A Matter of Taste (The Dracula Files #6) 3Stars

 

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Title: A Matter of Taste
Series: The Dracula Files #6
Author: Fred Saberhagen
Rating: 3 of 5 Stars
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 213
Words: 81K
Publish: 1990

This was much more enjoyable than the previous Dracula Files book (Dominion), which almost made me stop the series altogether. Don’t get me wrong, this book was no masterpiece of enduring literary quality, but at least I enjoyed what I read.

Ol’ Drak gets poisoned, has to have his greatx100 nephews/nieces protect him and then kills the badguys. We also get another storyline about Drak’s creation and what drove him as a newly minted vampire. The history part was boring, per usual while the modern storyline was decent.

My biggest gripe is actually the cover. The only one I could find was this one that shows the skyscraper. I wanted the cover by TOR: Fantasy/Horror which shows a big jawboned Dracula looking all macho in the background, like some of the previous editions. I couldn’t find it though, so it might not exist. Which is dumb, because I’ve seen later books in the series with that motiff, so I know it was continued for at least some of them. Why are publishers so stupid like that? A question that will never be satisfactorily answered I suspect. Well, that’s all you get for a 3star book. Adios.

★★★☆☆

From Grokipedia

A Matter of Taste opens in contemporary Chicago, where Matthew Maule—known to the Southerland family as Uncle Matthew—is the alias used by the vampire once called Dracula, an old ally who has repeatedly protected the family at risk to his own existence.[8] When Maule is poisoned and left comatose in his upscale condominium through a cunning scheme originating five centuries earlier, the Southerlands rally to safeguard him from persistent assaults by both living adversaries and undead opponents.[12] John Southerland, along with his fiancée, discovers Maule's dire condition and summons ex-policeman Joe Keogh, his brother-in-law, who arrives prepared for supernatural threats to aid in the defense.[5][12]Family members, including John's fiancée Angie Hoban, become actively involved in investigating the attacks and fortifying their position against the relentless enemies seeking retribution for long-past grievances.[12] As the group works to revive Maule and repel the incursions, they locate a tape-recorded autobiographical account by Maule detailing his transformation into a vampire and his historical interactions with Cesare and Lucrezia Borgia during the Italian Renaissance, which illuminate the motives behind the current vendetta orchestrated by forces tied to those figures.[12]The narrative alternates between the urgent modern-day struggle in Chicago and vivid flashbacks to the Renaissance era, revealing how the Borgias' schemes from centuries ago fuel the revenge plot against Maule.[12] The Southerlands and their allies, bolstered by their loyalty to Maule, confront the converging threats from past and present in a climactic showdown that resolves the ancient conflict and secures Maule's safety.[8][12]

Major characters

Matthew Maule, the alias under which Count Dracula lives in present-day Chicago, is the central figure of the novel. He appears as a handsome, vigorous, and charming man who looks no older than forty despite being over five hundred years old. The Southerland family affectionately refers to him as "Uncle Matthew" in recognition of his long-standing role as their protector. In this installment, Maule is depicted in a comatose state that leaves him vulnerable and unable to defend himself.[13][8]Joe Keogh, an ex-police officer who has married into the Southerland family, serves as a primary ally to Maule. With prior experience confronting supernatural threats associated with Maule, Keogh takes a central role in defensive actions and arrives prepared with specialized weaponry, including lead-cored wooden bullets. His practical skills and familiarity with Maule's adversaries make him essential to the family's efforts.[13]John Southerland, a member of the Southerland family and descendant of Jonathan and Mina Harker, maintains close ties to Maule as part of the family's ongoing relationship with him. His fiancée, Angie Hoban, meets Maule for the first time and becomes involved in the family's circle. The Southerland family collectively demonstrates unwavering loyalty and actively participates in protective efforts to safeguard Maule during his period of vulnerability.[13][8]The antagonists are ancient enemies of Dracula who have harbored grudges against him for centuries. Their motivations stem from historical conflicts and past encounters spanning five hundred years, driving their determination to exploit his current weakened condition.[8]