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iDrakula
The classic vampire story that started it all gets new life for a generation of connected teens 18-year-old Jonathan Harker is diagnosed with a rare blood disorder after visiting a Romanian Count. His girlfriend Mina and a pre-med student named Van Helsing team up to investigate the source of the disease. The teenagers discover a horrifying the Count is a vampire. The harrowing events unfold through emails, text messages, web pages, Twitter feeds, and instant messaging-the natural modernization of Bram Stoker's original Dracula, which was written in letters, diary entries, and news clippings. "Bold, innovative , and warped. . .an insanely imaginative tour de force."
–James Rollins, New York Times bestselling author "Black expertly interweaves story and technology in this timely Dracula tale."
–Rebecca Maizel, author of infinite Days "What happened?" "Not sure. I was fine when I went to bed." "But?" "But I dreamed that someone got into my room." "Who?" "I don't remember his face. He was tall, thin, pale...I was paralyzed. And then my neck hurt and my mouth was full of..." "Of what?" "Blood. My mouth was full of blood."
–James Rollins, New York Times bestselling author "Black expertly interweaves story and technology in this timely Dracula tale."
–Rebecca Maizel, author of infinite Days "What happened?" "Not sure. I was fine when I went to bed." "But?" "But I dreamed that someone got into my room." "Who?" "I don't remember his face. He was tall, thin, pale...I was paralyzed. And then my neck hurt and my mouth was full of..." "Of what?" "Blood. My mouth was full of blood."
150 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2010
9 people are currently reading
649 people want to read
About the author
Bekka Black
2 books43 followersAfter a childhood often spent without electricy and running water, Bekka escaped the beautiful wilderness of Talkeetna, Alaska for indoor plumbing and 24/7 electricity in Berlin, Germany. Used to the cushy lifestyle, she discovered the Internet in college and has been wasting time on it ever since (when not frittering away her time on her iPhone). Somehow, she manages to write novels, including the award-winning Hannah Vogel mystery series set, in all places, 1930s Berlin, and The Blood Gospel series (with James Rollins).
She lives in Berlin with her husband, son, two cats, and too many geckoes to count. iDrakula is her first cell phone novel.
-- From author's website
She lives in Berlin with her husband, son, two cats, and too many geckoes to count. iDrakula is her first cell phone novel.
-- From author's website
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 261 reviews
May 4, 2012
I read this as research for a project I'm putting together for a Vampire Literature class. I wanted so badly to like it because I love the concept, updating both the technological and epistolary considerations of the original novel to a modern-day interpretation. However, I felt the book lost a lot by reducing the number of characters as drastically as it did, and while I understand the desire to update the characters and their arcs to a more contemporary mentality, the changes made made little sense in many cases and rendered all of the characters almost unrecognizable in relationship to their original counterparts. Also, while I am fully aware that this is a YA novel, I was offput from the beginning by my confusion over Jonathan's age/profession. No law firm I've ever heard of sends a randy 18-year-old intern off to deal with customs paperwork for an international client. Maybe I missed something, but when I start off confused, it's hard to recover.
The concept is fantastic, many of the little references in the "internet browser" images and the names were quite clever, but all in all I felt this really didn't measure up as either a pastiche of Dracula or even a really a YA Paranormal in its own right.
(Also, check out Rachel's much better-worded review that addresses my same complaints as well as a couple other good points.)
The concept is fantastic, many of the little references in the "internet browser" images and the names were quite clever, but all in all I felt this really didn't measure up as either a pastiche of Dracula or even a really a YA Paranormal in its own right.
(Also, check out Rachel's much better-worded review that addresses my same complaints as well as a couple other good points.)
March 20, 2011
As has been justly observed by numerous readers and commentators on the novel Dracula, Bram Stoker has a fascination with the technology of his time and its role in communication and storytelling. The novel is filled with telegraphs, traveler's typewriters, shorthand and dictagraph machines. For this reason, I feel compelled to give Bekka Black's aim in writing iDrakula (a tranposition of Dracula to the present day, utilizing text messages and emails in place of letters and journal entries) a certain amount of respect and validity, despite its opposition to all my aesthetic sensibilities. However, iDrakula succeeds neither as an adaptation nor as novel in its own right.
Black pares Stoker's sprawling cast down to a condensed quartet, and while this is a common practice in Dracula adaptations, I thought it particularly to the detriment of Black's goals. To my understanding, social networking technology primarily serves to build communities. Where, then, in this transposition, was Stoker's pervading sense of community, of youth uniting to rid their society of a corrupting evil? I agree that Stoker's themes and focuses have continuing relevance to our society, and to its fascination with its own technology and its absorption in new methods of communication. But Black showed none of this. Instead, she turned the story formulaic and simplistic, its characters stereotyped and boring. I can appreciate clever adaptations, even if they are not to their taste. But this one took advantage of none of its opportunities.
