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Dracula, My Love: The Secret Journals of Mina Harker

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Dracula, My Love: The Secret Journals of Mina Harker

by Syrie James (Goodreads Author)

3.81 of 5 stars 3.81 · rating details · 1,093 ratings · 256 reviews

Many have read and loved Bram Stoker’s Dracula. But questions remain. What is the true story of Dracula’s origin? What if Mina could not bring herself to record the true story of their scandalous affair—until now?

In Dracula, My Love: The Secret Journals of Mina Harker, Syrie James explores these questions and more. A vibrant dramatization, told from Mina’s point of view, b...more

Paperback, 457 pages

Published July 20th 2010 by Avon A (first published 2010)

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Oct 02, 2011 Erin rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Find the enhanced version of this and other reviews at: http://flashlightcommentary.blogspot....

Bram Stoker's masterpiece is one of my favorite classics. Lucy and Mina are the quintessential embodiment of Victorian chastity, purity and virtue. Stoker's Dracula is especially evil as he seeks to corrupt these women, seducing them and thus corrupting their innocence. They play an essential role in Stoker's work but for all that, they are victims of shallow characterization, necessary personalities...more Find the enhanced version of this and other reviews at: http://flashlightcommentary.blogspot....

Bram Stoker's masterpiece is one of my favorite classics. Lucy and Mina are the quintessential embodiment of Victorian chastity, purity and virtue. Stoker's Dracula is especially evil as he seeks to corrupt these women, seducing them and thus corrupting their innocence. They play an essential role in Stoker's work but for all that, they are victims of shallow characterization, necessary personalities in a fundamentally masculine novel.

James' story beautifully remedies the situation. Dracula, My Love is a fleshed out re-telling of the story from Mina's perspective, something I don't imagine to have been easy as Stoker wrote little of her character in the original. According to Dr. Abraham Van Helsing, "[Mina] has a man's brain - a brain that a man should have were he much gifted - and a woman's heart." I was frustrated with the inconsistencies in Mina's character but for the most part, I was really impressed with what James was able to do.

Mina is deeply in love with Jonathan but like a moth drawn to the flame, she finds herself attracted to the darkly sensual Dracula. One represents a pure, innocent affection. The other, a dangerously passionate seductiveness. Mina finds herself caught between two very different men and questioning the very nature of love. Very similar to the situation Christine Daae faces with the Phantom and Raoul in Gaston Leroux's Phantom of the Opera, but intriguing just the same.

The plot revolves around this conflict of the heart which is why I was concerned by the lack of connection between Mina and Jonathan. James spent a lot of time revamping Dracula's character but I don't think she gave Jonathan the same amount of attention. Dracula is dark and interesting where Johnathan is conventional and drab. Mina's character grappled with her indecision but for the life of me I couldn't understand why. Johnathan's inattention and disregard for his wife turned me off almost from the beginning. James' story could have been much more convincing if she extended the same amount of consideration to both of her leading men.

Characterization issues aside, Dracula, My Love is a wonderfully engaging read that breathes new life into Stoker's well known tale. Recommended to fans of Elizabeth Kostova's The Historian. (less)

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Jul 25, 2010 Tara Chevrestt rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2010-release, kindle, england

Wow. This has been a fascinating retelling of the classic Dracula tale. It's told from Mina's POV and in this case, the first person narrative works wonderfully. The story begins with Mina visiting her dear friend Lucy while her fiance, Jonathon Harker is away on business in Transyvania. What Mina doesn't know is that Jonathon's business trip has taken a bad turn. After all, his client is none other than Count Dracula...

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Jun 21, 2011 Ivy rated it 4 of 5 stars

There are several books available that tell the story of Dracula from Mina Harker's perspective, but none have been as intelligent nor come close to the original as Syrie James' novel.

"Dracula, My Love" is an account of Bram Stoker's Dracula seen through the eyes Mina Harker. As in the original novel, the narrative is given from the journals of Mina and Jonathan. Mina, however, keeps a more shocking and intensely romantic journal in secret shorthand, free from the prying eyes of those who might...more There are several books available that tell the story of Dracula from Mina Harker's perspective, but none have been as intelligent nor come close to the original as Syrie James' novel.

"Dracula, My Love" is an account of Bram Stoker's Dracula seen through the eyes Mina Harker. As in the original novel, the narrative is given from the journals of Mina and Jonathan. Mina, however, keeps a more shocking and intensely romantic journal in secret shorthand, free from the prying eyes of those who might seek to discover the events that are not recorded in Bram Stoker's version. In this spellbinding novel, Mina is both terrified and intrigued by Count Dracula.

Mina heads for a holiday to Whitby after her fiancé, Jonathan Harker, leaves for the continent on business to Transylvania. Not having heard from him in months, Mina is deeply worried about him and of her friend, Lucy Westenra, who has taken up sleepwalking and is looking rather pale. Her mind is also preoccupied with the devastatingly handsome foreigner who has just arrived in England and has taken an interest in her.

Although Mina misses Jonathan terribly, she is swept off her feet by the attentions of Mr. Wagner (aka Count Dracula). He is charming, intelligent, worldly, cultured and sympathetic. When Mina shares her concerns about Jonathan and Lucy, he knows just what to say to put her mind at ease. He is always near and seems to appear whenever she wishes to see him. She feels drawn to him despite her moral obligation to Jonathan. She feels confused and ashamed, but the thought of not seeing him again fills her with grief. When Mina comes to realize that she is in love with Mr. Wagner, she resolves never to see him again despite her breaking heart.

Dracula, however, has plans of his own and vows to keep Mina for himself. He spins a web of passion, deceit, and uncertainty around Mina to always keep her guessing at what the truth is. Syrie James' Dracula is not the monster Bram Stoker paints him out to be. He is evil, but he is also a deeply passionate man who is alone. He wants someone to share his lonely existence with and feels he has found his soul mate in Mina. It is that passion that propels Dracula to make the horrifying choices he does. He will stop at nothing to keep her, even at the risk of losing her love or bringing about their possible destruction.

