Brides of the Impaler

by Edward Lee

When Cristina moves into what she believes is her dream house, she is plagued by strange longings and sensual visions that draw her into a dark world from which there is no escape. Original.

Genres: Horror, Vampires, Fiction, Adult, Paranormal, Novels

340 pages, Paperback

First published August 26, 2008

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.

Edward Lee is an American novelist specializing in the field of horror, and has authored 40 books, more than half of which have been published by mass-market New York paperback companies such as Leisure/Dorchester, Berkley, and Zebra/Kensington. He is a Bram Stoker award nominee for his story "Mr. Torso," and his short stories have appeared in over a dozen mass-market anthologies, including THE BEST AMERICAN MYSTERY STORIES OF 2000, Pocket's HOT BLOOD series, and the award-wining 999. Several of his novels have sold translation rights to Germany, Greece, and Romania. He also publishes quite actively in the small-press/limited-edition hardcover market; many of his books in this category have become collector's items. While a number of Lee's projects have been optioned for film, only one has been made, HEADER, which was released on DVD to mixed reviews in June, 2009, by Synapse Films.

Lee is particularly known for over-the-top occult concepts and an accelerated treatment of erotic and/or morbid sexual imagery and visceral violence.

He was born on May 25, 1957 in Washington, D.C., and grew up in Bowie, Maryland. In the late-70s he served in the U.S. Army's 1st Armored Division, in Erlangen, West Germany, then, for a short time, was a municipal police officer in Cottage City, Maryland. Lee also attended the University of Maryland as an English major but quit in his last semester to pursue his dream of being a horror novelist. For over 15 years, he worked as the night manager for a security company in Annapolis, Maryland, while writing in his spare time. In 1997, however, he became a full-time writer, first spending several years in Seattle and then moving to St. Pete Beach, Florida, where he currently resides.

Of note, the author cites as his strongest influence horror legend H. P. Lovecraft; in 2007, Lee embarked on what he calls his "Lovecraft kick" and wrote a spate of novels and novellas which tribute Lovecraft and his famous Cthulhu Mythos. Among these projects are THE INNSWICH HORROR, "Trolley No. 1852," HAUNTER OF THE THRESHOLD, GOING MONSTERING, "Pages Torn From A Travel Journal," and "You Are My Everything." Lee promises more Lovecraftian work on the horizon.

Reviews

[Marvin · Rating 3 out of 5]

While reading this horror novel, I kept thinking about those old 70s Italian horror films. They have a lot in common: a unhealthy mixture of eroticism and sleaze, religious symbolism (also mixed with eroticism and sleaze), and silly dialog. I swear that while I read this book, I could see the characters moving their lips like it was badly dubbed. But I must say I enjoyed it very much in the same way I enjoy bad Italian horror flicks.

The only thing I read by Edward Lee before this was the Infernal series. In those books he created an original vision of Hell. In Brides of the Impaler Lee manages to throw in some new twists on the Dracula mythology yet it all seemed a bit formulaic. This novel will give you a couple entertaining evenings, yet the apparent Goodreads reviewers' consensus that this is minor Edward Lee is probably warranted.

[Tales of a Succubus · Rating 4 out of 5]

What's it about?
An original twist on vampires involving a couple that recently moved into a brownstone with a seemingly haunted basement, a fresh take on Vlad the Impaler, a creepy nun, and a chase to solve gruesome impalements.

🥀 Sick of the same old vampire tropes? Yeah, me too. Throw any expectations of romanticized vampires out the door because this one draws on the horror aspect. You've got a mix of things happening, as described above, but they all came together well in the end. After the couple move into their home, Cristina is haunted by a vampiric nun and is left in mysterious blackouts. A priest in the nearby church has a strange obsession with the house, keeping a watchful eye on it. Meanwhile, a detective is hunting down suspects on multiple impalements, trying to piece together a peculiar case that begins to seem cult-like.

🥀 While I liked most of the characters, I found they were lacking depth. There was development and a backstory for the main ones, but it felt one-dimensional. Regardless, I was drawn to Cristina the entire time. I do wish the dialogue was more varied - sometimes it felt like the same conversations with no reasoning behind it.

🥀 Fair warning: this is a slow paced book. It will require some patience, but I didn't mind it. Second half is when it starts picking up.

🥀 As a fan of different takes on the various Dracula myths, I found this to be very different than anything I have read. Archeology plays a role in the plot and I loved what Lee came up with.

🥀 I bought this a few years ago via Thriftbooks. You'll have to obtain a used copy, and they typically have the best price point. Sometimes it's in stock, sometimes there is a wait.

🥀 Lee may be a master of splatterpunk, but this is tame for him. Less gore, violence, and shock factor. It is more story driven. Still lots of sex though. If you're wanting to try one of his books, this may be a good entry point.

🥀 Read if you like: vampires, interesting crime cases, and Dracula.

4💀

[Phil · Rating 3 out of 5]

The modern master of splatterpunk delivers a very sedate horror story here, at least by his own standards. As the title suggests, this is a vampire story, but a very different, unique twist on that rather tired trope. Christina, the main character, is engaged to an up and coming lawyer in NYC and after he rehabs (at least in part) and old brownstone he purchased from the Catholic church (a former annex of theirs), she decides to move in with him. Christina designs morbid plastic dolls for a living and is doing quite well, thank you. When she sees the new house her fiancee is rehabing, she comes up with a new idea for her next line of dolls, the first of which is a smiling, fanged nun holding a chalice (e.g., the cover art).

The story starts off, however, with an archeologist and his RA in Romania at the site/monastery where Dracula supposedly lived for a time when he was busy impaling his enemies by the thousands. Meanwhile, a group of former prostitutes (basically worn out junkies-- Lee is pretty true to form here) are stealing things like Christmas tree stands and whittling knives from hardware stores, and the lead cop struggles to figure out what is going on. This is partially answered when they discover an impaled woman in an ally...

This is a rather plot driven novel, especially for Lee, and rather sedate, reading more like a classic horror story than splatterpunk. Of course there are still a fair amount of sex scenes, and jeez, people getting impaled, but it still seems rather tame for Lee. Good fun-- 3.5 fangs.

[Bandit · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't read any Lee in a long time and this was just the book to get me back in. I think this was better (or at the very least in different vein) than some of his older horror, more sophisticated, though that's not really the right word. More of a back story, more interesting, more of a plot driven story than just a flat out gross out gory sex fest. Really fun (the brutal scary kind) vampire story, which are so tough to find. Highly recommended.

[Jason · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've only read a few of Lee's works, and Brides of the Impaler is one of the best. The characters are better developed, the plot is strong, and the gore isn't overdone. Aside from a few parts at the end that made me role my eyes, Brides is a really fun and solid read that reminded me of old Dracula films with Christopher Lee.

[William M. · Rating 2 out of 5]

I very much enjoyed Edward Lee's Infernal trilogy and most of his other work, but I thought this was a lackluster attempt at a predictable story. While there were a couple moments that shocked me, most of the character's actions were very repetitive and slow. If strange things continue to happen to a character over and over, why do they act so ignorant and not take any initiative until the last few chapters? I'm really tired of reading apathetic characters in horror.

On a small side note, I was annoyed at the reference of "zooming in with the binoculars" that was constantly done by one of the characters. Zooming in with a video camera, sure, but not a pair of binoculars. This didn't make any sense and made me wonder if the author ever used a pair before. The book had some decent gory moments, but the lack of atmosphere and especially the scares were disappointing. Explaining all the mythology in the last 40 pages seemed forced and heavy-handed. The ending, also, felt rushed and inadequate. No doubt one of Lee's weakest efforts.

[Daniel Russell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Apologies, but it's been a week since I read this, so don't expect the degree of detail you usually get in one of my reviews!

I like Edward Lee. My first book was Slither which I bought at Heathrow Airport during my migration to Australia. That was a fun little romp, followed by The Golem, which was only spoiled by one annoying character.

