This is my favorite Michelle Griep book so far! (I never would have thought that I would love a GOTHIC Christian Historical Fiction book, but here I am, LOVING IT!)

This author has a masterful way of writing that engages all your senses and draws you into the characters’ world and in this case you find yourself in England in 1890 in a town full of people who are highly superstitious and where there have been mysteriously bizarre slaughtering of animals that have the townsfolk blaming their own resident vampire, Sir James Morgan. Rosa Edwards is a young woman who is on a mission to educate her fellow townsfolk and rid them of their ignorant judgmental ways. (I just love her positive energy and her ambition to better herself and her community!)

What I loved about this book:
- Rosa worked with her father in his library (I just love books about books and book-loving people!)
- the bits of witty dialogue that portrayed the accents (who doesn’t love a good British accents?!?) and the vernacular of some of these eccentric characters! (I could just hear it in my head the way I know it would have sounded in real life!)
Quote -“It were an ill wind a’blew in ‘ere yesterday, bringing all manner o’ evil with it”
- the quotes from Dracula by Bram Stoker at the beginning of each chapter ( now I have to be sure to read that one!)
- the ROMANCE - AHHHHHH!!!!! There were parts that I read over a couple of times because they just made me feel like I did when I first fell in love, breathless and euphoric!
-the author had me loathing Mr. Alvin Mallow at first and then towards the end she had me feeling empathetic towards him and even admiring him, reluctantly.
-James’s interactions with the old rector Mr. Austen and how with each encounter James grew closer to the truth that the good Lord created us to be in community, that people need people.
Quote - “”People need you and you need people.”
And that we weren’t created to carry heavy burdens, we’re meant to share them with our loved ones and the Creator Himself.

This book had so much that I loved about it. Do yourself a favor - read it!

What. A. Ride.

For a while I was worried that this wouldn’t end in happily-ever-after, or worse with Rosa marrying the wrong man.

I enjoyed the rich details, and the intrigue and mystery that ran deep through this story. I also liked that Albin was able to “wake up” and redeem himself in a way. And I’m so glad Mr. Edwards trusted and believed his daughter! Nothing like a good father daughter relationship!

series can be read in any order
I didn't care for the narrator at first, but I enjoyed it as I got into the story. The story is gothic, so not every narrator can do it but I ended up enjoying it. (Natasha Soudek)

5/5 stars.

This book was _excellent_!

I read (listened to, actually) _Dracula_ last year for the first time, and truly wondered where it had been all my life. (The audiobook full-cast production, btw--with the swoonworthy Simon Vance as Jonathan Harker--is fantastic.) Of course, never having been a vampire fan before (or since) that listen--that might have had something to do with it.

Count this book as #2 in my "vampire-esque novels to read" list. :) It's written, as are a majority of my reads, from a very bluntly Christian perspective--just how I like it--and is packed with theology, much like _Dracula_ itself. And I loved the incorporation of Bram Stoker as an actual character in the read, along with historical events; be sure to read the author's note about the true events incorporated into the story. Some familiar names, as well, I recognized from the _Dracula_ novel--fun Easter eggs other readers of the classic will enjoy too.

I liked this book better than the first, just as I enjoyed reading _Dracula_ over _Frankenstein_ (the subject of Book 1, [b:Lost in Darkness|57047457|Lost in Darkness (Of Monsters and Men #1)|Michelle Griep|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1619268331l/57047457._SY75_.jpg|89269986])--but Book 1 is certainly quite good, and recommended as well. Both are particularly good fall/spooky/Halloween-time reads, for sure!

I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.