Tomes of Shadowstalking

Welcome to the land of shadows, where evil is the greatest power, where nightfall marks the birth of terror, where your very soul is at risk. Join me as I investigate worlds filled with black magic and dark souls and encounter the monsters rule these wicked places.

This review does not represent the opinions of the general public. It reflects my personal thoughts and opinions on the book.

That said, on to the review!

Dracula's back in town as Mr. Matthew Maule, whom the Southerland family knows as "Uncle Matthew." He's meeting with his "nephew" and the breather's fiance for dinner. However, a man from his past has an interest in Dracula...and will stop at nothing to destroy the aged vampire! Now it's up to John Southerland and Angelina Hoban to protect the incapacitated vampire from another Undead nearly as old and with other...talents...with which he can attain his goals. Time is precious, and only by listening to a tape prepared by Dracula can Angie and John hope to unlock the secret to the dark creature intent on killing Uncle Matthew.

Once again the author treats the reader to clues about Dracula's existence pre-Van Helsing in Italy, including the actual events of his death and transformation. Time has passed, so characters that first appeared in Thorn are, of course, grown older. Dracula, if you'll recall had an acquaintance with the Medici family, but it has run its course. However, Dracula involves himself with other powerful figures: no less than Pope Alexander VI and the Borgia family.

I found this plot to be much easier to swallow than the ones involving Arthurian lore. For one thing, it's easier for me to swallow that Dracula knew the Borgias. Also, the fact that the Borgias are "real" figures in history--while those in Arthurian lore may be real--adds its own legitimacy. Knowing the history of the Borgias themselves is likewise helpful. There is something more tangible here that was absent in An Old Friend of the Family and Dominion. Maybe it was the rich descriptions of a Rome being built upon Romes of ages past that hooked me...or maybe it was just because I just felt more comfortable reading about people that did exist as to those that may have existed.

I think I prefer Dracula stories when he isn't trying to save the world. Involving him in simple conflicts with vengeance-seeking figures from his past is much more satisfying, especially when those characters--like Dracula--have grown in power and strength and are moving about under aliases just as he is.

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