Vedang Manerikar reviewed Anno Dracula by Kim Newman
Review of 'Anno Dracula' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
This is the kind of vampire book that should be written more often. Set in the late 19th century England, the vampires have "come out" to the world, and Count Dracula is now the Prince Consort of Queen Victoria. The Victorian culture is undergoing a slow change as people start embracing vampirism and "turning". At the same time, as Count Dracula (aka Vlad the Impaler) starts exerting more and more influence over the throne, England begins reverting to the medieval times. Anti-vampire resistance groups are beginning to form, and religious cults are advocating against vampirism.
Against this backdrop begin the horrifying murders of Jack the Ripper, who likes to cut out the organs of vampire prostitutes.
Not only is "Anno Dracula" an engaging read, it is peppered with literary cameos by all the famous characters (fictional and otherwise) that we associate with 19th century England. There are so many hidden …
This is the kind of vampire book that should be written more often. Set in the late 19th century England, the vampires have "come out" to the world, and Count Dracula is now the Prince Consort of Queen Victoria. The Victorian culture is undergoing a slow change as people start embracing vampirism and "turning". At the same time, as Count Dracula (aka Vlad the Impaler) starts exerting more and more influence over the throne, England begins reverting to the medieval times. Anti-vampire resistance groups are beginning to form, and religious cults are advocating against vampirism.
Against this backdrop begin the horrifying murders of Jack the Ripper, who likes to cut out the organs of vampire prostitutes.
Not only is "Anno Dracula" an engaging read, it is peppered with literary cameos by all the famous characters (fictional and otherwise) that we associate with 19th century England. There are so many hidden references that people maintain a Wikipedia page just to track them. It makes reading this novel immensely fun.
Bram Stoker and the entire cast of "Dracula" make an appearance. Jack the Ripper is the "villain". Inspector Lestrade is in charge of the Ripper investigation. Sherlock Holmes has been shipped to Devil's Dyke for plotting against the crown. The Diogenes club is an integral part of the entire story. Dr. Jekyll is called upon to provide his expertise in the Ripper investigation. Various vampire bloodlines are explored. These are just the "top" cameos of the book, stuff that comes to mind as I write this.
TL;DR : Read the book if you like alternate history, vampires, and literary cameos.
