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Immortal Soul #2
Curse of Dracula
Maxine Parker expected to lose her life when the Vampire King swept through her city like a plague. She did not expect to lose her heart to him as well.
Caught between her desire to protect the living and her love for Dracula, she suddenly finds herself the enemy of the hunters who had once been her allies.
As the Vampire King unleashes his army of the damned and turns Boston into a sea of carnage, she must decide if she can love the monster for what he is, or if she must be the one to end his bloody crusade through history once and for all…
Caught between her desire to protect the living and her love for Dracula, she suddenly finds herself the enemy of the hunters who had once been her allies.
As the Vampire King unleashes his army of the damned and turns Boston into a sea of carnage, she must decide if she can love the monster for what he is, or if she must be the one to end his bloody crusade through history once and for all…
322 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 24, 2020
About the author
Kathryn Ann Kingsley
70 books2,569 followersKathryn has always been a storyteller. Years of scriptwriting for performances on stage and for tourism in Boston led her to writing romantically dark, fantastical tales, which was an obsession of hers that began once seeing The Phantom of the Opera at a young age.
When she isn’t penning new villainous leads, she works in video game development. There, she has been everything from Creative Director to Chief of Staff, Design Manager, Executive Producer, and Principal Writer for various companies in the industry.
She shares her antique home with three very fluffy animals and one very patient and loving husband.
When she isn’t penning new villainous leads, she works in video game development. There, she has been everything from Creative Director to Chief of Staff, Design Manager, Executive Producer, and Principal Writer for various companies in the industry.
She shares her antique home with three very fluffy animals and one very patient and loving husband.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 196 reviews
August 18, 2020
“I am not a vampire. I am far more, and far worse, than that. Within me beats the black heart of all that would splinter bone and pick their teeth with the remains. I am the river spring from which flows all cruelty on this Earth. And it was cruelty that made me.”
Death has descended on Boston and the city is bathed in rivers of red as Dracula unleashes his considerable fury on the inhabitants.
Maxine with her empathetic gifts can feel it all every strike and dark deed cutting her soul-deep.
Vlad wants to punish the hunters for withholding his treasure but also to test Maxine’s mettle by showing her just who he is.
She’s seen his nicer side and now she will get a taste of his darkness and corruption.
This is Vlad showing her his very soul and hoping for either her acceptance or condemnation the choice he will leave to her.
“I love you. And I will have you love me in return. All of me. Walk the streets of my pain, my darling. And when you find me at the end of it, I will accept your judgement on my knees. I will bow to you like a slave and take your forgiveness or wrath with a joyful heart.”
You really get a real sense of just who Vlad is here and I was actually torn between my natural sympathy for his loneliness and pain and my censure at all his heinous actions.
Vlad’s himself makes no apologies for what he does and who he is letting Maxine judge as she sees fit.
Maxine is indeed one of a kind her ability to empathise be that with man or monster and without judgement is a gift and her heart beat's to the drum of others pain.
This also had some really great side-characters amongst them Bella and Mordecai who we also get up close and personal with and I really did appreciate their particular dynamic.
We also get more of an insight into Vlad’s companions with this one and each one was so much more than there surface outward personas.
This surprised me and the finale was also very unexpected and crept up on me unawares.
Not quite sure about the finish with this one I’m still mulling it over slightly.
As usual, this was fabulously written and the writing itself was also lyrical and really beautiful.
This managed to keep my attention easily.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of Curse of Dracula (Immortal Soul, #2)
Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
https://www.facebook.com/beckiebookworm/
www.beckiebookworm.com
August 18, 2021
Absolutely amazing this book was so so very good it surpassed all my expectations can't recommend it enough.
The world building in this book is really amazing, we always knew Dracula was a powerful force, but not to be taking lightly, this book opens your eyes to even more, to the roots of Dracula's curse the power it brings, and his immortal suffering that only and Maxine Parker can understand.
I already know I will be reading this book again and again in the years to come.
The world building in this book is really amazing, we always knew Dracula was a powerful force, but not to be taking lightly, this book opens your eyes to even more, to the roots of Dracula's curse the power it brings, and his immortal suffering that only and Maxine Parker can understand.
I already know I will be reading this book again and again in the years to come.
