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The Order Saga #1
Ancient Blood: A Novel of the Hegemony
Avery Doyle loves vampires; he's read every novel, seen all the movies, and researched the folklore. When his first one-night-stand, Caroline, turns out to be a true vampire on the run, he jumps at the chance to leave his ordinary life and join her as a "child of the night." The honeymoon ends, however, when Caroline's brutal Creator Sebastian enslaves them on his island estate and Avery must confront the dehumanizing reality behind his dreams. In order to survive, Caroline and Avery take their place as servants in Sebastian's household during a gathering of the most powerful vampires on Earth, the Hegemony, and soon find themselves involved in the myriad schemes, plots, and revenges that form the night-to-night existence of The Order. A society of wealth, power, and inhuman decadence whose existence is protected by human complicity and disbelief, The Order is the immortal aristocracy hidden behind the giant corporations and political leaders of the world. Sebastian, however, has a plan that will change The Order forever and shatter human civilization. A fast-paced thriller that both re-imagines and pays tribute to the traditional vampire, Ancient Blood is a story of love, ambition, sacrifice, and betrayal that is frighteningly human.
294 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 11, 2011
25 people are currently reading
1079 people want to read
About the author
Brian Patrick McKinley
3 books72 followersI've wanted to be an author for as long as I can remember. I was that kid who wrote up little stories to show his parents and grandparents. School newspapers? Joined up with them at every school I attended, desperate to see my stories in print. I was also an avid amateur actor, though, and the twin passions of storytelling and performing have played a big role in my life and the stories I write today. At times, I went back and forth between wanting to be a novelist or a movie star, but eventually I came to the realization that I was a better wordsmith than thespian. My desire to perform has never abandoned me, however, and part of what I think makes my stories good is my attention to the characters. I write about characters who get involved in events as opposed to plot scenarios that happen to feature characters. To me, it's an important distinction. I write about characters that I would love to portray, rich characters with strong inner lives and goals.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
October 5, 2012
I received this from the author in return for an honest review and I am so excited I got the chance to read this wonderful novel!
A book that only intensifies the reasoning why so many believe in the supernatural, this novel fascinated me beyond belief. Written as an untitled manuscript, with journal entries from his love, Caroline Ludlow, it felt as if I was seeing inside Avery Doyle's life, walking each step and learning each hard taught lesson he had to endure through this trial.
Avery Doyle is a role playing, fantasy loving, book reading nobody who just happens to be in the right place at the right- or wrong, depending on how you look at it- time, when a beautiful, mysterious woman enters the book store he works at asking for information on the Chinese Vampire Jiang-shi. Finding someone who shares his fantastical beliefs, they hit it off and end up spending one night together talking about myths, debating about the truths, and sharing a passion the likes of which Avery has never known.
Then she's gone.
Avery knows she is the being he has spent his entire life fantasizing about, and searches for her for two weeks relentlessly, and needless to say, he finds his mystery love and gets everything he's ever wanted.
Or so he thought.
We follow Avery and Caroline through their journey of freedom, capture, Vampyr Politics, twisted relations and evil minds, and I can't tell you how very intriguing the whole process is.
We see the relationship and growing madness of Sebastian, and in him something we all can relate too. I found myself feeling sympathy for the feral beast that Sebastian had become, secretly rooting for him even as he played his twisted and dark games with Avery and Caroline. We see how the world would work if these powerful beings were more than a work of fiction, how their reach would be limitless, their power far stronger than any would have us believe.
There is so much information in this book, it will have you second guessing all you know- or thought you knew- about the mythological beings we all love to read about.
Yes the chapters are long, but I couldn't honestly see how it would work any other way. Plus it gave me a longer time to read when I did the famous," One more chapter" we're all so famous for.
I would give this book far more than the five stars they limit us reviewers if I could. I can't recommend this novel highly enough! If you want something more, something that will have your mind reeling, your emotions storming through you, your heart breaking... If you want a novel that pulls you in and refuses to let you go, well, you've found it!
A book that only intensifies the reasoning why so many believe in the supernatural, this novel fascinated me beyond belief. Written as an untitled manuscript, with journal entries from his love, Caroline Ludlow, it felt as if I was seeing inside Avery Doyle's life, walking each step and learning each hard taught lesson he had to endure through this trial.
Avery Doyle is a role playing, fantasy loving, book reading nobody who just happens to be in the right place at the right- or wrong, depending on how you look at it- time, when a beautiful, mysterious woman enters the book store he works at asking for information on the Chinese Vampire Jiang-shi. Finding someone who shares his fantastical beliefs, they hit it off and end up spending one night together talking about myths, debating about the truths, and sharing a passion the likes of which Avery has never known.
Then she's gone.
Avery knows she is the being he has spent his entire life fantasizing about, and searches for her for two weeks relentlessly, and needless to say, he finds his mystery love and gets everything he's ever wanted.
Or so he thought.
We follow Avery and Caroline through their journey of freedom, capture, Vampyr Politics, twisted relations and evil minds, and I can't tell you how very intriguing the whole process is.
We see the relationship and growing madness of Sebastian, and in him something we all can relate too. I found myself feeling sympathy for the feral beast that Sebastian had become, secretly rooting for him even as he played his twisted and dark games with Avery and Caroline. We see how the world would work if these powerful beings were more than a work of fiction, how their reach would be limitless, their power far stronger than any would have us believe.
There is so much information in this book, it will have you second guessing all you know- or thought you knew- about the mythological beings we all love to read about.
Yes the chapters are long, but I couldn't honestly see how it would work any other way. Plus it gave me a longer time to read when I did the famous," One more chapter" we're all so famous for.
I would give this book far more than the five stars they limit us reviewers if I could. I can't recommend this novel highly enough! If you want something more, something that will have your mind reeling, your emotions storming through you, your heart breaking... If you want a novel that pulls you in and refuses to let you go, well, you've found it!
May 9, 2013
Author Brian McKinley presents a well written story where the world is ruled by vampires and the action and drama are non-stop. I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it if you want a refreshingly new look into the world of vampires.
April 22, 2014
Ancient Blood: A Novel of the Hegemony (The Order Saga, #1) by Brian Patrick McKinley was a pure joy to read. The writing flowed like blood wine, seamless, suitably aged and with a timeless quality that left this reader gasping with awe. Every character is so lovingly described, action sequences are perfectly timed and paced to keep the reader begging for more and the design of the Hegemons' extravagant lifestyles surpasses even my fave TV show Stargate SG-1.
Avery is a vampire groupie. He loves all things vampire and so it seems natural that he should meet a real one and fall in lust with Caroline. But Avery soon discovers out planet Earth is not what it seems - it is run in a similar style to the 5 families in The Godfather or even better - The Goa'uld in SG-1. These Vampyrs Hegemons are ruthless, flamboyant, stylish, always overdress for the wrong occasions and have egos the size of the moon.
And when Avery and Caroline are taken to a Hegemon stronghold they learn first hand what true power really is and so The Game continues - a game of supremacy within the Order of Hegemons. Can Avery survive the power struggle and keep his humanity or will he succumb to the lure of power. Read this awesome fangfest to find out.
A brilliant FIVE STAR vampire novel and very highly recommended.
Avery is a vampire groupie. He loves all things vampire and so it seems natural that he should meet a real one and fall in lust with Caroline. But Avery soon discovers out planet Earth is not what it seems - it is run in a similar style to the 5 families in The Godfather or even better - The Goa'uld in SG-1. These Vampyrs Hegemons are ruthless, flamboyant, stylish, always overdress for the wrong occasions and have egos the size of the moon.