Now Ed sent me a copy of Brides of the Impaler after he heard I was a fan (we share the same agent in Germany). I'll be honest, if I was to pick another Ed Lee book to read, this would not have been it. I would have gone for House Infernal or Flesh Gothic (which incidentally have been purchased since!). Brides seemed just a dark sex book judging from the blurb. But is it?

A successful macabre doll manufacturer, Christina, moves into the expensive NY house her hot shot lawyer husband bought her. Across the street sits the abandoned church which previously owned the house, where an old, brooding priest keeps watch. Something is buried under the brownstone house that is calling to Christina, filling her with passion and lust. The images of a vampiric nun haunt her day and night. Meanwhile, NY detective Vernon is on the case of a bunch of crazy, homeless women that are apparently impaling people on sharpened broom handles. The thing that links the two events are the colours police find at the crimes scene, and on the latest batch of macabre dolls...

Ed Lee is, as Cemetery Dance call him, "The hardest of the hardcore horror writers", but this book was on the light side in regards to gore and violence. Sure, the impalements are well done, and the bodies start to really pile up towards conclusion, but this reads like a more mature Ed Lee at work. Hang on...more mature? No, no. Gore and violence doesn't mean immature, but more the subplots are well-crafted and here the author prefers to use a steadily building sense of doom then go all out with an axe. It was a very refreshing affair, with more (vastly more!) sex than violence. The main character Christina rarely has her hands out of her pants...or someone else's, as this burning lust takes hold. Normally we have to discuss gore for gore's sake, but this was more masturbation for masturbation's sake. It is relative to the plot, but this character might have got through more batteries than the Duracell bunny.

*Yes, I understand that the whole selling point of the Duracell Bunny is that he can go on and on and on...but that's the point. He is ALWAYS on. A good battery or not, he would go through a FUCKLOAD of batteries.

** In fact it's a bad example. Parents: Yes, use good quality batteries, but please encourage your kids to turn off their toys when finished with them. We only get one earth...and a limited supply of Duracells. Or Everready, if that tickles your troat.

SEX! Yes, sexy sex and lots of it. This doesn't really spoil the story, but adds to the characterisation and the emotional history of the main character. This constant mental turmoil allows the reader to accept some of the more 'oh no she didn't' moments.

My favourite character was detective Vernon and his fellow cops. Lee captures NY perfectly (not that I've been, but I'm a Flight of the Conchords fan and it all seems to fit)and makes it a character itself more than just a setting. The banter between the cops is great.

Basically, this is one of the Edward Lee books that rarely gets a mention, and I hope he didn't send me this in particular because he has boxes of them unsold at his house. If he has, and even if he hasn't, which is likely, buy one. It's a very different feel to the other books I've read (in fact, it had a Masterton feel about it to this reader) and if you have a partner into the -ahem- naughty kind of novel, this might be a good way to share something. Sex and violence is always a good thing on paper between loving couples. Oh and don't be put off because it's vampires. They pay a small part but when they're on the scene, they're spot on.

Yeah. Readers of Ed should love this. Other general horror readers should get a kick out of it too.

[Gareth Houghtonio · Rating 4 out of 5]

A friend of mine gave me this book over 10 years ago. It went onto my bookshelf and I kept meaning to read it, but I kept reading other things instead. All these years later it caught my eye, so I decided it was time to get it read.

I'd never read Edward Lee before, but I knew that he is an extreme horror writer, so I expected lots of over the top violence, which there wasn't much of to be honest, except for everyone getting impaled on sharpened broom sticks. I didn't expect it to be so raunchy though. They were going at it almost every other chapter.

Lots of writers who write extreme horror and sex scenes do it for shock value or just for the sake of it and it just becomes gratuitous and you can smell it a mile off. Edward Lee manages to do it with rhyme and reason. It's all part of the story and properly explained, so it all makes sense as to why people are getting impaled and erm...having a total sex fest. He doesn't go over the top, or use cheesy euphemisms. He gets the point across, allowing the story to keep flowing naturally.

