‘Her name was written in the pages of someone else’s story: Lucy Westenra was one of Dracula’s first victims.‘

A Tale for the Undying Heart.

In the last post, I talked about Bram Stoker’s influence on my relationship with literature and writing. So, I thought it’s only fitting to dedicate this next entry to Lucy Undying by Kiersten White – one of the books that left a deep mark on me last year.

As a devoted reader of romantic and gothic novels – Dracula being one of my all-time favourites – and completely enchanted by the stunning cover by Audrey Benjaminsen, I couldn’t resist the urge to dive into this novel.

A Poetic Narrative Across Time.

From the very first page, the author’s narrative captivated me. There is something raw in Kiersten White’s style – but in the most poetic manner. The way she navigates time and shifts perspective is masterful, never disrupting the flow. It feels like the perfect tapestry, woven with the red thread of fate, bending and stretching across oceans of time.

The Female Gaze and the Fractured Self.

What I loved most about this book is its exploration of girlhood and womanhood through Lucy’s perception of her world. Her experiences slowly forge the person she becomes and shape how she interacts with others on her journey.

It’s a story that many women will find themselves in – because at some point, we have all been Lucy before her transformation. We’ve all smiled through cracked bones and broken hearts, calling it strength in a world numb to our emotions. A world that finds the depth of our feelings too uncomfortable because it demands self-reflection and truth.

The Masks We Are Taught to Wear.

From early on, we are taught how to behave, how to present ourselves “properly” as girls. We are told to be mature before our time, to contain our emotions, to accept that consequences are not equal. Often, we try to please others before we’ve even discovered who we are. And it’s in that space – between innocence and expectation – that Lucy’s journey resonates so deeply.

“Your features transform whenever someone speaks to you, but you drop your sweet smile as soon as they turn away—a girl who wears a disguise to survive.“

Becoming, Despite the Darkness.

But here lies the beauty of Lucy Undying – in becoming. In choosing to remain true to your heart even when the world tries to break it. Wrong people can be our doom, masking control in love or care or so-called higher purpose. And yet, if we keep our hearts open despite the ugliness, the right souls will arrive to help us bloom into our truest selves.

What’s remarkable about Lucy is that despite all her challenges, her essence remains unchanged. You witness her growth, her transformation, but her core – the love in her heart – stays intact. That constancy is not weakness; it is her greatest strength.

Why It Mattered So Much to Me.

Perhaps that’s also why I felt so deeply connected to this story. Not just because of Dracula or Stoker, but because I too have learned to choose love above all else. No matter the hardships, if we stay true to ourselves, the outcome will always enrich our soul’s journey.

Because Lucy Undying is not just about Lucy. It is about all the Lucies we carry within us. Those imperfectly perfect selves, wounded but whole, struggling but radiant.

The Monsters We Become, or Escape.

The wars Lucy faces – literal and symbolic – mirror the battles we fight in our own lives. Sometimes, we must walk away from people we love because they harm us more than help us. And even that requires compassion – for ourselves, and for the fact that they, too, are choosing their own paths.

“What would I give, to be seen? To be carefully studied and perfectly understood? Would I let someone carve me up, if it meant feeling like I was loved? I knew the answer was yes, because it had always been yes. I had let others bleed me dry for the sake of feeling wanted, even before Dracula came into my life.“

This novel offers a different perspective on Dracula while honouring its essence: Who is the real monster here? Truth be told, I was never fond of Mina. Lucy always deserved better – someone who truly saw her, not through the lens of societal gain, but for her radiant soul. And that someone was Iris. They found each other despite navigating different pain and torments.

In the Moonlight, We Remember.

There’s a quiet brilliance in the way this story unfolds – switching between Lucy’s perspective, Iris’s, and the transcriptions. You follow the moonlight trace, spellbound, piecing together fragments from past and present, as the unknown future slowly reveals itself.

With love,

A.