Birth of the Bacchae

Immortal Relics #1

by Stephanie Mirro

When the Roman god of wine and frenzies claims you as his own, things get chaotic. Fast.

Ever since archaeology student Serafina Finch found an ancient Roman amulet on a dig in Italy, she's been having dreams. Strange dreams that leave her with an eerie sense of foreboding. But between a busy college schedule and a boyfriend she's hoping to marry, she doesn't have time for strange.

When a mysterious cult takes an obsessive interest in the artifact, Serafina finds her life in chaos. She's thrown into a supernatural world, where Immortals and witches alike claim ownership of the amulet. Her amulet.

As her connection to the amulet grows, she discovers a dark secret about her past. Serafina realizes she must protect the powerful relic at all costs--even if it means losing one of the people she loves most.

“Invisible. Powerful. Immortal. We are Bacchae.”

BIRTH OF THE BACCHAE is the first book in the IMMORTAL RELICS urban fantasy series. Fans of Deborah Harkness, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Roman mythology will love this blend of magic, mayhem, and wry humor.

Genres: Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal, Vampires, Romance, Thriller, Witches

316 pages, Paperback

Published June 24, 2019

About the author

Want the longer, more entertaining story? Visit stephaniemirro.com/about

Stephanie Mirro writes bold, adventurous fantasy for readers who love a little heat with their heartbreak, and maybe a splash of chaos. As a proudly neurodivergent author, she creates fierce, complex characters—neurodivergent ones included—who tackle impossible odds armed with sharp wit and questionable life choices. When not crafting mythology-rich worlds or morally grey heroes, Stephanie can be found bingeing heist movies, searching for her next caffeine fix, or accidentally setting things on fire in the name of creativity.

Reviews

[Ꮗ€♫◗☿ ❤️ ilikebooksbest.com ❤️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting take on Vampire origins and myths



This was a good story and a new take on the origins of the Vampires and myths surrounding Vampires. It also had a good storyline as to how the original Vampire(s) changed from being created from the blood of a God to Vampires being able to create or make other Vampires. The storylines were very detailed and the writing was done well.

I was a bit disappointed in the romance aspect. I mean most Vampire books are also romance novels due to the long history of vampires as romantic characters. Also even when the Vampires are the evil in the story there is generally a romance. Take Bram Stokers Dracula for example. This book has two main characters, one of which is Serafina who finds an amulet on a dig site and is drawn to the amulet so much that she feels it calling to her to touch it and put it on. The other is Solomon who is a Bacchae “Vampire”, that is tasked by his maker to follow Sera and get the amulet.

Sera has a boyfriend named Hiro who is an extremely minor character and Solomon dates Nora, Sera’s best friend to get information about Sera. Nora is also a somewhat minor character and later Solomon also has sex with Danae who is an immortal “his makers maker” who wants to be queen of the Vampires. But he doesn’t really like her. So there is no real romance in the story. I would’ve liked it if Hiro were just a good friend and there was a Romance between Solomon and Sera. Maybe a slow burn romance starting later in the book. But that is just me, I am a romance lover.

Overall though, the book was really very good and held my interest throughout. It had multiple storylines and they all were pretty fascinating.

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[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alright, I was slightly skeptical with Birth of the Bacchae because we’ve been overrun with vampire fiction, and I wasn’t sure how unique this could be. Well, I am fine with admitting when I’m wrong because this truly is a unique vampire origin story. I’ve never quite read anything like this.

Stephanie Mirro has taken a topic that has been done to death and created a world I didn’t want to leave. I had trouble setting this down. A mix of romance, mystery, horror, fantasy, adventure – the pace was awesome and I was hooked from beginning to end.

There were some moments where I felt the descriptions were a tad overdone. I also felt like the romance aspect could have been explored more. The plus side is that this is the first in a series that will be worthwhile to read, so there’s plenty of time to expand.

