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alex_blackveil's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
It is a collection of journal entries, mostly, describing the first of Jonathan Harker's encounter with the Count, the latter's “invasion” in UK, Lucy's sickness and death and the hunt for his head by Dr Van Helsing and his new friends that the Count had hurt so much.
It's written, mainly, from Jonathan Harker, Dr Steward and Mina Harker's point of view. Count Dracula isn't as present as the title makes you think, but what is present is the pain and grief he's inflicting to the main characters, as well as the traits, characteristics and weaknesses of vampirism.
Much to my surprise, the hunt was only in the much later chapters and the fight lasted only a few pages.
My favourite character was Quincey Morris… I should see the ending coming, it's always the same with the characters I like…
Masterpiece for its time.
Be warned, he Vampire race described in this book has nothing to do with pop culture vampires. It's more on the superstitious and traditional side than the today's aesthetic one.
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Death
Moderate: Blood, Grief, Violence, Stalking, Child abuse, and Mental illness
Minor: Death of parent, Murder, and Child death
heatherb's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
Moderate: Sexism, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Mental illness, Blood, Animal death, Grief, Gun violence, Death, Medical trauma, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Forced institutionalization, Confinement, Classism, and Child death
tifftastic87's review against another edition
- 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
3.0
The characters however, have much more depth than I expected and it has made me question the later interpretation of some characters. If you are a horror fan and haven't read this one, I recommend putting it on your list just to understand some of the beginnings of our supernatural tales.
I do want to add that for the times Mina seems to be a particularly strong female character. The way she is described by the men is annoying "fair but having the brain of a man" but I understand that for the time that was likely a huge praise. It is her and Van Helsing that put it all together, find all the pieces and track down Dracula. Without her the men would have been lost and that is proved in a major plot point when they try to lock her away for her safety.
Graphic: Blood, Death, Mental illness, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Misogyny, Classism, Confinement, Forced institutionalization, and Sexism
Moderate: Ableism, Cannibalism, Medical content, Child abuse, Death of parent, Body horror, Terminal illness, Gaslighting, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
Minor: Alcohol, Animal death, Animal cruelty, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Colonisation, and Gun violence
elizabeth_henry's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Death, and Mental illness
thedandybrambler's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Grief, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Death, Drug use, Violence, Confinement, Excrement, Forced institutionalization, Murder, Blood, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gore, Mental illness, Vomit, Animal death, and Medical content
szel_zsofi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Death and Animal death
Moderate: Sexism, Animal cruelty, Violence, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Misogyny
appurusakura's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
Graphic: Animal death, Injury/Injury detail, Animal cruelty, Blood, Sexism, Forced institutionalization, Misogyny, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Body horror, Racial slurs, Violence, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gore, Medical content, Mental illness, and Death
Moderate: Racism, Slavery, Classism, Colonisation, Religious bigotry, Grief, Death of parent, Racial slurs, and Cursing
divine529's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
I read along with the Dracula Daily crew this time around and had an absolute blast reading it this way.
From the characters to the plot and overall story it's just a fantastic book on all fronts (as well as an excellent Gothic novel).
Definitely a book I'll revisit many times again.
Graphic: Drug use, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Medical trauma, Blood, Confinement, Death, Medical content, Mental illness, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Violence
Moderate: Misogyny, Alcohol, Sexism, and Animal death
Minor: Child death
melancholymegs's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Blood, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Kidnapping, Death of parent, Sexism, Stalking, and Misogyny
Minor: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Suicidal thoughts, and Grief
tmickey's review against another edition
- 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
3.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Gore, Death, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, and Blood
Moderate: Child abuse