by
The adventures and trials of a vampire's journey from 1499 to the 38th century.
Publisher: Epic Publishing
Editors:
Cover Artists:
Genres:
Tropes: Becoming a Monster, Dark Lord, Immortality, Post-Apocalyptic
Word Count: 102096
Setting: Medieval France, Transylvania, Paris during the Revolution, modern day California, the far future.
Languages Available: English
Series Type: Same Universe / Various Characters
Tropes: Becoming a Monster, Dark Lord, Immortality, Post-Apocalyptic
Word Count: 102096
Setting: Medieval France, Transylvania, Paris during the Revolution, modern day California, the far future.
Languages Available: English
Series Type: Same Universe / Various Characters
What’s that? Whatever else he was going to say died away as he saw something move.
At the far side of the pit, it seemed to have simply appeared. He’d swear it wasn’t there a moment ago. A dark, hunched, unwieldly shape, picking its clumsy way among the bodies.
A survivor? Some poor soul not yet dead, awakening to find himself covered by his friends and neighbors’ corpses? Now stumbling over them in half-mad terror?
The shape halted, bent as if peering at one of the bodies, and reached out. Its hand dropped and the dark form moved on. It went a few more feet, then hesitated again. This time, it seized a body, wrenching it from under another. It embraced the corpse it held.
Is it actually kissing its neck? Damién felt his throat clog in revulsion.
READ MOREThe body was tossed aside, disgust in the movement. It fell with a liquid thud. The thing moved on, peering this way and that, searching for something it didn’t find, coming closer to where Damién stood above it.
The horse threw back its head, short, sharp squeals bursting from its throat. It struggled to back away, pulling the reins from Damién’s hands. As he recaptured them, the creature below him raised its head.
Holy Mother.
Its eyes glowed, red as coals…and they looked straight at him.
The wind swirled into the pit. It stirred the thing’s cloak, making it flutter away from the thin body. For a moment, it looked like…
Wings.
Lord God, save us. They are wings. Unfurling, great dark sails dwarfed the creature’s body, flapping as if preparing to take it airborne.
The horse moved again, backing frantically, Damién following. It reared, and he felt the burn of leather across his palm as the reins were jerked out of his hand. He made a futile grab for the flying straps but the animal whirled on hind legs, galloping into the safety of the trees.
There was a sound behind him. Something landing with a thump. Damién spun around.
The creature stood before him, eyes still glowing. He could swear he saw flames flickering within them. It collapsed its wings; once more they were merely clumsy shreds of cloth. It took a step toward him. Hands curved into claws reached out.
Damién didn’t run. He knew the creature’s identity, and that there was no chance he could escape. The priests told of such night-demons and of their incredible speed and powers greater than any mortal’s.
What had they said of ways to overcome them? He couldn’t remember.
The thing gathered itself for a leap. It would be on him before he could run…
…and was.
He barely had time to reach into the pouch at his waist, fingers scrabbling for the rosary tucked there.
Thank God, I didn’t toss it away. He thought of that irony as the creature launched itself. Damién thrust out his arm, crucifix dangling from the string of beads wrapped around his hand.
The creature ran directly into it. With a scream it recoiled, falling backward so quickly it appeared to have been tossed by the holy object.
Perhaps it had.
It fell on its back in the dirt and Damién was upon it, pressing the cross into its chest through the filthy rags, one knee on its belly, holding it down.
It gasped and struggled, a smell of rot and filth floating upward from the rags. Under the edges of the crucifix, flesh sizzled and blackened.
Damién swallowed and fought the urge to gag. He forced himself to touch the creature, catching one flailing wrist and pinning it to the ground. He was surprised by how light it felt, at the frailty of the body beneath his. He thought if he pressed harder with his knee, it might actually crush that bony chest and go through.
It stopped fighting. The eyes blinked, the red glow faded and it lay still.
Has it died? Have I crushed the hellish life from it?
When it spoke, he was startled.
“If you’re going to destroy me, go ahead. Oblivion is better than the existence I now suffer.” The sound was deep and hoarse, rusty, like a gate hinge grown solid with age being wrenched open.
“What can you know of oblivion?” Damién asked. “You’re le sans mort, aren’t you?”
There was a faint nod. Another wafting of that frightful smell. Damién swallowed, gulping back his disgust.
“Oui, I’m le sans mort but what good does immortality do me?”
