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truebookaddict's review against another edition
4.0
I have been on somewhat of a Dracula kick lately. I'm listening to Bram Stoker's classic novel on audio and I'm slowly working my way through a reread of The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova. So I was thrilled when Royce contacted me and offered me a copy of his book. My friend, J. Kaye, had raved about it and it turns out she was not wrong.
What I liked most about the book was the creepy elements that crept up on me throughout the book. I felt chilling fingers move up my spine more than once. This made for excellent reading for the Halloween season. Add to that, the writing of a story that kept me guessing and characters and settings that made me feel part of the story, and this is definitely a book worth reading.
Read the rest at my blog: http://castlemacabre.blogspot.com/2013/10/happy-halloween-royce-proutys-stokers.html
What I liked most about the book was the creepy elements that crept up on me throughout the book. I felt chilling fingers move up my spine more than once. This made for excellent reading for the Halloween season. Add to that, the writing of a story that kept me guessing and characters and settings that made me feel part of the story, and this is definitely a book worth reading.
Read the rest at my blog: http://castlemacabre.blogspot.com/2013/10/happy-halloween-royce-proutys-stokers.html
kelly_'s review against another edition
3.0
Somewhat predictable and repetitive in parts, but an interesting take on what the Dracula legend could look like today if the original was based on truth.
breebers's review against another edition
3.0
Honestly, if the main vamp had been destroyed by Tesla's death ray, I would have added another star to the review.
That being said, this is a solid Dracula 'sequel' of sorts, melding elements of Stoker's research with 'real' vampire history. There's no unnecessary (and, quite frankly, disturbing) romanticizing of vampires. They're killers and bloodthirsty monsters, not wounded, passionate, misunderstood creatures of the night. Yes, they want to be reunited with their wives, but only so they can bang and spawn more vampires. Therefore, there's not much in the female character department, save for an intriguing, strong lady named Sonia, but I'd rather one decent female character than a bunch of swoony, pity-obsessed girls chasing after their hunky undead lovahs.
In fact, what makes this a better follow-up to Dracula than many interpretations or other sequels is the understanding of what kind of vampire Stoker created, and not trying to find another reason/excuse for a guy who kills a lot of people for food and power. This includes a better understanding of how religion (or faith) and the nature of evil play into the original story. The author clearly believes in a Christian God and understands the religious implications contained within the lore of Dracula and how those are connected.
The story overall is pretty good -- a book appraiser/seller gets more than he bargained for when hired to assess and deliver missing pages of Stoker's original manuscript and ends up needing to fight, not so much for himself but to protect the world from vampires being given the opportunity to re-enter the modern world as a force bent on control and making people walking blood-bags and slaves. It paints a more realistic-feeling picture of the culture of the Dracul region, particularly from a Western perspective, and there's a suitable amount of gore without going over the top just for shock value.
I just really wish the whole set up for using Tesla's death ray to cook vampires would have happened. Because it's a really cool concept...
That being said, this is a solid Dracula 'sequel' of sorts, melding elements of Stoker's research with 'real' vampire history. There's no unnecessary (and, quite frankly, disturbing) romanticizing of vampires. They're killers and bloodthirsty monsters, not wounded, passionate, misunderstood creatures of the night. Yes, they want to be reunited with their wives, but only so they can bang and spawn more vampires. Therefore, there's not much in the female character department, save for an intriguing, strong lady named Sonia, but I'd rather one decent female character than a bunch of swoony, pity-obsessed girls chasing after their hunky undead lovahs.
In fact, what makes this a better follow-up to Dracula than many interpretations or other sequels is the understanding of what kind of vampire Stoker created, and not trying to find another reason/excuse for a guy who kills a lot of people for food and power. This includes a better understanding of how religion (or faith) and the nature of evil play into the original story. The author clearly believes in a Christian God and understands the religious implications contained within the lore of Dracula and how those are connected.
The story overall is pretty good -- a book appraiser/seller gets more than he bargained for when hired to assess and deliver missing pages of Stoker's original manuscript and ends up needing to fight, not so much for himself but to protect the world from vampires being given the opportunity to re-enter the modern world as a force bent on control and making people walking blood-bags and slaves. It paints a more realistic-feeling picture of the culture of the Dracul region, particularly from a Western perspective, and there's a suitable amount of gore without going over the top just for shock value.
I just really wish the whole set up for using Tesla's death ray to cook vampires would have happened. Because it's a really cool concept...
whatsheread's review against another edition
Joseph Barkeley has always been a bit of a hermit. As one of the foremost experts of authentication and seller of rare manuscripts, he is happiest surrounded by his inventory. His past experiences as an orphan rescued from a Romanian orphanage makes him shy away from everyone other than his brother. Little does he know that an unexpected phone call from his native Romania will send him down a path where he not only is forced to confront his past but also the unfathomable.
In Stoker's Manuscript, Royce Prouty attempts to capitalize on the ongoing popularity of Bram Stoker's quintessential vampire novel - the one that started the vampire craze, if you will - as well as the ongoing fascination with Vlad III (or Vlad the Impaler), the man behind the myth. Unfortunately, there are some fundamental issues behind his premise as well as its execution that prevents this from being an engaging or even enjoyable novel.
For one, there is the issue with actually caring about Joseph and his fate. There are some novels that are successful purely because of their unlikeable main characters. This is not one of those. Some of the fault lies in Joseph's inherent nature. He is a recluse and is uncomfortable around people. This is very apparent to readers because he is an awkward and uncomfortable character. Unfortunately, Mr. Prouty takes this one step further and makes him so remote a character that it becomes difficult for a reader to care what happens to him. Most of the story revolves around the tangled and very dangerous situation in which Joseph finds himself. Not being able to care what happens to him considerably reduces the tension and drama, as well as the effectiveness of the novel.
Then there is the somewhat contrived love story, which is completely unnecessary for the story line and pops up somewhat out of the blue. The interaction between the two characters is minimal at best before one is making declarations of love to the other. It feels forced and just does not mesh well with the main plot.
The entire novel happens too quickly. It is just a few short chapters into the story before Joseph is traveling to Romania to meet with his anonymous buyer and a few more short chapters after that where he meets a vampire member of the Dracul family face-to-face...and accepts it. There is some talk about how unbelievable it all is, but there is no doubt in a reader that he gets over his astonishment very quickly and moves on from there. That is more unbelievable than anything Joseph faces. The rest of the plot quickly follows, with little in the way of explanation or even a chance for the reader to digest everything that is happening. The entire story feels like Mr. Prouty was trying to cram too much into too few pages.
The biggest point of contention within Stoker's Manuscript is the fact that Mr. Prouty changes the vampires' essential characteristics. Canines become hollow, jaws unhinge, vampires can only procreate with other vampires rather than create others through blood exchanges, they cannot shapeshifting, and there is a vampire nobility. Seriously. Had this been any other vampire novel and not one that revolves around Stoker's Dracula, this might be acceptable. However, when the novel specifically and repeatedly mentions Stoker's version, these changes are just wrong. Mr. Prouty's vampires are not Stoker's vampires, and the story suffers for it.
Mr. Prouty's novel has a fascinating premise. The idea that there is more to Stoker's original manuscript than what was published is compelling for any fan of the original horror novel. Unfortunately, Stoker's Manuscript is yet another example of a story that just does not live up to its potential. Not only is the character development paltry, the pacing is too fast and jagged. The fact that the story revolves around the quintessential vampire novel but veers away from the essential vampire characteristics is a travesty. As exciting as this novel appeared to be, its faults make this one better left unread.
In Stoker's Manuscript, Royce Prouty attempts to capitalize on the ongoing popularity of Bram Stoker's quintessential vampire novel - the one that started the vampire craze, if you will - as well as the ongoing fascination with Vlad III (or Vlad the Impaler), the man behind the myth. Unfortunately, there are some fundamental issues behind his premise as well as its execution that prevents this from being an engaging or even enjoyable novel.
For one, there is the issue with actually caring about Joseph and his fate. There are some novels that are successful purely because of their unlikeable main characters. This is not one of those. Some of the fault lies in Joseph's inherent nature. He is a recluse and is uncomfortable around people. This is very apparent to readers because he is an awkward and uncomfortable character. Unfortunately, Mr. Prouty takes this one step further and makes him so remote a character that it becomes difficult for a reader to care what happens to him. Most of the story revolves around the tangled and very dangerous situation in which Joseph finds himself. Not being able to care what happens to him considerably reduces the tension and drama, as well as the effectiveness of the novel.
Then there is the somewhat contrived love story, which is completely unnecessary for the story line and pops up somewhat out of the blue. The interaction between the two characters is minimal at best before one is making declarations of love to the other. It feels forced and just does not mesh well with the main plot.
The entire novel happens too quickly. It is just a few short chapters into the story before Joseph is traveling to Romania to meet with his anonymous buyer and a few more short chapters after that where he meets a vampire member of the Dracul family face-to-face...and accepts it. There is some talk about how unbelievable it all is, but there is no doubt in a reader that he gets over his astonishment very quickly and moves on from there. That is more unbelievable than anything Joseph faces. The rest of the plot quickly follows, with little in the way of explanation or even a chance for the reader to digest everything that is happening. The entire story feels like Mr. Prouty was trying to cram too much into too few pages.
The biggest point of contention within Stoker's Manuscript is the fact that Mr. Prouty changes the vampires' essential characteristics. Canines become hollow, jaws unhinge, vampires can only procreate with other vampires rather than create others through blood exchanges, they cannot shapeshifting, and there is a vampire nobility. Seriously. Had this been any other vampire novel and not one that revolves around Stoker's Dracula, this might be acceptable. However, when the novel specifically and repeatedly mentions Stoker's version, these changes are just wrong. Mr. Prouty's vampires are not Stoker's vampires, and the story suffers for it.
Mr. Prouty's novel has a fascinating premise. The idea that there is more to Stoker's original manuscript than what was published is compelling for any fan of the original horror novel. Unfortunately, Stoker's Manuscript is yet another example of a story that just does not live up to its potential. Not only is the character development paltry, the pacing is too fast and jagged. The fact that the story revolves around the quintessential vampire novel but veers away from the essential vampire characteristics is a travesty. As exciting as this novel appeared to be, its faults make this one better left unread.
vkemp's review against another edition
4.0
Joseph Barkley and his brother, Bernhardt, are orphans, rescued from the hell of Ceausescu's Romania and sent to Chicago. Years later, Bernhardt is a priest and Joseph is an antiquarian bookseller. He receives a mysterious telephone call, requesting he verify and obtain the original manuscript of Bram Stoker's Dracula. This brings him back to his homeland and all the vampire legends rampant in this land of superstition. Soon, Joseph discovers intriguing connections between his family history and all those legends. The novel builds on actual historical events surrounding the publication of Stoker's book. The characters are sympathetic and the story is quite accessible. The horror builds slowly and ends at a breakneck pace. Recommended reading for squeamish horror fans.
twitchyredpen's review against another edition
1.0
Well, it wasn't bad enough to DNF. But it certainly wasn't any good.
The outline and pacing are that of any cookie-cutter "protagonist finds a secret that powerful people want/want hidden; works covertly with powerful people on opposing side; optionally realizes something about self" book.
First half of book, establishing characters, expertise, and locations while the protagonist ignores obvious red flags/direct warnings from experts. Then the protag finds the secret and realizes what trouble he's in, leading him to secretly accept/seek out assistance from other powerful people while trying to save his own skin and seeing other people get killed. Ends with a creative "solution" that, on closer inspection by the reader, leaves problems for others and/or only kicks the protagonist's can down the road. I'm mentally benchmarking this book against my memories of Grisham's The Firm.
