The Brides

A Novel

By: Charlotte Cross

Narrated by: Anna Popplewell, Sam Woolf

Creepy, sumptuous and incredibly gripping, The Brides is a feminist gothic horror about the three women who became the brides of Dracula – and the fourth who managed to escape . . .

"Come to me, and be mine for eternity."

1884. When Mafalda journeys to Budapest to care for her grieving aunt, her secret love, Lucy, hurries from London to comfort her, with chaperone and lady’s maid in tow.

But lady’s maid Alice, blessed and cursed with the Sight, is tormented by terrifying visions. When chaperone Eliza falls prey to a disturbing wasting illness, the women hope to seek the healing waters of Transylvania. At a nobleman’s invitation, they set out for Castle Dracula.

In the depths of the forest, miles from civilization, their host reveals his true intentions; a monstrous ambition which will tear the women apart.

And not all of them will survive.

Entertaining and engagement

I’ve been anticipating this book for a while so, at first I was worried I had overhyped it in my head, but it’s my favorite book of the year so far. I really felt like I was reading the letters and journal entries and trying to put the mystery together myself with the little context I had. I also think the main narrator had a lot of fun with the accents and I really enjoyed her performance.

Loved

This is a beautiful retelling very well done paying homage to the original Stoker novel without it being a copy and paste.

the brides

very new view of Dracula and great portrayal of characters in telling this story. the author had me feeling I was there in the room with them and feeling the horror surrounding them.

Nothing Really New

I was unfortunately disappointed by the book. I didn’t feel that it was all that different from so many other Dracula or vampire related stories. I felt it was a lot of information and at times hard to follow. When I saw the book had come out, had high hopes. However, it would not be something I would recommend.