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The Diaries of the Family Dracul #2
Children of the Vampire
In this terrifying, brilliantly imagine novel, Jeanne Kalogridis returns the same dark, sensual territory she visited in Covenant with the Vampire. Once again she explores the breathtaking battle waged in the hart of the Family Dracul—as the innocent take up arms against the monster.In the flickering gaslights of Vienna a brother watches—as a woman of alabaster beauty, his sister, takes two lovers at once. Then she pours her passion into the most forbidden act of all . . . In the streets of Amsterdam a young man, the secret lover of his brother’s wife, is whisked into a waiting carriage for a long journey into darkness and reunion with his father . . . They are a family bound my an ancient curse, one generation pitted against another, taboos shattered, their firstborn’s blood sipped from a silver chalice. In his stony fortress waits Vlad the Impaler, while his heir, Arkady, cries out to his “Let the curse end with me!”“Jeanne Kalogridis has launched a vampire hero who will haunt my nights for decades—or lifetimes—to come.”—Jacqueline Lichtenber, author of Those of My Blood
370 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 1995
51 people are currently reading
1824 people want to read
About the author
Jeanne Kalogridis
21 books808 followersJeanne was born in Florida , and has been interested in books ever since. Her interest in language led her to earn an M.A. in Linguistics. She taught English as a Second Language for eight years at The American University of Washington, D.C., before retiring to write full time.
She now lives in California with an overly adored Labrador retriever. Her outside interests include yoga and reading everything ever published.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/jeanne...
She now lives in California with an overly adored Labrador retriever. Her outside interests include yoga and reading everything ever published.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/jeanne...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
March 1, 2017
The second book of the “The Diaries of the Family Dracul” trilogy continues the tale of Vlad Dracul and his descendants that began in book one, Covenant with the Vampire. The first couple of chapters take place in the immediate aftermath of that first book (1845) but then the plot takes a 26 year jump forward in time to 1871 where the rest of the novel takes place. Most of the same characters return although Vlad’s role this time around is much reduced from book one. I was happy to see the major addition of Van Helsing, and in a much more fleshed out way than he usually appears in Dracula tales. Indeed, this novel is largely about Abraham Van Helsing, and his education and beginning experience as a vampire hunter. There is also a cameo appearance by Elizabeth Bathory, an alleged serial killer and Countess from the Báthory family of nobility in the Kingdom of Hungary.
This entire trilogy is a prequel to the classic story of Dracula by Bram Stoker. It’s fascinating in scope and ideas and certainly well-written. But I felt this second novel was a bit too drawn out with a couple of characters belaboring their predicaments for too long. That’s partly the nature of the writing style, what I tend to refer to as classical flowery and even Victorian in nature. I enjoyed the Van Helsing plot line the most but the rest seemed to be mostly marking time until book three. I do appreciate the author’s research into all things Dracula and her choice to depict Vlad and other vampires with hard-core evil vampiric power. Nothing cartoony or sparkly about these undead creatures!
I am hopeful book 3 turns out to be a little more like book 1, filled with unpredictable plot lines, intriguing characters and an emotional climax.
This entire trilogy is a prequel to the classic story of Dracula by Bram Stoker. It’s fascinating in scope and ideas and certainly well-written. But I felt this second novel was a bit too drawn out with a couple of characters belaboring their predicaments for too long. That’s partly the nature of the writing style, what I tend to refer to as classical flowery and even Victorian in nature. I enjoyed the Van Helsing plot line the most but the rest seemed to be mostly marking time until book three. I do appreciate the author’s research into all things Dracula and her choice to depict Vlad and other vampires with hard-core evil vampiric power. Nothing cartoony or sparkly about these undead creatures!
I am hopeful book 3 turns out to be a little more like book 1, filled with unpredictable plot lines, intriguing characters and an emotional climax.
May 9, 2020
3.5 stars.
There's good stuff in here (several delightfully macabre scenes of vampire lust & bloodspray, particularly the last third) but there's also a lot of filler. Though I can't be certain, as I haven't read #3, I'm thinking this would've been much tighter had the overall arc been split into two books instead of a trilogy, thus eliminating the unnecessary travel details, already-known backstory, & repetitive emoz.
...But I enjoyed it anyway, so there you go. :) These are classic vampires in the Dracula vein (pun intended ;)), so you know exactly what you're getting into so far as creepy sexuality & parasitic villainy. JK doesn't try to write out the Stoker mythos or overly-modernize the characters, & that's much appreciated by yours truly; most Dracula-fic seems to spend more time "improving" the original rather than expanding on the source material. Booo! Hiss! Write your own vampires if you want something sleek & sparkly, but let Dracula-fic be...well...Dracula-fic.
