What an absolutely brilliant retelling!! I really loved the setting and fresh take on Lucy. It was kind of chaotic but I loved every second of it haha!

This was exactly what I wanted and was looking for in a retelling/reimagining of Dracula. I do suggest reading Dracula before diving into this, only because it makes the flashback scenes more understandable and more enjoyable. But this is mixed media, dual timeline and point of view, and it's sapphic - it's perfect! There were some parts that dragged on a bit, and I felt like it could have been a little shorter, but overall, I had a good time with this. Definitely one of my favorites from Kiersten White.

Really enjoyable characters/premise but the story did drag on a for a bit longer than I felt necessary! Overall a nice Halloween-y vibes read and would recommend for fall time!

Lucy Westenra was Dracula's first victim in England. A beautiful and tragic death that's glossed over. But she is so much more than that and she's spent her vampiric afterlife traveling the world in search of who she truly is and wants. When she finds herself drawn to Iris in twenty-first-century London, there's more than just attraction binding them together and the bigger fight of both their lives will put everything they thought was real to the test.

I picked up this book and didn't put it down until I finished it. The story pulled me in and refused to let go. It's been ages since I devoured a book, but the way White slowly unravels the story is fascinating. Even knowing where a few things were headed before the plot got there, it was one surprise after another just from the way it's written.
Lucy has always been almost a throwaway character in Dracula, the pretty bauble with not depth. She's a powerhouse here. An innocent that gets pushed around until she realizes her true power and becomes the one to be feared. Iris isn't as entertaining, but they make quite a dynamic duo when together. The people they interact with play major roles and even those that we only get to see for small moments end up playing bigger roles than expected in ways that feel perfect for the story being told.
And major props to White for making it a single novel instead of dragging it out for a duology or something because it's just the right length to solve every single thread without wearing out the reader.
This is how to do a vampire story in the 21st century.

Delighted thanks to NetGalley and Del Rey for the phenomenal read!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 stars)

Lucy Westenra is done being a tragic footnote in someone else’s story. In Lucy Undying, Kiersten White reclaims the vampire victim-turned-hunter, giving her a fierce, gothic makeover that’s equal parts vengeance, self-discovery, and forbidden romance. And let’s take a moment to appreciate that stunning cover—it’s as captivating as the story itself.

Lucy’s journey is mesmerizing. Once Dracula’s plaything, she has spent centuries trying to outrun his shadow—and her own past. But her undead life gets an unexpected jolt when she crosses paths with Iris in 21st-century London. Iris, heir to a sinister family empire, is yearning for her own escape. Their connection? Electric. Their romance? Sizzling. Their enemies? Let’s just say neither Dracula nor Iris’s terrifying mother are ready to let them go.

Kiersten White’s writing is lush and atmospheric, steeped in gothic vibes with a modern twist. Lucy is no damsel in distress here—she’s a confident, glamorous force of nature determined to carve out a life on her own terms. Yet, beneath her armor lies vulnerability, longing, and the weight of centuries of heartbreak. Watching her fall for Iris while battling demons (both literal and metaphorical) is as satisfying as it is gut-wrenching.

The blend of romance, horror, and empowerment makes this book a standout. It’s dark and seductive, with enough twists to keep you on your toes. And Dracula? He’s still haunting, still menacing, and still the ultimate predator, but Lucy is a hunter now, and the showdown is everything you want it to be.

Thank you to Kiersten White, Del Rey, and NetGalley for this captivating read. If you love gothic fantasy, vampires with a side of vengeance, and a sapphic romance that will leave you swooning, Lucy Undying is a must-read.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley for the ARC of this novel. Dracula is heavy in the zeitgeist for being one of the first vampire novels and pushing the seductive element. Lucy Westerna is always pushed to the side so this was a lovely way to bring her out from the background. The lesbian element reminded me of the Jonathan Rhys-Meyers take on Dracula from years ago with Katie McGrath as Lucy so I was not thinking golden hair. I really loved the Iris side of the story to hear how vampires were also a part of the family and how there were enough twists and turns that even if I thought I knew where the story was going, I was deceived enough to think I was wrong until it all came back together. Overall, this was an enjoyable read. 3.75 stars.

