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Red Viper
The end of the world as humans know it, anyway, is not coming along quite like expected. No atomic bombs, no zombies. Rather, the creatures of the night have emerged from the shadows after deciding humans should no longer be the dominant species.
The start of this nightmare is seen through the eyes of a truly unusual creature. A freak, one might say, something that shouldn't exist. Yet, here she is. Sambuca isn't human.
The "Red Viper" never expected to find it out through her prey, of course--as a vampire hunter, she figured her unusual method of killing with snake venom would stop every leech in their tracks and knock 'em dead. That is until she runs into a vampire that's immune to the venom just like she is. And he wants to work with her.
Goliath, "the bat in the tophat", is an anomaly. He was meant to be some dark vampire prince, the typical killer with no mercy. This changes when he witnesses Sambuca sparing an orphaned vampire child. Initially sent to destroy the last dragon, or, well, half-dragon in Sam's case, his plans shift, and he joins her mission to actually help the city against his evil brother and a traitorous ex-vampire-hunter. Of course, those two are just the beginning of an escalating war.
Goliath & Sam team up eventually with a shapeshifter known as Darcia Deville. She helps the pair through one problem after another since they saved her life when the city was under siege.
The world is going haywire, magic long forgotten by humans is emerging, and many manners of monsters are joining the fray. The vampires, of course, won't be put down easily. In fact, they probably won't be put down at all...
The start of this nightmare is seen through the eyes of a truly unusual creature. A freak, one might say, something that shouldn't exist. Yet, here she is. Sambuca isn't human.
The "Red Viper" never expected to find it out through her prey, of course--as a vampire hunter, she figured her unusual method of killing with snake venom would stop every leech in their tracks and knock 'em dead. That is until she runs into a vampire that's immune to the venom just like she is. And he wants to work with her.
Goliath, "the bat in the tophat", is an anomaly. He was meant to be some dark vampire prince, the typical killer with no mercy. This changes when he witnesses Sambuca sparing an orphaned vampire child. Initially sent to destroy the last dragon, or, well, half-dragon in Sam's case, his plans shift, and he joins her mission to actually help the city against his evil brother and a traitorous ex-vampire-hunter. Of course, those two are just the beginning of an escalating war.
Goliath & Sam team up eventually with a shapeshifter known as Darcia Deville. She helps the pair through one problem after another since they saved her life when the city was under siege.
The world is going haywire, magic long forgotten by humans is emerging, and many manners of monsters are joining the fray. The vampires, of course, won't be put down easily. In fact, they probably won't be put down at all...
Kindle Edition
Published December 1, 2023
27 people are currently reading
37 people want to read
About the author
Des M. Astor
13 books64 followersDes M. Astor is a writer in the Urban Fantasy genre. She twists things in a unique way and brings a new flavor to the mythical creatures you know and love. Des has been writing her entire life and decided to refine her craft by going professional.
The series Des is most proud of would have to be the “Kingdoms of Blood” series, where she built an entire Urban Fantasy world and characters around her concepts. Des enjoys dressing up on Halloween as a vampire. Her favorite mythical creature is the vampire, followed by the dragon. Her third favorite creature of myth is the kitsune.
In her works, she tries to tell important lessons through her characters, such as the importance of working together in a romantic relationship and consent. In terms of friendships, she likes telling stories where a group of friends struggle in battle but come through in the end. She has a mixture of strong female and male protagonists. Her stories are character driven.
Des graduated from the University of Connecticut with a Bachelor’s degree in Biology in May of 2019. She has a deep love for reptiles and seeks to become a herpetologist. Often, she will blend in her knowledge of science to enhance her writing, which brings about sci-fi elements.
Her favorite character archetype is the ‘antihero’, in which the protagonist might make some dark decisions for the protection of the innocent. Her stories tend to lean on the violent and action-heavy side, but they also include romances that build during these conflicts.
The series Des is most proud of would have to be the “Kingdoms of Blood” series, where she built an entire Urban Fantasy world and characters around her concepts. Des enjoys dressing up on Halloween as a vampire. Her favorite mythical creature is the vampire, followed by the dragon. Her third favorite creature of myth is the kitsune.
In her works, she tries to tell important lessons through her characters, such as the importance of working together in a romantic relationship and consent. In terms of friendships, she likes telling stories where a group of friends struggle in battle but come through in the end. She has a mixture of strong female and male protagonists. Her stories are character driven.
