Author: Kerri Maniscalco
Publication Date: September 19, 2017
Publisher: Jimmy Patterson
Page Count: 424
Reading Method: Physical
Dates Read: June 13 – 15
Synopsis:
Following the grief and horror of her discovery of Jack the Ripper’s true identity, Audrey Rose Wadsworth has no choice but to flee London and its memories. Together with the arrogant yet charming Thomas Cresswell, she journeys to the dark heart of Romania, home to one of Europe’s best schools of forensic medicine . . . and to another notorious killer, Vlad the Impaler, whose thirst for blood became legend.
But her life’s dream is soon tainted by blood-soaked discoveries in the halls of the school’s forbidding castle, and Audrey Rose is compelled to investigate the strangely familiar murders. What she finds brings all her terrifying fears to life once again.
Review:
If you read my review of Stalking Jack the Ripper last month, you know I was a little hesitant heading into Hunting Prince Dracula. But I adored Kingdom of the Wicked and had high hopes that we would see drastic improvements as we make our way through the Stalking Jack the Ripper books!
Plot:
In Hunting Price Dracula, Audrey Rose and Thomas Cresswell make their way to Romania to attend an academy of forensic studies. The academy takes place in the home of the infamous Count Dracula, and people are winding up dead in the most peculiar ways. Rumors that Vlad the Impaler has returned run rampant, and these deaths are doing nothing to squash the gossip. Audrey and Thomas find themselves hot on the trail, and miraculously right in the mix of it all.
I enjoyed the storyline in Hunting Prince Dracula more than I liked Stalking Jack the Ripper. It was a bit darker, more exploration of myths and folklore, and I enjoyed the twists and turns that the story took. There was plenty going on to keep my interest – the academic competition,
Characters:
Hallelujah! Audrey Rose has become significantly less annoying. Though there is still a bit of her signature “I’m not like other girls” rants, it was drastically toned down from Stalking Jack the Ripper. She remains fearless and inquisitive. I liked seeing them in an academic setting where she got to explore and learn a bit more. And I enjoyed watching her make friends with some of the other inhabitants of the school. Good ole Thomas Cresswell was just as charming and swoon-worthy as ever. Audrey and Thomas had some pretty significant clashes throughout the story, but it was good to see their relationship grow and change in a seemingly organic way. Nothing felt too forced or unrealistic.
Writing:
There is such an improvement between SJTR and Hunting Prince Dracula. I was hopeful that we would see Maniscalco’s writing grow as the series continued, and that’s exactly what was delivered. I absolutely loved Kingdom of the Wicked, and reading the SJTR books feels like we get to watch Maniscalco on her writing journey.
Overall:
I’m glad I continued with the series. Though I don’t have the third book on my tbr for July (there’s just too much I’m trying to read next month to make it fit) I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series. More than I was looking forward to this one. I’m curious to see what shenanigans Audrey and Thomas get up to next!
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