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moto1480's review against another edition
5.0
I love this series so much. Dark and bloody, an alternate history where Dracula remains a world force and vampires both good and evil walk the earth is just what you need for a fun weekend read. Fictional characters and historical people collide in the battlegrounds of WWI, led by the famous Baron Von Richthofen. Several points of view are presented of both civilian and soldier, and although the book is based off a ludicrous premise, the writing manages to capture the weariness of war and the physical and emotional that the participants felt in an accurate manner. The short story at the end of the book was a light aperitif after all the death and destruction of the previous 300+ pages. Read this book if you like vampires, alternate history, or dark humor.
arfserra's review against another edition
3.0
I don't care for 1st world war settings, just as I didn't care for Victorian settings, but the addition of vampires and popular characters from literature made this alt history series entertaining.
bethsbooketlist's review against another edition
4.0
BQ ✒ - "He should pity the short lived warmkind; they could never know what it was to master the skies, to taste the blood of a foe, to drink the light of the moon"
I read Anno Dracula last year for the first time and fell in love with Kim Newman's world. This was the follow up and it did not dissapoint!
1.✔I primarily fell in love with Newman's blend of fictional and historic characters within a notable historic period (history being bended to accommodate the reign of Dracula). This is a very different setting to the first book. Before it was set during Jack the Ripper's London. This book was set during WW1 specifically focussing on the war in the sky. Kim Newman has really done his research on the time period to an outstanding degree, mixing successfully history with fantastical elements.
2.✔I loved the return of favourite characters such as Charles Beauregard amongst new introductions such as Edgar Allen Poe. Newman always has a large amount of characters simultaously moving through his writing, but he gives each the development they deserve to allow the reader to become attached and engrossed. Some authors find this difficult with so many characters, but not Newman!
3 ✔I enjoyed the novella at the end bringing back the much loved Genevieve into the world of Newman. The novella "Vampire Romance" was a lot more fun and lighthearted then the main book, which was a nice change from the heavy epic war tale just told
Overall, a fun read that I recommend for those that love historical/fantasy fiction blends !
I read Anno Dracula last year for the first time and fell in love with Kim Newman's world. This was the follow up and it did not dissapoint!
1.✔I primarily fell in love with Newman's blend of fictional and historic characters within a notable historic period (history being bended to accommodate the reign of Dracula). This is a very different setting to the first book. Before it was set during Jack the Ripper's London. This book was set during WW1 specifically focussing on the war in the sky. Kim Newman has really done his research on the time period to an outstanding degree, mixing successfully history with fantastical elements.
2.✔I loved the return of favourite characters such as Charles Beauregard amongst new introductions such as Edgar Allen Poe. Newman always has a large amount of characters simultaously moving through his writing, but he gives each the development they deserve to allow the reader to become attached and engrossed. Some authors find this difficult with so many characters, but not Newman!
3 ✔I enjoyed the novella at the end bringing back the much loved Genevieve into the world of Newman. The novella "Vampire Romance" was a lot more fun and lighthearted then the main book, which was a nice change from the heavy epic war tale just told
Overall, a fun read that I recommend for those that love historical/fantasy fiction blends !
theartolater's review against another edition
3.0
Closer to a 3.5.
Anno Dracula was more of an alt-history than it initially let on, as the second book, THe Bloody Red Baron, is a sequel that takes place in Europe during World War I. Where vampires are fighting in the war.
Yeah.
It sounds more hokey than it actually ends up being, and I actually enjoyed this one a lot more than the first one, although it did suffer from similar flaws. The best parts, unsurprisingly, were the vampy parts as well as some of the dogfight scenes. I ultimately may have enjoyed this more because I have some interest in World War I on a whole.
Anno Dracula was more of an alt-history than it initially let on, as the second book, THe Bloody Red Baron, is a sequel that takes place in Europe during World War I. Where vampires are fighting in the war.
Yeah.