Des graduated from the University of Connecticut with a Bachelor’s degree in Biology in May of 2019. She has a deep love for reptiles and seeks to become a herpetologist. Often, she will blend in her knowledge of science to enhance her writing, which brings about sci-fi elements.
Her favorite character archetype is the ‘antihero’, in which the protagonist might make some dark decisions for the protection of the innocent. Her stories tend to lean on the violent and action-heavy side, but they also include romances that build during these conflicts.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
November 28, 2021
These aren't Twilight's Vampires and Shifters
The bite has returned to vampires as the world as humanity has known it has come to an end. I loved the dynamic between Darcia and Robert Smoke and hope to see more of it in future books. I loved Ares' wit and bite. And Sam and Goliath were just wonderful together, starting out as enemies and turning to lovers. Most of all, I love that this book takes fantasy to dark and dystopic places.
The bite has returned to vampires as the world as humanity has known it has come to an end. I loved the dynamic between Darcia and Robert Smoke and hope to see more of it in future books. I loved Ares' wit and bite. And Sam and Goliath were just wonderful together, starting out as enemies and turning to lovers. Most of all, I love that this book takes fantasy to dark and dystopic places.
December 17, 2019
This book surprised me, while usually first person writing isn't my thing, I felt like it fit the story being told well. I enjoy fantasy and sci-fi stories and this was a rather nice mix of both. All in all, I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fantasy races with an interesting twist on them.
I don't want to get too much into this as I try to avoid spoilers, but the quick TLDR is, I enjoyed it and I recommend giving it a shot if you considered it.
Constant progressing story, never a dull moment.
I don't want to get too much into this as I try to avoid spoilers, but the quick TLDR is, I enjoyed it and I recommend giving it a shot if you considered it.
Constant progressing story, never a dull moment.
February 2, 2020
A Smart, Sexy, and Sensational Tale
Astor’s first book in her Kingdom of Blood series was a pleasant diversion from the traditional monsters of our current age. The author’s world building, characters, and creature lore will keep you interested from start to finish. I look forward to reading more in this promising series!
Astor’s first book in her Kingdom of Blood series was a pleasant diversion from the traditional monsters of our current age. The author’s world building, characters, and creature lore will keep you interested from start to finish. I look forward to reading more in this promising series!
March 19, 2020
Hunter or prey?
It's hard to figure out who to trust when your people are all hunting each other. Would love to see this as a film. It may have been improved by third person rather than first person viewpoints, as there was some head hopping.
It's hard to figure out who to trust when your people are all hunting each other. Would love to see this as a film. It may have been improved by third person rather than first person viewpoints, as there was some head hopping.
May 12, 2022
This was a really well done vampire novel, the world was interesting and I didn't feel like it was a typical vampire story. I look forward to seeing where this goes.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 10, 2021
A very enjoyable, action packed vampire novel featuring dragons and shifters. It offers a new twist on vampire hunters. I liked the way in which it challenges fantasy stereotypes with both gore and some minor humor. There's lots of morally grey characters. I particularly liked the main two Sam and Goliath.
February 2, 2020
Strong writing, enjoyed the first third. Great idea of a story. Red Viper gets caught, tortured and escapes. Gets caught again, tortured and escapes again. Backstory comes out she had been keep captive before, tortured and escaped. The multiple first person point of view is unorthodox. Even though the the chapter heading told me who we were listening to, my mind keep slipping back to the Red Viper. The good guys chase the bad guy and his army almost getting him over and over. Action scenes were great, but ended most of the time with Red Viper getting rescued again. I finally gave up and put it down little over halfway through.
January 21, 2020
Red Viper and the Vampire War is a dark fantasy novel uniquely set in a modern urban jungle. It is a fast-paced entertaining read, written in the first person from multiple points of view.
The story features snakes, dragons, vampires, shape shifters and other fantasy creatures and elements such as magic and the underworld.
Like in many indie novels, there are some minor things that could be cleaned up with additional editing, but I rated Des M. Astor's debut novel on the story, world building, character development, and joy of reading, which were all on point.
I felt like I really got to know and love the characters and the story flows well. I was pulled into this fantasy world and invested in the war for the future of the vampire kingdom.
The roving gangs of creatures in the heart of the city added a unique aspect within the fantasy genre that I found compelling.
