Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

Synopsis:

In a time when Shadowhunters are barely winning the fight against the forces of darkness, one battle will change the course of history forever. Welcome to the Infernal Devices trilogy, a stunning and dangerous prequel to the New York Times bestselling Mortal Instruments series.

The year is 1878. Tessa Gray descends into London’s dark supernatural underworld in search of her missing brother. She soon discovers that her only allies are the demon-slaying Shadowhunters—including Will and Jem, the mysterious boys she is attracted to. Soon they find themselves up against the Pandemonium Club, a secret organization of vampires, demons, warlocks, and humans. Equipped with a magical army of unstoppable clockwork creatures, the Club is out to rule the British Empire, and only Tessa and her allies can stop them...

Review by Patrick:

 Okay, so Rachel has been BEGGING me to read this series. She also insisted that I start with this series (the prequel) instead of the publishing order. I can't speak about whether I agree with the order yet (because I haven't read the entire series), but I can say that I should have read this book a long time ago, when she first asked me to.

Suspense, thriller, historical, London-centric, supernatural, love-trinagle-ish, automatons, vampires, magic, nephillium, poetry, betrayal, a plot twist, demons, ... it has just about everything you need for a good story. There wasn't a car chase scene (it was set in 1878), but there was a horse that was rode hard for about twenty minutes straight; does that count? Seriously, this book had all the makings of a good story. If you like stories with any of the above elements, this book will down your soul obsessed dark alley.

Cassandra Clare did an amazing job putting you in the time period. There was magic, so some artificial light was available to the characters, but all the dresses, the character's attitudes, the descriptions of the environment, everything felt real. It was as if she studied Austen, Dickens, and Doyle thoroughly so that the whole bit was as realistic as possible. I felt as if she had maps of London from back then, and was able to draw inspiration from that.

This book really has a good tempo. Every chapter led you to the next, and you kept wondering what was going to happen. If you can stay awake for the whole thing, you could read this in one sitting. It also left you with enough questions to make you want to read the next book, but with enough resolution of the story to feel good about it.

All in all, this book was a good one. Thanks, Rachel, for making me read another good book/series. This book gets a solid four stars.

Review: Dark and Deadly Things by Kelly Martin

    

Synopsis:

It is a strange feeling in life to watch your ghost hunter of a father live on TV while eating popcorn next to your dead mother.

That’s not entirely true. It is a strange feeling to be sure and my mother is most assuredly dead. But she isn’t next to me. She’s across the room, standing between the old mahogany grandfather clock that needs to be dusted and the old cabinet television that belonged to my grandma in the eighties. It doesn’t work anymore, the television that is. Now the cabinet is used as a stand for the newer TV version, one that you don’t have to get up and change the channels on.

~*~*~
I watched them die. I watched them all die, and I could say nothing as my father was accused of the crime. Only he didn't do it. The black shadow did... only no one will ever believe me.

And then there is Abel Hale. His entire family died at the hand of the black shadow, and he thinks I can help him get revenge.

If I could do that, I'd already gotten it. As it is, I go with Abel because it is the easiest thing to do.

Nothing is ever easy.

Seeing ghosts is a curse, but Abel's curse is something I never expected, something I fear.... something I can never trust.

Only he's all I have.

And I'm the only thing standing between him and the truth.

Review: Rating- 5
I hate horror. I hate scary things. I hate being scared. I hate all things that go bump in the night or that flicker out of the side of your eye. I’m queen of being paranoid. I can’t enter a room without turning a light on first. I can’t go upstairs unless someone is with me. I think you get the picture.

Somehow, I don’t think any therapist worth his or her salt will believe me anyway.

I LOVE Dark and Deadly Things. It is scary and I did have to call my husband home from work just so I could finish reading it. However, it’s more than just scary, it’s brilliant, and written so well. This is Kelly Martin’s best book yet. Fans of the supernatural are going to devour this one.

The world won’t ever come into focus if I keep my eyes covered.

The story is of a girl, Elise, who can see ghosts. Her dad is a ghost hunter on TV and she used to be part of his team, but no longer helps him on his show. One night she watches her dad’s live televised showing of him hunting ghosts in a families haunted house and something goes terribly wrong, leaving a family torn apart. One of the son’s in that family, Abel, tracks Elise down and requests her help.

