Right now I'm on the last third of Anno Dracula. Originally published in 1992, (I purchased a pristine used hardcover copy), the book was reissued this year.
It's an intriguing mash up of alternative Victorian history, horror, crime thriller featuring Jack the Ripper preying of vampire streetwalkers and, in the latter portions of the book, romance. Figures from Victorian history and period literature fill the supporting roles. The book is based upon premise that Van Helsing failed to destroy Dracula a/k/a Vald Tepes, who went onto marry Queen Victoria and impose a police state in Victorian England harkening back to the Middle Ages. London is torn between warms (humans) and vampires, which range from the bloodthirsty Carpathian Guard, elders from various vampire bloodlines and new-born ranging from the titled upper classes to the lowliest drudge.
At first the prose is dense and slightly antiquated, but that's only because the book starts out with letter authored by Dracula and the thoughts of a man who later becomes known as Jack the Ripper. In a very short time, the two main characters engage the reader. They are Charles Beauregard, an undercover human agent for the Crown who reports to a shadowy Diogenes Club cabal, and Geneviève Dieudonné, a vampire elder doing charity work at an East End clinic. Born in 1462 Brittany, Dieudonné is asked by vampire elements at Scotland to become involved in the murders. Beuregard and Dieudonné investigate the Ripper murders separately, but eventually meet and collaborate.
In addition, the range of supporting historical and literary characters is quite amusing; the London backdrop, (from fog shrouded streets to upper-class parlors to bawdy inns), is meticulous and vivid; the descriptions of the bloody murders and the Ripper himself are fascinating; and, the descriptions of various vampires from the grave polluted line of Vlad Tepes are surreal and entrancing. Plus, the interplay between humans and vampires is complex and entertaining.
I have yet to finish the book, but it's shaping up to be unforgettable read. If you like vampires and the Victorian time period, this is a must read.
I've decided to actually read some of the books I've downloaded in the past 9 months instead of purchasing yet another new one. Crazy talk, I know. (LOL!)
Anyway, I'm reading this one now, which I think was a freebie a couple of months ago- but I can't keep them all straight. I have an addiction to downloading Nook Books; it's really quite pathetic- I just keep clicking that "download" button.
Anyway, I'm only 4 chapters in, but so far so good!
Sarah3973 wrote:I've decided to actually read some of the books I've downloaded in the past 9 months instead of purchasing yet another new one. Crazy talk, I know. (LOL!)
Anyway, I'm reading this one now, which I think was a freebie a couple of months ago- but I can't keep them all straight. I have an addiction to downloading Nook Books; it's really quite pathetic- I just keep clicking that "download" button.
Anyway, I'm only 4 chapters in, but so far so good!
Sarah,
I am guilty of download tons of books to my Nook. I belong to all kinds of groups that tell me about new epubs, my TBR pile on my nook and pc is as large as the one in my library!!
I finished up rereading Walking the Witch and finally started Spell Bound. I'm only a couple of chapters in, but Im having a hard time paying attention....I've had the news on pretty much all day.
I was looking through Amazon recommendations last night and saw this book.
Primal Law (Alpha Pack Series #1)
Has anyone read it? The reader reviews keep compairing it to Christine Feehan's Ghostwalker books, which is one of my faves.
And speaking of Feehan....anyone who reads her Dark series, check out her website. She's having a contest to guess who Zacarias' lifemate is. Who's the Heroine Contest
FaeryQueen wrote:I finished up rereading Walking the Witch and finally started Spell Bound. I'm only a couple of chapters in, but Im having a hard time paying attention....I've had the news on pretty much all day.
I was looking through Amazon recommendations last night and saw this book.
Primal Law (Alpha Pack Series #1)
Has anyone read it? The reader reviews keep compairing it to Christine Feehan's Ghostwalker books, which is one of my faves.
And speaking of Feehan....anyone who reads her Dark series, check out her website. She's having a contest to guess who Zacarias' lifemate is. Who's the Heroine Contest
i downloaded a sample of the book. I love Were books. Thanks for sharing 
kimba88 wrote:
FaeryQueen wrote:I finished up rereading Walking the Witch and finally started Spell Bound. I'm only a couple of chapters in, but Im having a hard time paying attention....I've had the news on pretty much all day.
I was looking through Amazon recommendations last night and saw this book.
Primal Law (Alpha Pack Series #1)
Has anyone read it? The reader reviews keep compairing it to Christine Feehan's Ghostwalker books, which is one of my faves.
And speaking of Feehan....anyone who reads her Dark series, check out her website. She's having a contest to guess who Zacarias' lifemate is. Who's the Heroine Contest
i downloaded a sample of the book. I love Were books. Thanks for sharing
I haven't read it, but just put it on my wish list. Sounds like a good book. Were books are my favorite.
OMG........last week was the week from hell for me, Monday I had someone back into me in a parking lot and bent in the back door of my car
, Tuesday the insurance company totaled my car
, Wednesday we found out that they were only going to give us $2,000 for my car
, Thursday and Friday we spent the day in 100+ heat looking at new cars
, and Saturday I got to drive my new Ford Escape home from the dealership.
And I didn't get any reading done last week!!!! Now I am going to get to it!
jgmme wrote:OMG........last week was the week from hell for me, Monday I had someone back into me in a parking lot and bent in the back door of my car
And I didn't get any reading done last week!!!! Now I am going to get to it!
I think we would all agree you deserve a book spending spree...GO SHOP and read all your troubles away
I was feeling the pressure to read this series, and now I'm on Poltergeist (Greywalker Series #2) ! It's pretty good, but in all honesty, hasn't completed hooked me yet (in other words, I don't feel like I'm going through drug withdrawals when I have to put the books down to go to work). I'll keep reading though, definitely enjoyable, don't get me wrong! I may be eating my words soon...
ThirstyFlea wrote:
I was feeling the pressure to read this series, and now I'm on Poltergeist (Greywalker Series #2) ! It's pretty good, but in all honesty, hasn't completed hooked me yet (in other words, I don't feel like I'm going through drug withdrawals when I have to put the books down to go to work). I'll keep reading though, definitely enjoyable, don't get me wrong! I may be eating my words soon...
Keep reading!
I'm half-way through Wasteland by Lynn Rush. It hasn't hit the nook yet, but it's a great story. I just finished
Blood of the Demon (Demons of Infernum, #1)
What a great book!
jgmme wrote:OMG........last week was the week from hell for me, Monday I had someone back into me in a parking lot and bent in the back door of my car
And I didn't get any reading done last week!!!! Now I am going to get to it!
That sucks! I'm sorry to hear about that. I agree with Kimba88, you deserve to go book shopping for a pick me up.
ThirstyFlea wrote:I was feeling the pressure to read this series, and now I'm on Poltergeist (Greywalker Series #2) ! It's pretty good, but in all honesty, hasn't completed hooked me yet (in other words, I don't feel like I'm going through drug withdrawals when I have to put the books down to go to work). I'll keep reading though, definitely enjoyable, don't get me wrong! I may be eating my words soon...
nom, nom, nom!!!
I'm on the last 25 pages of
It's a superb adventure filled with swashbuckling action with romantic scenes. Like it's predessor, it's composed of multiple story lines that follow the experiences of key characters including the protagonists, Princess Adele and the Greyfriar. Actually, the Greyfriar's experiences seemed secondary to Adele's in this book. In a very large way this book is dedicated to the growth of Adele's character. The Greyfrar is still utterly engaging though. Maybe even more so because he loves her enough to put himself second and support her.
Decisive things happen in this book, but at times I felt as if the story lines dedicated to Adele and the Greyfriar retreated from the main conflict concerning the impending war. It's a good thing the book has multiple plot threads, because while Adele and Greyfriar retreat from the conflict, other characters are scheming to control Equitoria. And, I underestimated Cesare. His villainy comes out in this book with dastardly plots and human collaborators.
To me, the imagery in The Greyfriar (Vampire Empire, Book 1) was more vivid than the images of equatorial civilization and nature within this book. Further, the romance was more satisfying in this book but not quite as poignant as the first book. Nonetheless, this book is an entertaining continuation of the story.
P.S. I really loved the steadfast character of Colonel Anhalt in this book. He was a strong character in the first book as he rescued the prince, but he really shines in this book!
dalnewt wrote:
I'm on the last 25 pages of
It's a superb adventure filled with swashbuckling action with romantic scenes. Like it's predessor, it's composed of multiple story lines that follow the experiences of key characters including the protagonists, Princess Adele and the Greyfriar. Actually, the Greyfriar's experiences seemed secondary to Adele's in this book. In a very large way this book is dedicated to the growth of Adele's character. The Greyfrar is still an utterly engaging though. Maybe even more so because he loves her enough to put himself second and support her.
Decisive things happen in this book, but at times I felt as if the story lines dedicated to Adele and the Greyfriar retreated from the main conflict concerning the impending war. It's a good thing the book has multiple plot threads, because while Adele and Greyfriar retreat from the conflict, other characters are scheming to control Equitoria. And, I underestimated Cesare. His villainy comes out in this book with dastardly plots and human collaborators.
To me, the imagery in The Greyfriar (Vampire Empire, Book 1) was more vivid than the images of equatorial civilization and nature within this book. Further, the romance was more satisfying in this book but not quite as poignant as the first book. Nonetheless, this book is an entertaining continuation of the story.
P.S. I really loved the steadfast character of Colonel Anhalt in this book. He was a strong character in the first book as he rescued the prince, but he really shines in this book!
I sooooo can't wait to read this one!!!!!!
jgmme wrote:OMG........last week was the week from hell for me, Monday I had someone back into me in a parking lot and bent in the back door of my car
And I didn't get any reading done last week!!!! Now I am going to get to it!
OMG, you deserve a big break and a boatload of reading time
Glad no one was hurt and you got a new car okay
dalnewt wrote:I'm on the last 25 pages of
It's a superb adventure filled with swashbuckling action with romantic scenes. Like it's predessor, it's composed of multiple story lines that follow the experiences of key characters including the protagonists, Princess Adele and the Greyfriar. Actually, the Greyfriar's experiences seemed secondary to Adele's in this book. In a very large way this book is dedicated to the growth of Adele's character. The Greyfrar is still utterly engaging though. Maybe even more so because he loves her enough to put himself second and support her.
Decisive things happen in this book, but at times I felt as if the story lines dedicated to Adele and the Greyfriar retreated from the main conflict concerning the impending war. It's a good thing the book has multiple plot threads, because while Adele and Greyfriar retreat from the conflict, other characters are scheming to control Equitoria. And, I underestimated Cesare. His villainy comes out in this book with dastardly plots and human collaborators.
To me, the imagery in The Greyfriar (Vampire Empire, Book 1) was more vivid than the images of equatorial civilization and nature within this book. Further, the romance was more satisfying in this book but not quite as poignant as the first book. Nonetheless, this book is an entertaining continuation of the story.
P.S. I really loved the steadfast character of Colonel Anhalt in this book. He was a strong character in the first book as he rescued the prince, but he really shines in this book!
ditto
