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liteartha's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
hate to say it but this was boring. i love history and research and dense goddamn books but in this case i kept waiting for excitement that this just didn't deliver. the characters didn't feel like fully fleshed out people with their own motivations and relationships and though i hesitate to say this book was multi-pov, it did revolve around a "main" character (who remained nameless and added virtually nothing to the plot), her father recounting much of his past, and written correspondence from various characters with no notable stylistic difference between them
i did like the history elements around vlad iii and could see this being an ideal autumn read but all around this just missed the mark for me
i did like the history elements around vlad iii and could see this being an ideal autumn read but all around this just missed the mark for me
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Blood, and Death
Moderate: Racial slurs
Minor: Miscarriage and Suicide attempt
rini's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Blood, Car accident, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Racial slurs, Suicide attempt, and Violence
malloryfitz's review
dark
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Death
Moderate: Death of parent, Grief, Miscarriage, and Torture
Minor: Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, and Slavery
lilifane's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
informative
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I just read the best and funniest 1 star review for this book and I agree with everything in it. I still give this book 4 stars just because it satisfied a very very niche interest of mine.
If you want to read a scary vampire story, some kind of Dracula retelling or a fast paced adventure. This book is not for you. If - like me - you love reading, research, solving mysteries by visiting old libraries and reading old books and travel. Well, this is perfect.
The structure of this book is a little complicated. Basically it's a story within a story within a story, told mostly in letters and book excerpts, spanning several decades (between 1930s and 1970s) and countries (UK, Netherlands, France, Greece, Turkey, Ukraine, Bulgaria...). It's about the search for the grave of the historical figure Vlad III, Dracula, but also for some historians lost during their research. (Basically Tomb Raider/Indiana Jones for people who hate action. ^^v)
This book is extremely slow paced and looooong and story driven. The main characters are some of the flattest characters I've ever encountered (I had trouble remembering who was telling parts of the story because their voices were basically identical) but I loved most of the people they met on their way and got help from. And when the story is the main focus of the book, I don't mind when there is no character development. Maybe the book also could have been a little shorter by eliminating the daughters story line... completely? That didn't interest me very much tbh. And my main problem with the book was the writing. I didn't enjoy it at all. But after reading some quotes from the English original, I think the issue is with my German translation.
I get btw that the whole resolution why all of this happened in the first place was a little ridiculous. But I thought it was refreshing and I like how it explains the book title. :D (I alsway love when the book title has more than one meaning)
If you want to read a scary vampire story, some kind of Dracula retelling or a fast paced adventure. This book is not for you. If - like me - you love reading, research, solving mysteries by visiting old libraries and reading old books and travel. Well, this is perfect.
The structure of this book is a little complicated. Basically it's a story within a story within a story, told mostly in letters and book excerpts, spanning several decades (between 1930s and 1970s) and countries (UK, Netherlands, France, Greece, Turkey, Ukraine, Bulgaria...). It's about the search for the grave of the historical figure Vlad III, Dracula, but also for some historians lost during their research. (Basically Tomb Raider/Indiana Jones for people who hate action. ^^v)
This book is extremely slow paced and looooong and story driven. The main characters are some of the flattest characters I've ever encountered (I had trouble remembering who was telling parts of the story because their voices were basically identical) but I loved most of the people they met on their way and got help from. And when the story is the main focus of the book, I don't mind when there is no character development. Maybe the book also could have been a little shorter by eliminating the daughters story line... completely? That didn't interest me very much tbh. And my main problem with the book was the writing. I didn't enjoy it at all. But after reading some quotes from the English original, I think the issue is with my German translation.
I get btw that the whole resolution why all of this happened in the first place was a little ridiculous. But I thought it was refreshing and I like how it explains the book title. :D (I alsway love when the book title has more than one meaning)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Death, Grief, Kidnapping, Miscarriage, Murder, Suicide attempt, and Suicidal thoughts
mariebrunelm's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
There is a ton of historical context and tidbits woven through the narrative, which never feel like info dump but rather delicious morsels to enjoy while reading the immensely enjoyable story of three generations of historians faced with unsettling discoveries surrounding Drakula.
