VROLOK

by Nolene-Patricia Dougan

Five Hundred years ago Vlad Dracula ruled the Carpathians. He had a thirst for conquering worlds and fought off the invading Turks with determined ferocity. When his wife died he lost interest in destroying armies and disappeared, half a century after the death of his wife the land surrounding his once home is terrorized by sporadic unexplained murders. Isabella is born into this uncertain and dangerous land. Her mother dies in childbirth and with her mothers death dies any chance of happiness. She grows up in a household that despises her existence and in this place she is taught to hate by her father, her stepmother and especially her sister Natasha. There are three good influences on Isabella's life, the man who is to become her husband, Nicolae, her grandfather Alexei and her good friend and confidant Katya. As the years pass by and Isabella becomes what she is destined to become, a vampire the memories of these three people are responsible for any goodness that still lies buried in her rotting soul. When Isabella becomes a vampire, she and Vlad form an uneasy and dangerous bond. They travel through four centuries, sometimes together, often apart. Along their epic and murderous journey they encounter Cosimo De Medici, the grand duke of Florence, Kit Marlowe, Elisabeth B¿thory, the Blood Countess and the perpetrator of the reign of terror himself, Robespierre. Despite each partner's jealous rages, declarations of hatred and sometimes even murderous intent, they remain loyal and dedicated to each other even through their long and frequent separations. During what is to be their last separation Isabella is warned that Vlad is danger and rushes to his aid. However she does not save him and Vlad is killed by English Vampire hunters, Isabella swears revenge, but she needs help and seeks out Nicolae, one of her own descendants who she killed and resurrected as a vampire many years before. Nicolae and Isabella travel back from America to England to avenge Vlad's death.

436 pages, Paperback

First published October 25, 2005

Reviews

[Jessica · Rating 1 out of 5]

This has got to be the WORST book I've ever read. It's not the premise's fault. Yeah, the vampire-lives-hundreds-of-years-and-influences-major-political-events plot has been done to death, but it has a LOT of possibilities. This book takes advantage of none of them.
The main character, Isabella, is more wandering serial killer than vampire. Seriously, if she were just killing for fun, instead of food, it would make no difference to the writing. The plot is non-existent, it's more series of vignettes. The tales jumps back and forth through something like three different time lines, and the writing. Oh. My. Goddess. The writing.
Think of the worst fan-fic you've ever read, including Mary-Sue, make it about Dracula a stretch it out about 300 pages and 500 years.
She had become tired. The boy played with a dog. He had done this. She had become that. GAH!!!!
Two of my favorite quotes:
"She had promised her friend that she would be polite and also most importantly that she would not kill anyone, unless Lia said she could."
"Nicolae's heart lightened and he tried to end the tension between them. 'I'm sorry. I just want to kill someone.'"

The only reason I'm not seriously considering using this book for ratty-toys (how bad does a book have to be before I'd consider destroying it!) is because it's a signed first edition, and I should get reasonably good credit for it at the used bookstore.

[Charles · Rating 4 out of 5]

That the author Nolene-Patricia Dougan writes as well as she looks. The book has a feel that made me look over my shoulder thinging a vampire was lurking there. Read with garlic/holy water/mirror/wooden stack at the ready.