Hunting Prince Dracula (Stalking Jack the Ripper Series #2)
4.7
23
5
1
Hardcover
USD
17.09
$17.09
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9780316551663 |
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| Publisher: | Little, Brown and Company |
| Publication date: | 09/19/2017 |
| Series: | Stalking Jack the Ripper Series , #2 |
| Pages: | 448 |
| Sales rank: | 46,992 |
| Product dimensions: | 6.00(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.70(d) |
| Age Range: | 15 - 17 Years |
About the Author
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
Hunting Prince Dracula (Stalking Jack the Ripper Series #2)
4.7 out of 5
based on
0 ratings.
23 reviews.
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Hunting Prince Dracula was everything I'd hoped for and more. It was absolutely a five star read! Here are the top five reasons you should put this on your TBR (or even better yet, read the first one and then this one!)
1) Audrey Rose because he pursues her dream with an unrelenting persistence. Also, I loved that she struggled with coming to terms of the events of the last book in this one. The character development in general in this book were excellent but hers was superb.
2) The beautifully dark and creepy atmosphere. The local superstitions are interwoven perfectly with the science.
3) The mystery is amazing and very well done.
4) The female friendships!
5) Mr. Thomas Cresswell (aka my new favorite book boyfriend).
6) I lied, I can't pick five. There's another fabulous romance that I ship almost as much as Wadsworth and Cresswell!
Hunting Prince Dracula has an absolutely perfect mix of horror, suspense, friendship, and romance. There was one scene that could be nightmare inducing for some but was absolutely brilliant in the story. As much as I loved Stalking Jack the Ripper, I enjoyed this one even more. I've actually already reread it and loved it just as much the second time. I'm counting down the days until book three is released and keeping my fingers crossed that I'll be seeing more of these characters for many years to come.
*Disclaimer: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
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Once again Maniscalco slays with a fabulously haunting read. Set against a backdrop of superstition and myth, Hunting Prince Dracula makes even vampires seem real as Dracula rises from the grave to terrorize the people of Romania.
I don't think I can say anything bad about this book. Last year, I gave Stalking Jack the Ripper a go despite it falling outside my usual genres of choice, and I'm glad I did. Not only was it a fabulous debut, but this author has shown her talent with an even better sequel. I loved the combination of the mysterious legends surrounding Dracula and the science of studying cadavers that merge to give this book such a spooky vibe. This is, in part, due to the setting, a remote castle in Romania well away from the bustling streets of London we walked in the last book.
What's creepier than Castle Bran in winter?
The world set the mood but the characters brought this story to life. Audrey Rose is just fabulous. She's fighting against the norm by being a woman in the sciences (YES GO GIRL) without sacrificing who she is. I like that she's comfortable in both a dress and pants, that she is afraid of spiders but can cut open a body without a second thought, that she has strong emotions but also doesn't let them rule her every decision. In short, she's highly intelligent and absolutely delightful.
As is her Mr. Cresswell. And let me just say, Maniscalo knows how to build a slow burning romance, almost slow enough that I wanted to tear the pages out until something happened.
Almost. Don't worry, no books were harmed in the reading of this story.
We met Cresswell last time around and he's just as swoon-worthy in Hunting Prince Dracula, if not more so. Yet we also get insight into his personal life, meeting a member of his family and watching as his walls fold back to reveal the man beneath. This is Audrey Rose's story but Cresswell is just as big a part of that and I loved every bit of him.
I'm not all that familiar with mystery novels, mind you, but I felt this book was very well paced. Just as my mind caught up and made certain connections, something new would be introduced, constantly keeping me on edge. There was always a level of mystery present up until the ending, which was both satisfying but also created a desperate need in me for book 3.
Hunting Prince Dracula is a beautifully crafted, spooky mystery perfect for anyone seeking a thrill amidst legends. And if you haven't read Stalking Jack the Ripper, now is the perfect time to get both of these books on your TBR! Another outstanding novel from Kerri Maniscalco!
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I had a harder time getting into this one for some reason. The material and vampire lore was interesting, but it all fell a little flat for me. I don't know. I just felt like there was a lot of down time where I needed more of something. I still adore the characters though. Thomas and Audrey Rose are simply adorable. So far, this series reminds me of a serious kind of Scooby Doo. Minus Scooby. Well, I suppose Thomas acts a bit like Scooby sometimes.
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Hunting Prince Dracula (HPD) was another lovely installment to the Stalking Jack the Ripper (SJtR) series. HPD is a little longer, so it’s a bit less overpriced, but I still think this series are too expensive for eBooks. If my review sparks your interest, check HPD out from a library or borrow it from a friend.
Once again, Ms. Maniscalco wrote a story with two endings. First there’s the ending to the Impaler mystery, then there’s the actual ending to the book. This time, the second ending includes an epilogue, so, in some ways, you could say there are three endings.
The epilogue leads us into book 3 quite well. I’ve got to give Ms. Maniscalco credit for sneaking in a reference to her next book, Escaping from Houdini, earlier in HPD, in Liza’s letter. I can only assume Audrey Rose and Thomas will need to save Liza in book 3.
The sexual tension between Audrey Rose and Thomas is significantly more apparent in HPD. Audrey Rose’s reactions to it seem plausible enough. I do wish the ending would have left things a bit more definitive between them, though.
The grand evolutionary arc of their friendship (minus the bumps along the road) is great. Their comfort with and trust in each other matures nicely throughout the series, overcoming many obstacles.
I enjoyed the inclusion of Daciana’s relationship with Ileana and Audrey Rose’s reactions to it. It seems ultimately unimportant to the story, for now at least, but it’s always nice to see multiple types of relationships portrayed in books without unnecessary fan-fare
Overall, I enjoyed the story, and look forward to reading book three. It’s been a fun series so far.
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I think this book was better than the first one! I just love Audrey Rose and Thomas!
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I started reading Hunting Prince Dracula on 5/10/18 and finished it on 6/22/18. This book is a wonderful read! (I was in suspense for many days due to family reunion and waiting to borrow my book again from the library). I enjoy Audrey Rose and Thomas’ flirting/banter a lot. It’s interesting reading about life in 1888, where girls should keep their distance from boys and furs are heavily used as blankets. I like that they are dressed well and speak well all the time. I like how Audrey Rose is playing hard to get with Thomas, even though, she clearly likes him. I like how Audrey fight for a woman’s place in a men dominant world. I like her confidence and strong will to stand up, chin up, and dare the men of her presence. I like the location of the foreign country. I like how I couldn’t guess the ending and the build up leading to who it is, was tantalizing.
This book is told in the first person point of view following Audrey Rose Wadsworth, 17, as she and Thomas Cresswell journey by train to Academy of Forensic Medicine and Science in Romania. At the end of book one, readers learned that they both will leave home to further their education in medicine, specifically focusing on examining cadavers. As soon as Audrey Rose arrives, she hears rumors about Vlad Dracula coming back from the dead and causing recent deaths to the locals. There are Romanian language speaking in this book. The school is creepy and locates in a secluded area, yet it’s prestigious and difficult to get in. Before classes begin, Audrey Rose’s fellow classmate, Wilhelm was found dead in the snow. When class starts, Wilhelm’s dead body serves as the subject for students to study. Audrey Rose volunteer to cut open Wilhelm and that’s when she discovers that Wilhelm’s blood is all drained from his body, much like how Dracula kill his victims. A mystery to solve!
This book is very well written. I love the idea of having rumors spread about hundred-year-old killer coming back from the dead to cause havoc and then Audrey Rose working to uncover answers. I like how curious the main character is. She pushes forward even when she’s afraid to find out who, what, and why. It reminds me of Harry Potter, always looking for answers but often finding trouble before solving the mystery. It’s sure is an exciting read full of adventures though. I like the castle and those hidden passages. I like when characters come together to discuss the problem and working it out loud. It’s interesting to read about a school only accepting highborn students coming from well-known and big names family, including a Prince. I like learning a bit more about Vlad Dracula in this book too since I didn’t read other historical books of him. This series is worth reading and I highly recommend everyone to read it!
xoxo, Jasmine at www.howusefulitis.wordpress.com for more details
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This second installment in the series is just as creepy as Stalking Jack the Ripper. These books could probably be read as standalones since each one contains its own complete story, but of course, you’ll understand a lot more of the context if you’ve read the first book too.
