I have read a lot of books by Kiersten White and loved all of them, this was no exception! Kiersten White has a very intricate yet gripping writing style that I love and find truly captivating to read.

I am a huge fan of Bram Stoker’s Dracula and it’s amazing to see another rendition of the characters and their stories. Kiersten White has given us a whole new perspective of the under appreciated Lucy and it’s such a fabulous read. I highly recommend this if you’re a fan of sapphic horror fantasy as this ticks every box!

If I could give 100 stars to the cover alone, I would.

The book, however, gets a 3.5 from me. I thought the concept was fantastic and I am glad Lucy Westerna is finally getting her flowers - she is so criminally overlooked in the original Dracula.

I found the three timelines format to be disjointed. Every time I would find myself immersed in the story, the next chapter would feel like whiplash. There was no cohesion between the three, to the point where I would have to remind myself that it’s the same character in all three. I could forgive this when the gap is over a century (the times have changed and so has our girl Lucy), however the therapy session and present day are only a month apart but she feels so completely different - none of the same quirks, mannerisms, way of speaking.

My favourite timeline was definitely Lucy’s journal in the 1800’s. The writing in these chapters was far better than the rest, like White put in more effort to create the gothic atmosphere needed here. The clash between then and present day was the worst - and I think by extension of this made Iris seem much more annoying and brash than I suspect she truly was. Iris felt gimmicky - look at this modern woman!!! She’s so zany!!! Whilst she and Lucy shared some well written, tender moments, overall the insta-love of their relationship left much to be desired.

I did really enjoy Lucy having to acknowledge her past in order to face her future, and I LOVED the inclusion of The Queen, The Doctor, and The Lover. They were fantastic! Really glad they were a part of Lucy’s story and that White explored how immortality and Dracula’s influence would affect people in different ways. The Dracula chapters were very well written, too.

Thank you to Random House UK, Cornerstone | Del Rey and NetGalley for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

I enjoyed this retelling, reading about Lucy and how she takes back her power, and identity in this gripping romantic novel.

Iris is a force to be reckoned with in her right even before the end, I love how her and Lucy found each other despite their very different back grounds. Dracula was a waste of text, but I’m glad Lucy stood up to him finally, the predator became the prey.

Thank you Random House UK, Cornerstone and Del Rey for the ARC on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The synopsis promised a 'epic, seductive gothic fantasy' and boy do I love Sapphic vampire retellings.

The breathtaking cover of Lucy Undying already set the tone for me because I don't know if I loved it or am unsettled by it.
Most of the novel felt the same as that. At certain moments I couldn't put the book down, at others the pace was so slow I had to skim read to get through the chapters. I don't honestly think the book benefited from having 3 different POV's and timelines, on top of short chapters that makes the entirety feel disjointed.

The prospect of hearing the voice of the first of Dracula's victims is what drew me in initially. We meet the titular character, Lucy Westenra and Iris Godalming, who's paths are eerily similar, both hoping to able to break free of their past and live as normal people. I loved the contrast between the characters of a newly-turned, nineteen year old Lucy penning down her diaries and the transcripts of a century old Lucy, carrying bits of all the people she met and the lessons she learned along with her., allowing her to grow close to Iris.

Overall, I feel like the book doesn't truly reach it's potential, which is a shame.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this eARC of 'Lucy Undying: A Dracula Novel' by Kiersten White.

"Lucy Undying" offers a fresh and captivating twist on the timeless tale of Lucy Westenra, one of Dracula's first victims. This novel, however, reimagines Lucy not as a mere footnote in Dracula's legend, but as a powerful protagonist in her own right. Rising from the grave as a vampire, Lucy embarks on an eternal journey of self-discovery and defiance against the sinister clutches of her creator.

Set in twenty-first-century London, Lucy's undead existence takes an unexpected turn when she encounters Iris, a woman equally desperate to break free from her own dark past. Iris's family empire, built on a chilling secret, reflects the novel's themes of legacy and control. The relationship between Lucy and Iris is beautifully crafted, their connection both intense and tender. It provides a poignant counterpoint to the dark forces that threaten them, including Iris's manipulative mother and the ever-present menace of Dracula himself.

"Lucy Undying" is not just a story of escape and survival, but also a poignant exploration of what it means to reclaim one's life and seek out genuine connections in a world that often seems devoid of them.

This was one of those books that I read in between other books. I wanted to put it down, but at the same time I didn't want to put it down because I felt like maybe I could find something interesting in it or that maybe the story had something hidden to show us and I was going to miss it if I stopped reading. Unfortunately, for me, it didn't and I ended up reading it just to finish it.

I couldn't connect with the story or the character, although the way it is told is interesting, yes. When I read the synopsis of Lucy Undying I thought it was a very interesting premise that I wanted to read the other version of what happened in Dracula, seeing how one of those characters that goes completely unnoticed in the original story has another weight. And while we did encounter Lucy's story, certain merdekas, and interesting character development over the years, I didn't find it interesting, intriguing, or motivated to continue with the story.

The booklet says 'epic, seductive gothic fantasy' and... I didn't find any of that. Maybe gothic fantasy yes, but well... half and half.

Anyway... it was a 'nono' for me, but I'm sure other readers may find it captivating.

Thank you Random House UK, Cornerstone | Del Rey for the ARC I read on NetGalley a change from an honest review.

“Ask me to spend my afterlife with you.”

I had the best time with these sapphic vampires! This was a beautiful blend of gothic, historical fantasy and modern day with effortless timeline transitions throughout. I fell completely in love with Lucy and I adored Iris! I think the mix of povs with the therapy transcripts and diary inserts was handled beautifully. At no point did the author get lost in the narrative and I can’t compliment that aspect highly enough.

The big reveals were rather predictable, but that didn’t diminish my enjoyment of the story. If anything it helped solidify the connections between our characters. The humour was perfect and the romance was delicious. I could have spent even longer with this pair!

I would highly recommend Lucy Undying, especially if you are a lover of historical romance with a healthy dose of sapphic vampires!

3.75 ⭐/5

As soon as I saw the cover of Lucy Undying by Kiersten White, I knew I needed this book. 👏🏻 5 stars for the cover! 🩸

🦇 The dark, gothic style had me anticipating a more mature, haunting tale. And while the book leans slightly more into the YA genre than I expected, it doesn't diminish the enjoyment of this unique twist on a familiar vampire narrative - Dracula.

♥️ At the heart of the book, Lucy is a vampire whose stubbornness and determination drive a thrilling revenge mission. Although she hasn't matured significantly, her character remains compelling. Her relentless pursuit of vengeance and her spirited nature kept me engaged from start to finish.

👎🏻 The pacing was rather slow and having multiple POVs, can be hard to juggle for some! I did find myself at times struggling to remember who was experiencing what and where one left off and the other began.

📚 What truly sets this novel apart is the romance. Sapphic vampires are definitely a vibe, and Lucy's relationship with her love interest is beautifully portrayed. There is a significant layer of emotion and depth.

The narrative structure of Lucy Undying is another highlight. The story bounces from past to present time, incorporating therapy sessions transcripts dated in the 1800s to modern-day events set in 2024, maintaining a momentum that leads to an epic finale.

Overall, Lucy Undying offers a unique take on vampire gothic lore with its intriguing characters, compelling slow romance, and creative narrative structure.

🖤 It's a book I highly recommend for those looking for their next gothic reimagining of Dracula's sapphic vampires and those who enjoy a detailed, multiple POV read.

Thank you to Kiersten/ NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC. 🦇

Such mixed feelings about this one. Interestingly, it kind of gave me a similar experience as reading the original Dracula did - sometimes captivating and intriguing, yet at other times frustrating, drawn out and a bit dull.

I liked a lot of the concept - it felt like a tribute to Interview with a vampire, as well as a reimagining of Dracula. I appreciated that it largely focused on the experiences of Lucy Westenra and the interpretation of her as a queer character.

There’s a few different perspectives and time periods; my favourite was definitely Lucy’s journal entries. In fact, although it would have been quite a different book, I think I’d have preferred a whole book told in journal entries and interviews with Lucy. All the swapping about did work for the plot and how it ultimately came together, but it felt quite bitty and jarring at times and stopped me getting as invested as I’d have liked.

I’ll also say that I didn’t find much of the plot surprising. A lot of the ‘reveals’ seemed really obvious to me and so it just didn’t feel very exciting. I was confused whether they were supposed to be obvious or come across as gripping plot twists. If it was the latter, then that was definitely a big miss for me…

I did like the sapphic elements and romance. The plot ideas were a cool approach to a classic story. I think I was just expecting more from it. I wanted to be creeped out, shocked or excited and I mostly just felt meh. 🫤

I have enjoyed other books by this author and will read more in the future. This one just didn’t quite hit the spot for me, but I’m sure there are vampire fans out there who will really appreciate it and value the tribute to such a classic.

Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this advanced copy.

I was really excited to read this arc since first, the cover is stunning and second, I loved the premise which sounded right my alley. Sadly, it didn’t meet my expectations and I’m pretty bummed about it. Not that it was all bad but it wasn't quite what I was expecting.

It was too slow-faced to my taste and I felt like it could have been shorter considering what actually happens. The real action really take a turn at 50-60% through and most of it was predictable so I was just like « okay now that we established that, what about the plot? ». Also the different point of views, while nice at first, reminded me why I’m really not a fan of multiple pov (for me, it has to blend perfectly in the story to work but here, I found some of them quite confusing at times).

The good thing was that I laughed at some of the references (the mention of boygenius for example) and Iris was legit funny. I also loved the modern vampire vibes and the whole Goldaming shenanigan - tho it took its time to settle. Overhall it was lacking something but I know a lot of people will love this book. I think we should approach this book as a rom-com about vampires and rich people who seeks eternal life while two girls try to deal with their over-controlling-abusing mothers issues?

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this eARC of 'Lucy Undying: A Dracula Novel' by Kiersten White.

'Lucy Undying' is a retelling of Bram Stoker's iconic 'Dracula' but focuses on the character Lucy and how she should have had a girlfriend. Honestly, this story was dragging for me with the triple pov that kept being frequently brought up but not utilised in a way that was interesting to me.

I really wanted to love this but it missed the mark for me unfortunately. It has so much potential, I loved the duel timelines and finding out about Dracula's brides, but it felt far too long/slow paced/dragged out. It's quite predictable, and doesn't deliver the spooky gothic vibes that I was hoping for. I really enjoyed the old journal entries - those were definitely a highlight for me.

There's also a few (small) errors in the book, which hopefully will get fixed before being released (such as the paragraph rant in the first chapter about how the UK uses kilometers rather than miles - we don't, we use miles in the UK).

Regardless of my rating, I’m grateful to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Another retelling inspired by Carmilla I LOVED this read. From intertwined histories to finally discovering the brutal demise of Lucy’s family through a series of diary entries and therapy sessions it is a great read with a loveable format. Taking different perspectives I feel really added to the experience and overall kept you on the edge of your seat till chapters combined to reveal the outcomes which I loved.

Lucy and Iris are amazing and although the ending suprised me, I couldn’t be happier for them and the journey they went through together. Sapphic through and through I loved the queer yearning, both for Iris with lucy through her diary and her newfound friend Ella in person.

I am certainly a serial lover for Carmilla retellings/ sapphic vampire books but this was amazing and will be one I rave and return to for a while.

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC of this anticipated read! But alas, I think I most connected to Lucy’s journals than the whole story, and would rather be stuck in her mind than anyone else’s. Her herstory skipped along to hit major events so it gave a general wash of telling the readers what happened, rather than let us completely immerse into Lucy’s afterlife. The Iris/MLM plot also seemed too rich to digest. It was a fun read, however, because yes, Lucy does deserve a girlfriend.

I've been really lucky recently with the books I've read and their ability to exceed expectations. Lucy Undying was no exception to this streak I've been having.
It is a very character driven book, and although there is an overall plot point as well as a few smaller ones along the way, the character growth of Lucy and those around her is masterful and intriguing.
We have main 3 POVs in this and I like the way it differed from your standard multi-POV book. You have Lucy's diary from the 1890s, present-ish day therapy transcripts and present-ish day from someone else's perspective.
I was hooked on all 3 of these POVs, needing to know what happens next. I had a few theories along the way which turned out to be true but nothing I guessed outright from the offset.
All in all, I loved Lucy, Undying! I would love a follow up.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t get into this, this is no reflection on the author. Regardless of my review, I’m grateful to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I really enjoyed the way this book was written, it really kept the gothic vibe going but somehow the story felt as though it got a little lost along the way. The drawing of the story from various voices and sources worked well but I felt it just frayed at the ends a bit. Maybe I will read it again and see if it was just the time I read it.

Wow that cover certainly sets the tone for a gothic story featuring Vampires. Perhaps the most ignored has been Lucy a victim of Dracula , who to my mind was never treated well by those around her . Here we get possibilities of what could have happened as she rose and escaped her shackles although the Lucy we read about is without doubt a prisoner of her era and the perceptions of those less enlightened than hopefully we are today.
Iris has arrived in London to claim her inheritance after her mother’s death. She’s an heiress, a figurehead and frankly has no life of her own. She needs money if she’s to escape so when she forms a friendship with Elle who could help her sell off unwanted antiques it seems a perfect scenario but Iris also finds the diaries of Lucy and the narrative is interspersed with those. Meanwhile in modern day US a therapist listens to a Vampire recount her story and the reader is quickly drawn in.
I thoroughly enjoyed this and just didn’t want to put it down. I loved Lucy’s journey to see herself as worthy and not insignificant. The author added just enough history to make it feel realistic with different time periods and historical details. There’s love here and hope too although if you hope that Dracula will be portrayed as someone charismatic I can only say I completely agree with the author that in this modern world he would be a pathetic echo of a time that never recognised the true value of women.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair

3⭐️

This book could have ended at the 65% mark and I would have been more than happy with that. I felt like the last 35% dragged on so bad, and was also pretty unnecessary. It could have just wrapped up pretty quickly at a certain point, but the author just... Kept going and it was so convoluted and unnecessary that I was just bored reading the last part.

The writing was good, although it does always throw me when there are modern day references thrown into a fantasy book. I enjoyed the flow of the writing, and the style though and I will more than likely check out this authors other work.

Overall, it was a decent book, I just wish it had ended earlier than it did.

Thank you too Penguin/Del Rey UK for the ARC!

Enjoyed the writing which really fits with the gothic theme, and i really enjoyed Lucy's POV,
Its not the type of book i typically reach for but i enjoyed it and was great to read something different!