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bethaniekay's review against another edition
1.0
This was a long, complex book, that was sometimes very interesting and other times so boring I wished it would just get on with it. The story is very non-linear, and did a bit too much hopping around. There are basically 3 generations of people involved in the story (if not more) and the tale jumps through multiple countries in Europe, describing multiple cultures and religions, and their associated history, wars, and rulers. Weave in there the tale of Dracula, and the whole story was quite complicated.
I really wanted to like this book, because I enjoy vampire stories (in any form; romanticized or not), and I really like European /Mediterranean history and culture. However, what this book boiled down to was a really long, boring story that basically went nowhere and left me completely unsatisfied and wondering "what happened???"
I'm not sure what I'll do with this book - but I simply can't think of even one person I'd recommend it to. I'm amazed it has gotten so many good reviews. I thought the writing style was boring, and WAY too detailed. The author also never stuck with one character enough to actually allow me to form any attachments with them, so I didn't really care about them. In fact, I just wanted the story to be done already so I could figure out who Dracula was, and what happened. In the end, I still don't know.
Ugh, what a disappointment - and to think I wasted 2 weeks reading this book when I could have read something fun and or interesting!
I really wanted to like this book, because I enjoy vampire stories (in any form; romanticized or not), and I really like European /Mediterranean history and culture. However, what this book boiled down to was a really long, boring story that basically went nowhere and left me completely unsatisfied and wondering "what happened???"
I'm not sure what I'll do with this book - but I simply can't think of even one person I'd recommend it to. I'm amazed it has gotten so many good reviews. I thought the writing style was boring, and WAY too detailed. The author also never stuck with one character enough to actually allow me to form any attachments with them, so I didn't really care about them. In fact, I just wanted the story to be done already so I could figure out who Dracula was, and what happened. In the end, I still don't know.
Ugh, what a disappointment - and to think I wasted 2 weeks reading this book when I could have read something fun and or interesting!
scijessreads's review against another edition
5.0
Both modern and gothic, it is a journey to find truth in a legend. To find family and lore and the link between. It is atmospheric and elegant, a history waiting to be revealed.
brookesbooksta's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book and Historical Fiction is not usually my go-to genre. There were some of the flashback moments that seemed to drag on a tiny bit (even if they were necessary). However, I did really enjoy reminiscing from the two perspectives.
Baby bit of spoilers - no plot but may change your expectations as a reader:
The biggest shock was how quickly the climax was concluded. I was expecting something more ominous, dramatic, or at least longer. Though we are not disappointed by the ending.
Baby bit of spoilers - no plot but may change your expectations as a reader:
The biggest shock was how quickly the climax was concluded. I was expecting something more ominous, dramatic, or at least longer. Though we are not disappointed by the ending.
gabburrit0's review against another edition
4.75
okay THIS is how you do a dark academia novel
this book ruled from the intersecting timelines, the characters, and the pace. what's keeping this book from a glowing 5 stars is that having Dracula here was very cheesy n not in a good way.Dracula is present in the final act of this book and is supposedly the "big bad" but his presence was never menacing/intimidating. he felt more like that tiny spider in the corner of your wall that you're slightly nervous of but not outwardly afraid of
i think that this book also fell a lil flat with it's ending. not that i don't like timeskips but with how detailed out and in depth we were going for the entirety of the book, it felt weird that at the end we find out that this has all been a flashback. now i could be dumb and the book starts out with saying that it's a flashback but I still stand by that the ending felt a lil flat to meespecially because Dracula is very much not dead
this book ruled from the intersecting timelines, the characters, and the pace. what's keeping this book from a glowing 5 stars is that having Dracula here was very cheesy n not in a good way.
i think that this book also fell a lil flat with it's ending. not that i don't like timeskips but with how detailed out and in depth we were going for the entirety of the book, it felt weird that at the end we find out that this has all been a flashback. now i could be dumb and the book starts out with saying that it's a flashback but I still stand by that the ending felt a lil flat to me
redheadorganist's review against another edition
This book is really slow paced. I was enjoying the story and mystery but it was just taking so long to get through it, I finally had to move on.
lostinfrance's review against another edition
3.0
Too long, too heavy....too many layers. Your reading a story of a girl who is reading the letters of her father that is reading letters of his professor...and then you get off the bus and wonder who is telling which part of the story. Yes, you can follow along, but it doesn't need to be that complicated....and really after 500 years.....the girl is going to possibly find Dracula? Sigh.
I did enjoy learning about Vlad the Impaler (sounds like a WWF wrestler)....and it was nice to travel Eastern Europe. The book was too long---and could have easily lost 200 pages.
I did enjoy learning about Vlad the Impaler (sounds like a WWF wrestler)....and it was nice to travel Eastern Europe. The book was too long---and could have easily lost 200 pages.
wakingaube's review against another edition
3.0
This book was amazing until the last 50 pages or so. The ending lacked a real punch and sort of ruined it for me.