Content levels
Trigger warnings
Positive tags
Hero archetypes
Protagonist archetypes
Tropes
Themes
Synopsis
Winner of the 2026 BookFest Award for horror. ... To save his soul, he must kill a monster. To save his sister, he must become one. Game of Thrones meets Dracula in this gritty thriller where vampires are not myths—they're predators! Bulgaria, during the bloody Crusades. Devastated when a creature of the night slays his mother, young nobleman Darius swears bitter revenge. He forges himself into a formidable weapon against the darkness, but when his quest endangers his frail sister’s life, will his vengeance mean her doom? Sir George, son of a murdered lord, is drawn into Vlad Dracula’s shadowy Order of the Dragon. Seeking cold justice for his father’s death, he uncovers a secret more terrifying than the imminent Ottoman invasion. Should he continue to chase retribution? Or abandon his pledge and save his very soul? And beneath such impossible choices lurks a diabolical underworld, with age-old myths and laws, plots and prejudice and vicious predators. As Darius and Sir George’s lonely paths collide, they are lured into a hellish nightmare of sacred orders, blood-soaked destiny , and looming dread. To survive, it’s a choice between honour, family or brotherhood , in a war where immortals play for kingdoms, and each must decide: is victory worth the risk of damnation? ..... Praise for "Blood of the Damned" 'Stanton’s prose is vivid, cinematic, and relentless. Fans of The Historian or Anno Dracula will be at home in the mud of the battlefield and the shadow of the crypt.' - Anca Antoci - Goodreads - 5 Stars 'A love letter to the vampire-loving history geek that I am!' - Haly - Goodreads - 5 stars ..... Book Details Part one of a two-part story. Book one of an epic, alternate history horror series. A saga of forbidden love, vengeance, and the true terror of the undead. Ideal for fans of Gothic world-building and dark fantasy with morally complex heroes. ..... If you love immersive stories with suspenseful vampire lore, this maybe your next favourite series. Why not flit to the top and grab your copy right now? Start your own thrilling adventure today .....
Blood of the Damned: A Medieval Vampire Thriller: content & age rating
Intended for adult readers (18+).
Graphic violence, blood-soaked battles, and vampire horror with detailed descriptions of death and gore. Complex moral dilemmas around vengeance and damnation; characters become monsters to fight monsters.
What to know going in
This book has graphic violence, mild sexual content, and moderate language. Content notes include graphic violence, gore, murder, death of parent, and death (see the full list above).
Who'll love this
Adult readers will be drawn into a dark, immersive tale of vampire hunters during the Crusades with morally complex heroes and visceral horror.