Customer Reviews

Lords of Darkness: The Soulless

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

I'm real funny about the type of vampire book I'll read. To be honest I'm a bit of a snob when it comes to this genre. Why do you ask? Well, because although this is a popular genre at times the fare is less then appealing. Ms. Burbank's story is the exception to the rule, and if you like me are picky about the author that you choose to read then fear not Ms. Burbank's story is amazing and well worth picking up.

This is the first in a vampire series and it opens with the "birth" of Mordred Soulis. This story is about his education and the beginning of his long and arduous journey to his destiny. Along the way he meets several who will help him on his journey, and one that he must at all cost fight off in order not to fall to the darkness. Vlad is out to cause Mordred his fall but Mordred still has his soul and he is stronger then he actually thinks he is but he has much to learn if he is to finally be a champion of the human race.

Mordred Soulis is a half-born vampire that is both immortal and mortal at the same time. He is "the chosen one" and he has a long road to walk before he will learn all that he needs to know in order to save the world. His beginning is hard and the mystery of his existence is one that he must work out on his journey. Eventually with the company of a shape-shifting companion Mordred sets off through many different and exotic places learning what he needs to know in his "infancy" in order fulfill his destiny.

This was an incredible read, and Mordred is a multi-dimensional character that was highly entertaining. Ms. Burbank is a very descriptive storyteller and her words will draw you into her world, and you will feel, see, and yes smell everything that Mordred does. One of the added benefits of this tale is the fact that the author took great care in her research, and as a result has crafted a vampire tale unlike any I've ever read. I can hardly wait for the continuation of this story and I highly recommend that if you are a fan of Vampire fiction you not miss out on this page turning read.

Though this was an interesting twist to what's become fluid vampire mythology in today's vamp fiction trend, I struggled through this well-written yet slow-paced tome by L.G. Burbank. The story goal was too vague to hold my interest, I skimmed over many passages of superfluous exposition, and the character of Mordrid wasn't developed enough for me to care what happened to him. He was a puppet without a past, and his motivation for becoming a mercenary soldier was never made clear. If it was just for the money, why? Was he building himself a fortune for... what? Every time I picked the book back up I considered it a chore to read rather than a pleasure. By the time I got halfway through, I knew I couldn't finish it. I didn't care whether or not Mordrid being a vampire would somehow save the world. The lack of suspenseful storytelling made it too boring to finish.

The cover art is fabulous, but because of the story inside, I would not recommend it to friends. I will not read anything else by L.G. Burbank.

I'm an avid reader of horror and dark fantasy, but this was definitely not the book for me.

While this book was a great first effort by Burbank, it fell flat in many areas, thus keeping it from Hendee or Hamilton status.

Mordred was a pretty cool main character but to me he accepted his new fate quite too easily.
He chose his new role, as the Chosen One, quite too quickly.
It was also very convenient for him to be this new savior since he was the typical scruffy loner. How original...

And this Vlad guy... who is he? He was never really built upon except that we know that he is trying to conquer the world in darkness. Another typical 'Lord of Darkness' as the main title proclaims him. Yawn.

This book also seemed like it was poorly written. There were tons of short, teen level, dialogue that just did not scream 'quality.' And those drawings in the book also made the story seem like it was a bit more for younger people also. Sure the drawings were wonderful, but how many serious books actually have pictures in them?

While my review might seem a bit harsh, i still enjoyed the book and read it in quite a short time. My favorite part of the story was Mordered's night with the twelve virgins. All i have to say is Mordred was the man that night. heh
So unless book two is a complete standout and smash hit, i dont think i will be buying further books in this series. As of now, it is just too 'run of the mill.'

Talk about a lot of reading for no pay-off! The premise for this book is very promising but fails to deliver.

In a nutshell: The tale starts off with the creation and education of the fledgling vampyre, Mordred Soulis. He is eventually taken under the wing of the Templars and put through a series of tests...all to determine whether he is the Chosen One, the one to save all mankind from Vlad, an evil vampyre, (and his father; as Vlad is the father of all vampyres). Mordred is destined to battle Vlad in the end to save the human race.

Without boring you by going through the whole rigamarole, we follow Mordred on his journey of enlightenment, the author loads the story of his journey with rich detail, at this point I am completely engrossed in the book.

Suddenly! The book becomes very fast paced with little or no detail at all. The author pretty much ties the whole story up in a matter of a few paragraphs. I was so disappointed after reading all that I had :( I thought this was going to be a book that really stuck with me. I feel the author really copped out in the end and ruined what could have been a truly spellbinding tale.

The long anticipated final battle with Vlad that Mordred spent the entire book preparing for never occurs, there is one wimpy fight between them where Vlad ends up running off with his tail between his legs saying something to the effect of "We will meet again for the final battle" ...and the book leaves you hanging, forcing you to read the second installment in this lame series.