A soul is a soul, whether living or dead.

I’m purposely leaving this review vague, because the book needs to be read in itself, not in someone else’s review. It’s amazing, realistic, scary, and it’s hilarious. In the midst of all the crazy that goes on, Kelly Martin knows how to lighten the mood, to bring you back from that dark place.

Derek the Dick promptly doubles over, his hands grab what I assume is a very small package, and I’m sure he could sing soprano in The Phantom of the Opera right about now. Strange how my knee just suddenly rose up and hit him in the junk like that.

Pick up Dark and Deadly Things, grab your blankey, keep the lights on, and get ready for a wild crazy terrifying ride that you don’t want to miss out on.

Things happen, and we have to somehow find the strength to get through it and live our lives.

Heartless by Kelly Martin

Synopsis:

Who is really the monster?

For 13 years, Gracen Sullivan dreamed about a red-eyed demon named Hart Blackwell who tortured her every night. Her mother freaked when she found out about her daughter's "hallucinations" and forced Gracen to go to the doctor, who prescribed some very powerful medication, which kept Hart out of her head for five years.

A week ago, Hart came back and brought a friend.

But something has changed, and Gracen is seeing Hart when she's awake too. And the other "friends" in her dreams? They have been found dead.

The police want to talk to her.

Her boyfriend has become distant.

Her dreams are becoming more and more intense.

Hell wants her.

Heaven has to stop her.

When push comes to shove, can Gracen fight the evil eating away inside her or will she be forced to embrace it and destroy the world.

Review by Patrick:

So I read/listened to this book and finished it exactly one year after Rachel did. Rachel purchased a copy of her audio book through Audible for me months ago and I just finished listening to it, and I'm looking forward for the next audio books. Kelly, I'm sorry this one took me so long to complete. I was busy, you know, like getting my CPA busy. But the wait is over, and my review is here.

Supernatural, Mystery, Heaven and Hell, Angels and Demons (and worse), Civil War, Family Drama, Lies and Betrayal, Suspense, Spells, Epic-Save-the-World-from-the-Bad-Guys theme, a little bit of love and conflicted emotions... This book has some of all of that. If you like just about anything in books, then pick this series up. You'll find something in there that you will like.

One of the things I found slightly irritating was the excessive soliloquies, where the character was thinking in their head (or sometimes having a conversation mentally, but... well that's okay). I mean, a normal person can't possibly have five or more separate thoughts after every line of dialogue in a conversation. I think this was more of a writing style of Kelly's than anything else, and it has its advantages. You really get the feel for what the characters 'feel' when exposed to new information. And in a sense we do have these emotional reactions during conversations, they just happen in the blink of an eye, and are not well thought out sentences in our head. That instant reaction to emotion is difficult to convey in a book without words, so it is very helpful in that regard. I think I was just not used to the writing style that she uses, and found it a slight distraction from the scenes in the book.

Julie Hinton was the narrator for the audio book. I've seen enough of Kelly's Facebook videos that I kind of know her voice. The first time I heard Julie Hinton start out in the first chapter of this book, I immediately thought, "Wow! She's reading it like Kelly would." She has that Southern drawl, which is perfectly fitting for the Southern characters. But she keeps her voices for characters different, distinct, and consistent. There is little higher praise than that for a book narrator.

The epilogue presents an obvious question: "How can Gracen be...?" Spoilers. Which, of course, is easily solved by reading the next book in the series. And one that I think I will, as soon as the audio book comes out. I'm looking forward to it. For now, this one gets 4 stars from me. Also, read Rachel's review as well. She has a slightly different take on the book (and recommends it higher than I do).

Keep reading, and may your dreams be Hartless.

