Alexander Delacroix's darkly romantic debut Heart of the Impaler is perfect for fans of Kiersten White's And I Darken. Vlad Dracula has long lived in the shadows cast by his bloodthirsty father, the voivode, and his older brother, Mircea. Despite their cruelty, Vlad has yearned to prove himself worthy of the throne his whole life. In the cold halls of the voivode's palace, Vlad can only rely on his cousin and closest friend, Andrei Musat. When Vlad and Andrei meet Ilona Csáki, the daughter of an influential boyar, they each find themselves inextricably drawn to her. But then Ilona is betrothed to Mircea as part of a political alliance, and Vlad's resentfulness of his brother begins to seethe into something far darker. Ilona has no desire to marry the voivode’s eldest son, but love and marriage are the least of her worries. The royal family’s enemies have already tried to put an arrow through her back—and if anyone discovers her blossoming feelings for Andrei and Vlad, she may just wish they’d succeeded. Beneath the shadow of impending war, the only battle that will be deadlier than the one for Ilona’s life will be the one for her heart. Praise for Heart of the Impaler: "Flowing and fast-paced as court intrigue, spies, family secrets, romance, twists, and turns pull readers into fifteenth-century Romania—and into the heart of Vlad the Impaler. Highly recommended." —Booklist "Delacroix adroitly immerses readers in a delicious blend of romance and 15th-century politics that leans more historical than mythic, while exploring the power of love to change history’s tides." —Publishers Weekly

String garlic by the window and hang a cross around your neck! The most powerful vampire of all time returns in our Stepping Stone Classic adaption of the original tale by Bran Stoker. Follow Johnathan Harker, Mina Harker, and Dr. Abraham van Helsing as they discover the true nature of evil. Their battle to destroy Count Dracula takes them from the crags of his castle to the streets of London... and back again.

Read Sid Jaconson's posts on the Penguin Blog Two legends of the comic book industry bring to life the story of gore and lust that inspired Dracula. Vlad the man had a devilish streak-a vicious temper, a passion for women, and a thirst for revenge. Vlad the ruler was a true devil-a relentless torturer, a brutal murderer, and a paranoid leader whose megalomania would be his own undoing. Responsible for the merciless deaths of thousands, this savage 15th century ruler earned himself the moniker Vlad the Impaler. His bloody reign struck terror into the hearts of his disciples and inspired generations of vampire myths-most famously Bram Stoker's ghoulish protagonist, Dracula. However that beloved bloodsucker doesn't hold a candle to the real-life fiend whose brutal treachery has made him immortal.

'Here begins a very cruel, frightening story about a wild, bloodthirsty man, Dracula the voivod ...' Historian and crime writer M.J. Trow draws back the dark curtain of legend to look at the real Vlad Tepes, set against the background of his times. Later generations associated him with pure evil and accepted the stories of his murders, mutilations and impalements without question. And later still, thanks to Bram Stoker, he shifted his shape into the doyen of the undead, complete with haunted castles, terrifying bats and an unearthly aversion to sunlight. The real Vlad Dracula lived in Transylvania, in the horseshoe of the Carpathian Mountains (today's Romania) and ruled his state of Wallachia three times. Making war against the Ottoman Turks, rivals to his throne and keeping his people in check, his was a life steeped in blood. But was he 'a prince more sinned against than sinning'? To Romanians, he is a hero on a white horse, a nationalist leader who carried out dreadful deeds in order to save the country he loved. To others, he was a rapacious homicidal maniac whose cruelty has no parallel, in his day or any other. This stylishly-written and compelling narrative unravels the true story behind the image and takes us into the heart of the bloody, uncertain world of Medieval Europe.

Vlad the Impaler The character Count Dracula is well-known throughout the world. He is a dark, seductive, pale man wearing a cape. His gaze is quite literally captivating, and he has the strength of ten men. The story, written by Bram Stoker in 1897, has been retold hundreds of times, but is there a historical figure upon whom the character is based? Is there really a Dracula? Many scholars argue that Vlad III Dracula, also known as Vlad the Impaler, is the real Dracula. He was known in western Europe for his cruelty, most especially his penchant for impaling his victims. He is said to have killed somewhere between 40,000 and 100,000 people during his crusade to stop the Ottoman Empire from expanding into eastern Europe. He was equally harsh on the people he ruled and is said to have taken great pleasure in torturing his victims. Inside you will read about... - Vlad's early life and family - Rise to power: Vlad's first reign - War with the Ottomans, Vlad's main reign - Vlad's imprisonment, third reign, and death - Vlad Dracula's legacy - Vlad the Impaler in fiction: Count Dracula His story, however, is much more complicated than the oft-reported details of his atrocities would imply. He lived in a time of conflict where many were equally as cruel, and he is viewed as a hero in Romania where he is remembered as a protector of his people. This eBook tells the story of his life and times, and discusses his connection to the fictional Count Dracula, in a succinct, compelling manner, which makes for an entertaining read that is packed with historical information.

This fantasy novel traces the rise of a young man who, through various adventures and wars, becomes the infamous Dracula.

Vlad the Impaler - The Real Dracula is a biography of the 15th century Wallachian Prince in what it now modern day Romania. Vladthe Impaler was the inspiration for the main charachter in Bram Stoker's Dracula novel which was originally published in 1897 and loosely based off of the real person. Vlad the Impaler got his name because he used cruel punishments agaisnt his political enemies, most notably impaling them with a large stake and sticking them in the ground to die. During the impalement, Dracula had the blood collected and he dipped his food in their blood, which is what made him known to this day as a blood drinker. Vlad ruled Wallachia during the periods of 1448, 1456-62, and 1476. Vlad the Impaler - The Real Dracula is a highly recommended publication for those interested in learning the details of the story of Vlad the Impaler and also for those who are fans of Dracula and would like to learn about the real man behind the story.