Book Review: Renfield : Slave of Dracula

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Renfield : Slave of Dracula     Amazon US HC Amazon Canada HC
Barbara Hambly
Class/Genre:   Fantasy   Vampire
Berkley, Sep 2006, $23.95

Although his mother-in-law and sister-in-law committed Ryland Renfield to Dr. Seward’s Rushbrook Asylum, his link to Dracula has not been severed. He sees Dracula seduce Lucy into the life of the Undead and observes Van Helsing and his minion end her “life”. Dracula has Renfield invite him inside the asylum where he gains access to Mina Harker. In an action that will change his life forever, he makes a pact with the three wives of Dracula; they transform him into one of the Undead in return they do not want any more spousal rivals.

Knowing he has lost his wife and daughter and in the thrall of the female undead, Renfield accompanies them to Transylvania to prepare for Dracula’s return. The vampire hunters follow. Renfield hopes in the upcoming confrontation he will be one of the casualties as he loathes his existence, but cannot eliminate himself by his own hand.

The Dracula legend unfolds from the perspective of Renfield, a servant of the Count and his three wives before turning into a vampire too. Barbara Hambly does a brilliant job of recreating the saga with her unique voice. Locked away in an asylum as many of the events unfold, he sees what is happening through the mind link and that drives him deeper into madness and violence until he makes a devil’s deal with the three wives. Vampire aficionados will want to add this to their collection.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner

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