Hunting Prince Dracula

Reader beware: there will be gushing.

I am just going to put it out there that I have a crush on Audrey Rose Wadsworth. She is everything I ever hope to be even if she is set in the 1880’s and is twenty years younger than me. She is intelligent, curious, courageous, fiercely independent, and not hampered in the least by society’s expectations of her. She questions the status quo, wholeheartedly supports and loves her friends and family, and remains devoted to the pursuit of truth and of making the world a better place. I adore her femininity combined with her determination. She is one of my favorite literary heroines.

I will also admit to having a crush on Thomas Cresswell. He is the perfect foil for Audrey Rose, and I love their show more dynamic. His ideas of support may be a bit antiquated, but Audrey Rose is quick to make him see the light. He is willing to learn from her. Even better, he not only freely admits to her being every part his equal, he treats her as one. For any boy, modern era or Victorian, this is a prize-worthy notion. Then there are his quips and innuendos. Given his social awkwardness, that he is so forward with her is delightful, with her reactions to him even more entertaining. Together, they are a match made in heaven and just this side of swoon-worthy.

Then there is the setting of Hunting Prince Dracula. While Vlad the Impaler never lived at Bran Castle (history shows he was imprisoned there for a few months), its association as Bram Stoker’s Dracula’s castle was enough to have me salivating to read it. What happens inside the walls of that castle is enough to put me over the edge into ecstasy. We have a serial killer murder mystery, science, hidden passages, mysterious medieval orders, a bloody legacy, creepy teachers, and blood. Lots and lots of blood. All with a hint of the rise of Vlad himself. For me, it doesn’t get much better.

All gushing aside, like all novels, Hunting Prince Dracula is not perfect. It can be a bit cheesy and predictable at times. Ominous things seem to happen around Audrey Rose that all but force her to take action. At the same time, there are a few scenes that strain credulity as well as characters are that are mere caricatures used to enhance the spooky vibe. Yet, one can acknowledge these things and still enjoy the hell out of the story.

Enjoy it I did. I enjoyed it so much I want to go back and read it again just because Audrey Rose is such a delightful heroine. Given everything that happened in the first novel, I even like how emotionally vulnerable she is. She is a woman who feels too much and still has to deal with the fallout from the last book’s tragic revelation. This does not weaken her character in any way in my opinion but rather strengthens it. Her struggles to deal with her grief while remaining composed and clinical during her classes pierce your heart because we all know one does not preclude the other just as we all have examples of times we ourselves had to bury our emotions for fear of not being taken seriously. In many ways, even though Audrey Rose inhabits the Victorian era, her struggles to gain approval in the field of forensic science are all too modern. show less

I am a little surprised to admit how much I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Right book, right time. Great popcorn reading & lots of fun (as long as you don't mind some blood & gore with your popcorn). I liked the characters, I liked the setting (late 1800s Romania/Bran Castle & plenty of vampire lore), & I liked the flirtatious innuendo between Audrey Rose Wadsworth & Thomas Cresswell. Imo, quite a good YA book in the gothic/(barely) romance genre & it's well-written (vs. some YA books I've read which leave something to be desired in the writing arena). It's almost more of a mystery than straight-up gothic horror, though there are more than a few creepy touches in there. (It is related to Dracula & Vlad the Impaler after all....)

Thumbs up show more from me. (And even though I'm not really into Jack the Ripper stories, I just requested the first book of this series, Stalking Jack the Ripper.) show less

Hunting Prince Dracula is everything I hoped for and more. Kerri Maniscalco once again conjures up an atmospheric and eerie tale full of blood and murder. Starting right up where Stalking Jack the Ripper left of, the two main characters Audrey Rose Wadsworth and Thomas Cresswell find themselves on the Orient Express on their way to study at the Academy of Forensic Medicine and Science in Romania. However, when a “vampiric-styled” murder occurs on their train, things are set in motion that will ultimately lead our duo to go on the hunt for Prince Dracula.

One of the many aspects of Kerri’s writing that I love is her attention to detail. She clearly puts a lot of research and time into creating her setting, plot, characters and show more timeline. I am in awe at how flawlessly she recreates travel on the Orient Express train, and the beauty of the Romanian countryside. As the reader, I felt completely immersed in the story.

Another one of my favorite things about Kerri’s books is her characters. We get a whole new array of interesting characters in Hunting Prince Dracula, and even “meet” Thomas’s sister. However, no other character will hold a place in my heart like Audrey Rose and Thomas do. I love their witty banter, and flirting. I am glad to see their relationship blossoming in Hunting Prince Dracula.

Unlike Stalking Jack the Ripper, I had a much harder time figuring out who the murderer turns out to be in Hunting Prince Dracula. The constant suspense in the story kept me guessing and on the edge of my seat. My favorite scenes are of Audrey Rose and Thomas stalking the bowels of the castle in search for clues. I found it very funny, and endearing that both Audrey Rose and Thomas share a fear of spiders.

