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Vipers: Book Two of the Veins Cycle
Axle and Bird are back from the dead. No longer merely human, they must now work to further the oohaate—the spirit path. Whether they will like what they find at the journey’s end remains to be seen, but for now, there’s no turning back.
An explosion at Windslow Mine has set things in motion. The forest is crawling with snakes, driven from their nests by underground fires.
And the snakes are not alone.
Other forces are emerging, rising from the earth’s molten veins, preparing to reclaim a smoldering world. By daybreak, the residents of Windslow, Pennsylvania, will know that the world is burning beneath them.
By daybreak, the nightmare begins.
An explosion at Windslow Mine has set things in motion. The forest is crawling with snakes, driven from their nests by underground fires.
And the snakes are not alone.
Other forces are emerging, rising from the earth’s molten veins, preparing to reclaim a smoldering world. By daybreak, the residents of Windslow, Pennsylvania, will know that the world is burning beneath them.
By daybreak, the nightmare begins.
- GenresHorror
319 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 7, 2010
1 person is currently reading
12 people want to read
About the author
Lawrence C. Connolly
6 books11 followersLawrence C. Connolly’s books include the collections This Way to Egress, whose titular tale of psychological horror was adapted for the Mick Garris film Nightmare Cinema; and the Bram-Stoker-nominated Voices, which features Connolly’s best stories from The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, Twilight Zone, Year’s Best Horror, and other top magazines and anthologies of science fiction, fantasy, and horror. A third collection, Visions, was praised by Publishers Weekly for featuring an eclectic mix of “entertaining and satisfying” SF.
His new novel, Minute-Men: Execute & Run, is a globetrotting adventure from Caezik Science Fiction that combines elements of military science fiction, gaming, and medical suspense to deliver a thrilling reinvention of the superhero genre. It’s based on a concept developed by brother Christopher Connolly.
He is also the writer of Mystery Theatre, a podcast produced by Prime Stage Theatre, who premiered his adaptation of Frankenstein in 2022. His latest commission, a play based on the life and works of Edgar Allan Poe, opens in November 2025 at Pittsburgh’s New Hazlett Theatre.
To learn more and stay up to date, please visit: lawrencecconnolly.com
His new novel, Minute-Men: Execute & Run, is a globetrotting adventure from Caezik Science Fiction that combines elements of military science fiction, gaming, and medical suspense to deliver a thrilling reinvention of the superhero genre. It’s based on a concept developed by brother Christopher Connolly.
He is also the writer of Mystery Theatre, a podcast produced by Prime Stage Theatre, who premiered his adaptation of Frankenstein in 2022. His latest commission, a play based on the life and works of Edgar Allan Poe, opens in November 2025 at Pittsburgh’s New Hazlett Theatre.
To learn more and stay up to date, please visit: lawrencecconnolly.com
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 23, 2011
It’s taken a while to sort out this reviewer’s thoughts regarding Vipers, the beautifully written sequel to Veins, by Lawrence C. Connolly. The first book’s driving intensity carries through but wanes a bit; Veins held this reader mesmerized all night, but Vipers provides a few pause points for sleep. But Vipers definitely has more creep factor than its predecessor, taking it well out of the borderline urban fantasy genre and solidly into horror. It’s as good a read, only different.
***spoiler alert***
There’s barely a pause in the timeline. Vipers opens with a character new to the oeuvre, Dalton Davies, fleeing the suicide of his girlfriend and running into a nest of copperheads. Then the reader is thrown back into the original story. The first police cruiser arrives to investigate the car crash from Veins, finding the local wildlife feeding off the bodies and the area awash in snakes. The events of the first book have released something deep within the old mine pit and the vipers are running from it, causing a string of snakebites that twist through the story in a similar fashion to the timeline twists from Veins.
Many of the same characters return. There’s the Russian mobster, Kirill, trying to re-order his life after his real estate dreams convulsed into a nightmare. Mercenary Sam Calder somehow survives the collapse of the pit wall and she’s not happy. The main characters, Axle and Bird, have been changed into skyborn legends and are coming to terms with their new forms while learning of the emerging thing in the mine. Even the Dodge Vipers (pun clearly intentional) make a reappearance, inviting another car chase across rural Pennsylvania. And warring supernatural beings guide the action as Sam, Axle, and Bird fight to save or destroy the viper with the truck-sized head.
The intricate layering of time that was so fascinating in Veins is less apparent in Vipers. The characters are solidly realistic although some aren’t likeable, and perhaps too much time is spent developing some low-lifes who get bumped off in a subplot at the one-third point. A fair assumption is that the subplot becomes major or a central theme in the series’ next installment, which is eagerly awaited. Connolly has proven himself a reliable writer, and while set-up for the next book is preferably kept to a minimum, with trust established between reader and writer, it’s fair game here.
The publisher, Fantasist Enterprises, delivers a truly professional presentation. Almost all books published today, whether ebooks or in print, include some minor (or not-so-minor) typographical or proofreading errors, but Vipers is a happy anomaly and remarkably error-free. As well, the cover and internal illustrations by Gerasimos Kolokas are both attractive and stunning.
The intensity remains almost the same driving force. Snakes take the central creep-out role and deliver in a huge way. Horror readers really cannot lose with Vipers. Or Veins.