If you’re looking for an original vampire story, Birth of the Bacchae is something I’d recommend checking out.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book as part of a blog tour with Silver Dagger Book Tours. All opinions are my own.*

Find this review and more on my blog: https://www.jessicabelmont.wordpress.com

[Sheena ☆ Book Sheenanigans · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3/5 Stars)
Title: Birth Of The Bacchae: A Vampire Origin Story
Author(s): Stephanie Mirro
Character(s):
― Serafina Finch: Brunette, Gray Eyed
― Solomon: ―
Setting: ―
Tag(s): Contemporary, Supernatural, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy
Content Rating: PG-13
POV: Alternates between Heroine/Hero
Smexy Level: Subtle
Favorite Quote(s):
― “Invisible. Powerful. Immortal. We are Bacchae.”
Overall Opinion:
Immortals? Vampires? Witches? And an evil villain trying to take over the world? That my friends are the elements that make a good supernatural series. Despite the lack of romance, "Birth Of The Bacchae: A Vampire Origin Story" was a pleasant read that proved that the debut author was able to utilize her detailed writing style to enthralled the readers by actually creating a story and not some fufu romance story that would have left me rolling in my grave. An overall decent read with unexpected twists and turns, and provides the reader an insight on the origins and background of vampires.

[Jean Grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first read from Ms. Mirro and quite the joy! I read a range of books: historical, contemporary, romance, mystery, and paranormal. I would classify this one as urban fantasy/paranormal. I enjoyed the story's concept, the polished writing, descriptions, the voice, and pacing. I loved that it took place in D.C. (a former stomping ground of mine). This story put a new twist on the vampire/witch genre and the author's research and plotting were quite evident. I enjoyed the alternating viewpoints of Serafina (the protagonist) and Solomon (antagonist; and I sense a change in what team he is playing for in book 2 -- eager to see if he turns good He definitely has redeeming traits). The secondary characters were believable and true (and I loved both Sera's boyfriend Hiro and Sera's BFF, as well as the witch "aunt"). The journey starts with Sera, an archaeology student, digging up an ancient amulet with magical powers. It links her to a mythical & mystical past and brings her face to face with real-life vampires/gods/witches. Sera transforms from quiet, clumsy "nobody" to a woman who can essentially bridge time and save a world from these Bacchae intent on destroying human kind. Will she succeed? Off to book 2 and 3 I go...
A great read!
I received a free ARC copy in exchange for an honest review. I look forward to more of Stephanie Mirro's books!

[Nextbookaroundthecorner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Since I'm a sucker (no pun intended...) for vampire stories, the title of this one caught my eye on Netgalley. This is the debut of Stephanie Mirro and she choose to make the vampires the bad guys, who are actually descendants of Bacchus, ancient God of wine. So a very intriguing angle for the story and with the POV changing between Serafina (an archeology student) and Solomon (a vampire), you both get a glimpse of the dynamics within the Bacchae and the 'normal' world.
Sera finds a strange amulet when digging around as an archeologist in Italy. She feels a strange pull to the amulet, which she can't explain. However, between dating with her busy boyfriend, fending of her overly friendly professor, having coffee with her best friend Norah and studying for her master, she doesn't have a lot of time to think about the amulet.
But when strange things start to happen, Sera is experiencing strange dreams, Norah's new boyfriend is following them around like a creepy guy and Sera gets abducted, she realizes there is something amiss. The story slowly unfolds and there are a lot of twists and unexpected turns. So the story keeps you on edge and when you near the end of the book, you can't help but feel totally bummed, that the book ends! I really, really want to know what will happen next, so please tell me the next book will be out soon! A great debut, keep up the good work. Four out of five stars from me and a special thank you to Netgalley for providing the arc.

[Holly Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. This story was chock full of solid prose, great descriptions, and relatable characters! It was a unique take on the vampire story that was refreshing and engaging! I wasn't sure if this was considered adult vs YA based on how the book read, as I usually read YA and it felt like it was for an older audience. *edit: just saw this is considered new adult which all makes sense now, lol* I still enjoyed it nonetheless! I'm usually not a big fan of flashback scenes but these were done well and had purpose to them. I also thoroughly enjoyed the dual POV with Serafina and Solomon. The ending left it open for an exciting continuation of the story, and I'm hoping one particular event that broke my heart at the end can somehow be reversed!!