When the reveal finally comes at the end, I was utterly surprised and thrilled. I absolutely love how Kerri sealed it all up nice and bloody. I am still in shock, but it is PERFECT and my dark little heart loved it.

Overall, Hunting Prince Dracula is delightfully full of atmosphere, beautiful scenery, lots of Audrey/Thomas moments and a thrilling ending. Hunting Prince Dracula is a definite MUST READ for all lovers of mystery and suspense.

Now to eagerly await the next installment, and daydream about where Audrey Rose and Thomas will go next, and who they might encounter.

** I received a copy of HUNTING PRINCE DRACULA from the publisher, in return for an honest review and to be featured on The Sisterhood of the Traveling Arc. ** show less

There's something deeply engaging about this series. I love the way that Audrey Rose is depicted, and her strength and independence within the setting used, and this is, if anything, a sequel that only makes her stronger as a character. Traumatized by the events of the first book, Audrey Rose is determined to try to move on with her life and pursue her dream, only to find that more dead bodies await her than just the corpses she uses in her studies. All signs point to the return of the legendary Dracula, but, obviously, there's a far more sinister human force at work. The story is crafted well, racks up the tension throughout, and comes at you with an ending I for one didn't quite see coming and which sets things up well for book three. show more This is definitely a series worth following. show less

Hunting Prince Dracula was ten times better than the first book. Romantic Romanian castles and hillsides, gothic horror legends, and even a momentary tribute to Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express. The story had every bit of adventure and snark as the first but a lot more depth. And dare I say a lot more creepiness.
And that’s all I can say without spoilers.
So, if you haven’t read Stalking Jack the Ripper, I’ll give you a second to get your cute little behind out of here.
Ok, now I’m going to speak freely. You’ve been warned.
Alright, obviously the hot scoundrel nuisance that is Thomas Cresswell was not Jack the Ripper and both he and his fearless leader, Audrey Rose, make it to their next destination in one show more piece. AR’s uncle has managed to secure them both a position with one of the best forensic schools in all of Europe, just outside Bucharest and off they go.
Of course, not everyone on their trip makes it in one piece. Murder manages to hitch a ride out of London with our daring duo, riding first class on the Orient Express. No sooner has the story climbed into the Carpathian Mountains, than a random dude is found stabbed in the heart, stinking to heaven of garlic.
Yeah, it’s going to be that kind of vampire story. Once they get to school, more deaths follow, half killed as if they were vampires, themselves, and half drained of blood as if they were attacked by vampires.
It’s all a little bit much for the village surroundings he school. Folklore and old beliefs take over, convincing even the usually clear headed Audrey Rose that these rumors have have some credibility.
Of course, the actual cause of death rivals vampires in sinister origin but you’ll have to open the book and catch up to figure out why.
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*****Five Bewitching Stars*****

So I read this book immediately after reading Stalking Jack the Ripper and I am so happy that I did. This book pulled me in so quickly and I found myself lost within the mystery, wrapping myself into the dark world of Dracula. Thomas continues to be a "devilish flirt," capturing my heart and attention and our girl Audrey Rose proves that she is strong and intelligent, becoming one of my all-time favorite female characters!

I loved the elements of history and it made me want to start learning some Romanian! There was something so magnetic and powerful about this book. The mystery and twists are enough to capture your undivided attention, but there is something completely spellbinding and magical about this show more book series. I love stories that can seamlessly intertwine historical information or retellings of classics without ever missing a beat, spiraling off into something unique on its own, while still paying tribute to a classic.

I can't wait to read book 3 and I am so happy that I started reading this series! show less

Audrey Rose and Thomas are on there way to attend the Academy of Forensic Medicine and Science in Romania which is set in Vlad Dracula's castle. When they are traveling on the train they find a body with a stake through the heart. The villagers think that Vlad has risen from the grave but the real story has its own kind of monster.

I have always been interested in Vlad Dracula and Romania and am so happy that Kerri Maniscalco set the second Stalking Jack the Ripper there. I love seeing Audrey and Thomas's relationship grow in this book. In the last book, they realized they had feelings for each other and this book they work on sorting them out and seeing if they want to be a couple or even if they can. Audrey has a lot of fears about show more becoming engaged or getting more romanticly involved with Thomas and I can understand that. I am a HUGE Thomas and Audrey shipper and need them to get together.

This book was even more amazing then book 1. The mystery in this one was so much better written IMO and I didn't even solve it before the end. The old photographs in this book were even better than the last book. They add such a unique touch to the story. The setting of the book was one of my favorite parts. The castle was so gothic, creepy and isolated. It added such a great atmosphere to the story. I loved all the intersecting new characters in this book from the bad-tempered headmaster to the absent-minded professor of folklore. They all came alive on the page and fit the gothic setting perfectly.

I couldn't put this book down. The suspense, the romance, the characters, the setting, the mystery it all drew me in and didn't let me go until I had turned the last page.
Rating: 5 Stars show less