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Dracula #10
A Coldness in the Blood
The Bram Stoker Award–Winning saga continues . . . .Matthew Maule has seen many horrific things in his five hundred years as one of the most powerful vampires in the world. But even his formidable talents cannot predict the unthinkable acts about to occur within his own home.When the vampire Dickon and his human partner appear in the middle of the night frightened for their lives, Matthew offers them protection. They carry with them a small Egyptian statue of great value and many secrets. By morning, Matthew has woken from a mysterious trance to discover that Dickon's human friend has been brutally murdered, the vampire has gone missing, and their statue has been smashed to pieces. Matthew has also made a dangerous new enemy, one who possesses strength even Matthew may be no match for.For the statue is no ordinary artifact, but one of six replicas. However, only one contains a gem in the center, a stone of unimaginable magical power that could spell the end of humanity if it ever fell in the wrong hands.Matthew sets out on a heart-pounding journey to track down the remaining statues before his ancient foe finds them. Racing across the country, the vampire teams up with both the living and the undead, though not all are the allies they pretend to be. Using his wits, he must unearth the answers to a millennia-old mystery in order to prepare himself for a final showdown against the evil stalking him at every turn. Acclaimed fantasy and science fiction author Fred Saberhagen takes readers along for a trek of unbelievable suspense, action, and pure page-turning entertainment.At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
384 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2002
4 people are currently reading
325 people want to read
About the author
Fred Saberhagen
333 books499 followersFred Saberhagen was an American science fiction and fantasy author most famous for his ''Beserker'' and Dracula stories.
Saberhagen also wrote a series of a series of post-apocalyptic mytho-magical novels beginning with his popular ''Empire of the East'' and continuing through a long series of ''Swords'' and ''Lost Swords'' novels. Saberhagen died of cancer, in Albuquerque, New Mexico
Saberhagen was born in and grew up in the area of Chicago, Illinois. Saberhagen served in the [[U.S. Air Force]] during the Korean War while he was in his early twenties. Back in civilian life, Saberhagen worked as an It was while he was working for Motorola (after his military service) that Saberhagen started writing fiction seriously at the age of about 30. "Fortress Ship", his first "Berserker" short shory, was published in 1963. Then, in 1964, Saberhagen saw the publication of his first novel, ''The Golden People''.
From 1967 to 1973, he worked as an editor for the Chemistry articles in the ''Encyclopædia Britannica'' as well as writing its article on science fiction. He then quit and took up writing full-time. In 1975, he moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico.
He married fellow writer Joan Spicci in 1968. They had two sons and a daughter.
Saberhagen also wrote a series of a series of post-apocalyptic mytho-magical novels beginning with his popular ''Empire of the East'' and continuing through a long series of ''Swords'' and ''Lost Swords'' novels. Saberhagen died of cancer, in Albuquerque, New Mexico
Saberhagen was born in and grew up in the area of Chicago, Illinois. Saberhagen served in the [[U.S. Air Force]] during the Korean War while he was in his early twenties. Back in civilian life, Saberhagen worked as an It was while he was working for Motorola (after his military service) that Saberhagen started writing fiction seriously at the age of about 30. "Fortress Ship", his first "Berserker" short shory, was published in 1963. Then, in 1964, Saberhagen saw the publication of his first novel, ''The Golden People''.
From 1967 to 1973, he worked as an editor for the Chemistry articles in the ''Encyclopædia Britannica'' as well as writing its article on science fiction. He then quit and took up writing full-time. In 1975, he moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico.
He married fellow writer Joan Spicci in 1968. They had two sons and a daughter.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
May 14, 2025
This was a completely thrilling, horror-tinged adventure.
July 30, 2023
The last in the Dracula series and one of the last things Saberhagen wrote. Published in 2002, with only one other book published (in 2004), before his death in 2007, from cancer.
I have enjoyed this series, as I have enjoyed probably every Saberhagen novel (and short story) that I've read, from the fantasy Fred Saberhagen's Sword series 5-book Collection: The Book of Swords #2 & 3 and The Books of Lost Swords #1, 2 & 4, to the scifi of Fred Saberhagen's Berserker Series 4-pack to his one-off novels, like Octagon, to this fantasy/adventure series.
It was a nice send-off, with Vlad facing off against the ancient, Egyptian god, Sobek. The Crocodile god. A large, humanoid crocodile which walks and talks and uses magic and has existed for thousands of years. Bullets bounce off it, as only magic can even hurt it. Vlad's greatest challenge. And this god LOVES the taste of vampire.
Fun. Sad to see the forever end of the series. I miss Saberhagen, even though I still have so much of his oeuvre to read.
I have enjoyed this series, as I have enjoyed probably every Saberhagen novel (and short story) that I've read, from the fantasy Fred Saberhagen's Sword series 5-book Collection: The Book of Swords #2 & 3 and The Books of Lost Swords #1, 2 & 4, to the scifi of Fred Saberhagen's Berserker Series 4-pack to his one-off novels, like Octagon, to this fantasy/adventure series.
It was a nice send-off, with Vlad facing off against the ancient, Egyptian god, Sobek. The Crocodile god. A large, humanoid crocodile which walks and talks and uses magic and has existed for thousands of years. Bullets bounce off it, as only magic can even hurt it. Vlad's greatest challenge. And this god LOVES the taste of vampire.
Fun. Sad to see the forever end of the series. I miss Saberhagen, even though I still have so much of his oeuvre to read.
July 31, 2020
Clap clap.