Black pares Stoker's sprawling cast down to a condensed quartet, and while this is a common practice in Dracula adaptations, I thought it particularly to the detriment of Black's goals. To my understanding, social networking technology primarily serves to build communities. Where, then, in this transposition, was Stoker's pervading sense of community, of youth uniting to rid their society of a corrupting evil? I agree that Stoker's themes and focuses have continuing relevance to our society, and to its fascination with its own technology and its absorption in new methods of communication. But Black showed none of this. Instead, she turned the story formulaic and simplistic, its characters stereotyped and boring. I can appreciate clever adaptations, even if they are not to their taste. But this one took advantage of none of its opportunities.
May 27, 2011
I honestly didn't expect much out of this book aside from the gimmick, and that's all I got. The concept is interesting, and fitting: the original Dracula was written using a combination of letters, telegraphs, that sort of thing. So naturally a modern version of Dracula would use texts and emails. (And should use tweets, but nobody in this book uses Twitter.) So I'm with the author so far.
Problem one: this book is way too short. It's 150 pages, and considering the format (what would in a conventional book take up a single paragraph is spun out into multiple pages via text messages) it's just not enough. The story is complete, yes, but there's no time to develop any of the suspense that kept me riveted to Dracula. However, the short length works out to the author's advantage because...
Problem two: there's no emotional connection to the characters or the story. I don't care about Mina or Van Helsing, and I certainly don't care about Jonathan. I don't care what happens to them. I can't invest in these characters because there's nothing to invest in. A book in this format is always going to struggle with characterization, and this one fails.
Problem three: I sincerely feel that if you're going to write a spinoff of a classic work, you should have some respect for the source material. This means refraining from turning a perfectly nice character in the original novel into a serial cheater that will even sleep with his girlfriend's best friend. This means treating your iconic villain with the respect to flesh him out, and not just expect that everybody will know who and what Dracula is, because everybody knows what Dracula is like. I want to know what your version of Dracula is like. I have no idea what Black's version of Dracula is like, because she does nothing with him. Her Dracula does say that he doesn't drink... wine, but that's become so cliche now it's essentially meaningless.
Problem four: I have the very distinct impression that, after creating her new, young, hot Van Helsing, Black became so attached to him that she felt the overwhelming need to give him a much larger personal life. Never mind that she had to resort to what is essentially character assassination of not one but two of the main characters from the original novel. New!Van Helsing is hot and smart, and that's more important. This really, deeply irritated me.
But in the end, iDrakula is very short, and a very, very fast read. It's worth checking out just to see the format at work. But don't expect much else.
Problem one: this book is way too short. It's 150 pages, and considering the format (what would in a conventional book take up a single paragraph is spun out into multiple pages via text messages) it's just not enough. The story is complete, yes, but there's no time to develop any of the suspense that kept me riveted to Dracula. However, the short length works out to the author's advantage because...
Problem two: there's no emotional connection to the characters or the story. I don't care about Mina or Van Helsing, and I certainly don't care about Jonathan. I don't care what happens to them. I can't invest in these characters because there's nothing to invest in. A book in this format is always going to struggle with characterization, and this one fails.
Problem three: I sincerely feel that if you're going to write a spinoff of a classic work, you should have some respect for the source material. This means refraining from turning a perfectly nice character in the original novel into a serial cheater that will even sleep with his girlfriend's best friend. This means treating your iconic villain with the respect to flesh him out, and not just expect that everybody will know who and what Dracula is, because everybody knows what Dracula is like. I want to know what your version of Dracula is like. I have no idea what Black's version of Dracula is like, because she does nothing with him. Her Dracula does say that he doesn't drink... wine, but that's become so cliche now it's essentially meaningless.
Problem four: I have the very distinct impression that, after creating her new, young, hot Van Helsing, Black became so attached to him that she felt the overwhelming need to give him a much larger personal life. Never mind that she had to resort to what is essentially character assassination of not one but two of the main characters from the original novel. New!Van Helsing is hot and smart, and that's more important. This really, deeply irritated me.
But in the end, iDrakula is very short, and a very, very fast read. It's worth checking out just to see the format at work. But don't expect much else.
September 17, 2012
OMG! So this is getting three stars, and only because it made me laugh and laugh and laugh. Take an author with WAY too much time on her hands, give her something to butcher, add emails and cell phones and you have created idrakula.
While yes the original story is written through diaries and letter and transcriptions, it works because of the time period. This is ridiculous because no one really does all of their communication through emails and text messages. Especially not important things like best friends dying, finding out your boyfriend has cheated on you and that a good friend has been committed to an asylum and then has died.
The author has put her own spin on Dracula and made it from the point of view of teenagers, and the worst kind of teenagers; emo, stupid and horny. She left out characters and changed the dynamics and relationships between the characters as well. The count is only seen through the eyes of Jonathan Harker, and they try to scientifically explain away Jonathan’s craziness in Romania and Lucy’s death. Van Helsing and Mina hook up at the end because he is only a few years older than her at this point. This bookif you can really call it a book would have been more successful had she twisted it and given Dracula a cell phone and email of his own.
There was also a bit of silliness in some of the websites she used like Ask Vlad, drakipedia and Tepes Travel.
Between the emails, screen shots of text messages and browser history this book was a jumble of crap, funny bull shit, basically. And I cannot understand how it got published. Though after reading it I can understand why I found it in a used book store marked down to five dollars from ten. I have never heard of this or seen it before, though the cover art is fairly good. I will keep it, simply because I love anything Dracula.
While yes the original story is written through diaries and letter and transcriptions, it works because of the time period. This is ridiculous because no one really does all of their communication through emails and text messages. Especially not important things like best friends dying, finding out your boyfriend has cheated on you and that a good friend has been committed to an asylum and then has died.
The author has put her own spin on Dracula and made it from the point of view of teenagers, and the worst kind of teenagers; emo, stupid and horny. She left out characters and changed the dynamics and relationships between the characters as well. The count is only seen through the eyes of Jonathan Harker, and they try to scientifically explain away Jonathan’s craziness in Romania and Lucy’s death. Van Helsing and Mina hook up at the end because he is only a few years older than her at this point. This book
There was also a bit of silliness in some of the websites she used like Ask Vlad, drakipedia and Tepes Travel.
Between the emails, screen shots of text messages and browser history this book was a jumble of crap, funny bull shit, basically. And I cannot understand how it got published. Though after reading it I can understand why I found it in a used book store marked down to five dollars from ten. I have never heard of this or seen it before, though the cover art is fairly good. I will keep it, simply because I love anything Dracula.
December 20, 2017
Finished this book in hours.. it was okay, but a little confusing at first.. it's a fun read, but nothing profound.. Glad I tried it though
April 26, 2022
Tragically bad.
April 27, 2015
"I want you to believe...to believe in things that you cannot." Bram Stoker, Dracula
As a fan of the original, interpretations and retellings always peak my interest. While older, I found this while shelf reading at work yesterday.
For those who enjoy brief (147 pages) books, I read this in an hour and was enthralled.
I had no preconceptions about this book and I found this modern retelling fascinating and original. We relying so much on Apple and android devices that to tell a story this way makes a lot of sense- don't know how to make paprika hendl? Look it up. What does the spleen do? Google it. And who doesn't text and expect instant communication? While I hate that expectation of me, I know it exists. And, as a plot device, it really keeps they characters active.
We learn quickly that this tale will take place through smartphone. But that's not the only modern update-
Only downside, Van Helsing's character. But considering the male changes, eh. Guess I should have expected that.
Overall, I thought this was quirky and fun.
As a fan of the original, interpretations and retellings always peak my interest. While older, I found this while shelf reading at work yesterday.
For those who enjoy brief (147 pages) books, I read this in an hour and was enthralled.
I had no preconceptions about this book and I found this modern retelling fascinating and original. We relying so much on Apple and android devices that to tell a story this way makes a lot of sense- don't know how to make paprika hendl? Look it up. What does the spleen do? Google it. And who doesn't text and expect instant communication? While I hate that expectation of me, I know it exists. And, as a plot device, it really keeps they characters active.
We learn quickly that this tale will take place through smartphone. But that's not the only modern update-
Only downside, Van Helsing's character. But considering the male changes, eh. Guess I should have expected that.
Overall, I thought this was quirky and fun.
November 17, 2012
Oh my word... never I have ever read a more revolting book as I did this one. It wasn't anything like the original Dracula. NOTHING! I can't even see myself writing out a decent review for this book because I am just so... disgusted by it. Black did a horrendous job in adapting the original story into her own. It turned out to be more of a mediocre drama than a Gothic horror story. All of the original characters were so amazing and brave! These characters? They certainly are NOT amazing. I couldn't stand any of them. Mina, the character I love so much in the original, was just another girl worrying over her cheating-ass boyfriend, Johnathan (who was faithful in the original). I just... I am exhausted with this book. All the characters were changed dramatically to the point that there was absolutely nothing left of their original selves. It was poorly executed and I just cannot recommend anyone to read this. If you are curious enough then give it a try. Otherwise, don't bother.
October 27, 2020
La idea es buena, la ejecución es un pecado. No solamente el formato es terriblemente molesto de leer, sino feo (son puras imágenes, así que la estética tiene peso) y, además, los mensajes no se leen ni naturales ni con personaje de verdad. Adiós a la ambientación, al suspenso, al humor y a cualquier idea de romance. Y ese drama innecesario de que Jonathan era infiel fue la cereza de un pastel con sabor a abono.
Read
May 31, 2012This is just bloody awful.
May 7, 2018
The only good thing about it was the cover.
Read
October 15, 2024I KNEW this book wasn't some weird fever dream I had as a teen!
November 1, 2018
Have you ever read a book that made you want to puke in pure rage? well I have and its this hot mess.
