Lee Allen's Blog - Posts Tagged "vampires"

A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


The beginning of an epic saga of love and war, set in a hidden world of preternatural creatures with supernatural abilities, steeped in history and secrets.

Diana is a historian, studying the history of science, specifically alchemy, researching texts in the Bodleian Library at Oxford University. She is also a witch, one determined not to succumb to using her magical abilities or engaging in witchcraft to further her studies or her career, or even to make her life easier. In fact, she is determined to live a human life, much to the chagrin of the witches around her. But her denial of her nature and heritage is threatened when she comes across an ancient manuscript that she realises is enchanted.

Hurriedly, she sends it back, not wishing to study it any further. But it is too late to avoid attracting unwanted attention from multiple people. One of those people is Matthew, a scientist and fellow academic. Matthew is also a vampire. He appears to have developed a great interest in the manuscript and also in Diana herself.

Behind the veneer of ordinary human life hides a world of witches, vampires and daemons – three preternatural creatures which appear human, but are not; their existence hidden behind the myths and folklore that have developed over the millennia. But the attention of all three creatures is now focussed on Diana and the ancient manuscript, which may hold the key to the past and future, and the answers to questions that never cease to be asked.

Unable to deny their instant attraction and burgeoning feelings for each other, Diana and Matthew are drawn closer together and deeper into peril, until there may be no escaping the danger that their relationship and that ancient manuscript immerse them in.

A thoroughly absorbing and thought-provoking novel, ‘A Discovery of Witches’ begins Deborah Harkness’ ‘All Souls’ trilogy by introducing us to the two central characters and pulling us ever deeper into a world that is hidden all around us. The world-building is superb; no one is unfamiliar with witches, vampires or daemons, but here they are not quite as we recognise them in popular culture. The witches are perhaps the most recognisable, the daemons least so.

I became caught up in Diana and Matthew’s relationship – their forbidden desire for each other as they delve into the mysteries, while enemies circle around them. Each of the large cast of characters is drawn in refined detail, vampire Ysabeau one of my favourites. This is a novel driven in equal parts by character, setting and plot; rich in detail about all three. Harkness expertly crafts a journey that draws you in and refuses to release you from its spell.

The ending leaves us ready to dive headlong into the sequel ‘Shadow of Night’ – which promises to explore the late 16th century time period. ‘A Discovery of Witches’ is a tantalising beginning, leaving you yearning to further explore this world of danger and desire, magic and mystery.



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Dracul by Dacre Stoker

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


A haunting and captivating origin story to Bram Stoker’s gothic horror masterpiece.

“I am quite convinced that there is no doubt whatever that the events here described really took place, however unbelievable and incomprehensible they might appear at first sight.” Bram Stoker

What led Bram Stoker to record the events told in ‘Dracula’ and thus recount the most famous vampire tale of all time? ‘Dracul’ takes us back to 1868, many years before the events of the original novel. Bram, alone and barricaded in the tower of a deconsecrated abbey, armed with crucifixes, white roses and holy water, is under siege from malevolent forces which surround him. In his journal, he begins to record the events that led him here.

So we return with Bram to 1854, when the terror truly began. Sickly and confined to his bedroom most the time, the young Brad leads a lonely life – close only to his sister, Matilda, and their nanny, Ellen Crone. Bram and Matilda soon begin to notice that there is something strange about their nanny - her mysterious wanderings away from the family home in the middle of the night; her bizarre disappearances sometimes for days at a time; her ageless beauty, at times interrupted by the rare appearance of one who has aged considerably. When she appears to bring Bram back from the brink of death, it only serves to deepen the mystery that surrounds her.

The children are determined to uncover Ellen’s secrets, a quest that is destined to follow them into adulthood and lead them into the path of a malevolent evil, one so ancient and malignant that escape may be impossible. The legend of Dracul is buried deep; uncovering it may come at a price that none are prepared to sacrifice.

This is an origin story on multiple levels – part prequel to the original novel, part alternative history biopic of how it came to be written – and a gripping vampire thriller in its own right. Co-written by Dacre Stoker, great-grand-nephew to Bram, and horror and thriller author J.D. Barker, it was inspired by the notes and journals Bram left behind from the original writing of ‘Dracula’. The story of the missing first one-hundred pages of the novel is legendary; the short story ‘Dracula’s Guest’, published posthumously as part of a short story collection, is believed to have originally been the first chapter of the novel, and it is believed that much more of the original story was excised. Dacre Stoker has spent many years researching the life and works of his ancestor, having also previously published a sequel to the original, ‘Dracula: The Un-Dead’, co-written with Ian Holt.

