Author: Kim Newman
Publisher: Titan Books
Publication Date: 2011 (1992)
Pages: 547
Format: Paperback
Genre: Historical Fantasy
Source: Secondhand Copy from Friend
It is 1888 and Queen Victoria has remarried, taking as her new consort Vlad Tepes, the Wallachian Prince infamously known as Count Dracula. Peppered with familiar characters from Victorian history and fiction, the novel follows vampire Geneviève Dieudonné and Charles Beauregard of the Diogenes Club as they strive to solve the mystery of the Ripper murders. (Goodreads Synopsis)
Overall, Anno Dracula was an enjoyable read. I loved the idea behind the novel, and the inclusion of a host of characters from Victorian literature and vampire tales in particular. The weaving together of their stories worked well for the most part; although, some seemed incorporated simply for the sake of it, rather than due to necessity. I would have liked Newman to have developed some of the characters a little more at times, and the ending felt rushed after a fairly slow build. However, this remains an engaging tale that will appeal to those who enjoy alternate versions of familiar tales. 3.5 stars.
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