A Matter of Taste

In this book, we learn how Vlad became a vampire & get an interesting look at Italy around 1500 & meet the Borgia's. Again, it is set in the 1970's & flips back & forth to the past, melding the past into the present. I found the historical part more interesting than the present story. There really wasn't much to the latter - an attack on Vlad from the past that takes a day or two to play out. Well written, certainly worth reading, especially if you want to read the series.

This book, while more exciting than the last one, still lacks what the first book or two had—the element of humor that Dracula possessed. Although I find the notion of a poison that affects vampires new and interesting, the book was more like a standalone novel than an interesting advance of the whole Dracula story. Saberhagen does, however, tell the story of how Dracula met his mortal death, and how he became a vampire.

Any Fred Saberhagen book is always worth reading but I would recommend starting with #1 and reading this series in order.

Any Fred Saberhagen book is always worth reading but I would recommend starting with #1 and reading this series in order.

Publishers Weekly Review: Taking a break from his successful Berserker and Book of Lost Swords series, Saberhagen returns to his modern-day Count Dracula tales in this fast-paced sequel to An Old Friend of the Family . After more than a decade, the Chicago-based Southerland family again finds itself involved with the 500-year-old fiend who loved their great-great-grandmother in Bram Stoker's original story (and in The Dracula Tape , Saberhagen's first vampire tome). Finding the Count (now known as Uncle Matthew) poisoned and comatose in his upscale condo, John Southerland and his fiancee try to nurse him to health while defending the apartment against various living and "undead" foes. They also discover a tape-recorded autobiography show more telling of the Count's early bloodsucking days and his encounters with 15th-century legends Cesare and Lucretia Borgia, who may be masterminding the current attack. The Chicago characters become less interesting once the historical intrigue begins, but overall this thriller/romance will please fans thirsting for more adventures of a gentlemanly ghoul. (July) show less