He couldn’t believe the whine in the creature’s voice. It might be sans mort, an undead one, but it sounded so…human. So full of self-pity.
“What pleasure is there in feeding on corpses?”
“Why bother?” Damién surprised himself by laughing. “There’s an entire village only a short distance…”
“A dying village. No one has strength to invite me in. I can’t get to them, so I hunt among the dead, disgusting as that may be. Bah!” He made a spitting motion.
Damién shrank back without releasing his hold on the bony wrist.
“Blood thick and drying…solid in their veins…and if I find one still holding a spark of life… ’Tis too mixed with pus to be palatable.” He shook his head. “Go on. Destroy me. I no longer care.”
COLLAPSEGloria Lakritz on Paranormal Romance Guild wrote:Author de Vissage, known for his compelling story telling ability has created another vampire saga in the form of Damien La Croix, a man driven to live forever has never been satisfied with anyone or anything. Just when Le Chevalier du Morte believes he finally has everything he wants and needs, Fate—in a variety of form—intervenes and takes it all away. In the end, it takes an asteroid strike before Damien discovers the perfect woman—and a life they create together. Fans of de Vissage and vampire fiction will love this one.
On a scale of 1-5, The Nightman’s Odyssey deserves a 5.Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews
Tara Fox Hall on Amazon wrote:Hold on to your horses, your hat and cloak or whatever, we’re going on a dark adventure. A very, very terrifying one! And I’m loving it, every morbidly fascinating and gory bit. This kind of story is something Tony Paul de Vissage does exceptionally well. It’s why I am such a devoted fan!
de Vissage is a lean writer. “The Nightman’s Odyssey” sentence structure is pared to essentials. This is especially effective in the horror genre. A staccato burst of facts that leave you enough room to imagine the worst. Because most assuredly, much worse is coming. If you’re talking about vampires, then you know there will be horror upon horror to follow.
What makes the terse prose even more effective is it’s befitting the main character, Damien Lacroix. Damien, an Early Medieval (aka, the Dark Ages) nobleman, expects to get what he wants, when he wants it—until the plague arrives. Pestilence strikes the love of his life, the virginal Antoinette. Knowing her death is inevitable, and with all hope lost, Damien stumbles across someone who can help him save his beloved Antoinette. Saving her comes at a cost though. One Damien could not have foreseen nor even imagined.
Then, like all classic vampire stories, the story takes a horribly violent turn. Make no mistake, viciousness is part and parcel of “The Nightman’s Odyssey.” That’s as it should be. Because whether it’s the story of a man searching for true love, he is a monster. The thematic style of “The Nightman’s Odyssey” calls two other vampire stories to mind. First, Bram Stoker’s “Dracula,” specifically where Harker, shivering with anticipation, describes his encounter with Dracula’s Brides. The other is Justin Cronin’s “The Passage,” where evil is unrelenting. You’ll have to tell me if you agree.
Wanton rape, war, graphic killing, and explicit sexual activity is rampant in the story’s beginning which should be expected in a story about blood lust, feeding frenzies and raw passion. Although you’d think such horror or its detail has no place in romantic fantasy, it is historically accurate and a necessary contrast to show the character’s growth. The writing keeps you in context, rivetted to the page. That said, there is always hope. Year after year after year…which is another clever bit of writing by de Vissage—the story carries into a future quite far removed from ours, with an ending that is, shall we say, poetic justice, nonetheless.
A five-star review about a vampire with an ancient and unfortunate past that follows him wherever he goes.
BJ on Hippie Chicks Review wrote:A book filled with passions that make it a thrill to read; anger, rage, love, lust and fear. Every paragraph presented a picture for me filled with emotion.
A book filled with passions that make it a thrill to read; anger, rage, love, lust and fear. Every paragraph presented a picture for me filled with emotion.Damian was a vampire unlike most written about in today's fiction. He was entirely comfortable being a vampire, able to adapt to the changes of the world through the ages, even terrible ones that lost him love and freedom. Most important, he was believable.
There is something of Anne' Rice's Lestat in Damian, as he also proceeds in his existence without thinking things through, and oftimes shows no remorse for bad decisions, such as sacrificing his entire family to the vampire that turns him, including his parents and favorite servants. But this adds to the enjoyment, as it is realistically vampiric, to my way of thinking. Yet this is a dark book drenched in blood, make no mistake.I've read many, many vampire books, and I enjoyed this author's take on the traditional strengths and weaknesses. I loved the concept of the folded wings. Who could not love a creature of the night smelling of Sandalwood who knows how to treat a woman, both in and out of bed?