And when Avery and Caroline are taken to a Hegemon stronghold they learn first hand what true power really is and so The Game continues - a game of supremacy within the Order of Hegemons. Can Avery survive the power struggle and keep his humanity or will he succumb to the lure of power. Read this awesome fangfest to find out.
A brilliant FIVE STAR vampire novel and very highly recommended.
February 22, 2017
Honestly, when I read the description of this book on Goodreads, it seemed pretty straight forward. I wasn't expecting a book that would scare the socks off me. I wasn't expecting a book that would make me feel like I've stepped into an alternate reality. I wasn't expecting some serious depth and detail. Boy, was I wrong.
The plot in this book is really interesting. Fast paced and full of surprises, it captures not only the best kind of thrilling mystery, but also suspenseful action and vampire secrets. Full of vivid descriptions of characters and events, this book is a true look into the dark world of the vampire Order. With a secret in every shadow and corner, where no one is who they seem, no one is safe.
All the characters are very easy to imagine, especially for any vampire fan. Every quintessential stereotypical vampire seems to be present, all the way down to personality differences. The hierarchy of the Order and the system they're all working in show fascinating sides to each character, bringing a true sense of realism to a story most would like to hope is just a dark fantasy.
Written in a personal manuscript form, from Avery's point-of-view, made reading this book truly fascinating. The depth and detail in this book are incredible, and it's obvious that a lot of effort and research went into this story. The author did a fantastic job at making the situation realistic, and bringing Avery to life.
My overall thoughts on this book are mixed- many of the areas disturbed me to read, however they are perfect for the story, and oddly realistic. In the end, I have to say it's a really good book, and a great story, but not for the fainthearted. Certainly not a book for someone looking for a shallow vampire story. Perfect for anyone wanting a deep look into the world of vampires, and the reality that lies there. I rated it a four star simply because of my own issues with some of the areas (I'm almost a bit too fainthearted for this book! Haha). I would certainly recommend this book though- it was a good read, kept me at the edge of my seat and seriously hoping for a good ending!
*I was given a complimentary ebook copy of this book, from the author, to read in exchange for an honest review.
February 16, 2013
The first book in “The Order Saga” called “Ancient Blood: A Novel of the Hegemony”, handling the traditional vampire archetype with a new and more realistic view, as a novel written in such an absorbing, seductive and enjoyable style. As a vampire fan for so many years, Brian Patrick McKinley began his writing career by writing short stories and finally created an imaginary world which he named as “The Order” for his own series of vampire novels. This world order can be considered as a vampire version of the Illuminati which is one of the most debated conspiracy theories of modern world.
Within the vampire realm of McKinley, extremely rich, powerful and insentient vampires rule the world under the masks of giant corporations and political leaders. While writing his novel McKinley was highly inspired by Anne Rice’s vampires, some vampire themed RPG action games which also cover economic and political conflicts in between. Being an accomplished screenplay writer at the same time evidently helped McKinley to forge some strong and vivid characters and to write a novel that he had always dreamt and longed for.
In the novel, a vampire fan Avery Doyle meets with a real vampire Caroline and he chooses to become one of the children of the night. But Avery has to come face to face with the bloodthirsty Sebastian, the maker of Caroline and the cruel world of the vampires. Caroline and Avery find themselves in the middle of a vampire society called “the Hegemony” full of competition, intrigue and betrayal, and consists of the most powerful vampires of the world. Yet Sebastian has an evil plan in his mind to alter the system and the vampire world forever. Thus Avery and Caroline take afford to pay huge costs in order to prevent it.
If there’s a chance for the series to be adapted into a movie, McKinley aspires that the hero and heroine of his book to be played by Christina Ricci and Henry Thomas. This casting choice of the writer gives us a bit of clue about the characters of Avery and Caroline. A vigorous but also an emotional woman and a fragile but also a daring man, can bring forth such a combination that has never been tried before among the romantic fiction with a vampire leitmotiv. I wish that this dream of McKinley do come true as there’s no doubt how both Ricci and Thomas could make marvelous vampires on the big-screen.
Within the vampire realm of McKinley, extremely rich, powerful and insentient vampires rule the world under the masks of giant corporations and political leaders. While writing his novel McKinley was highly inspired by Anne Rice’s vampires, some vampire themed RPG action games which also cover economic and political conflicts in between. Being an accomplished screenplay writer at the same time evidently helped McKinley to forge some strong and vivid characters and to write a novel that he had always dreamt and longed for.
In the novel, a vampire fan Avery Doyle meets with a real vampire Caroline and he chooses to become one of the children of the night. But Avery has to come face to face with the bloodthirsty Sebastian, the maker of Caroline and the cruel world of the vampires. Caroline and Avery find themselves in the middle of a vampire society called “the Hegemony” full of competition, intrigue and betrayal, and consists of the most powerful vampires of the world. Yet Sebastian has an evil plan in his mind to alter the system and the vampire world forever. Thus Avery and Caroline take afford to pay huge costs in order to prevent it.
If there’s a chance for the series to be adapted into a movie, McKinley aspires that the hero and heroine of his book to be played by Christina Ricci and Henry Thomas. This casting choice of the writer gives us a bit of clue about the characters of Avery and Caroline. A vigorous but also an emotional woman and a fragile but also a daring man, can bring forth such a combination that has never been tried before among the romantic fiction with a vampire leitmotiv. I wish that this dream of McKinley do come true as there’s no doubt how both Ricci and Thomas could make marvelous vampires on the big-screen.
October 4, 2012
Avery Doyle is a huge vampire fanboy whose interests lead him to discover a real vampire, Caroline- a prim-and-proper young lady who defies all the clichés of the vampire fiction he loves.
When the two fall in love, she "creates" him as a vampire ... But the reality of being a vampire is far less empowering than Avery had thought, especially when Caroline's own master takes them prisoner.
In a shadowy east coast mansion, the fate of vampire- and human- kind will be decided during a perverse "convention"--and Avery has to play luggage handler to the vamps who rule the world.
However, he becomes embroiled in the plots of the vampire leaders, and fights to help his beloved Caroline maintain her own humanity and steer the vampire counsel towards a more enlightened outlook.
But Caroline's master, the bestial Sebastian, is plotting to use her as a pawn in his plans to bring humanity to its knees.
This is a tightly-written tale of politics where many of the participants literally have blood on their hands. Intimate and intense and very different from the glamorized and de-fanged vampires of most current popular fiction. The characters are colorful and memorable and the action is intense, sometimes uncomfortably so. However, the entire story is told through the eyes of Avery, and his first-person narration serves to add a human perspective to the horrific proceedings.
A complete story in itself, but the introduction to a deep and detailed universe of the Hegemony--hopefully there'll be more stories soon.
When the two fall in love, she "creates" him as a vampire ... But the reality of being a vampire is far less empowering than Avery had thought, especially when Caroline's own master takes them prisoner.
In a shadowy east coast mansion, the fate of vampire- and human- kind will be decided during a perverse "convention"--and Avery has to play luggage handler to the vamps who rule the world.
However, he becomes embroiled in the plots of the vampire leaders, and fights to help his beloved Caroline maintain her own humanity and steer the vampire counsel towards a more enlightened outlook.
But Caroline's master, the bestial Sebastian, is plotting to use her as a pawn in his plans to bring humanity to its knees.
This is a tightly-written tale of politics where many of the participants literally have blood on their hands. Intimate and intense and very different from the glamorized and de-fanged vampires of most current popular fiction. The characters are colorful and memorable and the action is intense, sometimes uncomfortably so. However, the entire story is told through the eyes of Avery, and his first-person narration serves to add a human perspective to the horrific proceedings.