January 2, 2012
Every time I think, “Man, I’m so OVER vampires.” I seem to pick up yet another book that features more mythological blood-sucking creatures of the night. Perhaps I’m just not as over them as I imagine myself to be. Perhaps they are my peculiar form of bookish Kryptonite. In any case and for whatever the reason, I’m glad I picked up iDrakula.
Ashamedly, as much as I read about vampires, I’ve never actually read Bram Stoker’s Dracula. I’ve seen movies, I know the plot and the players, but I’ve never actually picked it up and read the granddaddy of all vampire books. An oversight I hope to rectify soon. So that stated, as far as in depth comparisons go for the purists among you, Dear Reader, I won’t be able to give any. However, based on my knowledge of Stoker’s Dracula, Black has written a smart and innovative homage to this gothic classic. Originally written in an epistolary format (i.e. letters, journal entries, etc.), Black has modernized the story, making it relevant for 21st century teenagers by telling her vampire tale via text messages, emails and occasional iPad web browsing. Not only is the novel cleverly written, but the way the story is presented visually is extremely appealing to my inner wanna-be graphic designer and provides the reader with an aesthetically pleasing reading experience.
Clocking in at 150 pages even, iDrakula is a quick, but intense read. Black keeps the plot moving at a fast clip and the text/email formatting style sucked me right in. It gives off a vibe of the forbidden and taboo, not only from the feeling that I’m snooping in someone’s private correspondence, but also from the sensational events and subject matter of the book. It is creepy, dark and edgy. The twists Black incorporates into the story keep it interesting so that the novel is not merely a predictable, straight retelling. Instead it’s something different while still remaining true to the tone, themes and basic plot of Stoker’s original novel.
The formatting and length of the book had me a little worried that the character development might suffer – I was worried that the stylization and advancement of the plot might take center stage over the characters. Yet, that is not the case. Taking into consideration how easily tone can be misconstrued through electronic forms of communication, Black does an excellent job of bringing her characters to life and giving them individuality and nuance. This is true, especially in the character of Mina who is the main protagonist of this novel. While still an example of goodness and devotion, Black’s Mina subscribes to a bit more girl power. She’s a strong, independent young woman who’s a Jujitsu champion and doesn’t allow herself to become anyone’s doormat. I really enjoyed her character and the direction that Black developed her.
If I had any complaints about this novel it is only that the last third seemed a bit rushed. There is a lot of build up and then the climax just rushes by. I feel like some of the emotional significance got a little lost in the dash to the end. But as I said before, I’m not sure how the original novel was paced since I haven’t read it yet, so it could be mirroring the original in pacing and I’m just not aware of it.
Overall, with a cleverly re-imagined plot, an updated cast of characters, and a gorgeously visual presentation that gives a nod to our 21st century obsession with electronic connection, iDrakula is a wonderfully dark and creative homage to Bram Stoker’s gothic classic.
Ashamedly, as much as I read about vampires, I’ve never actually read Bram Stoker’s Dracula. I’ve seen movies, I know the plot and the players, but I’ve never actually picked it up and read the granddaddy of all vampire books. An oversight I hope to rectify soon. So that stated, as far as in depth comparisons go for the purists among you, Dear Reader, I won’t be able to give any. However, based on my knowledge of Stoker’s Dracula, Black has written a smart and innovative homage to this gothic classic. Originally written in an epistolary format (i.e. letters, journal entries, etc.), Black has modernized the story, making it relevant for 21st century teenagers by telling her vampire tale via text messages, emails and occasional iPad web browsing. Not only is the novel cleverly written, but the way the story is presented visually is extremely appealing to my inner wanna-be graphic designer and provides the reader with an aesthetically pleasing reading experience.
Clocking in at 150 pages even, iDrakula is a quick, but intense read. Black keeps the plot moving at a fast clip and the text/email formatting style sucked me right in. It gives off a vibe of the forbidden and taboo, not only from the feeling that I’m snooping in someone’s private correspondence, but also from the sensational events and subject matter of the book. It is creepy, dark and edgy. The twists Black incorporates into the story keep it interesting so that the novel is not merely a predictable, straight retelling. Instead it’s something different while still remaining true to the tone, themes and basic plot of Stoker’s original novel.
The formatting and length of the book had me a little worried that the character development might suffer – I was worried that the stylization and advancement of the plot might take center stage over the characters. Yet, that is not the case. Taking into consideration how easily tone can be misconstrued through electronic forms of communication, Black does an excellent job of bringing her characters to life and giving them individuality and nuance. This is true, especially in the character of Mina who is the main protagonist of this novel. While still an example of goodness and devotion, Black’s Mina subscribes to a bit more girl power. She’s a strong, independent young woman who’s a Jujitsu champion and doesn’t allow herself to become anyone’s doormat. I really enjoyed her character and the direction that Black developed her.