The Dracula book I never knew I needed. A story built around an incredible character from a gothic classic brought to the modern audience. The romance was swoon worthy, the mystery was twisty and intriguing. This book can be read without having read Dracula but it’s a great companion piece as well

Dnf p 300

I'm not going to lie...this was so slow and yet not at the same time.

Each chapter had a different thing going on and while each chapter was entertaining...it still felt like we were taking a really long time to get to the point.

I feel like it took until p 300 to get to a point where we know more information...but by this point I'm kinda over the book.

So I think the book has potential, but with it dragging a bit...I lost a lot of interest.

White's writing brings fresh depth to familiar characters, creating a gripping, gothic tale that will captivate horror and historical fiction fans.

This book had good vampire vibes but probably wouldn't re-read it as not the best writing. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy.

I was so intrigued at the beginning of the book as we followed Iris into London, clearly fleeing a dangerous situation. I loved the diary entries/therapist transcripts. Unfortunately, I felt like this was a little too long and would have been a more engaging reading as a whole. I felt it lost steam around the 60% mark.

Lucy Undying is a new take on the Dracula story. It argues that Dracula was not as powerful as the myth claims and that there was a woman behind the vampire. It's an intriguing tale of power struggles, family, legacy and folklore.

This refreshingly unique take on vampires is an ode to taking back control when you feel like a victim. I loved every page!

Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey for an ARC of Lucy Undying! This is my honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and Del Rey for the eARC of Lucy Undying in exchange for my honest review!

This one was a bit disappointing unfortunately. The cover and the first part of the book really sold me, but by the middle we started to drag and the qualities of the characters didn’t really work for me anymore. Lucy was very frustrating and almost felt immature, definitely pulling me out of the story.

I still think the writing was beautiful and I liked the general IDEA of it all, just not necessarily the execution!

KIERSTEN WHITE HAS FIXED EVERYTHING WRONG WITH BRAM STOKER’S DRACULA!

But seriously, this story: phenomenal.

Lucy’s evolution throughout the story & across the globe is fascinating, & I loved everything about her relationship with Iris & how they bring out the best in each other. The worldbuilding was genius & the backstories of Lucy’s vampire friends were wildly creative. Also the author managed to infuse levity into a story with its basis in a classic horror novel, which had me thoroughly impressed & wanting to be besties with several characters.

Thank you very much to NetGalley & Del Ray for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The description of this book was intriguing. I always enjoy the concept of vampires crossing the centuries of time and what they might be like if you met one today. The alternating timelines was interesting and added a lot of depth to understanding the background of the characters. The multiple points of view were fine but ultimately I couldn't connect with either of them and I think it only made the pacing slow. There was a lot happening and it felt a little messy to follow. I definitely anticipated more gothic vibes too. I enjoyed the journals and unique perspective on the events with Dracula.

This gave some Interview With a Vampire vibes but written better and way more modern. I loved this reimagining of the Dracula story and that it took it in strange but directions that were really cool! This is the 3rd book I’ve read by this author and I love her writing and points of view!

This was unfortunately a miss for me. I love Kiersten White's writing, but the slowness, immaturity, and multiple points of view made it a struggle for me to finish.

If you love Dracula This is a must read. A complete reimagining told from Lucy's point of view. Exciting with characters you are familiar with and new ones . This takes place in modern day as Iris a member of the Goldaming family and fortune goes to great Britain after her Mother's death . There she finds Lucy's journals and we hear her side of the story. Very interesting concept this book is very hard to put down

While Lucy Undying felt like a slow start, the pace picked up well and kept me intrigued!! I love the mixed media aspect of the ebook, and that this was a sapphic story.