Vlad: The Last Confession [Paperback]

I've finished "Vlad: The Last Confession" by C.C. Humphrey.

Product Description

Dracula. A name of horror, depravity and the darkest sensuality. Yet the real Dracula was just as alluring, just as terrifying, his tale not one of a monster but of a man ... and a contradiction.

His tale is told by those who knew him best. The only woman he ever loved ... and whom he had to sacrifice.

His closest comrade ... and traitor. And his priest, betraying the secrets of the confessional to reveal the mind of the man history would forever remember as The Impaler. This is the story of the man behind the legend...as it has never been told before.

Product Details
Paperback: 416 pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark (May 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1402253516
ISBN-13: 978-1402253515

My Review:

This is the story of Vlad Dracul, prince of Wallachia, known as Vlad Tepes (the impaler), or Dracula (Dracul-a) son of the dragon/devil.

The book is set in Poenari Castle five years after Dracula's death. Count Horvathy, a Hungarian, has assembled the three people who knew Vlad's story best: Ion Tremblac, Vlad's childhood friend and right-hand man, Ilona, Vlad's one true love and Vlad's confessor. The Count, like Vlad a member of the Order of the Dragon, has brought Cardinal Grimaldi to hear the three of them tell their tales in hopes that exposing the Church to Vlad's true story (rather than the rumors and myths spread by his enemies) will restore the honor of the Order of the Dragon.

We open the book with Vlad and his younger brother Radu as hostages of Murad and taught the way of the Koran and the Turks.  Then it moves to his three reigns and to his meeting the love of his life and finally to his cruel punishment to his enemies.  We also read about his family problems with his brother Radu, etc.

This was a very fascinating read about the life and times of a mad and compelling man.  I was sucked into the story and now I want to learn more about Vlad and his younger brother Radu: The Handsome.

He was very loyal to his friends and you can feel his love for Ilona and hers for him.

4/5

Thanks Liz from Sourcebooks for sending me this book to review, greatly appreciated!