Vampire vs Vatican

by Gilbert Reid

When massive earthquakes ripple, simultaneously, all over the world, bringing chaos, scientists are puzzled – what is happening? V, the half-alien ancient vampire goddess, knows. Cardinal Xavier Ambrosiano, the leader of a secret satanic cult nested deep in the Vatican, has triggered a giant alien device buried deep in North Africa. The Crystal – and V is its custodian – is also known as the World-Destroyer. By twisting Earth’s gravitational field, it can tear the planet apart. Since before the time of Augustus Caesar, V has protected the Crystal. Since the time of Augustus Caesar, V has fought the satanic cult, and its ritual sacrifice of young women. Even now, monkish figures, disguised as Latin lovers, stalk the streets of Rome, hunting for ideal victims – young women to incarnate the goddess – who must be sacrificed in a black Mass, exorcising the feminine principle, casting women out of divinity, robbing them of their divine luster and power. To defeat the Cardinal, V needs allies. Father Patrick Michael O’Bryan, an Irish Jesuit and famous exorcist, dithers – V is a demon, obviously, but she is a flirtatious – and possibly good – demon. Should he cast her out, and kill her, or join her mission? Don U Pizzu, a dapper handsome Mafia Don and ruthless killer, is entranced. What to do? Gun the charming vampire down, or offer her roses and champagne? Kate Thornhill, a brilliant young scientist, is hypnotized by V’s beauty – and her sleek silky warrior outfit – a temptation for a girl of Kate’s martial temper. Time presses. Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and tsunamis sweep around the world. Tourists, caught in Rome, flee from dangerous buildings to the open spaces of the Roman Forum, which becomes the stage for a giant bacchanal, celebrating the end of the world. Vesuvius and Yellowstone erupt. Superstorms rage; cities collapse; chaos and terror spread. The end is nigh. At the last moment, just as Earth teeters on the edge of annihilation, just as Rome, the Eternal City, collapses into ruins, V faces off against Cardinal and the Intergalactic Evil Force he has welcomed into our universe. If V fails, humanity’s great adventure comes to an end. If V fails, nothing will be left of Earth but a cold dead asteroid belt, circling around the sun. A mad Cardinal, scheming prelates, human sacrifice, Mafia plots, Vatican scandals, a dying Pope, a damsel in distress, theological debates, a persnickety Jesuit, a gorgeous vampire, a sleek warrior woman, a galaxy of characters, a dying Earth, and an impending Apocalypse, all add up – to a sexy whirlwind adventure, for fans of Dan Brown, of the Exorcist, of the Godfather movies, and of dystopian and apocalyptic fiction.

748 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 1, 2020

About the author

Gwendoline Clermont writes romantic fiction based on her own experiences. Her "Emily in Paris" lifestyle in Paris and Rome and New York and Boston and her adventures in Senegal and on Mediterranean islands give her lots of material. Gwendoline is no dummy - she is a genius hacker and mathematician and has a taste for espionage, cyber war and perilous missions - and she is master or mistress of her own destiny. Her writing is sensual and provocative, and often very intimate, while being sophisticated, suspenseful, and emotionally charged. In Gwendoline's pursuit of erotic romance, adventure, and love, desire knows no limits.•

Reviews

[Radna · Rating 5 out of 5]

V is an original action heroine, wonder woman as a gorgeous, sexy, brilliant, shape-shifting, alien, blood-sucking vampire with a sense of humour, extraordinary powers and a back-pack full of the tools needed to save the world from apocalyptic doom - with a little help from her eccentric collection of friends (from a Mafia Don to an elderly priest). Lots of crazy action, danger, tension, eroticism when V's special skills are needed to right the wrongs in the world, especially when she she gets hungry and needs a blood refill. Satisfying conclusion makes you want to know more about her next adventures!

[Harry Malcolmson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in the near future, this hugely ambitious novel is centered on a suave, mischievous, bewitching, half-alien superheroine vampire. It combines fast-moving science fiction with pure adventure. It takes us into the heart of romantic and sexual relationships and theological and moral debates, with irony and a sense of humour.

The novel explores many themes: sexual corruption and sublime sacrifice in the Vatica; the insidious and overpowering nature of religious fanaticism; and the horrendous fascination of apocalyptic cults: the Rapture and the Apocalypse.

The plot moved forward with energy and clarity. I was fully engaged throughout its 700 odd pages.

[Dave Atwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great adventure read. Pulls you in from the very beginning and keeps you there. Well drawn characters populate this Superheroine pop-culture Good vs. Evil struggle to save the world. Philosophical discussions rub elbows with dramatic action scenes. Bio-morphing, time travel and gravity upheaval share pages with white wine, bougainvilleas and gentle love scenes. The writer is a master at weaving narrative threads into a satisfying tapestry. Open one and settle in for the trip.

[ANTHONY KEY · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent, fast paced, intriguing novel about a shape-shifting immortal vampire she-devil! Extraordinarily creative, filled with well-drawn interesting characters, its action sequences are amazingly convincing and breath-taking. Full of romantic episodes, it manages also to touch on several moral and ethical areas.

[Michael Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gilbert Reid's vivid imagination and tumbling ideas know no bounds. The reader is enthralled by V's outlandish exploits, made more credible by the author's detailed scene settings, especially those
based on his first-hand knowledge of Italy. Go V, go!

[Diane Shamata · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating and witty read from beginning to end - I couldn't put it down. This is a literary fiction encompassing surprising (and shocking) historical facts... V is such a beautiful, charming and wickedly brilliant character I am in awe! ...... On to Volume two!!!