These two authors have weaved a story of mystical creatures that was entertaining. It kept my interest until the very end and I loved getting to know the characters. Looking forward to reading more by these two autrhos.

A mish-mash - in a good sense - that puts together the most disparate ingredients: Bram Stoker and Oscar Wilde here in the guise of literary characters and not writers; Count Dracula, who appears a bit of a loser; vampirism as the inspirational event of The Portrait of Dorian Gray, etc. etc. etc.. Obviously, history is destroyed, but the result is quite funny. Some lengthiness in trying to make the many characters interact with each other all the time is the major weakness of this volume of pure entertainment.

For me, Stoker's Wilde was a fun and engaging read with several nods to both Bram Stoker's Dracula and Oscar Wilde's Picture of Dorian Gray. That being said, some of Wilde's dialogue seemed a bit "off" and not quite like him. It was still an entertaining read though.

This novel is a sweet mix of supernatural horror and Victorian social commentary. There's a little bit of everything in the mix -- vampires, werewolves, cultists -- not to mention imprisonment under morality laws and forced social conformity. When I first started reading I wasn't sure I was going to like this book....the plot line just seemed a bit too much. But....it didn't take long for me to get totally pulled into the story. This book surprised me! A group of monster hunters formed by two famous authors before their fame took hold, a European expert on supernatural cults, and theater actors is an incredibly difficult thing to pull off -- but these two authors did it well! The story is told through the correspondence of Stoker and Wilde. It was reminiscent of Dracula. Normally I don't really like epistolary novels...but in this case, it works. Loved it!

Bram Stoker and Oscar Wilde team up to take on a secret cabal of vampires intent on taking over the world? How could you NOT want to read this?! From the first page, this book did not disappoint. The lush writing style perfectly captures books from this period without being a pastiche. The storytelling is thrilling, the characters are layered and entertaining. I fully fell into the world that Hopstaken and Prusi created. I loved how they embraced Wilde's homosexuality. I loved how they gave Easter eggs into events that would lead to the writing of "Dracula" and "The Portrait of Dorian Gray." The end seems to be left open to more adventures of this gang in the Wild West of America. I, for one, can't wait to read that book.

Thank you Netgalley for the chance to read and review this title. I will review this title at a different date.

I really enjoyed this book, I gave it a three out of five stars. It was really interesting and kept my attention. There were vampires, werewolves, and a dragon in it which was cool.

I am a member of the American Library Association Reading List Award Committee. This title was suggested for the 2020 list. It was not nominated for the award. The complete list of winners and shortlisted titles is at <a href="https://rusaupdate.org/2020/01/2020-reading-list-years-best-in-genre-fiction-for-adult-readers/">

Stoker’s Wilde by Stephen Hopstaken and Melissa Prusi was received direct from the authors publisher. The Stoker name in horror should conjure certain images to everyone, if it doesn’t, they are not a horror aficionado, maybe just a poser. Stoker’s Wilde is one of the top 5 adventurous horror books of the year. The book is non stop action written in the journal/diary style that gets many perspectives involved in the tale. Stoker fights creatures other than vampires, as well as vampires, of course. If you or someone you buy gifts for is a original Dracula/Bram Stoker fan, don’t pass this one up.

4 stars

This is an epistolary, Gothic horror novel that doesn’t take itself too seriously.

PROS:
The humor sprinkled throughout the book had me laughing out loud. I love how Hopstaken and Prusi mesh historical references, everything from Jack (the Ripper) to the early Mormons in America.

Hopstaken and Prusi do a good job sticking with the style and vocabulary of the time (late 1800s).

The plot gets very imaginative with werewolves, vampires, a Gatling gun, a dragon, and a whole bunch of other disparate stuff, but it is all strung together nicely.

The book is well-edited, making for a smooth read.

The ending holds you on the edge of your seat, very crazy and almost silly, but very exciting, too.

CONS:
The letters back and forth and the diary entries get a little repetitive. Perhaps if the book were a tad shorter . . .

OVERALL:
Exciting, clever, humorous horror.

I had fun with this book! Thank you to NetGalley and Flame Tree Press for kindly providing me with a copy of STOKER’S WILDE in exchange for and honest review.

A captivating, creative plot and an impeccable development. I envy the creativity of the authors and how they created such a somber version of emblematic figures of Gothic literature as are Bram Stoker and Oscar Wilde. Despite its constant ups and downs, product of the epistolary style of the novel, Stoker's Wilde is full of literary, historical, folkloric references ... more than just addictive!

Full review published in The Victorianist: https://victorianist.wordpress.com/2019/08/26/sex-blood-and-vampires-a-review-of-stokers-wilde/

IMO, done right, a novel written in epistolary form can be the most immersive and enjoyable way a book can be written. There is something about that first hand account stuff that does it for me. The kicker is that unless the entries are all written by the same person, the author HAS to create individual/specific voices to be able to distinguish one from the other. Stoker's Wilde does that exceptionally well. Oscar was a trip, Bram was comically stoic and yearned for the strictest personal adherence to moral integrity, and all the other side and background characters were unique and memorable enough that I did not once worry about keeping track of who was who. The story was also a lot bigger than I had anticipated. I thought it was going to smaller scale, maybe the whole thing contained to a city or two but it ended up having a bunch of different people going to a bunch of different locations to do battle with the forces of evil... or darkness... or the undead! Whatever it ended up being and wherever it ended up going though, was a lot of fun. Nice vividly-drawn, atmospheric, scary scenes, funny banter and behaviors between our two heroes, and enough weirdly odd supporting characters to populate a dozen Cohen Brother's films, I liked this one every step of the way. The authors did a great job regulating the tone as well and used humor effectively to set up the tension and horror then used some disturbing moments to set up some laughs. I don't usually seek out comedy in my reading but if it's blue, dry, or dark enough and not forced in any way I can dig it. This book worked on many different levels for me and I hope these two have more adventures on the way!!!

Thank you to Flame Tree Press and Netgalley for the free review copy but that in no way shape or form impacted my opinion or review.

4 Stars

Dracula by Bram Stoker was one of the first works of horror that I ever read and it sparked a love in the genre that has lasted a lifetime. When I saw that Flame Tree Press was releasing a novel that featured Bram Stoker as a monster-hunting adventurer, I knew it was a novel that I needed to read. I dove into Stoker’s Wilde by Steven Hopstaken and Melissa Prusi with high hopes for a captivating Gothic horror novel.

Bram Stoker and Oscar Wilde were both destined for literary accolades that would last well past their lifetimes but neither of them knew of the greatness that lay ahead when they were young men. The two often found themselves thrust together and did not regard this as a positive. In fact, neither of them liked the other very much and they often found themselves at odds with the other. When they uncovered a supernatural evil called the Black Bishop who was bent on conquering England and eventually the world, the two adversaries had to put their differences aside and work together to stop the Black Bishop’s machinations in an adventure that would define both their lives as well as the unwritten history of the world.

A secret society of vampires and other supernatural beasts has been slowly growing over the years under the guidance of the Black Bishop. The ranks had grown to the point that the time was right for them to launch their final offensive for control of the world. To do so, however, they needed the blood of a dragon and this could only be obtained at a specific time of the year with the blood of man who was rooted in both the natural and supernatural worlds. The Bishop has tried and failed before but had finally found the conduit to Hell that he needed in Stoker. Stoker and Wilde find themselves drawn into the otherworldly intrigue and must find a way to stop the ascendance of Hell to Earth along with a group of unbelievers who are slowly accepting that monsters are real. The duo must battle through a horde of bloodthirst beasts to save the world in an adventure that the world at large must never know occurred.

Stoker’s Wilde takes the reader back to yesteryear by presenting the story through letters and journals of the characters involved. This was an interesting way of presenting the tale in a similar fashion to the source material which had several letters in the story. This method gave the book the feel of a novel written a century ago instead of today and it worked well. Some stories can get lost when trying to pull this off as the different letters, which are essentially the chapters of the book, come from different perspectives and are not completely reliable sources as they are from the viewpoint of a single character. Hopstaken and Prusi, however, keep control of the story from the start and never lose sight of the central narrative. This makes this method of storytelling work and even enrich the story as the reader gets to experience the thoughts and emotions of the characters. A very big thumbs up is due to the authors for making this work.

The story itself is very strong as well. The characters remained true to life, relatively, to make this book almost seem as if is the backstory to the author’s works, especially Dracula, themselves. There are some lulls in the action in this story as it wanders through the lives of the main characters but this is also reminiscent of the era in which the book is set in, purportedly, written in. This style may put off some fans of the genre who are looking for a fast-paced read but the pace of this story is similar to that of the aforementioned horror classic. The authors give a well-rounded read with a lot to like about it and a lot of substance as well. The reader almost feels transported back to the time of Wilde and Stoker as the story comes to life in the mind. The novel does take some time and effort to get through but it pays off in the end with an entertaining story and a satisfying conclusion. Overall, this is a good novel for fans of classic horror or those who can just appreciate a true homage to a past great.

I would like to thank Flame Tree Publishing and NetGalley for this review copy. Stoker’s Wilde is available now.

a complex book that demands all your concentration from the outset. Following historical figures and putting them in a fictional plot is a good choice its just quite long and weighty. It seemed very wordy to me but that's just my view as a speedy reader. I felt it would be a book I would need to read over a few times to digest all the tiny details. A good plotline just a little too much book for me to really enjoy it.

This was a very interesting book. I really enjoyed Anno Dracula and so I was intrigued by this book, thinking that it was similar in nature.

I will start off by saying that the premise was great. All of the supernatural oddities at the mercy of Bram Stoker and Oscar Wilde. Seriously, what could go wrong?? I really enjoyed how the story was told from letters and journal entries. I adored Wilde. He was very selfish and egotistical but it felt almost childlike that I could hardly hold it against him. I spent more time rolling my eyes and exclaiming 'oh Oscar!'. Broker was harder for me to like. or at least connect with. I found myself skimming through a lot of his POVs.

I like the premise. I just felt it was a bit too long. It felt like it took a long time between plot points and had a ton of filler that I just wasn't interested in. I like the beginning and the ending, the getting from those two points left ne a bit bored.

STOKER'S WILDE is an epistolary novel, blending the styles of Bram Stoker and Oscar Wilde. What a hoot!

Not since ANNO DRACULA have I had such fun with characters from history. In this tale, Bram and Oscar team up, despite hating each other's guts, to cleanse London of the scourge of vampires and werewolves currently at large about the city. With humor and great talent these authors have written quite an adventure. Will Bram and Oscar be successful? You'll have to read this to find out!

Having read only a few things from both Oscar Wilde and Bram Stoker, and knowing next to nothing about them personally, I cannot speak to the historical accuracy regarding their personal lives. The epistolary portions written by "Oscar" were often hilarious and scathing all at once. Those of "Stoker" were much more serious and weighty. The fictional origins of the THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY are here and of course, Dracula.

<spoiler> My only issue with this book was the dragon. I thought at first it sounded a little silly, and the authors were able to make it less so, when it finally appeared. Still, it seemed a bit too over the top in the end. </spoiler>

Overall, this book was a blast! I had a lot of fun in this London of the early 1880's, in the Lyceum Theater and even at Stonehenge. (Yes, that's here too!) It's clear that the authors did quite a bit of homework and the little bit of actual history I am familiar with is borne out here. Solely because of the fun factor alone, I heartily recommend this book-especially to fans of epistolary novels!

*Thank you to Flame Tree Press for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. This is it!*

Authentic, witty, delightful - the narrative is in the form of letters to and from the main characters & Archivist's Notes from the White Worm Society (!)
It reads as a 19th century gothic novel, where Oscar Wilde and some family and friends hunt vampires, with the help of Bram Stoker- enough said, you have to read it!
There are hints of Wilde's Portrait of Dorian Grey when he meets the handsome Derrick Pigeon, who wants to stay young and beautiful forever.
Even Teddy Roosevelt makes an appearance.
The only downside is that it does read like correspondence in a 19th century novel , which I like, but if you are not used to that type of narrative, it may sound a bit stuffy at first - but Oscar Wilde's chapters are so witty and so him, they are completely laugh out loud enjoyable.
Note: I love the story of Dracula and was mesmerized by the steamy sex scenes in this book (which were as tastefully done as bloodsucking can be) but now I want to read something wholesome!
Also, I wish this novel was published in September / October - I like to read coming of age and love stories in the spring - my thoughts turn more to horror and the decidedly nasty in the fall.
I am going to read Stoker's Wilde again around Halloween, possibly with a group on Goodreads, but action/adventure like this is good all year round!

My thanks to Maria Tissot at Flame Tree Publishing for allowing me to read this pre-publication.

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This book was great. Horror and Humor by Stoker and Wilde. It also had vamps, werewolves, and a dragon! I will recommend this book. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

A Wild Spook Chase: Stoker's Wilde by Steven Hopstaken and Melissa Prusi

Dear potential reader

The epistolary novel, a novel based on "found" documents, mostly letters, sometimes diary entries and others, has a worthy lineage dating back to the Renaissance. Originally it was most typically used for the romance, for obvious reasons, the first epistolary novels were purported to be exchanges of letters between lovers.

But in the 19th century it also found a very congenial home in the Gothic novel, the predecessor of our horror and terror novels today. The reason is clear, letters, documents, diaries, allow us, dear potential readers, intimate access to the supposed writer's greatest hopes and especially fears and apprehensions. Perhaps the best Gothic epistolary novel ever written is Dracula, penned by one Bram Stoker and published in 1897.

If you haven't yet read Dracula, dear potential reader, you must do so forthwith!

Of course it is not necessary for you to have read Dracula in order to enjoy Stoker's Wilde, but it really would help. You see, Abraham (Bram) Stoker, a hearty. bluff, redheaded Irishman together with Oscar Wilde, also a rather large but effete, fey Irishman, are, dear potential reader, the main protagonists of this pseudo-Gothic epistolary novel.

It starts with a hunt for a werewolf, then vampires, then the uncovering of a dreadful conspiracy and its artful subsequent dismantlement, in between there is theatre, amorous intrigue, marriage and infidelity. I was much afraid upon reading the first chapters, dear potential reader, that this novel would be childish, but my fears proved to be baseless! As a rather piquant sex scene involving Mr Wilde soon put paid and laid to rest, that trepidation.

The rest of the novel is a romp, a bit of a Scooby Doo spook chase with our heroes, the best of frenemies, having eventually to work together to unravel the mystery of the Black Bishop and banish his evilness to the nether world!

If you like the writing of Kim Newman, the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen graphic novels by Alan Moore, you know what to expect: sterling neogothic.

Yours most sincerely,

Clariana

P.S. Thanks are due as always to NetGalley and also to Flame Tree Press for allowing me to read an early version of this text.