franklywrites's review against another edition
slow-paced
I can't remember who recommended this to me, or where I saw it, or why, but I once again find myself promising to be more careful paying attention to recommendations in future.
This was... fine. It wasn't anything special. But, to be fair, if I had read the blurb more carefully I probably would have realised it wouldn't be. It was dreadfully dull throughout most of the story, partially solved by being able to speed up the narration. The only thing that particularly piqued my interest was being able to half-heartedly ship two characters near the end, only for that to not really go anywhere. A warm woman turning into a vampire seemed like it would become cool, but that plotline fizzled out. The vampires were fine, but unexplored to any interesting level of detail. The author spent considerably more effort jamming in as many references to fictional/historical characters as possible.
As others have mentioned, knowing the identity of the Ripper throughout meant the Ripper plot (which forms much of the book) lacked any tension. As a retelling with a twist, it came across somewhat uninspired.
Also, I may have misheard because I had it on 1.5x speed by this point, but Dracula was given a long, coiling dong like a 'white snake' at one point? Random.
This was... fine. It wasn't anything special. But, to be fair, if I had read the blurb more carefully I probably would have realised it wouldn't be. It was dreadfully dull throughout most of the story, partially solved by being able to speed up the narration. The only thing that particularly piqued my interest was being able to half-heartedly ship two characters near the end, only for that to not really go anywhere. A warm woman turning into a vampire seemed like it would become cool, but that plotline fizzled out. The vampires were fine, but unexplored to any interesting level of detail. The author spent considerably more effort jamming in as many references to fictional/historical characters as possible.
As others have mentioned, knowing the identity of the Ripper throughout meant the Ripper plot (which forms much of the book) lacked any tension. As a retelling with a twist, it came across somewhat uninspired.
Also, I may have misheard because I had it on 1.5x speed by this point, but Dracula was given a long, coiling dong like a 'white snake' at one point? Random.
cajunliterarybelle's review against another edition
4.0
A Victorian historical fiction mystery novel centering around Jack the Ripper in a paranormal world where vampires are in the open. What's not to enjoy? Many references are used throughout the story from vampire literature, mythology, and history, which sparks even more appeal in the novel. My only qualm was the movement of the plot felt slow at times and without knowledge of all the references, some of the characters became lost on me. Overall, Anno Dracula was a great read with the chance to get in the heads of most characters - major and minor. I look forward to eventually reading subsequent books in the series.
inkhamartia's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
ophelia_wears_black's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
mistercrow's review against another edition
5.0
This one is going in my favourites. Forget garbage like Twilight, read this book about vampires instead! I am looking forward to the other books of this series.
bookaholic_in_wonderland's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Medical content, Sexual violence, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Blood, Violence, and Death
mschlat's review against another edition
4.0
I'm of two minds on this book. I was interested because of the similarities to Alan Moore's _League of Extraordinary Gentlemen --- the turn of the nineteenth century setting with a host of fictional characters. And the book definitely delivers on both. This is a world where Bram Stoker exists along with all of his creations, where Mycroft Holmes is pulling strings, and where all the great Victorian villains make appearances. I was even jolted out of the book by the appearance of a TV vampire.
But our protagonists are original to the book, very unlike Alan Moore's use of Mina Harker and Alan Quatermain. And while the early part of the novel almost rejoices in bringing in characters from other works, after about 2/3rds in, they fall off precipitously.
I think the real focus of the book is the alternative ending of Bram Stoker's Dracula --- what if Dracula married Queen Victoria, took over the British government, and made being a vampire fashionable? What if the poor took to vampirism and yet stayed poor? How would a society adjust to a new class of human being (or more accurately, non-human being) throughout all economic classes? Newman handles this portion of the book (as dark as it becomes) in a detailed and moving fashion. If you treat this as a book that only needs the cast of Dracula, I think it works wonderfully. The rest of the fictional characters felt more like distractions to me than anything else.
But our protagonists are original to the book, very unlike Alan Moore's use of Mina Harker and Alan Quatermain. And while the early part of the novel almost rejoices in bringing in characters from other works, after about 2/3rds in, they fall off precipitously.
I think the real focus of the book is the alternative ending of Bram Stoker's Dracula --- what if Dracula married Queen Victoria, took over the British government, and made being a vampire fashionable? What if the poor took to vampirism and yet stayed poor? How would a society adjust to a new class of human being (or more accurately, non-human being) throughout all economic classes? Newman handles this portion of the book (as dark as it becomes) in a detailed and moving fashion. If you treat this as a book that only needs the cast of Dracula, I think it works wonderfully. The rest of the fictional characters felt more like distractions to me than anything else.
thea_wilby's review against another edition
Just not fussed about vampire/detective fanfics
biblio_lore's review against another edition
5.0
This is a book for bibliophiles who like vampires books. It's crowded with different characters from both fiction and history and equal parts fantastically funny and utterly brutal. A fine tribute to Stoker's novel and absolutely fun. If I have really any quibble with it, the business with Jack the Ripper is resolved in a manner that feels a bit too rushed but it's forgivable and though you know who the ripper is from the introduction, it can still keep you reading to find out where things will go next. The novel ends on such a high note, you practically have to read the rest of them. The characters are well drawn out, the story is well paced and it was really a delightful read. Highly recommended!
readingrenbo's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75