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Robert S. Wilson
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Shining in Crimson: Empire of Blood Book One (A Dystopian Vampire Novel) Kindle Edition

by Robert S. Wilson (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.1 out of 5 stars 277 ratings
Set in a dystopian, religiously-demented American Empire, the city of Las Vegas is no longer a city of sin. Now called Necropolis, it is a city that eats sin. The vampires of Necropolis wait patiently for the Empire's weekly drop off of guilty Penitents; sinners and criminals full of fresh blood.

Hank Evans is one of those Penitents and he would gladly let the vampires take every drop of his blood if it weren’t for one detail: Toby. Toby is Hank’s only son. Now, Hank must do whatever it takes to escape the city of the dead and save his son from an Empire as bloodthirsty as the vampires it uses to keep its people in line.

Praise for Shining in Crimson:

"A big-scale vampire thriller that changes the rules."--Scott Nicholson, author of Liquid Fear, The Red Church, and They Hunger

"Robert S. Wilson shows a lot of promise here with this debut novel. Now it's time to see where that promise will take him."--Ray Wallace, The Chiaroscuro

"You'll not find some glistening torsos and smouldering eyes in this book. What you will find is a brilliantly thought out society of Vampires."--Jim Mcleod, Ginger Nuts of Horror

"The Mesh of Religious symbolism and political commentary tucked neatly between pure horror and suspense is superb."--Lisa Lane, The Cerebral Writer
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  1. Print length
    236 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Accessibility
    Learn more
  4. Publication date
    September 5, 2011
  5. File size
    641 KB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
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  8. Enhanced typesetting
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Editorial Reviews

From the Author

All Robert S. Wilson titles now available through Kindle Unlimited!

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B005LD2TKK
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Empire of Blood Books
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 5, 2011
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ 1st
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 641 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 236 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 out of 5 stars 277 ratings

About the author

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Robert S. Wilson

Robert S. Wilson

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Robert S. Wilson is the author of THE QUIET, the EMPIRE OF BLOOD dystopian vampire series, the LIFELINE cyberpunk/noir series, the long fiction collection ​LONG SHADOWS: VOLUME 1, and the new serial ​HEX: A Novel of Cosmic Horror. He is the Bram Stoker Award-nominated editor of ​ASHES AND ENTROPY, BLOOD TYPE: AN ANTHOLOGY OF VAMPIRE SF ON THE CUTTING EDGE, HORROR FOR GOOD: A CHARITABLE ANTHOLOGY and NIGHTSCAPES: VOLUME 1, and Co-Editor in Chief and co-owner of ​Nightscape Press alongside his wife, Jennifer Wilson. He lives in Middle Tennessee with his family, an equally adorable and obnoxious dog, and a few psychotic cats skilled in the martial arts.

Robert's short fiction has appeared (and/or is forthcoming) in numerous publications including ​Vastarien, ​Daily Science Fiction, ​Factor Four Magazine, ​Test Patterns: Creature Features, 32 White Horses on a Vermillion Hill: Volume One, Cosmic Scream, Darkfuse Magazine, Gothic Lovecraft, and more. His LIFELINE Lovecraftian/cyberpunk/noir novella EXIT REALITY was chosen as one of e-thriller.com’s Thrillers of the Month in July 2013.

He is currently working hard to finish a number of novels and novellas all at once like a blind juggler given knives and led into oncoming traffic.

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
277 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this dystopian vampire novel engaging, with a unique storyline that takes vampire lore in a new direction. The book features well-developed characters and suspenseful elements, with one customer describing it as a roller coaster ride of action and horror. They appreciate the writing quality, creativity, and political content, with one review noting how it allows readers entry into the hearts and minds of all characters.

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ReadabilityStorylineCharacter developmentSuspenseWriting qualityCreativityEase of readingPolitical content
39 customers mention "Readability"35 positive4 negative

Customers find the book thoroughly enjoyable and well-written, with one customer noting that the author never loses the reader's attention.

"...a subplot that entwines into this great mystery, yet the author never loses the reader...." Read more

"I liked this book...." Read more

"...While this book is a complete story and a fabulous book on its own, it is clearly setting up a series...." Read more

"...But this was an enjoyable read. Pretty well crafted. A few rough spots here and there...." Read more

37 customers mention "Storyline"37 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the storyline of this vampire novel, appreciating how it takes the lore in a new direction with interesting twists.