Anyway. Despite the slow bits, this was a good set-up for #3, & it was interesting to see Van Helsing's personal history.
There's good stuff in here (several delightfully macabre scenes of vampire lust & bloodspray, particularly the last third) but there's also a lot of filler. Though I can't be certain, as I haven't read #3, I'm thinking this would've been much tighter had the overall arc been split into two books instead of a trilogy, thus eliminating the unnecessary travel details, already-known backstory, & repetitive emoz.
...But I enjoyed it anyway, so there you go. :) These are classic vampires in the Dracula vein (pun intended ;)), so you know exactly what you're getting into so far as creepy sexuality & parasitic villainy. JK doesn't try to write out the Stoker mythos or overly-modernize the characters, & that's much appreciated by yours truly; most Dracula-fic seems to spend more time "improving" the original rather than expanding on the source material. Booo! Hiss! Write your own vampires if you want something sleek & sparkly, but let Dracula-fic be...well...Dracula-fic.
Anyway. Despite the slow bits, this was a good set-up for #3, & it was interesting to see Van Helsing's personal history.
July 28, 2025
Great sequel continuing the story of the curse befallen to the family Dracul...particularly the first born sons. Here we dive into how Abraham Van Helsing becomes the man we know and his tragic tale which embolden him to his work. The tension builds and doesn't let up as we speed to the third and final installment of the trilogy
dnf
February 20, 2022While I understand its relevance to the plot/character development.....I couldn't get behind the sex party and incest in the first 30 pages
May 21, 2017
Debo admitir que tuvo un mejor comienzo que el primero, y que las acciones se desarrollaron de manera mucho más rápida también. Como ya se conoce a los personajes y el problema al que se enfrentan la primera mitad del libro la disfruté mucho, pues tenía mucho contenido.
Sin embargo, me ha sucedido igual que con el libro anterior: han hecho que los hechos avancen de manera demasiado rápida cerca del final, creando un clímax explosivo, para después darnos un desenlace muy lento que ha hecho que se me baje un poco la emoción causada por los giros de la trama. (Además de que cerca del último cuarto del libro, nos han presentado a un personaje de lo más fascinante, pero temo que no lo volveré a ver en el tercero)
Los personajes me han gustado más que en el anterior, Arkady evoluciona muy bien a pesar de no haber visto mucho de él en este libro, y sinceramente el nuevo protagonista me ha molestado durante casi toda la mitad del libro, pero cerca del final no me ha parecido tan malo.
Siento que hubieron mucho personajes, muy interesantes y misteriosos, que no se exploraron tanto y se dejaron en segundo plano, y de los que yo quería conocer mucho más.
Como en el anterior, el trabajo de investigación y documentación es excelente, crea una atmósfera aterradora y realista a la vez, además de darle un sustento a la historia muy sólido y logró conectarme con la época y el espacio (En esta ocasión un poco de Holanda y Transilvania).
El cierre de este libro no me ha gustado, ha sido lento y sin mucha emoción, y pienso que más que la estrategia (como fue el caso del primer libro), fue la suerte y la casualidad las que se encargaban de salvar a los personajes en esta ocasión. Sin embargo el trasfondo de la historia y el villano me han hecho querer leer el tercero para completar esta obra y saber que sucederá con el aparentemente invencible príncipe Vlad...
Sin embargo, me ha sucedido igual que con el libro anterior: han hecho que los hechos avancen de manera demasiado rápida cerca del final, creando un clímax explosivo, para después darnos un desenlace muy lento que ha hecho que se me baje un poco la emoción causada por los giros de la trama. (Además de que cerca del último cuarto del libro, nos han presentado a un personaje de lo más fascinante, pero temo que no lo volveré a ver en el tercero)
Los personajes me han gustado más que en el anterior, Arkady evoluciona muy bien a pesar de no haber visto mucho de él en este libro, y sinceramente el nuevo protagonista me ha molestado durante casi toda la mitad del libro, pero cerca del final no me ha parecido tan malo.
Siento que hubieron mucho personajes, muy interesantes y misteriosos, que no se exploraron tanto y se dejaron en segundo plano, y de los que yo quería conocer mucho más.
Como en el anterior, el trabajo de investigación y documentación es excelente, crea una atmósfera aterradora y realista a la vez, además de darle un sustento a la historia muy sólido y logró conectarme con la época y el espacio (En esta ocasión un poco de Holanda y Transilvania).
