biblio_lore's review against another edition
4.0
This is a very weird version of this story. The first half, as everyone will note, is the part that was more polished and has a lot of interesting distinctions from Stoker's original. That said, it's still interesting to see the second half of the story, which is basically just an outline of where the story had been kind of projected to go, sort of. Seeing as both the original author and the person adapting the work are not around to ask, it's hard to know where one ends and the other begins but it's an interesting take of a potential tale that could have been. Highly recommended for Dracula historians.
susischmolz's review against another edition
3.0
Desde que me enteré que este libro existía tuve que leerlo de inmediato. Al principio anduvo super bien, pero después del primer capítulo super detallado y bien desarrollado, el resto el libro parecía un resumen y terminó de la misma manera, demasiado rápido para mi gusto, dejando un montón de cabos sueltos, cosas que había planteado, que no están en la historia original y que se veían super interesantes quedaron en nada.
itcamefromthepage's review against another edition
4.0
The Icelandic version of Dracula whose origins are still up for debate. Was this an early version that Bram Stoker gave for international purposes or was this a complete rewriting by Valdimar Ásmundsson? It is hard to say with any certainty.
A very interesting and unique version of Dracula that adds so much depth and intrigue to the opening elements of the story but completely loses all interest in the back half.
The historical information packaged in the forewords (there are multiple) are essential Dracula reading for any scholar.
A very interesting and unique version of Dracula that adds so much depth and intrigue to the opening elements of the story but completely loses all interest in the back half.
The historical information packaged in the forewords (there are multiple) are essential Dracula reading for any scholar.
liisu's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
zoth's review against another edition
3.0
A decent read. You can tell the routes of the first half were well preserved from where they'd gotten it, but the version of the second half they used for the Icelandic version really isn't that good. It reads as a summary of what the characters did, without any actual written conversation between them.
moominbit's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Welcome to the Penny Dreadful theatrical production of Bram Stoker’s … eh not quite Dracula!
Sit down, my friend, make yourself comfortable. You will need to be comfortable for this bumpy blood thrirsty OD (Original Dracula) pre Satanic Panic ride, as you follow Thomas (not Jonathan) Harker to the Count’s castle.
And stay in that castle … for like 2/3 of the book.
But don’t worry! Its a stay packed with despairing Victorian himbo thoughts, a sexy vampiress (whose style of seduction is eeriely similar to that of Blanche Dubois’ of Golden Girls) and demonic ceremonies, jump scares and more!
As for the rest of the story …. Well, honestly most of the budget went into making the castle and costumes and sets for the pre Satanic Panic demonic ceremony.
Its a rather nice castle of Dark Powers, don’t you think?
Just go with it. Don’t overthink it, dear friend.
You’ll have much more fun that way.
One critic joyfully said “2,5 stars rounded up to 3 … once I realised I was free to leave and never come back again!”
So come join the bloody fun!
Disclaimer:
This version of … eh … not quite Dracula does not include:
- Renfield
- the hauntingly wellwritten log book from the Captain of the Demeter (it all went into the castle, okay?!)
- a well thoughtout plot structure
- a fully fleshed out ending (well, neither does the Canon text, so why were you expecting it here?!)
Sit down, my friend, make yourself comfortable. You will need to be comfortable for this bumpy blood thrirsty OD (Original Dracula) pre Satanic Panic ride, as you follow Thomas (not Jonathan) Harker to the Count’s castle.
And stay in that castle … for like 2/3 of the book.
But don’t worry! Its a stay packed with despairing Victorian himbo thoughts, a sexy vampiress (whose style of seduction is eeriely similar to that of Blanche Dubois’ of Golden Girls) and demonic ceremonies, jump scares and more!
As for the rest of the story …. Well, honestly most of the budget went into making the castle and costumes and sets for the pre Satanic Panic demonic ceremony.
Its a rather nice castle of Dark Powers, don’t you think?
Just go with it. Don’t overthink it, dear friend.
You’ll have much more fun that way.
One critic joyfully said “2,5 stars rounded up to 3 … once I realised I was free to leave and never come back again!”
So come join the bloody fun!
Disclaimer:
This version of … eh … not quite Dracula does not include:
- Renfield
- the hauntingly wellwritten log book from the Captain of the Demeter (it all went into the castle, okay?!)
- a well thoughtout plot structure
- a fully fleshed out ending (well, neither does the Canon text, so why were you expecting it here?!)
mjhartnn's review against another edition
3.0
What a wonderfully weird version! I wish the latter half was expanded more like the first was. I like this version of the count better than the original.
nandakandabooks's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
roguemedvsa's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
andrewgraphics's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting rewriting/translating of the story, which seems to have come from Stoker's original notes, but wildly uneven: the initial half of the book, set in Transylvania, is full of mood and menace, and pretty near to the original story; but the second half, set in England, is basically just a listing of incidents (and not even all of those from the original book), and cut down to no more than a quarter of the length of the original.
Look to the original if you want the full story.
Look to the original if you want the full story.