The novel is full of action and bloody battles and there are heated sexual encounters so be aware of that if you have sensitivity to such things in a story.
As for me, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend it.
The story features snakes, dragons, vampires, shape shifters and other fantasy creatures and elements such as magic and the underworld.
Like in many indie novels, there are some minor things that could be cleaned up with additional editing, but I rated Des M. Astor's debut novel on the story, world building, character development, and joy of reading, which were all on point.
I felt like I really got to know and love the characters and the story flows well. I was pulled into this fantasy world and invested in the war for the future of the vampire kingdom.
The roving gangs of creatures in the heart of the city added a unique aspect within the fantasy genre that I found compelling.
The novel is full of action and bloody battles and there are heated sexual encounters so be aware of that if you have sensitivity to such things in a story.
As for me, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend it.
February 13, 2020
A refreshingly different Vampire tale!
Vampires have been done to death, much as I hate to admit it. Finding a different way of doing vampires is difficult, but Des M Astor does it in this adventurous story!
Part chilling horror, party dystopian hell-scape, Red Viper and the Vampire War is the perfect choice for people who like their vampires violent, their heroes flawed and compelling, and their stories epic.
Check it out!
Vampires have been done to death, much as I hate to admit it. Finding a different way of doing vampires is difficult, but Des M Astor does it in this adventurous story!
Part chilling horror, party dystopian hell-scape, Red Viper and the Vampire War is the perfect choice for people who like their vampires violent, their heroes flawed and compelling, and their stories epic.
Check it out!
December 1, 2022
Well, I have finally finished this one. When a book takes me almost 6 months to complete, the usual reasons are either the book is too grimdark, so I'll read it later, too wordy but otherwise very well written, or in the case of this book, has a lot of good things going for it despite its flaws, so I want to give it a chance.
This book commences on a strong note. Sambuca became a member of the city's vampire-hunting society with a personal vendetta against vampires that kidnap humans to abuse as their personal blood bags. Unlike most hunters, she uses the venom of her pet snakes/adoptive parents and laces her unusually sharp nails with it. We also soon learn she has a personal vendetta against abusive vampires and only kills those who attack humans, making her an outcast among other hunters.
So I really enjoyed the story's beginning because Sam is dauntless and edgy. At the same time, she doesn't find it strange she can telepathically communicate with her reptilian parents. I enjoyed the concerned parent banter she shared with her little pets. Very cute.
Soon enough, she gets attacked by an insanely powerful male vampire, always dressed in a red pinstripe suit and a top hat. A good portion of the early novel seems to switch back and forth as Sambuca thwarts vampire heartthrob Goliath's clever attacks while trying not to feel attracted to him. This was the epitome of the novel by leagues.
Meanwhile, a dynamic power shifts in the next-door Vampire Kingdom city. Members of the royal family are killing each other for no apparent reason to win the throne, break the flaky truce not to enslave humans, and unwittingly drag Sam, Goliath, and the corrupt Vampire Hunting association into the mess.
Initially, the betrayal of the vampire association was quite good. This is a nice punch-in-the-guts plot twist that ends up bringing Sam and Goliath a bit closer under unideal circumstances, followed by how she starts to discover her true identity.
One problem with the novel that made it take me forever to read is that... most of the middle of the story can be skipped to the last 10% of the book, and it would not really affect the ending. At first, I was ok with the vampire bad guy kidnapping Sam or Goliath and the other character going to their rescue. They lick their wounds, train, and the other character is kidnapped. And so we have this dynamic of being kidnapped a handful of times in slightly different ways without advancing the plot. It started to feel like the pages needed to be filled with a minimum word count quota instead of each chapter serving a critical importance to reach the finale, develop the love story, or explore worldbuilding. We get all this in the 1st third of the novel, but the book fizzles toward the middle.
I sometimes felt confused with the new ally Darcia because I didn't dislike her or anything, but her personality was too similar to Sam's. Feisty, angry, and aloof about the feelings of a male suitor. Even their word patterns are so similar that I couldn't tell them apart. Goliath is adorable (mainly because he never takes off his suit, even if it looks bloodied), but I never felt his personality change throughout the story. He is the same charming yet apologetic character from the beginning till the end. This isn't a deal breaker for me since we get hints of what he was like in the past, but it didn't help make the sluggish middle move any faster.
