Catholic Vampire Fantasy Fiction
MOONCHILD RISING, Shadows of the Sun Book 1 by Mina Ambrose
Mara the Huntress resides in the sunny little town of Archangel, California, the location of the Gate of the Underworld—a fact unknown to the general populace. Most people don’t even know that vampires exist. As Huntress, Mara does know, and it is her job to kill those that dare venture forth to the Upperworld to prey on the humans living there. She is well suited to this purpose, gifted with skills and talents far surpassing those of ordinary mortals. Though some vampires manage to evade her, she has so far managed to prevent the unleashing of a full-scale infestation. She has been at this job for a good portion of her not-quite-twenty years, and it seems she has everything in hand. Then one day, she gets a chill of foreboding, a feeling that things are about to change…
For she stands in the way of the master vampire’s plan for world domination and, he fears, may be a key player in the fulfillment of an ancient prophecy foretelling his destruction. One dark night he sends the mighty Prince (his second in command) to put an end to this Huntress, this bane of vampires, once and for all. Mara confidently goes out to face him but finds she has met her match at last. Just as all hope seems lost, this powerful vampire turns from the “dark side” to become Mara’s ally in the battle against his own kind.
Catholic Writers Guild Seal of Approval
2023 Catholic Media Association Book Awards, Honorable Mention, Best Religious Series
Reviews:
“A fast-paced, engaging book that draws clear lines between Good and Evil, leading the reader on a great adventure through the darkness we cannot see. I loved the story—and I’m not even a fan of vampires!” Michelle Buckman, award-winning author, Rachel’s Contrition and Turning in Circles
“Can a vampire’s soul be saved? With beautiful imagery, Moonchild Rising pairs a redeemed vampire and a skilled huntress battling both the undead and the desires of their hearts.” Carolyn Astfalk, author, Come Back to Me and All in Good Time
CHILD OF DESTINY, Shadows of the Sun Book 2 by Mina Ambrose
Charon, master vampire, has known of an ancient prophecy foretelling the coming of a “nemesis” to destroy him and his kind on some future date. One of royal blood and—perhaps—half-human and half-vampire. His attempts throughout the ages to thwart the prophecy have failed. His senses tell him that the birth of his destroyer is imminent! He must act now, while it is a mere child, and vulnerable. He commands his horde to kidnap the baby and bring it back to him. With great difficulty, his plan is carried out. A great battle ensues; the child is snatched. Those that survive the perilous mission straggle back to the master’s lair. Only then is it discovered that the baby has been mysteriously lost.
The child falls into the hands of a humble couple living in the woods, who raise him as their own, in obscurity, preserved from danger until the time comes for him to fulfil his destiny. They name him Jude, unaware of his unusual heritage, though as he grows, he displays certain “oddities.” They are protective of the child and teach him to hide these oddities from a world unforgiving of anything different. He himself does not know what it all means, nor does he understand the recurring nightmares and “episodes” that seem so real. More frightening is the “phantom” that haunts the surrounding forest and seems fixated on him.
As Jude enters his teen years, he tries to piece together the puzzle of his life. Will a mysterious monk—who unexpectedly and fortuitously appears on the scene—help him sort it out?
Catholic Writers Guild Seal of Approval
EYES OF FIRE, Shadows of the Sun Book 3 by Mina Ambrose
Ancient legend comes to life: the prophecy that Charon, master vampire, has long dreaded, continues to unfold.
Jude has finally accepted his destiny as the hero who must foil Charon’s plans for world domination, though he has only just begun to understand the powers he possesses. Nevertheless, he sets out on his quest. Halloween is just around the corner when Jude arrives in the small town of Sylvan and lands a renovation job at a nearby mansion—the very one that sits atop Charon’s underground lair, as it turns out. He also encounters Phaedra, whom he recognizes as the “damsel in distress” from his recurring dreams. As he interprets it, he has been sent here to protect her, but she will have none of that. Meanwhile, Tim the VK (Vampire Killer) breezes into town, armed to the teeth, his vampire-tracking wolf-dog Sarge at his heels. His announcement that he is here to clean out a nest of vampires shocks Phaedra and her friends—vampires aren’t real! Or… are they? It’s all fantastic fun—until Phaedra has a terrifying encounter one night, and Jude comes to the rescue. She reluctantly admits she may need his protection, after all. Tim is not so sure—Sarge takes Jude for a vampire, and Sarge has never been wrong about vampires! Now, while Tim must single-handedly confront the whole crew of the undead, must he also guard Phaedra from her own heart?
CHECKMATE, Shadows of the Sun Book 4 by Mina Ambrose
Jude flies to California to search for his real parents and the truth of his origins but is left with more questions than answers.
And unwilling to face the possibility that he may be half-vampire, he decides instead to concentrate on his quest, as the most immediate concern. He is convinced that Phaedra is the “damsel in distress” of his recurring nightmare and that it is his task to rescue her from the “dragon,” Charon.
He returns to the mansion for another renovation job (transforming the top floor into an observatory) and allows himself to be persuaded to join the vampires’ parties after hours. His hope is that he may learn the master’s plan for Phaedra and foil it.
Phaedra has been warned, but under the guise of a star party with her astronomy class, is lured to the mansion. Charon quickly ensnares her and she vanishes into the labyrinth. Jude begins a mad search for her, fearing what the master intends. But meddling with the powers of darkness brings dire consequences, and the price of saving her may be dearer than even he has reckoned.
Charon has promised that his vampire crew will become daywalkers, and he, lord of all. Is this to be the end of the world as we know it?
REDEMPTION, Shadows of the Sun Book 5 by Mina Ambrose
Unnoticed by all except Phaedra, Jude’s body has been spirited away by Dr. Lee Davis and his henchmen in the midst of the great battle between Charon’s legions and Mara’s VK army.
Mara and the Prince set out, intending to track down the villains and retrieve the body of their son. Phaedra is left desolate.
Meanwhile, Jude awakens in the mad scientist’s lab and finds himself in the hands of unscrupulous researchers who mean to study this half-human, half-vampire creature. But Dr. Davis is not content with that; he has mad plans for using Jude’s preternatural powers for his own gain.
Forced to play the doc’s infernal game in order to save his loved ones, Jude finds himself battling yet another “dragon,” perhaps worse than the first. It seems there is no way out, but that he must finally bow to Dr. Lee’s indomitable will—at the cost of his freedom, his sanity, and perhaps his very life.
Or will Phaedra find the key so that Mara and the Prince can locate him in time to fly to his rescue?
AND ROUND ME SLAYS THE DARK, Shadows of the Sun Book 6 by Mina Ambrose
Jude is on the run again, this time not only from the mad doctor and his henchmen; there is also an over-zealous and determined police officer on his track.
Robert Anderson, Oregon State Trooper of heretofore exemplary reputation, is out to defend his honor and that of his squad from those who would doubt their sanity and would relegate him, as the officer in charge, to the bottom rung of the career ladder—or evict him from the force. All because of an unassuming young vagrant, who, he is convinced, somehow erased crucial minutes from their memories. True to his local fame as Master of Puzzles, Anderson puts his logical mind and his detective skills to work to track down this enigma and call him to account.
Jude manages to keep one jump ahead of his enemies’ mad pursuit, leading them in a wild chase across the country and back again, until they all converge on Mara’s hometown and the Group is called into play.
He finds himself, against all odds, facing the mad doctor once more, to save Phaedra—and himself.
Catholic Vampire Fantasy Fiction