September 9, 2020
3.25 Stars
Still good but was disappointing compared to the first book. I love any moments between Maxine and Dracula and their romance. I also love how unapologetically murderous Vlad can be. But I have a couple problems. My biggest problem was with the side characters. Some of them I really liked, and I had liked them all in the first book, but Bella and whatever the succubus' name was, are what ruined it for me, and most of the characters did a complete 180 in personality and actions, mainly them though. I did NOT care for them. I liked them in the first book, but then they randomly fell in love with each other after meeting one time and they decide to mate each other, turning her into a demon too. And it takes up A LOT of time in the book. So pretty much every scene with them they are having s*x, or having it with other people, with each other encouraging them on, because, y'know, they're demons who feed by doing the deed with other people🙄. So not only do I have to suffer through POVs of the side characters doing all that, but I legit felt like the author was trying to make up the lack of s*x from the MCs by having every side character scene be about it, or about their open relationship, and it was just too forced and too much for me. Normally I don't care what the side characters do, but I think about half the book was in their POVs and not the MCs, and it was NOT romantic to read about their very open relationship, it was gross.
My second problem was how wishy washy the heroine was. I do understand that that is what the blurb implies, that she hasn't made up her mind yet, so it's not misleading or anything. But I just didn't expect it to go on for this long. So pretty much besides the romance and the side characters POVs, the entire duet is whether the heroin wants to kill Vlad or love him for the murderer he is. It definitely got very repetitive.
Besides that, I still really liked the overall book and duet though. The ending was a bit anticlimactic and I'm not a fan of how everything turned out, but it still wasn't too bad. Will definitely read more from this author.
Still good but was disappointing compared to the first book. I love any moments between Maxine and Dracula and their romance. I also love how unapologetically murderous Vlad can be. But I have a couple problems. My biggest problem was with the side characters. Some of them I really liked, and I had liked them all in the first book, but Bella and whatever the succubus' name was, are what ruined it for me, and most of the characters did a complete 180 in personality and actions, mainly them though. I did NOT care for them. I liked them in the first book, but then they randomly fell in love with each other after meeting one time and they decide to mate each other, turning her into a demon too. And it takes up A LOT of time in the book. So pretty much every scene with them they are having s*x, or having it with other people, with each other encouraging them on, because, y'know, they're demons who feed by doing the deed with other people🙄. So not only do I have to suffer through POVs of the side characters doing all that, but I legit felt like the author was trying to make up the lack of s*x from the MCs by having every side character scene be about it, or about their open relationship, and it was just too forced and too much for me. Normally I don't care what the side characters do, but I think about half the book was in their POVs and not the MCs, and it was NOT romantic to read about their very open relationship, it was gross.
My second problem was how wishy washy the heroine was. I do understand that that is what the blurb implies, that she hasn't made up her mind yet, so it's not misleading or anything. But I just didn't expect it to go on for this long. So pretty much besides the romance and the side characters POVs, the entire duet is whether the heroin wants to kill Vlad or love him for the murderer he is. It definitely got very repetitive.
Besides that, I still really liked the overall book and duet though. The ending was a bit anticlimactic and I'm not a fan of how everything turned out, but it still wasn't too bad. Will definitely read more from this author.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 8, 2020
Having completely blasted through Heart of Dracula in a couple of hours, I immediately turned to the sequel. I will include spoilers, but I have no idea how so many people love this as an ending to the duet.
I absolutely adored the first book and will continue to recommend it to friends, but I might just pretend it was a standalone?
I absolutely adored the first book and will continue to recommend it to friends, but I might just pretend it was a standalone?
August 19, 2020
DNF.
This book pissed me off on so many levels. The entirety of the first few chapters is: Heroine having an internal struggle and then realising how powerful and scary Dracula is. The worst part is the fact that there is no real 'internal struggle'. It's very clear that she has no intention of harming Dracula and the moment she sees him, she doesn't really care about what's happened.
So WHY IS IT DRAGGED ON FOR SO LONG?
Why should we care? The author has given us no reason to care about the city other than "Dracula being evil". And why is he being evil, anyway? Ah yes, to prove a point to the main character that he's evil. To leave his character to her judgement. It's stupid and vile. My issue isn't with the ethics, it's just that this is not the way to go. The main character doesn't even personally watch everyone die, it barely affects her. If we got a morbid description of a child dying and the heroine being unable to help them, then fine. You've proven your point. But instead, it is made almost completely impersonal as the heroine is removed from the chaos.
And all of this is next to pointless when she embraces him with open arms the moment she sees him. There was no bump in the road for their relationship. That's what makes all of this intolerable. All of this build up of what seems to be anarchy and chaos, and for what?
Don't even get me started on the Bella and Mordecai subplot. It was awful. Their relationship was so so shallow, even more shallow and unreasonably unconditional as the main romance.
I actually quite liked the first book.
This book pissed me off on so many levels. The entirety of the first few chapters is: Heroine having an internal struggle and then realising how powerful and scary Dracula is. The worst part is the fact that there is no real 'internal struggle'. It's very clear that she has no intention of harming Dracula and the moment she sees him, she doesn't really care about what's happened.
So WHY IS IT DRAGGED ON FOR SO LONG?
