I will preface this review by saying that I have very little negative input for this novel as a whole. Having read Stalking Jack the Ripper quite some time ago, I did enjoy the novel as a whole (and have also written a review of it for the site), but Hunting Prince Dracula breaks the sophomore curse like no other book ever has. This novel was the perfect blend of everything an avid horror reader could ever ask for–a strong, witty and intelligent protagonist, a lovable and loyal sidekick, spectacular pacing and descriptions, and a plot twist that I never would have been able to predict. Maniscalco has a spectacular ability to write a first-person character, using eloquent language and structure and tapping into a period of time that readers may otherwise never have gotten a chance to inspect and analyse. The setting of the novel is as haunting as could be–an ancient castle steeped in history, with winding secret tunnels and trapdoors, murderous legends of dangerous animals, and a solid collection of believable and respectable characters, from the teachers at the academy to the servants and guards.
This novel moved me in a way that only a small subset of books ever have–the action scenes had me hanging on the edge of my seat, and though it took me some time to read it–due to school and work commitments–I was actively excited every time I had a chance to delve into its pages. Audrey Rose is a thoroughly likeable protagonist–she is not vain or selfish, she has pursuits of excellence, and she can always think for herself and continues to challenge the ideas of the male students around her by being thoughtful, well-spoken and elegant both inside and out. This book would be relatively bare without her and Thomas’s humorous, but ultimately loving, relationship. I cannot count how many times this pair of individuals made me chuckle with their dialogue, especially in a time when the plot or themes may seem to be too heavy. This novel is full of beautiful and alluring characters, but the beautiful soul that Thomas Creswell embodies never fails to capture my eye and make me smile.
This novel is already my favourite read of 2020, a feat which I never like to impose upon a novel too quickly. The elegant weaving together of the plot, pacing and character development is as seamless as could be, leaving me equally horrified and mesmerised. I cannot wait to dive into ‘Escaping From Houdini’ to explore the next escapade of Audrey Rose and Thomas.
RATINGS:
Plot: 10/10
Writing: 10/10
Characters: 10/10
OVERALL RATING: 10/10
NOTE – Though Hunting Prince Dracula involves the same characters as Stalking Jack the Ripper, it can easily be read as a standalone novel.
Kerri Maniscalco grew up in a semi-haunted house outside New York City, where her fascination with gothic settings began. In her spare time she reads everything she can get her hands on, cooks all kinds of food with her family and friends, and drinks entirely too much tea while discussing life's finer points with her cats. She is the author of the New York Times bestselling novels Stalking Jack the Ripper, Hunting Prince Dracula, and Escaping From Houdini. --This text refers to the hardcover edition.
About the Author
Kerri Maniscalco is the author of thebestselling novels Stalking Jack the Ripper and Hunting Prince Dracula. Shegrew up in a semi-haunted house outside New York City, where her fascination with gothic settings began. In her spare time she reads everything she can get her hands on, cooks all kinds of food with her family and friends, and drinks entirely too much tea while discussing life's finer points with her cats.
James Patterson is one of the most popular writers of all time, with more than 375 million copies of his books sold worldwide. He holds the record for most New York Times bestsellers and is the author of the two most popular detective series of the past decade, the Alex Cross novels and the Women's Murder Club. Patterson has won an Edgar Award, the mystery world's highest honor, and his novels Kiss the Girls and Along Came a Spider were made into feature films.
Nicola Barber, is an Audie Award and Earphones Award-winning narrator whose voice can be heard in television and radio commercials and popular video games such as World of Warcraft. She is also an Audie finalist in the prestigious category of solo female narrationfor her work on Murphy's Law by Rhys Bowen and Call the Midwife by Jennifer Worth. She has performed on the stage in New York City and at a number of top regional theaters in the United States. Her film and television roles include The Nanny Diaries with Scarlett Johansson, and Law & Order's 2009 season premiere. Originally from England, she currently resides in New York, a multicultural background that enables her to bring a broad range of accents and characterizations to her role as a full-time voice-over actor.