The prequel to Dracula, inspired by notes and texts left behind by the author of the classic novel, Dracul is a supernatural thriller that reveals not only Dracula’s true origins but Bram Stoker’s—and the tale of the enigmatic woman who connects them.It is 1868, and a twenty-one-year-old Bram Stoker waits in a desolate tower to face an indescribable evil. Armed only with crucifixes, holy water, … only with crucifixes, holy water, and a rifle, he prays to survive a single night, the longest of his life. Desperate to record what he has witnessed, Bram scribbles down the events that led him here…
A sickly child, Bram spent his early days bedridden in his parents’ Dublin home, tended to by his caretaker, a young woman named Ellen Crone. When a string of strange deaths occur in a nearby town, Bram and his sister Matilda detect a pattern of bizarre behavior by Ellen—a mystery that deepens chillingly until Ellen vanishes suddenly from their lives. Years later, Matilda returns from studying in Paris to tell Bram the news that she has seen Ellen—and that the nightmare they’ve thought long ended is only beginning.
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A compelling, deep, dark drama about Dracula’s origin. Even I had to keep the lights on when reading this book!
Scary as hell. Gothic as decay. Dracul will have you checking over your shoulder, under your bed, and up on the ceiling, too. All while wondering about the contents of every crate and oblong box you see.
Reading Dracul is like watching a classic vampire film. Bram Stoker lives! Dracula lives! Horror lives on nearly every page. A terrifying read that gave me hours of fun.
Am very nearly done with this novel by one of Bram Stoker’s relatives. Not at all what I was expecting. Psychologically disturbing with characters that are so real the reader feels like she knows them. A different kind of vampire novel that will bring to mind the reader’s own worst fears. Couldn’t wait to pick it back up at night.
Brilliant. Dracul pumps fresh blood into the vampire genre by telling the story of the man who started it all—Bram Stoker. And what a story! A grand adventure that contains all the literary playfulness and mounting dread of the original Dracula. It gave me chills.
Dracula was the first horror story I read as a teenager. It scared me but I loved the story. The way it sucked you in and left you shivering in a drafty castle, though whether you shivered from the chill or from fear you could not say. It remains a favorite of mine. When I came across Dracul and learned it was written by a descendant of Bram Stoker, I was so excited to read it. It did not disappoint me at all. I loved going back to the atmosphere of terror yet a longing to know the story completely. I was enchanted once again. The book travels through time, location and journal entries. There is more than one POV. I was afraid I would get lost but it all came together beautifully. I was spellbound each time I picked it up to read further. Bram’s childhood had gripped me from the start and I kept wondering what he was. Matilda, I loved this brave, loyal sister. Nanna Ellen intrigued and frightened me. Their story will not be forgotten. For me, it has its place next to Dracula.
What was most intriguing for me was the basis of the story, which was inspired by notes and texts associated with the classic Bram Stoker novel. I was just as intrigued by the Authors Notes as I was the story, including the manner in which Bram Stoker published his classic novel. Very interesting reading. Very interesting, indeed!
My rating on Dracul is Five out of Five stars. My expectations were not only met they were exceeded. Dacre Stoker and JD Barker (who, thanks to this novel I’ve recently discovered. Reading Forsaken as this is written and loving it), have weaved together a classic vampire novel. Fact is stranger than fiction, but then again, fiction is the best way to hide truth in plain sight.
This prequel by Dacre Stoker and J.D. Barker captures the style and mood of Bram Stoker’s Dracula, perfectly. I highly recommend listening to the audiobook, performed by a full cast led by Pete Bradbury and Vikas Adam.
It’s rare that I purchase a book at full price, but after reading an excerpt from Dracul, that’s exactly what I did. Chilling with an understated elegance that slowly and thoroughly seeps beneath the skin, Dracul was eerily reminiscent of its ancestor, and just as effectively and expertly set forth the story. Chapters alternate between the protagonist’s sickly childhood and the novel’s present, which seems to be a mechanism much in favor with authors these days ( as is alternating POV), but it manages to effectively relay the necessary backstory at minimum annoyance, and readers will not find these shifts in time confusing—although on a personal note, I will be glad to say goodbye to these 2 stylistic literary fads! Discerning readers will find Dracul to be well written and satisfying, and of a sufficient scope to endure as its predecessor, Dracula. A rare 5 stars in an era when too many stories have no more substance or potential relevance than the routine text message!
I simply could not put this down. Wonderful writing, fantastic storyline.
An exhilarating fever dream of creeping dread and dark adventure. Reading Dracul is like stepping into a time machine and traveling back to a shadowy landscape ruled by nightmares. I devoured it in two sittings and was delighted and chilled with every turn of the page. You will be, too.
Some people read about zombies, others are into ghost stories. Me? I am a long-time fan of the vampire tale. I collected books based the trope until romance writers attempted to co-opt the trope and co-opt it badly. There was a time when my goal was to own every vampire novel and short story ever written. As I got older, I revised my expectations.
Let’s imagine word association between you and me. I say “Bram Stoker.” You reply with “Dracula.” I say :Dracula.” You reply with “vampire.” These would be instantaneous responses because you have read the book, seen a stage play, or watched a movie starring the infamous vampire. Although DRACULA is not the first novel written about the undead, it is probably the most recognized by the general public. The definitive story is contained in the novel. The movies and stage plays take liberties to meet time and space constraints. They also add bits to Bram Stoker’s original vampire mythos.
DRACUL is more a biography of Bram Stoker, more of a history of his family, than it is a re-writing of DRACULA. Even a cursory Google search of ‘Bram Stoker’ will confirm that he did indeed have a brother Thornley and a sister Mathilda (although that was her middle, not first, name).
Vampire tales have rules, a mythos to which authors must, at least loosely, adhere. The only way to kill a vampire is with a stake through the heart. Vampires cannot live in sunlight. Vampires must sleep on their native earth. All of these ideas are subject to change as you read the works of different authors. The mythos of the vampire is a fascination of mine. I look for variations with each new book, each new author, each new series about the blood-drinking undead. DRACUL does not disappoint. The things the undead can do in this book vary just enough from the original novel to make it quite unique. Written in the form of journal entries made by some of the characters, and letters by another, it harkens back to DRACULA whose tale is told through the journal entries of Jonathan Harker. In both cases, we are led to believe that as far-fetched as it may seem, the stories are completely true. This truth lies in the conviction each journal exhibits.
For this serious collector of vampire tales, this book is a must. For anyone who has read DRACULA, DRACUL provides insight into the mind of Bram Stoker. Yes, I know that both books are fiction, that vampires are not real, but to suspend disbelief affords a glimpse of what might be.
On the downside (a very small downside), I will say that there is a word or two, here and there in DRACUL, that is too modern. Today’s reader might not even notice these literary faux pas, but, when such care has been given the overall work, to me they stood out like beacons.
The best of the best and destined to become a horror classic.
I found this book to be incredibly haunting and original. I simply could not wait to see what the authors had in store for me next. It was unlike anything I could have expected and I cannot say enough times that if you are a fan of Dracula and gothic horror, it is a must-read.
Ingenious and at times heart-stopping prequel to Stoker’s Dracula. Cleverly written and chilling.
I was drawn to this book for one reason: the exquisite J.D. Barker was involved. This book is masterfully crafted! It’s presented in such a way that I am now a fan of this genre. I relished everything about this edgy book: it is a spine-tingling, edge of your seat story written in gorgeous prose. It is such a good story that it makes the implausible plausible; the characters are fully-realized, and it is an intelligent read in that it has elements of a psychological thriller. Action-packed, suspenseful, highly unusual and a page-turner, Dracul has it all. Well-worth the read!
Read the original first as it started it all. I love the dracula story and have read a ton of books on vampires. This was pretty good. Best I’ve ever read is Slave to the Blood…not sure of Author. It based on the fact that Lord Byron was thought to be a vampire back in the day……due to fact he did not seem to age, etc. IT is a great concept and really well written, but this is good too and t hey tried to stay true to the Bram Stoker original.
“Won’t you stay and play with me?”
Is there nothing that J.D. Barker touches that isn’t purely sensational? If you read the author’s notes, you’ll find that this story bears truth. What Dacre Stoker and J.D. Barker have done here is tell a story that has been long buried. These are events that Bram Stoker himself has stated to be factual. It’s said that Dracula was never meant to be a work of fiction, but rather a warning… an ominous warning for all.
“The peculiarities of Ellen Crone. That is, of course, where I should start, for this is as much her story as it is mine, perhaps more so. This woman, this monster, this wraith, this friend, this… being.”
In the prequel of Dracula, Dracul, we learn of young Bram Stoker and his family. We learn of the beginning, when the evil and the undead entered the Stoker family in the form of his nanny, Nanny Ellen Crone. From Bram’s birth he was afflicted with an illness, one that was sure to be fatal, yet years go by and Bram is still with the Stoker family. It’s very clear early in the novel that the beloved Nanny Ellen, while always endearing, is harboring many disturbing secrets. It’s not until Bram takes a turn for the worse and is suddenly brought back from the brink of death that Bram and his older sister, Matilda begin to question exactly how Nanny Ellen may be involved. I have to be honest, at the young ages of seven and eight I found their inquisitive nature to remind me a lot of Colin and Mary from The Secret Garden. There was something very endearing about their relationship. It’s soon clear to Bram and Matilda that Nanny Ellen is different, she is unholy. As the children begin to get closer to the truths of Nanny Ellen, she mysteriously leaves into the night.
Years pass, and the children have grown. While Nanny Ellen may have left them, she has never been far from their minds. The mysteries surrounding her, always rising to the surface of their thoughts. For Ellen, she too has never forgotten the children, always keeping a close eye on them. Protecting them from afar, because what they don’t realize, something evil lurks about, something evil that wishes to do them all harm.
As the story unfolds, we learn of Ellen’s tragic past, and why Dracula has been hunting her all these years. The Stoker family finds themselves caught up in a love triangle with grave consequences. While it may seem cliché, the heart wants what it wants. You can’t force love.
Some could argue that for the time period the writing may appear too modern, but to heck with that. I for one appreciated that while Stoker and Barker kept many things factual for the time period, they told the story in such a way that would appeal to today’s readers. The journal entries were enlightening and told the story… rather than offering ramblings that add nothing to the storyline as you might often see with older literature. Barker has a knack for epistolary novelization though, which is why I think Dacre made an excellent choice when selecting Barker as his co-author when writing this novel.
Let us consider that this is based on true events, given that, I found that the level of suspense was spot on. It wasn’t over the top with fiction, it was terrifying at times because you could imagine living in that fear.
“The ring of a little bell came from my left, and I spun to meet the sound. I was faced with nine occupied beds. My eyes quickly followed the strings tied to the hand of each body to the little bell hanging above each bed, but none betrayed the stillness. Another bell sounded, this one behind me, and I spun yet again only to find more motionless beds, more bodies lying in wait. Another bell rang out at my right, then two more on my left, more yet behind me. Within moments, the room came alive with dozens of chimes, all ringing out louder and louder. I threw my hands upon my ears and spun in circles, for the sound grew horribly loud; bells, bells, all around.”
For the time period, this would have been anyone’s greatest fears inside a morgue without a doubt!
I could go on and on about how excellently written this novel is, but I’ll stop, I think I’ve rambled on enough. Do yourselves a favor and just read it already!
I want to thank NetGalley, Penguin Group Putnam, Dacre Stoker, and J.D. Barker for allowing me the opportunity to read this wonderfully written novel in exchange for my review.
Deliciously gloomy, wonderfully eerie; it was a pleasure to take a look at the early life of Bram as retold by Dacre, alongside Barker. It read like a companion novel to the classic Dracula, as if written in the same time and place.
Excellent–one of my favorite reads of 2018.
For those who feel Bram Stoker’s “Dracula” inspired creation of the ‘horror’ genre, his great grandnephew has written an amazing book. Fast paced and somewhat similar to the original diary style, it becomes clear this carefully crafted and researched story could easily have led to Bram’s classic. We learn of the Dublin Stoker family’s nanny, Ellen Crone, whose impact on Bram and his siblings was unusual in ways none could understand nor fathom. Bram’s sister, Matlida, is so enthralled with Ellen it leads them on a journey where they encounter the ‘vampyr’ whose powers are far reaching, his respect for humans, nil. While I generally don’t read horror genre due to overuse of gore and violence, Dacre uses just enough to keep us engaged with a dab of spine chilling. It’s important to read the Epilogue where he inserts actual images of manuscript notes taken by Bram Stoker and other important facts. Being a descendant, he’s well within his rights to state facts. I’ve decided to re-read to the original “Dracula” and as well as Dacre’s previous book. Highly recommended in all respects!