[Blog Tour] The Crimson Countess by Brynn Myers – Vampires & Gods Clash in this Gothic Fantasy

It’s my stop with MTMC Tours to talk about The Crimson Countess Brynn Myers!

This is an adult Gothic paranormal fantasy, perfect for anyone who has been waiting for vampires to make a comeback — and reappear with a side of wicked ploys and ravishing appetites. It’s mixed with the legend of Elizabeth Bathory, a Hungarian historical figure, supposed serial killer (or maybe she was … a vampire 👀) and also add in Greek Gods, some artists, a super cute dog…and you have The Crimson Countess!

The story plays out from two main perspectives.
We have Nola, lonely artist, who at first is hesitant to take on a mysterious client’s request to create a piece that pays homage to Elizabeth Bathory. But the money is too good to pass up, and Nola and her sister and friend take on the request and go for it. They make the artwork theirs, and end up having a huge show around it too. Nola has zero clue her work is part of a dark plan thanks to the real Elizabeth Bathory — who is a called Erzsebet and is a vampire trapped in a painting and starved for freedom. And for her choice of victims.

Half of the story is from the villains’ perspectives! I found this fascinatingly dark. It really did not hold back from the depravity that Erzsebet glorifies in. It was also interesting reading the dynamic between Erzsebet and her son Paul, who keeps her fed with helpless victims while she’s trapped in the painting. They loathe each other, and their power dynamic is complex. Erzsebet hates Paul for abusing woman, but like, she also murders/eats women so ?! Lady, you cannot take any moral high ground here 😪The villain chapters are addictive and dark, a train wreck you can’t look away from. They balanced nicely with Nola’s lovely, sweet chapters too, as she is absorbed in her art … and also the strange man who saved her life and might also be a greek god intent on finding a way to destroy Erzsebet and her feral vampire cohort.

A compelling and vibrant read, drenched in crimson and art and lust and power. It’s hard to put down! Definitely recommended for those that enjoy retellings, romance, and vampires & gods locked in a complex war.

Thanks to MTMC Tours for having me on the tour!

When a god and a vampire queen desire you, things can get complicated.
Nola Blair is a free-spirited artist who’s been offered a hefty sum to create a unique piece for a party at Elizabeth Bathory’s ruined castle. It’s an assignment she declined––twice. However, at the behest of her sister and her best friend, she finally gave in, choosing her career over her annoyance with the misogynist ass trying to secure her services.
Erzsebet Bathory has been trapped for centuries and would do anything to escape, including using her own son, Paul, to do her bidding. Soon she’ll be free and take her place among the ferals as their queen.
Andrik Kane had no idea his life would change when he saved Nola from a band of rogue vampires. Charged with the hunting of ferals and their creators, one broken rule and the blood of a beautiful brunette in distress ends up giving him more than he ever bargained for.
One wants her blood, the other wants her to be his. Who will decide Nola’s fate?

Amazon | Goodreads

Brynn Myers is a paranormal romance author. After considering writing a hobby for years, she finally turned her passion and talent into a career. She came into the paranormal genre later than most but has always loved fairy-tales and all things magical. Using that love, she creates charmed worlds by writing stories involving passionate, strong willed characters with something to discover. Brynn lives with her family in Central Florida. Find her at Website | Instagram | Goodreads | Twitter

Hi Brynn, thanks so much for chatting with me today! Can you tell us a bit about how The Crimson Countess went from seed of an idea to published manuscript?

It all began with Elizabeth Bathory. I saw a documentary about her being the first female serial killer and went on a hunt to find out anything and everything I could about her. The accounts of her varied, and I was hooked. Was she the vicious ruler they said she was or was she a widow in power with land and money who rebuked Count Thurzo’s desire to control her? Personally, I think it was probably the latter since it was the 16^th century, and a woman in power was frowned upon. However, for the sake of my story and the inconsistent facts about how she lived the last four years of her life, I thought she’d make the perfect vampire. But not just any vampire, I wanted her to be an immortal queen with revenge on her mind. I read all I could about her and began picking and choosing parts of her real-life to weave into a paranormal fantasy—the result––The Crimson Countess.

The history behind Bathory is chilling and fascinating for sure! If you had to spend a day with one of your characters, who would you hang out with?

I’d love to sit down and live a day in the life of Nola Blair. I’m not an artist, but it was fun to live vicariously through her via this book. To create the things she did, with the passion she brought to her art––I’d love to ask her what moves her.

Agreed! Nola would be lovely to be around 🥺 Favourite vs least favourite parts of the writing process?

I’m a nerd at heart, so the research into Bathory and the Greek gods and goddesses was fun. However, sometimes the information left me with too many choices and avenues to use with the story itself. I wanted to cover a ton of elements and wanted to make sure the reader wouldn’t get lost in unnecessary details or information. The challenge was finding the perfect balance between the two.

It was incredible picking up the historical references too!! So how do you go about choosing your character names?

LOL! VERY CAREFULLY! I literally get teased about my need for all my character names to have meaning. The only book I didn’t spend a ton of time researching the meaning and connection was my recent release, From Blood to Ink. The names in there were off the cuff. If I felt like they suited the character I saw in my mind, I used it.

Lastly! Was any chocolate harmed in the making of this novel? 😌

ABSOLUTELY! I’m a chocoholic! My chocolate of choice––Enjoy Life chocolate chips––melted, as is, with nuts, you name it. I’m sad to say it, but they had to be sacrificed for the greater good. LOL! 😉

They went to a worthy cause 😩🙌🏻 Also now I’m craving chocolate 👀 It’s been such pleasure chatting with you, Brynn! Congrats again on The Crimson Countess!

 

Grand Prize: An autographed copy of The Crimson Countess, TCC swag, and a $10 Amazon gift card.
Runner-Up Prize: 10 readers will win a digital copy of The Crimson Countess!

This is open internationally & it ends on June 26th, 2021 at 11:59pm EST.

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