El cierre de este libro no me ha gustado, ha sido lento y sin mucha emoción, y pienso que más que la estrategia (como fue el caso del primer libro), fue la suerte y la casualidad las que se encargaban de salvar a los personajes en esta ocasión. Sin embargo el trasfondo de la historia y el villano me han hecho querer leer el tercero para completar esta obra y saber que sucederá con el aparentemente invencible príncipe Vlad...
June 11, 2020
I was today-years-old when I discovered Jeanne Kalogridis was J.M. Dillard. So there's that.
I liked this book's style. It has a Romantic feel to it (which makes sense, as this trilogy is intended to serve as a sequel to Dracula), but it has a much smoother narrative than one would expect from the Romantic era. I also liked how much Kalogridis' research shows throughout the story. She clearly knows the Dracula lore, all the way back to its historical inspiration, and she weaves all of that into a compelling story that feels, thematically, like what the Star Wars prequel trilogy should have been.
The biggest problem with the book is there's not a lot of action. There's nothing unnecessary in the story here, but because it's the book that serves as the launching ground for the final book, and because there are a lot of characters to know, it bogs down in the middle. As part of the larger story (so I guess; I haven't even started the third book yet), it probably serves its purpose, but as a pick-up-and-read novel, it's a bit of a let-down.
I liked this book's style. It has a Romantic feel to it (which makes sense, as this trilogy is intended to serve as a sequel to Dracula), but it has a much smoother narrative than one would expect from the Romantic era. I also liked how much Kalogridis' research shows throughout the story. She clearly knows the Dracula lore, all the way back to its historical inspiration, and she weaves all of that into a compelling story that feels, thematically, like what the Star Wars prequel trilogy should have been.
The biggest problem with the book is there's not a lot of action. There's nothing unnecessary in the story here, but because it's the book that serves as the launching ground for the final book, and because there are a lot of characters to know, it bogs down in the middle. As part of the larger story (so I guess; I haven't even started the third book yet), it probably serves its purpose, but as a pick-up-and-read novel, it's a bit of a let-down.
September 19, 2013
It's Dracula and somewhat accurate to the history, but it throws in Elizabeth Bathory at the end of the series (which is awesome!). It's a very good read but I will warn you, it's even a bit angsty and twisted. It's the evil Dracula that we're taught about in school (or rather, I was). It even has Van Helsing, or one of his children--it's a good twist of a story.
December 25, 2020
This is a reread for me. I loved this trilogy in high school and decided to revisit it after reading Dracula this year.
I still like this, but not as much as the first book. It's pretty solid early on, but as the mystical and fantastic elements become more common it starts to feel less like it fits in with the Stoker novel, which is a bit of an issue when the whole trilogy are set up as prequels to that. Also there are a few things I thought happened in this book but apparently not until the third, and things that did happen in this book I thought came later. I guess it's been long enough that I forgot a lot of the details.
Arkady Tsepesh (now Dracul), the main character of the first book, has become a vampire and takes a bit less central of a role in this book as more focus is put on the Van Helsing family. The surprise twist is interesting for the ramifications it has on Stoker's book.
Everything to do with Arminius feels a bit weird to me, as it makes the story a bit more explicitly magical than the original. To a degree it makes sense, as Van Helsing does hypnotize Mina Harker in Dracula in order to use her to spy on the vampire, but it feels like he's capable of much more in these books.
Overall much like the first book, this is a good book that I used to remember as a great one.
I still like this, but not as much as the first book. It's pretty solid early on, but as the mystical and fantastic elements become more common it starts to feel less like it fits in with the Stoker novel, which is a bit of an issue when the whole trilogy are set up as prequels to that. Also there are a few things I thought happened in this book but apparently not until the third, and things that did happen in this book I thought came later. I guess it's been long enough that I forgot a lot of the details.
Arkady Tsepesh (now Dracul), the main character of the first book, has become a vampire and takes a bit less central of a role in this book as more focus is put on the Van Helsing family. The surprise twist is interesting for the ramifications it has on Stoker's book.
Everything to do with Arminius feels a bit weird to me, as it makes the story a bit more explicitly magical than the original. To a degree it makes sense, as Van Helsing does hypnotize Mina Harker in Dracula in order to use her to spy on the vampire, but it feels like he's capable of much more in these books.
Overall much like the first book, this is a good book that I used to remember as a great one.
March 3, 2020
Children of the Vampire
Several years ago I read the first book in the series and recently re-read the book because this is a series that I have always wanted to complete. Being a huge fan of Kalogridis and having enjoyed several of her works in the past (historical fiction), I wanted to give this series another go. This is the most raw unadulterated witty writing that I have read in a long time. There is great detail of Vlad's the sadist favorite past times of torture in such gruesome vivid detail that I could bare to read some passages. This book has less of the torture games but enough of it that I could have done without it. The first book as well has a great deal more of Vlad's torture. I also feel like there is a lot of repetitiveness on Vlad's history. What keeps me reading? I want to know how Vlad is killed, he is so evil that I find myself rooting for his demise.