The novel follows the events of Bram Stoker's Dracula but is fleshed out and given a richer narrative by Syrie James. She makes a great attempt to show us richer, three-dimensional characters than the ones of Bram Stoker, adding backstory for both Dracula and Mina Harker's origins. This book was an absolute joy to read and I will be adding it to my personal library. (less)

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Jul 19, 2010 Kavanand rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads

Dracula My Love is a retelling of Bram Stoker’s Dracula from Mina Harker’s point of view. Mina is an important but underdeveloped character in the original novel. She’s integral to the plot, but we don’t know much about her. Dracula My Love fills in those holes and presents the reader with a fleshed-out Mina and a very different version of Dracula. The book is a departure from the original, as it concentrates mostly on the romance angle. Most of the vampire-hunting parts of the story occur off t...more Dracula My Love is a retelling of Bram Stoker’s Dracula from Mina Harker’s point of view. Mina is an important but underdeveloped character in the original novel. She’s integral to the plot, but we don’t know much about her. Dracula My Love fills in those holes and presents the reader with a fleshed-out Mina and a very different version of Dracula. The book is a departure from the original, as it concentrates mostly on the romance angle. Most of the vampire-hunting parts of the story occur off the page and Mina hears about incidents after the fact. This change in emphasis may bother fans of the original, but if you enjoy the more romantic aspects of vampire stories, you will like this book.

When we first meet Mina, she’s at a seaside resort town with her dear friend Lucy Westenra. Mina is happily engaged to her childhood friend Jonathan Harker, although she’s worried about him because he’s on a business trip to Transylvania and has been out of touch for weeks. Mina meets a handsome European stranger named Maximilian Wagner. She’s quickly captivated by him, much to her dismay and guilt. She fights her attraction, but he’s hard to resist, at least until she receives word that Jonathan is gravely ill in a hospital in Budapest.

Mina travels to Jonathan’s side, and we gradually learn that he’s undergone a horrible ordeal at the hands of an evil count named Dracula. Jonathan and Mina wed and return to England, where she soon learns that Lucy has died under strange circumstances. Lucy’s death brings them into contact with a man named Abraham van Helsing, and the three men who loved Lucy, Arthur Godalming, Quincy Morris, and John Seward. They all band together to fight the monster they call Dracula. Mina encounters the mysterious Maximilian Wagner again, and soon learns that he and Dracula are one and the same.

While the men are plotting against Dracula, Mina is secretly meeting with him, her feelings growing deeper every day. Mina is torn between duty to her husband and her passionate feelings for Dracula. This is where the book is most successful. Although she knows she’s doing something very wrong, Mina is a sympathetic character. She loves her husband, but she’s known him her whole life, and she can’t help but be drawn to the sexy, mysterious vampire. The Dracula that James portrays is much more in the vein of modern swoonariffic vampires like Edward or Angel. He’s a very different creature than Bram Stoker’s original vision. He may be evil, but he's also romantic and misunderstood. He appears to have fallen in love with Mina, and he has a plausible explanation for every bad thing she's been told about him. Mina is somewhat blinded by lust, and Dracula remains an ambiguous figure. Is he completely evil or just misunderstood? The question remains open, and I liked the ambiguity.

Dracula My Love is extremely readable. Even though I knew what was coming, I couldn't put it down. James strikes a good balance with the language. She keeps it Mina's voice from sounding too modern, but manages to avoid making the language too period, which can feel overdone. It’s a very entertaining read.

I was lucky enough to win a copy of this book from Goodreads First Reads.
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Mar 02, 2013 Shala Howell rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: to people looking for a different take on Bram Stoker's Dracula

I made the mistake of reading Karen Essex's Dracula in Love first, an experience that put me off Dracula retellings for several months. Maybe as long as a year. I won't go into why here, you can basically read any of the very many 1 or 2 star reviews on Dracula in Love to find out for yourself.

I am in Year Two of my Read The Books I Already Own project, and this week after a year or more languishing on my to-read shelf, it was finally Syrie James' turn. At first, the beginning reminded me so mu...more

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Jul 26, 2012 Mandy rated it 3 of 5 stars

The author of this story has a decent grasp of the timeline of events and has some really original ideas about the stories of each character that don't contradict the original too much. I enjoyed that a lot and have begun viewing the original in a different light.

It is really good until the end. There is all this buildup to a dramatic climax, but it just fizzles in the end. As always, no matter how strong the love is between Mina and Dracula, the romance is doomed. I have no idea why. The autho...more

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Apr 09, 2012 Christie rated it 3 of 5 stars

I was excited to hear about a new Syrie James release. I really enjoyed reading her two previous books. The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen was a sweet, romantic tale that combined elements of Austen works into a revised happy life story of Jane. The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Bronte presented a riveting, intense, dramatic and emotional story of the Bronte sisters. It was incredibly touching and very readable (from its length and subject matter-being one I'm less familiar with compared to Jane Aust...more I was excited to hear about a new Syrie James release. I really enjoyed reading her two previous books. The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen was a sweet, romantic tale that combined elements of Austen works into a revised happy life story of Jane. The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Bronte presented a riveting, intense, dramatic and emotional story of the Bronte sisters. It was incredibly touching and very readable (from its length and subject matter-being one I'm less familiar with compared to Jane Austen- I was afraid that it would be hard to get into. I was pleasantly surprised.) Its style was different from the Jane story- it was a much meatier historical fiction tale whereas I would classify the Jane story as more of light, romantic read. I was happy to discover a new author that wrote romantic, readable fiction that wasn't riddled with unnecessary smut or profanity. I thought that I would find more of the same in Dracula, My Love... while I did expect that the degree of sensuality would be higher because of the subject matter, I was hoping that it wouldn't go into bodice ripper territory. Luckily, for the most part it didn't veer into that territory. (There were a few pages that were written more steamily than I would expect, coming from a Victorian narrator... but they were easily skipped.)

