3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Appealing & thrilling historical fiction, July 28, 2009
The DIARIES OF THE FAMILY DRACUL series is remarkable and appealing historical fiction --- the series falls within the realm of historical fiction because Kalogridis bases it on characters from recorded history. I'm a big fan of hers and have read all of her recent books, and I'm also a huge fan of DRACULA and believe in preserving the integrity of the classics.
THE DIARIES OF THE FAMILY DRACUL series is a completely unique take on the original DRACULA, and readers will find that it really adds a lot to it. Even if you may not have realized there were lingering questions, reading this series will answer them. A few examples of questions addressed are: Why did Dracula commission Jonathan Harker specifically and why did he choose to come to England rather than elsewhere?; who were the three female vampires in Bram Stoker's story?; where did they come from and what happened to them?
This series is a lot darker than the original, if you can imagine that. The story is written in a parallel style to the original diary format, and you'll find that Kalogridis has done a significant amount of research on Vlad the Impaler to create the story. This enhances the classic profoundly. The bottom line is that it's also a thrilling story.
I do have a MAJOR concern with the series in that it significantly alters a main theme of Bram Stoker's classic, particularly the central faith-based concept in Stoker's ideal of good and evil. While I'm not at all opposed to the concept of diversity in religion and acceptance of alternative ideas, I do feel strongly that in the instance of tying into a classic, Stoker's original thought processes should be preserved in every important way --- especially in a story which has become so colossal. But you'll have to read the series to know more because to comment further on this would be a spoiler.
That said, it is a thrilling trilogy, and Dracula becomes a much more menacing and terrifying villain than he has been. I highly recommend this book based on the quality of the writing and the story, but I would not recommend it to anyone who reveres the original DRACULA because it is too inconsistent with the classic.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
on par, if not surpassing the orginal dracula., August 25, 1999
By A Customer
Jeanne Kalogridis has transformed the story of Dracula. the family dracul trilogy was an amazing piece of literature. the diary form made me almost lose myself in the characters perceptions. for anyone who loves vampire books, these are the ones for you.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An exellently written book!, July 6, 1998
By A Customer
Of all of the fiction stories of or about vampires, none has kept me glued to it like this trilogy has done, I enjoyed it very much, Great detail, Storyline and everything else was magnificant, I think Jeanne Kalogridis is my favorite author of any I have ever read anything by.
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