Several years ago I read the first book in the series and recently re-read the book because this is a series that I have always wanted to complete. Being a huge fan of Kalogridis and having enjoyed several of her works in the past (historical fiction), I wanted to give this series another go. This is the most raw unadulterated witty writing that I have read in a long time. There is great detail of Vlad's the sadist favorite past times of torture in such gruesome vivid detail that I could bare to read some passages. This book has less of the torture games but enough of it that I could have done without it. The first book as well has a great deal more of Vlad's torture. I also feel like there is a lot of repetitiveness on Vlad's history. What keeps me reading? I want to know how Vlad is killed, he is so evil that I find myself rooting for his demise.
May 18, 2023
Dopo circa 5/6 anni son tornato a leggere i volumi de "I diari della famiglia Dracula".
Trovo questo secondo volume assolutamente delizioso. La trama del primo volume, di per sè abbastanza originale, continua in maniera liscia ed accattivante, gli eventi scorrono velocemente rapendo il lettore in maniera assolutamente magistrale, finché il tutto, grazie ad un ingegnoso ma forse un po' scontato colpo di scena, cambia via ed in parte genere, passando da un romanzo gotico, come il "Dracula" al quale è ispirato, ad un...quasi fantasy ma senza risultare per questo ridicolo e senza far perdere qualità al racconto.
Continuo a consigliare questo libro, ed ovviamente tutta la saga, non solo a coloro che amano il genere ma anche ai più scettici.
Trovo questo secondo volume assolutamente delizioso. La trama del primo volume, di per sè abbastanza originale, continua in maniera liscia ed accattivante, gli eventi scorrono velocemente rapendo il lettore in maniera assolutamente magistrale, finché il tutto, grazie ad un ingegnoso ma forse un po' scontato colpo di scena, cambia via ed in parte genere, passando da un romanzo gotico, come il "Dracula" al quale è ispirato, ad un...quasi fantasy ma senza risultare per questo ridicolo e senza far perdere qualità al racconto.
Continuo a consigliare questo libro, ed ovviamente tutta la saga, non solo a coloro che amano il genere ma anche ai più scettici.
May 5, 2021
I seem to be in the minority here that I enjoyed this book more than the first. I found the overall story to flow better, and the characters and stakes much more compelling.
My only complaints is that Dracula isn’t in this one nearly as much as the first, though it makes sense why he isn’t, and I found Van Helsing to be... pretty dense at most points in the book. Though his last chapter gives me hope for growth in the next.
Really made me look forward to the next and final chapter in this trilogy.
My only complaints is that Dracula isn’t in this one nearly as much as the first, though it makes sense why he isn’t, and I found Van Helsing to be... pretty dense at most points in the book. Though his last chapter gives me hope for growth in the next.
Really made me look forward to the next and final chapter in this trilogy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 3, 2025
I really enjoy the way Jeanne writes in these books. the language is intricate and healivy woven, the perfect 90s gothic literature. however, a few things I just can't wrap my head around. there is just too much incest. can these people really not find anyone outside of family to fuck?
Zsuzsanna has lost her whole damn mind, and the story mostly turned interesting in this book when Abraham started taking his destiny seriously (which is the last 40-something pages).
it's a good addition to the original "Dracula" but again, I do wish it was of a more selfserving plot.
Zsuzsanna has lost her whole damn mind, and the story mostly turned interesting in this book when Abraham started taking his destiny seriously (which is the last 40-something pages).
it's a good addition to the original "Dracula" but again, I do wish it was of a more selfserving plot.
March 8, 2021
La saga continua y con buen nivel. sigue existiendo ese nivel de violencia y gore que caracterizó al primer libro. Los personajes se desarrollaron bien, aunque sin duda me quede con más ganas de saber más sobre los personajes femeninos sobre todo, conocer más a fondo Gerda y a Zsusana, pero la trama se centra casi por completo a los hermanos Hellsing. Aun así es muy muy entretenido y se lee rapidísimo. Esperando leer el tercero.
January 24, 2022
La primera novela no me acabó de convencer demasiado, y la continuación me ha confirmado que no me convence en absoluto. Otra vuelta de tuerca a lo que ya escribió Bram Stoker en su día, con unos personajes con poca entidad y, lo peor de todo, aburridos a más no poder. Desde los primeros capítulos estaba deseando que se acabara la novela. A veces me recordaba a una obra de teatro con poco presupuesto, donde los actores son malos y los decorados son siempre los mismos...
