Author: Karen EssexPublisher: Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group (paperback, July 2011)
From the shadowy banks of the river Thames to the wild and windswept Yorkshire coast, Dracula’s eternal muse, Mina Murray, vividly recounts the intimate details of what really transpired between her and the Count—the joys and terrors of a passionate affair that has linked them through the centuries, and her rebellion against her own frightening preternatural powers. Mina’s version of this Gothic vampire tale is a visceral journey into Victorian England’s dimly lit bedrooms, mist-filled cemeteries, and asylum chambers, revealing the dark secrets and mysteries locked within. Time falls away as she is swept into a mythical journey far beyond mortal comprehension, where she must finally make the decision she has been avoiding for almost a millennium. Bram Stoker’s classic novel offered one side of the story, in which Mina had no past and bore no responsibility for the unfolding events. Now, for the first time, the truth of Mina’s personal voyage, and of vampirism itself, is revealed. What this flesh and blood woman has to say is more sensual, more devious, and more enthralling than the Victorians could have expressed or perhaps even have imagined.
I have long been a fan of Bram Stoker's Dracula. So, when I was given the opportunity to read this book, I was excited to read Ms. Essex's take on the classic horror story. Dracula in Love is a sensual and erotic look into the relationship between Mina Harker and The Count. The premise is that Mina wants to tell the public what really happened. According to her, the story that was published by the "redheaded man" was not in anyway the true story. Here we find out more about why Dracula is obsessed with Mina and how that obsession has affected her whole life. The author explores a whole new side of Mina. I thought Mina was a much more interesting character in this book than in the original.
I also enjoyed the glimpse into the world of psychiatry in the late 1800s. Women who went against the Victorian views and wanted to explore their very natural and healthy sexual appetites were subjected to unspeakable torture. They were thought to be hysterical or crazy and needed to be cured. This part of the book had me cringing at times!
While I really enjoyed the book, I did think that it dragged a bit in a few places in the beginning. I am glad I stuck it out. I definitely recommend Dracula in Love. I think that fans of Gothic vampire tales with enjoy it was well.
Now for the Giveaway!!!! I have 5, yes, that is 5 paperback copies of this book to giveaway in honor of Ms. Essex's blog tour. Unfortunately, I can only open it to US readers. All you have to do is leave a comment with a valid email address to enter. If you tweet it or post it on Facebook, just leave me another comment with the link for an extra opportunity. This will end on August 7, 2011. Good Luck!!!!!
--Kari
About the author:
Karen is an award-winning novelist, journalist and screen writer. Her novels include the internationally best-selling Leonardo's Swans, Stealing Athena, and two novels on the queen of Egypt, Kleopatra and Pharoah.
Essex was born and raised in New Orleans. She was graduated from Tulane University, attended graduate school at Vanderbilt University, and received an MFA in Writing from Goddard College in Vermont. She’s appeared on The Today Show and A Word on Words hosted by John Seigenthaler, as well as other PBS and NPR programs. She’s lectured at the Chicago Museum of Art, and extensively at universities. Her books are taught in many college courses from creative writing to history to women’s studies.
Leonardo’s Swans, a runaway bestseller in Italy, won the prestigious 2007 Premio Roma for foreign fiction. Essex’s novels are published in twenty-seven languages. She lives in London.
Her blog: http://www.karenessex.com/bterlog/
* Note: I read a complimentary copy of Dracula in Love supplied courtesy of the author as part of her blog tour. I was not compensated in any way for this review. By receiving a complimentary copy, I am in no way obligated to write a good or bad review. I am an honest reviewer and my reviews are based on my own opinion and only written by me.*