I haven't said what the book is about have I? This is my first review, so bear with me. Yes. It's aboot a couple, Cristina and Paul, who move into their dream house where inside some mysterious force is attracting and manipulating her. There's some bizarre murders being committed around the city with victims being found impaled. There's some crazy homeless girls who have been taken under the wing of a scary vampire nun, and there's a nutty priest and some cops trying to figure out what's going on. And it all ties in with the the story of Vald The Impaler.

It was a fairly slow paced book, so it took me a little while to read it. But it's one of those that are worth it. The story moved along nicely, the characters were likeable enough, maybe the last couple of chapters seemed a little rushed, but overall, twas a decent read and I'm glad I finally got around to reading it. Will check out more of Edward Lee in the near future.

[Kruppshin · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ever since I first read him, Lee is a writer whose new work is something I look forward to. So, when Brides was put on the shelf, I grabbed it without hesitation, happy knowing that if I wasn't wowed, at least I'd be entertained.

Irritated was not the feeling I expected. It's been some time since I read this and all I can really remember is whats-her-face and her husband doin' the deed one too many times, a "plot" involving Vlad Tepes that went nowhere and a sudden and ridiculous change of character at the end of the story. And oh is that shift in character right the hell out of left field.

Brides really doesn't have a story to it as much as a few loosely connected elements and most of this book feels more like vignettes stitched together. The storyline involving the junkie prostitutes and their benefactor was the only interesting thing here. Too bad Lee didn't do something more with just them.

Oh well, writers can't knock 'em out of the park all the time, or even make first for that matter.

[Deathraceking · Rating 2 out of 5]

Definitely the worst Edward Lee book I've read to date. There's so much useless filler in this story, I felt like I was reading one of Ann Laymon's "resurrections" of Richard's stories. The usual unconvincing character-types, which seem to be prevalent in Lee's books, dominate almost every page. I find it amusing in his other works, but here it's presented ad nauseum, bordering on ridiculous. The story has so much promise, but wastes so much time and text on the two-dimensional lives of these characters. The ongoing conversations between Paul and Jess, as well as between Britt and Cristina are almost completely similar, and ultimately unrealistic - unfortunately highlighting one of Lee's weaknesses as a writer. The only saving grace (aside from the standard homicidal perversions which is characteristic of Lee) is the somewhat interesting background of Vlad the Impaler. An interesting take on the legend; however, the other 330 pages make this read long and more painful than being impaled on a sharpened broom handle.

[Stacy Kingsley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Usually I really enjoy books by Edward Lee. They are often twisted and creepy, however, this book meandered and it wasn't as satisfying as say, the INFERNAL series. Cristina moves into a remodeled once church owned property with her fiance Paul. The house, of course, has a secret. That secret revolves around Dracula and his legend and return. Murders are committed, lust is fulfilled and the prophecy comes to light.

There were many problems with this book. The first one was that Cristina and get best friend Britt were abused as foster children, and while this was referenced several times it was never gone into with any detail beyond the kids were drugged and forced to do things. I expect more detail from a Lee novel. There's a lot of sex but it's somewhat full and not detailed. One scene was graphic with a murder and abuse but throughout I was disappointed. The ending was also a disappointment. I wanted a better finish.

I don't think this was one of Lee's best books.

[Nina Sato · Rating 3 out of 5]

the sex scenes were okay but not as exciting as the others Edward has written. the plot was good but it lacked something I was addicted to in the first place that why it took me longer to finish. it didnt have enough blood, or murder. sure it had murder but not enough. i wanted to almost puke while reading it and i didnt feel it here. So i guess this book is okay for the beginners who want to try Edward Lee. Definitely for beginners! i wish someone had told me this because my first book was Flesh Gothic hahahaha

[Kendall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have a bad habit of letting book covers sway me one way or the other. I almost didnt read this cause I just didnt like the cover. Boy am I glad I did. Grabbed me from page 1 and never let go. I am truly hoping there is a sequel in the works!

[Martin Milhomme · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know it's not like most of Edward Lee's books, but that's fine. He not like other writers. The first half was pretty good, enough to hold my attention. The second half was like going down with a roller coaster. Loved it and I enjoyed the ending. Would have given it 4.5 if I could.

[A.R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originality is important with a vampire story, and Lee's done it! Creepy tale.

[Danny Welch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Edward Lee is slowly becoming one of my favorite authors of not only the splatterpunk subgenre but horror overall. When I found out Brides of The Impaler was his vampire novel, I was dying to find out what it would be like, as a big fan of vampire stories I was excited to see how he'd represent the blood-sucking fiends in this subgenre.

Christina and her husband Paul have moved into their dream home which so happens to stand nearby a church. But they shouldn't have been able to purchase the abode for its property belongs to the church and they're about to find out why. Father Rollin is terrified for the new residents, for he's aware of what lies for them inside. Meanwhile, Vernon a cop is investigating a series of brutal impalements done by a group of homeless women. Soon the puzzle pieces start to come together but will our heroes be able to save the world from the resurrection of Vlad The Impaler, the historical Dracula?

Edward Lee has written a very underrated and brilliant vampire tale that for the most part aside from a lot of sex scenes and the occasional brutal murder is pretty tame for the author, but the epic climax which leads to a shocking conclusion is incredibly bloodthirsty and intense. This story is so incredibly fun, the characters whilst not some of Lee's best are still incredibly likable and in some ways complex. Christina was by far my favorite in this novel, I loved how she was a macabre artist for toy collectors, whilst also having this incredible devotion towards those she loves around her. It was sad and somewhat terrifying to see a supernatural force within the house slowly take her away piece by piece with its sheer insanity and lust.

Overall: I'll admit nothing has quite beaten Monstrosity yet which for me is by far one of my favorite horror novels of all time now, but Brides of The Impaler is still an amazing contribution to Edward Lee's vast catalog of horror stories and I'm really glad to have given it a go! 9/10

[Black Tiger · Rating 2 out of 5]

This has got to be one the hardest books for to to rate. All I know is that I am so conflicted. I am fighting between liking this book and not... There were of course some good things and bad things about it this book.

Bad things include:
*Very Slow Paced Book
*The plot was rather weak and unoringinal.
*Certain characters as pretty bland besides certain parts of this novel.

But the good things included:
*Very cool book cover.
*The funny moments in the book.
*The plot twist.
*And the ending that had me S H O O K E D.

So there were more good points than bad so why two stars?
Well the novel lacked the most important parts of what makes a successful novel.

So did I hate this book? No.
Did I love this book? Definitely not.
Will I read it again? Probably not.
Will This be a great bookish conversational starter? Hell yeah.

*But also keep in mind this book is very crude, and gory so if don't like that then don't read.*

So overall, I will give it a 2.5 stars out of 5 stars.

[Mark R. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Edward Lee’s “Brides of the Impaler” is a vampire story of sorts, drawing inspiration from legends of the historical Vlad the Impaler (who, of course, is most fondly thought of by one of his aliases, Dracula).

A hot-shot lawyer and his fiancee move into an old house in New York, one he’s managed to get a great bargain rate, purchased from a Catholic church in need of cash. Unfortunately for these two nice people, some local homeless women have formed a cult around a mysterious nun with pointy teeth, and buried under this otherwise acceptable home are the ancient items the women need in order to reincarnate their demon god.

The lawyer’s wife, Christine, is front and center in Lee’s tale of vamiprism and slaughter. And stakes. Lots of stakes—running through quivering bodies. Plenty of that. Christine finds herself tangled up with the homeless women and the evil nun after being inspired to create a line of creepy dolls (think “Living Dead Dolls,” which Lee mentions as a comparison). One of her creepy dolls bears a striking resemblance to this evil nun, whom Christine only seems to glimpse in passing. Of course, she thinks she’s losing her mind when she starts having visions. Only to learn later on that these visions are not just . . . you know, visions.

“Brides of the Impaler” isn’t a long book, but I feel it could be shortened a bit anyhow. Things start to drag in the second half. But there’s a lot to enjoy for Ed Lee fans, and even if this isn’t his best work, it’s still a good time.

