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First time in trade-the Dracula legend continues in a novel "destined to become a literary classic."*
In Bram Stoker's immortal novel, Mina Harker became a living, breathing object of obsession- only to fall prey to her stalker's seductive powers. There was only one way to save her soul-by destroying the life of Count Dracula, the creature who controlled and consumed her. But was the spell really broken? Could Mina return to the ordinary turns of a day, and to the restraints of a Victorian marriage, after the pleasures of such exquisite darkness?
In Bram Stoker's immortal novel, Mina Harker became a living, breathing object of obsession- only to fall prey to her stalker's seductive powers. There was only one way to save her soul-by destroying the life of Count Dracula, the creature who controlled and consumed her. But was the spell really broken? Could Mina return to the ordinary turns of a day, and to the restraints of a Victorian marriage, after the pleasures of such exquisite darkness?
352 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 1994
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews
April 30, 2015
Well, that sucked.
The original characters sound nothing like their predecessors & the plot is practically nonexistent. You'd expect a Dracula spinoff to contain actual vampires, right? But they're few & far between. Instead there's a lot of comings & goings & vaguely described social engagements, all of which are punctuated by Mina's constant angst. (It's her oppressive Victorian lifestyle, you see. After the liberation of Dracula's bloodletting, she just can't go back! Or something. Whatever.) The climax (when it finally arrived) was a mosh of vagueness, & I couldn't have cared less about Gance or his ultimate fate. The writing was bland, the voice flat, & Mina's 'liberated woman' agenda made my teeth grind -- not just because it was so blatantly anachronistic, but also because it repeatedly slams the chivalric attitude of the original. Why does Jonathan's gentle treatment of his wife make him a drab husband? Why is it wrong that Seward & Van Helsing worry for Mina's health? Why is bad that these men are determined to protect Mina? DRACULA WAS EVIL. He repeatedly rapes the women in his life -- perhaps not sexually, but he violates their bodies & mental health -- a terrible crime regardless. Dracula's menace forces those 'Victorian everymen' to become stereotypical heroes of lore, & they can't help seeing Mina as something precious. She becomes the focus of their primal urge to preserve innocence.
Now then -- do women need constant shielding from dangers in this world, paranormal or otherwise? Of course not. But that doesn't make those protective instincts evil or oppressive. I could understand a retelling of Stoker's novel that focused on Mina's frustration at being excluded from the men's inner circle. But this is not that book. This is a complete overhaul that mutilates the original characters & turns the slightest old-fashioned male/female interaction into a battle of the sexes (with the female struggling against male subversion, natch). There's a time & place for blatant feminist novels, but Dracula fanfic is NOT it. The first Mina would never have endorsed an affair to prove how liberated she is. She would never have repaid Jonathan's gentleness with unfaithfulness & looked upon Seward's good intentions with such disdain. She would have fought the desires that Dracula's blood awoke in her, not used them to justify her secret fantasies. The Mina of this book is, quite frankly, a selfish bitch that I wouldn't want to be around.
If Kiraly wanted to craft a feminist novel about sexual liberation & vampirism on the fringes of Victorian society, then she succeeded -- it's still a boring book, but you could read it with those themes in mind. Just don't confuse Mina with a good Dracula fanfic, because it's not.
This is my second attempt reading Marie Kiraly. I haven't enjoyed either one, so I won't be trying again. (Fool me twice... :P) Clearly her writing style doesn't agree with my reading taste.
The original characters sound nothing like their predecessors & the plot is practically nonexistent. You'd expect a Dracula spinoff to contain actual vampires, right? But they're few & far between. Instead there's a lot of comings & goings & vaguely described social engagements, all of which are punctuated by Mina's constant angst. (It's her oppressive Victorian lifestyle, you see. After the liberation of Dracula's bloodletting, she just can't go back! Or something. Whatever.) The climax (when it finally arrived) was a mosh of vagueness, & I couldn't have cared less about Gance or his ultimate fate. The writing was bland, the voice flat, & Mina's 'liberated woman' agenda made my teeth grind -- not just because it was so blatantly anachronistic, but also because it repeatedly slams the chivalric attitude of the original. Why does Jonathan's gentle treatment of his wife make him a drab husband? Why is it wrong that Seward & Van Helsing worry for Mina's health? Why is bad that these men are determined to protect Mina? DRACULA WAS EVIL. He repeatedly rapes the women in his life -- perhaps not sexually, but he violates their bodies & mental health -- a terrible crime regardless. Dracula's menace forces those 'Victorian everymen' to become stereotypical heroes of lore, & they can't help seeing Mina as something precious. She becomes the focus of their primal urge to preserve innocence.
Now then -- do women need constant shielding from dangers in this world, paranormal or otherwise? Of course not. But that doesn't make those protective instincts evil or oppressive. I could understand a retelling of Stoker's novel that focused on Mina's frustration at being excluded from the men's inner circle. But this is not that book. This is a complete overhaul that mutilates the original characters & turns the slightest old-fashioned male/female interaction into a battle of the sexes (with the female struggling against male subversion, natch). There's a time & place for blatant feminist novels, but Dracula fanfic is NOT it. The first Mina would never have endorsed an affair to prove how liberated she is. She would never have repaid Jonathan's gentleness with unfaithfulness & looked upon Seward's good intentions with such disdain. She would have fought the desires that Dracula's blood awoke in her, not used them to justify her secret fantasies. The Mina of this book is, quite frankly, a selfish bitch that I wouldn't want to be around.
If Kiraly wanted to craft a feminist novel about sexual liberation & vampirism on the fringes of Victorian society, then she succeeded -- it's still a boring book, but you could read it with those themes in mind. Just don't confuse Mina with a good Dracula fanfic, because it's not.
This is my second attempt reading Marie Kiraly. I haven't enjoyed either one, so I won't be trying again. (Fool me twice... :P) Clearly her writing style doesn't agree with my reading taste.
February 13, 2022
I tried to read this book before I'd ever read Dracula. That was a mistake. My only experience of Mina was the Francis Ford Coppolla movie Bram Stoker's Dracula. I tried to read this book back in 1995, so my memory of it is not fresh. But I remember strongly disliking the way that Kiraly approached the characters and the story. It just didn't fit.
Now, having read Dracula and nearly completed a Ph.D. in Gothic literature, I can say that my problems were with the book's lack of authenticity. Yes, there were women that resisted their social roles in fin de siecle London. Stoker's Mina even mentions them in the original book. They were referred to as "New Women." In other words, there was a path for women of the time to use as a means of resisting their confining social role. Kiraly didn't seem to have a strong grasp of the time period, and that really frustrated me--even when I was a relatively ill-informed reader. At the time, I dropped this book in frustration, and I don't think I will ever return to it.
Now, having read Dracula and nearly completed a Ph.D. in Gothic literature, I can say that my problems were with the book's lack of authenticity. Yes, there were women that resisted their social roles in fin de siecle London. Stoker's Mina even mentions them in the original book. They were referred to as "New Women." In other words, there was a path for women of the time to use as a means of resisting their confining social role. Kiraly didn't seem to have a strong grasp of the time period, and that really frustrated me--even when I was a relatively ill-informed reader. At the time, I dropped this book in frustration, and I don't think I will ever return to it.
July 21, 2015
I originally added this book as I have always wanted to know what happened to Mina Harker after Dracula. After reading some reviews im not so sure anymore.
updated: 04/11/2013
Turns out I was right. Blah! found a copy on line got through a few pages....
Most of the negative reviews about this are right. Kiraly probably did read Dracula, but her understanding of the character of Mina Harker and mine just seem to be totally opposite.
1) I saw Mina Harker as a very religious woman, who would had no such thing as a lapse in faith.
2) At no point at all through out The Original Dracula was she ever drawn to or though of Dracula in a romantic or sexual manner ever!
3) Mina Harker was completely and totally a Victorian woman. I don't mean for one minute that she was weak or to trusting in the male element. To me the original Character was a very strong woman and had total faith in her husband and those who became her friends and protectors.
Don't get me wrong, I was not a fan of the Original but I love vampires and Bram Stoker was a great contributor to the mythos, therefore, for that alone the book is a classic (no matter how horribly written I might think it was). Mina, well this Mina in any event, I just did not like. Mina original fought against Dracula with all her might, she was in constant prayer (grating as it was). New Mina just seems too willing, she doesn't even pretend to fight in my opinion and the fact that the author comes out and says Mina holds back with her husband in the bedroom but becomes wonton with Dracula it absolutely absurd.
I don't think that original Mina would have been that prudish with her husband in private, but one persons idea of crazy sex is not necessarily the same as someone else. Also this Mina seems whinny! Original Mina, stated her feelings and ideas clearly and openly but openly makes the decision to withhold her fears from her companions to protect them in a like wise fashion as what they choose to protect her. It is clear in Bram Stokers' original that the fact that her companions choice to keep certain things from her does annoy her, yet, she understands the sentiment completely. And then some secrecy becomes necessary as her connection to Dracula grows.
But most of all, what annoyed me was that Dracula forced Mina to drink his blood their was no nicey nicey (and yes I did just kill a word!)about it. He was hard and cruel, there was no loneliness in his eyes.
The review of one reader was right when she said that this was to much of the film version and not the written original.
Never thought that I'd actually be defending Bram Stokers Dracula!!
updated: 04/11/2013
Turns out I was right. Blah! found a copy on line got through a few pages....
Most of the negative reviews about this are right. Kiraly probably did read Dracula, but her understanding of the character of Mina Harker and mine just seem to be totally opposite.
1) I saw Mina Harker as a very religious woman, who would had no such thing as a lapse in faith.
2) At no point at all through out The Original Dracula was she ever drawn to or though of Dracula in a romantic or sexual manner ever!
3) Mina Harker was completely and totally a Victorian woman. I don't mean for one minute that she was weak or to trusting in the male element. To me the original Character was a very strong woman and had total faith in her husband and those who became her friends and protectors.
Don't get me wrong, I was not a fan of the Original but I love vampires and Bram Stoker was a great contributor to the mythos, therefore, for that alone the book is a classic (no matter how horribly written I might think it was). Mina, well this Mina in any event, I just did not like. Mina original fought against Dracula with all her might, she was in constant prayer (grating as it was). New Mina just seems too willing, she doesn't even pretend to fight in my opinion and the fact that the author comes out and says Mina holds back with her husband in the bedroom but becomes wonton with Dracula it absolutely absurd.
I don't think that original Mina would have been that prudish with her husband in private, but one persons idea of crazy sex is not necessarily the same as someone else. Also this Mina seems whinny! Original Mina, stated her feelings and ideas clearly and openly but openly makes the decision to withhold her fears from her companions to protect them in a like wise fashion as what they choose to protect her. It is clear in Bram Stokers' original that the fact that her companions choice to keep certain things from her does annoy her, yet, she understands the sentiment completely. And then some secrecy becomes necessary as her connection to Dracula grows.
But most of all, what annoyed me was that Dracula forced Mina to drink his blood their was no nicey nicey (and yes I did just kill a word!)about it. He was hard and cruel, there was no loneliness in his eyes.
The review of one reader was right when she said that this was to much of the film version and not the written original.
Never thought that I'd actually be defending Bram Stokers Dracula!!
August 20, 2008
I was suspicious when I first purchased this book, and thought to myself "it will be very difficult to write a convincing sequel to Dracula." But let's just say I was pleasantly surprised. Bergstrom takes the character of Mina and gives her a dark side. The archetypal heroine in distress is pulled from the pages of Dracula and becomes a complex, enigmatic, scheming, and sensual woman. There are creepy moments, and the sex is pretty volcanic. The plot moves well, as is elegantly constructed. My only complaint is that the ending seemed a little overdone, almost too complicated.
Nevertheless, if you like Gothic horror, you will love this book.
Nevertheless, if you like Gothic horror, you will love this book.
Read
July 26, 2010Technically, this shouldn't be in my "read" list, because it didn't take long for me to shut this piece of crap and resolve never to touch it again. I never really considered myself much of a Dracula purist, because THAT is a truly terrible book, too. However, the person who wrote this book either never actually READ the original, or just prefers the Gary Oldman/Keanu Reeves movie version wherein there is an actual romance between Dracula and Mina Harker. This book tries to portray Mina, who is about as properly Victorian as any character I've ever seen, as someone who sexually desires the "exquisite darkness" of Dracula. Anyone who has read the original should remember the scene in which Dracula comes to Mina in the night and forces her to drink his blood. And anyone with the sense God gave a sack of wet mice will remember that this is a rape scene, pure and simple. He overpowers her, threatens her, and physically forces her to drink his blood. Because he loves her and wantes to be with her for all eternity? No. For revenge against these people who have dared to try to stand in his way. To me, rape is not romantic. Not sexually appealing. And to use this scene as a jumping off point for a romantic/sexual connection between Mina and Dracula makes about as much sense as imagining a romance between a rapist and his victim. Avoid this book at all costs. I am seriously considering actually burning my copy.
April 5, 2008
i really enjoyed this book. having just read Bram Stoker's Dracula, i found that this author had copied the story to a tee and built upon what happened after the
Harker's and the rest of the party returned home, with many hints that dracula might be still undead. it was a quick read (unlike stoker's dracula)a great sequel in my opinion!action and romance and vampires, what more could a girl ask for!lol
i highly recommend it to my vamp lover friends out there!
Harker's and the rest of the party returned home, with many hints that dracula might be still undead. it was a quick read (unlike stoker's dracula)a great sequel in my opinion!action and romance and vampires, what more could a girl ask for!lol
i highly recommend it to my vamp lover friends out there!
