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caidyn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Death, Abandonment, and Blood
rorikae's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The story twines between the story of a college student as she seeks to learn what happened to her father and his mentor as they searched for news about Vlad the Impaler and the legend of Dracula. It is mostly told through recollections that the daughter (and her father before her) have found, including letters, journals, and notes.
I’m quite conflicted about this book. I enjoyed it but I feel that the length is unnecessary (even though it is well paced). So much of this story is recollection that it feels very passive as other characters are doing things and the daughter’s story is really just a frame narrative. For the length of the book, it doesn’t feel like a great much happens, which is part of why I feel it could have been greatly cut down in length without sacrificing the story. There were some interesting revelations throughout the story, which I did enjoy. The ending was very quick (especially considering how long the book is). This is very much a book for people that want an academic focused but fictional look at Vlad the Impaler and legends of Dracula. Action is minimal but Kostova does a good job of keeping questions moving throughout the story in a way that pulls along the interest of the reader.
Important note: this book was published in 2005 and uses the slur for the Romani people multiple times.
Graphic: Violence and Blood
Moderate: Abandonment, Racial slurs, Death, Grief, and Car accident
Minor: Kidnapping and Confinement
internationalreads'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? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Murder, Violence, Blood, Gun violence, Abandonment, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Alcohol, Animal death, Grief, Medical content, and Miscarriage
laurenw's review
3.75
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Violence, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Stalking, Abandonment, Blood, Torture, and War
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Terminal illness and Miscarriage
theworstofit's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Body horror and Kidnapping
Minor: Abandonment, Death of parent, Miscarriage, and Pregnancy
maregred's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Moderate: Abandonment, Blood, Death, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, and Miscarriage
Minor: Animal death, Confinement, Gun violence, Islamophobia, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, Torture, Xenophobia, Violence, War, and Pregnancy
celbl8o's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Moderate: Abandonment, Animal death, Death, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Medical content, Murder, Stalking, Violence, and Racial slurs
Minor: Infertility, Miscarriage, and Pregnancy
prettiestwhistles'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? No
4.75
Graphic: Blood, Death, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Racial slurs, Abandonment, Islamophobia, Misogyny, Racism, Animal death, and Confinement
Minor: Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide attempt, Dementia, Sexism, Death of parent, Genocide, Miscarriage, Alcohol, and War
rini's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Abandonment, Blood, Car accident, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Racial slurs, Suicide attempt, and Violence