If I had any complaints about this novel it is only that the last third seemed a bit rushed. There is a lot of build up and then the climax just rushes by. I feel like some of the emotional significance got a little lost in the dash to the end. But as I said before, I’m not sure how the original novel was paced since I haven’t read it yet, so it could be mirroring the original in pacing and I’m just not aware of it.
Overall, with a cleverly re-imagined plot, an updated cast of characters, and a gorgeously visual presentation that gives a nod to our 21st century obsession with electronic connection, iDrakula is a wonderfully dark and creative homage to Bram Stoker’s gothic classic.
November 5, 2012
Reviewed by Jaglvr for TeensReadToo.com
Mina, Lucy, and Jonathan are in the here and the now. Mina and Jonathan are a couple. Their friend, Renfield, has been admitted to the hospital after attacking animals. The friends are concerned for him, and Jonathan has agreed to attend to a job that Renfield was supposed to do. He's soon off to Romania to help the Count with some matters.
Jonathan and Mina try to stay in touch through messages, but they each realize that none of their messages are reaching the other. Soon, Mina learns that Jonathan is battling a strange illness and flies to Romania with Mr. Harker. In the meantime, Lucy has a new man in her life, Abe, but she too has come down with strange symptoms.
It's only when Mina and Abe start to work together to discover what has happened to Lucy and Jonathan that the true sinister nature of the Count comes to life. The two realize that they are the last hope to cure their remaining friends. Will they be too late to destroy the Count?
Okay, I'll be the first to admit that I've never read Bram Stoker's DRACULA. So I can't say if Ms. Black keeps to the general synopsis or not. I do know that some of the characters' names are the same, but other than that, I'm hopeless. But IDRAKULA jumps on the bandwagon of novels written using text messages, emails, and web pages.
The concept works for this story, and the reader is quickly transported into a nightmare of vampires and intrigue and mysterious illnesses. IDRAKULA is a good choice for the reluctant reader, as well as those who are into the paranormal genre. It won't disappoint.
Mina, Lucy, and Jonathan are in the here and the now. Mina and Jonathan are a couple. Their friend, Renfield, has been admitted to the hospital after attacking animals. The friends are concerned for him, and Jonathan has agreed to attend to a job that Renfield was supposed to do. He's soon off to Romania to help the Count with some matters.
Jonathan and Mina try to stay in touch through messages, but they each realize that none of their messages are reaching the other. Soon, Mina learns that Jonathan is battling a strange illness and flies to Romania with Mr. Harker. In the meantime, Lucy has a new man in her life, Abe, but she too has come down with strange symptoms.
It's only when Mina and Abe start to work together to discover what has happened to Lucy and Jonathan that the true sinister nature of the Count comes to life. The two realize that they are the last hope to cure their remaining friends. Will they be too late to destroy the Count?
Okay, I'll be the first to admit that I've never read Bram Stoker's DRACULA. So I can't say if Ms. Black keeps to the general synopsis or not. I do know that some of the characters' names are the same, but other than that, I'm hopeless. But IDRAKULA jumps on the bandwagon of novels written using text messages, emails, and web pages.
The concept works for this story, and the reader is quickly transported into a nightmare of vampires and intrigue and mysterious illnesses. IDRAKULA is a good choice for the reluctant reader, as well as those who are into the paranormal genre. It won't disappoint.
February 13, 2012
Dracula, with a twist: instead of being told through letters and diary entries and telegrams, Bekka Black's iDrakula is told through instant messages and emails and browser histories.
I borrowed this from my library because, honestly, it looked HILARIOUS. What is this, a new version of the "...and Zombies!" trend?
It's entertaining enough as a novelty, but because almost all of the modes of communication used in this version of the story are brief bursts of text, it feels very superficial. The reader doesn't get to know the characters beyond a few broad strokes, the feeling of dread that Dracula-proper brings on never really shows up in iDrakula (although the bounced emails are a nice touch), and once the action picks up, it's kind of hard to follow.
For a quick lolzy read, iDrakula is decent. It might even work as a CliffsNotes version of Dracula, but if this is the only version of Dracula you read, you're missing out on a lot of spooky goodness.
I borrowed this from my library because, honestly, it looked HILARIOUS. What is this, a new version of the "...and Zombies!" trend?
It's entertaining enough as a novelty, but because almost all of the modes of communication used in this version of the story are brief bursts of text, it feels very superficial. The reader doesn't get to know the characters beyond a few broad strokes, the feeling of dread that Dracula-proper brings on never really shows up in iDrakula (although the bounced emails are a nice touch), and once the action picks up, it's kind of hard to follow.
For a quick lolzy read, iDrakula is decent. It might even work as a CliffsNotes version of Dracula, but if this is the only version of Dracula you read, you're missing out on a lot of spooky goodness.
December 15, 2016
I went into this not really expecting much at all.
I got even less out of it than I anticipated. :(
I liked the way that Black told the story using text messages, emails, etc. It was an enjoyable modern twist on Stoker's Dracula.
I hated how the characters did not really parallel the original characters at all. Lucy Westenra sleeps around with anything that's male and is breathing, Jonathan Harker is a cheat, Mina is annoying, and Abraham Van Helsing is... dry and not really given much personality.
I also disliked the way the story was told. There was none of the urgency or the creepiness that Stoker's Dracula had. I think the only time I felt even remotely emotionally invested in the story was when Jonathan was trying to get in touch with Mina when he was at the Count's castle and was locked in/was losing any way to communicate with the outside world.
2/5 stars only because it read quickly and the text messages/emails/browser snapshots kept me entertained. Otherwise it'd be closer to a 1/5 star rating. :(
I got even less out of it than I anticipated. :(
I liked the way that Black told the story using text messages, emails, etc. It was an enjoyable modern twist on Stoker's Dracula.
I hated how the characters did not really parallel the original characters at all. Lucy Westenra sleeps around with anything that's male and is breathing, Jonathan Harker is a cheat, Mina is annoying, and Abraham Van Helsing is... dry and not really given much personality.
I also disliked the way the story was told. There was none of the urgency or the creepiness that Stoker's Dracula had. I think the only time I felt even remotely emotionally invested in the story was when Jonathan was trying to get in touch with Mina when he was at the Count's castle and was locked in/was losing any way to communicate with the outside world.
2/5 stars only because it read quickly and the text messages/emails/browser snapshots kept me entertained. Otherwise it'd be closer to a 1/5 star rating. :(
August 6, 2014
I would have given this book a higher rating if it hadn't changed some things from the original in needless ways. Van Helsing is a young intern who has a fling with Lucy? He's supposed to be the old respected doctor they all turn to for help. Renfield is their friend and Jonathan's colleague who goes crazy? He's supposed to be an unrelated mental patient who they eventually find out has ties to the count. There is no Seward and Quincey Morris is a cop in one brief scene. It doesn't seem right.
What I did like was the format. The original is all in letters, journal entries, and newspaper articles. This modern version is done in texts, emails, and web pages. It's a nice translation into present day.
I just really wish she hadn't altered the story line so much.
What I did like was the format. The original is all in letters, journal entries, and newspaper articles. This modern version is done in texts, emails, and web pages. It's a nice translation into present day.
I just really wish she hadn't altered the story line so much.
October 30, 2010
What a clever homage this is! An updated version of Dracula, complete with Renfield, Mina,Jonathon and Van Helsing. All told in phone texts, emails, and screenshots of internet searches, 21st century equivalents to the letters and journals of Stoker's story. Mina is plucky, Jonathon is dweeby, Lucy is kinda evil...
I wanted more from this story, but I thoroughly enjoyed the clever twists of the original, including the fact that Drakula is the one character who remains voiceless...we only know him through the eyes of the other characters.
At the end, Black deviates from Stoker, but I don't mind...very much. This version even ends 7 years later, as his does.
I wanted more from this story, but I thoroughly enjoyed the clever twists of the original, including the fact that Drakula is the one character who remains voiceless...we only know him through the eyes of the other characters.
At the end, Black deviates from Stoker, but I don't mind...very much. This version even ends 7 years later, as his does.
February 13, 2020
I liked the concept but thought it was weird how the kids were always emailing each other instead of instant messaging or texting each other. There is also no mention of social media when MySpace has been out for a while and Facebook a year. The teens didn’t really act like teens and I didn’t like the changes they made to the characters-it was no Horror of Dracula.
January 2, 2012
This book will no doubt keep tween and young teen vampire fans entertained, but for an adult reader it is seriously lacking. The idea behind it has a lot of potential to be a solid, interesting and amusing read but it never really reached it's full potential.
June 7, 2010
A cute spoof of Bram Stoker's Dracula written during modern times in IM, text, and email.
April 13, 2012
Interesting take on Dracula but not exactly memorable. Besides it being all text messages and emails, there wasn't a lot more to it.
March 5, 2023
I've been working on getting back into my love of reading by picking up a few shorter novels that are relatively easy to get into - and to also clear out my bookshelves and read through everything I own that I haven't ever read before.
I didn't realize when I picked up iDrakula that the book was entirely in text/email format... I finished it in about an hour as a result. Unfortunately, with the chosen style, it just felt impossible to connect to any of the characters on a meaningful level. I didn't care about any of them, and the rush from "normal life" to "grave digging and stabbing my best friend with a stake" was too abrupt as a result. All of the true development and action happens off-screen because we're only told about the narrative once it's already happened and the characters have had time to cool off from their feelings and the experience.
I also couldn't place really how old anyone was or where they lived... A few of the "web browser" pages showed "The Gotham Times," which seemed strange because that's only Batman... and I'm not 100% sure Black is allowed to use that reference haha. The "attachments" to emails were also crappy stock images of things like church pews, hospital hallways, and graveyards. It just felt so middle-school English project.