A complete story in itself, but the introduction to a deep and detailed universe of the Hegemony--hopefully there'll be more stories soon.
April 27, 2013
Ancient Blood: A Novel of the Hegemony By Brian Patrick McKinley
The story begins with Caroline Ludlow and Avery Doyle, lovers, running from an unknown threat. That threat is Sebastian: a feral Vampyr whose more primitive traits have smothered those of his more human characteristics. He is Caroline’s Creator, the man she once loved with all her heart and the person she lived with for many generations. Sebastian introduced Caroline to The Order.
After a brief struggle, Caroline and Avery are captured by Sebastian’s people and tossed into his version of a “wine cellar.” Sebastian’s cellar is stocked with more than 100 human prisoners used for food and liqueur recipes by his masterful chef. Avery, a new Vampyr, who dreamt of becoming such a creature his entire life, struggles with this far from romantic reality of life as a Vampyr he is now facing.
To punish Caroline for running from him and taking a lover (and Creating), and to punish this Creation, Caroline and Avery are forced to serve the Hegemony (the Vampyr leaders). During this time, the two try to come up with a plan for escape. They determine the best way is to assist in a takeover of the Hegemony. The current leader, Iago, is going to be overthrown; he knows this and seems to accept it. There are others who might take his place. One is Sebastian; if this happens, the world will become a dark place, since Vampyrs control all politics and world leaders. Or, Iago can rally back and prevent this from happening. There are other choices of course, all grim.
If Sebastian wins, Caroline and Avery will die. If Iago wins and they are Released, they will become part of The Game.
Brian Patrick McKinley has created a complicated vampiric world, a world that is dark and dangerous. Here there are dungeons and war; hate and discontent bubble just beneath the surface.
Vampires in this world are not the beautiful, but flawed humans looking for love to heal their wounds many of us are used to reading about. They are shallow, competitive, sex-driven beings who enjoy herding humans along and savoring the taste of blood for its own sake. They don’t stay awake at night mourning the loss of their humanity. The few caring creatures left in this world seem to be idealistic and the reader wonders if they will hold onto this fanciful notion of life a few centuries down the road.
McKinley’s world is a different take in the multi-faceted vampire genre. He is able to create some compelling and disturbing images of his Vampyrs.
This novel was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review (in association with Goodreads' R4R program).
The story begins with Caroline Ludlow and Avery Doyle, lovers, running from an unknown threat. That threat is Sebastian: a feral Vampyr whose more primitive traits have smothered those of his more human characteristics. He is Caroline’s Creator, the man she once loved with all her heart and the person she lived with for many generations. Sebastian introduced Caroline to The Order.
After a brief struggle, Caroline and Avery are captured by Sebastian’s people and tossed into his version of a “wine cellar.” Sebastian’s cellar is stocked with more than 100 human prisoners used for food and liqueur recipes by his masterful chef. Avery, a new Vampyr, who dreamt of becoming such a creature his entire life, struggles with this far from romantic reality of life as a Vampyr he is now facing.
To punish Caroline for running from him and taking a lover (and Creating), and to punish this Creation, Caroline and Avery are forced to serve the Hegemony (the Vampyr leaders). During this time, the two try to come up with a plan for escape. They determine the best way is to assist in a takeover of the Hegemony. The current leader, Iago, is going to be overthrown; he knows this and seems to accept it. There are others who might take his place. One is Sebastian; if this happens, the world will become a dark place, since Vampyrs control all politics and world leaders. Or, Iago can rally back and prevent this from happening. There are other choices of course, all grim.
If Sebastian wins, Caroline and Avery will die. If Iago wins and they are Released, they will become part of The Game.
Brian Patrick McKinley has created a complicated vampiric world, a world that is dark and dangerous. Here there are dungeons and war; hate and discontent bubble just beneath the surface.
Vampires in this world are not the beautiful, but flawed humans looking for love to heal their wounds many of us are used to reading about. They are shallow, competitive, sex-driven beings who enjoy herding humans along and savoring the taste of blood for its own sake. They don’t stay awake at night mourning the loss of their humanity. The few caring creatures left in this world seem to be idealistic and the reader wonders if they will hold onto this fanciful notion of life a few centuries down the road.
McKinley’s world is a different take in the multi-faceted vampire genre. He is able to create some compelling and disturbing images of his Vampyrs.
This novel was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review (in association with Goodreads' R4R program).
December 27, 2012
Overall rating: 3 stars.
Breakdown of my rating:
Narrative: 3 stars. Ancient Blood is many things: vampire novel, satire, cautionary tale, and at its heart, a romance. At times witty, sometimes biting, it succeeds on many levels: it is a fresh, richly crafted vampire world; it’s a caustic send-up of today’s political landscape; a mecca of sci-fi and pop culture references; and finally, an homage not only to vampire lore, new and old, but also to Joseph Campbell’s monomyth or hero’s journey. Brian McKinley---and his main protagonist, Avery Doyle---love their vampires, and it shows.
However, where it doesn’t quite succeed is in its political machinations and the motivations of its hegemons. While McKinley gamely pokes fun at The Order---its traditions, laws, culture and place in society---he also takes it very seriously as it is the ruling organization at the heart of this Vampyr world he’s created. I will admit, there were times while I was reading and it got to the “Caroline explaining things to Avery” or “Avery listening as Caroline and X (enter character name here) discussing their plans” portions of the novel, where she’s going over the various political maneuverings of each of the hegemons that I felt a) the discussions became too pedantic and bogged the story down, and b) I was tempted numerous times to pull out a piece of paper and create a flow chart showing who was doing what to whom and when and who was allied (in reality and as deception) with one another. Yes, it got that convoluted on occasion.
Still, on the whole, political intrigues and ”Huh?!” moments aside (feral vampires, nukes, mind wipes [not the glamouring from traditional vampire lore], etc.), I enjoyed the novel. This is not a vampire novel for the younger crowd or the squeamish. Oh no. Ancient Blood’s got very flawed characters. This is an adult novel, with very graphic sex (that would make even Christian Grey blanch and Anastasia Steele wish to be locked in the Red Room of Pain instead of spending ten minutes with Valmont, Julia, Draco or Jade Tiger), a lot of violence to women and children, and an uncompromising, unflinching view of what people would do for what they believed in and who they loved. And in the end, that’s what made me give it 3 stars.
Writing: 4 stars. Brian McKinley is a very good, very strong, smart writer. Whatever minor typos there were in the text, I attribute to poor editing (Ancient Blood was published via a small publishing house that is no longer in business). It’s obvious that he’s crafted and lovingly created a wholly-realized vampire world that is different from other vampiric worlds out there (e.g., Anne Rice’s world, Sookie Stackhouse/True Blood, the Buffyverse, the world of the Vampire Diaries, the Twiverse, etc.).
And while the "vampirism as a virus" concept is not new and has certainly been addressed in many other novels, movies and TV shows, his take on it is. McKinley actually did a good job with his research on genetics and molecular biology (and as a scientist by profession, I was not disappointed). Still, his is not the standard, popular young adult’s romantic view of vampirism, and for that, I’m grateful. While Ancient Blood is a romance at its core, it is not in the least bit romantic or sentimental, no matter how maudlin Avery can be when he goes all goo-goo-eyed at Caroline.
I’ve had many discussions with the author (he and I are in the same writer’s group and we’re currently reviewing his second novel, also set in this world but in a different era) about the vampires/Vampyrs in his world and their genesis, how they work, how they think, and I’m happy to share that he knows his stuff. There are still areas and plot points he’s working out in his vampire universe, but it is easily apparent that the world building he’s done is extensive, complex and multi-layered.