I say save your money- I know I won't bother to waste my time.

This book would be really good for young teens. There is no real surprise with the main character Mordrid. It is quite obvious he was going to be the new savior and you can figure out the plot much to easily. And the "Lord of Darkness" character Vlad, sorry very boring and he goes nowhere.

I wasn't too crazy about the drawings in the book. Although each person has their own view of art and it is subjective, I did not find these drawings very appealing.

As for a vampire story, this one seemed to have a good idea but the writing was not up to par and the dialogue was much too juvenile.

All in all, I would not purchase the second book in the series as I had a really hard time finishing this first one.

I only bought the book because I met the author and really liked talking to that person.

Anyway, as many suggest, this book is not worth the read. It's prose is flat, character is unwittingly dull; and action is too glossed over. When Soullis is "made" the scene was too abrupt and you end up thinking, "Huh?" I am not a novice to vampire stories or fantasy novels, and I just had to re-read it a hundred times to make sure I understood what just happened.
His transformation from honorable human knight to vampyre seemed almost too cartoonish to be taken seriously.

The whole plot of the CRusaders protecting a vampire was just too ridiculous to behold. And, let's be honest, the Crusaders were fighting for their God, not to protect a vampire. ....but I digress...I don't claim to be a Templar professor, but I know enough about them to say, "blech" to that concept.

I know this was pure fiction, and not meant to be taken seriously, but it is very unreadable due to the fact of the 'historical facts'.
The conclusion is lame and anti-climatic at best. Predictable, and I did not just believe in Soullis' "burning need" to take it out on Vlad.
The dialogue has many cliches, I just can't even put in this review. If there were 'minuses' I'd put it at a '-5'.
Unfortunately, not worth the pick up, nice author though.

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 and it 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

I loved this book for the simple fact it brought some very original ideas into play in what could have been a very boring, cliched vampire novel. The way the word is spelled in the book, vampyre, is from old Russian/Baltic lore. I love the fact that Mordred can go out in the sun, isn't afraid of silver and all that other crap. I love that this is not an Anne Rice book or a Bram Stoker rip off, but a unique, albiet wacky voice in an overwritten genre. And the Roman Catholic church, while it may not have been referred to as such until after 1500, was indeed in Rome prior and was indeed the center of the Catholic faith so I have no issues with the research. Besides, this is a fantasy work first and foremost and we all know vampyres aren't real right? Love it. Looking forward to the next one.

Actually I found the book to be quite lacking in the kind of excitement you usually find in vampire novels.

The writing was also very strange. It seems like the book was written by two different people. Could L G Burbank be a writing team?

I think this particular novel seems to have been written more for the young teenage market. I'm afraid that most adults will probably find it a little boring.

If this is a first novel, the author might think about submitting the next one to the YA market. Especially if the decision is to keep pictures in the book.

When Mordred Soulis took a job as a mercenary in the Second Crusade, he didn't count on finding out that his employer (King Conrad) was a complete nitwit. After several examples of military ineptness Conrad manages to get his men killed off and stranded in the Arabian desert, until finally Mordred alone is alive, and that only barely. Just as our doughty Scots hero is about to die he is killed instead by Vlad the vampire. Next he finds himself collected by a group of mystics that apparently specialize in picking up Vlad's leftovers.

One the get the knight into shape he is transferred to the Templars for advanced lessons on how to be a vampire. Mordred, you see, is the 'chosen one.' No, not Buffy, but the half vampire with what it takes to stop the evil Vlad in its tracks. Now, with the story in full swing, the novel settles down to a regular pattern of fight a little, learn a little, bit a little, and whine a lot. After Mordred graduates from the Templars he studies under Kabil, one of the 'real' vampires, and so on, and so on...

There are only a few things that will put me off a vampire story. In general I want them to succeed and I'm willing to forgive a myriad of sins to enjoy the little bit of occult mystery that surround the genre. Rule one, though, is that vampires shouldn't whine. And Mordred is perpetually tripping over his reluctance to be what he is and asking people 'why me.' In my world a vampire who complains that much is just a meal ticket waiting to happen.

Another pet peeve is daylight. With a great deal of magic, a vampire can survive direct sunlight for very short periods of time. A newbie should go straight up in flames. Burbank has Mordred making a desert trek to Egypt in bright daylight barely a month after he is born. Vampires need weaknesses, otherwise they become boring, all powerful characters. There is no such thing as a tanned vampire.

And how is it possible that a crusader wouldn't know what a camel was. It is this kind of mistake, and the relatively small amount of plot, that makes me give this book a low rating. Burbank does seem to be able to write, but doesn't seem to be in control of her subject matter. Plot shifts are almost always due to outside, miraculous intervention (a werewolf shows up to resolve a battle, etc.), not character development or force of events. So unless you are totally vampire starved, I suggest you read elsewhere.