The Historian in 100+ Books in 2025

Oct 08, 2012 Doris rated it it was ok · review of another edition

When I read that the primary character was a research historian whose thesis was based on Dutch merchants, I immediately thought of tulips. Several other stories I have read dealt with history, and in some cases, dove into the tulip trade in detail – I expected the same from this. However, in this story there was a light reference – several times – to the merchants but without any detail on what it would actually be in regards to. I kept expecting elucidation at a later point, but was constantly When I read that the primary character was a research historian whose thesis was based on Dutch merchants, I immediately thought of tulips. Several other stories I have read dealt with history, and in some cases, dove into the tulip trade in detail – I expected the same from this. However, in this story there was a light reference – several times – to the merchants but without any detail on what it would actually be in regards to. I kept expecting elucidation at a later point, but was constantly disappointed.

I also expected more information on the details of the search for the vampire heritage, and maybe even a bit more detail on the Ottoman empire. It felt like the search was more of an afterthought to an attempt to create a reason for the historical writing – which I will at some point do some follow up reading on (even though I have no idea where I will start since there were no bibliographic references for this book).

It was very detailed on the search, as we dealt with several points of view, from the young daughter of the researcher, the researcher, and the researcher's mentor. I liked that she points out that history is real things happening to real people, but it felt a little pompous in the way it was said, and even though I agree, I also disagree – after all the victors write the history and much of what we know might be true but is only half the story.
More detail? This story had much too much detail without actually sharing any information. That sounds like a contradiction, but I refer to other writers, who refer to the long letters, shared in their entirety, from various people, saved over centuries and read by the various characters. Please – share only the pertinent parts. Ditto for the great detail on the Ottoman empire, and the travel route, with details on snacks and foods and meals and train trips. I am reminded of Centennial by James Michener, where the detail was blended into the background of the book, but at least the story was not all about the historical detail.

In addition, although we are led to believe that this is a search for vampires, it is more a search for historical facts, shared in excruciating detail in page after page. (view spoiler)

As Liberty said, "people … [are] expecting a real vampire story and maybe that's what Kostova intended to write but it doesn't seem to be what she actually produced. She got caught up in the travelogue and the exotic history of trade relationships and disgusting Romanian beverages and she forgot that writing a thriller means that you actually have to thrill people"

Overall though I enjoyed the story it will not go on my reread pile. It is just too drear and too repetitive. Not to mention that we never really find out the name of the young daughter (she is just "my Darling Daughter")!

The main thing I saw as a positive point is that all the ends were tied in a nice little bow at the end. Well – almost all. Enough though to make it feel like an overall interesting story even with all the excess detail and pontification on history's importance to the world. But – if it is true history say so and if it is loosely based say so. Don't make me wonder.

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May 02, 2009 Marti rated it really liked it

Shelves: fiction-historical, our-bookclub, world-fiction

I found myself mesmerized by all the information. I raced through this book like Dracula was chasing me. I also shut my windows each night and made my cats come in at dusk!

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May 02, 2009 Holly rated it it was amazing

This book was amazing. The whole plot reminded me of what "The Davinci Code" did for the bible. I love the conspiracy theories in this book and they really so sound plausible ...more

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Jun 04, 2009 Matthew rated it liked it

Dracula story, written by a chick so it can be too flowery and needlessly descriptive at times. Pretty good though

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May 28, 2009 Liz rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

To me this felt like a kids version of the davinci code. I didn't read dracula until after I had read this book. It was a very good book. It was a little long, but still enjoyable. ...more

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