Stoker and Barker have seamlessly stitched together history and fiction into a superbly written, dark, supernatural drama, brimming with tension and riddled with unease. It builds to an intensely satisfying climax, followed by the perfect close in 1890; one that leaves you yearning to dive straight back into the original classic. The undead still walk and the legend of the vampire continues to endure.

Composed of pure gothic atmosphere and slow-burning terror, ‘Dracul’ is a fine addition to Bram Stoker’s legacy and the ever-expanding mythology of Dracula and his fellow literary vampires.

(Also included is an Authors’ Note that blends eerily well with the fiction; and, in the paperback edition, a letter reportedly written by Charlotte Stoker to her son, Bram, telling of the horrors of the cholera pandemic. It makes for timely reading, with echoes through to the present day. Perhaps vampirism isn’t the true horror after all.)



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I am very excited to announce that I will be releasing my new novel, BITTEN this Valentine's Day.

I write this having written the book's final words - always such a momentous and surreal feeling; a book that I have been working on for a very long time. The idea first came to me in January 2015, while I was still working on 'The Jack O'Lantern Men', orginally planned as the third in a trio of supernaturally-themed seasonal novellas.

The more I delved into the stories of these characters, the more there was to tell. Some of the themes I explored in bitesize chunks in 'Whispers from the Dead of Night' have also woven themselves into my new tale of murder, fear and desire. I cannot wait to share this with you!

Redrafting and editing is well underway, and the book will soon be available to pre-order. Look out for the synopsis, which I shall share with you tomorrow. Follow me on Instagram and Facebook @leeallenauthor and don't miss the cover reveal and teasers over the coming weeks.

It is almost time to disturb the slumber of the damned...

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My new novel, BITTEN - coming this Valentine's Day! Check out the synopsis below:

A tale of murder, fear and desire…

A serial murder investigation draws near its conclusion. For seven years the killer has evaded capture, but the police finally have their prime suspect in custody – a man who claims to be a vampire over three hundred years old.

PC Holleigh Ryder is tasked with the most unsettling and challenging assignment of her career. All she wants is to get to the truth and achieve justice for the murdered women, but this has been no ordinary case and it is far from over.

The vampire has his own endgame in mind, one that may leave the police praying they had left the damned undisturbed in their graves.

Now available to pre-order on Amazon.

Don't miss the cover reveal and teasers on Instagram and Facebook over the coming weeks - follow me @leeallenauthor, links below.

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Happy St. Dwynwen's Day from here in Wales!

As the Welsh patron saint of lovers, St. Dwynwen's day is regarded as Wales' equivalent to Valentine's Day.

Dwynwen's tale is that she fell in love with a man whom she was not permitted to marry, another having been selected for her, and prayed to God to let her forget him. She was granted her wish by an angel visiting her with a potion to drink, while the object of her affection was frozen in a block of ice.

Subsequently, God granted her three wishes - for the love of her life to be freed from his frozen prison; for the hopes and dreams of those truly in love to be granted; and, finally, that she should never marry another. She thus devoted her life to serving God, as a nun.

Look out for the date, 25th January, marked by a pivotal scene in my new book, BITTEN.

I have been hard at work editing the final chapters this past weekend. Editing is often the part of the process filled with most anxiety, when I begin to question every word, every sentence, everything each character says, every plot point. But it is always incredibly rewarding when it's complete; the hope being to have polished the book to the best that it can be.

Look out for the cover reveal later this week on Instagram, @leeallenauthor (link below). I shall also soon share some teasers to whet your appetites...

BITTEN, an erotic horror thriller, coming this Valentine's Day!

Available to pre-order on Amazon.

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Here is the first teaser for my upcoming novel, BITTEN, available from this Valentine's Day!
___

For centuries, human beings have reported the phenomena of waking in the small hours of the morning for no discernible reason.

It is believed that this is the time when evil is at its most potent, while others suggest this is when the veil between the living and the dead is at its most porous.

Perhaps they have awoken from a dream they cannot remember. Some attribute the uneasy feeling of eyes upon them to animals hidden outside in the darkness.

However they interpret it, many cannot shake off that feeling of being watched, the shiver running through them even as they turn over to return to sleep.
___

BITTEN, an erotic horror thriller, coming this Valentine's Day!

A tale of murder, fear and desire…

A serial murder investigation draws near its conclusion. For seven years the killer has evaded capture, but the police finally have their prime suspect in custody – a man who claims to be a vampire over three hundred years old.

PC Holleigh Ryder is tasked with the most unsettling and challenging assignment of her career. All she wants is to get to the truth and achieve justice for the murdered women, but this has been no ordinary case and it is far from over.