[J Kap · Rating 4 out of 5]

This new adult novel by Mirro starts with a slow burn that ramps up to a fervent pace before flickering out on a cliffhanger. For an urban fantasy vampire novel, this story packs a lot of historical punch. Mirro has cleverly woven telltale signs of the underlying plot all around you, but you'll have to pick at the threads slowly to understand everything that's there.

For the debut novel of an indie author, I'm quite impressed with the level of quality here. From the grammar to the printing, this story wouldn't seem out of place next to any number of classics. It's because of that that I gave it 4 stars, however I'm not one to shy away from a little critique and I will say I was on the fence between 3 and 4.

Primarily because the book makes me unbelievably uncomfortable. I struggle to understand if my discomfort is from my own internal inability to confront things I don't feel I have a right to speak to, or if they're just actually uncomfortable. I don't want to say too much for fear of spoilers, but I felt like I needed a Trigger Warning for extreme violence/torture, and possible/implied rape.

In addition, there is a mention of one of the main characters sleeping with one of the characters, who mentally/magically was 2,000 years old, but biologically/appearance-wise was only 14. Just another little character detail that added together to create a whole picture that often made me cringe.

And although I didn't really care for any of the cast, the plot itself (and background history) was interesting and unique enough to keep me engaged. That's how we circle back around to the 4 stars. I can certainly say that if you're looking for a fresh dark take on the modern day vampire, look no further. Just a heads up that you might get more than you bargained for with the dark side of fantasy.

[Peter Buckmaster · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book after it came up in a reader's group, with a tag-line something like "wine, witches & immortals". Along with the title, that line hooked me, so I gave it a shot. And am pleased to say I enjoyed it!
I have to be honest and say if somebody had told me it was "urban fantasy with vampires", I would have passed on it. Gothic vampires I like; smooth-skinned modern vamps who fall in angsty love is not my thing. So I am glad I came at it from the wine & Roman history angle, as Twilight this ain't.
The hero is Serafina, a quite endearing, klutzy lady who goes through the ringer (especially at the end - Didn't see that coming! Her thoughts are realistic, her dialogue often witty and her journey had plenty to keep my attention.
I'm always interested when someone incorporates history and lore into monsters and legends, and this was a fresh take I felt. A little bit like the Gerard Butler Dracula 2000 film had an interesting idea about the origins of fang-face, Birth of the Bacchae brings in a nice take on how these blood-suckers came to be.
Mirro's writing style is extremely easy to get along with: fluid, entertaining and never confusing.
Again, I'm a little surprised I enjoyed this book, as on paper (hmm, that turn-of-phrase doesn't work with books...), it flies a little outside my preferred reading orbit. But I have just purchased the sequel so... I reckon I liked it! More wine!

[Deb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic!
I love mythology and urban fantasy, but I don't finish a lot of the books as I find the lead females too artificia. too much of a stereotypel. Stephanie Mirro created a character in Sera that I respected and wanted to see succeed. The characters in this book have a nice bit of complexity that made it a compelling read. The dreams, the visiting professor, Her boyfriend and the family complications, as well as the best friend, all fit. There were no pieces of writing that were added without purpose. Bacchus himself wasn't predictable. The storytelling was cleverly balanced between action and interactions from different people. It kept things exciting and the story raced along. I only put it down the first night because it hit 3 am and I couldn't focus!
This story has adventure, mythology, archeology, the whispers of romance, family dynamics, friendships and dangerous creatures of the night. What more could you want? A great read.

[Lakea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice, fresh take on Vampir...er, I mean Immortal lore. Once created by the Bacchae (the Roman god of wine, indulgence, and frenzy), Immortals have spent thousands of years first enjoying and then mourning the loss of their supernatural powers.

Unbeknownst to Sera, a grad student studying archaeology, she just happens to discover the source of that power while in a dig in Italy. Returning to the States to research her prize should be a major milestone in her career. Instead, it starts a nightmare of events that will change her life forever.
------------------

As shown by the Started/Finished dates, I couldn't put this down.

Pros: Fresh lore
humor, interesting characters, great character and plot development.

Cons: I was a bit disappointed that the Biggest Bad had the same motivation as almost every evil Supernatural out there. I guess all that evil really kills the creativity.

