Lets talk Lucy Undying by Kiersten White

  *I was gifted an advanced reading copy by Del Rey in exchange for an honest review*

Hey lovelies, welcome back!

Another review of a retelling for you, this time in the vein gothic literature which was one of my favourite modules to study at university. Bram Stoker's Dracula was one of my favourite texts on that module and so, when I saw a reimagining putting a spin on one of Dracula's first victims, Lucy Westenra, I  just HAD to read it. Lucy Undying by Kiersten White gives voice to the that tragic character. 

Her death was only the beginning. Lucy rose from the grave a vampire, and has spent her immortal life trying to escape from Dracula's clutches - and trying to discover who she really is and what she truly wants.

Her undead life takes an unexpected turn when, in twenty-first-century London, she meets another woman who is also yearning to break free from her past. Iris’s family has built a health empire based on a sinister secret, and they’ll do anything to stay in power.

Lucy has long believed she would never love again. But she finds herself compelled by the charming Iris, while Iris is mesmerised by the confident and glamorous Lucy. But their intense connection and blossoming love is threatened by forces from without. Iris's mother won't let go of her without a fight, and Lucy's past still has fangs: Dracula is on the prowl again.

Lucy Westenra has been a tragically murdered teen, a lonesome adventurer, and a fearsome hunter, but happiness always eluded her. Can she find the strength to destroy Dracula once and for all, or will her heart once again be her undoing?

Dracula changed her. Love will transform her.

Crackhead fan-fiction is the only way I can describe this book. Something you'd unearth in a deep, dark corner of the internet. It's like White constructed a conspiracy theory about Stoker's Dracula and had to get her thoughts down onto paper to make sense of it. Not necessarily a bad thing and certainly a decent and interesting read...

I thoroughly enjoyed the triple narrative and how it alternated between present day with Iris, flashbacks to a couple week prior via transcripts of Lucy's sessions with a therapist detailing her vampire years and then also the setting of Dracula via Lucy's journal entries. I enjoyed connecting the dots between the three narratives and watching it all link up. I loved reading Lucy's journal chapters and experiencing the narrative of Dracula through her eyes. 

I feel White captured the characteristics of gothic literature perfectly. The present day narrative was set in the Westenra manor that has gone to ruin - setting ✔️. Iris feels threatened by her family legacy and the people involved - atmosphere ✔️. Iris is a descendant of Arthur Holmwood (aka Lord Goldaming), is hounded by creepy family lawyers and is also saved from stepping into traffic when she meets Lucy - creepy, aristocratic characters and a damsel in distress ✔️✔️✔️. And most significantly of all, vampires - supernatural events ✔️. Furthermore, it wasn't fast-paced or highly suspenseful with nail-biting cliff-hangers, but kept you invested and wanting to see if good prevails - exactly how classic Gothic literature reads. 

I wouldn't class Lucy Undying as a retelling and as I said, the best way I can describe it is crackhead fan-fiction that is inspired by a conspiracy theory of Dracula. If you love the original text, don't read this. However, if, like me, you enjoy reading well-known stories from a new perspective, then do read this. 

Until next time, lovelies!