​STOKER'S WILDE BY STEVEN HOPSTAKEN AND MELISSA PRUSI - BOOK REVIEW

Bram Stoker and Oscar Wilde battle the supernatural in historical literary mash-up
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If you’re fan of historical literary mash-ups then Stoker’s Wilde could be a title to check-out. On the other hand, if you find the idea of having Bram Stoker (author of Dracula) and Oscar Wilde (writer of The Picture of Dorian Gray) kicking both werewolf and vampire ass completely ridiculous then avoid this book like the plague. You will hate it. In the early stages I could not make my mind up whether I liked it or not but eventually warmed to it as it developed. I am very happy to compliment the authors for their ingenuity in bringing these two literary legends together in a very well presented pseudo-historical horror novel.
 
When we cut to the chase Stoker’s Wilde is a Nineteenth Century buddy story featuring two struggling authors whose best work is still years in front of them. It is implied that trials they go through over the course of this book is the inspiration behind their future literary masterpieces. According to Steven Hopstaken and Melissa Prusi anyway, yeah right, as I said, the story takes some swallowing, the supernatural exists amongst us branching into several different mythologies. Actually, the book was so well researched it did have me questioning whether Stoker and Wilde knew each other in real life? Perhaps they crossed in literary circles? There is less than a decade in age between them, so it is very likely. The circumstances used to bring the gentlemen together in this book occurs after Stoker marries the ex-fiancé of Wilde. Of course, in the early states they don’t like each other too much but a friendship soon develops.
 
The first major strength of Stoker’s Wilde was the attention to historical, literary and overall Nineteenth Century detail, ultimately this was stronger than the plot which came across as a bit old-hat and familiar. The two literary recreations were great but once the two men have become friends they go on a series of interconnected adventures which leads them into the realms of the supernatural and that was a tad hum-drum. The problem here is that the old ‘authentic’ vampire and werewolf myths are exactly that, old, and as Bram and Oscar battled these demons I could not help I had been here before, possibly many times, when it comes to vampire pop culture.
 
It is obvious that the authors know their source material very well and I enjoyed the various innuendos to the author’s most famous works. Some were very obvious, whilst others were very subtle. Like Dracula this novel uses correspondences, journal entries and letters to tell the story and I felt this killed the momentum of the plot, however, the various voices had unique vibes and many of the interludes were entertaining. Ultimately though some seemed to spin the story out longer than necessary. However, the Victorian feel of the novel comes across as genuine and an authentic recreation of a fascinating era.
 
What of the plot then? Bram and Oscar receive their first introduction to the possibility of the supernatural when a distinguished friend of the Wilde family invites them on a hunt for the killer of a young barmaid in Ireland. A werewolf is suspected, cementing their reluctant connection, they solve this mystery with cunning and logic.  Despite their best efforts, other more dangerous events in London bring them back together in order to fight a much scarier and ancient threat which was necessary as the Irish sequence was not the most inspiring opening and if you’re thinking of giving up at this stage stick with it.
 
I mentioned that the book was written in journal, letter and diary entries which interrupted the flow of the novel, however, the reason for this is revealed at the end and it was slightly disappointing. I will not say what the reason is, but it is an idea which has featured in countless YA and kid’s novels and television series and was underwhelming. Stoker’s Wilde was solid stuff, but the setting and world building was better than the plot. Dacre Stoker and J. D. Barker’s well received Drucul does cover some of the same Bram Stoker ground so I will be interested to see whether there is much demand for this novel.
 
3/5
 
Tony Jones

​STOKER'S WILDE  BY STEVEN HOPSTAKEN AND  MELISSA PRUSI 

"Stoker's Wilde is immensely entertaining and engrossing...this novel was an utter delight." - The Haunted Reading Room

Years before either becomes a literary legend, Bram Stoker and Oscar Wilde must overcome their disdain for one another to battle the Black Bishop, a mysterious madman wielding supernatural forces to bend the British Empire to his will. With the help of a European vampire expert, a spirited actress and an American businessman, our heroes fight werewolves, vampires and the chains of Victorian morality. The fight will take them through dark forests in Ireland, the upper-class London theater world and Stonehenge, where Bram and Oscar must stop a vampire cult from opening the gates of Hell. 

FLAME TREE PRESS is the new fiction imprint of Flame Tree Publishing. Launched in 2018 the list brings together brilliant new authors and the more established; the award winners, and exciting, original voices.

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