Characters: 3 stars. Here’s what I’ll have to say about McKinley’s characters: he doesn’t believe in creating all good or all bad characters. In fact, he likes anti-heroes. Avery, in this sense, is a little different from all the other characters he’s created in that Avery is a “baby vamp” and is still learning the ropes, in spite of everything Avery thought he knew about vamps. This makes Avery endearing, and his journey the reader’s journey, too. Caroline, in my opinion, was nuanced but a little too idealized, and I didn’t care for her as much. But seen from Avery’s lens, I can see why she was written as such: he was in love with her and held her up on a pedestal. Even the Dhampir Ash was a fairly well-developed character and had different gradations. The one thing about Ash that set me off a little was that I understood what motivated him, but I didn’t really see what his thoughts were. Then again, I can set this aside since this is Avery’s and Caroline’s story, not Ash’s.
All the other characters, though, mostly the Hegemons, from Sebastian to Draco to Valmont and Julia seemed fairly one dimensional to me. No, they weren’t all evil, as evidenced by Sebastian’s prior desire to do right by his Domain. But Draco lived up to his name: he was a draconian ruler, excessively harsh and severe, yet also governed by a set code of laws. Julia Agrippina was as lascivious and scheming as she was back in Roman times. Valmont was characterized as a fop, but a dangerous fop, one who was libertine and licentious, with nary an iota of good between his ears. Geoffrey Plantagenet, too, was close to what he was in the twelfth century: charming, yet cold, calculating and scheming underneath.
Similarly, these personages all held on to their cultures, their speech, their traditions, their way of dress, etc. (Side note to Brian and a pet peeve of mine: how Sebastian speaks is not Middle English – check out Chaucer or Havelok the Dane or the original Robin Hood tales or even Malory’s Le Morte d’Arthur – those texts are in Middle English. The Middle English period lasted from the late 11th century to the mid-1400s, roughly around the time of the second vowel shift brought on by the appearance of the Normans in England. Sebastian’s way of speaking was more like rustic Scottish, but it was definitely Modern English. Even Shakespeare spoke in Early Modern English…*end of rant*.)
Of the other hegemons, only Iago and Jade Tiger seemed to be somewhat more nuanced to me, but maybe because unlike the others, these were newly created characters---based not on personages who actually existed or were contemporaneous to the era---but that they were more a pastiche of the people from the different eras/cultures they supposedly came from.
Brian and I had discussed his characterization in passing shortly before Ancient Blood was published. I think he held on to the quintessential personalities of his hegemons because he wanted to show that these people wouldn’t have changed their core beliefs or what was ingrained in them culturally. Julia Agrippina, for example, was 2000 years old. In that time, he felt it would have been out of character for her to have changed how she was or how she thought and acted. To him, it just wasn’t a long enough period of time to exact a change in her belief structure.
And that’s where I disagree with him. Change is almost guaranteed; in our own lives, while we try to stay true to who we are, we do undergo changes, minute as they are, and we certainly aren’t immortals. It’s almost inevitable for change not to happen. So if you’re a vampire/Vampyr and are around for centuries, change almost becomes a survival instinct: you need to change, not only with the times and with the integration of technology, but also in how you think. Otherwise, you’d never be able to blend in and assimilate successfully with an ever-changing world.
And in the end, I guess that was Brian’s point: that these hegemons---except for Geoffrey, who eagerly embraced 21st century technology and ideals---were trying to rule like they did in the past and was maybe why The Order needed to be shaken up, changed.
Execution: 2 stars. I wasn’t so much a fan of the political intrigues. In and of itself, the politics each individual hegemon espoused was fascinating, but when the machinations and scheming were brought together as a whole, it became too intricate, too convoluted. It was confusing. And for me, when I’m detracted enough by what I’m reading that I feel the need to draw a flow chart, that only ruins the experience for me.
What was good about it: As his debut novel, McKinley has crafted a rich, dense, well-thought out vampire world with a fairly likable hero. He’s left enough leeway in the story that should he decide to continue on with it, he could.
In the end, I’ll gladly read other works that McKinley produces – I think he’s got a lot of talent and with the right editor providing guidance and a close read of his work, he could improve significantly.
What could have been handled better: the political aspects of the novel (really, vampires threatening to nuke each other? Wouldn’t that have blown up their food supply?) could use some work. Providing explanations for certain terms used would be helpful (after reading Ancient Blood one and a half times, I’m still not quite sure what an adjutor is).
Breakdown of my rating:
Narrative: 3 stars. Ancient Blood is many things: vampire novel, satire, cautionary tale, and at its heart, a romance. At times witty, sometimes biting, it succeeds on many levels: it is a fresh, richly crafted vampire world; it’s a caustic send-up of today’s political landscape; a mecca of sci-fi and pop culture references; and finally, an homage not only to vampire lore, new and old, but also to Joseph Campbell’s monomyth or hero’s journey. Brian McKinley---and his main protagonist, Avery Doyle---love their vampires, and it shows.
However, where it doesn’t quite succeed is in its political machinations and the motivations of its hegemons. While McKinley gamely pokes fun at The Order---its traditions, laws, culture and place in society---he also takes it very seriously as it is the ruling organization at the heart of this Vampyr world he’s created. I will admit, there were times while I was reading and it got to the “Caroline explaining things to Avery” or “Avery listening as Caroline and X (enter character name here) discussing their plans” portions of the novel, where she’s going over the various political maneuverings of each of the hegemons that I felt a) the discussions became too pedantic and bogged the story down, and b) I was tempted numerous times to pull out a piece of paper and create a flow chart showing who was doing what to whom and when and who was allied (in reality and as deception) with one another. Yes, it got that convoluted on occasion.
Still, on the whole, political intrigues and ”Huh?!” moments aside (feral vampires, nukes, mind wipes [not the glamouring from traditional vampire lore], etc.), I enjoyed the novel. This is not a vampire novel for the younger crowd or the squeamish. Oh no. Ancient Blood’s got very flawed characters. This is an adult novel, with very graphic sex (that would make even Christian Grey blanch and Anastasia Steele wish to be locked in the Red Room of Pain instead of spending ten minutes with Valmont, Julia, Draco or Jade Tiger), a lot of violence to women and children, and an uncompromising, unflinching view of what people would do for what they believed in and who they loved. And in the end, that’s what made me give it 3 stars.
Writing: 4 stars. Brian McKinley is a very good, very strong, smart writer. Whatever minor typos there were in the text, I attribute to poor editing (Ancient Blood was published via a small publishing house that is no longer in business). It’s obvious that he’s crafted and lovingly created a wholly-realized vampire world that is different from other vampiric worlds out there (e.g., Anne Rice’s world, Sookie Stackhouse/True Blood, the Buffyverse, the world of the Vampire Diaries, the Twiverse, etc.).
And while the "vampirism as a virus" concept is not new and has certainly been addressed in many other novels, movies and TV shows, his take on it is. McKinley actually did a good job with his research on genetics and molecular biology (and as a scientist by profession, I was not disappointed). Still, his is not the standard, popular young adult’s romantic view of vampirism, and for that, I’m grateful. While Ancient Blood is a romance at its core, it is not in the least bit romantic or sentimental, no matter how maudlin Avery can be when he goes all goo-goo-eyed at Caroline.
I’ve had many discussions with the author (he and I are in the same writer’s group and we’re currently reviewing his second novel, also set in this world but in a different era) about the vampires/Vampyrs in his world and their genesis, how they work, how they think, and I’m happy to share that he knows his stuff. There are still areas and plot points he’s working out in his vampire universe, but it is easily apparent that the world building he’s done is extensive, complex and multi-layered.
