I really enjoyed this book! It was great to see what might have happened to the forgotten characters in Dracula and Jane Eyre. Lucy Westenra and Bertha Mason have spent hundred of years together, literally haunted by their past and the men that tormented them.

I will definitely read more from this author.

I wanted to love this one SO badly but something just didn't hit home for me.
The premise of this story is brilliant and there is so much promise but it just didn't live up to expectations.

Set in the 1960s, this novel follows the immortal lives of Lucy Westerna from Bram Stoker's "Dracula" and Bertha Mason, the first wife from Charlotte Brontë's "Jane Eyre." As they endeavor to escape the haunting remnants of their past lives and lovers from centuries ago, the narrative delves into the lives of numerous female characters, including the aforementioned famous figures, alongside various unnamed supporting roles. Their experiences are intertwined with the influence of two notorious male characters from horror literature, Count Dracula and Mr. Rochester of "Dracula" and "Jane Eyre" respectively. Throughout the story, these women find themselves captivated by the allure of these men, a thematic concern that the book appears to grapple with.

The author portrays Lucy's enduring obsession with safeguarding Dracula's ashes, engaging in one-sided conversations and imploring for a response—an aspect that may raise some skepticism. Similarly, Bertha, despite her evident fear of Rochester, consistently makes choices that lead her back to him. Notably, an intriguing scene unfolds towards the end when Lucy orchestrates a distraction at a drive-in movie theater by requesting the projectionist to screen "Jane Eyre" and "Nosferatu."

While the premise of the story holds promise, its execution falls short of expectations. One may question whether it can truly be classified as horror, as the narrative lacks truly horrific events. Additionally, the decision to set the book in the specific context of "the summer of love" in 1969 appears somewhat arbitrary, as the inclusion of references to hippie culture could be applied to any era or geographical location. This choice seems to have little impact on the overall plot and setting.

Despite the reservations I have expressed, it is worth noting that Gwendolyn's writing style left a lasting impression. Her prose is beautifully crafted, easily comprehensible, and possesses a seamless flow. The narrative blends moments of humor and poignancy, enabling readers to immerse themselves effortlessly into the story. Although the pacing of the plot may be considered slow, the author's writing imbues the narrative with a sense of swiftness, propelling readers through the book. For this reason, I would be willing to explore another work by this author, as it remains plausible that this particular story may not have resonated with my personal preferences.

I was intrigued by the beginning of the book, but alas I found my interest in the story slowly started to ebb away as the story continued. I liked the idea of the book, mixing characters from classic novels in a new setting, but I never really grew to really like the characters in the book.

Lucy Westenra. Bertha Mason. Pushed aside for the women who came after them – Mina Harker and Jane Eyre. But Lucy and Bee have their own stories, stolen by the men who turned them into immortal creatures, women who have existed on the side-lines for decades, resisting the pull of the men who made them what they are. In Los Angeles, 1967, Lucy guards the urns which house Dracula, ensuring he cannot become whole again. Bee hears Rocester’s call but resists, the two women living side by side in a house succumbing to the rot and decay that follows Lucy. They spend their lives hidden, but to completely reclaim their stories they must face the monsters who have tormented them through the years.

Throughout, Lucy and Bee witness the way these two men have manipulated others, drawing them under their spells, using them as their own personal playthings. The men are shown as charismatic, alluring, difficult to resist, until we get close enough to see beneath the façade. Both women battle against their own traumas, too, learning to co-exist and protecting each other.

No woman escapes their encounters with Dracula and Rochester without some sort of transformation. Kiste is a talented writer who excels at bringing these characters to life, and showing the very real experience of abuse against this fantastical backdrop. Lucy continuously tries to push forward on her own, seeing it as just her fight, but she learns the value of having others at your back, too.

I really like Kiste’s take on these two characters, the strength and importance she gives them, and the way they’re used to show how men erase the stories of women, turning themselves into the focus. Overall, this is a really well written, utterly engrossing tale of pushing back and standing up, and I loved every second.

