Scan barcode
damiscous'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? It's complicated
4.0
However, it is important to be mindful that the work was originally published in 1897. That being said , this work does contain "weak" women, some misogynistic ideals, and ideas of the time. The characters are, for the most part, enjoyable, and there's a splash of romance that does, of course, read in the devotedly sexist fashion of the 1800s, but, hey, they do give a woman a gun, so that's nice. The book is long and can be wordy, as most older books can be, but overall, a wonderful, chilling, classic work.
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Gore, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Misogyny
Minor: Racial slurs and Suicidal thoughts
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: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Gore, Mental illness, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Murder, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
rebecca_romeo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death, Blood, and Murder
chammonds327's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.5
Minor: Child death, Gore, Physical abuse, Blood, Murder, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
asourceoffiction's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I know about vampires, I've read and watched countless vampire stuff and I thought I knew the story of Dracula. But it turns out my assumptions (the creepy castle, the unwitting guest of a tall, pale and terrifying host) are literally all over in the first 100 pages, and there's so much more to follow. I love how the whole book is told through diary entries, letters and news articles; so when a character was idly wondering to themselves why a friend was looking a little pale with puncture wounds in her neck, I took great joy in screaming at the page, "It's a bloody vampire! For the love of god shut your window!"
I actually think I got more from this story in part because I hadn't previously seen any of the film adaptations, and in part because I did know a lot of the lore surrounding vampire stories. So there was surprise and tension but I could simultaneously take pleasure in being less ignorant than most of the characters.
Another assumption I'd made was that Van Helsing would be a dark, brooding and troubled character. But it turns out he's a cheerful delight, with a slightly dodgy grasp of the English language. He does tend to make some fairly grand speeches that slowed down my reading a bit, but I also completely fell in love with him and the ragtag group of men desperately trying to save the women they loved (who of course were often more astute than them).
It does all end rather abruptly, but mostly I was so pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed reading this book.
Graphic: Violence and Murder
Moderate: Child death
triangular_pascal's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Confinement, Death, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
paularize's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Confinement, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Racial slurs and Xenophobia
marigoldgem's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Confinement, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, and Kidnapping
forgetfulreader's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Body horror, Xenophobia, and Grief
Minor: Sexism
fjordpingvin's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Forced institutionalization, and Medical content
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Mental illness, Sexism, Xenophobia, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Gore, Suicide, Terminal illness, Antisemitism, Grief, and Murder