The Ancient Ones by Cassandra L. Thompson
Title: The Ancient Ones
Author: Cassandra L. Thompson
Genre: Dark Fantasy/Historical Fiction
Rating: 4.0 out of 5.0 stars
Available:Amazon
About the Book
Some things are not meant to die…
When David stumbles upon a tragic young woman in a sordid Limehouse pub, he has no idea she’d recognize him as the last vampyre alive, nor that she’d be the one to pull out his story. Yet as he recalls his life from the sweltering vineyards of Ancient Rome to the cold horrors of Medieval Romania – as well as his tumultuous past with the mad and mysterious Lucius – he realizes she is much more than what she seems.
Gothic horror and mythological fantasy blend seamlessly together in this thrilling adventure, breathing new life into vampire lore as it reveals its true origins. The Ancient Ones is a tale of myth, mayhem, and magic…with a dash of romance that bites.
Review
The Ancient Ones is a combination of dark fantasy and historical fiction and is the first book in the Ancient Ones trilogy. The story begins in London in 1857 as David walks through the city. When he stops at his favorite pub, he meets a woman who intrigues him, despite clearly being deathly ill. Interacting with her, David shares his life story with her, which begins thousands of years ago with David as the young son of a Celtic druid before being captured an enslaved in Rome. He recounts his romance with fellow slave Gaia and his meeting with the vampire Lucius. Tragedy leads to David’s, then called Davius, turning. His story continues through the centuries, as he relays his tale to his dying companion.
The Ancient Ones is an entertaining story involving vampires and ancient gods. David’s tale is an interesting one. He is a well rounded character whose development through the centuries is well portrayed. Lucius is a mysterious entity with a secret past. All the characters that get involved through the story are unique and well rounded. Gods from multiple mythologies play a part at various points and the simultaneous existence of them all meshes well within the world.
Overall, The Ancient Ones is an engaging story. All of the mythologies involved are blended very well. The origin of vampires is unique and the David’s interactions with his dying companion between flashbacks are portrayed very well. Fans of historical fiction, dark fantasy, vampire stories, and mythology will be sure two enjoy this book and will be looking forward to the rest of the trilogy.
About the Author
Gothic horror writer Cassandra L. Thompson has been creating stories since she got her grubby little hands around a pen. When she is not busy managing a house full of feral children (human and canine), you can find her wandering around cemeteries, taking pictures of abandoned things, or in the library doing research.
She has a B.A. in History and a MLIS, but she ignores her degrees to focus on The Ancient Ones Trilogy and run Quill & Crow Publishing House, the quaint and curious press that celebrates dark fantasy, Gothic horror, and dreadfully dark poetry.