I read Dracula in high school so it's been awhile. I remember that it was one of the least painful and most riveting books that I was required to read... Reading Dracula, My Love made me curious to pick up the original again. So I suppose Ms. James did some good marketing for Stoker in that effect. Mina Murray is a sweet, innocent, caring narrator. She is easily relatable. And even though you know who Mr. Wagner is (and yell at her to see that too!), you can understand his appeal. Mr. Wagner is a tall, dark and handsome stranger whose ability to listen and relate to Mina instantly puts her at ease and gains her trust. Mina may be an innocent in many ways, but she also craves the attention of a handsome suitor. Her fiancé, Jonathan, is someone she has grown up with. Yes, he knows her very well, but their relationship and interactions are very boring and predictable. Mina feels the absence of excitement and the thrill of being pursued (like she has seen happen with her dear friend, Lucy). She was raised in an orphanage; she knows nothing of her family or where she came from. So like the Count himself, she is in many ways similar, in being an "outcast" and feeling misunderstood and lonely at times.

Seeing the length of the story, the idea of delving into reading was a little daunting. I was afraid that it would be a dry read. And while it did take some time to get into the story, once you were in a few chapters in, it became very hard to put down. While YA girls may be drawn to the idea of another supernatural/vampire romance, I wouldn't recommend this to younger readers. Dracula is portrayed here not as a villain, and romanticizing a dangerous character is a dicey choice. Ms. James tries to paint him as a redeemable character but you can't help but feel that you're being unconsciously swayed as Mina is herself... Nonetheless, this is a great read for fans of historical romance. You don't need to have any familiarity with Dracula or vampire lore at all. (Though, there were times that I was disappointed in how weak and fawning this Van Helsing seemed... I can't help picturing his character as Hugh Jackman and here that just doesn't add up... ;-)) There are a few annoyances in writing style- the overuse of foreshadowing is the worst (multiple uses of "if I only knew what happened next...", "having no inkling of the person I was about to encounter...", "everything changed the next..."). Overall an intriguing, riveting read that shows another side to Stoker's Dracula. I'm interested in what Ms. James comes up with next! (less)

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Mar 16, 2012 Cj W rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, fiction, romance

The famous Dracula!

This is the story of Mina Murray, who came to love Dracula under the circumstances that most women do, under extreme visual and physical imagination.

Mina is an orphan, never knew her parents. She is engaged to be married, but her fiance' stops writing to her, and when he does right to her, he is very distant and has a tone of general disinterest.
Well, when things such as this happen, it leaves women feeling very .... unappreciated, unloved, un-thought-about.
Which opens the...more

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Aug 14, 2011 Suzanne Lazear added it

Syrie Jame tries very hard to remain as close as possible to the original Dracula story while telling it in 1st person from Mina’s perspective. Being Mina’s story, this focuses on the romantic aspect using Mina’s secret journals in shorthand where she reveals her deepest feelings and secrets, including her fascination with a man both terrifying and intriguing, a man everyone else seems to want to kill.

Mina is a great heroine–strong and smart, and Syrie James’ does a great job of using period lan...more

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Aug 09, 2011 Maria rated it 5 of 5 stars

I can't even express to you how much I loved this book - but I will try my best!

The story of Dracula is one that I have always loved. And while it may not be as popular, it is obvious how its effects have impacted us even today. Just look around you and see the Twilight movies, or Vampire Diaries, or even True Blood and it is clear as day how popular vampires were back then, and still are now.

Bram Stoker's Dracula spawned a lifetime of fiction and even more superstitions - but at the same time,...more

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Apr 24, 2011 Chaeya Chaeya rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book was an excellent read. It kept me on the edge of my seat and wanting to read more, even in tears in a few places. Mina is definitely the kind of heroine that I love -- she's strong, smart, quick-witted and able to keep her emotions in check. The part I liked the most was that she was able to do all this without sacrificing her femininity. Dracula as the hero was even more than I could imagine and it's difficult not to be in love with him also.

Syri does a good job of taking you through...more

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Apr 06, 2011 Brittni Allen rated it 4 of 5 stars

I had mixed feelings about this book when I picked it up. Hmm, it could be really slow, boring and unadventurous since the "romantic action" takes place in such a chaste time period. Or it could break every conventional rule and then become unbelievable.

Fortunately, neither one of those fears came true. Instead, Syrie James integrated the chastity of the time period with a lusting, sensual Dracula in the most successful of ways. Dracula became a truly inspiring character, one who laughs, loves...more

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Dec 29, 2010 Karissa rated it 4 of 5 stars

I got a copy of this book through Librarything's Early Reviewer program. I love the original story of Dracula but always wished that the women characters were more filled out. This book does a great job of doing that in a believable way and paints Dracula into a more complex character than he was originally portrayed as.

The whole book is told through the viewpoint of Mina Parker. Through her eyes we see Lucy's decline, hear of Jonathan's troubles in Transalvania, etc. The story line closely foll...more I got a copy of this book through Librarything's Early Reviewer program. I love the original story of Dracula but always wished that the women characters were more filled out. This book does a great job of doing that in a believable way and paints Dracula into a more complex character than he was originally portrayed as.

The whole book is told through the viewpoint of Mina Parker. Through her eyes we see Lucy's decline, hear of Jonathan's troubles in Transalvania, etc. The story line closely follows the original Dracula storyline but the interactions between Mina and Dracula are more filled out. You also see more of Mina's relationship with her husband Jonathan. This definitely comes off as more of a romance than the original Dracula, but mostly it is a Victorian fantasy of sorts.

I thought the book was well done. The language and writing style mostly stays true to the original Dracula, and the original Dracula storyline is basically followed (if embellished on quite a bit). Mina Harker is a wonderful complex character: she is dutiful, yet independent, she loves her husband, yet is drawn to Dracula. She is a character that is easy to love and empathize with, she is even admirable at points.

The characters of Jonathan and Dracula are also filled out nicely. Neither of the male leads is completely good or completely evil. Jonathan can be overly restrictive and traditional towards Mina; which suffocates her at times...yet he is also a loving husband. Dracula is more accepting and encouraging of Mina's non-traditional behavior (wanting to work outside the home and be educated) but is selfish when it comes to what he wants.

This book ends up being less about the mystery behind Dracula and more about Mina's struggle to decide between two men who truly love her but each have faults of their own. That being said there is still some mystery and urgency throughout this book. The book would have been more engaging and unpredictable if I had not already known the story of Dracula so well.

