Bloodwars

Necroscope #8

by Brian Lumley

The twin sons of Harry Keogh, the Necroscope, have taken very different paths. Nathan as his father's powers--to talk to the dead, to travel instantly through space. Like Harry, this new Necroscope fights evil wherever he finds it.

His twin, Nestor, has become the most horrifying evil imaginable: a shape-shifting, blood sucking Wamphyi Lord! Devoid of human feeling, Nestor and his companion, the beautiful, malevolent Wratha the Risen, hunt without mercy.

The battle between the brothers mirrors the war between vampires and humans. On mankind's side: terrible weapons brought from Earth by Nathan's allies. But the vampires are numerous and powerful, and neither side has a clear advantage...until Nathan and his legions of the dead discover a way to destroy the vampires forever.

In the midst of a titanic battle, Nathan makes a desperate move that forever changes millions of lives and two worlds: the vampire world...and earth.

Genres: Horror, Vampires, Fiction, Fantasy, Paranormal, Science Fiction, Urban Fantasy

816 pages, Paperback

First published September 29, 1994

About the author

Brian Lumley was born near Newcastle. In 22 years as a Military Policeman he served in many of the Cold War hotspots, including Berlin, as well as Cyprus in partition days. He reached the rank of Sergeant-Major before retiring to Devon to write full-time, and his work was first published in 1970. The vampire series, 'Necroscope', has been translated into ten languages and sold over a million copies worldwide.

He was awarded the World Fantasy Life Achievement Award in 2010.

Reviews

[Carl Bluesy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic finale to the vampireland trilogy! Well, I still would consider book 3, my favorite of the Necroscope series, this is a close second. The steaks are so high in this one so much action and depravity. And it all hits that much harder because of all that has been established in the first two vampire land books.

This is a book that earned its page count. It’s very big but is so worth it! The vampire land trilogy such a huge highlight point of the Necroscope series, and is the part that I look forward reading the most!

[Dollie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really long book, but it brought about the end of the vampires. Nathan goes back to Sunside with Ben Trask, David Chung, Ian Goodly, Zek and Anna Marie English (who gets prettier in this newer, younger world and falls in love with Andrei). Devetaki thought that she was going to win the war against Wrathra and her lot, but with their combined mental efforts, Nathan changed the axis of their world, so all of the vampires that hadn’t been caught and killed in the war were blasted by the sunrise. The sun on the swamps dried them up, too, so there was no more vampire spores. I love the Necroscope(s), but have had enough of vampires after reading all these books.

[Jim Spencer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is as good as it ever got.
Practically every aspect of this one works. The build up, the coming together, the resolution of how harry jr figured out to travel between worlds using the mobius continuum, freeing the vampire world itself. Everything was damn near perfect. The ending feels a little rushed bit that's just a small gripe. The ending itself was a real shocker, lets just say I didn't see that coming from a mile. Unfortunately, the necroscope serious never quite got as good after thos, though it was still decent. But its difficult to top an ending like this so no major gripes really.

[Γιώργος Μπελαούρης · Rating 5 out of 5]

although in some chapters it waz a drag and the ending waz kinda rushed
nathan and nestor s story iz equally wellcrafted as their father's
really enjoyed this monster of a book (200 pages more woyld be ok tho)

[Vicky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh

[Matthew Schiller · Rating 5 out of 5]

The end of the Vampire World trilogy in Brian Lumley’s Necroscope universe does not disappoint. Every time you think you have it pegged down where the author is going to take his books he zags in a way that you don’t anticipate. This lets his book have a freshness that few others can match. As I’ve said before, every time the ending comes as the reader you don’t want it to end. A satisfying conclusion to this trilogy and I’m glad there is more.

[Mike Koser · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was shaping up to be an incredible end to a fascinating saga, but it felt rushed towards the end to wrap up all the various conflicts. I think that more time should have been spent resolving all of these conflicts that Lumley built up wonderfully throughout the series.

[Robert Defrank · Rating 5 out of 5]

The title does not lie.

The epic Vampire World trilogy concludes with a crescendo as the new Necroscope and his allies at last cross back over into the horror of Sunside/Starside and the Wamphyri and their armies of abominations descend on the human resistance. Modern weapons are brought to bear against Lovecraftian, blood-drinking abominations and will even the Necroscope's powers over distance and death be enough to turn the tide?

And the audiobook is utter perfection.

[hotsake (André Troesch) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very satisfying end to the Vampire World trilogy of books within the Necroscope series. The trilogy started off shaky but it got progressively better with each book. It was also a better end to the series proper than book 5 which I found to be a bit of a letdown and my least favorite book in the series. This one rates as my second favorite surpassed only by the first book. I’m looking forward to the rest of the series most of which are short story collections.

[Cameron]

I'm finally done.

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is the 8th in the Necroscope series and the conclusion to the Vampire World Trilogy that stars Nathan and Nestor as the main combatants, although it does have all the remaining characters from Necroscope 1-5.

I really enjoyed this conclusion. Yes, it was very long and the end did seem kind of rushed but all the loose ends in this trilogy were nicely tied up.

I enjoyed how Nathan started the war between Wratha and her refugees vs the remaining Turgoheim army of Vormulac that is now led by Devataki ( she is a pistol, that one). The diseased body put into the water source was genius. Nathan used his powers as good as they can be used in this book.

Sad about Siggi and I happened to like good ol' Canker but, it is what it is.

Using the combined powers of the Necroscope and his E-Branch friends from the Helllands (Earth) there is a definitive ending to the vampires, even the spores in the vampire swamps. It is kind of reminiscent of the mirrors used in the ending of Necroscope 3 The Source.

Eygor Killglance was a great subplot in this one and became very important towards the end to settle a few feuds.

The only gripe I had with the, kind of, rushed ending was the battle between Nathan and Nestor. I did like how Nana was there dead speaking to them though.

Overall, this is 4-4.5 stars.

[Chris Healey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 8 in the Necroscope saga on audible.. the third in the Vampire World trilogy that I wasn’t keen on to begin with but over the course of the three got better. This one was probably the best. Some brilliant set pieces & ideas all woven together well & the best ending since Deadspawn. Loved the idea of this fundamentally flawed universe finally being brought back into a state of order, but since there’s another 10 books in the saga so not sure at this point what direction the story will go, especially if they’re all averaging the 25/30 hour mark as they have so far

[Zach · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's somewhat sad to leave the story of the necroscope but it had to end sometime. Thrilling books, ALL OF THEM FAR TOO LONG, but replete with lots of enjoyable content. This is the 8th book and if you are reading this and haven't read the others start with book one. If you've read the others than all you really need to know was this was pretty much more of the same.

Great universe, great stories and yeah these books are just painfully long needlessly.

[Michelle Nakagawa · Rating 5 out of 5]

The books in this series never disappoint. They are always full of nasty, evil vampires and awful tales of those who fight them to have the free lives they deserve. The fighting between the groups of vampires really kicks in full force and it is as mind-numbingly bloody and vicious as you'd expect.

Absolutely awesome!

[Aaron Anderson]

I reread through this book in the series. I liked it overall, as I remembered I had in the past, but 8 straight books is more than enough of this authors works, for now.

I'll probably come back and read the rest he's written in this series in a few months. I think I've read up to book 10 before, but I'm not sure. I'm certain I haven't read his lastest stuff though.

[Trisha Danielson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best vampire series ever!

Not for the weak of heart, Brian Lumley captures the extremely evil and persistent essence of the vampire. Read the entire Necroscope series but 6, 7 and 8 are the best. Delve into a parallel world controlled by vampires and follow two brothers to an unworldly conclusion. Love these books!

[CASPER HILEMAN · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nestor Keough has become a co-ruler with his Vampire lover Wratha the Risen. His human twin brother Nathan is able to speak with the dead like his illegitimate father. The alternate Earth is broken into two lands, "Sunside," and "Starside" are at stake. Will the world remain plagued by vampires or will humanity be free to thrive?

[Patricia Cole]

A good ending to a great series!

It you like vampires, this series has lots of them. Couple that with great characters and esp and this series has it all. Action, adventure, horror and romance. I have read these books a dozen times and know I'll read them a dozen more. Brian Lumley is a wonderful author and story teller.

[SOTERO RIVERA · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great conclusion to the Wamphiry saga.

Finally, the Wamphiry are completely dead, or so it seems. Excellent plot and character building. The story was well written with lots of action to keep you reading.
Highly recommended.

[SHUiZMZ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having just finished the 3rd installment of Brian Lumley's Vampire World, as well as having already read the excellent Necroscope series (5 books), I am falling in love with Lumley's writing & interesting characters & plots. I cant wait to read another series by him and his other worlds created.

[Ron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here is the conclusion of the Blood Wars?
Good story that’s traveled so far among the Möbius strip.
Brian Lumley is very descriptive in his story telling.

[Tammy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm glad this is done.
There was a lot of retelling and back and forth in this one.

[Adam Austin · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was good but there were several resolutions that were kind of rushed. I understand why, it was already pretty long but still somehow felt rushed at the end.

[Jabes · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best. Whamphyri end? On to the next Book. Book 9.

[Andy Strutt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Necroscope Series by Brian Lumley
Review by Andy Strutt author of “The Afflicted”

I first discovered this series by receiving “Necroscope III : The Source” as a Christmas present. I had never heard of Brian Lumley but I was instantly infatuated with his work as soon as I had read the first few pages. Obviously, the first thing I did was go out and find the rest of the Necroscope series.
Harry Keogh is a very strange character with morbid supernatural powers that allow him to speak to the dead. That is enough to make you want to read the series on its own but it is only the start. The Necroscope is the first in the series of a totally unique and fantastical vampire mythology, and definitely my favourite out of all of them. His writing his dark and exciting and is not for the faint hearted. These are books for true fans of horror and I challenge any new reader to predict what is going to happen next. I pride myself on being able to predict the storyline and I was pleasantly surprised, there was no way I could have guessed where the story would lead. For me it is impossible to review a single novel in isolation (or necessary) because I feel that anyone who reads the first will very quickly read the other 14 novels eagerly.
Highly recommended and I guarantee these books deserve horror classic status. The writing and characterisations are timeless and will be enjoyed by true horror fans for centuries to come.

[Michael Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lumley expounds upon the vampire home world. Again, very nicely done.
Very good series! Imagine any knowledge that you needed at the ready for your asking. Enter Harry. Very well designed story, with a main character that is easily identified with, Harry Koegh. The imagination that came up with these characters must have experienced some truly awful things. Lumley, being an ex SAS officer, surely did.

The vampires in this series are not nice. They are not warm and fuzzy. They're not cute (well, the women can be) and they know one primal rule: Anything to remain alive... so to speak. They are the epitome of ruthlessness, guile, viciousness, and outright cruelty. Lumley is good at this, and the stories get more and more gripping as the series carries on. We eventually even learn of the vampire's origins (The Source). Brutal and scary as hell at times. Always imaginative and truly entertaining.

[Gilliam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bloodwars reads like a condensed version of a much larger book or two (or maybe even three). Jam-packed with incident and long-winded exposition both it seems rushed (or perhaps hacked and slashed is the truth of it), particularly the collision of events at the climax; there's also my complaint that a number of characters from the previous books one might understandably expect to be playing significant roles in the course of events end up receiving scant attention and inconsequential closure.

Not necessarily a disappointment — Bloodwars is an entertaining horror/fantasy — but still not altogether the satisfying conclusion to the trilogy one might have expected or hoped for.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This final book in the Vampire World trilogy pits Nathan Keogh (with help from E-Branch Espers and Vampire World Szgany), son of the original Necroscope, against his evil twin brother turned into a leperous vampire lord, along with the rest of the bloodlusting, treacherous vampire lords, all warring with each other in an attempt for power and position. While I found the original Necroscope trilogy to be the best and strongest of the Necroscope series, and the second trilogy almost as good, the Vampire World is worth reading. Lumley is one of the best of HPL-influenced authors out there, and should be read for his unique, larger than life voice. Aye!

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book, neatly wraps up the trilogy. Sometimes it was a bit of a slog and the ending seemed a bit rushed. This exhaustive set could easily have been broken into five books rather than a trilogy. The story might have flowed a little better. The author seems very methodical in his approach to storytelling, even down to the length of the chapters. Throughout the trilogy, each chapter is roughly twenty pages in length, give or take a few pages. I plan to take a break from Lumley's world for a while before returning to tackle the remaining Necroscope novels.

[Zoe Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm going through this entire series and it's quite entertaining. But, I must disagree with a critic who compares this series equally with Anne Rices' vampire series, they are not the same in any way. I love Anne Rice and I'm glad she's visiting her vampires again! However, Brian Lumleys' vampires are really nasty critters and they have their own world of which they use and abuse. The entire series, so far, has had a central theme, time travel, but unlike any time travel stories I've ever read.