I really couldn't get into this. It's just not my cup of tea. Vampire romance books have never really appealed to me.

I've tried reading a few, but I always find myself losing interest after a while. Maybe it's because I don't believe in vampires, or maybe it's because the romance in these books seems too forced.

Whatever the reason, I just can't seem to get into them. I much prefer other genres, like mystery or science fiction. Those are the kinds of books that really grab my attention and keep me turning the pages.

But that's not to say that vampire romance books are bad. They just don't work for me. I'm sure there are plenty of people out there who love them and can't get enough.

Everyone has their own tastes when it comes to reading, and that's what makes the world of books so丰富多彩. So, if you're a fan of vampire romance books, more power to you. I'll just stick to my mystery and science fiction novels.

U Dana Simmonse, a person must always appreciate that he studies the reality well. He did so not only with the book "Terror", which we recently had the opportunity to see in the form of a series, but also with this vampire novel. At the beginning of the 1990s, Simmons was even directly in Romania for some time, where he gathered information for this novel. Some of the information even surprised me - for example, I didn't know that the orphans in Romania were in such a terrible state and so numerous, but it was really the case.

Unfortunately, however, well-studied and utilized sources on their own do not create an interesting story and, above all, sympathetic characters. Exactly the main heroine was one of the main problems of the novel for me - cold, unsympathetic, overly perfect. Another problem was that during the course of the story, Romania somewhat becomes a parody of itself in the style of "American describes the country in the East". But what disappointed me the most is a series of deus ex machina events in the conclusion of the book, which seemed to me to be on the verge of parody.

This is Simmons' weaker piece. Although there are good ideas in it, it is not more than 60%. If you are interested in a similar approach to the vampire theme, it is better to read "Nekroskop" or "Pevnost".

Vampires! Romania! Vlad the Impaler! You’ve heard it all before. Or have you? Dan Simmons returns to the Summer of Night universe, or as it’s called on here, “Seasons of Horror”, to take on the vampire mythos. It isn’t really a sequel, and the vibe of this book is far different than Summer, but it does contain a few characters from and references to that fateful summer of 1963.

This is not a coming of age tale. The story involves a doctor, Kate Neuman, working at a children’s hospital in Romania in late 1989 - immediately after the deposition and execution of Ceausescu and the Romanian Revolution. She ends up adopting a sick child, who miraculously seems to get better after blood transfusions and takes him back to her home in Colorado. This is when the story gets a bit darker and the chase is on.

I really enjoyed this one, and it was dangerously close to 4.5 stars. But I have seen what Dan Simmons is capable of, and while this is an excellent read, he does have better. I enjoyed the update on Mike O’Rourke and the incorporation of history that was all throughout this story. Simmons is a man who definitely does his research. This didn’t bother me at all when it came to the historical stuff, though it did become a bit mind-numbing with some of the dialogue between the doctors. However, this only happens in a few chapters, so don’t let it deter you.

You don’t necessarily have to have read Summer of Night to enjoy this one, but you should because it’s awesome. Overall, this was a fresh and interesting take on the sometimes tired and stale world of the vampire, with tons of interesting twists and turns. There’s no doubt I enjoyed this significantly more than A Winter Haunting, another episode in the Seasons of Horror series, and I’m looking forward to finishing it up sometime soon with Fires of Eden. Solid 4/5.

This was my introduction to Dan Simmons. After hearing numerous praises about what an excellent writer he is, I promptly picked up the very first book of his that I could lay my hands on.

Normally, I have a rather lukewarm attitude towards Vampire novels (with the notable exception of Bram Stoker's work, of course). The main reason for this is that they often tend to drag on tediously, be overly self-indulgent, and充斥着 excessive sexuality. However, this particular novel had an entirely different effect on me. It grabbed me right from the start... and refused to let go.

I won't delve into an extensive synopsis here since it has already been covered exhaustively elsewhere. In the late 1980s and early 1990s in Romania, the people are mired in poverty, medical attention is severely lacking, and orphans are abundant. AIDS and Hep C are肆虐 among the children, and there is no medical assistance available for them.

We then follow the story of a doctor who specializes in blood disorders and is working in Romania on behalf of the CDC. She adopts a child with a laundry list of rare medical disorders and brings him back to the states. There, she discovers that this baby's rare condition might actually hold the key to curing AIDS, and perhaps even other diseases. The catch is that his condition seems strangely similar to vampirism. When the baby is kidnapped, our story really kicks into high gear.

There is a substantial amount of medical jargon in this book, especially when they are working on the baby. Fortunately, for some inexplicable reason, even an idiot like me was able to follow the gist of what they were discussing. The descriptions and history of Romania were truly brilliant, and it was evident that a great deal of research had gone into them. The characters, for the most part, were believable in their actions and motivations. There are a few, however, that at the end you might scratch your head and wonder why on earth they would have done that... but then again, you do that about real people every day.

I absolutely loved the explanation of vampirism and how it came about. Dracula was portrayed brilliantly. I would highly recommend this book to anyone in search of a decent Vampire novel that isn't solely focused on romance and lust. It has excellent action, brilliant settings, and is a real page-turner. I would rate it 4 out of 5 stars!

Well, I initially began reading this with a group.

However, the medical jargon was simply too dense and difficult to follow.

I was on the verge of leaving it at that.

But the "completist" within me made the decision to stay up until 3 am to complete it.

The story itself, the part that I truly wished the entire book would focus on, offered an interesting perspective on the Dracula legend.

Regrettably, in terms of the scientific descriptions, labs, and such, it was so "heavy" that it completely disengaged me from the story.

It was like a sudden shock to discover the actual "story that I cared about" interspersed within all that.

I'm awarding it two stars for the "main story", but it could have achieved a much higher rating without all those distracting details regarding scientific results and so on that I had to slog through.

Overall, it was a bit of a disappointment due to the overwhelming scientific content that detracted from the otherwise engaging Dracula-inspired narrative.

Dan Simmons at his worst is truly a sight to behold. His work in this state can be nearly as bad as that of Darwin Blade.

It's as if he has lost his touch, his once brilliant writing now reduced to a mere shadow of its former self. The stories lack depth and the characters seem flat and uninteresting.

The plotlines meander aimlessly, leaving the reader feeling confused and unengaged. It's a disappointment to see such a talented author produce work of this caliber.

One can only hope that he will find his way back to the form that made him so beloved in the first place. Until then, we can only endure his worst and wait for the glimmer of hope that his next work might bring.

The simplest plot that I have ever read in a book. Only at moments good.

This statement implies that the plot in question is not overly complex or convoluted. It may lack the depth and intricacy that some readers might expect from a more sophisticated literary work.

However, it does have its redeeming qualities. There are moments within the story that manage to engage the reader and perhaps even evoke some positive emotions. These good moments could be in the form of interesting characters, exciting events, or thought-provoking ideas.

Overall, while the plot may not be the most elaborate or engaging, it still has something to offer. It serves as a reminder that sometimes, simplicity can be charming and that even the most basic of stories can have their闪光点.

I truly have a fondness for Dan Simmons, and this happens to be one of his earlier works. However, I found myself having to breeze through the last third of the book. Lately, when it comes to some books, I get this strange feeling as if I've already read the story before. But in reality, I haven't. Perhaps it's because I've read such a large number of books at this relatively 'early' stage of my old age.

At any rate, a young doctor/researcher decides to adopt a baby from a Romanian orphanage around the early 1990s. And this little fellow indeed has some rather peculiar habits. As it later turns out...

He is a descendant of the real Dracula, not the one that has been so widely written about. (Let's forget about Bram Stoker! He really didn't do a great job with that, you know?) This book is filled with a significant amount of scientific data, explanations, and rationalizations as to why an entire family or clan of Romanians possess the right genes to transform them into blood-drinking creatures. They also have a sort of immortality, kind of, in a way...

Nevertheless, although the book starts off being quite fascinating, it ultimately devolves into an action movie-like scenario towards the end. There is a lot of chasing around, either by motorcycle or helicopter, and there are betrayals by those whom you thought were your friends. Throw in a couple of highly detailed sex-romantic scenes, and you essentially have a MOVIE.

I think I would have had a much greater appreciation for it if I had read it when it was first released.

It's a fair horror read involving vampires. Three stars.

The premise of this is truly interesting and it is well worth seeing it through to the very end.

However, one has to be prepared to wade through a substantial amount of medical technicalities and the outcomes of a vast quantity of research related to Romania.

I found myself getting a bit exasperated at times when the characters had to explain medical acronyms in order for us non-medical readers to keep up.

But to be honest, I can't imagine that a great many of us would have been overly interested in those details.

Still, the one who invented the Shrike seems to be able to get away with quite a lot.

This story has its unique charm and challenges, and it makes for an engaging read despite the hurdles one has to overcome in understanding the medical aspects.

It leaves the reader with a sense of both curiosity and a bit of frustration, but ultimately, it is a journey that is worth taking.

4.5 stars.

Putting a fresh spin on the old Dracula story is an extremely tough task. However, Dan Simmons accomplishes it beautifully in this remarkable 1992 novel. It is a unique blend of a medical thriller, a (forbidden?) love story, and a Gothic chiller.

The story is set mostly in post-communist Romania. Simmons skillfully mixes true events, such as the Romanian orphan crisis and the politics that led up to it, with well-researched Dracula lore. This combination is so convincing that it makes one believe that Drac really lived (and perhaps still does). What could be more spine-chilling than that?

The medical aspects of the story did numb my brain a bit, and I found it somewhat hard to connect with Kate's character. Nevertheless, I'm glad I persevered because the pay-off was truly spectacular. I won't soon forget Vlad's chilling send-off. It leaves a lasting impression and makes this novel a must-read for fans of the genre.

Meh, I really gave it a try. However, I had to DNF (Did Not Finish) around 30%.

I simply don't possess the tolerance or patience for this kind of overly bloated writing any longer. I have endured so many of Simmons' works. Even "The Terror," which I actually loved, was overwritten and it was a real slog to make my way through it.

It seems that Simmons has a tendency to go overboard with his descriptions and details, which often end up weighing down the story. Maybe it's a matter of personal preference, but for me, this level of verbosity is just too much. I prefer a more concise and straightforward writing style that gets to the point without unnecessary fluff.

Despite my disappointment with this particular work, I will still give Simmons the benefit of the doubt and check out some of his other books in the future. Maybe there will be one that clicks with me and restores my faith in his writing.

The book is essentially a thrilling piece that combines elements of recent Romanian history right after the downfall of Nicolae Ceaușescu and the history and legends of Vlad the Impaler - Dracula. Dan Simmons has clearly done an excellent job of researching both aspects.

The harsh reality of life in Romania just after the revolution is vividly portrayed in a believable manner, allowing me to fully immerse myself in the world he depicts. I truly 'experienced' and learned a great deal. The cruel and bloodthirsty flashbacks of Dracula were an essential part of the book - and apparently, they are historically accurate, which is rather terrifying.

However, for me, it was the 'thriller' elements that somewhat detracted from the book. While I enjoyed the frequent twists, I found the actions of the main characters to be highly improbable. In real life, they would never have been able to get away with it.

Moreover, the author established a scientific premise for vampirism, which was fine initially. But he repeated it so often that it began to bore me. The more he redescribed the theories, the more it seemed like he was trying to deceive me, and the more his credibility waned.

The action scenes towards the end felt like something out of a second-rate movie - again, quite improbable and a bit too neatly wrapped up.

All things considered, I did enjoy the atmosphere and the well-researched details. Nevertheless, the thriller action did not reach the same standard, which was a bit of a letdown. Still, I would rate it a solid 3 stars.