Empire of Ash and Blood by Matthew Thompson

Matias De Laurentiis, Ablaze champion 2019, learns his loved ones perished at the hands of the Cult of Ra, a renegade faction out to eradicate bloodmans. But before seeking those responsible, he must escape the Ablaze Haven—the first to do so. Meanwhile, Luna Adjani’s entrapment of human dominance pushes her tolerance to new limits. With inner strength, aided by her faith, she embarks on her purpose. But to see it, first she must survive the tournament of Ablaze—claimed the greatest show on earth. Their lives are destined for change in the Pretorius Empire of 2043, Egypt. They are not alone; a Bloodman Rights inspector breaks protocol to aid the insurgent uprising; and an empress consort, after over twenty years in her role, debates whether to risk abandoning the emperor and his empire.

Adult • Fantasy/Dark

Content Warning: rape, prostitution, vampire murder

Reviewed by lamichi writer on 2024-01-06T23:38:18Z:

A highly underrated story with sympathetic enslaved vampires. Matias won the Ablaze games (bit like Battle Royale or Hunger Games with vampires), but he is now imprisoned somewhere else, his family murdered. Matias will have to escape and save his lost daughter. Thrilling read.