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Clockwork Vampire Chronicles #3
Vampire Warlords
Legendary warrior Kell must choose to flee the conquered land of Falanor, or fight for its people. Even now it may be too late, that all is lost... for the Vachine invaders have called upon their ancient rulers, semi-immortal bloodsuckers who dwell on the edges between life and death. The vampire warlords have returned, and they will feed.
From the Paperback edition.
From the Paperback edition.
444 pages, Paperback
First published January 15, 2011
5 people are currently reading
200 people want to read
About the author
Andy Remic
50 books183 followersAndy Remic lives in Lincoln, UK, although his heart and viking soul belong to the Scottish mountains. Married with two children, Andy has a variety of esoteric and sometimes contrasting loves, including sword fighting, climbing, mountain biking, kick-boxing, Ducati motorcycles and retro-gaming. He recently wrote the computer version of his novel Biohell for the 48K Spectrum, in which many people are still stuck. He writes in both SF and fantasy fields, and is sometimes accused of literature. Current novels include: Spiral, Quake, Warhead, War Machine, Biohell, Hardcore and the upcoming Cloneworld, Theme Planet and TOX for Solaris Books, and the Kell’s Legend trilogy, Kell’s Legend, Soul Stealers and Vampire Warlords for Angry Robot Books.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
May 24, 2023
3.5-stars for this book and the same overall for the trilogy.
A pretty decent trilogy which clearly drew a lot of its inspiration from David Gemmell's works.
A pretty decent trilogy which clearly drew a lot of its inspiration from David Gemmell's works.
April 6, 2021
Una trilogía bastante macarra y con ideas curiosas mezclando un mundo de fantasía medieval, con vampiros, con steampunk, y un prota que es básicamente conan jubilado pero que le toca volver a dar mamporros a distro y siniestro.
En este libro va un poco acelerado, parece que tenía prisa por acabar y deja planteamientos que permitían la continuación aunque cierra los eventos principales.
En este libro va un poco acelerado, parece que tenía prisa por acabar y deja planteamientos que permitían la continuación aunque cierra los eventos principales.
February 15, 2020
Baja el nivel, he notado menos aventura y epicidad que los anteriores, más diálogos, más relaciones entre personajes y la clásica batalla final.
Por lo general una trilogía muy buena con una mezcla de genero que hace la boca agua.
Por lo general una trilogía muy buena con una mezcla de genero que hace la boca agua.
June 23, 2025
left me wanting more from this series
April 22, 2011
They came from the North, and the land fell.
Kell's resistance is driving the fiends from the land.
But now a far greater power has come into play.
Please note this review contains some minor spoilers if you have not read the first two parts of The Clockwork Vampire Chronicles.
I have thought about this long and hard and I have come to a shocking conclusion - I hate Andy Remic. Why? Because he is just such a supremely talented sod. He has proven that he can turn his hand to science fiction, horror and fantasy. As an aside - I have a sneaking suspicion that he is attempting to become the king of all genre fiction. Every time I think he can't possibly top his last literary effort he goes ahead and does just that. Recently I read and reviewed Serial Killers Incorporated, and was impressed with its dark brutality. A scant few weeks has passed and he has yet another novel ready to assault the senses of an unsuspecting public.
The latest addition to his ever-growing canon of work, Vampire Warlords, is the third book in The Clockwork Vampire Chronicles. This novel picks up the story in the aftermath of the cliffhanger that occurs at the end of book two, Soul Stealers. General Graal has succeeded in unleashing the warlords but they are not interested in doing his bidding. Various power struggles erupt and this leads to an all out war.
Kuradek the Unholy, Meshwar the Violent and Bhu Vanesh, the titular vampire warlords, are fantastic creations and prior to their introduction into the series, the main villains of the piece where The Vachine. Though I enjoyed the clockwork vampires' particular brand of evil, I always wanted them be a bit less civilized and a bit more raw and savage. The warlords achieve this and then some. They really are vile, nasty, arrogant creatures. Whole populations are decimated under their vicious rein of terror. By the point where Kell confronts them all you will be cheering for him to tear them apart.
The core relationship between Kell and his now long suffering companion Saark is still a joy to read. They bicker and curse but it is obvious that there is a grudging respect between the two warriors. Kell remains as stony faced as ever, and Saark is still an outrageous womanising dandy, but the two have become genuine friends over the course of their travels.
While Kell the man is old and tired, Kell the warrior is a force of nature. The battles he fights in are vivid, bloody affairs. The vampire warlords face off against albino armies, Vachine, convicts and retired soldiers. Andy Remic's writing style lends itself well to the almost hypnotic flow of action. There are dismemberments and amputations galore, and hardly a page goes by that isn't drenched in blood. Kell strides through this all like an angry berserker god.
I was also pleased to finally discover more of Kell's backstory and to read about the Days of Blood and the origins of Illana, his blood magick infused axe. This has always been hinted at in the previous novels but this time out, the reader gets some real insight into Kell's history.
The legend of Kell may have started out as a homage to the work of David Gemmell but I'm pleased to see that it has surpassed that and become something more. The characters are memorable and the action is as good as it gets. The Vampire Warlords is a thoroughly satisfying conclusion to the trilogy. I certainly hope that I get the opportunity to read more of Kell and Saark's adventures in the future.
Damn your black heart Remic! You and your intensely compulsive, darker than dark fantasy.
Vampire Warlords is published by Angry Robot Books and is due for release on 5th May 2011.
Kell's resistance is driving the fiends from the land.
But now a far greater power has come into play.
Please note this review contains some minor spoilers if you have not read the first two parts of The Clockwork Vampire Chronicles.
I have thought about this long and hard and I have come to a shocking conclusion - I hate Andy Remic. Why? Because he is just such a supremely talented sod. He has proven that he can turn his hand to science fiction, horror and fantasy. As an aside - I have a sneaking suspicion that he is attempting to become the king of all genre fiction. Every time I think he can't possibly top his last literary effort he goes ahead and does just that. Recently I read and reviewed Serial Killers Incorporated, and was impressed with its dark brutality. A scant few weeks has passed and he has yet another novel ready to assault the senses of an unsuspecting public.
The latest addition to his ever-growing canon of work, Vampire Warlords, is the third book in The Clockwork Vampire Chronicles. This novel picks up the story in the aftermath of the cliffhanger that occurs at the end of book two, Soul Stealers. General Graal has succeeded in unleashing the warlords but they are not interested in doing his bidding. Various power struggles erupt and this leads to an all out war.
Kuradek the Unholy, Meshwar the Violent and Bhu Vanesh, the titular vampire warlords, are fantastic creations and prior to their introduction into the series, the main villains of the piece where The Vachine. Though I enjoyed the clockwork vampires' particular brand of evil, I always wanted them be a bit less civilized and a bit more raw and savage. The warlords achieve this and then some. They really are vile, nasty, arrogant creatures. Whole populations are decimated under their vicious rein of terror. By the point where Kell confronts them all you will be cheering for him to tear them apart.
The core relationship between Kell and his now long suffering companion Saark is still a joy to read. They bicker and curse but it is obvious that there is a grudging respect between the two warriors. Kell remains as stony faced as ever, and Saark is still an outrageous womanising dandy, but the two have become genuine friends over the course of their travels.
While Kell the man is old and tired, Kell the warrior is a force of nature. The battles he fights in are vivid, bloody affairs. The vampire warlords face off against albino armies, Vachine, convicts and retired soldiers. Andy Remic's writing style lends itself well to the almost hypnotic flow of action. There are dismemberments and amputations galore, and hardly a page goes by that isn't drenched in blood. Kell strides through this all like an angry berserker god.
I was also pleased to finally discover more of Kell's backstory and to read about the Days of Blood and the origins of Illana, his blood magick infused axe. This has always been hinted at in the previous novels but this time out, the reader gets some real insight into Kell's history.
The legend of Kell may have started out as a homage to the work of David Gemmell but I'm pleased to see that it has surpassed that and become something more. The characters are memorable and the action is as good as it gets. The Vampire Warlords is a thoroughly satisfying conclusion to the trilogy. I certainly hope that I get the opportunity to read more of Kell and Saark's adventures in the future.
Damn your black heart Remic! You and your intensely compulsive, darker than dark fantasy.
Vampire Warlords is published by Angry Robot Books and is due for release on 5th May 2011.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 22, 2013
The third book in the trilogy picked up quite nicely, a very pleasant surprise considering how tedious the second book seemed. I found it rather enjoyable. And there was a reasonable conclusion this time, although still PLENTY of loose ends and the start of another journey, I suspect another trilogy at least. Considering how irritated I get by books (even parts of trilogies) that simply drop off with cliffhanger endings, I will NOT be starting another set, no matter how nice this last book was. I learned my lesson with this author the first time around.
July 3, 2011
Urgh. I'm just glad I've finished the series and now will never have to read them again.
Read
September 8, 2011It was alright... the constant reminder of Druss the Legend coloured my outlook a little too much. I did enjoy the foray into the steampunk vampirism but it lacked history.... maybe a new book?
July 17, 2019
Great action triology
Kell is a bad man who lays some serious hurt. Fun action packed books and I've read them a few times, recommend for anyone who wants to follow an axe wielding barbarian against an army of vamps.
Kell is a bad man who lays some serious hurt. Fun action packed books and I've read them a few times, recommend for anyone who wants to follow an axe wielding barbarian against an army of vamps.
October 15, 2022
3 of 3 R.I.P Andy :(
September 5, 2023
I enjoyed this series especially the fighting.
October 31, 2025
the fighting is well written But he uses "and" & "like" far too much & his banter is terrible
April 3, 2016
I burned through the last in the series. It is filled yet again with battle after battle and the entrance of the Vampire Warlords, who ruin the machinations of General Graal of the Clockwork Vampire nation. He was guaranteed to rule the Warlords after he summoned them, but being almost like gods, he was cast aside and enslaved by them. The Warlords put themselves in cities across the realm and began creating real vampires, to take over the lands and entrench their power forever. They succeed in beginning their empire and mankind is nothing but food. Splinter groups fight against them but very few survive. These are not clockworks, but true vampires. Very different and powerful indeed.
Let us not, however forget Kell and Saark. In the truest fashion of a bloodthirsty barbarian and a pink silk wearing dandy, because of course they are a likely pair, they decide to make an army. Now it must be said that the army you cobble together inside a mine that doubles as a prison for the worse criminals across the lands would be interesting. It is indeed. But...... Kell goes one better and rides to the King of the Blacklippers, so called because of the blood-oil they drink and feed even their suckling babes. It causes mutations in them and makes them cannibals, and demon worshipers.
Now who wouldn't want a few thousand of the worse criminals imprisoned, and beside them a couple of thousand of cannibal crackheads making up their army. Sign me up! lol
No, in truth there is no one else to make a standing army. There are no more bases of power, no nobility with personal armies, no rulers. They are all dead or turned into vampires. So the strangest army ever assembled rides to liberate the cities of man, and kill each of the three Vampire Warlords, where they hold power. What could possibly go wrong?
This one will make you laugh and almost cry and in between have you on the edge of your seat. The trilogy comes to a halt here and it ends well. That is all I will divulge, but you should read this for yourself and decide what you like.
Danny
Let us not, however forget Kell and Saark. In the truest fashion of a bloodthirsty barbarian and a pink silk wearing dandy, because of course they are a likely pair, they decide to make an army. Now it must be said that the army you cobble together inside a mine that doubles as a prison for the worse criminals across the lands would be interesting. It is indeed. But...... Kell goes one better and rides to the King of the Blacklippers, so called because of the blood-oil they drink and feed even their suckling babes. It causes mutations in them and makes them cannibals, and demon worshipers.
Now who wouldn't want a few thousand of the worse criminals imprisoned, and beside them a couple of thousand of cannibal crackheads making up their army. Sign me up! lol
No, in truth there is no one else to make a standing army. There are no more bases of power, no nobility with personal armies, no rulers. They are all dead or turned into vampires. So the strangest army ever assembled rides to liberate the cities of man, and kill each of the three Vampire Warlords, where they hold power. What could possibly go wrong?
This one will make you laugh and almost cry and in between have you on the edge of your seat. The trilogy comes to a halt here and it ends well. That is all I will divulge, but you should read this for yourself and decide what you like.
Danny
January 15, 2013
I'm giving this 2 stars for the action sequences, and little else. There are many rough edges to this book (as with all 3 in the series), though none so annoying (and newly introduced) as the change in character voices. Having read the first 2 novels in the series, I was confused as to why one of the main characters suddenly seemed to have a completely different voice than that introduced previously. Not only was this vexing, it was near inexcusable. I had to force myself to finish this series.
There are flashes of brilliance in Remic's writing, especially during anything involving a swinging axe or sword. However, dialogue and character voicing need a lot of improvement...most especially when either discussing or voicing female characters. None of the women in this book/series are believable. I'm a guy who loves violent fantasy and sci-fi, and even I was discouraged by their constant reduction into sexual objects or weaklings in need of protection. It got old quickly. I'll be happy if I never had to read the word "quim" again. Yuck.
If you like dark fantasy, or books with axe swinging muscular heathens in the main role, you will find pieces of this book to enjoy. Just be warned that there are speed bumps ahead.
There are flashes of brilliance in Remic's writing, especially during anything involving a swinging axe or sword. However, dialogue and character voicing need a lot of improvement...most especially when either discussing or voicing female characters. None of the women in this book/series are believable. I'm a guy who loves violent fantasy and sci-fi, and even I was discouraged by their constant reduction into sexual objects or weaklings in need of protection. It got old quickly. I'll be happy if I never had to read the word "quim" again. Yuck.
