Incarnation

After reading Dracula this past summer, I have been intrigued with any tales playing off those original characters. So, the idea of this book, telling more of Lucy's story - especially considering her death in the original book - was especially exciting. And I wasn't disappointed. Cornwall does an excellent job of building up the world that allows Lucy to exist, creating her backstory and fables and just interweaving different legends. The story also felt like Stoker's writing and had the same feel to it. This is billed as a steampunk book but the steampunk elements were hardly noticeable. I'm curious as to whether or not Cornwall plans any further books featuring Lucy. Anybody know?

I received a copy of this book for free from Edelweiss, in exchange for an honest review. This review is also posted on my blog, Rinn Reads.

Wow. When I requested this book from Edelweiss, I thought it looked good - pretty cover, interesting sounding plot - but I didn't think I'd enjoy it as much as I did, particularly as it was my first steampunk novel. As it is labelled as a Young Adult book, I was expecting the writing style to be fairly basic, as it tends to be in YA fiction. Cornwall, however, goes all out and writes the novel as if she herself was writing in nineteenth century England.

Where YA novels tend to base most of their description around characters (particularly of the male persuasion), this book contains many beautiful show more descriptions of the environment: the dark, eerie Yorkshire moors; the dingy alleyways of Victorian London. I don't know if it helped that I've visited Whitby and the Yorkshire moors myself, so I can imagine them more vividly, but I think even without visiting them Cornwall's descriptions do them justice. The writing flowed so well, and I think it is the use of words and diction contemporary with the setting of the story that really lifts it above all those other paranormal YA novels out there.

Rather than being a straight retelling of the Dracula story by Bram Stoker, Cornwall instead chooses to directly involve Stoker himself, which works really well. I find that when historical or famous figures are included in stories, as long as they are not too out of character, it makes the story more relatable, by presenting the reader with characters they are already familiar with. For example, we also get to meet William Gladstone, former Prime Minister, and Queen Victoria.

Speaking of characters, Lucy as a character is a wonderful protagonist, particularly as a female lead in a YA paranormal novel. She is strong, and barely phased by her transformation. She just gets on with it, she doesn't moan, whine or cry. Although there is some romance, it doesn't completely consume her and she never gets soppy. She's smart, quick-witted and generally a strong character all round, and manages to avoid cliches. We need more female protagonists like her.

Now as for the downsides of the book: I managed to guess one character's secret very early on into the story, which made the big reveal much less of an impact - I feel that perhaps Cornwall left too many clues for that one. I have to say, the ending was a bit of an anti-climax and over rather soon - but I felt the rest of the story kept it up at a five-star rating. There were also quite a few spelling and grammar mistakes, but as I read an ARC I'm hoping that they'll all be corrected in the final edition.

I highly recommend this one, even if you haven't read Dracula! (I haven't... better get on it.) It is beautifully written, and a fun read - especially if you want a more 'intelligent' feeling YA novel. If the steampunk element is putting you off, I would say don't let it - steampunk is only a very light part of the novel. show less

I was also lucky in winning this very original paranormal/historical story with a dash of romance thrown in. I was in the middle of another book when I received this novel and it got easier and easier to put the other book down so I could get back to Lucy and her story.
It starts off with a Mr. Bram Stoker writing the book of Dracula but he was wrong in the telling of what happened to Lucy so she goes to him to set him straight... From there, the story really takes off with Vampires, protectors, a halfling, werewolves and even some of their lineage traces back to the King Arthur and Morgaine and even Mordred!!!...
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would and HAVE recommended to quite a few others!!!

Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy.
allthingsuf.com

A beautiful melding of time period and myth, INCARNATION drifts through the misty streets of an imagined London. Without bogging down in accent or details, Cornwall creates a new mythology of the Slayer, vampires, and werewolves, as well as the city itself. Lucy awakens to her second life alone and confused, but it is immediately clear that the usual rules that govern vampires do not apply to her.

INCARNATION is the story of Lucy finding her way in this new reality. Awakened with only hints of her past, Cornwall returned Lucy’s memories to her slowly. Lucy discovers the truths of her human past and her vampiric nature at the same time, which interwove nicely with details of the show more current plot. I never got the sense that Lucy’s experience with vampirism is meant to represent all vampires, but it did seem that her moments of emotional remoteness and calculation were due to her vampiric side. Though Cornwall balanced that with some human warmth, for much of the book Lucy is inscrutable (to herself as well as to the reader). All of Cornwall’s world is one of tantalizing hints. Some advanced technology and alternate history, hints of vampire and werewolf mythology, secret societies and mad scientists, all mixed together in a foggy, Gothic world. INCARNATION struck the perfect balance between teasing details and leaving me wanting more.

Lucy is muted and restrained, but relentless in pursuit of answers. I found myself not so much invested in her present state as in the possibilities of what she could become. From a sheltered young woman constrained by parents and society to a solitary, powerful creature with infinite possibilities at her feet, Cornwall has recreated Lucy Westonra to wonderful effect. In INCARNATION we see Lucy find her feet and navigate the immediate dangers of her world, and though not currently listed as a series, I would love to see where another book would take her.

Sexual Content: References to sex and attempted rape. show less

Egalley thanks to Gallery Books
Beautiful storytelling which very much reminded me of Gardella Vampires by Colleen Gleason.
Rich, vibrant and really engrossing.

This is not a YA and neither it is a paranormal romance, more like a paranormal historical adventure with slight steampunkish elements. I wouldn't even call it steampunk, because although some interesting technological advances are mentioned they are not used by any of the characters.

Lucy is a very intelligent, courageous girl who is turned suddenly by an ancient vampire, and wakes up in her own grave with a stake in her chest. Confused and disorientated, she literally claws her way out and spends few months feeding on animal blood and living in the cave until a distant call from show more her creator forces her to go searching for him.

When she thinks of him it's all very Gothic, hazy and luminescent but not romantic. She accepts him like some kind of irresistible force.

She finds her family country house deserted and day by day recovers more of her humanity back. In the same house she discovers a book by Bram Stoker where a heroine with a very similar name Lucy Westera instead of Lucy Weston is seduced and turned into a vampire by Dracula. Enraged by the author twisting the truth, she is determined to come to London and ask Bram how he knew what happened to her and why he distorted the truth.

However, in London our young vampire quickly becomes entangled in Lady Blanche's, an ambitious vampire, struggle for power with a sinister intent to openly dominate humanity, and only Lucy's own maker might be able to stop her.

Joining forces with a mysterious Protector, Marco di Orsini Lucy needs to use her unique link to her creator to find him before it's too late, defend the Queen and country and fulfil her destiny, - the reason she was incarnated.

Fabulous story, very entertaining, with a smart resourceful heroine and a powerful and enigmatic hero. Nothing is simple in Incarnation, oh, and did I mention a brilliant mad geneticist who is just as evil as Lady Blanche? I guess I just did.

Read it! Fans of Kristen Callihan and Bec MacMaster especially, will love this. show less

The Good: I love the alternative history of why how and why Dracula was written. I also loved how the legend of King Arthur is incorporated into the story. The men in this novel were very interesting, and became more important to the story that the main character in my opinion. I especially loved reading about Marco and Mordred.

The Bad: The steampunk aspects of this book are referenced but never really explained, at all. One must just sort of infer what the author is envisioning without any real help from the author herself. Beyond that, Lucy just isn't very likeable. You get to know her, understand her motives, but are never very driven to care whether she succeeds or not.

Steampunk is a genre I want to read more of.

What I enjoyed most about this story is the great plot. I loved how it moved with the reader, allowing me to take everything in. From the scenery, to the people, to lost memories waiting to surface. Each chapter the reader follows Lucy who is determine to find out the truth. I like that is tougher than ever, kicking butt and asking questions later. The interesting aspect of getting to see her interact with Bram Stoker, is so cool!

The love interest definitely creep up on me. While Lucy was done looking for love, seeing it come upon her in a time like this in her life is good. She need those small moments of peace and security. So much was taken away from her. To have this, it almost made her show more human again. And then there is the ending. I think it ended on the note that you know that this story is far from over. I'm hoping and crossing my fingers that there will be more.

Another interesting aspect is the connection to King Author and The Knights of the Round Table. I'm loving how well the author let everything flow easily with the back round history. Once I got the bigger picture to the story, I just knew I was in for a ride of my life.

Other the ending being so bittersweet, I really loved this story. Incarnation brings back a time and place that any reader wants to be in. A smart yet tough romance, Incarnation is great! show less