"...There is enough to set up and move the story along, but not enough to make me wanna take up a collection for the Pastor...." Read more

"...Hank, in particular, is a man with a fully developed back story that plays its part in defining who he is and how he handles the tragic..." Read more

"I liked this book. It was different from other vampire books and I was really starting to get into it and then suddenly, when you thought..." Read more

"This book has a new and very creative take on vampires. The story is complicated, thought-provoking and very well written...." Read more

23 customers mention "Character development"23 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the well-developed characters in the book, noting their depth and richness, with one customer highlighting their exciting personalities and actions.

"...Well developed characters...." Read more

"...The characters are engaging and well rounded. I was glued to the book from beginning to end...." Read more

"...Hank.. our human hero of sorts... is a very layered character that you like immediately. He has been dealt a raw deal and you feel for him...." Read more

"...This is an inventive story with characters who are well-fleshed out and will make you care about them - both human and vampire alike...." Read more

20 customers mention "Suspense"16 positive4 negative

Customers enjoy the suspense of the book, describing it as a roller coaster ride of action and horror, with one customer noting its refreshing vampire storyline.

"...Everyone has a hidden agenda, a subplot that entwines into this great mystery, yet the author never loses the reader...." Read more

"...It's a great horror read, if you are more of a twilight fan, This is probably not the vampire book for you." Read more

"...I'd recommend this book to anyone who wants a refreshing Vamp storyline." Read more

"...that this novel did not get five stars from me is the partial cliffhanger of an ending... but that is to be expected as this is to be the first in a..." Read more

10 customers mention "Writing quality"10 positive0 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book, noting that it is very well written and well thought out.

"...Wilson's dystopian Empire (formerly the good old U.S. of A.) is well-thought out and carries a weight and depth to it unlike many others I've read..." Read more

"...The story is complicated, thought-provoking and very well written. The characters are engaging and well rounded...." Read more

"...ridden vampires- this is old-school horror and the author has definitely gotten it right. I can't wait for the next book in the series!" Read more

"...I was pleasantly surprised to find a well written story that stripped down some of the romantic ideas of vampires, featured a likable every day guy..." Read more

9 customers mention "Creativity"9 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's creativity, finding it imaginative and unique, with one customer noting that the basic idea was novel.

"...The vampires you meet are both horrible and mesmerizing...." Read more

"I loved this book, the characters and development. The basic idea was novel and could really be developed, as I assume it does in the rest of the..." Read more

"...Straight forward and interesting, this book takes vampire lore in a new direction, weaving a dystopian future with elements of the history of..." Read more

"...From reading the reviews and the book description, it looked very interesting, so I made the purchase. I am very happy that I did so...." Read more

6 customers mention "Ease of reading"6 positive0 negative

Customers find the book easy to read, with one mentioning it's a quick read and another noting it's straightforward.

"...but it's not used to bludgeon the reader. There is enough to set up and move the story along, but not enough to make me wanna take up a collection..." Read more

"...That makes this book easy to enjoy no matter if you're looking for a great thrill ride or a more ponderous read...." Read more

"...There is alot of action going on which was easy to follow, no need for a map to keep up...." Read more

"...This is also a quick read, which I prefer." Read more

5 customers mention "Political content"5 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the political content of the book, with one customer noting its thought-provoking nature and how it provides insight into the characters' hearts and minds through multiple third-person perspectives.

"...There is also a bit of religious and political commentary (when isn't there?) but it's not used to bludgeon the reader...." Read more

"...The story is complicated, thought-provoking and very well written. The characters are engaging and well rounded...." Read more

"...It allowed us entry into the hearts and minds of all, from the persecuted child to the evil monstrous ancestor vampires...." Read more

"...The story is told through multiple third person points of view. It has characters worth rooting for as well as some characters I just love to hate...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Tamara T.
    5.0 out of 5 stars I waited too long to read this book.
    Reviewed in the United States on March 13, 2012
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Great book. I have a "thing" where I put off reading Vampire books because I'm sick of the "same old same old"... This book was nowhere close.

    I hate giving 5 star reviews.. I always feel like there HAS to be something wrong. In this story, I know what I had a problem with but it wasn't enough to take a star away.

    Negative: I felt there were certain aspects of the story that were not well explained.. particularly a) what was up when Hank was in the desert, b) and the effect the ancestor's *** has on him (I try not to spoil). However, I realize that the author has left many things to be revealed in the forthcoming books, so I cannot penalize him for those.