It sounds more hokey than it actually ends up being, and I actually enjoyed this one a lot more than the first one, although it did suffer from similar flaws. The best parts, unsurprisingly, were the vampy parts as well as some of the dogfight scenes. I ultimately may have enjoyed this more because I have some interest in World War I on a whole.
sammystarbuck's review against another edition
2.0
Didn't enjoy this one as much as the first one. Where the first was an alternate history Victorian murder mystery kind of affair, this one is more an alternate history WW 1/2 (The timeline would suggest WW1, but the whole "America looked to be joining the Germans until someone did something silly" thing would suggest WW2 instead.
Either way, not really my cup of tea.
Either way, not really my cup of tea.
reverenddave's review against another edition
2.0
This was on one of the front tables at Barnes and Noble and the premise of the Red Baron being a vampire piqued my curiosity enough to read a few pages. I spent a lot of this book trying to decide if I was enjoying it. I think for the most part I did though I definitely thought its big climax was a letdown.
Not having any particular interest in vampires (beyond the ones hunted by Abraham Lincoln) I have no allegiance to any particular set of 'rules' for vampire behavior/weaknesses etc. So I did enjoy seeing how the author crafted the world to combine vampires with WWI.
Not having any particular interest in vampires (beyond the ones hunted by Abraham Lincoln) I have no allegiance to any particular set of 'rules' for vampire behavior/weaknesses etc. So I did enjoy seeing how the author crafted the world to combine vampires with WWI.
zeirazeira's review against another edition
3.0
I received this book through a Goodreads giveaway.
This book had a slow start for me and I found it difficult to get into...with that said, once I was hooked, I was hooked. I loved how the author took liberties in using famous personalities and making them into vampires. It definitely gives one a spin on how you perceive them.
The plot was predictable as was the climax...perhaps that happens when you know your history and pick out main characters...but with that said, you may see a twist in the story that you may not have predicted.
I love the strong characters and the vivid descriptions Newman gives. It paints an excellent scene in the readers mind. It may not be easy to picture vampires and war but once you let yourself go with it, it becomes an enjoyable read.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Anno Dracula 1923: Vampire Romance
A delicious end to this book that holds its own. It's a murder mystery that is guaranteed to leave you wanting a sequel! I thoroughly enjoyed the pace of the tale and the reintroduction of Genevieve, Winthrop and Dravot.
This novella was a 5/5 for me as it moved along smoothly and had some unexpected twists.
This book had a slow start for me and I found it difficult to get into...with that said, once I was hooked, I was hooked. I loved how the author took liberties in using famous personalities and making them into vampires. It definitely gives one a spin on how you perceive them.
The plot was predictable as was the climax...perhaps that happens when you know your history and pick out main characters...but with that said, you may see a twist in the story that you may not have predicted.
I love the strong characters and the vivid descriptions Newman gives. It paints an excellent scene in the readers mind. It may not be easy to picture vampires and war but once you let yourself go with it, it becomes an enjoyable read.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Anno Dracula 1923: Vampire Romance
A delicious end to this book that holds its own. It's a murder mystery that is guaranteed to leave you wanting a sequel! I thoroughly enjoyed the pace of the tale and the reintroduction of Genevieve, Winthrop and Dravot.
This novella was a 5/5 for me as it moved along smoothly and had some unexpected twists.
linda_edwards's review against another edition
3.0
It took a long time to get into this book, about 200 pages. However, after that it got better and more interesting.
caroline_carnivorous's review against another edition
3.0
This book takes place during the first world war, so 30 years after the first book. We meet some of the characters from the first book.
I didn't like this one as much as I did the first one, as I'm not a fan of war-related things. I love the victorian age! But it was vampires, so it was ok. Now on to the next book!
I didn't like this one as much as I did the first one, as I'm not a fan of war-related things. I love the victorian age! But it was vampires, so it was ok. Now on to the next book!