Vivia

Name: Vivia
Price: 16.99 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9781907737985

✍️ Tanith Lee

Reader Score

4.6

(1 review)

$16.99

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

Tanith Lee’s grimdark novel about a woman who drinks blood in a plague-ridden castle.

The narrative centers on Vivia, who seeks favor from an arcane god in secret caves. Prince Zulgaris resurrects and claims her after the plague brings death to Lord Vaddix’s lands. He grants her the secret of eternal life, which stretches before her like a damnation. Vivia becomes his lover or pet while he pursues sorcerous power. The story examines her betrayal and her role as one more thing to be used in his relentless quest. It explores the hedonistic nature of Zulgaris and the unspeakable mutations he conceals beneath his palace. The text highlights how Vivia intrigues the cruel prince through her indifference. It traces her journey from a paragon of youth to a creature who feeds without remorse. The setting is the great city of Starzion, where life holds little value. The plot moves through war, disease, and captivity.

Key Themes

immortality as damnation dark fantasy horror blood drinking

Literary Context

Tanith Lee wrote this grimdark horror fantasy before the genre had a name. Immanion Press published this second edition in 2018 through Magalithica Books. The work draws on gothic traditions of undead wonder and ancient cave shrines. It reflects a period where warlord violence and plague defined daily existence.

Difficulty

●●● Challenging

Recommended For Fans Of

Clive Barker · Anne Rice · Poppy Z. Brite · H.P. Lovecraft

🏚️

Gothic

🏛 Immanion Press/Magalithica Books 📅 2018 📖 344 pages 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781907737985

📝 Description: Vivia

Tanith Lee wrote Vivia before grimdark fantasy became a recognized genre. This second edition presents her darkest work, featuring gritty, savage, and darkly erotic themes. The story follows Vivia, the neglected daughter of the warlord Lord Vaddix. She finds solace in lightless caverns beneath her father’s castle, where she encounters an entity she believes to be a living god. After plague devastates the land, she is captured by Prince Zulgaris. He keeps her as a concubine in the city of Starzion. Zulgaris is a dark prince, war-leader, and alchemist who sees in Vivia’s aloof indifference a reflection of his own soul. He treats her like a treasured plaything or a bizarre contraption kept in hidden workrooms. Vivia discovers she can drink blood without taste, yet it satisfies her thirst like wine. She feeds on young girls brought to her by Zulgaris. In this callous land where life means little and the plague haunts the alleys, circumstances shift quickly. Treachery abounds, and no one is safe. Vivia must understand her own nature in a brutal world. Only remote, pitiless creatures might survive unscathed. The narrative asks what cost such survival demands. Lee qualifies herself as a writer who explores the seductive place of the undead and the wonder of immortality. This book suits readers who enjoy dark fantasy and horror. It does not suit those seeking lighthearted adventure or traditional heroism.

💎 Our verdict on Vivia

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🩸

Horror Reads editorial team

Horror desk

Lee delivers a visceral narrative set in the plague-ridden city of Starzion, where Vivia’s journey from neglected daughter to blood-drinking creature unfolds with chilling precision. The book excels in depicting the hedonistic nature of Prince Zulgaris and the callous land he rules, creating an atmosphere of relentless dread. Its strength lies in tracing Vivia’s indifference as a weapon against cruelty, highlighting her role as a treasured plaything in a war-leader’s alchemical pursuits. This work best suits readers who appreciate dark fantasy’s darker corners and psychological horror. It avoids lighthearted adventure, offering instead a stark, unflinching look at survival in a world where life means little. The prose captures the wonder of immortality alongside its damnation, making it a potent addition to gothic collections.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers who enjoy dark fantasy and horror will find this book compelling due to its gritty, savage, and darkly erotic themes. It suits those interested in the psychological unraveling of a protagonist navigating a brutal world where life holds little value. The narrative offers a deep dive into hedonistic depravity and the cost of survival among remote, pitiless creatures. Those fascinated by the mechanics of immortality and the unspeakable mutations hidden beneath palace walls will appreciate the intricate exploration of Vivia’s transformation from youth to a remorseless feeder. It is ideal for readers seeking stories where treachery abounds and no one is safe, providing a stark examination of betrayal and the quest for arcane power.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.6

Based on 1 reviews

Horror Reads editorial team

Lee delivers a visceral narrative set in the plague-ridden city of Starzion, where Vivia’s journey from neglected daughter to blood-drinking creature unfolds with chilling precision. The book excels in depicting the hedonistic nature of Prince Zulgaris and the callous land he rules, creating an atmosphere of relentless dread. Its strength lies in tracing Vivia’s indifference as a weapon against cruelty, highlighting her role as a treasured plaything in a war-leader’s alchemical pursuits. This work best suits readers who appreciate dark fantasy’s darker corners and psychological horror. It avoids lighthearted adventure, offering instead a stark, unflinching look at survival in a world where life means little. The prose captures the wonder of immortality alongside its damnation, making it a potent addition to gothic collections.