"Bloodline" by Kate Cary

Having recently read the vampire classic "Dracula", I was intrigued by "Bloodline."  Kate Cary's novel is a piece of fan fiction written as a sequel to "Dracula".  In it, about twenty years have passed since the end of "Dracula".  The main characters of "Bloodline" are the children of the former novels main characters.  (That's less confusing than it seems when I write it down.)

Mary is a young nurse during World War I.  When a new patient arrives from the front in the hospital, she helps care for him.  The more than she sees of this new patient, John, the more interested in him she becomes.  Not only is she intrigued by his past and the problems still haunting him, she begins to fall in love with him.  Is love enough to save him from the horrors he is reliving in his head?  And if he can recover, what will happen when he learns truths that he never imagined?

Meanwhile, Mary must face John's former commanding officer, Captain Harker.  Harker quickly seduces John's sister and seems to ingratiate himself with everyone he meets, but Mary always knows that there is something sinister about him.  Will she discover the truth about Captain Harker before it's too late?  As the group embark on an adventure across the continent, they'll discover dark truths about both the past and their present natures. 

Although the story line picks up from Stoker's "Dracula", the writing style is very different.  However, as a piece of fan fiction and a historical novel/vampire novel, I enjoyed it.

To visit author Kate Cary's official website, click here.  On the site you can find out about her other "Dracula" fan fiction novel.  "Reckoning" is the sequel to "Bloodline", and I'd like to read it.

If you enjoy "Dracula" and "Bloodline", I recommend reading other vampire fiction.  Some good places to start include novels by Katie MacAlister, P.C. Cast, Poppy Z. Brite, and Elizabeth Kostova.

The Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance

If you've been following this little blog of mine, you've probably noticed by now that I have a bit of a soft spot for vampire books.  I like the atmospheric quality of most vampire fiction and the melding of fantasy and real life. 

Whether you're a fan of the genre looking for something to read, or a newbie to vampire fiction who wants a bit of a taster, I'd recommend reading the Mammoth Anthology of "Vampire Romance".  This is quite a large collection of short stories.  They all have vampires of some variety and are-to varying degrees-romances.  Other than that the stories vary greatly.  It's fun to read all of the short stories, and a good way to be exposed to lots of authors writing vampire fiction (and especially vampire romance).

To find out more about the Mammoth book "Vampire Romance", click here.