Unfortunately this one didn't really work for me, and it was mainly down to the multiple povs and timelines which left me feeling very pushed out of the storylines, all the time. It's all a bit of a jumble, Add in the complete character assassination of several rather classic Dracula characters (Van Helsing in particular springs to mind) and I just couldn't get behind the story.

I particularly didn't like Iris's story, which is set in a modern day, where she meets a rather glamorous and seemingly immortal woman who just so happens to be Lucy (not a spoiler, it's really obvious). And for some reason she's running away from a weird multilevel marketing cult type situation. It was just bizarre. And not in a good way.

Not for me. I wanted more of the historical elements, less of the weird time jumps and even weirder modern day plot.

This definitely would have been 5 stars if it wasn't so long and took me almost 2 months to get through. For a book that's over 400 pages long it felt like it was never going to end. All of that aside, it was still a good book. I loved how it switched between past and present Lucy and Iris, who was obviously my favorite. I wasn't expecting there to be twists in this book and while I did guess one of them pretty early on the others took me by surprise. I loved the romance in this and I especially loved the ending. Kiersten White's books can be pretty hit or miss for me but I really enjoyed this one.

Many thanks to Random House Publishing - Ballantine | Del Rey for the gifted copy for my honest review!

Lucy Undying gave me Castlevania and The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue vibes with a heavier gothic influence and more lesbians. I can totally see where some people thought this story moved too slow, as things don’t pick up much until about the halfway point. However, Lucy’s diary entries had me hooked from the get go. The format the author used for storytelling in this book worked really well for me. I loved the different POVs, the short chapters, and the look into Lucy’s life as a young woman before everything changed. The mystery surrounding her death and the Goldamings kept me on the edge of my seat and I had a great time reading Lucy Undying! I do think this book was probably longer than it needed to be, as some of Iris’s earlier chapters could’ve been cut without consequence. Overall, I really enjoyed this unique, gothic fantasy and think it’s perfect for the spooky season!

Thank you to Del Rey, NetGalley, and the author for sending me an early copy!

"The beginning is, as all beginnings are, soaked in blood and shrouded in darkness. The end will be, too, but we'll get there together.
My name is Lucy Westenra, and this is my story."

Thank you NetGalley and Kiersten White for an eARC of Lucy Undying. The following is my honest review.

Lucy Westenra was one of Dracula's first victims. A lifetime of searching for the man who stole her life has led her to present-day London and right into the path of Iris Goldaming, a young woman who is trying to escape her family's legacy. With Dracula hunting his next victim, Lucy and Iris must put an end to the monster that has haunted Lucy since her death.

I love a retelling of a classic tale and Lucy Undying is a fantastic retelling of the classic tale of Dracula. White gives a voice to Lucy Westenra and returns the power to Dracula's victim after the people around her failed her. I loved this Sapphic spin on the original story.

Told in three timelines, we slowly piece together the story of Lucy alongside the present day with Iris Goldaming fleeing from her toxic, manipulative mother's legacy. This way, we get the long history of a character who has lived lifetimes alongside the action of the main storyline. It gave this character a chance to tell her story when she was unable to during her lifetime.

I also enjoyed Iris's story. It reminded me of Isadora's story in White's novel The Chaos of Stars. And the idea of incorporating MLMs into a story about vampires is so perfect. The eeriness of MLMs brings a sort of modern-day horror to this retelling. Forget the blood-sucking monsters that prowl at night, I'm more afraid of the corporations that prey on desperate people.

And of course, the romance was what had me hooked. I love the way that Lucy and Iris love each other. Please give us a sequel because I need more of their adventures.

I fell in love with White's writing after reading The Chaos of Stars and I was very excited to read Lucy Undying. Her writing continues to enthrall me. So many lines and moments stood out for me and I would love to return to this book and annotate it. The familial connections, the twists on the classic tale, the romance were all fantastically done. I took my time with this book, enjoying my read through it and it's one I know I'll go back to again.

I really loved getting to know more about Iris and Lucy and Kiersten White has a beautiful and lyrical style of writing that was perfect for their story.

However, I honestly think I would’ve given this book 5 stars if it were at least 100 pages shorter. Quite a few parts seemed to drag and it ended up feeling like a chore to read. But after the 60% mark, a lot more started happening and it was easier for me to stay engaged. But overall, I really enjoyed it!

