The Brides
A dark Dracula prequel full of toxic love and monstrous ambition
Published on 19. March 2026
400 pages
978-1-0350-5929-4 (ISBN)
Description
'Dracula's worthy successor . . . chills and delights in equal measure'
Johanna Van Veen, author of Blood on Her Tongue
Haunting, gothic and utterly gripping, The Brides is a stunningly original reimagining of Bram Stoker's Dracula - with a devastating sapphic romance at its heart.
'Come to me, and be mine for eternity'
1884. When Mafalda journeys to Budapest to care for her grieving aunt, her secret love, Lucy, hurries from London to comfort her, with chaperone and lady's maid in tow.
But lady's maid Alice, blessed and cursed with the Sight, is tormented by terrifying visions. When chaperone Eliza falls prey to a disturbing wasting illness, the women hope to seek the healing waters of Transylvania. At a nobleman's invitation, they set out for Castle Dracula.
In the depths of the forest, miles from civilization, their host reveals his true intentions; a monstrous ambition which will tear the women apart.
And not all of them will survive.
'A beguiling and intricately woven novel glistening with bloody suspense'
Leigh Radford, author of One Yellow Eye
Perfect for fans of Hungerstone by Kat Dunn and The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova.
Johanna Van Veen, author of Blood on Her Tongue
Haunting, gothic and utterly gripping, The Brides is a stunningly original reimagining of Bram Stoker's Dracula - with a devastating sapphic romance at its heart.
'Come to me, and be mine for eternity'
1884. When Mafalda journeys to Budapest to care for her grieving aunt, her secret love, Lucy, hurries from London to comfort her, with chaperone and lady's maid in tow.
But lady's maid Alice, blessed and cursed with the Sight, is tormented by terrifying visions. When chaperone Eliza falls prey to a disturbing wasting illness, the women hope to seek the healing waters of Transylvania. At a nobleman's invitation, they set out for Castle Dracula.
In the depths of the forest, miles from civilization, their host reveals his true intentions; a monstrous ambition which will tear the women apart.
And not all of them will survive.
'A beguiling and intricately woven novel glistening with bloody suspense'
Leigh Radford, author of One Yellow Eye
Perfect for fans of Hungerstone by Kat Dunn and The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova.
Reviews / Votes
The Brides is Dracula's worthy successor: a gothic, sapphic epistolary novel that thrills, chills, and delights in equal measure. I loved every page! -- <b>Johanna Van Veen, author of <i>Blood on Her Tongue</i></b> A beguiling and intricately woven novel glistening with bloody suspense, flush with mounting dread, Charlotte Cross's debut The Brides is an accomplished successor to Stoker's gothic masterpiece. The story sank its teeth into me and wouldn't let me go. -- <b>Leigh Radford, author of <i>One Yellow Eye</i></b> An epistolary gem. Part homage, part reinvention, here the titular brides of Dracula are rich, vivid characters with needs and hungers of their own, saturated with the atmosphere and tragedy of the gothic. A deft, heartbreaking successor to Dracula's bloody legacy. -- <b>M. K. Hardy, authors of <i>The Needfire</i></b>More details
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Pan Macmillan
Target group
Interest Age: From 18 years
File size
0,87 MB
ISBN-13
978-1-0350-5929-4 (9781035059294)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Person
Charlotte Cross writes historical fiction, having been fascinated by stories of the past since she was a child. She grew up in southern England in a small town with a rich history, and spent many happy hours at the local museum where her grandmother was a volunteer. Charlotte now lives in central Scotland with her partner and their opinionated ginger cat. When not writing, she enjoys yoga, reading Victorian novels and exploring her adopted country. The Brides is her first novel.