I was surprised half way through the work, when Damian's tale continued through present day and into the future. That set it apart for me from other vampire works, which usually only continue to present day. I liked the ending very much, but hesitate to say anything more and give away spoilers.
Review of 1st edition
Douglas C. Meeks on Amazon wrote:In 1249, Damian, son of le Marquis la Croix loses his soul as he willingly chooses the kiss of a sansmort rather than perish of the Plague. Welcoming his Undeath with open arms, Damian seduces his betrothed Antoinette and his best friend Armand into the darkness also but something goes wrong and Antoinette perishes at her beloved’s hands. Thus Damian begins a solitary walk through the corridors of Time. He neither apologizes for his choice nor does he regret it and intends to enjoy his immortality to the fullest. His only clinging bit of morality is that he never forces anyone to become as he is; it’s always done of their own free will. Through Mankind’s long centuries, many women and one man cross his path, respond to his enticements, and have to make the choice…for when the night man cometh, Death is never far behind.
Written in the vein of your grandmother's vampire novels. This book gave me shudders as I read the vivid tale of Damian la Croix and watched in dread as he feasted on his family and servants. This is a 'real' vampire novel, not some glamorized work of fiction where the vampire creates synthetic blood in a hidden lab somewhere and becomes humanized.
This book will mesmerize and fill you with anticipation that Damian will find a life mate, but repeatedly, his unbeating heart loses woman after woman through the centuries. He strikes out in bloodthirsty revenge at each loss.
I highly recommend this. I am buying this book for my keeper collection!
Review of 1st edition
Astilbe on Long anfd Short Reviews wrote:This novel was pretty much a gift from someone who suggested I read it, as with a lot of literary gifts I put it in my "To Be Read" stack and moved on until about 45 days later I pulled it out in my version of Kindle roulette.
It took me several chapters before I realized I had cheated myself out of one of the better literary treats of the last several months, possibly longer. This novel covers such a huge scope of around 3500 years that it boggles the mind. It is a changing genre novel of historical, horror, paranormal romance, urban fantasy and ending with a bit of science fiction. Never read anything like it unless you want to count HG Wells masterpiece The Time Machine.
It starts out with a young man who only wants 2 things from his existence, he wants to live (this is during the Black Plague) and he wants to be with his love Antoinette. He will get his wish and lose much more in the process. Damien became a vampire by choice, making some terrible and soul killing decisions when he did and now he must live with himself. There are some terrible things in this book but it is a more dark look at vampires.
This is not a short vampire romance novel with a great "happy ever after" this is a masterpiece of work that covers some horrible things concerning our hero Damien and tragic periods of history. Life is not all roses and happiness, far, far from it. Damien tries to retain a bit of humanity from time to time which serves to frustrate him as much as it helps him at times.
What he really wants is to find "the one", that woman who will make him feel complete, the true love he has always wanted but seems to lose each time he comes close.This is not a singular romance, this is a story of a vampire cut from the Dracula mold of Bram Stoker (garlic, crosses, holy relics, all hurt him) and his search through centuries for the woman he feels sure is out there if he can find her. He is at times heroic, other times tragic and many times, just the vampire he has become.
A large part of the action takes place prior to the 20 century since that is the time that shapes his persona but we are taken on a ride through history and into the yet imagined future with this novel and all of it captures the imagination.
I give this 5 Stars because I cannot think of anything to compare it to and the scope combined with the highs and lows of Damien's life is exceptional. It felt like the author may have rushed the ending a bit but then again it was almost to the point of "you gotta stop somewhere" and the ending was very fulfilling and satisfying to me. Highly recommended but this is NOT a novel you will read in one session, it may take days to soak it in, but I loved it.
Review of 1st Edition
ladycaella on Lady Caella Blogspot wrote:In 1249, Damien La Croix willingly choses Undeath rather than perish of the Plague. Once risen as a vampire, he takes his betrothed into the dark with him, but something goes wrong and Antoinette perishes. Thus, Damien begins a solitary walk down the corridors of time in search of Antoinette’s replacement.
