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Pages: 384
Published: May 1st Sourcebooks (re-print)
Dracula. A name of horror, depravity and the darkest sensuality. Yet the real Dracula was just as alluring, just as terrifying, his tale not one of a monster but of a man... and a contradiction.
His tale is told by those who knew him best. The only woman he ever loved...and whom he had to sacrifice. His closest comrade...and traitor. And his priest, betraying the secrets of the confessional to reveal the mind of the man history would forever remember as The Impaler. This is the story of the man behind the legend...as it has never been told before.
His tale is told by those who knew him best. The only woman he ever loved...and whom he had to sacrifice. His closest comrade...and traitor. And his priest, betraying the secrets of the confessional to reveal the mind of the man history would forever remember as The Impaler. This is the story of the man behind the legend...as it has never been told before.
My thoughts:
This is the story of Vlad Dracul, prince of Wallachia, known as Vlad Tepes (the impaler), or Dracula (Dracul-a) son of the dragon/devil. And it has nothing to do with vampires.
I must say that he was a fascinating man, and a crazy bastard. The author has taken liberties since while Vlad lived and afterwards rumours were spread by his enemies. So Humphreys tried to look at the facts that were known and build his story. The book does not try to make Vlad a hero, but not a madman either. It is his last confession told by those who knew him.
When he was young he was sent to the Turks as a hostage, and there he suffered. So no wonder he started to do crazy things later in life. Back home again he did everything to clean up Wallachia so that people to travel and live in peace. And he also went on crusades to push back the Turks. It's not a pretty story. He and his people could not hold the land alone, so he built his might on fear. And yes he sure liked to impale people. It was to fear or be feared.
It did take me some time to get into the book. I do not know what it was. I just did not connect, but it was when he started to do more crazy things that my interest grew. He was just such a fascinating man, a warrior of Christ, impaler, lawgiver. It was the last half of the book that won me over.
Conclusion:
Poor Vlad, Bram Stokers sure did a number on his reputation. Vlad was not the first man to use different methods and there have been far worse people around. It was a fascinating tale about who the real Dracula was. Rich in historical drama and bloody madness.
Rating:
If you wanna see madness, here it is
Cover:
Nope not for me
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Come and visit me :D I am guest-reviewing a book over at Alternative Read
The Second Duchess by Elizabeth Loupas
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The Second Duchess by Elizabeth Loupas
Oh yes, he was mad but not madder than the rest of his contemporaries and certainly more honest than them. He was betrayed and he lost his first wife - she committed a suicide jumping to a river as her husband's brother, a Turkish renegate, approached her castle with a powerful army. I felt pity for Vlad - in better times he could have been a decent guy. Great review!
ReplyDeleteI've been dying to read this book! Vlad Dracul does seem completely crazy. It's kind of funny that you got in to the book when he started doing crazy things :D haha. I guess it would be the same for me.
ReplyDeleteI like vampires and Dracula, and this sounds good! Must check it out.:)
ReplyDeleteI am fascinated by Vlad much to my husband's disgust. I find his story interesting. That's why I loved The Historian.
ReplyDeleteI loved Stoker's Dracula but otherwise have no had much luck with vampire books -- they're not my thing. I was very curious about this book but I might bump it lower on my TBR -- I think you and I like a lot of the same books so if it didn't work for you, it probably won't work for me!
ReplyDeleteThe book sounds very sad...
ReplyDeleteI agree, while he was brutal, he was fascinating! I enjoyed this book.
ReplyDeleteThis would be such a fascinating book. I think it would probably take me a little while to get into it as well, but once he started to do all the bizarre things I know from history, I'm sure I'd get sucked in:)
ReplyDeleteThis sounds interesting! I'm definitely wanting to read about who the real Dracula was. Nice review.
ReplyDeleteI read something vaguely similar to that a few years ago, but the name's escaping me...
ReplyDeleteAw man, I sure do love Vlad. He's such a psychotic man, but you can't but be interested. I just finished 'Royal Pains' by Leslie Carroll. She has a chapter about him. I kept reading parts to parents and they yelled at me to stop. Ha. I found his tale very intriguing and fascinating. Great review by the way!
ReplyDeleteBloody madness? Does it get pretty bloody and gruesome cause I stay away from those types of books.
ReplyDeleteHm... I know too many "mad" people. Maybe I'll understand them better. lol Still curious about the more historic version of Vlad. Often more interesting than the fictional version. Nice review.
ReplyDeleteI haven't heard of this one. Sounds interesting.
ReplyDeleteOoohhh, he really was a crazy one wasn't he. Sounds like a very interesting read and take on him. Thank you for the review!!!
ReplyDeleteI truly loved this book. I didn't feel like Vlad had the corner on madness considering his peer group. Great review!
ReplyDeleteThe cover needs to be re-worked. I'm glad that you hung in there and the book paid off for you. I like crazy...so I may read this one.
ReplyDelete"I must say that he was a fascinating man, and a crazy bastard."
ReplyDeleteLOL!
I'm sorry to say that I know nothing of the true history of Vlad, and I think this book would give me a very good history, but if it is hard to get into, I'd probably wait on reading it for a while.
Books that take a while to get into tend to lose me, but something about this fascinates me...oh wait...it's just Vlad that fascinates me. Great review :)
ReplyDeleteI love Dracula, but to be honest I don't know that I care to read about the man the legend was based on.
ReplyDeleteI want to read this! Oh, your comment on my blog didn't post. I think when they shut down Blogger last night it was lost...if you want you can repost!
ReplyDeleteI'm interested because it's about Dracula but wasn't huge fan of his book about Anne Boleyn. So I think I'll pass this...
ReplyDeleteAna
ReplyDeleteIt was a mad and bloody time. But he did go to extremes at some times ;) Though I understood the reason. What else to do when the enemy is close. He did not hide his true nature either. Poor Vlad, I did like him
Misha
I know lol, I am so weird, but the book just picked up then and got so much better.
Irena
Though no vamps here. He just impales peeps
Vivienne
ReplyDeleteHe is so fascinating! Though there is that freaky woman too but she just freaks me out, Bathory? Anyway Vlad was fun and crazy
Audra
No vamps here. He is not a bloodsucking monster. he just likes to spill the blood of his enemies
Cherry
Nah I would not say that...gosh I am weird
Nise' has left a new comment on your post "Review: Vlad - the last confession - C.C.Humphreys...":
ReplyDeleteI agree, while he was brutal, he was fascinating! I enjoyed this book.
Jenny has left a new comment on your post "Review: Vlad - the last confession - C.C.Humphreys...":
ReplyDeleteThis would be such a fascinating book. I think it would probably take me a little while to get into it as well, but once he started to do all the bizarre things I know from history, I'm sure I'd get sucked in:)
Melissa (i swim for oceans) has left a new comment on your post "Review: Vlad - the last confession - C.C.Humphreys...":
ReplyDeleteBooks that take a while to get into tend to lose me, but something about this fascinates me...oh wait...it's just Vlad that fascinates me. Great review :)
Missie has left a new comment on your post "Review: Vlad - the last confession - C.C.Humphreys...":
ReplyDelete"I must say that he was a fascinating man, and a crazy bastard."
LOL!
I'm sorry to say that I know nothing of the true history of Vlad, and I think this book would give me a very good history, but if it is hard to get into, I'd probably wait on reading it for a while.
I am reposting your comments since I am tired of waiting for blogger to fix it. And I wanna answer them.
ReplyDeleteCarol
I liked to get to the bottom of things :)
Carol R
I understand, bad blogger :(
Elysium
Hm, well the style might just be the same
Nise
ReplyDeleteThat is why I liked it too :)
Jenny
It was just like nothing I have ever read before. He sure would have scared me
Melissa
It was that promise of more crazy things to come that kept my attention ;)
Missie
I only knew that he did not like the Turks, and that he impaled a lot of them, lol, so yes I didn't know much
Staci has left a new comment on your post "Review: Vlad - the last confession - C.C.Humphreys...":
ReplyDeleteThe cover needs to be re-worked. I'm glad that you hung in there and the book paid off for you. I like crazy...so I may read this one.
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Hm, maybe I can answer them all like this..ok
B:
It doesn't say much does it...It would need something to draw the eye to it
Melissa (My World...in words and pages) has left a new comment on your post "Review: Vlad - the last confession - C.C.Humphreys...":
ReplyDeleteOoohhh, he really was a crazy one wasn't he. Sounds like a very interesting read and take on him. Thank you for the review!!!
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B:
Crazy and determined. And he did want to save his lands to I liked him cos of that
Melissa (Books and Things) has left a new comment on your post "Review: Vlad - the last confession - C.C.Humphreys...":
ReplyDeleteHm... I know too many "mad" people. Maybe I'll understand them better. lol Still curious about the more historic version of Vlad. Often more interesting than the fictional version. Nice review.
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B:
At least this guy actually lived, instead of living on as a vampire. And he was sure strange still
Dana has left a new comment on your post "Review: Vlad - the last confession - C.C.Humphreys...":
ReplyDeleteI truly loved this book. I didn't feel like Vlad had the corner on madness considering his peer group. Great review!
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B:
Lol, now he certainly did not have that. there was a lot of crazy around
Yvonne has left a new comment on your post "Review: Vlad - the last confession - C.C.Humphreys...":
ReplyDeleteI haven't heard of this one. Sounds interesting.
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B:
It sure was
Carole Rae has left a new comment on your post "Review: Vlad - the last confession - C.C.Humphreys...":
ReplyDeleteAw man, I sure do love Vlad. He's such a psychotic man, but you can't but be interested. I just finished 'Royal Pains' by Leslie Carroll. She has a chapter about him. I kept reading parts to parents and they yelled at me to stop. Ha. I found his tale very intriguing and fascinating. Great review by the way!
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Ok look, I found your old comment :D
Did not know he was in that book too! Now I really wanna read it
Chris has left a new comment on your post "Review: Vlad - the last confession - C.C.Humphreys...":
ReplyDeleteI read something vaguely similar to that a few years ago, but the name's escaping me...
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B:
Hm...can't help ya there
Jenny N. has left a new comment on your post "Review: Vlad - the last confession - C.C.Humphreys...":
ReplyDeleteBloody madness? Does it get pretty bloody and gruesome cause I stay away from those types of books.
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B
I do fear that it gets bloody and even icky
naida has left a new comment on your post "Review: Vlad - the last confession - C.C.Humphreys...":
ReplyDeleteThis sounds interesting! I'm definitely wanting to read about who the real Dracula was. Nice review.
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B
He sure did get a reputation ;)
Ok I think that was all, if I missed one then sorry!
ReplyDeleteVlad was definitely used and abused by his family and enemies, no wonder he did what he did. Interesting book and thanks for the recommendation. Great review :)
ReplyDeleteJenny
ReplyDeleteI wonder that he didn't do more crazy things, well not that the things he didn't weren't insane enough
This sounds very interesting. Thanks for the review!
ReplyDeleteAnna
ReplyDeleteHe was certainly something else
Now this is something that I would love to read! I must place it on my TBR list. Every time I saw your tweets about it and that you were reading it I kept thinking, "Now that book sounds interesting." So it's going on Goodreads for me right now!
ReplyDeleteDeanna
ReplyDeleteOh I commented a lot on it..oh I did :D Well he did some crazy stuff ;)