What Fed My Addiction:
Audrey’s demons.
Audrey isn’t nearly as sure of herself as she was in the last book. She’s haunted by memories of what happened with her family in that book (which I won’t spoil, in case you haven’t read it), and she’s even occasionally seeing visions of things that aren’t there. It’s awfully hard to work on dead bodies when you’re scared to death of them. And yet, Audrey isn’t a timid girl who’s content to let the men around her protect her. She’s very ahead of her time—an independent woman—and she fights to get herself under control so that she can continue doing what she loves and what she’s good at.
Thomas.
It’s hard not to love Thomas, even though he occasionally shows his lack of common sense when it comes to wooing Audrey. (This causes some very realistic tension between the two.) And the banter between these two is so much fun. (For an example, check out the review on my blog.)
Paranormal or real?
This book is incredibly spooky and dark, and it skirts the line between paranormal and real life rather well. The murders seem to follow the legends of Dracula well, but of course, Dracula has been dead for centuries. And while Audrey is never convinced that legend is real and she’s sure there’s a logical explanation for everything, that doesn’t make the circumstances any less interesting for someone like me, who’s a fan of paranormal. Oh, and if you enjoyed the macabre aspect of the first book, there’s plenty of it to satisfy you in this book as well!
The setting and mystery.
Typically, in a book like this, the least interesting aspect for me is the actual mystery. But this book kept my attention because the mystery skirted that paranormal territory. I thought that the spooky Romanian castle was a perfect setting for the book as well—full of secret passages and surrounded by wolf-filled wolves. These elements were used well to set up the suspense in the book! And then there was the ending—I was taken completely by surprise and loved some of the revelations!
What Left Me Hungry for More:
Audrey is way ahead of her time.
Okay, so occasionally, I found myself realizing that while I LOVE Audrey, this is one of those historicals where the main character is way ahead of her time as far as her independence and progressiveness goes (when a character turns out to gay, neither she nor Thomas bat an eye). Of course, as modern readers, we love this, but I couldn’t help the little creeping thought that it’s not particularly realistic that she’s so independent (and so are all of the other female characters). I can’t really bring myself to complain much, though. As a YA book I’d rather see that than have a book that reinforces old stereotypes.
This book is a stupendously creepy historical read that skirts the line between the paranormal and the just plain abnormal really well. I give it 4.5/5 Stars.
***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher via ALA Annual in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***
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Hunting Prince Dracula by Kerri Maniscalco is the sequel to Stalking Jack The Ripper and the second installment in the Stalking Jack The Ripper series. Hunting Prince Dracula continues the story of Audrey Rose Wadsworth and Thomas Cresswell as they escape the events (and memories) of London by traveling to Romania to attend one of Europe’s best institutions for forensic medicine. However, once they arrive, it is clear that their time in Vlad the Impaler’s domain will be anything but uneventful as people start turning up dead from their blood being drained or stakes to the heart. With the murders appearing ‘vampiric’ in nature, the community is on high alert, fearing that Dracula himself is back to quenching his notorious blood lust. With another serial killer on the loose, Wadsworth and Cresswell, once again, must work together to solve these murders in order to stop whoever (or whatever) from striking again.