    Positives: let me try to be brief :-)
    Well developed characters. The motivation of a man so far gone he is willing to give up his life many times over, yet keeps coming back from the edge because of the son he's left behind. The blood sucking "monster", who's lived so long he's seen it all and is not as monstrous as is believed. The zealot who is allowed an Epiphany. Even the minor characters who live only to die a page later, are allowed their moment to touch the reader.

    There is a whole lot of "stuff" going on here. Everyone has a hidden agenda, a subplot that entwines into this great mystery, yet the author never loses the reader. We are never so confused that we're flipping backwards wondering "who did what to who? and who's that one again?"

    There is also a bit of religious and political commentary (when isn't there?) but it's not used to bludgeon the reader. There is enough to set up and move the story along, but not enough to make me wanna take up a collection for the Pastor.

    One of my favorite things about this story is the same with every book I LOVE. The author's ability to make me invest emotion in all his characters. For example: we were well primed to hate Simon. I laughed when he screamed in his sanctimonious rage "I Quit", because I knew what was coming. I continued to hate him as he went through the book and I kept "screaming at the screen" for Ishan to rip his throat out and reclaim what was his. When the author placed him in so unique a situation as to endear him to me.. I couldn't help but say "Well done" Mr. Wilson.

    So with all five stars intact.. Well Done, Mr. Wilson.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Kindle Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars A Wealth of Depth and Richness of Character
    Reviewed in the United States on September 18, 2011
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    So, I've been an "aficionado" of vampires for almost as long as I've been reading novels. From Stoker's Dracula to this latest, by Robert S. Wilson, Shining In Crimson.

    I have to say: I'm really impressed.

    Wilson's dystopian Empire (formerly the good old U.S. of A.) is well-thought out and carries a weight and depth to it unlike many others I've read about. The vampires of his world are both tribal and democratic, as well as useful tools of the Empire itself.

    The characters each have a richness to them that leads you to worry for them, hate them, admire them and/or loathe them. Hank, in particular, is a man with a fully developed back story that plays its part in defining who he is and how he handles the tragic circumstances in which he finds himself.

    Although Toby could have used just a little more fleshing out, near the end of the novel we see some further depth to the boy that I hope promises some interesting turns of event in future volumes. And, let me say that I do fully expect there to be future volumes!

    Such incredible conflict of character is displayed in wonderful relief with the person of Simon. His storyline is such that I would have never guessed from his entry onto the scene near the beginning of the book. Wilson has done a fantastic job in truly doing something different with the "whole vampire thing."

    The only reason that this novel did not get five stars from me is the partial cliffhanger of an ending... but that is to be expected as this is to be the first in a trilogy of novels. All well and good. Now, where the hell is the next one?? :o)
    19 people found this helpful
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  • My Life in Books
    3.0 out of 5 stars Well, that was a pleasant surprise.....sorta......!!???!!
    Reviewed in the United States on October 14, 2012
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I liked this book. It was different from other vampire books and I was really starting to get into it and then suddenly, when you thought everything was just going to get going really good and things were going to really ramp up, it ended leaving you with a wtf? Now I have to read the next book to see what happens next! ugh! Ok...I don't mind that too much but I'm not a fan of cliff hanger endings.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • LauraK
    5.0 out of 5 stars Exciting and imaginative--not a typical vampire book
    Reviewed in the United States on December 15, 2011
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    This book has a new and very creative take on vampires. The story is complicated, thought-provoking and very well written. The characters are engaging and well rounded. I was glued to the book from beginning to end. While this book is a complete story and a fabulous book on its own, it is clearly setting up a series. There was some exposition, which was needed to outline the setting and introduce the numerous characters. I enjoyed this book immensely and am waiting very impatiently for the next installment in the series. I can't wait to see more of the story unfold.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • ilbob
    4.0 out of 5 stars A good vampire book
    Reviewed in the United States on August 28, 2012
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I ran across this as a free Kindle download last week. As I appreciate a good vampire story I downloaded it. I don't usually expect a lot out of stuff that is free - most of it is free for a reason. But this was an enjoyable read.

    Pretty well crafted. A few rough spots here and there.

    There were some things that did not make quite as much sense as I would have liked, and the sheer number of coincidences that seemed to happen started to make me a little wary, but in the end, I enjoyed reading it so it got 4 stars from me.

    I was not real thrilled with the militia warlord takes over the US as religious emperor idea. But, that was more of a sideline than anything else. The vampire stuff was good enough to out weigh that kind of silliness.

    Some clever new ideas on vampires, along with some ideas from existing vampire mythology.

    All in all, a satisfying vampire book.
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Yun
    5.0 out of 5 stars fesselnde Geschichte mit vielen Verwicklungen
    Reviewed in Germany on November 13, 2014
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    die leider ein offenes Ende hat. Leider deshalb, weil man schon gern wüsste, wie es weiter geht. Ich konnte das Buch nicht aus der Hand legen und habe es verschlungen. Hier sind Vampire endlich mal wieder wirklich Vampire. Sie haben weiterhin ihren großen Nachteil des Sonnenlichts und sind überlegende und kaltblütige (achtung! Wortspiel) Kreaturen.
    Die Charaktere sind gut ausgebildet und erleben während des Buches eine gute Entwicklung. Schade, dass es dann schon zu Ende war.
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  • Sharmane Devlin
    5.0 out of 5 stars New twist on an old monster
    Reviewed in Australia on July 30, 2018
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    This was actually a random buy for me that turned into such an exciting story - completely refreshing take on vampire law. I really enjoyed it.
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  • Opal
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great book!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 6, 2013
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I was told about this book by another author whose books i love, and on his recommendation (J R Rain), I downloaded it and have no regrets. Loved the story so much, I've also read the second book in the series. My only niggle is when is the next book coming out???
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  • G J
    4.0 out of 5 stars Gut
    Reviewed in Germany on September 13, 2014
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Ich bin immer wieder fasziniert, dass es so viele unterschiedliche Geschichten und Zugänge zu Themen gibt. Diese Variante einer Vampir Saga ist m. E. ganz anders, als die Bücher und Filme die ich bisher gelesen und gesehen habe.
    Etwas überrascht war ich am Ende des Buches, dass die Geschichte in mehreren Büchern erzählt wird. Vor allem auch deshalb, weil ich mich mit meinem nicht so tollen Englisch wirklich durchkämpfen musste. Naja, Übung macht den Meister, den nächsten Teil hab ich schon herunter geladen, ich will ja wissen wie es ausgeht ;-)
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  • Dave Higgins
    4.0 out of 5 stars A Solid Fusion of Horror and Politics
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 27, 2014
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Set in an undated near future, this novel successfully merges a political thriller with classic horror tropes. Wilson’s vampires and his dystopian United States of America are each more than sufficient to sustain a plot, making the combination of the two a treat for fans of multi-layered plots.

    Following a revolution, the United States is ruled by a radical Christian sect, lead by an Emperor who claims to be the Messiah. Only one city is free of his rule: Necropolis, city of vampires. Cited in the ruins of Las Vegas the former city of sin is now the place sinners are sent to die for their crimes. When Hank Evans is sentenced to be a vampire’s meal, he resolves not only to escape Necropolis, but to reclaim his son from the fanatics who stole him. But in a new world where only monsters prosper, the only way to survive might be to become one.

    Wilson’s portrayal of an America where fundamentalists have taken power and entered into a deal with the undead is assured: despite the apparent vast differences between his world and this one, he avoids the need for long sections of exposition.

    Beginning with the very personal experience of Hank being thrown into a city of vampires as night falls, and only after pulling back into more political scenes, Wilson captures the reader’s empathy before they have cause to question the larger picture.

    When the larger picture does come, it is similarly well paced. Escalating threats are balanced with increased access to the actions of major players, taking the reader from the average citizen’s understanding that the country is run for God and there is a deal with vampires to a more nuanced vision of why the world is as it is.

    Wilson’s conception of vampires as forming two strata of physically superlative but simple creatures and weaker but more complex post-humans provides an interesting take on vampire legends: both in terms of reconciling some varied myths and as a theocracy to rival the US Empire.

    The writing style was invasive in places: Wilson often uses an informal American English dialect (for example “drug” rather than “dragged”) which might be distracting to some readers. However, this is a relatively minor issue.

    The characterisation is, unsurprisingly, also solid. Hank’s initial advantages are counterbalanced by realistic flaws, and his victories are balanced by real sacrifices. While his actions and endurance are extreme, they are eminently reasonable in the context of a person attempting to rescue their child.

    The supporting characters are varied. There are conflicting groups within both the vampires and the Empire, making each side not monsters but complex individuals surviving or exploiting the struggle.

    Overall, I enjoyed this novel. I recommend it to readers seeking a solid twist on the vampire myth.
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