🦇💉𝕷𝖚𝖈𝖞 𝖀𝖓𝖉𝖞𝖎𝖓𝖌💉🦇
by Kiersten White!

I actually can't sing my praises for this book enough - Dracula is my favourite classic novel by far, and this reimagining/retelling/reframing of it was done absolutely incredibly; once I had soke time to just sit and read it I got through it in two days 🥰
In this book we follow multiple sources of information, as in the original Dracula novel, and learn about Lucy Westernras experiences during the original book, how she felt being paraded around and presented to the men of the book who came calling, and how her life was irrevocably changed because of it. We also follow Iris Godalming in the modern day as she attempts to flee her oppressive families estate, and how the lives of these two women become entertained beyond anything I could've imagined.

This book was absolutely fantastic, I loved every single second of it. I loved how it used the source material completely accurately and still manages to pull aside the curtain and shock me when events occurred. I loved how it showed Lucy as her own person; someone who's deeply traumatised by what happened to her but works to take back her power and find herself again. The relationships and multitudes of the characters in this book were just a delight to read, I adored how the narrative changed from what had happened to how that effected the events in the modern day! I absolutely did not see any of the twists coming, and I was on the edge of my seat over the final paragraphs 👀
The way Lucy's experiences and feelings towards being queer (did i mention sapphic vampires? because sapphic vampires) in an environment that actively punished it was so poignant and well written, and I just loved it and her 🥹🩷
This is absolutely a book I'll be buying as soon as I can and frantically recommending to anyone who'll listen! It captured the essence of what made Dracula such a classic novel intimately well; while still feeling like an entirely new story.
I'd even go as far as to say this was one of my favourite books of the year so far, definitely top 3! The settings, the exposition, the characters, plotlines and descriptions were all just amazing.

Although not my genre of novels to read, this book is very well crafted to tell the tale of vampires and how they live and walk among the living. In a story, at least.
I did enjoy the jumping from one time in history to another and how those characters were bound together.
If you are a reader of this genre of novel, then I have no doubt you will really enjoy this novel and would therefore, recommend it to you.

I’ve had my eye on this book since the cover was released - I know you shouldn’t judge a book by it’s cover but I already knew I had to read this because I thought it looked so intriguing and I was desperate to find out about Lucy and who she was. Thankfully I didn’t have to wait long because I was approved for a copy by @Delrey via @Netgalley and when I found out I squealed so loud I’m sure my neighbours thought something odd was going!

It’s quirky, eerie and seductive - an absolute gothic masterpiece!

Once I started I had no intention of putting it down and this book held me in such a tight grip I already knew 16% in that I was going to rate it 5 stars. I loved the writing style, the POV choice, the plot, they mystery, the vibes. And who doesn’t love a creepy supposedly cursed old abandoned mansion with a library full of first editions that contains secret diary! I enjoyed it so much I was staying up late to read and getting up early to squeeze in a few more chapters before work.

Beautiful and very well written! I absolutely loved reading this one! Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for a copy of this book.

“I walk with the ghosts of everyone I've ever been, and I don't know which I am, or if I'm one of the dead that haunts me.”

Lucy Undying follows Lucy Westernra who was one of Dracula’s victims. Lucy rose from the grave as a vampire and has spent her life trying to escape from Dracula but also find herself. In twenty first century London she meets Iris who is trying to get away from her family who will do anything for power. Lucy is compelled by Iris but Dracula is on the prowl again and Lucy needs to find the strength to destroy him.

I am giving this 3.5 stars rounded down to a 3. This was just okay but I think it’s just a me issue with this author. This author has really intriguing ideas but I just don’t love the execution. I really liked the first 10% but I struggled with the whole book because it was just so long and meandering. I would recommend this for fans of vampire books and this did have some female female romance which I loved reading. So overall for the most part this was enjoyable but just too long.

A good addition to the Dracula lore but something that fell a little flat at times. There were points that felt needed to be stronger.

Not really my genre but ai couldn’t pass this one up! It just looks so interesting and the cover really drew me in! I will be adding a full review and thoughts very soon! Thx

DNF at 27%. Don't let the stunningly gorgeous cover trick you.

This had everything I thought I'd love but unfortunately it just didn't work. The book tries to deal with some really terrifying and traumatic things but it lacks the nuance and depth to do so successfully. Having the POV jump between Lucy in the 1800s, Lucy talking to a terrified therapist reminiscing about her past, and Iris in modern day was frustrating and not done very well.

Thank you to Del Rey for the ARC.

As my first Kiersten White book, and enthralled by the tale of Lucy Undying in a sort of modern day retelling that promised seductive gothic fantasy, I opened my whole heart to this becoming my personality for a while. Unfortunately I’ve come away with a metallic taste of disappointment for not delivering what I truly hoped it would (sorry I couldn’t resist a little pun).

Lucy Undying follows multiple time lines and characters all on the mission of discovering oneself and to try and destroy Dracula along the way. The first half of the book I loved the pace, the story’s I was following but as it went on it felt repetitive and that it could’ve been shortened whilst packing the same punch. I loved reading about the characters and how Lucy spent her decades in the lead up to ‘current day’, as well as learning about Iris the other main character in this story.

(*kind of spoiler*)
The later part of the book sadly had me eye rolling and wondering where the turn had come from and not in an ‘omg this is genius’ kind of way, but a ‘what in the Mona Awad is going on here?’ kind of way.

I feel really harsh, I did really enjoy the first portion and the ending felt right to the book but 3/4 section knocked it down for me a little. I got tonnes of the vampire but none of the gothic and seductive side that really had me wanting to grip the edge of my seat with blushed cheeks and thumping heart. That cover is gorgeous and I wanted a whole story that had me feeling that way.

I think there are people that would absolutely love and devour this, just not me! Sorry!

I really enjoyed this one! It was intriguing and I was hooked instantly, I was sucked in and I loved how it was written, I did feel like it was going on forever but I didn't mind too much as it was all crucial to the story, I did see the Elle thing straight away as she was introduced but otherwise it was a fantastic story especially if you love vampires, I cannot get enough of Vampire books.