Characters: 3 stars. Here’s what I’ll have to say about McKinley’s characters: he doesn’t believe in creating all good or all bad characters. In fact, he likes anti-heroes. Avery, in this sense, is a little different from all the other characters he’s created in that Avery is a “baby vamp” and is still learning the ropes, in spite of everything Avery thought he knew about vamps. This makes Avery endearing, and his journey the reader’s journey, too. Caroline, in my opinion, was nuanced but a little too idealized, and I didn’t care for her as much. But seen from Avery’s lens, I can see why she was written as such: he was in love with her and held her up on a pedestal. Even the Dhampir Ash was a fairly well-developed character and had different gradations. The one thing about Ash that set me off a little was that I understood what motivated him, but I didn’t really see what his thoughts were. Then again, I can set this aside since this is Avery’s and Caroline’s story, not Ash’s.
All the other characters, though, mostly the Hegemons, from Sebastian to Draco to Valmont and Julia seemed fairly one dimensional to me. No, they weren’t all evil, as evidenced by Sebastian’s prior desire to do right by his Domain. But Draco lived up to his name: he was a draconian ruler, excessively harsh and severe, yet also governed by a set code of laws. Julia Agrippina was as lascivious and scheming as she was back in Roman times. Valmont was characterized as a fop, but a dangerous fop, one who was libertine and licentious, with nary an iota of good between his ears. Geoffrey Plantagenet, too, was close to what he was in the twelfth century: charming, yet cold, calculating and scheming underneath.
Similarly, these personages all held on to their cultures, their speech, their traditions, their way of dress, etc. (Side note to Brian and a pet peeve of mine: how Sebastian speaks is not Middle English – check out Chaucer or Havelok the Dane or the original Robin Hood tales or even Malory’s Le Morte d’Arthur – those texts are in Middle English. The Middle English period lasted from the late 11th century to the mid-1400s, roughly around the time of the second vowel shift brought on by the appearance of the Normans in England. Sebastian’s way of speaking was more like rustic Scottish, but it was definitely Modern English. Even Shakespeare spoke in Early Modern English…*end of rant*.)
Of the other hegemons, only Iago and Jade Tiger seemed to be somewhat more nuanced to me, but maybe because unlike the others, these were newly created characters---based not on personages who actually existed or were contemporaneous to the era---but that they were more a pastiche of the people from the different eras/cultures they supposedly came from.
Brian and I had discussed his characterization in passing shortly before Ancient Blood was published. I think he held on to the quintessential personalities of his hegemons because he wanted to show that these people wouldn’t have changed their core beliefs or what was ingrained in them culturally. Julia Agrippina, for example, was 2000 years old. In that time, he felt it would have been out of character for her to have changed how she was or how she thought and acted. To him, it just wasn’t a long enough period of time to exact a change in her belief structure.
And that’s where I disagree with him. Change is almost guaranteed; in our own lives, while we try to stay true to who we are, we do undergo changes, minute as they are, and we certainly aren’t immortals. It’s almost inevitable for change not to happen. So if you’re a vampire/Vampyr and are around for centuries, change almost becomes a survival instinct: you need to change, not only with the times and with the integration of technology, but also in how you think. Otherwise, you’d never be able to blend in and assimilate successfully with an ever-changing world.
And in the end, I guess that was Brian’s point: that these hegemons---except for Geoffrey, who eagerly embraced 21st century technology and ideals---were trying to rule like they did in the past and was maybe why The Order needed to be shaken up, changed.
Execution: 2 stars. I wasn’t so much a fan of the political intrigues. In and of itself, the politics each individual hegemon espoused was fascinating, but when the machinations and scheming were brought together as a whole, it became too intricate, too convoluted. It was confusing. And for me, when I’m detracted enough by what I’m reading that I feel the need to draw a flow chart, that only ruins the experience for me.
What was good about it: As his debut novel, McKinley has crafted a rich, dense, well-thought out vampire world with a fairly likable hero. He’s left enough leeway in the story that should he decide to continue on with it, he could.
In the end, I’ll gladly read other works that McKinley produces – I think he’s got a lot of talent and with the right editor providing guidance and a close read of his work, he could improve significantly.
What could have been handled better: the political aspects of the novel (really, vampires threatening to nuke each other? Wouldn’t that have blown up their food supply?) could use some work. Providing explanations for certain terms used would be helpful (after reading Ancient Blood one and a half times, I’m still not quite sure what an adjutor is).
November 19, 2012
Can I just say WOW!!! i loved the plotting, scheming, and backstabbing of this book! What made it even better was it was all that but, VAMPIRE STYLE!! While reading this I found myself going back and re-reading what had just happened but, not due to anything the author did wrong but because I found myself needing to confirm what I just read!It was that astonishing!! The lying, the blood thirstyness (is this a word) all of it was FABULOUS!!!
Just when you thought Caroline and Avery made some headway BAM a new piece was moved in the game!! My favorite part was when Avery finally figured out what Valmont is really all about!! That was priceless!!! I loved it!! This is a brutal game played my brutal vampires! It was just great!!
It's something you will really enjoy reading!!!
BRAVO!!!!!
This book was given to me by Author for a honest review
April 14, 2013
Avery Doyle is a longtime aficionado of vampire novels, movies and the legends that gave rise to them. When he meets a mysterious beautiful woman named Caroline, he finally gets his wish and becomes a vampire himself. But the old saying, “Be careful what you wish for, you may get it” holds true, and Avery plunges head-first into the Hegemony, a diverse group of powerful vampire lords whose shaky alliances are threatened by their own hidden agendas…
It’s impressive how well-established Brian McKinley’s vampire society appears. More than creatures of the night that prey on humanity, they are the real powers behind the thrones of every country; neither war nor peace comes about without vampiric intervention of some sort. Additionally, each vampire “type” prevalent in earlier works of fiction is re-envisioned here, from the repellent monstrosities to the refined aristocrats. While the organization and culture is complex, what eases us into it is the perspective of a likeable lead character who, like the readers, is taking it all in for the very first time.
Even with all his acquired knowledge to draw upon, Avery isn’t prepared for what lies ahead, and he often finds himself on the receiving end of the more seasoned (and more despicable) characters. His reaction to the beings and the environment is priceless, and the references and in-jokes add to the enjoyment of the story, a reflection of McKinley’s appreciation for the vampire genre. The Universal and Hammer Horror series, BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER and INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE are among those many mentioned.
ANCIENT BLOOD is a secret treasure for both the casual reader and the seasoned vampire fan.
It’s impressive how well-established Brian McKinley’s vampire society appears. More than creatures of the night that prey on humanity, they are the real powers behind the thrones of every country; neither war nor peace comes about without vampiric intervention of some sort. Additionally, each vampire “type” prevalent in earlier works of fiction is re-envisioned here, from the repellent monstrosities to the refined aristocrats. While the organization and culture is complex, what eases us into it is the perspective of a likeable lead character who, like the readers, is taking it all in for the very first time.
Even with all his acquired knowledge to draw upon, Avery isn’t prepared for what lies ahead, and he often finds himself on the receiving end of the more seasoned (and more despicable) characters. His reaction to the beings and the environment is priceless, and the references and in-jokes add to the enjoyment of the story, a reflection of McKinley’s appreciation for the vampire genre. The Universal and Hammer Horror series, BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER and INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE are among those many mentioned.
ANCIENT BLOOD is a secret treasure for both the casual reader and the seasoned vampire fan.
