I went into reading Children of the Night (When Monsters Wake #1) by Victoria Setian and Savanna Ganucheau (illustrator) with little to no knowledge of the content. I saw it faced out at the library, knew I had it on my radar and said, why not check it out? I picked it up a few nights before it was due back to start reading, thinking that it was a graphic novel, how hard could it be?
Well, it was not difficult, but it was not easy. The first few panels I’m thinking, “okay, cool” then it became: “Whaaaaaat????? That’s Dracula!” Sure enough, we have the ship, the dogs, the captain of the ship dead. We have Mina, Lucy and Jonathan. Later there is Dr. Abraham. And can’t forget little ol’ Renfield (Ren to his friends), and yes fly and spider eating included. We have Dracula my friends, but with modern twists. Mina is a modern woman, dark and depressed over the death of her grandmother, labeled a Witch by her peers, and looks as if Lydia from Beetlejuice and a private school preppy-ish look had a child. We have the modern elements (cameras, Gay-Straight Alliances, romance triangles) and we have the form of a retold Dracula for the story arc.
There are graphic images that could be intense for the sensitive or young reader, which mostly happen at the end, but there are one or two “that’s icky” (we have fangs, distorted face) before the final battle and a lot of JEEEEZUS! That’s grotesque. Or really funny. Depends on your personal tastes (think Scooby Doo meets older Goosebumps with a bit of Tim Burton). Either way I would recommend it for at least 13 and up to adults.
Now I want to know how there is a sequel due to the ending which does leave a few questions. So onto book two in… WHEN???? It’s not even planned yet? Um, Victoria and Savanna, ya mind finishing up? I’m ya know, kinda waiting around …. Thanks!
