Still hunted from the Ripper's events that occurred not so long ago in London, Audrey Rose Wadsworth sets off with her friend and investigation partner Thomas Cresswell for Bran Castle's prestigious forensic medicine academy, in Romania.
Apparently, the castle's previous owner was no other than the (in)famous prince Vlad Dracula, whose name still frighten the villagers in the nearby town.
After a not so warm welcome from the Academy's headmaster, the duo finds out that they'll be competing with other students for two spots in the actual forensic program. But their won't be a serene and eventless stay: a body was discovered impaled on the train they were riding on their journey to the academy and soon after lessons start other people get murdered, one of Audrey Rose and Thomas's classmate included.
One particular aspect of this homicides is cruel and without evident explanation: all bodies were drained from their blood.
Apparently, the castle's previous owner was no other than the (in)famous prince Vlad Dracula, whose name still frighten the villagers in the nearby town.
After a not so warm welcome from the Academy's headmaster, the duo finds out that they'll be competing with other students for two spots in the actual forensic program. But their won't be a serene and eventless stay: a body was discovered impaled on the train they were riding on their journey to the academy and soon after lessons start other people get murdered, one of Audrey Rose and Thomas's classmate included.
One particular aspect of this homicides is cruel and without evident explanation: all bodies were drained from their blood.
Not being able to stay still and watch all these killings happening in front of her, Audrey Rose bravely overcome her fears and, with Thomas' help, starts investigating once more...because it's not possible for Dracula to have risen from the dead. Right?
👍👎My Thoughts
Likewise 'Stalking Jack the Ripper', this sequel was filled with new characters and beautiful descriptions of Romania's landscapes.
My knowledge of Vlad the Impaler and the "Dracula mythology" was (and still is) very limited still, you can tell how much effort the author put in the researches. I might dare say it was even more detailed than the first book...
Audrey Rose's character is fascinating, torn between her own ambitions and the obstacles society puts in front of her; she's actually very modern and her fights for gender equality is commendable and what's even more hilarious is when she's about to do something social standards would label as 'not ladylike' or 'unfitting for a Lord's daughter'. During does moments, she basically scolds herself and then does the thing anyway!
Another thing I really liked is all the photos before a chapter starts, they help a lot to picture the surroundings and the atmospheres.
As above, there were tons of new characters and I found that a bit confusing as times, but it got better as a kept on reading.
This time around I didn't even try to guess who the culprit was and I was MIND BLOWN with an unexpected final plot twist that left me speechless.
So, yes, I liked this second book as well, maybe a bit less compared to the first one, but it was still an enjoyable reading!
My knowledge of Vlad the Impaler and the "Dracula mythology" was (and still is) very limited still, you can tell how much effort the author put in the researches. I might dare say it was even more detailed than the first book...
Audrey Rose's character is fascinating, torn between her own ambitions and the obstacles society puts in front of her; she's actually very modern and her fights for gender equality is commendable and what's even more hilarious is when she's about to do something social standards would label as 'not ladylike' or 'unfitting for a Lord's daughter'. During does moments, she basically scolds herself and then does the thing anyway!
Another thing I really liked is all the photos before a chapter starts, they help a lot to picture the surroundings and the atmospheres.
As above, there were tons of new characters and I found that a bit confusing as times, but it got better as a kept on reading.
This time around I didn't even try to guess who the culprit was and I was MIND BLOWN with an unexpected final plot twist that left me speechless.
So, yes, I liked this second book as well, maybe a bit less compared to the first one, but it was still an enjoyable reading!
My vote: 8/10
Ph: goodreads.com
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