Lucy Undying

A Dracula Novel

By: Kiersten White

Narrated by: Nicky Endres, Linda Jones, Elizabeth Knowelden, Billie Fulford-Brown, Kiersten White, Jeremy Carlisle Parker

A vampire escapes the thrall of Dracula and embarks on her own search for self-discovery and true love in this epic and seductive gothic fantasy from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Hide.

“Fiercely empowering and gloriously vengeful.”—Heather Walter, award-winning author of Malice

A CRIMEREADS BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR

Her name was written in the pages of someone else’s story: Lucy Westenra was one of Dracula’s first victims.

But her death was only the beginning. Lucy rose from the grave a vampire and has spent her immortal life trying to escape from Dracula’s clutches—and trying to discover who she really is and what she truly wants.

Her undead life takes an unexpected turn in twenty-first-century London, when she meets another woman, Iris, who is also yearning to break free from her past. Iris’s family has built a health empire based on a sinister secret, and they’ll do anything to stay in power.

Lucy has long believed she would never love again. Yet she finds herself compelled by the charming Iris while Iris is equally mesmerized by the confident and glamorous Lucy. But their intense connection and blossoming love is threatened by outside forces. Iris’s mother won’t let go of her without a fight, and Lucy’s past still has fangs: Dracula is on the prowl once more.

Lucy Westenra has been a tragically murdered teen, a lonesome adventurer, and a fearsome hunter, but happiness has always eluded her. Can she find the strength to destroy Dracula once and for all, or will her heart once again be her undoing?

©2024 Kiersten White (P)2024 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“Fiercely empowering and gloriously vengeful . . . Kiersten White gives us a Dracula retelling that not only topples the vampire king from his throne but shows us who should have been sitting there the whole time.”—Heather Walter, award-winning author of Malice

“White has crafted a gothic-tinged tale as deep and dark as grave dirt and as lush as spilled blood.”—Ava Reid, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Lady Macbeth

“Brimming with White’s signature wit and razor-sharp prose, Lucy Undying is a gothic masterpiece. I adored absolutely everything about this book.”—Erin A. Craig, #1 New York Times bestselling author of House of Salt and Sorrows

Boring

The more I read the stronger the impulse to ditch this story. I succumbed to the inevitable and put it aside I wish I’d done that hours ago.

It's just amazing and will leave you feeling satisfied

The three pronged story is really good to keep everything interesting while giving a lot of information, without being boring and too expository. I love vampires and this story was just perfect. it's my first introduction to the author's books and I can't wait to read more!!

A Tale of Love Across Time

It is at once retelling, fanfiction(in the best sorts of ways), expansion of a character and a love letter to that character all at once, that is also a journey into growing as a person into a more complete you, by collecting everything and everyone that has been you, and letting them be a part of your own story

It is a tale of seeking love, learning of love, learning to love, and seeing what love can be interpreted as by the many viewpoints that there are

The story's pacing feels steady and inevitable, a steady stream growing into a river, tangled plots told from different eras tied together by one of the protagonists and her journey through her own immortality and her process of coming to terms with living.

The other protagonist meanwhile is walking a tightrope as a path to escape holding to the thin path she believes to be the only available to her

A good number of cleverly played twists and turns pull everything together, keeping intrigue building as you try to decipher where the trail is going to go

The story bounces from family drama, supernatural horror, murder mystery, historical adventures, tales of war and thoughts on how it impacts the average person, to a gripping and touching love story between two damaged people who nonetheless live their lives (and unlives), hope within them

It is a delight, truly

phenomenal

I absolutely loved this!! I loved the book but I loved the audiobook even more!!! I always loved lucy and thought she got a raw deal in dracula. this was perfect!!!

Excellent story and narration

Awesome story, full of twits and turns. Lucy's journey is inspiring and all the narrators were great

Amazing retelling

I did not notice that this was based off a classic novel and i really wish that there was a slice of life sequel between lucy and iris

Ms. Westenra Undying Gave ME Life!!! (Enteral Life..?)

I ALWAYS felt SO horribly for Lucy!!! Since seeing Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992) film as a child (I also debuted in 1992, as did one Harley Quinn. Love my birth year), I felt a pang of sorrow for the innocent girl who did NOT deserve to go out like that! It took WAY too long for me to actually read the original novel, but when I did, I finally realized how much WORSE Lucy’s fate had been! The novel had BEAUTIFUL prose and memorable elements that I adored… but Lucy’s treatment, dismissal as an hair headed heiress by even her friends, being treated as a tool for motivation (for happiness, gallantry, vengeance, etc) rather than her own person… It REALLY pissed me off, because otherwise the novel was quite enjoyable and scary.

Kiersten White taking back Lucy’s power, agency, and giving her a deep and genuine love was everything I never knew I needed. I came in to this story having come from her Camelot Rising trilogy with her BRILLIANT take on one of my favorite characters of all time: Queen Guinevere.

White once again delivers strong, powerful women who refuse to bend or back down, being badass, but also varied. We see MANY different types of women here and I couldn’t be happier for it. I found Iris, the Lover, the Doctor, the Queen, and of course Lucy herself to be just chef’s kiss.

White once again weaves tension, incredible forces (more supernatural than magical, this time around, for me, since having read Camelot Rising), empowerment, heart, tragedy, and taking back one’s power.

I LOVE what she did with the concept of Dracula and while AYE didn’t guess what was VERY possible that could have went on with… CERTAIN characters we know and (maybe) love and how… they got to the HEIGHTS they got in life (avoiding spoilers, but hopefully this is an obvious reference if you know the story)… it make PERFECT sense!

My heart BURNED for Lucy and her love. Her friends. Her triumphs and tribulations. I have deceived that THIS account of Lucy Westenra’s life/unlife is what truly took place and what followed that famous story Bram Stoker created.

Kristen White… you have cemented me as a new(ish), but VERY loyal fan, and I look forward to collecting more and more of your works! Listening to this story and finishing on the first day of Pride month in 2025, and one day before my birthday, was a treat in more ways than one.

The voice cast KILLED it and I managed to finish this entire recording in maybe a few days or so, when usually it would have taken weeks (BAD ADHD here, haha). I can’t WAIT to see what else I can sink my teeth into for what the voice cast and of course for what Kirsten White has in store! My thirst has JUST began, and it won’t be satisfied until I get as to many stories and performances of theirs as possible!

Lucy's lovestory

Thank you Netgalley for the advance reader copy of Lucy Undying: A Dracula Novel by Kiersten White in exchange for an honest review. This was such a a great book. I love the Dracula story and have enjoyed different interpretations over the years, but this beat them all. Who knew I've been craving a story told from Lucy's point of view and that she was in love with Mina? I highly recommend this story.

Fantastic story

Well written if you like dark. But also alot of wit mixed in. Different points of view and each actor is very good.

I cried for Lucy it was a beautiful book

Although I didn’t think the horror part was particularly scary I enjoyed the story as a whole