Review: Reckless by Kelly Martin

    

Synopsis/Chapter 1:
JESSUP HART BLACKWELL SAVED THE WORLD.
Not that anyone will ever know.
Not that they’ll remember.
But I know.
I remember.
That’s my curse.
I don’t agree with how he did it.
I wish it had been me that died. Lord knows we would’ve all
been safer if I’d been the one instead of Hart.
But he couldn’t let that happen.
He couldn’t live with it.
How am I supposed to live with it?
The pain.
The remorse.
The pressing feeling that something inside me that I can’t
control is still there… dormant but not dead. Ready to pounce.
Ready to kill again.
Hart saved the world, that’s true.
But he couldn’t save me

Review: Rating- 5
If you haven't read this series stop reading this review, grab Heartless, and start reading! You wont regret it! I've been putting off this review for so many reasons, but mostly, writing a review means the book, this series, is really done- no, completed. Complete. This series is complete and this finale was more than I imagined because I never thought it was going to be like this... and I'm glad. 

Gracen is my rock. My constant. The one thing that keeps me even the slightest bit human.

If someone asked me to summarize this book or even this series in one word, for once I wouldn't stutter around trying to grasp a word, for once a single word comes straight to mind: Empowering.

I stand and look down on her. She's so... frail. So small. All this time I've been afraid of her, of the voice in my head telling me I'm not good enough, not worthy. And when I look at her now, I have to wonder who the hell she thinks she is.

"Yes?"

"Yes. Yes, I'm worthy."

If you haven't read this series then stop reading this review because there will be spoilers from this point on. Reckless picks up right where Breathless left off.

Jessup Hart Blackwell saved the world.

We see Gracen panicking, crying, cleaning up the blood. We get to see what life is like for her after the event. Then we get to the big problem. Gracen is still alive. Gracen being alive means there's still the Abomination.

I can never allow myself another moment of weakness.

Everyone we've come to love and hate show up in Reckless for their final move, their last effort to make the world and their lives go the way they want it to.

If you don't save her, if you don't bring her back to me, I'll rain a fire of death and destruction that you've never seen onto the world. I'm a demon, Lucien. A demon. Evil. Ruthless. Reckless. I'll do whatever I damn well please if I don't have Gracen by my side. You wont have to worry about the Abomination when I'm finished with everything. You have my word on that." My fingers dig deep into his neck. So deep I can see red droplets of blood pooling, fixing to run down my fingers.

"You'd do that? For one person."

"No." I shake my head and let his feet fall to the concrete steps. "I'd do that for her."

The book is about each of these people coming up with a way to stop the Abomination from taking over again.

As long as there is hope, I'll be okay.

If you asked me for the top 10 ways I expected this book to go I would have been completely wrong. Kelly Martin took an intense action packed series and wrapped it up in intense feelings. These college kids had to face and conquer the impossible and in doing so they had to have their hearts ripped out, but in the end they got their Hope.

He's Hart. My Hart.

This was a beautiful ending for a beautiful series!

"Stay with me." He whispers.
"Always."

Review: Breathless by Kelly Martin

    

Synopsis:
There's good.

There's evil.

Then there's her.

When Gracen Sullivan stabbed Hart Blackwell, she thought it was over. She thought the world was safe--safe from her. Stuck in the Abyss, watching as the evil inside her body takes over, she has to find some way to stop it.

Hart Blackwell expected to wake up in Hell. Instead, he woke up in his grave. With the world falling apart, he has to put the bad history with his brother in the past or there will be no future.

Armageddon has been set in motion. Enemies will have to work together or everything will end in fire and brimstone.

The Abomination is here. And she must be stopped no matter the consequences.


Review: Rating- 5+

There's no way I can write this review adequately enough: there aren't words for the emotions that this book will produce in you, I'm not an eloquent writer, and I haven't held this book in my heart long enough to give words to how amazing it is.

"Some of the most evil people in the world are the ones who hide behind righteousness. Who hide behind good and God and all that other stuff that makes them feel better than anybody else in the world. It makes them feel superior."

So, here's a review that doesn't give this book justice and some quotes that I loved from the book.

Breathless picks right up where Soulless left off. Let me tell you, those first two chapters do nothing short of put you straight into the characters life. You're thrown right into a world that is going to hell in a handbasket and no one has any idea of how to stop the Abomination.

"A part of me feels grateful that Seth did what he did. Without it, there would never have been a Gracen for me to love."

