Archive for the ‘Modern’ Category

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THE DEAD TRAVEL FAST
Deanna Raybourn
Performed by Charlotte Parry
ISBN:  978-0-778-32765-3 (Trade Paperback)
B002WEPD18 (Kindle eBook)
March 1, 2010 (Trade Paperback)
Harlequin Enterprises/MIRA Books/Audible Inc.
Historical Romance/Gothic
Trade Paperback and eBook and Downloadable Audio Book

Courtesy of Amazon

Spinster writer Theodora LeStrange’s grandfather has recently passed away, leaving her with a small inheritance that she can live on, if she is careful with her money. However, Theodora has dreams that do not involve settling down into being a wife and mother as society dictates. When a childhood friend, Cosmina, invites Theodora to visit her in Cosmina’s fiancé’s home in Transylvania, Theodora leaps at the chance. What better way to be inspired in the writing of her novel than to travel to a land where legends of vampires and other creatures are commonplace? Upon arrival, Theodora is drawn into a mystery surrounding some suspicious deaths, giving credence to the ancient legends. However, even more dangerous to Theodora is her irresistible attraction to Count Andrei Dragulescu, owner of the castle… and Cosmina’s intended husband. If she’s not careful, Theodora may be risking much more than her heart when she discovers The Dead Travel Fast.

I really wanted to like The Dead Travel Fast and I tried very hard to do so. This could have been a good novel, the foundation was there. However, it was never built upon as it should have been. Sadly, I could not get into this book for anything. I put it aside several times to start again later until I couldn’t put it off anymore and forced my way through it. I was bored with it most of the time and kept wondering when it was going to get better, only for it to never happen. I felt like the author meant for this to be a dark and scary novel, but while she had the dark Gothic elements down, the fear never really was there for me. I didn’t feel the fear of the characters, I just kept being told about it.

I never really warmed up to either Theodora or Andrei before the end of the story. I didn’t really feel the connection between them and they didn’t seem to have much chemistry together. As I stated before, it was too much telling and not enough showing of their passion for one another.

I really just didn’t find too much to redeem this novel for me beyond the exploration of many of the legends of vampires, werewolves and strigoi, etc that Deanna Raybourn explores in The Dead Travel Fast. With its slow paced story and uninspiring characters, I struggled to finish. What makes it doubly disappointing for me is that I have heard so many rave reviews about Raybourn’s Lady Julia series and I own all the books but haven’t read them yet. Now because of my blasé opinion of The Dead Travel Fast, I am hesitant to try any of the Lady Julia novels.

© Kelley A. Hartsell, September 2010. All rights reserved.