Kiersten White Reclaims Stoker Classic With New Sapphic Romance “Lucy Undying”

Lucy Undying by Kiersten White

Lucy Undying is a stunning continuation of the story of Lucy Westenra following the events of Dracula. If you think you know Dracula, think again. This novel introduces us to Lucy in a whole new light. From her journal entries of her time as a human, to the life that ensued following her transformation into a vampire, Kiersten White has crafted a tale of longing, love, desire, self-doubt, soul-searching and acceptance, tied up in a heartwarming sapphic romance built on affirmation.

For much of the novel we are presented with three points of view: Lucy “then” told through her letters, Lucy “now” as she recounts her escapades to her therapist and Iris Goldaming, a sassy, fiery young woman with a massive corporation to her name and no desire to claim it. As the novel progresses, we begin to realize how Iris is connected to the inner workings of Lucy’s tale, and as their paths intertwine, their pasts, presents and futures mixing and mingling, what unfurls is a sweeping story that latches onto your heart from the earliest pages and sinks its teeth in until the very end. Featuring the iconic characters from Dracula, such as Jonathan Harker, Mina and of course, the classic vampire himself, Lucy Undying is another stellar entry into the current resurgence of vampire books hitting the shelves.

Lucy Undying is filled with gloriously written characters with distinct, vibrant voices: both the protagonists we root for and the villains we love to hate. Lucy and Iris in particular are written with such nuance, made from so many layers of their past, their experiences, their hopes and dreams and fears, and White has done an excellent job at unveiling them to us more and more as the story progresses. As they learn about themselves and each other, we realize that what we thought we understood is being turned on its head — who we thought they were, what we thought drove them to do what they did — as they are learning for themselves who they truly are and who they want to be in this world.

I loved reading the chapters from each of their perspectives because their voices are so beautiful. Lucy has a sense of whimsy to her: half the time she seems to float wherever she goes, and other times she’s so confused or emotional that she bursts into moonlight and flits about in a mad dance of vengeance and bloodlust, but still with that same underlying effervescence. Iris on the other hand is fierce, with a fantastic sense of sarcasm and humor in her voice. Mix the two together and you’re in for a fantastic read. Beyond Lucy and Iris, we meet so many other stunningly crafted characters — The Doctor, The Lover, The Queen, Vanessa and more — each developed in such a way that had me hanging on to their every word, drawn into their stories as if they were old familiars.

White is a skilled storyteller. The world that she has crafted out of Stoker’s original concept is incredibly vivid and full of life, even in the dark and dusty corners of old mansions or the sterile examination rooms of Goldaming Life buildings. White wields her words both as weapons and as the softest caress, taking us into the woods to be stalked by Dracula and then to the familiar comfort of the arms of the woman you love more than anything else in this world. Lucy Undying is an epic adventure that spans decades and through it all — the wars, the lovers, the manipulations — we are reminded of what it means to find value in oneself, to love oneself and accept who you are in each and every moment of your life. To know that you deserve love, that you deserve to be loved and that you are able to love in return as fully as you wish. It’s a beautiful story, wrapped up within the excitement of vampires and schemes, and adds an entirely new world of possibility and passion onto a classic piece.

Lucy Undying is a breathtaking ride from start to finish. From the very first pages, you are swept away on a whirlwind of emotion, flowing with the moonlight as White delves into what it means to love and be loved, what it means to be human and what it means to be alive. If you love a book with powerfully written characters, sapphic romance, journeys of self-discovery, plot twists that leave you gasping and of course, vampires, then Lucy Undying is for you.