Why should we care? The author has given us no reason to care about the city other than "Dracula being evil". And why is he being evil, anyway? Ah yes, to prove a point to the main character that he's evil. To leave his character to her judgement. It's stupid and vile. My issue isn't with the ethics, it's just that this is not the way to go. The main character doesn't even personally watch everyone die, it barely affects her. If we got a morbid description of a child dying and the heroine being unable to help them, then fine. You've proven your point. But instead, it is made almost completely impersonal as the heroine is removed from the chaos.
And all of this is next to pointless when she embraces him with open arms the moment she sees him. There was no bump in the road for their relationship. That's what makes all of this intolerable. All of this build up of what seems to be anarchy and chaos, and for what?
Don't even get me started on the Bella and Mordecai subplot. It was awful. Their relationship was so so shallow, even more shallow and unreasonably unconditional as the main romance.
I actually quite liked the first book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 8, 2020
The plot is poorly written.
Not just the plot but the characters as well. Our protagonist has no self-identity, she functions at the whims of other's emotions, hardly an attractive quality or the makings of a lead character but the author tries to explain it away by giving her magical abilities of being an empath. I found it repulsive and our anti-hero is another story altogether. Stubborn to the point of stupidity, sorely lacking self-esteem and an idiot with superpowers basically. Coming to the plot, too many POVs and too many stories to keep track and feel for each of them at the same time. Book 1 of this series was so much better, wholly focused on the main love story and simplistic in nature, way better than this messy sequel.
Not just the plot but the characters as well. Our protagonist has no self-identity, she functions at the whims of other's emotions, hardly an attractive quality or the makings of a lead character but the author tries to explain it away by giving her magical abilities of being an empath. I found it repulsive and our anti-hero is another story altogether. Stubborn to the point of stupidity, sorely lacking self-esteem and an idiot with superpowers basically. Coming to the plot, too many POVs and too many stories to keep track and feel for each of them at the same time. Book 1 of this series was so much better, wholly focused on the main love story and simplistic in nature, way better than this messy sequel.
February 27, 2021
DNF 61%. Bella's storyline ruined it for me. That relationship was NOT love, it was lust. And being willing to forsake everything you've ever stood for and believed in should not have been that easy for her. A couple of days of good sex was apparently all it took for her to rearrange her entire life and value system, with very little thought........for a man. Not quite the feminist message I think the author was going for. Like, your lover is still an evil murderer, thousands of people have died because of him and the man he serves, but that no longer matters after two days of sex and his proclamation of love? You've spent most of your life seeing the carnage and death they leave in their wake. You've committed most of your life to fighting them but all it took was two days of good sex for you to no longer care, and worse still to sign up to be a monster yourself. WHAT? AFTER TWO DAYS?!!! THE most SHALLOW relationship ever.
It would not have bothered me as much if her side story hadn't taken up SO MUCH of the book.
It would not have bothered me as much if her side story hadn't taken up SO MUCH of the book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 26, 2024
nobody could’ve prepared me for that ending…
July 27, 2020
4.5
This is a very brave book and one that made me go through all the spectrum of emotions.
Following on directly from where the first ended, poor Maxine is left to witness the depths of Vlad's sadism and cruelty, all the while unable to stop loving him.
Whether you enjoy her books or not, you've got to give kudos to the author for not shying away at making her main male characters truly bad guys. Vlad has his softer moments with Maxine, but he is a monster and he wants her to see, and accept, all parts of him.
I remember feeling the same reading the author's Julian Strande series, in that I wasn't sure whether I wanted Vlad to live or die, and pretty much swung backwards and forwards throughout. But part of me, despite the horror of his actions, wnates that happy ending. If that's not good writing, I don't know what is.
My only slight gripe is I'm not sure how I feel about the ending, not in what happened, as I thought Maxine's choice in the end was perfect, but it felt. A little bit like the wider moral dilemmas and aspects of the vampire's existence had been dropped slightly. It's hard to be more specific without giving away major spoilers, but I guess I felt a little bit like I needed a bit more exposition.
However, this was very minor, and I was massively impressed by this novel, and the first, and all of her books really.
This is a very brave book and one that made me go through all the spectrum of emotions.
Following on directly from where the first ended, poor Maxine is left to witness the depths of Vlad's sadism and cruelty, all the while unable to stop loving him.
Whether you enjoy her books or not, you've got to give kudos to the author for not shying away at making her main male characters truly bad guys. Vlad has his softer moments with Maxine, but he is a monster and he wants her to see, and accept, all parts of him.
I remember feeling the same reading the author's Julian Strande series, in that I wasn't sure whether I wanted Vlad to live or die, and pretty much swung backwards and forwards throughout. But part of me, despite the horror of his actions, wnates that happy ending. If that's not good writing, I don't know what is.