Ultimately, this isn't worth spending a lot of time reviewing in detail, but since I'm the sort to always jot down a few thoughts when I finish a book, I figured I'd keep them here along with my rating.
(Ironically, I saw a trailer yesterday for the new "Renfield" film with Nicholas Hoult, less than twenty-four hours after finishing this book. Hopefully that does a better job at the "modern Dracula" thing than this book!)
I didn't realize when I picked up iDrakula that the book was entirely in text/email format... I finished it in about an hour as a result. Unfortunately, with the chosen style, it just felt impossible to connect to any of the characters on a meaningful level. I didn't care about any of them, and the rush from "normal life" to "grave digging and stabbing my best friend with a stake" was too abrupt as a result. All of the true development and action happens off-screen because we're only told about the narrative once it's already happened and the characters have had time to cool off from their feelings and the experience.
I also couldn't place really how old anyone was or where they lived... A few of the "web browser" pages showed "The Gotham Times," which seemed strange because that's only Batman... and I'm not 100% sure Black is allowed to use that reference haha. The "attachments" to emails were also crappy stock images of things like church pews, hospital hallways, and graveyards. It just felt so middle-school English project.
Ultimately, this isn't worth spending a lot of time reviewing in detail, but since I'm the sort to always jot down a few thoughts when I finish a book, I figured I'd keep them here along with my rating.
(Ironically, I saw a trailer yesterday for the new "Renfield" film with Nicholas Hoult, less than twenty-four hours after finishing this book. Hopefully that does a better job at the "modern Dracula" thing than this book!)
February 10, 2020
I just read either a very detailed outline or skimpy first draft. It took a mere 2 hours and 23 minutes to read which was shocking, I was prepared for a longer read even if this was a bunch of texts and emails. I wasn't expecting anything brilliant but something better.
Black spent a lot of time going through the first third of Dracula with Jonathan a mere intern at Renfield Jr.'s father's real estate company going to Romania to close the deal with Drac. Then the rest of the book whips through Mina and Van Helsing, as a handsome pre-med student, taking care of business on their own. There's not even a clear instance when the team figures out the villian is Dracula, suddenly they just know its him.
I like that, like the original which was told in journal entries and telegrams, Black updated the technology. What this book really needed was Mina's diary entries or online journal or vlog transcripts. We needed more detail, more time to reach the end. Three short letters of explanation to dead Lucy wasn't enough to wrap up what should have taken at least a fourth of the book.
I like the rearranging of characters that Black did. I liked that Lucy's original beaus Morris and Seward make random appearances as a cop and doctor. I like that Jonathan cheated with Lucy and many other girls because no matter what version I've always hated Jonathan. And I like that Mina ends up with Van Helsing. If this was a middle grade book it would be fine but Black should have fleshed it out a lot more.
Black spent a lot of time going through the first third of Dracula with Jonathan a mere intern at Renfield Jr.'s father's real estate company going to Romania to close the deal with Drac. Then the rest of the book whips through Mina and Van Helsing, as a handsome pre-med student, taking care of business on their own. There's not even a clear instance when the team figures out the villian is Dracula, suddenly they just know its him.
I like that, like the original which was told in journal entries and telegrams, Black updated the technology. What this book really needed was Mina's diary entries or online journal or vlog transcripts. We needed more detail, more time to reach the end. Three short letters of explanation to dead Lucy wasn't enough to wrap up what should have taken at least a fourth of the book.
I like the rearranging of characters that Black did. I liked that Lucy's original beaus Morris and Seward make random appearances as a cop and doctor. I like that Jonathan cheated with Lucy and many other girls because no matter what version I've always hated Jonathan. And I like that Mina ends up with Van Helsing. If this was a middle grade book it would be fine but Black should have fleshed it out a lot more.
July 9, 2017
A retelling of Dracula told in text messages, emails, and website pages.
When their friend Renfield is sent to a mental institution, 18-year old Jonathan Harker is sent to Romania to continue Renfield's business. What he finds is he's cut off from technology and kept locked in the Count's home all day. When he finally returns home, Jonathan has completely changed and also put into a mental institution. Mary, Jonathan's girlfriend, and Van Helsing, a pre-med student, are determined to learn what happened. When they discover the Count has made it to their shores, and has bitten Mary's friend Lily, they know they must act. Taking the advise of the insane Renfield, they set out to save Jonathan and Lily and ultimately themselves.
This book will be dated when smartphones and iPads are no longer new, but otherwise the pace is quick and easy to follow. Many details will get lost if the reader doesn't pay close attention to what's going on.
When their friend Renfield is sent to a mental institution, 18-year old Jonathan Harker is sent to Romania to continue Renfield's business. What he finds is he's cut off from technology and kept locked in the Count's home all day. When he finally returns home, Jonathan has completely changed and also put into a mental institution. Mary, Jonathan's girlfriend, and Van Helsing, a pre-med student, are determined to learn what happened. When they discover the Count has made it to their shores, and has bitten Mary's friend Lily, they know they must act. Taking the advise of the insane Renfield, they set out to save Jonathan and Lily and ultimately themselves.