December 28, 2012
Ancient Blood – A Novel of the Hegemony by Brian Patrick McKinley
Hegemony comes from the Greek word hegemon or leader. It is defined as the dominance or leadership of one social group or nation over others. In this book, the hegemons in question are powerful, sadistic vampires and they control everything and everyone. It didn’t take Avery long after his one night with Caroline to know that she was different and that he would do anything or become anyone to be at her side forever. As a fledgling vampire and Hegemon Blackwood’s captive & servant Avery finds himself thrust into a complex world of vampire hierarchy he never knew existed and that he doesn’t quite understand. With Caroline pursuing her own agenda against the hegemony, Avery is forced to quickly mature and find his own path to follow. Will he take his place amongst the hegemony or will he die fighting?? Read this amazing new vampire tale to find out.
This book was a breath of fresh air for me as it approached the vampire world in a totally new and creative way of thinking. The story was well written and captivating and had an eclectic mix of characters. I liked that the book had a blend of history, action, erotica, wit and humor. I loved that the author paid homage to authors & characters that no doubt influenced him and his writing – Anne Rice, Anita Blake, Buffy/Angel etc. And as a fellow New Jersey native I loved that the author mentioned and incorporated the Garden State in his book – very cool. I gave this book 5/5 stars and highly recommend it to anyone 18 & over.
Hegemony comes from the Greek word hegemon or leader. It is defined as the dominance or leadership of one social group or nation over others. In this book, the hegemons in question are powerful, sadistic vampires and they control everything and everyone. It didn’t take Avery long after his one night with Caroline to know that she was different and that he would do anything or become anyone to be at her side forever. As a fledgling vampire and Hegemon Blackwood’s captive & servant Avery finds himself thrust into a complex world of vampire hierarchy he never knew existed and that he doesn’t quite understand. With Caroline pursuing her own agenda against the hegemony, Avery is forced to quickly mature and find his own path to follow. Will he take his place amongst the hegemony or will he die fighting?? Read this amazing new vampire tale to find out.
This book was a breath of fresh air for me as it approached the vampire world in a totally new and creative way of thinking. The story was well written and captivating and had an eclectic mix of characters. I liked that the book had a blend of history, action, erotica, wit and humor. I loved that the author paid homage to authors & characters that no doubt influenced him and his writing – Anne Rice, Anita Blake, Buffy/Angel etc. And as a fellow New Jersey native I loved that the author mentioned and incorporated the Garden State in his book – very cool. I gave this book 5/5 stars and highly recommend it to anyone 18 & over.
July 27, 2012
This book is a different take on Vampire legend and lore.The inner workings of the aristocracy are examinded,allies are formed and battle lines are drawn.The center of the story is told through Caroline and her lover Avery.Caroline has been dealing with all the inner workings for a very long time,she loves Avery and together they fight for power and allies.There are many references to "Pop Culture" I enjoyed this story but at times found it a little confusing.Fans of vampires will enjoy this book.
January 9, 2014
Before I give my honest critique, I feel I should provide some basic information, in the interest of full disclosure. I first met Mr. McKinley last year at a table-top role playing game meetup in our local area. While we all spent more time getting to know each other and becoming good friends, rather than working on our actual characters, he mentioned he was a horror writer. I was intrigued, but also skeptical as I know quite a few writers; I'm sure some of you can understand why. Eventually, my curiosity got the better of me, and I told him I was interested in checking his book out. He offered to lend me a copy, but asked that, once I finished it, I'd write a review for it on Amazon. I warned him that, if I did, I would be honest about it, as I don't particularly like when writers have friends pad their reviews; I've seen it happen. He agreed without fuss, and so I went about to spend a few months reading his book. I only took this long because, as one friend's ex-girlfriend put it, I "have the attention span of a tse-tse fly." So, what follows is my absolutely honest review of "Ancient Blood: A Novel of the Hegemony" (I'll refrain from giving a synopsis, as you can get that from the other reviews and the book description).
As I told Brian (as friends, we're on a first name basis), I found his book to be one part horror, one part psychological thriller, one part political intrigue, and one part heterosexual male romance novel. I had originally said "male romance novel", but, when I read this out loud, it was thought that might give the wrong impression. Anyway, it's not that I wouldn't recommend this book to women, but definitely not those whom are sensitive about certain types of violence.
Avery, the main character, is a horror/pop-culture geek who's had some bad relationship experiences and is clearly very insecure when it comes to women. He spends much of the book desperately trying to prove his manhood to his new-found girlfriend and sire, Caroline, a strong, brilliant, beautiful, scientist, whom would probably be way out of his league on a normal day. Like many of us men, he so desperately wants to be that knight in shining armor that rescues the damsel in distress and saves the day, even if he's so bad at it at times. Unfortunately, as he says in the book, he thought being a vampire would be a liberating experience, except that, while he now has supernatural powers, so does everyone else in his new "family". Again, he finds himself a Beta surrounded by Alphas. I empathized with him quite a bit.
Now, normally, I'm not big on horror. It's a genre I don't ever choose to read, preferring science-fiction/fantasy or the like. Although I appreciate good psychological horror, I find that many horror enthusiasts overdo it, invoking horror for horror's sake instead of where actually appropriate in the story. Not overall a feel-good book, Ancient Blood skillfully toys with your sensibilities and sense of morality to the point that, by the end, I found myself thinking as they do as their complicated and often emotionally-twisted machinations unfolded before me. I also appreciated that the vampires who populate "The Order" were inspired by legends from various cultures, from European lore as well as East Asian, yet it all seemed to work well for me in the context of the story. I felt the cast of characters were well-developed, and I enjoyed learning about each of them, even if I wished some of them harm.
That being said, I do have some issues with the novel. The foremost being the reliance on so many references to other books, television shows, films, etc., to aid in descriptions. I know that's the personality of the main character, but, as a literary tool, do it too often and you run the risk of alienating your reader, as it depends too heavily on them actually getting the references. Many I got, some I didn't. Thankfully, this lessened to a marked degree in the second half of the book. I also felt that there were points where the author went a little overboard on the descriptions, rattling off New Jersey street names during a car chase, for example, when it seemed to serve no other purpose than to establish NJ-ite cred.
Also, I've seen one complaint about the book on one site that it's misogynistic towards women, and I can see the reviewer's point. There are touches of misogyny in various parts, especially with nearly every female character being exploited and abused at some point in the story. I suppose this could be merely symptomatic of the cold, calculating, and male-dominated society that is the Order, but I digress.
Lastly, although I liked that the book started with some action, it slowed down dramatically soon afterward, and thus I found the first half to be a little slow to get through. I absolutely loved the complex political intrigue, but I often had to read in spurts to give my brain a rest. Thankfully, I found the flow of the second half to be a lot smoother.
In summation, while not without its flaws, Ancient Blood is an intriguing story that clearly wanted to get back to the basics of what made vampires vampires. It's cerebral yet at the same time visceral. If you're looking for something that bucks the modern trend for the supernatural/vampire genre, this is worth a look.
As I told Brian (as friends, we're on a first name basis), I found his book to be one part horror, one part psychological thriller, one part political intrigue, and one part heterosexual male romance novel. I had originally said "male romance novel", but, when I read this out loud, it was thought that might give the wrong impression. Anyway, it's not that I wouldn't recommend this book to women, but definitely not those whom are sensitive about certain types of violence.
Avery, the main character, is a horror/pop-culture geek who's had some bad relationship experiences and is clearly very insecure when it comes to women. He spends much of the book desperately trying to prove his manhood to his new-found girlfriend and sire, Caroline, a strong, brilliant, beautiful, scientist, whom would probably be way out of his league on a normal day. Like many of us men, he so desperately wants to be that knight in shining armor that rescues the damsel in distress and saves the day, even if he's so bad at it at times. Unfortunately, as he says in the book, he thought being a vampire would be a liberating experience, except that, while he now has supernatural powers, so does everyone else in his new "family". Again, he finds himself a Beta surrounded by Alphas. I empathized with him quite a bit.