Based on author commentary tucked into my copy, I assume this book was written and published quickly to hop on the vampire money train. The book lacks the polish of having been picked over by beta readers, dev editors, or the insomniac/shower-pondering author. Protagonist has interesting skills but no interesting personality traits. There are sections of detailed observations that add nothing to the plot or to the experience. Accents are handled by having the characters' words written "normally" but with some words -- sohm verdz --pulled out and repeated as a pronunciation commentary, with every new accented character.
The fact-checking/fact-developing, yikes. I don't know my Transylvanian history; there's another review here on Goodreads going off about those errors. But early on, HIV is described as working by attacking a person's genes and editing out the immune system, and haha wow no. Several pages devoted to the internal anatomy of vampires when, frankly, it should have been handwaved. They're weakest shortly after full moon, okay, done. They're vampires; they are not improved by trying to apply science. And not trying to apply science to how they digest blood would have prevented that awful HIV explainer.
In problems that are not the author's fault: Line editing could have been better -- I was not reading for errors and I still found them -- and *proofing* could have been better, which is not a complaint I often have. Weird line-break hyphenations like rein-force were not corrected.
(This book was sent to my employer for review, along with inserted publicity materials. However, my employer does not do book reviews, so the book lay forgotten in a cupboard for years.)
The outline and pacing are that of any cookie-cutter "protagonist finds a secret that powerful people want/want hidden; works covertly with powerful people on opposing side; optionally realizes something about self" book.
First half of book, establishing characters, expertise, and locations while the protagonist ignores obvious red flags/direct warnings from experts. Then the protag finds the secret and realizes what trouble he's in, leading him to secretly accept/seek out assistance from other powerful people while trying to save his own skin and seeing other people get killed. Ends with a creative "solution" that, on closer inspection by the reader, leaves problems for others and/or only kicks the protagonist's can down the road. I'm mentally benchmarking this book against my memories of Grisham's The Firm.
Based on author commentary tucked into my copy, I assume this book was written and published quickly to hop on the vampire money train. The book lacks the polish of having been picked over by beta readers, dev editors, or the insomniac/shower-pondering author. Protagonist has interesting skills but no interesting personality traits. There are sections of detailed observations that add nothing to the plot or to the experience. Accents are handled by having the characters' words written "normally" but with some words -- sohm verdz --pulled out and repeated as a pronunciation commentary, with every new accented character.
The fact-checking/fact-developing, yikes. I don't know my Transylvanian history; there's another review here on Goodreads going off about those errors. But early on, HIV is described as working by attacking a person's genes and editing out the immune system, and haha wow no. Several pages devoted to the internal anatomy of vampires when, frankly, it should have been handwaved. They're weakest shortly after full moon, okay, done. They're vampires; they are not improved by trying to apply science. And not trying to apply science to how they digest blood would have prevented that awful HIV explainer.
In problems that are not the author's fault: Line editing could have been better -- I was not reading for errors and I still found them -- and *proofing* could have been better, which is not a complaint I often have. Weird line-break hyphenations like rein-force were not corrected.
(This book was sent to my employer for review, along with inserted publicity materials. However, my employer does not do book reviews, so the book lay forgotten in a cupboard for years.)
chasmofbooks's review against another edition
5.0
The whole idea behind Stoker’s Manuscript was really intriguing for me. I started reading this around a time when I was kind of sick of a lot of books told in first person. I went into it thinking it would probably be written in third person, so I was surprised when it turned out to be first person. This was in no way detrimental though. In fact, one of the reasons why I loved it so much was because I was reading first person without feeling like I was reading it. It had the flow of first person but the quality of third person writing, which I’ve always felt is usually of higher quality.