I can honestly say that this book didn't disappoint. The cover initially drew me in and then the description hooked me further. I'm a sucker for any kind of retelling of classic horror and if you add in romance as well? Even better. Lucy Undying is as much a growing into your own story as it is a horror and romance. Lucy has to figure out who she is without the drive she had when she was turned and Iris has to learn what it means to be able to escape her family and actually do as she always wanted. I love twists that make a female character more important and grow their roles from the original text. This happens to both Lucy and to Mina in unexpected ways. The science that gets drawn in, the history, and all of the intrigue. Even guessing who Elle was from the very beginning and that no, she didn't actually work for the museum was handled so wonderfully. Please please, please make sure that you get a copy of this book. It's great.

I loved this book. A lot.

At first following three timelines, (with a few more POVs later), this novel follows the stories of Iris, an MLM heiress who wants nothing to do with it, and Lucy, as both a young woman and talking to her therapist as a vampire.

Iris travels to England to make some quick cash off a home she inherited from her dead (and abusive) mother, to run away from the MLM she also inherited. In the process she makes some friends, including Elle, the woman who offered to help her pawn as much as possible. While clearing the house, she finds the diary of an old resident, Lucy.

Lucy’s diary, which we get to read, tells the tale of a young lesbian in the victorian era. She’s in love with her governess, her mother is trying to marry her off, oh, and she met Dracula. In contrast to the innocent girl we meet, we see her as a vampire, talking to a human therapist she saved by accident, recounting her tale after Dracula killed her.

As things come to a head, Iris uncovers the past and must deal with her future, especially as she falls in love with Elle, and with Lucy through her diary.

With a good mix of expected and unexpected twists, this book is a wonderful adventure, horror, and love story, as well as a tale of finding yourself and taking your story back.

Iris and Lucy are both wonderful characters I fell in love with, and I only wish I had been able to read more of their tale. I enjoyed every second of this book, and damn I wasn’t prepared for that ending, though I was pretty happy with it.


If you need a sapphic tale for spooky season, this is a great pick.

I loved the stetting, the gothic vibes were very well done and it was an interesting modern day Dracula retelling. It did lose my interest at points and was a bit long winded. Overall, I did enjoy it. I would recommend and read from this author again. Thank you so much to Netgalley, Kiersten White, and Random House Publishing Group for providing this free ARC.
3.5/5

I'm embarrassed it's taken me this long to write a review for this book, but even months later, I can't stop thinking about it. I'm utterly obsessed with Kirsten White's reinterpretation of Dracula! Lucy Westenra has always been a character that bothered me in the original novel and its film adaptations—she often comes off as a vapid innocent with little depth. But in here she FINALLT gets the agency and complexity she deserves.

The writing is nothing short of stunning, filled with incredible one-liners that I want framed in every room of my home. The way past and present intertwine is masterfully done, revealing the story in a slow, tantalizing burn that kept me hooked from start to finish. Lucy's character growth is immense, and watching her evolve is one of the many joys of this novel.

And can we talk about the queer representation? The relationship between Lucy and Iris is both intense and beautifully portrayed, adding layers to their characters and the narrative as a whole.

Lucy Undying is more than just a retelling; it's a profound exploration of identity, love, and the power to break free from one's past. If you're looking for a fresh take on a classic tale that combines gothic fantasy with modern themes, this is a must-read.

Review of Lucy Undying by Kiersten White

Lucy Undying had all the ingredients for a gripping, gothic retelling—vampires, a modern-day setting, and a reimagining of Lucy Westenra from Dracula's lore. But unfortunately, this book turned out to be one of my biggest disappointments of the year.

The premise was intriguing: Lucy, one of Dracula's first victims, spends her undead life trying to escape his control while discovering her own identity in 21st-century London. When she meets Iris, an heiress to a sinister health empire, their blossoming love seems to offer a new beginning for Lucy. But between Iris's dangerous family ties and the lurking threat of Dracula’s return, things quickly become complicated.

While the idea had so much potential, the execution fell flat. Rather than being the chilling, atmospheric horror with gothic romance vibes I had hoped for, Lucy Undying felt more like a tedious, drawn-out love story between a lovesick vampire and an insufferable, snarky heiress. Lucy’s character, who could have been a fascinating, powerful figure reclaiming her life, comes across as far too consumed by her infatuation with her childhood governess Mina, and later on Iris, a modern-day MLM heiress, who lacks any depth beyond her sarcastic quips.

The pacing was another issue—the story felt much longer than it needed to be, with not enough tension or stakes (no pun intended) to keep me engaged. There was little of the gothic atmosphere or horror elements that I expected, making the reading experience feel repetitive and unfulfilling.

Overall, Lucy Undying was a missed opportunity. The concept of retelling Lucy’s story as a powerful vampire seeking redemption had so much potential, but the overly long, romance-heavy narrative overshadowed everything else that could have made it compelling.

First off, how stunning is this cover🤩! Lucy Undying features Iris Goldaming as she’s trying to escape her family’s legacy that she doesn’t want. The other POV in this book covers Lucy Westerna with diary entries of her life when she was 19. We also get transcribed therapy sessions of her afterlife since becoming a vampire. The different POVs diving into Lucy and Iris’ life created an interesting read with different themes being explored. Lucy was an intriguing character and I enjoyed the self-discovery when it came to her in this book.

Thank you to TBR Beyond Tours for the gifted copy!

Lucy Undying has been one of this year’s biggest surprises for me. I wasn’t particularly impressed by White’s previous release, Mister Magic, so I didn’t have high expectations. However, this book exceeded them all. It’s a gripping horror story that also delivers a charming romance and showcases why the vampire genre remains vibrant. The novel follows Lucy, one of Dracula’s first victims, as she navigates her existence as a vampire and a young woman in the present dealing with her family's dark secrets. One of my favorite books this year!

The pacing was the biggest drawbacks of this book. I had to start skimming at about 60% because I couldn't keep reading it in full. It seemed a little inconsistent in the story telling and the time period this takes place in. I really wanted to love it because the cover art is AMAZING but it just felt too slow and mundane for me to get excited over.

I am an absolute sucker for a gothic retelling of Dracula and this absolutely scratches that itch! Perfect for fall and Halloween reading, lovers of gothic fantasy and horror will enjoy this story.

Kiersten White's literary retellings are always so much fun. I particularly loved Lucy's diary entries and the back-and-forth timeline describing her life before meeting Iris. I wasn't expecting the cult-like setting towards the end of the book involving Iris' family, but I enjoyed that a lot too!

Thank you to NetGalley and Del Ray for an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

If you haven't read Dracula in a while I would recommend at least reading the Wiki plot synopsis of the novel before starting this one. I read about thirty percent of the book before I read the synopsis for Dracula and after all of the characters made so much more sense and I really got into the novel a lot more than I had. This is a great read for Halloween because it expands on all of the classic lore surrounding Dracula while also bringing the evil into the modern world in a way that makes so much sense.

I thought that this was a really fun retelling of the classic Dracula story that we all know and love. It's a tale spanning one hundred and thirty five years that's told from three separate perspectives: Lucy's diary set in 1890, Iris's POV in 2024 and the transcripts of the conversations that Lucy has with her therapist in 2024. This was a very fast paced novel. Most of the chapters ended on cliffhangers to keep you reading.

I thought that Lucy's character was really well developed and it was great to watch her find herself and her purpose throughout the novel. She transforms from a meek and protected girl to a strong and independent woman by the end of the novel. I also fell in love with Iris' character throughout the novel as both of the girls help to find themselves in each other.

This was my first novel by Kiersten White and I will be adding more of her novels to my TBR.

There was a lot going on at first. The jumping between POVs/journals was a bit much but once it fully grounded itself. I was hooked.
Love the liberties that were taken. Lucy and Mina were always the most interesting part of Dracula.
I spent the last quarter in awe of how the story developed. A great read. So great that its made me want to re-read Dracula lol

I was very intrigued by this book and it is very much what it says it is. I wouldn't say it was my favorite book of the year but it was pretty good.

Finally a story of Dracula where Dracula is barely a footnote. Lucy has been given her chance to shine and grow and FEEL. This book gave me all the things I wanted in Dracula and then gave me some modern euphemisms for vampirism I didn’t expect but kind of appreciated. Overall a great read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey for providing me with an eARC in exchange for my honest thoughts <3

Kiersten White heard the call for more sapphic vampires and said stand aside losers because I'm going to write the best sapphic reimagining of Dracula about Lucy Westerna y'all have ever seen. I would die for this book. I want everyone to read it. The gothic, romantic, brutally bloody, dark fantasy setting swept me up in the story immediately. Multiple POVs, past/present timeline, and a bit of epistolary/journal storytelling... everything about Lucy Undying worked so well for me.

Vampires + a MLM scheme straight from the streets of Utah + a sapphic romance + a mysterious set of journals, the plot was so intriguing. I adored the romance between Lucy and Iris and nearly died when they were apart. I would honestly read a million more books about their journey to take down Dracula once and for all. Honestly, I loved everything about this!!!

Read this if you like vampires, gothic romance, sapphic romance, falling in love in two timelines, destroying abusive and powerful men, learning who you really are, and stepping out of your parents toxic expectations.