While reading the second half, I found echoes of Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code, in a much more focused and believable way. Bear in mind, I've only seen the movie adaptation of Dan Brown's books, but there was a lot less of face-palming involved.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Miscarriage, Murder, Suicide attempt, Torture, and Violence
mariebrunelm's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Fun fact: for the first few days I started reading this book, every time I joined my parents for meals (I live with them) I'd tell my mum: "Holy guacamole, did I tell you how amazing this book is?". Despite her feeling a bit fed up after the first couple of times, I needed someone to shout my love for this book at.
The beginning of April marked a new step in my PhD thesis, with the beginning of the redaction phase. This is a dreaded phase, mostly because it's the beginning of the end, so I wanted a book that would encourage me and spur me on. For that, I picked up a dark academia novel that I'd been saving for the Autumn, Elizabeth Kostova's The Historian, and sweet Eru was I right! This is the perfect blend of nerdiness, academia and Gothic vibes with tons of travelling involved, which soothed my lock-down self beyond words.
The cast of characters isn't too big, so that even though the story is split over 3 different time periods (the 1930s, the 1950s and the 1970s) I had no trouble following each narrative, which is saying a lot for me! They all revolve around historians or historians-to-be who discover a mystery surrounding the character of Dracula. As the size of the book may suggest, the pacing isn't too fast and leaves room for enchanting descriptions of all the locations the protagonists travel too across Europe and a bit of the USA. This book definitely soothed my wanderlust and put me in the right mood for my own academic pursuits!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Blood, Death, Genocide, Murder, and Torture
sparky_young_upstart's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
informative
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
THE ADVENTURES OF THE SUPER-SECRET DRACULA BOOK CLUB
First off, this book is definitely not for everyone. If you don't enjoy doing research for grand projects, learning about Medieval European history (with some Ottoman thrown in too), or love vampire lore enough to read any book pertaining to it, then this is not the story for you.
I understand why people keep on saying that this isn't a horror novel, but that doesn't change the fact that Kostova is damn good at setting the mood. The first half of this book has this persisting feeling of dread covering the events as they unfold, letting you know that the monster subject of the book or one of his minions could be waiting around the next corner to strike.
The characters are surprisingly well-realized for a book that is almost entirely told through second- and third-person flashbacks; the main exception is the narrator, but I hesitate to call her that because for all intents and purposes the main character is Paul, not his daughter. If you are hoping for a strong female character fear not, however, as Helen Rossi is very adept and competent in her and Paul's journey across Eurasia on the trail of Dracula (and she was absolutely my favourite character).
There are some weak points to the novel. Kostova loves to describe the scenery around the characters, be it well-preserved historic architecture or the sweeping landscapes that we travel through as we move form country to country; unfortunately there were times that I began skimming through it because it simply droned on and on and stopped adding anything to the story about halfway through. And I'm sure even the most eager historians will have trouble getting through some of the more dragging parts. Sometimes the formatting was also confusing, and I wish that the story had simply resorted to stating the narrator at the beginning of each chapter instead of requiring the reader to make note of how many quotation marks were surrounding the text.
All-in-all this was a very well-thought-out vampire novel. Not for the faint of heart, but if you're willing to give it the time then it is certainly worth it.
First off, this book is definitely not for everyone. If you don't enjoy doing research for grand projects, learning about Medieval European history (with some Ottoman thrown in too), or love vampire lore enough to read any book pertaining to it, then this is not the story for you.
I understand why people keep on saying that this isn't a horror novel, but that doesn't change the fact that Kostova is damn good at setting the mood. The first half of this book has this persisting feeling of dread covering the events as they unfold, letting you know that the monster subject of the book or one of his minions could be waiting around the next corner to strike.
The characters are surprisingly well-realized for a book that is almost entirely told through second- and third-person flashbacks; the main exception is the narrator, but I hesitate to call her that because for all intents and purposes the main character is Paul, not his daughter. If you are hoping for a strong female character fear not, however, as Helen Rossi is very adept and competent in her and Paul's journey across Eurasia on the trail of Dracula (and she was absolutely my favourite character).
There are some weak points to the novel. Kostova loves to describe the scenery around the characters, be it well-preserved historic architecture or the sweeping landscapes that we travel through as we move form country to country; unfortunately there were times that I began skimming through it because it simply droned on and on and stopped adding anything to the story about halfway through. And I'm sure even the most eager historians will have trouble getting through some of the more dragging parts. Sometimes the formatting was also confusing, and I wish that the story had simply resorted to stating the narrator at the beginning of each chapter instead of requiring the reader to make note of how many quotation marks were surrounding the text.
