Meandering, slogging, hair-pulling, a complete mess of a read. It's like The Da Vinci Code on crack-cocaine. This book really needs to shed some weight.

At the beginning, the pacing was really good, but it quickly lost its momentum. The excruciatingly slow build-up finally fizzled out in the final pages, thank goodness. By the end of this novel, was it historical fiction? Or a university dissertation on the Ottoman invasion of the Byzantine empire as seen through the eyes of Dracula enthusiasts? I was so fed up that I was ready to be staked through the heart.

The only redeeming feature was that if you're a fan of the vampire genre, you'll be thoroughly educated on the legend of the man who started it all. However, this one good point wasn't enough to save the overall experience of reading this book. It was a struggle from start to finish, and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone looking for an engaging or well-written read.

A plodding, contrived, and poorly written mess of a book that delves into the Dracula legend through the eyes of three generations of historians.

It spans across centuries and different countries, stretching the bounds of credibility.

The multi-narrative structure is ambitious, clearly inspired by Stoker's classic novel. However, Kostova fails to make it work.

All of her characters, except those with an obvious accent, sound alike, and there is an excessive amount of exposition and repetition.

The final quarter of the book, which is rather long, similar to Vlad's life, is suspenseful and atmospheric.

Obviously, she has conducted a great deal of research into how historians gather facts.

But if you'll excuse the pun, this book really does suck.

It lacks the engaging storytelling and unique character development that would have made it a captivating read.

Despite the interesting premise and the author's research efforts, the execution falls short, leaving the reader disappointed.

Overall, it's a book that fails to live up to its potential and is not recommended for those seeking a thrilling and well-written exploration of the Dracula legend.

I absolutely adored the story.

The gothic and atmospheric nature of the book was truly captivating.

I was also fascinated by the historical account of Vlad The Impaler.

Reading about the various locations, especially Istanbul which I had the fortune to visit once, was a delight.

I would have given it a half-star higher rating, making it a solid 4 stars.

However, I felt that in some parts, the story became long winded and repetitive.

Surprisingly, there were also moments when I felt a bit creeped out, which is not something that usually happens to me.

Overall, it was a great read with a few minor flaws.

I can't believe I read the entire thing. Seriously, I'm truly astonished that I managed to get through all 679 pages. It was an excruciatingly dull experience, with style taking precedence over substance. The story didn't even start to pick up until around page 500. (It went from a snail's pace to a turtle's pace, if you will.) And Dracula, the much-anticipated character everyone was looking forward to, didn't make an appearance until somewhere around page 600. When he finally did show up, he was an utter bore. How in the world could anyone make Dracula, of all characters, so uninteresting? This entire story could have been condensed into 300 pages and would have been far more engaging and exciting.

The only reason I awarded "The Historian" two stars instead of one is that Kostova did an excellent job of research. The book had a great deal of atmosphere, and she clearly demonstrated fine craftsmanship with the English language. As I previously mentioned, it was all about style over substance.

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Added one star on 1/9/10. After reading "Dracula The Un-Dead" by Dacre Stoker, this book seems to have improved significantly.

It's almost as if Kostova's work gains a newfound charm when compared to the other.

Perhaps it's the context provided by "Dracula The Un-Dead" that makes "The Historian" more appealing in hindsight.

Nevertheless, it's interesting to see how one's perception of a book can change after reading a related work.

This has got to be one of the most disappointing books I've read in a long time.

Although the descriptions of the various eastern European cities are often pretty and atmospheric, my frustration with this book won't let me mark it above one star.

It starts out well; very interesting and suspenseful for about the first 100 pages or so. But as you read on, the book just gets more and more ridiculous. It's about 900 (!) pages long (which is way, way too long). I urge anyone reading this book to just put it down or read one of the one-star spoiler reviews on Amazon and be done with it. Or better yet, ignore the book entirely.

What bothered me most? I'll try to make a list of my top issues.

-- Coincidences. Everything in this book happens by some remarkable coincidences. One here or there would be fine, even interesting, but it's as if the author decided 'here's how the plot should go', and couldn't be bothered to come up with realistic reasons for characters to do things and just wanted to move them from one point to another. One of the characters even ends up with amnesia. Amnesia! Like from a bad soap opera! I mean, are you kidding? So stuff just happens. For no reason. Which leads me to...

-- Stuff just happens. For no reason. Such as characters getting together romantically, well, just because. No build up, no logic, they just do because I guess they're both there and they have nothing better to do. Which leads me to...

-- The characters themselves. Completely non-existent. One reviewer on amazon said that if you take any random section of dialogue from the book, it is impossible to tell which character it came from. So true! The author is completely incapable of creating realistic, breathing characters that are different from each other. Instead they all talk the same, they all have the same reactions, the same motives, hook up randomly in the same way, etc. There is nothing believable about these people. And for some reason, they all write unbelievably detailed letters. Which leads me to...

-- Unbelievably detailed letters! Now I have read a number of great books that use the format of letter writing to convey the plot. But this? Ridiculous. Not only are these letters insanely long, but they are insanely detailed as well, creating yet another reason why the book and the characters are completely unbelievable. If that's how the author wanted to write this, why did she do the letter thing at all? Which brings me to my final big gripe (I've leaving the small ones out)...

-- The ending. OMG if you value your sanity, do not, I repeat DO NOT finish this book. Because if you are sane, you will get to the ending and go, 'What? What?? Are you f-n kidding me?? That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard!' No joke. The ending, especially after 900 pages, has got to be the biggest let down of any major novel in recent years. I won't spoil it here (however badly I want to vent about it), but I swear to you: it will cause you physical agony when you read it.

In short: bad book, promises a lot and delivers none of it. Ignore it, read something else.

Nici cinșpe mii de recenzii nu cred că m-ar fi pregătit pentru acest montagne-russe de idei, senzații și emoții pe care le-am întâlnit în cartea asta!

Înainte de toate, vă spun atât: a fost o carte MIȘTO! Mi-a luat aproape 2 luni să o citesc, dar nu regret nicio secundă. Mi-era dor rău de tot să mă mai cufund într-o poveste aparent interminabilă, plină de suspans, de mister, de intrigă și... de istorie. Pentru că da, „Colecționarul de istorie” mi-a creat o poftă aproape viscerală să vizitez și eu Hagia Sofia, dar mai ales să reiau în vizor romanele cu tentă istorică. Mi-a redeschis apetitul pentru ele, iar Elizabeth Kostova are toate mulțumirile mele pentru acest lucru!

Apoi, nu pot să nu spun că nu m-aș fi așteptat deloc ca elementul supranatural să fie atât de pregnant în acest roman care, în aparență, e de un interes pur istoric. Iarăși, Kostova a făcut o treabă excelentă din îmbinarea unor elemente aparent incompatibile, dar care luate împreună dau chiar foarte bine. Dracula este mai mult decât o legendă, mai mult decât un mister, mai mult decât un...vampir. Kostova l-a adus la viață într-un mod unic, căruia cu greu îi poți găsi un defect. Povestea este adevărată, și totuși nu este adevărată. Granița dintre real și ireal este spulberată complet, astfel că trebuie să citești cartea fără dubii, fără întrebări. Vei lua lucrurile ca atare, iar totul va fi așa cum trebuie.

Ce pot spune altceva... Personajele au fost foarte bine conturate, povestea a decurs fără poticniri, iar misterul m-a ținut în suspans până la sfârșit de tot. Kostova își plimbă cititorii prin 4 decenii diferite, prin 5 țări diferite (SUA, Anglia, Turcia, Ungaria și Bulgaria) și printr-un adevărat caleidoscop de emoții. Dacă nu este clar deja, recomand din toată inima „Colecționarul de istorie”! Iubitorilor de istorie, și nu numai. It is truly a remarkable work that combines history, mystery, and the supernatural in a seamless and engaging way. The detailed descriptions of different locations and time periods add depth and authenticity to the story, making the reader feel as if they are actually there. The characters are well-developed and relatable, and their journey through the story is both thrilling and emotional. Overall, this is a must-read book for anyone who enjoys a good mystery or historical fiction.

