Customer Reviews

Vampires of the Scarlet Order

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Taking advantage of the unique powers and abilities of vampires, over the centuries an elite corps of vampires have operated as assassins. Now, at the start of the twenty-first century, vampires are too expensive and too much trouble for governments to hire them anymore.

This is the premise in a truly fresh tale about vampires. The story spans a time period over eight hundred years, but the climax of the story takes place in New Mexico. Here, the government has changed its tactics and now wants super soldiers made from technology, rather than vampires, to do its dirty deeds. What is a vampire to do?

How many people know that Bram Stoker, the creator of Dracula, was an Irishman? They all know about Yeats and Wilde and Shaw - but few know that Bram Stoker was born in Dublin. Being an Irishman myself, I've always felt ownership of the vampire story, Bella Lugosi's Transylvanian accent notwithstanding.

In Vampires of the Scarlet Order David Lee Summers has raised the vampire story away from those simple, but dramatic, tales of blood-sucking creatures of the evening who return to their coffins in the morning. He chronicles a parallel vampire world that has marched through the momentous events of our history, starting in 15th century Europe and emerging in contemporary times in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Ah, Las Cruces, The Crosses, what a potent image and location for his family of vampires.

Starting in Spain in 1491, we meet Lord Draco who heads a group of vampire mercenaries, The Scarlet Order, operating for the Vatican. (Yes, Dan Brown isn't original when it comes to Vatican conspiracies and skulduggery). Lord Draco turns Rodolfo de Cordoba, a young Castillian who has lost his father in the war with the Moors, into a vampire and initiates him into the Scarlet Order.

We move through dramatic events of the 16th to the 20th centuries with a surprise waiting especially for me in the 16th century when Lord Draco and Rudolfo de Cordoba meet the legendary Irish Sea Captain and Pirate, Grace O'Malley (Granuaille) in the late 16th century - in the middle of the battle for Venice between the fleet of the Ottoman Empire and the fleet of the Pope's Holy Roman Empire. (Granuaille still 'lives' here in the west of Ireland - the castle she shared with one of her partners, Donal O'Flaherty, is now a fine up-market hotel!).

Reaching the present time in New Mexico we find the canvas enlarged to capture another parallel universe where the Manitou of the Native Americans act as guides to The Scarlet Order as they fight secret government agencies operating out of the Los Alamos laboratories who are creating their own brand of soldier, scientifically designed to incorporate the abilities of the vampire.

David Lee Summers' dialogue is believable, his storytelling strong, his artistry strengthened by his scientific background as an astronomer. He has used a diary-like method of telling the story, much of it told in the first person from the points of view of each of the central characters in the story. This is difficult to do without interrupting story continuity for the reader. But he has accomplished it by making us care about the characters, about making us feel sympathy for a vampire who has just killed and is suffering remorse and loss of human existence.

Just like a master chef, David Lee Summers, folds all these ingredients together in a totally seamless way. If you like the world of vampires, you'll like Vampires of The Scarlet Order.

I picked up Vampires of the Scarlet Order as I have been a reader and great fan of the vampire genre for over thirty years and always love the opportunity to experience a different writer's take on the subject.
I was not disappointed and neither will you.
The story begins in the Middle Ages, during the reign of The Ottoman Empire, and from this point onwards remains steeped in history as it takes us through the years and across the globe until we reach our very own dark times. Alongside the vampire protagonists the story contains many historical personages, including Billy the Kid and the pirate Grace O'Malley, Summers doing a fine job of incorporating his Scarlet Order history with our know timelines.
The Scarlet Order are an elite group of vampire mercenaries that appear throughout history creating major twists and turns in humanity's fate. The vampire characters interact with this history from the Middle Ages right through to modern times in a quite believable manner. It is an action packed tale that never pauses for breath throughout.
Not to give too much of the plot away, but the protagonists, soon find themselves pitted against foes whom even they, the elite of the undead, find it difficult to vanquish.
Full to the brim with conspiracies, twists and turns and characters whose adventures keep you hooked to every page, I wholeheartedly recommend this book to all fans of horror fiction.
Making the unbelievable seem real and turning what we perceive as monsters into heroes, is no mean feat. Summers takes this task in hand and has obviously had a great time in writing one of the best vampire novels that I have read in years.
Well done Mr Summers, and with the worlds and secret histories that you've created, I hope to read more from you regarding these characters in the future.

