The Secret History of Elizabeth Tudor, Vampire Slayer Lucy Weston
Gallery, December 2010
ISBN: 978-1439190333
Sovereign Power. Eternal Pleasure.
Revealed at last in this new vampire saga for the ages: the true, untold story of the "Virgin Queen" and her secret war against the Vampire King of England. . .
When The Secret History of Elizabeth Tudor, Vampire Slayer opens it is 1559 and Elizabeth Tudor is about to be crowned Queen when she not only learns of the existence of vampires but that she is to be a slayer. Elizabeth becomes aware of her vampire smiting power the night before her coronation when she visits the grave of her mother, Anne Boleyn. She also learns that her realm is under threat from a 1,000-year-old named Mordred, the illegitimate son of King Arthur. Mordred wants to make Elizabeth his bride and rule beside her for eternity. As Elizabeth considers his offer she must also weigh the dangers and responsibilities to her people and the court.
The Secret History of Elizabeth Tudor, Vampire Slayer as told by Lucy Weston (from Bram Stoker's Dracula) is told from the dairy pages of Elizabeth herself but the story switches off from being told by Mordred and Elizabeth. In this novel, Mordred is remade; rather than being completely evil, he has surprising depth and intellect, making him a foe worthy of Elizabeth. Elizabeth is convincingly portrayed as a complex woman, with the specter of her mother's death haunting her and strained by the precarious nature of her position. Not only is Mordred re-invented, but so are Anne Boleyn and Morgaine Le Fay. No longer evil seductresses, as history and legend have made them out to be, they are now secret vampire slayers who died trying to fight off the vampires' attacks on England.
Elizabeth spends the majority of the novel contemplating God, her faith, and the true definition of evil. She is faced with the daunting task of holding a fragile England together after the reign of her sister Mary ends. To further complicate things, Mordred comes offering eternal life and power, but most importantly peace and protection for the country she loves. If only she could trust him! The story is filled with lies, deceit, and plenty of double-crossing from both parties involved.
This is a great read for fans of historical fantasy. The story features Elizabeth Tudor's reign as Queen and features stories of King Arthur, Mordred, and Morgaine Le Fey all relating to vampire history. Similar in concept to Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith including a journal, The Secret History of Elizabeth Tudor, Vampire Slayer is made fresh by fascinating Mordred as he brings a delightfully evil option to the young Tudor Queen. The Secret History of Elizabeth Tudor, Vampire Slayer manages to entwine a well-loved myth, a small amount of history, and vampires into a very interesting story that is enthralling, creative and exciting.
