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.
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My Take
Karen Essex had a brilliant idea and turned it into a great book. I loved the idea of Mina getting to 'set the record straight' and tell the story of (Bram Stoker's) Dracula from her point-of-view.
Mina claims that many facts were fabricated and wants to tell the real story of her love triangle with Johnathan Harker and the Count.
In this book, Mina shows herself to be strong, and also taking control of her destiny. I loved getting to know Mina's back story from her childhood. Through this retelling from Mina, we learn of the cruelty she experienced at the hands of her parents because they did not understand her and were afraid that she harbored evil inside of her.
Instead of giving spoilers, I will say that I enjoyed this book very much and found it to be a great read. There were times when I found myself fighting sleep because I wanted to keep reading!
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