Book Review: Blood to Blood

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Blood to Blood     Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
Elaine Bergstrom
Class/Genre:   Fantasy   Woman Main Character   Vampire
Ace, Oct 2000, $5.99, 320 pp.

The passion that Dracula taught Mina Harker remains deep in her soul although the evil vampire is dead. Once tasting life, Mina needs to escape from her Victorian prison. Her beloved Jonathan fails to emotionally help her because he still broods over Mina having had a lover. Instead, her ex- lover leaves her money so she can explore her new independent spirit. Mina wants reconciliation, but not back to what their relationship once was. As the couple works on their problems, Jonathan begins to have vampiric induced dreams that Van Helsing believes is the calling card of the late Count's sister Joanna Tepes.

With everyone else in the castle dead, the reclusive but lonely Joanna decides to travel to England to settle the score with her brother's killers. Along the way, Joanna picks up a servant girl who becomes more than just a friend. In England, Joanna forgets about her sibling's enemies until a Ripper-like maniac hurts her friend. This provokes a confrontation between the Harkers and Van Helsing on one side and Joanna on the other.

BLOOD TO BLOOD is a fascinating footnote to the Dracula legends. The story occurs six months after the death of Lucy. Elaine Bergstrom turns Victorian England and Transylvania into descriptive images that provide an intriguing look for readers. Ms. Bergstrom centers her tale on prejudicial profiling as not all vampires are alike with individuals needing to use sound judgment to form opinions based on facts not hearsay or stereotyping. Supernatural lovers, especially the vampire crowd, will have a great time reading this fantastic horror novel.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner