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redheadreader73's review against another edition
4.0
Usually prequels are all hype and no substance but not with this book. I loved it as much as I loved reading the original Dracula many years ago. It eases you in slowly and then as the pace picks up you simply cannot put the book down!
meganhart92's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
georgiaxwhitehead's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
brattgirl's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
lefttoread's review against another edition
5.0
"Then he goes to the oil lamp and blows out the flame, plunging the room into total blackness, a room so dark no shadow could live."
Dacre Stoker and J.D. Barker write a haunting prequel to the well known, DRACULA by Bram Stoker. The authors of DRACUL managed to write this brand new story, what feels like a classic because of the inspiration they found from Bram Stokers notes that he left behind.
I find it fascinating that we readers get to have a little insight to what it was like for Bram Stoker as a child, growing up with a family and their nanny, who told the children stories and who knows if they were just that, stories.
"I will gut you from groin to gullet and dance in your ruins as the blood bubbles from your lips if you do not open this door!"
DRACUL is at times, very disturbing. It gives off a Gothic, nightmarish feel as well as being written so beautifully. It is an addictive read and I found myself wanting more every time I put the book down.
As readers we are lead to experience the sickness that Bram endured as a child, we read the stories that Nanna Ellen tells the children and we are made to question everything. Surely vampires are not real, right? It's all fiction and make belief. But what you find while reading this engaging story is that even if it's just for a split second you will think, what if?
"Sometimes our deepest fears are the ones we keep closest to our hearts. You've never stopped believing, you only stopped admitting you believe."
The combination of both Dacre Stoker and J.D. Barker was perfect! I loved the characters and the descriptions were written amazingly, with Nanna Ellen the children couldn't quite figure out why she looked different every time they saw her, sometimes she was young and beautiful other times she looked ill and like she had aged a thousand years, the way Nanna Ellen was described was done so effectively, I could see her changing ever so slightly every time she was mentioned. Every element of this book was worthy and I am astounded at how much love I have for it.
"Like life, there is much we do not understand about death."
There are unforgettable scenes in DRACUL, one woman's story on how she became a vampire was amazing! It felt similar to Rosalie's story in ECLIPSE which I loved. I was rooting for her throughout the full book and I wish I got more from her at the end, she was by far one of my favourite characters.
"The story they shared is extraordinary, to say the least, and while most persons would not believe a word of such a tale, I have seen and heard enough in my lifetime to know the only thing we know for certain is that there is much we do not know for certain."
I could go on and on about how amazing this story is but you won't truly know until you read it. I'm in an obsessive state right now and I'm not sure if I'll ever get out of it. DRACUL is another book I just had to hug when I finished it, for making me so so happy.
Oh, and if you do read it, make sure you read the author's notes at the end - you won't want to miss out.
"Will you stay with me for a while? she asks softly.
I will stay with you always."
Full review: https://littlereaderxoxo.wordpress.com/2019/01/27/book-review-dracul-by-dacre-stoker-j-d-barker/
Dacre Stoker and J.D. Barker write a haunting prequel to the well known, DRACULA by Bram Stoker. The authors of DRACUL managed to write this brand new story, what feels like a classic because of the inspiration they found from Bram Stokers notes that he left behind.
I find it fascinating that we readers get to have a little insight to what it was like for Bram Stoker as a child, growing up with a family and their nanny, who told the children stories and who knows if they were just that, stories.
"I will gut you from groin to gullet and dance in your ruins as the blood bubbles from your lips if you do not open this door!"
DRACUL is at times, very disturbing. It gives off a Gothic, nightmarish feel as well as being written so beautifully. It is an addictive read and I found myself wanting more every time I put the book down.
As readers we are lead to experience the sickness that Bram endured as a child, we read the stories that Nanna Ellen tells the children and we are made to question everything. Surely vampires are not real, right? It's all fiction and make belief. But what you find while reading this engaging story is that even if it's just for a split second you will think, what if?
"Sometimes our deepest fears are the ones we keep closest to our hearts. You've never stopped believing, you only stopped admitting you believe."
The combination of both Dacre Stoker and J.D. Barker was perfect! I loved the characters and the descriptions were written amazingly, with Nanna Ellen the children couldn't quite figure out why she looked different every time they saw her, sometimes she was young and beautiful other times she looked ill and like she had aged a thousand years, the way Nanna Ellen was described was done so effectively, I could see her changing ever so slightly every time she was mentioned. Every element of this book was worthy and I am astounded at how much love I have for it.
"Like life, there is much we do not understand about death."
There are unforgettable scenes in DRACUL, one woman's story on how she became a vampire was amazing! It felt similar to Rosalie's story in ECLIPSE which I loved. I was rooting for her throughout the full book and I wish I got more from her at the end, she was by far one of my favourite characters.
"The story they shared is extraordinary, to say the least, and while most persons would not believe a word of such a tale, I have seen and heard enough in my lifetime to know the only thing we know for certain is that there is much we do not know for certain."
I could go on and on about how amazing this story is but you won't truly know until you read it. I'm in an obsessive state right now and I'm not sure if I'll ever get out of it. DRACUL is another book I just had to hug when I finished it, for making me so so happy.
Oh, and if you do read it, make sure you read the author's notes at the end - you won't want to miss out.
"Will you stay with me for a while? she asks softly.
I will stay with you always."
Full review: https://littlereaderxoxo.wordpress.com/2019/01/27/book-review-dracul-by-dacre-stoker-j-d-barker/
jenpaul13's review against another edition
4.0
Dracula is an entertaining and classic novel within the literary canon, but the inspiration behind the story begs for readers to speculate upon Dracula's origin and Bram's beliefs, which is explored in the prequel Dracul by Dacre Stoker and J. D. Barker.
To read this, and other book reviews, visit my website: http://makinggoodstories.wordpress.com/.
Suffering throughout childhood as an ill, bedridden boy, Bram Stoker's primary comfort came from the young, and slightly odd, Ellen Crone, who joined the Stoker family as a nanny. As a string of unusual deaths take place in their village, Bram and his sister Matilda take an interest in uncovering more, especially after Ellen mysteriously and suddenly leaves their family. Twenty-one year old Bram frantically makes notes in his journal of the incredible events that have taken place throughout his life and are currently taking place as he simultaneously defends himself and an implausible inhabitant of an abandoned castle tower. In uncovering the truth behind Bram's sudden recovery during childhood and Ellen's obscured, mysterious past, the adult Stoker children inadvertently find themselves in the cross-hairs of a long-ranging battle of wills and desire.
With mysteries that unravel slowly despite a feeling of consistent action as the perspectives and text format shift, Dracul is a deceptively quick and thoroughly entertaining read; this novel comprised of journal entries and letters sheds a potential light on the inspiration for Stoker's classic and haunting novel through casting Bram in the central role of odd circumstances similar to those of his world-famous tale. With beautiful writing that easily evokes the standard of gothic writing of the era in which its set, the story captivates with its eerie and mysterious elements and the characters are (mostly) well-developed through their actions, thoughts, and interactions with other characters. The author's note at the end is incredibly informative and provides new insight for readers into the history behind Dracula's publication.
To read this, and other book reviews, visit my website: http://makinggoodstories.wordpress.com/.
Suffering throughout childhood as an ill, bedridden boy, Bram Stoker's primary comfort came from the young, and slightly odd, Ellen Crone, who joined the Stoker family as a nanny. As a string of unusual deaths take place in their village, Bram and his sister Matilda take an interest in uncovering more, especially after Ellen mysteriously and suddenly leaves their family. Twenty-one year old Bram frantically makes notes in his journal of the incredible events that have taken place throughout his life and are currently taking place as he simultaneously defends himself and an implausible inhabitant of an abandoned castle tower. In uncovering the truth behind Bram's sudden recovery during childhood and Ellen's obscured, mysterious past, the adult Stoker children inadvertently find themselves in the cross-hairs of a long-ranging battle of wills and desire.
With mysteries that unravel slowly despite a feeling of consistent action as the perspectives and text format shift, Dracul is a deceptively quick and thoroughly entertaining read; this novel comprised of journal entries and letters sheds a potential light on the inspiration for Stoker's classic and haunting novel through casting Bram in the central role of odd circumstances similar to those of his world-famous tale. With beautiful writing that easily evokes the standard of gothic writing of the era in which its set, the story captivates with its eerie and mysterious elements and the characters are (mostly) well-developed through their actions, thoughts, and interactions with other characters. The author's note at the end is incredibly informative and provides new insight for readers into the history behind Dracula's publication.
basilisareads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
spooky_steven's review against another edition
4.0
Fantastic. I think I enjoyed it more than the original Dracula, it’s definitely far better than Dacre’s first attempt with “Dracula: The Un-Dead”. My only complaint is the ending was somewhat open with some characters and story left unresolved.
janetk242's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5