Overall the book is well done and a must read for Dracula fans, especially Dracula fans who have always wanted the role of the female characters in Dracula expanded. This take on Dracula is definitely more of a romance than a horror, although not annoyingly so, and it is aimed towards a female audience. Some of the steamy scenes in the book get pretty explicit so I would recommend for an adult audience. I enjoyed this book and would definitely consider reading other of James' books in the future.(less)

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Dec 19, 2010 Laurie rated it 4 of 5 stars

‘Dracula, My Love’ retells Bram Stoker’s novel from the point of view of Mina Harker, who in the original was a victim of Dracula and didn’t play a large part in the action. In this, we learn not just Mina’s story, but that of Dracula as well- or at least his story as he wishes Mina to know it. Because he has fallen in love with Mina and will do and say anything to win her.

It’s been years since I read ‘Dracula’ (in 1969, IIRC) so I’ve forgotten large parts of it, but I do think James has follow...more ‘Dracula, My Love’ retells Bram Stoker’s novel from the point of view of Mina Harker, who in the original was a victim of Dracula and didn’t play a large part in the action. In this, we learn not just Mina’s story, but that of Dracula as well- or at least his story as he wishes Mina to know it. Because he has fallen in love with Mina and will do and say anything to win her.

It’s been years since I read ‘Dracula’ (in 1969, IIRC) so I’ve forgotten large parts of it, but I do think James has followed his plot pretty faithfully. Everything she has written slots into it fairly seamlessly. The only thing that I felt was changed too much was that Van Helsing comes off as a bit of a buffoon, which I don’t remember him being.

Dracula comes to England and meets Mina while her fiancé, Jonathan Harker, is still in a hospital in Europe, recovering from all that he’s endured in Dracula’s castle. He doesn’t reveal himself as Dracula, but rather as a Mr. Wagner from Austria. He’s gorgeous, well read, polite, dances divinely and he wakes in Mina feelings that she doesn’t have about her fiancé. He stalks her relentlessly- but she doesn’t see it that way, of course. In time, he is revealed as Dracula, the vampire that Van Helsing is hunting, who terrorized Jonathan, who is assumed to have killed Lucy Westenra, Mina’s best friend. But Dracula explains all this away; he is innocent of harming anyone. Mina falls in love and in lust with him.

Even though she is very aware of the morals of the Victorian society she lives in, Mina continues to see- and allow more and more intimacies with- Dracula, despite being affianced and then married to Jonathan. She manages to justify it- or is she able to do this because Dracula has her under a spell? Despite knowing that he can bespell humans and make them do as he wishes, this possibility never seems to occur to her, not even at the very end. She is very smart and educated but she comes off, sadly, as easily manipulated and unwilling to examine what she is doing. It was a disappointment to have a narrator it was hard to engage with for 450 pages.
Still, it’s vampires. It’s Dracula! It’s rather fun.
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Nov 18, 2010 Lielabell rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This review is colored by the fact that I read Dracula In Love right before Dracula, My Love and so I can't help but compare the two. And, also, I wasn't kidding about the spoilers.

Okay, that's out of the way, now on to what I think.

OH MY GOD. Are you serious? Two books about Mina and Dracula and BOTH of them have her choosing to stay with her husband because she is pregnant? Really? Was Johnathon really so sad a character that the only way he can keep his wife's affections is by impregnating he...more This review is colored by the fact that I read Dracula In Love right before Dracula, My Love and so I can't help but compare the two. And, also, I wasn't kidding about the spoilers.

Okay, that's out of the way, now on to what I think.

OH MY GOD. Are you serious? Two books about Mina and Dracula and BOTH of them have her choosing to stay with her husband because she is pregnant? Really? Was Johnathon really so sad a character that the only way he can keep his wife's affections is by impregnating her? And is Mina really so weak willed that the thought of having a baby is enough to keep her from staying with her true love? God, what does that say about the author's opinion of mothers and motherhood? Because, honestly, I can draw no other conclusion then that a child, no matter whose child it ends up being, is enough to keep a mother on the "right" and "moral" path and justifies the sacrifice of her own independence and sexuality. FAIL.

Now, I thought it was interesting that in this book, at least, Dracula wants Mina and the child as opposed to flipping out like a New Jersey Housewife over it. And it is pretty awesome that the child turns out to be Dracula's instead of Johnathon's (although epically shitty, since Mina killed him to protect her child and his "father" but, whatever). I also liked that Mina was shown to have a case of cold feet before finding out she was preggers as well, because at least the reader can believe that she has put a little bit more thought into the whole leaving her dark lover thing instead of it just being an instant omg-must-sacrifice-my-love-for-baby decision. But... I would have liked it a whole lot more if her cold feet moment had a little more depth and a little less "but will I have to drink blood??? oh gross" because, honestly, what did you think would happen? He's only been sucking at your neck the ENTIRE book. And you thought it was so very, very noble of him to only drink from animals and willing humans before this... so... why so squicked, Mina?

*deep, disappointed sigh*

But, other than that, it was a wonderful book. And, to tell the truth, if I hadn't just read Dracula In Love and been subjected to that Dracula's epic pout fest over Mina's unborn child, I probably wouldn't have objected quite so much to what happened here. Over all, it is a fun, enjoyable read. Mina is a well developed character and her relationship with Johnathon is full of love and deep respect. You can completely sympathize with why Mina struggles to overcome her feelings for Dracula and why she is so steadfast in her resolve to at least attempt to give him up. The other characters are also well done, and I happened to particularly love Van Helsing in this. He is a total pompous bumbler, but a charming one. And he is willing to admit that maybe his blood transfusions weren't the best idea, if still steadfastly clinging to the fact that they were the only thing he could think of to save Lucy.

