The Crimson Empress: The Hunter's Heart

by Adrian Lopez

For centuries, the Crimson Empress, Alondra, has ruled with an iron fist and a thirst for blood. Men are her playthings-her sustenance. Women face a cruel join her dark coven or become her next meal. Her reign seems eternal, but a bloodline sworn to her destruction refuses to yield. Santiago, the last and strongest of the hunters, has one to kill the immortal queen and end her tyranny.

But when a greater threat emerges, predator and prey are forced into an uneasy alliance. Lust and danger collide as Alondra's daughters find themselves irresistibly drawn to Santiago, their mortal enemy. The eldest, Paola, is willing to defy her mother and risk everything for his love—even if it means a battle to the death.

As centuries of hatred ignite into a forbidden passion between Alondra and Santiago, loyalties blur, and old enemies must confront the shocking love may be the deadliest weapon of all.

352 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 13, 2025

About the author

Adrian Lopez writes horror and dark erotic horror, often blending folklore, myth, and gothic fantasy into stories that are as brutal as they are sensual. His work includes The Unholy Queens Collection, which features unhinged, powerful women who embrace every dark and carnal desire, and the Lycaon Bloodlines werewolf saga.

His inspiration for writing was reignited after the tragic loss of his daughter during pregnancy, an experience that infused his stories with grief, rage, and love for monsters who refuse to die quietly.

Adrian is an indie author who connects closely with his readers through his Darkly Devoted Street Team, sharing early chapters, exclusive merch, and signed editions. He believes horror should seduce as much as it terrifies, and that monsters deserve both fear and devotion.

Reviews

[nightlyreadingheather · Rating 5 out of 5]

This author is known for his dark books. Once I started, I did not want to put this book down! I loved it that much!

Vampires and a vampire hunter, what could possibly go wrong? There is a love triangle happening, and honestly, I was here for it! I adore a good triangle! This book was full of very dark, very
spicy scenes, so check your triggers before reading.

The ending was a bit of a shock, and I was not expecting it to end that way, but I did love it!

If you love dark, spicy, almost monster romance, you should definitely check out this author.

[Booktokqutiepie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let me begin by saying this is one of the more pitch black smutty reads I’ve read …DEFINITELY CHECK YOUR TRIGGERS

That being said you’ve got Vampire Queen and Vampire Hunter taking up a position again another common evil.

This book has plot with the smut but it is way more smut than plot.

Adrian’s books never cease to amaze and transfix me. I definitely will read more by him but in all seriousness the triggers list might be the menu for us but take your time looking over the list some stuff in here you will NEVER forget

Overall 4 ⭐️ cause the smut was while I know why it’s there was a bit much for me that being said the spice holy shiz hold on to your hat I’m gonna say 6🌶️

Spread those pages at your own risk lol

[Shawn Burt · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like smut then this book is for you. It also has a lot of trigger warnings so make sure you know before you start reading. For those that love smut, seeking horror and dark romance lovers I would definitely recommend to read it. If you want a quick dark read with a lot of smut then this is the book for you. Adrian wrote a book that has a great plot with a lot of spice. I will need to read more of his books. Really enjoyed it. Vampire Hunter and a vampire queen what more do you need.

[Amanda Hopwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so dang good!! You have a Vampire Queen and a vampire hunter who come together to fight another evil . So much spice and some horror as well ! Def a must read

[Madelaine Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

Smut. Smut. And more smut.
If you need a quick, dark read that leaves you feeling hot and bothered, then this is the book for you! Adrian said if he was going to write smut, then he was going to take it as far as he could and boy did he! Between Santiago, Alondra and her vampire daughters fighting over his *cough* member, the premise of this book is who is going to rule the vampires. Epic duals and a LOT of blood! CHECK THE TRIGGER WARNINGS! Great job, Adrian!

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read the Crimson Empress written by Adrian Lopez a few weeks back. I was part of the bèta readers team and now it's finally time to post my review.

"You may be strong, but I am death incarnate to those who cross me. You will regret this."

It isn't a really long story and it also reads easy, it's a quick read and I finished it in a day.
It has a really long list of triggerwarnings you definitely have to read before you consider reading this story!
I have no triggers and I do not stay away of a spicy read, so I started this one as excited as any other read and I certainly wasn't disappointed.
The balance between the spice and the actual story could have been a bit better at moments, overall I enjoyed reading it, but it's definitely not for the faint of heart.

"I will burn this f*cking world to ash. No one -- no one -- takes what is mine and lives to see another night."

The story is about two 'families' or actually a family and a coven. They have a century long feud as vampires and vampire hunters. Until the question raises why they hate eachother and if there is another way.
Which choises do you make if you life long goal does not feel right anymore and what do you do if everything is on stake an threads come from every direction? Do you keep going as you always have, or do you choose a different direction.

"Embrace it my love. Embrace the darkness. Embrace the power!"

For the smut loving thrill seaking horror and dark romance lovers I would definitely recommend to read it. For others... Not so much 😂
I was debating 3,5 stars or four, but I dont link to give halves, so I give it four stars.

