Spires

by Briar Lee Mitchell

An explosion in a chemical factory turns an ancient German cathedral into an inferno. Unable to save the centuries-old structure, firemen and townspeople watch in horror and sadness as the venerable building, standing since the time of Charlemagne, crumbles to the ground in flames, smoke and ash. The true horror though, is what had been imprisoned deep beneath the stone monstrosity and is released into an unsuspecting world. Villicus Shanks, a powerful vampire during the Middle Ages, a time when vampires warred amongst themselves to feed on the few humans left alive during the plague, was imprisoned by those who feared him the most—his own kind. Let loose back into a world brimming with money, greed, power, and huge herds of people, Villicus’s thirst for blood and revenge seems unquenchable until he meets Amanda Brax, a human woman, who steals the heart he thought he no longer possessed. His love for her is tested when he finds the two vampires who imprisoned him, Bale and Nikonar. The two bloodsuckers, who are shocked at his surviving such a lonely and devastating imprisonment, seek his destruction once more by trying to take Amanda from him.

Genres: Horror

206 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 15, 2021

About the author

“Write what you know” is the classic advice given to authors. Briar Lee Mitchell definitely seems to adhere to that maxim.

The polar setting for Briar’s WALKING ON MARS serial echoes her experiences in the world’s coldest climate as a guest at McMurdo Base in Antarctica. Warming up on Andros Island in the Bahamas helped her set the scene for DARK LIGHTS. She and her dive partners were offered $100 rewards from the Navy base there should any of them find a live torpedo out on the reefs.

The BIG ASS SHARK author recently donned a wet suit to climb into a shark cage in the northern Pacific. Then Briar and her stalwart search and rescue dog, Thor, patrolled the Georgia woods and succeeded in helping the police locate and recover a missing person. The experience will no doubt fuel her future fiction.

When not engaging in her edgier pastimes, Briar creates digital paintings for a diverse list of clients ranging from Warner Bros. to the U. S. Air Force. Her work has been featured in films, video games, and exhibited at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.

She also spends a lot of time floating in her Florida pool watching clouds drift by and imagining mayhem. www.briarmitchell.com

Reviews

[C.T. Phipps · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating story of a reprehensible vampire who escapes imprisonment from beneath a church to wreck havoc in the modern world. Villicus is wholly unlikable but he has numerous characters to bounce off who are eager to stop his rampaging serial murder across Germany as well as Hollywood. I had fun with the story even if it was a bit slow to the start.

[M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Something lurks beneath an old, German Cathedral--something dangerous and predatory. Vampire. When an explosion of fire releases Villicus from his prison, the creature escapes bent on revenge. His bloodlust cannot be contained and those who cruelly imprisoned him will be punished.

If you are looking for your next classic vampire story, look no further. From the first page, I was captivated. The premise grabbed me and I wanted to read more about Villicus and his plight of revenge. Although omniscient, the story is a well-crafted horror story filled with mysteries and violence. Add a dash of romance and you have Spires: a modern, gothic tale of vampires who seek power, money, and blood.

I love some good ol' fashion horror in my books from time to time and Mitchell's vampires did not disappoint. These creatures are terrifying and they hold no love in their hearts for humans. I love that they are actually monsters transformed and are not your typical, sympathetic creatures that are popular in media today.

Even though the story is told from multiple points of view, I was never confused about who we were following next. It was well executed and made for a well-rounded story.

In all, if you want to read something modern, a little frightening, and a little romantic, Spires is the book for you.

[Sydney Winward · Rating 4 out of 5]

When a centuries-old vampire is finally released from his prison beneath a cathedral, will he seek revenge on the other vampires who put him there? Or will his release lead to his own destruction?

This book had a bit of everything. Horror. Mystery. Romance. From the very first page, I was sucked into the world the author created. I was intrigued by the idea of a vampire being freed after hundreds of years of entrapment and what might happen once released, and the author didn’t disappoint.

Spires was very well written. The vampires were terrifying, god-like creatures, the stuff of nightmares. And the ending was satisfying. If you like dark fantasy/horror with a bit of paranormal romance, then this book would be a good fit for you.

[Lailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whoa, this book sounds like a wild ride! Starting with a centuries-old cathedral going up in flames? That's a hook right there. But the real kicker is what gets released – a seriously ancient and powerful vampire from the Middle Ages! The idea of this old-school bloodsucker trying to navigate our modern world of money and endless people? That's just begging for some intense and probably hilarious moments. And then throw in a human woman who melts his cold, undead heart? I'm so in. This feels like it's gonna be an epic clash of old and new, with a love story tangled in the middle of a vampire vendetta.

[Wayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this take on vampires. It had characters that I cared about, and a great pace. Even left room for this to become a series. Hopefully! #SPIRES #NetGalley