Aspires to be the Gothic-est of all gothic novels.So hard its on the verge of becoming a parody. Dark ominious castle check,heroine is unsettled by hero,servants mutter in corners and wear herbs to ward off evil. Feels like the author uses the heroine to voice her own opinions.Example...the heroine is an author who doesnt want to marry and have children like her sister.Its like a fate worse than death

Theodora Lestrange has just lost her grandfather and thinks this would be a perfect time to take control of her own life. With a modest inheritance, she decides to visit an old school friend in the Carpathians to work on finishing her novel. She leaves behind her publisher who would very much like to be her husband. But Theodora does want a life of domesticity when she can have a life of adventure.

She arrives at an isolated castle complete with an ailing countess, her companion, the companion's son who is the steward, and her school friend Cosmina. Also present is the new master of the castle Count Andrei Dragulescu who is back from his life in Paris now that his father has died.

This story is filled with Gothic goodness. From the werewolves in the woods to vampires in the castle, all the elements are here. From a hero who has spent years seducing women in Paris to a heroine who has plans for a career and an independent life, the characters also run the gamut.

The story has elements of horror, a murder, an exhumation of the former count's body, and elements of romance as our heroine lets herself be seduced by and fall in love with the count. I enjoyed the setting and atmosphere of this story. I thought the writing was both descriptive and engaging. Charlotte Perry did an excellent job in bringing the author's words to life with her narration. ( )

This was an entertaining enough read, but not especially what I like to read. Yes…another book that fit a challenge category :) The characters were pulled from a movie set actors list…a spirited heroine,…an ominous housekeeper…a darkly handsome but mysterious Count. Their dialog is peppered with clichés, and they exhibit too many improbable motivations to be taken seriously. Surely, real people would not behave in such ways…but then surely real people wouldn’t be playing with vampires either. There was a positive side. The plot contains some very clever twists…the atmosphere is created so realistically that one can share the chills with the Theodora, the heroine when the wind carried the cries of wolves in the night… and the description of the castle was a brilliant piece of work. The readers that like Victorian romances and wish to work and play with vampires will more than likely like the book. ( )

Probably closer to 3.5. It started with such potential, but ended as an ordinary romance novel. Not bad, but not great. ( )

Synopsis: Theodora's grandfather dies and she has the choice of living with her sister, brother-in-law, and their multitude of children or marrying. She wants to be a writer, not a wife and mother. Providently, a letter arrives from a school friend inviting her to visit until after the friend is married. Once she arrives in Transylvania, she finds that her friend isn't getting married, but strange things are occurring in the castle and everyone is fearful. There is, however, a handsome Count. Is the count a vampire killer, a vampire, a werewolf, or just a rude person looking to take Theodora to bed. Things are not what they seem,,,
Review: A nicely written book with a lovely twist at the end. Love the line: 'But what could possibly happen to me in Transylvania?' ( )