I awarded this book 4 stars due to the extensive research and planning that must have gone into it.

Undoubtedly, it is a work that showcases a great deal of effort and attention to detail. However, it has to be said that it was rather long winded.

The content was indeed fascinating and wonderfully interesting, yet I couldn't help but feel that it could have been condensed to some extent.

At times, I found myself getting a bit confused with the characters and the timelines.

Nonetheless, I have always had a great love for the legends of Dracula, and this book meticulously adhered to all the details correctly.

In conclusion, I'm glad that I read it, as it provided a wealth of information and a unique perspective on the beloved vampire legend. But I must also confess that I'm a little relieved to have finally finished it.

Overall, it's a book that has its strengths and weaknesses, but it's definitely worth a read for those who are interested in the world of Dracula.

It has been quite some time since I delved into this book, so my memories might not be entirely precise. I usually make these judgments (whether I like a book or not) intuitively, rather than following a set formula. However, I felt that any book that managed to land in my seldom-used "pissed me off" category warranted an explanation.

The Historian: Kostova situates her novel partly in the 70s and partly in history. She endeavors to write in an ornate language, emulating the great novelists of the 19th century. But in my opinion, she just comes across as pretentious, overly emotional, and juvenile. True, her protagonist is meant to be young, but the writing can still be refined, even when dealing with a young and inexperienced subject. Moreover, every character in the entire story seems to speak with the same voice. On numerous occasions, I had to go back because I'd lost track of who was talking.

Then, she writes about Vlad, Dracula, attempting to introduce new elements to the tale, yet never truly offering any surprises. During the most "suspenseful" moments, I often found myself annoyingly amused by the author's efforts to create tension. One moment the character is in mortal fear, and the next, she's what? Drinking tea? And I don't recall Kostova seamlessly blending her scenes. She builds up tension only to break it too soon, or fails to stretch it out, or descends into the completely ordinary instead of just pulling back slightly. Even her main character doesn't seem to be motivated by anything other than one-upmanship, the desire to solve a mystery that her father couldn't, not for anyone else's sake but to prove that she's a better historian?

Finally, the stories of Dracula are supposed to be both horrific and reluctantly romantic. She rarely rises above the level of chirping, and it was never a book that I devoured with enthusiasm. Mostly, I just managed to get through it, only to discover at the very end, when everything is supposedly wrapped up, without any foreshadowing, she adds a "oh by the way, he could still be alive! muahahaha!"

Well, okay then.

To provide a more detailed critique, I'd probably have to reread or at least review the book, which I'm not inclined to do when there are still thousands of brilliantly written stories out there that I haven't yet discovered.

If this book was written as strictly nonfiction, I would have given it 5 stars without hesitation. The research into the spellbinding topic of Vlad the Impaler, also known as Dracula, was truly extremely extensive.

However, it is fictional. Although the overall story was deliciously creepy, with a captivating ending and several characters that kept me on the edge of my seat, omitting some of the excessive investigations and details would have been beneficial.

Doing so would have cut down several pages or chapters in this novel. It would also have helped me be less confused about where the plot was taking place at times and trying to remember and keep some of the characters straight, all without losing the general gist of the story.

But, overall, it is still a "good read" and an enjoyable "audio-listen" for fans of Dracula. They will surely be intrigued by the fictional take on this famous and mysterious figure.

I purchased this book in mid-2022 with the intention of replacing my physical books with their Kindle versions. I've been eager to read this particular book ever since high school, which was shortly after its release. Finally, I gave myself the opportunity to complete it.

This book follows an unnamed female narrator as she recounts the events that led to her father's disappearance, along with what happened to her mother and maternal grandfather. There is a wealth of vampiric lore, especially from the Eastern European variety, as the narrator shares the story her father told her when she was a teenager. Now in her 50s, she feels it's time to share this story with the world, with little danger to herself. Will you survive the reading of this tale, or will you become another victim of the vampire?

I first discovered this book in my high school library in Thanksgiving 2006. I was immediately drawn to its thickness and, knowing I had a few days off from school, I decided to pick it up. I've always had an interest in vampires, and it's worth noting that this book was published around the same time as the Twilight novels. I'll admit, I liked those novels too at that time, which probably says a lot about me.

One of my main issues with this book is its length. I have ADHD, and I tend to get bored quickly with longer books that exceed 500 pages. With this book being 705 pages, I was initially discouraged by how long it would take me to finish. However, I persevered and managed to get through it. It was definitely more of a personal challenge than a problem with the author's writing. I do appreciate all the detail included, but at times, I felt it could have been more concise.

Despite its length, I found myself getting lost in the details of the book, which is a rare occurrence for me these days. I was pleasantly surprised by this, as I was looking for a good, violent vampire novel rather than the more flowery and romanticized ones that are common these days. This book definitely delivered on that front, and I'm grateful for the break it provided from the Throne of Glass series, which I had been reading off and on since May 2024.

Another aspect of the book that stood out to me was the emotional impact it had. The deaths that occurred in the first 25% of the novel really tugged at my heartstrings. I think this is a testament to the author's ability to create engaging and relatable characters. I also found myself becoming more paranoid while reading this book, especially when walking in public with my AirPods in. I'm usually a bit paranoid anyway, but this book took it to a whole new level.

In conclusion, I would recommend this book to anyone who has the patience to read a longer novel and is interested in dark vampire lore. It's not a perfect book, but it does offer a unique and engaging story that will keep you on the edge of your seat. If you're looking for a good Halloween read, this book is definitely worth checking out.

The "Historian" was truly excellent. It brought to my mind a captivating horror story that seemed to be a blend of Brown's "Da Vinci Code".

This story centers around a History professor and his daughter. The Professor, along with his mentor Professor Rossi, discovers ancient texts which seem to suggest that Vlad Dracula didn't meet his end in Wallachia. As they start to dig deeper into this historical enigma, it gradually dawns on them that perhaps Dracula didn't "die" at all.

The narrative then embarks on a strange odyssey through the corridors of University libraries and across various countries, from Hungary to Romania. All of this is in the pursuit of locating Dracula's actual tomb. Along the way, as strange disappearances and peculiar events begin to unfold, the fearless heroes realize that Dracula might still be alive and that vampires are, in fact, real. This mystery will ultimately lead them into a confrontation with the myth that has become a terrifying reality.

Superbly crafted and impeccably researched (obviously, the vampire elements are fictional), there is a wealth of fascinating historical backdrop as Kostova offers a wonderful perspective on the traditions and folklore of the Eastern Europeans. At times, the story is interspersed with letters that provide further depth and understanding. Nevertheless, it never loses the essence of a "horror" story.

If you are in search of a well-written and meticulously researched tale about Dracula, then your search ends here. It is not only a great horror story but also a great novel in general. Highly recommended for fans of vampires or even just those with an interest in history.

A wild ride of a book!

Even though it concerns itself mostly with the topic of historical research, the subject of which makes all the difference.

We travel from Holland to England, France, Greece, New England, Turkey, Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, and back again.

We travel in the past and present, seeing various points of view.

It's a rich, complex story that unfolds before our eyes.

Highly recommended!

Be prepared to take some time for this journey as it will surely be a rewarding one.

The author has done an excellent job of weaving together different historical events and perspectives, making it a truly engaging read.

Whether you are a history buff or just someone who enjoys a good story, this book is definitely worth checking out.

So, sit back, relax, and get ready to embark on a journey through time and space.

You won't be disappointed!