March 31, 2010
This book lacked direction. Maybe I shouldn't have read it piggyback on the original, which I just finally read for the first time and loved.
Mina was one of my favorite characters in Dracula so this one had potential in concept but the final product was boring and wandered too much.
Sad face.
Mina was one of my favorite characters in Dracula so this one had potential in concept but the final product was boring and wandered too much.
Sad face.
July 11, 2019
My copy of this book is 342 pages, and I took my time to read it. I think the author, Marie Kiraly, skillfully and artistically creates a world and main characters that are vivid. I found it easy to visualize the people and surroundings, and the story does have palpable atmosphere. However, due to the length of it, some segments of the story felt tedious to me, and they were laborious to get through. For anyone who has yet to read this, I'm making an effort to not reveal too many details and ruin elements of surprise, but I was disappointed by how some events were not convincingly explained, specifically nearer to the end. It is as if several scenes were simplified, and at least a few "minor" characters were so one-dimensional that I, as a reader, unfortunately simply thought their behavior and motivations were illogical. Also, the story strongly focuses on Mina's internal world, especially the entries she makes in her journal, so a potential drawback to such a style is that a "typical" male would have NO interest in this book (like the "Twilight" series), except perhaps for the sexually explicit scenes. I've read other Amazon reviews of this book criticizing those scenes, but I did not find them offensive, nor pornographic. Yes, they are graphic, but I never thought them crude or vulgar. I've also read criticism elsewhere online about the cover art by Tony Mauro for the out-of-print edition (showing the neckline of a corseted woman), but I think it's beautifully and sensuously done. Tony Mauro has gorgeous artwork in other books and calendars, to name a few.
In summary, there is impressive ambiance, and often illustrative writing, in this story, but I was dissatisfied especially with the ending, which hit me in the face like a mediocre finale. It was very anti-climactic!
In summary, there is impressive ambiance, and often illustrative writing, in this story, but I was dissatisfied especially with the ending, which hit me in the face like a mediocre finale. It was very anti-climactic!
August 16, 2024
Appalling revisionist tripe, Mina recasts the Dracula story as a Harlequin romance. Though author Marie Kiraly promises to be as “faithful as possibly” to Bram Stoker’s work, she really isn’t. Instead Mina is shown to be secretly in league with Dracula in her “secret” journal, having made a pact with him to secure the safety of her company. Then upon her return to Exeter she becomes a harlot, striking up an affair with a well-known libertine, and blaming it on Dracula’s blood still being in her. And in her spare time she seeks out a translator to transcribe the journal of one of Dracula’s wives that she stole from his castle; which she believes holds the key to what’s happening to her. The characters are completely redrawn from how Bram Stoker envisioned them, and Kiraly has a vastly different view of vampires; seeing them as deeply passionate and morally ambiguous creatures. Yet, she gets some points for attempting to keep to the epistolary format; incorporating journals and letters as much as she can into the otherwise third person narrative. While the cover claims that “The Dracula Story Continues,” Mina is a betrayal of Bram Stoker’s work that choices to rewrite the story rather than continue it.
October 14, 2013
This book didn’t read like a believable sequel to Dracula at all. In fact, I was surprised it got as many good reviews as it did because it was a disappointment to me on so many levels.
Kiraly transformed the dark, beguiling sensuality of the original into tactless sleaze. In other words, by making it more graphic, she only succeeded in making that element of the story less intriguing. How did we get from Mina’s horror at her own inability to resist Dracula’s seduction, to the prostitute chair? Seriously.
Mina’s character never made sense to me; she seemed nebulous and confusing, rather than conflicted. Not only did the book’s story lines, plot threads, and characters seem unrelated to the original tale, but even within its own covers they seemed at odds. I was also unimpressed with Kiraly’s writing.
Plain and simple, this book sucked (no pun intended).
Kiraly transformed the dark, beguiling sensuality of the original into tactless sleaze. In other words, by making it more graphic, she only succeeded in making that element of the story less intriguing. How did we get from Mina’s horror at her own inability to resist Dracula’s seduction, to the prostitute chair? Seriously.
Mina’s character never made sense to me; she seemed nebulous and confusing, rather than conflicted. Not only did the book’s story lines, plot threads, and characters seem unrelated to the original tale, but even within its own covers they seemed at odds. I was also unimpressed with Kiraly’s writing.
Plain and simple, this book sucked (no pun intended).
July 16, 2009
Didn't finish. I got 200 pages in, more than halfway through, and NOTHING of importance HAPPENED. I could see seeds planted for eventual development, but it was simply too slow, as though the author was prolonging any real character development as long as she could. The writing was jumpy, lacking signifiers for anytime time passed--no line breaks at times when they would have been needed, making each scene mush together in an awkward way. This had none of the atmosphere of Dracula, nor the creepiness. There are erotic elements but the sex happened too quickly. I was never aroused, which means it failed as erotica. The characters who the author had added--Lord Gance, Winnie, and Millicient--weren't particularly interesting and didn't feel quite a part of the Dracula world. As for the returning characters, the author did not do anything interesting with them, nor did she seem to capture their voices. It never once felt convincing. It felt like one of those long fan fictions that just goes on and on without any real point, but the author never goes back and edits it so that the storytelling is more effiecient and exciting. I, too, was seduced by the cover art, and assumed that the favorable quotes meant it was probably half-decent. Mayhaps I'll finish it someday, but only when I have nothing else to read. Only recommended for collectors of bad vampire fiction or people who want to see the pretty cover on their shelf.
December 15, 2013
If you want a sequel to Bram Stoker's Dracula...don't turn here. My God....what a waste of time this book was. Where do I start. Okay....Dracula's not even in it...well, he's in flashbacks, but still. Oh wait...his "Ghost" is in it at the end. Which does not make any sense because vampires have no souls and isn't a ghost just a person's soul without a body?? It's all about Mina and the author makes her out to be a whore. Dracula is the best book I've ever read and this is one of the worst. If you are reading this review...and are thinking about reading Mina...I warn you....DON'T DO IT!!!!
January 1, 2018
Basically a manual for how to write irredeemable characters. Or worse, how to take good characters that someone else has written an make them terrible and annoying.
Everyone was OOC from the original novel and irritating af. Especially Mina, who somehow got turned into a huge Mary Sue. Everyone loves her and calls her strong even though she cheats on her husband and gets like, 3 people killed with her stupidity.
The ending was okay. If that had been the whole story it might have been better. Either way, it shared little in common with 'Dracula' except places and character names.
Everyone was OOC from the original novel and irritating af. Especially Mina, who somehow got turned into a huge Mary Sue. Everyone loves her and calls her strong even though she cheats on her husband and gets like, 3 people killed with her stupidity.
The ending was okay. If that had been the whole story it might have been better. Either way, it shared little in common with 'Dracula' except places and character names.
April 20, 2023
did like some lines some realistic characters enjoy d the beginning with journal entries then it got dull. “The last day and night have been most fascinating, and most terrible, of my life, and I need time to think-to sort reality from delusion, to plan.” Mina’s diary
“Winnie do you consider yourself to have an open mind? ….about the devil and the creatures that serve him”
Are you aware?
“Already he could feel the blackness growing around him, like a little it from which the only escape was to imagine happiness, though he knew it was an illusion “
Can you relate
“Winnie do you consider yourself to have an open mind? ….about the devil and the creatures that serve him”
Are you aware?
“Already he could feel the blackness growing around him, like a little it from which the only escape was to imagine happiness, though he knew it was an illusion “
Can you relate
December 12, 2025
3.85/5
The last half of the book is much better than the first half in my opinion. Did this perfectly continue the story of Dracula? Honestly no idea, I've read over 100 books since Dracula. Did this maintain the Dracula vibe? Yes. Also rewatching Nosferatu helped. Scenes weren't too spicy, but the 1900s was a different time.
The last half of the book is much better than the first half in my opinion. Did this perfectly continue the story of Dracula? Honestly no idea, I've read over 100 books since Dracula. Did this maintain the Dracula vibe? Yes. Also rewatching Nosferatu helped. Scenes weren't too spicy, but the 1900s was a different time.
July 8, 2018
This is an excellent extension to the Dracula tale with Mina the main character. I really enjoyed this story and the characters are very interesting.
August 2, 2012
I'm giving this one 3 1/2 stars. It wasn't what I expected it to be. It was more...clinical is the only word that comes to mind. Clinical is not a bad thing. The book was a throwback to an older style of writing and I liked that.The "sex" in the story could have go the way of erotica, but it didn't. Being an uber fan of all things vampire, it was fun to read something with a more sedate tone in dealing with carnal impulse.
I did really liked that the author played with the idea of Dracula's Brides. I found that bit very intriguing.Anyway...it's worth a read if you're a fan of Dracula and feminism. lol.
I did really liked that the author played with the idea of Dracula's Brides. I found that bit very intriguing.Anyway...it's worth a read if you're a fan of Dracula and feminism. lol.
June 24, 2017
Really, it's 3.5 stars.
Dracula is one of those stories I grew up with, it's very much ingrained in me. So when I saw this novel at the book store, I couldn't pass it up. It seems that I'm not the only one who went into this book very cautiously (I like to think the paperback cover is a bit cheesy). How could any novel attempt to carry on from a classic like Dracula?
I genuinely like this book, I felt that the author gave Mina back her voice though that voice at times seemed a bit too forced than the rest of the book. I really enjoyed how interlaced the classic character of the original story were tied into this new telling and the writing overall was well done. The only time I felt that the writing sort of fell of balance with the times (remember this is Victorian England) was during the sex scenes/journal recollections they were a bit too modern, or how I termed to friend, wannabe Anne Rice. But Mina is firmly here in this novel. The strong woman that she is resonates throughout this story, especially in comparison to prude, sheltered Jonathan. The author does a fantastic job of bringing their two different personalities back to life.
The real achievement of this novel is the interlacing the new characters with the old, while it's a bit easier to work with an already made character, like Mina, to create worthy matches in Winnie, Gance, and then Karina are the real wins of this book. I would have given this four stars if the story had ended with all the loose ends tied up. Overall, the story itself is a solid successor to the masterpiece of Dracula.
Dracula is one of those stories I grew up with, it's very much ingrained in me. So when I saw this novel at the book store, I couldn't pass it up. It seems that I'm not the only one who went into this book very cautiously (I like to think the paperback cover is a bit cheesy). How could any novel attempt to carry on from a classic like Dracula?
I genuinely like this book, I felt that the author gave Mina back her voice though that voice at times seemed a bit too forced than the rest of the book. I really enjoyed how interlaced the classic character of the original story were tied into this new telling and the writing overall was well done. The only time I felt that the writing sort of fell of balance with the times (remember this is Victorian England) was during the sex scenes/journal recollections they were a bit too modern, or how I termed to friend, wannabe Anne Rice. But Mina is firmly here in this novel. The strong woman that she is resonates throughout this story, especially in comparison to prude, sheltered Jonathan. The author does a fantastic job of bringing their two different personalities back to life.
The real achievement of this novel is the interlacing the new characters with the old, while it's a bit easier to work with an already made character, like Mina, to create worthy matches in Winnie, Gance, and then Karina are the real wins of this book. I would have given this four stars if the story had ended with all the loose ends tied up. Overall, the story itself is a solid successor to the masterpiece of Dracula.
January 1, 2009
This book chronicles the story of Mina Harker and what happened to her after the story in Bram Stoker's "Dracula" ended.
I was a bit confused as I read through it as I wasn't too sure what the overall message behind the story was supposed to be. Sometimes it appeared to be a commentary on marriage; at others it appeared to be about a woman's place in the Victorian world.
Johnathan Harker's character was a disappointment, and I felt the conflict between Mina and Johnathan's aunt wasn't particularly intense and could have been made even more so. (Then again, I'm not sure what the message behind the story was, so maybe the author didn't feel it necessary to go down this path.)
I wasn't happy with the ending, either. There's no way of knowing what Mina's life after her adventure was like. As this story was supposed to take up Mina's story where Bram Stoker left it, it is very disappointing.
I was a bit confused as I read through it as I wasn't too sure what the overall message behind the story was supposed to be. Sometimes it appeared to be a commentary on marriage; at others it appeared to be about a woman's place in the Victorian world.
Johnathan Harker's character was a disappointment, and I felt the conflict between Mina and Johnathan's aunt wasn't particularly intense and could have been made even more so. (Then again, I'm not sure what the message behind the story was, so maybe the author didn't feel it necessary to go down this path.)
I wasn't happy with the ending, either. There's no way of knowing what Mina's life after her adventure was like. As this story was supposed to take up Mina's story where Bram Stoker left it, it is very disappointing.
June 14, 2013
This novel is an interesting take on the Dracula story. It presents the climax of Bram Stoker's overrated novel from Mina Harker's point of view and shows us what happened to her and the other characters afterward. It turns out that, with the blood of Dracula flowing in her veins, Mina has far more sympathy for the Count and his minions than was hinted at in Stoker's novel. Furthermore, all is not quiet at Castle Dracula despite the destruction of the famous vampire...
Stoker's original novel was overlong and frequently dull. The characters were one-dimensional stalwart men and fainting damsels. Author Ellen Bergstrom has filled out these characters and added a feminist perspective, not to mention a healthy dose of sex. Purists may shudder at her approach, but I found it to be an interesting take on a novel that really doesn't deserve to be treated as sacrosanct and untouchable.
Stoker's original novel was overlong and frequently dull. The characters were one-dimensional stalwart men and fainting damsels. Author Ellen Bergstrom has filled out these characters and added a feminist perspective, not to mention a healthy dose of sex. Purists may shudder at her approach, but I found it to be an interesting take on a novel that really doesn't deserve to be treated as sacrosanct and untouchable.
