Discussion Questions

[Fey]

Hello!

I hope you are enjoying the book thus far!
I came across it somewhere on Bookstagram. I'm really glad we picked this one up. It comes from a really small publisher and i think its one of those books that once in a great while happens chance introduces you to.

A Few Discussion Starters:
1. What did you think of the diary format?
2. How would you compare this to other vampire tales you've read. For example Anne Rice?
3. The real question is would I have enjoyed it as much if it wasn't a bit smutty and involved vampires??

Please share any questions you have as well :)

[Lauri]

Well, I just finished the book today! It's a very quick read and I spent some down time reading the back half this afternoon.

I will admit that when I started reading the book, I had a hard time getting in to it and felt it could have used a little bit better editing -- there were many rivulets and a few other contrived phrases. I actually think those decreased as the book went on and I started to enjoy the tone a lot more, basically once Constanta (sp?) started to take control of the situation. I think the format grew on me as well.

It's been soooo long since I have read any vampire stories (at least 20 years since Anne Rice) that it is a little hard to even remember.

To the real question, I'm not sure! I mean the key thing is of course...vampires. I really enjoyed the sort of historical overview you get as you bounce around Europe and imagine these exquisite beings moving through colorful cities.

[Lauri]

Also, is there going to be a sequel? I’d love to find out more how the three end up living with freedom in the 20th century!

[Fey]

The historical overview was also one of my favorite parts! I became really excited when she mentioned Suleiman the Magnificent. (For the last few months i've been watching the Turkish tella-novella The Magnificent Century on Youtube -talk about drama!!).

I actually liked the whole pulp fiction of this book with its typos, the funky font, and pages with no words on it because it is a diary. I can be such a lazy reader.

I read the author post somewhere that she is not planning on writing a sequel but who knows. She may change her mind.

What I really appreciated about this book was how Gibson describes the vampires loosing their humanity over time. Like how they slowly stopped enjoying the taste of food and wine. Or when Constanta walked infront of a mirror and thought "I wondered if eventually even my reflection would fade away, leaving nothing but the cold unbroken surface of a mirror" (pg 109).
The way they could walk as dusk seeing the last of the sun's reflections made their transformation more meaningful for me. More organic perhaps. Reminded me of the way in some vampire worlds vampirism is a virus as opposed to a demonic overtaking of the body and soul.

My biggest problem is the book is advertised as being the story of the bride of Dracula which it is not. Maybe he is one of his cousins lol

In closing, this book makes me want to pay more attention to smaller publishing companies.

[Lauri]

I read this book very quickly and that was great for me because I had lost reading momentum and it has helped kickstart it up again for me! The pulp fiction of the book helped, definitely.

I totally agree with your appreciation the way the author portrays them and the slow loss of their humanity. This felt different and a nice contribution to vampire lore.

Thanks for bringing this one to our attention! Post incoming for our new year read.