The Dawn We Seek (In Aeternum, Book 3)

Kate Taliaferro reviews the final installment of the In Aeternum trilogy by Sister Allison Regina Gliot, FSP.

The Dawn We Seek (In Aeternum, Book 3)

By Sister Allison Regina Gliot, FSP

Published by Pauline Books & Media

I am so thrilled to be reviewing the final installment in the In Aeternum series, The Dawn We Seek by Sister Allison Regina Gliot, FSP. After reading and reviewing the first two installments, The Curse He Chose and The Light They Left, I had all my fingers and toes crossed I’d be able to complete the series. Not only was I able to read The Dawn We Seek, but I was also able to sit down with Sister Allison and Maria Johnson on the Catholic Momcast (see below to listen) to talk about the series. It was such a treat to be able to spend time talking with Sr. Allison about the creation of this insightful series and hear her thoughts on the characters, her inspiration, and the journey of writing the books.

The Dawn We Seek

Spoiler Alert for both The Curse He Chose* and The Light They Left.*

The Dawn We Seek is gripping from the start. By now, hopefully readers will know that this is a Catholic Vampire series where both the Catholicism and the vampirism together share center stage. We continue on Christopher’s journey of self-discovery from vampire to human a mere week or so after the conclusion of The Light They Left. Humanity, and Catholicism, are still very new for Christopher as he navigates basic bodily needs like regular eating and sleeping. He has been baptized but is still preparing for his first Confession and Confirmation. Elizabeth, Christopher’s girlfriend, is alongside him each step of the way as they grow in their relationship.

Trust is a theme quickly revealed as Christopher continues to suffer from flashbacks to his former, pre-vampire, life. Sister Allison has shifted her style somewhat from The Light They Left. Previously, each chapter denoted whether Christopher was recalling a past moment or was fully alert to the present. While still doing this, the flashbacks are also fully integrated into the middle of the chapters. Realities blur and blend as an image, person, or conversation transports Christopher back in time. Readers need to pay careful attention as these shifts are sometimes sneaky — in the best way possible.

Continuing on the theme of trust, Christopher and Elizabeth discover that Christopher’s brother, Adrian (who is also a vampire), has remained close to the convent where they are staying in Germany. Christopher desperately wants to help his brother recover his humanity. However, through experiences in the present as well as recalling the past, Christopher comes to realize he struggles to trust others. He has deep rooted habits of exerting control over others or situations due to his lack of trust. Did he play a role in his brother’s transformation? Can he forgive himself for the sins of his past?

We get to accompany Christopher and Elizabeth as each flashback brings Christopher closer to the knowledge he fears to know the most: how he turned into a vampire. Along the way, we meet some new nuns and learn, along with Christopher, that there are times where we have to trust the people God has put us with. Relying on God sometimes comes in the form of allowing others to help where we, for whatever the reason, are unable to act.

Relying on others does not come easily to Christopher as he bemoans his weakened physical body when he recalls the strength he had as a vampire. This weakness, however, gives him the opportunity to witness the strength of others, often in surprising ways. We also come to learn a great deal about the Wolf, the vampire that has haunted the woods near Christopher’s home and the convent for centuries. The Wolf displays all the classic evils we would associate with vampires. He becomes a mystery to unravel as his behavior becomes erratic and threatening to everyone nearby. Christopher faces some difficult choices, will he rely on the help of others or insist on trying to handle this new, yet ancient, threat in his own way?

Sister Allison keeps us on the edge of our seats throughout this final installment. The vampire-on-vampire violence is somewhat reduced in this book. Now that Christopher is a human, and the fact that we spend a good deal of time with him in flashback form, that particular element does take a back seat. There still is talk and presence of blood, and there are at least two particularly gruesome scenes. The Dawn We Seek touches on topics of control, coercion, deceit, murder, and despair. However, these elements are well balanced with concrete hope, selflessness, prayer, forgiveness, and love. It is definitely in keeping with the series’ teenage to YA recommendation.

The Dawn We Seek is a satisfying conclusion to a series that has filled a place in my reading life I didn’t know was missing. I have continued to be impressed by Sister Allison’s ability to tell her vampire story in a compelling manner while keeping Catholic teaching firmly woven throughout. This story just wouldn’t work without the Catholic element. I love it’s a foundational element without being forced. What was only hinted at in The Curse He Chose has been brought full circle in The Dawn We Seek. I will absolutely be reading this series again.

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Ask for The Dawn We Seek at your local Catholic bookseller, or order online from Amazon.com or the publisher, Pauline Books & Media.

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The Dawn We Seek (In Aeternum, Book 3)