[Danielle Guzman 5amzn Aivitu]

this book is really fantastic

[Sasha · Rating 2 out of 5]

One book down in the #stayhomereadingrush!! Review coming soon...

Birth of the Bacchae is another one of my much overdue Netgalley ARC’s. I selected this ARC because of my love, or perhaps obsession, with vampires. What started out as an infatuation with Twilight, quickly led me down the path of Bram Stoker and Anne Rice. I couldn’t wait to jump into a new vampire tale, set in a more modern world.

The premise of this story is awesome. An archaeologist, following in her mother’s footsteps, discovers an ancient amulet, and is inexplicably drawn to it. She begins having dreams about these two women from ancient roman times, and is soon thrust into a magical world.

The premise of this story really was the best part of this book, but unfortunately it was not executed very well. It was confusing while reading, because the author would do such a great job at describing the setting, and such a poor job with the dialogue. The writing continued to tell the audience what was happening, instead of showing us through plot, characters, or other devices. The dream flashbacks were, in my opinion, the strongest parts of this book.

All things considered, I think this book was trying to do too much for what it was ready for. Our main character quickly discovers that magic and witches exist, and then that vampires are hunting her because she has been chosen by a god. While all of this is unfolding we see the character trying to maintain a work-life balance, while keeping the creepy older professor and his sexual advances at bay, while maintaining her picturesque (and totally non-toxic) relationship with her boyfriend, while maintaining a relationship with her dad and best friend. It felt like this book was off balance, and could have used a little more editing before being published [[I should note that because I read an ARC of this book, it may have been edited before being published, but I have not read a finished copy and this review is based off my experience with the ARC]].

There were also parts of the book itself that seemed either problematic, or like they were overlooked. There was what seemed to be a good discussion about race and equality (specifically how far the country has come since slavery), that then got flipped on its head when the mother of the boyfriend disapproved of the main character because she’s not Asian.

The sexual encounters in this novel were all consensual and presented as fade to black, with one exception. This exception included a vampire (perhaps in his early twenties, but hundreds of years old) and a High Priestess who was described as having the voice and body of a fourteen year old girl…Are we just going to ignore the fact that while she may have lived thousands of years, this vampire is still forced to, and enjoys, the sexual exploits of a fourteen year old’s body? Yikes… This wasn’t the only dubious scenario in the book either; the main character’s body is inhabited by a god and there is questionable consent regarding how and when he uses her body.

Overall, this book just didn’t feel finished. It felt like there were too many ideas competing for your attention. Not to mention how weird the ending was for our main character. She witnessed someone important to her get murdered, and then her personality switched so vastly that I didn’t recognize this new person we were following. Now, I haven’t witnessed anyone I love be murdered by vampires, so I can’t say for sure how I’d react either, but it seemed too over the top and out of the blue.

I think the author has some good ideas in this novel: the magic system could be expanded on, and the lore of the vampires was really interesting considering the flashbacks. I just don’t think it was executed in a way that makes me want to keep reading this series.

[Jena · Rating 3 out of 5]

So, I haven't read a vampire or Bacchae story in like forever. Perhaps I had too much overload with the Twilight rage way back when. So when I saw the Birth of the Bacchae, I was intrigued this wasn't just the run of the mill vampire and blood novel. That and I love when Sci-Fi and Fantasy genres mash.

The interesting aspect for me that Stephanie Mirro incorporated was the lore. For me, it adds a wonderful touch when authors weave it into their stories. So I do appreciate that Stephanie Mirro doesn't miss a beat with setting us on a ride with history and fantasy mixed in. However, I do feel this is more of a Fantasy-based novel and not so much of a Sci-Fi as noted in Net Galley.

I can look over there isn't too much of a Sci-Fi. After reading, I really got this vibe the Birth of The Bacchae was more in line with the classification of The Discover of Witches. Writing style too. I appreciated the vampire reinterpretation of how the Bacchae came to exist, that kept my interest in wanting to know more.

For a new adult, it was refreshing there wasn't tons of heat or sex just because of sex, but I had wished there was a tad more romance. It would've made an especially sinister moment of the novel that more heartbreaking.

The pace of the storyline, though, is what made me give a 3-star rating.
That said, the slow, drawn-out, pace almost made me want to skip over detailed descriptive movements after dialogue to get to the point. Which I hated. Truly. The Birth of The Bacchae had so much going for it I really didn't want to feel that way, but yes, the pace sucked the reading force out of me.

That and some of the characterization. I had hoped for deeper levels or more authentic reactions from some of the characters. Which I hate to say when I know how much heart and dedication it took to write the Birth of The Bacchae. On the basis on the conception of the premise of the Birth of the Bacchae, it's a solid story with tons of mystery/world-building that if shortened and a bit more one-two punches or romance could be very good.

If I had to pick up the second installation to the Birth of The Bacchae, I would. I think the premise and direction of the storytelling holds that much promise.

I received an ARC of Birth of The Bacchae in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of the review.

Let's be honest here. If it was great or sucked I have no problem writing it out.

Check out my website for my blog post and an additional Cover Critique www.jenarcollins.com

[Cath · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book one of the Immortal Relics series and starts with archaeology students and best friends Sera and Nora working on a dig in Italy. Sera ignores their dig leader about where to dig, getting a feeling she should be digging elsewhere, and uncovering an ancient Roman amulet, which looks like it has a huge ruby in the centre of it. She thinks their dig leader Chad will take the credit for her find, but he just continues to be a sleaze, hitting on her inappropriately all the time. Sera feels a great urge to get her hands on the amulet and starts having vivid dreams that seem so real, of two sisters back in Roman times, who take part in some sort of ritual at the temple of the God Bacchus.

Her dreams get more sinister as she sees rituals involving magic and drinking of blood, as well as violence. She is also hearing a voice apparently calling her from the amulet. She wonders if she is going mad and doesn’t feel like she can speak to Nora or her boyfriend Hiro about this or her problems with their visiting professor and dig leader Chad. But it seems that she is not the only one who wants the amulet, there are also witches and vampires after it, as they want the power it can give them. The amulet has chosen Sera, but this puts everyone she is close to in danger!

Finding the amulet will also lead Sera to discoveries about her own past and the death of her mother at a dig some twenty years beforehand. Her father may not agree with her choice of job, but it is something both she and Nora have been besotted with from an early age. It is not just her that has been trying to keep the amulet safe from those who are seeking to use it for dark purposes. It seems this struggle has been going on for thousands of years and now Sera is the new chosen one, who must stop these creatures from getting it and enslaving mankind for their own wants and needs. She needs to ask others for help, others with more power and connections in the magical world than her, but who are willing to help mankind and keep them safe from the dangers of the Immortals and the Eternal one. More is to come and I look forward to reading the next book in the series. I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSprout and I have freely given my own opinion of this book above.

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

When archeology student Serafina finds an amulet on a dig, she never thought it would bring about so many changes to her life. Back at the university after the dig ends, she’s tasked with cleaning the ancient relic. After that, it’s placed in a museum so that many can enjoy. What most don’t know though, is that the necklace if from the ancient god Bacchus and it actually holds not only his blood, but his essence.
But that’s not all. The necklace calls out to Sera, it whispers her name on the wind. It demands she listens, it beckons her. When the necklace is stolen while on display at the museum, Sera’s on the list of suspects since security videos show just how often and for how long she’s been there in front of the piece, studying it. But the police aren’t the only ones looking for it. We find out that there’s an ancient race, Vampires, that are after it because they’re hoping it will fix everything that’s going on with their race. They’re slowly losing their immortality and they can no longer make humans immortal. They know that whoever possesses the amulet will be able to rule the world.
Serafina also finds out about what really happened when her mother died. She finds out the truth about both witches and vampires. She’s informed that the amulet has selected her and once she puts the amulet on, the voice of Bacchus himself speaks and works through her.
Running from evil vampires, being protected by a witch, and having a god work through her is definitely not what Serafina thought would happen to her life.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story. It does have some slow-moving parts, but it doesn’t totally distract you from the story. It is the first book in a series, so there’s a cliffhanger. There’s also lots of action, witches, gods, and vampires. What more could you want?
At the time of this review, there’s two other books out in the series, so you don’t have to wait for the next book, and you can read for free if you use Kindle Unlimited like I do.

