Book Review: Reluctant Immortals
Plot Summary: Reluctant Immortals is a historical horror novel that looks at two men of classic literature, Dracula and Mr. Rochester, and the two women who survived them, Bertha and Lucy, who are now undead immortals residing in Los Angeles in 1967 when Dracula and Rochester make a shocking return in the Haight-Ashbury district of San Francisco. Combining elements of historical and gothic fiction with a modern perspective, in a tale of love and betrayal and coercion, Reluctant Immortals is the lyrical and harrowing journey of two women from classic literature as they bravely claim their own destiny in a man’s world.
Review:
Reluctant Immortals presents such a unique take on a Jane Eyre retelling by blending it with Dracula (another favorite tale of mine) and focusing on the poorly used women in the stories - Lucy Westenra and Bertha Mason. Dracula and Mr. Rochester serve as the main villains in the story, and honestly the idea of Rochester as a main villain was initially not my favorite choice, but I can understand how it fits into the story - especially for Bertha.
The story takes on a decadently Gothic atmosphere that comes from the anguish of Lucy and Bertha dealing with the trauma of their former lives, and the death and decay that unavoidably follows Lucy due to being a vampire. The reason for Bertha’s immortality is entirely new and quite horrific, and was definitely an interesting twist! I loved the way the story built on all of their distress and misery because it created so many evocative moments in the tale, and made the reader very sympathetic to their plights. Which is serious, once Dracula and Rochester make their appearances.
There is a nod to the heroine of Jane Eyre as Jane herself plays a part in the story. I was less impressed with this take on her, as she becomes a shell of herself and we see nothing of her independent streak that is in the novel. To be honest, the whole ending of the novel Jane Eyre does not come into play here at all - but the author explains it somewhat as just a version of the truth. The concepts are played out well though, as I find it fun to think that Bertha has seen some of the film adaptations of Jane Eyre and absolutely can’t bear how everyone is depicted.
It’s difficult to talk too much about the plot of this story, because it’s something you need to experience as you read it - I enjoyed how unique the story felt as a retelling or sequel to two famous novels. The author takes these characters and puts her own sophisticated spin on them!
4 stars | Goodreads
Review copy kindly provided by the publisher