The Count

by Helena Dela

Ella doesn't believe in superstitionsespecially the "curse" that predicts she will die soon after marrying a handsome, wealthy countuntil she spends a few months actually living in her new husband's spooky castle. Original.

Genres: Romance, Gothic

256 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

Half Danish, Helena Dela lives in Hay-On-Wye, England.

Reviews

[Amy N · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have an inexplicable but enduring love for this book.

[Lynn Spencer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd give this a B-, so 3.5 stars. I can honestly say this book is quite different from most of what I read. Plenty of love stories start off with a nobleman looking to marry just so he can beget an heir. However, most of these guys don't set off on the marriage quest knowing that their intended will most likely be dead in about a year or so.

Yes, you read that right. The Counts von Drachenfels live under a centuries old family curse. Their wives always end up conceiving sons and then dying during or right after the birth. The current count is looking for a bride, and he's very up front about his family issues. Even so, Ella decides to marry him. Her beloved husband has died, she's about to lose her job, and her will to live isn't exactly the strongest.

So, she marries the Count, and he whisks her away to the family castle, which is of course buried deep in a remote corner of Germany. He travels to Munich during the week for business, and Ella finds herself getting into a routine in her dark, creepy and, as it turns out, haunted castle. Naturally, the main suspense in this story involves when/if Ella will conceive and whether the curse can be defeated.

The book has an interesting tone. At times the author takes on some darker subject matter, and there are hints of all kinds of bad doings afoot. However, Ella as narrator also has a snarky sense of humor and there is a lightness to the book that somewhat belies the gothic touches. Most of the time, it works.

The actual romance in the book feels somewhat rushed and glossed over. However, the overall story is entertaining and it's definitely different from anything I've ever read. From what I can tell, Dela hasn't written any other books. A pity, because this one is entertaining and her writing shows real promise.

[LeahBethany · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Count was recommended as being a novel in the vein of Mary Stewart. Unfortunately, it was far, far off the mark. Even if I hadn't had such high expectations the novel was not my cup of tea; I just couldn't get behind the heroine's preoccupation with death and conversing with ghosts who like TV.

[Chandni · Rating 3 out of 5]

I actually enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I would. I wasn't a fan of the romance aspect (it was almost instalove), but I really liked the ghosts and how the story played out. Ella started off as bit of a shaky protagonist, but I really enjoyed her point of view and voice by the end of the book.

[Alexandria Blaelock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute take on the Cinderella story, only in this one, Ella negotiates the end of a centuries-old family curse. Quick read, good for those times you want a little distraction.

[Cheryl Armstrong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Different storyline, interesting read I enjoyed it.

[Sharyn Wheatley]

Very Good

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, quick read. Kept me interested even though there were not any dramatic plot twists. I really liked the witty main character Ella. The book is somewhat predictable but fun. I never had the urge to skip ahead to get to the "good" parts.

[NTE · Rating 2 out of 5]

Weird. Definitely not run of the mill, but not my favorite either.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this as a tween and for some reason I still love it (I'm 28)