**Read using my Kindle Unlimited subscription.

[Boo Vickery · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not put this book down. It grabbed a hold and sunk it's teeth deep into me, and wouldn't let go...

Mrs. Mirro is a very talented Author. I will be buying all her releases. How she weaves you into the mindset of each character and scene is breathtaking...

Bacchus, he was an interesting character. I love how he came to be and loved reading the back story of Liviana. As a woman who has never read up on Roman creations, it was very neat to read about in this book.

Serafina was an enjoyable character. I loved reading her sass, and her influence to the amulet. The connection was funny to read about. Nora, Sera's best friend. She was nice to get to know. I love when the main characters always have a side-kick. I feel Nora has more of a story to tell, and I hope to read more about her in Book two.

Danae, the villain. What to say about her? She was written so horrifically, I'd hate to meet her in person. A child, yet very deadly. It was creepy to read about, but also I couldn't stop peaking between my fingers to read on.

I kinda wish that a necklace like Sera wore could come to real life and be true. Powers!? I won't go much into that but it is SO COOL! Read it to find out ;)

I really loved this story. It had it all. From the amazingly written characters, to the action packed scenes, to the roll in a ball and cry. This story has it all.

Vampires, sorry Bacchae, witches. I am very impatiently waiting for book two to release.

[Markus Matthews · Rating 3 out of 5]

An intriguing spin on vampire mythology

Serafina is an archaeology student that discovers an ancient amulet during a summer dig in Italy. The magic of the amulet calls out to her and she is soon caught up in its mysteries. Vampires and witches also take interest in the powerful amulet, and Serafina ends up fighting for her life with the very fate of humanity at stake.

I loved the archaeology angle as it gave off a bit of an Indiana Jones vibe to the beginning of the story. The author’s new spin on vampire mythology was also a nice touch. Gods being characters in a story isn’t something that is too common either, so there was a lot to like about this book.

There were a couple of issues with the book. First, I hate when authors use flashbacks in stories. There are dreams/flashbacks to the ancient world which fills the reader in on the backstory of the ‘vampires’ and the gods. I think the author would have been better to leave these out. If they really wanted to shed light on the ancient world, write a prequel to the series set in the ancient world. That would have been a much better route to go.

My other issue was the book was easy to put down. I’d reached the 80% mark in the story and went to bed. Normally that deep into the book, I’d keep going until I finished it.

I will note that the book ended strongly, and if the author can stay focused on keeping that final pacing going for the rest of the series, this might turn out of be a hidden gem of a series.

[Emé Savage · Rating 5 out of 5]

I must really love urban fantasy because here is yet another book series that is so well done and entertaining.

Meet Sera, a graduate student who is studying to be an archaeologist like her mother who died when Sera was 10. She finds a pinecone shaped amulet at a dig in Italy. It will change her life, but not in the way she thinks. The amulet is sought by an immortal race who are the subject of lore. They want the amulet so they can make more immortals.

What I liked:
I really liked the worldbuilding surrounding the Bacchae. It is a fresh take on vampire lore. I connected with Sera and the secondary characters that surround her. We also get a glimpse of the Bacchae through the eyes of Soloman, who became a sympathetic character as the story moved along.

The pacing was perfect. I never felt bored or felt like things were rushed. The ending set up the next novel perfectly and I will definitely add this to my sequel list.

What I didn't like:
There really wasn't anything that bothered me about this novel. It was really well done and I didn't find any distracting errors or plot holes.

Overall, it is a really well-done debut novel. If you are an urban fantasy fan this is right up your alley, but I think other readers would enjoy it because of the fresh take on an old legend and really connect with the characters.

[Lisa Rector · Rating 3 out of 5]

Intriguing start. The beginning of this book immediately had me intrigued, and the premise was fascinating so much that it must’ve distracted me from all the other problems in the book.

About halfway through, I started noticing an increase in ING phrases, and ING phrases that didn’t make any sense, causing time warps and body parts to do things that were impossible.

I also could’ve done without Solomon‘s POV. It didn’t add much to the story. I wasn’t a fan of the god Bacchus and that whole development once he and Sera became “one.” Honestly, the book got three stars because it just kind of dragged. There was a lot of back-and-forth of going places and almost getting caught or getting caught and escaping, and I just felt that the reason the vampires couldn’t get the amulet was pretty lame.

The most exciting part of the book was all of the archaeological stuff, which had me hooked in the beginning. The ending has some cool gory stuff, which I give applause for. I did like the main character. She was quite likable. And I like the whole thing between Solomon and Nora. I’d like to see something happen with Solomon and Nora in the next books, of which I won’t be reading. And her dad being brought into the story was completely unnecessary. It didn’t add anything to the plot.

[Katheyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

„Curse of the Vampire“ the start of Stephanie Mirro’s new UF series “Immortal Relics” with Serafina, an archeology student, as its main character. Serafina is an academic student with a very realistic approach to events, who does not believe in the supernatural, until the supernatural itself proves her wrong. After making the find of the season, an ancient Roman amulet, she begins to have what she catalogizes as “strange dreams”, which in fact are visions about a violent ancient cult with connections to Bacchus and the just unearthed amulet. When group of very real modern cultist chase her claiming ownership of the amulet, Serafina finds herself in deep trouble as it appears that supernatural does believe in her and forces her to make a decision between saving the amulet and saving her love ones.

The book offers a brand-new take on vampire myth, which emphasize the action over the romance, with interesting intakes on history from the archeological point of view. The story is well written, fast-paced, with good developed characters in unexpected twists, a brand-new approach to the vampire myth, that keeps the reader invested until the very last page.

[TXBRITGAL · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fascinating book! So unique on its take on vampires, immortals etc...combined with gods of old. Sera is an archaeology graduate student on a dig in Italy. She alone was digging in an area nobody else cared to dig. More fool them as she discovers the find of a lifetime. A stunning necklace with a bright red stone bigger than a quarter. If only she knew her entire world was about to change. Her love of archeology instilled by her mother who herself died on a dig years before. Not long after discovering this necklace Sera began having strange dreams about the long ago past. Times where villagers in Italy still celebrated the god Bacchus in a yearly offering. How was the necklace and these dreams connected! Shadowy people begun following her, and oddly her senses slowly change every day since her find. Filled with supernatural events, history, a sassy god out to set things right, and crazy immortals wanting to rule the world. Can this archeology student find it within herself to find the answers and help save humanity? Can't wait for the follow up!

[Angel Hatfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ever since archaeology student Serafina Finch found an ancient Roman amulet on a dig in Italy, she's been having dreams. Strange dreams that leave her with an eerie sense of foreboding. But between a busy college schedule and a boyfriend she's hoping to marry, she doesn't have time for strange. Then a mysterious cult takes an obsessive interest in the artifact. Serafina finds her life in chaos as she's thrown into the supernatural world, where Immortals and witches alike claim ownership of the amulet. Her amulet. As her connection to the amulet grows, she discovers a dark secret about her past. Serafina realizes she must protect the powerful relic at all costs—even if it means losing one of the people she loves most.
This was a pretty nice break from my normal reads. I really enjoyed the story and the change in vampire lore and all of the world building the author put into it. I look forward to reading more from this author. I highly recommend.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed this book

[Ashton Abbott · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book not only rewrites the origins of vampires, it touches base on several genres to form a novel that will have you on the edge of your seat and reaching for the wine!

I loved the use of mythology and mystery in this book! The writer keeps you guessing and alert the entire time while weaving a tale so descriptive that you can feel the Italian sun on your shoulders.

Archaeology has always appealed to me so I was swept up by the dig site descriptions and how much these people go through for each unearthed item. Serafina's instant connection to the necklace, paired with her strength to resist was written so well that I felt the struggle right along with her.

I became deeply invested in the characters and found myself wanting to reach through the book to help them. Hold on to your heart, because it might break at times!

If you are looking for a story to take you away from reality and completely consume you, this is the book!

[jess ~has abandoned GR~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

(I've read roughly 47 million vampire novels, and I can honestly say that this is the first time I have read this particular origin story -- so 47 million points to Gryffindor for that.)

