Abraham is locked away in a safe place. He cannot ignore the truth of what has happened to him and his family, nor can he let the fate that has consumed others take his life and soul. He has to stand against the creature outside the room, protect himself from it, and document its true story so that those who read his account may finally find a way to rid the world of this darkest of evils.

Bram Stoker has watched his brother’s beloved wife turn at the call of the vampire, seen those around him succumb to Dracul’s everlasting kiss. Bram knows that he owes his existence to one of the creatures of Dracul’s legion. Nanna Ellen refused to watch him die an early death after an ongoing childhood illness. In order to make him well she had to make him a little like her. Now, to fight the demons inside himself, Bram has to peer into his own soul to know the truth of how he was saved.

Stoker and Barker had the privilege of access to the personal papers and writings of Bram Stoker through Dacre Stoker’s role with the Stoker Estate, but also the original handwritten manuscript which is currently in the possession of Microsoft founder, Paul Allen. Allen gave them access to the manuscript on the basis of non-disclosure but it has long been postulated that the published novel starts 102 pages into the original text.

This book represents the heart of what the writers feel was the original assertion of Bram Stoker when he published Dracula; that the story was not a work of fiction but a recording of the true history of Dracul, dark and demonic but all too real. This is an intriguing prequel before you enjoy the main course – Dracula.

Reviewed by David Johnson