A review by skconaghan
The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova

dark informative mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Chilling. 

 

The story moves at a slow but absorbing pace with often beautiful writing. As a fan of Stoker’s original Dracula, I loved the continuation of the legend, the possibility that things didn’t end with the final words of Jonathan Harker’s tale at the closing of the 19th Century, that perhaps the legend lives on… 

 

History-lovers are treated to long sections of intricate detail about the Fall of the Byzantine Empire, the renaming and reshaping of Constantinople's socio-religious landscape, the Rise of the conquering Ottoman Empire, and the ripple repercussions in the following centuries throughout Europe, especially in the East. I loved these historical portions, full of rich history, entwined with supernatural speculation and brimming with spiritual references. Enthralling… 

 

The additional aspect of exploration into father-daughter and mother-daughter relationships was intriguing, and especially as we never learn the name of our female narrator, not once in the whole story is her name mentioned. It’s an eerie detail that makes the mystery and sinister tone of the novel all the more real. 

 

A great recommended read! Thanks, Leonie!