Karen Essex

Mina Murray records in her private diary the intimate details of what really happened between her and Count Dracula, as well as her struggle against an evil force that has relentlessly pursued her.

A Novel

Dracula in Love

This was a fantastic audiobook experience. The narrator really shone, and I appreciated her hard work and dedication to each character; she did a great job bringing them all to life (her accent work alone was superb!). This is a novel that's perfect for the Halloween season; it's Gothic, moody and at times downright horrifying. It delves into the supernatural as well as the very real horrors of 19th century mental institutions. 

Mina was a great character, as well the supporting cast of characters. I especially enjoyed Kate, Mina's journalist friend. All the characters leapt from the 'page' thanks in equal parts to the writing and narration. 

This is a great and fresh retelling of the original Dracula novel. I've said it before and I'm sure I'll say it again in future reviews, but retellings and reimaginings are made so much better when they change or delve from the original source material. This is no exception. If you think you know the Dracula story, think again. 

I really appreciated in the author's note that Karen Essex drew inspiration from Bram Stoker's inspirations that didn't make their way into the final version of Dracula. In this spirit, she changes a lot of the original story in favor of what might have been. For example, Kate Reed was going to be a character in Dracula before she was ultimately omitted from the manuscript. And it was going to take place in Styria as opposed to Transylvania. 

This book, as I mentioned earlier, checks all the boxes for an atmospheric fall/spooky season read. From paranormal photographs to reincarnation, blood drinking and spooky stories within a story, I savored every minute of it. 

My only complaints are that not everything was explained or answered clearly. Warning: spoilers below! I may have just missed it, but I don't think Mina's reincarnation was ever truly explained. Is it just because of her immortal blood that she reincarnates after dying a mortal death? Plus, Lucy's ability to haunt Arthur, I thought, could have used more explanation. Did she somehow become a type of vampire? Even though one point of this book is to do away with the typical ideas of what a vampire is. I'm still hung up on the punctures on Lucy's neck. Did they really just come from her lover, Morris? I really kept waiting for a connection between Lucy and the Count, like we know what happens in Dracula, but of course this book takes its own different path. 

It also began to feel a little rushed once the Count and Mina are together; it didn't fully explain all of her previous lifetimes. It also feels like theirs is a love that's just not meant to be. If it's taken 700 years of trying to be together, with something thwarting them every step of the way, I don't see why the Count even continues to try. I would have just liked a little more in these aspects. I loved the influences of Irish mythology as well as the Count's backstory as a Crusader also searching for the secrets to immortality. These really pleased the historical fiction lover in me. 

Again, this book was so much more than I was expecting. It had it all: elements from different worldly cultures and mythologies, stories of tragic shipwrecks and dreamlike escapades, transforming an abandoned abbey into a romantic castle. Plus, it had details of everyday 19th century life. I can't say enough good things about this! The writing was phenomenal and richly detailed. It's so much more than a typical Dracula/vampire novel. I can't necessarily call it a romance novel, though, as the bond between the Count and Mina, to me, seemed beyond love and romance. I would love these two to be explored in future books by the author, either a prequel or sequel to see what will become of them. I also don't really understand why it's called Dracula in Love because to my knowledge, I don't think the count was ever named. I guess this title would draw in readers, but IMO it doesn't represent the book as well as it could or should. (I could have just missed it and since this was an audiobook it would be difficult for me to double check)

Amanda

This was a fantastic audiobook experience. The narrator really shone, and I appreciated her hard work and dedication to each character; she did a great job bringing them all to life (her accent work alone was superb!). This is a novel that's perfect for the Halloween season; it's Gothic, moody and at times downright horrifying. It delves into the supernatural as well as the very real horrors of 19th century mental institutions. 

Mina was a great character, as well the supporting cast of characters. I especially enjoyed Kate, Mina's journalist friend. All the characters leapt from the 'page' thanks in equal parts to the writing and narration. 

This is a great and fresh retelling of the original Dracula novel. I've said it before and I'm sure I'll say it again in future reviews, but retellings and reimaginings are made so much better when they change or delve from the original source material. This is no exception. If you think you know the Dracula story, think again. 

I really appreciated in the author's note that Karen Essex drew inspiration from Bram Stoker's inspirations that didn't make their way into the final version of Dracula. In this spirit, she changes a lot of the original story in favor of what might have been. For example, Kate Reed was going to be a character in Dracula before she was ultimately omitted from the manuscript. And it was going to take place in Styria as opposed to Transylvania. 

This book, as I mentioned earlier, checks all the boxes for an atmospheric fall/spooky season read. From paranormal photographs to reincarnation, blood drinking and spooky stories within a story, I savored every minute of it. 

My only complaints are that not everything was explained or answered clearly. Warning: spoilers below! I may have just missed it, but I don't think Mina's reincarnation was ever truly explained. Is it just because of her immortal blood that she reincarnates after dying a mortal death? Plus, Lucy's ability to haunt Arthur, I thought, could have used more explanation. Did she somehow become a type of vampire? Even though one point of this book is to do away with the typical ideas of what a vampire is. I'm still hung up on the punctures on Lucy's neck. Did they really just come from her lover, Morris? I really kept waiting for a connection between Lucy and the Count, like we know what happens in Dracula, but of course this book takes its own different path. 

It also began to feel a little rushed once the Count and Mina are together; it didn't fully explain all of her previous lifetimes. It also feels like theirs is a love that's just not meant to be. If it's taken 700 years of trying to be together, with something thwarting them every step of the way, I don't see why the Count even continues to try. I would have just liked a little more in these aspects. I loved the influences of Irish mythology as well as the Count's backstory as a Crusader also searching for the secrets to immortality. These really pleased the historical fiction lover in me. 

Again, this book was so much more than I was expecting. It had it all: elements from different worldly cultures and mythologies, stories of tragic shipwrecks and dreamlike escapades, transforming an abandoned abbey into a romantic castle. Plus, it had details of everyday 19th century life. I can't say enough good things about this! The writing was phenomenal and richly detailed. It's so much more than a typical Dracula/vampire novel. I can't necessarily call it a romance novel, though, as the bond between the Count and Mina, to me, seemed beyond love and romance. I would love these two to be explored in future books by the author, either a prequel or sequel to see what will become of them. I also don't really understand why it's called Dracula in Love because to my knowledge, I don't think the count was ever named. I guess this title would draw in readers, but IMO it doesn't represent the book as well as it could or should. (I could have just missed it and since this was an audiobook it would be difficult for me to double check)

Dracula in Love A Novel

Reviews