There were many echoes of Dracula all throughout Stoker's Manuscript without it feeling like a knock off. It truly felt like Mr. Prouty was paying homage to Stoker's original novel by including small details like how the vampire's fingernails were filed and (my personal favorite) the quote, "The dead travel fast." Like Mr. Harker, Mr. Barkeley is kept at Bran Castle on the pretense of business, well... at first that is. Even the smell was almost the same. Mr. Prouty's vampires smelt worse, but even a detail like that was kept. There were even some things I noticed that I'm not sure were intentional or not but were very interesting. When Dracula drives Mr. Harker up to the castle, he placed plum brandy under the seat for him; and, at the end of Stoker's Manuscript, Mr. Barkeley is given plum brandy.
Stoker's Manuscript definitely carried a feel to it that reminded me a lot of when I read Dracula. The writing felt very precise, much like the characters. The mix of historical fact and fiction was fantastically done! As for the dialogue, I actually found myself reading it aloud just so I could get the full of effect of what the characters were saying and how they said it. Or, rather, how I imagined them saying it. It was definitely awesome trying (and failing) to mimic the Romanian accents.
One thing that really struck me was the explanation behind vampires. It was unexpected but the concept was very interesting and intellectually stimulating for me. And it was written in a way that made it easy to understand. Loved it.
Mr. Barkeley’s past was very interesting. I really enjoyed the preludes in the beginning of some of the chapters. They gave you more information about Mr. Barkeley and really painted a picture of him (and whatever else they were about). I was always secretly worried that they were going to be boring but they never were. I found them very interesting.
Mr. Prouty did an excellent job creating the setting. I could perfectly see the mud-caked, dirty streets as the rain poured or after it had finished.
As a fan of Bram Stoker’s Dracula, I felt Royce Prouty paid homage to this amazing novel while still making Stoker’s Manuscript his own story. I was a little worried it might in some way be a kind of rip off and disgrace to Dracula but I was pleasantly surprised and pleased. All in all, this is a novel I would recommend to anyone whose read Dracula or who is just looking for a good old-fashioned vampire novel. The vampires we were able to get to know, were both different but sinister in their own way.
There were many echoes of Dracula all throughout Stoker's Manuscript without it feeling like a knock off. It truly felt like Mr. Prouty was paying homage to Stoker's original novel by including small details like how the vampire's fingernails were filed and (my personal favorite) the quote, "The dead travel fast." Like Mr. Harker, Mr. Barkeley is kept at Bran Castle on the pretense of business, well... at first that is. Even the smell was almost the same. Mr. Prouty's vampires smelt worse, but even a detail like that was kept. There were even some things I noticed that I'm not sure were intentional or not but were very interesting. When Dracula drives Mr. Harker up to the castle, he placed plum brandy under the seat for him; and, at the end of Stoker's Manuscript, Mr. Barkeley is given plum brandy.
Stoker's Manuscript definitely carried a feel to it that reminded me a lot of when I read Dracula. The writing felt very precise, much like the characters. The mix of historical fact and fiction was fantastically done! As for the dialogue, I actually found myself reading it aloud just so I could get the full of effect of what the characters were saying and how they said it. Or, rather, how I imagined them saying it. It was definitely awesome trying (and failing) to mimic the Romanian accents.
One thing that really struck me was the explanation behind vampires. It was unexpected but the concept was very interesting and intellectually stimulating for me. And it was written in a way that made it easy to understand. Loved it.
Mr. Barkeley’s past was very interesting. I really enjoyed the preludes in the beginning of some of the chapters. They gave you more information about Mr. Barkeley and really painted a picture of him (and whatever else they were about). I was always secretly worried that they were going to be boring but they never were. I found them very interesting.
Mr. Prouty did an excellent job creating the setting. I could perfectly see the mud-caked, dirty streets as the rain poured or after it had finished.
As a fan of Bram Stoker’s Dracula, I felt Royce Prouty paid homage to this amazing novel while still making Stoker’s Manuscript his own story. I was a little worried it might in some way be a kind of rip off and disgrace to Dracula but I was pleasantly surprised and pleased. All in all, this is a novel I would recommend to anyone whose read Dracula or who is just looking for a good old-fashioned vampire novel. The vampires we were able to get to know, were both different but sinister in their own way.
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