Blood Fiends' Bane by William Stacey

By: Unknown on Saturday, May 14, 2016

Title:  Blood Fiends' Bane
Series:  The Vampire Queen Saga #1
Author:  William Stacey
Publication Date:  May 10/16 by Bastard Sword Press
Length:  279pgs
Genre:  Fantasy
Shelf:  review
My Rating: ★★★★★
Book Links: Goodreads – Amazon(US) – Amazon(CA)

Back Cover Blurb:

Some treasures are best left buried.

Sentenced to five-years’ service as a soldier for a violent crime, Owen Toscovar now serves the noble Dain family as a man-at-arms. Because he is large and powerful, most deridingly refer to the young man as “Horse-Boy,” believing him to be little more than a quick-tempered brute, a tool for violence. But Owen is far cleverer than most suspect, and he bristles under his forced servitude, wishing to experience adventure and see the world beyond his northern Duchy. Owen is about to get his desire.

The Dains, a once proud royal family, have fallen into disfavor, but their fortunes change when a deathbed confession reveals a shocking secret -- the location of the mythical longsword Sight-Bringer. The magical sword was long believed destroyed in an apocalyptic battle fifty years ago that killed the terrifying Vampire Queen, Serina Greywynne. Now, Owen will accompany the new young Dain lord and his sister on an expedition to retrieve the holy relic. They will journey across an ocean and through a monster-filled swamp to the ruins of an abandoned fortress long believed haunted by the ghost of Serina herself.

But the legends are built on lies, and evil stirs in the catacombs beneath the fortress. In the slaughter that follows, Owen must somehow protect the Dain bloodline from an unholy evil, because if he fails, everyone he loves will die.

Intended for a mature audience, Blood Fiends’ Bane is the first book in the Vampire Queen Saga, a dark, gritty tale of sword-swinging-action, blood-curdling horror, and selfless duty in the face of unspeakable evil. Author William Stacey is a 2014 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Quarter-Finalist.

My Review:

I love this author’s voice. It presents the tale in such a unique manner. The manner in which he writes highlights certain aspects of the tale, increasing the intensity and the creativity of it. The active storytelling really draws you in. Plot twists and turns galore kept me on my toes while the gradual world building left me with a solid sense of having truly experienced it all. This novel has the feel of a fantasy tale while being so much more.

Stacey also creates some one of a kind, unforgettable characters that take the story from great to unforgettable. This unimaginably inventive story is the perfect place for them to shine. The unique mix of history and fantasy, intrigue and betrayal are the perfect place for them to shine. Intrigue, adventure, strength and courage all take a stand as characters battle to hold their own.

This is definitely an author to watch! From a unique and well laid out plot to solid world building and fantastic characters, he’s got it all.