L.G. Burbank, The Soulless

The Soulless

L.G. Burbank

Medallion, Oct 2004, 334 pp.

ISBN 0974363995

In 1147, mercenary Mordred Soulis leads the troops of King Conrad on the second Crusade when most of the soldiers die in Donylaeum. King Conrad and a few of his guards sneak away, leaving Mordred to guide the remaining men out of the desert. Except for Mordred, the desert takes the lives of the remaining crusaders but Vlad the Vampyre bites Mordred; he becomes a half-born fledging who must be taught how to use his powers.

The Guardians of the Tree of Knowledge succor him until he is strong enough to be taken to the Knights Templar. Their leader believes he is the Chosen One, the savior of the human race from Vlad and his minions. When the Templars teach him all they can, they send him to Egypt to seek out the Vampyre Narangatti King in the Great Pyramid who will teach him how to use his vampire powers. From there he goes to Scotland to find an ancient book and meets a werewolf who becomes his companion. During his travels, Vlad tries to entice him to his side, but Mordred, who is still half-human, embraces the light.

The first book in The Lords of Darkness series is deserving of a Bram Stoker award nomination. L.G. Burbank has created a vampire mythos much different than the vampires of Dracula fame. True Vampires were created along with man, but Vlad is the product of the Church's attempt to gain immortality by creating an abomination they thought they could control. Mordred is a vampire who chooses to do work for the good of humanity and not let evil taint his soul. THE SOULLESS is a truly terrific horror novel.

Harriet Klausner