***spoiler alert***
There’s barely a pause in the timeline. Vipers opens with a character new to the oeuvre, Dalton Davies, fleeing the suicide of his girlfriend and running into a nest of copperheads. Then the reader is thrown back into the original story. The first police cruiser arrives to investigate the car crash from Veins, finding the local wildlife feeding off the bodies and the area awash in snakes. The events of the first book have released something deep within the old mine pit and the vipers are running from it, causing a string of snakebites that twist through the story in a similar fashion to the timeline twists from Veins.
Many of the same characters return. There’s the Russian mobster, Kirill, trying to re-order his life after his real estate dreams convulsed into a nightmare. Mercenary Sam Calder somehow survives the collapse of the pit wall and she’s not happy. The main characters, Axle and Bird, have been changed into skyborn legends and are coming to terms with their new forms while learning of the emerging thing in the mine. Even the Dodge Vipers (pun clearly intentional) make a reappearance, inviting another car chase across rural Pennsylvania. And warring supernatural beings guide the action as Sam, Axle, and Bird fight to save or destroy the viper with the truck-sized head.
The intricate layering of time that was so fascinating in Veins is less apparent in Vipers. The characters are solidly realistic although some aren’t likeable, and perhaps too much time is spent developing some low-lifes who get bumped off in a subplot at the one-third point. A fair assumption is that the subplot becomes major or a central theme in the series’ next installment, which is eagerly awaited. Connolly has proven himself a reliable writer, and while set-up for the next book is preferably kept to a minimum, with trust established between reader and writer, it’s fair game here.
The publisher, Fantasist Enterprises, delivers a truly professional presentation. Almost all books published today, whether ebooks or in print, include some minor (or not-so-minor) typographical or proofreading errors, but Vipers is a happy anomaly and remarkably error-free. As well, the cover and internal illustrations by Gerasimos Kolokas are both attractive and stunning.
The intensity remains almost the same driving force. Snakes take the central creep-out role and deliver in a huge way. Horror readers really cannot lose with Vipers. Or Veins.
December 12, 2010
Vipers began where the previous book, Veins had ended. The explosion at the Windslow Mine had been the catalyst, for reshaping the destiny of the world. Perhaps, even setting events in motion, that would end with an apocolyptic event. Axel and Bird had return from the dead, transformed into something other than human. Their mission was to guide destiny along the spirit path of the oohaate. But, things are not always one sided. There were other forces at work, with thier own paths to follow and they would do anything, to insure, they were the ones to be victorious. Sam had survived the explosion with the help of such a spirit guardian. With the human pawns manipulated into position and the guardian players at the ready, a new battle was about to begin.
While the blurb implied that Axel and Bird were the protagonist, I didn't feel that was the case. This book was told in segments. In my opinion, each subplot had their own protagonist and each of the characters had equal relevance, especially when the subplots merged into a greater story. I found it amazing, the author was able to embed so many characters, write thier perspectives, and still keep them engaging. A remarkable feat indeed. Vipers had well defined characters that were not only interesting, but could easily remind a reader, of someone they actually knew. It was enjoyable, to experience the journey of the story versus having to be told about it.
Once again, the author does a remarkable job with the premise of this book. The mythology embedded within it, often had me wondering, Was it fate or destiny? Was every life and moment predetermined? Vipers intriguing and thought provoking premise entices the reader, to contemplate those kinds of questions. I also appreciate the skill it took, to keep the reader guessing, Who was in the right and who was in the wrong? Who was good and who was evil? Afterall, each side had been manipulating events and people. One side tried to prevent a catastophy, while the other side tried to prevent it. Yet both sides claimed to be saving the world. The author built up the intrigue and the suspense. It kept me captivated to the very end.
Overall, I enjoyed this book, much more than its predecessor. The author managed to weave high octane action, intriguing mythology, and thrilling suspense with well defined and engaging characters. In truth, I felt the story flowed more smoothly, because the characters were so richly developed. An element, I felt was lacking in the previous book, Veins. If you like the supernatural mixed with thrilling suspense, that provokes your thoughts, then I think you will enjoy this book.
While the blurb implied that Axel and Bird were the protagonist, I didn't feel that was the case. This book was told in segments. In my opinion, each subplot had their own protagonist and each of the characters had equal relevance, especially when the subplots merged into a greater story. I found it amazing, the author was able to embed so many characters, write thier perspectives, and still keep them engaging. A remarkable feat indeed. Vipers had well defined characters that were not only interesting, but could easily remind a reader, of someone they actually knew. It was enjoyable, to experience the journey of the story versus having to be told about it.
Once again, the author does a remarkable job with the premise of this book. The mythology embedded within it, often had me wondering, Was it fate or destiny? Was every life and moment predetermined? Vipers intriguing and thought provoking premise entices the reader, to contemplate those kinds of questions. I also appreciate the skill it took, to keep the reader guessing, Who was in the right and who was in the wrong? Who was good and who was evil? Afterall, each side had been manipulating events and people. One side tried to prevent a catastophy, while the other side tried to prevent it. Yet both sides claimed to be saving the world. The author built up the intrigue and the suspense. It kept me captivated to the very end.
Overall, I enjoyed this book, much more than its predecessor. The author managed to weave high octane action, intriguing mythology, and thrilling suspense with well defined and engaging characters. In truth, I felt the story flowed more smoothly, because the characters were so richly developed. An element, I felt was lacking in the previous book, Veins. If you like the supernatural mixed with thrilling suspense, that provokes your thoughts, then I think you will enjoy this book.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews