Vampyre: The Terrifying Lost Journal of Dr. Cornelius Van Helsing [Hardcover]

Dr. Cornelius Van Helsing (Author), Gustav De Wolff (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 9 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up

Vampyre! The name alone strikes terror into the hearts of most mortals . . . but not Dr. Cornelius Van Helsing—a doctor by profession but secretly a vampyre expert and hunter extraordinaire. Lucky for us, he recorded everything he discovered about the hideous undead in his nineteenth-century journal . . . or did he? His trusted companion Gustav deWolff has a slightly different story to tell. So, was Van Helsing a friend or foe to vampyres after all? Only you can decide. But beware, lest you draw the attention of a mysterious dark prince from Transylvania.

This lavish, highly interactive, and deliciously spooky book features everything you never wanted to know about vampyres! Take a look inside (if you dare) and discover creepy evidence of true gothic horror—foldout maps, booklets of vampyre myths and lore, Dr. Van Helsing's private letters, pull-tab revelations, heat-sensitive images and much more!

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Dr. Cornelius Van Helsing never had any intention of getting mixed up in the ludicrous exploits of his brother. But it was his fate to become an accidental vampyre hunter. After many dangerous journeys, he found himself in prison and his fate is unknown.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins (June 12, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061247804
• ISBN-13: 978-0061247804
• Product Dimensions: 12 x 10.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #823,286 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Marvelous and dark, June 15, 2007

By 

Elizabeth (Springfield, OH United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Vampyre: The Terrifying Lost Journal of Dr. Cornelius Van Helsing (Hardcover)

Okay, I'm 34 and I bought this for myself. I was a little surprised to see that it is aimed at the 9-12 crowd. I LOVE it though. Finished it quickly and then went through it again to take in all the details. Nice stuff. A little dark for the young'uns though. I enjoyed that it is presented as a story rather than a "fact" book. Lots of goodies to enjoy. Highly recommended!

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a great book, imaginative and detailed., November 2, 2007

By 

Carsten Blackmon (Miami FL USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Vampyre: The Terrifying Lost Journal of Dr. Cornelius Van Helsing (Hardcover)

This book is the lost journal of a vampire hunter, Cornelius Van Helsing, related to the Van Helsing from Bram Stoker's Dracula. In involves references to Johnathan and Mina Harker with a twist. The book's layout is similar to that of the Ology books (dragonology, wizardology, Egyptology, and Pirateology). This book explores the legend and lore of the vampire from which Bram Stoker himself created his novel. It seems like something for a kid but it's imaginative design makes it worth it to get for teens and adults as well. There is also a surprise at the end so read the pages carefully.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fun read and great gift for Dracula fans, December 18, 2008

By 

Z Hayes (TX, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 50 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Vampyre: The Terrifying Lost Journal of Dr. Cornelius Van Helsing (Hardcover)

The target age group for this book is 9-12, but I enjoyed it even as an adult. The premise is interesting - a hitherto lost journal of Dr Cornelius Van Helsing [brother of "Dracula's" Van Helsing] is found and chronicles Cornelius' efforts at solving the mystery of his brother's strange illness. Cornelius is accompanied by his trusted aide, Gustav de Wolff. The pair travel from London to Transylvania and encounter many adventures along the way, and face dangers of the most macabre kind. The book is presented in an epistolary format, i.e. a series of journal entries. Each page is beautifully-illustrated with maps, authentic-looking photographs, inserts [such as a booklet on vampyre myths and lore], a rub-the-patch feature that reveals a secret message, fake wolf fur, sketches, pull-the-tabs, lift-the-flaps,a booklet that contains spells of protection, court documents, etc.

All in all, a fun & interesting read for young and not-so-young fans of "Dracula"!