The vampire has his own endgame in mind, one that may leave the police praying they had left the damned undisturbed in their graves.

Check out the cover reveal from earlier this week over on Instagram.

Available to pre-order on Amazon.

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Here is a second teaser for my new novel, BITTEN, coming this Valentine's Day!
___

It takes many mouths to tell a tale, many years to form a history, many minds to inform a philosophy. A tangle of events, experiences and perspectives to develop a full image of the truth. Even then, it may be seen through a darkened glass, veiled by smoke and mirrors.

Many may think they know me, but I assure them they do not. There are those who wish to consume others, to feed on them like vultures, yet they fail to see beneath the mask. For to truly know another, you must meet them within the shadows of the night.

Do you wish to know who I am? Do you dare to know me? You wish to partake of my body; of my blood. Perhaps in the darkest corner, you shall find my retreated soul, where it lies damned in eternal torment.

How to embark on such a quest, you may ask yourself? First, you must hear my confession.
___

BITTEN, an erotic horror thriller.

A tale of murder, fear and desire…

A serial murder investigation draws near its conclusion. For seven years the killer has evaded capture, but the police finally have their prime suspect in custody – a man who claims to be a vampire over three hundred years old.

PC Holleigh Ryder is tasked with the most unsettling and challenging assignment of her career. All she wants is to get to the truth and achieve justice for the murdered women, but this has been no ordinary case and it is far from over.

The vampire has his own endgame in mind, one that may leave the police praying they had left the damned undisturbed in their graves.

Available to pre-order on Amazon.

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Here is a preview of the opening scene from my new novel, BITTEN, coming this Valentine's Day:
___

Slivers of moonlight glittered through the slats of the blinds, which clacked together gently, rousing Holleigh from her light slumber. She turned over and rubbed her eyes, screwing them half-closed in an effort to decipher the blur of her bedside clock.

The blinds clacked again, startling her. The window was open, the wind moving the slats back and forth behind the curtains, which were half drawn, billowing slightly outwards. She hugged her goose-pimpled torso under the cotton and rose from the bed, surprised she had managed any sleep at all. She felt nauseous with nerves, anxious at the outcome of the impending operation.

Her mind drifted once again to the argument she’d had with Ethan several days earlier. It had not been pleasant. She had a job to do tonight and he did not react well to it. She recalled the rage in his eyes and his raised voice, his mockery at her faith in what her job stood for and that justice would prevail.

There is no justice, he had told her, only the means-justified end crafted by those powerful enough to pull the strings.

Recalling his expression of hatred for what she represented, the twisting feeling in her gut brought her close to tears. Years of emotional strain, both personal and professional, were to be put to the test tonight. Many, she knew, would be of the opinion she had made it far worse for herself. She had become distracted with Ethan and she should have expected his reaction and his feelings on the subject of what she had done; what she proposed to do. She had the sudden thought that she may not survive it. But the wheels were already in motion.

She reached past the blinds and slammed the window beside the door that opened on to the narrow balcony outside the apartment, hoping to shut out the cold. Love bites on her breasts and thighs glowed purple in the silver light. With the rest of her body gripped in a vice of cold, she still felt the heat in those wounds, while her vulva throbbed with warming sensitivity. She drew the curtains tight and sat back on the edge of the bed. She recalled Ethan’s blazing eyes, the twist of his mouth, the contortion of his face, his scorn and contempt.

Then he had kissed her. She still felt the force of that kiss even now, as his whole body clashed against hers. They made love with an aggression that she still felt jarring, conjuring conflicted thoughts and emotions. There was something raw and vulnerable in the aftermath of a sexual encounter. To have succumbed to animal desire and allowed another to physically experience you so intimately. It was both comforting and unsettling.

She let her body drop back on the bed and closed her eyes. She had simply to wait. She slid her black cotton shirt dress up around her waist, her fingers slipping beneath her black lace hipsters. She could withstand the burgeoning desire no longer, the thoughts of him that invaded her mind, the desperate need for him to invade her body over and over again. Her fingers felt cold as she touched herself, her fingertips circling, stroking. She closed her eyes, chewing her lip.

How many watched her curtained windows from outside? Waiting for movement. Within, she stoked secret desire. Still, days later, she could smell the sex in the room from her and Ethan’s passion. It was almost time now, the reason for Ethan’s wrath. She recalled his dominion over her, overcome now by the effect he had upon her. She let herself cry out, a soft emission piercing the night air. She sighed, allowing a smile to linger on her lips.