Vampires of the Scarlet Order reads like it belongs alongside the offerings in the Penguin's Book of Vampire Stories. Right alongside the greats of classic vampire literature.

There are a few wonderful twists and turns in this book that I'll try not to give away. I'll just say what I really loved about this book. I love the diary-like entries that allow each character to tell their story from their POV. As one reads on, they see how each character is connected down the line and the awesome history that dates back earliest during the Spanish Inquisition gave the book a timeless feel especially with the amount of real life figures placed in the story.

I love that Summers gave each character their own personality along with their backgrounds. It really made them stand out from each other. Being a fan of books from vampires and 'others' POVs I loved seeing the world through ancient eyes throughout the ages.

One thing about this book is that it was also so original. The vampire mythos is tied to various cultural mythologies which explains their origins. Summers definitely takes the tried and true vampire lore and makes it his own. The vampires within are complex characters that may do bad things but one is sympathetic to their lives and the trials they go through which makes them shades of grey.

Vampires of the Scarlet Order is a horror novel, a sci-fi novel, a paranormal novel and a historical novel all rolled into one awesome read. I bought this in eBook but I'm definitely snapping this up in paperback format for my keeper shelf. Right next to my Anne Rice collection and my Penguin Vampire Stories classic anthology. :-)

If this wasn't published 4 years ago, this would definitely go on my Best of 2008 list. But alas, it'll probably go on my Best Reads of 2008 List. :-)

In the beginning under the alliance of the Spanish Inquisition there was a group of Vampire mercenaries known as the Scarlet Order. They were used as soldiers to bring down the Ottoman Empire and any other enemy the Pope of that time period deemed necessary.

The master vampire Lord Draco is the Knight Commander of The Scarlet Order, he and his team of vampires carry out the tasks laid before them. But after three centuries of working for the Inquisition, the newest Pope Pius VII decided it was time to break the alliance because these vampires were demons and have been draining the Church's funds for far too long. The Scarlet Order vampires each went a new way for centuries they would not have contact...until someone begins trying to form a new breed of vampires.

Marcella, Mercedes "Mercy", Jane, Daniel, Drake, Rudolfo and a few other secondary vampires must team together to stop whoever is trying to make a new breed of super-soldier vampires. If too many of these creatures are created and must live on blood, eventually the humans will disappear leaving the vampires without sustenance causing them to die out completely from starvation. With the help of the Manitou that appear in oversized forms of a Spider, Beaver, and Coyote the small group of the new warrior vampires learn there are more secrets that have yet been untold.

David Lee Summers' novel Vampires of the Scarlet Order is has a new take on vampires like none that I have ever read. It intermingles stories from history, to present day in the form of diary, journal or notes written by the vampires. I must admit Marcella's story about Billy the Kid was my very favorite vampire "beginning." Vampires of the Scarlet Order has a little bit of everything for every paranormal reader to enjoy, science, astronomy, war, love, and even the occasional lusty bite. Mr. Summers is an extraordinary writer and with this novel he defiantly delivers a tale that is near impossible to put down. 5 Hearts

Are you tired of vampires as simple monsters? The problem I've always had with most vampire stories is suspension of disbelief. I can't believe vampires that a writer doesn't make real for me. How about some kind of explaination of their origins? How about portraying them as real people with emotions, values, goals and morals? Thank you, David Lee Summers! This is a fascinating and historical account. The blending of their world with Christian origins, and with Native American beliefs is awesome. Yes, an astronomer could be a vampire. In fact, it would be almost the perfect job. Yes, they'd have to be involved with politics.

Any of you who have started watching the new TV series, 'Moonlight' and liked it, read 'Vampires of the Scarlett Order' and ask yourself if the producers and writers haven't read Summers. A private eye vampire would fit right into the world he pioneered. Maybe we're going to see the mainstream follow David's lead now.

Well written, flowing and most definatly a new twist on an old idea. Anyone into Sci Fi or Vampire esque reading should take a look at this one.
Definatly a two day read, you will get lost in it quickly.