My only slight gripe is I'm not sure how I feel about the ending, not in what happened, as I thought Maxine's choice in the end was perfect, but it felt. A little bit like the wider moral dilemmas and aspects of the vampire's existence had been dropped slightly. It's hard to be more specific without giving away major spoilers, but I guess I felt a little bit like I needed a bit more exposition.
However, this was very minor, and I was massively impressed by this novel, and the first, and all of her books really.
July 20, 2022
✦4.5 Stars✦
This book was sooo good. I absolutely loved it. The .5 stars was deducted because the ending sort of fell flat. I wish we had more time with Maxine and Vlad as an actual couple/ living their eternity…
Again, the writing was beautiful and amazingly stylized. Loved the characters and plot.
This book was sooo good. I absolutely loved it. The .5 stars was deducted because the ending sort of fell flat. I wish we had more time with Maxine and Vlad as an actual couple/ living their eternity…
Again, the writing was beautiful and amazingly stylized. Loved the characters and plot.
January 18, 2023
I was SO disappointed. f I could give this 0 stars I would. After reading the Heart of Dracula in a day, I immediately started the 2nd book. It was honestly like 2 different authors wrote them. I wish I could unread this book as it was SO disturbing toward the end. I felt like I went from reading a dark fantasy romance to a really gross horror movie script.
SPOILERS:
Toward the end when Alfonzo Van Helsing is being tortured I think I actually gagged. I kept thinking - this is not what I signed up for! It was TOO much... really over the line for me and not at all the book I thought I was reading. I truly wish I wouldn't have finished it.
Throughout the book the characters all did things completely out of character. I thought Bella's romance with Mordecai was fun until what she did to Alfonzo. What the heck was that?! Bella went from a really strong female character and hunter to deciding within a day she's ok with becoming a demon and having a demon baby? I mean... maybe she could have stayed human for a bit? haha! I was so confused!
For me, what Bella was willing to do to Alfonzo, and the graphic Silence of the Lambs level torture Alfonzo endured, have turned me off from this author in the future.
SPOILERS:
Toward the end when Alfonzo Van Helsing is being tortured I think I actually gagged. I kept thinking - this is not what I signed up for! It was TOO much... really over the line for me and not at all the book I thought I was reading. I truly wish I wouldn't have finished it.
Throughout the book the characters all did things completely out of character. I thought Bella's romance with Mordecai was fun until what she did to Alfonzo. What the heck was that?! Bella went from a really strong female character and hunter to deciding within a day she's ok with becoming a demon and having a demon baby? I mean... maybe she could have stayed human for a bit? haha! I was so confused!
For me, what Bella was willing to do to Alfonzo, and the graphic Silence of the Lambs level torture Alfonzo endured, have turned me off from this author in the future.
July 23, 2020
Holy cow my emotions felt like they were on a rollercoaster for this book! I give major kudos to Maxine for sticking with her resolve and not doing things the easy way. I loved this book (actually all of Kats books lol) and the ending had me almost crying and then all giddy at the end! Maxine is one strong women to go through the trials Vlad put her through. I also throughly enjoyed the other characters that were in this series. I found I was quite torn at times between swooning over Vlad and also wanting to yell at him to stop the madness lol, but in the end I'm happy he finally is able to find some peace. Overall I really enjoyed this book, as it had me not wanting to set it down once I started it. I definitely recommend reading them!!
** ARC Review**
** ARC Review**
August 10, 2021
Hmm, this book is hard for me to rate. There were parts I really enjoyed, and parts that made me feel a little sick. So I'm gonna say 3.5 stars.
TW:
"You met me in a dream. Now we shall see how you fare with my nightmare."This book was the first time I ever thought an HEA might not be what the characters deserve, haha. Just know before going into this book that it's going to get real dark and gruesome and messed up and Vlad is kinda terrible. I genuinely couldn't fathom how they could move past the situation and have a satisfying ending, but it does all work out!
TW:
July 28, 2020
Exceptional, Captivating, 3D World-Building
All I can say is that this author has an amazing gift for storytelling... I was pleasantly surprised at how deeply I was drawn in this Technicolor world of Paranormal Horror, Suspense, and Romance. The only thing that I hate is that I want more.
Giving this one: 5 Stupendous Stars
All I can say is that this author has an amazing gift for storytelling... I was pleasantly surprised at how deeply I was drawn in this Technicolor world of Paranormal Horror, Suspense, and Romance. The only thing that I hate is that I want more.
Giving this one: 5 Stupendous Stars
October 17, 2020
Disappointing sequel to a promising first book. I won’t go into detail as others have said it better but the main issue was the inconsistency in the characters Vs the first book, the never ending tedious trudging through the city and all the annoying angst. Darn.
