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Dracula's Child
Dracula returns...
It has been some years since Jonathan and Mina Harker survived their ordeal in Transylvania and, vanquishing Count Dracula, returned to England to try and live ordinary lives. But shadows linger long in this world of blood feud and superstition - and, the older their son Quincy gets, the deeper the shadows that lengthen at the heart of the Harkers' marriage. Jonathan has turned back to drink; Mina finds herself isolated inside the confines of her own family; Quincy himself struggles to live up to a family of such high renown. And when a gathering of old friends leads to unexpected tragedy, the very particular wounds in the heart of the Harkers' marriage are about to be exposed...
There is darkness both within the marriage and without - for, while Jonathan and Mina wrestle with the right way to raise a child while still recovering from the trauma of their past lives, new evil is arising on the Continent. A naturalist is bringing a new species of bat back to London; two English gentlemen, on their separate tours of the continent, find a strange quixotic love for each other, and stumble into a calamity far worse than either has imagined; and the vestiges of something thought long-ago forgotten is, finally, beginning to stir...
It has been some years since Jonathan and Mina Harker survived their ordeal in Transylvania and, vanquishing Count Dracula, returned to England to try and live ordinary lives. But shadows linger long in this world of blood feud and superstition - and, the older their son Quincy gets, the deeper the shadows that lengthen at the heart of the Harkers' marriage. Jonathan has turned back to drink; Mina finds herself isolated inside the confines of her own family; Quincy himself struggles to live up to a family of such high renown. And when a gathering of old friends leads to unexpected tragedy, the very particular wounds in the heart of the Harkers' marriage are about to be exposed...
There is darkness both within the marriage and without - for, while Jonathan and Mina wrestle with the right way to raise a child while still recovering from the trauma of their past lives, new evil is arising on the Continent. A naturalist is bringing a new species of bat back to London; two English gentlemen, on their separate tours of the continent, find a strange quixotic love for each other, and stumble into a calamity far worse than either has imagined; and the vestiges of something thought long-ago forgotten is, finally, beginning to stir...
448 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 12, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 221 reviews
March 14, 2022
What a challenging, compelling, arduous job, the author brilliantly achieved! The continuation of a thrilling, blood chilling, one of the legendary masterpiece is presented us as if it has been written a few years after the first book’s release by the same author.
This is quite outstanding tribute to Bram Stoker’s work by keeping the same dark, claustrophobic, high tension, gothic atmosphere with very same characters.
J. S. Barnes’ writing style are so similar and loyal to the original text. You keep asking yourself if it could be an unknown book written by Bram Stoker which has been kept secret from the readers for decades.
But a quick warning: if you haven’t read the original text, it will be torturous experience for you to understand the plot of the story. You gotta go back and read or learn more about tragic, horrifying Count Dracula’s world not to keep yourself in the dark.
I actually read the classic three times but I still went back and quickly viewed a few pages to refresh my memories. ( Another way to refresh your memories: watching Netflix series which I highly disapprove. Especially after seeing the disastrous last episode I cursed at Mark Gatiss for at least one week. He destroyed the soul of the story, didn’t he?Even though he is the creator of my all time favorite series: Sherlock!)
The book is told by inaccurate, cohesive narrators, newspaper articles, diaries, letters. The pacing was slow, truly dense, bumpy but thankfully our family characters help us to get through the rough patch we experience at the first half. Yes, Harkers are back! Let’s not forget Dr. Steward.
Mina was always my favorite and it didn’t change for this book. I loved to be inside of her head, seeing things from her perspective, her suspicions, her fear about the place.
If you’re not familiar with the entire premise of Count Dracula world, book may turn into a boring enigma for you so I think I may highly recommend this book for the devoted fans who may feel true excitement to read the rest of the classic story.
Ending is a little argumentative. Do I expect it? Nope, another sucker punch on my face and I like surprises so it wasn’t the final I truly desired but it still worked for me.
Overall: the book requests your attention and true dedication. It’s slow burn, intense, exhausting, complex and the most of the action takes place at the last third. But it’s a great tribute to the original text and the author accomplished something impossible with his highly skilled writing efforts so I’m giving 3.5 stars and rounding them up to 4 Romanian, Vlad the Impaler, legendary stars!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Titan Books for sharing this ARC with me in exchange my honest opinions.
This is quite outstanding tribute to Bram Stoker’s work by keeping the same dark, claustrophobic, high tension, gothic atmosphere with very same characters.
J. S. Barnes’ writing style are so similar and loyal to the original text. You keep asking yourself if it could be an unknown book written by Bram Stoker which has been kept secret from the readers for decades.
But a quick warning: if you haven’t read the original text, it will be torturous experience for you to understand the plot of the story. You gotta go back and read or learn more about tragic, horrifying Count Dracula’s world not to keep yourself in the dark.
I actually read the classic three times but I still went back and quickly viewed a few pages to refresh my memories. ( Another way to refresh your memories: watching Netflix series which I highly disapprove. Especially after seeing the disastrous last episode I cursed at Mark Gatiss for at least one week. He destroyed the soul of the story, didn’t he?Even though he is the creator of my all time favorite series: Sherlock!)
The book is told by inaccurate, cohesive narrators, newspaper articles, diaries, letters. The pacing was slow, truly dense, bumpy but thankfully our family characters help us to get through the rough patch we experience at the first half. Yes, Harkers are back! Let’s not forget Dr. Steward.
Mina was always my favorite and it didn’t change for this book. I loved to be inside of her head, seeing things from her perspective, her suspicions, her fear about the place.
If you’re not familiar with the entire premise of Count Dracula world, book may turn into a boring enigma for you so I think I may highly recommend this book for the devoted fans who may feel true excitement to read the rest of the classic story.
Ending is a little argumentative. Do I expect it? Nope, another sucker punch on my face and I like surprises so it wasn’t the final I truly desired but it still worked for me.
Overall: the book requests your attention and true dedication. It’s slow burn, intense, exhausting, complex and the most of the action takes place at the last third. But it’s a great tribute to the original text and the author accomplished something impossible with his highly skilled writing efforts so I’m giving 3.5 stars and rounding them up to 4 Romanian, Vlad the Impaler, legendary stars!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Titan Books for sharing this ARC with me in exchange my honest opinions.
December 15, 2020
Jonathan and Mina Harker survived their terrible vampiric ordeal and have attempted to move on with their lives, and with each other. Years have passed in relative peace but now old menaces threaten to become unearthed as new secrets and blood are spilled...
This was such a great retelling, which came with a similar prose style and epistolary accounts, as in Stoker's original Gothic text. I felt it also captured the eerie atmosphere and suspenseful narrative of the former, whilst delivering something new and entirely of Barnes' own chilling creation.
This, like Dracula itself, was a slower-paced novel, with portions of altering perspectives used to deliver moments of high drama and intrigue. It was this pace that so enamoured me, as I felt consistently kept a hair's breadth away from the sinister somethings lurking in the shadows and forever unaware for where Barnes would have them strike next.
Vampires aren't supernatural beings that illicit fear, for me, and so I found nothing here to intensely horrify. It did, however, charge my imagination and deliver a creepy read I found a dark joy in devouring long into the moonlit hours.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, J.S. Barnes, and the publisher, Titan Books, for this opportunity.
This was such a great retelling, which came with a similar prose style and epistolary accounts, as in Stoker's original Gothic text. I felt it also captured the eerie atmosphere and suspenseful narrative of the former, whilst delivering something new and entirely of Barnes' own chilling creation.
This, like Dracula itself, was a slower-paced novel, with portions of altering perspectives used to deliver moments of high drama and intrigue. It was this pace that so enamoured me, as I felt consistently kept a hair's breadth away from the sinister somethings lurking in the shadows and forever unaware for where Barnes would have them strike next.
Vampires aren't supernatural beings that illicit fear, for me, and so I found nothing here to intensely horrify. It did, however, charge my imagination and deliver a creepy read I found a dark joy in devouring long into the moonlit hours.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, J.S. Barnes, and the publisher, Titan Books, for this opportunity.
October 3, 2020
3.5 Stars
This book was such a great start into the darker season! The author did a great job with the creepy vibe here. The story takes place several years after the end of Dracula. The plot although good wasn’t exceptional. The main reason why I enjoyed Dracula's Child was because it is written in the same style as Dracula, in letters and authentic writing. This feels like a really fitting successor and is a must-read for every real Dracula fan.
Thanks to Titan Books for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book was such a great start into the darker season! The author did a great job with the creepy vibe here. The story takes place several years after the end of Dracula. The plot although good wasn’t exceptional. The main reason why I enjoyed Dracula's Child was because it is written in the same style as Dracula, in letters and authentic writing. This feels like a really fitting successor and is a must-read for every real Dracula fan.
Thanks to Titan Books for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 22, 2020
Evil never truly dies...and some legends live forever. The dark heart of Bram Stoker's classic is reborn; capturing the voice, tone, style and characters of the original yet with a modern sensibility, this is a fitting tribute and unofficial sequel to the Bram Stoker classic. It would be preferable to have read Dracula before diving into this as there are references to the original, the characters are the same and Barnes uses the original to give his story context.