Beginning with Konstancza in 15th century Romania where Damien and his garde de nuit serve Voivoide Vlad Drakula, his search extends into the far future to a fateful meeting in a snow-filled Chicago. Until then, Damien meets, loves, and loses each person he thinks may be the one to replace his Antoinette—Kate in Colonial America, who avenges herself against her rapist but prefers to hang rather than become an Undead; Bess, a 21st century Goth, wanting both an Undead lover and a living one and dying for the wrong choice; Michel, a concentration camp guard where Damien and his kind are imprisoned in the human answer to the Vampire Problem; Alyss – descendant of his beloved Konstancza –lost to a rival vampire’s seduction.
All could be his but all perish, for when the Night Man Cometh, can Death be behind…?
Two questions have been on Damian’s mind since his transformation: will I ever find a second soulmate, and is it really possible to change? Only time will tell if he figures out the answer to either of them.
Damian wasn’t exactly a saint during his short first life, and his thirst for violence only becomes more unquenchable once he begins his Undead one. His severe lack of empathy and self-awareness brings depth to his personality even if certain horrid choices make it difficult to find many positive things to say about him early on. What I found most interesting about Damian’s character development, though, was how slowly it takes place. Centuries can pass between the first glimmer of change and the next step in Damian’s evolution, but because those moments are given so much time to take hold in his mind they always felt genuine to this reader.
I would have liked to see more time spent exploring the personalities and interests of Damian’s potential life partners. Some of them are developed well enough for me to understand his attraction to them, but others were given very little time to express their unique qualities. Even love at first sight eventually needs something to back up that first flush of emotion, and this novel would have easily earned a much higher rating had I better understood why he chose some of his paramours.
From the opening scene Mr. de Vissage kept my interest piqued with strong, even pacing. By covering Damian’s journey through such an incredibly long period of time the author is able to slowly build a complex supernatural society that would have been hard to flesh out in such detail in a shorter story. I found certain subplots even more captivating than the focus of Damian’s mission because of how expertly the author weaves everything together from one millennia to the next.
As someone who has never had any exposure to the French language, it was sometimes difficult for me to determine the meanings of French words and phrases that show up routinely in the first few sections of this novel. Some of them were easy to figure out because their English equivalents were so similar to them, but certain words remained a mystery to me until the end. While I understand why the author wanted Damian to retain this part of his heritage, it would have been helpful to either have had a glossary of the terms at the beginning of the book or more context clues about their meanings embedded in the text near them.
By far my favourite part of this book involves how effortlessly the author brings back the traditional approach to vampire mythology. Damian and his associates are sexually alluring to humans, but they are also extremely dangerous, unpredictable creatures. The horror elements of this tale are ubiquitous and include the darkest themes of that genre.
I would especially recommend to anyone who is a fan of Dracula. Even with its flaws, this is a noteworthy example of what vampire fiction can be.Review of 1st Edition
A fabulous paranormal romance that will take the readers back to the old fashion vampire tales from Bram Stoker and Anne Rice. I knew I had to read the book when I read the book description. I’m a huge fan of all vampire stories, but I love the old fashion ones and I have to say this book didn’t disappoint me.
We meet Damian La Croix when he is young, mortal and in love with his betrothed Antoinette, but disaster strikes when the plague hit their village. Antoinette gets ill and Damian is desperate to save his love and makes a deal with a sansmort who turns Damian into one himself – an immortal. In order to survive he needs to fee on his servants and his family. When he turns his betrothed Antoinette and his best friend Armand, he couldn’t imagine the grief when his Antoinette is completely gone.
During his journey to find the one woman who completes him, whom he wants to spend his immortal life with, you see Damian and his followers join Vlad Dracula’s army and fighting their very bloody battles. Damian is one of those vampires who fight like vampires need to fight to survive. But we also see a side of Damian where he is caring for the women he meets during his immortal life.
I loved the fact that Damian isn’t the typical vampire, there were definitely times where I believed he’s hard and not very likeable, but it totally fits the story and his character. He had to be the scary immortal in order to survive that long. When you get further to the end Damian definitely grew on me and finally won over my heart. I was glad to see how he grew into the vampire he is at the end, strong powerful and righteous.
Tony-Paul de Vissage has written a great novel with some interesting characters and a fabulous world I loved reading about. I definitely recommend this book to all the Bram Stoker and Anne Rice fans out there, you won’t be disappointed.
Review of 1st Edition
