Wednesday, August 18, 2010

DRACULA IN LOVE: REVIEW AND BONUS ENTRIES

GIVEAWAY ENDED

DRACULA IN LOVE
BY KAREN ESSEX

EARLY PRAISE FOR THE BOOK:

"Dark, gothic, and utterly sensual, Dracula in Love is the novel for Twilight's grownup fans. The character of Mina Murray leaps from the pages in an extraordinary confession of what truly happened between her and Count Dracula. In this novel of forbidden desires and secrecy, purity is an overrated virtue."

—Michelle Moran, bestselling author of Nefertiti: A Novel

"Karen Essex turns the legendary tale of immortal love into a seductive, blood-tingling celebration of the senses; Mina Harker is a heroine for the ages—bold, intrepid, and in love with one of the most dangerous, irresistible men in history. If you read only one more vampire novel, let it be this one!"

-C.W. Gortner, author of The Last Queen & The Confessions of Catherine de Medici


MORE ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Karen Essex is the author of the historical novel STEALING ATHENA, which chronicles the fantastic journey of the controversial Elgin Marbles; the national and international bestseller LEONARDO'S SWANS, for which she won Italy's prestigious 2007 Premio Roma for foreign fiction; and two acclaimed biographical novels, KLEOPATRA and PHARAOH.

She is also an award winning journalist and a screenwriter, and wrote BETTIE PAGE: LIFE OF A PINUP LEGEND, the only authorized biography of the late pin-up icon.

Presently dividing her time between London and Los Angeles, she has researched and written her newest book, DRACULA IN LOVE, a Victorian Gothic novel. Karen invites friends and readers to follow along with her in her travels as she chronicles her adventures, joys, and sorrows in putting together a complex work of historical fiction: www.karenessex.com/blog. Also, please follow her on Twitter: www.Twitter.com/karenessex.

MY REVIEW:

In DRACULA IN LOVE, Karen Essex has given readers a Gothic adventure of a very well known character and put a new spin on it. Taking the characters from the classic Bram Stoker Dracula novel, she has used extensive research to write a seductive and beautifully crafted new version from a totally different point of view-that of the female, Mina Murray. In Stoker’s novel, Mina Murray is the traditionally proper Victorian fiancĂ© of Dracula’s lawyer, Jonathan Harker, and Mina becomes the innocent target of the Count’s evil act of revenge when he seduces her.

As Essex has the story told from Mina’s point of view, it takes on the feel of historical fiction with Mina being anything but naive as she was in the original tale. Instead, she is a young women haunted by visions and dreams that leave her confused yet eerily fascinated. The nighttime escapades have her drawn to someone she is afraid of, but also desires, and this creature seems to know her inner most wishes and fears.

Mina is a strong main character, as expertly portrayed by Essex, and that immediately drew me to her. She looks for answers to her nightmares by visiting an insane asylum where she comes in contact with Von Helsinger, a unsavory doctor who is experimenting with blood transfusions. He also happens to be fascinated with the feasibility that vampires exist. Other characters are introduced as we learn more about Mina including Jonathan Harker, already mentioned, as well as Lucy Westerna and journalist, Kate Reed. Kate again adding to the theme of strong women during the period when they were rarely written about.

Of course, Count Vladimir Drakulya is there but isn’t a strong physical presence until later in the story when Mira has had dealings with Dr. Von Helsinger and the evil Dr. Seward in the asylum. I found that the asylum section had the most shocking and horror filled scenes in the book. Count Drakulya seemed to be a more contemporary, tolerant, and stable personality in contrast to the other males. Essex clearly made the connection between Drakulya and Mina very powerful.

First to admit, not one who is on the vampire, book reading band wagon, my relationship to all things vampire comes from the Bram Stoker Dracula. I enjoyed the alluring, fast moving plot that Karen Essex has written and this rather lengthy book seemed to go by in a flash. I found myself drawn to it, much like Mina to Dracula, and unable to tear myself away. The extensive research that Essex put into this book built for me a time and place, as well as characters, that I could fully believe in and relate to. It also made me wonder how many other classic characters could be presented from another point of view like this and hope some astute writer, like Karen Essex, may try their hand at it.

GIVEAWAY
BONUS ENTRIES

THANKS TO ADRIENNE AND FOLKS
AT RANDOM HOUSE PUBLISHING,
I HAVE 3 COPIES OF THIS AMAZING
BOOK TO GIVE AWAY. HERE IS WHAT
YOU NEED TO DO TO WIN A COPY!




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GOOD LUCK

51 comments:

Steph said...

I would really love to see Dracula and mina's relationship in a different light. different point of views are always interesting!
stephanie_xoxo27(at)yahoo(dot)com

Unknown said...

I am an email subscriber and follower. I really want to read this book. I love vampire books. I never read Bram Stroker's Dracula but I am planning on reading that one also. This sounds like a really good book. Tore923@aol.com

Lisa Richards/alterlisa said...

The New York Post has named Dracula in Love Required Reading


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Lisa Richards/alterlisa said...

I am an email subscriber and also a follower on GFC.

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traveler said...

I am interested in reading this unique approach to this novel. thanks. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

petite said...

A Dracula book written from this perspective would be different and lovely. rojosho(at)hotmail(dot)com

Sarah said...

Thank you for the chance to win!

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Sarah said...

I like that her books are published in 27 languages:)

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Sarah said...

I am a email follower.

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Sarah said...

I am a google follower.

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Anonymous said...

Hi! This book sounds interesting to read. I was amazed to read about how the author is very versatile with her writing. She has written a book on Cleopatra and anything involving Egypt fascinates me. :)

Connie
connie_bryant@hotmail.com

Anonymous said...

Hi! I follow your blog by email.
:)

Connie
connie_bryant@hotmail.com

Linda Kish said...

GFC follower

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

Her novels have been published in 27 different languages.

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Jenna said...

I am a GFC follower

papajm25{AT}gmail{DOT}com

Jenna said...

Totally love the way she wrote it... Mina breaks her silence!! :) Its neat

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Jenna said...

Im entered in No Way Down

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bison61 said...

the view from Sari's world said that Dracula in Love is A must read for everyone. I love vampire books!

tiramisu392 (at) yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

I found out on her website that she not only writes books, but she also adapted Anne Rice’s novel The Mummy or Ramses the Damned into a screenplay for Titanic director James Cameron, has written a screenplay about the first king of Hawaii for Columbia/Tristar, and has written a dance movie for Jennifer Lopez.

peacelily_2006(at)yahoo(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I am a follower via GFC.
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Anonymous said...

I subscribe with Google Reader.
peacelily_2006(at)yahoo(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I subscribe by email.
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Linda Henderson said...

I found it interesting that the New York Post named Dracula In Love required reading, that's a good endorsement.

seriousreader at live dot com

Linda Henderson said...

I follow on GFC.

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Linda Henderson said...

I like you on Facebook as myself.

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Linda Henderson said...

I follow you on Twitter as BookOwner.

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Linda Henderson said...

I subscribe via email.

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Linda Henderson said...

I follow via Networked Blogs.

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Sarah said...

I tweeted @happymama82

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dag888888 said...

Ksren Essex has written a screenplay about King Kamehameha, cool!

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dag888888 said...

Google follower!

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donnas said...

Great review!

I follow though GFC

bacchus76 at myself dot com

Pamela Keener said...

On Essex's blog I learned that Mina refused to appear on the pages as the writer imagined her & came forth with a personality all her own. That part of the writing process intrigues me.
Love & Hugs,
Pam
pk4290(at)comcast(dot)net

Pamela Keener said...

I follow your blog via GFC.
Love & Hugs,
Pam
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Pamela Keener said...

I follow your blog via Google Reader.
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Pam
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Pamela Keener said...

I subscribe to your blog via e-mail.
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Pamela Keener said...

I like Bookin w/Bingo on FB/Pam Keener.
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Lisanne624 said...

Wow, I was interestedt to read that Karen Essex lives in London (so jealous!) and that it took 43 months to write the book! I'm sure the hard work shines through!

lahlstedt (at) gmail (dot) com

Lisanne624 said...

I'm a Google Friend follower (Lisanne624).

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I entered "The Body Shop" giveaway!

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