Bloody Mad

The Legacy of a Vampire Witch #2

by Theophilus Monroe

A vampire in an asylum? Like that is going to end well…

Something demonic is infecting humans—and spreading to vampires when they feed. When Mercy contracts the infection her brother, whose consciousness is now bound to hers, takes over and goes on a rampage through the French Quarter.

Now Mercy is locked up in the Vilokan Asylum for the Magically and Mentally Deranged. And she’s not happy about it. Back in control of her own body she plots her escape—but finds out there might be more going on in the Asylum than she thought, something connected to the Order of the Morning Dawn and a demonic scheme to infect humans, possess vampires, and dominate the world. To escape, and combat the monstrous threat that emerges within the Asylum, Mercy must not only get in touch with the darker side of her vampirism, but also the witchcraft she’d learned in her human life.

Bloody Mad is the second book in Theophilus Monroe’s The Legacy of a Vampire Witch series. Vampires, witches, and werewolves. Not to mention demons. You’ll encounter them all in the second part of Monroe’s dark and deranged urban fantasy horror series.

Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal, Audiobook, Vampires, Magic, Shapeshifters, Supernatural

179 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 22, 2020

About the author

Theophilus Monroe is a fantasy author with a knack for real-life characters whose supernatural experiences speak to the pangs of ordinary life. After earning his Ph.D. in Theology, he decided that academic treatises that no one will read (beyond other academics) was a dull way to spend his life. So, he began using his background in religious studies to create new worlds and forms of magic-informed by religious myths, ancient and modern-that would intrigue readers, inspire imaginations, and speak to real-world problems in fantastical ways.

Reviews

[Sabrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mercy's (after) life seems to get more complicated all the time. Her brother's presence possessing her is getting harder to ignore and eventually he manages to take over, causing all kinds of damage and getting her locked up in an asylum for the Magically and Mentally Deranged. There, no one seems to believe that it was her brother rather than Mercy who was out of control. Lots more magical creatures are introduced and Mercy makes friends with some of the most unlikely people. The story got really intricate by the end, with Mercy learning a lot more about how she ended up as a vampire witch.

[Kimberly #Audiofile · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this one better than the first ♥️
It was quite funny and we see a few new characters as well as old ones.

I wouldn’t say there’s any sort of romance aspect to this series at this stage.

Mercy is a strong female character who’s a witch and a vampire with no heart and is currently possessed by her brother.

I liked the audio. The effects in the audio when her brother is speaking and the witches spells. It was awesome!

Looking forward to book three being put on audio

Gifted audio in exchange for an honest review

[Lynda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the narrator and extremely enjoyable. Well, somehow Mercy has her brother trapped in her and she is trapped in an asylum in a straight jacket. What can happen next? Well in Mercy's life...anything can be possible. Mercy has so many issues to figure out, what the demons are doing, and what is her arch enemy Alice is up to, not to mention getting out of the asylum. But she just doesn't want to be the hero or any hero for that matter. This series just keeps getting better, with more unique characters being added and an action packed plot. Looking forward to book 3.

[Ashley Hedden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bloody Mad (The Legacy of a Vampire Witch #2) was a great read by Theophilus Monroe. There is something demonic that is infecting humans and it is spreading to vampires when they feed. Mercy contracts the infection and her brother takes over her and goes on a rampage through the French Quarter. Mercy is locked up in the Vilokan Asylum for the Magically and Mentally Deranged. She is now back in control of her own body and starts plotting her escape. I really loved the life that Kelley Hazen brought to the characters and can't wait to read more by the author.

[Cath · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book two of The Legacy of a Vampire Witch and sees Mercy Brown, a witch and vampire, having been placed in an asylum, after her brother took over her body, after she drank blood from a person previously possessed by a demon ad whose blood is now poisonous to vampires. She lost control to her brother, who climbed into her body when she tried to put his soul into a voodoo doll, when she went to hell, but Alice destroyed the doll and stopped her initial plan. Her brother’s voice has been in her head ever since, especially when she is hunting, wanting her to rip humans apart in the most violent way possible, which she has to try and ignore. Now he got out as such and pulled a few innocent people to pieces before Annabelle and Hailey could use some magic to stop her, as Ramon could only try to get her to them. Now Mercy finds herself locked up in the Vilokan Asylum for the Magically and Mentally Deranged, with a pretty nasty collar that could kill her.

The main quack at the asylum, Dr Cain, doesn’t seem to believe her when she says she is hearing her brother’s voice in her head and that is because his soul took over, after getting a ride back into the world when she tried to stop him getting out of hell. There are a few other supernaturals in the ward, of types she has never come across. One is a transgender Nyx, who is a Neck, a (water) elemental, who has been stuck in a human looking body since trying to eat an infected human. The other two are a centaur called Ed and an equisapien, called Galahad, who can only communicate with paper and pen. Annabelle is responsible for having Mercy locked up, believing that Mercy was out of control due to the poisoned blood she imbued. Ramon was furious, but she ended up staking him again as he was sort of out of control without Mercy about. Hailey is a young vampire who Annabelle has teamed up with and is picking up magic easily as well.

Demons possessing humans, not with the wish to take over the bodies, but to infect their blood, making it poisonous to vampires and deadly. A demonic plan to kill off all the vampires and take over the world! As well as this demon issue, the asylum is not quite what it seems. Mercy and the other supernaturals can’t be released unless they satisfy the head doctor, that they are no longer a threat to humans and that they have overcome all the supposed issues they have. Dr Cain says Mercy obviously has daddy issues and doesn’t really understand any of the real vampire and magic stuff she tries to explain to him. If she can’t get him to believe her, she may never get out. The voice in her head made her do it, meaning the mutilated bodies she or rather Edwin left in the French Quarter, is not an excuse Dr Cain wants to even consider. She has no way of getting the sunlight collar off her neck, no longer having the ability to get others to do as she asks.

An unexpected visit from Hailey, gifts her with an ancient grimoire and also her own wand, with a spell already added to it, to keep it hidden from the guards! Three shackled werewolves are led to some cells, giving Mercy and Nyx and idea of using their shifting at the full moon and the noise they will make whilst locked up, to cover a break out. Matters go haywire, as someone else has a plan for the residents of the asylum and release some very dangerous ones onto everybody, staff and prisoners alike. The Order of the Morning Dawn are not just using vampires, or as Alice calls them Nightwalkers, to help carry out their plans, to rid the world of vampires and witches, anymore. Now, they have ramped up their devious methods and gotten a lot more extreme and deadly. She doesn’t just have to worry about her sanity anymore, she needs to get out of there and in one piece, and then take down the Order, to stop what they are doing! Another great read in this series and some big challenges for Mercy to overcome as she ends up in an unexpected situation, totally against her will. She can blame her brother for putting her there, but really Moll is the main culprit. I’m loving this this series and can’t wait for 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 the book above.

[Kelley Hazen · Rating 5 out of 5]

And you thought the first one was good?! Theophilus Monroe does it again with his sequel to Bloody Hell. Mercy Brown is back and mad as hell!

Mercy has been relegated to Vilokan Asylum for the Mentally and Magically Deranged and she is NOT happy about it. Her brother Edwin, alive and well and screaming vicariously in Mercy's head, has figured out how to control Mercy's body. He paints a bloodbath through The French Quarter. Mercy pays the consequences with her 'incarceration'.

While in the hospital, Mercy's psychiatrist turns out to be a very famous figure of Biblical fame. As she battles werewolves out to get her, demons that want to destroy the vampire community altogether and an uptight Voodoo Queen, Mercy begins to understand that she may not be the 'heartless' ice queen she has always envisioned herself to be.

Monroe continues in Bloody Mad to upset the vampire apple cart with his fresh take on the challenges of being a supernatural figure in this day and age. His creation of the New Orleans underworld is evocative and so NOT the traditional black coffin and dank basement. We meet distinctive new species and stimulating new characters. Like Nyx or 'Nicky' - a transgender shapeshifter (how interesting is that?). Nyx is a member of the Neck - water elementals who take on the form that most appeals to the prey they hunt. Nyx becomes trapped in a male body when bitten by a diseased vampire. Mercy and Nyx become unlikely comrades in their fight to break free of the institution. But not before an onslaught of werewolves try to tear them apart.

Bloody Mad is clever, fast-paced and mind-bending. One of my favorite aspects to Monroe's storytelling is that each book is a complete event - beginning, middle AND end. Yet you still crave more and can't wait to see how the legacy continues in Book #3, Bloody Wicked.

If you'd like to listen to a preview of Bloody Mad, take a listen to the
BLOODY MAD playlist on Storyteller Productions Soundcloud page.
Look for Bloody Wicked early 2022. Now that's a a great wish for a Happy New Year!

[Vannessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this second book in this series. It carries on pretty much where Bloody Hell finished. Mercy and Ramon are still in New Orleans, still doing their vampire thing, only Mercy now has the soul of her brother residing within her. Her brother's ruthlessness and vulgarity for violence rivals that of Ramon's very easily! Mercy just wants him out of her head, but has no idea how to get him out!

On a night of hunting, things take a turn for the worse and Edwin rears forwards and takes over Mercy's mind and body, causing a mountain of destruction! Annabelle, the Voodoo Queen and her friend Hailey step in and Mercy finds herself trapped within an underground mental asylum, but not any ordinary one: one built especially for the supernatural creatures of the city. There's no escape and no way for Mercy to use her vampiric powers here! She befriends a water elemental, a Neck, and together they plan to break out, but this place is stronger than Alcatraz!

Only when a frenemy pays Mercy a visit and brings her a couple of gifts, is she able to put a plan into place, but like most plans, this one doesn't turn out the way Mercy expects! In fact, trying to play the hero causes more problems, but these problems may end up being a helping hand in one way or another!

I loved the plot of this one, very different to anything else I have read and the characters were great fun to read. I really liked the introduction of Nyx and can't wait to read her story now! Mercy seems to be finding some humanity at long last, but is that her or her brother's soul causing it? I'm glad to see that she is starting to embrace her witch side once again - she seemed to have forgotten all about that, having been a vampire for so long! And now she has a prophecy to fulfil....

[Ash Holmquist · Rating 4 out of 5]

All in all, I have to give this book 4 stars! Bloody Mad is the 2nd book in "The Legacy of the Vampire Witch" by Theophilus Monroe. Mercy Brown is both a centuries-old vampire and a witch. After the events in the last book, where her brother is now living in her mind, she is sent to an asylum. She had drunk blood from a person who was possessed by a demon, which is poisonous to vampires. After this happened she lost control of herself and her brother took over and killed multiple innocent people in horrific ways in the French Quarter. This is what landed her in the Vilokan Asylum for the Magically and Mentally Deranged with a dangerous collar around her neck. Dr. Cain doesn't believe her when she tells him she hears her brother's voice and disregards her. We meet an interesting transgender character named Nyx, who is a water elemental that is stuck in human form after trying to eat an infected human. Three werewolves are brought in and after an escape attempt by Mercy, they transform and wreak havoc on the asylum. Nyx and Mercy try to fight them off and end up in a cell with a dead one - a 4th werewolf. Mercy deduces that someone on the staff must have helped them escape and must also be a werewolf because only three had been brought in. It turns out it was Dr. Cain - who is the same biblical Cain from the story of Cain and Abel. Mercy is given a grimoire with a spell that can bring someone back from the dead and who does she choose - Mal. It was Mal's grimoire after all. All in all, I was very impressed with this book and actually preferred it to the first one. I can't wait to see what comes next!

[Katheyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

„Bloody Mad” is the second installment in Theophilus Monroe’s brand-new series “The Legacy of a Vampire Witch”, featuring Mercy Brown, a heartless vampire witch with a tendency to end up in very deadly situations and coming alive the other end at all cost.

As Mercy seems to have found her footing again, she’s is infected with some demonic illness by feeding, looses control of her brother’s consciousness, takes the French Quarter on a frenzy and finds herself committed to the Vilokan Asylum for the Magically and Mentally Deranged. After the first signs of recovery, her priority should be to escape, however something demonic is brewing under the scenes at the Asylum, and the Orden of the Morning Dawn seems to be the keeper of the recipe. A deranged ill vampire locked in an Asylum…. However, came with the idea must be a genius 😊

Theophilus Monroe has done it… once more, with deranged precision. A highly entertaining lecture in an original world populated by witches, vampires, werewolves, demons, voodoo-adapt… you name it, he writes it… and does in a fantastic style mixing every possible element of voodoo, magic, fantasy, mystery, a sprinkle of romance, history and coming-of-age into a insane tasteful brew, that goes nicely down, page after page and let a satisfying aftertaste… all that served into a very nice receptacle (aka book imagery).

[Korra II Allison Baskerville · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bloody Mad picks up right where book 1 left off. Much like the first book, a significant chunk of it is world-building and setup as it adds new characters and lore to the series. I honestly don’t mind all the setup though. Maybe I will on future listens when I already know all of this. But I’m completely hooked.

I learned after reviewing the first book that this is apparently part of a literary universe and I couldn’t be more excited. It’s not just the story that I like, it’s the characters and I already have some of the other in-universe books as review copies. It’s rare that the appeal of a story for me is the characters. But in this instance, it’s a combo of characters, story, and lore. Everything about it is interesting and I can’t wait to read (or listen) to book 3. This is a series I’m likely going to be picking up physical copies for.

The narrator does a wonderful job providing voices and acting out lines. She has a real talent for this profession.

NOTE: This copy was provided to me free of charge as a digital review copy. The opinions stated in this review are mine and mine alone, I was not paid or requested to give this book a certain rating, suggestion, or approval.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bloody Mad is an excellent continuation of the first book and a fantastic addition to the Legacy of a Vampire Witch series. As soon as I started listening, I was hooked; my attention was totally captured and held through the very end. The storyline is rich, entertaining, exciting, and with enough surprising twists to keep you guessing. Mercy's very existence was tied to her brother, who was trapped in hell. Now, his soul is inside of her while being trapped in an asylum, deranged and sporting a straitjacket. Mercy will have to face one challenge after another, an escape plane, demonic attacks, and her personal demons. The question is, can Mercy overcome her madness, and escape the Asylum, and confront what's waiting beyond the walls.

Once again, Kelley Hazen did an outstanding job with the narration. He breathed life into Monroe's words and brought the story to life. Overall, Bloody Mad was a terrific listen; it's a well-written dark urban fantasy with excellent narration and one I'll recommend.

[Lidia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my review of the audio version as posted on Audible:

Definitely better than book one...:)

"Bloody Mad", the second installment in the series, is definitely better than book one. I still don't know if I like Mercy, but the whole bunch of new characters is an interesting and very well writen crowd. Not only do they complicate Mercy's life but they also provide some really hillarious scenes, with the wacky kind of humour I like.

The plot itself is fast, with Mercy locked up in an asylum, her psychiatrist trying to persuade her she is schizophrenic, and a new demonic danger in store for us, surely to be further developed in the following books. All this makes the book definitely more engaging than the previous one:)

Narration by Ms Hazen is impeccable; the individual characters come to life, their personalities shine through her voice.

Definitely looking to listening to book three.

DISCLAIMER: I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

[Beba Andric · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, I must say, another great read! I enjoyed book 2! Again Theo surprises me. I do so love the unpredictability of his work. We get to see a whole different side of Mercy in this book, how she struggles to acknowledge her humanity;. Her love of Ramon, yes even a Vampire with no heart can love, is one of the 1st signs that she slowly acknowledging she can and does feel real emotion. She forms an unlikely friendship in a very bizarre institution and goes out of her way to help her friend. Her relationship with her brother takes a new turn and together, they are poised to rid the world of unsavory characters, who are hellbent on taking over. Book 3 can't come soon enough to see how Mercy and co accomplished this!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Daniëlla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Again did I enjoyed reading the second book of Mercy! I felt more in touch with her, the more I got pulled into the book! Yes she is a vampire and has to feed once in a while but it did not bother me anymore! I found myself just as frustated as she was when she woke up in the asylum! And then Nikki!!! Wow I love this new character! Hint hint to the author, maybe some spin off, I know I would read them! To be honest. I would read any of this author's books in this fantasy genre! He gives the character such depths and the developments they gain, the storyline and the wat je describes things ..I love it! I recommend this Book to everyone!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sue Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bloody mad by Theophilus Monroe.
The legacy of a vampire witch book 2.
Mercy is locked up in the Vilokan Asylum for the Magically and Mentally Deranged. And she’s not happy about it. Back in control of her own body she plots her escape—but finds out there might be more going on in the Asylum than she thought, something connected to the Order of the Morning Dawn and a demonic scheme to infect humans, possess vampires, and dominate the world. To escape, and combat the monstrous threat that emerges within the Asylum, Mercy must not only get in touch with the darker side of her vampirism, but also the witchcraft she’d learned in her human life
I really enjoyed this book. Didn't like the dr. Mercy and Nax were my favourite characters. Looking forward to the next book. 5*.

[PAR · Rating 5 out of 5]

I jumped into this series with this novel - which is the second book in the series. I would not recommend you start with the first novel in the series. I absolutely love the writing of Theophilus Monroe. I do believe he is my favorite writer of all time. This novel had a great story line, building upon the characters introduced in the preceding novel. The author’s continues to display showed maturation in his writing from his previous novel, along with the wonderful affect we see in the current novel and flowed wonderfully, keeping you engaged from the beginning. The foreshadowing led me to draw some conclusions but I was proved wrong at every turn! The novel was thrilling throughout. I received this novel from Story Origin. This is my true and honest review.

[Witch-at-Heart · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just love this series! It has been a fantastic read so far! I truly love how original this series is and it keeps you on your toes you won't be guessing what is about to happen in these books. In this book we get a new side of Mercy as she learns to accept she still has remnants of humanity and she is capable of loving Ramon and that she not only has real feelings she can experience human emotions even as a vampire.

I thoroughly enjoyed the evolution taking place between Mercy and her brother and I am very excited for book 3.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Amanda- LateNightReader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love these books so far! While its definitely no To Kill a Mockingbird or even Lasher (Anne Rice), its got its own special kind of charm to it. Its so funny and a total page turner. This has been sitting in my library for a while now and I cant believe I missed this gem for so long! I didn't read the series that came before this one, but its totally not necessary. I'm sure it would have made it even better. In this book we meet Nyx or Nicki. Which is the name of one of the next series. So I'm guessing we shall see her again if you keep going with the series. Oh and OMG, this book has so many twist and turns. Its crazy. I can't wait to see what happens in the following books!

[Caroline Doig · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book 2 in The Legacy of a Vampire Witch and I was looking forward to reading this continuation it definitely didn’t disappoint and I look forward to reading book 3. Mercy gets thrown into a institution and things just aren’t right there plus Mercy is having enough trouble with her younger brother who’s in her head all he wants is death and destruction, so can these two work together to help the humans in the institution or will the Order succeed?. I loved this story it’s a fantastic read and I highly recommend this book it’s definitely well worth the read.

[PelicanFreak · Rating 4 out of 5]

I definitely rec reading this series in order as this one starts out right in the thick of things.

Much like the first, this was fast-paced, packed some action, plenty of drama and a really fun spin on some myths & legends. “...yes, I drive a hearse. Why? Because it’s hilarious.” Witty, all the while, which I thoroughly enjoyed.

Will likely seek out more from this author, a fun experience.

4 stars.

Audio:
Okay performance, for the most part, but when this narrator attempts to sing, it’s pure torture. Brace yourself or get this in print or digital, perhaps.

[Steve Filson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was exactly how to show mercy...Apart from the clinical aspects of the series I must admit that I Am An Honest ARC reviewer ,This series has great flow, and the story line makes the transitions between the voodoo series with ease. The Characters are likeable , and the smell of wet dog almost comes through. awesome writing . I think this series has the ability to resonate with readers teens ,and up

[Christina Luberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

God, I'm so glad I could read this right after the first book. It keeps you going and wanting to keep reading. Theophilus Monroe know how to weave a story so good. Every book I have read keeps me going. Mercy is at the Asylum. Can she escape? Is there more going on then she knows? Can she keep the dark side at bay?

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Terra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is continues to develop the series; thus a lot of back story. Scary and frightening not in a “boo” way; to think you could wake up in an asylum w/o any control. Mercy is a strong female with a lot of baggage and uses all of it to her advantage; she doesn’t become a victim. Good read, I recommend this book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well written storyline. We really get to experience Mercy’s personality with her inner narrative and commentary. She struggles with acceptance of her remaining humanity despite being a vampire. Once she finds a way to truly bond with her kid brother’s soul, they’ll be a force to be reckoned with. I have a feeling it won’t be the last time we see Alice...now it’s on!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[blueyed_cntry_girl · Rating 5 out of 5]

What surprises and twists there are in this book. Good ones that’s for sure! Mercy is having to learn how to live with her brother in her head but what happens when said brother to demented ? Will she give into his wants/demands or will she deny him and go crazy herself? Find out the answer to that and soooo much more in this intriguing book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Scarolet Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bloody Mad by Theophilus Monroe is an awesome story that I have read. This is book number two in this awesome series that I have been hooked on since the beginning and I can not wait to read the rest of this awesome series. I highly recommend this story to everyone who loves reading about vampires, horror and fantasy.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jerri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. The characters are well defined and in this book Mercy is having quite the time as she has been kidnapped and put in the looney bin for supernaturals. This book had lots of humorous interactions between Mercy and other characters. We meet the werewolves. I just fall more in love with the characters and can’t wait for more of the story to fall into place and can’t wait to see what happens next. Highly recommend for different take on vampires, witches, and now werewolves.

[Tegan Brinkman · Rating 3 out of 5]

So while this author has a way with words and you can definitely force or rather convince yourself to read their books in one sitting after the first book left me with a bad taste at the end I couldn’t get myself to pick this up like I would have hoped

I will read this eventually and edit this review then (11/4/2021)

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Michele D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting twists.

Twists seem to be a favorite of this author. Knowing that actually heightens my anticipation--wondering what he'll pull next. Whether because of her brother or because of the souls she's fed on--or both--Mercy is definitely regaining some humanity. I find her constant denial of her feelings for Ramone quite humorous. Also, it seems some time since Ramone frenzied...is it because he doesn't want to disappoint Mercy? I suppose I will have to RAFO.

[Roger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bloody Mad (The Legacy of a Vampire Witch #2), my tenth read from author Theophilus Monroe. Well written & enjoyable read. I was given an Audible copy of this book & am voluntarily reviewing it. Kelley Hazen's narration adds to the enjoyment of the book. I look forward to my next read from this author, Bloody Wicked: The Legacy of a Vampire Witch, Book 3. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).