This is a journey of emotions, so many emotions, regret, guilt, sorrow, worry, happiness, helplessness, and love. There's Hart and Lucien together and Human and facing the past, what they did and didn't do.

"I just never thought it would be the kind of love that would destroy the world."

Kelly Martin is a brilliant writer. Can you imagine being a human who killed your own brother, died yourself, went to hell, was tortured by your mother, watched over a girl who was destined to be the Abomination, be killed by her, and come back alive to face the world you helped destroy? No? Kelly Martin is so brilliant that she's able to make you feel like you did that. That you can actually imagine going through it all. You can feel it. The pain, the regret, the worry, all the emotions that are drowning you.

"I just saw myself.
Me.
The real me.
The real me in the flesh.
The flesh that hurt Colleen.
The flesh that disappointed my father.
The flesh that killed my brother.
The flesh that can't forgive itself."

This story is intense and the emotions are real and strong, but there's that famous Kelly Martin humor sprinkled in the pain that I've come to love. Hart goes through so much in this story and he copes with snark and poor comebacks and reality that sometimes you need humor in the dark because it's the only way to keep the light going in you.

"That's what I need when the world ends. To be wearing high waters. Hell, then I might even be okay with it. If I must wear high waters, I might as well die."

As the story progresses and we come down to the final wire of the world ending and Lucien, Hart, and Seth come up with a plan to hopefully stop the Abomination we're left ragged. We've been through pain. We've lost everything. Lucien has his end goal. Seth has his. And Hart. His humanity, his soul is so beautiful and so stubborn.

"If we can't save Gracen, we aren't saving everybody. Let it burn. Let it all burn."

Hart is better than anyone I've ever known. Read this series. You wont regret it.

"I know."

Review: Soulless by Kelly Martin

    

Synopsis:

Sometimes all the wishing in the world doesn't change the fact that in order to save everyone, you have to destroy yourself.
Sometimes good doesn't always win.
Sometimes choices suck.
Sometimes people don't break their promises.
Sometimes the thing we hate the most is the one thing that can save us.
Sometimes...
Sometimes love ruins everything.

Sequel to Heartless
Book 3: Breathless (September 4th, 2016)

Review: Rating- 5
I have done nothing but rave about Heartless (book one) and seriously thought it was going to be my favorite paranormal/supernatural book of the year, but Soulless has won that spot. I don't normally read horror books and I honestly wouldn't classify these as such. Heartless was slightly closer to the horror side of things, Soulless definitely isn't. There was suspense, a touch of romance, and a ton of feels.

Soulless can be broken down in three parts. The first 50% of the book Kelly Martin screws with your (Gracen's) mind, putting in doubts and insecurities and blowing everything up in front of you. Then for the next 30% it's just anxiety, anxiety to turn the page because you don't know if you're going to love it or hate and you're honestly going to flip flop the whole time. Finally that last 20% is all feels. All. The. Freaking. Feels. All of them.

Gracen was created to let Hell loose and finds out she has the capacity to be one scary creature. This is the story of Gracen fighting that scary creature inside of her. To keep her own humanity. To not have her destroy the world.

I'm a sucker for dual point of view. I love it, especially when the other point of view is from the male in the book. Hart is one interesting demon and has a ton of secrets. I loved seeing what his part in all of this truly is and I'm curious to see where it leads him in the next book.

 Soulless is book two in a trilogy. Breathless (book three) comes out in September. Soulless does leave on a cliffhanger, but it's not one of those evil cliffhangers. There is an epilogue that was hands down everything I ever hoped to have in these books. This book was worth the wait. Now the wait begins for Breathless.

Favorite quotes:
Hell was real. And if I'm not stopped, I'll make it look like Disneyland.

"Tell me why you stay Sam." I push.
Hart lowers his head, averting looking in my eyes. "Because you love him."

"You need blood. I have blood. And I'm heading to your mother's house. So if you want to follow your free buffet, come with me. If not, find your own damn Happy Meal. I'm done."

We all have darkness inside us. Everybody does.

Review: Heartless by Kelly Martin

    

Synopsis:

Some things can't be saved.

What would you do if your guardian angel wasn't sent to protect you from the world but to protect the world from you?