She pulled her dress back down her legs, getting up off the bed and walking down the corridor to the bathroom to freshen up and change into fresh underwear. Over the sound of the running tap, she heard something that may have come from outside. She switched off the tap, listening intently.

The tinkling of smashing glass came from the bedroom.

She walked on bare feet to the bathroom door, looking down the corridor to the room at the end. Quietly, she moved into the corridor and approached her bedroom. The moonlight cast a faint shadow on the floor ahead. Her curtains were parted.

Reaching the bedroom door, she peered around the architrave into the room. Seeing nothing, she edged around the doorframe and inside, looking at the shattered window visible between the gap in the curtains.

The moonlight shifted around her. Before she could react, hands gripped her wrists, fingernails that felt like claws digging into her skin. She cried out and was spun around, a long finger tilting her chin upwards. His eyes were beautiful, shining a deep crimson from the midst of the silver flooding the room. She gazed at them, breath catching in her throat.

He kissed her mouth slowly. She tasted metal. He stooped and touched her neck with his lips. She felt her orgasm rising again, feeling a sharpness piercing her skin, groaning as the man drew on the fresh wounds.

A crash invaded her senses, accompanied by shouting and activity spilling into the corridor. He was pulled away from her and she became aware of his snarling and hissing words, but could not decipher their meaning.

A hand reached out to steady her. Looking up, she saw her superior, Detective Superintendent O’Neill, beside her.

“You’re okay, PC Ryder, it’s over. We’ve got him. We finally got him.”
___

BITTEN, an erotic horror thriller.

A tale of murder, fear and desire…

A serial murder investigation draws near its conclusion. For seven years the killer has evaded capture, but the police finally have their prime suspect in custody – a man who claims to be a vampire over three hundred years old.

PC Holleigh Ryder is tasked with the most unsettling and challenging assignment of her career. All she wants is to get to the truth and achieve justice for the murdered women, but this has been no ordinary case and it is far from over.

The vampire has his own endgame in mind, one that may leave the police praying they had left the damned undisturbed in their graves.

Available to pre-order on Amazon.

Coming soon to Lulu.com, Apple Books, NOOK and Kobo.

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Just one week to go! My new novel, Bitten, will be released on Valentine's Day - next Sunday, 14th February.

I have spent the last fortnight undertaking a final read-through to capture any more edits, scrutinising the novel line by line - an exhausting, at times panicked, but ultimately rewarding activity. Fuelled by sugar and caffeine, I have journeyed with my characters once again. I am both excited and nervous now that publication day is almost here.

Working on Bitten was my primary focus throughout 2020, while locked down at home safe from the pandemic that still holds the world in its grip. Focussing on my writing helped me through many struggles. Without it and the unending support of family and friends, I may not have survived it. I am incredibly grateful to have a passion that I can fully explore behind closed doors - many have not had that luxury.

Thank you, too, to all my readers and followers - your feedback for Whispers from the Dead of Night has kept me going; I was determined to finish Bitten in time to share it with you this Valentine's Day! I still don't quite believe or know how I achieved it. I have been working very hard on this book. I hope you will enjoy the result.

A tale of murder, fear and desire...

Available to pre-order on Amazon.

Coming soon to Lulu.com, Apple Books, NOOK and Kobo.

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BITTEN is out now!

Release day has arrived for my fifth book, now available to download from Amazon and Lulu.com, and available at more retailers shortly.

An erotic horror vampire thriller, it tells the story of the hunt for a serial killer who strikes on Valentine's Day, leaving his victims exsanguinated. PC Holleigh Ryder wants to find justice, but at what professional and personal cost?

BITTEN is woven of many genres - it is on one level a crime thriller, a police procedural, a psychological thriller. It is also an erotic thriller, a dark love story, a gothic romance. It is a horror story, a vampire thriller. And it is also a tale about a quest for justice in our murky world where the lines often blur.

I am so thrilled to finally be sharing this story with readers. It has been with me for many years and I cannot wait for you to read it and to hear your feedback.

In the meantime, I may begin tinkering away at book 6...

Wishing you all a Happy Valentine's Day!
___

A tale of murder, fear and desire…

A serial murder investigation draws near its conclusion. For seven years the killer has evaded capture, but the police finally have their prime suspect in custody – a man who claims to be a vampire over three hundred years old.

PC Holleigh Ryder is tasked with the most unsettling and challenging assignment of her career. All she wants is to get to the truth and achieve justice for the murdered women, but this has been no ordinary case and it is far from over.

The vampire has his own endgame in mind, one that may leave the police praying they had left the damned undisturbed in their graves.

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