Just like Jack the Ripper, the legend of Prince Dracula is no stranger to the spotlight. With vampires persistently showing up in the media, the legend of Prince Dracula is hard to ignore. However, with the media’s benign portrayal of vampires, it is easy to overlook the true brutality that stains the legend. In fact, the legend of Prince Dracula actually begins with Vlad the Impaler. Vlad the Impaler is most famously known for his brutality he exerted during his rule; more importantly, his favorite way of dispensing his enemies. One incident that highlights this grim nature is when Vlad invited guests to a banquet. Knowing that these particular guests would challenge his authority, he had his guest stabbed and impaled on spikes. This desire for blood is what fuels the legend of Prince Dracula and further drives the legend of vampires. With some details of the legend having unknown origins in addition to the aspect of the infamous blood lust, the myth of Prince Dracula makes for a perfect serial killer type figure to exploit.
Read my full review on the blog A New Look On Books.
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Very enjoyable
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I really loved this book. My favorite characters are definitely Audrey and Thomas, I love their friendship/relationship. I also love how Audrey is such a strong independent young woman. This book was definitely creepy and I loved the creepiness factor. It was a fun read with mystery and intrigue, it definitely kept me thinking about who could have possibly been the suspect. I can't wait to read books three and four!
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First, I just have to say this series has some of the most stunning covers I've ever seen. The physical copy of this book is GORGEOUS!
Now, as for the actual story, it's even better than Stalking Jack the Ripper, book 1 in the series. It's not very often that the second book or movie is better than the first, Twilight, Divergent, Grease, and Dirty Dancing are a few examples, but Hunting Prince Dracula defies the norm. I just couldn't put this book down. Cresswell made me swoon even more in this book and the flirtatious banter between him and Audrey Rose was spot on. I did sympathize with Cresswell's well-meaning efforts to protect Audrey that repeatedly were the wrong move. As for the mystery of who the killer was and his or her motives behind the killings, I was stumped until the very end. I had a couple different theories, but I can honestly say I never guessed the correct killer and motive.
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Kept me guessing the entire way.
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Finished it in one day. Enough said.
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I seen this book 'Hunting Prince Dracula"at Wal Mart,it sounded like a fun read,so didn't buy it only because I realized there was a book before it. I hate not reading books in order because you miss a lot,so off I go to my local Barnes and Noble (75 miles round trip) and got "Stalking Jack the Ripper",I didn't realize these were YA books until half way threw Jack. I gave to tell you I read both of these books in 2 and a half days,after Jack I didn't want to drive back to BnN so I down loaded it.
I'm 51 years old(and getting younger) and I'm telling you I don't care about age you must read these books. I loved it and where is the next one? What is next one about???
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Such a fun read!! Very vivid, constant page turner.
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Like, it's a really high four crowns?
When I first picked up Stalking Jack the Ripper, truthfully, it was always my intention to try it out for the hype. The first time, I had some struggles with it due to the time I decided to pick it up with and the second time that I picked it up, I fared so much better with it - but truthfully, the only reason I picked it up was to get to this one. I did a really in-depth research into Bram Stoker's inspiration for his novel Dracula, so I was more than a little excited to see the setting of Romania for this and the dark and spooky Dracula might have been brought back to life. I couldn't wait for this one, and I knew I just had to get my hands on it just in time for Halloween.
This book was breathtaking in its atmosphere and setting. Maniscalco created such a spooky, dark scene, and I was SO in love. It had this innately spooky feeling to it, and I actually felt like I was there. Maniscalco shone in her writing here, and she created exactly the kind of mood that this story needed to have. It was perfection.
The mystery was actually quite nicely done as well. One of my biggest gripes in the first book was the fact that I called the killer the first time that the killer walked onto the page. In this story, I was kept guessing the entire time. There was one person that I was fully convinced was the killer the entire time, and I was proven wrong. I kind of spoiled myself on it by accident, but I was surprised by it still and would have not guessed. She definitely crafted it quite well, and I super enjoyed it.
The characters were quite interesting as well. I still enjoyed Audrey Rose as our leading lady, and while Cresswell continued to crack me up, I think I did miss a little bit of his spark in his book. But he really did have some fantastic wit in this story. Their romance was a bit of a mixed bag for me. I really enjoyed certain parts, but then I got conflicted during others. I did like the balance of trying to figure out their feelings and the need to solve the crime, which sometimes is a struggle. I did like the new additions to this book, and I'm so hoping that Daciana will be making an appearance in the third book. She was definitely a fun part in this book.
The only main gripe that I had with this book was the fact that I think it really could have dealt with fare few pages. The story unfolded over a nice pacing, but I thought that it just started to drag at certain parts. I thought that I was making a dent but then realized I was only 100 pages in. I think the story could have been tightened up a bit and it would have really kept me in love, love, love mode.
Overall, this is the perfect read for Halloween and the fall season. It was fun, spooky, and wonderfully atmospheric. Maniscalco can definitely craft a setting, atmosphere, and a mood when writing, and I can't wait to see what she will be delivering next. I was always kept guessing with this story, and I did enjoy the characters quite a bit. There were a few minor issues, but I think overall, it was quite good. Four crowns and an Ariel rating!
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*This review contains spoilers for the first book in the series*
WE’RE BACK, BABY.
We all know how much I love Stalking Jack the Ripper, so I was on CLOUD NINE when I received an ARC of HPD. I immediately began it, and didn’t put that thing down willingly until it was done!
HPD picks up right after SJTR, with Audrey Rose Wadsworth and Thomas Cresswell on the train en route to the prestigious forensic academy in Romania. On the train they encounter – of course – a mysterious death, and things only get weirder once they arrive at the academy. Some students die, some go missing, and some seem to have ulterior motives for everything. And the apparent cause of death? Vampires.
CAN YOU SAY HEART RACING? The craziness of this book tops the first, and the twists and turns it takes keep you guessing until the end (again, I did not figure out the ending, so brava to Maniscalco). On top of that, you have Audrey dealing with the aftermath of finding out who Jack the Ripper was and is constantly questioning her sanity. So the narrator is slightly unreliable, which I love.
Thomas is adorable and flirty as always, although he does something at one point that makes no damn sense and it practically traumatizes Audrey, and literally that is the only reason this book did not get 5 stars. That one scene was ridiculous enough to knock .25 off. But other than that, he’s the cinnamon roll we all know and love (also, apparently he’s half Romanian?). The romance, aside from that one shit show of a scene, moved at a great pace and I was so pleased with where they stood at the end of the book.
SIDE NOTE: We get to meet Thomas’ family and his sister is gay? And has a girlfriend? And they’re adorable? And kickass? And Thomas and Audrey are nothing but supportive and loving? What did we do to deserve this? I’m crying??????
Overall, this book was a wild ride. The addition of the supernatural aspect makes the tension and excitement of the murder mystery just that much more intriguing and entertaining. Plus, the ending sets the final book up so perfectly, I’m so annoyed that we have to wait so long for it but also don’t let this series end I’m too emotionally invested.
**I received an ARC from the publisher. All opinions are uninfluenced
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No great work of literature, but fun, especially if you like romance.
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With it's gorgeously haunting setting, gripping storyline, and sizzling romance, Hunting Prince Dracula is one fall release that's simply not to be missed.
In Kerri Maniscalco's brilliant sophomore novel, Audrey Rose and Thomas Cresswell venture to Castle Bran in the heart of Romania to study forensic medicine. But when bodies begin turning up staked or drained entirely of blood, it looks like trouble may have followed this dynamic duo all the way to the steps of Prince Dracula's castle.
The setting of this story is beautifully rendered. From the Orient Express, to the dark forest, to the castle itself, this book is wonderfully atmospheric and filled with brilliant nods to Bram Stoker's Dracula and the Dracula mythos itself.
Audrey Rose continues to prove that she is one fierce female character. She is intelligent, driven, and not afraid to stand up for herself, even when she's the only woman in the classroom. She is incredibly likable, relatable, and a character that I happily root for through each novel.
Thomas Cresswell (commence sighing and swooning) is such a great love interest. Not only is he tall, dark, and handsome, he's also funny, intelligent, and supportive of the woman he loves. He is definitely on my list of top book boyfriends of all time.
