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Vampires in Chicago: A Subversive, Satirical Gothic Fantasy Action Thriller
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There's been some confusion about the vampires in Chicago. I just want to set the record straight. Forget fangs, allergies and arbitrary rules. I'm talking about the real vampires of Chicago. In 2023, something older than myth awoke in the city and the last four vampires there had to deal with it. Be careful what you pick up after dark because it may not be pretty. You wanted the truth – but can you survive it?
“Writer of books that are toxic to your mental health.”
“Not recommended for the mentally weak.”
“Pure agony from start to finish.”
“Scream, cry and laugh because once you start reading there’s no putting it down.”
“From the twisted mind of Wynneth E. Cymry comes a dark tale of gothic proportions.”
“Blasphemous, sacrilegious and perverse, Ms Cymry will torture your mind the way she tortures her characters.”
“This book crushed my will to live.”
• Contains horror elements, violence and blood.
• Contains brief innuendo but no romance or sex.
• Contains mild, infrequent swearing.
CHAPTER 1
The wine bottle flew from his hand, shattering against the wall. The red liquid spread across the stone, turning the floor of the nave black. “Damn it,” he said. “Are you going to kill him?”
“Would you rather he died a tortured and prolonged death?”
“He can stay here in hiding,” Silvan insisted. “We can protect him.”
“You know we can’t," Leander said. "And we have to act now before they get his sister. They’ll be tortured to death because we made a mistake.”
They were speaking of the man currently in their subterranean vaults. A man whom they had trusted with their secret. A man who had foolishly betrayed them in a drunken stupor.
The last four vampires in Chicago stood in the decrepit, crumbling cathedral in silence. The wine trickled in the cracks of the flagstones.
Silvan studied Leander and witnessed a flicker of uncertainty cross his face.
“You think we can turn him.”
“No I don’t.”
“He’s like us. He’s like Benjamin.”
Leander winced.
“We could have turned him. Under different circumstances, we could have turned him.”
“Always the optimist,” said Orek as he stepped out of the shadows.
“It will at least buy us some time,” Aaron said. “We can fake his death. Gives us forty days.”
Leander shook his head. “It’s messy.”
“He’s not like us,” Orek said. “It’s better to finish the job right. Before it’s too late.”
“We don’t have time to delay,” Leander agreed. He looked down the stairs, his jaw set. “It’ll be painless.”
Aaron was pale. “Poison?”
Leander nodded.
CHAPTER 2
When they entered the crypt, Cav was slumped against the bars of a vault, his back to them, his head hanging. “I’m sorry,” he said.
“It’s too late for that now,” Leander replied.
“I know.”
“Do you?” said Leander. “Do you know what they would do to you if they got their hands on you?”
Cav stood and turned.
“I wouldn’t tell them anything. I promise.”
Silvan grimaced. He knew no one held up under torture. But Leander dignified Cav’s statement by not contesting it.
There's been some confusion about the vampires in Chicago. I just want to set the record straight. Forget fangs, allergies and arbitrary rules. I'm talking about the real vampires of Chicago. In 2023, something older than myth awoke in the city and the last four vampires there had to deal with it. Be careful what you pick up after dark because it may not be pretty. You wanted the truth – but can you survive it?
“Writer of books that are toxic to your mental health.”
“Not recommended for the mentally weak.”
“Pure agony from start to finish.”
“Scream, cry and laugh because once you start reading there’s no putting it down.”
“From the twisted mind of Wynneth E. Cymry comes a dark tale of gothic proportions.”
“Blasphemous, sacrilegious and perverse, Ms Cymry will torture your mind the way she tortures her characters.”
“This book crushed my will to live.”
• Contains horror elements, violence and blood.
• Contains brief innuendo but no romance or sex.
• Contains mild, infrequent swearing.
CHAPTER 1
The wine bottle flew from his hand, shattering against the wall. The red liquid spread across the stone, turning the floor of the nave black. “Damn it,” he said. “Are you going to kill him?”
“Would you rather he died a tortured and prolonged death?”
“He can stay here in hiding,” Silvan insisted. “We can protect him.”
“You know we can’t," Leander said. "And we have to act now before they get his sister. They’ll be tortured to death because we made a mistake.”
They were speaking of the man currently in their subterranean vaults. A man whom they had trusted with their secret. A man who had foolishly betrayed them in a drunken stupor.
The last four vampires in Chicago stood in the decrepit, crumbling cathedral in silence. The wine trickled in the cracks of the flagstones.
Silvan studied Leander and witnessed a flicker of uncertainty cross his face.
“You think we can turn him.”
“No I don’t.”
“He’s like us. He’s like Benjamin.”
Leander winced.
“We could have turned him. Under different circumstances, we could have turned him.”
“Always the optimist,” said Orek as he stepped out of the shadows.
“It will at least buy us some time,” Aaron said. “We can fake his death. Gives us forty days.”
Leander shook his head. “It’s messy.”
“He’s not like us,” Orek said. “It’s better to finish the job right. Before it’s too late.”
“We don’t have time to delay,” Leander agreed. He looked down the stairs, his jaw set. “It’ll be painless.”
Aaron was pale. “Poison?”
Leander nodded.
CHAPTER 2
When they entered the crypt, Cav was slumped against the bars of a vault, his back to them, his head hanging. “I’m sorry,” he said.
“It’s too late for that now,” Leander replied.
“I know.”
“Do you?” said Leander. “Do you know what they would do to you if they got their hands on you?”
Cav stood and turned.
“I wouldn’t tell them anything. I promise.”
Silvan grimaced. He knew no one held up under torture. But Leander dignified Cav’s statement by not contesting it.
265 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 26, 2025
2 people are currently reading
3 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
October 4, 2025
I thought this story was well written and the story was great. I gave it 5 stars as I really enjoyed it and would recommend it to anyone who likes vampire stories
December 9, 2025
⭐️ 4.5/5 Stars ⭐️
This is the kind of urban fantasy that pulls you in by the collar and drops you straight into a supernatural Chicago pulsing with atmosphere, danger, and political intrigue.
Cymry builds a version of the city that feels lived-in and layered, the kind of place where historic architecture hides ancient secrets, and the late-night L train might be carrying vampires instead of commuters. The world-building is tight, clever, and grounded, blending modern city life with centuries old supernatural systems in a way that feels effortless.
The protagonist is sharp, stubborn, and refreshingly capable. Following her through the maze of vampire hierarchies, shifting alliances, and escalating threats is genuinely addictive. She’s not just reacting to chaos, she’s actively trying to understand it, outmaneuver it, and survive it, and that makes the story feel even more high-stakes.
This book moves. There’s mystery, action, political maneuvering, and just the right amount of dark humor woven through. My only tiny note, the pacing occasionally sprints when I wanted it to jog, which is the only reason this isn’t a full 5 stars.
If you love: urban fantasy with rich lore supernatural politics and hidden societies mystery-driven plots high stakes without high angst characters with sharp minds and sharper humor
This book absolutely delivers.
Cymry’s take on vampires is fresh, gritty, and wildly entertaining, a standout in the urban fantasy genre, and one I’ll be recommending to everyone who loves a city with secrets.
This is the kind of urban fantasy that pulls you in by the collar and drops you straight into a supernatural Chicago pulsing with atmosphere, danger, and political intrigue.
Cymry builds a version of the city that feels lived-in and layered, the kind of place where historic architecture hides ancient secrets, and the late-night L train might be carrying vampires instead of commuters. The world-building is tight, clever, and grounded, blending modern city life with centuries old supernatural systems in a way that feels effortless.
The protagonist is sharp, stubborn, and refreshingly capable. Following her through the maze of vampire hierarchies, shifting alliances, and escalating threats is genuinely addictive. She’s not just reacting to chaos, she’s actively trying to understand it, outmaneuver it, and survive it, and that makes the story feel even more high-stakes.
This book moves. There’s mystery, action, political maneuvering, and just the right amount of dark humor woven through. My only tiny note, the pacing occasionally sprints when I wanted it to jog, which is the only reason this isn’t a full 5 stars.
If you love: urban fantasy with rich lore supernatural politics and hidden societies mystery-driven plots high stakes without high angst characters with sharp minds and sharper humor
This book absolutely delivers.
Cymry’s take on vampires is fresh, gritty, and wildly entertaining, a standout in the urban fantasy genre, and one I’ll be recommending to everyone who loves a city with secrets.
November 7, 2025
You would enjoy this book if you are a gothic fantasy lover. I love the take on modern day vampires and the personalities each vampire was given. I think the details of the scene were written beautifully and the art throughout the book beautiful!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews