In the seventh Sam Quinn urban fantasy audiobook, The Bloody Ruin Asylum and Taproom by Seana Kelly, we are off to Budapest where Clive will interview for a position in the Guild, a council of thirteen vampires who advise the world’s Masters. Things are right with the ghosts at the asylum and the local weres aren’t happy that Sam & Clive are there. Narrated by Samantha Desz, Kelly delivered a nail-biting tale with snark, and plenty of danger.
by Seana Kelly
Series: Sam Quinn #7
Narrator: Samantha Desz
Length: 8 hours and 48 minutes
Genres: Urban Fantasy
Source: Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon | Audible *affiliate
Heat Level:
Narration: 5 cups Speed: 1.5x
I’m Sam, the werewolf book nerd owner of The Slaughtered Lamb Bookstore & Bar. My husband, Master vampire Clive, has been asked to go to Budapest to interview for a position in the Guild, a council of thirteen vampires who advise the world’s Masters. The competition for the recently vacated spot is fierce. I worry about Clive, as it quickly becomes apparent that the last person to hold the position didn’t leave voluntarily.
Ever the supportive wife, I’m tagging along. I researched Budapest and had a long itinerary of things to do. That is, I did. When we arrive, we find out that the Guild headquarters is in the ruins of an abandoned insane asylum. Awesome. If there’s one thing I love, it’s being hounded by mentally unstable Hungarian ghosts.
Let’s just say this isn’t the romantic getaway I’d been hoping for. With Clive in top secret meetings and a bunch of creepy Renfields skulking around corners, nowhere is safe. I want to help Clive because I know he really wants the job, but the other Guild members are ancient and scary powerful. Between you and me, I thought Vlad would be taller.
Wish us luck! We’re going to need it.
I love this series and adore Sam, a necromancer werewolf & book nerd owner of The Slaughtered Lamb Bookstore & Bar. Her husband, Clive, is a Master Vampire. Along with their dog, they enjoy a blessed life, except for the occasional supernatural threat.
Clive has been invited to interview for a position in the Guild, a council of thirteen vampires who advise the world’s Masters. Leaving her beloved bar and pooch behind, Sam travels with him. Their trip takes them to Budapest, and an abandoned insane asylum where the vampires meet and dwell. Kelly hooked me from the start and I devoured this one.
While each book contains a full story, like most urban fantasy, I recommend listening in the order of release. Relationships, Sam’s history and how she obtains her growing number of allies will make for a more enjoyable experience discovering them in order, and ya know, spoilers.
The vampires aren’t exactly happy to see Sam, although most are hospitable. Sam is uneasy, but not just because of the vamps. A strange painting and hostile ghosts behaving outside of the norm cause issues. When she explores the city in search of food and history, she runs into the local weres, who want blood. It seems vampires are violating and killing people in the city. A direction violation of supernatural laws. Naturally, Sam investigates and what she discovers shocks her.
Fae, possession, and ghosts seeking help held me captive. Vlad the vampire and others added danger, snark, and some gray hairs for poor Clive. Sam tackles things head-on and without fear. I love how tenacious she is. She is also skilled at reading people and the situation.
Samantha Desz narrates the series and captures the characters’ personalities, snark, tension and emotions perfectly. I highly recommend listening.
About Seana Kelly
Seana Kelly lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband, two daughters, two dogs, and one fish. When she's not dodging her family, hiding in the garage and trying to write, she's working as a high school teacher-librarian. She's an avid reader and re-reader who misses her favorite characters when it's been too long between visits. She's represented by the delightful and effervescent Sarah E. Younger of the Nancy Yost Literary Agency
About Samantha Desz
Samantha Desz is a classically trained actor with extensive theater experience. She also is an experienced voice actor, working on a variety of long form voice-over projects. Samantha has a passion for learning about different cultures and lifestyles. She's lived around the US and in London, England, called New York City home for nearly twenty years, and is currently living in the Midwest.
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About Kimberly
Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram
ailyn koay
when council leaders don’t leave voluntarily, it’s usually something fun going down in the asylum. Glad the series is staying fresh.
Anne - Books of My Heart
These characters seem to be complex with a lot of roles. I don’t remember this series but I’m always interested in UF.
Angela (Angel's Book Nook)
This sounds like a fun UF series to try. I’ll have to check out book 1. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this one and helping to add to my TBR. ^_^