This book will be dated when smartphones and iPads are no longer new, but otherwise the pace is quick and easy to follow. Many details will get lost if the reader doesn't pay close attention to what's going on.
December 31, 2019
This is, quite possibly, the worst book I have ever read: a book that undoubtedly deserves a half star, but its sheer audacity, its stubborn, inexplicable existence whatsoever carries it into a nearly unreviewable sort of purgatory.
I want to simultaneously recommend this book to everybody and no one. I want everyone to know it exists, I want it to not exist at all. I hate it, and I love hating it.
You have to read this in one sitting. You cannot set it down or walk away from it, giving yourself time to consider what you're doing and how bad it really is. Bad decisions are best done haphazardly and without thinking - you do not shoot back only half a tequila shot, or nibble on funnel cake over a period of hours; no, you imbue these garbage foods and make garbage decisions rapidly and regret finds you later. And iDrakula is one hell of a tequila shot - nay, a jello shot, truly. Consume quickly and revel in its awfulness. It will confound and haunt you long after.
I want to simultaneously recommend this book to everybody and no one. I want everyone to know it exists, I want it to not exist at all. I hate it, and I love hating it.
You have to read this in one sitting. You cannot set it down or walk away from it, giving yourself time to consider what you're doing and how bad it really is. Bad decisions are best done haphazardly and without thinking - you do not shoot back only half a tequila shot, or nibble on funnel cake over a period of hours; no, you imbue these garbage foods and make garbage decisions rapidly and regret finds you later. And iDrakula is one hell of a tequila shot - nay, a jello shot, truly. Consume quickly and revel in its awfulness. It will confound and haunt you long after.
October 16, 2021
If you've read the classic horror story by Bram Stoker, you will appreciate iDrakula.
Like the original, this teen-friendly version is told entirely through correspondences: texts, emails, web browsers;
Jonathan Harker travels to Transylvania to help a business man, Count Dracula, who wants to buy an expensive home in America. Jonathan tries to remain in contact with his girlfriend, Mina, and her BFF, Lucy.
Jonathan becomes deathly ill and Mina brings him home, though he remains bed-ridden for the rest of the story. Lucy becomes ill herself and tragically passes away. Mina befriends a university student named Abe Van Helsing. The story and characters' interactions traverse through the story...
A new subplot introduces Abe and Mina as potential love interests and brings to light STI's as part of Lucy's downfall.
While the technological elements are beginning to be outdated, the story is fast and impactful and a much faster read than its original.
Interesting take...
Like the original, this teen-friendly version is told entirely through correspondences: texts, emails, web browsers;
Jonathan Harker travels to Transylvania to help a business man, Count Dracula, who wants to buy an expensive home in America. Jonathan tries to remain in contact with his girlfriend, Mina, and her BFF, Lucy.
Jonathan becomes deathly ill and Mina brings him home, though he remains bed-ridden for the rest of the story. Lucy becomes ill herself and tragically passes away. Mina befriends a university student named Abe Van Helsing. The story and characters' interactions traverse through the story...
A new subplot introduces Abe and Mina as potential love interests and brings to light STI's as part of Lucy's downfall.
While the technological elements are beginning to be outdated, the story is fast and impactful and a much faster read than its original.
Interesting take...
December 12, 2017
A vampire story. it's starts when 18 year old Jonathan Harker is diagnosed with a "rare blood" disorder after visting a Romanian count. his girlfriend Mina and a pre-med student named Van Helsing team up to investigate the source of the disease. they discovered a horifying truth the count is a vampire. the event unfold though emails, text messages, web pages, twitter feed and instant messiging. ex. "what happened?" 'not sure i was fine when i went to bed' "but?" 'but i dreamed that someone got into my room' "who?" ' i don't remember his face he was tall thin pale.. i was paralyzed and then my neck hurt and my mouth was full of..' "of what?" 'blood my mouth was full of blood"
this book is really cool it seems like you are in the story it has adventure, mystery, what happens years later after the events happens.
this book is really cool it seems like you are in the story it has adventure, mystery, what happens years later after the events happens.
January 18, 2025
This is a modern-day retelling of Bram Stoker's "Dracula" replete with all the characters - Mina Murray, Jonathan Harker, Lucy Westenra, The Count himself, Abraham van Helsing, and Renfield. The story is told in e-mails, text messages, and web browsers pages. Mina's boyfriend is sent to Romania in place of Randy Renfield, who has a psychotic episode. Mina keeps Jonathan up to date on what is happening at home while he is wined and dined upon at the Count's castle. Meanwhile, Lucy dumps Randy and takes up with student-doctor Abe. The story plays out as the original novel does. I didn't really care for this at all. All the techno-speak did not add to it at all. Text-messaging doesn't do it for me.
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