All-in-all this was a very well-thought-out vampire novel. Not for the faint of heart, but if you're willing to give it the time then it is certainly worth it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Death
angelicathebookworm's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
informative
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Sometimes I pick my next read depending on what genre I’m drawn towards, and it’s not difficult to guess what my genre of choice was when The Historian caught my eye. Kostova’s debut novel is no doubt the book to read if you’re craving a research-heavy historical fiction—particularly if you’re passionate about 15th Century European history and Dracula lore.
The Historian is a lengthy, slow-burning type of novel. While that may not be to every reader’s taste, it’s also not a book that should be easily dismissed. The meticulous attention displayed in the historical and geographical details, coupled with the depiction of a Dracula unlike most others, makes for a fascinating read. Kostova’s thorough descriptions of the cities, in particular, are so immersive that they would ignite anyone’s wanderlust, and will make you forget about the characters’ peril.
While I found Kostova’s writing to be a joy to read, the lack of depth found in many of the characters made meant they had faded into the narrative. There were times where I couldn’t figure out who was speaking because the voices seemed so similar, especially noticeable when reading the different letters, which took me out of the story many times. The only character that was well developed, and partly why she was my favourite, is Helen, the mysterious woman Paul meets during his journey. While many of the other characters are less memorable, Helen is a witty, stubborn and self-reliant individual, even when facing death which made the novel much more compelling.
The biggest issue I had with this novel was the final resolution. Kostova’s detail throughout was my favourite part of the book, but the denouement happened so quickly that I had to re-read the short passage several times until it really sank in. After reading everything up to that point and appreciating the building of suspense and vivid detail, I felt slightly cheated. Even with the final revelation in the last few pages, for me it did not make up for the disappointment I felt when I read the novel’s pinnacle moment.
I believe that there are many different types of reader that would enjoy this novel. In terms of its classification as a thriller, readers who enjoy lower levels of suspense distributed throughout a narrative, rather than something more gruesome, would enjoy Kostova’s novel. If you prefer fast-paced, high action, extremely thrilling scenarios then this isn’t the novel to read. The ideal readers, though, are those that have such an appreciation for the study of history and everything that encompasses, and not just the period of time that Kostova explores. While I did enjoy many things about The Historian, it’s the lack of passion I have on the subject of History that makes me hesitate to read this lengthy novel again.
For more reviews like this one, go to https://angelicacastilloking.wordpress.com/
The Historian is a lengthy, slow-burning type of novel. While that may not be to every reader’s taste, it’s also not a book that should be easily dismissed. The meticulous attention displayed in the historical and geographical details, coupled with the depiction of a Dracula unlike most others, makes for a fascinating read. Kostova’s thorough descriptions of the cities, in particular, are so immersive that they would ignite anyone’s wanderlust, and will make you forget about the characters’ peril.
While I found Kostova’s writing to be a joy to read, the lack of depth found in many of the characters made meant they had faded into the narrative. There were times where I couldn’t figure out who was speaking because the voices seemed so similar, especially noticeable when reading the different letters, which took me out of the story many times. The only character that was well developed, and partly why she was my favourite, is Helen, the mysterious woman Paul meets during his journey. While many of the other characters are less memorable, Helen is a witty, stubborn and self-reliant individual, even when facing death which made the novel much more compelling.
The biggest issue I had with this novel was the final resolution. Kostova’s detail throughout was my favourite part of the book, but the denouement happened so quickly that I had to re-read the short passage several times until it really sank in. After reading everything up to that point and appreciating the building of suspense and vivid detail, I felt slightly cheated. Even with the final revelation in the last few pages, for me it did not make up for the disappointment I felt when I read the novel’s pinnacle moment.
I believe that there are many different types of reader that would enjoy this novel. In terms of its classification as a thriller, readers who enjoy lower levels of suspense distributed throughout a narrative, rather than something more gruesome, would enjoy Kostova’s novel. If you prefer fast-paced, high action, extremely thrilling scenarios then this isn’t the novel to read. The ideal readers, though, are those that have such an appreciation for the study of history and everything that encompasses, and not just the period of time that Kostova explores. While I did enjoy many things about The Historian, it’s the lack of passion I have on the subject of History that makes me hesitate to read this lengthy novel again.
For more reviews like this one, go to https://angelicacastilloking.wordpress.com/
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Blood, Body horror, and Gore
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