Now, normally, I'm not big on horror. It's a genre I don't ever choose to read, preferring science-fiction/fantasy or the like. Although I appreciate good psychological horror, I find that many horror enthusiasts overdo it, invoking horror for horror's sake instead of where actually appropriate in the story. Not overall a feel-good book, Ancient Blood skillfully toys with your sensibilities and sense of morality to the point that, by the end, I found myself thinking as they do as their complicated and often emotionally-twisted machinations unfolded before me. I also appreciated that the vampires who populate "The Order" were inspired by legends from various cultures, from European lore as well as East Asian, yet it all seemed to work well for me in the context of the story. I felt the cast of characters were well-developed, and I enjoyed learning about each of them, even if I wished some of them harm.
That being said, I do have some issues with the novel. The foremost being the reliance on so many references to other books, television shows, films, etc., to aid in descriptions. I know that's the personality of the main character, but, as a literary tool, do it too often and you run the risk of alienating your reader, as it depends too heavily on them actually getting the references. Many I got, some I didn't. Thankfully, this lessened to a marked degree in the second half of the book. I also felt that there were points where the author went a little overboard on the descriptions, rattling off New Jersey street names during a car chase, for example, when it seemed to serve no other purpose than to establish NJ-ite cred.
Also, I've seen one complaint about the book on one site that it's misogynistic towards women, and I can see the reviewer's point. There are touches of misogyny in various parts, especially with nearly every female character being exploited and abused at some point in the story. I suppose this could be merely symptomatic of the cold, calculating, and male-dominated society that is the Order, but I digress.
Lastly, although I liked that the book started with some action, it slowed down dramatically soon afterward, and thus I found the first half to be a little slow to get through. I absolutely loved the complex political intrigue, but I often had to read in spurts to give my brain a rest. Thankfully, I found the flow of the second half to be a lot smoother.
In summation, while not without its flaws, Ancient Blood is an intriguing story that clearly wanted to get back to the basics of what made vampires vampires. It's cerebral yet at the same time visceral. If you're looking for something that bucks the modern trend for the supernatural/vampire genre, this is worth a look.
March 13, 2017
I love tales of the paranormal – they allow one to imagine a world so different from the one we live in. However, this is not a world I would enjoy living in! Full review at:
http://tbbmaniacs.wixsite.com/reviews...
http://tbbmaniacs.wixsite.com/reviews...
April 10, 2013
I liked this book. The writing flowed perfectly and the descriptions used were precise. I was never left wondering what a character looked like, what their surroundings were like, or for that matter, what their food looked/tasted like. The author did a wonderful job in his descriptions. There was one scene in particular that actually brought tears to my eyes.
The characters were fleshed out, whether you loved them, or loved to hate them. There were times I wanted to strangle Avery, the main character, but there were also times when I found myself cheering him on (silently, of course). I wish I was as fond of Caroline as Avery was though. I had more sympathy for Sebastian than I did for the lovers.The rest of the Hegemon were despicably evil in one way or another. The distrust between the Hegemon reminded me of Games of Thrones, never knowing who to trust or believe, so best not to trust anyone.
There was plenty of action, be it fighting or sexual acts, all graphic and done to the right degree for reaction.
The only draw back for me was the amount of time it took for me to finally be drawn fully into the story.
The characters were fleshed out, whether you loved them, or loved to hate them. There were times I wanted to strangle Avery, the main character, but there were also times when I found myself cheering him on (silently, of course). I wish I was as fond of Caroline as Avery was though. I had more sympathy for Sebastian than I did for the lovers.The rest of the Hegemon were despicably evil in one way or another. The distrust between the Hegemon reminded me of Games of Thrones, never knowing who to trust or believe, so best not to trust anyone.
There was plenty of action, be it fighting or sexual acts, all graphic and done to the right degree for reaction.
The only draw back for me was the amount of time it took for me to finally be drawn fully into the story.
April 19, 2013
Avery knows all about vampires through books, movies and television shows, he meets Caroline one night and figures out she’s a vampire. He tracks her down and asks her to turn him, to him being vampire would be the perfect life. What he doesn’t realize is that there was a lot more to the vampire world than he could have ever imagined.
They are captured by Caroline’s creator and Avery starts to see the intrigue, the double dealings and the power and greed of the Hegemony. He starts to see some of the stark realities of being a vampire and has to use all his wits to try and keep his self and Caroline safe while dealing with the political intrigues.
I would recommend this book to anyone 18 and over, it’s a fresh look at the world of vampires. If you like intrigue and double dealing it’s got more than enough for anyone and well written. I would like to thank Mr. McKinley for the chance to read and review his book!!
I was given this book in return for an honest review.
They are captured by Caroline’s creator and Avery starts to see the intrigue, the double dealings and the power and greed of the Hegemony. He starts to see some of the stark realities of being a vampire and has to use all his wits to try and keep his self and Caroline safe while dealing with the political intrigues.
I would recommend this book to anyone 18 and over, it’s a fresh look at the world of vampires. If you like intrigue and double dealing it’s got more than enough for anyone and well written. I would like to thank Mr. McKinley for the chance to read and review his book!!
I was given this book in return for an honest review.
January 12, 2014
This book was different from what I have read in the past. Most of the vampire books I have read were from a female
prospective. This was from a guys!
Avery loved everything about vampires! He has read everything he can get his hands on and he would love to be a vampire.
He meets Catherine and loves everything about her. The more they spend time together the more he falls in love with her.
Especially when he finds out she is a vampire! His dreams have came true!
The author describes the scenes so well. Made me feel like I was right there experiencing everything that Avery and Catherine did. Not once did I wonder how or what was taking place in the story line. Everything was explained very well!
I had a very hard time putting this book down, it kept my interest all through the book!
I recommend this book to anyone that loves a good vampire story but from a guy's perspective!
prospective. This was from a guys!
Avery loved everything about vampires! He has read everything he can get his hands on and he would love to be a vampire.
He meets Catherine and loves everything about her. The more they spend time together the more he falls in love with her.
Especially when he finds out she is a vampire! His dreams have came true!
The author describes the scenes so well. Made me feel like I was right there experiencing everything that Avery and Catherine did. Not once did I wonder how or what was taking place in the story line. Everything was explained very well!
I had a very hard time putting this book down, it kept my interest all through the book!
I recommend this book to anyone that loves a good vampire story but from a guy's perspective!
December 29, 2013
I was given this book by the publisher for an honest review.
Avery loves everything Vampire! He has read all the books, seen all the movies and really wants to write his own book on the subject. Catherine enters his shop seeking info and he knows he is in heaven! This lovely person is not put off by his size and loves what he loves! When he finds she is a vampire he is on cloud nine!
It turns out the head vampires are having a disagreement about how they should be treating humans: food or children needing guidance. Catherine wants to overthrow her master and get them back to helping humans.
There is a lot of action and agendas in this intriguing story. Everyone has a personal goal and will compromise just about anything to get it.
The end is simply not what I expected!
Get this book! You won't be disappointed.
Avery loves everything Vampire! He has read all the books, seen all the movies and really wants to write his own book on the subject. Catherine enters his shop seeking info and he knows he is in heaven! This lovely person is not put off by his size and loves what he loves! When he finds she is a vampire he is on cloud nine!
It turns out the head vampires are having a disagreement about how they should be treating humans: food or children needing guidance. Catherine wants to overthrow her master and get them back to helping humans.
There is a lot of action and agendas in this intriguing story. Everyone has a personal goal and will compromise just about anything to get it.
The end is simply not what I expected!
