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Vial Darkness: The Monstrous Cost of Eternal Life
Between Two Fires meets The Passage in a thriller that rewrites the vampire mythos.
An ancient vial stolen from the Crucifixion doesn't grant eternal life. It unleashes a vampire-like curse.
For two thousand years, the world has unknowingly harbored a monstrous secret. A desperate act of love by a boy named Asher birthed an insatiable bloodlust, a plague passed down through centuries. Now, a tormented soul named Lucien bears the horrifying weight of this ancient curse, his every moment a battle against the unending hunger.
In present-day Jerusalem, brilliant scientist Dr. James Armstrong discovers the legend of the vial. Obsessed with conquering death, he sees not a relic of dark mythology, but the biological key to his revolutionary anti-aging research. He dismisses the whispers of a curse, believing he can contain and control the vial's power within his Raleigh laboratory.
But the vial’s hunger is not so easily contained.
As James's experiments begin, the ancient evil stirs. He soon learns that some legends are written in blood for a reason, and the tormented whispers of the vial's past victims become a terrifying premonition. By seeking to master death, Dr. Armstrong is about to unleash a vampire nightmare that will consume everything he holds dear.
A must-read for fans of Anne Rice's gothic lore, the epic scientific horror of The Passage, and the ancient evil of Between Two Fires.
An ancient vial stolen from the Crucifixion doesn't grant eternal life. It unleashes a vampire-like curse.
For two thousand years, the world has unknowingly harbored a monstrous secret. A desperate act of love by a boy named Asher birthed an insatiable bloodlust, a plague passed down through centuries. Now, a tormented soul named Lucien bears the horrifying weight of this ancient curse, his every moment a battle against the unending hunger.
In present-day Jerusalem, brilliant scientist Dr. James Armstrong discovers the legend of the vial. Obsessed with conquering death, he sees not a relic of dark mythology, but the biological key to his revolutionary anti-aging research. He dismisses the whispers of a curse, believing he can contain and control the vial's power within his Raleigh laboratory.
But the vial’s hunger is not so easily contained.
As James's experiments begin, the ancient evil stirs. He soon learns that some legends are written in blood for a reason, and the tormented whispers of the vial's past victims become a terrifying premonition. By seeking to master death, Dr. Armstrong is about to unleash a vampire nightmare that will consume everything he holds dear.
A must-read for fans of Anne Rice's gothic lore, the epic scientific horror of The Passage, and the ancient evil of Between Two Fires.
334 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 30, 2025
7 people are currently reading
27 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
July 15, 2025
ARC Review: Vial Darkness by Beck Browning
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)
Vial Darkness begins with a slow burn, layering multiple characters and points of view that initially left me a bit disoriented, but patience paid off. As the threads began to weave together, I found myself increasingly pulled into the lives of the characters, their backstories, and the dark history that connected them all.
What really stood out to me was the intelligence behind the writing. Beck Browning clearly did the work and is a writer who respects their reader. The world-building is sharp, realistic, and grounded in research, which adds a strong sense of authenticity to the story. I love when a thriller doesn't just entertain but challenges me to think, and Vial Darkness delivered on that front.
Some character arcs hit me hard! I was genuinely sad to see certain chapters close. That emotional investment speaks volumes about the storytelling. My only frustration is how unfinished the ending felt. There are still so many unanswered questions, and I’m hoping this means a sequel is in the works. It feels like there’s more coming, and I’ll be ready for it when it does.
An intelligent, atmospheric thriller with depth and heart. Browning is definitely an author to watch.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)
Vial Darkness begins with a slow burn, layering multiple characters and points of view that initially left me a bit disoriented, but patience paid off. As the threads began to weave together, I found myself increasingly pulled into the lives of the characters, their backstories, and the dark history that connected them all.
What really stood out to me was the intelligence behind the writing. Beck Browning clearly did the work and is a writer who respects their reader. The world-building is sharp, realistic, and grounded in research, which adds a strong sense of authenticity to the story. I love when a thriller doesn't just entertain but challenges me to think, and Vial Darkness delivered on that front.
Some character arcs hit me hard! I was genuinely sad to see certain chapters close. That emotional investment speaks volumes about the storytelling. My only frustration is how unfinished the ending felt. There are still so many unanswered questions, and I’m hoping this means a sequel is in the works. It feels like there’s more coming, and I’ll be ready for it when it does.
An intelligent, atmospheric thriller with depth and heart. Browning is definitely an author to watch.
June 7, 2025
Anti-aging and the search for immortality can lead you down a dark path that you may not be able to come back from.
Very quick and high level summary:
Thousands of years ago a curse begins. A few centuries later, Lucien is a woman cursed with a dark urge. Present-day Jerusalem, Dr. James Armstrong (scientist focusing on anti-aging) purchases a vial promised to give eternal life and takes it back to his lab in North Carolina. A nightmare thousands of years old awakens.
I will keep my review simple so that I do not ruin the read for you. This story was well written and very unique. I truly enjoyed the premise and the way it was carried out. I really enjoyed the historical aspect added to it. The background story development is what made this story so intriguing. The author did an amazing job crafting the history and events that lead up to a well written ending. It added layers to the character's thought processes. Showing the motivations as well as their vulnerabilities.
Over all a very well done and captivating story.
Very quick and high level summary:
Thousands of years ago a curse begins. A few centuries later, Lucien is a woman cursed with a dark urge. Present-day Jerusalem, Dr. James Armstrong (scientist focusing on anti-aging) purchases a vial promised to give eternal life and takes it back to his lab in North Carolina. A nightmare thousands of years old awakens.
I will keep my review simple so that I do not ruin the read for you. This story was well written and very unique. I truly enjoyed the premise and the way it was carried out. I really enjoyed the historical aspect added to it. The background story development is what made this story so intriguing. The author did an amazing job crafting the history and events that lead up to a well written ending. It added layers to the character's thought processes. Showing the motivations as well as their vulnerabilities.
Over all a very well done and captivating story.
June 14, 2025
While this book was not something I would typically pick out, I thought the writing and plot of the story was intriguing and unique. It is a very somber book and the three different stories between the main story with James, the beginning story of Ash, and the final story with Lucien and Edmund was filled with sadness and tragedy after tragedy so I took my time going through this book.
The tie in of the historical fiction, horror, and supernatural was a little different and I would like to know the direction this series is going in. With the vial containing a certain historical figures blood, and the vial obviously representing darkness in the world and within humans, is the author trying to paint said figure in a different view and saying that he himself is darkness or if he trying to say that the darkness manifest differently in different people? If it’s the latter, I’m curious if the characters that drank/were drawn to the vile were considered inherently evil or if that is their innocence that the darkness is locking on to.
I’d be interested in the next book and to see where the author takes the series.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The tie in of the historical fiction, horror, and supernatural was a little different and I would like to know the direction this series is going in. With the vial containing a certain historical figures blood, and the vial obviously representing darkness in the world and within humans, is the author trying to paint said figure in a different view and saying that he himself is darkness or if he trying to say that the darkness manifest differently in different people? If it’s the latter, I’m curious if the characters that drank/were drawn to the vile were considered inherently evil or if that is their innocence that the darkness is locking on to.
I’d be interested in the next book and to see where the author takes the series.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 16, 2025
Excuse me??? Hello?? I did NOT know what I was getting into when I started this book. What a wild insane ride. To say I flew through this, is honestly an understatement. Vial Darkness hooked me from the start and sunk it's claws in deep. Biblical beginnings? Fantastic. Immortality curse?? Amazing. Multiple character POVs with interconnected storyline?? Everything I could ever want. I knew I was getting a cliffhanger going into this and I'm still mad because my brain is just shouting "MORE, MORE, WHAT HAPPENS NOW??" The hunger is real. This was perfection!
*I received an advanced review copy for free and I am leaving a review voluntarily*
*I received an advanced review copy for free and I am leaving a review voluntarily*
July 5, 2025
4.5 ⭐️ and rounding up here. I’ll be honest, this isn’t a typical read of mine. But my name isn’t “ashreadsitall” for nothing. And I’ll tell ya what, I’m so glad I took a chance with this!
🧪The vial will always find its way to you.🧪
It’s an ancient vial filled with a mysterious blood. It’s Indestructible. It’s never-ending. One drink will make you have vampire-like tendencies.
We will follow our main character and scientist, James in present day while he learns of the history of the vial from an old man at a marketplace. That ending was WILD?!?!
I’d recommend you give this one a try. It might surprise you!
🧪The vial will always find its way to you.🧪
It’s an ancient vial filled with a mysterious blood. It’s Indestructible. It’s never-ending. One drink will make you have vampire-like tendencies.
We will follow our main character and scientist, James in present day while he learns of the history of the vial from an old man at a marketplace. That ending was WILD?!?!
I’d recommend you give this one a try. It might surprise you!
June 23, 2025
I LOVED this story so much! Such a unique take on a popular trope! Very well woven together throughout, pacing amazing, and characters were well fleshed out! Cannot wait for the next one!
June 25, 2025
Loved this sincerely spooky debut novel from Beck Browning! For fans of vampires and twisted takes on history and mythos, this is a can't-miss read.
December 10, 2025
I really had high hopes that this would be as good as it sounded..... It wasn't. For being marketed as "A must-read for fans of Anne Rice's gothic lore, the epic scientific horror of The Passage, and the ancient evil of Between Two Fires" it absolutely did not live up to its promise of being any of those things.
I will say that I actually really enjoyed the split timeline. This also had way more historical fiction than I was expecting but wasn't mad about it. Overall however the plot wasn't anything special and in fact just easily guessable. Any nod to vampires was bland and lacked creativity. It felt like any other lackluster monster book that ever exists.
There wasn't a ton of focus placed on character development or fostering a connection for the reader. if I'm being honest, I found myself caring little about them about what happened to them and wishing that I did.
I will say that I actually really enjoyed the split timeline. This also had way more historical fiction than I was expecting but wasn't mad about it. Overall however the plot wasn't anything special and in fact just easily guessable. Any nod to vampires was bland and lacked creativity. It felt like any other lackluster monster book that ever exists.
There wasn't a ton of focus placed on character development or fostering a connection for the reader. if I'm being honest, I found myself caring little about them about what happened to them and wishing that I did.
September 17, 2025
Immortality and blood lust done a little differently.
I loved this take on vampire lore, as it dated back much further and gives you much to think about the origins.
A scientist is held captivated by the story of a young man trying his hardest to save his sister. The story moves on to a family who is dealing with a curse that has been called to them.
The majority of the story revolves around a young woman who grapples with morality and mortality. I think the characters were all well-written.
This was a dark story, where you could see the balance between how different characters dealt with this curse.
My only critique is that I would have loved a bit more focus on the scientist in the latter portion, I think that would have been interesting. But I think that the story wrapped up nicely regardless.
Thank you to Book Sirens and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review
I loved this take on vampire lore, as it dated back much further and gives you much to think about the origins.
A scientist is held captivated by the story of a young man trying his hardest to save his sister. The story moves on to a family who is dealing with a curse that has been called to them.
The majority of the story revolves around a young woman who grapples with morality and mortality. I think the characters were all well-written.
This was a dark story, where you could see the balance between how different characters dealt with this curse.
My only critique is that I would have loved a bit more focus on the scientist in the latter portion, I think that would have been interesting. But I think that the story wrapped up nicely regardless.
Thank you to Book Sirens and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review
January 13, 2026
This book was chosen for my book club. I read the premise and was very excited to dive in. The first couple of chapters with James and Hassan hooked me.
Then, we dive in to Asher and Miriam’s story. It was good. Interesting. I liked where it was going. Then, their story abruptly stopped.
Next, we move to Lucien and Cassius. Then, Lucien and Edmund. Again, the story abruptly stops.
Lastly, we move back to James’ story. However, even though there were many chapters dedicated to his story, and his story did progress quite a bit, his story abruptly stops as well, and in the end, I don’t feel like any of the main characters’ story arcs in this book were fully fleshed out or even partially resolved.
I understand that this is to be a series, and I love that. But I have way too many questions and not nearly enough answers. Not to mention, I felt like the timeline was so convoluted during Lucien’s story that I had a hard time keeping up with it. At one point, I was assuming the story flashed a couple of years in the future but then there was a comment where her mother had been gone for centuries (plural)??! Perhaps that is my lack of reading comprehension showing, but I often found myself confused and wandering blindly through the story’s timeline.
Lastly, the prose includes over-usage of language devices for my taste. I concede that this is inherently subjective and picky of me, but there were so many sentences using “as if,” and “as though,” that I started underlining them as I went. That, and the use of the phrase “as though the ____ [room, forest, etc.] were holding its breath.” Again, I know this is nitpicking, but I also underlined those because they happened so often.
All of this to say that I didn’t hate this book. I think the idea is really clever. I am still confused about the organic material left behind, and the way that blood is consumed. And I wish this would have gone through another 1-2 rounds of editing. However, this story is interesting and has the potential to be something really good. I hoped for more answers this book, but I suppose I will have to return for book 2 for those!
Then, we dive in to Asher and Miriam’s story. It was good. Interesting. I liked where it was going. Then, their story abruptly stopped.
Next, we move to Lucien and Cassius. Then, Lucien and Edmund. Again, the story abruptly stops.
Lastly, we move back to James’ story. However, even though there were many chapters dedicated to his story, and his story did progress quite a bit, his story abruptly stops as well, and in the end, I don’t feel like any of the main characters’ story arcs in this book were fully fleshed out or even partially resolved.
I understand that this is to be a series, and I love that. But I have way too many questions and not nearly enough answers. Not to mention, I felt like the timeline was so convoluted during Lucien’s story that I had a hard time keeping up with it. At one point, I was assuming the story flashed a couple of years in the future but then there was a comment where her mother had been gone for centuries (plural)??! Perhaps that is my lack of reading comprehension showing, but I often found myself confused and wandering blindly through the story’s timeline.
Lastly, the prose includes over-usage of language devices for my taste. I concede that this is inherently subjective and picky of me, but there were so many sentences using “as if,” and “as though,” that I started underlining them as I went. That, and the use of the phrase “as though the ____ [room, forest, etc.] were holding its breath.” Again, I know this is nitpicking, but I also underlined those because they happened so often.
