed that Justin Achilli SAW those opportunities, but never took them.

A clan with such a rich and unsual history as the Giovanni offer an amazing opportunity for any Author, even beyond the obvious puerile topics of Necrophillia and Incest (which seems to be the primary focus of Giovanni authors, aimed to shock and titilate.)

Unfortunately Achilli never uses any of the opportunities afforded him.