November 14, 2014
This novel is an interesting take on the Dracula story. It presents the climax of Bram Stoker's overrated novel from Mina Harker's point of view and shows us what happened to her and the other characters afterward. It turns out that, with the blood of Dracula flowing in her veins, Mina has far more sympathy for the Count and his minions than was hinted at in Stoker's novel. Furthermore, all is not quiet at Castle Dracula despite the destruction of the famous vampire...
Stoker's original novel was overlong and frequently dull. The characters were one-dimensional stalwart men and fainting damsels. Author Marie Kiraly has filled out these characters and added a feminist perspective, not to mention a healthy dose of sex. Purists may shudder at her approach, but I found it to be an interesting take on a novel that really doesn't deserve to be treated as sacrosanct and untouchable.
Stoker's original novel was overlong and frequently dull. The characters were one-dimensional stalwart men and fainting damsels. Author Marie Kiraly has filled out these characters and added a feminist perspective, not to mention a healthy dose of sex. Purists may shudder at her approach, but I found it to be an interesting take on a novel that really doesn't deserve to be treated as sacrosanct and untouchable.
December 23, 2016
I loved this story. First let me start out by stating first,only errors I found wrong with it is gance character. It felt a bit rushed to me how his character's story ended the way it did in the end. I wont say more on that there kinda seems to be maybe a cliff hanger there . I dont know,hard to say,but curious on it .Anyhow the story was great,it really does start off as sequel to bram stoker's ,dracula.I loved it and it really stuck to Mina's character. Always loving Mina's character in the original,loved reading her perspective. Her character really grew in this story and realistically too. I haven't read the sequel yet but hope to read more from Mina.
May 11, 2010
I have always been intrigued by stories that continue other, older stories. I especially love it when a classic tale is continued. That's what this is, but ultimately it's the story of a woman discovering who she really is with the vampires showing her the way. Of course lust and blood are a draw as well. I enjoyed the jumps in perspective. I love epistolary novels and this had that element with Mina's journal entries. Overall, I liked this book and would recommend it to those who are fans of the Dracula story as told by Bram Stoker.
May 13, 2017
This is a powerfully-told story, exploring the ramifications of the experiences Mina had during the original novel even after "it was all over". It accepts some of the conclusions (drawn by characters, after all, and therefore not necessarily accurate) of the original novel, disregards others, and weaves a delightfully powerful tale of a Victorian woman who had been exposed to feelings that she was not "supposed" to be capable of trying to fit herself back into the limited role her society expected of her, and not succeeding.
October 13, 2016
The begiining, the middle were just wonderfully written for the Dracuala fans in the world. The ending left me feeling rather sad, but I suppose that is what was meant to be.
Read this if you are a true Dracula fan.
Read this if you are a true Dracula fan.
September 11, 2015
i wish i had realized this was the first of the two i had. i don't know if a third was ever written. difficult to track because the authors differ.
February 23, 2019
Disclaimer...my review is likely to not make much sense (its Saturday morning and coffee hasn't kicked in yet!)
Vampires have long held a fascination on many of us....blame Stoker, blame Polidori, blame Coppola...heck lets face it...blame Gary Oldman! :)
The allure of the mysterious stranger with the undeniable hint of temptation (and damnation) is a powerful aphrodisiac...and truth be told, mankind has long wanted to obtain eternal life (in some cases, by whatever means necessary).
When i first read Dracula, back in the 20th century, it made a profound impression on me, not for the book plot itself but for all the interpretations one can take of the book, in light of the time and place it was written - English history nerd i am.
What particularly fascinated me at the time was the way in which Dracula - at least for me - survives his death...Mina was never a full vampire but she had tasted his blood, so what Dracula's death does is stop that transformation...but the blood remains in her, and his passed along to her child...no, i'm not saying the kid is gonna be a vampire, just that the child is in a sense the child of the new century about to dawn at the time the book ends....its an interesting metaphor i believe.
Now enough of Stoker and lets get to this one....b-o-r-e-d....that is how i felt through most of it honestly.
I like the possibility that Mina represents here, the emancipation of woman, the fight for equality, the sexual liberation..but i didn't ever feel that any of these were ever fully achieved, mostly she has me wanting to either slap her or throttle her depending on what point of the book we are at!
I find her friend a much more interesting and well rounded character, and really wish she had been more present. Mina is basically a bundle of nerves, clearly not happy in her relationship with Harker (sexually and mentally) and who all of a sudden gets herself a,pardon my language, f*** buddy because Harker is too busy dreaming of vampire ladies and being a boss at work to remember he has a wife.
