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raemoore83's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
reedmorebooks's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
caidyn's review against another edition
While this was a lot of fun, I kept waiting for the plot to start. The name dropping of historical and fictional people bogged it down.
nikshelby's review against another edition
3.0
Please, don't read this if you are troubled by graphic scenes of gory murder and depravity. Beyond any other aspect, it is a tale of vampires - with all the attendant components. This includes the blood-soaked cruelty of those who subsist on consuming the living, not the misunderstood romantic tragic beauties who just want to be loved (perhaps one or two).
Please, read this if you are a fan of any, or all, of the following: Stoker's Dracula, any of that literary masterworks' predecessors or antecedents, social unrest against unjust political leadership, conspiracy theories immersed in Jack the Ripper facts, alternate historical fantasy or science-fiction, well-researched conglomerations of historical fiction, romantic heroes seeking truth and justice, the plethora of vampire entertainment offered over the last two hundred years (novels, plays, poetry, films, etc), detective mysteries and horror fiction, volatile Victorian society and culture, and plenty more components.
Newman created a self-described London "playground and minefield" of his favorite entertainment and history, and then invited us all to creep around its fog-smothered streets. It's the fun of a mashup (along the lines of "Frankenstein meets the Wolfman"), with an adult game of "Where's Waldo?" (yes, that is Oscar Wilde commenting on society, Elizabeth Bathory followed up with a mention of a character from "Blacula," alongside Stevenson's Dr. Jekyll, and a true serial-killer-victim. Spot-the Reference is a lively game on every page). Yet, it takes itself very seriously. I could not, in good conscience, call it a romp. No story replete with madness and flippant death could be.
As a years-long fan of the masterful classic, I found it fascinating. Stoker's Van Helsing described Dracula's project in Britain as to "become the father and furtherer of a new order of beings, whose road must lead through Death, not Life." This story is predicated on a world in which the small group of hunters did not succeed. If Dracula emerged from their encounter triumphant, what might have the subsequent society become? Newman aided the Count's rise to power, and the rise of revolutionary groups seeking his defeat. Set in 1888, anything feasibly possible is included, smashed together with a flourish.
(And no, Sherlock Holmes' couldn't solve the crimes of the stalker of women-of-the-night...he was locked in a concentration camp at the time).
Please, read this if you are a fan of any, or all, of the following: Stoker's Dracula, any of that literary masterworks' predecessors or antecedents, social unrest against unjust political leadership, conspiracy theories immersed in Jack the Ripper facts, alternate historical fantasy or science-fiction, well-researched conglomerations of historical fiction, romantic heroes seeking truth and justice, the plethora of vampire entertainment offered over the last two hundred years (novels, plays, poetry, films, etc), detective mysteries and horror fiction, volatile Victorian society and culture, and plenty more components.
Newman created a self-described London "playground and minefield" of his favorite entertainment and history, and then invited us all to creep around its fog-smothered streets. It's the fun of a mashup (along the lines of "Frankenstein meets the Wolfman"), with an adult game of "Where's Waldo?" (yes, that is Oscar Wilde commenting on society, Elizabeth Bathory followed up with a mention of a character from "Blacula," alongside Stevenson's Dr. Jekyll, and a true serial-killer-victim. Spot-the Reference is a lively game on every page). Yet, it takes itself very seriously. I could not, in good conscience, call it a romp. No story replete with madness and flippant death could be.
As a years-long fan of the masterful classic, I found it fascinating. Stoker's Van Helsing described Dracula's project in Britain as to "become the father and furtherer of a new order of beings, whose road must lead through Death, not Life." This story is predicated on a world in which the small group of hunters did not succeed. If Dracula emerged from their encounter triumphant, what might have the subsequent society become? Newman aided the Count's rise to power, and the rise of revolutionary groups seeking his defeat. Set in 1888, anything feasibly possible is included, smashed together with a flourish.
(And no, Sherlock Holmes' couldn't solve the crimes of the stalker of women-of-the-night...he was locked in a concentration camp at the time).
pedanticpenchant's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
spitzig's review against another edition
3.0
Basically, Van Helsing and friends failed back in the day. He took over England.
Pretty good. Nothing to WOW me. But, a good treatment of public vampires as a political force. It wasn't written as a "Victorian Era style" novel, which I usually can't stand.
The world was wide and varied with its vampires. The historical changes were interesting. The character development was well done.
It did point out to me how badly Dracula failed in his mission in the original. He wanted to take over England, and he only managed to turn one girl into a vampire.
Pretty good. Nothing to WOW me. But, a good treatment of public vampires as a political force. It wasn't written as a "Victorian Era style" novel, which I usually can't stand.
The world was wide and varied with its vampires. The historical changes were interesting. The character development was well done.
It did point out to me how badly Dracula failed in his mission in the original. He wanted to take over England, and he only managed to turn one girl into a vampire.
duparker's review against another edition
3.0
Two and a half stars. It should say something that I finished this book a week ago, and just am now writing a review. I loved the idea, and liked the environment the story is set in, but never loved the story.
The premise works well, and the name dropping and character references are fun, but I just got bogged down by the drama and the fantasy. You really need to know vampires and what makes them tick to understand and enjoy this book fully. I don't know too much more than Salem's Lot and Dracula, so I think I missed out on the subtext that others might find enjoyable.
I do like historic fiction, and that was a draw to me for this book. It was solid, but secondary to the overall fantasy/horror elements.
The premise works well, and the name dropping and character references are fun, but I just got bogged down by the drama and the fantasy. You really need to know vampires and what makes them tick to understand and enjoy this book fully. I don't know too much more than Salem's Lot and Dracula, so I think I missed out on the subtext that others might find enjoyable.
I do like historic fiction, and that was a draw to me for this book. It was solid, but secondary to the overall fantasy/horror elements.
i_escape_2other_worlds's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
4.5
patchworkbunny's review against another edition
3.0
Dracula lives! He has infiltrated his way into court and taken his place beside Queen Victoria. Those who tried to destroy him are nothing more than shrivelled heads on the pikes outside the palace. Vampires are flooding London society. But in Whitechapel, someone is brutally slaying female vampires and it falls to ancient vampire Geneviève Dieudonné and Charles Beauregard of the infamous Diogenes Club to rid the streets of the killer.
I read Anno Dracula after signing up for a book club with the author, so the impending deadline may have affected my overall enjoyment. However it did take me a long time to get into the story; there are so many characters, even if many are familiar. I wouldn’t suggest reading this without having read Dracula, and quite recently (unless you are an uber fan). The characters aren’t just from Dracula, but other novels, either its contemporaries or set in the same timeline. The result is a rather interesting take on historical fiction, with the exception of Jack the Ripper, it’s a fiction based on fictional characters, rather than using persons of interest from history.
The book club discussion with Kim Newman was still interesting despite me not falling in love with the book. The piecing together of others’ fictional characters is clearly at the heart of this series and something Newman really enjoys. I asked about the decision to use Jack the Ripper, whether it was an interest in him or just the convenience of his place in history. The serial killer provides the backbone to the novel and also a timeline that allows the story to take place over several weeks.
I liked Geneviève’s story most of all and I wish she had more page space. She’s older than Dracula but hasn’t turned into a monster. She’s been hiding from humans most her long life (or death) but hasn’t turned against them. The relationship between her and Beauregard gives the novel a bit more of an emotional touch. My main quibble is that there’s just too much going on for anyone one thing to really shine.
Anno Dracula has turned into a series, but one where each book takes place in a different moment in time; something that can be done with vampires of course. There’s no need to keep within the lifetime of an average human. Newman did say that he would find it hard to set the next book in recent history; we don't have the same distance that allows a certain freedom in stories set further away. He has pondered a far future setting as well as moving East; perhaps bringing back that scary Chinese vampire assassin!
I read Anno Dracula after signing up for a book club with the author, so the impending deadline may have affected my overall enjoyment. However it did take me a long time to get into the story; there are so many characters, even if many are familiar. I wouldn’t suggest reading this without having read Dracula, and quite recently (unless you are an uber fan). The characters aren’t just from Dracula, but other novels, either its contemporaries or set in the same timeline. The result is a rather interesting take on historical fiction, with the exception of Jack the Ripper, it’s a fiction based on fictional characters, rather than using persons of interest from history.
The book club discussion with Kim Newman was still interesting despite me not falling in love with the book. The piecing together of others’ fictional characters is clearly at the heart of this series and something Newman really enjoys. I asked about the decision to use Jack the Ripper, whether it was an interest in him or just the convenience of his place in history. The serial killer provides the backbone to the novel and also a timeline that allows the story to take place over several weeks.
I liked Geneviève’s story most of all and I wish she had more page space. She’s older than Dracula but hasn’t turned into a monster. She’s been hiding from humans most her long life (or death) but hasn’t turned against them. The relationship between her and Beauregard gives the novel a bit more of an emotional touch. My main quibble is that there’s just too much going on for anyone one thing to really shine.
Anno Dracula has turned into a series, but one where each book takes place in a different moment in time; something that can be done with vampires of course. There’s no need to keep within the lifetime of an average human. Newman did say that he would find it hard to set the next book in recent history; we don't have the same distance that allows a certain freedom in stories set further away. He has pondered a far future setting as well as moving East; perhaps bringing back that scary Chinese vampire assassin!
emmahayward's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0