The Vampire Archetype As We Know It

It’s a strange existence that we are all experiencing, but it is exciting all the same especially when it comes to monsters lurking in the darkness. Both my husband Luke DeSalvo and I have created vampire novels. I wrote Royal Blood which is the first book in the Raven of Axelgard Trilogy, and have just released the sequel Toast of Blood. Luke wrote Templar’s Folly, the first book in his Psychic Detective Malachi Monroe Series. Both Luke and I’s books incorporate vampires with similar characteristics. To find out more, the books are currently for sale on Amazon, check out the following links: 

Purchase Royal Blood here: https://www.amazon.com/Royal-Blood-Raven-Axelgard-Trilogy/dp/B0BM3YZYTM 

You can also purchase the second book, Toast of Blood in the Raven of Axelgard Trilogy here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0FV2SL3XW?ref_=dbs_m_mng_rwt_calw_tkin_1&storeType=ebooks

Buy and read Templar’s Folly at this link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FL4KGHLG/ref=sr_1_4?crid=2UM17E89TGM84&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.mbW7k8P2BzP0fNvtP8SgTQJVFZu4H7-6DO3engrh7geH8hKlCKAlFn0L5OVhPq0nuskPSyxfomWE43Atd9Ggdw.CKqgt4O0zCbPnIVZrM5WE9G9dHrfkqIYogWKLvU_jYw&dib_tag=se&keywords=luke+desalvo&qid=1754379264&sprefix=luke+desalvo%2Caps%2C337&sr=8-4.

When you study the vampire archetype you will discover they are prominent figures in society today.

These blood sucking undead are just as powerful as they are lazy. They are typically elegant and essentially are hunting to torment their prey for their own personal entertainment and pleasure, it’s just their nature. There are times when vampire families band together in the form of a coven. Some vampires sympathize with humans and refuse to drink blood for their own personal morals and guilt. Then there are ones, like Raven and Andrea from Royal Blood, who can walk in the daylight and eat human food. The world of vampires is as exciting as it is dangerous, but there is so much more to it than that.

There’s all kinds of vampires out there.

There are also vampires that were prominent historical figures. Vlad the Impaler, who ruled on three different occasions between 1448 to 1477 as Voivode of Wallachia, is known to have inspired Bram Stoker’s Count Dracula. Vlad became known as “the Impaler” due to his tendency to kill his opponents by impaling them. He stands out as being a brutal warrior and leader, however his methods were accepted and admired by many of his colleagues, due to the difficulty of ruling kingdoms and controlling the populace. At one point the impaler was imprisoned, and only upon his agreeing to convert to Catholicism was he able to be released, at the request of Stephen III of Moldavia.

The Dark Ages, which occurred from 476 AD until the beginning of the Renaissance around the 14th century, certainly played its own significant role in the vampire world. During the middle ages people were seeking to explain why disease and crime for example were so prevalent, and so were likely to point the blame toward vampires, werewolves, and other monsters and were highly superstitious. The Dark Ages is known as being “dark” because it was an era in time during which the commonfolk struggled as they toiled and faced harsh living conditions. Vagabonds, theft, murder, and warfare were not uncommon during that time as well as disease, starvation, amongst other things which contributed to a certain mindset of people during the Middle Ages.

Another significant era that likely greatly influenced how vampires are viewed was the Black Death between 1346 and 1353. Claiming the lives of 25 to 50 million people, it was caused by the bacterium Yersinia Pestis via infected fleas on rats. Symptoms included fever, chills, and swollen painful lymph nodes called buboes. In fact the disease still exists to this day but is extremely rare and can be treated with antibiotics. Again, man was seeking to explain the source of disease and death. The public was very superstitious during this time period, and easily could have attributed to the fear and development of studies of monsters such as vampires and werewolves, among other various monster archetypes.

During the dawn of the modern era it is likely that most people do not believe in vampires and view them as a source of entertainment or something you dress up as for Halloween. However, the prevalence of the monster in a sense is greater than may be anticipated. For example, energy vampires are a threat in our society, and though it may be a loose term in certain circumstances, it is a concept that is circulating in the mental health realm. An energy vampire is defined as a person who leaves individuals feeling emotionally exhausted and drained, and is typically overly negative, manipulative, or continually causing drama. 

Then there are authors who have contributed to the world of vampires in ways that have never been done before. 

Anne Rice’s The Vampire Chronicles has paved the way for people to have a whole new perspective on the blood sucking monsters. Well known characters of Rice’s include Lestat, Louis and Armand, and serve as vampiric pioneers in their own right. They demonstrate that these monsters are not necessarily so different from humans. In summary Lestat is known for his beauty and charm, Louis for his love of innocents and humanity, and Armand for his wisdom and elegance. Whether in book or cinematic format, Anne Rice’s creations ranging from Interview with a Vampire to the Queen of the Damned have rocked the vampire world to its core.

My Raven of Axelgard Trilogy exudes elegance, charm, and humor in Royal Blood and Toast of Blood, and the character Dominic Vaccaro of Luke DeSalvo’s Templar’s Folly embodies these same characteristics as well. This work is inspired by real life events and mixes reality with fiction.

In Royal Blood, Axelgard Citadel stands at the brink of transformation as King Riveth lies dying. Determined to safeguard his kingdom, the king turns to the sole heir—who, ironically, is no longer among the living. Raven, also known as the Dark Prince, was exiled centuries before his death, returns with the aid of Catia, his guardian and bridge to the mortal realm, to reclaim the throne. With aristocratic intrigue and looming conflict, Raven finds himself with plenty of chaos to manipulate.

In Toast of Blood As the Zenian War threatens the realm, Raven of Axelgard stands as its last hope. The vampire journeys to Thadon, seeking King Zion’s support in a final attempt to preserve his homeland. Alongside Andrea, his devoted partner, and a group of brave human champions, Raven faces peril and heartbreak in pursuit of victory. Their descent into the war’s depths leads to a confrontation with Zenia—but what they find instead is a chilling revelation that forever changes their lives.

In Templar’s Folly agent Malachi Monroe’s latest case in Princeville, Hawaii, begins with a harrowing exorcism that propels him into a Templar trial, earning him a place within the secretive Lavaitus order—a division sworn to eradicate the supernatural. Tasked by his enigmatic superior, Malachi must protect Valerie, a gifted psychic being stalked by a vampire, whose connection to the Underworld runs deep. As their bond intensifies, Malachi discovers Valerie’s link to Dominic Vaccaro, a vampire caught in a violent clan war, making her a prime candidate for Templar training. With tensions mounting, Malachi is thrust into a perilous journey through romance, ancient rivalries, and undead warfare, culminating in a deadly mission to eliminate Orion Theronax, the ruthless leader of a vampire coven, and save Valerie from a fate that could cost him everything.

Prepare to be amazed. Let Royal Blood, Toast of Blood and Templar’s Folly be the gates through which you enter the dark world of the vampire.