Thank you to Titan Books for providing an ebook. Views remain my own.

It is often worthwhile when reading a classic to have a closer look at who loses. Not often by that do I mean the villain they often hog the limelight and lead to a host of academic papers but who doesn’t come out well in a story. The victim, the accessory, the unfortunate and ask yourself what did that person do wrong? Where they simply unlucky or perhaps the writer wanted someone to be made an example of for wanton behaviour, poor moral judgement or something else? When do they get to tell their side of the story? Perhaps that tells your more about that society than what a woman did wrong in a cruel controlling world In Gwendolyn Kiste’s fascinating Reluctant Immortals we have two such characters stepping out of their books into 1960s Hollywood and finding their infamous partners are back to seek control and cause chaos for them yet again.

Lucy Westerna dies in the 19th century following an encounter with Dracula and yet now lives as a vampire. With her is Bee aka Bertha Mason aka The Mad Woman In The Attic also immortal through a strange process forced on her by Edward Rochester. Their stories are known in literature and film but no one believes the tales of Dracula and Jayne Eyre to still be true. Rochester seeks Bee and Lucy keeps the ashes of Dracula in several urns but the two have crossed the world avoiding mishaps; being found again and in Lucy’s case also working hard not to take blood. Now they live in a run-down house near Hollywood; keeping a low profile and their only source of joy is watching movies at a increasingly empty drive-in. But then Jane Eyre herself arrives to meet Bee and their reunion causes havoc with Dracula’s ashes being released and Rochester now knowing where the woman who defied him is. Lucy and Bee need to decide to flee or fight back.

This is a hugely inventive and enjoyable story exploring what happened next to two characters often used as footnotes in their main tales. Lucy often portrayed in the media as bringing about her destruction due to having three men propose to her is now a sombre and tired character who just wants a quiet life and instead has taken on the role of minding Dracula’s ashes and stopping his resurrection. Bee is a woman taken from her home in Jamaica by a cruel controlling man and given a strange magic power that keeps her forever young but has become Lucy’s best friend and they share common experiences. Kiste gives these two some much needed depth and examines did they actually do anything wrong. Kiste highlights both Dracula and Rochester are controllers of women who see them as possessions and seek their own pleasure first. This useful feminist take on the two stories is really interesting and Kiste then puts a new spin on the dynamic of Jane and Bee that puts the whole story in a new context. I really liked this re-appraisal of two women wrecked by controlling exes and now trying to live new lives…and then the exes comes back.

The core story is fast paced taking place over a few nights. Rochester’s hunt leads to Dracula’s partial resurrection and the vampire wants his whole ashes back to get him back to full power (although even a partially restored Dracula is pretty cunning, cruel and evil as we will find out). Lucy and Bee drive across LA and San Francisco crossing paths with ex-Vietnam soldiers, hippies and cults who worship in houses. Its an interesting time where feminism is really just beginning but there are still powerful men hoping to create little cults of personality which Rochester flourishes in. Kiste makes us think the monsters have many copycats throughout history and makes us ponder can the result ever change.

The tale has a great deal of suspense and horror. We get a different take on the vampire myth as we find out Lucy can herself ’die’ and come back fairly quickly; Renfield searches for her in a strange vampire mindscape and both Bee and Lucy attract a strange rot/mould that gradually corrupts the homes and vehicles they all enter. This is a story full of a new gothic atmosphere and the pair’s battle with the powerful men who once dominated them never feels easy. There is a cost in emotional torment and also body count. All made quite vivid as Lucy narrates the tale with a sombre tired tone making you feel this is someone who has seen a century pass her by. My one caveat is that I wished we had a little more for Bee to say and do. While her story is really interesting and we get some new facets to her and her life I’d had loved a little more of her own voice and experiences to come through (which feels counter to the spirit of this story) - perhaps one for a future novel if Kiste wishes to.

I definitely enjoyed Reluctant Immortals and think its an atmospheric horror tale making some serious points about the darker side of some of the classics and making connections to issues still facing us today. It also delivers a fantastic night time chase through California and has a few interesting scares and dangerous places to send us to. Well worth your time and highly recommended!

So in this book we join Lucy and Bee, the forgotten women from Dracula and Jane Eyre. Both suffered at the hands of the controlling men in their stories and have been rendered immortal as a result of the same men's actions.

Living forever and still suffering the torment of these men is no way for them to keep going. So when Dracula is set free and Mr Rochester has a hand in setting it all up, Lucy and Bee must take charge of their own lives before more innocent women get sucked into the same fate.

The writing hooked me from the very first line and did not disappoint as the story went on. Although I am not overly familiar with the Jane Eyre story as such, Dracula is such a classic gothic tale and it was so good to see these stories play out, and come together, in a more modern setting as well (the book is set in the 60s). I love the take OK the vampire mythology, it's always nice to see a new spin on an old tale!

Honestly such a good book. Thank you to NetGalley and Titan Books for the chance to read a copy of this! It was released last week so you can go and pick it up now!

https://lynns-books.com/2022/11/14/reluctant-immortals-by-gwendolyn-kiste/
4 of 5 stars
My Five Word TL:DR Review : The forgotten females fight back

From the outset I will say that I really enjoyed this in more ways than one. On the one hand this is a cinematic style story, fast paced and, in spite of (or perhaps because of) the horror, fun, entertaining and easy to get on with. On the other it’s like an ode to women. Kiste has taken a look at two forgotten females and rewritten their endings bringing a freshness to their stories effectively giving them a second chance whilst delivering a strong feminist message.

A quick overview of what’s taking place here. Lucy Westenra and Bertha Mason are the two main characters and the story is narrated by Lucy. We meet them as they houseshare in Los Angeles during the 60s, the Summer of Love – I must say that this is an inspired era to write this story, firstly, it feeds into the, well, for want of a better word, plausibility. All these young people, desperately experimenting and in search of new experiences – they would certainly make easy pickings for the true villain of this narrative who would undoubtedly find it much easier to go unnoticed during all the partying. And, then of course – could you be more ironic? Setting this particular tale of horror during the Summer of Love. Anway, I digress. Lucy and Bertha (Bee) are characters from Dracula and Jane Eyre. They’re the females who have been forgotten. Lucy was yet one more victim of Dracula in his pursuit of Mina and Bee was the wife that Rochester hid in the attic as he pursued Jane. Now, if you’re familiar with either of these two stories you may be aware that (slight spoiler alert) both characters died during the course of the original works. However, both have been cursed with immortality and the ability to return again and again. Both, during the course of the years discovered each other and became friends and both now spend their existence trying to keep Dracula and Rochester at bay.

So, what did I like about this book. Firstly, I was unaware that I needed a little feminist horror in my life but apparently I do – who knew. Secondly, I enjoyed both the characters Lucy and Bee, they both struggle with their own demons but they are consistent in their friendship to each other and adamant about their dislike for the controlling men from their lives. Thirdly, the writing is really good. Kiste is one of those authors who makes everything seem simple somehow. Her writing is smooth, her dialogue is completely relatable, she doesn’t overegg the pudding, there are no long winded descriptions or purple prose and just the right amount of backstory to give you a real flavour and she manages to bring some new elements to both stories, but in particular to the vampire myth. I would say that I don’t think it’s necessary to have read both the classics used to recreate this story, although it’s easy for me to say I suppose being familiar with both. And I enjoyed all the little nods here – but, seriously I think it’s not necessary to have read those novels (I do recommend them of course).

Reimaginings, retellings or taking a well established story and continuing it in a new light are very popular at the moment and I can totally understand why. Not only does this give an author a chance to revisit already established places and characters but it gives them the opportunity to look at the other side of the coin. Of course this does come with the risk of already well established fans getting huffy but in this case I think the author succeeds in not only giving two lesser known characters a new chance in the spotlight but also making them into the heroes of this story.

Now, in terms of criticisms. I’m not totally sure what I was expecting when I picked this up and I must admit that at one point I wondered where the story was going, but Kiste has a plan. She steadily ramps up the tension and the blood letting. She throws in well known characters and some very surreal ‘afterlife waiting room’ scenes and she manages to bring in some real life issues particularly in relation to women not only in terms of standing up for themselves but also standing up for others – so regardless of my sight early reservation I found myself becoming totally immersed.

Come for the characters and the promise of some vampire horror. Stay for the crazy scenarios, the races, the scrapes with death and the forming (and keeping) of friendships along the way.

I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.

I really enjoyed the simplicity of Reluctant Immortals and I thought the concept of focusing on women in gothic horror that have otherwise been ignored by the media was a really interesting idea. Mostly, if I have to be honest, I was also drawn to the book because I absolutely love book concepts that focus on Lucy Westenra (and Mina Harker) so naturally this seemed like a perfect book. I was already familiar with Dracula as I’d read the book earlier this year, but I’ve never read Jane Eyre so I’m sure references to that kinda fell flat, unfortunately - at least I didn’t notice them at all as I know absolutely nothing about Jane Eyre. I’m sure I would’ve enjoyed the book a teeny tiny bit more if I’d read Jane Eyre beforehand and had some knowledge of its story and characters.

The idea of these women being ignored or having their narratives changed, so readers primarily care about the men who wronged them, was super interesting. Like why are we so interested in men who do bad things, why do we romanticize them and why are we painting the female victims as almost evil - like Lucy, in the book, even points out how Van Helsing and the men who loved her, said she was an evil blood sucking villain who stole children but that that was them changing the narrative of her story. This is obviously the author re-writing the narrative herself, but it IS interesting and a fun way to examine the way we view classic literature and the men and women in these stories.

With that being said, because I do love this premise and I understand that ultimately these characters are forever linked to these men, it did feel like the author could not stop focusing the story on these men. Lucy and Bee’s story only evolves because of Dracula and Rochester, their happiness and unhappiness is fully tied to what these men do and think. Which almost defeats the commentary of the story. As I said, I obviously know they ARE linked, but I think it’s a shame there was almost no moment where they lived as their own selves and not without the presence of these men constantly hovering over them. It’s obviously also a story of overcoming these men, of overcoming the trauma they caused, but I would’ve loved a moment or two of tenderness between Lucy and Bee that wasn’t a reaction to Dracula and Rochester.

Overall, I enjoyed the book and the writing. It was easy to get into and it held my attention all the way through. I loved the humanisation of Renfield and the love Lucy has for other people. It was, all in all, a book worth spending time on!

Hilariously brilliant. Take two characters from classic gothic literature, and then launch them straight into sunny 60's California. An absolute romp that is also a clever examination of the way these women were treated in their original novels. I wish we heard more from Bee, but apart from that - loved this

I had high hopes for this book, unfortunately for me it did not deliver. The concept was beyond ridiculous. From the talking ashes of Dracula yes you read this right Dracula, the setting Los Angeles this book book was more like a bad remake of Lost Boys. Then we have a mish mash of classic horror brought into the 1960's. What the he'll was Jane Eyre doing rocking up in this book???? This is one book I wish I had never read.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for giving an honest review.

Set in LA in the late 1960s, Reluctant Immortals follows the forgotten women of Dracula and Jane Eyre - Lucy Westenra and the ‘madwoman in the attic’, Bertha Mason. Unable to die and tormented by the men who trapped them, the time has come for the two women to finally write their own story and liberate themselves from the toxic men intent on destroying their immortal lives.

As a feminist and fan of both Dracula and Jane Eyre, the synopsis of this book excited me. All too often in literature, the stories of women are marginalised, forgotten or dismissed - subplots of a narrative centred on toxic males driven by their own desires and ambitions.

Reluctant Immortals is a fun, pacy read that tackles these themes with vigour. Yes, it’s a little bit ridiculous, but in the best way possible. Lucy and Bee are likeable characters who have formed an unlikely friendship. Although the genre of their stories differ wildly, their circumstances are similar. Both fiercely hate, yet at the same time are captivated by, the males who have dominated their lives, and throughout the novel they wrestle with this dichotomy resulting in a gripping climax that had me hooked till the very end.

I couldn’t think of a better decade for this novel to be set. Rochester and Dracula, both fuelled by their desire to possess women, are reminiscent of cult leaders such as Charles Manson. Lucy and Bee’s stories chime perfectly with the rise of second-wave feminism, which sought to critique the patriarchal institutions and cultural practices that trapped the two women.

Without giving too much away, I did feel the relationship between Bee and Jane was a bit forced. But in the same breath, I understand why Kiste followed that path. And it by no means detracts from the story in any way. I would have liked to have seen more of Mr Rochester, but overall Kiste does a great job of articulating the push and pull between thrall and hate experienced by all the women in this novel.

All in, Reluctant Immortals is a great read with a feminist edge which gives a voice, and supernatural power, to the forgotten women of well known literature. And for that, I love it. Because it’s bold and fast paced and dark and unapologetic. I was rooting for Bee and Lucy until the very end.

Intriguing read. Really enjoyed it, so compelling.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publishers for letting me read this book in exchange for my review.

A riveting tale of vile men and the girls they've forgotten set against the backdrop of the summer of love. Rochester comes into his own as a Chales Manson style figure, whilst Dracula is his brooding and manipulative self but at the reigns is of course, Lucy and Bea of Dracula/Jane Eyre fame respectively. What first starts out as 'babysitting' turns into a full-scale vendetta to stop the men that ruined their stories once and for all.

The drive-in/cinema scene was beautifully poetic!

The only reason I'm giving it 4 stars is I think Lucy should have stayed with Mina at the end!

Reluctant Immortals is a novel about female characters fighting to take control of their narrative, after living long beyond their pages. Lucy Westenra, famed victim of Dracula, and Bertha 'Bee' Mason, Mr Rochester's first wife, are now living in Los Angeles. It's the 1960s and whilst everything around them is hippies and the Vietnam War, they are caught up in their own nightmares, remembering their pasts and the monsters that held them captive. When Dracula and Mr Rochester both appear in San Francisco, it seems another face-off is coming, and they're not just saving themselves, but other women who have been preyed on by these famous figures.

The concept of this book is undeniably ridiculous, and it is a romp of a horror novel, set amongst the unlikely backdrop of California (more Lost Boys than Dracula) and featuring a real twist on the Gothic novel. Told from Lucy's point of view, the book follows a fast-paced narrative as Lucy and Bee attempt to thwart Dracula's plans to return to full strength, stop Rochester collecting women at his new mansion, and find ways of living that don't revolve around these men. It's all pretty wild, but fun, especially for people who enjoy books that play with existing characters and tropes.

However, the characters themselves didn't quite work for me, and you find yourself wondering why these two stories and these two characters combined. Bee in particular was an interesting choice to do a feminist reclaiming of seeing as Wide Sargasso Sea exists and this is very different to that (and that book was published the year before Reluctant Immortals is set). Perhaps having a split point of view between her and Lucy might've given her more of a clear character, as you only see her through Lucy's point of view. I also don't really know why it's set in California, other than the film connection, though I do like the anachronistic time period for these characters to be battling, as I appreciate when vampire fiction moves from a historical period that has more of a gothic vampire aesthetic to one that is quite different.

Overall, this is a good book to not question too much, but to instead see it as a retelling that plays around with genre and character to focus on female empowerment. It wasn't quite the horror novel I was expecting, but it was a wild ride.