Dracula’s Child is set just over a decade after the original novel when The Crew of Light triumphed over wicked Count Dracula. Written much in the same fashion as the original, the story is told is a series of diary entries, letters and newspaper articles collated over the course of a year. The Crew of Light, featuring Dr Seward, Lord Godalming and Professor Van Helsing, reunite to celebrate the birthday of Jonathan and Mina Harker’s 12-year-old son, Quincey. The Harker’s have retired to the Oxfordshire countryside for a quiet life. However, tragedy strikes when Professor Van Helsing falls severely ill, collapsing and slipping into unconsciousness, at the party after issuing a stark warning and everyone soon comes to the realisation that his prophecy portends Dracula’s imminent return as he vowed to seek vengeance on those who challenged him.
I was nervous about reading this book as I've tried many sequels to well-known classics that have bombed but I had no such issues here. Barnes has captured and recreated the chilling atmosphere and the epistolary form of writing works as well as it did in the original. This gothic horror has nonstop action, a number of instances where your heart is in your mouth and plenty of intrigue. I was hooked from the very beginning and found the layered plot and multiple perspectives were executed superbly. It's creepy and thrilling and the world Barnes has built is intricately designed and easy to become immersed in. This is a delightfully macabre tale that is a must-read for those who enjoy vampirism, dark gothic stories and classic horror. A captivating, masterful and entertaining book, Dracula’s Child is a sinister, high-drama novel which is utterly compulsive. Many thanks to Titan Books for an ARC.
Dracula’s Child is set just over a decade after the original novel when The Crew of Light triumphed over wicked Count Dracula. Written much in the same fashion as the original, the story is told is a series of diary entries, letters and newspaper articles collated over the course of a year. The Crew of Light, featuring Dr Seward, Lord Godalming and Professor Van Helsing, reunite to celebrate the birthday of Jonathan and Mina Harker’s 12-year-old son, Quincey. The Harker’s have retired to the Oxfordshire countryside for a quiet life. However, tragedy strikes when Professor Van Helsing falls severely ill, collapsing and slipping into unconsciousness, at the party after issuing a stark warning and everyone soon comes to the realisation that his prophecy portends Dracula’s imminent return as he vowed to seek vengeance on those who challenged him.
I was nervous about reading this book as I've tried many sequels to well-known classics that have bombed but I had no such issues here. Barnes has captured and recreated the chilling atmosphere and the epistolary form of writing works as well as it did in the original. This gothic horror has nonstop action, a number of instances where your heart is in your mouth and plenty of intrigue. I was hooked from the very beginning and found the layered plot and multiple perspectives were executed superbly. It's creepy and thrilling and the world Barnes has built is intricately designed and easy to become immersed in. This is a delightfully macabre tale that is a must-read for those who enjoy vampirism, dark gothic stories and classic horror. A captivating, masterful and entertaining book, Dracula’s Child is a sinister, high-drama novel which is utterly compulsive. Many thanks to Titan Books for an ARC.
October 3, 2020
"An old truth of the world is here presented: that to make a thing forbidden is to fill the souls of those who are warned against it with unquenchable thirst."
"'All over Europe,' she said, 'the shadow is falling now. we must prepare for the hour of his return."
--------------------------------------------
Dracula's Child perfectly recreates the tone and feel of Bram Stoker's original. The writing style reads like that of his own hand. Through a series of letters, journal entries, telegrams and newspaper articles we rejoin Mina, Jonathan and Arthur in England some years after their showdown with the Count. Each is coping with the psychological after-effects of having lived through such terror. The Harkers are raising their son, who is quite unusual and dare I say, a little creepy.
This is a real slow burn of a book, similar to the original. The first third is a cozy, revisiting with our favorite characters. It feels like picking up with old friends. I will say Jonathan has taken a bit of a turn that I did not enjoy but we all respond to trauma differently. We begin to see the elements of darkness building. The second third is a slow build of the suspense to the final showdown. This part was slightly overly long for me personally. I needed either more action or less contemplative pages. The final third was absolutely perfect, the absolute horror of an unleashed horde of vampires and the arrogant elegance of The Count is exactly what I wanted.
This one gets 4.5 stars from me.
Thanks to Netgalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
"'All over Europe,' she said, 'the shadow is falling now. we must prepare for the hour of his return."
--------------------------------------------
Dracula's Child perfectly recreates the tone and feel of Bram Stoker's original. The writing style reads like that of his own hand. Through a series of letters, journal entries, telegrams and newspaper articles we rejoin Mina, Jonathan and Arthur in England some years after their showdown with the Count. Each is coping with the psychological after-effects of having lived through such terror. The Harkers are raising their son, who is quite unusual and dare I say, a little creepy.
This is a real slow burn of a book, similar to the original. The first third is a cozy, revisiting with our favorite characters. It feels like picking up with old friends. I will say Jonathan has taken a bit of a turn that I did not enjoy but we all respond to trauma differently. We begin to see the elements of darkness building. The second third is a slow build of the suspense to the final showdown. This part was slightly overly long for me personally. I needed either more action or less contemplative pages. The final third was absolutely perfect, the absolute horror of an unleashed horde of vampires and the arrogant elegance of The Count is exactly what I wanted.
This one gets 4.5 stars from me.
Thanks to Netgalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
October 10, 2020
What an incredible read. I was captivated from start to finish. I love Dracula and the Harker's. To see the story continue from where it left off was an absolute delight. I loved the Gothic atmosphere of writing and the dark undertones throughout the story. Mina is my favorite female character ever written. I love her strength, loyalty, devotion, and determination. It was so nice to immerse myself in a well written Vampire book. I am one satisfied reader.
September 30, 2020
Quite simply, I LOVED this book. Thank you to Net Galley and Titan Books for sending me the ARC for this. I should preface this review by saying that Dracula is among my favorite novels of all time and I will argue that it is one of the best English language novels ever written.
This book is the PERFECT sequel to Dracula, it is written in the same style as the original. Barnes uses the same diction and writing style throughout, giving it the same feel as Stoker's novel. The characters are well done and feel like the originals without being flat. The same Gothic mood permeates this book as the original and it builds the same kind of dread as the story progresses.
The pacing of the story is similar to Dracula - it is a slow building tension - the reader knows something is haunting the characters and the reader knows who it is, but the characters struggle with the realization creating additional tension.
The story is compelling, dark and exciting.
I cannot recommend this book enough. I so thoroughly enjoyed this that I am already telling everyone about. It is a must read for lovers of classic horror and Gothic novels.
This book is the PERFECT sequel to Dracula, it is written in the same style as the original. Barnes uses the same diction and writing style throughout, giving it the same feel as Stoker's novel. The characters are well done and feel like the originals without being flat. The same Gothic mood permeates this book as the original and it builds the same kind of dread as the story progresses.
The pacing of the story is similar to Dracula - it is a slow building tension - the reader knows something is haunting the characters and the reader knows who it is, but the characters struggle with the realization creating additional tension.
The story is compelling, dark and exciting.
I cannot recommend this book enough. I so thoroughly enjoyed this that I am already telling everyone about. It is a must read for lovers of classic horror and Gothic novels.
September 22, 2020
Let me tell a little secret...
I nearly gave this book a hard pass.
How dare J.S. Barnes touch my beloved Dracula?
But this was the old me trying to get in the way. The same old me that keeps squealing whenever I pick a genre other than Horror. The old me that would rather not try to read something different.
NOPE!
Screw the old me.
I decided to go for it and see what J.S. Barnes could come up with.
As I'm writing this review, I keep thinking of fancy ways to describe what the author did in this book, but let just keep it simple: nailed it
J.S. Barnes nailed it.
The writing is impeccable and will immediately remind you of the original Dracula.
As with Dracula, if you’re not a fan of the epistolary form, this might not be for you. Just know that the format works just as great as it did in the original.
It could be classified as a slow-burner, which isn’t an issue to me. As long as I’m enjoying the story, the pace is secondary.
Overall, a fantastic surprise.
I really enjoyed this one and I’m glad I decided to give it a fighting chance.
If you’re a fan of Dracula, ‘Dracula's Child’ should be on your TBR.
Huge thanks to Titan Books and NetGalley for sending me a review copy.
I nearly gave this book a hard pass.
How dare J.S. Barnes touch my beloved Dracula?
But this was the old me trying to get in the way. The same old me that keeps squealing whenever I pick a genre other than Horror. The old me that would rather not try to read something different.
NOPE!
Screw the old me.
I decided to go for it and see what J.S. Barnes could come up with.
As I'm writing this review, I keep thinking of fancy ways to describe what the author did in this book, but let just keep it simple: nailed it
J.S. Barnes nailed it.
The writing is impeccable and will immediately remind you of the original Dracula.
As with Dracula, if you’re not a fan of the epistolary form, this might not be for you. Just know that the format works just as great as it did in the original.
It could be classified as a slow-burner, which isn’t an issue to me. As long as I’m enjoying the story, the pace is secondary.
Overall, a fantastic surprise.
I really enjoyed this one and I’m glad I decided to give it a fighting chance.
If you’re a fan of Dracula, ‘Dracula's Child’ should be on your TBR.
Huge thanks to Titan Books and NetGalley for sending me a review copy.
January 13, 2021
3.5 stars. A real gothic and dark twist on the Dracula story, one of the better retailings I've read. Was not fully in love with the story but it was still a very good book.
October 11, 2020
Thanks to NetGalley and Titan Books for providing an ARC!
_______________________________
I was so glad to see this book on NetGalley, I immediately asked an ARC and was really glad to receive it!
So glad because Dracula is one of my favorite books of all times and I love to read retellings like Anno Dracula or sequels like Dracula: The Undead ! I can't wait to read Dracul !
So I entered this book open, excited and just wanting to get back to my favorite characters: Mina, Jack and, of course, Dracula!
I was not disappointed!
First, I loved the story within a story: Quincey is the editor of the book placed into the reader's hands, and he is not telling the story. J.S. Barnes decided to get back to Bram Stoker's format: diary entries, letters, memorandum, articles from newspapers, and so on! I really appreciated that! Moreover, I found the author's writing quite good! The way he structures his sentences is quite agreeable and matches with the period of the story, the beginning of the twentieth century!
Then, of course, I loved all the vampire aspect of this book! I loved that the characters don't dare to admit what they encountered and can't write the word in their papers. J.S. Barnes seems to have exacerbated the erotic side of the creature: some passages of this book would never have been written by Bram Stoker in the 1890s I think. It adds something more, but it didn't always feel necessary to me.
I loved how the story goes, the direction it takes, the twists and turns: it was quite gripping, even if it was also frustrating! Indeed, at some point, I didn't know what to expect anymore and the tension was building so much I was afraid it would collapsed badly.
I was not entirely wrong in that, but I'll get back to it later.
I also loved to, as I said earlier, get back to my favorite characters. From the first time I read Dracula, I fell in love with Mina. Because of the misogyny of the period, in the original book, she is considered "more than an ordinary woman", "a man in a female body", "strong and capable". She was, clearly, the cleverest character, meaning that she understood the Count's schemes and was ignored by her male companions ... because she was a woman! This time... well, she's still the cleverest, she still sees clear through the fog shrouding the characters, she is the one who understands. So, Mina is exactly as she were in the original book.
Jack Seward, the alienist: my favorite male character with Van Helsing! I thought he was less... arrogant, I'd say? In the original story, he realizes quickly that he doesn't understand vampirism and what is happening to people around him. In this book, I'll just say he is "off track": his storyline differs from his companions. I'll say no more, but I loved to follow him. Only regret: I would have loooooooved to learn more about !
Jonathan and Arthur are characters I like, but I'm not a huge fan of them. Jonathan, here, is still traumatised by his Transylvanian experience: he can't recover, and... well, let's say at some point, he feels like a coward As for Arthur, maybe just like in Dracula, he feels a bit in the background, probably because he doesn't keep a diary? He feels less close to the reader, and so I got less pleasure in following him.
Other characters are present there, like Maurice Hallam, Quincey Harker, Gabriel Shone or Ileana; but I don't want to say too much, so I'll just let you discover them.
And now, to the only disappointing aspect of the book to me: the ending.
It felt way too quick for the amount of pages spent on building momentum! I was a bit like: "What?... All of this for just this?!" In seconds, I felt let down by this ending. And after that, the epilogue feels too long, anticlimactic - even if it is still interesting to know what happened to some of the surviving characters.
Moreover, there's one element that feels close to illogical to me:
The only part I loved in this ending was when we get back to Quincey as the narrator!
So, I had a really good time, until the ending which wasn't as good as the building promised it to be! Still I recommand it!
_______________________________
I was so glad to see this book on NetGalley, I immediately asked an ARC and was really glad to receive it!
So glad because Dracula is one of my favorite books of all times and I love to read retellings like Anno Dracula or sequels like Dracula: The Undead ! I can't wait to read Dracul !
So I entered this book open, excited and just wanting to get back to my favorite characters: Mina, Jack and, of course, Dracula!
I was not disappointed!
First, I loved the story within a story: Quincey is the editor of the book placed into the reader's hands, and he is not telling the story. J.S. Barnes decided to get back to Bram Stoker's format: diary entries, letters, memorandum, articles from newspapers, and so on! I really appreciated that! Moreover, I found the author's writing quite good! The way he structures his sentences is quite agreeable and matches with the period of the story, the beginning of the twentieth century!
Then, of course, I loved all the vampire aspect of this book! I loved that the characters don't dare to admit what they encountered and can't write the word in their papers. J.S. Barnes seems to have exacerbated the erotic side of the creature: some passages of this book would never have been written by Bram Stoker in the 1890s I think. It adds something more, but it didn't always feel necessary to me.
I loved how the story goes, the direction it takes, the twists and turns: it was quite gripping, even if it was also frustrating! Indeed, at some point, I didn't know what to expect anymore and the tension was building so much I was afraid it would collapsed badly.
I was not entirely wrong in that, but I'll get back to it later.
I also loved to, as I said earlier, get back to my favorite characters. From the first time I read Dracula, I fell in love with Mina. Because of the misogyny of the period, in the original book, she is considered "more than an ordinary woman", "a man in a female body", "strong and capable". She was, clearly, the cleverest character, meaning that she understood the Count's schemes and was ignored by her male companions ... because she was a woman! This time... well, she's still the cleverest, she still sees clear through the fog shrouding the characters, she is the one who understands. So, Mina is exactly as she were in the original book.
Jack Seward, the alienist: my favorite male character with Van Helsing! I thought he was less... arrogant, I'd say? In the original story, he realizes quickly that he doesn't understand vampirism and what is happening to people around him. In this book, I'll just say he is "off track": his storyline differs from his companions. I'll say no more, but I loved to follow him. Only regret: I would have loooooooved to learn more about !
Jonathan and Arthur are characters I like, but I'm not a huge fan of them. Jonathan, here, is still traumatised by his Transylvanian experience: he can't recover, and... well, let's say at some point, he feels like a coward As for Arthur, maybe just like in Dracula, he feels a bit in the background, probably because he doesn't keep a diary? He feels less close to the reader, and so I got less pleasure in following him.
Other characters are present there, like Maurice Hallam, Quincey Harker, Gabriel Shone or Ileana; but I don't want to say too much, so I'll just let you discover them.
And now, to the only disappointing aspect of the book to me: the ending.
It felt way too quick for the amount of pages spent on building momentum! I was a bit like: "What?... All of this for just this?!" In seconds, I felt let down by this ending. And after that, the epilogue feels too long, anticlimactic - even if it is still interesting to know what happened to some of the surviving characters.
Moreover, there's one element that feels close to illogical to me:
The only part I loved in this ending was when we get back to Quincey as the narrator!
So, I had a really good time, until the ending which wasn't as good as the building promised it to be! Still I recommand it!
October 29, 2020
4 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2020/10/29/...
Many authors have endeavored to write a sequel to Dracula, but very few succeed in capturing the atmosphere of the classic as well as the hearts of readers. In the case of J.S. Barnes’ Dracula’s Child, however, I was impressed. While adding to the original’s mythology, the book managed to remain a faithful homage to its style and spirit while keeping me completely enthralled.
After their harrowing ordeal in Transylvania, Jonathan and Mina Harker have returned to England and settled into a life of relative peace in the intervening years. They have a son named Quincy who is growing up to be a fine young man, carefully spared from any of the memories and trauma inflicted upon his parents who are doing all they can to give him the happy, loving childhood he deserves. To celebrate the boy’s birthday, the Harkers have thrown together a small gathering with their closest friends, which includes Professor Van Helsing, with whom they have remained in contact over the years.
But at the party, something awful happens. Van Helsing suddenly takes ill, collapsing to the floor, but not before delivering an ominous prophecy directed to Quincy, warning him to fight for his soul. Shaken, Mina decides to start a diary and write about the night, continuing her entries as Van Helsing’s condition worsens while being treated at the Harkers’ estate. Doctors are baffled, including their friend Jack Seward, who is unable to find an explanation or cure for the professor’s mysterious ailment. Meanwhile, the incident has taken a toll on the family as Jonathan starts drinking more and more and Mina worries for their son. Deeply affected by what happened on his birthday, Quincy has become withdrawn and at times behaves like a completely different person.
While all this is happening, the narrative also follows a pair of companions traveling through the Carpathian Mountains who find something deeper in each other, but also more than they bargained for. Elsewhere, a seemingly innocuous newspaper clipping about a species of bat subsequently causes much distress. A former news writer is ready to end his life by hurling himself into the Thames, when he is suddenly stopped by a enigmatic figure who appears out of the gloom. At the Harker house, a young woman named Sarah is tasked to help care for the comatose Van Helsing, but the presence of her youthful beauty proves to be quite a distraction, to the chagrin of Mina, who is also busy providing moral support for Caroline, the emotionally fragile new wife of Arthur, now Lord Godalming.
As you can see, all the old gang is back, with a number of new characters to fill out the supporting cast besides. Mimicking Bram Stoker’s style, Dracula’s Child is written in the epistolary format with the same linguistic approach, unfolding via a collection of diary entries, letters, newspaper articles, notes and other forms of documentation. While not every single perspective or source was equally relevant to the overall story, they were each written with the careful attention of someone clearly well-versed in the source material. Ultimately, I liked how, as a whole, these interrelated pieces formed to create a full-flavored narrative which felt appropriately horror Gothic while still retaining all the delicious intrigue like a sponge.
As I alluded to before though, Dracula sequels are nothing new, even (or especially) those that imitate Stoker’s style. So, what makes Dracula’s Child special? Well, if you think you’ll enjoy a bold fresh take on the original characters, this might be well worth a look. While there are references aplenty to Dracula, this novel mainly features a unique continuation of the story filled with Barnes’ own content. Dracula himself gets a host of new powers, not to mention hungrier ambitions as he sets his sights on expanding his influence by playing politics.
That said, some readers might find this particular plot thread taxing, especially when combined with synchronic language and epistolary format. The novel’s style and structure demand a fair bit of patience and focus, which could be frustrating. Dracula’s Child is a “mood read” if I ever saw one, and it’s not going to be everyone’s cup of tea.
Still, any work based on Dracula, being such an influential character, will shine as long as it’s treated properly and in the right hands. At the end of the day, I thought J.S. Barnes did a great job with Dracula’s Child, considering the novel’s ambitious scope. It stands up decently to the original classic, delivering a satisfying story featuring the unsettling vibes and atmosphere that readers seeking a Dracula sequel will crave and expect.
Many authors have endeavored to write a sequel to Dracula, but very few succeed in capturing the atmosphere of the classic as well as the hearts of readers. In the case of J.S. Barnes’ Dracula’s Child, however, I was impressed. While adding to the original’s mythology, the book managed to remain a faithful homage to its style and spirit while keeping me completely enthralled.
After their harrowing ordeal in Transylvania, Jonathan and Mina Harker have returned to England and settled into a life of relative peace in the intervening years. They have a son named Quincy who is growing up to be a fine young man, carefully spared from any of the memories and trauma inflicted upon his parents who are doing all they can to give him the happy, loving childhood he deserves. To celebrate the boy’s birthday, the Harkers have thrown together a small gathering with their closest friends, which includes Professor Van Helsing, with whom they have remained in contact over the years.
But at the party, something awful happens. Van Helsing suddenly takes ill, collapsing to the floor, but not before delivering an ominous prophecy directed to Quincy, warning him to fight for his soul. Shaken, Mina decides to start a diary and write about the night, continuing her entries as Van Helsing’s condition worsens while being treated at the Harkers’ estate. Doctors are baffled, including their friend Jack Seward, who is unable to find an explanation or cure for the professor’s mysterious ailment. Meanwhile, the incident has taken a toll on the family as Jonathan starts drinking more and more and Mina worries for their son. Deeply affected by what happened on his birthday, Quincy has become withdrawn and at times behaves like a completely different person.
While all this is happening, the narrative also follows a pair of companions traveling through the Carpathian Mountains who find something deeper in each other, but also more than they bargained for. Elsewhere, a seemingly innocuous newspaper clipping about a species of bat subsequently causes much distress. A former news writer is ready to end his life by hurling himself into the Thames, when he is suddenly stopped by a enigmatic figure who appears out of the gloom. At the Harker house, a young woman named Sarah is tasked to help care for the comatose Van Helsing, but the presence of her youthful beauty proves to be quite a distraction, to the chagrin of Mina, who is also busy providing moral support for Caroline, the emotionally fragile new wife of Arthur, now Lord Godalming.
As you can see, all the old gang is back, with a number of new characters to fill out the supporting cast besides. Mimicking Bram Stoker’s style, Dracula’s Child is written in the epistolary format with the same linguistic approach, unfolding via a collection of diary entries, letters, newspaper articles, notes and other forms of documentation. While not every single perspective or source was equally relevant to the overall story, they were each written with the careful attention of someone clearly well-versed in the source material. Ultimately, I liked how, as a whole, these interrelated pieces formed to create a full-flavored narrative which felt appropriately horror Gothic while still retaining all the delicious intrigue like a sponge.
As I alluded to before though, Dracula sequels are nothing new, even (or especially) those that imitate Stoker’s style. So, what makes Dracula’s Child special? Well, if you think you’ll enjoy a bold fresh take on the original characters, this might be well worth a look. While there are references aplenty to Dracula, this novel mainly features a unique continuation of the story filled with Barnes’ own content. Dracula himself gets a host of new powers, not to mention hungrier ambitions as he sets his sights on expanding his influence by playing politics.
That said, some readers might find this particular plot thread taxing, especially when combined with synchronic language and epistolary format. The novel’s style and structure demand a fair bit of patience and focus, which could be frustrating. Dracula’s Child is a “mood read” if I ever saw one, and it’s not going to be everyone’s cup of tea.
Still, any work based on Dracula, being such an influential character, will shine as long as it’s treated properly and in the right hands. At the end of the day, I thought J.S. Barnes did a great job with Dracula’s Child, considering the novel’s ambitious scope. It stands up decently to the original classic, delivering a satisfying story featuring the unsettling vibes and atmosphere that readers seeking a Dracula sequel will crave and expect.
September 21, 2020
I really enjoyed this, I thought the author got the tone and atmosphere of Dracula just perfect, I was just drawn by how eerie, captivating yet also disturbing at times this story was. It feels so authentic, almost like it was written by Stoker, or at least in the same era. I think this really stands up well to the original, the style is true to the original, even new characters blend in seamlessly, overall a fantastic gothic story Worthy of its namesake.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion
August 15, 2020
10 years have passed since the Crew of Light fought their immortal enemy Dracula and the world has moved forward into a new century. Mina and Jonathan are living in Oxfordshire with their son Quincey and maintain their friendship with Jack, Arthur and of course Abraham Van Helsing. On Quincey's 12th birthday they are all together celebrating however tragedy hits and a darkness begins to creep in to their lives.
Using the episatolry style following Stoker's Dracula, the narrative is told through multiple character's letters, diaries and newspaper articles. There is a huge amount of detail in the world the Harker's now live and it's worth reading or rereading Dracula so that you can see Barnes' nods to the original novel, plus why wouldn't you read an absolute classic.
I must say I found it dense and a slow build read, I found myself just wanting to get to the action.
Thanks to NetGalley and Titan.
Using the episatolry style following Stoker's Dracula, the narrative is told through multiple character's letters, diaries and newspaper articles. There is a huge amount of detail in the world the Harker's now live and it's worth reading or rereading Dracula so that you can see Barnes' nods to the original novel, plus why wouldn't you read an absolute classic.
I must say I found it dense and a slow build read, I found myself just wanting to get to the action.
Thanks to NetGalley and Titan.
August 13, 2020
Fantastic creep-filled read which felt to me that it could have been written by THE man himself-Bram Stoker. The book is filled with journal entries from most of the beloved vampire hunters (Mina and Jonathan Harker, Dr. Seward)--along with some new faces that move along the story of the evil Count and his doomed minions. Dracula's Child is filled with details which created the dark atmosphere Dracula fans should eat up. The ending was very effective and NOT what I expected.
I highly recommend for readers who are fans if the original.
Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for a chance to read and review.
I highly recommend for readers who are fans if the original.
Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for a chance to read and review.
September 2, 2020
5 ⭐ are not enough.
It is truly a pleasure to meet again Stocker's team in the fight against the Count. The format of the book kept the original style, the story was told through the letters of the various characters.
Great job. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this beautiful story.
It is truly a pleasure to meet again Stocker's team in the fight against the Count. The format of the book kept the original style, the story was told through the letters of the various characters.
Great job. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this beautiful story.
July 4, 2022
The first vampire book I read was Dracula by Bram Stoker and I have loved this genre ever since. Then last year I found Dracul by J D Barker and was another instant classic for me and now after reading this book I have a trio of classics which I know I will again and again. This story is told in a series of letters from all the main characters. This book reads as a sequel to the original Dracula. Atmospheric, gripping and thoroughly entertaining. Once again I am transported back in time to the turn of the century as an invisible bystander witnessing first hand what happened. A masterpiece of story telling and a MUST READ for all readers of this genre.
August 25, 2025
This is a well crafted story that feels like a seamless continuation of Dracula. The epistolary style pays perfect homage to the original Dracula and definitely contributes to the seamless build on Stokers world and characters. The story is engaging and has quite a few plot twists I didn’t see coming. I loved the additions this story gave to the Dracula universe. They were creative, made sense, flowed well, and paid respect to the original work. I really enjoyed this and had trouble putting it down. When I was forced to take life breaks I couldn’t wait to pick it back up again. I am a huge Dracula fan so this was right up my alley and of course lends some bias to my review. That said it also makes me a harsh critic because I love the original story so much. This story surpassed my expectations. I applaud the author, this was a feat but it was so well done. Thank you for the amazing read and for giving us Dracula nerds more! I am so glad I read this!
January 31, 2025
1 star
Ohhhh, this was bad. Like, really bad. I’m angry, quite angry. I’ve owned this book for nearly 5 years now, and I paid for it with my own money. I even chose to haul it along with all my other books when I moved house. Since then, it has taken up precious space on my bookshelf (this is a chunker of a book at just over 550 pages), and all this time, I should have just tossed it. I’m going to donate this to my local secondhand bookstore ASAP.
Let me start by saying that the first 200 pages were actually quite intriguing. I love an epistolary novel, and the old-timey but still accessible writing style was a good choice. The writing is very much inspired by the source material, duh. But OMG, this took such a stupid route. It feels like a disgrace to the original Dracula. I really don’t know why Barnes wanted to write this story.
It was filled with stupid reasonings and just straight-up ridiculous actions. I also feel like the story added nothing to what we already got in Dracula. (Who cares if I’m gonna spoil this for you? This is an awful book, you shouldn’t read it.) But basically, it ends the same as Dracula. I really don’t know why 550+ pages were needed to tell this story. Like, what was the point?
I regret my own choices. I’m going to speak to myself in hindsight: just watch the new Nosferatu movie. It has been getting great reviews, and it will certainly offer the same atmosphere I was looking for with this book, but without all the cringe.
In conclusion, this book was a waste of my time, money, and shelf space. I should just have hurled it at the wall, like I said in my last reading update.
Ohhhh, this was bad. Like, really bad. I’m angry, quite angry. I’ve owned this book for nearly 5 years now, and I paid for it with my own money. I even chose to haul it along with all my other books when I moved house. Since then, it has taken up precious space on my bookshelf (this is a chunker of a book at just over 550 pages), and all this time, I should have just tossed it. I’m going to donate this to my local secondhand bookstore ASAP.
Let me start by saying that the first 200 pages were actually quite intriguing. I love an epistolary novel, and the old-timey but still accessible writing style was a good choice. The writing is very much inspired by the source material, duh. But OMG, this took such a stupid route. It feels like a disgrace to the original Dracula. I really don’t know why Barnes wanted to write this story.
It was filled with stupid reasonings and just straight-up ridiculous actions. I also feel like the story added nothing to what we already got in Dracula. (Who cares if I’m gonna spoil this for you? This is an awful book, you shouldn’t read it.) But basically, it ends the same as Dracula. I really don’t know why 550+ pages were needed to tell this story. Like, what was the point?
I regret my own choices. I’m going to speak to myself in hindsight: just watch the new Nosferatu movie. It has been getting great reviews, and it will certainly offer the same atmosphere I was looking for with this book, but without all the cringe.
In conclusion, this book was a waste of my time, money, and shelf space. I should just have hurled it at the wall, like I said in my last reading update.
September 12, 2020
A gothic, bone-chilling revival of the most infamous vampire tale of all time that may even rival the first in its delectable thirst of the gruesome and the wicked.
"Dracula's Child," by J.S Barnes is a work of literal art. Written in a similar tone and style of Bram Stoker, the tale is delivered in a series of letters, articles, and diary entries from multi-perspectives, detailing what nobody wants to admit: Dracula is back and determined to fulfill his promise of revenge. Mina and Jonathon Harker have many reasons for trying to deny the truth of Dracula's return than most, but when their son Quincey begins to act strangely and undergoes severe fits, they begin to realize something very sinister is happening. And it's not happening to just Quincey, but violent and unexplainable acts are occurring across the country and it all leads back to Dracula.
Absolutely loved this story and the amount of effort that must've taken place to get the atmosphere, setting, and tone to liken that of Bram Stoker himself. The slow, tense build-up to action was an incredible way of being re-introduced to the characters and setting fans of the original work will enjoy. Not to mention it allowed for the eerie and overall unsettling vibes of the story to be intricately woven throughout the tale, creating a continuous feeling of paranoia and fear to make a permanent home within one's mind.
Chilling, brutal, and hauntingly gothic. "Dracula's Child" is beautifully descriptive and dark. A perfect sequel to the original we never knew we needed.
Thank you to Netgalley and Titan Books for providing me with a free e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
"Dracula's Child," by J.S Barnes is a work of literal art. Written in a similar tone and style of Bram Stoker, the tale is delivered in a series of letters, articles, and diary entries from multi-perspectives, detailing what nobody wants to admit: Dracula is back and determined to fulfill his promise of revenge. Mina and Jonathon Harker have many reasons for trying to deny the truth of Dracula's return than most, but when their son Quincey begins to act strangely and undergoes severe fits, they begin to realize something very sinister is happening. And it's not happening to just Quincey, but violent and unexplainable acts are occurring across the country and it all leads back to Dracula.
Absolutely loved this story and the amount of effort that must've taken place to get the atmosphere, setting, and tone to liken that of Bram Stoker himself. The slow, tense build-up to action was an incredible way of being re-introduced to the characters and setting fans of the original work will enjoy. Not to mention it allowed for the eerie and overall unsettling vibes of the story to be intricately woven throughout the tale, creating a continuous feeling of paranoia and fear to make a permanent home within one's mind.
Chilling, brutal, and hauntingly gothic. "Dracula's Child" is beautifully descriptive and dark. A perfect sequel to the original we never knew we needed.
Thank you to Netgalley and Titan Books for providing me with a free e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
May 27, 2020
Review in the April 2020 issue of Library Journal and on the blog: http://raforall.blogspot.com/2020/03/...
Three Words That Describe This Book: atmospheric, fast paced, epistolatory
Draft Review:
What happened after Jonathan and Mina Harker defeated Dracula in Stoker’s seminal vampire novel? Barnes ponders this question with an intriguing frame, papers released by their son, Quincey Harker, on the eve of real world doom, World War I. Like the original, this novel is told through “found” journals, clippings, and letters written by the parties involved when a dark and troubling series of events unfolded during Quincey’s 13th year, events that make it clear that the vampire everyone thought they killed, was only held at bay, and his return will come at an ever steeper price for the Harker family and the world. Fans new and old will enjoy the compellingly paced plot, intriguing details, both familial and vampire based, and the enticingly increasing dread.
Verdict: This novel is nestled perfectly within the popular pantheon of stories that use the frame and style of Stoker’s Dracula to create original and entertaining stories that also add to the lure and enjoyment of the source material over time, such as Stoker’s Wilde by Hopstaken and Prusi and The Quick by Owens.
Three Words That Describe This Book: atmospheric, fast paced, epistolatory
Draft Review:
What happened after Jonathan and Mina Harker defeated Dracula in Stoker’s seminal vampire novel? Barnes ponders this question with an intriguing frame, papers released by their son, Quincey Harker, on the eve of real world doom, World War I. Like the original, this novel is told through “found” journals, clippings, and letters written by the parties involved when a dark and troubling series of events unfolded during Quincey’s 13th year, events that make it clear that the vampire everyone thought they killed, was only held at bay, and his return will come at an ever steeper price for the Harker family and the world. Fans new and old will enjoy the compellingly paced plot, intriguing details, both familial and vampire based, and the enticingly increasing dread.
Verdict: This novel is nestled perfectly within the popular pantheon of stories that use the frame and style of Stoker’s Dracula to create original and entertaining stories that also add to the lure and enjoyment of the source material over time, such as Stoker’s Wilde by Hopstaken and Prusi and The Quick by Owens.
November 23, 2020
So this is a definite sequel to the original Dracula. It was great reading how the characters coped after their ordeal in the first story. The notes from different people telling the story was well done as in the original. One thing that grated on me was stupid some of the people were even after they know they dealt with supernatural beings before. Good job on the author’s side to pull of a book like this though.
August 19, 2020
Jonathan and Mina Harker and their close friends - Dr Seward, Lord Godalming and Professor Van Helsing - get together to celebrate Quincy Harker's 12th birthday. During the celebrations Van Helsing collapses and cries out a strange prophecy that will put all their lives in danger, before falling unconscious.
This is a good follow up to Stoker's Dracula. Written in the same epistolary style. Letters, journals and newspaper cuttings collected by Quincy Harker.
I did enjoyed this story, there's a lot of descriptions though, and in some parts I found it slowed the story down. I really liked the ending and if the author decided to follow the story on, I would definitely read it.
Dracula is back and he's hungry for revenge.
Thanks to Netgalley and Titan for the ARC.
This is a good follow up to Stoker's Dracula. Written in the same epistolary style. Letters, journals and newspaper cuttings collected by Quincy Harker.
I did enjoyed this story, there's a lot of descriptions though, and in some parts I found it slowed the story down. I really liked the ending and if the author decided to follow the story on, I would definitely read it.
Dracula is back and he's hungry for revenge.
Thanks to Netgalley and Titan for the ARC.
October 8, 2025
I absolutely loved Dracula’s Child by J.S. Barnes. The posh, elegant language brought such a rich, gothic atmosphere to the story, and the narrative was gripping from start to finish. Every chapter kept me hooked, with the tension and intrigue never faltering right up until the final page.
September 24, 2020
3.5 stars
If you liked Dracula, this is the book for you!
Throughout its entirety, it felt like an official sequel to the classic. It had the same claustrophobic and gothic ambience as Bram Stoker's work, making it an outstanding tribute. Likewise, it kept the original format, making the story unfold through letters, diary entries, news articles, telegrams, etc.
I loved the fact that we got to see the cast of characters again, a decade after the events that transpired in Dracula . Mina has always been my favourite character. Her personality, as well as the others', did not differ from the original. We also get to meet various unusual new characters. They made the journey entertaining, as the pacing was tremendously dense and slow, which isn't particularly bad. In this case, I feel like things could have gotten in motion way faster, without elongating scenes up to days or even weeks.
If you are not familiar with the story of Dracula, you probably won't understand what is happening in Dracula's Child. On the other hand, if you were a fan of the classic, this book will fulfil your vampiristic hunger for more.
As I have said, the book has a lot of strong points. But there were also a few things that were not to my fancy. The pacing, for starters, as I previously mentioned, although quite reminiscent to Stoker. The character of Ileana, who I did not find useful or necessary at all. The repetitive appearance of echoing laughter. And, the ending. That ending. Mmmm. That has been bugging me lately.
But, overall, it is a good novel. Something that I'm sure a lot of people will love.
ARC provided by Netgalley and the publisher.
If you liked Dracula, this is the book for you!
Throughout its entirety, it felt like an official sequel to the classic. It had the same claustrophobic and gothic ambience as Bram Stoker's work, making it an outstanding tribute. Likewise, it kept the original format, making the story unfold through letters, diary entries, news articles, telegrams, etc.
I loved the fact that we got to see the cast of characters again, a decade after the events that transpired in Dracula . Mina has always been my favourite character. Her personality, as well as the others', did not differ from the original. We also get to meet various unusual new characters. They made the journey entertaining, as the pacing was tremendously dense and slow, which isn't particularly bad. In this case, I feel like things could have gotten in motion way faster, without elongating scenes up to days or even weeks.
If you are not familiar with the story of Dracula, you probably won't understand what is happening in Dracula's Child. On the other hand, if you were a fan of the classic, this book will fulfil your vampiristic hunger for more.
As I have said, the book has a lot of strong points. But there were also a few things that were not to my fancy. The pacing, for starters, as I previously mentioned, although quite reminiscent to Stoker. The character of Ileana, who I did not find useful or necessary at all. The repetitive appearance of echoing laughter. And, the ending. That ending. Mmmm. That has been bugging me lately.
But, overall, it is a good novel. Something that I'm sure a lot of people will love.
ARC provided by Netgalley and the publisher.
October 4, 2025
You can't do this to me!!!!
I've just succumbed to the fact that any Dracula retelling will surely be amazing for me when done this profoundly!
This book has this uncanny resemblance to the way Bram Stoker's reads, the riveting language, the spot-on reimagining of a tale long gone and done. The way the author was able to capture all that Stoker created and build on it speaks to how much dedication was put in. It's dark and gritty and ominous; the tone is ancient and eerie in ways that resemble Stoker's writing.
I loved how sinister it all shaped up to be. How Bram's version could have looked if written in later years, with that unapologetic portrayal of gore and madness, yet still holding close the classic-ness of the tale, the lore and sheer beauty in the writing which resembles the past.
It was beautiful and heartbreaking, watching characters I loved in the original tale succumb to sadness and despair. It felt as if revisiting the same characters we new of old times. The ways that years progressed and they all took on fears and troubles of their own that make so much sense after all the horrifying things they went through before, it was all portrayed in the most humane way. The trauma that happened in the original has played a part in their future lives, had affected each one differently and it was all built so perfectly.
I really appreciated the way this story took route. It felt as if those happenings could have occurred following the original story. Following the old team, having them together to fight this evil and dark presence that overtook the whole narrative was so nostalgic and exciting. And that ending!!!! Damn that ending!!! How can they do this to me??
This book is for anyone who is fascinated by vampiric lore and the tale of Dracula like I am, it's for whoever loved the original tale and just wants to be back surrounded by brilliant characters. It gives homage to the original by being true to its gothic feel, it's ancient air of roaming through Transylvanian forests and woodlands, of creatures of the night and the demise of human kind by a tyrant still thirsty for revenge and domination!
I've just succumbed to the fact that any Dracula retelling will surely be amazing for me when done this profoundly!
This book has this uncanny resemblance to the way Bram Stoker's reads, the riveting language, the spot-on reimagining of a tale long gone and done. The way the author was able to capture all that Stoker created and build on it speaks to how much dedication was put in. It's dark and gritty and ominous; the tone is ancient and eerie in ways that resemble Stoker's writing.
I loved how sinister it all shaped up to be. How Bram's version could have looked if written in later years, with that unapologetic portrayal of gore and madness, yet still holding close the classic-ness of the tale, the lore and sheer beauty in the writing which resembles the past.
It was beautiful and heartbreaking, watching characters I loved in the original tale succumb to sadness and despair. It felt as if revisiting the same characters we new of old times. The ways that years progressed and they all took on fears and troubles of their own that make so much sense after all the horrifying things they went through before, it was all portrayed in the most humane way. The trauma that happened in the original has played a part in their future lives, had affected each one differently and it was all built so perfectly.
I really appreciated the way this story took route. It felt as if those happenings could have occurred following the original story. Following the old team, having them together to fight this evil and dark presence that overtook the whole narrative was so nostalgic and exciting. And that ending!!!! Damn that ending!!! How can they do this to me??
This book is for anyone who is fascinated by vampiric lore and the tale of Dracula like I am, it's for whoever loved the original tale and just wants to be back surrounded by brilliant characters. It gives homage to the original by being true to its gothic feel, it's ancient air of roaming through Transylvanian forests and woodlands, of creatures of the night and the demise of human kind by a tyrant still thirsty for revenge and domination!
October 25, 2020
REVIEW: ★ ★ ★ 1/2
I was given an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review courtesy of @titanbooks and @netgalley
This book is a spiritual successor to the original Dracula novel, going so far as to be written in the same style by telling the story through a series of diary entries, letters, and newspaper stories.
While the style is similar I found the story in this case to be too expansive. Bram Stoker only had a small amount of character journals as POVs, while Dracula’s Child has a seemingly endless number of POVs and it really muddled the plot and made the plot a challenge to understand.
I feel also that the story had some unnecessary characters and elements that caused the book to slow to almost a crawl in the middle act. The story found its ground in the end but it was a long time getting there.
I enjoyed the overall looming dread this novel achieves and the nods to the original Dracula scattered throughout.
My main problem with this book is that in the beginning it had a sort of feminist agenda with a few of strong female characters and showcasing the gender role disparities, but by 3/4ths through the book almost all of them were gone from the story or useless, leaving us with a bland guys club to save the day yet again.
This was a solid read if you’re a big fan of the original, but just not very memorable or interesting.
I was given an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review courtesy of @titanbooks and @netgalley
This book is a spiritual successor to the original Dracula novel, going so far as to be written in the same style by telling the story through a series of diary entries, letters, and newspaper stories.
While the style is similar I found the story in this case to be too expansive. Bram Stoker only had a small amount of character journals as POVs, while Dracula’s Child has a seemingly endless number of POVs and it really muddled the plot and made the plot a challenge to understand.
I feel also that the story had some unnecessary characters and elements that caused the book to slow to almost a crawl in the middle act. The story found its ground in the end but it was a long time getting there.
I enjoyed the overall looming dread this novel achieves and the nods to the original Dracula scattered throughout.
My main problem with this book is that in the beginning it had a sort of feminist agenda with a few of strong female characters and showcasing the gender role disparities, but by 3/4ths through the book almost all of them were gone from the story or useless, leaving us with a bland guys club to save the day yet again.
This was a solid read if you’re a big fan of the original, but just not very memorable or interesting.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 18, 2021
all reviews in one place:
night mode reading ;
skaitom nakties rezimu
About the Book: Upon chasing Dracula down and killing him, Mina and Jonathan Harker thought they rid their lives of the evil and can now begin the process of healing. Live their life, raise their son. But upon his death, Dracula swore revenge that’ll reach them across eons… And it seems the darkness is pooling up again.
My Opinion: The book is pretty well written, easy to read, entertaining. But at the same time it’s filled with characters and scene that add nothing, and yet are constantly there just to be there. You either end up forgetting their existence as soon as the scene is over, or try to connect them to anything at all for the rest of the story. But generally, I liked the idea, the way propaganda spreading is portrayed here, and whom it could possibly benefit.
night mode reading ;
skaitom nakties rezimu
About the Book: Upon chasing Dracula down and killing him, Mina and Jonathan Harker thought they rid their lives of the evil and can now begin the process of healing. Live their life, raise their son. But upon his death, Dracula swore revenge that’ll reach them across eons… And it seems the darkness is pooling up again.
My Opinion: The book is pretty well written, easy to read, entertaining. But at the same time it’s filled with characters and scene that add nothing, and yet are constantly there just to be there. You either end up forgetting their existence as soon as the scene is over, or try to connect them to anything at all for the rest of the story. But generally, I liked the idea, the way propaganda spreading is portrayed here, and whom it could possibly benefit.
January 9, 2021
4.5 stars.
This is a challenging read, but stick with all the 566 pages and you will receive a story that is so faithful to the original and to the voice of Bram Stoker that you will think it has been penned from the grave.
It's slow burn, and you must pay attention to each piece as they weave together to form a seamlessly plotted and sinister gothic tale.
Told through diary entries, newspaper cuttings and differing view points, it is set after the events in Transylvania. Dracula is dead, or so our band of survivors think. But after a terrible event on Quincey Harker's twelfth birthday, the clock begins to tick towards another horrifying conclusion.
The ending didn't quite work for me but that is purely personal taste, so don't let that put you off picking up this captivating and haunting novel.
Many thanks to Titan Books for the review copy.
This is a challenging read, but stick with all the 566 pages and you will receive a story that is so faithful to the original and to the voice of Bram Stoker that you will think it has been penned from the grave.
It's slow burn, and you must pay attention to each piece as they weave together to form a seamlessly plotted and sinister gothic tale.
Told through diary entries, newspaper cuttings and differing view points, it is set after the events in Transylvania. Dracula is dead, or so our band of survivors think. But after a terrible event on Quincey Harker's twelfth birthday, the clock begins to tick towards another horrifying conclusion.
The ending didn't quite work for me but that is purely personal taste, so don't let that put you off picking up this captivating and haunting novel.
Many thanks to Titan Books for the review copy.
October 18, 2020
Originally published at Risingshadow.
J.S. Barnes' Dracula's Child is a brilliant sequel to Bram Stoker's Dracula. It's one of the best vampire novels of recent years and also one of the most compelling horror novels of the year.
Before I write more about this novel, I'll mention that I'll try to keep this review as spoiler-free as possible, because the less you know about the happenings, the more you'll enjoy the gradually unfolding dark and Gothic story.
When I heard that J.S. Barnes has written a sequel to Bram Stoker's Dracula, I was slightly worried about the news, because this kind of sequels seldom work well and often end up being more or less bad in terms of quality, prose and storytelling. Fortunately, all my fears and worries were proven wrong when I began to read this novel. I was positively surprised when I noticed that Dracula's Child is an atmospheric and beautifully written horror novel that feels like a homage to Bram Stoker's novel. In my opinion, this novel is a prime example of how to write a sequel to a classic novel, because it's excellent in every regard. I have nothing bad to say about this novel, because it's a perfect sequel to Dracula.
Here's a bit of information about the story: Dracula's Child tells of what happens a few years after the events in Transylvania. Jonathan and Mina Harker have returned to England and try to live as normal a life as possible. As their son, Quincey, grows older, darkness begins to linger around the Harker family and soon it's evident that the past has returned to haunt them...
This novel is an excellent and wonderfully crafted horror novel that has been written in the vein of classic Gothic stories, paying attention to depth, style and prose. The author uses epistolary storytelling to his advantage and effortlessly creates an unsettling atmosphere that is intensified by beautiful literary prose.
One of the things that I love about this novel is that the author uses journal entries, letters, notes, newspaper cuttings and telegrams in the same way as Stoker did in his story. I loved this in the original novel and I love it here too, because it makes the narrative intriguing. The alternating viewpoints are rewarding to follow.
If there are readers out there who are worried about this novel repeating what Stoker has written, that is not the case here. The author brings a sufficient amount of his own writing style and originality to the story to make it different from Stoker's novel (this novel is both similar to and different from the Stoker's novel). His way of writing about the familiar characters from Dracula feels fresh and exciting, because he deepens the characters.
The atmosphere is satisfyingly dark and unsettling, because the story evokes a gradually growing sense of dread in the reader. The first chapter creates the basis for the dark atmosphere as Professor Van Helsing utters a prophetic warning during Quincey's birthday party and falls gravely ill afterwards. Ever since this moment, the following chapters deepen the atmosphere and lure the reader deeper into the story.
One of the highlights of this novel is what happens between Maurice Hallam and Gabriel Shone. I enjoyed reading about Mr Hallam's travels and how he felt about Gabriel's company. It was also compelling to read about the Council of Athelstan and their machinations to control Britain.
I was truly impressed by how fluently the author writes about Jonathan and Mina Harker and their marriage. He fleshes out their difficulties and tells how the shadows begin to deepen in their lives and how Jonathan turns to drinking. Their encounter with Dracula has left them mentally scarred and despite having seemingly normal lives, they've been traumatised by the events.
J.S. Barnes' Dracula's Child is a modern masterpiece of Gothic storytelling. If you're a fan of Bram Stoker's Dracula, you won't be disappointed by this novel, because it's a lovingly written sequel that respects the original story, but is original and unique in its own way. The story is so captivating that it could've been written by Stoker himself.
Highly recommended!
J.S. Barnes' Dracula's Child is a brilliant sequel to Bram Stoker's Dracula. It's one of the best vampire novels of recent years and also one of the most compelling horror novels of the year.
Before I write more about this novel, I'll mention that I'll try to keep this review as spoiler-free as possible, because the less you know about the happenings, the more you'll enjoy the gradually unfolding dark and Gothic story.
When I heard that J.S. Barnes has written a sequel to Bram Stoker's Dracula, I was slightly worried about the news, because this kind of sequels seldom work well and often end up being more or less bad in terms of quality, prose and storytelling. Fortunately, all my fears and worries were proven wrong when I began to read this novel. I was positively surprised when I noticed that Dracula's Child is an atmospheric and beautifully written horror novel that feels like a homage to Bram Stoker's novel. In my opinion, this novel is a prime example of how to write a sequel to a classic novel, because it's excellent in every regard. I have nothing bad to say about this novel, because it's a perfect sequel to Dracula.
Here's a bit of information about the story: Dracula's Child tells of what happens a few years after the events in Transylvania. Jonathan and Mina Harker have returned to England and try to live as normal a life as possible. As their son, Quincey, grows older, darkness begins to linger around the Harker family and soon it's evident that the past has returned to haunt them...
This novel is an excellent and wonderfully crafted horror novel that has been written in the vein of classic Gothic stories, paying attention to depth, style and prose. The author uses epistolary storytelling to his advantage and effortlessly creates an unsettling atmosphere that is intensified by beautiful literary prose.
One of the things that I love about this novel is that the author uses journal entries, letters, notes, newspaper cuttings and telegrams in the same way as Stoker did in his story. I loved this in the original novel and I love it here too, because it makes the narrative intriguing. The alternating viewpoints are rewarding to follow.
If there are readers out there who are worried about this novel repeating what Stoker has written, that is not the case here. The author brings a sufficient amount of his own writing style and originality to the story to make it different from Stoker's novel (this novel is both similar to and different from the Stoker's novel). His way of writing about the familiar characters from Dracula feels fresh and exciting, because he deepens the characters.
The atmosphere is satisfyingly dark and unsettling, because the story evokes a gradually growing sense of dread in the reader. The first chapter creates the basis for the dark atmosphere as Professor Van Helsing utters a prophetic warning during Quincey's birthday party and falls gravely ill afterwards. Ever since this moment, the following chapters deepen the atmosphere and lure the reader deeper into the story.
One of the highlights of this novel is what happens between Maurice Hallam and Gabriel Shone. I enjoyed reading about Mr Hallam's travels and how he felt about Gabriel's company. It was also compelling to read about the Council of Athelstan and their machinations to control Britain.
I was truly impressed by how fluently the author writes about Jonathan and Mina Harker and their marriage. He fleshes out their difficulties and tells how the shadows begin to deepen in their lives and how Jonathan turns to drinking. Their encounter with Dracula has left them mentally scarred and despite having seemingly normal lives, they've been traumatised by the events.
J.S. Barnes' Dracula's Child is a modern masterpiece of Gothic storytelling. If you're a fan of Bram Stoker's Dracula, you won't be disappointed by this novel, because it's a lovingly written sequel that respects the original story, but is original and unique in its own way. The story is so captivating that it could've been written by Stoker himself.
Highly recommended!
October 12, 2020
Dracula’s Child is written as a direct sequel to Bram Stoker’s Dracula. It follows the same crew of light over a decade after the defeat of the Count. When they all come together to celebrate the twelfth birthday of Mina and Jonathan’s son, Quincey, disaster strikes. Van Helsing suffers something of a stroke which is only the beginning of a set of many unfortunate situations that seem reminiscent of an earlier time. On top of all of this, Quincey starts acting strange. At the same time two new characters, Maurice Hallam and Gabriel Shone, meet on their tours of Europe. They both get drawn to the Carpathian Mountains and become pawns in a plot that worries one and thrills the other.
While this book is definitely horror I was surprised by how much politics came into play. The Count wants his revenge, but not only that, he wants the whole of England under his control. To do that he easily recruits people who hate modernization. These people are all older men that possess certain abilities that the Count needs. Their goal is to get the Council of Athelstan to take control of London, which they have the power to do in the event of a crisis. His followers plan to do whatever it takes to achieve those conditions and rule over London.
As someone who likes vampires I was excited about the premise of this book. I have very specific parameters for what I like to see in vampire stories though, and this book met few of them. That isn’t enough of a reason for me to give it only two stars though. One of the major reasons why I didn’t enjoy this book was because it dragged. A large chunk of the story consists of the characters knowing what is going on but refusing to accept it. Calamity keeps on happening yet they continue to remain passive and purposefully ignorant. It’s not very interesting to read multiple variations of, “I fear I know the cause of all this, but I shall not think those thoughts,” over and over again.
I also wasn’t a fan of the political plotline. While I do like political maneuvering in stories, this one didn’t do much for me. It just doesn’t seem like Dracula’s style — working with humans even if he’s just using them.
Then there was also the lack of explanation when it came to Dracula’s abilities. Dracula somehow gained a whole new slew of them. I don’t mind the idea of Dracula having more abilities that the group didn’t have to face before, but the amount that he gained in this book just made him seem invincible. These new powers — combined with the fact that his weaknesses are barely even present in this novel — made me wonder how he was ever defeated in the first place. They were never clearly explained and didn’t seem to contain any cohesiveness. Out of nowhere the Count suddenly has the power to send mass dreams out to the populace of a country that he’s not even in, cause people he’s not around to fall asleep, control the weather, and influence people who are, once again, countries away from him. I really wish Van Helsing hadn’t experienced a stroke in the first chapter because without him we get no explanation for these new powers and just have to accept them even if it feels like some of them retcon the events of the original Dracula.
Dracula wasn’t the only one to gain new abilities. Most members of the crew of light were having prophetic dreams or visions that guided them in the right direction. This particular addition seemed the most strange and out of the blue.
There were many plot points that were also never given any sufficient explanation. I had so many questions that never got answered when it came to the characters and plot. I was most disappointed in the ending because something shocking happened that I had so many questions for only to be left with absolutely no answers. This refusal to explain why events were taking place contributed to the feel of this book dragging out. If there was no reason for these plot points then why were they included in the first place? They ended up feeling unnecessary and could’ve been taken out entirely. I don’t enjoy reading long books full of what feels like filler.
While there were a plethora of new characters included in this sequel I didn’t care for any of them. When it came to the original cast I also didn’t care for them much. I somewhat liked Mina but was disappointed by what became of her character. I was most curious about Quincey Harker because of his connection to Dracula, but he doesn’t get much of a voice.
Even though I didn’t like the characters, I’m happy the author gave each of them more of a personality. Jonathan Harker is still scarred from his time in Dracula’s castle and drowns his fears in alcohol. Jack Seward has left the asylum and opened his own practice, but it’s not exactly what he thought it would be. Arthur Godalming has taken a wife named Carrie, a former patient of Seward’s. He has a hard time balancing his dedication to his political job and being there for his pregnant wife. Mina is trying her best to be there for everyone while also dealing with her alcoholic husband and son who is starting to exhibit strange behavior. Having them deal with these conflicts made them feel more realistic compared to the idealistic characters they were in Bram Stoker’s Dracula.
I was excited when I discovered how many new female characters were added, only to be let down by how they were treated. Most of the women were once again made into damsels or victims or martyrs while the men got to be the heroes. Carrie, Arthur’s wife, literally takes the place of Lucy. Due to some mental illness, possibly anxiety, she becomes easily overwhelmed and worried. I actually liked her character and was curious about her secretive past along with the hint that her marriage to Arthur may not be the most loving, but true to form, these points are never expanded on.
There is a nineteen-year-old girl named Sarah-Ann Dowell who I felt bad for the most. I wanted to take her out of the hands of the author because the way he treated her was awful. She is sent by Dr. Seward to help take care of Van Helsing who is in a coma at the Harker home. Both Seward and Jonathan (but mostly Jonathan) desire her. I feel the addition of a nineteen-year-old girl to the story just to be ogled by men twenty-plus her age to be disturbing. It was obvious this book was written by a man because he actually has her apologize to Dr. Seward for not being able to love him, “I am sorry, sir, that I could not love you.” Are you kidding me right now? What young woman in her right mind would apologize to an old man who’s been creeping on her?
There was also Ileana, a vampiress that acts as a lieutenant of Dracula. She is instrumental in his revival, but I was always baffled by her character. She kind of appeared out of nowhere and her connection to Dracula is unclear.
Then there was Maurice Hallam and Gabriel Shone. I was excited about these two characters the most because of the “strange quixotic love” between them mentioned in the book’s description. If anyone else gets excited about this part of the description don’t get your hopes up — it’s completely one-sided. More than that, their relationship is very reminiscent of Dorian Gray and Lord Henry Wotton. They are both pleasure-seekers and become acquainted in Transylvania. Maurice Hallam is near fifty and prefers men much younger than him, like Gabriel Shone who is somewhere in his twenties. This disturbing fact put me off of Maurice’s character and I couldn’t come to like Gabriel either because of how uncaring he seemed. Overall, both these characters and the relationship between them were another huge disappointment.
Besides these characters the only others of import were the old men who were helping Dracula in his scheme. One was a retired writer for a newspaper who longed for the olden days, and the other a police officer who gets seduced over to Dracula’s side. I didn’t care much for either of these characters but the parts they played were intriguing.
There were other perspectives too, but I honestly think they could’ve been removed since they didn’t contribute much to the story.
When it came to the writing, the author perfectly captured the tone and writing style of Bram Stoker. Like the original, it is an epistolary formed from diary entries, newspaper clippings, and memorandums. I was blown away by how well the author nailed the feel of the original Dracula.
Dracula’s Child ended up being a rather boring read. The plot dragged, the characters were unlikable, most of the questions I had throughout were never answered, I wasn’t a fan of how much politics was at play, and Dracula felt ridiculously overpowered. The author succeeded when it came to the tone of the book (it really does feel like Bram Stoker’s writing), but failed in concept and execution. If you were a fan of the original Dracula you might enjoy this take on a sequel, but beware that it’s a bit of a slog.
While this book is definitely horror I was surprised by how much politics came into play. The Count wants his revenge, but not only that, he wants the whole of England under his control. To do that he easily recruits people who hate modernization. These people are all older men that possess certain abilities that the Count needs. Their goal is to get the Council of Athelstan to take control of London, which they have the power to do in the event of a crisis. His followers plan to do whatever it takes to achieve those conditions and rule over London.
As someone who likes vampires I was excited about the premise of this book. I have very specific parameters for what I like to see in vampire stories though, and this book met few of them. That isn’t enough of a reason for me to give it only two stars though. One of the major reasons why I didn’t enjoy this book was because it dragged. A large chunk of the story consists of the characters knowing what is going on but refusing to accept it. Calamity keeps on happening yet they continue to remain passive and purposefully ignorant. It’s not very interesting to read multiple variations of, “I fear I know the cause of all this, but I shall not think those thoughts,” over and over again.
I also wasn’t a fan of the political plotline. While I do like political maneuvering in stories, this one didn’t do much for me. It just doesn’t seem like Dracula’s style — working with humans even if he’s just using them.
Then there was also the lack of explanation when it came to Dracula’s abilities. Dracula somehow gained a whole new slew of them. I don’t mind the idea of Dracula having more abilities that the group didn’t have to face before, but the amount that he gained in this book just made him seem invincible. These new powers — combined with the fact that his weaknesses are barely even present in this novel — made me wonder how he was ever defeated in the first place. They were never clearly explained and didn’t seem to contain any cohesiveness. Out of nowhere the Count suddenly has the power to send mass dreams out to the populace of a country that he’s not even in, cause people he’s not around to fall asleep, control the weather, and influence people who are, once again, countries away from him. I really wish Van Helsing hadn’t experienced a stroke in the first chapter because without him we get no explanation for these new powers and just have to accept them even if it feels like some of them retcon the events of the original Dracula.
Dracula wasn’t the only one to gain new abilities. Most members of the crew of light were having prophetic dreams or visions that guided them in the right direction. This particular addition seemed the most strange and out of the blue.
There were many plot points that were also never given any sufficient explanation. I had so many questions that never got answered when it came to the characters and plot. I was most disappointed in the ending because something shocking happened that I had so many questions for only to be left with absolutely no answers. This refusal to explain why events were taking place contributed to the feel of this book dragging out. If there was no reason for these plot points then why were they included in the first place? They ended up feeling unnecessary and could’ve been taken out entirely. I don’t enjoy reading long books full of what feels like filler.
While there were a plethora of new characters included in this sequel I didn’t care for any of them. When it came to the original cast I also didn’t care for them much. I somewhat liked Mina but was disappointed by what became of her character. I was most curious about Quincey Harker because of his connection to Dracula, but he doesn’t get much of a voice.
Even though I didn’t like the characters, I’m happy the author gave each of them more of a personality. Jonathan Harker is still scarred from his time in Dracula’s castle and drowns his fears in alcohol. Jack Seward has left the asylum and opened his own practice, but it’s not exactly what he thought it would be. Arthur Godalming has taken a wife named Carrie, a former patient of Seward’s. He has a hard time balancing his dedication to his political job and being there for his pregnant wife. Mina is trying her best to be there for everyone while also dealing with her alcoholic husband and son who is starting to exhibit strange behavior. Having them deal with these conflicts made them feel more realistic compared to the idealistic characters they were in Bram Stoker’s Dracula.
I was excited when I discovered how many new female characters were added, only to be let down by how they were treated. Most of the women were once again made into damsels or victims or martyrs while the men got to be the heroes. Carrie, Arthur’s wife, literally takes the place of Lucy. Due to some mental illness, possibly anxiety, she becomes easily overwhelmed and worried. I actually liked her character and was curious about her secretive past along with the hint that her marriage to Arthur may not be the most loving, but true to form, these points are never expanded on.
There is a nineteen-year-old girl named Sarah-Ann Dowell who I felt bad for the most. I wanted to take her out of the hands of the author because the way he treated her was awful. She is sent by Dr. Seward to help take care of Van Helsing who is in a coma at the Harker home. Both Seward and Jonathan (but mostly Jonathan) desire her. I feel the addition of a nineteen-year-old girl to the story just to be ogled by men twenty-plus her age to be disturbing. It was obvious this book was written by a man because he actually has her apologize to Dr. Seward for not being able to love him, “I am sorry, sir, that I could not love you.” Are you kidding me right now? What young woman in her right mind would apologize to an old man who’s been creeping on her?
There was also Ileana, a vampiress that acts as a lieutenant of Dracula. She is instrumental in his revival, but I was always baffled by her character. She kind of appeared out of nowhere and her connection to Dracula is unclear.
Then there was Maurice Hallam and Gabriel Shone. I was excited about these two characters the most because of the “strange quixotic love” between them mentioned in the book’s description. If anyone else gets excited about this part of the description don’t get your hopes up — it’s completely one-sided. More than that, their relationship is very reminiscent of Dorian Gray and Lord Henry Wotton. They are both pleasure-seekers and become acquainted in Transylvania. Maurice Hallam is near fifty and prefers men much younger than him, like Gabriel Shone who is somewhere in his twenties. This disturbing fact put me off of Maurice’s character and I couldn’t come to like Gabriel either because of how uncaring he seemed. Overall, both these characters and the relationship between them were another huge disappointment.
Besides these characters the only others of import were the old men who were helping Dracula in his scheme. One was a retired writer for a newspaper who longed for the olden days, and the other a police officer who gets seduced over to Dracula’s side. I didn’t care much for either of these characters but the parts they played were intriguing.
There were other perspectives too, but I honestly think they could’ve been removed since they didn’t contribute much to the story.
When it came to the writing, the author perfectly captured the tone and writing style of Bram Stoker. Like the original, it is an epistolary formed from diary entries, newspaper clippings, and memorandums. I was blown away by how well the author nailed the feel of the original Dracula.
Dracula’s Child ended up being a rather boring read. The plot dragged, the characters were unlikable, most of the questions I had throughout were never answered, I wasn’t a fan of how much politics was at play, and Dracula felt ridiculously overpowered. The author succeeded when it came to the tone of the book (it really does feel like Bram Stoker’s writing), but failed in concept and execution. If you were a fan of the original Dracula you might enjoy this take on a sequel, but beware that it’s a bit of a slog.
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