As much as the whole baby thing ticked me off, I still thought it was well done and pretty much true to both Dracula's and Mina's character. Plus, the way Dracula died along with the hints dropped in the epilogue make it very easy for this reader to believe that Dracula cleared the path for Mina to do what he knew she wanted by making her think that he was dead the same way he made Van Helsing and the others think the same thing. And I would be very, very happy to read any further continuation of the story that supports that theory. :D

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Sep 27, 2010 Sue Smith rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-read-in-2010

I found it interesting that I picked up this book actually, as I had just finished another story based on Mina Murray's account of the story of Dracula. This book kept far closer to the actual story by Bram Stoker, only through the eyes of the woman (and one of the main characters of it as well - although it was never explored that way in the original). I really enjoyed this version. I felt it kept true the the story and there wasn't anything fabricated differently from the original. If anything...more

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Jun 26, 2010 Svetlana Kovalkova-McKenna rated it 3 of 5 stars

The book did not read like a new view on Dracula to me, it read like an author took original Dracula and simply rewritten it trying to keep to Stoker's writing style, but changing all the facts. She did a fabulous job writing the new book,or one could say rewriting an old one,I could almost feel myself back in time when I was reading Bram Stoker for the very first time, only suddenly everything was turned upside down and distorted: plot line, the reasons characters gave for their actions, ... Th...more

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Mar 19, 2013 Alex Ronk rated it 5 of 5 stars

Confieso que al leer el título pensé que era algo diferente, a pesar de tratarse de Drácula en especial al leer que eran los mismos personajes que en el libro de Bram Stoker, así que pensé que no me iba a gustar o que sería un refrito mal logrado... pero afortunadamente me equivoqué!

Si, son los mismos personajes que el libro de Drácula, bueno si y no... al menos en uno la cosa cambia un poco, pero eso lo dejo para que lo averigüen ustedes. Toda la historia está contada desde el punto de vista d...more Confieso que al leer el título pensé que era algo diferente, a pesar de tratarse de Drácula en especial al leer que eran los mismos personajes que en el libro de Bram Stoker, así que pensé que no me iba a gustar o que sería un refrito mal logrado... pero afortunadamente me equivoqué!

Si, son los mismos personajes que el libro de Drácula, bueno si y no... al menos en uno la cosa cambia un poco, pero eso lo dejo para que lo averigüen ustedes. Toda la historia está contada desde el punto de vista de Mina y no en forma de diarios. Aunque no pude dejar de notar que la autora se valió tanto de la historia original como la película de Francis Ford Coppola.

Drácula es uno de mis personajes favoritos, así que disfruto de leer algo relacionado a él o en su defecto ver, en ésta historia no lo dejan tan mal parado, pero no queda bien claro si es inocente como se declara ante Mina o solo está jugando un poco con ella para ganarse su confianza, su amor y lealtad.

Si han leído el libro de Bram Stoker encontrarán similitudes en varias cosas, pero a pesar de valerse de algo que se escribió hace muchos años y de un personaje como lo es Drácula, la autora supo manejar bien lo que uso de inspiración dejando su propia marca en la historia y eso es admirable, le dio un toque diferente a los personajes sin robárselos o copiar con exactitud el libro o cualquiera de las películas que existen sobre Drácula.

En lo personal creo que es corto, al menos en su formato digital, así que me encontraba con las ganas de seguir leyendo pero sin apurarme demasiado porque estaba disfrutando bastante y no tenía el valor de terminarlo rápidamente.

Hubo un momento en el que creí que el final sería diferente y me dije que eso estaba bien, poner algo de su invención y cambiar las cosas... pero si conocen la historia sin duda saben como termina la historia de amor, que en éste libro resulta sumamente agradable y que éste Drácula como el de Bram Stoker son geniales, se puede decir que son el mismo y que sin embargo, no se parecen.

Sin duda alguna lo recomiendo, a pesar de conocer la historia original no pasa nada con darle la oportunidad y disfrutar de algo clásico. (less)

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Dec 01, 2011 Ana rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: vampires

The first time I saw "Bam Stroker's Dracula" in 1992, I was mezmerized. Between the make-up, the costumes (remember I'm a frustrated fashion designer), and the intense attraction between Mina and Dracula, I felt like I was under a spell...

Forward to 2010. I stumble upon Syrie James' "Dracula, My Love" at the now extinct Borders, buy it, and devoured it in a week. I just couldn't get enough of the story! The author did a great job at filling all the gaps from the original story. I had never read...more

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Nov 23, 2011 Leah rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, fantasy, arc

This is the story of Mina Harker, a smart, capable and married 19th century woman who falls in love with Dracula. Told from her perspective, Mina explains how she came to love two men and the effects the experience has on her understanding of herself and the world.

My favorite aspect of this novel was learning Dracula's background and how he became a vampire. The world building crafted around the historical events provided an interesting and believable explanation for his existence. I liked how J...more

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Nov 01, 2010 Sandra Miller rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Apr 26, 2012 Minerva rated it 4 of 5 stars

i felt sad at Nicolae's dying words to Mina.how sorry he was for deceiving her just to have her forever. Possessiveness is the negative character of being a vampire(true blood,twilight etc)and it ruins everything. Mina's involvement to him is like awakening of different aspects of her female sexuality and intelligence as we know he adored Mina for being a modern woman.Lucy depicts the typical woman in London's Victorian era attitude Narcissistic and the mindset of finding a man of security. actu...more

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Mar 14, 2012 Ryoko rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: best-books-ever

If you have always sympathized with Dracula or wanted to see Mina and Dracula's romance, then this book is for you! My preference for characters leans toward the antagonistic and I am thrilled by forbidden romance. This book was right up my alley. I enjoyed it immensely--devoured it in but a few sittings, in fact. I was pleased with the characterization, dialogue, plot, pace, diction, basically everything. This includes the ending (which is really wonderful if you look at the signs, and does lea...more

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Jan 08, 2011 ALPHAreader rated it 5 of 5 stars

'Dracula, My Love' is the third novel by acclaimed Hollywood screenwriter (turned novelist), Syrie James.

As the title suggests, James's novel is a retelling of Bram Stoker's original Gothic tale. Our protagonist is Mina Harker, who is recounting a time in her life when everything was thrown into disquiet and discontent. Seven years after the events that bought a Mr Wagner (née, Count Dracula) into her life, and Mina still senses his presence and yearns for his forbidden touch...

At times, I feare...more 'Dracula, My Love' is the third novel by acclaimed Hollywood screenwriter (turned novelist), Syrie James.

As the title suggests, James's novel is a retelling of Bram Stoker's original Gothic tale. Our protagonist is Mina Harker, who is recounting a time in her life when everything was thrown into disquiet and discontent. Seven years after the events that bought a Mr Wagner (née, Count Dracula) into her life, and Mina still senses his presence and yearns for his forbidden touch...

At times, I feared him. At other times, I despised him. And yet, even knowing what he was and what he wanted, I could not help but love him.

The more I read in the Urban Fantasy genre, the more I am fascinated with its origins. And it seems I am not alone. 'Dracula, My Love' is the second novel to come out that retells and reshapes Stoker's classic tale (the other novel by Karen Essex is called 'Dracula in Love').

You may think you know the tale of Dracula, and can therefore gain no fascination or insight from a retelling. True, you may know the players and the setting. The Whitby cliffs, Lucy Westenra's tragic death and the twisted triangle of Mina Murray, Jonathan Harker and Count Dracula. But writers like Syrie James and Karen Essex are revisiting the original tale from a modern perspective and setting Stoker's Gothic story ablaze in modernity.

One of the finest aspects of 'Dracula, My Love' is Syrie James's heightened awareness of Stoker's time and setting, as she draws on fascinations of the past as well as modern sense. She cloaks the Dracula myth in inventive historical facts, drawing on the legend of Vlad the Impaler but also referencing 'pop culture' of the 1800's. 'Dracula, My Love' is awash with many interesting historical tidbits – like the fact that Oscar Wilde's 'The Picture of Dorian Gray' was released in Lippincott's Monthly Magazine the same year that Stoker's 'Dracula' tale is set, making for an insightful comparison.

“I think everyone has a desire for perennial youth,” I admitted, “but in the end, this is a Faustian, a cautionary tale, about vanity and frivolity, and the dangers of trying to interfere with the basic laws of life and death. When I really think about it, I would not wish to be young for ever.”
“No? And why not?”
“Because I would be obliged to watch everyone I loved grow old and die.”
“What if that were not the case? What if there was one person whom you loved deeply, with whom you could live on for ever, under the same terms?”

And then there are the times when Syrie James adds modern perspective and common sense to Stoker's tale. Like in the character of Doctor Van Helsing, whose medical methods are brought into disrepute when James hints that the good doctor's 'blood transfusions' are killing his patients.

Syrie James is writing 'Dracula, My Love' in the wake of 'Twilight' and 'True Blood', and fans of Edward Cullen, Bill Compton and the like. Hence, 'Dracula, My Love' tells the romantic tale of Mina Harker and Count Dracula. This is the focal point of the story, as told by Mina herself. And really, this romance still holds so many fascinating angles and back-story's, as James highlights. Dracula and Mina are the ultimate star-crossed lovers; Dracula the forbidden fruit, and Mina his innocent Eve. At times I wished that James had kept the character of Dracula more terrifying, for there are times when she justifies his actions with excuses and reasoning. However, it's impossible to tell whether such protestations of innocence are in fact Mina being an unreliable narrator, trying to defend her falling for the Count? And really, that's half the fun of reading 'Dracula, My Love'... trying to figure out how much Mina is a victim of circumstance and how much she willingly succumbed to Dracula's temptations...

His blue eyes penetrated mine. "I have made no secret of it: I love you. You are all I want. I do not want you for a day, or a decade, or a lifetime. I want to be with you for all time..."

'Dracula, My Love' is a wicked and titillating re-imagining of the classic Gothic tale. Mina is no longer relegated to the swooning heroine in Syrie James's story, she is instead the willing temptress and lover of the 'monster' Dracula. This is like an adult 'Twilight', right up the 'True Blood' alley and a truly tempting retelling of a classic horror story.(less)

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Feb 19, 2013 Okta rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Dracula My Love -- Sebuah kisah cinta antara manusia dengan vampir, seperti Twilight saga, tapi jalan ceritanya tentu saja berbeda karena ceritanya lebih singkat dan ending-nya yang mengejutkan.

Para tokohnya tidak begitu banyak: Mina, Lucy, Mrs. Ewstenra, Jonathan, Mr. Hawkins, Arthur, Dr. Seward, Mr. Morris, Dr. Van Helsing, Mr. Wagner atau nama lainnya Nicolae, dan beberapa tokoh tambahan lainnya yang datang dan pergi. Lalu siapakah si vampir tampannya (tampan dan mempesona, begitulah image un...more Dracula My Love -- Sebuah kisah cinta antara manusia dengan vampir, seperti Twilight saga, tapi jalan ceritanya tentu saja berbeda karena ceritanya lebih singkat dan ending-nya yang mengejutkan.

Para tokohnya tidak begitu banyak: Mina, Lucy, Mrs. Ewstenra, Jonathan, Mr. Hawkins, Arthur, Dr. Seward, Mr. Morris, Dr. Van Helsing, Mr. Wagner atau nama lainnya Nicolae, dan beberapa tokoh tambahan lainnya yang datang dan pergi. Lalu siapakah si vampir tampannya (tampan dan mempesona, begitulah image untuk semua vampir pria di dalam cerita-cerita)?

(view spoiler)[Mina dan Lucy bersahabat sejak masa sekolah hingga mereka beranjak dewasa. Mereka sedang berlibur di sebuah tempat yang indah di London bernama Whitby sebelum masing-masing dari mereka akan segera menikah. Di sanalah mereka mulai menjalani kehidupan yang penuh misteri. Ketika sedang berjalan-jalan sendirian, Mina bertemu seorang pria tampan yang menawan, dan dalam sekejap hubungan mereka menjadi akrab. Ada sebuah cinta yang mulai bersemi di hati wanita itu, tapi dia tahu bahwa itu salah, dia masih ingat dengan jelas bahwa dia sudah memiliki tunangan. Namun, siapa yang sanggup menolak kedatangan cinta?

Mina, pada suatu malam, mendapati Lucy berjalan sambil tidur ke sebuah tempat duduk favorit mereka di halaman gereja. Di sana Lucy tidak sendiri, ada sesosok makhluk bermata merah di dekatnya. Tapi untunglah Lucy baik-baik saja, setidaknya untuk sementara. Suatu hari, Mina menerima surat dari seorang suster di Budapest yang memberitahukan bahwa tunangannya sedang sakit dan sering meracau tentang serigala, iblis, hingga kastel Dracula. Dengan hati yang tegar, Mina menyusul tunangannya ke sana dan menemaninya hingga sembuh.