Get this book! You won't be disappointed.
July 26, 2013
I liked this book, the author describe the vampires are deceiving, dark and dangerous.
The main character, Avery Doyle is fan of vampire meets with a real vampire Caroline.
The lovers are captive of Sebastian (Caroline's maker) and Avery starts to see the intrigue, the double dealings and the power and greed of the Hegemony (vampire Society, they have to fight against Sebastian but he has a plan to alter the vampire world.
Avery and Caroline take afford to pay huge costs in order to prevent it.
I recommend this book ...
The main character, Avery Doyle is fan of vampire meets with a real vampire Caroline.
The lovers are captive of Sebastian (Caroline's maker) and Avery starts to see the intrigue, the double dealings and the power and greed of the Hegemony (vampire Society, they have to fight against Sebastian but he has a plan to alter the vampire world.
Avery and Caroline take afford to pay huge costs in order to prevent it.
I recommend this book ...
Read
December 29, 2015Somewhere between Laurel K. Hamilton and Bram Stroker lies Ancient Blood. Vampires who are perhaps too stuck in the old ways for the modern world, yet delightfully forward thinking. The story of Avery and Caroline draws you in and leaves you wondering "what next?" These vamps are not only sexy, dangerous, and bloodthirsty, they are also decidedly "human." Kudos to Mr. McKinley on creating a believable world full of characters you wish you knew and are glad that you don't.
December 31, 2013
This book jumps right into action from the start. It is very entertaining if you are a lover of vampire novels. Though this is written from mostly the dark side Avery, a new w vampire,is a ray of light. I love the places the author brings you. Like a wild ride. This is not your usual vampire read. I would highly recommend this book.
January 25, 2013
After being kidnapped by a scorned ex lover Caroline and her new boyfriend Avery are left to try to escape his house/compound. I enjoyed the characters in this story, but couldn't lose myself in this book. For some reason it never grabbed me and my mind kept wandering off. WaAR
May 6, 2013
Yes the chapters are long but totally worth reading.
I can't recommend this novel highly enough! This story will have all your emotions on edge. This novel will grab you right from the start and never let you go
I can't recommend this novel highly enough! This story will have all your emotions on edge. This novel will grab you right from the start and never let you go
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October 26, 2013I received a free copy of this book for an honest review from the author, Brian McKinley, through the Modern Good Reads group on Goodreads.
February 27, 2022
Incredibly heart racing book. The fact paced events that occur make it an exciting read plus the book does not hold back on the true raw and devious nature vampires truly have.
Unfortunately as I found it thrilling, Some contents were just too graphic for my liking, especially one part in particular that I cannot name on here but was just too graphic to let slide. I felt it was so unnecessary to be included and could have been swapped for a different scene.
Overall the book was deliciously dark and vampiric, on the other hand some parts could have been made a better read; Had cried at one point.
Unfortunately as I found it thrilling, Some contents were just too graphic for my liking, especially one part in particular that I cannot name on here but was just too graphic to let slide. I felt it was so unnecessary to be included and could have been swapped for a different scene.
Overall the book was deliciously dark and vampiric, on the other hand some parts could have been made a better read; Had cried at one point.
November 24, 2017
Brian McKinley's Ancient Blood is an interesting concept for a vampire series. However, the cast of characters and their human degrading activities did not capture this reader's interest.
April 8, 2018
Ancient lood
Loved this Novel. It was very indept but also interesting once I got into it and understood the nature of the telling of the story.
Loved this Novel. It was very indept but also interesting once I got into it and understood the nature of the telling of the story.
October 1, 2018
Fantastic Read!
I was highly impressed with this book! Kudos to the author for bringing a refreshing take on vampires in a very well written novel! I highly recommend it!
I was highly impressed with this book! Kudos to the author for bringing a refreshing take on vampires in a very well written novel! I highly recommend it!
September 17, 2015
As I had long since given up on vampire novels as too ‘same ol’, same ol’, it was almost a year before I remembered having one on my E-reader. Needing something to read, and out of range for any local WiFi connections, I opened up “Ancient Blood” by Brian Patrick McKinley, and I’m certainly glad I did. This was a different kind of vampire tale that became apparent the minute that vampire fan Avery meets real vampire—Caroline; though she is among a unique species among vampires, known as ‘vampyr’. From that point on, the story became a Machiavellian web of interchanging and interlacing intrigues and plots, wound tightly within a unique setting.
The rest of the story revolves around the ambiance of a meeting among the Hegemony, that will determine the future of planet Earth and her human inhabitants. As Mr. McKinley cites in the book description, “The Order is the immortal aristocracy hidden behind the giant corporations and political leaders of the world.” Wow. I could not miss the implications of this premise with regard to recent (the last ten to twenty years) and current political and global, real-world situations. What the Bilderberg Group may be to our present real-world reality, ‘The Order’ is to this story.
Mr. McKinley does an excellent job of characterization, thought processing amongst the characters, and dialogue. He sets stages well and never allows narrative descriptions or detail drag the pace of the story down. A splendid horror story, well worth the read.
The rest of the story revolves around the ambiance of a meeting among the Hegemony, that will determine the future of planet Earth and her human inhabitants. As Mr. McKinley cites in the book description, “The Order is the immortal aristocracy hidden behind the giant corporations and political leaders of the world.” Wow. I could not miss the implications of this premise with regard to recent (the last ten to twenty years) and current political and global, real-world situations. What the Bilderberg Group may be to our present real-world reality, ‘The Order’ is to this story.
Mr. McKinley does an excellent job of characterization, thought processing amongst the characters, and dialogue. He sets stages well and never allows narrative descriptions or detail drag the pace of the story down. A splendid horror story, well worth the read.
September 6, 2016
Action Packed Vampire Story
I enjoyed the characters right from the beginning. The characters are multifaceted and the storyline hooked me right in. Very action packed!
*Spoilers*
I think this book easily deserves five star, if not for the rape scene approximately 3/4 of the way through the book. It wasn't as graphic or as violent as it could have been, but it did shock me to read it. The violence took place against a strong, female character. As a female reader, I look for strong, intelligent, female characters in paranormal stories. When I finally do find one, like the lead character in this story, I can't find entertainment value in seeing them harmed. It's a little too "Women in Refrigerators" for me, building up the female characters, only to humiliate and defile them. The character moves on with her life, but I didn't think the scene needed to be in this book in the first place. Shock value, perhaps? Well...it worked, but I wasn't pleased. If the book hadn't gotten back on its action packed track, I may have stopped reading.
The ending of this book was great. Not too neatly tied up, but mostly satisfying. The overall story was well thought out. I would probably read more books by this author.
This book would not be suitable for teens due to language, violence, and sex.
I enjoyed the characters right from the beginning. The characters are multifaceted and the storyline hooked me right in. Very action packed!
*Spoilers*
I think this book easily deserves five star, if not for the rape scene approximately 3/4 of the way through the book. It wasn't as graphic or as violent as it could have been, but it did shock me to read it. The violence took place against a strong, female character. As a female reader, I look for strong, intelligent, female characters in paranormal stories. When I finally do find one, like the lead character in this story, I can't find entertainment value in seeing them harmed. It's a little too "Women in Refrigerators" for me, building up the female characters, only to humiliate and defile them. The character moves on with her life, but I didn't think the scene needed to be in this book in the first place. Shock value, perhaps? Well...it worked, but I wasn't pleased. If the book hadn't gotten back on its action packed track, I may have stopped reading.
The ending of this book was great. Not too neatly tied up, but mostly satisfying. The overall story was well thought out. I would probably read more books by this author.
This book would not be suitable for teens due to language, violence, and sex.
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