Amazing! I read this 650pg book in under a week! A fascinating historical fiction exploring the history of Eastern Europe, that of Dracula and his origins as Vlad The Impaler. Time jumps between three generations of historians (Professor Rossi, Paul and his daughter). The story begins, ‘my dear and unfortunate successor’ and explodes into a whirlwind adventure.

Well, to be honest, I didn’t finish this. It wasn’t that it was a bad book – it’s actually quite well written but I only picked it up because The Other Boleyn Sister was out at the library. Once I started reading it I realised that if the plot became too familiar, it would be too monotonous to read the same story by a different author. So I’m saving my interest for the other book by Philippa Gregory.

One of the best books I have read recently! A really interesting insight into Cleopatra’s mind, the power struggles between Egypt and Rome, and her relationships with Caesar and Marc