In this universe, vampires are the creations of Bacchus, the Roman god of wine and madness, made to be his companions. However, they have gone astray from his ways and become violent predators, betraying their creator. When Serafina discovers an ancient Bacchic relic on an archaeological dig, she sets of a chain of events, inserting herself in the middle of that struggle.

I thoroughly enjoyed the story, and I appreciated the fact that it didn't feel like I had already read it before. My predictions weren't all true, and I enjoy being surprised. Plus, it's always fun when the vampires are good ole' fashioned monstrous bad guys, not sparkly love interests.

*adds author's next book to release calendar*

arc received from publisher

[Dani · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you didn't know, I am trash for a good vampire story. I read the description of this story and found the idea of vampires being connected to the god Bacchus to be a cool take on it. I dowloaded the book and was not disappointed. 

I liked the connection of the vampire element with different mythologies. In this story, it was mainly based on the Roman mythology, with Bacchus being the main focus. Our main character, Sera, his an anthropologist, which I loved since I have a degree in anthropology. Man, I would have loved stumbling on some cool vampire artifact, but I digress. Her and her friend are pretty badass, but I didn't like how much was kept from the main character. A lot could have been avoided if people just told her the truth. 

All in all, I really enjoyed this book and am in the middle of the second. I will be sure to review the second book as well. 

[Rachel Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

Birth of the Bacchae came to me by way of r/FreeEBOOKS and what grabbed me right away was the tagline:

When the Roman god of wine and frenzies claims you as his own, things get chaotic. Fast.

Okay, so I'm definitely getting some Percy Jackson vibes from the jump but there's witches and vampires in this, too? I was concerned that there might be too much going on with having all these elements in one universe but Mirro did some phenomenal world-building to make all the pieces fit. Almost everything I could think to question about Serafina's world had an answer and I could reason it away, even if Sera came off as a bit juvenile at times for a graduate student. Her and Hiro's relationship was a little 2-D but the emotions Sera expressed seemed to mature more sensibly in my head there towards to conclusion of the novel and set up nicely for Her Majesty's Fury in a nice, Buffy meets Charmed meets Percy Jackson kind of way.

[Penny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have never read this author until this book, but I think I have found a new favorite (to add to all the others LOL!). I have been a little put off recently with vampire books, but I am always willing to read one. This book was a very interesting take on the vampire myth. Not only was the writing fantastic, the plot line, the characters, and the way the writer made the book so engaging are aspects you really need to read. I was drawn in almost from the first page, and I enjoyed every single moment. A word of caution, though, this only has a little bit of romance, and it leans much more towards urban fantasy. We do get to see the world from both Seraphina and Soloman, and I was surprised at how the plot played out; I am not usually that surprised. Excellent book, and I am so eager to read the next one. I highly recommend this! I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.

[Erica Rue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This story was so much fun. I'm a slow reader, but Mirro's writing style flows so well that I breezed through the novel in a couple of days. I enjoyed the mystery of the amulet, and the friendship between the protagonist Sera and her best friend added a lot to the story.

It's a classical twist on vampire stories, and at the end, I was eager to keep reading. There's a cool reveal that I won't spoil that sets up the sequel nicely, though this books is a complete, satisfying story (no cliff hanger). Really looking forward to the next book!

[Caroline Doig · Rating 5 out of 5]

Serafina is on an archeological dig in Italy where she is pulled to a site and finds a ruby necklace it’s whispering to her she doesn’t want to let it go but she has to when the necklace is put in the safe, Serafina feels it’s pull until that night she has a strange dream about two girls. Little does Serafina know that her whole life will change because of that necklace and there are vampires that want the necklace for themselves. There is so much going on in this story but I’m not going to get into it, it’s a fantastic story but trust me when I say it’s not a vampire romance and I can’t wait to read the next book in this series and I definitely recommend this book.

[Heather Venkat · Rating 4 out of 5]

**I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.** This is a solid debut by Stephanie Mirro! I enjoyed the way Mirro kept me intrigued and thrown into the adventure alongside Sera. She does a great job of describing the scenes without bogging the reader down with unnecessary details. I am glad that I won't have to wait too long to find out what happens next in Book Two! If you're a fan of or interested in trying new adult, urban fantasy, and/or vampire-related stories, check out Birth of the Bacchae!