For thirteen years, Gracen Sullivan dreamed about a red-eyed demon named Hart Blackwell who tortured her every night. Her mother freaked when she found out about her daughter's "hallucinations" and forced Gracen to go to the doctor, who prescribed some very powerful medication which kept Hart out of her head for five years.

A week ago, Hart came back and brought a friend.

But something has changed, and Gracen is seeing Hart when she's awake too. And the other "friends" in her dreams? They have been found dead.

The police want to talk to her.

Her boyfriend has become distant.

Her dreams are becoming more and more intense.

Hell wants her. Heaven has to stop her.

When push comes shoving, can Gracen fight the evil eating away inside her or will she be forced to embrace it and destroy the world?

Review: Rating- 5+
"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. And it was good and all the angels rejoiced.............. And then God got bored."

Kelly Martin does a marvelous job at putting you in Gracen's shoes. We follow along with Gracen and she knows very little about what is going on in the beginning, which means we know very little. As the story progresses things get jumbled and confusing in the best way possible. In the way that forces you to keep turning page after page, gasping and grasping at bread crumbs.

Every character introduced in this book will make you suspicious. Every character will have you second guessing other characters. I want to rant and rave and tell you everything about this book because it is so, so, so good, but I won't. I'll spare you that amazing feeling of reading a WONDERFUL book for the first time. Stop reading this review and go one-click this book, you won't regret it. I can't recommend this book enough!

About the book for anyone hesitant: From what I heard other people say about this book and from the first few pages I was expecting this to be full of horror and blood and gory things happening. I don't do scary, I don't do horror or gory, but there was something about that first page that called to me, maybe I saw that there would be more to this story. Maybe I knew it wasn't how it seemed. And I was right. It's more of a mystery with angels and demons and hints of horror. It's not nearly as grotesque as some might think after reading the first few pages. It talks about it and makes you feel the horror without being too gory.

I would definitely classify this as a new adult paranormal horror mystery. There's talks of sex (no sex in this book though), there are innuendos, and typical college flirting and lusting. Recommended age for reading is a mature 14 years and older.

This is a trilogy so be prepared for an epic cliffhanger in the epilogue. If you dislike cliffhangers then I recommend reading the final chapter and waiting to read the epilogue when you have book two, Soulless.

Into the Aether: Part One and Two by T. C. Pearce

 

Synopsis:

A scared teenager, Lara must battle her own inner demons … while being stalked in her nightmares by an all-too-real monster. She has only two options: run or succumb.

A courageous woman, Cybil is doing her best to piece together a new life free of her abusive husband. She is cursed with confused glimpses into future events she may not be able to change—including her own death.

An honorable warrior, and the reluctant leader of her people, August must undertake the familial obligation of protecting a seemingly ordinary high school teacher. If she shirks her duty, then the world will fall to a preternatural tyrant in search of a long-lost weapon of immense power.

Their stories weave together to reveal a mysterious supernatural world that hides just beneath our own. As chaos swirls among and around them, the three women must put aside their differences and act together, or watch two worlds collide in a deluge of fire and blood.

Review by Patrick:

I was offered this book for free to review by the authors in the audio book format through audible.com. This was my first experience with audible.com, but not with audio books. I like the site and system, but that's not for this review.

This genre is right up my alley. I like the fantasy, hidden society, magical aspects of Into the Aether. Every author's take on magic, it's source, and it's cost is slightly different. The Pearces' view on magic using Aether is unique. I'm curious if it is the aether that allows the Cubi to ... do some of the stuff they do. They also redefined the Cubi, or Incubi and Succubi. For those worried parents whose children are reading this book that contains these beings, there are no sex scenes in this book... not even close. Maybe some flirtation and some romantic thoughts, but no sex. I also particularly liked the Mares. They seemed to have an interesting ability, that we probably don't see their full capability in this book.

I will have to say, the way this book was written was quite interesting. Each chapter starts with one or more characters and the chapter is written from their viewpoint(s). For the first four chapters, you get three different view points. Then you get some consecutive story telling from one group. If you can bear through the confusion of the different characters, they will all tell the same story, eventually. It may feel like you are reading three books in one, but they are interconnected. I do say I feel the need to reread the books to catch all of the intricate weavings in the early chapters.

The plot twists and turns in this book are crazy. And just when you think you figured something out, something else happens to through you for a loop again. I started reading this in the car on my way to and from work, but I ended up listening to a few hours near the end of the book in my living room. That's a high testament to the intense pace and thrill of reading this book. It's definitely a book worth reading.

A note about the audio book: Suzanne Elise Freeman did an okay job at narrating this book. You can tell by my desire to finish this book that she certainly doesn't get in the way of the story. I do, however, have a few complaints. When she's not speaking in character, it's pretty monotone. It sounds dry and not from the point of view of the chapter. Even in nonspeaking narration, I expect some emotion and flow to accompany the words. And then there is her interpretation of August. She made August sound flat and boring, no matter what her mood or temperament was. I thought, when I first heard her, that somewhere later in the book there would be some clue as to this flatness, but no. She sounded like an oracle who was never human or didn't know how to speak to one, not the powerful CEO of a company and leader that she was. This really bothered me, and lasted for the whole book. She's blind, not mute. One more small thing: her Irish and Russian sound very similar. (I probably couldn't do any better, but it's not my voice being recorded.) It will be interesting if the authors/publisher choose to keep her for the next installment, or if they will rotate out the vocal readers.

All in all, I'm glad my wife, and the authors, made me read this book. Fantastic! It was a good read, something new in magic and fiction, great plot and story, interesting characters with power and flaws. If I complain about anything it would be about the last chapter before the epilogue. There was no connection to the story, at all. I'm sure it sets up the next book, but it didn't even pique my interest yet. There was a new character, going through an event caused by some other characters in the book, but that was it. In my opinion, if it was needed for the next book, then it should have been in the next book, not this one. Other than that, it was great. There are some unanswered questions that have to be resolved, but I'm looking forward to them and their story. It will be great, I'm sure. For my review, I'm giving this book 4.5 stars.

Review: Jett by Dana Pratola

    

Synopsis:

When a reclusive businessman takes an interest in Haven’s artwork, she knows it’s an answer to prayer. But Jett Cestone is an enigma with a disconcerting connection to the young women in his employ. He’s by far the most unusual man she’s ever met.
Haven is the most interesting woman to ever cross Jett’s path. But she’s too naïve and pure to learn what goes on in his home. Too bad he wants her more than he’s wanted anyone or anything in his life.

Review: Rating- 5
I had to take some time after reading this book so I could compose this review. I have never read a book that has made me feel the way this one did. I know I will not be able to do this review justice because this book is one you just have to read to understand why I have this massive book hangover.

It was a slow build that felt monotonous, but it really wasn't. It was slow and the climax was tame, but by the time it's over you realize Dana Pratola has made you feel. It was all too realistic and I think that's what made it feel monotonous. When I read I don't expect to read a book that feels like reality, yes I hope to be able to relate to the characters, but I always expect that little bit of unrealistic-ness to come through. The book does have a paranormal element to it, but Dana Pratola even made that feel normal.

The romance between Jett and Haven was phenomenal. This is a clean book, but it does talk about wanting to be with the other. The sexual tension was palpable!!! I was completely intrigued with Jett's paranormal side. I kept wanting to know more and more, which is what had me turning the pages. Plus, what he does with his gifts was interesting and tied in wonderfully with the book. I was surprised by the religious element to the book. I have never read a Dana Pratola novel so I didn't know she wrote Christian Fiction. I thought it was an interesting view and very tastefully done. If you don't like hearing about God then I advise you to read this novel with an open mind. It's too good to tell you not to read just take note that it is Christian Fiction.

This book has rocked me to my core. I don't know how I've never heard of Dana Pratola because she is fantastic. If you haven't read this series I highly, highly recommend you pick it up be on your way to your very own book hangover.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Into the Aether: Part One and Two by T.C. Pearce

       

Synopsis:

A scared teenager, Lara must battle her own inner demons … while being stalked in her nightmares by an all-too-real monster. She has only two options: run or succumb.

A courageous woman, Cybil is doing her best to piece together a new life free of her abusive husband. She is cursed with confused glimpses into future events she may not be able to change—including her own death.

An honorable warrior, and the reluctant leader of her people, August must undertake the familial obligation of protecting a seemingly ordinary high school teacher. If she shirks her duty, then the world will fall to a preternatural tyrant in search of a long-lost weapon of immense power.

Their stories weave together to reveal a mysterious supernatural world that hides just beneath our own. As chaos swirls among and around them, the three women must put aside their differences and act together, or watch two worlds collide in a deluge of fire and blood.

Review: Rating- 5
I cannot wait until this fall to have the next installment of this! Wow! This was a phenomenal novel!

I have to admit, the first half of the novel was a bit overwhelming, but I promise if you get through it you'll see what a beautiful piece of work this story is. Each chapter you're introduced to more characters which I kept thinking was too much to start with. I mean, we're introduced to Aaron, August, Phillip, Lara, Greg, Cybil, and Linda. That's a lot of characters! The only way this worked as well as it did is because each character was so unique, strong, and believable.

This story didn't fully capture my heart until chapter 10, which is when all the information about each of the characters finally begins to weave together. From there, as the chapters progress you're sitting there aching to find out what's going on. I greatly enjoyed how captivating and suspenseful this story is.

This is a hard review to write because the last half of this story has a lot of twists and turns that I can't spoil for you. I will say, I'm always skeptical about reading serials because they usually end at awful cliffhangers that have you wanting to hunt down the author and demand the next part... This story doesn't end in a cliffhanger. However, it does end with a few questions unanswered, especially that epilogue!

Overall, I enjoyed this story so much that I'm forcing my husband to read it next. I need someone to talk about how amazing everything wove together... it's really a piece of art!

I received this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Dracula by Bram Stoker

Synopsis:

A junior solicitor [real estate broker] travels to Transylvania to meet with an important client, the mysterious Count Dracula. Ignoring the dire warnings of local townsfolk, he allows himself to be seduced by the count’s courtly manners and erudite charm. Too late, the solicitor realizes that he is a prisoner of Castle Dracula, his guards a trio of voluptuous young women with sharp white teeth and a taste for blood.

Soon thereafter, the solicitor’s fiancée, Mina, visits a friend on the English coast. The town is full of speculation over a Russian ship run aground nearby, its crew missing, the dead body of its captain, crucifix in hand, lashed to the wheel. A giant dog was seen leaping from the deck before disappearing into the countryside. The ship’s cargo: fifty boxes of Transylvanian dirt. As the beautiful Mina will soon learn, Count Dracula has arrived.

Review by Patrick:

 It sucked. I mean I still have blood in my veins, but it sucked the reality from all around me as I was reading this book. I was not expecting a classic like this to be so intense.

As long as you could get by some of the format of this book, it really was interesting. The book was written mostly in a diary format, with some news article clippings, letters, and telegraphs... I guess that was interesting too. I was really amazed with the efficiency of the London telegram service in 1891. You were forced to read this book with the setting in mind, as timing and travel were essential to the book. Horses, carriages, steam and sail boats... all must be kept in mind when considering the time it takes to get anywhere.

We all know about vampires, right. They can't go out in the sun; they must drink blood to survive; they sleep like bats; etc. But it was really intriguing reading about the first vampire. This is where it all started. And it was really interesting. For example, the vampire was able to control the nearby weather, get in really tight places, must be welcomed into a building before entering, control nearby animals, and many more wonderful things. I was also amazed at some of the similarities to more contemporary vampire fiction.

The story (which, let's face it, is what it is all about) was amazing though. It pulled me close and I felt the fear, terror, hope, panic, bravery, and passion of the characters. The story was slow at first, and by slow I mean the main character going willingly to Count Dracula's castle and immediately becoming a prisoner and dinner. The story just kept on and on. It was suspenseful, tragic, epic, horrifying, thrilling, and ... well I'll let you find out the rest.
 

Overall, surprisingly good. I know I am a little out of the norm when it comes to a desire to reading classic books, but I think this would be a good read for many readers in the present day. I'm going to rate it a 4.
 

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To Dance with the White Dog.