Incarnation

by Emma Cornwall

Lucy Weston tracks down the novelist Bram Stoker in her search to reveal the dark force who made her a vampire—and regain her humanity in the process.

In the steampunk world of Victorian London, a beautiful vampire seeks out the author of Dracula–to set the record straight . . .

If one is to believe Bram Stoker’s legendary vampire tale, Lucy Weston is Dracula’s most wanton creation, a sexual creature of the night who preys on innocent boys. But the real-life Lucy is nothing like her fictional counterpart—and she demands to know why the Victorian author deliberately lied. With Stoker’s reluctant help, she’s determined to track down the very fiend who transformed her—from the sensual underworld where humans vie to become vampires, to a hidden cell beneath a temple to madness, and finally into the glittering Crystal Palace where death reigns supreme.

Haunted by fragmentary memories of her lost life and love, Lucy must battle her thirst for blood as she struggles to stop a catastrophic war that will doom vampires and humans alike. Ultimately, she must make a choice that illuminates for her—and for us—what it means to be human.

• ISBN10: 1439190356
• ISBN13: 9781439190357
• Publish Date: 18 September 2012
• Publish Status: Active
• Out of Print: 1 November 2023
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Imprint: Gallery
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 352
• Language: English

Reviews

[Angie]

Incarnation was interesting. Although not as interesting as the blurb promises. Lucy wakes up to find herself buried alive and with a wooden stake protruding from her chest. She claws her way above ground and realizes that she is something different now, although she has no word for it. Lucy spends some time behaving in quite a feral manner, before heading home where she discovers Dracula. It's essentially a sensationalized account of her life. She's simultaneous angry and excited, since now she can get some answers. She tracks down Bram Stoker who then directs her to London where she can find more of her kind, and hopefully the one who transformed and abandoned her.

I really enjoyed the atmosphere of Incarnation. It takes place in Victorian London with a slight Steampunk flare. The story is also kind of dark, but still fun and exciting. However, I was less impressed with the retelling aspect of it. The connection to Dracula felt more like a gimmick rather than an important part of Lucy's story. She could have been any new vampire and the story would have been the same. Bram Stoker's role was quite small, and he didn't really add much for me. The twist on the legend of King Arthur was much more interesting and a nice surprise.

Even though I did end up liking Incarnation quite a bit, it didn't fully hold my attention. I was completely engrossed in the beginning. I mean, this young woman just clawed her way out of the earth and goes on to run around naked, hunting animals! Lucy's first meeting with Bram was also really great, as was her introduction to the dark and sensuous world of vampires. After that, though, it kind of drops off. Lucy learns that she was created for a purpose, and there's a war brewing between humans and vampires that only she can stop. This was exciting at times, but then it would slow down and my mind would wander. Then it would grab me again for awhile, and then lose me for awhile. It was very up and down.

Like I said, Incarnation is interesting. I was hoping for something more unique given the concept, but it was kind of like every other story about a new supernatural: they're super special and have to save the world! I wanted more out of it, but as it was, it was good.

Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.

[Rinn]

I received a copy of this book for free from Edelweiss, in exchange for an honest review. This review is also posted on my blog, Rinn Reads.

Wow. When I requested this book from Edelweiss, I thought it looked good - pretty cover, interesting sounding plot - but I didn't think I'd enjoy it as much as I did, particularly as it was my first steampunk novel. As it is labelled as a Young Adult book, I was expecting the writing style to be fairly basic, as it tends to be in YA fiction. Cornwall, however, goes all out and writes the novel as if she herself was writing in nineteenth century England.

Where YA novels tend to base most of their description around characters (particularly of the male persuasion), this book contains many beautiful descriptions of the environment: the dark, eerie Yorkshire moors; the dingy alleyways of Victorian London. I don't know if it helped that I've visited Whitby and the Yorkshire moors myself, so I can imagine them more vividly, but I think even without visiting them Cornwall's descriptions do them justice. The writing flowed so well, and I think it is the use of words and diction contemporary with the setting of the story that really lifts it above all those other paranormal YA novels out there.

Rather than being a straight retelling of the Dracula story by Bram Stoker, Cornwall instead chooses to directly involve Stoker himself, which works really well. I find that when historical or famous figures are included in stories, as long as they are not too out of character, it makes the story more relatable, by presenting the reader with characters they are already familiar with. For example, we also get to meet William Gladstone, former Prime Minister, and Queen Victoria.

Speaking of characters, Lucy as a character is a wonderful protagonist, particularly as a female lead in a YA paranormal novel. She is strong, and barely phased by her transformation. She just gets on with it, she doesn't moan, whine or cry. Although there is some romance, it doesn't completely consume her and she never gets soppy. She's smart, quick-witted and generally a strong character all round, and manages to avoid cliches. We need more female protagonists like her.

Now as for the downsides of the book: I managed to guess one character's secret very early on into the story, which made the big reveal much less of an impact - I feel that perhaps Cornwall left too many clues for that one. I have to say, the ending was a bit of an anti-climax and over rather soon - but I felt the rest of the story kept it up at a five-star rating. There were also quite a few spelling and grammar mistakes, but as I read an ARC I'm hoping that they'll all be corrected in the final edition.

I highly recommend this one, even if you haven't read Dracula! (I haven't... better get on it.) It is beautifully written, and a fun read - especially if you want a more 'intelligent' feeling YA novel. If the steampunk element is putting you off, I would say don't let it - steampunk is only a very light part of the novel.