Title: Dracula In Love
Author: Karen EssexPublisher: Random HousePublication Date: July 5,2011Pages:368Source:Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours(My FTC Disclaimer)
Purchase: Barnes and Noble, Amazon
Synopsis:
| “Reader, you are about to enter a world that exists simultaneous with your own. But be warned: in its realm, there are no rules, and there is certainly no neat formula to become—or to destroy—one who has risen above the human condition…The truth is, we must fear monsters less and be warier of our own kind.”
London, 1890. Mina Murray, the rosy-cheeked, quintessentially pure Victorian heroine, becomes Count Dracula’s object of desire. To preserve her chastity, five male “defenders” rush in to rescue her from the vampire’s evil clutches. This is the version of the story we’ve been told. But now, from Mina’s own pen, we discover that the story is vastly different when told from the female point of view. In this captivating, bold act of storytelling, award-winning author Karen Essex breathes startling new life into the characters of Bram Stoker’s Dracula, transporting the reader into the erotic and bizarre underbelly of the original story. While loosely following the events of its classic predecessor, Dracula in Love deviates from the path at every turn. The result is a darkly haunting, propulsive, and rapturous tale of immortal love and possession. From the shadowy banks of the river Thames to the wild and windswept Yorkshire coast, Dracula’s eternal muse—the most famous woman in vampire lore—vividly recounts the joys and terrors of a passionate affair that has linked her and the Count 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 terrifying asylum chambers, revealing the dark secrets and mysteries locked within. Time falls away as she is swept into a mythical voyage far beyond mortal comprehension, where she must finally make the decision she has been avoiding for almost a millennium. Stoker’s Dracula offered one side of the story, in which Mina was a victim bearing no responsibility for the unfolding events. Now, for the first time, the truth of her secret history, 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 imagined. |
Author Bio:
Karen is an award-winning novelist, journalist and screen writer. Her novels include the internationally best-selling Leonardo’s Swans, Stealing Athena, and two novels on the queen of Egypt, Kleopatra and Pharoah.
Essex was born and raised in New Orleans. She was graduated from Tulane University, attended graduate school at Vanderbilt University, and received an MFA in Writing from Goddard College in Vermont. She’s appeared on The Today Show and A Word on Words hosted by John Seigenthaler, as well as other PBS and NPR programs. She’s lectured at the Chicago Museum of Art, and extensively at universities. Her books are taught in many college courses from creative writing to history to women’s studies.
Leonardo’s Swans, a runaway bestseller in Italy, won the prestigious 2007 Premio Roma for foreign fiction. Essex’s novels are published in twenty-seven languages. She lives in London.
For more information, please visit her WEBSITE | BLOG | FACEBOOK PAGE
Okay so, call me dense. I’ve NEVER read Dracula. Never seen it, either. So, I jumped at the chance to try something new and signed up for this historical fiction book tour. Boy, was I in for a delightful treat!
Karen Essex did a fantastic job with this novel. It’s rich in historical detail, deeply filled with passionate characters and a plot line that’s both realistic and gothic. I really enjoyed how Karen told this story in Mina’s point of view. Her life really came to life as I turned each page,reading about her emotions and the love of Dracula.
This story is a mix of gothic suspense, and passionate romance. A love story beyond the end of time. The deep thrilling ride was outstanding. I was instantly captured by the this amazingly written and intriguing story. By the end of the book, I was in complete surprise at how much I truly enjoyed this novel.
I highly recommend this fantabulous book! The author’s talent shines strong, and you, the reader, will be taken on a whirl wind of emotional passion and gothic fantasy. Not to mention, you’ll fall in love with this absolutely GORGEOUS cover! Definitely a 5 star read!
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Tuesday, July 5th
Review at The Book Buff
Author Guest Post at Book Flame
Wednesday, July 6th
Review at Book Flame
Thursday, July 7th
Author Guest Post at The Book Buff
Friday, July 8th
Author Guest Post & Giveaway at To Read or Not to Read
Monday, July 11th
Review at One Book Shy of a Full Shelf
Author Guest Post & Giveaway at The Bibliophilic Book Blog
Tuesday, July 12th
Author Guest Post & Giveaway at One Book Shy of a Full Shelf
Wednesday, July 13th
Review at The Bibliophilic Book Blog
Thursday, July 14th
Book Highlight at Books Devoured
Friday, July 15th
Author Guest Post & Giveaway at Let Them Read Books
Monday, July 18th
Review at Jenny Loves to Read
Tuesday, July 19th
Author Guest Post & Giveaway at Tina’s Book Reviews
Thursday, July 21st
Author Guest Post at Jenny Loves to Read
Review at Just One More Paragraph
Friday, July 22nd
Review at My Reading Room
Author Guest Post & Giveaway at Just One More Paragraph
Monday, July 25th
Author Interview & Giveaway at All Things Historical Fiction
Tuesday, July 26th
Review at Book Rat
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Review at Tina’s Book Reviews
Wednesday, July 27th
Author Interview & Giveaway at Book Rat
Review at All Things Historical Fiction
Thursday, July 28th
Review at Debbie’s Book Bag
Author Guest Post at My Reading Room
Friday, July 29th
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Monday, August 1st
Author Guest Post at Debbie’s Book Bag
Review at Broken Teepee
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Author Guest Post & Giveaway at vvb32 reads
Wednesday, August 3rd
Review at P.S. I Love Books
Thursday, August 4th
Review at The Muse in the Fog Book Review
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Friday, August 5th
Author Guest Post at The Muse in the Fog Book Review
Monday, August 8th
Review at Black Lagoon Reviews
Tuesday, August 9th
Review at vvb32 reads
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The Giveaway:
Thanks to the publisher, I have FIVE copies of this book to giveaway to 5 lucky US residents. All entries MUST include an email address. Open to US residents only please. Giveaway ends August 7th@1159pmEST
Mandatory entry: Leave a comment on this posting .
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