Maggie

Add friend

Maggie’s Bookshelves

to-read‎ (346)

currently-reading‎ (2)

read‎ (460)

did-not-finish‎ (0)

Stats | More…

Maggie is Currently Reading

Maggie is currently reading

Dracula

by Bram Stoker

bookshelves: currently-reading

Reading for the 8th time

read in May 2019

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Oct 22, 2025 08:54PM

Maggie is currently reading

Lucy Undying

by Kiersten White (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading

Reading for the 2nd time

read in March 2025

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Maggie said: " Lucy Undying is very deserving of five stars.

Dracula is one of my two annual October reads (the other being The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson) and, as far as I am concerned, Bram Stoker's novel is spectacular. It's epistolary structure m Lucy Undying is very deserving of five stars.

Dracula is one of my two annual October reads (the other being The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson) and, as far as I am concerned, Bram Stoker's novel is spectacular. It's epistolary structure makes it the OG "found footage" horror as it recounts the harrowing adventure of six members of the "modern" world (Mina Harker is extremely modern and self-sufficient for the 1890's) as they battle an old world evil: Dracula.

Lucy Undying retells us this story from the perspective of Dracula's most famous victim, transforming her from a sweet, innocent, empty-headed causality (one of the first "fridged" literary characters, before refrigerators were even invented) and makes her the hero of her own story. It gives her an arc that allows us to see her evolve beyond Stoker's original conception of the character. In this story, Lucy's perseverance and strength helps Dracula's other female victims find their own strength to evolve as well.

Kiersten White manages to do all this, while still honoring the original novel. She seamlessly integrates the epistolary structure with the more narrative account from Iris's perspective. She also manages to maintain continuity with the original story, craftily explaining Lucy's survival of the execution scene carried out by her "saviors" in Dracula. In fact, White was incredibly clever in how she changes several aspects of Lucy's story while still remaining consistent with Stoker's; Lucy's diary and letters, her sleep walking, and (my favorite) an explanation for why Dracula would even bother to drug a bunch of housemaids with laudanum (seriously, Kiersten, that scene always bothered me too).

For those expecting something more akin to Twilight, Vampire Diaries, or Castlevania (basically, fang porn), this is not for you. This book is an homage to OG great works of vampiric gothic horror (including Carmilla by Sheridan Le Fanu) retold in modern times with queer characters, with powerful messages about inherited legacy and breaking free to create ones own legacy. ...more "

Mar 08, 2025 02:21PM · see review