[Tim Popko · Rating 5 out of 5]

Few authors can match the sheer brutality and graphic eroticism of Edward Lee, and Brides of the Impaler delivers this content full-force. For those looking to read a hardcore, and I mean hardcore, horror story, this book fits the bill. It cuts away extraneous vampire history and Dracula legendry to produce a twisting and suspenseful journey. I found myself enthralled all throughout the book, and just when I believed the story was following a straightforward arc, Paul Nichols flips and changes the trajectory entirely. The writing flows with action, lots of graphic violence, and a heavy dose of crude sexuality. I loved it.

I give it FIVE STARS unapologetically. Brides of the Impaler is, I hope, the pilot book for an ongoing tale of erotic, degenerate vampire stories. After reading so many of the reviews here claiming that this is one of his lesser works, I am even more motivated to go full-out and read Edward Lee's collection.

[John Bruni · Rating 5 out of 5]

When you decide to read an Edward Lee book, you know what you're getting into: a lot of gory, sexy fun. This book is no exception. Cristina moves into her boyfriend's New York house, where a lot of strange things are going on, and her sex drive is suddenly amped up. A NYC detective gets assigned the case of an impaled homeless woman. The priest who used to caretake for the house comes back from sabbatical to discover that the house's deep dark secret is slowly being uncovered by the couple who now lives there. A vampire nun befriends a group of homeless women who suddenly go kill crazy in exchange for immortality. Did I mention the dolls Cristina makes? I can't help but think of them as Garbage Pail Kids. And Lee pulls this neat little trick in the end, but to say any more would be criminal. This is one of Lee's finest.

[Edward K. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would agree that is is not a Edward Lee���s best novel. It is not even his most violent novel. It is not his strongest narrative. However, if you stay with the story and reach the third act, all the aspects and characters come together perfectly and the bigger picture arises. The ending is phenomenal and I will say that I was left wanting more. This novel is a slow progression. It has the some gore scenes and plenty of sex. The glue that holds the story together is Vernon, the detective. Don’t be waylaid by the reviews. But remember buckle in for the ending. It’s totally worth it!

[Michael Ritchie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this 21st century take on the Catholic horror novel, though truly the Catholic aspect is not terribly strong. Lee toys with many tropes including vampires, reincarnation, Goth sensibilities, and the good cop/bad cop police story, and is generally successful at mixing them together. Apparently this is less extreme than most of Lee’s books, though I have not read any others. Though I liked this, I am not particularly inclined to search out any others

[Kat Trent · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 out of 5 Stars
This wasn't a bad read, but I was hoping and expecting more than just rampant sex scenes. I craved more violence or something. It just fell so flat at certain points, and in others it seemed like it was trying to do more than it could offer in the way of being a shockfest of gratuitous everything. Impaling people is definitely interesting, but I just wanted more.

[Γιώργος Μπελαούρης · Rating 4 out of 5]

classic lee
loved
especially the end and the twist with paul
loses one star only because it took me a month to finish (i dont even know why) bt regardless my reading-fatigue, if it waz a little faster or more intriguin it could be done faster

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

Impressive considering he must have written it with one hand. Lots and lots and lots and lots of tepid sex scenes, some vampire stuff at some point. Didn't really seem to be the point of the book, lots of sex scenes, that's more or less the book.

[Mcf1nder_sk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Richard Laymon's eroticism with a healthy dose of vampiric lore. What a fun little read.

[Bill Ramsell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a story for the faint-hearted! Sex, gore, and the Wallachian Prince of Darkness. And gore. Did I mention gore? Also sex.

I enjoyed the story, but I won't be rereading this one.

[Regina · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75⭐ My first from the author; picked up based on his reputation for the extreme. While entertaining, I feel like this is Ed Lee lite.

[Predrag Radović · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing vampire novel! Urges you to delve into dark corners of European Medieval history!

[Richard Thornley · Rating 1 out of 5]

Did not finish. Didn't even really start. This is not good writing.