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.
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.
