Bloodline

The events in Bloodline take place between July and November 1916. Described as a sequel to Bram Stoker’s Dracula, it is told through diary entries and letters signed by the descendants of Stoker’s characters. Thus Quincy Harker, son of Mina and Jonathan Harker, stalks in sinister fashion throughout the story. He is a commanding officer in Lieutenant Jonathan Shaw’s regiment stationed in Northern France. When Shaw is sent back to England suffering from mental and physical injuries resulting from his time at the battlefront, he is nursed by Mary Seward, daughter of Doctor Seward. Their ensuing romance is threatened by the arrival of Harker and his courtship of Shaw’s sister, Lily, and, inevitably, this necessitates a journey to Romania and Castle Dracula by all concerned.

Dracula’s fame owes more to its subject matter than its literary qualities, and a sequel cannot but lack the impact of the original text; inevitably a recreation of scenes and events similar to those in its predecessor will lack an ability to shock. Bloodline and its promised sequel appear to be an attempt to capitalise on the current interest in vampire novels. As such it is far more readable than many of the titles currently on the market and adheres to the gothic horror of Dracula rather than presenting a romantic spin on vampires and their urges. Readers are advised to read Dracula first though.