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Summary
Summary
Two girls struggle with their dark family heritage in this lush historical fantasy perfect for fans of Cassandra Clare and Kendare Blake. As debutantes in 1890s New York City, cousins Dacia and Lou knew little about their mysterious Romanian relatives, the Florescus. Now, upon turning seventeen, the girls must journey to Romania--a journey that seems to be both reward and punishment--to meet their cousins and their tyrant of a grandmother and to learn the secrets of their family. Secrets spoken of in whispers. Dangerous secrets known as the Claw, the Wing, and the Smoke. But as dangerous as those family secrets might be, even more dangerous is the centuries-old bond between the Florescus and the royal Dracula family, and it seems that it's time for Dacia and Lou to give up their life in New York society and take their place among the servants of the Draculas. When the devilish heir, Mihai Dracula, sets his sights on Dacia as part of his evil, power-hungry plan, the girls must accept or fight against this cruel inheritance. Do they have the courage to break the shackles of their upbringing and set the course of their own destiny?
Author Notes
JESSICA DAY GEORGE is the New York Times bestselling author of The Rose Legacy series, the Tuesdays at the Castle series, the Twelve Dancing Princesses series, the Dragon Slippers trilogy, as well as Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow and Silver in the Blood . Originally from Idaho, she studied at Brigham Young University and worked as a librarian and bookseller before turning to writing full-time. She now lives in Salt Lake City, Utah, with her husband and their three young children.www.jessicadaygeorge.com@jessdaygeorgewww.jessicadaygeorge.com@JessDayGeorge
Reviews (5)
Publisher's Weekly Review
Teenage cousins and New York heiresses Dacia and Lou have always wanted to visit their mothers' extended family in Romania, but during an unexpected trip to Bucharest their strange and secretive relatives reveal a shocking truth: they come from a long line of shapeshifters. In an enticing gothic romance, George (the Twelve Dancing Princesses series) paints a vivid portrait of fin de siècle Europe, highlighting its architecture, fashion, etiquette, and fascination with the supernatural. With the ability to transform into the Claw (wolves), the Wing (bats), or the Smoke (mist), the Florescu family has protected the infamous Dracula family for generations. Now, Dacia and Lou are supposed to lead a coup to put devilish Prince Mihai Dracula on the throne. Between chapters, diary entries and letters provide further insight into wild Dacia and timid Lou's evolving characters. George's well-crafted tale will keep readers rapt as these two best friends deal with the ramifications of refusing to commit murder and treason, navigate romantic suitors (Dacia has several), and come to terms with their newfound abilities. Ages 13-up. Agent: Amy Jameson, A+B Works. (July) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Horn Book Review
In 1897, New York debutante cousins Dacia and Lou travel to Romania and discover that they belong to a family of shapeshifters who serve the Dracula family. With the help of two young, handsome members of the Society of Saint Gabriel the Archangel, they must protect King Carol from assassination. An excellent milange of paranormal and historical fiction for fans of both genres. (c) Copyright 2016. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Booklist Review
It's 1897 and American cousins Dacia and Lou are excited to travel to Romania, where they will finally meet their mothers' family, the Florescus. But as they get closer to their ancestral home, unsettling events make them more apprehensive. First, packs of wolves chase the Orient Express train Dacia is taking to Bucharest. Then Lou spots a strange young man following her. That's nothing compared to what they find at the Florescu estate, however: Lou and Dacia are just the latest in a long line of shape-shifters, and they are expected to help overthrow the benevolent Romanian king and install the maniacal Transylvanian Prince Mihai in his place. But Lou and Dacia are far more powerful than their imperious grandmother assumes, and their upbringing away from the clan has made them reluctant to commit treason. Though the pace sometimes drags, George's latest has plenty going for it: frilly fashion, dashingly handsome young men, a gothic setting, and hidden powers. Fans of George will be pleased, as will readers of Gail Carriger's Finishing School series. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: New York Times best-selling George has cultivated a loyal following among fantasy fans, who will be eager to get their paws on this, too.--Hunter, Sarah Copyright 2010 Booklist
School Library Journal Review
Gr 6-9-In 1897, two American debutante cousins, Louisa Neulander and Dacia Vreeholt, travel to Europe to visit their mothers' family in Romania. Their relatives, the Florescus, turn out to be shapeshifters with three possible forms; the claw (wolf); the wing (bat); and the smoke (mist). Dacia and Lou receive their powers from domineering clan head Lady Ioana. She demands they use their abilities to aid a descendant of the Dracula family, suave Prince Mihai, to overthrow the Romanian crown. Lou and Dacia team up with Johnny and Theo, members of an ancient society, to stop the attack and break free of their coercive relatives. Unresolved questions leave room for a sequel. George's novel has just enough history, fantasy, and romance to suit a range of readers. Although less dense, this work has a similar feel to Patricia Wrede and Caroline Stevermer's "Cecilia & Kate" novels (Harcourt), mixing magic and manners. Most readers will intuit that Prince Mihai is too perfect to trust. However, Dacia and Lou gather strength from each other in less obvious ways. Some secondary characters are not fleshed out, but may play larger roles in future installments. The theme of familial obligation suits the historical period with its emphasis on appropriate behavior and socially acceptable marriage-making. Sprinkle in the Romanian setting and magical female empowerment, and there's more than enough to keep readers' attention. VERDICT Proper debutantes and snarling wolves? A winning combination for most libraries.-Caitlin Augusta, Stratford Library Association, CT © Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
Turn-of-the-last-century socialites discover the bloody secrets of their Old World family in this lush historical fantasy. Cousins Dacia Vreeholt and Louisa Neulander, raised in Gilded Age New York, are sent in 1897 to Romania to reconnect with their mothers' aristocratic clan. Once in Bucharest, Lou and Dacia (who arrives marked by a minor scandal involving a London playboy) quickly realize their reclusive relations, the Florescus, socialize only with the Dracula familydescendants of the infamous Vlad the Impaler. Meanwhile, the cousins' intimidating grandmother keeps wondering aloud if each is a "Wing," "Claw," or "Smoke" and pushing Dacia to accept invitations from Dracula scion Prince Mihai. As Mihai begins to pursue Dacia, her London and American suitors arrive in Romania to warn the cousins about the Florescus' supernatural connection to the Draculas, who seek to reclaim the Romanian throne. In absorbing alternating journal entries and letters, Dacia grows ever more frightened and cautious while Lou's interest in her family's fascinating secrets deepens. George captures the exquisite beauty of 1890s Romaniacity town houses and sprawling country estates, opera halls, artisanal shops, folk dresses, and the stunning "forested slopes of the Carpathians"while also creating an increasingly foreboding atmosphere for Dacia's and Lou's life-changing revelations. Thoroughly researched historical details and bright if nave protagonists conjure a winning period adventure. (author's note) (Historical fiction/paranormal fantasy. 12-17) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
