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Blood of the Damned: A Medieval Vampire Thriller
“Game of Thrones”
meets
“Dracula.”
An evil that's older than empires, and it's waiting to feed.
'Death is all around you. Everywhere you turn, everyone you touch, even for you—death!'
Bulgaria, during the bloody Crusades.
Young nobleman Darius sees a creature of the night slay his mother. Swearing vengeance, he forges himself into a weapon against the darkness — but his quest endangers his frail sister’s life, and a trail of blood follows his every move.
Sir George, son of a murdered lord, is drawn into Vlad Dracula’s shadowy Order of the Dragon. He seeks justice for his father’s death, but uncovers a secret war more terrifying than the Ottoman invasion.
And beneath it all, a diabolical underworld, with age-old myths and laws, plots and prejudice and vicious predators.
As Darius and Sir George’s paths collide, they are lured into a hellish nightmare of sacred orders and blood-soaked destiny, and to survive, each must honour, family or brotherhood, in a war where immortals play for kingdoms, and their very souls are at stake.
..... 'The storm and the wolves and the Ottomans, all, were the very least of their concerns. Would never again be of the slightest consequence.' .....
Praise for "Blood of the Damned"'Stanton’s prose is vivid, cinematic, and relentless. Fans of "The Historian", or "Anno Dracula" will be at home in the mud of the battlefield and the shadow of the crypt.' - Anca Antoci - Goodreads - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'A love letter to the vampire-loving history geek that I am!' - Haly - Goodreads - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐.....Don't wait for the sun to rise.Scroll to the top, grab a copy, and begin your epic adventure right now!.....
Readers of Stephen King, Anne Rice, Christopher Buehlman, or Jay Kristoff's "Empire of the Vampire" will love this gritty and unique undead origins — where superstition meets cold steel, and retribution is paid in blood.
Fans of dark fantasy sagas, alternate history horror, and world-building — come, join us in the shadows.
.....
Book DetailsPart one of a two-part story.Book one of an epic vampire horror series.A slow-burn, sprawling hero's quest of brooding knights, forbidden love, and a very brutal coming of age.
Start your own epic adventure today.
An evil that's older than empires, and it's waiting to feed.
'Death is all around you. Everywhere you turn, everyone you touch, even for you—death!'
Bulgaria, during the bloody Crusades.
Young nobleman Darius sees a creature of the night slay his mother. Swearing vengeance, he forges himself into a weapon against the darkness — but his quest endangers his frail sister’s life, and a trail of blood follows his every move.
Sir George, son of a murdered lord, is drawn into Vlad Dracula’s shadowy Order of the Dragon. He seeks justice for his father’s death, but uncovers a secret war more terrifying than the Ottoman invasion.
And beneath it all, a diabolical underworld, with age-old myths and laws, plots and prejudice and vicious predators.
As Darius and Sir George’s paths collide, they are lured into a hellish nightmare of sacred orders and blood-soaked destiny, and to survive, each must honour, family or brotherhood, in a war where immortals play for kingdoms, and their very souls are at stake.
..... 'The storm and the wolves and the Ottomans, all, were the very least of their concerns. Would never again be of the slightest consequence.' .....
Praise for "Blood of the Damned"'Stanton’s prose is vivid, cinematic, and relentless. Fans of "The Historian", or "Anno Dracula" will be at home in the mud of the battlefield and the shadow of the crypt.' - Anca Antoci - Goodreads - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'A love letter to the vampire-loving history geek that I am!' - Haly - Goodreads - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐.....Don't wait for the sun to rise.Scroll to the top, grab a copy, and begin your epic adventure right now!.....
Readers of Stephen King, Anne Rice, Christopher Buehlman, or Jay Kristoff's "Empire of the Vampire" will love this gritty and unique undead origins — where superstition meets cold steel, and retribution is paid in blood.
Fans of dark fantasy sagas, alternate history horror, and world-building — come, join us in the shadows.
.....
Book DetailsPart one of a two-part story.Book one of an epic vampire horror series.A slow-burn, sprawling hero's quest of brooding knights, forbidden love, and a very brutal coming of age.
Start your own epic adventure today.
489 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 28, 2025
31 people are currently reading
14 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
October 29, 2025
Writing: Superb
Atmosphere: Gloomy and perfectly crafted
World Building: Top tier…there are historical elements to this story but he does a great job laying the scene out for those not familiar!
This is the take a vampires that I needed! After reading the prequel novella, Speak of the Devil, I did not know what to expect from this one besides I knew it would add a lot more meat to the sandwich per se.. but wow! All I can say is 👏🏽 bravo. This was a multifaceted vampire story for those of multi genre interests to enjoy!
If you like medieval war thrillers with a splash of grim dark and fantasy and timeless writing- this is going to be for you!!
This book follows Darius as he is trying to come into himself as a man, protect his sister, and get to the bottom of what truly happened to his mother. We also follow Sir George as he is drawn into the Order of the Dragon to fight for the crusades. It’s so interesting to follow George’s POV as well as we see him by go through all of the feelings .. and they are very valid feelings of war times.
We need a fresh view of vampires.. one dark and gritty and not romanticized, and this book fits the bill! There is something for everyone in this book looking for a truly great story! And Stanton knows how to make the culmination of all of his storylines weave together beautifully in the end that has the reader so excited and sad that the story is over for now!!
Congratulations on your new book baby Antony!!
I am ready for the second book already!
Atmosphere: Gloomy and perfectly crafted
World Building: Top tier…there are historical elements to this story but he does a great job laying the scene out for those not familiar!
This is the take a vampires that I needed! After reading the prequel novella, Speak of the Devil, I did not know what to expect from this one besides I knew it would add a lot more meat to the sandwich per se.. but wow! All I can say is 👏🏽 bravo. This was a multifaceted vampire story for those of multi genre interests to enjoy!
If you like medieval war thrillers with a splash of grim dark and fantasy and timeless writing- this is going to be for you!!
This book follows Darius as he is trying to come into himself as a man, protect his sister, and get to the bottom of what truly happened to his mother. We also follow Sir George as he is drawn into the Order of the Dragon to fight for the crusades. It’s so interesting to follow George’s POV as well as we see him by go through all of the feelings .. and they are very valid feelings of war times.
We need a fresh view of vampires.. one dark and gritty and not romanticized, and this book fits the bill! There is something for everyone in this book looking for a truly great story! And Stanton knows how to make the culmination of all of his storylines weave together beautifully in the end that has the reader so excited and sad that the story is over for now!!
Congratulations on your new book baby Antony!!
I am ready for the second book already!
September 26, 2025
Blood of the Damned by Antony J Stanton
Vampires are an immediate draw to me but this book mixes the supernatural with political intrigue and brutal medieval warfare. This was a completely new take on the vampire genre that I haven’t come across.
I loved the emotional depth and range of George, torn between his honor and vengeance. Darius was also a very nuanced character. I loved his care and love for family and how it clashed with his ultimate goals. I also really enjoyed how every decision had connected themes to what transpires throughout the story. I thought the descriptions perfectly transported and held me within the timeframe. You can feel the grit and the weight of each characters dilemmas on your shoulders throughout the entire story.
The lore and stories about their mythology enveloped the story in thick fantasy and I couldn’t wait for every crumb about the goddess.
I found it fast paced but descriptive enough with a succinct cadence that carries well throughout the whole story.
Favorite quote: “The end back to the beginning. For this is the beginning. Life and death, forever circling each other like ancient adversaries.”
Vampires are an immediate draw to me but this book mixes the supernatural with political intrigue and brutal medieval warfare. This was a completely new take on the vampire genre that I haven’t come across.
I loved the emotional depth and range of George, torn between his honor and vengeance. Darius was also a very nuanced character. I loved his care and love for family and how it clashed with his ultimate goals. I also really enjoyed how every decision had connected themes to what transpires throughout the story. I thought the descriptions perfectly transported and held me within the timeframe. You can feel the grit and the weight of each characters dilemmas on your shoulders throughout the entire story.
The lore and stories about their mythology enveloped the story in thick fantasy and I couldn’t wait for every crumb about the goddess.
I found it fast paced but descriptive enough with a succinct cadence that carries well throughout the whole story.
Favorite quote: “The end back to the beginning. For this is the beginning. Life and death, forever circling each other like ancient adversaries.”
November 30, 2025
An excellent book. The writing style goes back a generation to a time when vampires stories were more than just the act, which Mr. Stanton handles very well, but also stories about the victims and the ones struggling to find justice for the victims. The story follows two young men, one directly affected in his youth by a vampire, the other a new knight who is beginning to learn the ways of his world. It is the time of Vlad Dracul and his son, Dracula, the wars of the "righteous" against the "evil" Ottoman empire. Not a good time to be alive if you're not living in a castle with servants and protectors.
The writing is excellent. The pacing of the story is what struck me. Mr. Stanton fills the story with details about the characters and the minor characters, the knight training and other aspects of the lifestyles and background. It allows him to create the tension that makes the action sequences more effective and dramatic. Between the chapters he inserts three "interludes" that aren't directly in sequence with the story but they add sauce by developing a third major player that will have a significant role in the next book. I am looking forward to that story.
The writing is excellent. The pacing of the story is what struck me. Mr. Stanton fills the story with details about the characters and the minor characters, the knight training and other aspects of the lifestyles and background. It allows him to create the tension that makes the action sequences more effective and dramatic. Between the chapters he inserts three "interludes" that aren't directly in sequence with the story but they add sauce by developing a third major player that will have a significant role in the next book. I am looking forward to that story.
October 13, 2025
It’s been such a long time since I’ve read a vampire book that doesn’t romanticize them. Don’t get me wrong, I do enjoy those too, but this one was a real breath of fresh air.
This is a medieval, gothic vampire thriller set in one of Europe’s bloodiest eras, where Dracula wasn’t the first vampire. The book is multi-POV, and we follow Darius- a 16 year old boy who witnesses his mother being killed by a vampir, George- a knight determined to serve under the Order of the Dragon, Arriana -a servant, Lucius- the hierophant of the Order, and the vampire itself.
I’m not usually into historical novels, but this one had me in its clutches. It’s ruthless, sometimes brutal, with no sugarcoating, yet it also has deep character growth, and the emotions and actions of the characters feel incredibly real. I love how much was happening, but the story is still just barely starting, and I’m anxious to see where it will take us next.
This is a medieval, gothic vampire thriller set in one of Europe’s bloodiest eras, where Dracula wasn’t the first vampire. The book is multi-POV, and we follow Darius- a 16 year old boy who witnesses his mother being killed by a vampir, George- a knight determined to serve under the Order of the Dragon, Arriana -a servant, Lucius- the hierophant of the Order, and the vampire itself.
I’m not usually into historical novels, but this one had me in its clutches. It’s ruthless, sometimes brutal, with no sugarcoating, yet it also has deep character growth, and the emotions and actions of the characters feel incredibly real. I love how much was happening, but the story is still just barely starting, and I’m anxious to see where it will take us next.
October 30, 2025
Feel like you're visiting the Middle Ages in the midst of war, strife, surviving the dangers of nature, and those who are unnatural. Vampires slink in the night, visiting battlefields, cottages of farmers and shepherds, and even the castles of the nobles. No one is safe despite their attempts to make a deal with the devil.
Darius struggles with his promise of revenge and how to fulfill it, while taking care of his delicate sister, all while under the thumb of his contentious uncle.
And George discovers what it truly means to be a Knight of the Dragon and whether he is cut out for it.
Meanwhile, those who have paid the price for eternal life have their own agenda.
The horror sends chills down your spine enhanced by the lyrical writing and the coarse truth of soldiers. You might be swayed and lured into the story, forgetting who the real enemy is until it is too late.
Darius struggles with his promise of revenge and how to fulfill it, while taking care of his delicate sister, all while under the thumb of his contentious uncle.
And George discovers what it truly means to be a Knight of the Dragon and whether he is cut out for it.
Meanwhile, those who have paid the price for eternal life have their own agenda.
The horror sends chills down your spine enhanced by the lyrical writing and the coarse truth of soldiers. You might be swayed and lured into the story, forgetting who the real enemy is until it is too late.
October 6, 2025
Superb book.
Vampyres of old and the folkloric rise of them and the darkness.
Very rich telling, not a fairytale book and so dark.
Darius is a stubborn, so they think young man but he loves his sister and they lost their mother in a horrendous way. He swears to avenge, then he begins to find things out and the story unfolds.
There are really good characters in this book, women and men.
Building this world hugely.
Battles to full wars and back to family fall outs.
The book covers it all. And I loved the interludes, juicy chapters of darkness and thoughts.
Vampyres of old and the folkloric rise of them and the darkness.
Very rich telling, not a fairytale book and so dark.
Darius is a stubborn, so they think young man but he loves his sister and they lost their mother in a horrendous way. He swears to avenge, then he begins to find things out and the story unfolds.
There are really good characters in this book, women and men.
Building this world hugely.
Battles to full wars and back to family fall outs.
The book covers it all. And I loved the interludes, juicy chapters of darkness and thoughts.
October 29, 2025
An intriguing blend of vampire folklore, history, horror, and fiction. Darius and Sir George were torn between virtue and vengeance (what was morally correct vs what they felt was right). The characters, storyline, setting, etc. were all well-developed and richly described and enhanced the reader's experience. The journey/growing up/character development also served to move the story along and engage the reader. Definitely recommend and read more from this author.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 9, 2025
I have read all the previous books by the author from the Once Bitten series and throughly enjoyed each and every one of them. Whilst Blood of the Damned feels a little darker in tone, it is as beautifully written and as compelling as the rest of Antony Stanton’s creations. I would highly recommend this to anyone, whether you are a lover of the genre or just embarking on this discovery journey.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews