After turning his human lover into a vampire in Washington, D.C., upsetting the Dark Kingdom’s delicate balance and exponentially increasing his own powers, Victor fled to post-Katrina New Orleans in order to escape the Dark Kingdom’s justice, leaving his lover behind. Mere geography, however, cannot protect Victor from the Dark Kingdom’s agents, who are hellbent on resetting the balance and stopping Victor’s plans to become a vampire maker -- at any cost. Father Charles Boisvert believes he has overcome his homosexual desires -- that is, until troubled, young Kyle enters his confessional. Kyle is Victor’s latest thrall, trapped to do Victor’s bidding, desperate to escape yet loving his subservience. Charles is determined to save Kyle from Victor’s control, even if it means giving in to temptation. While Charles and Victor battle for Kyle’s soul, the Dark Kingdom’s agents draw ever closer. The very thing that will give Victor the power to defeat them -- transforming Kyle from thrall to vampire -- will simultaneously free Kyle from Victor’s control, yet doom his soul forever.

An annotated cosmology of Anne Rice's Vampiredom from A(kasha) to Z(enobia)—all fifteen books of the Vampire Chronicles detailed, by a longtime Anne Rice reader and scholar; the who, what, where, why, (and often) how of her beloved characters, mortal and 'im', brought together in a book for the first time. Illustrated by Mark Edward Geyer. An Alphabettery of Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles gathers together, from all fifteen of the books in the series, the facts, details, story lines, genealogies of her characters, vampiric subjects, geographical influences, and cultural and individual histories, all of which Rice painstakingly researched and invented during her 40-year career--to date--through which she has enchanted and transported us. Here are concise, detailed biographies of every character, no matter how central or minor to the cosmology. Revealed are the intricacies and interconnectedness of characters and subjects throughout. We see how Akasha (Queen of Egypt and the first vampire) is connected to Mekare (the inheritor of the title of the Queen of the Damned), etc., and how these characters connect back to the darkest rebel outlaw of them all, Lestat de Lioncourt ... And we see, as well, the ways in which Rice's vampires have evolved from warring civilizations to isolated covens to a unified race of blood drinkers led by their hero-wanderer and sole monarch, Prince Lestat. For devoted and first-time Anne Rice readers alike, An Alphabettery of Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles will be the holy grail of lore and revelation for those who have been, and continue to be, mesmerized by the worlds within worlds of these beloved tales of the undead.

A thrilling treasury of vampire lore! Since the seventeenth century, people have been frightened, mesmerized, and fascinated by the terrifying tales of vampires. In this book, you'll uncover the history and mystery behind these bloodthirsty monsters with folklore, mythology, and poetry from every tradition in the world. From the Bosnian Lampir, whose disease-ridden corpse spread infection and death throughout villages, to Bram Stoker's charming Dracula, who helped define modern-day vampires, the wicked stories surrounding these nocturnal beings are sure to captivate anyone who has ever wondered about these shadow-loving creatures. Whether you're interested in exploring the culture of vampires or just want to learn more about their supernatural abilities, you'll discover dozens of compelling tales, historical accounts, and haunting legends that shed some light on these sinister beings. Complete with detailed illustrations, Vampires reveals the dark allure and gruesome power of these creatures of the night.

This book explores the idea that while we see the vampire as a hero of romance, or as a member of an oppressed minority struggling to fit in and acquire legal recognition, the vampire has in many ways changed beyond recognition over recent decades due to radically shifting formations of the sacred in contemporary culture. The figure of the vampire has captured the popular imagination to an unprecedented extent since the turn of the millennium. The philosopher René Girard associates the sacred with a communal violence that sacred ritual controls and contains. As traditional formations of the sacred fragment, the vampire comes to embody and enact this ‘sacred violence’ through complex blood bonds that relate the vampire to the human in wholly new ways in the new millennium.

Drakul. Nosferatu. Upyr. Vampyre. There have been many names for what we know today as the vampire. For over a century, literature, television, cinema and many other areas in our daily lives cannot be imagined without the appearance of this fictional character. Almost everyone is familiar with the image of the walking undead that creeps out of its coffin at night and sucks the blood out of humans. The undead has always been appealing to its audience. It is the ‘otherness’ of such monsters, their frightful darkness and exoticism that makes them so interesting. This book deals with the figure of the vampire regarded as the ‘unknown other’ and how it is fictionally represented in the American TV series True Blood (2008 - ). Considering both psychoanalytical concepts as well identity theory, the author depicts the literary and cinematographic development of the fictional figure of the vampire since the late nineteenth century, and analyzes different representations of the vampire and its “otherness” as well as their appeal to the audience in the True Blood.

They say what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. But for Kaden Cartwright, what happens in Vegas has a way of winding him up in a Salem Witch Trial. Discovering he possesses a ""sick-sense"" that enables him to alter and control bodily functions, Kaden uses these talents to become a successful doctor. After being pulled over by the Las Vegas police, he immediately senses that something is also different about the beautiful blonde officer ticketing him. Unlike in times past, in his effort to get out of the citation, he realizes his powers are not working on her. And it's all downhill from there. This chance encounter catapults him into a dangerous chasm of the occult. He faces everything from vampires and werewolves to organized crime. Discover why Las Vegas is really called Sin City in this action-packed adventure and how it all goes back to the Witch's Curse!

Xander is many things, but he isn’t a vampire… yet. For now, being a vampire’s daytime assistant has its perks. Hanging out with vampires is just one of them. The downsides? Well, for one, Xander and his friends getting kidnapped by a group of armed mages. They want a book they think Xander’s boss has in his possession, and refusing them means torture followed by a slow death. Being a normal human among supernaturals, at the mercy of those stronger, has never frustrated Xander so much. But as the friends struggle to keep themselves alive, Xander might have a bigger advantage than anyone realizes. Vampire's Grimoire is the fourth book in the Changing Bodies trans-masc M/M paranormal thriller series. Content warnings for violence, torture, and kissing. While there is a romantic subplot, the book is not a romance. The series is best read in order.

The first look at the philosophical issues behind Charlaine Harris's New York Times bestsellers The Southern Vampire Mysteries and the True Blood television series Teeming with complex, mythical characters in the shape of vampires, telepaths, shapeshifters, and the like, True Blood, the popular HBO series adapted from Charlaine Harris's bestselling The Southern Vampire Mysteries, has a rich collection of themes to explore, from sex and romance to bigotry and violence to death and immortality. The goings-on in the mythical town of Bon Temps, Louisiana, where vampires satiate their blood lust and openly commingle with ordinary humans, present no shortages of juicy metaphysical morsels to sink your teeth into. Now True Blood and Philosophy calls on the minds of some of history's great thinkers to perform some philosophical bloodletting on such topics as Sookie and the metaphysics of mindreading; Maryann and sacrificial religion; werewolves, shapeshifters and personal identity; vampire politics, evil, desire, and much more. The first book to explore the philosophical issues and themes behind the True Blood novels and television series Adds a new dimension to your understanding of True Blood characters and themes The perfect companion to the start of the third season on HBO and the release of the second season on DVD Smart and entertaining, True Blood and Philosophy provides food—or blood—for thought, and a fun, new way to look at the series.

An eBook collection of three urban fantasy novels: Rush of Wings by Adrian Phoenix, Staked by J.F. Lewis, and Wicked Game by Jeri Smith-Ready. A RUSH OF WINGS Special Agent Heather Wallace is a strong, compassionate woman who believes in justice and being a voice for the dead. When she trails a serial-killing sexual sadist to New Orleans, an unexpected twist leads her to a man who goes by the name Dante. Dante is a gorgeous, talented rock star, and a vampire. He's also the killer's next target. Caught in a web of deception stretching to the FBI and beyond, Heather runs a desperate race against time, against other agents, and against her own deepening feelings for Dante. But not even she will be able to save Dante from his own stolen past... STAKED A "fast-paced story with a heady mixture of humor, violence, and sex" (Library Journal), this witty and immensely appealing urban fantasy novel features a strip club-owning vampire with memory problems. Fans who enjoy Charlaine Harris, Jim Butcher, and Kim Harrison will love this unforgettable and subversive dark fantasy novel. WICKED GAME Recovering con artist Ciara Griffin is trying to live the straight life, even if it means finding a (shudder!) real job. She takes an internship at a local radio station, whose late-night time-warp format features 1940s blues, '60s psychedelia, '80s goth, and more, all with an uncannily authentic flair. Ciara soon discovers just how the DJs maintain their cred: they're vampires, stuck forever in the eras in which they were turned. To boost ratings and save the lives of her strange new friends, Ciara rebrands the station as "WVMP, the Lifeblood of Rock 'n' Roll." In the ultimate con, she hides the DJs' vampire nature in plain sight, disguising the bloody truth as a marketing gimmick. But the "gimmick" enrages a posse of ancient and powerful vampires who aren't so eager to be brought into the light. Soon the stakes are higher—and the perils graver—than any con game Ciara's ever played…

This bundle includes the first three books of the Mortis Vampire Series. Death Beckons: Working late one night, Natalie Pierce is kidnapped by a creature that looks like a harmless old man, but is something far more terrifying. Waking up in a creepy mausoleum, she is forced to endure three nights of indescribable agony. Her life is forever altered when she is transformed into a monster of myth and legend; a vampire. Lonely and full of despair, she comes face to face with the irresistible and enigmatic Lord Lucentio. Justice bringer for the European Vampire Council, Luc has been sent to Australia to kill Natalie's maker, but someone has already beaten him to it. He quickly discovers that Nat is far from an ordinary fledgling. He suspects that she is Mortis, a figure of both hope and dread among their kind. Natalie is propelled into a dark and mysterious underworld that takes her far away from her hometown of Brisbane. Her arrival was foretold long ago and her fate is already sealed. Nat's entire species is in danger and it is her job to save them. She desperately wants to escape from the burden that has been thrust upon her, but she is inextricably linked to a two thousand year old prophecy. An unknown enemy has begun to whittle down their already limited numbers. If Nat fails to accept her destiny, all vampires will soon cease to exist. Death Embraces: Natalie Pierce awakens to find herself buried in a box that strongly resembles a coffin. After some initial confusion she remembers that she has become a member of a very exclusive club; the living dead. Natalie has three important tasks ahead of her. One: escape from her underground prison. Two: hunt down the creature responsible for imprisoning her. Three: discover who or what is behind the cause of the sentient shadows that only she can see. As the long awaited and highly unanticipated Mortis, Nat has abilities that no other vampire has ever before possessed. She must utilize the strangeness that sets her apart from her new kin to fulfill a prophecy that was written over two thousand years ago. The ancient text predicts that it is her destiny to wipe out the vast bulk of her own kind. Despite all of the weird and wacky powers that she has gained, not even Mortis can avoid her fate. Death Deceives: From the moment she’d been turned into Mortis, Natalie Pierce had been fated to come face to face with the first vampire ever created. Hideously transformed over thousands of years by the diseased blood that runs through his veins, the First had created an army of grey skinned imps. His plan is to enslave humanity and to turn them into a vast herd of cattle to feed his offspring. Nat and her friends are all that stands between the humans and the bat faced, orange eyed imps. Aside from the overwhelming odds against them, Natalie foresaw an even bigger danger. As vampires, they were all highly susceptible to becoming possessed by their shadows. Once that happened, they could then be turned into imps by the First. Luc, Geordie, Igor and Gregor would be doomed from the instant they set foot inside the First’s lair. A recent prophecy had foretold that an army would come to Natalie’s aid. With many of her new kin already possessed by their shadows, Nat was uncertain where this mystery army would come from. She could only hope that the prophecy would come true. If it didn't, she would be facing the First and his growing army of ravenous offspring alone.