Begitu kembali ke London, mereka sudah berstatus sebagai pasangan suami istri, mereka memimpikan kehidupan yang bahagia. Tapi, Mina masih saja terbayang-bayang oleh pria tampan yang ia kenal ketika di Whitby. Beberapa hari setelah kepulangan mereka, berita duka cita menghampiri mereka satu per satu. Mrs. Westenra, ibu dari Lucy, meninggal dunia. Lalu selang beberapa hari, Lucy pun meninggal karena sakit, tapi ada yang janggal dengan kematiannya. Belakangan, Mina akhirnya tahu kalau sahabatnya meninggal karena ulah vampir. Bahkan Lucy berubah menjadi vampir.

Di London, Mina bertemu kembali dengan pria pujaan hatinya. Mereka saling mengungkapkan isi hati, mereka saling mencintai. Namun, Mina memutuskan untuk melupakan pria itu karena dia sudah menikah dengan cinta pertamanya, Jonathan. Suatu malam yang dipenuhi ketegangan, Mina dikejutkan oleh kemunculan sesosok pria tampan yang diam-diam dia cintai, Mr. Wagner, yang memasuki kamarnya dalam wujud awal berupa debu. Akhirnya Mina tahu kalau pria kedua yang dicintainya, setelah suaminya, adalah vampir. Vampir yang diburu oleh beberapa orang karena telah membunuh sahabatnya, Lucy. (hide spoiler)]

Saya selalu tidak sabaran untuk segera membalik halaman demi halaman karena jalan ceritanya menarik untuk diikuti. Ada banyak kejutan dan informasi yang membuat saya sering berucap, "ooh", "wow", "jadi, gitu?" Unsur romantisme di buku ini juga mampu membuat saya ikut merasakan sensasinya. Hihi.. Penggunaan bahasanya cukup ringan walaupun saya agak terganggu dengan banyaknya kata "Oh!" tiap kali si tokoh berdialog menggunakan ekspresi yang... di'setting' atau di'image'kan seperti dalam film-film tahun 80-90an. Secara keseluruhan, ini adalah cerita yang menarik!(less)

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May 08, 2013 Troy Rodgers rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: gothic-horror, historical-fiction, romance

On the whole, I can't stand fanfic, especially the sappy, amateur romantic stuff that proliferates the internet now. Generally I just steer clear. There has always been an exception in my mind, and that is Susan Kay's Phantom. In the past 6 years or so, there's been an abundance of "Phanfic" out there telling the would-be sequel to The Phantom of the Opera, and most of them are anywhere from average to complete suckdom. The only stand out one is The Phantom of Manhattan, which is based on the or...more On the whole, I can't stand fanfic, especially the sappy, amateur romantic stuff that proliferates the internet now. Generally I just steer clear. There has always been an exception in my mind, and that is Susan Kay's Phantom. In the past 6 years or so, there's been an abundance of "Phanfic" out there telling the would-be sequel to The Phantom of the Opera, and most of them are anywhere from average to complete suckdom. The only stand out one is The Phantom of Manhattan, which is based on the original story idea by Andrew Lloyd Webber that he couldn't get to work, but then got to work some 20 years later in the form of Love Never Dies. Regardless, the stand out novel here is Phantom, which not only builds and expands on the original story, it's actually written far better than the original work and allows you to get inside the heads of the characters and explore the psychology of the story. It remains to this day as one of my all-time favorite books, and it's the book by which I judge all expansions of classic Victorian-Gothic literature.

Thing is, Dracula has the exact same problem, and it's because of Phantom that I held out hope of one day finding "THE book" that would go deeper and give me more. The original novel is perfect... for about 4 chapters, then it suffers quite a bit from being in a hurry to tell the story. There's no real expansion of anything. But the idea is brilliant. A lot of stories have been written since the book hit public domain. Some of it tries to concentrate on the Dracula / Mina story, some of it tries to focus on the monster hunt, and some of it tries too hard to be the sequel to the story. The Historian isn't bad, and the same holds true for the "official" sequel, Dracula The Un-Dead. But none of it stands out.

Now that's changed in my mind, because of THIS book. On a whim, I spent one of my Audible credits on a book that I could only assume would be a terrible shipper's squee-fest, and I figured that if it were, I could exchange it and get my credit back. Let me tell you about this book! It's not only beautifully told by a writer with a superior understanding of character development than Stoker, it also greatly expands on the original novel, especially on the characters of Mina and her husband Jonathan Harker. This book spins the familiar tale from Mina's perspective in such a way as to tie up some of the loose ends and filling the gaps to make sense of what Stoker only hinted at. And as a bonus, it's written with that Victorian sensibility in mind, so it fits as a companion work to the original novel. Is it a romance? Yes and no. It deals with the romance that's presented in the story, but it comes across more as a psychological study that masterfully tells how Mina could fall for the Count. Her backstory is called into play here, and everything just builds so well. But what's truly amazing to me is that in the course of exploring the romance and conflict within Mina, both sides of Dracula are explored. We get both the man he might have been (Vlad the Impaler notwithstanding) and the monster we know him to be. The love triangle takes center stage as a result, but it's less about the relationships and more about why the characters act and react as they do. Syrie James has clearly studied Stoker's original, and her love of the story shows through. It's not perfect, but it does shift the camera angle to include so much more of what we knew had to be there, and it does it very well. All in all, color me impressed.(less)

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Aug 21, 2012 Pitiponks rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: bit-lit, romance, read-in-english

I really enjoyed this book for many reasons. First it is well written and easy to read, without being simplistic, just enjoyable. Second, I liked the original Bram Stoker’s Dracula, of course. All the ambiguous scenes in the book about things maybe happening but not being said clearly had always thrilled me. In particular, the sensual, sexual tension about Dracula and Lucy and then Mina. So when I saw the title of “Dracula My Love” and then the back cover, I immediately borrowed it at the librar...more

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Aug 23, 2010 Melissa rated it 3 of 5 stars

This was an interesting take on Dracula told from Mina Harker's point of view. I have not read the original Dracula by Bram Stoker, but was intrigued by the premise of this book. Although I really do not like 19th Century literature and James tried to write in the same style as Stoker, this novel was a bit removed from Stoker's Dracula and I was able to complete the novel, unlike much of the Bronte and Austen works.

The central idea of this novel is the pull that Mina Harker feels between two me...more

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Jul 13, 2010 Meredith (Austenesque Reviews) rated it 5 of 5 stars

(Note: This review is coming from the perspective of someone who has not yet had the pleasure of reading Bram Stoker's Dracula.)

Critically acclaimed and bestselling author, Syrie James, once again transports her readers back in time and enchants them with a tale of unknown romance. This time instead of revealing the secret love affair of a famous author as she did with Jane Austen and Charlotte Brontë, Syrie James decides to divulge the hidden romance between two fictional characters: Mina Harke...more (Note: This review is coming from the perspective of someone who has not yet had the pleasure of reading Bram Stoker's Dracula.)

Critically acclaimed and bestselling author, Syrie James, once again transports her readers back in time and enchants them with a tale of unknown romance. This time instead of revealing the secret love affair of a famous author as she did with Jane Austen and Charlotte Brontë, Syrie James decides to divulge the hidden romance between two fictional characters: Mina Harker and Count Dracula. Utilizing characters and plot from Bram Stoker's Dracula, Syrie James retells this horror classic with an infusion of romance.

Mina Murray, at the age of twenty-two has her life perfectly planned; after enjoying an extended holiday at the sea-side resort of Whitby with her friend Lucy Westenra, she is to wed her childhood friend Jonathan Harker and begin her life as a devoted wife, helpmate, and mother. But when Jonathan doesn't return from his business trip to Transylvania and dear Lucy grows more pale and lethargic each day, Mina learns that life doesn't always go as planned. To make matters worse, Mina finds herself extremely attracted to an intriguing and mysterious stranger by the name of Mr. Wagner. Could Mina be falling in love with another man?

We are all familiar with Count Dracula – he is centuries old, from Transylvania, nocturnal, has supernatural powers, and he is sustained by blood. But in Dracula, My Love, we learn that this famous vampire isn't as dangerous and villainous as he seems. Syrie James's Dracula is misunderstood, passionate, a friendless outcast, and...he is in love. The dilemma is that the woman he is in love with is engaged to a man who wants to see him dead. How will this scandalous and impassioned affair end?

What magnificent writing! I am a great of admire Syrie James's novels thus far and even though I wasn't that interested in reading a novel about Dracula and vampires, I was inclined to read this book because of Ms. James's illuminating and all-consuming prose. Believe me, I was not disappointed! Ms. James's Dracula may be a bit more romantic and reputable than Bram Stoker's original (an aspect which might chagrin some purists), but that didn't bother me as I completely fell in love with him! He is such a complex and intriguing character with such mysterious origins. I've become so enamored that I intend to read Bram Stoker's Dracula in the near future.

To put it simply: this novel was truly outstanding! I took pleasure in gaining new understanding and insight to Dracula's character, the compelling action of the plot, and the ardent yet illicit love affair between Dracula and Mina Harker. Dracula, My Love is poignant, passionate, and powerful you should not miss!

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Mar 21, 2013 Marisa rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is easily one of the best books I've ever read, and I read books on a daily basis.

I HIGHLY recommend this book to fans of Bram Stoker's Dracula, readers of romance, and anyone who enjoys a compelling story and a book they can't put down. Syrie James brilliantly takes the mysteries and unanswered questions of Bram Stoker's Dracula and presents a telling narrative that fits logically into the folds of Dracula, but tells his and Mina's side of the story.

This book takes readers on an emotional...more

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About Syrie James

Syrie James is the bestselling author of eight critically acclaimed novels, including The Missing Manuscript of Jane Austen, The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen, The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Bronte, Nocturne, Dracula My Love, Forbidden, and The Harrison Duet: Songbird and Propositions. Her books have been translated into eighteen foreign languages.

Syrie was named after a character in a radio show t...more Syrie James is the bestselling author of eight critically acclaimed novels, including The Missing Manuscript of Jane Austen, The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen, The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Bronte, Nocturne, Dracula My Love, Forbidden, and The Harrison Duet: Songbird and Propositions. Her books have been translated into eighteen foreign languages.

Syrie was named after a character in a radio show that her mother listened to as a girl. Today, Syrie is thrilled that her name is pronounced exactly the same as Siri, the iPhone personal assistant--even if they spell the name incorrectly. :)

Syrie has long been a fan of British literature of the 19th century. She also enjoys reading in a variety of other genres, including historical fiction, paranormal fiction, women's fiction, biography, memoir, romance, mystery, and the classics.

Two of Syrie's favorite authors are Jane Austen and Charlotte Brontë. Syrie's husband Bill, who has joined her in watching all the film versions of Miss Austen's novels several times over and every film version of Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights ever made, has come to share her enthusiasm, if not her obsession. Syrie also enjoys writing about brilliant, sympathetic, charismatic vampires ... and the paranormal. It was a truly wonderful experience to co-author the novel Forbidden with her son Ryan.

Syrie lived in Paris when she was seven years old, and had visited more than two dozen countries by age eight, which instilled in her a lifelong love of traveling. Her other favorite pursuits include movies, theater, great food, playing games with family and friends, Scrabble, photography, sewing, and the out of doors. Syrie designed and maintains her website, syriejames.com, and she welcomes visitor and messages! Like Jane Austen and Charlotte Brontë, Syrie is very fond of the countryside, and loves taking long walks.

Syrie lives with her family in Los Angeles, California. She is a member of the WGA, RWA, and a life member of JASNA (the Jane Austen Society of North America). She spent many years as a screenwriter and enjoys writing both novels and screenplays.

Syrie writes practically every weekday from 10 - 6. She says, "Many people can't wait for the weekend to arrive. It's the opposite for me. I truly love my jam-packed weekends, but from the time I turn off the computer on Friday evening to the moment I'm back in my chair on Monday morning, I'm anxious to get back to the characters I left in limbo, who are just waiting for me to continue their story."
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