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Hollywood Gothic
- The Tangled Web of Dracula from Novel to Stage to Screen
- By: David J. Skal
- Narrated by: David J. Skal
- Length: 10 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 17
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 13
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 13
The primal image of the black-caped vampire Dracula has become an indelible fixture of the modern imagination. It's recognition factor rivals, in its own perverse way, the familiarity of Santa Claus. In this critically acclaimed excursion through the life of a cultural icon, David Skal maps out the archetypal vampire's relentless trajectory from Victorian literary oddity to movie idol to cultural commodity, digging through the populist veneer to reveal what the prince of darkness says about us all.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Excellent and Informative History of Dracula's Pop Culture Immortality
- By Atlanta Book Collector on 12-02-23
- Hollywood Gothic
- The Tangled Web of Dracula from Novel to Stage to Screen
- By: David J. Skal
- Narrated by: David J. Skal
Excellent and Informative History of Dracula's Pop Culture Immortality
Reviewed: 12-02-23
I own the softcover edition of this book but it's very nice to own the updated audio edition read by the author. If you're interested in the detailed history of Dracula as a figure of literature, theater and film, this is a must own.
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A Touch of Darkness
- Hades & Persephone Series, Book 1
- By: Scarlett St. Clair
- Narrated by: Meg Sylvan
- Length: 11 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 8,400
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 7,667
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 7,662
Persephone is the Goddess of Spring by title only. The truth is, since she was a little girl, flowers have shriveled at her touch. After moving to New Athens, she hopes to lead an unassuming life disguised as a mortal journalist. Hades, God of the Dead, has built a gambling empire in the mortal world and his favorite bets are rumored to be impossible. After a chance encounter with Hades, Persephone finds herself in a contract with the God of the Dead and the terms are impossible: Persephone must create life in the Underworld or lose her freedom forever.
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1 out of 5 stars
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Some people really will romanticize anything, huh?
- By S.J. Gokey-Hartsfield on 08-18-20
- A Touch of Darkness
- Hades & Persephone Series, Book 1
- By: Scarlett St. Clair
- Narrated by: Meg Sylvan
Hades and Persephone Retold in a Modern Setting
Reviewed: 05-12-22
I love the ancient Greek myths and the story of Hades and Persephone is one of my favorites. Scarlett St. Clair reimagines the myth of the lovers into a modern setting and it's quite fun, sexy even. Persephone is a goddess who wishes to break free of her mother's control and trying to find her confidence while Hades desires to fill his dominion and his own complex existence with life. The two are able to come together and bring out the best in one another while weathering the storms of their changing relationship and discovering the true power of love, for oneself, for friends and for your soulmate.
There are very erotic (and frequent) sex scenes halfway through the book so if that isn't your bag, you may want to skip it. I also really liked the way Ms. St. Clair weaves in other Greek myth characters as friends and enemies (some in both categories are ambiguous) of the main couple. The Underworld is its own unique character in itself, as well as its inhabitants, thanks to Ms. St. Clair's vivid descriptions. I will be definitely continuing with this series.
I quite enjoyed Meg Sylvan's reading of the story and dialogue. While she excels giving each female character a unique and distinct voice she seems to struggle a bit with the male voices but after awhile she does get better and it isn't a real issue. I'm looking forward to hearing her read the other books in this series.
Overall if you enjoy the Greek myths, have no problem with modern reimagining while hitting the same familiar notes of the original stories (and very descriptive sex scenes), you will like this book.
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The Impaler's Wife
- By: Autumn Bardot
- Narrated by: Samantha Desz
- Length: 13 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 13
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 12
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 12
A young woman is swept into a life of intrigue, revenge, passion, and betrayal when she falls for the world's most notorious prince, Vlad Dracula. The year is 1464. King Matthias controls Hungary, his family, and the fate of the world's most notorious political prisoner, Prince Vlad Dracula. Ilona Szilágy, the king's cousin, is young and ambitious. Dracula is determined to marry into the family. It is love at first sight, but the king has other plans. The Impaler Prince, however, never takes no for an answer.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Enjoyed a lot!
- By Vita on 04-26-20
- The Impaler's Wife
- By: Autumn Bardot
- Narrated by: Samantha Desz
"Your Husband Will Live Forever"
Reviewed: 04-15-22
I'm a big fan of Dracula films and keenly interested by the historical Vlad Tepes so this book is right up my alley. It is a very well-written and well-researched historical fiction. While there are characters and events made up to move the story along there are also several people, events and stories within the book that I have read about in scholarly books about Vlad Tepes so the author wisely wove these into the narrative. The story is told from Ilona's point of view and we see Vlad through her eyes as likely many saw him: seductive, wise, calculating, loving, loyal, intelligent, handsome, brutal, cruel, unpredictable and a powerful leader. The sexual scenes between Ilona and Vlad are darkly erotic which some may like and others not.
Samantha Desz is a superb narrator who brings all the characters to life with her reading and acting. She really made the listening experience so much more enjoyable and riveting.
Highly recommended.
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The Return of the Native
- By: Thomas Hardy
- Narrated by: Alan Rickman
- Length: 15 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 1,718
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 1,545
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 1,515
Set on Egdon Heath, a fictional barren moor in Wessex, Eustacia Vye longs for the excitement of city life but is cut off from the world in her grandfather's lonely cottage. Clym Yeobright who has returned to the area to become a schoolmaster seems to offer everything she dreams of: passion, excitement and the opportunity to escape. However, Clym's ambitions are quite different, and marriage only increases Eustacia's destructive restlessness, drawing others into a tangled web of deceit and unhappiness.
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5 out of 5 stars
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A Perfect Pairing
- By Mel on 11-04-12
- The Return of the Native
- By: Thomas Hardy
- Narrated by: Alan Rickman
Alan Rickman Reads Thomas Hardy, Exquisitely
Reviewed: 02-19-22
I'm not much of a Hardy fan (there are a few depressing titles in his bibliography) but Alan Rickman's commanding and exquisite voice makes this audiobook a most enjoyable listening experience. Rickman narrates and performs each male and female character uniquely and distinctly with conviction, passion and sincerity. I greatly wish he had read and recorded other classics of literature. Listening to his reading is like laying back and enjoying a heart-shaped box of chocolates. I love this particular production so much I also own it on cassette and listen on my boombox as I unwind during the evening. If you're an Alan Rickman fan, do NOT hesitate to purchase this title. And if you've already read the Thomas Hardy book, this audio performance will greatly enhance the linguistic beauty of the text.
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