Reading this book and writing this review is the best birthday present a girl could have! I was already excited to be part of this Blog Tour hosted by the wonderful crew over at Fantastic Flying Book Club , but to get to post my review on my birthday was like icing on the cake!
I loved Stalking Jack the Ripper and knew that I would love Hunting Prince Dracula just as much and I wasn’t wrong! I love Kerri’s take on some of the worlds most infamous villains like Jack the Ripper and Vlad Dracul.
Title: Hunting Prince Dracula (Stalking Jack the Ripper #2)
Author: Kerri Maniscalco
Pub. Date: September 19, 2017
Publisher: Little, Brown, & Co.
Pages: 448
Formats: Hardcover, eBook
Find it: Amazon, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, Book Depository, Goodreads
In this hotly anticipated sequel to the haunting #1 bestseller Stalking Jack the Ripper, bizarre murders are discovered in the castle of Prince Vlad the Impaler, otherwise known as Dracula. Could it be a copycat killer…or has the depraved prince been brought back to life?
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.
First off, I love the events in history that Kerri’s chosen to write her books around. I loved the setting of Hunting Prince Dracula and how it is a historical take on Vlad the Impaler. I recently read Now I Rise by the wonderful Kiersten White so this book was even more fun to read for me since all of that was so fresh!
Kerri did a wonderful job of building the academy of Forensics within the walls of Bran Castle in Romania. I enjoyed her use of folklore and superstitions throughout the book because it really amplified the mystery.
I love Audrey Rose. I love how independent, intelligent, and no nonsense she is. She doesn’t let anyone push her around and is not afraid to tell you off if need be. I think that is the best part of her personality in the time in which these books take place. She doesn’t let societal expectations define who she is and I think that is important in YA novels. Young readers need to know that they can have their own minds and can be successful at anything they put their minds to.
Thomas Creswell. Oh Thomas. He is so adorable. I love how loyal he is to Audrey Rose and isn’t afraid to admit that he is wrong. He apologizes for the times he has offended Audrey Rose and only wants what is best for her. He is mischievous and I find that made for a great balance to the seriousness of some parts of this book. He really will go to the depths of Hades with Audrey Rose.
Kerri also did a fabulous job with the other characters in this book. She also isn’t afraid to depict all the gory details of what goes on in a setting filled with forensics, dead bodies, and mysterious goings on. Some people may struggle with how descriptive she is in some of the details but I think it makes the story really come to life. It is a realistic depiction of what it is like in the scenarios throughout the book. I think that is the top reason why I love these books so much! I’m a sucker for all the gory details!
I can’t wait to see where Audrey Rose and Thomas’s journey takes them next…although I have an idea of what case they may be chasing next! Do you?
Kerri Maniscalco grew up in a semi-haunted house outside NYC where her fascination with gothic settings began. In her spare time she reads everything she can get her hands on, cooks all kinds of food with her family and friends, and drinks entirely too much tea while discussing life’s finer points with her cats.
Her first novel in this series, Stalking Jack the Ripper, debuted at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list. It incorporates her love of forensic science and unsolved history.
Favorite non-writing things:
I believe curry, avocados, vinyl records, handwritten letters, and my 1950s Smith-Corona typewriter are the best things on the planet. EVER. (Aside from my food blog, www.sndwchsetc.com, that is.) 😀 My favorite quote of all time is: “You can’t wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club” by Jack London. kerrimaniscalco.com
Find Kerri Online:
Website | Twitter | Instagram| Goodreads | Pinterest | Facebook |
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2 copies of Stalking Jack the Ripper and Hunting Prince Dracula
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US & Canada Only
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No Giveaway accounts
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Have you read Stalking Jack the Ripper yet? What other Dracula related stories have you read?
The Clever Reader 
Wonderful review, lady!!! And more importantly, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! So happy you got to do a blog post about a book you love today! <3<3<3
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Thank you, Thank you!! I’m so happy I got to post about this fantastic book today too! Thank you for the birthday wishes! ❤
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This sounds exciting! I enjoyed the first book and I’m so looking forward to read its sequel. I’m glad you loved it! Nice review! 🙂
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Thank you! It was so good! I hope you love it too when you read it!
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Wonderful review, Sarah! I super, super enjoyed this one as well, and you nailed it! ❤ The folklore included was so great. Just like you, I'm super intrigued to see what they tackle next. I can't think of anything big in the Americas during this time. Time for Wikipedia detectives? Wonderful review, Sarah! 🙂
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I’ve got my ideas for sure on what the next one may be about so I’m excited to see if My guess is accurate! I love these books so I’m happy others enjoy them as well!!
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