July 10, 2021
The first book was promising, then it descended into a messy plot filled with a tad too much of depravity. Nice writing but the details can be ironed out for a much clearer storyline.
October 11, 2023
This was a really fun read! I loved the side characters just as much as the main characters and I thought Dracula was represented extremely well. We love a badass female main and a worthy villain. This was just super fun.
August 2, 2022
4.5! the first one was my favorite! but this one was very good and had a great ending!!!
November 6, 2024
Only cried twice! 13/10
Good soup
Good soup
April 29, 2024
I didn't get the ending... at all. Did the beings that feed off life no longer need to kill to stay alive? If there was a redemption I missed it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 6, 2020
This review includes spoilers!!!
Half way through the book I really started yo wonder what the fuck happened and if the first book was a construct of my imagination.
So, we have a lovely but dark growing love story between Maksene, who is a powerful empath able to touch souls and Vlad Tepes Dracula, who is as compassionate and merciful as he is brutal, who also happens to be the only person able to touch Maksene and give her pleasure of all kind. Hence in the first book we see her learn of Dracula's loneliness and his long years, a conflict between moral and love and the future that is to fall upon them.
That is all good and well. Until, Dracula brings death and chaos to her beloved city, Boston.
Our poor heroine opens her eyes to the cruelty Dracula can bestow to both mortals and herself. He leaves to test her in his make up city to meet her at the end of the journey and for Maksene to judge him. Aka. Rip out his soul or accept him whole and love him.
Okay.
In between, suddenly we get a glimpse into the characters that surround Maksene, the hunters and other dark creatures, some being Dracula's companions. Which, I was excited to read about. But then we see Bella fall in love with an Incubus, two days later she is pregnant and another day later, turned into a Succubus.
Okay.
Eddie happens to have a 'fuck-all' attitude and you kinda want to punch him in the face.
Van Helsing is consumed by rage and he ends up being fucked by just-turned-Succubae-Bella as an opening chapter to his torture that ends in mutilation and him eating his own hand.
Ookay.
Despite all of this, what irritated me most is how Maksene and Dracula bounce around each-other like horny bunnies and their repetitive conversations and her asking all the same questions. The book happens to be 300 pages long yet we see her do, nothing.
Like, OKAY, we get it. Maksene has a moral battle en route and Dracula can't decide whether he loves her or wants her to be his slave. OKAY! We got that during the fist few chapters. It wasn't necessary to expand it into additional 10.
I genuinely feel like this book could've been summarised into few chapters and added as a continuation in the first book. Stories of other characters felt like thrown-in fillers that should've been either not mentioned at all or elaborated from the first book.
What could've made this book better?
👉🏻Expanding on backgrounds of the side characters. Bella, for example, it wouldn't have hurt to see her POV when she met Mordecai at the ball and a few other POV's to get to know her and see why she went with the Incubus so easily. Instead of directly jumping into...well, fucking(and filling in the pages).
👉🏻Inconsistency of the personality of most characters. Eddie seemed like a sweet lover boy in the first book. Yet here it's as if he survived 5 wars and gave up on his life. Perhaps I misunderstood his character, but it felt like I was reading his long lost baddie twin.
👉🏻Organise the story? I mean, to be honest it was a mess. And not abandon the main heroine, because, isn't this a love story between Maksene and Dracula?
The only bit I loved is the epilogue. Either because I was glad it was over or I genuinely felt the ending was bitter-sweet. Too bad it was short.
Overall, I'm disappointed in this book, especially after expecting this to be an emotional explosion and a grand plot, having enjoyed the first book so much.
Half way through the book I really started yo wonder what the fuck happened and if the first book was a construct of my imagination.
So, we have a lovely but dark growing love story between Maksene, who is a powerful empath able to touch souls and Vlad Tepes Dracula, who is as compassionate and merciful as he is brutal, who also happens to be the only person able to touch Maksene and give her pleasure of all kind. Hence in the first book we see her learn of Dracula's loneliness and his long years, a conflict between moral and love and the future that is to fall upon them.
That is all good and well. Until, Dracula brings death and chaos to her beloved city, Boston.
Our poor heroine opens her eyes to the cruelty Dracula can bestow to both mortals and herself. He leaves to test her in his make up city to meet her at the end of the journey and for Maksene to judge him. Aka. Rip out his soul or accept him whole and love him.
Okay.
In between, suddenly we get a glimpse into the characters that surround Maksene, the hunters and other dark creatures, some being Dracula's companions. Which, I was excited to read about. But then we see Bella fall in love with an Incubus, two days later she is pregnant and another day later, turned into a Succubus.
Okay.
Eddie happens to have a 'fuck-all' attitude and you kinda want to punch him in the face.
