Before Dracula—The Forgotten Darkness of Blood of the Damned

It’s been a while since my last review—I spent the past few months traveling across Europe, soaking in the history, landscapes, and legends that always seem to find their way into the stories I love (and the ones I write). Now that I’m back, I’m catching up on my reading list, and I couldn’t think of a better book to start with.

This summer, I had the chance to read an early copy of Blood of the Damned by Antony J. Stanton which is a dark, atmospheric blend of history and horror, perfect for your Spooky Month TBR. The Kindle edition releases on October 28th (available now for preorder), but the hardcover is already out for those who can’t wait to get their hands on it.

Let's dive into what makes Blood of the Damned a five star read:

In the blood-soaked borderlands of 15th-century Eastern Europe, the Order of the Dragon prepares to face the advancing Ottoman horde—but a far older predator stalks the night. When young nobleman Darius Civolov witnesses a massacre no one will believe, and squire George of Traianoupoli trains for a holy war, their paths hurtle toward a truth more terrifying than any battlefield: the real enemy does not march under a mortal banner.

"Because Dracula was never the first."

At a Glance

A Battle Between Faith and Fear

Blood of the Damned launches Antony J. Stanton’s Blood of the Dragon series with a heady mix of historical grit and supernatural dread. Set in the blood-soaked borderlands of 15th-century Eastern Europe, the novel pits crusader knights and noble families not only against the relentless Ottoman advance but against something older, darker, and far deadlier.

Darius Civolov, a young nobleman, survives a horrific nighttime attack that slaughters his guards and mother—but no one believes his account of the inhuman predator. Elsewhere, George of Traianoupoli, an idealistic squire in the famed Order of the Dragon, trains for war, driven by his father’s violent death. As Ottoman armies mass, these two paths edge toward a collision with a monstrous truth: Dracula was never the first.

Dark Themes Beneath the Blood

Stanton blends military historical fiction with vampire horror in a way that feels both grounded and epic. His medieval battle scenes are visceral and authentic, while the supernatural horror is chillingly intimate. Themes of duty, legacy, and the willful blindness of men who see only the enemies they expect give the narrative weight beyond its bloodletting.

Stanton’s prose is vivid, cinematic, and relentless in its pacing. Fans of The Historian, Anno Dracula, or Bernard Cornwell’s grimdark battles will find themselves equally at home in the mud of the battlefield and the shadow of the crypt.

“The storm and the wolves and the Ottomans, all, were the very least of their concerns. Would never again be of the slightest consequence.”

Final Thoughts

I loved it. Rich in historical authenticity and gothic menace, Blood of the Damned marks the beginning of what promises to be a ferociously compelling saga. You can read it any time you want, but if you want to set the mood for Halloween, get it now.