Don't dare to skip the Author's Note at the end! ( )

All fiction – and supernatural fiction especially so – requires us to suspend our disbelief and to accept that the world between the covers of a book is as real as the one we’re living in (if not more). The premise of Dracul however is even harder to swallow than the very existence of the Undead – the novel presents us with a Bram Stoker who has personal experience of vampires and who has a final showdown with none other than Count Dracula himself. The concept intrigued me even whilst setting alarm bells ringing in my head – would Dracul turn out to be the great Dracula prequel touted by the marketing blurbs or just another in a recent tradition of horror mash-ups? The fact that the novel is jointly credited to Dacre Stoker (Bram’s great-grand nephew) and horror writer J.D. Barker only fuelled my misgivings. Apart from my irrational prejudice against co-authored works, the Stoker name on the title page gave me a niggling suspicion that it was there primarily to capitalize on the link to Bram. And so, with some difficulty in setting aside pre-conceptions, uncertainties and pet peeves, I joined a youngish Bram keeping watch in an unnamed tower, eyes fixed on a heavy door behind which untold horrors lurk...

I must say that the initial chapters did little to shake off my doubts . The shifts between Bram’s vigil (helpfully marked “NOW”) and his recollections of his sickly childhood, nursed by the enigmatic “Nanna Ellen”, seemed artificial, the dialogue between Bram and his sister Matilda unconvincing. However, once this backstory was set out and the action shifted closer to the (novel’s) present, I became increasingly engrossed. Like Bram’s original, Dracul follows a group of improvised vampire-busters on a hunt which leads them to the dark heart of Continental Europe. The pace of the plot mounts inexorably and culminates in a set-piece in a ghost-village outside Munich which seems to be as much inspired by horror movies and zombie tropes as by ‘traditional’ vampire fiction.

Part of the fun of the book lies in looking for the parallels between this novel and the original, as well as references to real life events and figures. Thus, as in Dracula, Dracul is recounted through a series of journal entries, diaries and letters, giving the text an immediacy and allowing for different perspectives. There is material which is clearly gleaned from the short story Dracula’s Guest and expanded to fit the plot. The novel also has its own Van Helsing, in the shape of Arminius Vámbéry, a Hungarian Turkologist who, in reality, was an acquaintance of Stoker and might have influenced or served as a model for Van Helsing. Rather than a prequel to Dracula, I’d consider it more of a companion piece – a “pastiche”, in a positive sense, which delights in resurrecting vampire tropes largely shaped by Bram Stoker’s seminal novel.

In an afterword to Dracul, Dacre Stoker explains that this novel is based on his ancestor’s actual notes and on the first hundred-or-so pages of the novel which were allegedly excised at the insistence of the original publishers. Then, Stoker ups the ante – Bram, he tells us, presented the manuscript as a “true story” and Dracula was not meant to serve as ‘entertainment’ as much as a warning against a very real evil. Now, of course, Dracula was neither the first nor the last Gothic novel to present itself as a “non-fictional” account. Presumably, Dacre is riffing on this trope. But this does raise an interesting question – namely just how far is Dracul actually inspired by Bram’s biography, handwritten notes and “original intentions” and how much of it is Dacre’s and J.D. Barker’s own invention? Scholars of the Gothic might illuminate us – in the meantime, Dracul remains an enjoyable vampire romp which nicely complements the (unbeatable) original. ( )

For those who feel Bram Stoker's "Dracula" inspired creation of the 'horror' genre, his great grandnephew has written an amazing book. Fast paced and somewhat similar to the original diary style, it becomes clear this carefully crafted and researched story could easily have led to Bram's classic. We learn of the Dublin Stoker family's nanny, Ellen Crone, whose impact on Bram and his siblings was unusual in ways none could understand nor fathom. Bram's sister, Matlida, is so enthralled with Ellen it leads them on a journey where they encounter the 'vampyr' whose powers are far reaching, his respect for humans, nil. While I generally don't read horror genre due to overuse of gore and violence, Dacre uses just enough to keep us engaged with a dab of spine chilling. It's important to read the Epilogue where he inserts actual images of manuscript notes taken by Bram Stoker and other important facts. Being a descendant, he's well within his rights to state facts. I've decided to re-read to the original "Dracula" and as well as Dacre's previous book. Highly recommended in all respects! ( )

Creepy Shivers!

I am not going to do a backstory as I am just going to share my thoughts of the book.

Thoughts:

Wow! Wow! Wow! This book was freaking amazing! The gothic style writing and story was a total gripper! A small slow burn in the beginning of the book but that was to be expected as the book jumps back and forth between the past and the present as the world building is set up for what is to come.

Most of the book is written like a journal from different points of view from the characters (Bram and his sister Matilda along with their brother, Thornley plus another character that shows up later in the book) within the story. I loved the journals more than anything as they just kept me saturated in fear.

Fear you say?! Yes - this was one spooked out book! I consider myself hardcore horror but sometimes there are those books that seep under your skin and embed deep into your psyche with a slow buildup of unrelenting fear of the unknown. The visuals of what happens with each character made me feel that I was there with them.

As much as I hate to say it, but I loved this book more than Dracula as this whole book just gave me the "heebie-jeebies" and I was having some crazy wild nightmares that involved vampires.

If you want a book that will scare you out of your skin then you need to read this book! I would not read it at night as when the darkness seeps in around you then you might find yourself not alone as if you look in the corner of your room you just might find evil red eyes glaring your way! Giving this book five "Spooky and Suspenseful Vampire" stars!

Highly Recommend! ( )

I would say that DRACUL is a good book, but ultimately one that was just a bit too long. And, I say that regrettable because of the idea of the book, to link the Dracula myth with Bram Stoker's own life is marvelous and I quite enjoyed the story. Especially the first part with the creepy nanny. I also came to like Bram's brave and gutsy sister Matilda very much. What for me sadly just didn't work was the pacing. It's a thick book, 500 pages and I just felt that my interested in the story went up and down as the story progressed. Some parts really interesting, other parts, well I lost the focus now and then. On the plus side, the ending is quite good and the story had a lovely gothic atmosphere. Also, I did, however, quite enjoyed the author's notes at the end of the book. Fascinating reading.

So, would I recommend this book? Yes, definitely. The story is interesting and you will like it especially if you have a burning obsession with everything concerning the Dracula myth. Confession, the original Dracula book by Bram Stoker was never a favorite of mine so perhaps it's not that odd that I did not totally love this book.

I want to thank G.P. Putnam's Sons for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review! ( )