Van Helsing is consumed by rage and he ends up being fucked by just-turned-Succubae-Bella as an opening chapter to his torture that ends in mutilation and him eating his own hand.
Ookay.
Despite all of this, what irritated me most is how Maksene and Dracula bounce around each-other like horny bunnies and their repetitive conversations and her asking all the same questions. The book happens to be 300 pages long yet we see her do, nothing.
Like, OKAY, we get it. Maksene has a moral battle en route and Dracula can't decide whether he loves her or wants her to be his slave. OKAY! We got that during the fist few chapters. It wasn't necessary to expand it into additional 10.
I genuinely feel like this book could've been summarised into few chapters and added as a continuation in the first book. Stories of other characters felt like thrown-in fillers that should've been either not mentioned at all or elaborated from the first book.
What could've made this book better?
👉🏻Expanding on backgrounds of the side characters. Bella, for example, it wouldn't have hurt to see her POV when she met Mordecai at the ball and a few other POV's to get to know her and see why she went with the Incubus so easily. Instead of directly jumping into...well, fucking(and filling in the pages).
👉🏻Inconsistency of the personality of most characters. Eddie seemed like a sweet lover boy in the first book. Yet here it's as if he survived 5 wars and gave up on his life. Perhaps I misunderstood his character, but it felt like I was reading his long lost baddie twin.
👉🏻Organise the story? I mean, to be honest it was a mess. And not abandon the main heroine, because, isn't this a love story between Maksene and Dracula?
The only bit I loved is the epilogue. Either because I was glad it was over or I genuinely felt the ending was bitter-sweet. Too bad it was short.
Overall, I'm disappointed in this book, especially after expecting this to be an emotional explosion and a grand plot, having enjoyed the first book so much.
November 17, 2021
I love this serie! It was really comfy reading. I didn't know that I needed books like these in my life.
September 13, 2020
🌕🌗🌑🌑🌑
overall rating : 1.5 / 5
" will you love me when all is said and
done? or am i beyond all salvation? "
____________________________
This book neither went nor ended how I wanted it to go. Was the ending expected? Yes. But did I like it? No. It was the fact that this was a duology and that I kept hoping for something else that kept me going. I'm disappointed, and I'm a bit sorry that I am.
🧛🧛
overall rating : 1.5 / 5
" will you love me when all is said and
done? or am i beyond all salvation? "
____________________________
This book neither went nor ended how I wanted it to go. Was the ending expected? Yes. But did I like it? No. It was the fact that this was a duology and that I kept hoping for something else that kept me going. I'm disappointed, and I'm a bit sorry that I am.
🧛🧛
December 31, 2021
She says in the foreword of the first book she had started with fanfiction, and I can definitely feel that here in the second book.
I have recently stumbled onto this author— I read the first and second of the fae series that’s currently being released and adored it, devoured her necromancer series (although I did have a few issues with it) and then came for this vampire series and found myself really… disappointed.
Was this her early work?
It feels like it was an adaption of a fanfic of the 1992 Dracula adaption, but it also kind of feels like a roleplay that had been fixed into a novel, particularly with the sudden shift into Bella and Mordecai, which smacks of a common rp trend called “doubling”
The second book was long and boring and repeated itself often. By 45 percent in, I was skimming and skipping chapters.
I’m glad this author writes villains getting the girl. I am HERE FOR IT, but I am growing exhausted with the insta-love and protagonists ability to just conveniently forgot how terrible these men are.
In the future, I would like more of a focus on the enemies aspect of enemies to lovers, and MAYBE more of a “fall” for our heroines instead of half-arsed redemptions for the villains.
I have recently stumbled onto this author— I read the first and second of the fae series that’s currently being released and adored it, devoured her necromancer series (although I did have a few issues with it) and then came for this vampire series and found myself really… disappointed.
Was this her early work?
It feels like it was an adaption of a fanfic of the 1992 Dracula adaption, but it also kind of feels like a roleplay that had been fixed into a novel, particularly with the sudden shift into Bella and Mordecai, which smacks of a common rp trend called “doubling”
The second book was long and boring and repeated itself often. By 45 percent in, I was skimming and skipping chapters.
I’m glad this author writes villains getting the girl. I am HERE FOR IT, but I am growing exhausted with the insta-love and protagonists ability to just conveniently forgot how terrible these men are.
In the future, I would like more of a focus on the enemies aspect of enemies to lovers, and MAYBE more of a “fall” for our heroines instead of half-arsed redemptions for the villains.
February 5, 2021
I loved the first book (although I hated that it ended on a cliffhanger) but this? I was so let down. It seemed messy, too many POVs, everything seemed forced and and strung out yet rushed. I think she could have made a series focusing on each character I suppose instead of trying to put everything into one book. I had truly loved the interaction between Vlad and Maxine in the first book and it made you feel.. but this? I really found myself hating it. I hated Maxine's character in this book where I loved her in the first. I'm just really disappointed how this ended. I really loved her writing and I feel like this was not her best work. I felt those she was forcing herself just to finish it and make it dramatic in a way.
December 30, 2022
i- kathryn you scared me half to death! i was muttering “this better be HEA, PLEASE be a HEA” the WHOLE BOOK!!! 😭
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️/5
KAK did not disappoint in the dracula duet! i love this duet so much, it was phenomenally written & beautifully done. the epilogue made me sob i couldn’t stop crying over the HEA daddy vlad & maxine received! i def was crushed from the inside out reading maxine’s internal monologue while she was making her decision the whole book though ahah.
maxine was the personification of hannah montana and got the best of both worlds LOL. if i was our dear miss parker, i think i would’ve said ‘to hell w boston take me home & love me forever vladdy’!!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️/5
KAK did not disappoint in the dracula duet! i love this duet so much, it was phenomenally written & beautifully done. the epilogue made me sob i couldn’t stop crying over the HEA daddy vlad & maxine received! i def was crushed from the inside out reading maxine’s internal monologue while she was making her decision the whole book though ahah.
maxine was the personification of hannah montana and got the best of both worlds LOL. if i was our dear miss parker, i think i would’ve said ‘to hell w boston take me home & love me forever vladdy’!!
December 5, 2021
3 stars
I loved Heart of Dracula but I feel let down by part 2.
It was a very different book compared to the first. It lost the suspense, it lost the angst, and it lost the romance. I was also quite put off by the additional side character perspectives, especially the Bella subplot...
I was satisfied with the ending, but I'm still annoyed with how things went.
(；一_一)
I loved Heart of Dracula but I feel let down by part 2.
It was a very different book compared to the first. It lost the suspense, it lost the angst, and it lost the romance. I was also quite put off by the additional side character perspectives, especially the Bella subplot...
I was satisfied with the ending, but I'm still annoyed with how things went.
(；一_一)
July 9, 2020
Death comes on crimson wings
The vampire king has unleashed his army into the City and only Maxine can stop him. Will she accept all that he is or end his bloody reign forever.
The story continues and the Author delves deeper into the ruthless monster who is Dracula in ways we’ve not seen before. While the character is one written many times in fiction, the author is looking behind the character and asking us to see how the man became the monster and accept him.
We are taking this journey with Maxine. Dracula wishes to her to see all that he is and either accept or denounce him. As an empath, her very being is compassion. Whilst she might have compassion for the monster, she also has compassion for the dead he leaves in his wake. How does she chose between the monster she loves and the city and it’s people who also do not deserve this fate? Especially as he will not stop until she sees all that he is. Can she accept it?
It’s a very human concept to be alone and to wish someone to love all that you are. And it appears no different for both the main character and also the side characters who we are growing fond of. We see all the murder and destruction and the hell he has created in Boston and yet we are getting glimpses of why. There is no justification for what he has done, he gives none, yet there is reasons behind why he is what he is is coming through the story. After all, we may enjoy a hamburger but do we wish to meet the cow?
For the first time we see hints of compassion in Dracula towards other misfits in his army who also did not fit within their societies and have joined him to find a place where they finally belong. Funnily enough, it is not him that introduces us to them to convince Maxine but others who also have a vested interest in seeing his existence continue and also who develop a liking for our heroine because of what she can bring to his life. They understand what it is to be alone. We see him through their eyes. It’s a fascinating concept as a reader to be able to see a different facet of a monster and to love him for it.
Zadok, Moredecai and Walter continue their appearances throughout the story and we learn more about their backgrounds and how they came to join Vlad. These characters are so well developed that our interest swings over to their lives and how they also find companionship. We have a vested interest in seeing them also find their HEA and this takes a very gifted Author to immerse the ready fully in the world she has created, side characters and all. And frankly, they’re extremely creative in bed which adds some swoon worthy moments to an otherwise complex and engaging story.
A fantastic end to a beautiful story with a HEA that satisfies the reader. This duo is some of the Authors best work. It’s well written and the characters so well developed it provides a refreshing take on an old legend that also pays homage to the original. Highly recommended.
The vampire king has unleashed his army into the City and only Maxine can stop him. Will she accept all that he is or end his bloody reign forever.
The story continues and the Author delves deeper into the ruthless monster who is Dracula in ways we’ve not seen before. While the character is one written many times in fiction, the author is looking behind the character and asking us to see how the man became the monster and accept him.
We are taking this journey with Maxine. Dracula wishes to her to see all that he is and either accept or denounce him. As an empath, her very being is compassion. Whilst she might have compassion for the monster, she also has compassion for the dead he leaves in his wake. How does she chose between the monster she loves and the city and it’s people who also do not deserve this fate? Especially as he will not stop until she sees all that he is. Can she accept it?
It’s a very human concept to be alone and to wish someone to love all that you are. And it appears no different for both the main character and also the side characters who we are growing fond of. We see all the murder and destruction and the hell he has created in Boston and yet we are getting glimpses of why. There is no justification for what he has done, he gives none, yet there is reasons behind why he is what he is is coming through the story. After all, we may enjoy a hamburger but do we wish to meet the cow?
For the first time we see hints of compassion in Dracula towards other misfits in his army who also did not fit within their societies and have joined him to find a place where they finally belong. Funnily enough, it is not him that introduces us to them to convince Maxine but others who also have a vested interest in seeing his existence continue and also who develop a liking for our heroine because of what she can bring to his life. They understand what it is to be alone. We see him through their eyes. It’s a fascinating concept as a reader to be able to see a different facet of a monster and to love him for it.
Zadok, Moredecai and Walter continue their appearances throughout the story and we learn more about their backgrounds and how they came to join Vlad. These characters are so well developed that our interest swings over to their lives and how they also find companionship. We have a vested interest in seeing them also find their HEA and this takes a very gifted Author to immerse the ready fully in the world she has created, side characters and all. And frankly, they’re extremely creative in bed which adds some swoon worthy moments to an otherwise complex and engaging story.
A fantastic end to a beautiful story with a HEA that satisfies the reader. This duo is some of the Authors best work. It’s well written and the characters so well developed it provides a refreshing take on an old legend that also pays homage to the original. Highly recommended.
July 23, 2020
Ugh. Why can't I live in this author's brain? I feel it would be far more entertaining than my own!
Curse of Dracula is everything I hoped for in a sequel. Maxine's internal struggle over the eternal evil that Dracula unleashes upon the world was simply fantastic. She remains true to herself and remains a truly genuine and sincere character. I love how all of the author's character's are so intelligent and true to themselves.
Seeing the realistic transformations of characters is something that Kathryn does very well. While all of her work pulls me in I have to say that this duet surpasses all of them (but maybe her OG series will always hold a special place in my heart...and maybe Julien and...well darnit all of them are awesome ok!!!)
Dracula was every nightmare you could imagine but still very sigh worthy...I mean as Maxine, if you were a regular Joe you'd be gasping in agony but I digress...Read this book. Fall in love with this story. You won't regret it!
Curse of Dracula is everything I hoped for in a sequel. Maxine's internal struggle over the eternal evil that Dracula unleashes upon the world was simply fantastic. She remains true to herself and remains a truly genuine and sincere character. I love how all of the author's character's are so intelligent and true to themselves.
Seeing the realistic transformations of characters is something that Kathryn does very well. While all of her work pulls me in I have to say that this duet surpasses all of them (but maybe her OG series will always hold a special place in my heart...and maybe Julien and...well darnit all of them are awesome ok!!!)
Dracula was every nightmare you could imagine but still very sigh worthy...I mean as Maxine, if you were a regular Joe you'd be gasping in agony but I digress...Read this book. Fall in love with this story. You won't regret it!
August 4, 2020
“It’s terrible. It’s frightening and putrid. It hurts me in my heart when I think about her rejecting me. I despise it so very much. I think I can’t live without it.”
-Vlad shut his eyes. “Yes. You are in love.”
Maxine you brave soul!
I so would have been quivering in the corner crying for my binky.
Vlad ...
I know I said this when I was discussing the first book but I have to say it again
"He is the poster child for "misunderstood" villains" - Oh and I licked him so he is mine!
This is (if possible) a touch more twisted than the first in the duet.
A bit more violence - a bit more graphic and if truth be told
A whole lot more intimate
Vlad knows what he wants and Maxine does eventually figure it out to the heartbreak of everyone close to them
That was a twist I thought I saw coming but the other twists and Bella?
This is the second in the duet and a definite must-own
-Vlad shut his eyes. “Yes. You are in love.”
Maxine you brave soul!
I so would have been quivering in the corner crying for my binky.
Vlad ...
I know I said this when I was discussing the first book but I have to say it again
"He is the poster child for "misunderstood" villains" - Oh and I licked him so he is mine!
This is (if possible) a touch more twisted than the first in the duet.
A bit more violence - a bit more graphic and if truth be told
A whole lot more intimate
Vlad knows what he wants and Maxine does eventually figure it out to the heartbreak of everyone close to them
That was a twist I thought I saw coming but the other twists and Bella?
This is the second in the duet and a definite must-own
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