If you like dark fantasy, or books with axe swinging muscular heathens in the main role, you will find pieces of this book to enjoy. Just be warned that there are speed bumps ahead.
October 6, 2015
Andy Remic is new to me. There are three books in the series. I have now read all three. It's been sometime since I read sword and sorcery novels. I read them when I was somewhat younger. Perhaps my tastes have changed because I found these three to be severely repetitive in nature to the point where the author uses the same phrases and descriptions and words over and over. The banter between Saark and Kell became particularly annoying as well as the word "piss" throughout all there novels.
The plot is good and he leaves the door wide open for continuing the series and at least three actors.
Women, I think, get short shrift though - or at least that's my feeling. These are manly men novels, male centered, male dominated. The first in the series was less that way than the others. By the third the author had gone from lust to somewhat explicit sex scenes. A natural progression or pleasing his publishers and audience?
At the same time I felt the author progressed and gained some wisdom along the way in his writing.
I'd be hard pressed to return to Kell and his cohorts I'm afraid. As I said perhaps my tastes have changed over the years. This is macho candy where I want a good chew steak these days.
The plot is good and he leaves the door wide open for continuing the series and at least three actors.
Women, I think, get short shrift though - or at least that's my feeling. These are manly men novels, male centered, male dominated. The first in the series was less that way than the others. By the third the author had gone from lust to somewhat explicit sex scenes. A natural progression or pleasing his publishers and audience?
At the same time I felt the author progressed and gained some wisdom along the way in his writing.
I'd be hard pressed to return to Kell and his cohorts I'm afraid. As I said perhaps my tastes have changed over the years. This is macho candy where I want a good chew steak these days.
August 3, 2012
Given how grim this trilogy started out, I was impressed it managed to end in a way that wasn't apocalypse. (Neither was it happy ever after, but that would have been more wrong.) Many of the loose ends were resolved (although a couple of days later I woke up wondering , although I read these so late at night it could have been resolved and I just forgot it in my sleep-deprived brain.
As before, I didn't agree with some of the deaths, but apparently I will never get my fantasy. I mean, I loved Fahfrd and the Grey Mouser (and I'm not sure I've read the David Eddings novel (series?) that this was apparently a tribute to, but, anyway, it was an engrossing read and I will totally check out more by Andy Remic. Particularly since he is apparently known for his SF.
As before, I didn't agree with some of the deaths, but apparently I will never get my fantasy. I mean, I loved Fahfrd and the Grey Mouser (and I'm not sure I've read the David Eddings novel (series?) that this was apparently a tribute to, but, anyway, it was an engrossing read and I will totally check out more by Andy Remic. Particularly since he is apparently known for his SF.
July 7, 2013
A dark, gritty, bloody, and violent series has come to a deserved end. Though intended as a tribute to David Gemmel, the series is great in its own rights-full of adventure, witty banter, sex, and gory violence. Godd escapism reading that I thoroughly enjoyed. I hope to see Kell's journeys continue.
August 23, 2015
A fitting end to a thoroughly entertaining series.The lead character Kell has most certainly earned a spot in the Hall Of Heroes.This trilogy was filled with bloodshed and overcoming unspeakable obstacles.Real gritty fantasy at its best.Take a bow Mr.Remic David Gemmell is looking down on this effort with a full blown smile on his face.
January 31, 2012
Well, it is the high-paced and action-filled end of the Clockwork Vampire Chronicles, I loved it. The ending, well, I felt it was to fast, I had the felling, the story stumbles and does a somersault, questions kept unanswered and motivations unreveiled. But you got fantasy, don't you?
August 11, 2016
Third book in the Clockwork Vampire chronicles. The danger is even more palpable. Personally, I didn't like the outcome for some of the characters, and the ending seemed a little rushed. Still a good read. Remic promised more stories for the main characters. I hope so. This is a rich setting.
July 7, 2013
And I finished the trilogy. I really did like the end. The characters did get a lot better, and not near as many places where they needed something else showing up to save them from things. Overall it was a fun series. It was a violent and bloody fantasy series :)
July 7, 2011
I want to read more Kell books!
April 18, 2012
I got board with this book and stopped reading it. I enjoyed the first two in this series but this addition was just eh.
April 11, 2013
Finished only because I started the series and it was dedicated to Gemmell. I'm sure you put a lot of effort and love into it Andy but it left me cold.
May 10, 2017
This series only gets better, more action brutality, and a heart breaking plot. The protagonist Kell, while a hero and an a$$hole, is what more books and genres need.
Want to read
June 14, 2016TRUE
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