I loved being able to read lucy's story. She is such an underrated character in Dracula.

Kiersten knows how to write a great book.

Thank you Random House Publishing and Netgalley for the eARC!

I have always been a huge fan of this author! I love a good sapphic romance book and this falls under that category! Lucy has always been a side character in the Dracula story, so it's good to see her finally get the spot light and a love story!

Just finished this book, and I think I'm gonna make it a part of my personality, I was so invested in the characters and the plot ahhh. Usually I struggle even with dual timelines in a book, but this one had 3 in parallel and all 3 were equally gripping and thrilling, I was practically glued to my screen (Kindle app, so) throughout 🥲

-- my ramblings as I read the book --

60% in, I'm dying with betrayal at the plot twist?? I mean I expected some of it, but not the biggest one of all 😭

~40% in, I absolutely love the triple timelines! It's usually hard for me to get invested in more than one timeline in a book, but this book is written so fucking well

"Thank you for at last answering the questions I feared I would die with— the reason, the purpose, the point of me?
It was love.
It was you." - IM CRYING 😭

TWs - murder, gore, war (specifically WW1 and WW2), nonconsensual medical treatments

-- ty to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced copy!

I tried giving this book a chance and didn't like it. I got my hopes up for it going to be a good book since it has one thing I love in the book which is vampires.

What a great book by a fantastic author. Some of the twists were expected, but others were such fun surprises! I loved the sapphic representation and the MLM angle. I always love White's work, but she really knocked it out of the park with this one! You can tell she really paid attention to the original Dracula story, but still found room to make this work her own.

Thank you netgalley and publisher for the ARC

2.5 stars
Adult. Gothic. Fantasy.
The words that interested me from the start. I've read Kiersten's other series and enjoyed it, so I thought i would feel the same. The feeling was only half there and the reason why is because this was incredibly slow to begin with. I found that all 3 POVs drug on a bit and I may have sort of forced myself to finish the rest of the book.

It may have just not been the right time for me to get into this story, but I don't think I will try it again later on.

The love story that Dracula's Lucy deserves. Perfection. Also, this is the MLM takedown I didn't know I needed. Also Kiersten White is officially an auto-read for me.

Am I glad I read it? I don't regret reading this, though I can't say I'm particularly thrilled to have read it. I can say, however, that I am glad that I *finished* it. Let me explain.

This book is loooooong—which is, generally, fine—but it felt exactly as long as it was—which is, unequivocally, not fine. For the middle third-ish, I felt like I was watching water boil, wondering when this book would finally end and simultaneously feeling like it never would because I kept checking my progress so frequently. I particularly did not enjoy the therapist transcript POV and frankly feel that it added little to the narrative except as an easy way to introduce side characters.

But I did say that I am glad that I finished it, and I say that for two reasons. First, the last 25-ish% was really excellent. All of the plot and thematic threads really begin coming together, and I was engaged in a way I hadn't been since quite early in the book. And second, I really appreciated the themes White chose to explore with this retelling, namely bodily autonomy and the choices young women make as a result of (patriarchal) societal expectations. As a historical romance reader, I enjoyed the critical exploration of how queerness, beauty, and wealth impacted Lucy as a young, marriageable Victorian lady. As a lover of vampire fiction, I appreciated the depiction of Dracula's creation of new vampires and the Goldaming MLM scheme as violations of, respectively, Lucy and Iris's bodily autonomy in some nice thematic mirroring.

I think I could have really liked this book if it didn't have such a bloated middle.

Rating: 🤷🏼‍♀️ (it was fine; 3.5 stars)

A modern gothic and feminist exploration of Lucy Westenra, one of Dracula's brides.

The cover is eerily beautiful. It's the primary reason of why I really wanted to read this book. Plus, I think the vampire genre is having a resurgence and I have been waiting for it to make its way back into the literary landscape.

I found the novel to be good! I think the biggest struggle while reading is the differing povs/timelines. It was hard for me to find a connection and reason as to WHY. Why did the author choose this method of storytelling. On the other hand, it was interesting to see the use of mix media (a journal, transcript, and narration) to tell a story, which I found unique (it's not something I come across every day).

Overall, I found the characters fun and endearing? in their own way. Iris and Lucy are trying to find their place in this world, slowly coming to their own identity with love as the driving force and answer to their existence.

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

To start off, I wanted so badly to enjoy this book.

As a concept, a book with sapphic romance / vampires / feminine rage / gothic vibes and a stunning cover sounds like something I would absolutely love! However, this was a solid 3 star read for me.

If you felt drawn in by the themes, definitely give it a try! I hope you actually enjoy it as much as I had hoped to.

Overall, this could have been better if it were edited differently. I’m not sure if the “solution” would be shortening the page count (to avoid it being drawn-out), but the slow pacing coupled with the multiple POVs in different timelines made the experience a bit less charming.

What can I write to convince you to read this book?
Three sentences is all it takes:
You’re in for a ride of angst, terror, love, longing, and twisted friendships.
If you wished Carmilla had a fraternal twin that was the polar opposite of her, this book is for you.
Who knew vampires, business, and humor mixed so well?!

Lucy Undying by Kiersten White is a feminist and sapphic reimagining of Dracula‘s first victim Lucy Westenra.
 
I really enjoy Dracula stories and a lot of times the wives or victims are forgotten, and I like how the author shifts the focus. I also liked her other book The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein that does something similar.
 
Lucy grew up in a time where women didn’t have many opportunities and oftentimes her story was forgotten altogether. In this book she becomes a vampire as well and while escaping from Dracula‘s clutches, she discovers who she really is. The concept of this book is amazing, and the beautiful cover perfectly reflects that. I loved Lucy from the first page and her character development was amazing.
 
On her journey she meets Iris, and the two women connect over the hope of freedom. Iris comes from a prestigious family and their wealth is built on a huge secret. Iris is very dependent on her mother and family, but she comes out of her shell and goes her own way and I loved that.
 
Both characters didn’t expect love and first became friends. The story shows the power of women and love and that in combination was absolutely amazing to see. This is exactly the type of reimagining I love, and I just adored this book. The only thing I have to say is that sometimes there were some lengthy and slow moments.
 
Overall, if you like vampire stories, this is a must-read. 4,5 stars.
 
(Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an arc.)

Lucy Westenra was one of Dracula’s first victims, and she has spent her immortal years trying to escape him. In twenty-first century London, Iris is trying to escape her family’s legacy, a health empire with a sinister secret. When the two meet, sparks fly. Lucky was convinced she’d never find true love, but they have an intense connection. When it’s threatened by both of their pasts, it may not stand the test of history and blood.

I didn’t realize how long this book was until I started it, and it was very long, but I enjoyed it. There are so many stories that intersect in interesting ways with deep and rich characterization. I was rooting for Lucy and Iris, obviously, but I also appreciated the take on Lucy’s stories and the twists and turns (which I’ll say no more about – don’t wanna ruin it).

fun enough. not the most unbelievable retelling or anything but then again i was pretty much just expecting a silly and fun little read

A dracula novel? where has this been my whole life? If you have read anything by Kiersten White like I have then you know you are going to suck the life out of the novel and blame Kiersten for the blood thirst. This cover is captivating the eerie, mystery, creepy, and alluring creativity of Dracula. I am obsessed with the diary entries and the psychiatrist's notes because those are appealing to my soul and psyche. I loved Lucy's love interest. I think this is classified as YA which might be misleading in my opinion, but I loved this book, and I can't wait to see what else White writes! Thank you much to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley!

Kiersten White’s Lucy Undying is a fresh, modern twist on the classic Dracula story, breathing new life into the often-overlooked character of Lucy Westenra. By imagining Lucy’s survival and her quest for identity in a modern world, the novel balances gothic atmosphere with sharp humor and feminist undertones. The exploration of Lucy’s power and agency—something stripped from her in Stoker’s original—adds a layer of depth and intrigue, especially as she grapples with her lingering obsession with Mina. The parallel narrative between Lucy’s past and Iris in the present day unfolds slowly, with diary entries, therapy transcripts, and shifting POVs creating a story that feels immersive but at times disjointed. The gothic vibes are rich and compelling, though the book’s pacing struggles in the middle, making the eventual payoff feel both satisfying and long-awaited.

The dynamic between Lucy and Iris, along with the sharp critiques of the men from Dracula, make for a fascinating examination of gender roles, autonomy, and love. While the book leans heavily into “girlboss” themes and occasionally stumbles with its modern-day quirks, it shines brightest when it gives Lucy room to reclaim her story. The sapphic romance feels heartfelt, and the MLM vampire cult twist adds unexpected humor and originality. Though the pacing and tone may divide readers, Lucy Undying ultimately delivers a unique and engaging take on gothic horror, offering a mix of dark, dramatic tension and moments of lighthearted wit. Fans of feminist retellings and atmospheric gothic fiction will find much to appreciate here.

Loved this book! There are some Dracula retellings I’m not a fan of but I think this one did it really well! I already liked Kiersten White as an author so this was really good for me, really atmospheric!

Lucy Undying is a miss for me. I had the hardest time staying interested in what I was reading. I enjoyed the different viewpoints and the premise of the story, but it seems to not be executed as well as I would have like.
I also listened to the audio book hoping having someone read it to me would help, but sometimes a book just doesn't register with everyone. That 's what this one is for me.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the dARC of this work in exchange for my honest review.

What Worked For Me

Characters

I loved the characters in this book! I thought they were great, and they definitely kept me engaged in the book. I loved how different they each were, and how they each brought a different vibe to the story. While Iris and Lucy were my favorite perspectives to follow, I loved seeing the supporting characters, in particular The Lover, and The Doctor, and the people Iris met in London along for the ride.

Genre

As someone who is new to the horror genre but loved Dracula, I wasn’t sure I would enjoy this book. I loved the gothic atmosphere and thought it was a great story element. We have time jumps throughout the book, and I thought the gothic atmosphere was carried throughout the book. This book taught me that I would enjoy more books in the gothic areas of the horror genre.

Writing

This story was both linear and non-linear, which I enjoyed. The character names at the start of each chapter helped me keep track of where we were in the story and what character we were following. The writing style was easy to follow and read.

Plot

I ended up enjoying the story of this one. I wasn’t sure where it was going until it all came together at the end of the book. About halfway through, I thought I could see the end of the story coming, however; the twists and turns of the story kept me engaged. I loved the bit of mystery to this story.

What Could Have Been Better

Pace

For me the only issue I had with this book was the pacing, Some chapters were longer, and some were shorter. There were things I wished were explored more before moving on to other elements of the story.