June 28, 2022
Novela de terror y segunda entrega de esta maravillosa trilogía vampírica. Con 288 páginas y publicada en 1998, en esta segunda entrega de "Los diarios de la familia Drácula", la acción se hace mucho más trepidante.
La pluma de la escritora vuelve a ser deliciosa y muy rica, algo que se agradece muchísimo en los ambientes góticos del vampiro. En resumen, otra maravillosa novela que he disfrutado muchísimo y que os recomiendo por completo.
La pluma de la escritora vuelve a ser deliciosa y muy rica, algo que se agradece muchísimo en los ambientes góticos del vampiro. En resumen, otra maravillosa novela que he disfrutado muchísimo y que os recomiendo por completo.
February 22, 2023
A chilling origin story for the character of Van Helsing.Even better than the first book of the trilogy"Covenant with the Vampire".The suffering of poor Mary and her son are not yet over by far.Arkady ;the husband she thought she saved from losing his soul to the evil Vlad ,has been made a vampire in his turn.Szuzanna and Vlad are still plotting how to further the evil Covenant for the soul and cooperation of the oldest son of each generation of the Tsepesh bloodline..
November 17, 2024
Without realising the reader start understanding how vampires think and see life from their point of immortality and superpowers to go ahead in their lives for centuries becoming something different and more powerful and detached from humanity as centuries go by, but also for some of there's the huge upheaval struggle to keep some sort of humanity despite their ancient predatory instincts beautiful book running away but also hunting these deadly predators
May 26, 2020
The second book in this series, full of secrets and deceit. Zsusanna seeks Stefan to continue their Covenant and Arkady along with Bram are trying to save him. Great loss and sorrow are the prices paid in this tale with a sorrowful ending, can’t wait to read the final book and hopefully see the destruction of Vlad, which will redeem the Tspesh ancestors.
January 11, 2019
Can’t wait to read #3
Really enjoyed this one as much as the first. I find it rare in series for the second book to be as good as the first usually the second in a series often seems rushed by the author. I found this to be quite the page turner.
Really enjoyed this one as much as the first. I find it rare in series for the second book to be as good as the first usually the second in a series often seems rushed by the author. I found this to be quite the page turner.
June 28, 2019
Great continuance of a story. I'm still caught up in it. And the perspective, that started with Arkady in the first book, eventually changes to Bram , his son. And yes, a good amount of the book later on is taken on his story but then, he is going to take the story farther.
April 29, 2020
De lo mejor que se ha leído de vampiros, no voy a negar que en un principio se me hizo algo aburrido, pero debo destacar que me lleve un par de sorpresas inimaginables, por ende se convierte en uno de los mejores que leído.
September 3, 2020
It dragged a bit in the beginning but overall it been fun.
The plot twist was a little weird reveling that Stefen and Abraham's names where switched at a young age. Vlad is even more of a bastard as the book goes on.
The plot twist was a little weird reveling that Stefen and Abraham's names where switched at a young age. Vlad is even more of a bastard as the book goes on.
February 12, 2022
I absolutely LOVED this book and am eagerly awaiting the third one in this series to come in the mail. Easily one of my favorite books of all time!! Jeanne had total command over my emotions, I felt like I was right along side the characters in their horror, grief, shock etc.
December 2, 2022
Secondo capitolo della trilogia dedicata alla famiglia Dracula, avvincente come e più del primo. Certo, la trama è quella che è… un libro forse destinato ad un pubblico giovane ma che presenta diversi spunti affascinanti e originali. Ben scritto, è una lettura non impegnativa ma interessante.
October 28, 2024
Secondo capitolo ancora più avvincente e coinvolgente del primo. Quando si parla di vampiri e occulto si rischia sempre di scrivere baggianate, ma questo libro non è affatto scontato e per adolescenti. Ben costruito, mai noioso e con colpi di scena che movimentano tutta la storia. Bello!
August 10, 2017
Great book series
November 24, 2017
Every bit as captivating as the first book! The twists left me gasping in surprise. I can't wait for the reread!
October 14, 2019
4,5 stelle.
April 16, 2020
If you liked Covenant With the Vampire, you'll definitely like this book. It does, however, have a lot more tragedy in it that Covenant did.
February 5, 2023
Magnificent!!!
This is beyond the best rendition of Dracula! I love the story and found myself captivated by the heartbreak and misery of the enslaved Tspeshe family.
This is beyond the best rendition of Dracula! I love the story and found myself captivated by the heartbreak and misery of the enslaved Tspeshe family.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews