Dracul: Dacre Stoker and JD Barker
Review by author PD Alleva
I have to begin this review by acknowledging my fanatic nature towards vampires and Bram Stoker’s Dracula in particular.
I first read Dracula as a teenager and was immediately hooked. Of course, there were movies before reading the book, leading into the vampire lore and mysticism that would ultimately tickle my bloodthirsty fancy with ultimate satisfaction once the book was read. Kudos and honors to you, Bram Stoker, thank you for the contribution.
I first learned about Dracul (the prequel to Dracula) on Goodreads, the novel was number three on their best horror fiction of 2018 list. I must admit I was a bit sceptical at first. A prequel to Dracula? I thought. What if they ruin the original classic? After much debating (yes with myself and a few different personalities), I decided to give Dracul a read. There was something about Dacre Stoker (an actual descendent of Bram Stoker) that piqued my curiosity. I began reading with high expectations.
The prequel to Dracula, inspired by notes and texts left behind by the author of the classic novel, Dracul is a supernatural thriller that reveals not only Dracula’s true origins but Bram Stoker’s—and the tale of the enigmatic woman who connects them.
It is 1868, and a twenty-one-year-old Bram Stoker waits in a desolate tower to face an indescribable evil. Armed only with crucifixes, holy water, and a rifle, he prays to survive a single night, the longest of his life. Desperate to record what he has witnessed, Bram scribbles down the events that led him here…
A sickly child, Bram spent his early days bedridden in his parents’ Dublin home, tended to by his caretaker, a young woman named Ellen Crone. When a string of strange deaths occur in a nearby town, Bram and his sister Matilda detect a pattern of bizarre behavior by Ellen—a mystery that deepens chillingly until Ellen vanishes suddenly from their lives. Years later, Matilda returns from studying in Paris to tell Bram the news that she has seen Ellen—and that the nightmare they’ve thought long ended is only beginning.
What they uncover leads to them to the discovery of Dracul. That’s right, Dracul, the ‘a’ has been officially loped off. Why? Read the book no spoilers here remember.
What was most intriguing for me was the basis of the story, which was inspired by notes and texts associated with the classic Bram Stoker novel. I was just as intrigued by the Authors Notes as I was the story, including the manner in which Bram Stoker published his classic novel. Very interesting reading. Very interesting, indeed!
My rating on Dracul is Five out of Five stars. My expectations were not only met they were exceeded. Dacre Stoker and JD Barker (who, thanks to this novel I’ve recently discovered. Reading Forsaken as this is written and loving it), have weaved together a classic vampire novel that raises more questions than it set out to answer. Fact is stranger than fiction, but then again, fiction is the best way to hide truth in plain sight.
You can buy Dracul from Amazon UK & Amazon US
PD Alleva
I’ve been writing all my life. Short stories, novels, poetry. Whatever my cosmic muse sends to me at any particular time. I wrote my first novel in sixth grade, a science fiction novel. Writing has always been the one behavior that truly gets my gut. I love the process of creation and I love the editing process.
My first book, a psychological thriller, Indifference, was published in 2011. I’ve since published four books, three fiction and one book on philosophy and self-help. A former psychotherapist and hypnotist – now retired- I opened a mental health and addiction treatment facility in 2011, creating what was considered the ‘gem of treatment’ – not my words – collaborating with world-renowned philosophers, healers and psychologist to develop a behavioral modification protocol that utilizes ancient healing practices combined with modern science to effectively treat mental health and addictive symptoms with outstanding success. Let Your Soul Evolve is the title of the book that incorporates these practices. I’ve also written and developed a behavioral protocol attached to the book (the workbook will be published later this year).
I’ve always been of two minds, practical and impractical. A confessed conspiracy theorist (and yes I do have a few of my own), spiritual guru, and student of secret society practices with an interest in supernatural and metaphysical influences, I bring these interests into my fiction novels. Now living the dream of a career writer, my most recent fiction novels, A Billion Tiny Moments in Time (oddly enough I wrote this novel in 2008 but never had time to publish the story as a result of a 24/7 business that required my attention), Twisted Tales of Deceit and Presenting the Marriage of Kelli Anne & Gerri Denemer, are currently available (on Amazon of course).
I just completed the first draft in a new dystopian sci-fi series (tentatively titled, The Rose) and have begun writing Golem, a supernatural horror thriller. I’m hoping both novels will be released later this year. I enjoy entertaining the reader with dazzling in-depth stories. Some are inspirational, some spiritual, and others are downright dark and nasty. Major influences are Poe, King, Hemingway, Shelley, Dan Brown – to name a few – and all indie authors. Indie authors keep up the good fight and believe in our dreams with the failure is not an option mentality. So, check out one or all of my books, you will not be disappointed. And be ready for a truly exciting future whose sole purpose is to dazzle, entertain and have the time of our lives in the process.
You can find out more about PD Alleva on his official website www.pdalleva.com
You can follow PD Alleva on Twitter @PdallevaAuthor
Twisted Tales Of Deceit: The First Book In The Beyond The Chamber Door Series
What would you do if you were surrounded by devils?
Twisted Tales of Deceit is the first instalment in the Beyond the Chamber Door series, featuring three supernatural tales of horror (The Calculated Desolation of Hope, Somnium, & Knickerbocker) chronicling evil’s influence on innocent hearts and our uncontrollable desire to give in to their calculated transgression. These dark influences are surrounding us in every corner of our daily habits, looking to alter and bend human will to their lust and incessant desire to feed on depravity and sin.
What devils and imps are feeding on your soul?
Creeping and slithering with insatiable appetites for souls and blood, they manipulate and offer friendly hands to draw us into their primal rage of fear.
Journey into the corridors of darkness, sin, and manipulation, with this first instalment.
The Calculated Desolation of Hope: The Devil is Mephisto and he wants William’s heart, to turn him into darkness and leave his love obliterated.
Somnium: Jimmy can’t help talking to himself in the mirror. Or is that a devil pressing his hand to steal his dreams?
Knickerbocker: Isaac Crane, new to Sleepy Hallow, soon learns that the Headless Horseman is more than a myth, and he wants Crane’s head on his mantle.
Discover the influence of demons and the dark hearts of the powerful and corrupt and their insatiable appetites for young souls and their dreams in this psychological supernatural thriller steeped in horror and the paranormal.
Twisted Tales of Deceit is the first instalment in the Beyond the Chamber Door series. These are tales chronicling an evil influence on the human psyche, tipping our hands into the engagement of what is most horrifying; our dastardly, human deeds steeped in self-destruction, desperation and the loss of dreams. Metaphorical warnings have been constructed inside these pages to reflect the everyday signs the universe provides under the guise of reflective light that return to mirror how evil tempts our hand so to not fulfil the dreams of the soul. Our doubts, our sadness, our indecisions rooted in fear are toiled with by the presence of imps bent on hatred and in need of our nightmares to survive. Here, the human spirit is dripped like honey, tasteful to the dark corridors of human malevolence and taken advantage by the corrupt and seamlessly endless parade otherworldly dimensions have on what should be our earthly utopia, creating rage in the cosmic hedonism of jealousy.
You can buy Twisted Tales Of Deceit from Amazon UK & Amazon US
Leave a Reply