The story crosses a lot of time in just 115 pages. We see the demises of Prince Vlad's father and older brother at the hands of an enemy the white knight and where Vlad and his brother Radu are raised since they in a sense must go into hiding. They are raised by the Turks in the Muslim religion and both learn very different things while there. Radu finds being one with the world and accepting everyone for who there are, where Vlad learns the evils of society and becomes a great warrior. The reader also finds out that he is a womanizer, but also believed in being loyal to those that saved you. Vlad has very high dreams and wants to win back his throne. He asks the Turks to provide him with an army so that he may do so, and they (the Turks) can start earning a profit from the land agan. They agree and Vlad wins back his throne. However, he rules with an iron or shall we say bloody fist and anyone that he believes in not behind him 100 percent or does any thing illegal gets Impaled for all the see hence the name Vlad the Impaler. We also see his treatment of women, that he would rape and pillage and at times skin them alive for punishment. At the end he is beheaded by his brother at the request of the Turks who are no longer getting any money for Vlad despite their agreement. For more information definately check out this website that goes a lot deeper into his life and the horrible things he did. http://www.donlinke.com/drakula/vlad.htm



I do not think that this book really fits into the YA critera that we have learned, however I think bits and pieces of it could be used when studying history and the countrys during the time of Vlads rule in the 1400's. However, a teacher would really only be able to use bits and pieces of the text, because of the nudity and rape of woman that is shown. I really do not think that schools would approve of that being seen in classrooms.



I was really excited when I saw this book on the list of Graphic novels. I happen to be very captivated by the legend of Dracula and what of that character came from the actual Dracul that Vlad the Impaler was also known as. However, I was very let down by this book and felt that it did not devulge to greatly into the things he actually did, like when a woman would get pregnant out of wedlock he would kill her by burning her woman parts with a rod. Just the thinks he would do are disgusting, but the book barely touched on that stuff and make him out to be not as big of a tyrant as he really was. I like history a lot so know a lot about it and was just let down by what information was provided and what was let down. I personally did not need to know about his childhood, because that is not what he is known for. I wish I would have showed or expressed his career as ruler more than what it did.

I really liked your post. I am sorry that you didn't like the book at all. When I saw the title, I was excited too. History is a big thing for me too, and I love Dracula as well. It's a shame that the book wasn't really all that good. Would you still want to teach any part of this book? It is interesting that the book was such a let down, because there are a lot of good things going for it. There could have been a good lesson in loyalty and persistance. Maybe you could teach this book as a how not to write a story?

Hopefully your next book will be a lot better. Good luck!