Scan barcode
bookbelle5_17's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Review of The Historian
By: Elizabeth Kostova
Our unnamed narrator is following in her father’s, Paul, footsteps by becoming a historian. She discovers a book with a dragon on it and a note from her father’s old mentor, Bartholomew Rossi, who believed he had a come across knowledge that Dracula is still alive. After Rossi disappeared, Paul goes in search of him with help from a daughter Rossi never knew existed, Helen. In the present, Paul is telling our narrator that story and when he leaves to look for her mother, our narrator goes in search of him.
This novel mixes, the Dracula mythology and history of Vlad Dracul creating a nice blend of creepiness, suspense, and deep dives into the histories of Eastern Europe. I loved the exploration into the cultures and the superstitious beliefs of these countries. We have a lot of scenes with the characters go to libraries as they try to find answers, which is fun to read, and I liked the two other professors Paul meets. The scenes where they are doing research and going to these other countries is my favorite part. Helen Rossi is a fun and feisty female character and her emotional journey is engaging to read. She is the daughter of Rossi and she thinks he abandoned her mother. I liked our leads Paul and our narrator, who are likable and relatable. The vampire aspects aren’t as prominent, but you feel Dracula and his minions are the shadow looming in the background. It is a more literary version of a Dan Brown novel. The writing is cozy and comforting to read despite the dark story.
By: Elizabeth Kostova
Our unnamed narrator is following in her father’s, Paul, footsteps by becoming a historian. She discovers a book with a dragon on it and a note from her father’s old mentor, Bartholomew Rossi, who believed he had a come across knowledge that Dracula is still alive. After Rossi disappeared, Paul goes in search of him with help from a daughter Rossi never knew existed, Helen. In the present, Paul is telling our narrator that story and when he leaves to look for her mother, our narrator goes in search of him.
This novel mixes, the Dracula mythology and history of Vlad Dracul creating a nice blend of creepiness, suspense, and deep dives into the histories of Eastern Europe. I loved the exploration into the cultures and the superstitious beliefs of these countries. We have a lot of scenes with the characters go to libraries as they try to find answers, which is fun to read, and I liked the two other professors Paul meets. The scenes where they are doing research and going to these other countries is my favorite part. Helen Rossi is a fun and feisty female character and her emotional journey is engaging to read. She is the daughter of Rossi and she thinks he abandoned her mother. I liked our leads Paul and our narrator, who are likable and relatable. The vampire aspects aren’t as prominent, but you feel Dracula and his minions are the shadow looming in the background. It is a more literary version of a Dan Brown novel. The writing is cozy and comforting to read despite the dark story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, Body horror, Death of parent, Gore, Kidnapping, and Murder
laurenw's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
3.75
Wonderfully atmospheric, with beautiful descriptions of the travels within. It did, however, ramble on a tad too much. The layers of story within the story were intriguing, and the research element was enjoyable to read, but there were a few stories that could have perhaps been culled. Ultimately, a good read, especially if you already harboured an interest in Dracula and his ilk.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Violence, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Stalking, Abandonment, Blood, Torture, and War
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Terminal illness and Miscarriage
brimelick's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore and Violence
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
More...