Glad to be leaving this series which in my opinion had no heart, a distracting and often verbally-limited narrator and imagery that should be scary but falls short; it is merely grotesque.
Hey~ it’s not a mystery if you tell us specific details, reiterate those details time and time again, only to say “Psych! All that was a delusion and what actually happened was completely different...” 10 pages from the end.
I don’t applaud that kind of cowardice when it comes to writing mystery. It has happened in many of the books of this series, where the plot’s analysis is rushed and remorseless, the ending dim and noncommittal.
Not my thing.
Glad to be leaving this series which in my opinion had no heart, a distracting and often verbally-limited narrator and imagery that should be scary but falls short; it is merely grotesque.
Hey~ it’s not a mystery if you tell us specific details, reiterate those details time and time again, only to say “Psych! All that was a delusion and what actually happened was completely different...” 10 pages from the end.
I don’t applaud that kind of cowardice when it comes to writing mystery. It has happened in many of the books of this series, where the plot’s analysis is rushed and remorseless, the ending dim and noncommittal.
Not my thing.
December 29, 2022
all reviews in one place:
night mode reading ;
skaitom nakties rezimu
About the Book: Dark side of alchemy is overseen by those who only care for power it can provide. One such student of the craft ends up running to Dracula himself, in absolute terror of the thing chasing him. Figuring, if anyone can defend his sorry ass, it will be someone called The Impaler, he doesn’t stop to think of the wrath he’ll evoke in Vlad Dracula when the horror following will endanger him, his home, and those he considers family. An embodiment of Alchemy, Egyptian God in search of Philosopher’s Stone. One Vlad will now have to chase down too, trying to outwit and outrun an entire damn deity…
My Opinion: Book starts with a great premise, but absolutely horrible execution. Dracula lacks any personality, character traits, keeps comparing incomparable things, and seems to oversee the hypocrisy of his own words. I’m not sure if this was intended so by the author, creating an undead, who so far seemed to be trying to create an intelligent and regal character instead. As the tale went on, it got so dull it was near unbearable, as everyone again spent all their time talking while sitting down, telling tales of tales. And only towards the end did it pick up again, where we got both a good story, well paced, intriguing, and some, minimal, character development too, where we witnessed Vlad Dracula become more the vampire he was in the very first book. Writing got better too, almost like author has found his pens again, caught the train of thought at last, and said all he wanted to say, finally. I’m just not sure about those awfully picked archaic words.
night mode reading ;
skaitom nakties rezimu
About the Book: Dark side of alchemy is overseen by those who only care for power it can provide. One such student of the craft ends up running to Dracula himself, in absolute terror of the thing chasing him. Figuring, if anyone can defend his sorry ass, it will be someone called The Impaler, he doesn’t stop to think of the wrath he’ll evoke in Vlad Dracula when the horror following will endanger him, his home, and those he considers family. An embodiment of Alchemy, Egyptian God in search of Philosopher’s Stone. One Vlad will now have to chase down too, trying to outwit and outrun an entire damn deity…
My Opinion: Book starts with a great premise, but absolutely horrible execution. Dracula lacks any personality, character traits, keeps comparing incomparable things, and seems to oversee the hypocrisy of his own words. I’m not sure if this was intended so by the author, creating an undead, who so far seemed to be trying to create an intelligent and regal character instead. As the tale went on, it got so dull it was near unbearable, as everyone again spent all their time talking while sitting down, telling tales of tales. And only towards the end did it pick up again, where we got both a good story, well paced, intriguing, and some, minimal, character development too, where we witnessed Vlad Dracula become more the vampire he was in the very first book. Writing got better too, almost like author has found his pens again, caught the train of thought at last, and said all he wanted to say, finally. I’m just not sure about those awfully picked archaic words.
August 19, 2017
4.5 stars
Great Dracula story. I will be reading earlier books in the series.
Great Dracula story. I will be reading earlier books in the series.
January 18, 2020
Saberhagen is one of the best writes ever, this is a great series, and this book like all those that came before it, does not disappoint.
September 6, 2023
A great addition to the series. In a couple of the books the conclusion seemed rushed or anticlimactic. This one did not disappoint. A story well told.
May 11, 2025
I really enjoyed this book. The story was exciting and kept me reading all day.
June 21, 2025
Dracula and an ancient Egyptian crocodile god vie for the Philosopher's Stone
July 8, 2025
Another cracking good story. It's a pity that he perfected his writing style for this series not long before he died.
February 18, 2017
Best incarnation of Dracula
I had read most of these books when they first appeared in print. I hadn't realized this book existed and enjoyed reading it after the digital purchase.
I had read most of these books when they first appeared in print. I hadn't realized this book existed and enjoyed reading it after the digital purchase.
Want to read
April 6, 2010Read several books in this series when my older son (who was born in 1993) was in NICU immediately after birth. I read the books out loud to him, and it was fun hearing the nurses tell each other at shift change what had happened in the story :)
Anyway, I've read all the books in the series and want to go back and re-read them.
Anyway, I've read all the books in the series and want to go back and re-read them.
July 7, 2012
I really enjoyed this book! It was interesting and it put a new spin on the whole vampire genre. I will definitely be looking for the rest of these books in the series next time I get the chance! Absolutely a recommended book!
February 7, 2008
Another interesting installment in the Dracula series.
November 1, 2013
Great entry in the series.
May 16, 2014
"A Coldness in the Blood" is an interesting and enjoyable read in Fred Saberhagen's Dracula series.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews