[Rise of the Fel Queen 02] • Mad Bride of the Ripper

'The Mad Bride of the Ripper' takes the Victorian Horror Yarn style of the first book in the series and pushes it deeper into the realm of horror fantasy.

Introducing Lucy and Renfield, the Dracula mythos is expanded in a new and exciting way which attempts to pay homage to the cozy horror movies of Hammer and Universal while indulging in a more modern portrayal of violence and themes.

It is a tale of madness. Of death. Occult obsession.

And blood.

So much blood...

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Madness is not always in the mind...

As Dracula's brides pursue him from Transylvania to Paris, London is enduring horror of a new kind as Lucy Westenra haunts the poverty-driven streets. Her trail is one of insanity and violence at a time when London's most shocking killer strikes from the shadows.

Van Helsing and Doctor Seward race to contain the vampire's growing powers, but the glowing edge of sanity is a fragile shell and that shell has cracked.

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“There. Inside the coffin. The vampire is here. And torpor already clasps her awareness. We’re just in time, Arthur.”

“Right.” Arthur tried not to gag as he stepped past Van Helsing. Eager to get the job done and get out. Held stake out in front of himself and saw the white dress. Stained with blood. Fresh blood still wet. Gleaming in the torchlight.

Eyes half-closed and wincing, he pressed the stake to the vampire’s breast.

And, though he always tried to avoid doing so, looked at her face.

“Arthur?” Van Helsing whispered. “What is it?”

His strangled cry echoed within the crypt. “Lucy. It’s Lucy!”

Her eyes flicked open.

Lips drew back in a savage grin to show fangs. Mouth opened in enraged silent roar.

Van Helsing rushed up. “Arthur! Strike!”

“No. I can’t. Look, Abraham. Look at her. It’s Lucy, damn you.”

From her open mouth, the shriek finally emerged. High and piercing like the scream of a bird.

Her arm flashed, clawed fingers streaking toward Arthur’s neck.

Van Helsing shouted.

Mallet hammered home.

Blood.

And then there was silence. Broken only when Arthur began to sob.