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Dracula in Love by Karen Essex

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Divia
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Dracula in Love by Karen Essex

Post by Divia » Mon August 9th, 2010, 9:48 pm

My Amazon review....

This book is about Mina, told in the first person. The reader finds out a little about Mina's childhood in the beginning of the book. We find that she is not a "normal" girl. Mina often sleepwalks, and she is distant which frightens her parents. Later, she becomes a school teacher, but the sleepwalking does not stop. In fact, as she becomes older, and matures into a young woman, the voice of a man continues to haunt to Mina.

I will confess that its been a very long time since I read Dracula. I hardly remember it, to be honest. However, this isn't about Dracula, this is about Mina.

The historical details in this novel helped to give a better understand of the time period. There are so many historical fiction books I read that you would never know what era they are in unless there is a war going on. I think Ms. Essex does a great job of capturing Victorian ideology.

I liked the book, but this isn't a must read, and that's why I only gave it three stars. Also, the sex in the book could be a turn off for a lot of people. I didn't think the sexual encounters were poorly written, but this is a matter of taste, of course. I can see how some people would not like them. I think the reader, before buying this book, needs to think about their personal tastes. Are they OK with sex and rape in their book? If one doesn't mind it, then I say try it. However, if the reader is put off by it then I'm not sure they would enjoy this novel. I do believe this is a book one should borrow from the library because what one person views as tasteful another many not. This book is hard to judge.

This book is a fun, interesting take on the classic tale. It gives Mina a chance to tell her side of the story. For those looking for something a little spicy and not bothered by sex in their novels then I say give this one a go.
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Misfit
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Post by Misfit » Mon August 9th, 2010, 11:34 pm

I've read enough reviews to convince me to give this a pass. If anything, I'll go and read the original. Appreciate the heads up on the sex, I like to do the same so people know what they are facing going in.
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Miss Moppet
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Post by Miss Moppet » Tue August 10th, 2010, 12:09 am

[quote=""Misfit""]I've read enough reviews to convince me to give this a pass. If anything, I'll go and read the original. [/quote]

Misfit, absolutely do read the original Dracula if you haven't already. It is marvellous. The one reason I'm grateful I read The Historian is because it inspired me to try Dracula, which is so much better.

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Misfit
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Post by Misfit » Tue August 10th, 2010, 12:27 am

I do intend to do that. If I have read it I've completely forgotten it.
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cw gortner
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Post by cw gortner » Tue August 10th, 2010, 4:15 am

I endorsed this one and enjoyed it, but I'm not adverse to graphic sex if it's presented within context. For this book, I felt it was necessary to explain Mina's obsession; what I really liked, however, was the mythological twist on the story.
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Divia
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Post by Divia » Tue August 10th, 2010, 5:00 pm

I didnt mind the sex, but I'm sure some will.

However, as I read it I just wasnt as excited as I wanted to be. I was really looking forward to this one. Maybe my expectations were too high? :confused:
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cw gortner
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Post by cw gortner » Tue August 10th, 2010, 6:12 pm

[quote=""Divia""]I didnt mind the sex, but I'm sure some will.

However, as I read it I just wasnt as excited as I wanted to be. I was really looking forward to this one. Maybe my expectations were too high? :confused: [/quote]

I think that with a story this iconic, there's bound to be some of us who expect more than the book can deliver. It's no reflection on you; just the way it is. I'm a huge fan of the original Dracula and wasn't too keen on the recent sequel, Dracula the Undead by Stoker's nephew; it felt too made-for-Hollywood for me, but a lot of people loved it. Conversely, I didn't have much expectation when this book came around, except that it be well-written, as I've loved Karen's previous novels.
THE QUEEN'S VOW available on June 12, 2012!
THE TUDOR SECRET, Book I in the Elizabeth I Spymaster Chronicles
THE CONFESSIONS OF CATHERINE DE MEDICI
THE LAST QUEEN


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Post by Vanessa » Wed August 11th, 2010, 9:01 am

I loved both Dracula and The Historian. However, in The Historian Dracula doesn't actually make much of an appearance until the end if I remember rightly.

I have Syrie James' Dracula My Love on its way to me as I speak!
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Divia
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Post by Divia » Wed August 11th, 2010, 10:38 am

I have a review copy of that as well. I always tought that Essex's would be better. Maybe this other one is. Hmm.
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Ashley
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Post by Ashley » Sun August 22nd, 2010, 10:29 pm

Thanks for this. I'd seen it in the store recently and thought about picking it up, being an avid fan of Bram Stoker and vampires in general. I adore the original, and just read the "sequel," (don't get me started on that one :p ) by Dacre Stoker.

I have no problems with sex in novels as long as it fits the story line. My biggest complaint about someone I used to love (Laurell Hamilton and her Anita Blake books) is that yes, give me good sex, but give me a good story to go with it!

Perhaps I'll wait for the paperback.
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