All of this to say that I didn’t hate this book. I think the idea is really clever. I am still confused about the organic material left behind, and the way that blood is consumed. And I wish this would have gone through another 1-2 rounds of editing. However, this story is interesting and has the potential to be something really good. I hoped for more answers this book, but I suppose I will have to return for book 2 for those!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 5, 2025
Beck Browning’s Vial Darkness is a ruthless and atmospheric blend of historical fiction, horror, and supernatural thriller that totally bangs the drum. The novel begins with a haunting origin—an act of love by young Asher during the Crucifixion that births a centuries-long curse. That single desperate choice reverberates through time, culminating in present-day Jerusalem and the obsession of Dr. James Armstrong, a scientist determined to conquer mortality.
The book unfolds in multiple layers: Asher’s tragic beginnings, Lucien’s tormented existence as the curse’s living vessel, and James’s reckless ambition to harness the vial’s secrets. The pacing starts as a slow burn, rewarding patient readers with deeply emotional character arcs and a world rich in historical and scientific detail. When it gets going…it takes off!
Vial Darkness goes way beyond a typical vampire tale. The novel wrestles with reflective questions: is darkness something inherited, chosen, or imposed by forces beyond us? Are those who succumb to the vial’s hunger inherently evil, or does the curse prey on innocence itself? These themes linger way longer after the last page.
While the ending leaves several threads untied (which drove me crazy), it feels intentional—Browning has clearly set the stage for a sequel. For readers who crave horror rooted in history, tragedy, and moral complexity, Vial Darkness is a standout. Intelligent, tragic, and unforgettable, this is a series to watch.
The book unfolds in multiple layers: Asher’s tragic beginnings, Lucien’s tormented existence as the curse’s living vessel, and James’s reckless ambition to harness the vial’s secrets. The pacing starts as a slow burn, rewarding patient readers with deeply emotional character arcs and a world rich in historical and scientific detail. When it gets going…it takes off!
Vial Darkness goes way beyond a typical vampire tale. The novel wrestles with reflective questions: is darkness something inherited, chosen, or imposed by forces beyond us? Are those who succumb to the vial’s hunger inherently evil, or does the curse prey on innocence itself? These themes linger way longer after the last page.
While the ending leaves several threads untied (which drove me crazy), it feels intentional—Browning has clearly set the stage for a sequel. For readers who crave horror rooted in history, tragedy, and moral complexity, Vial Darkness is a standout. Intelligent, tragic, and unforgettable, this is a series to watch.
August 9, 2025
I am not much of a fantasy reader. I've just never really enjoyed adult fantasy. Beck Browning has changed my mind, and I am quite excited that this is going to be a series.
I love a good frame narrative and Browning did a great job following both Asher and Lucien throughout their stories. I also loved the science throughout the book, as someone who went through grad school in NC in a biology-related field, I felt so at home in this book.
Thank you to BookSprout for a free copy of this book in exchange for a review.
I love a good frame narrative and Browning did a great job following both Asher and Lucien throughout their stories. I also loved the science throughout the book, as someone who went through grad school in NC in a biology-related field, I felt so at home in this book.
Thank you to BookSprout for a free copy of this book in exchange for a review.
August 23, 2025
Rating: 2.5 stars
I honestly don’t know how I feel about this one. It was definitely interesting. I loved the beginning, the lore and set up was so fascinating and I loved the idea of the immortality vampire curse thing. What really made me mad was the ending. Hello?? It was so weird and I don’t understand where the author was going with it.
I honestly don’t know how I feel about this one. It was definitely interesting. I loved the beginning, the lore and set up was so fascinating and I loved the idea of the immortality vampire curse thing. What really made me mad was the ending. Hello?? It was so weird and I don’t understand where the author was going with it.
May 30, 2025
Just finished Vial of Darkness by Beck Browning. Creepy, tense, and totally absorbing. Loved the short stories that tell the tale, and the eerie suspense throughout. If you’re into horror that leans psychological with a touch of the supernatural, this one’s worth checking out.
August 8, 2025
This book is a beautifully written bit of storytelling! The story is unique and captivating, thought provoking on many levels, and the author catches you up in gorgeous prose. It all unfolds quite unexpectedly and left me wanting more! I can’t wait for the sequel!
June 6, 2025
So captivating! I loved this book. The storytelling, the characters… Can’t wait for more 😊
May 30, 2025
I'm a big fan of Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia and this one did not disappoint. If you're looking for a thriller that is both intelligent and terrifying, with a rich mythology and characters you'll be thinking about long after you've finished, look no further. This is a five-star read that sinks its teeth into you and doesn't let go! Prepare to be captivated and deeply unsettled. A must-read!
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews