Incarnation

Author:  Emma Cornwall

Year:  2012

Publisher:  Gallery Books

Pages:  332

Goodreads Description:

In the steampunk world of Victorian London, a beautiful vampire seeks out the author of Dracula–to set the record straight . . . If one is to believe Bram Stoker’s legendary vampire tale, Lucy Weston is Dracula’s most wanton creation, a sexual creature of the night who preys on innocent boys. But the real-life Lucy is nothing like her fictional counterpart—and she demands to know why the Victorian author deliberately lied. With Stoker’s reluctant help, she’s determined to track down the very fiend who transformed her—from the sensual underworld where humans vie to become vampires, to a hidden cell beneath a temple to madness, and finally into the glittering Crystal Palace where death reigns supreme.

Haunted by fragmentary memories of her lost life and love, Lucy must battle her thirst for blood as she struggles to stop a catastrophic war that will doom vampires and humans alike. Ultimately, she must make a choice that illuminates for her—and for us—what it means to be human.

After reading Dracula this past summer, I have been intrigued with any tales playing off those original characters. So, the idea of this book, telling more of Lucy's story - especially considering her death in the original book - was especially exciting. And I wasn't disappointed. Cornwall does an excellent job of building up the world that allows Lucy to exist, creating her backstory and fables and just interweaving different legends. The story also felt like Stoker's writing and had the same feel to it. This is billed as a steampunk book but the steampunk elements were hardly noticeable. I'm curious as to whether or not Cornwall plans any further books featuring Lucy. Anybody know?