In this electrifying retelling of a classic tale, Mina Murray takes center stage, embarking on a dangerous adventure…London, 1890. Mina Murray once lived an adventurous life, but after a tragedy in the forests of Transylvania, she left it all behind. Now she has settled into a quiet routine as a schoolteacher in London, engaged to the respectable solicitor Jonathan Harker, attempting to fit … engaged to the respectable solicitor Jonathan Harker, attempting to fit into the stuffy upper class London society to which he belongs.
But when vampires abduct Jonathan, her dark past comes careening into her present. Determined to rescue him, she teams up with her former paramour Abraham Van Helsing and his colleague, Scotland Yard Inspector John Seward.
As they pursue Jonathan’s abductors from England to the Low Countries and beyond, Mina realizes that Jonathan’s abduction is tied to a larger threat against humanity…
The Mina Murray Series
The Beast of London (Book 1)
Fortress of Blood (Book 2)
Realm of Night (Book 3)
Mina Murray Series Bundle (Books 1-3)
more
What if?
Suppose it is Mina’s father who was the first British victim of the Vampire. Suppose that Jack the Ripper is actually the Vampire. Suppose that Jonathan Harker was abducted from a fashionable London ballroom by the Vampire and taken away to Transylvania and was followed by his fiancee Mina and Abraham Van Helsing. Well, read this and find out! A totally different perspective on the classic tale to be enjoyed on its own merit! Loved it!
Narrator Danielle Cohen adds to the suspense and urgency.
I won this free audiobook in a giveaway!
This book starts off with a stuffy Victorian feel but quickly morphs into something far more exciting. The POV character, Mina, was raised outside of traditional society and although she wears its trappings well and is engaged to a wonderful man of society whom she truly loves, she is not sure this is the life she is suited for. As with many of these books, she is written as a woman far ahead of her time.
When her past come barreling back into her life, Mina finds herself on a life-altering adventure with elements of Dracula, Van Helsing, lycanthopic legends, Jack the Ripper and even a bit of The Beagle and Mr. Flycatcher. The book maintained a theme though out of finding scientific explanations for the fantastic. Lots of action, and danger including violence and bloodshed.
This is book 1 in a trilogy and does end with a big reveal and cliff hanger for the next book. The narrator was easy to understand and did an excellent job with this book other than the bits of Dutch which were absolutely slaughtered. But perhaps that is what Mina would sound like attempting to speak broken Dutch?
I’m gushing over this book! This retelling of Mina, Johnathon, Lucy and Van Helsing’s story had me completely engrossed. I love when a talented and articulate author dares to retell a classic like Bram Stokers Dracula. Creating a new backstory and bring the mystery and adventure forward is exciting. I love Mina apart from her internal/external repeated dialog of we must find Johnathon (we get that…it’s why you left London). Is something/someone following them to Transylvania? HA! No Spoilers.
The Narrator on this book was EXCELLENT! I was completely immersed. I’m actually bummed the next book isn’t on Audible but I already bought the next book anyway!
I was given a free copy of this book in lieu of an honest review and it is this book come highly recommended by me.
I received this book for free. I am voluntarily leaving this review and all opinions expressed herein are mine.
This is the first book in the Mina Murray series. It is not a standalone book and has a cliffhanger ending. None of the issues/problems raised in this book are resolved. While I can understand that the main issue may not be resolved in a multi-book story, at least resolve some minor issues to provide the reader some satisfaction or a sense of completion. I am not a fan of this type of gimmick and that’s really the only reason why this book did get a five-star rating.
Here, Mina used to travel with her father, who was a researcher/scientist. After her father’s death, under circumstances Mina wants to forget a d not believe to be true, she comes to London. In London, Mina becomes a teacher and engaged to Jonathon. Jonathon’s mother believes Mina to be beneath Jonathon’s status and is not shy about letting Mina know her distaste regarding the engagement. Mina and Jonathon attend a ball when out of the blue, Mina’s former love interest Abraham shows up. Soon thereafter, Jonathon is kidnapped. Mina joins forces with Abraham to find Jonathon and hunt down the vampires responsible for her father’s death.
This is a very well written reformulation of Dracula in a wonderful descriptive writing style filled with action-packed sequences, historical tidbits, plenty of blood lusting monsters, and emotional drama. The focus here is on Mina – a strong, smart woman – completely different than other women of her time – she is assertive, independent, has a job and is more than willing to break the societal mores of her time. Part of Mina’s journey is discovering more about who she is and where she comes from – as well as accepting some of these facts. I loved the historical “retelling” of events if vampires were to exist.
I listened to this book – the narrator did a great job. She complimented the story by adding a lot of emotion and tension to her reading. This was the first time that I have had the opportunity of listening to her work and I really enjoyed it.