Purchased for $1 at a stoop sale in Park Slope, Brooklyn, NY on October 15th, 2006.

The book awaited me yesterday after my return from London.
Thanks a lot for agreeing to the trade, KarenZero!
Although it wanders to my Mt. TBR, together with the 27 books I brought from London, I can't wait to read it again, because I liked it so much the first time I read it. :o)

Received today with 3 other books. Thanks for the great RABCKs!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

April 12th. 2010:
Amazon Editorial Review:
DESCRIPTION: In this riveting debut of breathtaking scope, a young girl discovers her father's darkest secret and embarks on a harrowing journey across Europe to complete the quest he never could -- to find history's most legendary fiend: Dracula. When a motherless American girl living in Europe finds a medieval book and a package of letters, all addressed ominously to "My dear and unfortunate successor..." she begins to unravel a thread that leads back to her father's past, his mentor's career, and an evil hidden in the depths of history. In those few quiet moments, she unwittingly assumes a quest she will discover is her birthright: a hunt that nearly brought her father to ruin and may have claimed the life of his adviser and dear friend, history professor Bartholomew Rossi. What does the legend of Vlad the Impaler, the historical Dracula, have to do with the 20th century? Is it possible that Dracula has lived on in the modern world? And why have a select few historians risked reputation, sanity, and even their lives to learn the answer? So begins an epic journey to unlock the secrets of the strange medieval book, an adventure that will carry our heroine across Europe and into the past -- not only to the times of Vlad's heinous reign, but to the days when her mother was alive and her father was still a vibrant young scholar. In the end, she uncovers the startling fate of Rossi, and comes face to face with the definition of evil-- to find, ultimately, that good may not always triumph.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

When I asked for the book I did not know that this has to do with Dracula. Since I simply cannot read anything to do with vampires I have set this available now though I am sure it is a brilliant book - just not for me....

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Releanna has chosen this book via the " European Pay it forward Book Relay" so it will travel to Vienna now. I hope you will enjoy the book!

thank you very much for sending me this book :)

I really enjoyed reading this book. This is a totally different perspective to other Dracula stories. It builds up slowly with historical researches. You get quite a lot of the historical background of Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey in the 15th and 16th century and about Vlad the Impaler. The book weaves between three story-tellers and everything develops slowly, and the tension grows. Kostova did a marvellous job in showing the way the main characters are taken into the spell of Dracula and are drawn gradually into being possessed of the mystery as the story unfolds.

have fun!

Recieved it in the mail today together with the advent calendar. Can't wait to start with both.

Read it in December, but totally forgot to write a JE. I remember that I really enjoyed reading this book.

Live in the hope that I can make this book into a bookray. Stay tuned in hope of a list of participants.

Participants so far for the bookray is;

jujuks (Portugal/EU)
hayes13 (Italy/EU pref)
VictoriaWagtail (Sweden/intl)
sedna5213 (Germany/intl)
kally93 (Canada/intl)

Sent to the first participant in the ray.

Book has arrived safely :)

I really enjoyed reading this book. I haven't enjoyed a book like this in a long time. The author's narrative kept me hooked and the whole story is beautifully written. I'll try sending it off tomorrow.

On its way to Italy!

Arrived this morning. Thank you!

It is next in line on TBR. Will finish as quickly as I can.

I wanted to read this as it is one of my best buddy's favorite books, and I said that I would try it, but I just couldn't make it through (I got about half way along). It's not the book; it's me. I just don't like vampires. I don't want to hold the ring up, so I will send this on to Sweden. I may try to finish it if I find a copy in the future.

Thanks for sharing and letting me try this one out.

Thanks Hayes13 for sending me this book :) I've heard very much about this book so it will be interesting to read it

Sorry veryone for keeping this book for so long! I will now pm the next person in line to make sure it continiues to travel.

The book is now travelling again, sorry for the delay everyone

Picked up the book from the post office today! Thanks everyone for sharing and Victoria for sending it!
Got two books to finish before, but hope it won't take too long!

Enjoyed the book!

The next reader on list has already read the book, so I'll keep the book for the moment.

The book will continue to travel soon. Here's the list:

1. Elisedal (UK)
2. Ossiefry (Portugal)
3. Icila (France)
4. Martjxox (Italy)

The book is travelling again!
Happy reading!

Book arrived today and I can't wait to get started. Thank you so much for passing it on to me. x

I think the story of this book is a good one but is so drawn out and slow starting that it has taken me much longer to read than I anticipated. I think that the book could be shorter and more concise and be just as good; I really didn't feel like anything was happening until about half way through the book, which in this case is about 300 pages in. I liked it but it could've been better.

Will be posted to Ossiefry this morning

Arrived safly thanks!

Sorry to have kept the book for so long, but I realy wanted to read it. Unfortunatly I didn't get very far, it's one of those books that I just couldn't get in to. :(
Sending a pm to the next reader.

On it's way to France!

I received it safe this morning. Thanks Ossiefry.
I have some bookrings TBR and few time this month.
If you think that I keep it too long, don't hesitate to tell me.

A little JE to let you know I'm currently reading it. Sorry for the delay but I prefered not to take this fragile book with me when travelling.

Though I don't like fantasy I really liked this story. Well written with a delectable suspens.
As I travelled in many of the countries I enjoyed the memories. I'm looking forward to visiting Bulgaria some day.

Pming Martjxox

On its way to Italy.

Just gotten today in the mail. Will start is as soon as I am finished with the title I am currently reading. I just can't wait to start this one though! :)

I think I should set this one free again?! I see there's none after me...