Vampire Transgression

Vampires #3

by Michael Schiefelbein

Victor Decimus is a 2,000 year old vampire, having last seen the sun when he was a Roman soldier in biblical times. There are few rules that govern a vampire's existence but those rules are 1) Vampires are not allowed to associate with other vampires and 2) Once a vampire convinces a human to take his place as a vampire, he must leave the earthly realm for the Dark Kingdom.
Victor, unfortunately, has broken both those rules -- he's sired his human lover Paul as a vampire and stayed with him on Earth. The two enjoy an intense life as lovers, living in Georgetown and mingling at their private club for devotees, a converted church now known as Dies Irae. But their transgression is not taken lightly and agents for the Dark Realm are now on the prowl, looking to enforce their will and, if necessary, threaten everything that Victor and Paul hold dear, even each other, to punish their transgression.

Genres: Vampires, Horror, Romance, Gay, LGBT, M M Romance, Paranormal

268 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Michael Schiefelbein, after spending ten years studying for the priesthood, graduated from the University of Maryland with a doctorate in English. He is a professor of writing and literature in Memphis, TN.

Reviews

[Christy Stewart · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started reading this series because I expected it to be a campy sort of horrible that had a combative and would-be offensive premise: a male vampire falls in love with Jesus Christ.

The book itself is just a so-so vampire story but the religious aspects make it worth the read. I'm now at the end and I must say, this is the only time I've seen a fictional take on Jesus that wasn't heavy handed. Maybe toward Catholicism, but not toward Jesus himself.

Jesus, himself, is such a wonderful character, historical and religious figure aside, but every time he is depicted in any form of fiction the writer's bias just turns the whole thing into a joke. Schiefelbein doesn't do that and it's not something I think I could mimic even though I am cognizant of the problem.

[Sharon · Rating 1 out of 5]

CW: blood, violence, sexual content, infidelity, etc..... the same as the last two, pretty much.
Actual rating: 1.5 stars

They were SOOOO close to realizing that everything would be better without Victor and then Paul was like, "nah." Like BITCH.
Victor sucks, Paul is okay, and there's something genuinely wrong in Kyle's brain.

Will read the last one but I can't wait to be FREE.

[Tom Ratliff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Latest in gay vampire series. Author lives in Memphis! Ex-Jesuit priest. This one wasn't quite as good as the first three...getting harder for him to come up with fresh story lines.

[Morgan Short]

Zero stars. The smut wasn't good and neither was the world building. The plot was bland. The characters were unlikeable >_> Paul and Kyle deserved better than a scum bag like Victor.

[Rebecca M · Rating 2 out of 5]

Honestly boring. Didn't realize it was part of a series but I'm glad I didn't. Didn't feel like there was a plot or point to the story. Just an absolutely toxic relationship.

[Jimmy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was different, but yet still the same. It was newer and fresher because it was in a more modern setting. This livened it for me. Vampire Transgression is not as good as it predecessor Vampire Thrall, but it delivers a more curious and dangerous scenario. I really liked it!
Victor and Paul are fugitives from the Dark Kingdom. When Victor converted his thrall Paul into a vampire, Victor did not move on to the Dark Kingdom, as the rules of the cosmos demands.
Together, they own and operate a use to be church converted into an S & M/occult club, Dies Irae. Paul is scared and disturbed by the threatening letters and emails that he is receiving, from agents of the Dark Kingdom.
Paul still refuses to let go of his family, even though they will all be dead in 50 years. His mother being in the hospital forces him to return home to Kansas, were a part of his humanity will be crushed. And another aspect of the life of a vampire is realized, loneliness.
Worse than this, is the agenda of the dominatrix, who is discovered by Victor to be a vampire undercover.
The priests demand and threaten Victor to take his sex club out of the blessed church, but we both know that Victor will continue to exact his revenge upon Joshu’s god by desecrating and corrupting his holy followers, churches, and relics. Victor will find that the priest Father Gimello is protected, but by who? When one of the priests, Father Kyle falls to his temptation of the flesh to Horatio, manager and handy man, (in more ways than one), to the club, and also to Paul, will this tear the vampire lovers apart? Can Victor truly love anyone besides Joshu? Will they be able to defeat the agents of the Dark Kingdom, to remain forever together? If not, will Victor move on, or will Paul be forced to sacrifice himself because he can not stand to be without Victor for the required 200 years?

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was okay, but I didn't care for it as much as the first two books in the series. I'm not really a fan of BDSM erotica to begin with, so that whole plotline in this book (with Victor and Paul running/owning a BDSM club in a deconsecrated church in Washington DC) didn't interest me much. It just seemed very gratuitous and didn't do much to advance the plot beyond providing a way to introduce one character into the story who ends up not being at all what she seems to be at first. Seemed like the author was stretching for a way to introduce new "shock value" into the story after playing out Victor-hiding-in-monasteries for the past two books...

I think a bigger problem though was the change in narrative voice from 1st person (and 1st person alternating) in the first two books, to 3rd person here for Vampire Transgression. I found it much harder to get emotionally invested in Victor and Paul in this book largely as a result of this shift, and it made it harder to understand the changes in their relationship (especially as the book starts out basically a year since Vampire Thrall left off.)

That said, I'm still looking forward to reading the 4th book as I want to know the fate of these characters, if Victor will ever give up Earth for the Dark Kingdom, what will happen to Paul, etc.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Schiefelbein's vampire stories! They are intelligent one never knows where the author will take his vampire Victor next.

In this books he owns and S&M club and has a lover, Paul, whom he as turned. Victor is not supposed to that in the world of his vampires. You see......the number of vamps must always remain the same. So after 200 hundred years they must turn someone and then they in turn may leave to a higher plain.

Trouble is Victor loves Paul and won't leave him.

Victor also loved Jesus and this forms the basis of Victor's bitterness in life and his continued visitation of churches and monasteries. He never forgave Him for spurning his love and through the ages..Victor still argues with Him...still carries hurt and anger.

I love the intelligent commentaries, arguments and tableaux the author gives the read of the churches, the pews and especially 'the cross' which Victor at time comes to hate.

Schiefelbein is an ex-priest so he skillfully plies the reader with the richness of the bible, life in Jesus' time and now Victor.....still licking his wounds.

I highly recommend Michael Schiefelbein stories.

[Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having read the first two vampire books by Mr. Schiefelbein I was ready for Vampire Transgression. This third book in the series unquestionably continues the series themes, religion--specifically Catholicism, and vampires. Like its predecessors I found Vampire Transgression to be written and edited well and it is easy to see that Mr. Schiefelbein knows his church. Therein lies my problem with the series, too much religion and not enough vampire.

Specifically to this book I think the storyline involving the club they owned in Georgetown (Washington D.C.) was unneeded. Nothing of any substance occurred there that added to the story. I can only guess that it was added in order to entice BDSM readers to pick up the book.

If it were possible I would give Vampire Transgression 2.5 stars because of the club storyline, but in spite of that I feel that the book does deserve a full 3 stars.

[Steven]

I didnt realize this is a series. So I now have to buy the first two books. UGH! I love vampires. I have always been fascinated by them since I was a kid. If I could I would be one. LOL!

[Lou · Rating 2 out of 5]

Gay fluff vampire reading. Nowhere near as articulate and mesmerizing as Dracula, The Historian, or Anne Rice's books.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

A vampire story with a little S&M thrown in for good measure. What's not to love!

[EscaPe iNTo thE PaGEs · Rating 3 out of 5]

not as good as the previous two. It's a weird sensation when I enjoy a book as a whole without liking the MCs all that much. Victor is kind of a d*ck..

[Dwayne Baird · Rating 4 out of 5]

So glad the series moved from the monastery.

[Ishida Uryuu]

The story directs towards unexpected plot.

[Stéphanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm a little disappointed by the end, but overall it was a good, dark and sensual vampire novel.