The scenes in Dracula's castle and with the lady vampires, the glimpes we get of Dracula's origins are way more interesting and appealing than all the shenanigans involving the characters we know from Stoker's book.
this is something i would only recommend for die hard fans of vampire stories...otherwise don't bother wasting your time, it has a good deal of promise but it turns into a cheap soap opera plot with pretensions of artsy sundance film festival.....
stick to the masters....thats all i say.
Happy Readings!
Vampires have long held a fascination on many of us....blame Stoker, blame Polidori, blame Coppola...heck lets face it...blame Gary Oldman! :)
The allure of the mysterious stranger with the undeniable hint of temptation (and damnation) is a powerful aphrodisiac...and truth be told, mankind has long wanted to obtain eternal life (in some cases, by whatever means necessary).
When i first read Dracula, back in the 20th century, it made a profound impression on me, not for the book plot itself but for all the interpretations one can take of the book, in light of the time and place it was written - English history nerd i am.
What particularly fascinated me at the time was the way in which Dracula - at least for me - survives his death...Mina was never a full vampire but she had tasted his blood, so what Dracula's death does is stop that transformation...but the blood remains in her, and his passed along to her child...no, i'm not saying the kid is gonna be a vampire, just that the child is in a sense the child of the new century about to dawn at the time the book ends....its an interesting metaphor i believe.
Now enough of Stoker and lets get to this one....b-o-r-e-d....that is how i felt through most of it honestly.
I like the possibility that Mina represents here, the emancipation of woman, the fight for equality, the sexual liberation..but i didn't ever feel that any of these were ever fully achieved, mostly she has me wanting to either slap her or throttle her depending on what point of the book we are at!
I find her friend a much more interesting and well rounded character, and really wish she had been more present. Mina is basically a bundle of nerves, clearly not happy in her relationship with Harker (sexually and mentally) and who all of a sudden gets herself a,pardon my language, f*** buddy because Harker is too busy dreaming of vampire ladies and being a boss at work to remember he has a wife.
The scenes in Dracula's castle and with the lady vampires, the glimpes we get of Dracula's origins are way more interesting and appealing than all the shenanigans involving the characters we know from Stoker's book.
this is something i would only recommend for die hard fans of vampire stories...otherwise don't bother wasting your time, it has a good deal of promise but it turns into a cheap soap opera plot with pretensions of artsy sundance film festival.....
stick to the masters....thats all i say.
Happy Readings!
November 6, 2020
In short: Dracula gave Mina an orgasm, and now she doesn't know how to settle for her staid Victorian husband.
Also in short: I enjoyed the journey but less so the destination. It was like going on a delightful little road trip only for the car to suddenly pull over and drop you off at a suburban Holiday Inn.
The book was fun and fanfic-y, lots of Mina adjusting to Society and her commentary thereon. All the characters from Stoker's novel have PTSD and exist about two steps to the left of what you remember, but it's not by any means unforgivable. There's sex. That's nice. Unfortunately Dracula has three (3) lines, and by the time any vampires show up at all, I'd completely forgotten there was anything more pressing than social dilemmas and marital unhappiness to worry about.
Also in short: I enjoyed the journey but less so the destination. It was like going on a delightful little road trip only for the car to suddenly pull over and drop you off at a suburban Holiday Inn.
The book was fun and fanfic-y, lots of Mina adjusting to Society and her commentary thereon. All the characters from Stoker's novel have PTSD and exist about two steps to the left of what you remember, but it's not by any means unforgivable. There's sex. That's nice. Unfortunately Dracula has three (3) lines, and by the time any vampires show up at all, I'd completely forgotten there was anything more pressing than social dilemmas and marital unhappiness to worry about.
November 18, 2021
Really started out enjoying this book, but that went downhill as I continued reading. It’s a cool concept for a book. The writing voice is decent, the pace is alright, and the plot works. But one thing really bothers me about this book: the once-sweet Mina is suddenly a big ol’ slutbucket, and she uses her experience with Dracula as an excuse for stepping out of her marriage. As if that’s not bad enough, Mina’s best friend then continuously blames Jonathan for not being understanding about it. Woe is Mina; poor Mina; she’s dealing with such a terrible experience; how could Jonathan be so insensitive to her needs? REALLY? This started out as a decent book, but quickly became a pseudo-feminist rag. I am sorry I wasted my time on it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 4, 2025
this was fine. i did like it better than Dracula, actually. it’s very flowery and certainly isn’t a quick read. i wish there had been some more excitement or thrill, especially cause the author really shined when we did get some quick paced scenes. pretty cool. i’m certainly interested in where she would have taken the book after it’s ending, but i don’t feel the need to read the sequel by a different author.
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