I received a copy of Between the Dragon King and His Wrath by Barbara Russell from NetGalley. This book immediately piqued my interest because it is a retelling of Dracula. Princess Annika travels to the neighboring kingdom of Walhack for the spring festival with her father. Unexpectedly, she meets the former prince Wlad, now a slave in his home. The book is a historical paranormal romance.
Annika is a bright and optimistic person. She is also curious and a wonderful dancer. For her, visiting a new kingdom feels like an adventure, but their hosts are known for brutality. The kingdom of Walhack has been conquered violently, and the former princes are now imprisoned as slaves in their own home. Annika is unaware of the reality to an extent so when she meets Wlad, the former younger prince, she is shocked by his state. She wants to genuinely help him and asks her father to talk about Wlad to the new king. This plea leads to horrible consequences for Annika and her father, and they leave.
Wlad has been through hell since his parents were killed, and the kingdom was taken. He and his brother are tortured and mistreated all the time. The only thing keeping him alive is his revenge. Annika is the first person to show him any kindness in years; she makes him feel hopeful. The murder of Wlad’s brother is the last straw for him. He seeks the Sister Witches, who ask him to make a sacrifice in exchange for supernatural gifts. Driven by his need for revenge, Wlad makes the pact with them and is reborn. He goes on a rampage, punishing everyone who wronged him and his family.
The book is divided into two parts. The first is when Annika and Wlad are teenagers and meet at the spring festival. The second part is set years later when Wlad accepts an invitation from Annika’s father. The second time Annika and Wlad meet, both of have them changed. Annika was assaulted by Draga and her father was beaten when they tried to help Wlad. She carries the emotional scars of the horrible incident and has devoted herself to the House of Healing. Wlad is feared across kingdoms with rumors about his supernatural abilities, and he knows that the fear is justified; it keeps his kingdom safe.
I liked how the story was paced. In the first part, Annika is bright and optimistic about the world. It’s something that draws Wlad to her. She has this quiet courage about her. Their bond is innocent when they first meet, they simply connect, and she is the only person who even thought of trying to help Wlad and his brother. When Wlad sees her again, she is different. He doesn’t know what happened to her before she left Walhack years ago. He pursues her, and slowly, Annika starts feeling comfortable around him.
The romance between Annika and Wlad evolves from their first meeting. The first time they meet, there is a connection, but it is more like an infatuation. When they meet again and spend time with each other, the magnitude of what they feel starts setting in. Annika is not scared of Wlad, he is different than the boy she remembers, but he is still mostly himself with her. They accept each other the way they are now and not how they used to be, which is so beautiful. Annika’s trauma is dealt with realistically. Her actions and reactions are completely justified after what she has been through. In a way, Wlad and Annika help other accept their pasts and live in the present and for the future.
The story kept me hooked with its characters and pace. This historical paranormal romance book blends these three elements of romance, history, and paranormal perfectly. The world created in the story helps form a connection with the story and the characters. Overall, Between the Dragon King and His Wrath by Barbara Russell is an exciting and engaging Dracula retelling. I enjoyed reading it.
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