Return of Evil: Dracula

Universal Studios Monsters #1

by Larry Mike Garmon

When three teenagers' summer jobs at Universal Studios go awry, classic movie monsters who are supposed to be turned into holograms turn into reality instead, and it is up to Nina, Joe, and Bob to stop the evil. Original.

Genres: Horror, Fiction, Vampires, Supernatural, Young Adult, Fantasy

214 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2001

Reviews

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you mixed Nancy Drew and Goosebumps I think it would be very similar to this book. I found the second book in this series first, and quickly realized I needed to read them in their proper order, so I already knew some things that actually weren't revealed until about halfway through the book. So that kind of stole some of the mystery from myself, which is a shame. But I still really enjoyed the book! I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone who likes the classic horror stories!

[Wolverinefactor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought about giving this a 4 or 4.5 because it’s kinda cheesy in spots, some things make no sense and it’s kind of predictable but then I said screw it because I had a blast with it. If this wasn’t inspired by the Monster Squad film then I’ll just assume you’re lying because it gives all the vibes

[Sean O'Brien · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book as a kid and I fell in love with the series. I decided to reread it now to see how it aged. It is a brisk read that knows how to paint a picture of the action. I think the book could stand to have details fleshed out, but regardless, it’s a fun story. The author has a talent at making the story fun. I just personally would want more details.

[Nitasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this series as a kid and wanted to reread them out of nostalgia. I'm happy to say that I still find this book a lot of fun! I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series, even though some references have me feeling my age. Bob wishing he had DSL was equal parts painful and funny.

[Ashley Lessard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book many years ago and I can say this is where my love of vampires started. This was a great book. This was a book I just reread in many years! I'm 34 now and this was read when I was 13.

[Tor Domay · Rating 4 out of 5]

It has its flaws, but all of that is forgiven for a fun ode to the best of the classic monsters. It's like if Monster Squad was made as an early 2000s Disney Channel movie, but with plenty of edge to boot.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute. Feels like Goosebumps or Eerie, Indiana(90's tv show)

[Cameron Chaney · Rating 2 out of 5]

As a HUGE fan of the Universal Classic Monsters, I have to say that I'm pretty disappointed with this series so far. Don't be fooled, this isn't the classic Bram Stoker's Dracula. This is the first book in a YA series whose goal was to introduce 21st century teens to the classic monsters, an effort which I respect very much. Going into this, I wasn't expecting a pure masterpiece or anything (which is what I consider the original movies to be), but I did expect something fun and entertaining. To be honest, that's pretty much what I got, so no issues there. But I do have some other problems with it...

For one, the dialogue. At times, it'd be witty and somewhat realistic, but other times it was downright horrible. I even cringed at some of the terribly cheesy things the teens would say. And the one kid calls himself Captain Bob? Because he wears a sea captain's hat all the time? Really? What teenage boy would wear that AND call himself Captain Bob? I'm sure Regina George would have loads to say about that.

Another problem I had with this book was the lack of careful editing and proofreading. There were waaaaaay too many repeated words and a few scattered typos that distracted from the story. Sure, the story isn't brilliant but it deserved a better treatment than that. It would have been an improvement at the least.

I also wasn't a fan of how Dracula was portrayed, but still, despite how much it seems like I hated this book, I really did enjoy it. It was a different way for a monster fan such as myself to revisit the movie I love. I will continue reading the other books in this series, so hopefully they will improve.

FINAL VERDICT: 2 1/2 stars

[Exanimis · Rating 4 out of 5]

As soon as I found this series I knew I had to read it, I am not disappointed with the first book. I have been a lifelong fan of Universal Studios Monsters since I had to stay home while my cousins went out at Halloween because I was too little to go. I can still remember the nightmare that woke me the night after I first watched Frankenstein, Dracula and the Wolf Man. I had hopes that these books would be reminiscent of those old horror movies, intense, nerve racking but never gross or gory. The story could have been a little more dramatic if not for the kids who must battle Dracula, they were a fun bunch to follow along with. I don't know what youthful readers think of this story, you pretty much have to have seen the 1931 version of Dracula with Bella Lugosi to imagine the Dracula of this book but as a fan of the original, this book was great. If you are a fan of the old movie monsters, you have to read Return Of Evil, Dracula.

[Quentin Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel was actually written for young adults, but I still really enjoyed it. I really love the old universal monsters, however, so someone without that sort of attachment may not have liked this one as much. I actually enjoyed the entire series, and I thought it was a great way to introduce a younger generation to what monsters were like before vampires started sparkling and werewolves wanted to kiss you rather than kill you.

If you prefer your horror dark and disturbing in the vein of Jack Ketchum or Richard Layman, this may not be for you, although I will say it's not exactly kiddie fare and there are some genuine scares involved.

I would recommend this series to anyone who loves the classic universal monsters, regardless of your age!

[Arthur · Rating 5 out of 5]

Almost as exciting as Stoker’s Dracula this variety in myth is in honor of Stoker’s fabulous Vampire. As book 1 of 6 this is a great book to have picked up. I’m hooked already into seeing what other surprises I in store of from reading the rest of the books in the series. Nina, Joe, and Bob main characters are kooky and Garmon seems to have the correct formula to express all new stories from sources by popular Monsters myths. for Nina, Joe, and Bob are working for Universal Studios for the summer, talk about possibilities with fresh ideas and colourful but I can’t say more or too much about this until I’ve finished all the books.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

If this series had come out while I was a kid (8-12, maybe), I would have been all over it. But as an adult, it just didn't grab me--nothing wrong with that, I'm just not the target audience. But if you have/know kids that age who are interested in horror (the classic monsters especially), I think they'll really enjoy this book and the five that follow it. Garmon is a solid writer, and the stories are entertaining.

[Daniel Baldwin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am currently reading this book series with my son. The high concept idea is certainly an interesting one and the monsters are treated seriously, which is always nice. The writing is very subpar, but the characters are charming enough. Overall, I wasn't really a fan of this one, but I suspect they will get better as they go along.

[Kay Solo · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short, fun classic. This is an interesting story where Dracula arrives in the modern world by coming out of his movie during a storm and begins to wreak havoc on the lives of the kids who accidentally set him free. If you're any fan of Dracula, this is a fun read to add to your collection.