"Dracula: the Undead" review
I mostly didn't like this book. It didn't feel like a proper sequel, at all. I actually agree with other reviewers that this feels more like a film sequel because it is just SO BAD, and it does read like a film rather than a novel. It felt like several books squished into one - part Victorian detective, part Dracula/Bathory angst, part 'heroes'. Oh yes, and throw in Mina and Jonathan Harker's son, Quincey, and his aspirations to be an actor into the mix as well as a subplot.
(Cut for mild spoilers.)
I hated that Bram Stoker was in it. I was going to nitpick that his knowing Oscar Wilde and all these name-dropping of famous Victorian celebs is just UNREALISTIC but Wikipedia says that it all really did happen. So I won't. But it still was a bit annoying.
I didn't like the way that every character seemed to be totally different. I could understand this, since it has been 25yrs since Dracula and that sort of secret would probably play havoc on anyone. BUT, there appeared to be a total character change in almost everyone.
I didn't like that the villain took a complete 180 - all of a sudden Dracula is not the evil villain we were led to believe in book 1, but he was just a champion for god, doing what's right! He is just SO misunderstood! But it's ok, he forgives everyone. HUGS. Um, I don't think so. I didn't mind Bathory's character so much, she did seem genuinely evil and a real threat, and giving Dracula a purpose and a character/personality was nice too. But I'm just not ready to see Dracula as The Good Guy. It basically re-writes the original book (and all Stoker's original idea) completely!
I was not entirely sure about all the sex scenes that suddenly appeared as well. I'm sure the original was not this graphic. I um, don't want details of Jonathan and Mina's sex life, kthx.
Oh yes, and let's not forget the total lack of geographical knowledge! Mina travels by motorcar from central London to Whitby (about 250 miles) in just a few hours. The AA website says that today, with modern cars travelling up to 70mph and motorways and no traffic, it would take approx 5hrs. So it must be some sort of miracle that Mina managed it in about this amount of time along backroads with a car which may have had a top speed of 20-30mph. Meanwhile, Quincey makes the journey partly on horseback, partly on foot - again, in just a few hours..!
Personally, they should have left well alone. :/ I'd recommend reading "The Historian" instead, which, while not my favourite, did a pretty good job. Far better than this rubbish!
(Cut for mild spoilers.)
I hated that Bram Stoker was in it. I was going to nitpick that his knowing Oscar Wilde and all these name-dropping of famous Victorian celebs is just UNREALISTIC but Wikipedia says that it all really did happen. So I won't. But it still was a bit annoying.
I didn't like the way that every character seemed to be totally different. I could understand this, since it has been 25yrs since Dracula and that sort of secret would probably play havoc on anyone. BUT, there appeared to be a total character change in almost everyone.
I didn't like that the villain took a complete 180 - all of a sudden Dracula is not the evil villain we were led to believe in book 1, but he was just a champion for god, doing what's right! He is just SO misunderstood! But it's ok, he forgives everyone. HUGS. Um, I don't think so. I didn't mind Bathory's character so much, she did seem genuinely evil and a real threat, and giving Dracula a purpose and a character/personality was nice too. But I'm just not ready to see Dracula as The Good Guy. It basically re-writes the original book (and all Stoker's original idea) completely!
I was not entirely sure about all the sex scenes that suddenly appeared as well. I'm sure the original was not this graphic. I um, don't want details of Jonathan and Mina's sex life, kthx.
Oh yes, and let's not forget the total lack of geographical knowledge! Mina travels by motorcar from central London to Whitby (about 250 miles) in just a few hours. The AA website says that today, with modern cars travelling up to 70mph and motorways and no traffic, it would take approx 5hrs. So it must be some sort of miracle that Mina managed it in about this amount of time along backroads with a car which may have had a top speed of 20-30mph. Meanwhile, Quincey makes the journey partly on horseback, partly on foot - again, in just a few hours..!
Personally, they should have left well alone. :/ I'd recommend reading "The Historian" instead, which, while not my favourite, did a pretty good job. Far better than this rubbish!