And when you get Audrey Rose and Thomas Cresswell together on the page, it absolutely sizzles. The romantic tension between them is delicious, and their banter is so funny and enchanting. They are definitely one of my favorite OTPs.
The plot moves along at a perfect pace, combining action, romance, and a gripping mystery. With a cast brimming with unreliable characters, it's so much fun trying to figure out who the real villain is. And while I loved book one in this series, Stalking Jack the Ripper, I do feel that Maniscalco did a better job in Hunting Prince Dracula of throwing red herrings into the reader's path and making it impossible to guess who the killer is.
With the mysterious murders, the spooky setting, and the rather gory nature of Audrey Rose's chosen subject of study, this book has just the right amount of creepiness. This is absolutely the perfect read for the season.
I am such a huge fan of this series. I think Kerri Maniscalco has really proven that she has some serious writing chops with this second novel, and I hope that we can look forward to many more books in this captivating series.
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Kerri Maniscalso has done it again. HUNTING PRINCE DRACULA is just as fantastic as STALKING JACK THE RIPPER with a whole new exciting and yet horrific tale (and I mean that in the best possible way). I loved that HPD was a sequel to STALKING JACK THE RIPPER but it develops its own mystery and its own story line. The series continues with main characters Audrey Rose Wadsworth and Thomas Cresswell, so readers get to continue reading about their relationship, their work together, and their adventures along the way, but there’s no panic to think about the time that naturally occurs between each new book release because each case wraps up neatly! Although I will say that I’ll still panic a little bit since I read this book so long before its own release in the fall (I finished in May) and now I need to wait probably over a year for book three when I want to read it nowwwww. *ahem*
My only complaint about my experience with HUNTING PRINCE DRACULA is that life got in the way and I didn’t have enough time to just sit down and inhale it, as much as I wanted to. *grumbles things about responsibilities* Just like SJTR, I had so much fun reading this book from start to finish. I love the gothic horror elements, the pieces of true history combined with amazing adaptations and embellishments for the books, and most of all, the excellent banter between Audrey Rose and Thomas. Their relationship is fantastic in every possible way.
The suspense was constant and I loved the way that Kerri Maniscalco continuously shifted focus, as is natural in a mystery. When murders are occurring, it’s natural to be suspicious about everything and everyone and I always am as a reader so it was great to see how the focus tended to shift throughout the book as Audrey Rose and Thomas gathered up more clues. It kept me guessing as a reader and left some excellent surprises in the end! Looking back, I probably should have picked up on a few things but I’m actually glad that I wasn’t even thinking in that direction because the reveal was MOST EXCELLENT and the dark part of my heart totally flipped. out. a certain reveal point!
Kerri Maniscalco’s books are stunningly sensory with great visuals for the reader to picture, wonderful atmosphere, and delightful descriptions that really appeal to every sense. It was so easy to get lost in the castles and forests of Romania in a totally different time period despite knowing little to nothing about either the time or the place. The light tone from the banter amongst the characters really brings a great levity to a horror story that I always appreciate and it breaks some of the more serious moments to allow readers to enjoy some of that character development. The balance of dark and light is truly perfected within these pages and to quote the book, “I am wholly bewitched.”
I cannot wait for the third installment and I will be thinking about it until it’s finally revealed what the third book will be about!!
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I loved SJTR, so I was 10000000% on board with this being a series and as soon as I got this book in my greedy hands, I dropped everything.
I love Audrey Rose. She's smart and sassy and doesn't back down. It's so much fun being in her head. And don't get me started on Thomas because I wouldn't know where to start. I live for the banter between them and it's even better when they're flirting at the same time.
Plot wise, it's a big bundle of mystery. There are creepy castles and late night searches and oh yeah, bodies. There are some new characters introduced that I hope we get to see in the next book and a few revelations at the end that had me practically screaming.
Overall, it was a fun read that had me captivated from the first page. I can't wait to get my hands on book 3.
**Huge thanks to Kerri for spoiling me rotten and sending me to the book**
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