Avoiding spoilers as much as possible, I also question how come nobody in the Hunting Association knew Goliath's true identity if he is supposed to be a super important person in vampire society?
It seems like plenty of readers loved this book, so I wouldn't be surprised if most readers will not find any issues with this read. If you like a paranormal romance book about a charming vampire in a red tophat and a feisty love interest with very little spice, this might be the right read for you.
This book commences on a strong note. Sambuca became a member of the city's vampire-hunting society with a personal vendetta against vampires that kidnap humans to abuse as their personal blood bags. Unlike most hunters, she uses the venom of her pet snakes/adoptive parents and laces her unusually sharp nails with it. We also soon learn she has a personal vendetta against abusive vampires and only kills those who attack humans, making her an outcast among other hunters.
So I really enjoyed the story's beginning because Sam is dauntless and edgy. At the same time, she doesn't find it strange she can telepathically communicate with her reptilian parents. I enjoyed the concerned parent banter she shared with her little pets. Very cute.
Soon enough, she gets attacked by an insanely powerful male vampire, always dressed in a red pinstripe suit and a top hat. A good portion of the early novel seems to switch back and forth as Sambuca thwarts vampire heartthrob Goliath's clever attacks while trying not to feel attracted to him. This was the epitome of the novel by leagues.
Meanwhile, a dynamic power shifts in the next-door Vampire Kingdom city. Members of the royal family are killing each other for no apparent reason to win the throne, break the flaky truce not to enslave humans, and unwittingly drag Sam, Goliath, and the corrupt Vampire Hunting association into the mess.
Initially, the betrayal of the vampire association was quite good. This is a nice punch-in-the-guts plot twist that ends up bringing Sam and Goliath a bit closer under unideal circumstances, followed by how she starts to discover her true identity.
One problem with the novel that made it take me forever to read is that... most of the middle of the story can be skipped to the last 10% of the book, and it would not really affect the ending. At first, I was ok with the vampire bad guy kidnapping Sam or Goliath and the other character going to their rescue. They lick their wounds, train, and the other character is kidnapped. And so we have this dynamic of being kidnapped a handful of times in slightly different ways without advancing the plot. It started to feel like the pages needed to be filled with a minimum word count quota instead of each chapter serving a critical importance to reach the finale, develop the love story, or explore worldbuilding. We get all this in the 1st third of the novel, but the book fizzles toward the middle.
I sometimes felt confused with the new ally Darcia because I didn't dislike her or anything, but her personality was too similar to Sam's. Feisty, angry, and aloof about the feelings of a male suitor. Even their word patterns are so similar that I couldn't tell them apart. Goliath is adorable (mainly because he never takes off his suit, even if it looks bloodied), but I never felt his personality change throughout the story. He is the same charming yet apologetic character from the beginning till the end. This isn't a deal breaker for me since we get hints of what he was like in the past, but it didn't help make the sluggish middle move any faster.
Avoiding spoilers as much as possible, I also question how come nobody in the Hunting Association knew Goliath's true identity if he is supposed to be a super important person in vampire society?
It seems like plenty of readers loved this book, so I wouldn't be surprised if most readers will not find any issues with this read. If you like a paranormal romance book about a charming vampire in a red tophat and a feisty love interest with very little spice, this might be the right read for you.
August 23, 2021
Red Viper is a twist on vampires, very descriptive and fun read. I enjoyed the character Sam a lot, and the relationship she had with her snakes. If you are wondering whether you should read it, I say yes. Des is a very good writer, and more should be reading Red Viper, especially if you are fans of vampires. Me personally, I enjoy seeing the different twists on vampires, growing up watching Buffy/Angel as my first exposure to vampires, it is nice to see what different ways people can come up with.
August 2, 2021
This book was such a pleasant surprise. Quite simply, I loved it! Our heroine Sam is freaking badass and I think I fell in love with Goliath a few chapters in. The world-building is top notch and the storyline is gripping and exciting. If you love vampires, dragons, urban fantasy, romance or any of the above, definitely check this book out! It was such a nice escape on a rainy weekend and I look forward to reading more from the author.
May 8, 2021
Oh goodness where to start...I absolutely loved this novel, the rich descriptions of the dystopia world, the different take on vampires, dragons and shapeshifters and I loved the gray line between good and evil. This novel will definitely question everything you thought you knew about vampires. It's not often you get to see a dragon human hybrid or a tasmanian devil shapeshifter! The romance between the main characters was subtle and built over time, while I would've liked to see more of this, it was hard not to get sucked into the action of their journey.
This novel is action packed and races full steam ahead. There are few moments to take a breath which I enjoyed. You definitely don't get bogged down in too many moments of slice of life. There are some but those moments definitely don't drag. I gave 4 stars because I'd like to see a bit more romance between the MCs that's just my opinion, otherwise, it was a wonderful read!
This novel is action packed and races full steam ahead. There are few moments to take a breath which I enjoyed. You definitely don't get bogged down in too many moments of slice of life. There are some but those moments definitely don't drag. I gave 4 stars because I'd like to see a bit more romance between the MCs that's just my opinion, otherwise, it was a wonderful read!
May 21, 2021
Wow
all the feels. It literally had me in tears at times. One or two potential triggers for those who have to watch for such things but regardless an amazing book I could scarcely put down.
all the feels. It literally had me in tears at times. One or two potential triggers for those who have to watch for such things but regardless an amazing book I could scarcely put down.
March 14, 2021
Absolutely stellar. Great action writing with characters who are likeable and endearing. This book is written by someone who clearly has a love and a passion for vampires and the related folklore.
January 16, 2022
To start off, this is the first book I am reading by Des M. Astor. She is a pretty cool person and her Twitter account and blog/main web site are pretty kickass. I highly recommend giving her a follow.
Sam Viper, the first book in the Kingdom of Blood, has a lot of things going for it. It has great characters, action and gore scenes, and a promising urban fantasy landscape. These elements help drive the story, which on the other side of the coin that has some rough edges.
Sam is vampire hunter who comes across the top hat wearing Goliath who leads her on a major and twisted quest to bring down a sadistic vampire king. The action and suspense-as well as the chemistry between Sam and Goliath-is well-written and set up.
But things get messy in the second half when a second narrator-the badass Tasmanian devil shape shifter-joins the fray. The plot goes from vampire hunt to war story and while it remains engaging, it also grows muddled with different plot beats, which also makes the battle scenes blend in together without too much standing out.
The dialogue-while well-written-is very expositional and would have worked better with the story if we saw what was happening (Like Sam rescuing a young vampire girl) instead of being told what happened. Seeing Sam, a ruthless vampire killer, spare and take a little vampire girl home would have had more emotional impact and help show the reader at that glance that she is a killer with a heart. This also makes me think that this book could have been split into two or three parts because there is also so much world building and character development that it feels crammed in to tight. Splitting the story some would allow scenes and characters to breathe better.
Despite this, I still liked my time with Sam Viper. I plan on checking out the second book, The Dancing Crow next.
If you are looking for vampire fighting action, I still recommend Sam Viper.
Sam Viper, the first book in the Kingdom of Blood, has a lot of things going for it. It has great characters, action and gore scenes, and a promising urban fantasy landscape. These elements help drive the story, which on the other side of the coin that has some rough edges.
Sam is vampire hunter who comes across the top hat wearing Goliath who leads her on a major and twisted quest to bring down a sadistic vampire king. The action and suspense-as well as the chemistry between Sam and Goliath-is well-written and set up.
But things get messy in the second half when a second narrator-the badass Tasmanian devil shape shifter-joins the fray. The plot goes from vampire hunt to war story and while it remains engaging, it also grows muddled with different plot beats, which also makes the battle scenes blend in together without too much standing out.
The dialogue-while well-written-is very expositional and would have worked better with the story if we saw what was happening (Like Sam rescuing a young vampire girl) instead of being told what happened. Seeing Sam, a ruthless vampire killer, spare and take a little vampire girl home would have had more emotional impact and help show the reader at that glance that she is a killer with a heart. This also makes me think that this book could have been split into two or three parts because there is also so much world building and character development that it feels crammed in to tight. Splitting the story some would allow scenes and characters to breathe better.
Despite this, I still liked my time with Sam Viper. I plan on checking out the second book, The Dancing Crow next.
If you are looking for vampire fighting action, I still recommend Sam Viper.
July 2, 2022
Overall, excellent characters, brilliant and vivid descriptions, well paced plotting, a terrific hook and excellent world building. I liked it and will for sure read the next one.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews