This next book grabbed my attention in large part because of the name and author before I actually learned what it was about. Dracul was written by Dacre Stoker and J. D. Barker so you can see why it grabbed my attention. The book is a fictional memoir of Bram Stoker and recounts the events that would eventually lead to him writing Dracula. It opens when he is still very young and dying from an unknown illness. Nothing his family or the local doctor does is able to help him get better. However, shortly before Bram was born his family acquired the services of a woman known as Nanna Ellen, a nanny with a mysterious and unknown past. Nanna Ellen is frequently able to alleviate Bram’s symptoms and when Bram is seven even able to seemingly cure him of the mysterious illness. However, Bram and his sister become curious about how she did so and start investigating her. They quickly discover that she is not what she seems but they are also unsure about what she actually is. Before they are able to investigate more she disappears. Years later, when they are adults she reappears prompting a new investigation as new mysterious occurrences start happening. Joining forces with their brother and a friend of his they finally start to unravel the mystery of Nanna Ellen only to find that it is longer and more complicated than they thought, as well as more dangerous to them and those around them.
I have read Dracula, though it has been a few years, and am fairly familiar with the information it presents about the character of Dracula and about the existence of vampires. This book does a good job of providing extra information about Dracula, though he is known by Dracul at this point in time. At the same time it does a good job of explaining how the presence of vampires first appeared in Bram Stoker’s life, in the form of Nanna Ellen when he was a child. However, it also makes sure to stick to the information originally provided in Dracula. In fact, it is these elements that make up much of the mystery that Bram and his siblings work on unraveling over the course of the story. A prominent element is the fact that they sleep in dirt as that is one of the first clues that indicates Nanna Ellen is not what everyone thinks she is. Alongside this, the book is also a life story of Bram Stoker though and you can tell by reading the book that the authors really did their research into the early life and times of Stoker. I actually learned a lot about where he lived and how he grew up by reading this book. The two sides to the story, the life and times of Bram Stoker, and how he discovers the existence of vampires, are seamlessly blended together to create a very compelling story. Perhaps the best part, and the part that lends the most authenticity to the depiction of the story as a personal memoir is how the story is told through diary entries by Bram and his brother, letters written to Nanna Ellen by his sister, and notes takes by some of the people they end up working with as they unravel the mystery of Nanna Ellen and Dracul. Ultimately, it was both a compelling, though fictional, life story of an iconic author and an incredibly riveting story about how one family discovers the existence of vampires with somewhat tragic results. I give this a four out of five stars.
This was a really good book and one that I enjoyed reading. This book definitely plays up the horror and gothic elements associated with the original story of Dracula so if you happen to be a fan of that kind of work then I suggest you consider reading this one. Especially if you happen to be a fan of the original story of Dracula. Normally, I would also recommend this book to those who are fans of books about vampires but this book sticks close to the old school depiction of vampires perpetuated by Dracula and other similar stories. It is radically different than modern depictions of vampires so you should keep that in mind before trying it. Another thing to keep in mind is that this book is aimed at adults and is easily as dark and creepy as the original Dracula so it probably should not be read by younger readers. Young adults and older teens is the youngest I would consider suitable. That being said, it is a good book and I genuinely hope you consider reading it. Consider sharing your thoughts about the book in the comments.