[Natasha Haway · Rating 5 out of 5]

A masterpiece of dark fantasy!

Attention this is solely my opinion.
Adrian Lopez's "The Crimson Empress: The Hunter's Heart" is an absolute triumph! From the very first page, I was completely captivated by this dark and enthralling world. The titular Crimson Empress Alondra is a formidable and complex character, beautifully rendered with all her power and vulnerability. Lopez weaves a tale of intrigue, betrayal, and a relentless hunt that keeps you on the edge of your seat. The pacing is impeccable, the prose is rich and evocative, and the world-building is simply stunning. If you're looking for a gripping dark fantasy with unforgettable characters and a plot that will consume you, look no further. This book is a must-read!

[Yesenia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Get ready, folks! Once you crack open that first page, get ready to dive straight into a spellbinding and mysterious realm. Alondra, oh Alondra, what a character she is,a blend of strength and vulnerability. With unexpected turns, deceitful schemes, and a relentless chase, this tale will have you balancing on the edge of your seat. The pace? Impeccable. The prose? Absolutely beautiful. The world-building? Utterly divine. To all you fans of dark and thrilling fantasies with a vampire vibe like "True Blood," this is the key to your next adventure! If you crave characters that stay with you and a plot that consumes your very soul, then look no further. Brace yourself to immerse yourself in a world that will captivate you beyond your wildest dreams!

[Jacqueline Espinoza · Rating 3 out of 5]

First of all, the cover is STUNNING and I loved all of the chapter art! When I first started reading, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect, but as the story unfolded, I found myself really enjoying the plot. The dynamic between the Vampire Queen and the Vampire Hunter was great - it added depth and intrigue that kept me turning the pages.

That said, there were parts that weren’t quite my cup of tea, while others I truly liked. The book is both spicy and gruesome, which might not suit every reader, but it definitely leaves an impression! Overall, The Crimson Empress had its ups and downs for me, but it’s clear that Adrian Lopez put a lot of creativity and heart into this.

[Vonnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I devoured this book in under two hours—no crumbs left, no regrets! It had me fully in its grip, and there was zero chance of putting it down. The characters? Absolute perfection. The plot? Unhinged in the best way possible. But let me warn you—this is, without a doubt, the darkest and smuttiest book I have ever read. Like, pitch-black, toeing-the-line-of-illegal levels of dark. If you’re venturing into this one, check. those. trigger. warnings. You have been warned!

[SpicyBookQueen2024 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating 4.5 stars! I ate this book up in 1 sitting! It has the most unhinged characters you may ever meet. We got badass FMCs & a hot MMC with a secret, hell bent on revenge, and a little bit of why choose in there as well as found family. All the vampire fans definitely need to check this novella out, but be warned! It's SUPER dark, total horror erotica and its oh so good. Be sure and check your trigger warnings, there's a whole menu.

[Meredith Bee · Rating 3 out of 5]

The artwork throughout this book was stunning! It was absolutely gorgeous and so well done. The plot in this book was so much stronger than the plot in Temptation of a Succubus. I believe, however, I am not the biggest fan of horror mixed with erotica. I was able to finish this book and it got stronger as it went, but the timeline was a little confusing. The story line itself flowed. If you like horror erotica, you will most likely enjoy this book.

[Paige Duhe · Rating 1 out of 5]

i'm not even sure what i was even reading, very little plot and a lot of vampire sex which i am not complaining about. there was a lot of mess ups and the story was just jumbled up. some part the was talking about one vampire and then a sentence into the paragraph the name changed out of no where and just threw everything off

[Samreadsbooks28 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Wow! This book was recommended by one of my favorite indie authors and I gave it a chance and this is naughty in a good way! This book gripped me into a chokehold and never let me go 😍 I highly recommend this book and if you love vampires and spice, go read this!

[kayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has all the spice in it, I mean all the spice! It has very detail scenes. READ THE TRIGGER WARNINGS. This book is for a very mature audience. The vampires are greatly depicted and the art is fantastic. Good smut read if your into that!

[Shannon Katariana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Please read trigger warnings and be warned. This is a short story with all the smut you can handle. It did take me a bit to get into the story but once I did, I couldn’t put it down. I liked the twist and turns and the characters developments to the story.

[Irma I · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my word I could not put this book down you have your sexy vampire hunter and a beautiful vampire , it has its plot twist and it's so spicy and juicy I highly recommend it. 🖤

[Jennifer McBain · Rating 4 out of 5]

what a read

Very well written with description, definitely read the trigger warning before posting picking this one up. (Spoiler) Also love that the ML eventually lost his humanity

[Jacqueline · Rating 5 out of 5]

..loved

Loved both books. Bought for my book shelf 😌 yes. I read digital and if I love a book I buy the actual book.

[Güera · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vampire shapeshifters “ DARK EROTIC HORROR “
Queen Alondra and Santiago- enemies to lovers !!

I don’t want to give out spoilers but it’s a book I read in one sitting !! I enjoyed reading it and wanted more !!!

Definitely recommend it!!!’