Dracula by Bram Stoker

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Dracula (Enriched Classics Series)

Since my evil twin got me reading the Noble Dead series, both my brother and I have been on a vampire reading kick! I decided it was high time therefore that I go and visit the king of vampire books, "Dracula" by Bram Stoker. I've seen several movies with Dracula as a main character (also thanks to my evil twin), but as a true book lover I can't ignore the original book!

I really enjoyed reading "Dracula." Stoker uses a rather different format in his book. Instead of a simple narration, the story is told through a series of collected journal entries, letters, and newspaper clippings. Through this medium we meet all of our characters, including Dracula, and follow along with their suspense and emotions. 

Most of the characters contribute to the "recording" of the story. Dracula is among the few exceptions. I found my imagination fueled by that absence though. We learn so much about the rest of the characters motives and emotions, but we only have speculation about Dracula himself, the main subject of the book! 

Having now read Dracula I find myself wanting to read some of the others "classics" in this and related genre's. I own a collection of classics, but mine run more towards "Little Women,"The Swiss Family Robinson," and "The Secret Garden." In other words, books that while I loved them, my parents approved! Over the years I've added to my collection of read classics, reading up on Sherlock Holmes and books by Jane Austin, and I've decided it's time to continue that by adding in this genre to my read classics list! So I have the "Picture of Dorian Gray" on hold at the library as my next book to read.

Child of a Dead God by Barb and J.C. Hendee

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Child of a Dead God: A Novel of the Noble Dead

"Child of a Dead God" is book 6 of the "Nobel Dead" series by Barb and J.C. Hendee. All through the series Magiere's footsteps are haunted by Westiel, her half brother. Westiel is obsessed with obtaining an object of great power, and he believes that Magiere is the key to obtaining it. In fact, the strange circumstances around her birth were orchestrated to create her to be that key. 

The search for this object takes them deep into a white wilderness. Our old friends are being stalked by several different groups, but they don't know it. It's hard going, and at one point they all get split up. Eventually they manage to make it to the white fortress, where they uncover ancient secrets and begin to have a greater understanding of what is going on.

Ironically, while I really enjoyed this book, I could never make sense of the title. The titles made sense for all the rest of the books, maybe not when I first saw them, but definitely as I read them. I kept expecting I would figure this one out and I never did. Oh well. If you happen to read the book and figure it out - let me know!

Book 7, "In shade and Shadow" will follow Wynn's story farther. The friend I'm borrowing these books from doesn't have it yet, so it might be awhile before I get to read and review it. Since it will be awhile I'll leave you with the synopsis from google.books 

"The national bestselling Noble Dead saga is one of those [series] for which the term dark fantasy was definitely intended (Chronicle). After her adventures with Magiere and Leesil, Wynn Hygeorht has returned to the Guild of Sagecraft, bearing texts supposedly penned by vampires from the time of the Forgotten History and the Great War. Seized by the Guilds scholars and sent out for copying without Wynns consent, several pages disappear and the two sages charged with conveying these pages are murdered. Suspicious of the Guild, separated from the only friends she fully trusts, and convinced the Noble Dead are responsible for the killings, Wynn embarks on a quest to uncover the secrets of the texts."

Rebel Fay by Barb and J.C. Hendee

"Rebel Fay" is book 5 in the "Noble Dead" series by Barb and J.C. Hendee. In the previous book Leesil learned that his mother is still alive, but held captive by the elves, who consider her to have betrayed them. So Leesil, Magiere, and their companions set off to attempt to free Leesil's mother.

It is a difficult journey to get through the mountains, along the way they lose their supplies and faithful steeds, but in the end they manage to make it to the elven forests, with a little help from and unseen friend. Our friends encounter many strange things in the elven lands, and Magiere notices she has a strange reaction to the trees surrounding her. 

Through out the series we've learned bits and pieces about Chap, the wolven Maji'hi, but in this book we finally get to know him more fully, and he learns more about himself and what happens when the Fay sent him to take on mortal form. 

To save Leesil's mother will require the assistance of elves that our travelers have encountered before, elves that they have nothing but reason to distrust. Who they can truly trust, who's aligned with who, and even which side is right, are a tangled web that is difficult to unsnarl. 

Traitor to the Blood by Barb and J.C. Hendee

"Traitor to the Blood" is book 4 in "The Noble Dead" series. We spent the last book, "Sister of the Dead," learning about Magiere's tangled roots. Now it's time for Leesil to begin uncovering the secrets of his past, so they head to the land of his birth, the land of the evil ruler Lord Dartmouth. 

Of course, nothing ever goes simple for these hunters of the dead. Leesil has long been tortured by his memories of his past, it used to drive him to drink before Magiere finally helped him past that, and now those memories are back full force as he's surrounded by the origins of the memories. 

Magiere is desperete as she watches the man (ok, half-elf) that she loves in so much pain. She wants nothing more than to help Leesil in his quest to find out what happened to his parents, but Westiel is still following with her and messing with her life. This time he decides that having her brought to the warlord's attention as a Dhampir is in his own best interests, so Magiere's attention is split.

Then, to make matters even more intense Wynn, a schooler and their companion, is taken into the keep as a prisoner. She's the most defensless member of their party, and her capture throws everyone into a bit of a panic.

I really enjoyed this installment of the series. We learn a lot about Leesil's past, and I really love how the author is slowly revealing the information. Yes, I'm dying to know more, but it keeps the books gripping, and I think it's a great literary device.

Sister of the Dead by Barb and J.C. Hendee

"Sister of the Dead" is book three in the "Noble Dead" series by Barb and J.C. Hendee. To read my reviews on the first two books go here.

As we rejoin Magiere and Leesil they are setting out on a journey to find out more about their pasts. Both are troubled by how little they know about their history, especially because it's been affecting their lives in the here and now. 

They start out by heading for Magiere's home village bringing along their faithful companion Chap and their friend Wynn the scholar. Researching Magiere's past leads them to many disturbing discovery's about her origins. Many of these are new to Magiere, but some of them are new only to Leesil, because the two of them are just learning to actually open and up and share with each other. There are many rocky moments for them, but it's a lot of fun to watch their relationship grow and develop!

I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series. Learning about Magiere's past takes so many twists and turns that they never get to look into Leesil's past in this book. I don't mind, because I was fascinated by what I read, but I'm really looking forward to finding out more about Leesil's history!