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Vampire
When Egyptologists open the lost tomb of a long dead king, they are astounded to find another body entombed alongside him. But this is no ordinary mummy. Not only is it dressed in the manner of a commoner, it also contains a few blood cells that only seem dormant. Becky Ryan, a museum researcher, receives a macabre message from her father, just before he is found dead and follows the clues to uncover what is either a massive hoax, or the greatest ever discovery in the history of mankind. What she uncovers is beyond her wildest dreams…..and darkest nightmares
280 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 13, 2012
35 people are currently reading
93 people want to read
About the author
K.M. Ashman
52 books229 followersKevin Ashman is the author of twenty-six novels including the best-selling Roman Chronicles and highly ranked Medieval Sagas.
Always pushing the boundaries he found further success with the India Sommers Mysteries as well as three other stand-alone projects, Vampire, Savage Eden and the dystopian horror story, The Last Citadel. These cross-genre books have now been added to by the two Sci-fi novels, The Legacy Protocol and The Seventh God.
Kevin was born and raised in Wales in the United Kingdom and now writes full time having been signed by a major publishing company. He is married with four grown children and enjoys cycling, swimming and watching rugby as his hobbies.
Recent works include the Blood of Kings trilogy and the follow-up books, Warrior Princess and The Blade Bearer.
The most recent project is a five-book series about the Templars during the 12th century. Templar Steel, Templar Stone, Templar Blood and Templar Fury are already on sale and Templar Glory is due for release in Oct 2021.
An exciting project is also underway, a three-book series chronicling the years leading up to and beyond the Battle of Hastings.
Always pushing the boundaries he found further success with the India Sommers Mysteries as well as three other stand-alone projects, Vampire, Savage Eden and the dystopian horror story, The Last Citadel. These cross-genre books have now been added to by the two Sci-fi novels, The Legacy Protocol and The Seventh God.
Kevin was born and raised in Wales in the United Kingdom and now writes full time having been signed by a major publishing company. He is married with four grown children and enjoys cycling, swimming and watching rugby as his hobbies.
Recent works include the Blood of Kings trilogy and the follow-up books, Warrior Princess and The Blade Bearer.
The most recent project is a five-book series about the Templars during the 12th century. Templar Steel, Templar Stone, Templar Blood and Templar Fury are already on sale and Templar Glory is due for release in Oct 2021.
An exciting project is also underway, a three-book series chronicling the years leading up to and beyond the Battle of Hastings.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
November 2, 2015
This takes the classic vampire story and gives it a bit of twist (although one that Anne Rice has done already) by combining it with the Ancient Egyptian civilization. The story alternates between the time of Ramesses II and his efforts to obtain immortality from Sekhmet, the goddess of destruction, and the modern era where Becky Ryan, an Egyptologist at the British Museum, as she tries to unravel a mystery and clear her father's name. The story is good and generally flows well although some of the character interactions, particularly the more romantic ones, felt a little forced and stilted. However the action and gore was excellent and the idea that the Egyptian goddess were vampires is superb, particularly the twist with regard to its effects on the male of the species. Overall a rather good read.
September 27, 2017
Taking a break from the final installment of the Sommers series and I decided to crack open this single novel that was very reminiscent of that series.
A vampire trapped in a tomb is revived in an attempt to discover the secret of immortality. John, a discredited Egyptologist and Becky, a nerdy museum worker, determined to clear her father's name, team up to discover the secret mystery within the tomb. At the same time the mystery of the vampire is being revealed 3 thousands years prior to to Ramses II. See the similarities to the Sommers series already?
I particularly enjoyed the ancient history of the Vampire. The parts with Becky and John and their hunt for the secret were rather dry and took quite a bit of time for the action to begin rolling. According to Ashman, the gift of immortality and the curse of blood lust are a combination of Malaria and Rabies. These two viruses infected a young girls of the caveman era; sick with a "sweating sickness" and left to be devoured by hyenas she contracts both viruses. Feared and revered as a goddess, she stalks the Earth, killing with her group of priestesses. She is finally interred and withers to dust but not before creating a prodigy. This prodigy, when discovered seeks revenge on mankind.
The ending felt rushed but was quite exciting. The cliffhangers were as wonderful as they were frustrating, which is how they should be. Beck and John's fates are left hanging as John tackles the vampire and Becky is in the hands of the bad guys. The real kicker was the fate of Becky's assistant and boyfriend as they drink the the tainted blood. It was a nice twist that men are afflicted differently, becoming zombies rather than vampires. I had forgotten that fact unit the boyfriend fell to the floor as the assistant became hungry for raw meat. Now we know, regardless of whether or not the prodigy vampire survived the fire, that the species continues on.
A vampire trapped in a tomb is revived in an attempt to discover the secret of immortality. John, a discredited Egyptologist and Becky, a nerdy museum worker, determined to clear her father's name, team up to discover the secret mystery within the tomb. At the same time the mystery of the vampire is being revealed 3 thousands years prior to to Ramses II. See the similarities to the Sommers series already?
I particularly enjoyed the ancient history of the Vampire. The parts with Becky and John and their hunt for the secret were rather dry and took quite a bit of time for the action to begin rolling. According to Ashman, the gift of immortality and the curse of blood lust are a combination of Malaria and Rabies. These two viruses infected a young girls of the caveman era; sick with a "sweating sickness" and left to be devoured by hyenas she contracts both viruses. Feared and revered as a goddess, she stalks the Earth, killing with her group of priestesses. She is finally interred and withers to dust but not before creating a prodigy. This prodigy, when discovered seeks revenge on mankind.
The ending felt rushed but was quite exciting. The cliffhangers were as wonderful as they were frustrating, which is how they should be. Beck and John's fates are left hanging as John tackles the vampire and Becky is in the hands of the bad guys. The real kicker was the fate of Becky's assistant and boyfriend as they drink the the tainted blood. It was a nice twist that men are afflicted differently, becoming zombies rather than vampires. I had forgotten that fact unit the boyfriend fell to the floor as the assistant became hungry for raw meat. Now we know, regardless of whether or not the prodigy vampire survived the fire, that the species continues on.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 23, 2018
Original
I enyojed reading the book. Very interesting rexplanation and the origin of vampires. I really want to read the next one.
I enyojed reading the book. Very interesting rexplanation and the origin of vampires. I really want to read the next one.
May 21, 2015
This is the story about a museum worker, who is also an enthusiast/expert on Egyptology. Her name is Becky, and the story begins when she finds out that her father is dead. He has committed suicide, which he finds very unusual for his character, and she is struggling to come to terms with it. Then she begins to find out other information which makes no sense her. That was that her father was sacked and accused of murder. She meets a partner of his, John, who explained that they found a sealed tomb but that when they reported it it got closed in.
They end up going to Egypt to explore the tomb for themselves. When they get there they find themselves even more confused when they discover out 20,000-year-old corpse that appears to be on dialysis and responding to pain. The left index finger is missing.
The story is interspersed with the history of the night walkers, and of course ancient Egypt, including the great King, Rameses the second. The history tells us that the King betrayed the night walkers, and sealed them up to die in the tomb of a long dead king.
When they get back to England, Becky discovers that she is in trouble over an artefact that her father sent her. Upon investigation they find the missing finger from the corpse and decide to investigate. This also manages to involve her young assistant, Amy.
It all reaches a conclusion when everybody finds themselves in the same location in England. (Except Amy). The conclusion is rather open ended as it is not stated who actually survives. It could be that the corpse, and even John survive the tale, but this is simply not stated. Also, without an epilogue it is unable to discover what became of Becky. What happens to Amy, however, is discussed although even that is left open-ended.
It is rather a slow-paced book, but it is still a very good read. It does add some new opinions on the vampire mythology, such as only women can become immortal (in estate worth being). All in all I would give this four out of five stars, as it is definitely an enjoyable read even if it is not a unique one.
They end up going to Egypt to explore the tomb for themselves. When they get there they find themselves even more confused when they discover out 20,000-year-old corpse that appears to be on dialysis and responding to pain. The left index finger is missing.
The story is interspersed with the history of the night walkers, and of course ancient Egypt, including the great King, Rameses the second. The history tells us that the King betrayed the night walkers, and sealed them up to die in the tomb of a long dead king.
When they get back to England, Becky discovers that she is in trouble over an artefact that her father sent her. Upon investigation they find the missing finger from the corpse and decide to investigate. This also manages to involve her young assistant, Amy.
It all reaches a conclusion when everybody finds themselves in the same location in England. (Except Amy). The conclusion is rather open ended as it is not stated who actually survives. It could be that the corpse, and even John survive the tale, but this is simply not stated. Also, without an epilogue it is unable to discover what became of Becky. What happens to Amy, however, is discussed although even that is left open-ended.
It is rather a slow-paced book, but it is still a very good read. It does add some new opinions on the vampire mythology, such as only women can become immortal (in estate worth being). All in all I would give this four out of five stars, as it is definitely an enjoyable read even if it is not a unique one.
September 21, 2013
2.5 stars, which I would round up if not for the lackluster ending and lack of proper editing or even proof reading.
This book had a lot of potential and in the hands of a good editor this could have been a 4 star novel. Let's start with the good parts:
-Interesting, unique take on vampire mythology which really drew me in personally; vampires originate in Ancient Egypt and parts of the book are set over 4,000 years ago, juxtaposed with modern times.
-Plausible, well-explained scientific explanation of vampirism; the author clearly has some background in the sciences and it shows.
-Good, mostly even pacing that rarely lagged.
Bad parts:
-Grammatical & copyedit errors; misplaced commas abound, as do typos, to a point that distracted me.
-Characters failed to compel; I rarely cared about any of the main or secondary characters, or felt moved by their actions.
-Inconsistent POV; the narrator seemed to vaccilate between omniscient and limited without ever settling clearly into one perspective or the other. In some instances a character's thoughts were implied and in others quotations and 'he/she thought' clumsily conveyed them.
-Stilted or awkward dialogue; it often struck me as unbelievable, or simply unrealistic, and when certain lines were 'cried' or 'screamed' out it felt melodramatic.
The ending allowed for a sequel, and as part of series I'd be less disappointed with the finale. But as it stands, it felt unresolved and unsatisfying. Nothing was really achieved, or even substantially altered by the final chapters. It was basically a gratuitous ending without any obvious point.
This book had a lot of potential and in the hands of a good editor this could have been a 4 star novel. Let's start with the good parts:
-Interesting, unique take on vampire mythology which really drew me in personally; vampires originate in Ancient Egypt and parts of the book are set over 4,000 years ago, juxtaposed with modern times.
-Plausible, well-explained scientific explanation of vampirism; the author clearly has some background in the sciences and it shows.
-Good, mostly even pacing that rarely lagged.
Bad parts:
-Grammatical & copyedit errors; misplaced commas abound, as do typos, to a point that distracted me.
-Characters failed to compel; I rarely cared about any of the main or secondary characters, or felt moved by their actions.
-Inconsistent POV; the narrator seemed to vaccilate between omniscient and limited without ever settling clearly into one perspective or the other. In some instances a character's thoughts were implied and in others quotations and 'he/she thought' clumsily conveyed them.
-Stilted or awkward dialogue; it often struck me as unbelievable, or simply unrealistic, and when certain lines were 'cried' or 'screamed' out it felt melodramatic.
The ending allowed for a sequel, and as part of series I'd be less disappointed with the finale. But as it stands, it felt unresolved and unsatisfying. Nothing was really achieved, or even substantially altered by the final chapters. It was basically a gratuitous ending without any obvious point.
March 14, 2012
This is an amazing book, it is the first Ashman novel I have read but I will definitely be reading more.
It follows two timelines; 1. Ancient Egypt 3,000 years ago, which has obviously been well researched, and 2. The present day in England and Egypt. You have the historical and contemporary periods alternating, with a clear plot for each which combine beautifully as you progress through the novel. You will find it hard to put this book down once you begin it.
The characters, both historical and modern, are extremely well written, ranging from Egyptian kings and goddesses to archaeologists and museum curators, to scientists, Goths, vampires and zombies. There is a wealth of characters to captivate the imaginations of many a reader.
This novel includes some interesting ethical dilemmas as well as an engaging plot. This is not my usual choice of genre but Kevin Ashman may just have converted me.
Excellent
5 Stars
Published as e-book on Amazon
February 2, 2021
Easy to read vampire story with a difference. For the first half of the book the story alternates between current daya and ancient Egypt as we learn some of the history about Sekhmet and her followers. In the current day we have the Egyptologist working to uncover the mysterious death of her father and uncovering more than she could ever have imagined. There is an interesting blend of vampire horror and treasure hunting adventure (think Indiana Jones or Dirk Pitt meets Dracula) but it works, at least it did for me. Would happily read more of this author.
January 21, 2015
I started reading it right before bedtime and couldn't bring myself to put it down! The story switches back and forth between present day and the time of the Pharaohs. Vivid imagery keeps you glued to this fast paced storyline and the characters seem to pop out of the page pulling you into the horror and action. This is the first book I've read written by this author and I'm definitely going to read more of his book. If you love reading vampire books then this is a definite must read.
November 4, 2016
A very good read. Could not put it down.
This was really a great book and a great read. However, the last ten percent left you thinking that there would be a next book. That was not the case though so it left the reader hanging. By the time the vampire actually was loose the book was over. A few moire chapters in this book would have made it one of the best books ever read.
This was really a great book and a great read. However, the last ten percent left you thinking that there would be a next book. That was not the case though so it left the reader hanging. By the time the vampire actually was loose the book was over. A few moire chapters in this book would have made it one of the best books ever read.
February 7, 2014
This was a fast and very entertaining read. I love Egyptian culture, so I found this fascinating. It's a very unusual take on vampire lore, which is refreshing. I really hope there's a follow up book.
January 29, 2017
A VAMPIRE TALE WITH VERY LITTLE BITE IT IS.
Hello, this story started out with a lot of promise, but sputtered and died. The only really interesting parts were of an era 3,000 years ago. Thanks.
Hello, this story started out with a lot of promise, but sputtered and died. The only really interesting parts were of an era 3,000 years ago. Thanks.
May 10, 2014
This was a pretty good book. I very much enjoyed the Egyptian story line of it. My only complaint is the dialogue, which seemed a little forced. I will definitely read the next book in the series.
January 4, 2017
Not as good as I was expecting
I thought it was going to be better needs more action and romance I would not suggest this book to anyone I know
I thought it was going to be better needs more action and romance I would not suggest this book to anyone I know
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews