THE HISTORIAN
Elizabeth Kostova

Synopsis: Late one night, exploring her father's library, a young woman finds an ancient book and a cache of yellowing letters. The letters are all addressed to "My dear and unfortunate successor" and they plunge her into a world she never dreamed of -- a labyrinth where the secrets of her father's past and her mother's mysterious fate connect to an inconceivable evil hidden in the depths of history.

The letters provide links to one of the darkest powers that humanity has ever known -- and to a centuries-long quest to find the source of that darkness and wipe it out. It is a quest for the truth about Vlad the Impaler, the medieval ruler whose barbarous reign formed the basis of the legend of Dracula. Generations of historians have risked their reputations, their sanity, and even their lives to learn the truth about Vlad the Impaler and Dracula. Now one young woman must decide whether to take up this quest herself--to follow her father in a hunt that nearly brought him to ruin years ago, when he was a vibrant young scholar and her mother was still alive.

What does the legend of Vlad the Impaler have to do with the modern world? Is it possible that the Dracula of myth truly existed-- and that he has lived on, century after century, pursuing his own unknowable ends? The answers to these questions cross time and borders, as first the father and then the daughter search for clues, from dusty Ivy League libraries to Istanbul, Budapest, and the depths of Eastern Europe.

- B&N

Review: It has been about 7 months since I've read this book so my recollections are definitely not accurate. With that said, I'm gonna have to scrap the usual outline and stick to bullet points. I know this makes for a sad review, but it's the best I can do at this point.

THE GOOD
→ It's a page-turner.
→ Vampires. 'Nuff said.
→ I fully enjoyed the first ¾ of this book.
→ "EVIL LIBRARIAN"
→ The historic aspect was particularly interesting.
→ It's an epistolary novel. The story is told partially through correspondence and other documentation.
→ I have to admit there were a couple of times late at night where I got creeped out and had to put the book down.


THE BAD
→ The last ¼ of the book was disappointing.
→ Dracula portrayed as a historian...Where was the horror and gore?
→ The story spans 3 generations and is told from different POVs. The author gives no distinction between narratives so at times it can be really difficult to sort out who is speaking.
→ THE ENDING. What an anticlimactic letdown. The ending was so ridiculous that it made me feel silly for even reading it. :(


I gave this story 3 stars because despite all of my above annoyances it was mostly an enjoyable read.

NAVIGATION

CHALLENGES

BIBLIOPHILE